dow for fear of being bitten by serpents, or that a horse gallops round his pasture only because a wolf is at his heels, as to infer, from the flight of these animals, that they are always pursued by the bonito."-Bishop Heber's Journal of a Voyage to India. The skeleton of the painter Raphael, has been disinterred at Rome, after having been undisturbed for several hundred years. The Marquis Biondi delivered an interesting lecture upon the remains, which were afterwards formally examined and identified by a commission of surgeons. They were then exposed for four days to the public, and were to be reintombed with great pomp, and the Pantheon to be illuminated, Oct. 18th. American Longevity.-The number of those persons who attain to what is considered a very advanced age, is probably much greater than would be at first supposed, by people not accustomed to notice the records of such matters in the aggregate. During the year last past, for example, a man named Bogard, died in Tennessee at the age of 118; and a revolutionary soldier, named Martin, aged 106, at Knoxville. Mrs. Pierce, of North Carolina, was supposed to be 111; and that was the ascertained age of Mr. Thompson, of Maryland, whose oldest son, by the way, is 92. Worthington, of Baltimore, a slave we believe, was 110. A person died in this city at 105; all during 1833. Important to Milkmen.-By a variety of experiments, it has been ascertained that milk, placed in vessels made of zinc, increase the quantity of cream beyond what can be obtained in vessels of the ordinary kind-the quantity of butter obtained is computed at one-third more.—Goodsell's Gen. Farmer. Quere.-Will any deleterious consequences follow from the use of zinc, as milk pans? Religious Entelligence. We fill this departinent of our Magazine for the present month, with an account of African Missions, taken from the American Quarterly Register. WESTERN AFRICA. pre The principal missionary establishments on the western coast are within the territory of the British colony of Sierra Leone, and under the charge of the Church Missionary Society. They were commenced about sixteen years since. Freetown, the capital of the colony, on the south side of the river Sierra Leone, seven miles above its entrance into the Atlantic ocean, is the seat of the mission. Branches are established at Fourah bay, Kissey, four miles from Freetown, Wellington_seven miles, Hastings thirteen, Gloucester four, Regent six, and Bathurst seven. The last three are in the mountain district, laying south and south-east of Freetown: the three ceding are in the river district, east of Freetown. On the first of January, 1833, the average attendance on public worship, at all the stations, was about 2,700 in the morning, and 1,500 in the evening, communicants 690, candidates for communion 332, day scholars 1,627, evening 282, Sabbath 1,080, total scholars 2,999. At Fourah bay is a seminary, called the Christian Institution, containing 14 scholars. Its design is to prepare native teachers and assistants. The conduct of most of the communicants is reported to be consistent with their profession. Some have been excluded for Sabbath breaking, adultery, and other sins. One of the missionaries has been separated from the society, in consequence of his openly falling into sin. It appears that the worship of idols is not yet entirely eradicated from among the liberated Africans. The want of labourers is a painful obstacle. The climate is such as frequently to prove fatal to a European constitution. The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society established a mission at Freetown in 1816. There are now five out-stations. The meetings at the chapels are generally well attended. The same society have missions at Bathurst, a town on the St. Mary's island, at the mouth of the Gambia, and at M'Carthy island, about 300 miles up the Gambia. The first was established in 1821, the last in 1832. M'Carthy island is considered as very well adapted for a missionary settlement. The Gambea is navigable about 400 mi. s, and enters the ocean in north latitudo 14 deg. 23 min., about 6 deg. north of Sierra Leone. Going down the coast about two degrees from Sierra Leone, we come to the American colony of Liberia. The Baptist mission at the colony has been relinquished. A free school for the benefit of recaptured Africans has been for several weeks in successful operation, under the care of the Rev. James Eden. Mr. Savage is making ar rangements to establish a manual labour school at Millsburg. There were previously five schools in operation. Sufficient attention has not, in our opinion, been paid to this point, by the managers of the Colonization Society. It is of fundamental importance. We are sorry to say, also, that a portion of the colonists, including some of the most respectable persons, re engaged in the traffic in ardent spirits. We are aware that it is said that no treaties could be made with the natives, and scarcely any intercourse carried on, without the assistance of ardent spirits. But has a full experiment been made? Is it perfectly clear, that it is morally right to make use of ardent spirits in any such way? Can the natives be induced to give up the expectation of receiving ardent spirits in barter, gradually? Ought not decisive and uncompromising ground to be taken at once? Would not really useful articles, if double or treble in value, be received in lieu of spirits? Three American Missionary Societies, the Western Foreign Missionary, the Methodist Missionary, and the American Board, will establish missions on the western coast, probably in the vicinity of Cape Monserado, or Cape Palmas, in the course of two or three months. The German Missionary Society established at Basle, in Switzerland, have an establishment at Ussa, a negro village, near the Danish fort Christianburg, on the Gold coast. This mission commenced in 1828, is about one degree south of Liberia. The Gold coast has long been visited for the gold dust and slaves which it furnishes. The forts and counting-houses belonging to Europeans in this quarter are about 40 in number. The following are the names, stations, &c. of the different missionaries on the westWe do not give the assistants : ern coast. John G. Wilhelm, G. W. E. Metzger, John L. Wilson, Spaulding, Considerable interest is now felt in the project in which the Landers are engaged, of establishing settlements, and promoting commercial intercourse in the interior of western Africa. Mr. Lander left the steam-boats on the 14th of April last, about 400 miles up the Niger, opposite the lake Tschad, and proceeded to Fernando Po, on the coast, to procure necessaries, &c. During the first month after the expedition left the coast, not less than 20 deaths occurred, in consequence of the fever which was caught on the coast. In every other respect the expedition has been successful. Great confidence is expressed of the final accomplishment of the commercial objects of the expedition. The natives had received it in the most friendly manner. It is intended to form a settlement at Patashie, a large island in the Niger, one day's journey below Boosa. "Africa," remarks Mr. Douglas, of Cavers, "is still more helpless than Asia, and farther removed from all influences of good. Preparations, however, are already begun for a renovating change of that unhappy continent. The liberated blacks are beginning to return, with the seeds of knowledge, and the rudiments of the true religion; and America will soon send them forth in great numbers, and spread them over those shores which are opposite to the new world." SOUTH AFRICA. "If the sight of the wild boy in the wood learning his letters be, according to Dr. Chalmers, the most sublime spectacle on earth, what heart can be insensible to the grandeur of those effects, which are likely to arise from the introduction of a printing press, schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, literature, and science, among the hitherto barbarous tribes in the interior of South Africa?" The efforts for the benefit of South Africa, may be considered under four divisions-Cape Town, the Hottentots, Caffres, and the more distant tribes. Cape Town is a well built place; and is said to contain 22,000 white and coloured inhabitants. The places of worship belong to the Calvinists, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics. A chapel is connected with the London Missionary Society. An English Episcopal church is building. The Mohammedan priests are said to be very zealous in making proselytes. The inhabitants prefer servants of this religion on account of their sober habits, drunkenness being said to prevail greatly among other sects. A philanthropic society is established for the emancipa on of deserving slaves. They have already emancipated 100 slave girls, and given tem good education. A Temperance Society has numerous members. New lending-libraries are forming, and others are enlarging. In two schools in Cape Town, and 24 elsewhere, belonging to the Bible and School Commission,' there are 1,267 scholars. In Cape Town, there are 12 private schools for boys, and 10 for girls. Two schools of industry have 140 scholars; an infant school 60; a grammar school, begun in 1824, is supported by government. A college, commenced in 1829, supports itself, and is the first institution in the colony, which has rendered it unnecessary to send children to Europe for education, and will be the means of raising many competent teachers for the district schools. The Dutch inhabitants have a school preparatory for the college, with 180 scholars. Rev. John Philip, D. D., superintendent of the missions of the London society, has morning and evening service on the Sabbath, a Bible class, Sunday school, &c. The Wesleyans employ at the Cape, and the surrounding districts, Messrs. Barnabas, Shaw, James Cameron, and E. Cook. In Cape Town and the adjoining country, there are 50,000 Mohammedans and Pagans. Hottentots. Among this people, the Brethren have five stations, Groene kloof, Gnadenthal, Hemel-en Aarde, Elim, and Enon. Groenekloof is 40 miles north of Cape Town, and has 563 inhabitants. The mission premises are surrounded by a wall, and the church and other buildings are stuccoed. Gnadenthal is 130 miles north-east of Cape Town. So abundant are the vegetable productions, that it is called a place of fruits.' The settlement contains 1319 persons. The communicants are 605, baptized children 391. The day scholars are 300, and the infant school 120. "Nothing can exceed the delight of the Hottentots at the unexpected present of an organ for the church. Many of them melt into tears when it is played." Hemel-en Aarde is a hospital for the relief of lepers. The communicants are 38. As the malady is not contagious, the institution will probably be given up. Elim is 180 miles from the Capeit has 200 inhabitants. Enon is on the White river, near Algoa bay, about nine days' journey from Gnadenthal. The White river flows close to the settlement. Communicants 123, scholars 125. The London Society has missions at Bosjesveld, 40 miles north of the Cape, at Paarl, 35 miles north-east, at Tulbagh, 75 miles north-east, at Caledon, 120 miles east, at Pacaltsdorp, 145 miles east, at Hankey, not far distant from the last named town, at Bethelsdorp, 450 miles east of the cape, and Uitenhage, an out-station at Theopolis, 550 miles east, at Grahamstown, Graaf Reinet, and Cat river. The number of communicants at all these stations is about 500. Temperance societies are formed at most of them. "Intemperance has hitherto been one of the chief means, by which Satan has maintained his sway. No one can reflect on the almost universal custom in our villages, of paying for occasional services with nothing but brandy, without horror." The Wesleyans have stations in the Albany district, in the eastern part of the colony, comprehending Grahamstown, Salem, Somerset, and other stations. The congregations on the Sabbath are large and attentive. The French Protestants have a mission at Wagenmaker valley, the resort of 600 or 700 slaves, 10 of whom have been baptized; and the Rhenish Society another station at Wupperthal, near the Cedar mountains, five days' journey north of Cape Town. "In a little valley surrounded by huge rocks, which seem to shut it out from the world, the missionary Von Wurmb, and his wife, with his associate Leipoldt, fixed themselves at the beginning of 1830, having purchased the land for about 11,000 francs. The Rhenish Society have also a mission at Stellenbosch." View of Public Affairs. It is seldom that more than two months elapse, without bringing intelligence from Europe to the United States. Such however is the fact at present. The latest dates from Britain are of the 25th of November-There has been an arrival from St. Ubes, bringing information from that place, to the 27th of November, but the information is of little interest; it is merely that the armies of the hostile brothers remained much as they had been for some time previously; the forces of Don Miguel about 18 miles distant from the city; skirmishing frequent, but not decisive; the Miguelites a good deal depressed and discouraged; and the fleet and all the important sea ports still in the hands of Don Pedro. In Spain, the only event of importance that has recently occurred, is the defeat ofe priest Merino, the devoted partisan of Don Carlos, by General Saarsfield, commanding the troops of the existing regency, whose prospects seemed to have a favourable increase. A large French force is stationed along the whole line of the Spanish fron er; doubtless intended to favour the regency, but not to act without a manifest nece ty-The Russian minister has demanded of the court of France to stop the public press of Paris in its abuse of Russia. An evasive answer has been returned. At Rome, it is stated that great agitation exists in the Papal cabi. net; and that three cardinals were about leaving the capital, to endeavour to form an Italian confederation; which, it is affirmed, had been recommended by the northern powers. This is not improbable; as the last advices speak of a league entered into by Russia, Austria, and Prussia, to suppress all future attempts to resuscitate the kingdom of Poland-each power, in such an event, to furnish 35,000 troops, to suppress all attempts at insurrection-The affairs of Holland and Belgium remain in statu quo-In Germany, it appears there have been some difficulties with those powers who have granted legislative rights to their subjects; but it is doubtful whether they will produce any important results-In France, the elections were going on, and some riots occasionally took place. It is stated that at Marseilles two-thirds of the candidates for seats in the Chambers were Carlists. But this does not prove that one of them will be chosen. In Britain, the season had been so remarkably mild, that pear trees were in blossom, and a second crop of ripe gooseberries was produced. Lord Grenville was not expected to survive the long indisposition under which he had laboured; and at his death, the true author of the Letters of Junius, it was confidently believed, would be fully ascertained. The Cholera was prevailing in the north of Europe-in Norway in particular. The controversy between the Turkish Sultan and some of his rebellious Pachas, as well as with the inhabitants of Samos, was still unsettled. From Asia and Africa we have no intelligence of importance that can be called news. In South America, it appears that the civil broil at Buenos Ayres is settled for the present. The obnoxious, but constitutional governor, finding that the rebellious army which environed the city was likely to capture and plunder it, asked counsel of the legislature, and was virtually, but very gently, advised to resign. He did so-voluntarily by compulsion. The besieging army then marched through the city, without doing much injury to the inhabitants-their military chief being made governor, in place of the one deposed. But what a state of things is this! It is nothing better than a military government, in which an aspiring commander has only to gain his army to his wishes, in order to be sure of governing the State. It reminds us of the worst period of the Roman empire, when emperors were made and unmade by the Roman legions, as often as they pleased. In the other Southern American States, no event of importance has recently occurred. President Santander, in addition to his other enlightened measures, is labouring to introduce a universal toleration in matters of religion, in the great republic of Colombia. We wish him success with all our heart; but fear that Popish influence will prevent it -Till toleration, however, or rather the equality of all religious sects, as to political claims and patronage, shall be established among our southern neighbours, they never can be really a free people, nor exempted from sanguinary civil broils. Such is our meagre chronicle of Public Affairs for the present month. But ours is not the fault. We keep no home manufactory of news; and when importation fails, we must wait for the foreign supply. As to our own beloved land, our readers are acquainted with its state and prospects, as well as ourselves. We consider the present aspect of our public affairs as gloomynever more so, since the existence of the Federal Constitution. The great question which has occupied and agitated our Congress, ever since its present session commenced, is still undecided. Parties are increasing in ardour; and unless that same kind Providence, which has so often interposed for our preservation-and for which we have never been sufficiently thankful-shall still prove benignant, and grant us an undeserved deliverance, we greatly fear for the issue. "Help us, O Lord our God, we rest on thee." ERRATUM in our last number. Page 7, line 14 from bottom, expunge the word last. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. MARCH, 1834. Religious Communications. THE SOUL RESTING IN GOD. PSALM CXVI. 7.-"Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." Notwithstanding the questions which have been raised relative to the author of the psalm in which these words are found, we hesitate not to ascribe them to that eminent saint, who is called in the sacred records, "the sweet Psalmist of Israel," and "the man after God's own heart." This distinguished personage was not only, by divine designation, the king of the ancient chosen people of Jehovah, and the successful warrior whose conquests had put into their possession the whole domain that had been promised to their fathers; but he was also richly endowed with the gifts both of prophecy and poetry. His inspired lyrics have formed the principal source of devotional song for the church of God, in every age since their publication. The psalms of David unquestionably abound in such lofty descriptions of the divine. attributes, such exalted strains of adoration and praise, such heavenly aspirations of soul, and such wonderful examples of the communing of the human spirit with the great Father of spirits, as have never been surpassed, perhaps never equalled, except in the case of our blessed Redeemer, who, in one mysterious person, united our nature with the Godhead. Yet the spiritual depressions of the royal psalmist seem to have been correspondent to his elevations; and the exemplification of this in the psalm before us, decides our belief that it is his composition. Strong, and striking indeed, is the language of the context, in describing its author's deep affliction and distress. "The sorrows of death, he says, compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow." Under such feelings, even if inspiration had not guided him, he could not have spoken lightly on the subject of rest. His language, notwithstanding, is the language of confidence, when he tells us, not only where he had once found it, but where he might find it again. "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." In speaking on this passage of holy writ-principally on the first part of it-I will, in reliance on divine assistance, endeavour I. To show where, and in what it was, that the psalmist confidently expected to find the relief which he so much needed and desired. II. To evince that it possesses all the properties which he ascribes to it, when he calls it emphatically his REST. Ch. Adv.-VOL. XII. N |