would have appeared, had the writers been met with intemperate replies.

The friends of peace have no need to adopt a course of angry altercation in defence of their principles. Candid appeals to the understanding, the conscience, and the heart, are much better adapted to advance the cause of peace. Strong prepossessions are not to be instantaneously removed; nor by other than friendly and peaceable means.Harshness and asperity are much more likely to fix and increase prejudices, than to eradicate them. Besides, in pleading the cause of peace, it would be very indecorous and inconsistent to indulge any other than a pacifick spirit. Soft words turn away wrath; they also open the ears and conciliate the affections of reasonable and reflecting

men.

It is, however, much to the honour of those of our fellow-citizens, who have doubted the utility of Peace Societies, that they have so generally adopted the principle of Gamaliel, and let us alone, till it should appear whether this counsel and this work were of men, or of God. And we may devoutly hope that they will not much longer be kept in suspense, on a question of such importance to themselves, to us, and to the world.

Christians have long been in the habit of commemorating, at this season of the year, the birth of THE PRINCE OF PEACE. It is now eighteen hundred and sixteen years since the anthem of Angels was heard by the Shepherds of Bethlehem-"Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace; good will towards men." It was at this season of the last year, that the Emperour Alexander proclaimed, in Russia,

the pacifick Alliance. In the same month, the Peace Society was formed in Ohio. At this season of the last year, the Massachusetts Peace Society had its origin. The avowed object in all these recent institutions, is, to carry into effect the grand and benignant purpose of God, in sending his Son as the Prince of Peace.

Thus said the benevolent Messiah-"The Son of man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." His doctrines, his precepts, his prohibitions, his examples, and his prayers, were all adapted to such a heavenly purpose. In subserviency to this purpose, our society was formed. To this end all its operations should be directed. And what can be more animating than the thought of being workers together with God, for the redemption of our race, from the oppressions, the crimes, and the miseries of war; and for the establishment of peace and good will in a world of intelligent beings for whom the Saviour died, and who have for ages been in the habit of destroying one another, and of glorying in their shame.

From divine prophesies, and from what God has already done, we may derive hope and animation. But let us never indulge the thought, that those predictions which involve the agency of men, will be accomplished without that agency. Having put our hands to the plough, let us never look back. Having enlisted as soldiers of the Prince of Peace, let us quit ourselves like

men.

With our minds deeply impressed with the bloody and revengeful character of war, and its contrariety to the spirit of our religion, let us resolve, in the language

what more than six thousand Banco rix dollars. I hope, by the blessing of God, the work will be carried on with vigour. Although thou art poor and exhausted, my country, be of good cheer! Thine undertaking will be furthered by the same Giver of all bounties, who commended the widow that increased the treasure of the temple, by casting in a mite.

Thus I have, most excellent gentle men, given you as much information as I was able to impart, and regret very much, that in your annals, which contain intelligence from almost all the countries in the world, I found scarcely any thing from Norway. In the course of time, I hope to be able to give more satisfactory and agreeable accounts.

Let us lift up our hearts! Arise, brethren in Christ! But ye are risen already. Let us pray with one consent, that Christ would graciously bless the means in our hands. We have begun a sacred work; its beginning was under happy auspices; may still happier success crown the end! Your most obedient servant,

NICHOLAO HERTZBERG.

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. Massachusetts General and Lunatick Hospital.-It has been stated in the publick papers, that in three or four days a subscription was obtained in Boston, for these benevolent objects, amounting to $84,802. This sum is exclusive of the Province House, given by the Legislature, which is estimat ed at 50,000 dollars. It has also been stated, that the Merrimack Humane Society have ordered their Treasurer to subscribe 2000 dollars towards the Hospital for the Insane.

Provident Institution, a Bank for Savings.-This Institution has been recently organized by the choice of the following officers :

William Phillips, President.

Vice Presidents.-John Phillips, Samuel Parkman, James Perkins, James Prince, John Lowell, Russell Sturges, Josiah Quincy, Jonathan Hunewell, Ozias Goodwin, Redford Webster, Jonathan Amory, jun. Joseph Coolige, jun.

Trustees. Jesse Putnam, Elisha Ticknor, John Richards, Rev. Dr. Baldwin, J. D. Williams, John Bellows, William Mackay, Rev. W. E. Channing, J. L. Sullivan, Samuel Snelling, William Little, John Dorr, S. H. Walley, William Harris, Andrew Ritchie, Edward Tuckerman, jun. Gideon Snow, David Grenough, Samuel May, Gedney King, William Cockran, Thomas Motley, William Ropes, James Savage.

Ordinations and Installations. Ordained at Chatham, in Connecticut, October 23, Rev. Hervey Talcott. At Holden, October 30, Rev. John Walker.

At Foxborough, November 6, Rev. Thomas Williams.

At Medway, first Church, November 20, Rev. Luther Bailey. At the same time, a new meeting-house was dedicated. Dedicatory prayer by Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Providence. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Sanders, of Medfield. Introductory prayer of the ordination, by Rev. Mr. Ritchie, of Canton. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Richmond, of Stoughton. Consecrating prayer by Rev. Mr. Bullard, of Pepperell. Charge, by Rev. Mr. Morey, of Walpole. Right hand,

by Rev. Mr. Ide, of Medway. Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Hull, of Raynham.

At Middleton, Rev. E. Hubbard. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Eaton, of Boxford. Sermon by Rev. Professor M'Kean. Ordaining prayer by Rev. Dr. Dana, of Ipswich. Right hand by Rev. Mr. Kimball, of Ipswich. Concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Loring, of Andover.

At Lee, Rev. Ebenezer Washburn was ordained as an Evangelist, with a view to a mission of one year in the county of Delaware, in Ohio.

The Rev. T. H. Skinner, late collegiate pastor of the second, was installed pastor of the fifth Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, December 1.

At Boston, January 1, Mr. Henry Ware, over the church and society in this town, lately under the pastoral care of the lamented Dr. Lathrop. Introductory prayer by the Rev. President Kirkland, of the University. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Ware, of the University. Ordaining prayer by the Rev. T. Fiske, of West Cambridge. Charge by the Rev. Dr. Allyn, of Duxbury. Right hand of fellowship, by the Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Boston Concluding prayer by the Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge.

Professors Inaugurated.

At Harvard University, December 11, John Gorham, M.D. was inaugurated as Erving Professor of Chymistry and Materia Medica; and Jacob Bigelow, M.D. as Rumford Professor of Philosophy.

OBITUARY.

Died in Wagpore, India, the Rajah, or Prince of Beran. When dying, he assembled his children and ministers around him, gave them good advice, settled all his affairs, ordered a thousand cows to be distributed to the poor, and then slept with his fathers.

In Bath, England, George Gerson, a converted Jew.

The deaths in Charleston, SouthCarolina, for one year, ending October 1st, were eight hundred and seventy

six-of which three hundred and thirtytwo were whites, and five hundred and forty-four coloured and blacks; four hundred and eighty-three were males, three hundred and ninety-three females; five hundred and sixty-seven adults, and three hundred and nine children; one hundred and forty-nine of consumption, one hundred and fortysix of fevers; four over one hundred years of age, twenty-nine from eighty to ninety, two from ninety to one hun dred. The greatest number of deaths in any one month was in May, the smallest in November.

In Greenfield, Rev. Roger Newton, aged 80.

In Maryland, Rev. John G. Butler, Minister of the German Congregation in Cumberland, Alleghany.

In Lempster, December 17, Mr. Joshua Booth, aged 55. His death was occasioned by the bite of a cat about six weeks previous. The cat attacked him when in bed, and wounded him in the face. Not considering the circumstance as alarming, he neglected to use means to prevent its dreadful effect. Two days before his decease, symptoms of hydrophobia were apparent. Medical aid was then resorted to, but in vain.

Murder, or "as a fool dieth."

Mr. David C. Cooper, of New-York, was killed in a duel by Mr. Christopher Roberts, jun. of Elizabethtown. The affront, it is said, was first given by Mr. Roberts, still he was the challenger. Seconds being chosen, and the instruments of death provided, the parties proceeded together in a carriage to Trenton, where they supped in company, and the next morning met in the fatal field; whence Cooper was removed a lifeless corpse. Thus met two young men, friends and associates; and thus they parted! One to the bar of the righteous Jehovah, a sacrifice to pride and false honour. The other, fleeing the justice of an earthly tribunal, and stung with remorse and a guilty conscience, that, like Cain, he had shed the blood of his fellow man! Newark Sentinel.

SUCH was the language of Paul, relating to himself as a persecutor of the disciples of Christ, and as one who obtained mercy of God. Perhaps there is no subject equally interesting that is less understood, than the one which is now to be discussed, namely, The influence of popular errours in producing evil conduct, and, at the same time, extenuating the degree of criminality.

There are many who seem to imagine that no guilt can be attached to their conduct while they verily think they do what ought to be done. On the contrary, there are others who suppose that all errour of opinion is in itself criminal, and, of course, cannot extenuate the guilt of any conduct of which it may be the occasion. Those who are of the former opinion, are exposed to justify the guilty; and those of

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the latter, to condemn the innocent, or to impute an undue degree of blame. If the former opinion were correct, Paul might be justified in "breathing out threatening and slaughter"-in "making havock of the church" and "persecuting them unto death." For such were the things which he "verily thought he ought to do," and which he verily did.-If the latter opinion were correct, his errour, his ignorance and unbelief, could not have been assigned as a reason why he "obtained mercy."

If Paul may be considered as having had a correct view of the subject, as it related to himself, we must suppose that a person may be verily guilty, while he thinks he is doing what ought to be done; and yet that his errour may render his conduct less criminal than it otherwise would