NOTE.

A volume has preceded the present one-published by Mr. KNAPP, at 25, Cornhill, Boston-containing the Lectures of GEORGE THOMPSON in England, with a full report of the discussion between Mr. Thompson and Mr. Borthwick, the pro-slavery agent, held at the Royal Amphitheatre, in Liverpool. In noticing that volume, the editor of the American Quarterly Anti-Slavery Magazine most happily remarks:

Whoever has listened to the rapturous, impetuous, cataract eloquence of George Thompson, will not so much wonder that his reporters have failed fairly to write him down, as that they did not give up in utter despair. These speeches are not George Thompson; yet, like pictures of rainbows, forked lightning, and the starry concave, there is something of glory in them which will do very well till you compare them with the original. We remember that before we heard our friend lecture, or dreamed of his coming to this country, we used to wonder whether his printed controversy with Borthwick were not an improvement upon the spoken one. We advise the American public, for their own credit, first to buy the book and then recall the man.'

The sketches of Mr. Thompson's Lectures in the United States, contained in the following pages, do not furnish the reader with any adequate conception of his eloquence and pathos yet they are deemed too valuable, and are too closely connected with the history of the anti-slavery cause in the United States, to be left scattered through the pages of a newspaper. The letters are fine specimens of epistolary writing-full of thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.'

Boston-1837.

WM. LLOYD GARRISON.

INTRODUCTION.

It was deemed a sublime spectacle when the youthful LAFAYETTE left his native land for a foreign shore, and perilled his fortune, ease, reputation and life, in order to espouse the cause of a brave but injured people, in their unequal struggle for liberty. An example of patriotism so rare, so full of high-wrought chivalry, and so opposite to the dictates of human selfishness and prudence, could not fail to excite the admiration of the world, even before the termination of the generous and daring adventure.

In the eye of mercy, in the judgment of charity, in the estimation of piety, and ultimately in the decision of mankind, far more of moral sublimity attended the embarkation of GEORGE THOMPSON for these shores, and still higher courage, devotion, fortitude and integrity were required in the prosecution of his great anti-slavery mission among us.

Let this assertion be tested by a comparison of circumstances, objects and situations.

The people, whose cause Lafayette espoused, were respectable, intelligent, enterprising and heroic. He was not required, therefore, to make any sacrifice of respectability, or incur any odium or ridicule, arising from their condition.

-They were not enslaved: no chain ever galled their limbs, no whip was brandished over their heads, no driver followed at their heels, no laborious task was assigned them, no knowledge was withheld from their minds, no robbery of their wages was attempted, no parental or filial relation was violated, no restriction was placed upon their egress or ingress, no claim of property in their persons was set up, no traffic was carried on in any of their bodies. Hence, the injustice from which they were to be delivered was, comparatively speaking, less than the weight of a feather.

They in whose behalf George Thompson pleaded, were degraded unenlightened-servile; and were universally the objects of derision, hatred and persecution. Hence, it required one to make himself like Christ on earth, of no reputation,' to identify himself with them.

-They were ranked & treated as pieces of merchandize and as cattle; were chained, whipped, driven, tasked, plundered, forbidden to learn even the alphabet, sold in private and in public, cruelly restricted as to locomotion, and subjected to a bondage as brutal as it is interminable. Hence, whatever concerns the whole man, for time or eternitywhatever of value is seen in the sanctity of marriage, in the impartial administration of justice, in the protection of law, in the prevalence of christianity-was bound up in the struggle for their emancipation

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We might extend the comparison. Is moral courage superior to physical? Are spiritual weapons better than carnal? Are the victories of truth more glorious than those of brute force? Is it nobler to espouse the cause of the poor and needy, the manacled and the dumb, whose bodies and souls are bartered for gold, than to aid those who labor only under slight disabilities? Is it more godlike to urge the patient endurance of wrong, and forgiveness of enemies, than to stir up the oppressed to deeds of vengeance? Is it more honorable to bear the cross of Christ, amid the jeers and asaults of an evil world, than to incur the hazard and toil of war? Is pure disinterestedness more clearly manifested in advocating the rights of those who can make no returns of gratitude, than in associating with those who are able to offer every demonstration of attachment? In all these aspects, was the merciful enterprise of George Thompson incomparably superior to the warlike co-operation of Lafayette. So will all time and all eternity-so do God and his word decide.

From the days of Martin Luther to the present time, we may look in vain for a loftier specimen of enlightened zeal for God, and tender sympathy for bleeding humanity-for higher evidence of christian devotion, undaunted heroism, stern integrity, and self-denying conduct-than was presented in the case of our English brother. Like Paul, he was in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, [men-stealers, the most guilty and ferocious of all robbers,] in perils by the heathen, [christian advocates and apologists of slavery, the most blame worthy of all the heathen,] in perils in the city, in perils among false brethren, [those who profess to be followers of Christ, and yet excited the mob against him for his labors of love,] in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often.' Like Paul, too, he could sincerely say, 'I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.'

The mission of George Thompson to this country has furnished a splendid precedent to a righteous foreign interference' with national sins, and formed a glorious era in the history of the Anti-Slavery cause. As a philanthropist and Christian, he could not come to us unauthorised, or with unpardonable intrusion,-though a foreigner, according to the caste of this world: but, in addition to the all-sufficient license, nay the imperative command, which God gives to all who are followers of his dear Son, to assail cruelty and oppression, and all existing abominations, at all times and in all places, at home and abroad, in this and in every other country, Mr. Thompson visited America expressly at the invitation and as the Agent of the New-England Anti-Slavery Society, and under the countenance of the British and Foreign Society for the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade throughout the world. The Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, in the course of a glowing panegyric upon Mr. Thompson, bestowed at a public

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meeting in Glasgow, August, 1836, said- The most decided and flattering proof that can be given of satisfaction with an agent whom we have employed in one work, is to set him to another. We did so. He had done his duty so nobly in the home department of the great cause he had at heart, that, when we had achieved our object in the disenthralment of the slaves in our own dependencies, and we looked abroad upon the world for other fields of philanthropic effort, we naturally and unanimously turned our eyes to him, believing that he who had done so well at home, would do equally well abroad. . . When we looked to America, and resolved on a mission of benevolence to that land, all eyes simultaneously looked to George Thompson, as the man of all others most eminently fitted for the charge of the important and difficult task. We sent him to America. He went with the best wishes of the benevolent, and the fervent prayers of the pious. He remained in the faithful, laborious and perilous execution of the commission entrusted to him, as long as it could be done without the actual sacrifice of life-till it would have been the hardihood of insanity to have persisted longer. He returned. We hailed his arrival. We privately and publicly testified our approbation of the course he had pursued. He has risen in my estimation, both as to personal character, and as to official ability and trustworthiness; and never stood higher in my regard, than he does at the present moment.'

The following are additional testimonials to the eminent services and exalted character of Mr. Thompson. At a public meeting in Glasgow, January 25th, 1836, on motion of Rev. William Anderson, it was

Resolved, That this meeting, with unmingled delight, welcomes the return of Mr. THOMPSON from America-seizes this early opportunity to express its high admiration of the blameless propriety, distinguished talent, and noble self-devotion, with which he has prosecuted the great object of his mission to the United States, in the face of national prejudice, interested denunciations, and lawless violence-and feels devoutly grateful to that God who, amidst all such opposition, has crowned his labors with signal success, and through many perils, brought him again safely to these shores.'

At the Second Annual Meeting of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, held on the evening of 1st March,-Rev. Dr. WARDLAW in the chair, -it was unanimously

Resolved, That this Society, in compliance with the invitation of many philanthropists in America, and in connection with other Societies in this country, having deputed Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON as their Agent to the United States, to co-operate with the friends of the abolition of Slavery there, in their efforts to awaken their countrymen to a sense of their duty towards more than two millions of their brethren held by them in cruel bondage, express their cordial approval, and high admiration of the power, intrepidity, and devotion, with which, in the face of formidable opposition, unsparing abuse, and great personal hazards, Mr. THOMPSON Was enabled, by the grace of God, to pursue, and in a good measure to accomplish the great object of his very arduous mission."