Thomas Clarkson

The last arrival irom Eoglnnd brought tho newsof the death of Thomns Cl irkson, so long known in tho aniislnvery enterprize. Tho followng pnriicnl.irs of his life from ilie London Spaetator, wiil interest our readers. The venerable Thomas Clarkson was born at Wisbeach, on the 28th of March, 1760. He was the son of a gentleman who held the Mastership of the Free Grammar School inthattown. Hiseducation, which had been under the father's eye, was completed at St. John's College, Cambridge. Here Mr. Clarkson had already attained distinction, when an event occurred which had a material influence on his future career. In th year 1785, Dr. Peckhard was Vice Chancellor of the University, and he announced to the senioi Bachelors of Arts the following question, as a subject for a prize Latin dissertation - "Is it right to mako slaves of othors against their will ?" In the preceding year Mr. Clarkson had gained the ñrst prize for the Latin dissertation. Filled withan earncst desire to sustain the fame thus acquired he repaired to London, and purchased as many books connected with the subject of slavery as he conld possibly aflbrd to buy. - With these he specdily veturned to Cambridge, and set himself earnestly to the work of preparing to compose his essay. But so painful to him was the perusal of these volumes, that for a considerable time he scarcely took any rest day or night, and he ceased to regard the essay as a mere trial for literary distinction ; his great desire being to produce a work which shouldcall fourth a vigorous public effort to redress the wrongs of the African. Henceforth Clarkson devoted his wholo energies to the abolition of slavery.He very soon formed an alliance with the celebrated Willia n Wilberforce.who, in 1787, underlook to bring the subject before Parlinment. A Committee was appointed for the purpose of organizing an Association, and the work of controversey began in earnest. Somewhat in the raanner of the modern agitators, Clarkson went about f rom town to town - from Liverpool to Bristol, and from Bridgewater to Manchester - laboring to make converts and to overeóme the prejudices, opposed by indiflerence as well as by self-interest. Years were spent in this process - books were publishcd, meetings were held, evidence was coílected, petitions were forwarded to Parliament, successive motions were made by Mr. Wilberforce, and lengthened discussions in the House of Commons took place. - Vigorous effbrts were not wanting on the other side, and a violent agitation was the consequence. The Prívy Council entered into an examination of the subject, and made a report. Counsel were heard at the bars of both Houses, and witnesses were carefully examined. Clarkson's exertions during the whole ofthisstruggle were untiring. Bulthêy were not before the public, and failed thereforeof beingduly appreciated at the time ! Some years elapsed before the triumph of the Anti-Slavery cause was complete, for the Abolition measure did not become law until the 26th March, 1807. But mucb more remained to be effected ; the slave-trade was abolished, slavery still existed. The year 1834 crowned the eflbrts of the Anti-Slavery party wilh success. ín that year a sum of L20,000,000 was granted by Parliament, to the slave-ovners,and Clarkson's mission was accomplished.(tThe edilor of the Time Democrat, the anti-slavery Vi'hig paper of Ohio, being asked to reconcile his practise oi voting for a slaveholder in 44' with a refusal to v.ote for one in future, replies : "In 1844 our immediaie object was to keep out Texas and prevent slavery's grasping the U. S. Senate and controlling its decisión and tlirough it the legislation of Congress. We thought it not wrong to use Mr. Clay for this purpose. We remembered that our Savior made use of Judas Iscariot to cast out devils, and we thought we might use a slaveholder to keep them out. But they have come in. We did what we could to prevent it. Others did - as they thought right. VV'e will not now quarrel with them. It will do no good. The Senate of the United States is in the hands of slavcholders, and they intend to keep it there by making four more slave states out of Texas. The Resolutions of nnnexation agree that they may do it. Anti-slavery mrn cannot make a foot's progress in National legislation uniil this power is wrenched frem their hands. - Our object now is, to wrench it from them . To do this xce cannot tritst a slaveholder to lead us. We must attack slavery itself. It must be overthrown. We could trust a slaveholder to prevent the extensión oí slavery, but we cannot trust one to overthrow jt. We can trust an owner of bank stock to prevent the extensión of banks, but we cannot trust such an one to deslroy them." This is all very ingenious : but will scarcely bear examination. Could a Bank owner be trusted to act against the extensión of Banks, who fully avowed teat he would "be glad to see" that extensión on certain comditions ? But there is no use in discussing this old aflair. We are 'glad tosee' the Whig Democrat refusing all support to a slaveholder. {L" A vessel has nrrived at Liverpool rom Van Diemán's Land, bringing 5.340 ackages of w heat.