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"Oh! it spoke in power when once I rush'd

In fury o'er Galilee's waves;

When mortals heard it my roarings were hush'd, And I slunk to my secret caves.

"Again shall I heed that holy One

When the trumpet sounds abroad;

And my honour'd voice to his judgment throne Shall bear the elect of God.

Keview.

The last two numbers of the series of papers that we have just concluded, have been Reviews in fact, though not in name-reviews of Dr. Beman's seven numbers, entitled "Review and Vindication"-And the last of our papers occupies, in our present number, a full proportion of the space usually assigned to this department of our work. We had some thoughts, however, of renewing, at this time—although it was somewhat sooner than we had anticipated a call to the duty-our remarks on a publication in the Christian Spectator; in which we are honoured with a notice of what appeared in the Christian Advocate three years ago, on "The best Method of conducting Christian Missions."

Our readers are generally aware that an ecclesiastical Convention met at Cincinnati, Ohio, in November last, with a view to devise, if they could, a plan for conducting missions in the valley of the Mississippi; which should terminate the conflict between the views and operations of the General Assembly's Missionary Board, and those of the American Home Missionary Society. The Convention was a favourite measure of the friends of the A. H. M. S., but it resulted in their grievous disappointment; inasmuch as they were found to be a minority in the body, in which they had cherished the expectation of carrying every thing agreeably to their wishes. But all who

are acquainted with the agents and proceedings of that Society know, that they are not easily discomfited or discouraged. Accordingly, when the Convention published the minutes of their proceedings, which they did in full detail, some of those who had been members of the Convention and found themselves in a minority, came out, under the style of a committee, with a large pamphlet, complaining bitterly of the proceedings of the Convention, and censuring them with great severity. These publications-the proceedings of the Convention, and the appeal to the publick of the committee-are made the subject of a review, in the last quarterly number of the Christian Spectator of New Haven; and our readers would guess right, without being told, that the Spectator appears on the side of the Committee, and argues in their favour, with as much earnestness as if the cause were his own, Indeed we have no need here of any as if; for the cause is really his own. He is the advocate of Congregationalism in opposition to Presbyterianism; and the Home Missionary Society has been, and seems intended still to be, a principal instrument for converting Presbyterian institutions into auxiliaries of Congregational associations and operations. The Spectator seems to have determined to 66 take time by the forelock," and to send out, for the present year, this plea in favour of voluntary associations,

as preferable to ecclesiastical organizations in the great and benign work of sending the gospel to the destitute-in time to reach every part of the Presbyterian church before the next meeting of the General Assembly, at which this subject will doubtless come up for discussion. Perhaps, indeed, this publication is only the precursor of another, to be sent on, like the one of last year, to meet the Assembly ad punctum temporis when it shall be convened-How this may be time will disclose.

We by no means intend what we now write as a regular Review of the Spectator's Review We have neither time nor space for such a work; and if we had, we think it would be needless. We do not speak merely our own opinion, but that of one gentleman at least, who has been accustomed to look into the Christian Spectator for entertainment and instruction, when we say, that this last born of his children is an abortion. The gentleman, to whom we have referred, seemed to think, as we certainly do, that the most plausible argument used by the Spectator, in favour of voluntary missionary societies is, that without these, Congregational and Independent churches could not send out missions at all. And yet, who sees not, that if it is the scriptural doctrine that to the church, in its distinctive character, is committed the evangelizing of the world, it only follows that any particular church, whose organization will not admit of her taking a part in this great and glorious work, is not built, quo ad hoc, on the foundation laid, and the model exhibited, in the word of God. The Spectator, in reasoning on this point, makes a petitio

Ch. Adv.-VOL. X.

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principii-takes for granted a controverted point, that Independent and Congregational church government is scriptural; and therefore that missionary operations conducted by churches are not scriptural, since they cannot be carried on by Independent and Congregational churches in their distinctive character-inasmuch as every such church is a little, unconnected, independent republick, not adequate by itself to sustain an extended Christian mission. But turn the argument the other way, which we think may be done with quite as much, or rather a great deal more, propriety and force; and then it will follow that Independency and Congregationalism are not scriptural, because they do not admit of the scriptural method of conducting Christian Missions.

We pretend not to say who is the writer of this Review; but if we should indulge in conjecture, we should be inclined, from one circumstance, to guess that it was Dr. Beman; because it has adopted his slang, of calling those who prefer Presbyterianism to Congregationalism, "The High Church party." It has also a considerable share of his rancour, against all who wish to sustain the Presbyterian church in its integrity, according to their ordination vows. But be its author who he may, his reasonings are feeble and inconclusive; and we leave it to our brethren in the West, who are perfectly competent to the work, and have, we are glad to perceive, already begun it, to expose the misrepresentations and evil tendency of the pamphlet and the whole cause, of which the Spectator has come forward as an advocate and auxiliary.

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc.

Indian Curiosities.-The Cherokee Phonix, in a late number, gives a curious account of certain mining appearances of an ancient character to be found in that nation. The writer reports himself to have visited Valley River, in search of gold, where, from reports which he had heard, he felt disposed to visit some certain location upon the north side of the river, in which these appearances are met. The ridge in which they appear is covered with Indian tumuli, the skeletons only partially concealed by loose rocks from the eye. In the immediate neighbourhood large bodies of earth have been thrown, evidently, says our visiter, for the purposes of mining, and in search of some metal. In support of this, a well of antique construction makes its appearance near thirty feet in depthhere too, through the ridge or hill, runs a canal, six or eight feet deep, about ten wide, and thirty yards long. Two or three hundred yards distant, the mining evidences, broken by the numerous tumuli, reappear.

Here we have a pit of considerable depth, calculated to measure 30 feet in diameter. The earth is thrown up around it, in such a manner and quantity, as proves it to have been the result of human labour.-At a little distance the remains of a furnace are found, convenient to a small fountain at the head of a ravine; and supposed to have been erected for the purpose of separating the gold or silver, or less valuable metals, from the rocks. These works are all antique in their appearance, and resemble nothing of their supposed nature employed in modern times. The traditions of the natives uniformly agree that "about one hundred years ago, a company of white people came over the great waters in pursuit of gold and silver; that they spent several months at the above named places." An old Indian, who resides within a few miles of the place, says that he is one hundred years old; and that when he was a very little boy, a large company of white men manufactured lead, and gave it to the inhabitants. This company it is stated took their departure, probably finding their labours unproductive, and have been traced, says the writer,back to Europe, from whence and whom, letters in relation to these relics, have been received.-He does not tell us from what quarter of Europe they came, or to what quarter they went.

Partridges. We have regretted the great destruction of this bird by the hard winter of 1830-31. Every farmer is acquainted with the extraordinary increase of the insect tribe, that prey upon his fruit trees, his corn and his grass. When he

reflects upon its habits, passing over his fields in large flocks, and devouring all the insects in their course, some estimate may be formed of the loss sustained by the absence of the Partridge. We would, therefore, call upon every farmer who regards the beauty and productiveness of his fruit trees and his fields, not only to prevent the destruction of these birds, where any remain, but to protect them, by driving from his domain the gunner by whom they are pursued.

"The young remain in the nest the first day they are hatched, and the next follow the parent birds in search of food, which for several succeeding days consists of those small insects which are found adhering to the blades of grass; they afterwards feed on ants' eggs, larger insects, and blades of grass.

"At the season when the partridge is produced, the various species of ants loosen the earth about their habitations. The young birds therefore have only to scrape away the earth, and they can satisfy their hunger without difficulty. A covey that some years ago excited the attention of the Rev. Mr. Gould, gave him an opportunity of remarking the great delight they take in this kind of food. On his turning up a colony of ants, and retiring to some distance, the parent birds conducted their young to the place where they fed very heartily. After a few days, they grew bold, and ventured to eat within ten or twelve yards of him. The surrounding grass was high; by which means they could, on the smallest alarm, immediately run out of sight and conceal themselves. The excellence of this food for partridges may be ascertained from those that are bred up under a domestic hen; as, if constantly supplied with ants' eggs and fresh water, they generally arrive at maturity." Harrisburgh Chronicle.

Frazee's Bust of John Jay.-The bust of the venerable and illustrious Jay, by Frazee, which we mentioned some time since as in course of execution, is now finished, and placed for public inspection change, in this city. In the course of-a in the upper halls of the Merchant's Exfew days it will be removed to the capitol at Washington, where it is destined to be placed, in the Supreme Court Room. Mr. Frazee is the first instance of a native American sculptor employed by Congress. He has executed the task assigned to him with talent and taste, and the fine intellectual head of the revolutionary statesman, comes from his hands with no diminution of its native dignity of expression and attitude. The artist has been in

debted for the likeness, to the bust of Jay by Ceracchi, but the composition and accessories are his own. The drapery is well managed, and the execution of the whole bust so delicate and accurate, as to bear the minutest inspection. On the whole, it is a grand and striking head, and does great credit to the artist.

A Singular Geological Fact-In dig. ging out the foundation of the projected Exchange Coffee House, in Dock street, in this city, the workmen came to an old tan yard, with a part of the former vats in place. There appears to have been a natural spring and a run of water, upon the ancient banks of which the vegetable remains are converted into a black combustible substance, resembling PEAT. Some persons were astonished to find the planks of the vats in such a state of preservation, but this is one of the properties of peat. In the B. Philosophical Transactions for 1734, there is a letter from Doctor Balguy, giving an account of the preservation of two human bodies in peat for 59

years. The one, a male, was perfect, his beard was strong, the hair of his beard was short, and his skin hard, and of a tanned leather colour; the joints of his legs played freely, without the least stiffness. The other, a female, was more injured, but her hair was like a living person's.

The corner stone of the "Hospital for the Blind and Lame" was laid on Monday last. The edifice is to be raised in pursuance of directions made in the last testament of JAMES WILLS, Esq. whose beneficent bequest for such an institution is well known.

By a calculation, it appears that allowing 32 years for a generation, and reckoning 5,287 years from Adam to the present time, that 145 thousand millions of human beings have existed on the earth since the system of our globe commenced.

Rail Roads.-There are now finished, in progress, and projected, in the United States, two thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight miles of Rail Roads.

Religious Intelligence.

FOREIGN.

We believe that the greater part of our readers feel rather more deeply interested in the Missions which are established in Ceylon and the Sandwich Islands, than in, perhaps, any other that are going forward in foreign lands; not because these missions are more important than others, but from the circumstance that they have directly contributed to these, more than to others; and that some have friends and relations employed in these Missionary fields. We fill, for the present month, most of the limited space which our pages allow to Religious Intelligence, with the most recent accounts of the state of the missions established in the island of Ceylon, taken from the Missionary Herald for April.

CEYLON.

Extracts from the Journal of Mr. Poor at Batticotta.

"The last extracts from Mr. Poor's journal were inserted at pp. 371-3 of the last volume, extending to March 31, 1831. The members of the church in the seminary are employed during their vacations

as readers, exhorters, and distributors of mission-house and property at Manepy by tracts among the people. The loss of the fire was noticed in the last volume, p.

369.

"April 9, 1831. From the reports made by the church members this evening of what they saw and heard during the vacation, it appears that the heathen enjoy a great triumph, in consequence of the burning of the mission premises at Manepy.. They affirm that that event furnishes decisive proof that their god, Ganesa, is superior to the God of the Christians. When reminded that the Tamul temples are sometimes robbed, and sometimes burnt, together with the idol gods which they contain; they readily admit that such occurrences are proofs of the imbecility of their gods; but it is enough that they may now, as they think, bring a similar proof against the ability or willingness of Jehovah to protect the missionaries. The burning of the premises furnishes a very good occasion for bringing to view some important principles of the government of God, and of his dealings towards his people.

"10. Sabbath. Preached from the text 'Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward,' showing the benevolent designs of the Almighty in bringing afflictions upon persons of various descriptions.

Visit of the Bishop of Calcutta to the Station.

April 15. Early this morning, according to a previous arrangement, the bishop of Calcutta, with several other gentle

few specimens of declamation were then given on subjects relating to the Hindoo system of mythology and science, closed by an address to the bishop, pronounced by a member of the first class, (though not composed by him) in behalf of his fellowstudents; the object of which was to describe in a few particulars the nature of the mental process, relating both to science and religion, through which the members of the seminary have passed, from the time of their being brought under the tu

men, and all the missionaries in the district, with one exception, visited the station. Agreeably to appointment, the members of the female boarding school from Oodooville, and of the preparatory school at Tillipally, assembled here. Before breakfast the female school, arranged in order with their sewing and books, were introduced to the notice of the company. Each scholar was required to read a small portion from the New Testament, and in turn to answer questions which the bishop proposed to them, by means of an inter-ition of the missionaries to the present preter, on the leading truths of Christianity.

At half past ten o'clock we assembled in Ottley Hall (being the first time it has been occupied on any publick occasion) for an examination of the members of the preparatory school, and seminary. After a few remarks relative to the origin and progress of our boarding school system, two classes were hastily examined in English spelling and the first rules of arithmetick. A schedule was then presented containing the course of study pursued by each of the four classes in the seminary, during the last three months, with a request that the bishop would have the goodness to select those branches in which he might wish to have the students examined, it being obviously impossible to examine them in their whole course, in a single day. The fourth class consisting of thirty members were first examined, half of them in construing the New Testament from English to Tamul, and the other half in vulgar fractions. The third class, twenty in number, were then examined in the first lessons on astronomy. The second and third classes were minutely examined in Scripture history and chronology. This exercise was closed by the members of the second class, eighteen in number, repeating each one a different portion of Scripture, selected by himself, proving that the great events represented by the stone spoken of in Nebuchadnezzar's vision, which was cut out without hands, and which smote the image,' &c, will be accomplished in their time, viz. In the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.' After a short recess, the first class, twenty in number, were examined in Euclid's Elements, and in the Gospel of Luke.* A

"In the latter branch they were examined in accordance with a method of studying the Scriptures recently introduced into the seminary, a correct idea of which may be formed by considering the following questions as specimens, viz. What are the contents of the 10th chapter of Luke? What subject is treated of in the 18th chapter? Where may we find the parable of the unjust steward?"

period. After the address the bishop expressed the gratification he had felt on the occasion, and also presented some weighty considerations to induce the students to persevere in the course on which they have entered, assuring them of his best wishes, and of his readiness to co-operate with the conductors of the seminary in forwarding their designs.

"Thus ended the exercises of a very busy day. On comparing this examination with those that have preceded it, two circumstances are worthy of notice as being peculiar. One is, that a far greater portion of time than usual was spent in the examination of the classes in biblical studies; the other, that the bishop acted the part of an examiner in all branches, to a greater extent than any other person who has hitherto visited the seminary. Before taking leave of us, he intimated that it was his intention to furnish us with some memento of his visit, and of his cordial approbation of our plans of procedure. He also requested a statement of particulars relating to the destruction of the mission premises at Manepy, saying it was his intention to use his influence, in procuring subscriptions in aid of the repairs of the station.

"As a substitute for many remarks that might be made, expressive of our views of the character of bishop Turner, I shall only observe that his whole deportment was such as forcibly to remind us of the description of bishops drawn by the pen of inspiration. All who are interested in the welfare of Zion have, we think, cause for special thanksgiving to the great Head of the church, for appointing in his provi dence such a personage to preside over the interests of the infant church in India. The reflection that we are co-workers together with him in the same part of our Master's vineyard, cannot fail to quicken and encourage us in our work.

missionaries speak with so much respect "This excellent prelate, of whom the and affection, and who seems to have secured the love and esteem of all the friends of Christianity in India, has fallen a saof him by his extensive diocese. He died crifice to the excessive labours required on the 7th of July, soon after his return to Calcutta from the visitation in which

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