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writer states that five children were condemned to death at the Old Bailey, Feb. 16, 1814, for burglary and stealing; that the youngest was eight years old, and the oldest but twelve; that the next day five more were sentenced to transportation for stealing cheese from a shop, and the oldest of these was but fifteen. Upon these facts the writer reasons as follows:

"Facts like these are surely an indication that something is radically wrong. Notwithstanding the severity of our laws, the daily Newspapers are continually giving evidence of multiplied atrocities; and it is now high time to inquire, whether the system we have been pursuing, is the best that could be devised for the prevention of crime and the protection of society."

"Now if it can be proved, as it certainly may, that a vast proportion of the victims to our criminal laws, have, through the neglect of society, been suffered to be trained, from their very infancy, in crime, while by very simple and practicable arrange ments they might have been initiated in virtue, it will be difficult to avoid the conclusion that they have been unjustly dealt with; and that a heavy responsibility rests upon those who, having the power to save, have neglected to exert it."

Another writer, to show the inutility of publick executions, and their deleterious influence, states a case that had recently occurred, of five persons who were hanged at the same time, for burglary, two of whom were

"lads of nineteen." Having stated a number of facts relating to the case, he observes :—

"The extraordinary circumstance of five men being executed at once, for one offence, attracted vast multitudes of people, of the lower order, from all parts of the country. To see five of their fellow creatures hanged was as good as a horse-race, a boxing-match, or a bull-baiting. If nothing was intended but to amuse the rabble, at a great loss of their time and a considerable expense, the design was doubtedly effected. If a publick entertainment was not the object, it may be asked, what benefit has a single individual derived from beholding the destruction of these miserable victims ?"

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He adds, "Perhaps that question may be answered by stating that many of the spectators, immediately afterwards got intoxicated; and some cried out to their companions, with a significant gesture in allusion to the mode of punishment, "It is but a ten minutes job !" If such be the sentiments excited on the very spot, it cannot be supposed to be more salutary at a distance; and notwithstanding the sacrifice of those five men, the people of Shropshire must still fasten their doors."

"If house-breakers should learn to think light of human life, and adopt the precaution of committing murder the next time they commit a robbery, since the danger of detection would be less and the punishment no greater, what will the inhabitants of the country have to thank for it, but

this very spectacle! a spectacle which cannot soften one heart, but may harden many; which confounds moral distinctions, and draws away publick indignation from the guilt of the offender, to turn it against the severity of the law."

It affords pleasure to reflect that in our country a far less number of sanguinary laws are in force than are complained of in Great Britain; and that publick executions are far less frequent. But whether, even in the United States, there is not room for improvement, is a question which

demands the serious consideration of the Christian and the Philanthropist. For it is believed that those who have had opportunity to attend publick executions, and are disposed to reflect on what usually occurs on those occasions, will be sensible, that such scenes have little tendency to prevent crimes, or to improve the morals of society. The laws of a state may be regarded as a good thermometer for ascertaining the character of its citizens. The more humane the laws, the more humane the people.

POETRY.

ABSENT FRIENDS.

When pleasure lags at musick's strain,
And mirth assails the heart in vain ;
To pensive thoughts the bosom bends,
And finds a theme in Absent Friends.

Remembrance then unfolds its store;
Affection's tales oft told before,
And Fancy magick visions lends,
To catch a view of Absent Friends.

Pale apprehension starts with fear,
Some sad vicissitude to hear;

And hope with causeless terrour blends,
For fate unknown of Absent Friends.

The parent fond, the duteous child,
The feeling heart by love beguil'd,
Each to kind heaven a boon commends,
That heaven be kind to Absent Friends.

Constrain'd thro' distant climes to roam,
Far from the sympathies of home;
My soul its fervent wishes sends,
And circles round its Absent Friends.

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But joy shall spread a brighter train,
And mirth indulge its freest strain,
The happy day which absence ends,
And gives me back my much-lov'd Friends.

Cattskill Recorder.

TO THE MEMORY OF ANTHONY BENEZET.

Friend to distress and patron of the poor,
The injur'd shar'd his service and his store;
His time, his talents, all alike design'd,
One universa! good to human kind.
Fix'd in the principles which he profess'd,
But gen'rous and humane to all the rest;
Diffusive thus his charity began

And flow'd in unexhausted love to man.
Hail favour'd spirit! now immortal rise,
And join th' exalted worship of the skies;
Where bliss perfected flows one boundless tide
And names no more your love and life divide;
Dissolv'd the narrow tie, th' impure alloy,
And God reveal'd shines forth your endless joy.*

A LITERARY WORK PROPOSED.

Mr. Joseph E. Worcester, of Salem, has issued proposals for publishing a Universal Gazetteer and Dictionary of Geography, ancient and modern; containing a more complete enumeration, than has hitherto been published, of the Kingdoms, Countries, Provinces, Cities, Towns, Forts, Islands, Mountains, Capes, Seas, Bays, Lakes, Rivers, Indian Tribes, &c. in the known world. With a copious account of all the important articles.

The Gazetteer now proposed will, so far as it respects the modcrn geography of the eastern continent, be founded upon the basis of that of Cruttwell, with additions and corrections. On the subject of ancient geography, the work of the celebrated D'Anville, will be made the principal basis. With respect to America, materials have been collected from a great variety of sources. And the work will be found far more complete, with regard to this continent, than any that has yet been published. It will comprise in two large volumes, and in one alphabetical series, more than four times as many articles of Geography, as are contained in the Gazetteers which have been published in America.

* These lines are but an extract; whether they have been before published, we are not informed.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Facts relating to the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews; collected from the Seventh Report.

THE Patron of the London Society is the Duke of Kent. The society has fourteen Vice Patrons, viz. one Duke, five Earls, and eight Lords. The President is Sir Thomas Baring. The Vice Presidents are seventeen persons of high standing.

The life subscribers to the society are 235; the lowest of the life subscriptions is 101 sterling, and the highest 2101. The amount of an annual subscription is at least one guinea. The annual subscribers are more than one thousand. There are between fifty and sixty Auxiliary Societies. Many liberal donations have been made to the society. One of 9001 one of 6001 and one of 4001. These three are anonymous, and they are the largest which we have discovered in the report.

This society is composed of members of the established Church and of Dissenters; and the concerns of the society were managed for several years, by a committee composed of both descriptions. At length the society became subject to pecuniary embarrassments of a threatening aspect; and it was found that many members of the established Church had declined affording relief, from a conscientious scruple respecting the propriety of associating with Dissenters in matters of discipline. When this became known to the dissenting subscribers, they held a meeting on the subject and passed several votes, the most important of which was the following:

That as it appears that many zealous members of the established

Church have expressed their conscientious objections to unite with the society, whilst its affairs are managed by a committee consisting of persons of different religious denominations, and have intimated their willingness to support it if carried on exclusively by Churchmen: this meeting embraces the opportunity of proving, that they never, as Dissenters, had any other design but the conversion of the Jews to Christianity and as it is probable that the assets are nearly sufficient to cover the debts, they therefore cannot feel the smallest objection to withdraw in favour of such brethren of the established Church, who testify a lively zeal in the grand cause, possessing also the means for promoting it."

This meeting of the Dissenters was held Feb. 6, 1815. At a subse-. quent extraordinary General Meeting of the London Society, the offer of the Dissenting brethren was accepted, as manifesting "a spirit most truly conciliatory;" and they were earnestly requested to favour the society still, both with pecuniary aid and their prayers. This conduct of the Dissenters must have made a favourable impression on their brethren of the establishment. In the annual Report of May, 1815, the committee say, "They believe that, with few exceptions, the Dissenters who were previously subscribers will continue their support to the society."

The London Society is now wholly under the control of the members of the Episcopal Church; and the established forms of worship are

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Extract from a Speech of George

Griffin, Esq. delivered before the

American Bible Society, at their meeting in New-York, May 13, 1816.

EIGHTEEN centuries ago, the divine author of our religion, about to ascend to his native heavens, pronounced with his farewell voice, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." A little band of Christian heroes obeyed the heavenly mandate; and, clothed in their master's armour, encountered and overcame the united powers of earth and hell. But the apostolick age did not always last. Seventeen hundred years have since elapsed, and more than three fourths of the human family are still enveloped in Pagan or Mahometan dark ness. A lethargy, like the sleep of the sepulchre, had long fastened itself on the Christian world. It was the tremenduous earthquake of modern atheism, that roused them from this slumber and while, during the last twenty years, the vials of God's wrath have been pouring upon the nations, convulsing to its centre this distracted globe, the Bible has re-commenced its triumphs. This tree of heaven's planting has stood and strengthened amidst the prostration of thrones, and the concussion of empires. The apostolick age is returning. The countries of Europe, which lately rung with the clangour of arms, are now filled with societies for the promulgation of the gospel of peace. Through those fields, but lately drenched in human blood, now flow the streams of salvation. Europe is bending

under the mighty effort of extending redemption to a world. Kings and emperours are vying with the humblest of their subjects in this stupendous work. The coffers of the rich are emptied into heaven's treasury, and there also is received the widow's mite. But there is one nation which has stood forth pre-eminent in this career of glory. With the profoundest veneration, I bow before the majesty of the British and Foreign Bible Society.This illustrious association, (its history is recorded in heaven, and ought to be proclaimed on earth,) has been instrumental in distributing a million and a half of volumes of the word of life; and has magnanimously expended, in a single year, near four hundred thousand dollars for the salvation of man.This transcendant institution is the brightest star in the constellation of modern improvements, and looks down from its celestial elevation on the diminished glories of the Grecian and Roman name.

The electrick shock has at length 'reached our shores. Local Bible Societies have been heretofore established in this country; but they wanted extent of means, comprehensiveness of design, and consolidation of action. It was to be expected, and the Christian world had a right to expect, that the American nation would arise in the majesty of its collected might, and unite itself with the other powers of Christen

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