25 APRIL 1931, Page 18

A Hundred Years Ago THE " SPECTATOR," APRIL 23zen, 1831.

CONSISTENCY OF FREEMEN.

A Virginia paper, in the same number which contained the account of the rejoicings for ' the fifty-first anniversary of " American independence," contained an advertisement for the sale by auction.of ',' A hundred (more or less) young likely negroes " ; who, as if for the purpose of contrast., were to be put up to sale at " Liberty Hall ! " Imirrs or Posen:m.7.yr.

An Irish paper states it as a remarkable fact, that rape and forcible abduction are the only crimes that have of late years increased in Ireland. What room for increase was there in any other department ?