Diew of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

European advices so late as the 4th of December, have reached this country. The prospect of a general war in Europe, we are sorry to say, is threatening-Still we have hopes that the storm which seems to be gathering, may pass away without producing a wide spread desolation.

BRITAIN.-The British parliament, which had been in recess since August last, was dissolved on the 3d of December, by the king's proclamation; and writs were ordered to be issued for the election of members to compose a new parliament, to meet on the 29th of January. On the 6th of November, the British government, by an order in council, imposed an embargo on all Dutch vessels then in British ports; and requiring British ships of war to seize and bring in all Dutch vessels, wherever they should be found. It was not intended, however, that either vessels or cargoes should be confiscated, till it should be seen whether Holland would yield to the award of the five great powers, relative to the settlement of her controversy with Belgium-Holland was required to surrender Antwerp to Belgium, and Belgium to give up Venloo to Holland. A detachment of a number of vessels, British and French, from the combined fleet at Portsmouth, had, at the date of last accounts, entered the Scheldt, prepared to co-operate with the French army, which had arrived in the neighbourhood of Antwerp, to be employed in reducing the citadel, still in possession of the troops of Holland; and which the Dutch commander, General Chasse, positively refused to surrender-declaring that he would defend the citadel to the last extremity. It was feared that by a bombardment he would destroy the city; and all who could leave it were hastening their departure. We have seen a copy of the convention between Britain and France, which was signed at London on the 22d of October, by the plenipotentiaries of the two powers-Lord Palmerston for Britain, and Talleyrand Perigord, &c., for the French. They intimate very distinctly, their disappointment and dissatisfaction that Russia, Austria and Prussia," are not at this moment prepared to concur in the active measures called for, in order that the treaty may be carried into effect; on fulfilling, in that respect, without any further delay, their own engagements." The truth is, that these three great powers do not wish the treaty, to which they properly regret that they ever consented, should be carried into effect. Their armies appear to be in motion to sustain the refusal of the Dutch; and hence the danger of a general war. Still we hope that the known pecuniary embarrassments of all the parties, and other considerations dehorting from war, may prevent the fearful catastrophe. The union of two such mighty powers as those of Britain and France, (both now in favour of reforms in government,) is seen with jealousy and alarm by the rulers of all absolute governments. Lord Tenterden, the Chief Justice of England, died on the 3d of November, and Sir Thomas Denman was appointed to succeed him. It has been remarked that all the counsel for the late Queen Caroline have been promoted to the most distinguished stations: Mr. Brougham, Lord Chancellor; Mr. Denman, Lord Chief Justice; Dr. Lushington, Judge of the Consistory Court; and Mr. Wild, Solicitor General. The war with Holland is unpopular in England, and the alliance with France is not universally pleasing.

FRANCE-The French legislative chambers were opened on the 19th of November, by a speech delivered by the king in person, in the chamber of deputies. The speech relates to a variety of topicks, which we shall not give in detail. It dwells at the greatest length, and with the most emphasis, on the efficiency of the government in putting down all attempts at revolution or insurrection. It decisively maintains the course which had been pursued in regard to the attempted insurrection in Paris, in June last, and in suppressing the rising of the Vendeans in the west of France; and in general, the measures taken in opposition to the wishes of the Liberals. The plans of the late minister, M. Perrier, are referred to with approbation, and his death is lamented. It briefly alludes to the marriage of the monarch's eldest daughter with the king of Belgium, and to the treaty formed with the United States, and anticipates happy results from these two events; and still more from "the intimate union which has been formed between France and Great Britain," which, it is said, "will be to both nations a fertile source of welfare and of strength, and to all Europe a guarantee of peace." He says, "I have every reason to reckon on the pacifick dispositions of foreign powers, and on the assurances which I every day receive;" and yet he says, our army has arrived under the walls of Antwerp. My two sons are in the ranks." For ourselves, we do not well understand this peaceable way of making war.

An attempt was made to assassinate the king on his way to the Chambers to deliver his opening speech; and the attempt would probably have been successful, if the arm of the assassin had not been seized by a woman, at the moment of his firing a pistol at the king, distant from him only a few paces. Fortunately, no one was injured by the

discharge. The villain instantly dropped the pistol, as well as a second one deeply loaded, threw himself violently into the crowd, which was closely surrounding the king, and with his accomplices, vociferated vive le Roi, with the rest of the multitude; and thus escaped for the time. There was, however, a probability of his ultimate detection. The king manifested great fortitude. When one of his attendants remarked that a musket had been fired at him, he said, "No, it was only a pistol, I saw it plainly;" and when some agitation of the crowd began to be manifested for his safety, he took off his hat, and swung it round his head, and cried, "I am not hurt." He proceeded to the chamber, and delivered his speech in a steady and unfaltering voice. The attempt to assassinate him was not fully known in the chamber of deputies, till after the delivery of the speech; but when known, it produced great excitement; and without delay, both deputies and peers proceeded in a body to the palace, to express their joy for his safety, and their abhorrence of the detestable attempt made on his life. A considerable number of individuals were arrested, and were under examination at the date of the last accounts. It was expected that the woman who had seized the arm of the guilty man, would be able to identify him. She has become the object of much publick and private attention.

There is no longer any doubt that the Duchess de Berri, who had so long been engaged in a Quixotic enterprise to produce a revolution in France in favour of her son as the heir apparent to the crown, has been apprehended, and is now in the safe custody of the government. Under various disguises, and in the endurance of many hardships, she had traversed a large portion of the western part of France, and at length was apprehended in the city of Nantes. She had, when discovered and arrested, two male attendants, and one female. The governmental spies traced her to the house in which arrangements had been carefully made for her concealment, by an iron back to a fire-place, which turned on hinges on a pivot, and was the entrance to a very small apartment. Into this apartment she and her attendants had retired, when the authorities of the city came to search the house. Fires were burning in several rooms, and a large one in that which had the chimney which communicated with the secret apartment. Having fully ascertained that the Duchess had recently entered this house, and had not left it, the search was continued till the danger of suffocation from a close and small room, intensely heated, compelled the royal personage to come forth and declare herself. She and her companions were taken into custody, but treated with great tenderness and respect. She appears to have been betrayed by a man to whom she had shown favours, and whom she had treated with confidence. It seems that the government are embarrassed to know what to do with her, now that she is in their power. A common person in her circumstances would be consigned to the courts of justice, and tried for treason; and this is the course which many think and say ought to be pursued, without any regard to her quality. But the government, fearful, it is probable, of the issue, intend to refer the whole case to the legislative chambers. The far-famed Viscount de Chateaubriand has addressed a letter to the Duchess, earnestly soliciting her to name him as one of her counsel, on her trial; and it appears that M. Hyde de Neuville, once, and long the minister of the French court in this country, has made the same request. Chateaubriand has published his letter, and sent a copy of it to the minister of justice. In the French chambers, all the measures of the court and ministry are borne out by an overwhelming majority. The liberal party appears to have less support than it had before the new election. The French troops have entered Belgium to the amount of from 80 to 100 thousand men. Marshal Gerard is commander-in-chief, and as already stated, Antwerp, or its citadel rather, is besieged.

HOLLAND & BELGIUM.-The courts both of Britain and France have taken care to have it publickly understood, that it is on the invitation of Belgium that they have undertaken to enforce the arrangements, made by the five great powers, to settle the controversy between the conflicting states. Their ministers at the court of the Netherlands, demanded to know, distinctly and immediately, whether Holland would agree to that arrangement or not. The answer was, that a hope was still entertained that the dispute might be settled by further friendly negotiation. Both the adverse parties appear to have been very anxious that a war, if it did ensue, should be imputed-not to me, says the king of the Dutch-not to us, say the British and French -I am still seeking peace, says the Dutch king; we enforce the arrangement of the five powers, say the courts of Britain and France, that we may preserve the endangered peace of Europe. The bombardment of the citadel of Antwerp commenced on the 30th of Nov. On that day, marshal Gerard summoned the citadel to surrender, and entered into a statement, or argument, of considerable length, to show the impolicy and ultimate futility of attempting a defence; declared he would not attack the citadel on the side of the city, although most easily accessible in that quarter, and deprecated a bombardment of the town, as barbarous and contrary to the laws of war among civilized nations. We have not seen the official answer of general Chasse, but

its substance was, that he would defend the citadel to the last extremity. He is known to be a determined and even desperate commander; and we have seen it suggested that sooner than surrender, he will probably blow up the fort and perish with it. The French began their lines of circumvallation, and the Dutch commander fired the first gun. We fear there will be a horrible carnage before the fort is taken, which, it seems to be agreed on all sides, it will be in the issue; although it is thought the siege will be more protracted than was at first expected. It is believed that the king of Holland hopes that it will hold out till the Prussian troops come to his aid. Bell's Weekly Messenger, a paper of great credit, speaks of a general war as all but unavoidable, and insists that the English will not long be satisfied with this French alliance.

RUSSIA, AUSTRIA & PRUSSIA.-We have little to chronicle in regard to these powers, beyond what we have already incidentally stated. Russia is prevented by the season of the year from marching her armies to the scene of conflict. Austria is preparing; and Prussia has a large body of troops in the neighbourhood of Belgium. There is a mortal grudge between the military corps of France and Prussia, from the recollection of what preceded and eventuated in the battle of Waterloo. The king of Prussia has issued a kind of manifesto, the purport of which is that he never considered himself obliged to enforce the London protocol, or arrangement, by military operations. It is stated that the northern European powers are endeavouring to form a combination for the support of monarchical government as it now exists among them; and to put down by force all attempts at change, or what is called reform. From GREECE we have nothing to report for the present month.

SPAIN. The last intelligence from Spain, represents the health of the King as returning, and that it had been so far restored as to enable him to make a publick entry into his capital, where he was received with great rejoicing. It is represented, nevertheless, that his late severe attack of gout has terminated in a dropsy of the chest, which sooner or later must prove fatal; and that he has taken effectual measures, that in the event of his demise, his queen shall be regent till his daughter is of age to wear the crown. It would seem that almost the whole of the arbitrary measures which he has hitherto pursued, have been abandoned, and that the Constitutionalists, under patronage of the Queen, are likely to regain at least a portion of influence; and that, with few exceptions, those who have expatriated themselves, will be permitted to return to their country, without danger-The universities have been restored. Carlos, who plotted against his brother when sick, and who expected probably to be in a short time his successor to the throne, has addressed to the king what purports to be a very respectful and affectionate letter, and he asks permission to retire with his family "to the capital of the Christian world"-that is, to Rome, the Apocalyptic "mother of harlots." We hope the permission will be freely granted.

PORTUGAL. The expedition of Don Pedro, to recover for himself or his daughter, the crown of this kingdom, of which we have always spoken doubtfully, seems now less likely to be successful than it was some time since. By the erection of batteries at the mouth and on the banks of the river Douro, the passage by shipping to Oporto is in a great measure prevented. A British vessel, carrying military stores for Don Pedro, was fired on and driven back; and Col. Hodges, a British officer of great skill and merit, has retired from Pedro's army in disgust. If Britain or France do not speedily interpose, we suspect that the Emperor of Brazil will find himself in a worse predicament than when he left Rio Janeiro.

TURKEY. A negotiation between the Sultan and his rebellious Egyptian Pacha, which had been going on for some time, has lately terminated. The demands of the victorious Pacha were so extensive and humiliating, that the Sultan, rather than submit to them, resolved to risk all the consequences of a continuance of the war. result remains to be seen.

The

We find we have filled our space without carrying our View beyond Europe. We had, however, nothing of great importance to add-Our own country is in a perilous situation, but if we had room for discussion, we doubt whether it would be proper to do more than to inculcate, what we have heretofore advised, that there should be much calm reflection, guarded speech, temperate action, and earnest prayer that our rulers may act with wisdom, and that the good providence of God, which we have so often experienced in times of danger, may again interpose to save us from disunion, and all its ruinous consequences.

ERRATA IN OUR LAST NUMBER.

Preface, p. 1, 18th line from bottom, for We believes, read We believe, (in a part of the impression only).

Page 541, 2d column, 5th line from bottom, for qua
Page 542, 1st column, 27th line from top,

do.

do.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

FEBRUARY, 1835.

Keligious Communications.

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATE- duty, in coming to the table of the

wicked way in me, and lead me in to it, whenever it is practicable, the way everlasting." at communion seasons.