tion.

A meeting was accordingly called, and took place on the 1st of February, the Mayor in the chair. The business was opened by the Rev. Dr. Small, who highly commended the object, constitution, and proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and earnestly recommended the formation of an Auxiliary Society for the city and vicinity of Bristol. The secretaries of the parent society, who attended by particular request, then addressed the meeting. The Rev. Mr. Steinkopff represented the destitute condition of several parts of the continent with respect to the Holy Scriptures, and the very gratifying manner in which they had been supplied, through the medium of the British and Foreign Bible Society; concluding with an eulogium on British beneficence and liberality with regard to foreign nations. The Rev. Mr. Hughes took a cursory view of the society; and pointed out how admirably it was adapted to promote the glory of God, and the universal welfare of mankind. The Rev. Mr. Owen entered at some length into the consideration of the society's constitution, as associating in the prosecution of one common object, all denominations of Christians: he contended that the object of the association was one in which all descriptions of Christians might legitimately and correctly unite, and demonstrated, both by argument and an ap

peal to facts, that no deviation could occur, nor had occurred, from the fundamental rule of the society, to circulate the Scriptures, according to the authorised version, through the united kingdom; and without comment, both at home and abroad: he then concluded by an appeal to the citizens of Bristol on behalf of the institution, their support to which might serve to bring down blessings on themselves, and to transmit those blessings as a patrimonial inheritance to their children's children. A constitution was then adopted for the Auxiliary Society, similar, in almost all respects, to that of its parent. Books were opened in the hall for subscriptions, and more than 700l. were immediately contributed. It was a gratifying sight to witness the ministers and laity of the several denominations of Christians assembled on this occasion, united with the utmost cordiality, in countenancing and supporting so important an instrument of promoting the temporal and eternal interests of their fellow-creatures both at home and abroad.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The Committee of this Society have appointed the annual meeting to be held in the great room at the (Old) London Tavern, in Bishopsgate Street, near Cornhill, on Wednesday the 2d of May, at 12 o'clock precisely.

CONTINENTAL INTELLIGENCE. SPAIN, we fear, has reached the crisis which we have long anticipated, when France, disembarassed from the necessity of directing her principal force to another quarter, should be able to inundate the peninsula with her immense regular armies. Experience having proved that the Spaniards did not possess energy sufficient to expel so small a number as sixty or seventy thousand Frenchmen from the heart of their country, and thus oblige their enemy, in renewing his attempt to subjugate them, to fight his way through the passes of the Pyrenees, the hope seemed to us to be utterly vain, that any thing like effectual resistance could be given to Bonaparte's means of annoyance, when they came to be combined against Spain singly. It is supposed that from two hundred and fifty to three hundred thousand French troops have marched into that country since the termination of

the war with Austria; and the effect of these reinforcements has been fully felt. The passes of the Sierra Morena were forced with hardly any resistance, and Seville taken possession of by the French, who, according to the latest accounts, had advanced within ten or twelve leagues of Cadiz. A large body of troops is said to have thrown itself into this city; but we are not disposed to draw any very favourable conclusion from this circumstance. Confidence, we greatly fear, is at an end; and the people of rank and property appear intent, not so much on defending this last hope of Spain, as on escaping with such property as they can realise to Gibraltar, or England, or South America. The most extraordinary circumstance is, that the descent of the French into Andalusia appears not to have been looked for at Seville and Cadiz; and to have excited there as much surprize and consternation as it would in London to hear that

50,000 Frenchmen had reached Blackheath. It is difficult to account for the blind improvidence which has distinguished Spain in every stage of this great contest. Danger seems to have been little thought of, except when in view. And let some slight and partial advantage be obtained, or let the enemy from motives of policy act merely on the defensive, and forbear for a time any active operations, every letter marked the foolish elation which pervaded the public mind; an elation evidenced not by mustering their hardy myriads to the battle, and making their oppressor feel

"How strong in labour's horny hand the steel,"

but in premature rejoicing and fruitless

vaunts.

Let England be admonished by the example: the lesson which it furnishes is too valuable to be disregarded. We recur to what we have often asserted. The dangers which threaten this country are rightly appreciated, we fear, by few. Like the infatuated Spaniards, seeing no hostile force within the narrow field of our visible horizon, we therefore lie down in fancied security. But ought we to shut our eyes to this; that the power of France is every day becoming more formidable, and that that power, increased by an accumulation of fresh resources and by the uncontrolled possession of fresh points of embarkation, is about to be directed against this single country? But let us not be misunderstood. If we urge again on the serious consideration of our readers the magnitude of the conflict which it has pleased Providence should still await us, it is not that they may be led to cherish dismay or despondency; but that, instead of spending themselves, like the Spaniards, in

"Haughty boast and threatening tone;" or in heats that die ere half their work is accomplished, they may be prepared for those extensive sacrifices, and those vigorous, combined, and persevering exertions, which will probably be required of them: it is that they may be stirred up to greater diligence and earnestness in prayer, both for themselves and their country, that God would turn from us the tide of desolation, and be our defence and our shield.

It seems hardly necessary to advert particularly to the state of the Spanish government. The Cortes, though summoned, had not met; and it is now but little likely that they can be assembled. The Junta of Seville endeavoured to effect their escape on the approach of the French. The populace, suspecting treachery, scized such of them as

were within their reach, and proceeded to appoint a regency, consisting of Montijo and the younger Palafox (who were delivered from confinement by the populace) and Castanos.

The Spanish ships of war, almost all of which are said to be collected at Cadiz, have moved into the outer harbour, with a British squadron interposed between them and the shore. They may therefore, we hope, be considered as rescued from the gripe of France.

Ceuta, on the coast of Africa, has been taken possession of by 2000 men of the garrison of Gibraltar.

The annexation to the French empire, not only of part of Holland, but of the whole line of coast from Holstein to Flanders, appears to be finally determined by Bonaparte; and bodies of French troops have been stationed at different points in this line, to suppress all opposition to the change, or even any mur. mur against it. The dissatisfaction of the Dutch, however, though not loud, appears to be deep; they have even gone so far as to publish, in one of their principal newspapers, a remonstrance against the usurpation of France, which can answer little purpose, in existing circumstances, except to increase the jealousy of their oppressor, and thus add to the weight of their chains. Measures of in creased severity have been adopted, in order to ensure the exclusion of British commerce; and all British manufactures and colonial produce found in Holland or Flanders are to be confiscated, in order" to repair the havoc occasioned by our attack on Walcheren." American vessels are also prohibited, absolutely, and without exception, from entering the ports of Holland.

UNITED STATES.

The whole of the correspondence between our government and Mr. Erskine, on the subject of the disallowed treaty with America, is now before the public. Mr. Erskine does not affect to deny that he has departed from the letter of his instructions, though he conceives himself to have adhered to their spirit. On one most impor tant point, however, he departs (probably through misapprehension), not only from the letter, but from the spirit, too, of his instructions. He had been directed to de

mand from the American government a distinct recognition of our right, in case the Orders in Council were repealed, to enforce their Non-intercourse Law with France by the capture of such American vessels as might attempt to contravene that law. Mr.Erskine says that this proposition was not objected to by the American government; but that it appeared

to them to require no formal recognition, since their interference could obviously never be required, and, if it were, could never be obtained by any American citizen, in a case in which he sought redress for an injury incurred in consequence of a direct breach of their own laws. And in this explanation Mr. Erskine appears to have acquiesced as satisfactory. Mr. Erskine, however, does not seem to have been aware that such an admission on the part of the American government was perfectly nugatory, and could have no effect whatever in securing the object which it professed to aim at. He ought to have known that our prize courts not only could not take cognizance of such a vague admission on the part of the American minister, but that they could not take cognizance even of the clearest and most express enactments of the American legislature on the subject. The municipal laws of foreign states furnish no rules for the guidance of our courts of prize; nor can they, on any occasion, be pleaded by our cruizers in justification of maritime capture. This is a principle which has been repeatedly and even recently decided: and the decision must have been known to the American government, at the time they made their apparently candid admission. The American legislature, some years since, prohibited, under severe penalties, all trade to the new republie of Hayti. Our cruizers, encouraged by this law, seized many American vessels when on the point of entering Haytian ports.

The existence of the prohibitory enactment was fully established, and the fact also of its contravention; but the captured property was nevertheless restored, in every instance, although there was no reclamation on the part of the American government, on this broad ground, that neither our courts of Admiralty, nor our cruizers, had any thing to do with the municipal regulations of other states; the only rules for their guidance being the law of nations as modified by treaty, or by his Majesty's Orders in Council. The necessity therefore of obtaining a formal recognition, and not a mere verbal admission of the principle in question, on the part of the American government, if it was really intended to enforce the prohibition of a commercial intercourse between America and France, cannot be disputed. This Mr. Erskine was instructed to obtain as one condition of the repeal of our Orders in Council: but he did not obtain it; neither did he obtain any thing in its place beyond the mere shadow of a substitute.

Considerable hopes are entertained that the differences between Great Britain and the United States will still be brought to an amicable termination. This desirable result is likely to be promoted by some recent instances of severity towards American ships in the ports subject to France. Many of them, it is said, have been seized; and with respect to their absolute exclusion from Holland, there can be no doubt.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

THE subject which has chiefly occupied the attention of Parliament during the present month, has been the inquiry into the policy and the conduct of the expedition to the Scheldt. It may be premature to give any distinct opinion on either of these points. The course of the evidence, however, as far as it has hitherto proceeded, cannot be considered as favourable to ministers. It is impossible, however, to say what evidence may be yet in reserve, particularly as the secret committee appointed to examine such documents as could not safely be communicated to the public, have not as yet made any report. We therefore purposely abstain from any observations; and shall do no more, at present, than lay before our readers the following return, shewing the effective strength of the army when it embarked in July, and its state about a month ago; viz.

Embarked: 1738 officers, and 37,481 non

commissioned officers aud men. Killed: 7 officers and 99 men. Died on service abroad, and since their return: 67 officers and 3999 men. Deserted or discharged: 109 men. Returned and now borne on the strength of their corps: 1671 officers and 33,373 men; of whom are reported sick, 217 officers and 11,296 men.

Some commotion has been excited among the newspaper reporters and editors, and the coffee-house politicians, by the enforcement of the standing order of the House of Commons, for the exclusion of strangers, during the examination of evidence respecting the Walcheren expedition. It cannot, however, be alleged that any real inconvenience has resulted from this measure. Its only effect is, that the evidence is not published for some days after it has been given. But then it appears in a much more perfect form than that in which it would otherwise have been exhibited, being copied from the

authentic minutes printed for the use of the members. This prudential restriction of the indulgence usually allowed to reporters has given occasion to many indecent reflections in the public prints; and one hand-bill, the production of the well-known Mr. Gale Jones, so far overstepped the boundaries of decorum, that it was thought necessary by the house to take cognizance of it. It was pronounced to be a gross violation of the privileges of the house, and its author has been committed to Newgate.

In the course of the Walcheren inquiry, some divisions have taken place in the House of Commons, in which Ministers have found themselves in a minority. One of these was on an important occasion, when, after due notice had been given, a motion for papers, which was resisted by the whole force of the government, was carried against them by a majority of 178 to 171.

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament have been voted to Lord Gambier, and the fleet under his command, for their achievements in Basque Roads; and to Lord Wellington and his army, for the victory obtained at Talavera. A Pension of 2000l. a-year for his own life, and that of two of his successors, has been settled by parliament on Lord Wellington.

The navy estimates for the present year have been voted; viz. for 130,000 men, in all, 10,876,7004

A bill for rendering the abolition of reversionary grants perpetual, passed the House of Commons; but, through some defect in form, was rejected in the House of Lords. Another bill to the same effect has been originated in the upper house by Earl Gros

venor.

The finance committee has been re-appointed, and has undergone some changes agreeably to the suggestions of Mr. Bankes, who is re-appointed chairman of it. Several persons named by that gentleman were objected to by ministers, and others proposed in their stead; but the house decided in favour of Mr. Bankes's nomination.

His Majesty has informed parliament that he is entered into arrangements with Portugal for taking into his pay an army of Portugueze troops not exceeding 30,000 men. This message is likely to give birth to much discussion.

The great scarcity of coin and bullion, which has been experienced in this country for some time past (gold having risen about ten shillings an ounce in price), has attracted the notice of parliament, and a committee has been appointed to investigate the bject.

Total £59,263,255 8 Making an excess of nearly two millions in favour of the latter year.

We are

Petitions have been presented to parlia ment from the Roman catholics of several counties in Ireland, and also from those of Great Britain, praying for the relief of their body from all existing disabilities; we may therefore expect that this subject will shortly be agitated in the senate. happy, however, to observe, that this important question has somewhat changed its aspect of late. It now appears that the great mass of the catholics of Ireland are disposed not to concede to the king an effectual negative on the appointment of their bishops, nor to agree to certain measures of regulation with a view to the security of the established church, which formed the basis of the plan adopted by Mr. Pitt and his colleagues in office for the benefit of the catholics; and that, in consequence of their avowed disinclination to any such compromise, Lord Grenville, in a printed letter to Lord Fingal, has avowed his determination not to take any part in bringing forward the question of Catholic emancipation. letter may be considered as expressive of the general sentiments of Lord Grenville's party; and it happily removes any fear which was ent ertained, lest, on his lordship's return to power, this delicate question should be intemperately pressed into discussion by the king's servants. Lord Grenville may possibly appear to some to have acted inconsistently in this matter, and to have been influenced by a wish to smooth the way for his

This

return to office. It is due, however, to his lordship, to state that in all his speeches in support of Catholic emancipation, he assumed (and in this he was justified by the assurance of Lord Fingal himself) that the catholics would agree both to place an effectual controul on the nomination of their bishops in the hands of the king, and to adopt ineasures for the security of the establishment. It further appears, that the real sentiments of the catholics have only recently manifested themselves; and that the moment they were expressed, Lord Grenville thought it right to declare the change in his views.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Two out of four of the enemy's frigates, which sailed some time since from France, have been destroyed in the West Indies, after a most gallant contest, in which some

batteries on the island of Guadaloupe, by which the French ships were defended, were taken possession of by our squadron. The other two have effected their escape to Brest. In the course of the outward voyage, they captured the English frigate Junon, after a gallant resistance, in which the Junon was so much injured, that she had scarcely surrendered when she sunk.

Two more French frigates have been taken; one, La Nymphe, captured near the Cape of Good Hope by the Iphigenie, and the other, La Cannoniere, which was taken on the coast of France, on her return from the East Indies, full of booty, by one of the ships of the channel fleet.

Admiral Cochrane had prepared a force for the attack of Guadaloupe, to which it is said he was about to proceed.

his son,

My dear boy," speaking to

you are but just entering upon your pilgrimage. I wish you to go on step by step, grace by grace, until you arrive at the kingdom of heaven."-"Father," replied the lad, with tears in his eyes, "I will endeavour to follow your example." My example! my child" (throwing aside the curtain of his bed, and looking at hun with uncommon earnestness and solicitude, as if to impress what he was going to say in a manner that should not be forgotten)

46

I was

My example can afford you very little service. It has been full of error. always a sinful creature. I can plead nothing but the merits of any Saviour. You should say that you will endeavour to follow the example of Christ. I hope you will, my dear boy, through the assistance of God's Holy Spirit."

To his wife, who hung over his bed, and who was unable to suppress the bitterest pangs of grief, he said:-"Do not distress yourself so much, my dear. You should recollect that you, also, are far advanced in life, and that you cannot long survive me. I hope, through Christ, that we shall not be separated hereafter, but shall meet again in a blessed eternity."

When he had signed his will, and seemed satisfied with his other worldly arrangements, he was asked by friend if he would have the church service for the sick read to him. To this proposition he immediately assented; and whilst the duty was

devoutly fixed, except at such intervals as he was interrupted by the acutest pains of spasın, when he would stop the reader for a few moments; observing, that though his body was weak and infirm, he trusted his spirit was strong in the Lord.

When a friend was leaving his room the night previous to his departure, he requested him to stay a little; and after a short pause, during which time he seemed to be collecting all his remaining strength in order to bid him a final adieu--" I feel now," said he, "that I am going very fast. My soul, I trust in Christ, will shortly be with angels and archangels, and all the host of heaven. We shall all, I trust, through Christ, meet again in the blessed mansions of rest:"and then he immediately subjoined, in a tone of voice low and faltering from extreme debility, a general prayer for all mankind-Jews, Turks, and infidels; for all those in error or adversity of any kind what

soever.

When restless in bed, his wife inquired ' of him what he wanted, He replied, "to be with my God."

When his son was shedding the tears of filial affection and sympathy, he said, “Do' not grieve, my child. There is nothing to grieve at. I trust in Christ I shall soon be happier than this world can make me."-At various times during his illness he gave his son the best advice. The following remarks were the most striking :-"Love and succour your mother. Be honest and industrious in your calling, whatever it may be. Guard,