sent of all parties, a man of decided religious principle. He is an active member of the church, and has been for a long time a Sabbath school teacher. The secretary of war also has a high reputation as a friend to morality and religion. His decided measures in respect to the discontinuance of the use of ardent spirits in the army, are well known to our readers. Another important measure lately adopted for the amelioration of the moral habits of the soldiery, is the discontinuance of all parades on the Sabbath. A very respectable number of the members of the senate and house of representatives of the United States, deserve the honorable apellation of Christian patriots.

Europe.

A great degree of uncertainty seems to hang over the destinies of Europe. Britain, France, Belgium, and perhaps two or three smaller states, are tacitly leagued on the side of freedom and the rights of man, in opposition to Russia, Prussia, Austria, &c. The southern and central continental countries are the debateable ground. Germany and Italy are held in awe by Prussia and Austria, while France and England are countenancing the constitutionalists of Spain and Portugal. Italy seems to be ripe for a revolution. We doubt if ironhanded Austria can much longer repress the disturbances. Russia presents the singular spectacle of a monarch, absolute and irresistible, whose whole influence is exerted to extinguish the flame of liberty wherever it shall burst forth, and at the same time possessing an excellent private character. Nicholas, we are assured, is beloved by the foreigners in his capital. Together with most of the members of his family, he appears to be a warm friend of morals and religion. This is the unanimous testimony of American merchants in St. Petersburg, and of the honorable James Buchanan, the late American minister at that court. Seamen from the United States at the port of Cronstadt, were permitted on the last fourth of July, openly to celebrate their country's independence. The conduct of the Russian government towards Poland, may not have been the result of the private feelings and opinions of Nicholas; it is doubtless a part of the recent policy of the empire; it is also in accordance with the notions of some of the emperor's ministers and advisers, particularly Metternich of Austria, who seems to stand at the helm of all eastern Europe. These facts should teach us not to assail Nicholas as a man, in that indiscriminate manner, in which he has frequently been condemned in this country.

Asia.

The government of Mohammed Ali over Syria, seems to be more arbitrary than was to have been expected from his character and professions. We are not yet, however, in possession of sufficient facts to warrant us in forming a decisive opinion of his general policy. The complaints which are made, may be the result of the salutary curtailment of that licentious liberty which has heretofore been enjoyed. Syria, in all her districts, needs a determined head. The Turkish government are apprehending more and more the importance of education. A request has been lately made to the American missionaries in Constantinople, directly from the sultan himself, askfor their aid in establishing schools in the Turkish army.

OBITUARY NOTICES.

HANNAH MORE.

THIS celebrated author and excellent woman, was born in 1744, at the village of Stapleton, Gloucestershire, England. She was the youngest of five sisters, none of whom entered into the marriage state. Her father was a clergyman of worthy character, and of high classical attainment. Hannah manifested very early in life a strong relish for books. After reading her father's library, she had recourse to those of some friends, in the village of Ilanham near Bristol. It is stated that Richardson's novel, Pamela, was the first book which inspired her with a passion for reading. While her sisters were engaged in tuition, she was trying her powers in the composition of verse. At the age of seventeen, she completed her "Search after Happiness," and her "Sacred Dramas." But neither was published for some years after. In 1774, she was encouraged to print her "Sir Eldred of the Bower," the "Bleeding Rock," and the "Inflexible Captive." Mr. Garrick advised her to write for the stage. Her ode to Dragon, Mr. Garrick's house dog, came from the press in 1777, as did also a volume of "Essays on Several Subjects." Next year, her tragedy of "Percy," came out. It was well received,

and established her fame as a dramatic writer. In 1779, she produced "Fatal Falsehood," a tragedy. After some years, the Misses Mores had acquired so much celebrity as instructors, that they removed to Bristol, and opened a boarding-school in Park street. Miss Hannah More accompanied them to Bristol, where she acquired the friendship of Dr. Stonehouse, a gentleman of considerable reputation. She was honored with the intimate acquaintance of Johnson, Burke, Reynolds, and many other eminent individuals.

About the year 1782, her publications assumed a decidedly religious character and tendency. Under a deep conviction that to live to the glory of God, and to the good of her fellow-creatures, ought to be the great object of human existence, she quitted the bright circle of fashion and literature, and devoted herself to a life of active Christian benevolence, and to the composition of various highly useful works. The sisters having at length acquired a competent property, purchased a residence, called Barley Wood, delightfully situated near the village of Wrington, at the foot of the Mendip hills. The selection of the spot, and the whole arrangement, reflected the highest credit upon their taste and judgment. Here Hannah More produced "Celebs in Search of a Wife," which passed through ten editions in one year; "Hints towards forming the Character of a Young Princess; "Practical Piety;" "Christian Morals;" "Estimate of the Religion of the Fashionable World; " "Strictures on the Modern Systems of Female Education;" "Life of St. Paul;" "Remarks on the Speech of M. Depont;" "On Religious Education;" "Moral Sketches of Prevailing Opinions and Manners;" "The Spirit of Prayer." Her miscellaneous works have been collected in eight volumes.

On the death of her last surviving sister, Miss Martha More, she exchanged her residence at Barley Wood for Clifton, near Bristol, where she lived until her death, which took place on the 7th of September, 1833, at the age of 88 years. Her remains were interred on the 13th, in the family-vault at Wrington. She assured a friend that she reposed her hopes of salvation on the merits of Christ alone; at the same time expressing a firm and joyful affiance on his unchangeable promises.

Her bequests to various benevolent societies were discriminating, and most munificent, in all amounting to between £10,000 and £11,000. The whole of her residuary estate, which, it is thought, will amount to a considerable sum, she bequeathed to the new church in the parish of St. Philip, Bristol.

ROBERT WINTER, D. D.

DR. WINTER was, for more than twenty-six years, pastor of the Independent congregation, New Court, Carey street, London. In 1809, he received from the college of New Jersey, a divinity diploma. Firmly attached to the tenets, order, and discipline of the Orthodox Nonconformists, he was yet distinguished by his catholic and liberal spirit. He died on the 9th of August, 1833. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith, on the following morning.

SIR ROBERT BROWNRIGG.

DIED on the 27th of April, 1833, aged 74, Sir Robert Brownrigg, former governor of Ceylon. His three brothers were all officers in the army, and all died before him. In 1813, he was appointed governor of Ceylon. In the winter of 1815, he conquered the kingdom of Kandy, and annexed it to the British dominions. His government was judicious and popular, and he showed himself to be a uniform friend of the missionaries, American, as well as others. He continued governor of Ceylon, till 1820. He was twice married, and left several children. His character seems to have been manly and exemplary.

RAMMOHUN ROY.

AMONG the persons in England with whom this distinguished Hindoo was most familiar, was Sir Alexander Johnstone; whose great general intelligence was not the less acceptable to him from being accompanied by a comprehensive and minute knowledge of India. At his suggestion, the rajah, had he lived, had determined to translate two English works into Sanscrit, Arabic, and Persian, for the use of his countrymen in India; one was lord Brougham's Introductory Discourse to the Library of Useful Knowledge, and the other the Elements of Logic, by archbishop Whately. Several sects have set up claims to him as being of their persuasion. One of the London papers thinks that deism was nearest the opinion which had succeeded his secession from the monstrous absurdities of Hindooism. There was no kind of assemblage which he did not visit, from the almost private prayer devotions of several sects, to the worship of churches and cathedrals; from the small literary circle, to the anniversaries of learned bodies, and the congregation of all ranks for the discussion of important questions. When about the age of sixteen,

he composed a manuscript, calling in question the validity of the idolatrous systems of the Hindoos. He afterwards published various works in the native and foreign languages against the errors of the Hindoos.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE.

WE add a few notices to the account of the life of this eminent man published in our last number. The family name is of local origin in Yorkshire, being derived from Wilberfoss, the manor of which was possessed by the family until sold by William Wilberfoss, Esq. in 1719. Mr. Wilberforce had two sisters, one of whom was never married, and the other was the second wife of the late distinguished James Stephen, Esq. master in chancery, and a strenuous opposer of slavery. Mr. Wilberforce married at Walcot church, near Bath, May 30, 1797, Barbara Spooner, eldest daughter of Isaac Spooner, Esq. He has left four sons. William Wilberforce, Esq. is now resident on the continent. Rev. Robert Wilberforce, rector of East Farleigh, near Maidstone, to which he was presented by lord Brougham. Rev. Samuel Wilberforce, rector of Brixton, Isle of Wight, and Henry Wilberforce, who has lately distinguished himself at Oxford. Samuel was married June 29, 1828, to Emily, daughter of the late Rev. John Sargent, rector of Lavington.

AMERICAN CLERGYMEN.

SOME eminent individuals of this profession have lately deceased. Rev. Alvan Hyde, D. D. of Lee, Mass. was for a considerable period the patriarch of Berkshire county, universally beloved for his meek and chastened piety, and his elevated and sound religious opinions. He was a trustee and the vice president of Williams college. Some important facts in his pastoral and religious life are detailed in the appendix to the Rev. Dr. Sprague's lectures on revivals of religion.Rev. Ezra Fisk, D. D. professor elect in the Western theological seminary, established near Pittsburg, Pa., who lately died in Philadelphia, was one of the leading men in the Presbyterian church, and had been a moderator of the general assembly. He was a graduate and afterwards a trustee of Williams college. He was mild and can