FRIENDS REVIEW. My fellow labourers from America are, I believe, all well, and scattered up and down in this nation and Ireland. N. W., by his increase of flesh, looked finely at the Yearly Meeting. I have not seen him nor any of the others since, except W. M. who is now in Scotland. having felt her mind engaged on my account, has continued with me ever since, visiting most of the meetings in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, part of Essex, and Suffolk, and now in this county, most of which we have gone through, expecting to be at the Quarterly Meeting in York the last two days in this month, after which I cannot say, as I see but little at a time, and continue My mind seems turned among the little ones. toward the Monthly Meetings, but they lie so widely that it occasions more riding and industry necessary; but being accommodated with John Hustler's horse and chaise, and his spouse being an excellent pilot, we have steered in safety thus far, through hills, moors, and variety that is to be met with in this mountainous part of the world called Yorkshire, and am often bowed in humble thankfulness to the Almighty, who, blessed be His great name, hath been rich in mercy and kindness to me, a poor, unworthy creature; and my dear friend and true helpmeet, before named, being willing to take me under her truly motherly wing, is not one of the least of the favours for which I have to be thankful. This is increased by the sense of gospel unity which is felt mutually in our religious labours as we pass from place to place, finding the state of I am ready to conclude, from a dream lately things in most places to be exceedingly low, especially in the Meetings for Discipline amongst had of John Reynell, that he is either gone, or near going, to the house appointed for all living. women Friends, though there is an honest number who are bewailing the present sorrowful de- I hope the continuance of kind notice and regard clension, and these are a little comforted in the from thee and other Friends to my dear partner prospect of some relief; but alas! unless the for whom I have felt deeply. May best wisdom Lord is pleased to help, in vain is the help of be her counsellor and sure friend. At times I have felt a secret hope that Thou mayest, with my love, inform S. Waln that there is a reviving, and that the Most High will her husband is acceptably among Friends here yet show himself strong in behalf of the sorrow-in the way of his duty; the like, I hope, may ful few who have indeed hung their harps as upon the willows. There is a precious visitation of divine love extended to the youth, and many of them are under the humbling forming hand, who, if they abide patiently under the holy fan and fire, will be made in the Lord's time useful and honourable in their generation, for the rebuilding of the walls of our Zion, that are in many places so sadly broken down; SO conand repairing the breaches that are spicuous. Have been twice at Friends' boarding shool at Ackworth, which is a fine institution, and a blessing to the youth. Upwards of 300 are now there under the tuition of pious mistresses especially, (I say mistresses because my concern was more towards the females; I hope the masters are, several of them, religiously engaged,) and proposals are on foot for another boarding school for girls only, intended for the accommodation of 40 or 50 girls, to be established at York, under the particular inspection of Esther Tuke, who is truly a mother in Israel; and seems to think, though her constitution has had several alarming shocks of late, that her time will be prolonged till the school is established; and I am inclined to think it will be of great use and benefit to the more attentive to their female part of society. Indeed, in a general way, Friends here seem daughters' education than in some parts of our They are mostly good pen-women country. and read with propriety. man. Though I feel my own great weakness, yet am I sustained mercifully in assurance that this sacrifice was called for at my hands by Him who has an undoubted right to my all, and who, my soul can say, has been all things to me that I have stood in need of. And as thou knowest I have not attained to great things, I may inform thee I have nothing in desire more than the exaltation of the pure testimony, however the creature may be abased, which has frequently been my experience, being often deeply dipped under a sense of the greatness of the work, and the feebleness of the instrument engaged therein, insomuch that I have cried out, "who is sufficient for these things?" be said of all the others. * * * * * * * * I hope dear R. V. is by this time arrived, with S. F. and S. G., and should like to hear how they made out with our Captain, who, on our account, deserves the esteem of our Friends; Robert has left a good savour on the minds of Friends here. Oh, I am afraid of none of my fellow servants, but on my own account I am in great fear, lest I fail in fulfilling the gracious intention of Him who, in the riches of his mercy, visited my soul in early life, and called by his grace into an acquaintance with himself by the working of His mighty power in my heart, and changing it, both in desire and affection, so that, as a brand plucked from the burning, have I been rescued from impending ruin, and now engaged for the good of others! that they may come, taste and see for themselves that the Lord is good. These considerations are to me very humbling, and lead fervently to breathe after continued preservation, that I may, indeed, so run as to obtain, so fight as to gain the prize which is reserved for the end of this arduous race, and is often animatingly in my view, being feelingly convinced that " of ourselves we can do nothing," and I therefore desire that my dependence may be only on Him. who can support, direct, and help in every time | at least, inconsistent conclusions. But while of need. Yesterday I was at Whitby Meeting-the place where so many Friends were disowned on account of their being concerned in vessels carrying guns and 1 understand that one of them is already reinstated, and that two others have offered an acknowledgment, which is before Scarborough Monthly Meeting. One of the number chose to accompany us to the next meeting at Castleton, and as it was his desire we did not forbid it, having other Friends with us. I am looking forward to the approaching Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia. May you be remembered, strengthened and comforted together. Helmsley, 25th.-I remember this day begins. the Yearly Meeting, and though I believe I am where I ought to be, yet if I might spend about ten days now with you it would be truly comfortable. This is not to be; but my mind is and will be with you, and is strongly desirous that the Master of our assemblies may favour with his blessed presence, and be your counsellor, wisdom and stability. Farewell, says thy tried friend, R. JONES. the ingenuity of the bar is exerted in bending the facts and the law to their specific conclusions, the learning, impartiality and integrity of the bench, are expected to seize upon the truths, both as to facts and law, which are elicited by the discussions, and to reject whatever is unsound or sophistical. While the lawyer, before he begins his argument, has his conclusion certainly defined, to which he must arrive by the most forcible or plausible reasoning he can adopt; the judge is required to weigh the arguments on each side of the question, and embrace such decision as he can deduce from the nature of the case, and the principles of the law. He is expected to decide after hearing the cause, not like the lawyer, before he begins. In most cases where opposing opinions are brought into collision, whatever the subject of discussion may be, we usually, or at least frequently, find the parties professedly acting the part of the judge; both ostensibly labouring to arrive at a correct conclusion. And yet if we calmly listen to the remarks on either side, we can scarcely avoid the conviction, that we are listening to the counsel at the bar, rather than to the judge on the bench. A story is told of a king who, being called to the decision of a disconcluded it safer to decide from what he had puted case, heard the argument on one side, and heard, than to incur the risk of being puzzled and confused with contradictory reasonings. Most persons would regard such a procedure as quite inconsistent with the character of a judge, whether royal or not; and yet how frequently do we witness the principle of this proceeding adopted in practice. There are unquestionably The dream referred to in the preceding letter, was in substance that Samuel Coates had brought to her from John Reynell a plate of soup. She told her dream to Esther Tuke, and next day a letter arrived from S. C., written in his capacity of Executor to J. R., enclosing a legacy of £50. "Dear Rebecca," said Esther," that is the plate of soup." The removal of this valued friend is thus referred to, in a letter to R. J. from Catherine Howell, dated Edgly, 9th mo. 11th, 1784.numerous cases in which we are individually as "In the death of that worthy Elder, John Reynell, our Society has sustained a loss, and the poor have lost a kind friend: he having for the last twenty years allotted one-third of his expenditures for their relief; and now at the close, he has left one thousand pound, to be handed them, in sums of £5 each. Also the following legacies as a token of his regard." For Friends' Review. * It is understood to be the invariable practice of our higher courts, particularly the Supreme Court of the United States, not to decide a case which comes before them without having it first argued at the bar. Now it is well known that the effort of the pleader on either side of the case, is, not to exhibit the facts or principles of law which relate to the subject, without disguise or concealment; but to give such a colouring to both, as to favour a particular conclusion We never expect the opposite counsel to deduce from the facts and principles of law, which they are required to examine, any other than opposite, or deeply interested in the arrival at a correct conclusion, as the king, or the parties to the cause If the duty of the judge on the bench, or the king in question, were in the propriety of his decision. on his throne, requires that he should not only hear, but carefully weigh and examine the reaquestion which he is about to decide; certainly sons that may be offered on each side of the the man who would establish his opinions and consequent practice upon a solid basis, ought to be as ready to hear and examine the evidence by which those opinions may rectified or changed, as the judge on the bench. In the case of legal controversy, the attorney at the bar is employed for a pecuniary consideration to establish a particular conclusion. Of the correctness of that conclusion he must first convince himself if he can, and then convince the judge or the jury. The first object would appear to be generally attained; for we seldom hear of lawyers deserting their clients in the midst of the trial, whatever aspect the cause may assume. How far the moral integrity of the profession is involved in the usual procedure, it is not the object of this essay to inquire. If the FRIENDS' REVIEW. labourer is worthy of his hire, he is also required it is probably true, that we are more indebted Now let us enquire whether these principles, Do not such facts, and others of a kindred so fully admitted in legal practice, are not applicable, to nearly an equal extent, to subjects of character, suggest a doubt, whether mankind in In the general are as willing to have their errors in frequent discussion in common life. examination of questions relative to moral, politi-opinion or practice corrected, as they profess to cal or religious concerns, whatever liberty may be? Or may we not justly conclude that the be allowed to the ingenuity of the lawyer, the lady, who thought it very remarkable that she final decision ought always to be subjected to could find nobody but herself, who was always the gravity and impartiality of the bench. But exactly right, expressed an opinion which she how frequently do we find in the discussion of shared in common with great part of our race? these subjects, that the judge has received his I may possibly be asked if I wish people to have bribe, as well as the lawyer his fee. Prejudice, no opinion of their own, but to be ready to empartiality, and the pride of opinion, often con- brace whatever new one may be offered to them? stitute a bribe which blinds the eyes of the wise. Certainly not. Perhaps it may be found that a When Galileo revived the Pythagorean and principal reason why old errors are so difficult We adopt conCopernican doctrine of the mobility of the earth, to remove, is that we do not take the trouble of the thunder of the Vatican was roused against an forming opinions of our own. opinion which was pronounced to be false inclusions, and fall into practices, we scarcely philosophy and heretical in religion. His judges know how; and having long continued in were bribed by the prejudices of their education, them, we defend them, not because we have and the pride of opinion. When the same phi- any solid conviction of their correctness, but We defend losopher announced the discovery of Jupiter's because they have been incorporated into our satellites as the fruit of his telescopic observa- habits of action and thought. can frame; tions, a zealous Peripatetic, denied the fact, be- them as the lawyer defends the cause of his cause no trace of it could be found in the works client, by the best reasoning we of Aristotle. Here the pride of learned opinion and with the same zeal and sincerity with which was the bribe. When Columbus offered to the the lawyer would have argued the cause of his sages of Salamanca, an explanation of his plan opponent, if he had been retained on his side; of reaching India by sailing in a western direc- or with which we would have supported an option, which was of course dependent upon the posite doctrine and practice, if we had haprotundity of the earth, he was encountered by pened to embrace them. the learning of his judges, one of whom produced the authority of an ancient Father, to expose the absurdity of the opinion that there were antipodes, who walked, like flies on a ceiling, with their heads downward; and where it rained, hailed, and snowed upward. When Dr. Harvey announced his discovery of the circulation of the blood, the learned professors of the day opposed the innovation; and it is asserted that no physician in England, over forty years of age, adopted his theory. When Lavoisier exposed the errors of the Phlogistic theory of Stahl, that doctrine was still obstinately defended by no less an authority than Dr. Priestly. When John Woolman, Anthony Benezet, and a few others, began to plead for the emancipation of the Negro race, a long course of labour and time was required to bring the Society of Friends to adopt and reduce into practice, the now apparently self-evident truth, that slaveholding was irreconcilable with the whole tenour of the Christian religion. And Aversion to the labour of thinking, attachment to long cherished opinions, and the fear of the mortification attendant upon conviction of error, constitute the fee and the bribe, which are not easily rejected. The first practical inference to be drawn from these reflections, is, that in all cases where difference of opinion, and of consequent practice exists, it is the part not only of wisdom, but of justice, to accede to others the same right of private judgment which we demand for ourselves. If we do not claim infallibility in general, why should we insist upon it in particular cases? If we admit that being nothing more than human, we may be sometimes mistaken, would it not be prudent before treating the opinion of an opponent with disrespect, and, above all, with anger, soberly to inquire whether the case before us may not be one in which our infallibility has failed us. And if with a sincere desire to arrive at a correct judgment, particularly in matters of practical importance, we must be conscious that we are not infallible, how unjust and unreasonable must it appear, to judge harshly of others, because they are not infallible; or are not willing to concede to us an exemption from error, which we can hardly claim for ourselves! But the important point to which I wish to direct the attention of my readers, is the necessity of examining with candor and care the basis of the judgment which they may adopt in relation to their duties in civil and religious society; and more especially when that judgment is offered for the regulation of others. In cases of this character, we ought to remember that we are not called to perform the office of the lawyer at the bar, but of the judge on the bench. That the fee and the bribe are to be sternly rejected. Perhaps the plan of Descartes, who proposed to begin his philosophical enquiries by doubting of every thing, had a larger spice of good sense than we should at first suppose. It was, at least, well adapted to break down the dogmas of the schools. And there can be very little question that many dogmas in religion and morals have reached our time, which may as justly be doubted as those of the Aristotelian school. Without, therefore, attempting to adopt the theory of doubting of every thing-which is not only absurd, but impossible-it would be wise in all important cases, before we adopt a definitive judgment, and offer it as a standard for others as well as ourselves, to examine every point which is susceptible of doubt; and if we listen to the arguments which prejudice and the pride of opinion may offer, that we at least imitate the practice of our highest judiciaries, and suspend our decision until both sides have been heard and duly considered. The substance of the matter, when religion and morals are concerned, may be comprised in the admonition of the Apostle-If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise."* This plainly indicates the abandonment of prejudices and the pride of opinions; and the adoption of a humble and teachable spirit. When that spirit is imbibed, a preparation is witnessed to partake of the wisdom which comes from above, and which is not only pure, but also peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated. With this wisdom, harsh and bitter judgment has no place. Error in opinion or in action will be corrected, not by fierce denunciation, but in the meekness of restoring love. E. L. Years may pass over our heads without affording any opportunity for acts of high beneficence or extensive utility; whereas not a day passes, but, in the common transactions of life, and especially in the intercourse of domestic society, gentleness finds place for causing the happiness 1 Corinth. 3: 18. of others, and strengthening in ourselves the habit of true virtue: nay, by seasonable discoveries of a humane spirit, we sometimes contribute more materially to the advancement of happiness, than by actions which are, seemingly, more important.-Blair. CHEMISTRY OF AUTUMN. (Concluded from page 37.) The most interesting spectacle presented by this season is the corn waving before the breeze, and offering for the necessities of man a food, the nourishment of which has been abstracted in so extraordinary a manner from air, earth, and water. This food science can analyse, but no synthetical process imitate. In vain it compounds the elements oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon, in the exact proportions of the grain: no inorganic substance will support human life. The chemist cannot make food, even with all its materials at his command; his art is confined to ascertaining the nature and properties of that which has been subjected to the mysterious laws of vitality, whether in the animal or vegetable creation. And yet science, weak as it may seem in this respect, is able to stimulate and assist nature in her processes for man's own benefit. Grain-bearing vegetables are all in this sense "artificial;" wheat, barley, oats, maize, rye, rice, millet, beans, and peas, having never been discovered in a wild or natural state of growth. In hot weather the appetite for food is not so keen as in cold weather; and chemistry, through her high-priest, Liebig, informs us of the reason. The source of heat within the human body is the combination-the combustion, so to speak of the carbon of the food with the oxygen of the atmosphere. "The animal body is a heated mass, which bears the same relation to surrounding objects as any other heated mass;" receiving heat when these are hotter, and losing heat when these are colder than itself. The blood, notwithstanding, of an inhabitant of the arctic circle has a temperature as high as that of a native of the south; and this shows that "the heat given off to the surrounding medium is restored within the body with great rapidity"-a compensation which must take place more rapidly in winter than in summer. "Now in different climates the quantity of oxygen introduced into the system by respiration varies according to the temperature of the external air; the quantity of inspired oxygen increases with the loss of heat by external cooling, and the quantity of carbon or hydrogen increased in the same ratio. If we were to go necessary to combine with this oxygen must be naked, like certain savage tribes, or if, in hunting or fishing, we were exposed to the same degree of cold as the Samoyedes, we should be able with ease to consume ten pounds of flesh, and perhaps a dozen of tallow candles into the bargain, daily, as warmly-clad travellers have related with astonishment of these people. The quantity of food is affected likewise by the number of our respirations. In oppressively hot weather, this number is limited by our inability to take exercise, and consequently we do not imbibe enough of oxygen to consume our usual quantity of carbon. If we enable ourselves for a time to keep up this quantity, or, in other words, to eat our usual quantity of food, by the use of stimulating condiments, our health soon fails. "The cooling of the body, by whatever cause it may be produced, increases the amount of food necessary. The mere exposure to the open air, in a carriage or on ths deck of a ship, by increasing radiation and vaporisation, increases the loss of heat, and compels us to eat more than usual. The same is true of those who are accustomed to drink large quantities of cold water, which is given off at the temperature of the body, 98.5°. It increases the appetite, and persons of weak constitution find it necessary, by continued exercise, to supply to the system the oxygen required to restore the heat abstracted by the cold water. Loud and longcontinued speaking, the crying of infants, moist air, all exert a decided and appreciable influence on the amount of food which is taken." It has been discovered that lignin, or the solid part of wood, affords edible matter; and that when properly prepared, it may be baked into loaves of bread more palatable than those that are made in times of scarcity from bran and husks of corn. This woody fibre forms the chief bulk of vegetables, from the slight network which contains the pulp and juice of fruits, up to the substantial body of forest timber. In all, the actual proximate principle is of the same density; but in some it is closely, and in others loosely compacted, the latter involving amongst its pores a considerable volume of air. Thus ebony and lignum vitæ sink in water like stones, while oak and pine float with great buoyancy; but if you expel the air from the two latter, by boiling or otherwise, they will sink like the two former. see here and there a ring of brighter green, in which we love to fancy that the elfin people are accustomed to dance during the night. But science conjectures that these circles-increasing annually in size, and sometimes presenting a very extraordinary appearance-are rather the production of a fungus, which, on dying away every year, leaves a rich soil for the more luxuriant growth of grass. Towards the close of the season, when slight frosts become common, the meadow presents a still stranger phenomenon, which formerly occasioned not mere poetical excitement, like the fairy rings, but superstitious dread. This is the print of footsteps, which appear to have scorched the grass like heated iron. And they are footsteps, and human footsteps; which, falling on the grass when it is crimp with frost, break it completely down and destroy it. When the sun has thawed away the hoary covering from the meadow, its grass appears rich and green-all but these mystic prints, where the footsteps scorched, like guilt, as they passed! OBLIGATION TO BRUTES. Brutes are sensitive beings, capable of, probably, as great degrees of physical pleasure and pain as ourselves. They are endowed with instinct, which is probably a form of intellect inferior to our own, but which, being generically unlike to ours, we are unable to understand. They differ from us chiefly in being destitute of any moral faculty. We do not stand to them in the relation of equality. Our right is paramount, and must extinguish theirs. We have therefore a right to use them, to promote our comfort, and may innocently take their life, if our necesities demand it. This right over them is given to us by the revealed will of God. But inasmuch as they, like ourselves, are the creatures of God, we have no right to use them in any other manner than that which God has permitted. They, as much as ourselves, are under His protection. We may therefore use them, 1st, for our necessities. We are designed to subsist partly upon animal food; and we may By and by the sun will decline in heat and innocently slay them for this purpose. 2d, We splendour, and the leaves of trees and plants may use them for labour, or for innocent phyassume for a little while those autumnal tints sical recreation, as when we employ the horse which steep the season in beauty. The differ- for draught or for the saddle. 3d, But while ent colours are supposed to depend upon cer- we so use them, we are bound to treat them tain acid matters now formed in the withering kindly, to furnish them with sufficient food and leaf, which produce a reflection of red and yel- with convenient shelter. He who cannot feed low light, with various other intermixtures. All a brute well, ought not to own one. And when this glory, however, of the vegetable world is we put them to death, it should be with the only a prelude to its decay. Soon come the least possible pain. 4th, We are forbidden to chill winds, with power to lay the forest bare; treat them unkindly on any pretence, or for any and these beautiful leaves, scattered upon the reason. There can be no clearer indication of ground, mingling gradually with its substance, a degraded and ferocious temper than cruelty to and undergoing new changes, become nutriment animals. Hunting, in many cases, and horsefor the stems on which they grew. When the racing, seem to me liable to censure in this grass meadows begin to lose their colour, we respect. Why should a man, for the sake of |