have been a witness in Egypt, and the mercy you have now extended to a persecuted Christian here, emboldens me to submit to your highness another question. It is of great publick interest, and I hope it will be taken in good part. In past ages it has been said in Europe, that if a Moslem left his religion and became a Christian, his life must pay the forfeit. Since then, light has come down upon the world, and men now think differently from those of former times. What I would ask is, whether now a Moslem would really be put to death for changing his religion?"

The Pasha appeared embarrassed, and a pause ensued.

"This," said he, "is a marvellous question. I cannot answer it now. I have war before me with the Turks. We have the law-but I do not know all the lawhowever, when our military operations shall be terminated, we shall practise here the same religious toleration that exists in Egypt."

His answer was as favourable, perhaps, as could have been expected under the circumstances. (To be concluded.)

View of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

We have seen no advices from Europe more recent than the 16th of January from Britain, and of the 12th of the same month from France; and the intelligence is not of much general interest-The state of Europe remains nearly the same as at our last report-The prospect of a general war is represented as much less threatening than it was a short time since.

BRITAIN. The new British Parliament was to meet early in February. The London Globe of Jan. 7th gives the following official result of the recent elections:-England, Reformers, 394, Conservatives, 110-Scotland, Reformers, 44, Conservatives, 9Ireland, Reformers, 80, Conservatives, 25.-Total Reformers, 518-Conservatives 144. Some severe shocks of an earthquake had been felt at Swansey, and the surrounding country, to the distance of thirty miles. There were three shocks, the first having occured on the 28th of Dec. This was rather slight, and principally felt towards the coast. The second occurred on the following day, early in the morning, and was felt by every person either asleep or awake. The third excited considerable alarm, and took place about 8 o'clock on the subsequent morning. The bells rung in many of the churches and houses-chimneys were thrown down-walls gave way-several houses opened, from the roof to the ground, nearly an inch in width-many sunk from two to four feet, and all vibrated in such a manner that their fall was momentarily expected. It lasted almost four seconds and was accompanied by a sound which is described to have been truly terrific. A most destructive fire broke out in Liverpool on the night of the 14th January, which laid a number of warehouses and dwellings in ruins, and destroyed a vast amount of property. The renewal of the Charter of the Bank of England was an absorbing topic. The general impression seems to be that it would be renewed, limiting, however, the extent of the exclusive privilege of the Bank to a much smaller circle than that fixed by the existing arrangements. The Joint Stock Banking Companies cannot at present be established within 65 miles of London. It will probably be proposed to allow them to be established within about one third of that distance. A large additional military force-several regiments-was on the point of being sent to Ireland by the British Government. The county of Kilkenny was in a very distracted state. Twenty-two houses had been attacked by the Whitefeet, principally with a view of dispossesing holders of land taken in opposition to the regulations of the Whitefeet. Thirty persons were committed to the county jail, during the month of December, for alleged offences against the Government. The collection of tithes was again the exciting cause. Many cases of the Cholera were constantly occurring, and robberies and murders in all quarters of the island.

FRANCE.-The French Ministers have resolved to retain the Duchess de Berri as a prisoner until she can procure a guarantee for her future good conduct, instead of proceeding to her trial. 1200 Carlist youths went in procession to the hotel of Chateaubriand, to compliment him as the friend of the Duchess. It was this which excited the publick feeling, and rendered it necessary to adopt some decisive course respecting

her. Six of the Paris Journals had been seized, for giving favourable notices of the procession of the Carlists. It is said Joseph Buonaparte some time since proposed to the Chambers, to ascend the Throne as the regent of Napoleon II. The discovery of this attempt at negotiation, excited much interest. It appears by a letter from Brest, of the 8th of January, that "Orders have been received to fit out three ships of the line with the utmost expedition, taking those which can be soonest got ready. There is no certain information as to the object of this armament, but there are said to be good reasons for believing that an expedition to Hayti is in contemplation." King Louis Philippe left Cambray on the 8th-On passing through Cateau Cambresis, Marseilles, and Avesnes, the King and Princes alighted and reviewed the National Guard of the several towns. The King then proceeded to deliver the crosses of the Legion of Honour, to those who had distinguished themselves in the siege and capture of the citadel of Antwerp. This was also accompanied by an address of the most flattering kind to the whole army.

SPAIN.-Private accounts represent the health of the King of Spain, such as to render his speedy death very probable, indeed almost certain. The condition of the country is, therefore, extremely precarious. On the 31st of December, a number of personages of high rank were summoned by the Queen to the palace, where a certificate was then read by the Minister of Justice, to the effect that the King had in his chamber that day signed a decree, revoking and declaring to be of no effect, the decree extorted from him during his illness, relative to the succession of the throne. The ef fect of the present revocation is that of rendering heiress to the throne the present Infanta, to the exclusion of Don Carlos, the brother of Ferdinand, an exclusion which there is every reason to believe, will not be tacitly assented to, either by Don Carlos, or by the Apostolical party.

PORTUGAL.-The news from Portugal is unfavourable to Don Pedro. On the 7th January, a heavy cannonading took place from the Miguelite batteries, which lasted for three hours, and occasioned great destruction to the houses in Oporto. On the morning of the 8th, a heavy firing commenced from Miguel's two batteries at the north of the harbour, which was returned occasionally from the Castle of St. John de Foz. Sartorius's squadron was still at Vigo, and not a single cruiser of Don Pedro's was to be seen off Oporto. Other accounts however state, that General Salignac had arrived at Oporto, to take the command of Don Pedro's army; and that from this circumstance, and the arrival of a considerable reinforcement of French troops, sanguine expectations were entertained of a successful general battle with the forces of Don Miguel.

ITALY. At the last accounts from Italy, a new volcanick eruption of Mount Vesuvius was in progress. It threatened to be very destructive. It is stated that the Courts of Naples, Turin, Florence, and Rome, have concluded a defensive alliance against every internal reaction and foreign aggression.

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.-In reply to the new propositions submitted to him by England and France, the King of Holland has sent a counter project, the particulars of which are not stated. The Editor of the London Times, reprobates, in very strong language, the obstinacy of the King of Holland, in refusing the articles of pacificafication proposed to him; and protests against any farther delay in compelling him to accede to the terms proposed. The King of Holland has conferred the highest honours in his gift on General Chasse, whose character appears to stand high both with friends and foes.

PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA have on the whole, says a London paper, better hopes for the preservation of peace than we at one time entertained. These arise from some clearer insight into the condition of Austria and Prussia. The King of Prussia is universally beloved and honoured by the inhabitants of Prussia Proper, who would go all lengths with him in any cause in which he may choose to embark. They were once French, and no little pains have been taken of late to instil afresh into them the love of French principles and French union; so that one of the first events of a gene ral war might be the dismemberment of the kingdom of Prussia as at present constituted. Here, therefore, a grand obstacle is interposed. The King, too, personally, is averse to it, except controlled by imperious circumstances; and though the Crown Prince is disposed to run all hazards, his popularity is as small as that of his father is great, and in the event of the demise of the reigning Sovereign, the effective power of the kingdom might therefore be expected to be weakened.

Austria is poor. Her credit is bad. Her Five per Cent. bonds are about 84under the price of our Three per Cents. while the firing of the first shot would drive

them immeasurably down. In short, the sinews of war possessed by the three absolute governments are thin and emaciated, while those of England and France are powerful and effective. In addition to this, the voice of England against war has been poured of late into the ear of the British Cabinet with a distinctness which they cannot misconstrue; while the French Government has obtained a strength and vigour from internal causes which Marshal Soult was supposed to think it could not reach, unless the maddened spirits of the people were diverted into other than native channels. Such considerations increase our hopes of peace. The events of a moment may dash them at once to the ground.

TURKEY.-A letter from Paris, of Jan. 12th, says a London print, gives the following as the latest and most authentick information from Constantinople. "The progress of the Pacha's troops in Asia Minor is rapid; insurrection is fast spreading every where. The Sultan has no money and but few troops. He cannot rely either on the courage or fidelity of the latter, and it may be regarded as certain, that on their first encounter with Ibrahim, they will be defeated and dispersed, if not induced to join his triumphant banner. All the best letters from Constantinople, dated the 10th ult. and received by the last post, say that Ibrahim was only a few days' march from the capital, and express the fallest conviction that nothing but foreign interference could check his progress. It is evident that the Court of Russia is anxiously desirous to prevent his going too far, and it is probable that it will take means to prevent him, if the danger becomes too imminent to allow of any time being lost in consultations with other European Powers on what ought to be done."

The Missionary Herald for February, states that Mr. Temple, at Malta, had received advices from Constantinople up to October 2d. The plague was then making fearful ravages, and the Cholera had just made its appearance. Another great fire had also happened in the suburb of Pera, consuming six or seven hundred houses. Mr. Temple says: "Turkey seems to be withering away, like a tree smitten by the hot thunderbolts of heaven. Ten years more of disastrous events to her, like the ten last past, will scarcely leave her a place among the nations of the earth. All Syria, in its length and breadth, is in the hands of Ibrahim Pacha, and Mr. Nicholay sen says, that through his providence they enjoy great quietness, and that some worthy deeds are done unto that nation. Mr. Bird writes, Sept. 15th, that an English merchant is distributing the Scriptures at Damascus. We see strange things in these days, but shall see greater things than these without doubt soon. The way of the Lord is certainly being prepared in a most extraordinary manner, and to a most extraordinary extent in the world, at this moment, and let us hope that he will soon be seen travelling in the greatness of his strength and showing himself mighty to save."

Want of space prevents our insertion of a few articles, of some interest, from ASIA and AFRICA.

AMERICA.

It gives us pleasure to observe, that the last accounts from the Southern part of our Continent, represent our sister republicks there as apparently approximating to a state of peace. In the United Provinces, Colombia, Mexico, and Central America, civil war was nearly or quite at an end. In Mexico, the armies of Bustamente and Santa Anna were reconciled, and their leaders were united in endeavouring to consolidate the republick, on the principles of those who began the late revolution.

UNITED STATES.-The late interesting session of Congress closed, of course, on the 4th of the present month. The three important bills-the Tariff bill as modified by Mr. Clay, the bill to enable the President to enforce the revenue laws, in opposition to the nullifiers of the South, and the bill to distribute the proceeds of the sales of the public lands among the several States-were all carried by large majorities. The signature by the President of the two former, is announced, but it is feared that he will veto the third. The President's inaugural speech, on the day that Congress rose, is short, temperate, and firm, and closes, as it ought to do, with a fervent acknowledgment of dependence on the good providence of God. It would seem by a recent article from Washington, that we are threatened with another Indian war. May God in his mercy prevent it, and overrule our publick affairs for his glory, and the preservation of the union, peace, and prosperity of our beloved country.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

APRIL, 1833.

Keligious Communications.

LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATE- ings which cannot be uttered." Be