Several present spoke of the part which England originally had in planting slavery in America, as placing English Christians under a solemn responsibility to bring every possible moral influence to bear for its extinction.  Nevertheless, they seem to be the farthest possible from an unkind or denunciatory spirit, even towards those most deeply implicated.  The remarks made by Dr. McNiel to me were a fair sample of the spirit and attitude of all present.

“I have been trying, Mrs. S.,” he said, “to bring my mind into the attitude of those Christians at the south who defend the institution of slavery.  There are real Christians there who do this—­are there not?”

I replied, that undoubtedly there were some most amiable and Christian people who defend slavery on principle, just as there had been some to defend every form of despotism.

“Do give me some idea of the views they take; it is something to me so inconceivable.  I am utterly at a loss how it can be made in any way plausible.”

I then stated that the most plausible view, and that which seemed to have the most force with good men, was one which represented the institution of slavery as a sort of wardship or guardian relation, by which an inferior race were brought under the watch and care of a superior race to be instructed in Christianity.

He then inquired if there was any system of religious instruction actually pursued.

In reply to this, I gave him some sketch of the operations for the religious instruction of the negroes, which had been carried on by the Presbyterian and other denominations.  I remarked that many good people who do not take very extended views, fixing their attention chiefly on the efforts which they are making for the religious instruction of slaves, are blind to the sin and injustice of allowing their legal position to remain what it is.

“But how do they shut their eyes to the various cruelties of the system,—­the separation of families—­the domestic slave trade?”

I replied, “In part, by not inquiring into them.  The best kind of people are, in general, those who know least of the cruelties of the system; they never witness them.  As in the city of London or Liverpool there may be an amount of crime and suffering which many residents may live years without seeing or knowing, so it is in the slave states.”

Every person present appeared to be in that softened and charitable frame of mind which disposed them to make every allowance for the situation of Christians so peculiarly tempted, while, at the same time, there was the most earnest concern, in view of the dishonor brought upon Christianity by the defence of such a system.

One other thing I noticed, which was an agreeable disappointment to me.  I had been told that there was no social intercourse between the established church and dissenters.  In this party, however, were people of many different denominations.  Our host belongs to the established church; his brother, with whom we are visiting, is a Baptist, and their father was a Friend; and there appeared to be the utmost social cordiality.  Whether I shall find this uniformly the case will appear in time.