gions "No. I. of the "

Library."

Edinburgh Cabinet

1832, 5mo. 13th.- On 7th day, the 10th, I accompanied my father and mother to the Antislavery meeting at Exeter Hall. With much ado we got front seats, near the speakers. J S- Iwas in the chair. He had but a weak voice, but a veteran in the cause of negro emancipation. Lord S― went over the question in a long speech. He is a fine figure, but not very fluent; - he was loudly cheered. T. F. B made a very eloquent speech. D. O'C M.P. spoke well.—He was severely reprimanded by one of the speakers for not having brought forward a motion in the House of Commons, as he had pledged himself, for the emancipation of the negro children. To these observations, D. O'C replied very coolly - The tleman says he wishes for no quarter, and will give none. I also wish for no quarter, but am willing to give it. The gentleman says he has charity enough. I hope I have some charity, but I wish I had more." He then explained why he had not brought forward his promised

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motion for the emancipation of the children, "because Mr. B was to move for general emancipation; and, therefore, I thought it wrong to come forward with a lesser good. We Irishmen are a curious people; and, among other queer notions, we think that in a man's freedom his unborn children are necessarily included. If there is any pledge which I have left unredeemed, Monday's sun shall not set, before I will have fulfilled it."—(Much cheering.)

5mo.31st. I have attended, with father, several sittings of the Yearly Meeting. John Lister was there yesterday; I think 94 years old. Four American Friends-ministers are

in London.

8 mo. 7th. On the State of Society in Europe during the Middle Ages, suggested by reading" Vol. I. Robertson's Charles V."

The barbarians who overran the Roman empire, upon every side spread desolation; the refined usages of the Romans were lost, and man relapsed into ignorance and barbarism. The kings pos

sessed the name without the power; their authority scarcely extended beyond their own personal estate. The great barons exercised supreme control over their domain, established courts, over which they presided, and administered justice to their dependants. Out of this state of things arose the feudal system, which spread over great part of Europe for nearly two centuries.-The subversion of this system was a work of time: the royal prerogative was too limited to oppose itself, at once, against the established institutions of the country, supported by the jealous power of the nobles, and sanctioned by long usage.- In the eleventh century, the famous crusades exercised a beneficial effect upon the manners of Europe; they opened an intercourse with the more civilised nations of the East; they extended the royal prerogative, by lessening the property, and consequently the power, of the nobles; by taking away many potent vassals, who controlled the actions of the king; and by annexing to the crown many fiefs, the property of barons who fell in battle. Besides this, we must consider their commercial effect, in enriching the maritime republics of Italy, and laying the foundation of the

valuable trade to the Levant and India.-The formation of cities into free communities was another important step; those of Italy first threw off the yoke of the nobles, becoming so many little republics, governed by equal laws, and cherishing a love of liberty.-The inhabitants of the country next procured liberty by enfranchisement, A.D. 1315-1318. This was accomplished partly by the example of the king, partly by the poverty or avarice of the nobles, who expected to raise money by this expedient.

The first step towards a regular administration of justice, was the abolition of the baneful practice of private war, which was continually spreading desolation and anarchy over the face of the country. In order to effect this, various laws were passed, ordering a formal defiance to be sent to the adversary, and forty days to elapse between the trespass and the attack. The church also, in various ways, endeavoured to restrain the practice; yet, notwithstanding all this, it was continued as late as the fourteenth century, when the extension of the royal authority, and the slow, yet sure march of knowledge, effected the total abolition.

By similar methods the trial by combat was abolished, which arose from the imperfect administration of justice in an ignorant people, and the martial and superstitious spirit of the age. Its pernicious effects are evident-force usurped the place of equity, and justice was banished from her proper mansion.

The next step was to abolish the right the nobility exercised to administer justice among their dependants. A court of appeal from their decisions was established, and slowly and gradually royal courts were formed, which travelled from place to place. Such were the means by which the administration of justice was based upon firm and equitable principles, and a foundation was laid for the institutions of modern times.

Among uncivilised nations there is but one. profession honourable — that of arms; and this was the state of Europe during several centuries; but, when the rules of law became fixed, it required more study than illiterate nobles had the leisure or inclination to give, and thus the art of war was left to men trained to the science.

The spirit of chivalry introduced more liberal