Mas si quadra á tu suma omnipotencia
que yo pereyca, cual malvado impío,
y que las hombres mi cadaver frio
ultragen con maligna complacencia
suene tu voz, y acabe mi existencia,

cúmplose en mi tu voluntad, Dios mio."

The following is a translation of these beautiful lines. They were written in prison the night before his execution, and were solemnly recited by him as he proceeded to the place of death, so that the concluding stanza was uttered only a few moments before he expired.

"Being of infinite goodness! God Almighty!
I hasten in mine agony to thee!

Rending the hateful veil of calumny,
Stretch forth thine arm omnipotent in pity;
Efface this ignominy from my brow,
Wherewith the world is fain to brand it now.
Oh King of kings! thou God of my forefathers!
My God! thou only my defence shalt be,
Who gav'st her riches to the shadowed sea;
From whom the North her frosty treasures gathers-
Of heavenly light and solar flame the giver,
Life to the leaves, and motion to the river.

Thou canst do all things. What thy will doth cherish,
Revives to being at thy sacred voice,

Without thee all is naught, and at thy choice,

In fathomless eternity must perish.

Yet e'en that nothingness thy will obeyed,

When of its void humanity was made.

Merciful God; I can deceive thee never;

Since, as through ether's bright transparency,
Eternal wisdom still my soul can see

Through every earthly lineament for ever.

Forbid it, then, that Innocence should stand
Humbled, while Slander claps her impious hand.

But if the lot thy sovereign power shall measure,
Must be to perish as a wretch accurs'd,
And men shall trample over my cold dust-
The corse outraging with malignant pleasure-
Speak, and recall my being at thy nod!
Accomplish in me all thy will, my God!"

MARIA W. CHAPMAN.

The execution of Placido took place at six o'clock in the morning, a victim to Slavery. It is to be hoped that more may yet be learnt of the history of this unfortunate, but gifted Negro.

THE HAPPY NEGRO.

Some years ago, Andrew Searle, an English gentleman had occasion to visit North America, where the following circumstance occurred, as related in his own words :

"Every day's observation convinces me that the children of God are made so by his own special grace; and that all means are equally effectual with Him, whenever He is pleased to employ them for conversion.

"In one of my excursions, while I was in the State of New York, I was walking by myself over a considerable plantation, amused with its husbandry, and comparing it with that of my own country, till I came within a little distance of a middle aged Negro, who was tilling the ground. I felt a strong inclination, unusual with me, to converse with him. After asking him some little questions about his work, which he answered in a sensible manner, I asked him to tell me whether his state of Slavery was not disagreeable to him, and whether he would not gladly be at liberty. 'Massah,' said he, looking seriously upon me, 'I have a wife and children; my Massah take care of them, and I have no care to provide any thing; I have a good Massah, who teaches me to read; and I read good book that makes me happy.'-'I am glad,' replied I, 'to hear you say so; and pray what is the good book you read?' 'The Bible, Massah, God's own book.'-'Do you understand, friend, as well as read, this book? For many can read the words well, who cannot get hold of the true and good sense.'

"O Massah,' said he, 'I read the book much, before I understand; but, at last, I felt pain in my heart; I found

things in the book that cut me to pieces.'-'Ah!' said I, 'and what things were they?' 'Why, Massah, I found that I had a bad heart, a very bad heart indeed; I felt pain that God would destroy me, because I was wicked, and done nothing as I should do. God was holy, and I was very vile and wicked; I could have nothing from Him but fire and brimstone in hell.'

"In short, he entered into a full account of his convictions of sin, which were indeed as deep and piercing as almost any I had ever heard of; and stated what Scriptures came to his mind, which he had read, that both probed to the bottom of his sinful heart, and were made the means of light and comfort to his soul. I then inquired of him what ministry or means he made use of, and found that his master had taught his Slaves to read, but had not conversed with this Negro upon the state of his soul.

"I asked him likewise, how he got comfort under all this trial? O Massah!' said he, it was Christ gave me comfort by his dear word. He bade me come unto Him, and He would give me rest; for I was very weary and heavy laden.' And here he repeated a number of the most precious texts in the Bible, showing, by his artless comment upon them, as he went along, what great things God had done in the course of some years for his soul. Being rather more acquainted with doctrinal truths, and the Bible, than he had been, or in his situation could easily be, I had a mind to ascertain how far a simple experience, graciously given without the usual means, could preserve a man from error; and I therefore asked him several questions about the merit of works, the justification of a sinner, the power of grace, and the like, and I own I was as much astonished at, as I admired, the sweet spirit and simplicity of his answers, with the heavenly wisdom that God had put into the mind of this Negro.

"His discourse, flowing merely from the richness of grace, with a tenderness and expression far beyond the

reach of art,' perfectly charmed me. On the other hand, my entering into all his feelings, together with an account to him, which he had never heard before, that thus and thus the Lord, in his mercy, dealt with all his children, and had dealt with me, drew streams of joyful tears down his black face; and we looked upon each other, and talked with that inexpressible glow of Christian affection, that made me more than ever believe, in what I have often too thoughtlessly professed to believe-the communion of saints.

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"I shall never forget how the poor creature seemed to hang upon my lips, and to eat my very words, when I enlarged upon the love of Christ to poor sinners-the free bounty and tender mercy of God-the frequent and delightful sense He gives of his presence-the faith He bestows in his promises-the victories this faith is enabled to get over trials and temptations-the joy and peace in believing the hope in life and death, and the glorious expectation of immortality. To have seen his eager, delighted, animated air and manner, would have cheered and warmed any Christian's heart, and have been a master-piece for any painter. He had never heard such discourse, nor found the opportunity of hearing it, before. He seemed like a man who had been thrown into a new world, and at length had found company.

"Though my conversation lasted at least two or three hours, I scarcely ever enjoyed the happy swiftness of time so sweetly in all my life. We knew not how to part. He would accompany me as far as he might; and I felt, on my side, such a delight in the artless, solid, unaffected experience of this pious soul, that I could have been glad to have seen him oftener then, or to see his like at any time now; but my situation rendered it impossible. I therefore took an affectionate leave, with feelings equal to those of the warmest and most ancient friendship; telling him that neither the colour of his body, nor the condition of his present life, could prevent him from being my dear brother

in our dear Saviour; and that, though we must part now, never to see each other again in this world, I had no doubt of our having another joyful meeting in our Father's home, where we should live together, and love one another, throughout a long and happy eternity. Amen, Amen, my dear Massah,' said he,- God bless you, and poor me, too, for ever and ever.'

"If I had been an angel from Heaven, he could not have received me with more ardent delight than he did; nor could I have considered him with a more sympathetic regard, if he had been a long known Christian of the good old sort, grown up into my affections in the course of many years."

RICHARD COOPER.

The following testimony was issued by the Society of Friends, at Little Creek, North America, respecting Richard Cooper, a descendant of Africa, who died in 1820.

"Our esteemed friend, RICHARD COOPER, departed this life about the age of 100. He was a descendant of the greatly oppressed Africans, a native of the island of Barbadoes, and, by birth, a Slave. At the age of 12 or 14 he was brought to this country and sold. Having frequently changed owners, he at length became the property of a member of the Society of Friends; and at the time of the total emancipation, by the Society, of its Slaves, he was liberated from an unmerited and unjust bondage.

"About this time, he became convinced of the religious principles of Friends, which he ascribed to the tender care and frequent admonition of his mistress, in directing his mind to the principle of divine grace and truth in the heart. He was a frequent attendant of Friends' meetings, and, in advanced life, he requested to be admitted a member of the society, and was received.