solicitous to secure an early attendance of his friends, that this choice might be made agreeably to his wishes. He mentions, however, the obtaining of the sanction of Parliament to the measures which have been adopted by the government "for admitting certain kinds of foreign grain for home consumption." This circular was of the date of Sept. 7th. Mr. Canning, on the 20th of the month was in Paris, "partaking of grand dinners." It is asserted that "the right honourable gentleman is not about to enter on any national question with the French cabinet."

Different statements are made in the London papers in relation to the distress which has lately prevailed in Britain and Ireland. By comparing the different accounts we believe there is good evidence that in many places the poor are obtaining some relief by a perceptible revival of trade, and an increasing demand for labour in various manufactories. The relief, however, is only partial in any place, and in some places the suffering is in no degree diminished.-In Ireland it is on the whole greater than in England.

Lord Bathurst, the British minister to whom colonial concerns are committed, has informed the Court of Policy in Demerara, that " they must recollect that if, on one hand, Parliament and his Majesty's government stand pledged to give the planters an equitable compensation; they stand equally pledged to take such measures as may ultimately, though gradually, work out the freedom of the slaves. The Court of Policy may be assured that from the final accomplishment of this object, this country will not be diverted."-In this we exceedingly rejoice. The martyr Smith has not died in vain. His persecution and death have raised a spirit in England which will free the slaves in Demerara, sooner, probably, than in any other of the British colonies.

FRANCE. We have heard nothing of much moment from France, in the month past. French commercial agents have, for some time past, been accredited in Mexico; and the last papers contain a royal order for establishing such agents in the other South American States-with a declaration that as soon as this shall be done, the vessels of the States which shall have accredited French agents, shall enjoy in the ports of France, the privileges already granted to Mexican vessels. Tempests had desolated the coasts of France, and been destructive to fruit and forest trees, and had probably occasioned many shipwrecks of vessels entering the ports of that country. An individual by the name of Tonquet had been fined 100 francs, "for having published what he called the historicul and moral portion of the gospel, without the miracles or supernatural occurrences, which afford the evidence of the Saviour's divine mission."

SPAIN.-Under the Madrid head of an English paper we find the following article: "Despatches from the Captain General of Estremadura, announce that a part of the fourth regiment which formed the garrison of Olivenza, have deserted into Portugal with their arms and baggage. The police has just discovered and seized a considerable sum of money, which the Apostolical party was sending into Portugal. The Royalist volunteers at Cuenza, are in a state of revolt. The Council of War is now occupied in discussing the project and means of making a new levy of fifty thousand.” If Spain and Portugal could severally exchange a part of their population, so as to make over all the constitutionalists of Spain to Portugal, and all the friends of absolute monarchy in Portugal to Spain-it might be for the peace, at least, of both countries. But when not only citizens, but regiments of soldiers, desert alternately from one kingdom to the other, there can be no good neighbourhood; and even the forms of peace are not likely to be long preserved.

PORTUGAL.-From this kingdom we have seen, since our last, no information of more importance than that the princess royal is beloved and supported by the people generally; and that she has issued an order "that the tribune shall appoint twelve censors, who shall have cumulatively the censorship of all works, particularly of the journals and periodical papers. The approbation of a single copy of these journals will be sufficient for their ulterior impression."

GREECE. French papers of the 19th Sept. contain intelligence from Greece of an encouraging kind. While it is admitted that there is a want of harmony between the government and the military chiefs, it is stated, on the authority of a French volunteer of distinction, Count d'Harcourt, lately from the Morea, that the Turkish and Egyptian forces have experienced severe reverses of their former good fortune. It is affirmed that some of Ibrahim's best soldiers have been defeated, even on the plains of Tripolitza; that the siege of Athens is raised; that the Capitani, or heads of military bands, who had submitted to the Turks, have again raised the standard of independence; that villages which had feigned submission, to obtain time and opportunity

to gather in the harvest, had resumed their arms, and compelled the commander of a hostile corps to retreat to a place of greater safety; and that the Greeks repose in Lord Cochrane the most unbounded confidence, and consider him even as a supernatural being.-Time alone can ascertain the truth or falsehood of these statements.There appears to have been a curious reciprocation of left handed civilities between Lord Cochrane and the Pacha of Egypt. Some time ago, his lordship published an address to the Pacha, dehorting him earnestly from his attempt to subjugate Greece; and the Pacha has replied, by offering a large reward to any one who will take his lordship alive, and send him to Egypt.

It is stated that 600 wretched females, taken at Missolonghi, have been sold in the slave market at Alexandria. They averaged about fifty-two dollars each.

RUSSIA. The coronation of the emperor of Russia took place at Moscow, on the third of September, with great pomp. Discharges of artillery announced the completion of the ceremony, to the multitudes who were assembled without the cathedral in which the coronation took place; and the emperor and empress were greeted on their return, with loud and enthusiastick acclamations. The grand duke Constantine assisted at the ceremony, and walked in the procession. The city was brilliantly illuminated during three successive evenings; and the towers of the Kremlin exhibited one entire blaze of variegated lamps. About one hundred thousand troops were collected around Moscow.-Official accounts have been received at St. Petersburg, that the Persians have made irruptions into several parts of the Russian empire.

ASIA.

The long looked for intelligence, relative to the Baptist Missionaries who were in captivity during the late war with the Burmese, has at length been received. The following extract of a letter, from Dr. Judson to Dr. Baldwin of Boston, will best make known the most important particulars of their sufferings, and of their ultimate deliverance and safety

British Camp, Yantaboo, Feb. 25, 1826.

Rev. and Dear Sir,-We survive a scene of suffering which, on retrospect, at the present moment, seems not a reality, but a horrid dream. We are occupying a tent in the midst of Sir Archibald Campbell's staff, and are receiving from him and other British officers, all manner of kind attentions, proportionate to the barbarities we have endured for nearly two years.

I was seized on the 8th of June, 1824, in consequence of the war with Bengal, and in company with Dr. Price, three Englishmen, one Armenian, and one Greek, was thrown into the "death prison," at Ava, where we lay eleven months-nine months in three pair, and two months in five pair of fetters. The scenes we witnessed and the sufferings we underwent, during that period, I would fain consign to oblivion. From the death prison at Ava, we were removed to a country prison at Oung-ben-lay, ten miles distant, under circumstances of such severe treatment, that one of our number, the Greek, expired on the road; and some of the rest, among whom was myself, were scarcely able to move for several days. It was the intention of government in removing us from Ava, to have us sacrificed, in order to ensure victory over the foreigners; but the sudden disgrace and death of the adviser of that measure, prevented its execution. I remained in the Oung-ben-lay prison six months, in one pair of fetters; at the expiration of which period I was taken out of irons, and sent under a strict guard to the Burmese head quarters at Mahlooan, to act as interpreter and translator. Two months more elapsed, when on my return to Ava, I was released, at the instance of Moung-Shaw-loo, the north governor of the palace, and put under his charge. During the six weeks that I resided with him, the affairs of government became desperate, the British troops making steady advances on the capital; and after Dr. Price had been twice despatched to negotiate for peace, (a business which I declined as long as possible,) I was taken by force and associated with him. We found the British above Pah-gan; and on returning to Ava with their final terms, I had the happiness of procuring the release of the very last of my fellow prisoners; and on the 21st instant obtained the reluctant consent of government to my own final departure from Ava, with Mrs. J."

We have not space to insert the whole of this interesting letter. Mrs. Judson was not confined, but was deprived of all her property; and once, during her husband's imprisonment, was brought to the brink of the grave by the spotted fever. As far as able and permitted, she, and one faithful native convert, administered to the necessities of Dr. Judson and Dr. Price. Her life has been spared and her health restored. All the friends of Christian missions must rejoice, at the preservation of these faith

ful missionaries of the Baptist denomination, and rejoice in the prospect of their future usefulness. A new missionary station is contemplated at New Mortiban, under British protection.

AFRICA.

It is stated in a London paper, received by the last arrival, that the king of the Ashantees had lately been victorious, in a battle fought with the Acheins, an African tribe in alliance with the British. At the expense of many valuable lives, the British government have made an accurate survey, and caused to be delineated correct charts, hitherto not possessed, of the western part of the continent of Africa, and of the island of Madagascar. Much advantage to commerce is expected to result from this enterprise.

AMERICA.

Our own continent has afforded no events of importance, known to us, within the past month.-Nothing new in relation to the war between Brazil and Buenos Ayres, nor of the unhappy civil dissention, and threatened civil war, in Colombia. We have not heard authentically of the arrival, in the latter state, of the liberator Bolivar. In Mexico, commodore Porter is taking decisive measures for an efficient organization and discipline of the navy of that large republick, and apparently with the promising prospect of success. The members of the late Congress at Panama are collecting for a meeting at Tacubaya; and those who had arrived at Acapulco, are said to have held a sitting or a conference there; and report tells of their taking some measures of a partial kind—but to this we do not attach importance, if indeed the fact is worthy of credit.

In our own highly favoured land, elections of legislators for the Union, and for the particular States, have been made in some places with considerable excitement, but in all with peace. Health, with the change of the season, is returning to those places and portions of our country, in which fevers of different degrees of violence or malignity prevailed, in the latter part of the summer, and the former part of the autumnal months. The earth, contrary to what was feared in the beginning of the season, has been made to yield her increase abundantly.-We have enough and to spare-plenty, as well as peace. All that we appear to need is, more gratitude to the great Giver of all our enjoyments-more publick and private virtue; more fervent and unfeigned piety.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

DECEMBER, 1826.

Heligious Communications.

CHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS- church and people. From the na