judge, to exert and to strain every faculty of the mind, to discover, in every case, the smallest possible quantity of punishment that may be effectual for the ends of amendment and example; I consider every pang of the eriminal, not necessary for these objects, as a crime in the judge. And, in conformity with these principles, I was employed in considering the mildest judgment which public duty would suffer me to pronounce on you, when I learned, from undoubted authority, that your thoughts towards me were not quite of the same nature. I was credibly, or rather certainly, informed, that you had adınitted into your minds the desperate project of destroying your own lives at the bar, where you stand, and of signalizing your suicide by the previons destruction of, at least, one of your judges. If that murderous project had been executed, I should have been the first British thagistrate who ever stained with his blood the bench on which he sat to administer justice. But I can never die better than in the discharge of my duty. When I accepted the office of a minister of justice, I knew that I must be unpopular among the enemies of justice-I knew that I ought to despise unpopu larity and slander, and even death itself.Thank God! I do despise them; and solemnly assure you, that I feel more compassion for the gloomy and desperate state of minds, which could harbour such projects, than resentment for that part of them which was directed against myself.

It is my duty to remind you, that your de spair is premature and groundless. At your age, in a new society, where you may not be followed by the memory of your faults, you may yet atone for them, and regain that station in society, to which the fond hopes of your unfortunate relations had, probably, at parting, destined you. The road which leads back to character and honour is, and ought to be, steep, but ought not to be, and is not, inaccessible.

On the other hand, if any of the comrades of excesses be present, any of those your who have been arrested, on the brink of destruction, by their penitence, or by their timely fears, or by fortunate accidents, or by

The Recorder's private information of this atrocious, and almost incredible project, must, of course, have been confidential, and therefore can never be disclosed. Many gentlemen saw in the hands of the Sheriff the arms which had been seized on B. Macguire.

They consisted of four pistols, of various dimensions, three of them double-barrelled, in a case made to resemble a writing-desk; which he had with him in Court on the day of this frial, under pretence of carrying his papers. The pistols were loaded with slugs, in a Manner for which, in this island, it is not easy to assign an innocent motive,

the mercy of others, I most carnestly conjure them never to forget the situation in which they this day see you.-Let those who stand take heed lest they fall. The declivity is slippery from the place where they stand to that where you lie prostrate.

I should consider myself as indelibly disgraced, if a thought of your projects against me were to influence my judgment. That, however, I believe you yourselves will scarcely suppose.

The judgment of this Court is that you, the said Bryan Macguire and George Cautey, be, for this your offence, imprisoned in the Gaol of Bombay, for twelve calendar months.

PROPOSITA PHILANTHROPICA.
-Homo sum,

Hamani nihil a me alienum puto.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN
KNOWLEDGE.

The Annual Report of this Society, which has recently been published, states the number of children taught in the charity-schools in and about London and Westminster, to be 7108, viz. 4180 boys, and 2928 girls, and the number of books which have been distributed by them during the preceding year to be as follows, viz. 8,490 bibles, 11,406 new testaments and psalters, 16,096 common prayers, 20,400 other bound books, and 112,440 small tracts.

REV. MR. BASIL WOOD'S EXERTIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE EDINBURGH MISSION TO TARTARY,

The Rev. B. Wood writes to the Christian Observer, that, after reading the last report of the Edinburgh mission to Karass, he could not forbear mentioning it to some friends in the congregation at Bentinck Chapel, who suggested the idea of his reading that passage from the pulpit. This I accordingly did on the 12th instant, and mentioned, that, if any present were disposed to join to add a trifle to the relief of these poor children, I should be very happy to be their almoner in so good a cause. I have the pleasure to state that donations were made in the course of the week, far beyond my expectation, and a solicitation was received that the plates might be held at the chapel doors on Sunday, the 19th instant. I therefore felt very happy in meeting this charitable request, and preached from Deut. i. 39.-" Your little ones which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it."

I have, by the blessing of God, the pleas sure to make the following return :

Extracts from the Report of the Committee of the Hibernian Society, for the Diffu sion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland. The province of Connaught, which Comprehends several counties in the west of Ireland, seems to be the most destitute of religious instruction of any part of Ireland.

The province of Munster, which comprises several counties in the south, appears, next to Connaught, the most destitute. In the counties of Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Wexford, and Carlow, there are very few Sunday Schools, and those badly attended. The proportion of Papists to Protestants in these counties is twenty to one. Scarcely any of the former, and but few of the latter, possess copies of the Scripture.

The province of Leinster, though much more favourably circumstanced than the other provinces, is stated to be in some places destitute of all means of acquiring religious instruction. In the county of Kilkenny, in this province, there is a monthly meeting of clergymen of the Established Church, whose zeal has stirred up very many, and whose exertions have been attended with blessed effects.

The province of Ulster, more generally called the North, is by far the most enlightened part of Ireland.

Many difficulties stand in the way of the establishment of Sunday Schools, as most of the Roman Catholic priests are hostile to them; but, in many instances, these difficulties have been overcome. Much depends on the character and prudence of the teacher. Many of the Protestants would send their children,

As children in the south have no employ ment, it is thought that week-day schools would meet with more encouragement there.

The annual expense of supporting a free school for instructing fifty children on working-days, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, would, in some places, amount to £20, where part of the parents would pay for their children: in other places, between £30 and £40. In some places, a salary of 10 would induce gentlemen to contribute the remainder, Some judicious correspon.

dents recommend, that all the children should pay a small sum; which would cause the school to be better attended than if it were entirely or in part free.-Vide Mr. Carr's opinion: Panorama, p. 698.

It is thought that no persons qualified to teach these schools could be obtained in the south; that some might be had in the north of Ireland; but that teachers from England would be preferable to either. In many places the disposition of persons of property and influence is friendly to the improvement of the inferior class of inhabitants.

It is thought that many of the Roman Catholics would thankfully receive and eagerly read the Scriptures, could they obtain them: at the same time, it is to be feared, that many of their priests would exert their influence to prevent them.

Under the auspices of the Society, bibles and testaments, to the number of severa hundreds, gratuitously sent by the public, have been forwarded to Ireland, to be distributed by persons in whom the Committee can most implicitly confide.

The Committee have also paid great atten tion in forming a plan for instituting schools in every parish in Ireland; in which, as it respects religious instruction, no tract or catechism of any religious sect or party is to be introduced,-but the Holy Scriptures only.

Proposed Means of Support:-1, Land proprietors to furnish ground for houses and schoolmasters:-2, Houses to be built by the parishes:-3, Subscriptions by the inhabi tants:-4, Money to be paid by scholars-5, Amount of subscriptions, donations, and bequests.

It is to be lamented, that the state of Ireland has not made that impression on the minds of those who profess Christianity, which its wretched circumstances were calcu lated to produce.

Subscriptions and donations will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, SAMUEL MILLS, Esq. No. 20, Finsbury Place.

"Application for admission to be made before the opening of the school, at the school-house, on Tuesday morning, from ten to one o'clock; and after that time, every day (Sundays excepted) during the school-hours.

"Grown up females, who wish for instruction, may receive it from ladies, who will attend every day (Sundays excepted) to superintend the girls' school, from the hours of ten to one o'clock."

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

This Society has commenced a correspondence with the Archbishop of Moscow, with a view to the printing of the Scriptures in the Russian language. At present, it is said, Bibles are so scarce, that there is but about one Bible to 16,000 Russians. Compare Panorama, p. 362.

Some well disposed persons in Denmark have begun to print an edition of 2000 copies of the Icelandic New Testament. The Society have voted a sum of money, to enable them to add 3000 more to the number; and intend to assist them hereafter in printing the whole Bible.

We have intimated to our readers, that it was in contemplation, to attempt some further means for the reformation of a numerous and wretched class of women, who are perishing in their sins. We have now the pleasure to say, that the following notice is in circulation.

ASYLUM FOR UNFORTUNATE PEMALES.

The friends of the intended London Female Penitentiary are respectly informed, That a General Meeting will be held on Thursday, the 1st day of January, 1807, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, at Twelve o'clock precisely, when a Plan will be submitted to their consideration.

W. Alers, J. Butterworth, G. Burder, A. Clarke, R. Cowie, C. Crawford, Rowl. Hill, J. Hughes, Alex. Maitland, S. Mills, G Meyer, T. Pellatt, J. Reyner, C. Sundius, Matt. Wilks, T. Wilson, A. Waugh.

PROPOSITA LITERARIA. CORRECTION OF AN EXPRESSION OF POPE, OVID. MET. ix. 373.-PROPOSED BY D. L. S. Mr. Pope, in his translation of the fable of Dryope, appears to have committed an error, by rendering the words of Dryope, on her metamorphosis, as follow:

In mutual innocence our lives we led, alluding to herself and husband.

in the original, we merely find Viximus innocua-applying solely to herself; but using the plural as a mark of dignity.

CORRECTION OF A STAGE ERROR. PROPOSED BY FITZ-JOHN.

I beg leave to offer a remark upon a passage in Macbeth, act 1, scene 9, as now used on the stage:

If when 'tis done, it were well done, 'twere well
It were done quickly.

I have seen it as follows:

If it were done, when tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly;

which I take to be the true meaning of the author; as is more evident by the lines immediately following:

-If th' assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With its surcease success, that but this blow Might be the "Be al" and the "End al" here, Here only, on the brink and shoal of time;—Macbeth being represented throughout as a weak man, influenced by his superstition primarily, and urged on by his wife, to the commission of a deed which his duty as a subject, his love as a kinsman, and his honour as an host, revolted at; the innocence and virtues of the King pleading in his breast" like angels, trumpet tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking off." I think the latter lines more proper than those now in use, as I conceive the former to allude only to his dread in executing "well" his bloody commission, while in the latter he contemplates the guilt and the chances of future discovery and dangers in which he involves him

self.

W. G. in answer to T. C. on the opening lines of Cymbeline, proposes to read,

You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods No more obey-ing the heavens, than our courtiers,

Still seem as does the King's.

The sense I think is pretty clear in this way. If every man frowns, it shews that our bloods cannot brook the decisions of Providence, any more than the courtiers can, who perhaps might be as profligate as their brethren in other ages and nations. And as the King was, no doubt, under a cloud of disgust at this period, his blood, and those of all his subjects, were likely to beat in unison.

Fitzjohn on the same subject, observes, I have seen in some editions the following lines, which I think are nearer to the author's meaning:

You do not meet a man but frowns; our looks No more obey the heart, ev'n than our courtiers; But seem as do the King's.

The harshness in the ending of the second line may be easily obviated by a trifling alte

1

ration; which, while it adds to the melody of the verse, contributes materially, and I think fully elucidates the meaning of the author. propose, therefore, to place it as follows:

I

You do not meet a man but frowns; our looks No more obey the heart than do our courtiers; But seem as do the King's. Meaning thereby, that "our looks" (like the looks of our courtiers) speak not the language of the heart by our frowns, which we wear in imitation of the King: but that (like them) we are heartily "glad at the thing we scoul at."

If we understood our correspondent T. C. rightly, his proposal went on the supposition that a transposition of words at the end of two long lines was an error very likely to happen, either in the MS. or at the press; it is therefore easily accounted for: but the variations proposed by the present writer, are not only numerous, but appear to be of a kind not likely to occur either in transcription, or in printing. We believe it is now esteemed a part of sound criticism to enquire into the easiest and most probable cause of verbal error: and to propose corrections on this principle.

Our correspondent has added a Latin epigram, written by a Papist, in ridicule of the Synod at Dort; which, though not to be admired for the malice and ill-will it abounds with, may deserve notice for the curiosity of the composition.

Dodraci Synodus?

Nodus.

Chorus integer?

Æger.

Conventus?

X., in answer to W. G. on John xix. 5, observes, that four successive times, during the examination of our Lord, the Roman governor went out to the Jews and their rulers, and is represented as addressing himself to the people on his coming forth. The occasion of pronouncing the words under consideration, was the third time of his appearance, and it was after our Lord had suffered the torment of scourging, and the cruel mockery of the imperial crown and purple. The Gentile chief, who, to the shame of the Jews, was so much more just than they, as to" seek to release Jesus" tells the people, "behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him." Immediately Jesus appears, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe; and what could be more natural than for Pilate, as the passage reads, to say, behold the man?" which is exactly

conformable to what he afterwards, when he brought forth Christ again from the Judgment-hall, unquestionably did. In verse 14, we find that he again calls the attention of the Jews to the sad appearance of the Redeemer, and saith unto them, "Behold your King!" -the same sentiment as before, only heightened; and almost the same expression, but more offensive.

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No person understanding the text in this sense, can thereby, ea necessitate, derogate from the grandeur, the inexpressible sublimity of the deportment of God manifest in the flesh-or for a moment wish to "rob him of the merit of a voluntary humiliation." He did, indeed, lay down his life for us all :" but, to all accusations, revilings, and tortures, before the Roman magistrate, he opposed a collected, dignified, and patient silence, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly at his conduct. When he was brought out by Pilate, the second titne, to the multitude, we are sure he spake not. can see no more beauty in his supposed speaking on the first time, than on the second. Besides, surrounded by enemies, to whom was the sufferer likely to address himself? To the governor?-he gave him up to malice, cruelty, and death. To the Jews?—they derided him, and panted for his blood-the Lamb of God was dumb before those shearers. To his disciples?—they all forsook him, and fled.

Another

I

corresp ondent proposes to place the words descriptive of Jesus' appearance between brackets, and to read the other sen tences as one continued speech.

Pilate skid, "I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find in his no crime. -Behold the man." But it so happened, that in the middle of Pilate's speech, Jesus advanced forward; which point of time is marked by the parenthesis, or bracketed cbservation of the Evangelist, caine Jesus forth, wearing the crown thorns," &c.

"at that instant

of

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE SPIRE OF SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, LONDON, BEFORE ITS REPAIRS: WITH THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THE PINNACLE HAS BEEN RECONSTRUCTED.

THE elegant spire of St. Bride's Church, in Fleet Street, has been a subject of adiniration among our connoisseurs in Architecture, ever since its erection. It is one of the many churches for which we are indebted to the genius and science of Sir Christopher Wren; who finished it A. D. 1680. In the year 1764 the upper part of this spire was struck by lightning; and it was thought proper to take down about thirty feet of the top, and rebuild it.

In the course of the last year, a stone was observed to project from the upper part of it, in a singular and dangerous manner; which gave occasion to an inspection into the condition of this part of the edifice. A description of the state in which it was found is necessary to a proper understanding of the ingenuity employed in reconstructing it.

The whole of the pinnacle stands on four principal corner stones, called the die stones, with apertures between them. These were cramped together with iron bars; and cross bars of the same metal strengthened the conical part, internally. The exposure of these iron bars in some parts to the humidity of the atmosphere, subjected them to a general oxidation; and the metal expanding in consequence, had raised the great weight of solid stone above it no less than three quarters of an inch; besides cracking off pieces of considerable surface, some of them twelve inches square. This fact, being reported to the Parish committee, by the surveyor employed, appeared so extraordinary, that they deputed some of their members to inspect the pinnacle, who confirmed the report in every point. The whole was therefore ordered to be taken down, and means were thought of how to obviate the evil.

As the mode of connecting the stones by crampings was indispensable, recourse was had to copper cramp collars, and chain bars, this metal not being liable to rust, nor swell: and where the expence would have been too great if these bars had been wholly of copper, a socket is cut in the stone, into which a collar of copper entirely lining it, is inserted, and the bended hook of iron, part of the iron bar which holds the stone, is bedded and fixed in this copper collar; so that no part of the iron comes into contact with the stone: the remainder of the iron, where it passes along the stone, is surrounded with lead run upon it, of consequence, interposed between the stone and the bar. The other parts of the bar are coated with a surface of thick oil, into which, when in a boiling state, the bars were repeatedly plunged.

Every attention having been thus paid to the exclusion of the atmospherical moisture from the iron, it is hoped that these bars, so defended, will not be subject to rust; but should that happen, it is next to impossible that any part of them, so rusted, should impinge against the stone, and damage it, by cracking off any of its parts from their places. If the fron should swell, the lead would give way a little, and humour the figure assumed by the expansion of the bar: and if the oxidation should penetrate so far as to the copper collar, this would effectually protect the stone from injury; partly by its ductility to such pressure, aitly by its resistance, or toughness.

The same care is taken throughout this pinnacle, that no iron comes into contact with any stone; but wherever, as in the case of the spindle, which passes through several feet of stone, not less than ten, it has heretofore been united to the stone, now, a coat of leal, at least, covers it like a case, and by its interposition prevents the rusty iron, should it ever rust, from having any injurious effect on the stone. Messrs. Robinson and Roper where the architects who conducted these repairs.

We have thought this narrative entitled to a place in our work, because, 1. It may induce architects to examine such parts of buildings as they know to be cramped with iron, which otherwise they might overlook: 2. It may lead them to pay great attention to the proper placing of their cramp bars and collars; that there be a sufficient substance of stone in all parts, to defend them effectually from the influence of the atmosphere: 3. The idea of employing copper in works exposed to humidity, to currents of water, in bridges, canal works, &c. appears to be peculiarly applicable; and we should think might be adopted with advantage: 4. Perhaps bars of iron, coated with copper, might answer many other valuable purposes; especially in such situations, as great heights, &c. where, though security is absolutely indispensable, yet they cannot be examined without much labour and expense.

We take this opportunity of stating that the report of this pinnacle being lowered six or seven feet, either on this, or the former occasion is merely a deception of sight; there being no reason to conclude that any of the dimensions adopted by Sir Christopher Wren have been departed from. It is greatly to the credit of the mason, that during the whole operation, neither in taking down the former heavy stones, nor in raising the new ones, did any accident happen; not even the parting of a rope, or the cracking of a pane of glass in the adjoining buildings.