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ed by a royal ordinance, and which were to have produced so marvellous an effect? What are they doing? where are they? Where are they! They are at the mouth of the Senegal. What are they doing? They sail up and down fifteen leagues of coast with their eyes shut, and abandon three thousand to the speculations of slave-traders. And this is the way in which the French govern. ment represses the Slave-Trade!

"But this is not all; for even along these fifteen leagues of coast the unhappy natives are not sheltered from the cupidity and barbarity of the slavetraders. The settlements of Goree and Senegal are become markets and entrepôts for slaves; and to them the slavetraders of all nations resort to procure a cargo. France has opened in Africa a market for human beings, and the public authorities suffer it, and a minister of state dares to avow it before the legislature itself.

"In what age, in what country, do we live? Orders and positive laws prohibit the trade, yet it continues with impunity under the eyes of the public functionaries, who remain silent spectators of these outrages. The sword of the law remains motionless in their hands. Language itself is abused in describing their nefarious proceedings; for these barbarous entrepôts, these infamous markets, are spoken of as a simple sort of establishment, involving, it may be, a few things which might be objected to, but which it is not advise able to abolish: they are called, it seems, Négréries (depôts for Negroes). The very word makes one shudder: it shews the whole criminality of the colonial slave-traders. Négréries!-and a French cabinet minister ventures to sanction this word in his place in the chamber; nor did any feeling of delicacy or respect for mankind suggest to him that he ought to leave miscreants to use their own language, and not to taint with it the vocabulary of honest men.

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May the French government hasten to justify itself before the eyes of the world,and may the colonies of Goree and Senegal follow the example of the settlement of Sierra Leone, where a population of free and industrious Negroes blesses the generous hands which have rescued them from barbarism and slavery, and raised them to the honourable rank of citizens and Chris* tians!"

mark of the translator, that it would be a glorious spectacle for France and England to unite to shew to other nations an example of generous devotion to the principles of religion and humanity, and to replace the mournful rivalry of warfare by a kindlier and more glorious rivalry-that of "conferring benefits and exhibiting virtues."

A paper by M. Fleurian was lately read to the French Academy of Sciences respecting meteoric stones, particularly those which fell some time since near Jonzac, in the department of Charente.

The author's conclusions are as follow :-That the appearances presented by the crust of meteorolites seem to prove that their surface has been fused whilst rapidly traversing the flame of the meteor, and rapidly solidified into a vitreous state on leaving that flame: That in the first moments the movement of the meteorolites was simple; that is, that they did not turn round on their own axis whilst those two effects took place: That the impulse each meteorolite has received has almost always been perpendicular to its largest face: That the largest face is almost always more or less convex: That the meteorolites of Jonzac offer new proofs of the pré existence of a solid nucleus to me. teors: That this nucleus could not contain the combustible matter which produces the inflammation of the meteor: That it cannot have suffered fusion during the appearance of the phenomena: That the gaseous matter which surrounds this nucleus is dissipated without producing any solid residuum. No trace of this matter appears ever to exist in the crust of the meteorolites. That meteorolites are fragments of those nuclei which have not been altered in their nature, but simply vitrified at their surfaces: That many of the irregular forms which these fragments present may be referred to determinate geometrical forms; and that these latter forms are the consequence of the rapid action of a violent fire, according to a law of the movement of heat in solid bodies.

Dr. Carter, in a work recently published, entitled" An Account of the principal Hospitals of France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands," gives the following description of the treatment of the patients at the“ Salpetriere,” female lunatic Asylum in Paris.

"The treatment adopted at La SalWe heartily join in the subsequent re- petriere seems to be extremely judicious.

The use of chains, and all that apparatus of severity which formerly obtained, are entirely done away. The great object to which the views of the officers of La Salpetriere are directed is to gain the confidence of the patients; and this object is generally attained by gentle ness, by appearing to take an interest in their affairs, by a decision of character equally remote from the extremes of indulgence and severity, and by the most scrupulous observance of good faith. Upon this latter article particular stress seems to be laid by M. Pinel, who remarks, that insane persons, like children, lose all confidence and all respect, if you fail in your word towards them; and they immediately set their ingenuity to work, to deceive and circumvent you. The majority of insane persons are grateful at being kindly treated by those whom they feel to be their superiors. They become insensibly attached to those who shew them kindness, and have been known to make great efforts to testify their gratitude by checking their propensity to extravagance of conduct. These voluntary efforts have sometimes induced a habit of self-command; and thus patients have recovered.

66 As, however, there are frequent examples of insane persons, who cannot be governed by gentle means, at least in the early stages of their malady, every institution, where such persons are received, must, of course, be furnished with means to enforce obedience. At La Salpetriere the strait waistcoat, and confinement to their cells, have been found sufficient in almost all cases; and these restraints are discontinued as soon as the patient becomes more tranquil. None are confined to their cells but those who are ungovernably furious.

"But though it is to the moral treatment of the patients, that the chief attention is paid at La Salpetriere, the medical treatment is by no means disregarded. In this hospital, mental alienation is considered as an acute disease, having its successive periods of intensity, decline, and convalescence, the order of which is not to be disturbed by officious interference, though the symptoms are to be moderated by gentle means; namely, tepid baths, diluents, laxatives, occasional soothing medicines, or very slight douches. The ancient practice, which consisted in blows, solitary confinement, repeated blood-letting, violent catharctics, sudden immersion in cold water,&c. has been entirely abandoned."

AFRICA.

An expedition has been formed in London to explore the Lybian Deserts. The idea was suggested in consequence of the successful researches of Sr. Belzoni in Egypt. The object of the expedition is to discover the remains of Greek and Roman edifices, which, it is conjectured, are scattered in different parts of Lybia. The gentleman who has been chosen to superintend it is Lieut. Beechy, many years secretary 10 Mr. Salt, the English Consul in Egypt, and the constant companion of Belzoni, in his late indefatigable researches. The lords of the Admiralty have provided a vessel to sail round the coast, and to wait upon the expedition, which will only proceed so far into the interior as to allow of a safe return to the coast. The expedition will start from Tripoli; to the Bey of which a communication has been dispatched from this Government to request assistance.

ASIA.

An eruption took place from the volcano on the island of Banda, at noon, on Sunday the 11th of June, 1820. A thick volume of smoke suddenly issued from the mountain, accompanied by a noise similar to thunder. The red flag was hoisted, the bells were rung, and a general alarm given. The inhabitants were seen running in alldirections, in the greatest confusion, Meanwhile the eruption continued throwing up stones with prodigious force and noise; and at night the spectacle became trulyawful, appear. ing like a pile of fire, and accompanied with earthquakes, thunder and lightning. The ships in the bay were removed to a considerable distance, ready to put to sea in case of necessity. The eruption subsided after fourteen days, and the inhabitants returned to their homes, though the volcano continued to send forth flames and thick smoke in a lesser degree. Considerable damage was done to the plantations in the island.

The following remarks on the came. leon are transcribed from the letter of a correspondent in the Calcutta Journal.

"It is commonly believed that this curious little animal has the power of changing its colour at pleasure to the same shade as the substance upon which it is placed, and that its tongue is forked. I have kept cameleons in a cage several months, narrowly watching them, and have placed them upon different substances for the sake of experiment. I never saw an alteration in their colour,

but merely a variation in the shade, from a light yellowish green, to a very dark olive green. The mottles were always visible, though similarly changed with the shade. The cameleon's tongue, which is nearly three parts the length of his body, is blunt at the end, and not unlike a common probe. From the extremity of it exudes a small quantity of matter, thick, clear, and glutinous: this he uses in obtaining his prey, which

consists entirely of insects. He will remain sometimes for an hour with his tongue upon the ground, and when a sufficient quantity of insects has settled upon it, they are all drawn in and devoured. I have seen this animal dart at a fly settled upon a small piece of paper; the fly escaped, but the paper was drawn to his mouth by the cohesive liquid."

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THEOLOGY.

The Superior Advantages of the Present Period. A Sermon. By H. Lacey.

Plain Discourses, Doctrinal and Prac tical, adapted to a Country Congregation. By the Rev. C. Hardinge, A. M.

A Summary of Orthodox Belief and Practice, for Young Persons. By the Rev. J. Prowett, A. M. 12mo. 3s. 6d.

A Sermon preached at the Second Visitation of the Bishop of Calcutta, at St. Thomas's Church, Bombay. By the Rev. T. Robinson, A. M. 1s. 6d

Seripture Antiquities; or, a Compendious Summary of the Religious Institutions, Customs, and Manners of the Hebrew Nation; designed as an introductory help for understanding the sacred Scriptures. By the Rev. John Jones. 12mo. 58.

Sermons adapted for Parochial and Domestic Use. By the late Rev. J. P. Hewlett, M. A. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

The Doctrine of the Scriptures respecting the Divine Trinity, Regeneration, and Good Works. By S. Noble.

The Book of Enoch, the Prophet, translated from an Ethiopic MS. in the Bodleian Library. By R. Laurence, LL.D.

Illustrations of Biblical Literature, exhibiting the History and Fate of the Sacred Writings, from the earliest period to the present century; including biographical notices of translators, and other eminent biblical scholars; by the Rev. J. Townley. 3 vols, 8vo. 21. 2s.

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Voyage of Discovery to the South Sea and Bhering's Straits, for the purpose of finding out a North-east Passage, undertaken in the years 1815, 16, 17, and, 18, under the command of Lieutenant Otto Von Kotzebue, in the Russian Imperial Navy. 3 vols. 8vo. 21. 5s.

Travels in Palestine, through the Countries of Bashan and Gilead, East of the River Jordan: including a Visit to the Cities of Geraza and Gamala, in the Decapolis; by J. S. Buckingham, Esq. with maps and plates. 4to. 37. 13s.

A Voyage to Africa, including a particular Narrative of an Embassy to one of the Interior Kingdoms, in the year 1820; by William Hutton, late acting

Consul for Ashantee, &c. with maps and plates. 8vo.

A Treatise on Smut in Wheat; by F. Blakie. 1s. 6d.

Retrospection; a Tale; by Mrs. Taylor of Ongar; foolscap 8vo. 5s. 6d. A Tour through North Wales, with 40 select views. 51. 5s.

A Course of Lectures on Drawing, Painting, and Engraving, considered as branches of elegant education; by W.M. Craig, Svo. with plates, &c.

Notes relating to the Manners and Cus. toms of the Crim Tartars; written during a four-years' residence among that peo ple; by Mary Holderness. 12mo. 5s. 6d.

An Essay on the Study of Modera History; by J. S. Boone. 8vo. Ss.

The History of George Desmond: founded on facts that occurred in the East Indies, and published as a useful caution to young men going out to that country. Post 8vo. 7s.

An Inquiry concerning the Primitive Inhabitants of Ireland; by T. Wood, M.D. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Ancient Times, and Modern History, in chronological Order; by S. E. Thomson. 8s. the pair.

The History of Christ's Hospital; by J. J. Wilson, 8vo. 15s.

Blackstone's Commentaries, abridged; by John Gifford, Esq. 8vo 15s.

Anecdotes with Observations, intended to furnish entertainment and instruction for leisure hours; by J. Thornton. 2 vols. 12mo.

Cottage Conversations or good Advice to the Poor; by Joseph Jones, M. A.

The Natural History of British Quadrupeds; by E. Donovan, F.L.S. &c. 3 vols. royal 8vo./51. 8s.

Illustrations of the Linnæan Genera of Insects by W. Wood. 2 vols. royal 18mo. 11. 10s.

The Village Minstrel,and other Poems By John Clare, the Northamptonshire Peasant, with a portrait. 2 vols. foolscap 8vo. 12s.

The Last Days of Herculaneum, and Abradates and Panthea, Poems; by Edwin Atherstone.

The Rise and Progress of Stenography by J. H. Lewis. 10s.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Remarks on the Strictures of the Quarterly

Review.

SOME remarks on the Church Missionary Society occur at the close of a critique on the Life of the late Rev. Henry Martyn, in the last Number of the Quarterly Review, which we think it right to notice, though we should trust that any formal defence of the Society is unnecessary to those who are in the habit of reading the accounts of its proceedings in its own Reports and other publications, or even in the occasional notices which appear in our pages. The signal manner in which the Bath Protest was confuted, the good spirit in which the opposition was met by the friends of the Society, and the increasing approximation and liberal feeling of the societies in the church towards each other, it might have been hoped, would have prevented any respectable writer from again using any acrimonious or invidious remarks in referring to this calumniated institution; and would have induced the conductors of periodical publications, friendly to truth and peace, to decline admitting strictures of such a nature. No sooner, however, is a bold and severe attack made on the Society, than measures are taken, that, in a few days, the newspapers in various parts of the kingdom shall retail and give the widest circulation to the calumny.

The passage in the Quarterly Review to which we have alluded is as follows. It is necessary to insert the whole for the sake of the brief but effectual confutation which we are about to append

to it.

"We do not flatter ourselves with the prospect of seeing any people universally converted by the mere preaching of missionaries, however highly we may appreciate their labours. No example of a whole nation being evangelized occurred till the fourth century; and even then the happy event was brought about by a combination of circumstances, many of which. though they were doubtless of Divine appointment, were entirely beyond the agency of men devoted to the service of God. We are taught therefore by facts not to trust solely to missionary exertions, nor always to be

looking for the workings of Providence but to co-operate with the Divine power in the extension of our faith,' after the manner of men;' that is, by employing such rational and ordinary means as are likely to promote the end in view; for although the effusion of the Holy Spirit directs subordinate causes, yet it may be said at the same time to wait for them, and to act not independently of human agency.

"In our opinion, next to the dissemination of the Scriptures, the most probable way of inducing the Persians, or any other civilized people, to enter into such a comparison between their own and the Christian creed, as may eventually lead them to adopt the latter, is to contrive opportunities of shewing them the improvements in arts, science, and society, which Christianity never fails to carry with it. A spirit friendly to our civil and religions institutions would thus be imperceptibly excited; and, upon the old dramatic principle of what is seen making a more lasting impres sion than what is heard, unbelievers would be more convinced by witnessing the beneficial effects of Christianity, than by all that could be told them by the Missionary. Could our Government, for example, be prevailed upon to employ its supposed influence with the Persian Court, to obtain its consent for the British Factory at Bushire to establish a school or college, ostensibly for the instruction of Persian children and adults in European arts and literature, (and all the necessary funds for the support of such an institution might well be spared out of the annual income of some of the missionary societies,) as there is now a tendency in many of the natives of that country to discuss and embrace the truth, we cannot avoid thinking, that it would be considerably increased by thus giving them the means of receiving an European education upon their own soil, and by gradually preparing their minds for the reception of what would alarm them if hastily advanced.

"It will not be ont of place to observe here, that we do not remember a single instance of any civilized kingdom having been converted, until the missionaries were countenanced by men in power; and we could wish those good

We

application of their resources.
would submit to them whether their
sphere of usefulness would not be con-
siderably enlarged, if they would ap-
propriate a greater proportion of their
funds to purposes similar to that for
which the noble grant of 5000l. was
lately voted for the use of the Mission
College at Calcutta. This institution
was originally suggested by the Bishop
of Calcutta, under the persuasion that
some preparation is necessary both for
the missionary and proselyte, before
they can come to a mutual understand-
ing: that the one must be instruct-

himself to the circumstances under which he is placed, and to study the predilections and manners of the people upon whom he is to act; while the other must gradually be taught to divest himself of his hereditary prejudices.

people, who take such an active part in associations for the extension of the Gospel, would pay more attention to a maxim, which is confirmed by the experience of eighteen hundred years. The Societies for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and for the Promotion of Christianity, have indeed again taken the lead, as they did in the first establishment of missions, in improving upon the original scheme, by soliciting the influence and co-operation of the government, and by pursuing measures which will facilitate and accredit the labours of their missionaries. They discovered, and candidly confessed to proceed with caution, to adapt ed in their Reports, that their preachers and schoolmasters did not succeed to the measure of their expectations; that something was wanting to give the ad. vantage of combination, respectability, and union to their efforts, and that recourse must be had to those aids and supports, which are as indispensable in religious, as in all other matters. And we humbly conceive that if other societies also would, in like manner, temper their zeal with a little discretion, and direct their attention to the best means of affording facilities to their missionaries, they would be enabled to render a better account of the immense sums which are placed at their disposal; and instead of publishing Reports which contain little more, from year to year, than a repetition of the same pious sentiments and sanguine expectations, would have it in their power to give some intelligible account of the effects which they are producing. We have carefully read the last Report of the Church Missionary Society, and yet we are really unable to form any accurate calculation of the number of their converts. All that we learn is, that they expended upwards of 30,000l. between April 1819, and April 1820; that they have two hundred labourers distributed among eight misions; that in these different missions between 9,000 and 10.000 children are educated; that many thousand adults hear the glad tidings of salvation, and of these many hundreds make a credible profession of Christianity.' The vagueness of this statement, added to the fact of there having been twenty converts only made at one of their stations in four years, and of these all relapsing but one, is a sufficient proof both of limited success, and of a material and inherent defect in their regulations, and in the CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 239.

it is

"The wisdom of such an institution is obvious. The probationers become familiar with the English language, manners, and religion, before any avowed step is taken towards making them Christians; and in fact they are half convinced before the Missionary's duty begins: for though, as the Bishop observes, they are not here professedly instructed in Christianity, yet impossible that they, who in their childhood shall have been accustomed to use their minds, can ever afterwards be capable of adopting the absurdities and reverencing the abominations now proposed to them as truth and as the acceptable worship of God: and it is hoped that they who have been emancipated from superstition may in time be brought to a knowledge of Christ.'

"Should similar plans be generally adopted by Missionary Associations, there will always be a supply of men duly qualified for propagating the Gospel in India, and distinguished not by their zeal only, but by their learning and attainments. The latter are as necessary as the former; for (we repeat) if missionaries do not possess talents for languages, and the temper and prudence requisite for the undertaking,-if they are not well cuough acquainted with subjects of history and philosophy to satisfy the inquiries of the curious,— all their enthusiasm and their sense of duty will be insufficient to enable them to gain much advantage over the subtleties and prejudices of the people whom they are employed to convert 5 D

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