There have been several inventors among the colored people.  The youth Henry Blair, of Maryland, some years ago, invented the Corn-Planter, and Mr. Roberts of Philadelphia, 1842, a machine for lifting cars off the railways.

It may be expected that we should say something about a book issued in Boston, purporting to be a history of ancient great men of African descent, by one Mr. Lewis, entitled “Light and Truth.”  This book is nothing more than a compilation of selected portions of Rollin’s, Goldsmith’s, Furguson’s, Hume’s, and other ancient histories; added to which, is a tissue of historical absurdities and literary blunders, shamefully palpable, for which the author or authors should mantle their faces.

If viewed in the light of a “Yankee trick,” simply by which to make money, it may, peradventure, be a very clever trick; but the publisher should have recollected, that the ostensible object of his work was, the edification and enlightenment of the public in general and the colored people in particular, upon a great and important subject of truth; and that those who must be the most injured by it, will be the very class of people, whom he professes a desire to benefit.  We much regret the fact, that there are but too many of our brethren, who undertake to dabble in literary matters, in the shape of newspaper and book-making, who are wholly unqualified for the important work.  This, however, seems to be called forth by the palpable neglect, and indifference of those who have had the educational advantages, but neglected to make such use of them.

There is one redeeming quality about “Light and Truth.”  It is a capital offset to the pitiable literary blunders of Professor George R. Gliddon, late Consul to Egypt, from the United States, Lecturer on Ancient Egyptian Literature, &c., &c., who makes all ancient black men, white; and asserts the Egyptians and Ethiopians to have been of the Caucasian or white race!—­So, also, this colored gentleman, makes all ancient great white men, black—­as Diogenes, Socrates, Themistocles, Pompey, Caesar, Cato, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, et cetera.  Gliddon’s idle nonsense has found a capital match in the production of Mr. Lewis’ “Light and Truth,” and both should be sold together.  We may conclude by expressing our thanks to our brother Lewis, as we do not think that Professor Gliddon’s learned ignorance, would have ever met an equal but for “Light and Truth.”  Reverends D.A.  Payne, M.M.  Clark, and other learned colored gentlemen, agree with us in the disapproval of this book.—­EDITOR.

XII

STUDENTS OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS

There are a number of young gentlemen who have finished their literary course, who are now studying for the different learned professions, in various parts of the country.

Jonathan Gibbs, A.B., a very talented young gentleman, and fine speaker, is now finishing his professional studies in the Theological School at Dartmouth University.  Mr. Gibbs also studied in the Scientific Department of the same Institution.