RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

JAMAICA.

Extract of a Letter from a Planter.
(Continned from our last)

I

I think that not one man in fifty is married; but most have their concubines. The mothers of young women (of colour) often look out før men to take their daughters into keeping; and, among the better sort, the price is frequently two new negroes, which are settled upon the woman. myself was walking in the streets of Kingston with a gentleman, who asked a woman how much she would take for her daughter, who was standing at the door with her; she answered, 'Two new negroes.' We stopped at another house to get some spruce, and, seeing some decent young women with their mother, he put the same question to her. The girls immediately withdrew, and the mother answered, she knew better than to dispose of her daughters in that shameful manner; and would rather see them married to poor men, than kept by rich ones. On enquiry, I found that she attended the Methodist chapel, and was acquainted with the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, which kept her from complying with the sins of the island.

• I knew another remarkable instance of the good effected by preaching the gospel. A Guinea Negroe, named Nogo Daphne, was abominably wicked, and dealt in Obiah (their name for witchcraft); and, as the negroes are very superstitious, they entertain great fears of Obiah spells. She went to chapel, and it pleased God so to bless the word, that she became a real Christian. She then threw her paper-box, containing all her pretended enchantments and Obiah traffic, into the sea; and continues to behave as becomes the gospel.

Mr. Lyle, a black Baptist preacher, was, as I am credibly informed, remarkably well qualified to instruct the negroes and poor free people of colour, and did a great deal of good among them by his evangelical labours; but he has been silenced by this abominable law; as also a very worthy, pious schoolmaster, from Scotland, who occasionally delivered lectures in his school room.

'Yet, when I co...sider the enormous wickedness of many persons of wealth and power, I do not much wonder at the probibition of that preaching which condemns their practices. A certain gentleman, who is among the most zealous to persecute the Methodists, is remarkable for profane swearing; and his usual oath is, D-n my salvation! It is also to be regretted that several Roman Catholics (who are not very likely to approve of zealous Protestant preachers) are permitted to hold commissions, both civil and military.

When you hear of dreadful hurricanes, drough's, blasts on the sugar canes, and caterpillars among the cotton, you need not wonder, Even a poor old negro man made the following observation, in my hearing: - God is angry with Buckraman; dem drink dram, drunk, dem swear too much, never look in de book,

dem get never pray,

won't learn poor negro book. If poor negro savy (knew) they would pray to God; but Buckra savy, yet dem no pray, nor learn poor negro to pray; so God angry with Buckra, and dat make him shake ground, and send storm to punish dem.'

Such were the too just reflections of a black slave! May God of his infinite mercy turn the hearts of the persecutors, that this wicked law may be repealed, and encouragement given to honest, faithful, and zealous ministers of Christ! that the chapels and meetings for the negroes, which have been shat up, may again be opened! and may their labours be crowned with success! So prays your affectionate friend,

A COFFEE PLANTER.'

B

London.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE next Annual Meeting of this Society will be held (by divine permission) in London, on Wednesday, the 10th of May, and the Two following Days.

The Rev. Mr. MARTYN, of Pertenhall, near Kimbolton; the Rev. Mr. PEDDIE, of Edinburgh; the Rev. Mr. JOHN CLAYTON, jun, of London; and the Rev. Mr. RICHARDS, late of Hull, are expected to preach. Further particulars in our next Number.

MISSION TO THE JEWS.

MR. FREY has voluntarily relinquished his connection with the Society, as their Missionary to the Jews. We understand that, although the Directors did not think proper to comply with some expensive proposals made to them by Mr. Frey, for the future management of this Mission, they are, nevertheless, determined to pursue the original object by every method which appears to them scriptural and practicable.

Another stated preacher, instead of Mr. Frey, is provided for Artillery Street Chapel, who, in conjunction with various ministers, will preach to the Jews at that place, visit the sick, instruct the children, and distribute suitable tracts; some of which are in the press.

As many worthy Ministers, resident in the country, occasionally visit the metropolis, the Committee for the Jews will feel themselves much obliged by their gratuitous assistance in preaching to the Jews, in Artillery Street *. If such ministers will previously inform the Committee when they expect to be in town, arrangements will be made accordingly. It may be hoped, that many of the servants of Christ will be gratified by an opportunity, at least for once, of expressing their pious wishes for the salvation of the children of Abraham. The services of a variety of ministers may prove an inducement to their attendance; and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the means of their conversion to Christ.. Letters for this purpose may be addressed to the Rev. Mr. Buck, Primrose Street, Bishopsgate Street; or to Mr. Langton, No. 9, Old Swan Stairs, Thames Sireet.

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

THE Hibernian Society have been supplied very liberally with Bibles and New Testaments, by various Congregations in Town and Country; which has enabled them to send to Ireland, during the last year, 1464 Bibles and 2226 Testaments. As this supply, however, is very inadequate to the wants of the poor Irish, the Society affectionately solicits other cougregations to assist them in this benevolent work. No charity, in point of importance, can surpass that which has for its object the immortal interests of mankind; and while we are attending to the salvation of those who dwell in the uttermost ends of the earth, we surely ought not to overlook those whom Providence has placed so near us.

The Society will be at the expence of sending to Ireland any number of Bibles or Testaments with which they may be entrusted; and their Corresponding Committee in Dublin, will most cheerfully take the trouble to distribute them to the best advantage. J. CAMPBELL, Secretary.

*The usual services are on the morning and evening of every Lord's Day, and on Friday evenings.

Parcels of Bibles for the Hibernian Society may be sent to T. Pellatt, Esq. Ironmongers' Hall, Fenchurch Street; Townsend and Co. 10, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London; Mr. Hope, Liverpool; Mr. W. Wooles, Old Market, Bristol; Mr. Bowden, Hull; and Mr. Wilson, Nottingham.

The Annual Meeting of the HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland, will be held at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, London, on Tuesday, the 4th of April, inst. at Eleven o'clock. The Chair will be taken precisely at Twelve.

The Annual Meeting of the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY Will be held at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, on Wednesday, the 3d of May, at Eleven o'clock. — The Chair will be taken precisely at Twelve.

The Annual Meeting of the RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY will be held on Thursday, May 11, at Seven in the Morning (not at the former place, that being too small, but) at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street.

GENERAL CONGREGATIONAL UNION,

THE London Committee of the General Congregational Union, find it necessary to remind their Friends of the denomination which this Union is designed to embrace, of the importance of establishing Committees in the country, for the purpose of examining Petitionary Cases, previously to their being forwarded to town. By this introductory attention, much unnecessary delay may be superceded, while every desirable facility will be afforded for obtaining the most ample satisfaction concerning the merits of cases.

The Committee deem it necessary to state, That every place of worship for which public benevolence is solicited, must be vested in the hands of Trustees, before their recommendation can be given. They have, likewise, to request that all cases, in favour of which their sanction may be desired, be transmitted to one of their Secretaries (the Rev. T. Hill, Homerton, near London; or the Rev. Charles Buck, Primrose Street, Bishopsgate Street, London) that they may be duly examined, and the parties informed of the result, in order that no obstacle may, on this account, be opposed to the bearer of the case on his arrival in town.

Drury-Lane Theatre.

Ir is but five months since we had to record the destruction of Covent Garden Theatre by fire. It

is

On

very remarkable that, in so short
a space of time, the other principal
theatre of the metropolis should be
destroyed in a similar manner.
the evening of Friday, Feb. 24,
1809, about a quarter after eleven,
the fire suddenly broke out at the
end of the building in Brydges
Street, The flames spread with a
rapidity and violence not to be
described; so that, in about half an
hour, every part of this building,
extending near 400 feet in length,
was on fire; and, before 12 o'clock,
the lofty roof, and the figure of
Apollo (17 feet in height) which
surmounted the whole, fell in with
a terrible crash.

In vain did a number of surround-
XVI.

ing engines pour in a flood of water; the neighbouring houses were, indeed, preserved by the efforts of the firemen; but the vast body of fire within the walls, mocked all attempts to extinguish it, or even lessen its force. The furious flames ascended to heaven in a kind of pyramid, illuminating the metropolis and its neighbourhood for many miles around in a most uncommon degree, and resembling rather the eruption of a burning mountain than the effect of a com

mon fire. Indeed, the spectacle was awfully grand, especially when beheld from the bridges; and, ia the judgment of perhaps a hundred thousand spectators, exceeded any thing ever remembered in this kingdom. The thick and lofty walls, being built partly with timber, gave way during the night, but fell in

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In reflecting on this catastrophe, we cannot avoid calling to mind a circumstance respecting its erection in 1794. To expedite the work, the completion of which was so ardently desired by the lovers of pleasure, the managers scrupled not to set at open defiance the laws of God and the country. It is well remembered, that crowds of workmen were openly employed about the building, even to the annoyance of pious persons, who were passing that way to their respective places of worship. This nuisance was in vain complained of; but

religious persons said, 'This house can never prosper !'

Besides the evils ordinarily con nected with a playhouse and its entertainments, there has been too much reason to complain of some recent performances, imported from the German school, injurious to good morals as well as to religion; and the indecencies allowed in the lobbies, have been often referred to in our newspapers, and other prints, even by those who are advocates for theatrical amusements.

There is one circumstance which it would be unpardonable in us not to mention. We refer to those vain and presumptuous boasts which were uttered on the stage in the Epilogue, composed by Mr. Col man, and spoken by Miss Farren (now the Countess of Derby) on the night of opening the new theatre.

Blow wind, come wreck;' in ages yet unborn,
Our castle's strength shall laugh a siege to scorn,'
The very ravages of fire we scout,

For we have wherewithal to put it out:

In ample reservoirs our firm reliance,

Whose streams set conflagration at defiance.

Panic alone avoid, let none begin it, —,

Should the flame spread, sit still, there's nothing in it,
We'll undertake to drown you all in half a minute.

Behold, obedient to the Prompter's bell,

Our tide shall flow, and real waters swell;
No river of meandering pasteboard made;
No gentle tinkling of a tin cascade;

No brook of broadcloth shall be set in motion;
No ships be wreck'd upon a wooden ocean;
But the pure element its course shall hold,
Rush on the scene, and o'er the stage be roll'd
Consume the scenes, your safety still is certain,
Presto, for proof, let down the Iron Curtain t.'

This was truly heathenish lan guage, appropriate indeed to the sort of people who vented and applauded it; but extremely contrary to that modesty which becomes dependent mortals, who, with all their boasted works, are crushed before

the moth.' Presuming
strength of their castle,' they defy
the stormy winds, which, in spite
of men, fulfil the word of the Al-
mighty; and, firmly relying on
their 'AMPLE RESERVOIRS,' they
'scout the ravages of fire.' The late

* The curtain was here drawn up, to shew a piece of water on the stage, filled from the reservoir on the roof of the theatre. A bridge was thrown over the water with an arch, and a man rowed in a boat under the arch, while the music played 'The jolly young Waterman.'

The Iron Curtain was afterwards dropped in joints, and the stage was com pletely separated from the audience. Several men then came forward with sledge hammers, and beat the curtain, to convince the audience that it was iron.