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to Dr. Curtis, the Catholick primate of Ireland, in reply to one received from him which we have not seen.

London, Dec. 14, 1828.

"My Dear Sir, I have received your letter of the 4th inst. and I assure you that you do me justice in believing that I am sincerely anxious to witness the settlement of the Roman Catholick Question, which, by benefiting the state, would confer a benefit on every individual belonging to it. But I confess I see no prospect of such a settlement. Party has been mixed up with the consideration of the question to such a degree, and such violence pervades every discussion of it, that it is impossible to prevail upon men to consider it dispassionately.

"If we could bury it in oblivion for a short time, and employ that time diligently in the consideration of its difficulties on all sides, (for they are very great) I should not despair of seeing a satisfactory remedy.

"Believe me, my dear sir, ever your most faithful humble servant,

"WELLINGTON.” Some changes are likely to take place in the English ministry. The premier, it appears, wishes that Mr. Huskinson should again take office, which he hesitates to do, unless his friends, who went out with him, shall also be invited back.

As we take our accounts of the war between the Russians and the Turks from the English papers, we shall here give a brief epitome of the last advices from the scenes of action. The editors of the London newspapers complain grievously, and with justice, of the difficulty which exists in obtaining, till after a considerable delay, a correct view of the real state of hostile operations, and their results, between the mighty belligerents. The Austrian court is understood to be adverse to Russia, and favourable to the Turk; and this gives a colour to all the information that comes from that quarter. In addition to this, the stock jobbers, both on the continent and in Britain, manufacture and publish so many falsehoods, with a view to their influence on the funds, that a good deal of time is usually requisite to come at the simple truth. We believe that the following facts are pretty well ascertained. The Russians have raised the sieges both of Shumla and Silistria. The fortifications of Varna are under repair, and the fortress, with its mountainous and woody environs, is garrisoned with twelve thousand Russian troops, some mention a much larger force, for the winter. In retreating from Shumla the Russians were attacked by a very powerful body of Turkish cavalry, which however was repulsed with considerable loss. The retreat from Silistria was attended with a great loss of military stores and heavy artillery, destroyed by the Russians themselves, because the removal of them was impracticable, on account of the remarkable inclemency of the season, and the badness of the roads. The plan for the disposition of the Russian force for the winter appears to be, to garrison all the places taken from the Turks on the coast of the Black Sea and its vicinity, and to keep a powerful force on the north side of the Danube, and thus to preserve the most of what they have gained in the campaign now closed, till the opening of the next in the coming Spring. On the other hand, the Turks hold Shumla, Silistria, and other places of strength; and, it is reported, are determined, at every expense, to recapture Varna. They are far better calculated to defend than to attack a fortress, and we doubt if they will make a serious attempt on Varna. Yet they may, for they are greatly encouraged by the retreat of the Russians. The present Sultan is certainly a man of superior talents, and of unyielding firmness, as well as of a ferocious and blood-thirsty disposi tion. He has disgraced his Grand Vizier, and confiscated his property, for making some false movements in attempting to raise the siege of Varna-and that high mili tary rank has been conferred on the brave Pacha, who refused to capitulate, on other terms than being allowed to retire with his few faithful adherents to the Turkish camp -Jussuf Pacha, who capitulated, is also disgraced. He has been accused of treachery; but if he had been guilty of this, he would certainly not have been permitted to wear his head. The Sultan is straining every nerve to increase his army, both in numbers and in discipline. The emperor of Russia is doing the same, and if peace shall not be concluded, or put in train for conclusion, before the month of April ensuing, another campaign will commence, more sanguinary, it is probable, than the last. Both the belligerent powers are straitened, and perhaps equally so, for the want of funds. If they find themselves too poor to continue the contest, humanity may gain by their poverty.

The price of grain in England has fallen a little, and the supplies from abroad have been more liberal than was expected some time since.

FRANCE.-Letters from Paris (says a British paper) state that a portion of the French troops in the Morea, will return to France immediately, and the whole of them will leave as soon as Col. Fabvier shall have fully organized and fully disciplined, under

French officers, a corps of 10,000 of the natives, for the maintenance of the authority of the President. A Toulon paper states that at a council of ministers lately held at Paris, it was determined that an expedition of 55,000 men should be sent to Algiers. The army in the Morea is to form a part of this expedition, which it is added, will be commanded in chief by General Maison, who is to be made a field marshal. In the port of Toulon great activity is said to prevail. The frigates Cybele and Iphigenie were to sail for the Morea very shortly. The price of bread in Paris has greatly ad vanced; and the government has in consequence brought into consumption a supply of corn from the public granaries. It is said that one-tenth of the population of the capital is now receiving the benefit of this publick charity.

SPAIN.-Among many articles which we have lately seen in the papers of the day, relative to the affairs of this kingdom, there is none of great importance. It is stated that the Russian ambassador, and the American minister, have recently had a number of conferences with the Spanish minister for foreign affairs, and that the subject of discussion is believed to be, the independence of the South American republicks. It is also asserted as a fact, that the Spanish court has absolutely refused to pay the French troops lately employed in conquering that country for Ferdinand. The claims of the United States are also refused. But truly a nation cannot pay its debts without money, any more than an individual; and poor Spain is poor indeed.

PORTUGAL.-Don Miguel, the usurper of the throne of this kingdom, has had a fall from his horse, which has broken some of his bones, and endangered his life-Indeed the last accounts mention a rumour of his death; but it wants confirmation. The king. dom is in a wretched state. The destined consort of the usurper, the daughter of Don Pedro and the rightful claimant of the throne, is still in Britain, where she is treated as one entitled to royal honours. But the unhappy refugees in that kingdom, are in great distress.

GREECE.-The most recent and authentick intelligence from this country, in whose behalf we, in common with our countrymen in general, have long taken an intense interest, is of a very cheering kind. Every thing, of course, after such an awful convulsion and desolation as this country has experienced-every thing must be in a broken and disorganized state. But every thing good, we hope, will gradually find its proper place and, among other things, and above all other things, we hope that pure Christianity will again visit the regions, into which it was introduced by the apos tle Paul-We take the following interesting article from a British paper.

"The deliverance of the Peloponnesus has brought back the inhabitants to their homes. Not only are they coming down from the mountains, enfeebled by hunger and misery, but they are also returning from the neighbouring islands, where the more wealthy had taken refuge, and are beginning to repeople the towns. Twenty thousand families have returned from Zante and the environs, and are settled at Patras and Corinth. Egina being no longer subject to the laws of quarantine, there is a great stir among the population.

"Strangers cannot behold, without emotion, the affecting scenes which present themselves to their view, when whole families arrive on the shore in frail skiffs, wet it with their tears, and, raising their hands to HEAVEN, return thanks for having pitied their misfortunes, and softened the hearts of the Powers."

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.-Nothing of much importance appears in the publick papers, relative to the concerns of these great powers, beyond what we have chronicled under the article Britain. The harvest of the last year, in several of the Russian provinces, is said to have been more than usually abundant.

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.-These great powers are at present quiescent-The former manifestly wishing that the Turks may get the better of the Russians, and willing even to help them, if she dared. Prussia seems rather partial to the Russians; but doubtless is, like all the other European states, jealous of the overgrown and still extending empire and domination of Russia.

POLAND-is, in fact, no more than a Russian province. But its inhabitants have a kind of hereditary hatred of the Turks, of whom their progenitors were once the most formidable opposers. Prince Constantine, therefore, the elder brother of the empe. ror Nicholas, who now rules the destinies of the Poles, will, probably, not find it dif ficult to array them against the Turks, as it is said he is doing-with the expectation of bringing them into powerful action, in the next campaign.

SWEDEN.-We suspect that this is the happiest nation of Europe at present. It prospers in peace, under the wise administration of its ruling monarch: and the heir

apparent to the throne is represented as a prince of the highest promise. A surplus revenue of two millions sterling is said to be in the publick coffers: And a happy marriage is announced between prince Christian and one of the king's daughters.

ASIA.

It appears by Calcutta papers of as late a date as the 29th of August last, that Bombay and Calcutta have suffered dreadfully by the Cholera.-The Canton Register, of April 26, says, the Tartar Pretender to the Chinese Throne has been restored, and peace and commerce will be restored with the Northern Provinces.-The Canton Register, of May 3, contains some remarks on the Opium Trade, and in favour of its being made free-and also on the Foreign Trade generally.-The officer at the head of the Customs in Canton requests foreigners to trade with the Hong Merchants and not with Shopmen. He says it is treasonable for the latter to do the business of Hong Merchants. The Americans have made a complaint against this measure, and against the British E. I. Company and Houqua. The Bengal Hurkaru says "it is difficult to conceive by what authority the British Company's Factors arrogate to themselves a right to interfere with the American trade, and we are satisfied that the meddling spirit displayed on this occasion is not likely, in the end, to prove conducive to the Company's interest. The tendency of it is to involve Britain in disputes with other nations, and it is easy to perceive, therefore, that it is not likely to serve as an argument in favour of the renewal of the charter." The Governor of Batavia has issued a proclamation regulating the trade of the Molucca Islands.-The inhabitants of the Solomon Isles killed the captain, mate, and three seamen, of the British whale ship Alfred. They also attempted to poison the crew of the John Bull.-A great scarcity of grain exists in New South Wales. More than all produced has been required for consumption-none has been, or could be, spared for planting, and the alarming scarcity must extend to the next year.-It is proposed to carry on the whaling business in an extensive manner from New South Wales-Some expeditions have been successful.

AFRICA.

It seems that some of the Barbary states are likely to come into serious collision with Britain and France. In addition to what we have stated in another article in regard to Algiers, we find a paragraph under a London date of December 13th, which says, "Tangier has been blockaded by two of his Majesty's ships of war; our consul, Mr. Douglass, having been put into close confinement."

Another British governor, Lumsley, has died at Sierra Leone, as well as several other officers of distinction. Even the natives, it is said, have been sickly during the last year, and that a considerable mortality among them has taken place. This station we think will be, and perhaps ought to be, abandoned, and one more favourable to European constitutions selected-Such a one the British could easily obtain. It was fortunate that the first site selected for the American colony was so soon forsaken, and the healthful region of Liberia substituted for it.

AMERICA.

BUENOS AYRES.-The latest intelligence from this republick is in substance as follows-In consequence of the peace, the troops of Don Pedro are making preparations to leave Montevideo-they having already dismounted many guns on their late military fortifications. Admiral Brown has retired from active service, but with the appointment of Brigadier-general. The minister of foreign affairs for Buenos Ayres has addressed a communication to the minister of foreign affairs for Chili, inviting that republick to join in endeavouring to prevent the threatened war between Colombia and Peru-We hope this mediation may be successful. The most recent intelligence from the last mentioned republicks, represents them as on the eve of commencing hostilities.

MEXICO.-A civil war of a very serious aspect has broken out, and been carried to a considerable extent, in this great republick. It has been occasioned by the irritation produced, in consequence of the election of Pedraza to the high office of President of the republick. The rival candidate, Guerrero, seems to have been the more popular man, at least in the city of Mexico, and some other important places. His partizans took up arms in opposition to the government, as soon as they heard that their favourite had not been elected. For some time, we regarded this occurrence as unhappy indeed, but one which would not long disturb the general quiet. It has proved other. wise-The partizans of Guerrero, and of his general, Santa Anna, are in full possession of the city of Mexico, having, after a bloody conflict of three days' continuance, en

tirely subdued the troops of the government. Other towns are declaring in their favour. The insurrection in the city broke out on the 30th of November; and after the insurgents had become victorious, they pillaged the city to the amount, it is said, of eight million of dollars. The richest merchants were the greatest sufferers; and the native Spaniards were not only deprived of their property, but many of them were cruelly murdered. In some parts of the republick the government troops are still in force, and what will be the issue, cannot be foretold. But what republican but must feel regret and mortification at this occurrence, and others of much the same kind, in several of the South American states? And who does not now see, that good repub. licans cannot be made without knowledge, virtue, a right education, and religious freedom?

UNITED STATES.-What cause have the people of this country to be thankful to the God of Providence, that they have been conducted to their present state of unrivalled prosperity, without any of those scenes of confusion and bloodshed, which are now witnessed in our sister republicks of the South? And with what zeal ought we to cherish, and with what vigilance to guard, those institutions, to which, under the smiles of heaven, we are indebted for the liberty, peace, prosperity and happiness, which we now enjoy?

The detail of congressional proceedings we do not attempt to give; but under the influence of the reflections to which we have just given utterance, and to which we were led by the existing state of things in Mexico, we cannot forbear to express our grief, and we had almost said, our indignation, at the manner in which the two hundred memorials presented to Congress, from various parts of our country, praying for a repeal of the law which authorizes the carrying of the mail, and the opening of the post offices, on the Lord's day, have been treated in the Senate of the United States. We are ready to ask, whether such numerous petitions, on any other subject-commercial, agricultural, or scientific-would have been treated in the same manner? We do not believe they would. And are the friends of religion in this land a set of men who deserve less regard than any other? We hope the signers of the petitions will note well the ayes and noes on this question, when it is finally taken; and remem ber them at the next election of members of Congress. We do verily believe, that there is no one thing that has contributed so much, and still contributes so much, to the existence and preservation of our national freedom and happiness, as the obser vance of the Christian Sabbath, and the influence of its sacred duties. Destroy these -and the nation has begun to destroy them-and it will not be long before the prevalence of vice will destroy whatever else is valuable. And has not the Legislature of our nation the right-or is it not rather an imperious duty of the Legislature, to take measures to preserve that, which preserves the well being of the community? This single inquiry will show the fallacy of that tissue of common place declamation about religious rights, which makes up the report, that has been offered on this subject, to the Senate of the United States. The very admission at the beginning of that report -that Congress do well not to sit on the Lord's day, except on extraordinary occa. sions-nullifies all that follows. Is it, we wonder, less offensive to God, or his people, that the mail of the United States should be driven on the Sabbath through the length and the breadth of this whole Christian community, post offices be opened, and religious assemblies be frequently disturbed-than that Congress should assemble in the city of Washington on that day, and debate on the subjects of legislation? We hope that what has been done is not intended as a stepping stone to something more: And we hope that Congress do not forbear business on the Sabbath, merely to secure a day for repose, or amusement. But let the friends of religion, in our country, not be discouraged-Let them persevere and unite. Their voice, if they do, will at last have influence where it is now disregarded; and they will have the satisfaction, not only of having obeyed a divine command, but of having served-nay, of having saved, their country.

We perceive that arrangements are making for the retirement of the existing President of the United States, and for the accession of his successor. Who does not sympathize, deeply sympathize, with the President elect, in the death of his consort, at the very time when it would have been most desirable to him that she should have lived-to share his honours and to superintend his domestick establishment? But so fleeting are the prospects of happiness in this world; and so important is it to secure "that better part which shall not be taken away," by death itself. Report says that Mrs. Jackson was decidedly pious-If so, she has now a distinction infinitely higher and better than she would have had, if her earthly existence had been ever so long protracted.

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CHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS bids ATHEISM. This term is de

SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED

TO YOUTH.

LECTURE XXXIX.

We are now to consider what is forbidden in the first command"The first commandment (says our Catechism) forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God, and our God, and the giving that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone."

It will readily be perceived by all who carefully attend to this answer, that it consists of two parts: -First; it affirms that this commandment forbids a denial of the being, or a refusal of the suitable worship, of the true God. Secondly; that it also forbids the giving of that worship and glory to any being, or object, which is due to the true God alone. The subject matter of these prohibitions may be expressed in two words, ATHEISM and IDOLATRY. Let us briefly consider each of these; keeping in mind that our principal object here is, to show in what these sins consist, or the various kinds or instances of them-The guilt incurred by the commission of these sins, will be more particularly considered in discussing the next an

swer.

VOL. VII. Ch. Adv.

rived from two Greek words (a bεos), the meaning of which is, without God, that is, without the true God. An atheist, therefore, is one who denies, or refuses to acknowledge and worship, the true God. This description will embrace a considerable variety of character, which we shall endeavour briefly to exhibit and illustrate.

Atheists are commonly, and justly, divided into two great classesspeculative and practical. Speculative atheists are of various kinds

1. Those who explicitly and understandingly deny an INTELLIGENT first cause of all things; and profess to believe that the material universe, as we now behold it, is eternal; or that matter is eternal, and assumed its present form by chance, or by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, or by something which they call fate; or else that it is self created; and that all sentient beings, as they now exist, have either existed eternally, or are self created, or that they came into being by certain operations or combinations of matter, which they suppose is endued with something which they call a plastick nature. These are the opinions which are denominated pure atheism: And they are so ineffably absurd and difficult to believe, and the indications of con

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