of Bonaparte, and that the Minister of Firance was put to death. A party in the Senate wished to proclaim Beauharnois King; but he fled to Mantua, and then to Munich, the capital of his father-in-law, the King of Bavaria. his own country, and to a great part at least of his ancient dignity. Joachim Napoleon, king of Naples, is said to have written to him in the following terms: "It is my wish to see the head of the Church soon resume in the capital of Christendom both his honours and the exercise of his power, so necessary to Bonaparte passed over to his island in a the happiness of the world. The chance British ship; and, on his arrival, after going of war has made me master of the States to church, be proceeded to view the fortifications. His mind is represented as having which you possessed when you were forced been much enfeebled. This man, who 80 to quit Rome. I do not hesitate to replace them under your authority, renouncing in lately made the world to tremble, whose your favour all my rights of conquest will was the law of almost all the civilized to these countries." The insignia of the part of Europe-the stroke of whose pen holy see, which had been carried to Paris, called innumerable armies into being, and have been restored by Monsieur. However the word of whose mouth could send all those armies to destruction-appears now to contrary our wishes may be to the re-establishment of the influence of Popery in Europe, have become himself subject to constant we were gratified by a paragraph in a French trepidation. He is said, during his journey, to have sometimes trembled like a child, or paper, saying, that the Catechism of Bonaparte was no longer to be taught.”—A very wept like an hysterical woman, and to have important document has appeared under the been often so incoherent and extravagant, as name of the Cardinal Quarantotti, by which to excite reasonable doubt of his sanity. the Pope and Cardinals are considered as How wonderful is it, that Providence should willing to give to the British Crown the demake use of such a being as this to overthrow so many nations; and how obvious is sired security for the proper selection of Catholic Bishops in Ireland. This disposition it now become, that the times and the seato concede on the part of the so-much-vesons are in the hands of the Almighty, and nerated head of the Catholic Church has that the men, who are admired for their wonexcited in some of his Irish flock, and esderful exploits, are only that sword of the Lord which he has pleased to employ in pecially in the undignified clergy, a most exorder to chastise a guilty world, and to ful-traordinary spirit of disaffection towards his fil his own purposes. The designs of Bona- holiness, parte were great; they probably were nothing less than the subjugation of the whole world; and he has had the reputation of generally employing means bearing some proportion to his ends, and likely, according to human estimate, to secure their ultimate accomplishment. But there is One higher than the highest, and he taketh the wise in their own craftiness. His purposes are still more great. They are the subjugation of this sinful world to the Prince of Righteousness; and we trust, that the lapse of a few years will more fully reveal to us the tendency of the late visitations of Providence upon the nations of Christendom to produce the accomplishment of this Divine plan of mercy to the buman race. We ought to notice, that the Empress Maria Louisa is constituted Duchess of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla. She is said to have been desirous of accompanying her husband to his place of retirement, but is obliged to reside upon her duchy. The expectations which many pious persons in this country bad formed, of the downfal of the Papacy, seem likely to be disappointed for the present, by the restoration of the Pope to The affairs of Spain have not proceeded happily since the emancipation of the royal family. King Ferdinand declines accepting the proffered constitution, on account of the too-great weakness of the executive power, and the Cortes are said to be placing themselves in a menacing attitude. Norway has become a subject of peculiar anxiety; and, as the blockade of her ports is now maintained by the British Navy, has given rise to an important motion in Parliament. We shall here anticipate this part of our account of parliamentary proceedings, and endeavour to lay before our readers a brief statement of the nature of those difficulties in which this country is involved. -Russia having, in the period of her temporary alliance with France, extorted from Sweden the country of Finland, the Crown of Sweden became naturally desirous of some compensation for this loss; and having for a time taken a neutral part in the great contest of nations, she formed a treaty with Russia, then the enemy of France, of which the object was to unite Norway to Sweden. A compensation was offered to Denmark for this loss of Norway, which was to consist partly of the Pomeranian Territory of Sweden, at that time indeed overrun by the French armies, and partly in other undefined territorial equivalents. Denmark did not consent to this arrangement; and being at war with Russia, for her local cercumstances had inclined her to the side of the French Emperor, Norway was looked upon as a fair object of conquest both by Sweden and Russia. Great Britain became a party to this treaty. Her adoption of it was, however, much complained of in the British Parliament, as well as the prospective grant of Guadaloupe, which, together with the guarantee given by Britain that Sweden should be put in possession of Norway, became the price in the consideration of which the Crown Prince was induced actually to unite his forces with those of the allies, and to contend with that valour of which we have heard so much in the ever-memorable battle of Leipsic, and in some previous engagements. Denmark has now at length united herself with the cause of the other kings of Europe, and she has made the format cession of her territory of Norway :-but the Norwegians, who are about 900,000 in number, have affirmed their independence, have placed themselves under the authority of Prince Christian, heir apparent to the throne of Denmark, and have raised a force of 30 or 40,000 men. The part which it becomes great Britain to take in this contest with a brave and respectable nation seems to us a subject peculiarly embarrassing. We have manifestly bound ourselves by treaties to contribute our part towards this annexation, and have received the benefit of assistance from Sweden in consequence of this engagement, Sweden may even be stated to have forborne to direct her armies primarily against herNorwegian enemy, in consequence of the British engagement, that if she would first lend her aid in the subjugation of the arch-enemy of Europe, Britain would not fail to further her Norwegian object. On the other hand, there is something so opposite to that spirit of liberty and independence, in the very name of which the allies have been contending, in the subjugation of a whole people, with the view to their being transferred to a foreign monarch in whom they do not confide, as well as in the means used to enforce the object, that we do not wonder at the disposition which has appeared in Parlia ment to assert the Norwegian cause, as well as to discover some construction of our treaty by which we might escape from our engagement. We have heard much of the moderation and magnanimity of the Emperor of Russia, and many pious persons have been charmed with the favour which he has shewn to our Bible Societies. Most earnestly do we wish that some Christian moralist, who has access to his imperial majesty, would whisper in his ear how happily the restoration of his acquisitions in Finland to the Crown of Sweden, in compenpensation for the relinquishment of Norwayacquisitions which he should remember that he gained through the unhallowed means of French co-operation in plans of general injustice-would at once settle our difficulties and how much a measure of this description would redound to his honour as a prince of real integrity, and of truly Christian prin ciples. AMERICA. We trust, that the affairs of America are approaching to a settlement. The Americans have repealed their Embargo and Non-iniportation Acts; and it is presumed, that the new turn which affairs have taken in Europe will suggest to their presumptuous President, that it is become necessary to change that tone which he had assumed, and to endeavour to include his own distracted country in the general plans for the pacification of the world. It is said, that a very considerable British force is ordered to pass from Bourdeaux to Canada. In the mean time, Commissioners for peace are about to meet in the neighbouring territory of Holland. GREAT BRITAIN. Notice has been given by the Admiralty, that all sailors who have been in service from the 7th of March, 1803, will receive their immediate discharge, and that they will be successively released according to their length of service. The sum of 400,000l. has been granted to Lord Wellington, now raised to a dukedom; which, with the addition of 100,000l. before voted, makes the reward bestowed on him by a grateful country amount to half a million. A somewhat smaller sum was proposed by Mr. Vansittart; but the disposition to this enlargement was very general, and it appeared particularly on the side of the Opposition. Two thousand pounds per annum have been given to Lords Lynedoch, Hill, and Beresford., An Address has been moved in the House of Commons, by Mr. Wilberforce; and in the House of Lords, by Lord Grenville; praying his majesty to endeavour to obtain from the powers now assembled at Paris, a 'recognition of the general principle of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Mr. Wilberforce observed, that we had now the benefit of our own experience in favour of this measure; and could, therefore, certify to foreign countries. that the once-predicted evils would not follow from it. He remarked, on the natural affinity which there had been between the character of the Slave. Trade: and that of Bonaparte, whom he had considered as an enemy more mischievous on account of his utter want of moral princi-, ple, than for his conquests. Mr. Fox, who had talked with Bonaparte on this subject, could not even persuade him that we were sincere, so little did he understand the feelings, of morality which are common in this country. The present king of France, it must be hoped, would be a contrast to Bonaparte. Spain could now be no longer in, awe of its merchants. Portugal bad signed an actual agreement to abolish the Slave Trade, subject to certain qualifications; but it appeared by a recent act, on which Mr. Wilberforce commented at large, how outrageously she had violated both the letter and the spirit of that treaty, and how vain it was to expect her compliance with her own professions, until something more was effected by Great Britain than had yet been done to enforce her performance of this great duty. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Canning for Liverpool, Mr. Protheroe for Bristol, and Mr. Marriott, an agent for West-Indian Islands, spoke in favour of the motion. Lord Grenvike took nearly the same ground, and observed, that if the chief powers of Europe should, by their public declarations, consent to condemn this abominable trade, thus placing it on the same ground with piracy and other violations of the law of nations, it would well become us to enforce the observation of so just a principle in any minor countries, who might not have the honesty to accede to it.-The addresses in both Houses were carried unanimously. The motion, of which so long notice had been given, respecting the passage in the Speaker's Speech at the end of last session, which referred to the Catholics of Ireland, was lost by a majority of 274 against 106. The principal subject which has engaged the attention of Parliament, has been the very important question of a new modification of the Corn Laws. A Committee, of which Sir J. Parnell was the chairman, made a Report in the end of the last year, which strongly recommended a return to the ancient and more restrictive system of this. country, on the ground of experience being said to be favourable to it: the subject was then adjourned. Sir J. Farnell has renewed his motion in the present session, though › with some abatement of the price above. which he would allow corn to be imported. His recent proposition has been to restrict the importation of wheat, except when the price should exceed one hundred shillings the quarter, by means of a duty of about.. twenty-four shillings.-It has been objected to this plan, that it would tend to maintain the price of wheat at all periods, at not less. than about the specified, price; and thus, while it might, operate favourably to the landed interests, would be a heavy burthen, upon the consumers. It was affirmed, on: the other hand, that the price of labour would naturally accommodate itself to that of; bread, so that no great, hardship would fall on the labouring classes; that moreover, the abundance of corn, produced through the encouragement which would thus be given to the growth of it, would, in the end, lower its price; that a tolerable uniformity of price would also be secured; and, above all, that -we should thus be rendered independent of foreign nations for a supply of this most necessary article. In the progress of the business, Mr. Huse kisson interposed with a middle plan, which has appeared to obtain the general approbation of the House; though no division has yet taken place upon the question, either of the particular price at which the duty proposed by him shall attach, or of the maximum of duty which shall be imposed. His plan is that of a graduated scale of duties, which he would wish, in no case, to exceed twenty-four shillings, and to descend from that sum down to one skilling, in proportion as the market price is found to rise. He has proposed that the highest duty shall apply when wheat is at or under sixty-three shillings per quarter, and shall totally cease when at eighty-seven shillings per quarter. Most parties have agreed in the propriety of allowing the free exportation of corn, and a bill for that purpose has already made a considerable progress; but, the further consideration of the Corn Importation Bill is postponed for a fortnight, in order to give full time for the consideration of so interesting a question-We have mentioned only the article of wheat, assuming our readers to understand that other kinds of grain will be the subject of corresponding regulations. The Answers to Correspondents are unavoidably postponed. edition of a Dialogue betwixt a Christian and a Mahometan, with a History of the Passion, Resurrection, WE continue our abstract of the and Ascension of Jesus Christ, History of East-India Missions, which increase in interest as we proceed; and even the annual accounts of the new converts, and of the increase of the schools, are a repetition of gratifying intelligence, which will not soon fatigue us. Our first extracts will shew, that early in their course, the East-Indian Missionaries looked to schools, and to the translation of the Bible into the native tongues, as the most efficient means they could employ. "In the account for the year 1741, Mr. Schultze observes, that he has endeavoured to prepare some youths for the service of the Mission in quality of Catechists and Schoolmasters: that the Mission is well provided with translations of the Bible and other books into the Malabaric and Gentoo languages, for the benefit of the new converts: that he has gained one point, which he almost despaired of, viz. the beginning of a Malabarian School for the children of the Heathen, under a Christian Schoolmaster, in order to come to a more inimate acquaintance with the inhabitants: that there are at present eight boys in all, sons of merchants and tradesmen in Cuddalore; and that he hence hopes to find, by the blessing of God, an happy entrance of Christian Religion among the natives that the Mission Library has been increased by a donation of books from Professor Franck, at Halle: that as to their printing this year, they have published a new CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 150. which, they hope, will be of great use, and have sent a copy to the Society. The printing of the Old Testament in Portuguese is likewise continued.' "In the Report of the year 1742, it is stated, that some of the youths who had been wholly instructed in the school of the English Mission, were now able to perform the duty of schoolmasters and catechists; that three of them continued with him, and were assistants to him in one or the other of these respects; and that a fourth was gone upon the like service to the Mission at Tranquebar." The Missionary Journal adds, " that the work of the Mission at home and in the country round Tranquebar went on with extraordinary success, so that these congregations had in the year 1739 been increased with 738 souls."And another letter, dated December, 1741, states: "That to the Malabarian Congregation in the. country 103 were added, so that the whole increase for that year was 236 souls: that their new augmentations, added to all former accounts, from the beginning of the Mission, make up a number of 5959 souls, where of there remained alive 3766 at the end of the year 1740.” "The new buildings they had begun for the Malabarian Schools were almost finished at an expense of 8372 dollars; and the schools, Malabarian and Portuguese, contained 2 Y 172 children. They had also just printed a new correct edition of the Gospel in the Tamulic language, together with a Grammar, to which they hoped, ere long, to add a new and complete Dictionary." "Mr. Sichtermann, the Dutch Director at Hougly, in Bengal, greatly wishing a Protestant Mission might be established at Calicatta, had promised to give any Missionaries all the liberty and encouragement in his power.' " In the Report for the year 1743, the Rev. Mr. P. Fabricius acquaints the Society, that he had received the grant of 100%. from Professor Franck, and that there were added to the Malabarian Congregation, in the last year, three baptized persons, and six communicants; and to the Portuguese Congregation, two baptized, and three communicants; that from among the Heathen they had gained three proselytes, a man and his wife, with their child, who were baptized the 2d of January; and were now instructing and preparing for baptism seven grown persons, most of them relations to these proselytes; and that with the Divine blessing, they were in hopes of being more successful than ever in their labours for the glory of God and the salvation of souls; but that the Mission had sustained a great loss by the death of Governor Hobart, who was one of its best friends. The Society closes its extracts from the letter of Mr. Fabricius, with an account of Professor Franck's liberality and exertions so often extended in aid of these Missions, and with an explanation of its own intentions and motives. The piety and judicious zeal displayed in the following quotation will be highly gratifying to our readers. cerned in a successful promoting of Christian Knowledge in this trading part of the world, upon receiving likewise a most friendly and Chris tian letter from Mr. Professor Franck, of Halle, in Saxony, full of good-will toward their Missions at Madras and Cuddalore, inclosing 250l., and proposing to pay the whole expense of sending two Missionaries thither, have desired him to look out two proper persons for this work, and have agreed to allow them a salary of 50l. a year each, notwithstanding they have no set tled fund to support so extraordinary an expense, but depend for it, from year to year, on the voluntary benefactions of such charitable and well-disposed persons, as have in them the same spirit of zeal that moved the Society to begin and enlarge these their Missions; in hopes that the same wise and good providence of God which hath hitherto blessed them in all their undertakings to spread the pure Gospel of his Son, Christ Jesus, in all parts of the world, will raise up benefactors to contribute whatever money shall be wanted toward this: and the more so, considering that most of the discouragements and obstacles that attend the beginnings of Missions are in good measure overcome, inasmuch as many of the natives are now qualified for schoolmasters and catechists in the Indian language; nay, some at Tranquebar to be Missionaries themselves. "The Tranquebar Missionaries state, that the Portuguese Church is augmented with 18 members; viz. 13 infants baptized, and five converted from the Church of Rome : and to the Malabarian town-church are added 127 souls; viz. 52 infants, 67 Gentiles baptized, with six Ro"The Society considering the man Catholic converts, and two present state of their Missions, and Christians from other places. The that Mr. Schultze is returned to Malabarian town-school is now Copenhagen, and his place at Madras only provided for by a temporary supply from Mr. Fabricius; the Society considering these things, and how much the glory of God, and the salvation of souls are con opened, where 98 boys and 59 girls are taught and maintained. What they had long desired, the having little schools in the country, was now accomplished, there being two opened; viz. one at the town of |
