ed in his endeavours to secure them. From this account it appeared, that the Archbishop, who professes the Roman Catholic religion, had left his convent on Mount Libanus, (Convento della Maria Liberatrice,) from a conviction, that without further assistance than the funds of his convent were able to supply, it would be impossible to administer that spiritual instruction to the Christians of Palestine and Syria, which their wants so imperiously demanded. In his endeavours to obtain that assistance, he had come to England, and had already, as he (Mr Pratt) was glad to inform the meeting, seen upwards of L.430 subscribed in furtherance of his disinterested project. Out of this sum, L.100 had that morning been given to him for his own private uses; a gift, which he (Mr Pratt) trusted the meeting would sanction with their approbation, especially as the venerable individual in question must have incurred many extraordinary expences in the course of his long and tedious wanderings. He (Mr Pratt) was also happy to inform them, that a gentleman of the name of Clymer had presented the Archbishop with one of his Columbian printing presses. This present had excited the utmost gratitude in the mind of the Archbishop, and could not fail to excite strong feelings of admiration in the mind of every individual who heard of the circumstance. He, perhaps, ought to state to them, that the venerable character whom they were now assembled to meet, had come to this country without any letters of recommendation to any individual in it. He was indeed a Catholic; but he was glad to say a Catholic of such a description as would not object to the free circulation of the Bible among all ranks and classes within his jurisdiction. It had, indeed, been said, that the Archbishop had privately communicated to some of his friends, his intention of not allowing the free promulgation of the Holy Bible; but he believed that he could refer to an honourable gentleman (Mr Lee) for a contradiction of that rumour. With regard to the other qualities of the Archbishop, he should leave his two friends, Mr Owen and Mr Lee, to explain them. They would tell the meeting how excellent the conduct of this individual had been whilst in their company, and how extensive were the stores of Oriental literature which he had displayed to them during the visit which they had made together to the University of Oxford. For his own part, he should conclude by moving for the appointment of a committee, to decide on what would be the most advisable method of disposing of the money, and to deliberate upon the means which ought to be adopted to maintain a correspondence in future with the Archbishop. The Rev. Mr Owen then expressed his conviction of the virtue and integrity of the Archbishop, a conviction which was formed from an intimate acquaintance with him for some time past, and from certain traits of character which had escaped from him (the Archbishop) unintentionally and almost unobservedly during the journey which they had taken together. He could not help saying that his arrival in this country was not merely opportune, but was even providential. It had opened to us a means of communicating with our Christian brethren in Asia, and a means of instilling into the Mohammedan inhabitants of that country a knowledge of that light which leadeth to salvation. It had also settled a controversy which had ex isted between several learned men in this country, regarding the language into which it would be most expedient to translate the Scriptures, for the use and benefit of the Asiatic nations. Dr Macbride had proposed one language, and Mr Lee had proposed another; but the Archbishop had advised the use of the Taoushan, (Arabic in Syrian characters) as most likely to be generally understood. Mr Owen then entered into an account of the religious constitution of the Syro-Christian Church, and after some other observations on the necessity of affording every assistance within their power to the Archbishop, concluded his speech with predicting great advantages from the establishment of a constant channel of communication between the Christian Churches of Europe and Asia. The Rev. Mr Lee (Professor of Arabic in the University of Cambridge) bore testimony to the astonishing acquaintance which the Archbishop had displayed with the stores of Oriental literature preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford; and argued that such extensive knowledge was a prima facie proof that the Archbishop actually was the person whom he stated him self to be. Mr Owen then proposed that the Archbishop should be invited to meet the Assembly. He hoped that the meeting would show as few marks of curiosity as possible on the entrance of the Archbishop, as the Archbishop had objected to the presence of females at this meeting, from a dread that he should be treated as a mere spectacle. The Archbishop had also expressed a wish that no mention should be made of the sums which were presented to him," because," said he, "if the Grand Turk knew that I had brought more than two shillings with me from England, he would certainly massacre me on my return." Mr Owen then left the room, and shortly afterwards returned accompanied by the Archbishop. On arriving at the Chairman's seat, he bowed first to the Chair and then to the company, and seemed to feel some small degree of alarm and agitation. He was however encouraged by Mr Wilberforce and Mr Owen, and quickly regained his presence of mind, which for a moment appeared to have deserted him. He was dressed in the Oriental costume, his head was covered with a blue turban, and his body with a long and loose robe of dark blue cloth or serge. He seemed to be about forty years of age, though his beard, which is long and bushy, may probably make him look older than he really is. In spite, however, of all the peculiarities of his dress and manners, his appearance evidently made a favourable impression upon all the spectators in the room. After a short pause, the Chairman informed him (and Mr Owen conveyed the information to him in Italian) that assistance would gladly be afforded to him by the individuals whom he saw assembled before him. A smile of satisfaction immediately played upon his countenance, and he desired Mr Owen to acquaint the company, that as he could not address them in English, he would address them in another language, which he trusted Mr Owen would have the goodness to interpret to them. Mr Owen acquiescing in this proposal himself, and informing him that it was highly acceptable to the meeting, the Archbishop uttered a few sentences in Italian, expressive of the gratitude which he felt for the favours which they had bestowed upon him, and of the expectations which he enjoyed of great good arising from them to the cause of Christian virtue and piety. After this speech, which was received with considerable applause, a Committee was appointed for the purposes mentioned by the Rev. Josiah Pratt, and a liberal subscription immediately made to aid the design for which the meeting had assembled. 15. EXECUTION OF GEORGE WARDEN. This day George Warden, late clerk in the Aberdeen Postoffice, was executed, pursuant to a sentence of the High Court of Justiciary of the 12th of March last, for the crime of abstracting letters containing money from the mail-bags passing through the Post-office, Aberdeen. The circumstances under which this unfortunate young man was convicted excited an extraordinary degree of sympathy in his behalf, and many indulged hopes of a commutation of his sentence till the latest possible period. This general interest operated, probably along with a recollection of the unhappy circumstances attending the last spectacle of the kind in Edinburgh, to draw an immense multitude to the place of execution. The spot selected for this purpose was in the Lawnmarket. A drop was erected at the head of Libberton's Wynd, and the crowd extended in a compact body from the Weigh-house to the Cross, so that there could not be fewer than 20,000 spectators. At half-past two o'clock, the Magistrates, in their robes, went from the County Hall to the Lock-up house, where the prisoner was confined, and where the Rev. Mr Porteous, chaplain to the gaol, and the Rev. Dr Brunton of the Tron Church, were attending him. Mr Porteous then read a portion of the 51st psalm, which Warden joined in singing; and after a prayer by the same reve rend gentleman, the whole moved from the Lock-up house, through the lower part of the County buildings, to Libberton's wynd, from the top of which a stair led up to the scaffold, on which the prisoner appeared at a quarter before three o'clock, supported by the two clergymen, and attended by Bailies Anderson and Brown. Warden behaved throughout the remaining part of the tragical scene with becoming firmness; his countenance seemed to express pensive resignation to his fate, but exhibited no marks of terror or dismay. At his own request Dr Brunton read out the fifth hymn in the collection used in the Church of Scotland, which he joined in singing; and after an impressive prayer by the Reverend Doctor, Warden shook hands cordially with all around him, and walked up to the drop, assisted by Mr Porteous. The last shocking duty was then performed by the Glasgow executioner, and in a few minutes this unfortunate young man was launched into eternity. During the service the Reverend Doctor was more than once almost overcome by his feelings; and while he prayed, the majority of the crowd within hearing remained uncovered. Just before the drop fell, a circumstance occurred which excited considerable alarm among a portion of the crowd, but fortunately no serious result followed. When the executioner and his assistants descended from the drop, the unhappy sufferer fainted, and swung upon the rope, while the handkerchief, unperceived for an instant, fell from his hand. A loud cry of "Let down the drop!" issued from those close by; while others at a great distance, alarmed by the shout, ran with violence in different directions from the scene. In a moment, however, the drop fell; and in less than two minutes Warden's suf ferings were at an end. Warden was only twenty-one years of age, and previous to the commission of the crime for which he suffered, appears to have borne an unblemished character, and to have been much respected for his obliging attention to those who had business to transact with him. He has left a widowed mother and two sisters to lament his untimely fate, one of whom is fifteen and the other five years of age. The youngest one, with his mother, attended him in gaol these some weeks past, during which time he has maintained a most pious resignation. On Tuesday night, about ten o'clock, he took an affectionate farewell of them; and the scene, to use the expressions of the very humane governor of the gaol, was even more heart-rending than that of the execution. He embraced his little sister in his arms, kissed her repeatedly, and exhorted her, in terms suited to her capacity, to walk in the paths of virtue; and in taking farewell of his mother, he recommended his sisters strongly to her maternal care; entreating her even, he said, if she should beg for it, to endeavour to procure for them such instruction and education as might enable them to prosecute a reputable line of life. The anguish of the mother during this last interview will not admit of description. On the same day, in presence of Bailie Smith and Dr Brunton, Warden emitted and signed the following declaration : "Edinburgh, April 13. 1819. "In order that the truth may hereafter be investigated, and that injustice may be prevented to the young men, clerks in the different post-offices, and that they may not be tempted by poverty, or the oppression of their superiors, to break their trust, and, like me, to expiate their guilt on a gallows, I deem that it may be of use that I leave behind me on record a declaration of the truth as to the actual amount of my allowance from the post-office of Aberdeen, which was only L. 40. I am by no means actuated, in this my last declaration, by any feeling of malice or revenge against the person of Mr Dingwall; but I do so with the hope of saving others from being in any way under the necessity of committing a similar crime : because, had I been paid the salary allowed by Government, the temptation in my power would not have been availed of. At the same time, I return my most sincere thanks to the Clergymen and others, for their kindness in visiting me while under sentence; and, in justice, I cannot omit to mention the kind treatment I received from the Governor, Mr Sibbald, in making me as comfortable as my situation would admit of. I die in peace with all men, and in the humble hope of pardon from God for my sins and offences against the public. (Signed) "GEORGE WARDEN. "Alexander Brunton, Minister. "P. S.-I have to contradict the printed poem that was sold through the city of Edinburgh, as it was never written by me. I also deny that ever I abstracted but L.5 from letters coming through the post-office of Aberdeen. "GEORGE WARDEN." Every precaution was taken to prevent the recurrence of the disgraceful scene so lately witnessed in Edinburgh. A considerable area in front of the drop was strongly staked in, and lined inside by a strong body of the police. The high constables were assembled in the aisle of the adjacent church; and in the County-Hall a bugleman of the 88th was stationed, to sound an alarm to the garrison in case of necessity. But no feeling seemed to actuate the multitude assembled, but that of silent compassion for the unfortunate sufferer; and in a short time after the sentence of the law was carried into effect, the streets were quite clear. 21. VISIT OF THE Emperor of AuSTRIA TO VESUVIUS.-The Emperor and Empress of Austria, accompanied by the Prince of Salerno, and the Princess Amelia of Saxony, ascended Vesuvius at eleven in the evening of this day; having for their guides the Duke de la Torre, and the Chevalier de Gimbernat, both well acquainted with the topography of the mountain. The imperial party rested for the night at a short distance from the crater to enjoy the brilliant spectacle of volcanic eruptions during the night, and to obtain a view of the magnificent scenery in the bay and gulph of Naples at sun-rise. In the morning they also visited an apparatus established by the Chevalier Gimbernat near the crater, which, by condensing the steam that issues from the mountain, produces clear and even salubrious water. This, however, soon became an unpleasant gratification of curiosity from the number of ignited stones, projected from the crater, which fell in great numbers around them. During the two hours they remained at the summit, Vesuvius displayed all its gran. deur. Immense jets of flame, and vollies of red-hot stones, thrown to a prodigious elevation, accompanied with violent explosions, were repeated every ten minutes "avec un éclat, dont les plus beaux bouquets d'artifice ne sauraient même donner une idée." This magnificent and somewhat terrific spectacle has in some measure indemnified the imperial party for not having witnessed the current of lava, which, after flowing incessantly for a whole month, had only ceased a few days before their ascent. 23. PATENT COFFINS. A cu rious and important case is now pending in the Ecclesiastical Court in Doctors' Commons. In April 1818, Mr Edward Littie Bridgman, of Goswell-street-road, obtained a patent for a newly invented wrought-iron coffin. The object of the patentee appears to have been twofold; first, to furnish a coffin of solid materials at a cheap price; and, secondly, to secure the corpse from being disinterred for the purpose of dissection. The patent coffin is manufactured for L.3, 10s., and is constructed upon such principles that it cannot be re-opened. In these coffins the patentee has buried upwards of a hundred persons in fifty-two places, principally in the metropolis. Some parishes at first refused to admit the coffin, considering that it was less liable to decay than coffins made of wood or lead; but at last they consented to receive it. The rector of one parish, however, (St Andrew, Holborn,) positively refused to bury a corpse contained in one of these coffins; and in consequence, the patentee, in the name of the husband of the deceased, applied to the Bishop of London, to request that his Lordship would direct the rector to perform the funeral service over the body. The Bishop replied, that he had heard of the case, and that the husband intended to bring it before the Ecclesiastical Court; he did not wish, therefore, to insist on the admission of these coffins. He conceived, that the best way of settling the matter for the present was, to convey the bodies for interment in coffins made of the usual materials, and leave the issue of the legal proceedings to determine whether iron cof |