THE GREY LEAGUE OF TRONS.

Two centuries after this triumph, a very similar one, on a smaller scale, took place in Switzerland; but here the tyrants were the barons, and the champions of freedom the common people.

At the period of the French invasion of Switzerland, under the first French republic, a venerable maple-tree, of gigantic size, standing in a field outside the Alpine village of Trons, was destroyed by the invaders. The neighbourhood of this tree was the Runnemede of the Swiss who inhabited the sixty mountain valleys called the Grisons, formerly Rhætia. Under its wide-spreading branches

their free diet, or assembly, had been held year after year, ever since the glorious Covenant of Trons. The ancient barons of Rhætia, living in their fortified castles like birds of prey, up among the heights overlooking the valleys, had from these rocky eyries oppressed the people just as their lawless passions prompted. The Swiss people met together in secret, and determined on demanding from their feudal masters a solemn compact, by which the rights of all, high and low, should be defined and secured.

Choosing deputies, they sent them to the barons, at a time when they knew there were but few soldiers in the fortresses, and the barons were unprepared for resistance.

And one after another of the Alpine lords were brought by peaceable arguments-supported, however, by every demonstration of determined will-to accede to their vassals' demands; and the Covenant of Trons was solemnly concluded in the month of May,

1424.

It was an impressive scene, full of hope and joy as the season in which it took place. Round

about the far-spreading maple-tree, clothed in its fresh spring mantle of green leaves, stood barons, magistrates, deputies, elders, in presence of the Swiss mountaineers; they all wore grey garments, and hence were called the " Grey League ;" and they vowed, in the name of the Holy Trinity, a perpetual alliance for the maintenance of justice, and the security of every one, without infringing on the rights of any.

ABOLITON OF BRITISH SLAVERY.

AFTER Magna Charta, no British triumph, achieved without loss of human life-perhaps none in the history of the world since the advent of Christianity-can be compared with the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies.

Half a century ago, or little more, the government of England was sanctioning the slavery of hundreds of thousands of human beings, and dreamed of nothing less than emancipating them.

Christian men and women had, however, begun to reflect upon this wrong, and to pray for its removal.

An English clergyman, Mr. Ramsey, who had lived some time at St. Kitts, in the West Indies, and seen a great deal of the horrors of the slave-trade there, gave such reports to a lady, the wife of Sir Charles Middleton, a member of Parliament, that one morning at breakfast she said to her husband, "Indeed, Sir Charles, I think you ought to bring the subject before the House, and demand inquiry into the nature of a traffic so disgraceful to the British character." Sir Charles did not consider himself equal to the task. Indeed it was a mighty one. The celebrated orator, Burke, thought of attempting it, but shrank dismayed from the mountainous difficulties that rose on every side.

Lady Middleton's heart was deeply interested for the poor slaves, and for the character of her nation. At once philanthropic and patriotic, she could not rest till abolition was attempted.

She prevailed on her husband to write to Mr. Wilberforce, a young man who had lately come out, who was talented, eloquent, a personal friend of Mr. Pitt, the prime minister, and possessed of Christian truth and virtue.