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Review. Thoughts on a Future Life.

"It is not so easy to awaken the benevolent principle out of its sleep, as, when once awakened in behalf of one object, to excite and to interest it in behalf of another. When the bar of selfishness is broken down, and the floodgates of the heart are once opened the stream of benevolence can be turned into a thousand directions." He contends that the poor man's being brought to participate in so good a work as the circulation of the scriptures, by contributing his penny, "puts him in the high attitude of a giver, and every feeling it inspires is on the side of independence and delicacy.” P. 25. This advocate of the Bible Societies, consistently, and with equal earnestness, contends for the education of the children of the poor, the happy effects of which he shews to be fully exemplified in the independent feeling, industry, and aversion to becoming paupers, which prevail among the mass of the people in in Scotland.

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Unitarian doctrine, to let their light shine before men, by an open profession of what they believe, by uniting in the worship of the one God only, and by shewing the holy influence of their faith in their temper and conduct. The following passage, p. 13, deserves the attention of those who conceal their sentiments. "Convinced as we are that the notion of three divine persons being each of them truly and properly God, is not only a gross and palpable delusion, but that it has been the means of bringing Christianity into contempt; is it not mean, is it not criminal, is it not inexcusable, to conceal our sentiments on a point of such infinite importance; or to act as though we believed such a glaring and pernicious absurdity?"

ART. XII.-A Serious Address to Unitarians, on the Importance of maintaining a Conduct worthy of their Principles. By a Seceder from the Establishment. Pp. 16. Eaton, 187, High Holborn.

THIS is a truly Christian exhor

ART. XIII.-The Divine Unity unambiguous; or, The Plain and Emphatic signification of the phrase JEHOVAH OUR COD IS ONE JEHOVAH maintained, and Jesus Christ shewn to be the Chief of the Children of God according to the spirit of Holiness: including an Examination of John i. 1-14, Heb. i. Col. i. 15—18, &c. Pp. 40.

HE title fully expresses the con

TH

tents of this pamphlet ; the writer understands his subject, and shews himself no feeble advocate of the important doctrines of the Unity of God, and the superiority of Jesus Christ in his office and character, though in his person simply a man.

ART. XIV.-An Essay on the Impolicy of War. By William Pitt Scargill. Pp. 16. 6d. Darton, Harvey and and Darton, Gracechurch Street.

FTER shewing that the aboli

tion of war is practicable, this sensible writer answers the pleas usually urged for its recurrence, states in a concise and forcible manner its evil nature and tendency, and suggests a plan to be adopted by the friends of peace for its prevention. Though we much fear the spirit of the gospel will not soon triumph over the spirit of war, we earnestly recommend Mr. readers. He says, p. 14, "AssociaS's. plan to the consideration of our tions and societies have been formed for benevolent purposes in this coun

Tution to those who believe the fry, and the objects for which they

Poetry.

have been formed have been more or less answered. What prevents the formation of a society for this object? The great concern in the first instance is to circulate knowledge upon the subject, to communicate to the people at large a knowledge of their own interest. When the nation feels that peace is its interest there will be an expression of that conviction in the general voice, that will be uttered in behalf of humanity and reason.

"It is alas too certain that war never will be abolished so long as men content themselves with deploring its evils and lamenting its prevalence: some definite and persevering exertions must be made before any hope can be entertained of its cessation. It is in vain for us to flatter ourselves with the hope that after a long and sanguinary war we shall repose in profound peace and quiet; if we do not take some steps to destroy the system of war altogether. Living as is our privilege, in a country where the utmost liberty of speech and discussion by press is allowed, so far as is consistent with decorum and good order, a mighty engine of benevolence is in the power of every friend of

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humanity. Would it not then be desirable to form associations in every part of the kingdom, whose object should be to raise a little fund for the necessary expences attending such unions, and that these as

sociations should use their best endeavours to impress upon the minds of the people at large, the desirableness and practicability of abolishing the system of war altogether? Could the ministers of religion make a better use of their pulpits than to inculcate from them the doctrine of Jesus Christthe doctrine of peace? There is no need of making this a party question, it is an object in which all may unite, it is a concern of general and universal interest; under whatever government men may live, whatever be their loyal attachment to their sovereign, they can conscientiously unite their endeavours for peace.

"Nor let us imagine that associations for this benevolent purpose will be confined to this country, the friends of humanity and religion in every part of Europe, in every quarter of the globe, would cheerfully contribute their assistance to an object so powerful in its tendency to ameli

orate the human race and increase the comforts of mankind."

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Where discord, strife and horror reign'd around;

Where with gigantic stride and dreadful mien,

Pale death with countless victims strew'd the ground.

III. Welcome his fatal shafts! 'twere they alone,

Reliev'd at once the dying man's despair; They hush'd the wounded soldier's stifled groan,

Turn'd to a bed of rest the snow-clad plain,

And in oblivion wrapp'd their sufferings past.

V.

Unheard of woes, for what were ye en

dured?

Why these sad scenes beheld so wide and

far?

Had ye to all mankind long peace ensur'd!

Had freedom's cause led Gallia's sons to war!

VI.

Much might be said to mitigate the loss That Parents, Widows, Orphans, long must bear;

When o'er the mind the glorious cause should cross; "Twould soothe the pang for those they held so dear.

VII.

But even this consoling thought's denied ; And execrations from the mourners burst; "Curs'd be the tyrant's overreaching pride;

That on the midnight breeze assail'd the Curs'd his ambition, and his mem'ry

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curs'd."

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From the German of Schiller.
Wrapt in gloomy mist of even

All my joys are fled afar,
One bright ray in mem'ry's heaven

Lingers, one immortal star.
See it beam celestial light;-
No! 'tis but a gleam of night.

Death's long slumber hath o'erta'en thee,

Veil'd those lovely eyes of thine-
Can my sorrows, Emma, pain thee?

Beats thy bosom now with mine?
Ah! thou liv'st in light above;
But thou liv'st not for my love!

Love's emotions perish never :

Can they perish, Emma, say? All beneath is fleeting ever:

And must love too pass away? Can this flame of heav'nly fire Like an earthly spark expire?

A.

From the Portuguese of A. Ferreira.

To the beloved Disciple.

Celestial Eagle! that on wing sublime, Rose above heav'n in thy seraphic flight, And brought the secrets of the stars to light,

And gave eternal day to darksome time; That fill'd with heavenly gladness earthly clime,

And tore away the veil from mortal sight, While shewn by thee, th' ETERNAL'S glory bright

Is own'd,-felt,—seen,-ev'n in this world of crime !

Thou, once a slumberer on the Saviour's breast!

Deem'd worthy to be call'd the Virgin's Son!

Fav'rite of Jesus-lov'd and honour'd best!

Whose brow now bears a martyr's golden

crown,

O let the fire of extacy divine

Which glow'd within thy bosom, influence mine! A.

To Spring.

Thrice welcome! soul-reviving Spring, That com'st with smiles; and with thee bring,

The Zephyrs bland, with balmy wing,
Gladding the plains,

And let the feather'd warblers sing,
Their softest strains.

Sweet Philomel's autumnal lay,
When tears hang trembling on the spray,
May softly hymn departed day,
With pensive voice;

But when thou com'st enchanting May,
All hearts rejoice.

The violet, and the primrose pale,
Perfume with sweets the vernal gale,
Roses and lilies of the vale,

United bring,

Their choicest, fairest charms to hail
Returning Spring.

Ah! I have seen a blushing rose,
At young-eyed morning just unclose,
Wafting with every gale that blows
Fragance around,

Cropt off before it fully blows,
Fade on the ground.

This fate was thine, thou lovely maid! 'Twas faithless love that thee betray'd, (Thou fairest flower of all the glade) And yew trees wave,

Where oft with breaking heart I tread Thy lowly grave!

C. S.

Epigram on Scott's Waterloo.
How prostrate lie the heaps of slain
On Waterloo's immortal plain !
But none by sabre or by shot,

Fell half so flat as WALTER SCOTT.
Yet who with magic spear or shield,
E'er fought like him on Flodden Field?
Morn. Chron.

INTELLIGENCE.

FOREIGN.

French Protestants.

DOCUMENTS.

Royal Ordinance.
Louis, by the Grace of God, King of
France and Navarre, &.

issued by the Mayor of Nismes, respecting the opening of the Protestant churches. The Marquis de Vallonques, by whom it is signed, was not appointed to his office by the King, but by M. de Bernis, one of the Commissaries of the Duc d'Angouleme, who displaced, for that purpose, M. Donant, a most faithful Royalist and Protestant, who had been nominated by the King immediately on his return :—

Nismes.

"We are informed that our Ordinance of the 21st of Nov. last, has received in the town of Nismes the respect and submission we expected; that though the criminal whom justice demands is not yet secured, strict searches have been made; that they Notice to the Inhabitants of the City of have been seconded by the National Guard and the inhabitants; and that every thing announces that the assassin of General Lagarde has neither asylum nor protection at Nismes. "On the other hand, the article of the Constitutional Charter, which, in recognizing the Catholic religion for the religion of the State, secures to other religions liberty and protection, has been faithfully executed. The temple of the Protestants is open, and they enjoy therein all the security which is guaranteed to them by the

laws.

“After so marked a return to principles and order, we will no longer postpone the revocation of the rigorous measures which necessity drew

from us.

"For these reasons we have order ed and do order what follows:

"ART. 1. The troops quartered in garrison or on the inhabitants of Nismes, shall be without delay withdrawn, and distributed in the barracks, and in such parts of the department of the Gard, as our Military commandant may judge necessary.

2. Our Prefect shall declare to the inhabitants of Nismes, that we are satisfied with the zeal with which they concurred in the maintenance of tranquillity, and the re-establishment of order in our said good city.

"3. Our Minister, Keeper of the Seals, and our Ministers for War, and the Interior, and General Police, are charged with the execution of the present Ordinance.

(Signed) "LOUIS." "Given at Paris, Jan. 10, 1816."

Paris, Jan. 12.
The following is the Proclamation

"The laws of the realm and the will of the King secure the exercise of the Protestant worship. I tell you so, I, who am your magistrate, your mayor-I, who have surely some claims to your confidence. The Protestant churches will be opened on Thursday next, and that day will prove to the King, to France, and to Europe, who are our accusers, that the blindness of a few women and children is not the crime of the city of Nismes, which has distinguished itself on so many occasions, and even recently, by its fidelity and devotion to the King.

"Women who are blinded by your zeal, and perhaps excited by your enemies, you will not once more ruin your city, and gratify by your errors the enemies of the Royal cause. I am assured, and for that reason I have a pleasure in informing you, that conferences are opened, and nearly terminated, with the Consistory of the Protestant worship. Their object is to restore, by common consent, to the worship of the State, the churches which have been conceded to the Pro testant worship. Two churches will be built, and that very shortly, in lieu of that concession. During that short interval, the Protestants may enjoy, undisturbed, the churches thus conceded. The people of Nismes need only know the will of the King, and hear the voice of the Royal Authorities, to do their duty. "Marquis de VALLONQUES, Mayor." "Nismes, Dec. 19, 1815."

The Official Gazette of this day announces, that tranquillity is restored in the South; notwithstanding which assertion, we have authentic accounts

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Intelligence.-French Protestants.

of the following transactions having recently taken place in that part of the kingdom :

At Sommières, the Protestants, having attempted to celebrate their worship on the 24th of December, the power of which they had been deprived of since the month of July, they met with the most barbarous treatment on that account.

The royal troops, which do not cease to infest the environs of Nismes, exercise continual vexations on the Protestants. On the 22nd of December a detachment of about fifty men broke into the house of M. Mourier, a gentleman of property at St. Blaucard, lately returned from emigration, who had just time to effect his escape. Failing in their main object, these brigands completely pillaged the premises, and daily continue their depredations in the neighbourhood.

Several families at Nismes have abjured their religion, the motive of which is evident. They are families of mechanics and workmen, who are 'without bread in consequence of the persecutions they have undergone. The Protestant manufacturers have, for the most part, fled, and the Catholics will not employ Protestant workmen; besides which, the looms and frames of the latter have been destroyed, and they are reduced to the alternative of recanting or starving.

This system of persecution has extended to Bordeaux and its neighbourhood. Its effects have also been felt at Nantz, the President of the Consistory of that city having been sent into exile. Tristaillon, Quatretaillon, and another brigand of that party, made their entry lately into Lyons. They wore in their hats white cockades of a preposterous size, in the midst of which was displayed a large red cross, the characteristic badge of the fanatics of Nismes. These crusaders met with a very ill reception from the people of that city, several of whom have been arrested upon a charge of having insulted them. In consequence of the spirit of the Lyonnese being so unfavourable to these culprits, the latter have been transferred to some town in the province of Bourbonnais. The refugees from Nismes have been warmly greeted by the people of Lyons; which circumstance has given great disgust to the

Royal Authorities of that place. The Prefect of that city having learned that the President of the Protestant Consistory had received letters from the English Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty, called up that minister before him, compelled him to deliver them up, and threatened him with a criminal prosecution for corresponding with the enemies of the State.

It may not be unworthy of notice, that the soldiers, who, by the late Royal Ordonnance are removed from Nismes, were quartered solely on the Protestants during their stay in that city; and that the whole weight of extraordinary contributions is made to fall upon the Protestants, of which the following is a striking instance: The Marquis de Calvieres, a Catholic gentleman, enjoying a landed estate of 60,000 livres a year, is assessed at 600 livres-while Mr. Brosse de Pier. don, a Protestant, whose income amounts to about 10,000 livres, has paid within this last year the sum of 15,000 livres towards those contri-butions.

(From the Journal des Debats.)

Protestant Society of London. The anxiety and inquiries of the Protestant Society of London have at least produced one good effect.These inquiries have become, to a very considerable class of Frenchmen, an opportunity for manifesting sentiments, respecting which the most perfidious malevolence cannot any longer express a doubt. From all sides, the heads and the members of the Consistories are eager to prove, by the most authentic protestations and the most formal declarations, that no real cause existed for the proceedings of the Society in London, and that an excess of zeal alone inspired that Society with its fears and suspicions. The following is the extract from a letter which M. Martineau de la Zalgue, President of the Consistory of the Reformed Church at Clairac, has written to his Excellency the Minister of the Interior, sending to him at the same time the letter which the Society of London had addressed to all the Consistories of France:

"Full of an entire confidence in his Majesty Louis XVIII. my well-beloved King, I look for peace and tranquillity on the earth from him alone.

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