is said, "what, though they do not hold our doctrines just as we hold them, nor like our church order entirely, they are surely good and pious men, and men of talents too -Let us take them in, they will do a great deal of good, and do great honour to our church." They are accordingly received. Then comes a class, composed of those who are a shade or two inferior to the former, and the precedent, already set, is pleaded, and they are admitted. To these succeeds another class, and then another, and another still, till every vestige of regard, both to doctrine and government, is gone from the church. We know it is exactly here, that we differ from a number of our worthy and excellent brethren: and we know, too, that some allowance must be made, in regard to those discrepancies of opinion, which will exist among men who do honestly and cordially adopt our whole system. On this subject we were glad to see a paper, recently, in the Biblical Repertory; and we do not differ far from that writer. But we do enter our decisive and solemn protest, against receiving men, on a plea of their eminent piety, talents and usefulness, when in doctrine or in church order-one or both-every discerning and candid man will say, they are not with us: And we do beseech our brethren to remember that this is the very door, by which eventual destruction is likely to come upon our church, as it has heretofore come on others. If it is worth while to preserve the Presbyterian church at all, this is the very pass-the Thermopyla at which it must be defended. We would say to every man who desires to enter here-"Let your character and claim to piety and usefulness be what they may, stay where you are; and we shall think much more highly of you, than if you are willing to take obligations that by no fair construction can be taken, in consistency with your known and avowed sentiments. But willing or unwilling, we will not be treacherous to our trust, and by admitting you, become accessory to the eventual corruption and ruin of our church." We have now come, or rather returned, to the very ground which was taken, by those who opposed the reception of Mr. Barnes, in the Presbytery of Philadelphia. They did not believe that any pretensions to piety or talents, which could be set up in his behalf, were to decide the question whether he was, or was not, a fit man to be a member of the Presbytery to which they belonged; and to be set over a congregation, of whose spiritual interests the Presbytery was sacredly bound to act the part of a faithful guardian. He had preached and published a sermon, which, to those who objected to his reception, seemed evidently opposed, in several very important points, to the doctrinal standards of the Presbyterian church. In regard to these points, and to the sermon generally, he positively refused to be questioned at all. We admit that the ground on which he professedly did this, was a point of constitutional order. But that point was contested by those who wished to examine him; and when entreated by a venerable lay elder of the Presbytery, voluntarily to waive the point taken on the constitution, he utterly refused. And when, after his reception by the majority, he professed to make some explanations, as a matter of his own choice, (still pointedly refusing to answer a single question) he said nothing that was in the least satisfactory. In these circumstances, and on these grounds, a number voted against his reception; and when that number afterwards became a majority of the Presbytery-made the sermon a subject of Presbyterial procedure, specified distinctly its objection on the matter at issue, between the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and Mr. Barnes and his friends. Let the impartial world decide on the equity, modesty and decorum of the Spectator, in the whole of this proceeding. able points, and wished him to give explanations-he continued to refuse, still objecting that all this was unconstitutional. His explanations were all reserved for the pen and the press-He read them indeed to the Synod at Lancaster; but to the best of our recollection, he answered but three or four questions there; and in those answers disavowed his belief of certain principles contained in our Catechisms. For acting as here stated, the Presbytery is held up to the publick, in a Congregational publication, as acting in a manner the most unreasonable and oppressive; and this publication is obtruded on the members of the General Assembly of the Presby-till called, perhaps, to another interian Church, when about to sit in the capacity of a court of the Lord Jesus Christ, to examine and judge Leaving to the able writer in the Religious Monitor, published at Albany, the complete dissection of Mr. Barnes' sermon, and the exposure of the perfect futility of his explanations; and believing it in vain to attempt any correction of the Spectator's errors on the sub'ject of imputation, after our friends at Princeton have, as we are informed, given him over as among the incurables-we bid him farewell terview, by some publication that he may be getting ready to send on to the next General Assembly. Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc. Locusts. About a month ago an innumerable swarm of locusts made their appearance on the place of Mr. De Waal, Field Cournet, Cold Bokkeveld; the swarm covers more than a mile square, when they settle on the grass or among the bushes. An attempt was made to destroy them, by setting fire to the bushes in the morning, before they began to fly; but although millions have been destroyed in this manner, their number appears nothing decreased. Towards the afternoon, if the weather is warm, they arise, and appear to drive with the wind. They do not rise high, but their thickness is such as to darken the place over which they fly; they come round and cover the house and offices, and also the garden. When they settle, they eat the place bare in a few minutes; there is, however, grass sufficient to satisfy this immense multitude, without any loss being felt. A cloud of them passed within a few yards of my window yesterday afternoon, in a train, of many millions thick, and about an hour in length-they were so near that I could catch them without going out; they were eagerly attacked by the turkeys and other poultry, which appeared to feed deliciously upon them. They have not as yet done any harm to the crops, they being too young, and the grass more enticing. In their flight, myriads remain on the ground, which are devoured by the crows, blackbirds, &c. The fear is, that the eggs or spawn which they leave, may produce equal, if not more, at some future period, which may then be destructive to the crops after the grass begins to dry and waste. In cold rainy weather they remain still-it is only when it is fine and warm that they move.-South African Com. Adv. July 30. Distant Sight-I have heard it remarked (by Humboldt I think) that the air, in parts of South America, is so very transparent, that you can distinguish the white garment of a man at nearly fifteen miles distance. I have made the same observation in this country: I could, from the top of a mountain, distinguish, with the naked eye, a white house where I had lodged, at Castello Roderigo; and the distance could not be less than thirty-six miles, in a direct line. This would not be credited by a person only acquainted with the English atmosphere, where, in the finest day, with some difficulty, you can discern St. Paul's from the hill between Egham and Englefield-Green. Aug. 17. I again visited my hill, and to corroborate what I have before said, I could distinctly see the French batteries playing upon Almeida, and the garrison returning the fire; the sound was not heard. The distance from Almeida, in a direct line, is not less than thirty-two miles. [General Mackinson's Journal of the Campaign in Portugal.] Rev. Joseph Wolffe.-Letters from this eccentrick missionary from Persia, have been received. He was at Tabrez, on his way to Tartary and the borders of India, for the avowed purpose of preaching Christianity to the heathens in these countries. The Persian Government, though Mahommedan, was affording him every necessary facility for his mission, giving him letters of friendship, passports, &c. It is well that Mr. Wolffe has selected those barbarous regions, for the theatre of his missionary labours. Were he in some parts of the United States, he might be in danger of chains and imprisonment. Manufacture of Shoes at Lynn, Massachusetts-The number of pairs of shoes manufactured at Lynn, during the year 1831, was 1,675,781-value, $942,191. Number of males employed, 1,741-females, 1,775. Value of materials, $414,000. Net profit of labour, $528,000-average earnings of each operative, (male and female) $150.17, per year, or forty-one cents per day. There are no boots made at Lynn, except for ladies, misses, and children; and the only kind of shoes manufactured for men are pumps. This will account for the number of females employed in the manufacture. Longevity of Birds.-It is a fact, says the Baltimore Gazette, that a parrot died last week on Fell's Point, which had been in the possession of one individual fortyfive years-the parrot died two days before its owner. The Centennial celebration of the birth day of Gen. Washington, at Philadelphia, was indeed a grand and imposing sight. No similar procession, that we have ever witnessed, equalled it. It was, and will be, a proud day in the annals of that city. The Centennary has been celebrated every where in the cities, towns, and villages throughout the country, with greater or less demonstrations of respect. The Legislatures of the states of Pennsylvania and Virginia adjourned over, to pay honour to the day; and we presume that every state Legislature that is in session did the same. Never perhaps was the memory of any publick man so honoured; for never had there before lived a publick man whose virtues only can be remembered. Washington's Farewell Address was publickly read at many of the celebrations, and was published in many of the journals issued on that day. Of all our cities, how ever, Philadelphia seems to deserve the palm of pre-eminence in devotion to the memory and principles of Washington; and no wonder, for there he was best known. Works of a Woodpecker.—James Villa, Esq. of Bedford, Mass. has left in our of fice a sample of the labours of the Redheaded woodpecker, (Picus erythrocepha lus) which exhibits a curious specimen of the power and industry of that little animal. This consists of the branch of a young tough white oak, between two and three inches in diameter, perforated to its centre by the bill of the bird. The hole is as neat and well defined as could have been mortised by a mallet and chisel. The object of the woodpecker, in this performance, was, evidently, the attainment of a worm, probably one of the species of the Borer, which so often attacks the apple tree. The worm had made a hole in the branch about the size of a goose quill, four or five inches below the place gouged out by the bird, and was proceeding up. wards when the woodpecker broke in upon and devoured the depredator. That this little despised workman, viz. the red-headed woodpecker, with his head for a mallet and his bill for a chisel, should make such a perforation is more wonderful than the structure of the pyramids or the pantheon. Mr. Cornelius Cowing, of Roxbury, once informed us that he found in the stomach of a woodpecker no less than twenty-three borers, which had been recently extracted. The tongue of this bird is sharp pointed and bearded, on which he impales the insects which reward his labours. The efforts of the woodpecker, however, are often misunderstood, and they are stoned or shot for their good deeds, by the stupid bipeds in whose service they are engaged. The perforations they make to extract insects are, by some, thought to injure the tree which they are ridding of the worm in its vitals, and death is the reward which ignorance inflicts on its benefactors.-N. E. Farmer. Sugar from Potato Starch.-The last number of Silliman's Journal has an article on the manufacture of Sugar from Potato Starch. The writer says "A bushel of potatoes weighs about sixty pounds, and gives eight pounds of pure, fine, dry starch. This amount of starch will make five pints of sugar, of the weight of nearly twelve pounds to the gallon, equal to seven pounds and a half to the bushel of potatoes, or a little less than a pound of sugar to the pound of starch. The sugar is not as sweet as the Muscovado sugar, nor is it actually as sweet as its taste would indicate. "The sugar may be used for all kinds of domestick purposes. It ferments with great liveliness and spirit, when made into beer, yielding a healthful and delicious beverage, and on distillation a fine cider-brandy flavoured spirit. It would, 1 however, be most useful in making sweetmeats, and may be used upon the table in lieu of honey, for which it is a good substitute. It has already become a favourite with most people who have become acquainted with it. Its taste is that of a delicious sweet, and as an article of diet is unquestionably more healthful, and less oppressive to the stomach, than any other sweet ever used." The abandonment of the use of ardent spirits on board of our national vessels appears to be viewed with increasing favour, by those who are the immediate objects of the benefit thus intended to be effected. The Washington Globe states, that in several of the publick vessels on foreign stations, more than half their crews have voluntarily relinquished ardent spirits, and accepted the cost of their customary allowance, in the small sum substituted by the Secretary of the Navy. Late letters from the John Adams and Potomac, represent that this change in the habits of the sailors had taken place to a great and most exemplary extent. Heligious Intelligence. FOREIGN. We think the two following articles, taken from the last monthly publication of the British and Foreign Bible Society which has reached this country, will be gratifying to our readers-The death of Mr. Greenfield, the subject of the second article, is a loss to the whole Christian world. His talent for the acquisition of languages was a real prodigy; and his industry and fidelity were, it appears, highly exemplary, CHOLERA MORBUS. At a Meeting of the Committee, November 25, 1831, It was resolved, That while the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have much satisfaction in knowing, that in every place the necessary precautions are actively taken to prevent, if Divine Providence permit, the introduction of the Cholera-and that suitable preparations are also entered into to meet it, should it appear-they do consider that there is a voice of the Almighty to be regarded in this visitation, and a duty to be performed by the British and Foreign Bible Society. That this Committee record their devout conviction, that the truths of the Sacred Volume, when accompanied by Divine teaching, can minister patience and strong consolation under the severest sufferings, and prepare the immortal spirit for its departure to another world, by the reception of the knowledge they convey of Him, who, "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, was lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That this Committee express their hope, that when the hand of the Lord is lifted up, some may be led to consider their ways, and to desire the instructions of Heavenly Wisdom; and they therefore regard it most necessary that the New Testament should be ready at hand for every one, whom affliction may be the means of disposing to peruse it. That while this Committee remember, with gratitude to Him who has crowned the past labours of the Society with good success, that there are countless multiwho, humanly speaking, would not have tudes now in possession of the Scriptures possessed them but for the efforts of Bible Societies, they yet remember that in England generally, and in the Metropolis especially, thousands of families still remain unsupplied. That it be recommended to the Committees of Auxiliary and Branch Societies to communicate with their respective Associations, and to appoint an immediate investigation into the wants of their neighbourhoods; and wherever they find a family destitute of the Scriptures, to offer a copy of the New Testament, with the book of Psalms, as a loan. That the expense of providing a Loan Stock, for the above purpose, be borne by the Parent Society. cometh into the world,"-and the consolation they derive from the reflection, that those gifts, from their first possession, have been consecrated to the advancement of biblical literature; their late friend having been almost exclusively devoted to the important work of editing the Holy Scriptures, or works intimately connected with them, during the whole of his short but laborious career. That this Committee remember with gratitude and astonishment, that, in the nineteen months during which Mr. GREENFIELD had been engaged in the service of the Society, his varied talents had been brought into exercise in no less than twelve European, five Asiatic, one African, and three American languages; and that, since the commencement of his engagement, he had acquired a considerable degree of skill in the following languages, with which he had previously been wholly unacquainted-the Peruvian, Negro-English, Chippeway, and Berber. That this Committee believe that they are fully justified in extending to all other works, in which he had been engaged as editor, the following honourable testimonial, borne by their Librarian, T. P. Platt, Esq., on the completion of the printing of the Modern-Greek Psalter: "Mr. Greenfield, in carrying this work through the press, has uniformly exhibited "I. Sound learning, and critical judg ment. "II. A constant perception of the duty of faithful adherence to the very letter of the Sacred Original. "III. Minute and unwearied diligence, extending itself to the accurate marking of every supplemental word introduced in the translation, and to the careful arrangement of stops and accents." That this Committee cannot suffer to pass wholly unnoticed some of the extraofficial labours of Mr. Greenfield. They remember, with delight, that it was his valuable defence of the Mahratta version of the New Testament, against the criti cisms advanced in the Asiatic Journal for September, 1829, that first brought him under the notice of the Committee. Of the Mahratta language he had no previous knowledge, nor yet of some of the other languages referred to in the work: and when it is stated, that the pamphlet appeared within five weeks of his directing his attention to the subject, no stronger proof could be afforded of the remarkable talent with which he was endowed for acquiring languages. His reply to various strictures on the Surinam or Negro-English version, was another memorial of his diligence, as well as of his good-will to the Society: while, more recently, his observations, which have appeared in the Asiatic Journal, in reply to the criticisms of Col. Vans Kennedy on his defence of the Mahratta Version, may be appealed to, as confirming the opinion entertained of his high talents and sound learning;while a posthumous memorial has yet to appear in the same journal, through the kindness of the editor, in which a defence of the Arabic version will be found. That this Committee feel it a duty to record their persuasion, that nothing has occurred, during his brief connexion with the Society, to invalidate those satisfactory assurances of the unexceptionable moral and religious character of Mr. Greenfield, which were received at the time of his appointment; while, in the transaction of business, he has uniformly conducted himself with such skill, diligence, and urbanity, as fully to realize the expectations that the Committee had entertained. That this Committee desire to convey to his widow and fatherless children an assurance of their most sincere sympathy, under their painful bereavement; while they, at the same time, commend them to him who hath said, in His Holy Word, "A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widow, is God in his holy habitation;" and express their hope, that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may seek their consolation through faith in Christ Jesus, who is "over all, God blessed for ever." View of Publick Affairs. EUROPE. The latest European advices are from Liverpool of the date of January 21st.-In the course of the month, a number of foreign articles seemed to indicate, and indeed it was plainly stated, that there was imminent danger that a general war in Europe was likely soon to take place. The causes assigned were, the determination of Holland not to yield to the articles agreed upon by the representatives of the five Great Powers, in their conference in London, relative to the boundaries and other unsettled points, between Holland and Belgium'; and the prospect that Russia and Austria, and perhaps Prussia, would sustain Holland, and that France and Britain would side with Belgium. But the last Liverpool paper holds this language-"It is now pretty certain that the business will be ratified before the 30th" [of January.] Prussia has already sent in her adherence, and though the Dutch king talks about the refusal of the Autocrat, there is all but certainty of his assent." Another article, however, of the same date, gives |