صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

ditional severity of exaction of which he is guilty? The average annual sum which each proprietor of a sugar estate in the West Indies, has been receiving from the people of this country, in bounties and protecting duties, has been about 8007. This is neither more nor less than our eleemosynary contribution to the support of the whips, and chains, and stocks, and gibbets which grind down the poor Negroes to the dust, and which have converted into a

charnel house one of the fairest portions of the globe. This state of things cannot last. Indeed, it only requires the concurrent exertion of the people of England to put an end to it for ever. That exertion, we are confident, will be made; and, when made, it must succeed. Reason, justice, humanity, policy, and the sacred voice of religion all plead for it, and they will not long plead in vain.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

&c. &c.

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication:-No. I. of the "Christian Repository; "-Lingard's History of England, vol. VI. containing the Reigns of James I. and Charles I.

In the press :-History of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren; by the Rev. J. Holmes ;-The History of the Dominion of the Arabs in Spain;-The Life of John Chamberlain, late a Missionary in India, by Mr. Yates of Calcutta, republished in England, edited by the Rev. F. A. Cox, A. M. Hackney ;—A Practical View of the Redeemer's Advent; in a Series of Discourses; by the Rev. J. H. Stewart, M. A., of Percy Chapel.

Cambridge. The following is a summary of the Members of all the Colleges in 1824-Trinity College, 1222; St. John's College, 1015; Queen's College, 221; Emmanuel College, 218; Christ's College, 210; Jesus College, 204; Caius College, 201; St. Peter's College, 169; Clare Hall, 139; Trinity Hall, 135; Corpus Christi College, 130; Pembroke Hall, 125; Catharine Hall, 118; King's College, 108; Sidney College, 101; Magdalen College, 95; Downing College, 53; University Officers, 11-4489. Comparative View-1748, 1500; 1813, 2805; 1823, 4277; 1824, 4400.

The House of Commons' Select Committee on the Public Buildings report, that," with regard to public buildings in general, this vast metropolis presents a much smaller number of those which can be denominated grand or ornamental, than its extent and opulence would induce a

stranger to expect; for, with the exception of the two cathedrals, of three of the stone bridges over the Thames, and some very few other structures, it offers but little that deserves admiration." This deficiency, the Committee state, arises not so much from cost having been spared, as from good taste having been wanting; and they strongly impress the importance, in a national point of view, of paying great attention in future to the public edifices which may be required. They regret, "that architecture has not kept pace with our other advances towards perfection, and that we are still obliged to look for examples of excellence in this art, either to times that are past, or to other countries, rather than to our own."

At a late meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society, the secretary read a paper from Dr. Morrison, respecting a remarkable secret association which has been discovered to exist in China, and to prevail among the Chinese at Java, Malacca, Singapore, Penang, and other places. This association is known by a term equivalent to the Triad Society, from the three objects (heaven, earth, and man) of their veneration. The paper furnishes an investigation of the name, character, and government of this secret band, which, under the mask of philanthropy, and social principles and objects, Dr. Morrison says, conceals very dangerous and immoral designs.

During the year, 1824, there were admitted into the British Museum 112,840 persons. The estimated expense for the current year is 15,416. Amongst the items of approaching charge are, for " Drawings

from the Athenian Marbles, 3501. ;""Engravings from ditto, 1,300." "For the purchase of Foreign Books, and continuing the works in progress in the Library of Sir Joseph Banks, and MSS. 1000. Towards printing the Alexandrian MS. there were last year expended 3917., and the sums already expended in the printing, &c. of this MS. amount to 8,8771. The printing of the whole of the text, and of the greater part of the notes, is completed. The remaining portion of the notes and of the Prolegomena will amount to about 3001. Sir R. C. Hoare has presented his valuable collection of Italian Topography, amounting to 1700 articles, to this national institution.

Dr. Birkbeck, who has shewn himself most anxious for the advancement of useful knowledge, and for the welfare of our working mechanics and artizans, has been induced, by the success which has attended the Mechanics' Institution, to form "The London Chemical Society," the regulations of which are in circulation. RUSSIA.

Previously to the year 1817 the number of works printed in Russia did not exceed 4,000, about the same number as is annually contained in the catalogues of the

fair at Leipzig. This number is now aug mented to about 8,000. There are at Moscow nine literary and ten printing establishments; at St. Petersburgh, nine of the former and fifteen of the latter; and in various other towns one of each. In the whole empire there are nine letter founderies. There are at present fifteen periodical papers in the four provinces of the Baltic.

INDIA.

Two vessels lately left Bombay to continue the survey of the Persian Gulf. Until the year 1821, that coast was comparatively unknown. The late survey terminated at the island of Bahrein; and the whole line of coast was laid down by a continued series of triangles, verified by celestial observations. The space between Bahrein and the mouth of the Euphrates is to be completed by the close of the next cool season.

JAVA.

Mr. Burgess, a merchant at Batavia, has obtained a licence for four and a half years to build steam-vessels to navigate on the coast of Java: they are to be built in the Netherlands, and during the term of the licence may go from Europe to India.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

Sermon for the Irish Society of London; by the Rev. H. M'Neile. 1s. 6d.

A Discourse concerning Transubstantiation; reprinted by Admiral Bullen. The Christian Ministry; by the Rev. W. Innes. 8s.

A Manual of Family Prayers; by the Lord Bishop of Chester.

The Essentials of Religion; by the Rev. H. F. Burder. 9s.

A Farewell Sermon; by the Rev. J. Leifchild. 1s. 6d.

Impressions of the Heart relative to the Nature of Genuine Religion. 3s. 6d. Discourses and Evening Thoughts; by S. Burdett. 4s. 6d.

Sketches of Prophecy; by the Rev. A. Keith. 4s.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Life of the Rev. P. Henry; by J. B. Williams, F. S. A. I vol. 15s.

Life of the Rev. J. Wesley; by the Rev. H. Moore. Vol. II. 10s. 6d.

Memoirs of the late E. Williams, D. D.; by J. Gilbert. 14s.

Memoirs of M. Mendelsohn; by M. Samuels. 7s. 6d.

Historic Defence of Experimental Religion by T. Williams. 7s.

Visions of Hades. 6s.

A Visit to the Sea Coast.

Correspondence relative to the Progress of Christianity in India.

Journal during a Residence at the Red River Colony, and Excursions among the North-American Indians; by the Rev. J. West. 8vo. 8s. 6d.

Memoirs of Canova; by J. S. Memes. 15s.

8vo.

Practical Observations on the Education of the People; by Henry Brougham, Esq. 6d.

The First Principles of the Differential Calculus; by the Rev. A. Browne. 8vo. Sonnets, and other Poems; by E. L. Richardson. 8vo. 5s.

A new and faithful Translation of Bishop Jewel's Apology for the Church of England; by Rev. S. Isaacson. 8vo. 14s.

The Plenary Inspirations of the Scriptures asserted; by the Rev. S. Noble. 8vo. 14s.

The Harmony of the Law and Gospel with regard to a future State; by T. W. Lancaster, M. A.

12s.

A Visit to Greece: by G. Waddington. 8vo. 8s. 6d.

Narrative of Lord Byron's last Journey to Greece; by Count Gamba. 8vo. 12s. Travels in South America, in 1819-2021; by A. Caldcleugh, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. 30s.

Travels in Russia and the Krimea, the

Remarks on Volney's Ruins of Empires; Caucasus and Georgia; by Robert Lyall,

by W. Hails. 10s. 6d.

M. D. 2 vols. 8vo. 30s.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGA

TION OF THE GOSPEL. OUR readers are aware of the exertions which were made by this society in urging the necessity of an Episcopal establishment for the West Indies, with a view, as the Report presented by them to Earl Bathurst on the subject mentioned, to "the instruction and conversion of the Slaves," and "improving the condition of the Coloured population," as well as those other excellent purposes which they justly considered would result from such a measure. The greater part of the annual sermon, preached by the lord Bishop of Exeter before the Society, and prefixed to their last Report, is devoted to this important subject. The following are extracts from it.

After sketching the state of the population in the West-India settlements, the Bishop urges the duty and benefits of uniting them in one body by the influence of Christianity :

"In such a frame of society, if society it can be called, where the materials are so heterogeneous and the parts so fundamentally disproportionate, what cement is there sufficiently binding to hold the building together? Where the property, the power, the intelligence, and the liberty, all, in short, that gives dignity and moral strength to man, is on the one side, and mere numbers on the other, what is there to determine the rights of each?

"It may be thought, perhaps, that law, or at least a sense of natural justice, would be sufficient to define and to secure them. But the law is unwilling to interfere in the disposal and management of private property; and the selfishness of the human heart is apt to extinguish all sense of equity, where there are no public rights to enforce it. So long, therefore, as the master shall command, and the slave obey without question or resistance, there may be peace; and, in some degree, there may be kindness between them: but there will also be pride and contempt in the one party; and, undoubtedly, meanness and debasement in the other. In such a state of things, there may be the fallacious appearance of security, but in reality there will be constant danger."

"Some common principle, therefore, which law cannot infuse-some common bond, which society itself cannot supply -must be found to interpose, and to unite these unequal and discordant parties; or a field will undoubtedly be open for the CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 279.

display of every bad feeling and the exer.. cise of every evil propensity, which unrestrained power in the few, or the keen sense of degradation and injury in the many, may give rise to.

"Now Christianity is the only bond sufficiently comprehensive to effect this. It embraces, equally, the freeman and the slave and, while it permits and sanctions the inequality of their stations, it acknowledges them both as equal objects of its regard. It tells them that they are all the children of one common Father, and the heirs of one common promise; partakers of the same heavenly grace, and candidates for the same heavenly reward. As brothers in the eyes of God, it bids them meet together in the same house of prayer, and join in the same service of praise and thanksgiving: while, abroad and at home, it still equally impresses upon them their relative obligations; and inculcates equally, the duty of kindness and compassion in the master, of good-will and obedience in the slave."

On the subject of an Episcopal establishment for the West-Indies, his lordship remarks: " The influence of such an establishment in our West-Indian islands, circumstanced as they are, will be most extensively and beneficially felt. It will be felt by the planter, in the support which it will lend to legitimate authority; by the Negro, in the check which it will oppose to the abuse of power; and by all, in the wholesome strength which it will give to public opinion, and the lasting energy which it will impart to morality and religion."

"The present state of affairs in those islands is one which compels the attention of all classes of our fellow-citizens: it concerns the commercial, no less than the ecclesiastical, orders of the community; the statesman, no less than the missionary. For the changes which a few years have brought about in the condition of the Negro population, are, in every point of The deview, of the greatest moment. cline, if not the extinction, of their popular superstition; the decrease of promiscuous intercourse, and of the crimes which arose from it; the growing inclination to marriage, and the careful nurture of their progeny, occasioned by the im proved system of their management and education; their increased numbers, their increased knowledge, and consequently their increased power; the abolition of the trade, which made them Slaves, by our

2 C

own Government, and its denunciation as piracy by that of America; [and now by our own;] the example of the empire founded by their brethren in St. Domingo; and the question constantly agitated among ourselves concerning their own emancipation;-all these circumstances have conspired to awaken hopes, expectations, and desires, which must materially affect their ardent character. It is impossible now to quench those hopes, or to check entirely those desires. Indeed, so far as they may urge them to the acquisition of sound knowledge and the practice of pure religion, they are rather to be fostered than discouraged but then, in order to preserve the equilibrium of the community, a countervailing power must be exerted to balance the increased weight in the scale of the Negro. And where can this power be placed? It cannot be intrusted directly to the planter, because it would add, not to his strength so much as to his invidiousness nor to the colonial government alone, for it would require another and a higher sanction than that of human laws to support its influence. Where, then, can it be confided sc safely or so advantageously as to the hands of a regular church establishment, whose duty and interest it will be to assist the local government in calming the fear and allaying the ferment of the times; and to reconcile the planter to the propriety of granting, and in due time to fit and prepare the Negro for receiving, that liberty which, with religion and the love of order, will be really a blessing to him, but without them will infallibly prove a curse.

"A greater necessity exists for the judicious combination of all ranks and orders in the church, than ever existed before. It will also, I trust, be allowed that present circumstances open a great door for the propagation of the Gospel, and one that may be rendered effectual by the establishment of local episcopacy." On the opposition which may be anticipated, his lordship remarks ;

"Let not the number of our adversaries alarm us, nor their enmity deter us from the prosecution of the great work which we have in hand. Opposition must always be looked for, and may often be converted into an instrument of good; for if the spirit which it produces be but free from personal animosity and the uncharitableness of party, its effect must ever be to purify our motives and inflame our zeal. And, in the present instance, we have strong allies, in the roused attention of the nation at large, in the redoubled exertions of all good men, in the bright ex

ample of the East, and in the general feeling of those connected with the West, both at home and abroad; the feeling, that their cause is the same with ours; that the propagation of the Gospel is the best means of securing the integrity of our colonial empire; and that Christianity, by equalizing and conciliating the whole island population, will be the best defence against invasion from without, and insurrection from within.

"This conviction will give us auxiliaries numerous, powerful, and indefatigable: this will unite the intelligent planter, the zealous missionary, and the true because judicious friend of humanity: this will give to the cause of the Gospel, the support of the merchant and the protection of the government.

"Opposition, however it may deter the lukewarm or the fainthearted, affords no just ground for inactivity or despondency in the great task of preaching the Gospel to all nations. We have the example of the Apostles, we have the conclusions of reason, we have the lessons of experience to convince us, that resistance and difficulty are among the appointed means of stimulating and concentrating our efforts for its propagation.

66

"And, with this conviction on our minds, we may behold, not indeed with unconcern, but with less uneasiness and sorrow, the occasional failure of our warmest hopes; and hear without impatience or mistrust the sneers of our adver saries, when they point to the continued blindness of the Jew, or the unyielding abominations of the Gentile. Like the remnant of the Canaanites in the holy land, the Jew, the Gentile, and the Mahomedan are left perhaps to prove our virtue, and to perfect that which is lacking in our faith. Meanwhile, however, there is much to console and encourage us. There are many circumstances in the present day, which justify the expectation, that the great impediments to the propagation of the Gospel will, in some degree at least and in some parts of the earth, be speedily overcome. We may survey, with increasing hope, the gradual removal of heathen darkness; and rejoice, with growing joy, at the dayspring of the Gospel, as it breaks through the mists of superstition and idolatry. It may be long, indeed, before the Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth, in his meridian strength, on the benighted regions of the East and of the South; but we may hail the dawn of that' everlasting light,' which shall one day equally illuminate the isles of the Gentiles and the city of our God.

[ocr errors]

BISHOP OF CALCUTTA'S VISI-
TATION.

On last Ascension-day, after a sermon
by Dr. Parish, at the cathedral, Calcutta,
the lord bishop took his seat near the
altar; and the clergy being assembled near
him, his lordship delivered his charge.
After some remarks upon the ecclesiastical
establishment in India, his lordship, advert-
ing to the backwardness of the English
clergy to enter upon their calling in India,
remarked; "Those, indeed, would be much
mistaken who should anticipate in the for-
tunes of an Indian chaplain a life of indo-
lence, of opulence, of luxury. An Indian
chaplain must come prepared for hard
labour, in a climate where labour is often
death: he must come prepared for rigid
self-denial, in situations where all around
him incites to sensual indulgence; he must
be content with an income, liberal indeed
in itself, but altogether disproportioned to
the charities, the hospitalities, the unavoid-
able expenses to which his situation ren-
ders him liable. He must be content to
bear his life in his hand, and to leave, very
often, those dearer than life itself, to His
care alone who feeds the ravens, and who
never, or most rarely, suffers the seed of
the righteous to beg their bread. Nor are
the qualifications which he will need, nor
the duties which will be imposed on him,
less arduous than the perils of his situation.
But to the well tempered, the well edu-
cated, the diligent and pious clergyman,
who can endear himself to the poor with
out vulgarity, and to the rich without in-
volving himself in their vices; who can
reprove sin without harshness, and com-
fort penitence without undue indulgence;
who delights in his Master's work even
when divested of many of those outward
circumstances which, in our own country,
contribute to render that work picturesque
and interesting; who feels a pleasure in
bringing men to God, proportioned to the
extent of their previous wanderings: to
such a man as Martyn was-I can promise
no common usefulness and enjoyment in
the situation of an Indian chaplain; I can
promise, in any station to which he may
be assigned, an educated society and an
almost unbounded range of usefulness.
I can promise him the favour of his supe-
riors, the friendship of his equals, and
affection, strong as death, from those
whose wanderings he corrects, whose dis-
tresses he consoles, and by whose sick and
dying bed he stands as a ministering angel.
Are further inducements needful? I can
promise to such a man the esteem, the
regard, the veneration of the surrounding

Gentiles, the consolation at least of hav-
ing removed from their minds, by his
blameless life and winning manners, some
of the most inveterate and injurious preju-
dices which oppose themselves to the Go-
spel;
and the honour it may be, of which
examples are not wanting among you, of
planting the Cross of Christ in the wilder-
ness of a heathen heart, and extending the
frontiers of the visible church amid the
hills of darkness and the strong holds of
error and idolatry."

His lordship then adverted to the great
assistance afforded to the ministers of the
Gospel in India, by the parental care of
Government, the bounty of individuals,
and the labours of the Society for promot-
ing Christian Knowledge; in the establish-
ment of schools, the distribution of reli-
gious tracts, and the management of lend
ing libraries, which his lordship wished to
become universal. The missionaries who
attended the visitation were then addressed
by the Bishop, who alluded to the object
and importance of their labours; and this
led his lordship to the consideration of the
great question of the conversion of the
heathen, and to some remarks on the late
publication of the Abbé Dubois. His gross
mis-statements were confuted by an appeal
to the Protestant converts of Agra, of Be-
nares, of Meerut, and of Chunar. "Bear
witness," said his lordship, "those nume-
rous believers of our own immediate
neighbourhood, with whom, though we
differ on many, and doubtless on very im-
portant, points, I should hate myself if I
could regard them as any other than my
brethren and fellow-servants in the Lord.
Let the populous Christian districts of
Malabar bear witness, where believers are
not reckoned by solitary individuals but by
hundreds and by thousands. Bear witness
Ceylon, where the Cross has lost its re-
proach, and the chiefs of the land are
gradually assuming, without scruple, the
attire, the language, and the religion of
Englishmen; and let him, finally, bear
witness, whom we have now received into-
the number of the commissioned servants
of the church, and whom we trust, at no
distant day, to send forth, in the fulness
of Christian authority, to make known the
way of truth to those his countrymen from
whose errors he has himself been gracious-
ly delivered.”

The concluding passage relates, we believe, to the Rev. Christian David, who was baptized at Tranquebar, many years since, and has lately been admitted to holy orders at Calcutta, by the bishop of that diocese. He has since preached at 2C 2

« السابقةمتابعة »