gress of evangelical religion in that metropolis, are greatly encouraged; and Mr. D. was assured by Rev. Mr. Wilks and other clergy men,that nothing was wanting but houses of worship and faithful ministers, to induce many thousands of the people to unite themselves to Protestant congregations. The existing churches for French Protestants are very much crowded. A l'rench Bible Society, Missionary Society, and Tract Society, are strange names—yet such societies have recently been formed, and are every year gaining strength. There is also in Paris a Theological Institution, under the charge of the Rev. Prof. Galland, a man of high attainments and great excellence, who was called to that station from his pastoral labours in Berne. Two or three professors are connected with him in the management of the Institution, all of whom are regarded as men of piety. The students, of whom there is a considerable number, are generally poor, and are aided by the liberality of English Christians. The character of these young men is excellent. Though France is a Catholic country, yet with the exception of a few periods of short duration in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, dissent from the established religion has not been wholly prevented, as it has been in Spain and Italy. The Protestants were very numerous before the massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve, and again before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The late emperor, though he established a Catholic Church, was an avowed enemy to religious persecution, and a decided friend to the Protestant church, to which he gave many important privileges. As such, his memory is cherished with gratitude by all the Protestants of France. The charter given by the late king, Louis XVIIIth, owing probably to the very difficult circumstances in which he was placed on ascending the throne, was favourable to their civil and religious liberty. It acknowledged and secured the rights of the Protestant church. Yet in the early part of his reign, in 1815, 16, and 17, very violent persecutions existed in the south of France against the Protestants, and a considerable number of them are said to have suffered death from the hands of violence. If the government did not directly sanction this violence, it is regarded by the Protes tants as having winked at it; yet they appear to suppose that Louis XVIIIth himself was opposed to it, and was not unfriendly to their cause. The pre sent king is far less favourable to the Protestant religion than his predecessor. He has been through hie, an open profligate, and most notorious libertine: and now, to make his peace with hea ven, he has commenced the furious bigot, and readily consents to any measures, however oppressive, which are proposed by the Catholic party against the Protestants and their religion. Far the larger number of the Protestants are in the south of France.There they have many large congre gations, furnished with respectable clergymen, and in many of the departments constitute the majority of the population. Since the persecutions of 1815, they have increased very rapidly in that part of the kingdom. They are very numerous, also, on the borders of Switzerland, and on the Rhine; in the two Departments of the Upper and Lower Rhine, far more so than the Catholics. There the Lutheran cler. gy are more numerous than those of the Reformed Church; and too many of both have imbibed the Unitarianism and Neologism of Germany, with effects equally undesirable upon the religious character of the people. Though the government is thus hestile to the Protestants, and inclined to exercise severity towards them, yet so long as the charter of Louis XVIIIth is permitted to continue in force, they will retain no small degree of religious freedom, as by it they are permitted to circulate books, and, on application to the constituted authorities, to establish churches. The general intelligence which exists in France, the freedom of the press, the unpopularity of the French king, and the prevalence of infidelity, all afford a sort of security to religious freedom. The Bible is very rarely to be found in France, either in families or in the booksellers' shops. Except in the few shops kept by Protestants, it is not for sale in Paris. The Catholics are almost without exception, extremely ig norant of its contents. It is indeed very rare to find either a layman or a clergyman of this denomination, who appears to have any knowledge of it except what is derived from a compilation often to be met with, made up of ex tracts from the histories of the Old and New Testaments, the Apocrypha, and the Lives of the Saints. The number of Protestants in France was estimated in 1807 at 2,000,000; and probably may now amount to 2,500,000 or 3,000,000, scattered extensively throughout the kingdom. This dispersion, if they can be united, will give them far greater influence.-And many circumstances now conspire to promote union and co-operationparticularly the persecutions of the government, the liberty of the press, the establishment of a Bible Society, a Tract Society, Missionary Society, and the Theological Seminary at Paris. British Christians, also, particularly in the labours of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Continental Society, are exerting a powerful influence in uniting the hearts and concentrating the efforts of the Protestants of France. Extracts from the Reports and Correspondence of the British Religious Charitable Societies are regularly published. Attempts at persecution are immediately exposed in the English newspa pers; and, since the abolition of the censure, in those of France also. The clergymen employed as agents, by the Continental Society, have succeeded in waking up a spirit of inquiry; and in a considerable number of places their labours have been followed by unusual attention to religion, both among Protestants and Catholics Several of the Catholic Clergy have, in consequence, come forward as open friends to evangelical religion. DONATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CHARI- In the month of November. To the American Board, $5,178.49; exclusive of $215 in legacies, $127 to the permanent fund, and $40 to the Missionary College in Ceylon. To the American Tract Society, $1,879.43. The treasurer of the Baptist General Convention acknowledges the receipt of $916.88, from Oct. 5, to Nov. 2, inclusive. ORDINATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS. Sept. 25.-The. Rev. BENJAMIN C. TAYLOR, (installed,) Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Patterson Landing, N. J. Sermon by the Rev. Wilhelmus Elming. Sept, 28.-The Rev. THOMAS HALL, over the Congregational Church and Society in Waterford, Vt. Sermon by the Rev. Silas M'Kean, of Bradford, Vt. Oct. 5.-The Rev. GEORGE SHELDON, was installed at Franklin, Portage co. Ohio. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Seward. Oct. 12.-The Rev. WASHINGTON THACHER, (installed,) Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and Congregation in Onondaga Hollow, N. Y. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Keep of Homer. Oct. 16.-The Rev. C. C. BRAINERD, to the order of the Priesthood, and Mr. JAMES H. OTLEY, to the order of Deacons; by Bp. Ravenscroft. Oct. 17.-The Rev. HENRY WHITE, to the pastoral care of the Church and Union Congregational Society in Brooks and Jackson, Me. Sermon by the Rev. Professor Smith. Nov. 9.-The Rev. OREN TRACY, as Pastor of the Baptist Church in Randolph, Mass. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Putnam. Nov. 15.-The Rev. JOHN H. KENNEDY, to the pastoral care of the sixth Presbyterian Church (late Dr. Neill's) of Philadelphia. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Janeway. At the same time and place the Rev. Mr SMITH, as Pastor of a Church gathered by him in the Northern Liberties. Nov. 23-The Rev. ROBERT DILWORTH, at Greensburgh, Penn. as an Evangelist, by the Presbytery of Hartford. Sermon by the Rev. William Maclean. Nov. 23.-Mr. AMOS REED, to the work of the Ministry, by the Presbytery of Ohio. Sermon by the Rev. Thomas D. Baird. Dec. 1.-The Rev. BENJAMIN F. STAUNTON, over the Congregational Church in Bethlem, Con. Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Griswold, of Water town. Dec. 6.-The Rev. JOHN CHAMBERS was ordained, at New Haven, Con., to the work of the Ministry. Sermon by Professor Fitch, of Yale College. Dec. 9.-The Rev. JAMES KANT, as Pastor of the Church at Trumbull, Conn. and the Rev. ALANSON BENE- PUBLIC AFFAIRS. UNITED STATES. THE NINETEENTH CONGRESS met on 5th of December. The President's Message is a document of some length, and contains the elements of much discussion. We shall notice it with as much particularity as may be consistent with the limits we are accustomed to assign to subjects of this nature. In the condition and prospects of our country as exhibited by the President, we have abundant cause for satisfaction and for gratitude to God. Looking beyond our own country also, we find much to gratify us both as Americans and as Christians-as Christians, in the tranquillity of most of the nations of Europe, and as Americans, in the increasing force and prevalance of those principles among them which are essentially American in their tendency. "There has, indeed, rarely been a period in the history of civilized man, in which the general condition of the Christian Nations has been marked so extensively by peace and prosperity. Europe, with a few partial and unhappy exceptions, has enjoyed ten years of peace, during which her Governments, whatever the theory of their constitutions may have been, are successively taught to feel that the end of their institutions is the happiness of the people, and that the exercise of power among men can be justified only by the blessings it confers upon those over whom it is extended." Passing over a considerable portion of the Message respecting the commercial interests of the United States, we come to the proposed Congress at Panama. To this meeting the republice of Colombia, Mexico, and Central America have deputed their plenipotentiaries, and have invited the United States to be represented there by their ministers. The invitation, the Presi dent states, has been accepted and ministers will be commissioned to attend at those deliberations, and to take part in them, so far as may be compatible with that neutrality to which it has been the uniform policy of the United States to adhere. An unequivocal indication of our national prosperity, is the flourishing state of our finances. The revenue has not only been sufficient for the current expenses of the year, but has contributed eight millions of dollars to wards the liquidation of the national debt-which debt is about eighty one millions. The objects to which the national funds have been appropriated are summarily exhibited in the following extract. "More than a million and a half has been devoted to the debt of gratitude to the warriors of the revolution: a nearly equal sum to the construction of fortifications, and the acquisition of ordnance, and other permanent preparatives of national defence: half a million to the gradual increase of the navy: an equal sum for purchases of territory from the Indians and payment of annuities to them: and upwards of a million for objects of internal improvement authorized by special acts of the last Congress. If we add to these our millions of dollars for payment of interest upon the public debt, there remains a sum of about seven millions, which have defrayed the whole expense of the administration of government, in its legislative, executive, and judiciary departments, including the support of the military and naval establishments, and all the occasional contingencies of a government co-extensive with the union." Our Government has always been commended for its cheapness. The 'Black Book,' a singular production which some time since obtraded itself upon the dignitaries of England, civil and ecclesiastical, among many other things relating to places, pensions, sincures, &c. contains a "comparative statement of the salaries of different officers in America and England." The result of this statement may be seen in the following summary. America. But we cannot dwell particularly on all the topics touched upon by Mr. Adams. Among the most important may be mentioned the organization of the militia, the military occupation of the Oregon, the establishment of a naval school, corresponding with the Military Academy at West-Point, the es tablishment of a national university, and connected with it, or separate from it, the erection of an astronomical observatory, a uniform standard of weights and measures, a new executive £46,880 department, for home affairs, surveys, roads, canals &c. In a word the mes sage developes an extended and liberal system of internal improvement. £15,680 27,600 3,600 £816,600 95,250 30,000 £941,850 The services therefore,' says the writer, which cost the United States £46,000, cost old England £900,000.' Considering however the more extended relations of England, and her greater complexity of interests requiring able hands to manage them, both at home and abroad, it must be admitted that this is not a perfectly fair compar ison. The general post-office furnishes another indication of our national growth and prosperity. One thousand and forty new post-offices have been established during the last two years, ending in July, and the increase of the transportation of the mail during the same term has exceeded three millions of miles. The receipts of the department for the year, instead of falling short, as in former years, exceeded the expenditures by more than forty-five thousand dollars. We are glad to find the subject of a uniform system of bankruptcy recommended, thus early in the session, to the attention of Congress. No subject of legislation is more difficult than this. To remedy all the evils contemplated by such a system, and at the same time to secure its benevolent provisions from abuse, is not easily accomplished by any law which can be framed for the purpose. And yet no subject calls for legislation more urgently than this. The bankrupt laws of individual States, have been adjudged unconstitutional by the United States' Court, and thus the unfortunate debtor has been deprived of the benefit of existing laws without a substitute being provided: suspense and embarrassment are the consequence. We rejoice that the interests of science and literature are not overlooked in this system. As to a national university, however, our views of its expediency would vary with the plan to be adopted. If one of its features be, that it is to have no religious worship, like the University of Virginia, we should prefer to see the result of the experiment already in progress before another is commenced on a more important scale. The Senate consists of forty-eight members,and the House of Representatives of two hundred and thirteen. The Rev. Dr. Staughton, President of the Columbian College, is chaplain of of the former, and the Rev. Mr Post of the Presbyterian church, chaplain of the latter. SOUTH AMERICA.-The castle of San Juan d'Ullua, the last hold of the Spanish in the republic of Mexico, surren dered on the 22d of November. The garrison was reduced to this measure by the want of provisions. A treaty of perpetual union, league, and confederation between the republics of Colombia and Mexico was pub→ lished at Mexico on the 20th of September. "he parties agree to solicit their sister republics to join the confederacy and to send plenipotentiaries to the congress at Panama. It is proposed that this congress shall meet statedly. Its objects are "to confirm and establish intimate relations between the whole and each one of the states; to serve as a council on great occasions ; a point of union in common danger; a faithful interpreter of public treaties, in cases of misunderstanding; and as an arbitrator and conciliator of disputes and differences." An expedition of considerable magnitude is fitting out at Carthagena for the invasion of Cuba. Troops amounting to fifteen or twenty thousand are said to be at Panama, waiting for the transports to be ready, which are to convey them from Porto Bello to Carthagena. It is generally expected, from the state of affairs in Cuba and the revolutionary disposition of the in habitants,that its conquest will be easy. The Provinces of Charcas, La Paz, and Potosi, and several districts of Upper Peru, have declared themselves to be a free, sovereign, and independent State. The Declaration of Independence was signed on the 6th of August, 1825, by Deputies from 47 Provinces and Districts. The rights of self government are vindicated in the declaration; and they pledge themselves to observe the sacred duties of honor; to protect life, liberty, equality, and property, and to maintain unalterably, the Holy Roman Catholic Religion. Bolivar has added fresh significancy to his title of Liberator, by a decree published at uzco, July, 4th, for the emancipation of the Indian population of Peru. The arbitrary exactions to which these injured people have been subjected, and especially the cruel manner in which they have been compelled to work in the mines of Potosi, from the first occupation of the country by the Spaniards, has long been known to the world. By the decree of Bolivar they are henceforth exempted from their burthens, and raised to the rank of citi zens. The patriots of the Banda Oriental have obtained a decisive victory over the Brazilian army, which has hitherto occupied that province. The Banda Oriental is now considered free from the power of the Brazilian emperor, and it will now probably effect its union with the other emancipated pro vinces. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. ALUMNUS; ALEPH; L. N. J., and several other communications, have been received. P. and Mans will be considered. We have taken the liberty to transfer an "Address to I emale Youth" to the Editor of the Guardian, as being, from the nature of it, more suited to that work than to the Christian Spectator. It will probably appear there unless the author shall direct otherwise. Owing to an unusual pressure of business at the printing-office, and to other circumstances which we could not control, we must again apologize for the unseasonable appearance of the Christian Spectator. It is hoped that no occasion will exist for a similar apology hereafter. Errata. In some copies, p. 22, in the second and third lines of the poem, for when read where; and on p. 23, line 32, for told read toil'd. These errors were marked in the proof, but escaped correction túl a part of the edition had been struck off. The author of the piece is requested to excuse them. |