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Show 'I 6 small attention to his religious teachings. After many labors here, he felt himself charged with a divine message to the West Indies. His first object in tra veiling over those islands was to preach; but in his various journies and communications with individuals, he naturally opened his eyes and ears to the subject, which there engrosses almost every thought, and in which his own philanthropy gave him special interest. In his " Letters" he furnishes us with the details and a few results of his observation, interspersed with some personal adventure, and with notices of the natural appearances and productions of regions so new and striking to an Englishman. 'rhe book has the merit of perfectly answering its end, which is not to reason about emancipation, but to make the reader a spectator, and to give him facts for his own reflection. It is written with much ease, simplicity, clearness, and sometimes, with beauty. It is especially distinguished by a spirit of kindness. It not only expresses a sincere Christian philanthropy, b1,1t breathes a good humor which must disarm even the most prejudiced. They who have refused to read anti-slavery productions because steeped in gall, will find no bitter ingredients here. Not that there is a spirit of compromise or timidity in our author. He is a thoroughly kind-hearted man, and conscientiously believes that he can best serve the cause of truth and 7 liberty by glVlng free utterance to his own benignant spmt. The book has not only the substantial merit of fidelity on a subject of immense importance, but another claim, which may operate more widely in its favor. It is entertaining. It does not give us dull and dry wisdom, but the quick, animated observations of a man, who saw with his heart as well as his eyes, who took a strong interest in what he describes. That the book is entirely impartial, I do not say. This highest merit of a book seems to require more than human virtue. To see things precisely as they are, with not a shade or coloring from our own prejudices or affections, is the last triumph of self-denial. The most honest often see what they want to see; and a man, so honored as Mr. Gurney, is very apt to be told what he wants to hear. But the book bears strong marks of truth. The uprightness of the author secures us against important error. Let even large deductions be made for his feelings, as a quaker, against slavery, for his sympathy with the negro and the negro's friends. After every allowance the great truth will come out, that the hopes of the most sanguine advocates of Emancipation have been realized, if not surpassed, in the West Indies. Such a book is much needed. There has been in this country a backwardness, almost an unwilling- |