they please, conforming to the laws. In regard to employing the labouring people, they shall be employed, on the payment of customary wages; and whoever compels their labour without reward shall be punished. In regard to slavery, since all men, common people or chiefs, are by nature equal, there shall be, under the English Government, no slaves."

JAVA.

The Dutch Government, hitherto so jealous of its monopoly, has, with true commercial wisdom, at length abolished that on salt, and opened ports in all its Eastern possessions for the ships of every friendly nation.

UNITED STATES.

The forty-first convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State was held in Trinity Church in New York. It was attended by seventy-five clerical members, and one hundred and one lay delegates, representing fifty parishes: total number of members, 176. Twenty-two episcopal clergymen, not members of the convention, also attended its sitting. It was probably the largest Episcopal Convention ever held in the United States; and its business was conducted with remarkable harmony and unanimity. Twenty-six missionaries are employed within the diocese.

An American clergyman has sent the Society for promoting Temperance four dollars, being double the fee received by him for marrying a couple, knowing the man to be a drunkard. He thinks that he ought to have refused, as he might have done, to have united the parties, and thus have afforded a useful moral lesson to his countrymen.

The number of degrees, taken in the colleges of the United States, is calculated at about 750. As the number of graduates is to the whole number of students as one to five nearly, the latter may be estimated at not far from 3,750.

In reply to some disparaging remarks, respecting the Coloured population,a writer in a New-York journal gives the following statements:-"The constitution of this State does not require simply 250 dollars of property to qualify a Coloured man to vote, but so much in real estate: and this, let it be remembered, is required of the Coloured man, not of the White; he, except he belong to the profession of divinity, (in which profession he is wholly disfranchised,) can vote without any property. There are in this city more than sixteen qualified to vote by the possession of real estate; and more than sixteen

worth ten times the above sum. And suppose it were a fact, that few had this amount of property, would it prove what it seems to have been brought forward to prove? Would it not rather lead the ingenuous mind to inquire after the cause of such a fact? And would not a sufficient cause be found in their want of education, and of equal opportunities, with the Whites to accumulate property. They were turned out into the world from their degraded slavery, without education-not one in a hundred could read; without propertynot one in a hundred had any thing but his clothing; without access to the respectable and profitable pursuits of livelihood-not one in a hundred knew any mechanical trade, and, if they had, would not have found employment. At this time they are not permitted to learn any trade but the lowest are not permitted to be carmen, clerks, or merchants. Under these circumstances, the ground of astonishment is, that so many of them are so respectable, so wealthy, so honest and industrious, and not that so many are poor, vagabonds, and criminals."

At the last meeting of the American Convention for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, it was stated, that there are now twenty-eight Anti-Slavery Societes, in North Carolina, several in Virginia, five in Maryland, forty in Tennessee, and five in Pennsylvania. A memorial to Congress, praying for the abolition of slavery in the district of Columbia, was adopted. It was also recommended that exertions should be used to procure laws in the several States, for preventing the separation of the families of slaves by sales, and for enforcing their marriage contracts, for abolishing restrictions upon their education, and for establishing schools for their benefit.

At a recent meeting of the Presbytery of Orange and Stoney Creek, in North Carolina, a society was formed for the suppression of intemperance within the bounds of the Presbytery. An engagement to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits, except when needed for health, is an indispensable condition of membership. The committee estimate the number of lives annually destroyed by intemperance, in the United States, at more than 10,000. The liquor required to effect this melancholy result, it is calculated, costs annually more than forty millions of dollars; and the pauperism, occasioned by its improper use, more than twelve millions. One of the Judges, in his charge to a Grand Jury, declares that

not a single indictment has ever come before him for manslaughter, and but few for murder, which were not occasioned by intemperance.

The first duel that was ever fought in the United States was in New England. In 1621, a year after the first settlement of those States two servants chose this "honourable way" of quenching their enmity. They met on the field-fought -but both escaped unhurt. The Puritans of those days instantly seized them, and for such a "misleading and ungodly crime against the good order of their society," they condemned the transgressors to be tied hand and foot, and to abstain for the space of twenty-four hours, from drink and food. This salutary example withered in the bud all sorts of duels in those colonies.

So rapid is the growth of American towns, that a place called Rochester, which, in 1812, contained but two or three ordinary houses, in 1825 contained 5,273. There is now established in it a daily newspaper.-The first brick house in Cincinnati was built in 1799. The city now contains ten places for public worship, forty schools, a college, a medical college, and a hospital.

NORTH POLE.

It is calculated that Captain Parry may, by next August, be standing on the earth's north pole, which, however, it will require some consideration to find. When the pole is attained to, south will lie in every direction. No stars will be seen, and the full moon will appear but faintly, on account of constant sunshine in meridian splendour. The meridian of London will be ascertained by the chronometers, which carry the London-hour of the day.

THEOLOGY.

Account of the Zoharite Jews. By M. J. Mayers.

The Pastor's Sketch-book, or Authentic Narratives of Real Characters. Edited by G. Redford. 5s.

Preparation for the Lord's Supper, with Companion to the Altar. By Mrs. Cornwallis.

The Scheme of Prophetic Arrangement of Mr. Irving and Mr. Frere critically examined; with some Remarks on the present Aspect of Affairs, in reference to the Fulfilment of Prophecy. By W. Cuninghame.

Sermons on the Thirty-nine Articles. By the Rev. T. Waite, D. C. L.

Critical Essays on Genesis, Chap. xx. and St. Matthew, Chap. ii. 17, 18. By the Rev. C. Forster, Chancellor of Ardfert.

On the General Structure of the Apocalypse; being an Introduction to its minute Interpretation. By J. H. Frere.

The Pilgrim's Progress, with Notes. By J. Gawthorn, 2s. 6d.

Sacred Specimens, from the early English Poets, with Preparatory Verses. By

the Rev. J. Mitford. 8s. 6d.

Poetical Illustrations of Passages of Scripture. By Emily Taylor, 2s. 6d. A Survey of the Old and New CoveBy the Rev. D. Russell. 5s. 6d. A Compendious View of the Original Dispensation established with Adam, and

nants.

of the Mediatorial Dispensation established through Christ. By the Rev. D. Russell. 5s. 6d.

The Good Samaritan; a Sermon preached before the British and Foreign Seamen's Friend Society. By the Rev. T. Webster.

A Review of the Congregational System. By the Rev. I. H. Hinton. 1s.

A Compendious Introduction to the Study of the Bible. By Thomas Hartwell Horne, M. A. for the use of General Readers, illustrated with Maps and other Engravings. 12mo.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Cradock's Literary and Miscellaneous Memoirs. Vol. II. 10s. 6d.

Ackerman's Forget-me-Not, for 1827; containing thirteen Engravings. 12s.

The Amulet; or Christian and Literary Remembrancer, for 1827; with twelve Engravings. 12s.

The Literary Souvenir, for 1827; with twelve Engravings. 12s.

Friendship's Offering, for 1827; with twelve Engravings. 12s.

The Campaigns of the British Army at Washington and New Orleans, in the years 1814 and 1815. 8vo. 12s.

A Treatise on Desk Diseases, attendant upon Persons engaged in Studious or Sedentary Employments. By W. M. Wallace, M. R. C. S. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Sketches from Life, in Verse. By the Rev. J. C. Boone, B. A. 12mo. 6s.

PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY IN

THE SOUTH-SEA ISLANDS. THE following interesting intelligence has been received respecting one of the South-Sea Islands, Rarotonga, in which Christianity has been recently introduced by means of missionaries, themselves natives of the neighbouring islands. Rarotonga is one of the Harvey Islands, a group situated between 19 deg. and 22 deg. south latitude, and 160 deg. west longitude, and between 500 and 600 miles south-west by west of Tahiti.

"At Rarotonga, the idols have been destroyed and cast away, and part of them have been forwarded to England. A place of worship has been erected, 600 feet long, and sixty feet wide; which will hold 4500 persons. Captain Dacre says, that the aisles were so crowded that he could not walk down them, and yet many were outside anxious to hear the word of God. They are all learning to read; they pay the greatest respect to their teachers; and the island begins to assume altogether a different appearance. All the heathen games and dances are abolished, and this hitherto solitary and spiritually desolate island, is beginning to blossom as the rose. What will the wisdom of the world say to this? A few unlettered South-Sea Islanders, who have but just learned to read themselves, going to their fellowGentiles with only a part of the word of God in their hands, sitting down among them, and in an artless and unadorned manner, telling them of the love of Christ to a fallen world, what God has wrought in their own islands, and what the power of his word is able to do, andwill perform even to the ends of the earth. The listening crowds attend: they assent to the truth of what is advanced; destroy the fabric of idolatry which the labour of ages has erected; forsake the worship of their forefathers; erect temples for the worship of the only living and true God; offer themselves as candidates for the ordinance of baptism, and enrol their names among the disciples of Jesus Christ. The missionaries

have lately finished printing the Books of Daniel, Ruth, and Esther."

Haavi, a native teacher in the Harvey Islands, writes to a missionary :-" Peace be to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The people of Mautii have received the word of God, and several have offered themselves as candidates for baptism. My heart rejoices in God, because the devils have become subject to the name of Jesus. I have sent you some of the gods of Mautii; one has been burnt. We are erecting a place of worship: it is finished plastering; also the seats are completed: our own dwelling-house is also finished, and sofa, table, and bedstead; and all the evil and bad talk which I informed you of formerly has entirely vanished by the power of God. people troubled me very much formerly; I could not sleep in the night for them; but I recollected the word that God had spoken, namely,- From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.' This passage of Scripture was the subject of my thoughts night and day in that season of trial and persecution: and now He has caused it all to fall to the ground, and He has given us our hearts' desire; for behold the peopleof Mautii are offering themselves as servants of Jesus Christ, and the great end for which we came here has been accomplished."

The

From the Sandwich Islands, a missionary writes: "Our work never has appeared to be so prosperous as since the commencement of the current year. Many have been induced seriously to inquire what they should do to be saved. Of such, more than one hundred names have been put down with a view to their particular instruction. Twelve persons now stand as candidates for admission to the church. Probably as many more will soon be examined and placed in the same class."

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

John Adams, who has for many years lived as the patriarch of his little commu

nity in Pitcairn's Island, has been very desirous that a person of suitable character shall be sent out to him from England for the instruction of his people after his decease. He engaged to employ his utmost influence with his people to induce them to concur in the plans that such an individual might propose for their religious and social improvement. No suitable person having hitherto applied for the office, Adams has directed the following application on the subject to be made to one of the missionaries in the Sandwich islands:

"Reverend sir, by the desire of John Adams, and the other inhabitants of this place, I write these few lines to inform you of our great need of a minister of the Gospel; and should esteem it as a great kindness, if you would endeavour to help us with one as soon as possible, as we are now here as sheep without a shepherd.

"The inhabitants of this place are fast increasing, being at present fifty-nine. We use our poor and imperfect endeavours to worship our Maker; but still we are in great want of an ordained minister to administer the holy ordinance of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and other services, and to instruct us in the performance of our duty.

"I stopped at this island by desire of the inhabitants, to assist in instructing them to read and write. I thank the Lord, that since my arrival at this place, I have been convinced of the errors of my past life; and my chief desire is to increase in the knowledge and love of God, and promote the good of others also.

"When Captain Henderson arrived here in the ship Hercules, of Calcutta, and brought a supply of books and other articles, he brought a letter to say that a minister was shortly coming. It is now between five and six years since, and we hear of no one being sent; so if you would endeavour to send us one, you would greatly oblige us all. And I think, by the help of God, it will be the means of saving many souls, and a blessing to the people. If we should have the happiness to see one arrive, we will, to the best of our abilities, make his residence as comfortable as is in our power.

gave the following statement respecting the want of Bibles in South America and Mexico.

"The revolution in Spanish America is not only calculated to interest the politician and the merchant; it is interesting, deeply interesting, to the benevolent man, to the Christian. The veil which has for centuries concealed the religious abuses, the bigotry and the corruption of those countries, has been rent asunder, and their true condition exposed to our view.

"And what do we behold? We behold fifteen millions of human beings, beings, too, professedly Christian, believing in Revelation, baptized in the name of the Trinity, and yet almost entirely without the Bible. By the efforts of this society and that of England, they have, it is true, within a few years, received seven or eight thousand copies of this holy book. But what are these among so great a multitude? scarcely a single copy to two thousand souls.

“Throughout the long road from Buenos Ayres to Chili, excepting a very few in Mendoza, not a solitary book of God was found; and I more than once presented copies to aged priests tottering over the grave, who told me they had never before seen it in their native tongue. North of this road, in the great towns of Cordova, Tucuman, Salta, Potosi, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Charcas, Cuzco, Arequipa, and many others, I learned that scarcely a single Bible in their own tongue had yet found its way. And coming down the coast of Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, a few copies were met with in the large towns on the Pacific, and were useful; but the great mass even there are yet destitute, and, generally, in the interior, they never saw, and in some instances told me they never before knew, that the Scriptures existed in their own language. Even in the capital of Mexico, a city more populous, and, in some respects, more magnificent than this great metropolis, I have reason to believe there is not one Bible to two hundred families, and that the other great cities of that republic, cities containing from thirty to eighty thousand inhabitants, are still more desitute.

"But what gives such a peculiar interest to this subject is, that now, under their new liberal systems, the way is open to supply this lamentable deficiency of the word of life. The Bible is there no longer excluded by royal mandates and papal bulls: the houses of inquisition have lost their terrors; for they are converted into the

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