mission by the Nabob's Government nearly twenty years ago, and most of the buildings were erected at the same time. Those I have seen are in very good repair, and it requires but a small sum annually to keep them so.

"The Mission has received an important accession since the last Report in another native priest, named Viservarsemarden. He seems to be a man of respectable abilities ard genuiue piety; and the discourse I heard him preach to his own congregation would have done credit to a minister possessed of the advantage of a superior education to that which he has received. He is stationed at a village called by the Christians, Nazareth, about twenty miles to the south of this: and Abraham, the other country priest, is at Mothelloor, a few miles further. If I may judge from appearances during my short stay among the people of these two villages, they are much attached to their priests, as are the Christians of the surrounding country, and I am persuaded they only require to be well supported and encouraged to prove of the most essential service to the congregations entrusted to their care. Even from my hasty visit, the joy diffused through all classes was indescribable, and the people flocked in from the neighbouring villages in every direction. On catechising such as were introduced to me as the principal people, I found them much better taught in their religion than I had anticipated; and considering the space of time that they had been with out a Missionary, it was highly gratifying and encouraging to find the benign and peaceable genius of Christianity still keeping them at unity amongst themselves. The two villages named above consist entirely of Protestants, nor is there an idol or heathen temple any where to be seen: while the stillness that prevailed, contrasted with the tumult of heathen abodes, seemed to invest these favoured spots with a degree of sanctity, and made one forget for the moment that they were in the

midst of a pagan land. One of the priests led me to a part of the village where was seated, under the shade of cocoa-nut trees, a considerable company of women spinning cotton, and singing Lutheran hymns to the motion of their wheels.

"After service a great part of the congregation shewed no disposition to disperse, and, seating themselves around the door, sang their hymns to a late hour. There were two old men among the group, who were converted to the Christian faith by your missionary Ianicke, about twenty years ago, and they sang to me several hymns he had taught them what they sang or said was not so intelligible, indeed, as the language of younger men, but you will readily imagine them to have been amongst the most interesting of the company. I state these, perhaps, trifling particulars, to shew that there appears to be something more than the bare name of Christianity here; and that the enemies of

missionary exertions are mistaken in asserting, as many have asserted, that there is not a genuine convert to Christianity among the native Protestants. No, sir: if the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge had no other fruit of their cares, their exertions, or their expenditure for the promoting of Christian knowledge' in India, they might point triumphantly to these two villages, in proof that their labour has not been in vain. I have seldom witnessed so much religion in a town in England as is conspicuous here: and some heathen in the neighbourhood of one of the villages told me candidly that it was a very quiet and good place. I spoke with the priests of the Tamul Liturgy that you propose sending hither, and recommended them to adopt it in all the churches in room of the German form of worship now in use, and they readily acceded to the proposition."

The number of children baptized at this station during the year was 117; besides 52 converts from heathenism : the number of communicants was 127.

FOREIGN.

SPAIN. This country, if we may credit the accounts which appear in the journals, continues in a state of great

commotion, in consequence of the opposition between the partizans of the old and the new system. The recent events in Italy, and the rumours which

have prevailed respecting the views and intentions of Russia and Austria, seem to have assisted in raising the hopes of the former, and in causing some anxiety in the minds of the latter. As far, however, as foreign interference was either hoped for or feared, the question seems now to be set at rest. The Russian and Austrian troops, whose advance, it was supposed, might have some reference to the affairs of the Peninsula, have discontinued their march, which appears to have been directed exclusively with a view to Italy and Piedmont. Indeed, it did not seem very likely that France I would allow a Russian or Austrian army to march through its territories, in order to regulate the affairs of Spain, even if Austria or Russia had contemplated such a project. Besides this, the transactions in Spain and Portugal during the late war must have taught other nations to be cautious of attempting a peninsular invasion, when even Bonaparte, in the zenith of his power, not only could not effect his favourite design of subjugating those countries to his yoke, but there met with those humiliating reverses which ultimately led to his downfall. For these reasons, to say nothing of the injustice of such a measure, we are disposed to think that the allied sovereigns have never had it in their serious contemplation to effect, by hostile interference, a counter-revolution in Spain.

It would be well, however, for that country, if she had as little to dread from intestine divisions and popular fury as from foreign invasion; but, unhappily, the scenes which have been recently exhibited afford but too much ground to fear that, as in the case of the French Revolution, true liberty, if secured at all, will not be secured without a severe struggle, and, perhaps, without sufferings, at the very contemplation of which humanity shudders. On the one hand, bands of peasants, encouraged and headed by ecclesiastics, are said to be conducting a sort of guerilla warfare against the new government. On the other, the populace of Madrid, and of some other large towns, are said to be indignant at what they consider the culpable moderation of the constitutional authorities, in their conduct towards the partizans of the old system; and to be demanding proscription, exile, and capital punishment to a fearful extent. In one

instance, a ferocious mob broke into a prison at Madrid, in which the curate Vinuesa was confined, and cffected his destruction in spite of the presence of the national guards, who were then on duty, but who presented little or no resistance.-The constitutional authorities have a very difficult task to perform in repelling the hos tile attacks of one party, and repressing the furious and ungovernable zeal of the other. One thing, however, we think, is tolerably clear, that if the late Revolution was really called for by the general wishes of the people at large, nothing is wanting on the part of the Government to secure its ultimate con solidation, but firmly to restrain and to punish the violence of all parties, and, at the same time, to modify, as far as practicable, such parts of the new system as experience shall have shewn to be justly obnoxious. If, however, the Revolution was merely the result of some partial effervescence, the struggle may be long and doubtful; and what is not the least evil attending such a process, (in addition to the amount of misery and mischief which never fail to arise in civil conflicts from the excesses of the contending parties), a general dread of reform, even where it is most called for, will probably spread among moderate and well disposed persons in other coun→ tries: tyranny and oppression will thus feel themselves countenanced in resisting the most unexceptionable and salutary measures for the benefit of mankind; and even the Neapolitans will learn to console themselves, for their precipitate submission, by the distractions of Spain.

ITALY.-The late commotions of Italy are stilled into a sort of deathlike repose by the presence of the Austrians, who are making preparations for a protracted stay in the Neapolitan states. Their discipline is said to be so good as to have prevented much cause for complaint as to the conduct of the soldiery: but they have effectually stifled whatever remained visible of the boasted spirit of freedom. The chief actors in the late revolution, wherever discovered, are tried by a special commission; and some of them, by a species of judicial proceeding happily unknown in our own favoured country, have been condemned, without trial, as "notoriously" guilty. The police are en gaged, day and night, in observing, and promptly suppressing every symp

tom of affection for the revolutionary cause; the press is placed under a rigorous censorship; foreign journals are excluded by prohibitory penalties; the natives are every where disarmed; all promotions and diplomatic nominations made by the late government are rescinded; and to prevent the spark of freedom from being rekindled, the university of Naples has been dissolved, at least for a time, and the students have been sent to their respective homes, with strict injunctions never more to meddle with "perverse doctrines." Here, at present, the matter rests; and very little is said by any party respecting the hopes held out by the congress of Laybach of the grant of a representative constitution by royal authority.

TURKEY.-The expulsion of the Mohammedan power from Europe seems at present not so near as to many persons appeared probable a few weeks since; when not only among the Greeks, but among the Christian subjects of the Porte generally-Bulgarians, Servians, and Epirots-the Hame of insurrection seemed rapidly spread ing. The Cross, after the degradation of centuries, seemed likely to be once more opposed in powerful array to the crescent; and the oppression which the Turks had so long exercised against the Christians, it was assumed, would form a bond of union among the latter capable of uniting them firmly in a common cause. The decisive measures of the Greek leaders; the abandonment of their homes and of their property on the part of many of the insurgents; and the recal of those who were absent in foreign countries to take their share in the enterprise, all seemed to portend a not very distant emancipation of European Turkey from the yoke of its present rulers. More recent accounts, however, render this issue exceedingly doubtful. They are, indeed, little more than reports of reports; but they are all unfavourable to the success of the insurgents. The Turkish government appears to have acted on this occasion with a more than usual promptitude and activity, and to have obtained a triumph over the malcontents in Wallachia and Moldavia, The avowed determination of Russia, on whose cooperation the insurgents probably relied, to maintain a strict neutrality, appears to have damped their hopes of success, and to have dispirited their efforts. In the mean time, we lament to say

that various scenes of tumult and massacre have taken place, in which each party has been alternately the aggressor. The lives and property of the Christian residents are said to be every where exposed to imminent danger; though the violence of the Turks has been in some degree restrained by the remonstrances of the European envoys and consuls at Constantinople and elsewhere. But even should the present insurrection be wholly quelled, we cannot reflect upon the very large proportion of the population in European Turkey which bears the Christian name, and the efforts which are now making for the general diffusion of knowledge among them, without anticipating the ultimate expulsion of their invaders. At the same time we think it right to caution those who may be in the habit of connecting, on perhaps too partial premises, the prophecies of Scripture with the passing events of the day, to moderate their expectations, or, at least, to be guarded in their predictions, on subjects of this nature. We are induced to make this remark on the present occasion, because we are credibly informed that many an assertion has been hazarded, and many an unfortunate sheet of paper been even already blotted with immature speculations upon the expected success of the Greek Prince Ypsilanti and his adherents, over the Turks; and because we are convinced that the enemies of Revelation often find cause for triumph in the unfounded schemes respecting unaccomplished prophecy which are obtruded by well meaning but injudicious persons upon the attention of the public.

SOUTH AMERICA.-The revolutionary spirit so widely excited in Southern Europe has found its way to the Brazils. The province of Bahia, at the instigation of the military, set the example to the other provinces, by declaring itself in favour of such a representative government as should be finally agreed upon by the Cortes in the mother country. Pernambuco immediately followed in the same course; since which the captaincy of Rio Janeiro has declared its adherence to the new Constitution. After some hesitation, the king thought it prudent to yield to the universal feeling which seemed to pervade his Brazilian dominions. He has formally sanctioned the new order of things, and declared his intention of returning forthwith to Europe. All this appears to have

been accomplished without any very violent tumults, and with little or no bloodshed. But although the Brazilian Revolution has hitherto been comparatively mild and peaceful in its progress, there is reason to apprehend, in that country, more perhaps than in any other, that it may lead to results of the most disastrous kind. The infatuated policy of the government, in respect to the slave trade, has led to an immense increase of the servile population in the Brazils, during the last twenty years. There probably are to be found there half a million of men who have in that time been dragged from Africa to labour in this foreign soil, and who must still have a sufficient recollection of their days of native freedom to make them susceptible of easy excitement. The free Black and Coloured population is also large. It cannot be that those who compose it should not partake in the effervescence of the present revolutionary movement. They will also have their rights to claim. The abstract principles assumed by the Cortes as the basis of the new Constitution make no distinctions of colour; and even if they did, we could not expect that the persons who might thus be proscribed would silently acquiesce in the proscription. As little is it to be expect ed that the planters of the Brazils should admit the claim of this degraded caste to a participation of equal rights with themselves. Debate, and contention, and civil war, in this case, as in Saint Domingo, must almost inevitably ensue; and, as it happened there, the slaves will probably avail themselves of this state of commotion and warfare to assert their free dom, and will probably also succeed in sweeping their oppressors from the face of the earth. And if such should be the issue, would it be possible for the Christian not to mark in it the retributive justice of Divine Providence? Six years ago, Portugal, in common with the other powers of Europe, declared the slave trade to be inhuman and unjust; to be the scourge which had too long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity. She still clings, however, to this flagitious commerce, with unabated, nay with increased ardour, and refuses to let it go, being now the only power in the civilized world by whom it has not been, in law at least, totally abolished. The open and profligate contempt which has thus been manifested for

the admitted obligations of the Divine law, cannot but prepare the minds of all, who have been accustomed to consider the moral government of God with attention, for any indications of his displeasure to which the course of events may lead. May they prove a timely and salutary warning to ourselves and to other nations.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.-It is with the most lively satisfaction we inform our readers that the United States have recently afforded the most unequivocal proof of their fixed determination to extinguish the slave trade, by a legislative enactment which stamps it with the brand of piracy, and which subjects every citizen of the United States, sailing under any flag, as well as every foreigner sailing under the American flag, who shall be engaged in carrying it on, to capital punishment. A conduct so noble and energetic demands the gratitude of every friend to justice and humanity, and greatly elevates the character of the nation which has set this bright example. It is an example which Great Britain, we trust, will be among the very first to imitate, and which will sooner or later become a part of the universal code of the civilized world.

DOMESTIC.

Our notice of domestic occurrences must be brief, although they have comprised several subjects of great interest, to some of which we shall on a future occasion invite the attention of our readers.

The

The Bank of England, in consesequence of an act of parliament empowering them to do so, has returned to cash payments; and, in the metropolis, sovereigns have generally taken the place of one pound notes. measure, it has been thought, will materially diminish the forgeries on the bank, which were practised chiefly among notes of that description. This is at least doubtful, considering that one pound notes are not withdrawn from the circulation. As to another consequence which has been anticipated from a return to cash payments, namely, a farther reduction in prices, we do not, for our own parts, entertain the slightest apprehension of it. Gold has for a long time remained fixed at its standard value, as compared with the notes of the Bank of England; and it is not very likely to fall below it, as it must do before it can operate in diminishing prices.

The estimates of public expenditure have continued to be debated inch by inch; and we trust, that in the estimates of the succeeding year the effect of these discussions, however tedious and trifling they may now appear, will be sensibly felt. Economy is indeed the bounden duty of the government and of parliament, the circumstances of the country calling loudly for every retrenchment which can be made consistently with national honour and good faith. We are glad, also, to perceive, that while parliament has been labouring to abridge our expenditure, it has also been seriously applying itself to discover every practicable and prudent method of extending our commerce, and that some measures are now under consideration for that purpose.

The subject of the unhappy Manchester meeting has been again brought forward in the House of Commons, on a motion for inquiry by Sir F. Burdett, the discussion of which lasted during two nights; when the House decided against instituting the inquiry, as more properly belonging to our courts of justice.-A motion of Mr. Lennard to repeal the Seditious Meetings Act, and the Act for restraining the Licentiousness of the Press, both passed in 1819, (see Christ. Observ. for 1819, pp. 819-822,) was also negatived.

he

Mr. Scarlett has introduced into the House of Commons a measure on the poor laws, the leading provisions of which are-1st, to fix a maximum to the amount of rates raised in each parish for the relief of the poor, which proposes should not exceed the sum raised in the year ending March 25th, 1821; 2d, to provide, that in future, parochial relief should not be afforded to any person who shall be unmarried at the time of passing the Act, either for himself or for any member of his family, unless he shall be afflicted with infirmity of body or old age; 3d, to repeal the laws which authorize the compulsory removal of persons chargeable, or likely to become so, to a

parish, thus facilitating the circula tion of labour wherever employment is to be found. We have not space to dilate upon this most important measure; but we think, that as far as it goes, it is calculated to remedy some of the evils of our present system. But we do not think that it is of a sufficiently decisive and comprehensive character to effect all the good which is anticipated from it. Those who wish to see what are our own general views on this subject, (for they are unchanged,) may refer to our volume for 1819, pp. 694, 756, and 823, where we have briefly stated them. The plan there suggested, we are persuaded, would be beneficial even in a pecuniary view, not only to the poor themselves, but to the community at large. But we are disposed still more strongly to urge it on account of its beneficial aspect upon their moral and religious character. We must, however, abstain from any farther remarks for the present. Mr. Scarlett's bill has been read a second time.

The Grampound disfranchisement bill has passed the House of Lords with a material amendment. Instead of giving two members to Leeds, it gives that number to the county of York generally.

The bill introduced by Sir James Mackintosh for mitigating the punishment for forgery in all cases, excepting that of the forging of bank notes, which is conducted by systematic and deliberate offenders, is in its progress through the House of Commons. Its chief opposers have been the Attorney and Solicitor General. It was defended by various members, but particularly in a speech of great research and invincible argument by Mr. Buxton. We trust, from the general tone of the debate, that the feeling of parliament is strongly inclining to what has for some time been a very general feeling throughout the country, respecting the duty of mitigating the severity of our criminal code.