be considered as properly a stimulant, but we may add to this list without impropriety, the tobacco.

If used in any considerable quantity it will prove decidedly sedative in its effects, and yet like the other articles it may be used in minute portions so as to secure a stimulant influence. Indeed its primary action is to excite, and the depressing effect succeeds to this so rapidly as to prevent it from being detected when the portion is sufficient to have a controlling influence on the person. In the case of one totally unaccustomed to it, very little is requisite to induce nausea and great prostration, but when the person has become habituated to its use, these effects are not readily produced and we find a genial glow imparted to the whole being by its influence either when chewed or smoked. I take it then to have a stimulant action, and indeed every one who uses it, feels that an animating effect results from it when gloom or mental disquiet has been present. The laborer works more cheerfully with his quid of tobacco, the engineer plans more satisfactorily with it, the mechanic and tradesman each finds his task lighter under its influence, and we are warranted by the extent of its use amongst literary men and students, to conclnde that it affords a stimulus to the mental efforts, and arouses the dormant energies of the mind. Thus it would seem entitled to a place among stimulants, and although it cannot be so ranked in the materia medica, yet as used amongst our people it has this effect, and may be so regarded in this essay. Much of the confusion as to the medical properties of different articles results from overlooking the fact, that in small portions they are stimulant, and in large, prove sedative in their action on both body and mind. This is the effect in reference to alcohol and opium without doubt, and I think it must appear from what has been stated that it will hold also in reference to tobacco. This then accounts for the eagerness with which all classes of people seize upon this weed, which is invariably offensive to the taste, and repugnant to the delicacy of mankind, at the outset of its use. There seems to be a deep rooted craving for stimulants in man's constitution, and however nauseous and revolting the ordeal of acquiring the habit, such articles will be resorted to by our people. How many a boy has been sickened time after time in learning to chew or smoke, and yet felt that it was not manly to give up the attempt to use what so many gentlemen regarded as a great luxury, and eventually when time and frequent trial has reconciled his stomach to the article, with what a show of self complacency is he seen with one cheek distended, and the saliva squirting from his mouth, or with the smoke of a segar curling upward at each puff of his breath. Oh! ye men who have grown up with tobacco in your mouths; say, what motive prompted you to first use of this abominable stuff? It occurs to me that I hear you say, "whatever man has done, boy may do," and although it will cost me some

self sacrifice I am resolved to triumph over nature and enjoy the associations of a blissful habit which is recommended by so many prominent examples. There can be no natural fondness for tobac co, and the taste is acquired, in compliance with some preconceived notion of the dignity or manliness or desireableness of the practice. With this kind of feeling perhaps, in nine cases out of ten, if not ninety-nine out of a hundred, the habit is formed, and like all acquired tastes, a keener relish is soon generated for the tobacco, than is felt in the gratification of any natural appetite. But apart from this, the influence upon the brain and nervous system is such as to induce its continuance, and to reproducing its effects as often as practicable. We find three different processes resorted to for securing its influence; chewing, smoking, and snuffing; the last of which should be regarded the most dignified, in consideration of its being confined, so far as my knowledge extends, to those of adult age.

Either of these practices imparts the influence of tobacco; and as such an effect is sought for by those who use them, a distinction is not requisite in treating of its influence on the mind.

Reluctant as I am, to show any quarter to so filthy a habit as the use of tobacco, I must think it is more likely to serve the purpose of literary men, as a gentle stimulant to thought, than either of the other articles of which we have spoken. There is a soothing effect connected with its action on the intellectual faculties, which seems especially favorable to contemplation; and it strikes me that the reasoning powers are more likely to be efficiently exercised under its influence, than with either of its other agents. It differs from them by not inducing intoxication, and thus would seem to act in some manner entirely different on the brain and the mental faculties. The tranquilising influence of tobacco is doubtless the commingling of the sedative with the stimulant effect on the brain, and it seems in this respect especially fitted for a placebo to the nerves, since it cannot be used beyond a certain extent without effecting the system unpleasantly, and thus placing a check to the use of it. For instance, if ever the habitual snuffer, undertakes to smoke, he is sickened; and if the excessive smoker takes a chew, his stomach revolts; and finally, if the chewer should swallow even a small portion, he finds nausea to ensue from it. Thus, a barrier is presented to the influence being carried beyond the primary stimulant action, and the slight shading-off with the sedative, only tends to compose the faculties of the mind. My object is to treat this subject philosophically, and although my prejudices against the use of tobacco, are of the strongest kind, I would be reconciled to a systematic moderate employment of this article as an adjuvant to the operations of the mind. The great danger here, as with other things of this class, is that no limit is fixed to the indulgence by those who use it, and the cousequence is, that it be

comes liable to obscure and derange faculties it might otherwise act upon in a salutary manner. But even when the indulgence in tobacco is carried to an extreme, it is not attended with such disastrous effects upon the mind as the extravagant use of alcohol or opium entails upon their consumers. The absence of an intoxicating principle in tobacco lessens its destructive power over the mental faculties, but we should not thence conclude that no injury results.

It is an insidious, and gradual impairment of the energy and tone of the intellect which results from the long continued and lavish indulgence in the use of this article. If any one would know whether the mind has been affected by this practice, let the use of the article be suspended, and observe whether the mind acts as it did previous to its commencement or during its use. It will be found that all energy has departed with the accustomed stimulus, and that the reasoning process cannot be sustained for any length of time, or for any definite end; and that the temper has become morose or peevish. A return to the tobacco will perhaps set all right again, or if the individual has the moral heroism to abstain for a great length of time, the mental tone may be restored. So the splints may be placed upon a fractured limb and enable it to be used, or if it is not subjected to any violence for a length of time, it may get strong again without them; but this does not argue that the limb is not weakened, and no more does the above resource prove that the mind is not impaired. If the muscles of any part of the body are relieved of their accustomed functions by artificial means for any considerable time, their power is impaired; and the continuance of the assistance becomes necessary; and so with the faculties of the mind; if they are stimulated for any length of time, the excitement must be kept up, to sustain even the ordinary vigor of the intellect, and when it is abstracted, the mind is shown to be impaired, and it requires time to restore it to its primitive state, if indeed it ever does recover the power which belonged to it before resorting to the artificial stimulus.

There are various other stimulants which are resorted to with a view to support the jaded intellect, and among them tea and coffee may be reckoned the most common and the most innocent. But my limits will not permit me to go into any special notice of other stimulants, and I would only remark that if there is a use for these agents, it is when "exhausted nature" needs a restorer. Then they may be used safely, and perhaps in some instances with advantage to the action of the mind; and with a view to secure their best effect when most needed, they should not be resorted to habitually, or even occasionally, unless the prostration from extraordinary intellectual labors should require a temporary stimulus.

The human mind is capable of development by certain pro

cesses of culture independent altogether of physical influences, and it behoves every one to use those means of an exalting and ennobling character, in preference to those which appeal to our base material part. If there is one element which should be enthroned in Majesty over our nature it is intellect, and that man who profanes its sanctity by the unnecessary use of stimulants is doing violence to the highest and noblest behest of humanity.

There is a dignity and grandeur in the clear day light effulgence of native intellect which as far transcends the luminous glare of the mind excited by stimulants, as the brightness of the sun exceeds the red glare of the meteor. The maturity of thought is the perfection of nature.

Peauty unadorned, is most adorned, in the case of intellect, as in that of person; and plain common sense is more becoming for rational men and women, than the gewgaws and tinsel of the imagination. Native simplicity of thought and expression should always be appreciated more than extravigance in ideas and language. A relish for the latter shows the fondness of our people for excitement; and hence the incentive to use artificial stimulants for the mind in pandering to a vitiated taste. The one acts upon the other, and they are mutually productive of unfavorable results. Those who stimulate have no greater power of thought or facility in communicating their ideas than those who rely entirely upon the resources of nature and abstain from all artificial helps to the mind. Indeed we find that the general tone of feeling and the vigor of intellect manifested by the latter class, transcend the developements of the former, even when under the influence of the exciting agent.

The ordinary routine of intellectual labor cannot be entered upon by the one without the accustomed stimulant, whereas the emergency of the occasion supplies to the other a sufficient incentive to mental activity, and the effort itself gives an impulse to the operations of the mind. If one desires to impart strength and elasticity to his limbs, he should not practice bounding on a springboard, and still less should he who would bestow energy upon his mental faculties, seek the impulse of a stimulant.

The mind may be developed by a proper culture so as to give permanency and stability to the intellect, and a pure native energy of reason should be cherished and exercised as the most enobling attribute of man. It is not the display of imagination that gives a claim to consideration, but it is a capacity for thought, and a comprehensiveness of ideas connected with knowledge, which makes the man of mind. The health and strength of the understanding is impaired by the use of stimulants, and no temporary advantage results from them, which can compensate for their injurious effects.

OUR PROBLEM.

The greatest problem of duty, laid upon the Church of the South to solve, during this current age, unquestionably respects the negro race as found on our territory under our control; greatest, alike in importance and in difficulty. No generation has risen and passed away, since the denominations that obtain here began in any general or systematic way to deal with it. Individual efforts have been made and blessed, ever since we began to be a people. Indeed, it is doubtful whether as much is done to-day, by the mode of family instruction, as was done thirty years ago.

In nothing does the difficulty of the question appear more signally, than in the variety of attempts which Christians of every name are making to do this great thing. Our Methodist brethren send out white Missionaries to preach and catechise, committing a secondary supervision and the intermediate religious services to colored "leaders ;" and it would be ungracious not to acknowledge the enthusiasm, perseverance, and Christian self-devotion, with which they have toiled. The democratic element among the Baptists has operated to prevent any special treatment of this special case; the negroes gather into churches and have pastors of their own race, or remain a kind of irregular branch church, connected with some other body in the same place-very much as a mission among the poor whites in our suburbs might be conducted by them. So far as we are aware, labor in this cause among Episcopal ministers is mostly confined to catechetical instruction, and informal religious exercises. This work they are pursuing in many parts of our State with an industry and faithfulness worthy of all praise.

But when we look at our own church, it is no longer possible to generalize. The good work is spreading, and has spread, far and wide; but not upon any uniform plan. As regards Charleston Presbytery, it is believed that not a single church entirely neglects its duty-yet hardly any two of them agree in their way of discharging it. One has a service for them during the week; another a meeting conducted by the pastor Sunday morning; yet another devotes the afternoon of Sunday to them, and commits the labor to the elders. Some prefer to reach them by Sunday Schools, and some by preaching. Some employ watchmen, or leaders; others dispense with them in name, but look to the patriarchs of the coloured membership to keep watch over their