1829.] a?id their Calumniators. 527 



countless number of robbers and knaves made up the ranks. In each, 

 the avowed object of the undertaking influenced but a few of those who 

 were engaged in it ; those few were mistaken, and the rest were actuated 

 only by a desire to gratify their bad passions, or to accompHsh most 

 unworthy purposes. 



Among all the adherents whom tlie Anti- Colonists have not scrupled 

 to adopt, the " learned Thebans" of the Westminster Review are the last 

 that one could have thought they would like to enroll in their lists. Per 

 fas aid nefas, seems, however, to be the motto upon their banners ; and as 

 there has appeared in the last number of that most sagacious, and decent, 

 and discreet publication, an article in which the writer exhausts all his 

 powers of abuse and invective upon the West India Colonies generally, 

 the Anti- Slavery Society, pure and pious as they are, have bought it from 

 the " conductors of that able work," and propose to publish it separately, 

 in a cheap form. Considering its real worth, it ought to be in a cheap 

 form, for there is certainly no coin current in these realms that would 

 not be a most extravagant price for it. A more impudent piece of 

 ribaldry the licentious press of this most licentious age never produced. 

 It is clearly written under the influence of "ale, or viler liquor;" the 

 author's drunkenness betrays itself in every line. The raving incoher- 

 ence of the nonsense with which it is filled, render it impracticable 

 even to attempt any distinct reply to it, and the natural repugnance 

 which all decent people must feel against engaging in a conflict with 

 such an antagonist, is another reason for not touching him. What can be 

 the result of a set-to with a chimney-sweeper ? You may beat him, and 

 be cheered by the by-standers; but only reflect for a moment how 

 miserably you would befoul yourself ! And yet, not for his sake, but 

 for that of his patrons, we must have a word with him. 



The article which the Anti-Slavery Association mean to spread with 

 all the influence they possess^ is headed with the " trial and condemna- 

 tion of Estlier Hibner," who was hanged for murdering a poor child, 

 and the " despatch of Mr. Huskisson on the subject of the cruelties per- 

 petrated by the Mosses, in the Bahamas." This is a device worthy of its 

 inventor, l)ut surely not worthy of the Anti-Slavery Society, if they 

 possess, or woidd claim any character among honest people. There is 

 but one conclusion that they can seek to have di'awn from it, which is, 

 tliat the general treatment of slaves in the West Indies, by the owners of 

 estates there, is similar to that for which Esther Hibner was executed. 

 Quite as justj and quite as true would it be to say, because in all ranks of 

 the Church and State, individuals are to be found who disgrace the 

 station they fill, tliat all who are in the same station are equally dis- 

 graced ; — tliat because Lord Ferrers, and Fauntleroy, and Hunton were 

 hnnged, all tlie peers of Great Britain are addicted to the crimes of 

 murder, and that all the bankers and quakers are, to a man, swindlers 

 and forgers. 



Another notable statement which the anti-colonists desire to have 

 circulated, is, that " If the West India Islands, with all their abomi- 

 nations, were to sink into the sea to-morrow, the British people instead 



lamentable case (hat tlic devil's black-f^'iiards sliould lie God's soldiers ! And, wliicli wa.s 

 more, women (:is if tliey woidd make tlie tide of tlie Amazons truth) wentwitli weajions, in 

 men's clothes, a hcliavioiir at tlie best inniiodest ; and modestie hcinjj the case of cliastitio, 

 it is to l)e feared, that wliere the case is broken, the jewel is lost." — Tlie Hint, of Ihc Holy 

 WUT, I. 1. c. 12. 



