creasing desire to promote the success of their undertaking." "The number of the natives in the Georgian Islands only, who were able to read and spell, was increased to between four and five thousand; and Pomare had issued orders, that in every district of the islands a school-house should be erected, separate from the places of worship, and that the best instructed of his people should teach others. Several schools had already been erected in Otaheite, where the elementary books and the Catechism are taught; and since the establishment of the printing-press, the natives of that island pass over in crowds to Afareaitu, to obtain books from the missionaries there. At this station a school had been erected, which was well attended; and of the natives who had been taught in the school at Papetoai, there were few who could not both read and spell well. "The attendance on the public worship at each of the missionary stations, continued on an average to be from four to five hundred*. On the Sabbath the missionaries hold their own prayermeeting at sun-rise, the natives at the same time being assembled at theirs. At nine o'clock there is a service in the Taheitean language, when one of the missionaries addresses the natives; at eleven the brethren meet for worship in English; in the afternoon the native children are catechised; in the evening there is another native service, when a discourse is delivered by one of the missionaries, of whom five are capable of intelligibly addressing the people in the Taheitean tongue. "On the Monday evenings a questioning,' or conversation meeting' is held, when the natives propose various queries to the missionaries, which the latter endeavour to resolve to their satisfaction. These queries are almost entirely connected with religious subjects. Some of them are comparatively insignificant, but others display a con "The place of worship at Afareaitų will contain six hundred; yet many are frequently obliged to hear, as they are able, on the outside. These congrega. tions usually contain many strangers, who are continually coming and going; and thus the knowledge they acquire at the missionary stations, is conveyed to many places which are comparatively deficient as to the means of religious instruction." siderable degree of thought and intelligence, and an acquaintance with the nature of religion, which it would be almost a reflection on the islanders eveņ to compare with that of thousands who bear the Christian name in our own country." "The whole number of places of worship erected in the islands of Otaheite and Eimeo, at the commencement of the year 1817, was eighty-four. Others had been subsequently built, which are not included in the subjoined list, and a very large one in the district of Pare (Otaheite), was building by order of the king. In the small island of Tetaroa three places of worship had also been erected. "But while the natives are regular in their attendance on the public services of religion, they do not neglect the duties of family worship and retired devotion. Private or secret prayer is described to be the constant practice of almost every individual. They are glad also to avail themselves of incidental opportunities of improving themselves in the knowledge of Christianity, They visit the missionaries at their own houses, in order to propose questions, chiefly on religion, and sometimes continue their inquiries even until midnight. Several also attend the missionaries for the purposes of learning to sing hymns, or that they may be taught to pray. The instances of intelligent and genuine piety among them are represented to be numerous, and their manners to correspond with their Chris tian profession." PERSIAN INQUIRIES INTO In our last Number we alluded to some favourable symptoms of the commencement of a more tolerant system in Persia towards Christianity than was formerly the case. The following extract from the Missionary Register for last month will throw further light upon the subject. "The discussions and controversies which the late Rev. Henry Martyn held with the learned in Persia, during the short time that he passed among them before his lamented death, excited great attention. Copies of the pieces written in this singular, and, on his part, intrepid controversy, are now in this country; and will, probably, be given to the public, in trauslations from the Persian originals. "We have seen a letter to a distinguished nobleman, from an Englishman resident in Persia, in which he states, that Mr. Martyn's discussions at Shiraz made so deep an impression on the people there, that many were converted secretly, and the Molwahs totally silenced. His books were put into the hands of men of the greatest celebrity and talents, in order to their being refuted. In various places, eulogiums on the Gospel were openly uttered; and an earnestness and mildness of inquiry evinced, by many of the learned, into the character and mission of the Messiah. "We have also seen a letter to the same nobleman from a Mahomedan in Persia, professing his thorough conviction of the truth of Christianity, obtained, in part, from his perusal of Mr. Martyn's books. The following extract will gratify our readers :— "I have long directed my attention to investigate the different existing religions; and, having read various his tories and other books, I have collected more or less information on the subject, and satisfied myself that the religion of Mahomed is vain, and devoid of the ornaments of truth. I also studiously examined the religion of the Jews, of the Magi, and others;. but I could not obtain that satisfaction from any, which I wanted. I therefore attended the learned and the ministers of the Christian Religion, discussing with them various systems; and, among others, the Five Sects of Islamism; and discovered the vanity and insufficiency of each. The result of the whole is this: that I adopted, in my heart, the Christian Religion-in my heart, because the profession and practice of it, in a country of Mahomedans, is impossible. I now therefore take the liberty of addressing you, most earnestly requesting that you will not withhold your kindness and benevolence from me, but that I may pass the rest of my life under your protection, devoting myself to the worship of God. I am now twenty-five years old. I am totally unable of my self to go to you. Oh, how happy should I consider myself, if you would comply with my wishes! So far as I can see, I have no other resource but to go to you. I have no other, know no other, who can liberate my life from sin May the season of your life and prosperity long remain! "P.S. I have two brothers, who are of the same way of thinking with myself." COLLEGE AT CAPE HENRY (ST. DOMINGO.) The Rev. Mr. Morton, an English Clergyman, who left England last January, to act as Classical Professor in the college instituted by King Henry. He has commenced with twenty pupils, the sons of some of the principal persons, and who are destined to fill hereafter important offices in the state. He has the best hope, under the blessing of God, of success with his pupils. At present, under the circumstances of their previous education and the lateness of the period at which many of them began, it is found expedient with respect to this first class of young men, to carry them at once forward to the acquisition of such knowledge as may soonest fit them for actual service. The outline of the course pursued with them, comprises the principles of general grammar, with particular application to the English and the French; an extensive survey of geography, history, and political science; a complete circle of mathematical studies; composition; and elocution. Moral science and law will form a future part of the course. The king very justly considers this course best adapted to the present wants of the state. Mr. Morton reads the Liturgy, and preaches, every Sunday, in the National School Room. The service is in English, and is attended by the English and Americans, with a few Germans. Many circumstances would favour the labours of some able and zealous missionaries from the Established Church. (AMERICAN) UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The cause of Missions to the Heathen is rapidly gaining ground in the United States. A new institution has been formed there, with the above designation, uniting the Three Denominations in America, who are allied to one ano ther by the form of their Ecclesiastical Government, as well as by a common faith; namely, the Presbyterians, the Reformed Dutch Church, and the members of the Associate Reformed Church. The object of the Society is to spread the Gospel among the Indians of North America, the inhabitants of Mexico and South America, and in other portions of the Heathen and Anti-Christian world. Any person paying three dollars annually, or thirty dollars at one time, becomes a member of the Society. The annual meetings of the Society are to be held in the city of New York, on the Wednesday preceding the second Thursday in May. The Missionaries are to be selected from the Three Churches indiscriminately. The Society has judiciously opened a correspondence with the Church Missionary Society, and we presume with other institutions in Great Britain, with a view to a mutual exchange of information and advice on subjects connected with their common object. MALTA BIBLE SOCIETY. From a letter of the Rev. W. Jowett, dated Malta, April 25, it will appear that he has undertaken a visit to Smyrna and some other places. "An excellent opportunity," he ob. serves," offering for Smyrna, I am induced to avail myself of it, with the intention of visiting two or three of the principal Greek islands and a part of Greece, in the service of the Malta Bible Society. My proposed track is Smyrna-Scio-either Mitylene or Tino, or perhaps both-Athens-Corinthand Patrass. I go well furnished with Greek, Italian, and Hebrew Testaments. The Italian are of the beautiful, pure, and simple version of Archbishop Martini." The Rev. Charles Williamson, British Chaplain at Smyrna, writes to Mr. Jowett from that place, under date of March 14th "I hope the time is not far distant, when I shall have to announce a Smyrna Bible Society. The Greeks and Armenians appear, however, suspicious of our intentions. They cannot conceive how a body of men can, without political or sinister ecclesiastical motives, associate and spend their money, to distribute the Scriptures gratis, or at a cheap rate, to men of a different nation from themselves. Every suspicion would instantly vanish, on the sight of an authority from the patriarchs at Constantinople; so great is the power which they possess over the minds of the people. After the procuring of such a document, which I believe to be easy, we shall be able to set about our work with much greater probability of success; not only in Smyrna, but in the islands and adjacent country. "I propose, all things concurring, to go to Constantinople in June or July, after hearing from the Malta Com mittee, to endeavour to obtain the document in question; and, if successful, to get a few copies printed, and to deposit one in each of the principal churches of the country. From Constantinople I would proceed, with my interpreter and janissary, accompani ments absolutely necessary and always used in these countries, along the different towns in the Dardanelles; visiting the principal islands between Smyrna and Constantinople. Should the time permit, I would extend my tour to the islands west and south-west of Smyrna; paving the way, or smoothing its ruggedness, for the introduction of the Bible. The summer following I could either revisit them with you, or make a tour to the north-east of Smyrna in the interior." Under date of April 6th, Mr. Williamson writes— "It has long since occurred to me to send a few books into the islands, could I find confidential agents; the want of whom, and of a few copies of the Patriarch's approbation of the New Testa ment to send along with them, have hitherto prevented me. Without snch copies we shall do very little. In fact, they should be inserted in every book, for years to come." "Mixing with all kinds of people and shewing the Testament (says Mr. Wils liamson), I did the same among the Jews. Some would not even touch it. Some will read it in secret. One of them denying the truth of the contents of the Testament, I brought him at last, to confess that he did not believe the Old: having more reasons, in his own opinion, for the truth of the Old Testament than of the New, he would question the validity of his own, rather than admit the truth of the other. Another Jew, who is in the highest estimation among his brethren for his learning, häs been reading the Hebrew Testament all the last month, in order to write a book against it. He is going to prove to the world that Christianity is alto gether false! He writes no language but a barbarous Hebrew. He means to circulate his book by multiplying manuscript copies! Several Jews have asked me to lend them copies of the Testament. They generally return them. One, however, has been retained." VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. INDIA. A PROCLAMATION has been issued by the British Government in India, officially stating the treachery, cruelty, and general misconduct of the Peishwa, and pronouncing his final deposition. Great praise appears due to the Marquis of Hastings, for his energy and exertions in this contest, which he has now nearly brought to a successful close. His spirited arrangements have, in fact, almost extirpated the immense hordes of Pindarees which threatened to devastate all India; and the territory acquired is likely, as soon as tranquillity is restored, to yield a large increase of revenue. The Madras Presidency will have the country to the south of Sattarah, towards Darwar, &c. Mr. Elphinston has for the present appointed military officers to the civil situations in these countries, but they will be ultimately delivered over to the civil government. The Rajah has been placed upon the throne in due form, by the assistance and at the expense of the British Government. Though nominally Rajah, he had been, in fact, only the prisoner of the Peishwa, who made use of his name to sanction every public act. UNITED STATES. The Government seem inclined to throw the responsibility of the occupation of Pensacola upon General Jackson, who, it has been hinted in some of the Government America papers, may have exceeded his orders. If so, a large opening is made for an amicable arrangement between the United States and Spain. It would appear, also, that before General Jackson ordered Ambristie to be shot, the court-martial that tried him determined upon a less punishment. We hope that it will appear from the conduct of the Government on this occasion that their officer has not only exceeded their commands, but has not gratified their wishes. GREAT We lament to state, that the Queen's health continues in the most precarions state possible; her Majesty's disorder during the last month having been attended with very unfavourable symptoms. The refractory spirit of the Manchester cotton-spinners appears to have nearly subsided, after advancing to a height which portended much mischief, had not prompt and effectual measures SPAIN. The Spanish royalist arms appear to have received some signal reverses in South America. The army of Chili are reported to have sustained a total defeat, and almost general destruction. Official particulars have not been received, and probably cannot be expected. At home, the Spanish Government is equally distressed; so much so as to have obtained a Bull from the Pope for suspending the filling of vacant ecclesiastical dignities and benefices during two years; the revenues to be received into the public treasury, to assist in the payment of the public debt and interest. The measure does not, however, appear very effective, as Spanish Goverument paper continues in a state of very considerable depression. RUSSIA, &c. The Emperor has issued a proclamation, announcing the conclusion of peace with Persia in October, 1813. The terms have not before been made public; and the immediate reason of this publication at the present moment, on the eve of the Congress, seems to be to repress some alleged rumours of a misunderstanding between Russia and Persia, which might have produced disqui etude if not formally contradicted. The Emperor, as well as the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Austria, and various re presentatives of the principal cabinets of Europe, have been daily expected at Aix-la-Chapelle, the place of Congress. Some have already arrived. FRANCE An ordinance has been issued by the king for levying a body of 80,000 men from the classes of 1816 and 1817. Of this number, 40,000 are to be at the disposal of the Minister of War. The requisite arrangements are said to have been made for taking possession, by French garrisons, of various important frontier towns on the retirement of the army of occupation. BRITAIN. been taken to resist it. The workmen have very generally returned to their employments. On this, as on other occasions, the partisans of disorder have not failed to avail themselves of what has taken place, to scatter their political heresies among the discontented; but we hope with much less effect than perhaps might have been expected. It is really so obvious a problem in political economy, that the wages of the workman must inevitably, upon a large scale at least, correspond with the demand for his labour, that we are astonished that any persons of intelligence can be found to complain of a supposed monopoly and want of feeling towards a large body of manufacturers, of whatever class. It is quite impossible that in a country like this, the remuneration of any considerable body of persons can be long or generally below its natural standard. With the spirit, and intelligence, and capital, possessed by the inhabitants of Great Britain, it is quite obvious that the instant the master's profit in any branch of manufacture becomes inordinate, there will be always found a sufficient number of adventurers to reduce it to its level, and perhaps even for a time to depress it below that point. While, therefore, we feel as much as any of our countrymen can feel, for the distresses of the poor, we think nothing can be more unjust or more senseless than the outcry which is occasionally raised either against the government or the great capitalists of the country, as if those distresses originated with them; except, indeed, inasmuch as they may be parties to the continuance of the evils arising from the poor-laws and the game laws, from the multiplication of gin-shops, from the institution of lotteries, or from a deficiency of sound instruction. With this exception, it is impossible for any set of men to regulate the complicated relations of the manufacturer and his employer, so well as they will regulate themselves. At the same time, it is a duty incumbent upon all, to exert themselves to the utmost in improving the habits, moral, political, religious, and domestic, of the labouring classes. In these respects both the government and their employers may do much, and this with the certain anticipation that whatever they achieve will return with tenfold interest to their own bosoms. Several other trades in different places have partially followed the example of the cotton-spinners of Manchester, and with the same natural issue: that is, as soon, or nearly as soon, as their funds have been exhausted, they have returned peaceably to their employments. The public revenue is stated to be in a progressive state of improvement. The crop of corn throughout the country is said to be excellent in quality, and in a fair average quantity. The ma nufacturers in general are fully employ. ed, as indeed is proved by the combinations among the workmen for higher wages. We may fairly hope, therefore, for a season of domestic tranquillity, and of comparative comfort among the labouring classes, of which we trust the legislature will anxiously avail itself for effecting such improvements in the institutions intended for their benefit as experience has shewn to be desirable. While adverting, in our last Number, to the atrocities then mentioned, we had intended to notice, had our space permitted, another aggravated crime com. mitted during that month at Epsom, be cause of its connexion with a subject deeply involving the morals and consequent happiness of the country. We allude to the wilful murder of a person of the name of Ely Cox, gamekeeper to Mr. Tessier, while in the discharge of his duty of protecting his master's grounds from the incursions of poachers. We shall not dwell on the particular circumstances of that event. Our object is simply to impress on the minds of our readers the plain fact, that another murder, and one of an aggravated nature, has been committed by poachers on a person employed to preserve the game; and this, while other atrocious circumstances of a similar kind in Gloucestershire and elsewhere, are still ringing in our ears. Whatever may be the justice or expediency of our present game laws in other respects, we cannot disguise to ourselves that they operate, and that with no ordinary force, as a direct bonus upon crime. There is no offence, perhaps, into which the poor are more easily seduced, and there is scarcely any which they regard with so little compunction, as that of poaching. The habits of petty theft thus imperceptibly grow upon them; while the irregular hours, the lawless company, and the pecuniary temptations connected with this employment, all tend to injure their character, and prepare them for still greater crimes. Something ought to be done, and done shortly and effectually, to check an evil which swells every criminal list; and, to say nothing of these more awful occurrences, is the constant source of more petty litigation than all the game in Great Britain can repay, Whether the act passed last session, and which imposes a penalty of 51. for every head of game, on the purchaser, as well as penalties on the vender, of that illicit article, will check the immediate evil of poaching, and, what is |