A LETTER from THOMAS CLARKSON, to HENRY King of Hayti. Playford Hall, Suffolk, England, May 24, 1816.

I HAD the honour of receiving your Majesty's letter, dated at palace of Sans Souci, February 5th, which was brought to me by Mr. Prince Sanders; and it is my intention to return an answer to it, by the same person, as well as to enter into some particulars, which I think may be acceptable to you. Having however heard that my esteemed friend Mr. Stephen Grellet who is a minister of the Gospel, belonging to the religious Society of the people called Quakers, and who is now in North America, intends, with other ministers of the same Society, to visit some of the English West-Indian Islands, and also Hayti, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel for a season in those parts, I have thought it proper to send you this letter by him, in order that he may not go into your island without a suitable introduction.

I am senisble how vigilant it becomes you to be with respect to strangers, son e of whon ray possibly visit ay or the purpose of plotting agains liberty and independence.

Anc

Sy belief, that such cases may is, which induces me to lay before you the character of Mr. Grellet and his friends, in order that they may come among you without suspicion, and that they may experience the protection which all those persons ought to find, who feel it to be their duty, like the Apostles of old, to visit foreign limates, and to hazard their lives for the sake of promoting the religion of Jesus Christ. I will begin then with informing_you, that Mr. Grellet was born in France, but that he left his country during the Revolution, and went to the United States of America, where he embraced the principles of the religious Society of Friends, or, as they are most commonly called, Quakers. After this he became a minister of the gospel in that Society; and in this capacity he visited England, Germany, and

France. During his stay in London, for many months, I had the happiness of knowing him. It also happened during his stay there, that his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, arrived in England; Mr. Grellet had the honour of an audience with that noble and august personage, and know that he advocated before him, the cause of all the injured children of Africa. As to Mr. Greliet's private character, I may comprehend it in a few words, by saying, that he daily affords in his own person a proof of modesty, humility, charity, and those other virtues which belong to the Christian character. Having said thus much of this estimablé person, I feel myself bound to say a few words in behalf of the clergyman's Society to which he belongs; for it is possible he may have companions with him; and it is right that your Majesty should know some of the civil and political principles of the Quakers. In the first place, they consider it to be their duty to obey civil magistrates, as the rulers under God for good; except in those religious customs and cases, where their consciences would be wounded by it. In the second place they conceive it to be their duty nev er to go to war, or take up arms even in their own defence; they had rather submit to the most cruel injuries than shed the blood of any of their fellow-creatures. Hence there is no rebellion, no' insurrection, no ploting against government, wherever the Quakers are. And thirdly, they have long ago conceived it to be their duty to consider all the children of Africa as their brethren, and to have no concern whatever either in buying or selling, or in holding them in bondage. In all America there is not one Quaker whose character is stained by such'inhuman practices. The abolition of the Slave-trade, and of slavery also, has become a principle, and has been incorporated as such into their religion. I could dwell here, if the time would permit, with the greatest delight, and I ought to add,

with the greatest gratitude, on this part of their character. They have been the constant fellow-labourers, in England, of Mr. Wilberforce and myself in this great and noble cause, from the first moment in which we ourselves embarked in it; and, in North-America they have equally supported it; indeed they have been the original instruments of effecting whatever has been done in that country, on behalf of the injured Africans and their descendants. In fact, whenever you see a Quaker you see a friend to the distressed; but more especially to those of the African race. And I cannot doubt, therefore, that every Quaker will experience your Majesty's kind protection and regard; but more particularly when he comes to you, not for the purposes of commerce, but as a promoter of the interests of religion.

shall only add to this account, that the Quakers are, in many respects, a singular people. They are singular in their language, dress, and customs. They have laid aside the usual ceremonies and formalities of the world, in saluting or addressing themselves to others. Some years ago I wrote their history, and if Mr. Grellet should receive this letter in time, be will probably present your Majes ty with a copy.

I am your Majesty's friend, THOMAS CLARKSON. P. S. The above is the copy of a letter, which I sent last week, enclosed to my friend Mr. Stephen Grellet, that he might deliver it with his own hand, to your Majesty, but having just heard, that it is probable, that Mr. Grellet may have left America for Hayti before he receives it, I have thought it right to send this copy immediately to yourself, in order that it may be known to your Majesty who he is, should he come without my first letter.

Palace of Sans Souci, Nov. 18, 1816, and 13th year of Independence. The KING, to Mr. THS. CLARKSON. SIR, MY FRIEND,

YOUR two letters of the tenth of June and sixteenth of August, have reached me. They relate to Mr. Grellet, a minister of the gospel in

connection with the religious Society of the Quakers, and also to the principles of that estimable Society, with which I am perfectly well acquainted. If Mr. Greilet and his companions should visit this country, I will not fail, according to your recomn endation, to treat them with kindness; and to entertain for him the respect which is due to his own character, as well as to the consideration of his being your friend. I am delighted to hear that he is a friend to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and to the unhappy Africans and their descendants. These sentiments, which indeed particularly distinguish the Quakers, must ever ensure them my res pect and esteem. I have received with pleasure the History of the Quakers, which you sent me by Mr. Prince Sanders, and thank you for it, with all my heart. Believe me, with the highest respect, and the most cordial friendship, HENRY.

SENECA INDIANS.

THE Governor of the State of New York, communicated to the Legislature for their consideration the following petition from the principal Chiefs of the Seneca Indians. While this pathetic address awakens our sympathy for the sufferings of our red brethren, we hope the confidence which they express in the being and government of God will be improved by Christians, and that something will yet be done for their everlasting and spiritual improvement, that a remnant of those whose soil we pos sess, may yet receive some remuneration for their injuries.

To His Excellency DEWIT CLINTON, Governor of the State of N. York. Feb. 14th, 1818.

FATHER,-We learn from your talk delivered at the great council fire at Albany, your opinion of the condition and prospects of your red children.

FATHER, We thank you that you feel anxious to do all you can to the perishing ruins of your red children. We hope, Father, you will make a fence strong and high around us, that wicked white men may not devour us at once, but let us live as long as we can. We are persuaded you will do this for us, because our field is laid waste and trodden down by every beast; we are feeble and cannot resist them.

FATHER, We are persuaded you will do this for the sake of our white brothers, lest God, who has appeared so strong in building up white men, and pulling down Indians, should turn his hand and visit our white brothers for their sins, and call them to account for all the wrongs they have done them, and all the wrongs they have not prevented that was in their power to prevent, to their poor red brothers who have no helper.

FATHER,-Would you be the father of your people, and make them good and blessed of God, and happy, let not the cries of your injured red children ascend into his ears against you.

FATHER,-We desire to let you know that wrong information hath reached your ears. Our western brethren hath given us no land. You will learn all our mind on this subject, by a talk which we sent our great father, the President of the U. States. We send it to you, that you may see it and learn our mind.

Red Jacket, his mark-Young Ring, his mark-Captain Billey, his mark-Captain Polland, his mark-Twenty Canoes, his mark -James Stephenson, his markChief Warrior, his mark-John Snow, his mark-Stride Town,

I have for several years wept over the vast sufferings of an afflicted world; I have wept to see rational beings so blind as to pursue a path as one that would certainly lead to liberty and happiness, when, at the same time, it is the very path that leads to slavery and misery. Had the custom of war never obtained, liberty and happiness had never been endangered. All the nations of the earth would have lived in peace and harmony, and the interest of one would have been the interest of all. Indeed and in truth now the interest of one is the interest of all; but it appears that men have become so blind that they cannot see their real interest; or if they do see it, they are no longer desirous to cultivate it. Unhappily for the world a false idea of glory and honour has entered it. This idea has ever been the great spring of motion to the ambitious. To crown themselves with such glory and honour they have not hesitated to plunge nåtions into all the horrors of war ;-by such men the plains of every nation on earth have at different times been crimsoned with human blood. What floods of tears have in all ages been shed by the number of disconsolate widows and helpless orphans, which have been made by this barbarous custom! How often have they been exposed to the keen blasts of piercing cold, and heavy torrents of chilling rain! How often have they been clothed in rage and pinched with

hunger! Mankind have suffered more by this custom than the imagination can possibly paint.

I have, from observation, become perfectly convinced that education has more influence over the human mind than every thing else. Though this assertion to some may appear too bold, I believe that every person who has thought on it, will readily acquiesce in the opinion. From the birth of war to the present day, men have been taught to applaud the bloody custom as the guardian of liberty and happiness; thus it has gone on till a large portion of mankind think it absolutely necessary.

All that is necessary is to turn the channel of education. Had a Kundredth part of the labour and money been expended to render the custom odious in the eyes of mankind that has been expended to prosecute and applaud it, it would long ago have been blown out of existence.

I have been much pleased to learn that Missionaries were preachingand Bible societies spreading the Scriptures, through the Heathen and Mahometan nations of the earth. But when I have taken a second consideration on the subject, I have wept, believing the labour to be spent alway's for nought.-And Why! Because of the great inconsistency in the language and conduct of christian nations. The missionaries preach and the Scriptures declare universal love; yet how often do we see christians plunging their weapons of death into each others bowels! Hence Pagans and Mahometans are led to believe that their religion is better founded than ours.

Let the christian nations of the earth unite as one great band of brothers, joined by all the ties of interest and love, and under the immediate guidance and direction of our great, wise and good Parent: then they may with success spread the christian religion among Pagans and Mahometans. This done, they may 'follow-on with the olive branch of peace, and spread it from pole to pole.

For the first seventeen years of my life I was as far as my abilities extended-a warm advocate for war; and it was not until near the close of

the late war with England, that I became convinced.

I have been much pleased to learn that so many em nent characters in the union have felt so much interested in the welfare of mankind, as to spend a portion of their time and labour in endeavouring to forward the glorious cause of universal peace. Not long since I called a meeting of the citizens of this vicinity for forming or endeavouring to form a Peace Society-before which I read an address, I had drawn up, and several other persons spoke on the occasion. After which I was pleased to see nearly fifty persons give their names.

As the foregoing letter was probably written without any expectation that it would appear in print, liberty has been taken to omit some words, and, in a very few instances, to change the phraseology, but with strict regard to the meaning of the writer. He appears to have been a man of a serious and reflecting mind. The strong language which he has used respecting the influence of education, and the inconsistency of Christians, deserves particular attention. A very great part of the present depravity in all nations may perhaps justly be denominated educational depravity. This is true of the nations of Christendom as well as of other nations. The modes of education among Christians have not only been defective, but in many respects absolutely pernicious-much more adapted to make disciples of Odin or Mahomet, than genuine followers of the Prince of peace. Nor may we expect that a thorough and general reformation of morals will ever be effected, until there shall have been a radical change in the modes of education. The maxim of the apostle "That which a man soweth that shall he also reap" is as applicable to education as to any other thing. Were the husbandman to be at ever so much expense in ploughing and manuring his field, still he would have no reason to expect a plentiful harvest of clear wheat, if the seed sown were a mixture of tares and cockle, with a small portion of the precious grain. As little reason have we to expect a