re generally all snug abed before twelve o'clock. The last sound that
readies our ears ere we doze off into forgetfulness, is the slow,
lumbering, earthquaky advance of a huge outward-bound wagon. We hear
it at the distance of half a mile, and note distinctly the crushing
and pulverising of every small stone which the broad wheels roll over
as they sluggishly proceed on their way. It rocks us in our beds as it
passes the house; and for twenty minutes afterwards, if we are awake
so long, we are aware that it is groaning heavily onwards, and shaking
the solid earth in its progress--till it sinks away in silence, or we
into the land of dreams.

SLAVES IN BRITAIN.

It has sometimes been predicted, not without plausibility, that if
this great empire should sink before the rising genius of some new
state, when all it has accomplished in arts and arms, and its wealth,
its literature, its machinery, are forgotten, its struggles for
humanity in the abolition of negro slavery will stand forth in
undiminished lustre. All the steps of this mighty operation are
interesting. It is a peculiarity of England and its institutions, that
many of the most momentous constitutional conflicts have taken place
in the courts of law. In despotic countries, this seldom occurs,
because the rulers can bend the courts of law to their pleasure; but
here, even under the worst governments, whatever degree of freedom was
really warranted by law, could be secured by the courts of justice.
When it was said that the air of Britain was too pure for a slave to
breathe in--that his shackles fell off whenever he reached her happy
shore--the sentiment was noble; but the question depended entirely on
the law and its technical details. The trials resulting in a decision
against slavery, have thus much interest from the influence they
exercised on human progress.

There seemed to be every probability that the interesting question,
whether ownership in slaves continued after they had reached Britain,
would have been tried in Scotland. In the middle of last century, a Mr
Sheddan had brought home from Virginia a negro slave to be taught a
trade. He was baptised, and, learning his trade, began to acquire
notions of freedom and citizenship. When the master thought he had
been long enough in Scotland to suit his purpose, the negro was put on
board a vessel for Virginia. He got a friend, however, to present for
him a petition to the Court of Session. The profes