writ, the origin of the diverging tribes and discordant languages of the East; corrected their contradictory and absurd chronology by a far better testimony; and pronounced those scriptures, which men of inferior learning had despised, to be the key of knowledge. "In matters of eternal concern," indeed, says Lord Teignmouth, with his usual piety and discrimination, "the authority of the high est human opinions has no claim to be admitted, except as it may be opposed to that of men of inferior learning and penetration. Among such as have professed a belief in christianity, where shall greater names be found than those of Locke, of Bacon, and of Newton? Of the two former, it may be observed, that they were both innovators in science, whilst the genius of Newton carried him extra flammantia mania mundi. These men, to their great praise, and, we may hope, to their eternal happiness, devoted much of their time to the study of the scriptures. If the evidence of revelation had been weak, why were minds, which boldly destroyed prejudices in science, blind to those in religion? Such authorities, and let me now add to them the name of Sir William Jones, are entitled to great weight. Let those, who superciliously reject them, compare themselves with the men who have been named. The comparison may, perhaps,

lead them to suspect, that their incredulity may be the result of a little smattering in learning, and great selfconceit; and that by hard study and a humbled mind they may regain the religion which they have left."

"Of the manner in which Lord Teignmouth has performed the task assigned to him by Lady Jones, it is not easy to speak too highly. His Lordship, if we recollect right, succeeded Sir William Jones as president of the Asiatick Society, and delivered, at Calcutta, an address, which we have seen in print, containing a brief account of his predecessor. In the present memoirs, his Lordship has suffered Sir William Jones to speak, in general, for himself; and by the unaffected simplicity with which he has connected the letters of his friend, we are often led to forget the biographer; a circumstance which, in our opinion, reflects on the noble writer no small praise. But his Lordship has also given, in the course of his work, indubitable proofs of extensive learning, of a refined taste, and of a very sound judgment, both in politicks and religion. He has frequently introduced sentiments of deep importance: and he has infused into the whole of the volume a christian spirit, which will render it, as we trust, highly useful both to the learned and the unlearned." [Ch. Ob. V. 3. p. 698.

UNITED STATES.

THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, at their meeting in Philadelphia in May last, having taken into serious consideration, the unhappy prevalence of the practice of Duelling in the United States, and being anx

iously desirous of contributing what may be in their power,consistently with their character and situation, to discountenance and abolish this practice,

"Resolved unanimously, that they do, in the most unequivocal manner,declare their utter abhorrence of the practice

of duelling; and of all measures tending thereto, as originating from the malevolent dispositions of the human 'heart and a false sense of honour; as a remnant of Gothick barbarism; as implying a presumptuous and highly criminal appeal to God, as the Sovereign Judge; as utterly inconsistent with every just principle of moral conduct; as a direct violation of the sixth commandment, and destructive of the peace and happiness of families; and the Assembly do hereby recommend it to the ministers in their connexion, to discountenance, by all proper means in their power, this scandalous practice

"Resolved also,that it be recommended to all ministers under the care of the Assembly, that they scrupulouslyrefuse to attend the funeral of any person who shall have fallen in a duel; and that they admit no person, who shall have fought a duel, given or accepted a challenge, or been accessary thereto, unto the distinguishing privileges of the church, until he manifest a just sense of his guilt and give satisfactory evidence of repentance."

The General Assembly have thirty one presbyteries under their care. These presbyteries are all in the states westward and southward of New England. Measures have been taken for publishing a new and revised edition of the confession of faith and catechisms; the plan of government discipline, and directory for worship of the Presbyterian church in the United States.

The management of the Missionary business, is committed by the General Assembly, to the several synods under its jurisdiction. In May last, the synod of Pittsburgh reported to the Assembly, that during the preceding year they had sent missionaries to the settlements on Alleghany river, and Lake Erie ; on the Ohio, and among the Wyandot Indians. The missionary among the Indians was so well received, and made so good a report, that the synod have appointed three ministers to spend two months each, in succession among them during the ensuing summer.

The synod of Virginia reported, that they had under their direction, for the year preceding Oct. 1804, four missionaries, two of whom itinerated for several months in the southwestern parts of the State. The appearances of success in this district were very flattering, and

the demand for preaching great. One of their missionaries travelled for four months, principally in the northern neck of Virginia, in most parts of which he was cordially received, and in some instances his preaching was attended by very hopeful appearances. A missionary to the blacks, itinerated in several counties in the south parts of the State; but owing to some peculiar circumstances, his mission to them was not attended with success. Upon the whole, the synod of Virginia observed, that the field for missionary labours in that state was very extensive; and the prospect of usefulnessveryencouraging.

The synod of the Carolinas have two missionaries atthe Natches, who expect to continue their missionary labours in that place for twelve months; one has also been appointed to spend some time in missionary service, in certain destitute places, in the lower parts of North and South Carolina.

In 1803, the General Assembly prescribed, that on every fifth year, beginning with 1805, the reports to the General Assembly from the synods and presbyteries, beside their usual details, shall contain an account of the existing communicants in each church, and of the number of persons baptized the preceding year, and that it be the duty of the synods and presbyteries, in con. junction with the General Assembly, to bring forward complete and accurate reports onthis head, to the next Assembly.

Minutes of Gen. Assembly.

MASSACHUSETTS.

The Massachusetts Missionary Society, instituted May, 1799, it appears is increasing in members and pecuniary publication, which has been continued resources. Their Magazine, a useful for two years, affords them a handsome Profit. They have this year sent out

five missionaries, two into the State of New York, two into the District of Maine, and one into the State of RhodeIsland. They have also purchased books of piety to a considerable amount to be destributed by their missionaries. WEST INDIES.

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

From the fortieth number of the periodical accounts of these missions, we extract the following.

From the West India Islands, the accounts to May, 1804, are pleasing. At

Antigua, the blessed work of converting the negroes to christianity, is said (April 5, 1804,) to go on progressively, and there are in general more who at tend publick worship than last year. A weekly meeting with the children, has proved the means of exciting, in many, both young and old, a concern for their salvation. "The Passion week and Easter Sunday," says one of the brethren, "were seasons of much blessing. During the Easter morning litany, in the burying ground, the most awful silence prevailed, notwithstanding the numerous auditory. At the time of the publick preaching, the whole place was again crowded; 2500 or 3000 negroes listened attentively to the sermon, preached from the following text; Jesus Christ hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Other meetings were also well attended."

"From Easter 1803, to Easter 1804, there have been admitted to the Lord's Supper, at St. John's, 84; at Gracehill, 59; at Gracebay, 41; in all, 184 negroes. During the same period were baptized, or received into the congregation, (being baptized as children;) at St. John's, 108 adults and 101 children; at Gracehill 57 adults, and 46 children; and at Gracebay, 35 adults and 26 children; in all, 353 persons." p. 281, 282.

SOUTH AMERICA.

AT Paramaribo, the mission among the negro slaves, prospers. On Christmas day, five were baptized. The mission to the free negroes at Bambey, seems less promising: and that at Hope on the Corentyn, has likewise to struggle with great difficulties.

NORTH AMERICA.

A NEW missson settlement is about to be established among the Indians on LAKE ERIE.

A mission has commenced among the Cherokee Indians, in which the brethren have been greatly assisted by Col. Meigs, the American agent, but hitherto with little or no success. "Indeed it appears," say the brethren, "that nothing less than the destruction of the whole mission was mediated, by the enemy of souls, who by his emissaries is raising every kind of difficulty to prewent its success. But we trust," they add, "in our Almighty Saviour, whose

Ir is supposed that there are above 300,000 persons in the highlands of Scotland who understand no other language but the Galic, or at least, who are incapable of receiving religious instruction through the medium of any other. The society in Scotland for promoting christian knowledge, are printing an edition of 20,000 copies of the bible in the Galic language. This benevolent and expensive undertaking is far advanced.

The abovementioned society, during the year ending May 1, 1805, supported in the highlands and islands of Scotland, 284 schools, 12 missionaries and catechists, 6 Galic Bursaries, and 26 superanuated teachers, at an expense of £3651-10 sterling. This establishment commenced and has been continued since 1738, and has been of incalcula ble benefit to the northern parts of Scotland.

We shall present our readers in the next number, with an interesting account of this society, one of the most respectable of its kind in the world.

work. It was affecting to see how amazed they were, when I told them of God, and the resurrection. Some of the people began to pray, "Oh Lord Jesus Christ," they would say, "thou hast made the sun, the moon, the hills, the rivers, the bushes: therefore thou hast power to change my heart. Oh he pleased to make it entirely new." Obtaining an interpreter, our labour much increased; many more began to pray, and some gave evidence of a new heart. The number of Boschemen became so great, that I was obliged to give them names, which I wrote on their backs. When they approached me, the first thing, therefore, was to shew me their shoulders.

In October, our provisions were almost exhausted; we applied to God in prayer, who disposed the heart of Francis Moritz, a farmer, to send us a handsome present of oxen, sheep, flour, and salt. The Hottentot servants, who brought these things, added a number of sheep of their own to express their gratitude, that the gospel was brought to their countrymen.

We received repeated warnings that the Great Kraal of Boschemen, who had not been included in the peace, intended to attack and destroy us; but we committed ourselves to the Lord, who preserved us.

When we began our work, we endeavoured to convince our hearers by arguments addressed to their understandings; but this excited constant objections, and we had little success. We then chiefly insisted on the dying love of Christ; we represented him as the all-sufficient friend of lost sinners; we invited them to believe and be saved; we entreated them to make a trial of our doctrine. Soon, our people came to us with tears, and declared they saw more and more the excellency of the gospel, that they found it the power of God to their salvation.

About Christmas, 1799, several farmers from a distance, came to partake the Lord's supper with us, according to the Dutch custom. Some of them had been awakened by the preaching of Mr. Voss. The provision they brought was seasonable, and we had several pleasant days with them.

In Jan. 1800, I took a journey to Cape Town to procure clothing and other necessaries. A farmer with a

waggon and several Boschemen attended me. After we entered the settled part of the country, the farmers collected the people of the adjacent parts, who spent Lord's days with us in publick worship. After travelling a month, we reached Cape Town. Some of the first objects, which struck the affrighted Boschemen, were several malefactors hung in chains. In a few days, they were more terrified at a publick execution. After I had explained to them the just laws of civilized society, they were satisfied, and said it would be well, if we had such laws in our settlement in the wildernesss. At the Cape I preached to the Calvinistic church, a large building and a crowded assembly. My Boschemen attended; they were greatly surprised on seeing such a congregation of well dressed people, whom they compared to a nest of ants, and the organ they mistook for a swarming beehive. From that time, they viewed me with more respect, having beentempted before to consider me as a beggarly fellow, visiting them to obtain a livelihood. We visited several of the magistrates. The Boschemen, dressed in sheep skins, sitting in a drawing room on silk covered chairs, or parading before a large looking glass, were objects of mirth and compassion. The governor treated us kindly, and the Boschemen thanked him for permitting missionaries to instruct them; no man before having cared for their souls.

During our absence, the captain of the Boschemen, called Vigilant, visited the settlement, to seize a sheep as his due. Brother Kramer opposing him, Vigilant stabbed the sheep, and aimed a thrust at him. He was saved by a girl, who warded off the blow. He was taken; but made his escape, and called upon his numerous horde to revenge the affront; but many of the friendly Boschemen kept watch round our habitation, till we received assistance, and drove this infuriated chief from the neighbourhood.

Soon after Brother Kramer went to Hex river, brother Edwards to the Cape, and I, in March 1800, with brother Scholtz, removed to Zak river. At this place many tame Hottentots joined us. These people have a few sheep and oxen; the Boschemen live entirely on tygers, jackalls, reptiles, and roots. One of the first converts

was John, an old Hottentot. The love of Christ was his darling theme all the day; his eyes overflowing with tears of gratitude and joy. When spoken to on worldly business, he would say, "Oh I have spoken too much about the world; let me now speak of Christ." He spoke in a surprising manner; he had never heard any person speak the same things; he was eminently taught of God. Formerly he had four wives; now he had two. One day he came to me and said he must put away his two wives. I asked him why. He answered, "Because when I go to God in prayer my heart tell me it is bad; and Christ more near to me than ten thousand wives. I will support them; I will work for them, and will stay till God change their hearts; then I will take the first whose heart is changed."

After five or six months of zeal in the things of God he was seized with fatal sickness. Still he insisted on being carried to the place of publick worship, saying, that as long as he could hear, he would catch the words of life. On the day of his departure he said, "O sir, I now see that the Lord Jesus love me with an everlasting love, that he has accepted me, that he will be my portion for ever; and now, though the vilest sinner on earth, relying on his blood and righteousness, I will die and go Christ, and wait for you." His eldest son, a servant of a distant farmer, visiting him in his last moments, burst into tears, and said, "Ah my father die so happy in Jesus, and I have no opportunity to hear his gospel." But application being made to his master, he kindly permitted

him to live with us, and the word was evidently blest to his conversion.

A runaway slave whom we were about to send to his master, in revenge poisoned our well; but a little girl seeing him in the atrocious act gave information, and we escaped. At another time a party of Boschemen were about to discharge a volley of poisened arrows at me; but being discovered by the girl, who saved brother Kramer, they made off in haste.

In

While I was at Zak river, a person came to our house, calling himself Stephanos, a Greek by birth, who, for making base coin at Cape Town, had been sentenced to death; but had fled from justice. Though I had heard of him, and felt suspicious; yet his conversation was so religious, and his offer to assist us in building a chapel so plausible that I blamed myself for my suspicions, and suffered him to sleep in the next room. But he had designed to murder me, seize my waggon and goods, and to go off to a distant horde. the night he approached my bed; but the keeper of Israel was pleased to rouse me in a fit of terrour: In which I cried out, as if privy to his bloody design. He was disconcerted, stammered out an apology, and left the house. In the morning I found he had stolen my gun, and seduced away a number of Boschemen. My Hottentots pursued him, overtook, and recovered the Boschemen, and what he had stolen. He was brought back, but I suffered him to escape, which was the occasion of future difficulty.

(To be continued.)

UNITED STATES.

Rev. Doctor Holmes, of Cambridge, has in the press, the first volume nearly completed, of a work, to be entiled AMERICAN ANNALS. Itcommences with the discovery of America, by Christopher Columbus, in 1492, and extends to the present time; and is designed to give a concise history of the most important events, that have taken place within that period, on the continent of

North and South America, and in the West India Islands; and of such events, in foreign parts, as had special relation to this country, or ultimately affected its interests. Beginning with the causes, means, and circumstances, of the first discovery of America, it will proceed to notice its subsequent settlement by various nations of Europe; the principal charters, granted by European princes to individuals, or to campanics; the