rejects it! In vain you tell me of laws that sanction such a claim! There is a law, above all the enactments of human codes the same, throughout the world-the same, in all times: such as it was, before the daring genius of Columbus pierced the night of ages, and opened to one world the sources of power, wealth, and knowledge; to another, all utterable woes,—such is it at this day: it is the law written by the finger of God on the heart of man; and by that law, unchangeable and eternal-while men despise fraud, and loathe repine, and hate blood—they shall reject, with indignation, the wild and guilty fantasy, that man can hold property in man! In vain you appeal to treaties to covenants between nations. The covenants of the Almighty, whether the old covenant or the new, denounce such unholy pretensions. To these laws did they of old refer, who maintained the African trade. Such treaties did they cite-and not untruly; for, by one shameful compact, you bartered the glories of Blenheim for the traffic in blood. Yet, in despite of law and of treaty, that infernal traffic is now destroyed, and its votaries put to death like other pirates. How came this change to pass? Not, assuredly, by parliament leading the way: but the country at length awoke; the indignation of the people was kindled; it descended in thunder, and smote the traffic, and scattered its guilty profits to the winds. Now, then, let the planters beware-let their assemblies bewarelet the government at home beware-let the parliament beware! The same country is once more awake-awake to the condition of negro slavery; the same indignation kindles in the bosom of the same people; the same cloud is gathering, that annihilated the slave trade; and if it shall descend again. they on whom its crash may fall, will not be destroyed before I have warned them; but I pray, that their destruction may turn away from us the more terrible judgments of God! SPEECHES AND DIALOGUES FROM SHAKSPEARE. I. HAMLET'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PLAYERS. of SPEAK the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it, as many our players do, I had as lief the town-crier had spoke my lines. And do not saw the air too much with your hand thus; but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you must ac quire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. Oh! it offends me to the soul, to hear a robustious periwig. pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings; who (for the most part) are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb show and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it. Be not too tame neither; but let your own discretion be our tutor. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature; for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing; whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of one of which must, in your allowance, o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. Oh! there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly (not to speak it profanely), that nei ther having the accent of Christian, nor the gait of Christian, Pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought some of Nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably. And let those that play your clowns, speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them that will them selves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the meantime, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered:-that's villanous; and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. II. CASSIUS INCITING BRUTUS TO CONSPIRE AGAINST CESAR. Bru.-What means this shouting?-I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas.-Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru.—I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well :- I cannot tell what you and other men In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: And bade him follow: so indeed he did. The torrent roar'd; and we did buffet it Did from the flames of Troy, upon his shoulder, The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber, Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true this god did shake; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans Bru.-Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Walk under his huge legs, and peep about, Men at some time are masters of their fates: Brutus, and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd: Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I would not-so with love I might entreat you— I will with patience hear; and find a time III.-BRUTUS ON THE DEATH OF CÆSAR. ROMANS, Countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause; and be silent that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour; and have respect to mine honour that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom; and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say, that Brutus's love to Cæsar was no less than his. If, then, |