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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 771, 3 September 1853, Page 3

Slavery. —The whole American nation is, says Mrs. Stowe, in some sense, under a paralysis of public sentiment on this subject. It was said by a heathen writer that the gods gave us a fearful power when they gave us the faculty of becoming accustomed to things. This power has proved a fearful one, indeed, in America. We have got used to things which might stir the dead in their graves. When but a small portion of the things daily done in America has been told in England, and France, and Italy, and Germany, there has been a perfect shriek and outcry of horror. America alone remains cool, and asks, 44 What is the matter 1” Europe answers back, 44 Why, -we have heard that men are sold like cattle in *your country.” “Of course they are,” says America; “ but what then J” 44 We have heard,” says Europe, 44 that millions of men are forbidden to read and write in your country.” “We know that,” sa\ s America ; 44 hut what is this outcry about!” 44 We have heard,” says Europe, 44 that. Christian girls are sold to shame in your markets!” “ That isn’t quite as it should he,” says America ; 44 but still what is this excitement about *” 44 We hear that three millions of your people have no legal marriage ties,” says Europe. 44 Certainly that is true,” returns America; “ but you made such an outcry, we thought you saw some great cruelty going on.” 44 And you profess to be a free country J” says indignaht Europe. 44 Certainly we are the freest and most enlightened country in tjic world ; and what are you talking about!” says America. 44 You send your missionaries to Christanise us,” says Turkey; 44 and our religion has abolished this horrible system.” 4C You! "you are all heathen over there; what business have you to talk !”■ answers America. Mirny people seem really to have thought that nothing but horrible exaggerations of the system of slavery could have produced the sensation which has recently been felt' in all modern Europe. They do not know that the thing they have become accustomed to, and handled so freely in every discussion, seems to all other nations the scum and essence of, villany. Modern Europe, opening her eyes and looking on the legal theory of the slave system, on the laws and interpretations of law which define it, says to AfneriCa, in the language of the indignant Othello,—if though wilt justify a thing like this, 44 Never pray more ; abandon all remorse; On Horror’s head horrors accumulate ; Do deeds to.niake Heaven weep, all earth amazed, For nothing canst thou to damnation add Greater than this.”

Costume of the Lower Orders jn London, The population is, in appearance, much more miserable than that of Paris. With us, the workpeople, the lower classes, have clothes made expressly for them, coarse, it is true, but of a distinctive fashion, and which may be at i nee recognised as having always belonged to them. If the blouse be torn, we know at once that the wearer once carried it new upon his back. The 'griiettes and the wo. kworaen are neat and clean, despite the extreme simplicity of their dress. Butin Loudon this is not so • everybody wears a black coat with swallow tails, pantaloons, and a bt-mer, even to the most miserable wretch who gains-a hvirg by opening the door of your cab. The woraei, too, wear bonnets and ladies dresses co that, at tirsfsigbt, it seems as ifthestreets were crowded with people who have fallen from the superior classes either by misfortune or illconduct. This is because the people of London dress themselvs jn second-hand clothes ; degradation to degradation, a gentleman’s dress-Coat finishes upon Ihb back bf a common street-sweeper, while the satin bonnet of * duchess may be’traced down' to the ignoble bead of a scullery majd, . . ' * » - v ' 4 ■ x