ing communications received from correspondents, and the spirit of brotherly love which they meet with-(allusion was here particularly made to similar Institutions in America, and letters were read from that quarter,)—they were not only contented, but most anxious to proceed with their exertions. CHINA. From an imperial edict against Christianity, issued in the year 1805, it is manifest that the Roman Catholic Missions maintain their footing in China under circumstances of peculiar diffi. culty and of imminent peril. A Missionary at Macao has lately transmitted the following details respecting the persecutions which the Christians have, at present, to encounter in that country -Every European priest, whom they discover, is arrested, and put to death on the spot. The same fate is reserved for the Chinese Christian priests. The other Christians, when they will not apostatize, suffer the most dreadful tor ments, and are afterwards banished into Tartary. There were in the prisons of the province of Sutchen alone, two hundred Christians, who wait the moment of exile. A Chinese priest has been strangled, and two others were about to die in a similar manner. In the whole empire, adds the writer of the above communication, there are but ten missionaries; five of whom are at Pekin, who can have no connexion with the inhabitants but in secret. The emperor has declared that he will have no more painters, watch-makers, nor even mathematicians. The Bishop of Pekin has attempted in vain to introduce himself under that title. The only means which remain to the Missionaries to penetrate into the country, are to gain the couriers which go from Macao to Pekin; but if the thing is discovered, the missionary and the courier are put to death on the spot. In spite of all these persecutions, the Roman Catholic religion, it is added, is extending itself. For fifty years there were reckoned, in the province of Sutchen, but five thousand or six thousand Christians: they are now, it is said, sixty thousand. SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGE- The last Report of the Society states, that, during the past year, many thou sand appropriate tracts have been given rather than of connivance and false- SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGA, TION OF THE GOSPEL. We stated, in our Number for March, that this Society is about to take charge of the Christian instruction of the Slaves at Cape Town, South Africa. That these Slaves have a strong claim on this country, will be manifest from the following view of their condition :Great numbers of free Malays, who are all Mahomedans, have long resided in Cape Town. They have, at present, not less than twelve priests; who are zealous in making converts. The degradations to which Slaves were formerly subject, rendered numbers of them a prey to these priests. Baptism was, in those times, denied to Slaves; as, by the Dutch law, a Slave, when baptized, became free: nor were Slaves even permitted to be present at Christian worship. Many temporal motives are offered to induce the Slaves to become Mahomedans: the priests promise them protection, aud take care of them when in sickness or want. In return, the priests are liberally maintained, and they exercise an unlimited sway over the minds of the Slaves; the poorest of whom will contrive to save a trifle for them. just claim to our regard. They have been liberated from the holds of vessels which were carrying them into bondage, and are dispersed among the colonists: they are too generally considered and treated as Slaves; and, associating as they do with them, they are equally exposed to the influence of the Mahomedan priests. There is another class of persons, nearly allied to the Slaves, who have a We rejoice, therefore, that the care of these ontcasts has been undertaken by the Society. It cannot engage in a more honourable work, than the providing of adequate Christian instruction for these dependents on the justice and charity of this country. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. FRANCE. THE principal occurrences in France during the month have been, the adoption of the new election law by the chamber of deputies; and certain tumultuous proceedings, for which the discussion of it furnished a pretext and excitement. The number of deputies who voted in favour of the law were one hundred and fifty-two; those against it, ninety-five; leaving a majority on the side of ministers of fifty-seven. The leading provisions are, that the kingdom shall be considered as divided into departments as at present; and that these departments shall be subdivided by a royal commission, into sections, to be called arrondissements. The chamber is to consist of four hundred and thirty deputies, of whom one hundred and seventy-two are to be elected by the colleges of departments, and the remaining two hundred and fifty-eight, by the colleges of arrondissements. Without going into the details, which are not very intelligible on this side of the channel, it is calculated that the former class of deputies will, generally speaking, be under a strong aristocratic influence; and the latter, under that of popular feeling; thus creating a tolerably fair representation of all classes of French subjects. The result, it is supposed, will be greatly in fayour of government. In consequence of the eager debates on this great political measure, concurring doubtless with other causes, several seditious tumults, have occurred in Paris, Brest, Nantz, and Lyons, which were not repressed without the loss of some lives. Tranquillity appears to have been restored; but it is impossible not to see that much irritation prevails among the various parties in that long-distracted country. Under these circumstances, we are glad to find, if we may credit the dying confession of Louvel, that he had no accomplice in his plan of assassinating the duke de Berry, but that it was a project of his own contriving and executing, solely with a view to cut off the stock of the French royal family. He died an obdurate infidel. His line of reading had fluctuated between anti-Christian and revolutionary publications, and his principles were formed of this monstrous compound.-Sandt, who has also been executed in Germany, died in the same spirit, persisting to the last in the avowal of kindred sentiments. DOMESTIC. The arrival of the QUEEN, and the unhappy occurrences to which it has given rise, must be well known to all our readers. We shall therefore trespass on their attention only with the principal facts of the case, reserving to a future occasion the remarks which have suggested themselves on this deeply afflicting subject. The facts are concisely these:-Her Majesty having arrived at St. Omer's, in her way to England, accompanied by Mr. Alderman Wood (who appears to have been chosen for her confidential adviser), was there met by Mr. Brougham, her attorney-general, and by lord Hutchinson, who appears to have been charged with conveying to her certain propositions on the part of government. These were stated by him to be, that 50,000l. per annum should be settled on her for life, on condition that she should not assume the title of Queen of England, or any title attached to the royal family of England, and that she should not reside in, or even visit, this country; and that the consequence of such a visit would be an immediate message to Parliament, with a view to a judicial examination of her Majesty's conduct during her residence abroad. These propositions the Queen peremptorily rejected, and, within a few minutes after the receipt of them, proceeded for Calais, and thence to London, escorted by the worthy Alderman, without having communicated her intention to lord Hutchinson, or even to Mr. Brougham. Her Majesty fixed her abode for a few days in the house of Mr. Wood, whence she has removed to a private residence, near Portman-square. On the day of her arrival in London, a message was brought down to both houses from the king, recommending to their immediate attention certain documents respecting her Majesty's conduct since her departure from this kingdom. His majesty also expressed the anxiety which he had felt to avert the necessity of disclosures and discussions so painful, but that the step taken by the Queen of coming to England had left him no alternative, and he confided in the wisdom of Parliament to adopt such a course of proceeding as the honour of the crown might require. In consequence of this address, motions were made in both houses for the appointment of secret committees, to examine the documents laid before them, and to report upon them. The motion was carried in the House of Lords; but the investigation was suspended, because the House of Commons, on the suggestion of Mr. Wilberforce, had adjourned the question of appointing a secret committee, in the hope that the reluctance thus shewn by Parliament to enter on the inquiry, might lead to an accommodation. Her Majesty, it should be added, had sent a message to the House of Commons, stating that she had been induced to return to England, in consequence of measures having been pursued injurious to her ho nour and peace, and demanding a full and public investigation of her conduct. She adverted, in particular, to the omission of her name in the Liturgy, the rejection of her application for a royal residence, the slights which she had received from British ministers in foreign courts, and the slanderous reports which had been circulated to her disadvantage, and which she anxiously desired an opportunity of disproving. In consequence of the opinion so clearly expressed by Parliament in favour of an amicable adjustment of the points at issue, a negociation was opened, in which lord Liverpool referred to a memorandum delivered by his lordship to Mr. Brougham, on the 15th April, and which contained the only terms the government had intended to submit to the Queen. They differed in some respects from those which were communicated by lord Hutchinson at St. Omer's, whose propositions therefore, to the extent of that difference, have been disowned by the government. The Queen stated, that those terms were now made known to her for the first time; and the public is as yet uninformed of the reasons which induced Mr. Brougham to withhold them from her. Even these terms however, though less objectionable than those propounded by lord Hutchinson, she declined as inconsistent with her honour and dignity. To facilitate the negociation, it was mutually agreed to refer the question to negotiators appointed by the King and Queen; and the duke of Wellington and lord Castlereagh were named on the part of his majesty, and Mr. Brougham and Mr. Denman on behalf of the Queen. The arrangement was agreed to be made on the principle that the king should not be called to retract any steps he had already taken, or the Queen to admit any thing that might be prejudicial to her interests, in case the negociation should fail, and judicial proceedings be hereafter resorted to Five conferences took place, but without effect. The Queen's law officers proposed as a necessary condi tion the insertion of her Majesty's name in the Liturgy, or an equivalent, without mentioning what that equivalent should be, which should have the effect of protecting her Majesty's character against unfavourable imputations, as if the concessions she might make were an admission of guilt. She made no objection to residing abroad, but she demanded to be introduced as Queen of England to foreign courts. The king was willing to cause official notification of her Majesty's legal character to be made to the government of the state in which she might see fit to fix her residence, and to give orders that every attention should be paid to her Majesty's comfort and convenience. But the insertion of her name in the Liturgy, and her official introduction to foreign courts generally, were considered inadmissible, because the first of these concessions would oblige the king to retract his former acts, which it was agreed as a preliminary point in the negociation should not be required, and which he saw no reason to do; and the second would give rise to much public inconvenience, her Majesty not being received at the British court. Here the conferences broke off. To afford one more hope, if possible, of avoiding the painful and humiliat ing, and we may add polluting, investigation which now seemed to threaten the peace and morals of the nation, Mr. Wilberforce, to whom the public are so deeply indebted throughout the whole of this business, followed up his benevolent interference by another mediatory motion, in the shape of resolutions to be presented to the Queen. These expressed regret at the failure of the attempt to effect an amicable adjustment of the royal differences; and stated an opinion, that in listening to the earnest wish of the House to forbear pressing those points in which any material difference of opinion yet existed, her Majesty would not be understood to shrink from inquiry, but would only be deemed to afford a proof of her readiness to defer to the wishes of Parliament, by sparing the necessity of public discussions which could not but be distressing to her Majesty, derogatory from the dignity of the crown, and injurious to the best interests of the empire. This motion, after a most energetic and protracted discussion, was carried by a majority of three hundred and ninety-one to one hundred and twenty-four; thus shewing the deep anxiety of the House for an amicable arrangement. The Queen, however, has seen fit to decline acceding to the proposition of the House; saying, that she owed it to the king, herself, and all her fellow-subjects, not to consent to sacrifice any of her essential privileges, or to withdraw her appeal for public justice. The day after the Queen's answer was communicated to the House of Commons, she addressed a petition to the House of Lords, protesting against any secret inquiry, and challenging the most complete and open investigation of her conduct, provided only she had time allowed her to collect from abroad the evidence necessary to her defence; requiring also to be heard by counsel in support of her petition.-The House of Lords agreed to this last prayer, and her counsel were accordingly heard at the bar. The result, however, has been, that the House of Lords have resolved on proceeding in the course originally proposed, of submitting the matter first to a secret committee, and waiting the report of that committee before any ulterior measures are taken. In the House of Commons, the consideration of the whole subject has been deferred until the 6th of July, with a view to afford to the House of Lords an opportunity of maturing their plan of proceeding, that there may not be two judicial investigations going forward at the same time. What will be the result of this unhappy and complicated affair it is impossible to foresee. We lament greatly that it should be made, in the mean time, an occasion not only of party violence, but of popular effervescence; and we earnestly recommend it to our readers, that as the merits of the case are likely to undergo a patient and im partial investigation before the highest tribunal in the land, they ought quietly and respectfully to wait its decision, and to discourage in all around them every disposition to make the present circumstances of the royal family an occasion of increasing the popular disaffection, or diminishing those sentiments of loyal attachment to the sovereign, which it is the bounden duty of every Christian to cherish. We must pass over many other topics of great interest very lightly. The failure of a number of banks in the south of Ireland has created much distress in that country; which, however, has been alleviated by the assistance of Government, and confidence begins to be restored.-Considerable alarm was excited for a few hours by the appointment of a committee of the House of Commons, to consider the embarrassments of the agricultural interest; doubtless with a view to some in Crease of the rate to which corn must rise before importation is permitted. The agitation, however, soon subsided; as on the succeeding day, by a vote of the House, the Committee was restricted in its deliberations to the single point of ascertaining the best mode of fixing the averages of the price of corn.-A slight discontent has been manifested by a few privates of the first battalion of the third regiment of Life Guards, in consequence of some circumstances which have not been clearly explained to the public. An investigation into the circumstances is now proceeding. But, in the mean time we are assured from authority that the discontent was very limited, and that the disposition of the Guards generally is in the highest degree satisfactory. The appointment of parliamentary committees to consider the state of our commerce, after debates of great interest, and replete with information, has given very general satisfaction, and we trust may prove beneficial to the country.-But all these topics are overwhelmed for the present in the pending discussions respecting the Queen; nor can we find room to say more of the budget itself, than that the provision for the present year is 29,723,000l., of which 23,722,000 l. is for the public service, and the remainder for the reduction of the unfunded debt. To make up deficiences, there is to be a loan of 5,000,000 l., an issue of exchequer bills to the amount of 7,000,000l., and a loan from the sinking fund of 12,000,000 l.; making, with the ordinary sources of revenue, 30,000,000 1, ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. Rev. Mr. Clarke, Budston R. and V. Somersetshire. Rev. Samson Davies, B. A. of Clarehall, Cambridge, Evington V. Leices tershire. Rev. W. F. Mansel, B. A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, (Vicar of Sandhurst, Gloucestershire) to the adjoining Vicarage of Ashelworth. Rev. Henry Freeland, B. A. of Emanuel College, Cambridge, Hasketon R. Suffolk. Rev. Robert Bathurst, M. A. Tofterot R. Norfolk; also to Docking V. same county. Rev. Wm. Hennel Black, to Perpetual Curacy of Wormegay, Norfolk. Rev. Wm. Robt. Hay, M.A. Rector of Ackworth, Rochdale V. vacant by the death of Dr. Drake. Rev. Wm. Clayton, B. A. Ryburgh Magna and Parva R. Norfolk. Rev. Rd. Eaton, B. A. Elsing R. Nors folk. Rev. John Dolphin, Wake Colne R. York. Rev. Henry Baker Tristram, B. A. Braham V. York. Rev. T. F. F. Bowes, M. A. Barton in the Clay R. Bedfordshire. Rev. John Keate, D. D. to a prebend in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Rev. G. Mettam, Arnesby V. Lincolnshire. Rev. Dr. Sandiford, to the sinecure Rectory of Ashbury, Berks, vice Mordaunt; an option of the late AbpMoore. Rev. T. H. Ashhurst, LL. D. Yaverland R. in the Isle of Wight. DISPENSATION. Rev. W. C. Cumming to hold the Rectory of St. Mary's, Bedford, with the Vicarage of Eaton Bray, in the same county. Rev. Edward G. Meyrick, D. D. to hold the Rectory of Winchfield, Hants, with the Vicarage of Ramsbury, Wiltshire. Rev. H. Brown, to hold the Rectory of Aylestone, Leicestershire, with the Rectory of Hoby, in the same county. Rev. C. Chisholm, Rector of Eastwell, Kent, to hold the Vicarage of Preston next Faversham with Eastwell. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H; PHILO-SINCERUS; W. D.; Aiaxovos; C. CAPPE; AMICUS; A. B. ; C. L.; B. R.; C. S.; INDAGATOR; F. H.; and B. W.; are under consideration. We had inserted the Resolutions of the Society for Prison Discipline, before we received the communication of the Committee. We therefore take this opportunity of stating, that Donations and Subscriptions will be received by Samuel Hoare, Jun. Esq., Chairman of the Committee, 62, Lombard-street; T. F. Forster, Esq. Treasurer, St. Helen's Place; T. F. Buxton, Esq., M. P. Spitalfields; William Allen, Esq. Plough Court, Lombard-street; and by the following Bankers: Barclay, Tritton, and Co. 54, Lombard-street; Drummond and Co. Charing Cross; Fry and Co. St. Mildred's Court; Gosling and Co. Fleet-street; Hoare, Barnetts, and Co. Lombard-street; and Sir John Lubbock, Bart, and Co. Man sion-house-street. |