a New Edition of Martini's Italian Bible: which Prospectus has been issued at Naples ; and has been circulated extensively, it is said, throughout the Italian States :

The present are times of great difficulty. Man, more than ever enemy to the truth, renews his attacks every day with increased energy and artifice, with the hope to expel for ever from the hearts of the faithful the sentiments of religion. But the Holy Scriptures are a shield of defence against all attacks; a sword of keenest temper, powerful to resist the assaults of the enemy. Whoever will furnish himself with these snificient weapons, shall be sure of victory. The promise can never fail. Meditate, then, on the Holy Scriptures: endeavour to understand their fullest meaning: feed daily on the Divine Wordyou shall thus fortify your faith, and advance step by step in piety and holiness.

These are our motives for the present publication. The necessity of the case demands it. Other places are exerting all their power in promoting the good work: it would be a disgrace to Naples to be backward. The book will be printed in the cheapest possible form consistent with correctness, that it may come within the reach of all. WESTERN AFRICA.

Church Miss. Soc.-Mr. Betts writes on the 21st of July, in reference to the epidemic, mentioned at p. 382

I wrote, very briefly, by the "Alchymist," in order to prevent any uneasiness which might arise in the minds of our friends respecting our safety in this fearful season of sickness and death. I then expressed a hope that the epidemic had subsided; but I regret to say, that our hopes have been grievously disappointed: it re-appeared a few days after I closed that Letter, and has raged fearfully. The esteemed and constant friend of our Mission, the Hon. Joseph Reffell, has since fallen. It has pleased our Heavenly Father to spare all the Members of the Mission hitherto; but we do deeply feel, that," in the midst of life, we are in death." Continue your prayers for us. I cannot conclude without saying that I think a ray of light is now dawning upon our work, which has for so long a time been carried on in darkness.

Wesleyan Miss. Soc. The Missionaries Monro and Peck, who arrived (see p. 239) in the middle of December, wrote, on the 13th of January, that they were then as strong to labour as when in England, and felt abundant encouragement in their work. In the beginning of March, they were still in good health; and were favoured with such a sense of the presence and blessing of God, both in public and private duties, as enabled them to go on their way rejoicing. From Mr. Betts's Letter, however, of the 21st of July, just quoted, it appears that both had soon followed their immediate predecessors (see pp. 239, 286), Mr. May and Mr. Courties, to the rest which remaineth to the people of God. Mr. Betts writes

I have had the painful duty of attending both the Wesleyan Missionaries in their sickness, which has proved fatal to both. Mr. Peck died at their house on the 3d instant, and Mr. Monro at my house on the 8th.

UNITED STATES.

African School-This School, formed at Hartford in Connecticut, has considerable difficulties to struggle with, from the appre hensions of the People of Colour. A Clergyman writes

Our greatest discouragement arises, at present, from the scarcity of suitable candidates: few applications have been made, notwithstanding the publicity which has been given to the design. We daily see increasing evidence, that a strong prejudice exists, among the people of African descent in this country, against the Colony of Liberia. The suspicions which have gone abroad among them, that it is only a project to get them out of the country, can. be effaced only slowly and by degrees.

Bible Society-At p. 239 we stated the extended scale of the Society's operations: it is intended to add 8 Power Presses to those already in action, as a large increase in the demand for the Scriptures is expected in consequence of a Resolution, adopted at the Annual Meeting on the 14th of May, to endeavour to supply, within two years, provided the means are furnished, all the destitute Families of the United States. The last Return of the number of persons, which different local Societies had undertaken to supply with the Scriptures in a given time, amounted to 6,182,688. It is stated, that the whole number of families in the United States destitute of the Bible, amounts to 800,000; and that the sum requisite to furnish this number is, at the lowest calculation, 500,000 dollars. Some friends of the Society doubt whether this sum can be raised for the object, in the course of two years. The disposable Income of the Bible Society, for the last year, arising from Contributions and the Sale of the Scriptures, was not 100,000 dollars. In order to increase this sum for each of the next two years to the 250,000 dollars required for the object in view, it is stated, by those who are conversant with the circumstances, that, for the raising of this sum, at least One Thousand Dollars should be contributed, for each of the next two years, throughout the Old States generally, for every Thousand Persons; and fears are expressed, that, in some places where Resolutions have been passed to raise certain specified sums for this object, the standard has been fixed too low.

Emancipation of Slaves - General Charles Ridgely, of Maryland, recently deceased, emancipated, by his last Will, all his Slaves; amounting to at least 250: some persons say to many more. Those who are upward of 28 years of age are to be free immediately: of those under that age, the males are to be free at 28 years, and the females at 25. Provision is made for the future support of all who exceed 45 years of age.

Ignorance and Vice-In a Letter to the Editors of the New-York Observer, the Chaplain of the State Prison attests the following important fact:

I have lately made pretty thorough inquiry among the convicts here, for the purpose of learning who, and how many, have ever enjoyed the advantages of a Sabbath School. The result is, that out of more than five hundred convicts, not one has been found who has ever been,

for any considerable time, a regular member of a Sab. bath School; and not more than two or three, who have ever attended such a school at all.

Kenyon College, Gambier-In addition to the intelligence given at pp. 330-333 of our Number for July, we learn, from the Ohio Diocesan Journal for 1828, that a Library of about 1750 Volumes-being 200 folios and quartos, 800 octavos, and 750 duodecimos and smaller volumes--has been presented to the College by friends in England and America, the benefactors in the two countries having contributed about equal portions. It will have been observed at p. 333, that Bishop Chase seems when he wrote to have relinquished the hope of the Irish Colony, mentioned at p. 399 of our Volume for 1827 as likely to proceed from this country with the Rev. Mr. West: some difficulties appear to have arisen in the case, from the Bishop's Letters to Mr. West and his Irish friends having been entrusted to private hands and lost. Mr. West has been successfully exerting himself in the collection of funds for the erection of the Church at Gambier.

Mississippi Diocese-It appears from the United States' Almanack for 1829, that a New Diocese is in progress of formation, to be added to those of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. It is to be called the Mississippi Diocese; and will comprehend the vast valley in which that great river flows, and will extend westward to the Rocky Mountains and even to the shores of the Pacific. The formation of this Diocese is one of the fruits of the establishment at Gambier; Kenyon College affording prospect of such a supply of Ministers, as to encourage these dwellers in the wilderness to associate together for the adoption of the requisite preparatory measures.

Munificent Bequests Frederick Kohne, Esq., formerly of Charleston, South Carolina, but lately of Philadelphia, died recently, at the age of 73; and bequeathed large sums of money, payable after the death of his Widow, to various Religious and Charitable Societies. The amount specifically appropriated is 378,000 dollars; a larger sum, it is stated, than has before been given by any individual in the United States to charitable objects of the whole amount, 160,000 dollars are appropriated to Religious Institutions; and the remaining 218,000 to such as are usually classed among Secular Charities, but are designed to exert a decidedly-religious influence on the objects brought under their care. Mr. Kohne's Executors are directed to dispose of the residue of his estate to such other charitable purposes as they shall think will best comport with the scope and design of his Will. His property is vested in Public Securities, and it is supposed that the residue will be large. It is remarked, by the Editor of the American Missionary Herald, in reference to Mr. Kohne's example

At a period of the world, when it is so plain, that property may be given to public objects, in such a manner as greatly to promote human happiness, it is much to be regretted that any very rich man should leave his whole estate, or even the greater part of it, to his children, or other heirs; especially as, by the common consent of all judicious observers, large estates left to heirs are, in a majority of cases, dissipated by extra

vagance and profligacy, and are the means of misery and ruin rather than of any real and permanent good.

Public Debate on Christianity-An American Paper, the Cincinnati Pandect, gives the following outline of a Public Debate, held at that place, on Monday the 13th of April and the following days of that week, between Mr. Campbell and the well-known Mr. Owen, in consequence of a challenge given by Mr. Owen :

The andience, attracted by the novelty of the scene and the notoriety of the disputants, was large and respectable. The Hon. Judge Burnet, together with a bench of umpires, presided. The debate was conducted with great order and decorum throughout; with no other collision than that of abstract opinions, and the reasonings by which they were supported. The exact points to be argued had not been definitively settled between the parties at the outset the consequence was, that there was scarcely any thing like fairly joining issue through the whole discussion: It was little more than alternate leaving-off and taking-up again the chain of their respective arguments-Mr. Owen being intent on displaying the superlative glories of the New Social System, and the omnipotence of "Circumstances;" and Mr. Campbell labouring, with equal zeal, to establish Christianity, which once proved true, his opponent's theory, and every other, is turned into a mere doting chimera. From the partial attendance which we were able to give the sittings, making due allowance for partiality to the right side, we readily accord with the general opinion expressed, that Mr. Campbell had decidedly the advantage over his opponent; and managed the defence of the Christian Cause in an able and interesting manner-shewing himself a skilful master of all the tactics of disputation. On the whole, we are not without hopes that the controversy may be followed with good effects. The Cause of Revelation has been clearly shewn to be supported by a vast body of conclusive evidence, internal and external; and we are happy to be informed, that more than one individual, previously inclined to scepticism or confirmed in it, have, during the discussion, had their doubts and difficulties entirely solved, and now express a full conviction of the truth of Christianity.

The New-York Observer quotes the following statement, in reference to this Debate, from the "Crisis," another American Paper

At the close of the debate, Mr. Campbell stated, that, whereas there had been, during the discussion, such in sulting and indignant reflections cast upon the Christian Religion, and those who are Public Teachers of it, without exciting any expressions of disapprobation from the audiences, he felt anxious, as the report of this meeting would be spread, probably over all the civilized part of the globe, that it should be stated, from what motives those feelings were suppressed-whether from the charity and forbearance, which the Christian Doctrine inculcates on mankind; or whether the audience entirely consisted of infidels, or persons opposed to the dissemination of Christianity. To prove this, he desired that all who had been actuated in their conduct by charity and forbearance would signify it by standing up; when almost the whole audience, consisting of probably 2000 persons, arose. He then requested them to be seated, and that all those who had been influenced by their dislike of Christianity would stand up; when we could not count more than four.

"The Difference"-Under this title, an American Publication draws the following

contrast

Not only is the British Army supplied with Chaplains, but each Soldier is furnished with a Bible and Prayer Book. The books are first given to the Soldier; but if he loses or sells them, others are provided at his expense. Examination is made, and deficiencies supplied, every six months.

In the Army of the United States about half a barrel of whiskey, per annum, is given to each Soldier; but for Chaplains, or Bibles, or any other means of religious improvement furnished by Government, inquiry will be made in vain!