lation are French and Spanish Catholics, many of them despising the superstitions of their own communion, and indifferent or unbelieving, in reference to any other. These, and even the bigoted Romanists, pay little deference to the sanctity of the Sabbath, and their example has been too faithfully followed by their nominally Protestant neighbours. Vice of almost every species is openly and extensively prevalent. In short, it is what a town containing twelve hundred inhabitants collected from every state of the Union and differ. ent parts of Europe, destitute of piety or the preached gospel, might be expected to become. "Infidelity is common. Yet these people, knowing the temporal benefit of Christianity, have desired me to remain with them, and have, according to their circumstances, contributed quite liberally for my support. "In complying with this request, I trust the object of my mission will be accomplished in a manner agreeable to the wishes of the Board. Since the first of March, I have considered myself as no longer acting under your directions, or dependant on your funds. Previously to that date I had in the discharge of my du ties, travelled two thousand and one hundred miles, preached sixty-four times, visited a number of schools and many families, and frequently lectured to the poor blacks, some of whom appear to have profited by their opportunities. The popu lation of the country is so widely dispersed that preaching at night was impossible; and few would attend, except on Sunday. This will account for the fact that the number of discourses delivered is not so great as might otherwise have been expected. Concerning the destitutions of the south-west, you will learn more from the delegates to the General Assembly than I should be able to communicate. There are but two Presbyterian Clergymen in the State of Louisiana, and minis. ters of other denominations are few in number. Yet probably a disposition to support the ordinances of the gospel is more common than in the North Western states. A few pious, devoted men, would be joyfully received and supported." The Presbytery of Oneida report, that liberal collections are made annually in most of the congregations under their care, particularly for the Western Domestic Missionary Society, but that as a Presbytery they have done nothing by way of contribution to the funds of the Board of Missions. The Presbytery of the District of Columbia report that they are formed into a Missionary Society auxiliary to this Board, and take up annually collections for mis sionary purposes. This year they remit to the Board $33 38; and by societic a their churches have collected and appropriated about $250, chiefly to support a missionary in the city of Washington and its vicinity. The Presbytery of Hanover report to the Board of Missions under the care of the General Assembly, that the Auxiliary Missionary Society under their care, employed during the last year six missionaries; that these missionaries were all located in feeble churches, and with the assistance afforded by those churches, were enabled, with one exception, to continue during the whole year; that they were blessed with an encouraging degree of success; and that there is good prospect, if only suitable missionaries can be obtained, of building up a number of societies, now too weak to support themselves, and of organizing others, which under the fostering care of the missionary society, may become flourishing churches. The amount of monies received by the society during the year, is $1048 48. The amount of distributions is $650 48, and there are due on existing engagements $400 00. The Presbytery of Ogdensburg report that they direct all their efforts in favour of their feeble vacant churches, and have connected themselves with the Western Domestic Missionary Society, and have a prospect of success. The Presbytery of New York have merely reported missionary ground, and request aid. The Presbytery of Huntingdon act as a missionary society auxiliary to the Pennsylvania Missionary Society. The Presbytery of Winchester sent out a missionary last year for five and a half months. His labours were faithful and apparently successful. They hope to do more this year. The Presbytery of Lexington has three missionaries employed for a year, in establishing some feeble congregations with in their own bounds. The Synod of the Western Reserve report that they have formed themselves into a Domestic Missionary Society, and recommend collections to be taken up in all their congregations in aid of the society's funds. The Board of Missions of the Synod of Ohio, report, "that during the past year they have employed, for short periods, sixteen missionaries; to whom they allotted, in all, twenty-nine months' missionary labour; and during the same period have they received reports from missionaries of twenty-six and a half months' missionary services, in behalf of the Board. In per forming this service, the missionaries have " visited many destitute settlements and dispased the word of life to thousands who would otherwise have been without a preached gospel. In many places the labours of the missionaries appear to have been attended with considerable success, and most of the settlements which they visited, manifested a great desire to have the ordinances of the gospel administered to them more frequently; but the Board have to regret their inability to gratify this desire, in such a manner as would at all meet the wishes of these settlements, or the view they have of their necessities: and they believe, that the constant labour of four or five missionaries in addition to all they are able to employ, would not be more than sufficient to give these settlements a sufficient quantity of missionary labour." By inspecting rule 6th, recorded p. 85 of the Digest, it will be seen, that all the Synods and all the Presbyteries are required annually to report on missionary business to this Board;' and that the Assembly stand pledged to inquire every year whether the Synods and Presbyteries perform their duty. This year, only two Synods out of 16, and eight Presbyteries out of 88, have reported on this subject. Is it not desirable that the religious publick should see what the Presbyterian church is doing in the interesting cause of missions; but it is impossible for this Board to make a full exhibition of missionary operations within our church, unless the Synods and Presbyteries comply with the Assembly's rule. The Assembly it is hoped will institute an inquiry this year. On the present occasion, when the General Assembly seem disposed to inspire new life and vigour into the operations of this Board, a retrospective view of the attention paid to missions by the Presbyterian Church, may not be improper. As early as 1766, the Synod of New York and Philadelphia adopted measures for procuring funds for the purpose of sending the gospel to the destitute; and as soon as the General Assembly was constituted in 1789, the cause of missions claimed their particular attention. From year to year they continued to manage this important concern, till finding that, during their short sessions, they could not, without an alteration of their plan, successfully, and to the best advantage, conduct their missions, they, in the year 1802, appointed a Standing Committee of Missions, invested with such powers as were deemed necessary. By the aid of that committee, the Assembly were enabled to extend their operations, and carry them on with greater facility and effect. The very next year after the appointment of the Standing Committee, the Rev. Gideon Blackburn was commissioned to establish a mission among the Cherokee nation of Indians. Mr. Blackburn continued in the employ of the Assembly seven years; and during that time, by the instrumentality of schools located among the Cherokees, and by means of preaching, he had produced a very beneficial change among that benighted people. Here the American Board of Commissioners established their first mission; and on the foundation laid by the Assembly, raised their superstructure. Your funds have also assisted the Board of Trust of the Western Missionary Society, in conducting their missions among the Indians. In 1818, the Assembly constituted the Committee into a BOARD OF MISSIONS, increased their number, and enlarged their powers. The Board, in conformity with instructions, soon devised and published a plan for organizing auxiliary missionary societies within the limits of each Presbytery, and the establishment of missionary associations in each congregation, auxiliary to these societies; a plan that met with the decided approbation of the General Assembly. The same year in which the Board of Missions was constituted, measures were taken by the assembly for the establishment of the United Foreign Missionary Society, which was the last year merged into the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. During the last sixteen years, between forty and fifty missionary appointments have been annually made; which, of course, have in that time amounted to considerably more than six hundred. For many years, the committee of missions could make appointments equal to 5000 dollars annually; and consequently they expended in ten years, nearly 50,000 dollars. But owing to various circumstances the funds of the Assembly have for several years past been so diminished, that the Board of Missions could not calculate on more than 4000 dollars annually; and they in ten years have expended about 45,000 dollars. In the course of twenty years, the General Assembly have applied to missionary purposes, exclusive of what was expended by the United Foreign Missionary Society, nearly 100,000 dollars. Missionary operations were carried on at first by means of congregational collections, till the year 1800, when measures were adopted for the purpose of forming a permanent fund. Since that time the pecuniary means have been derived from the interest of the permanent fund, from congregational collections, and from contributions obtained in the missionary field. Of late years all these streams have dimi. nished, while the contingent expenses of the Assembly have been increasing; so that the amount on which the Board could calculate has not been more than $4000 annually; and it is with grief we say it will, this year, be still less. To go beyond our means would be inexpedient, and indeed contrary to a rule of the Assembly; yet the Board have considered it as their duty actively to employ all the funds at their command; so that if at any time money has, at the close of the year, remained unexpended, it has been occasioned by the want of suitable missionaries. The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church acknowledges the receipt of the following sume for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, (N. J.) during the month of August last, viz. Of the Rev. Dr. John Codman, of Dorchester, (Mass.) per Messrs. Hurd & Sewall, his seventh annual payment, for the Contingent Fund, Of the Rev. Thomas Kennedy, of the Senior Class of 1821-2, in full of his subscription for the Oriental and Biblical Literature Professorship, $100 00 22 00 Diew of Publick Affairs. Total, $122.00 EUROPE. We have seen no European dates more recent than the 31st of July from London, and the 15th from Paris-The foreign papers state that there was a prospect of an abundant harvest the ensuing season in Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Denmark, and Great Britain-Much injury had been sustained in various parts of the continent by inundations, occasioned by unusual falls of rain. BRITAIN. The British parliament was prorogued on the 2d of July by the Lord Chancellor. Before the prorogation, Mr. Canning was able to carry a bill, making a temporary provision for the introduction of foreign grain, subject to a specifick duty; which had had the effect to reduce the price of domestick corn. It is expected that the corn bill, lately thrown out in the house of Lords, will be renewed as soon as the parliament shall again convene. It is stated in the speech by which parliament was prorogued, that there is "a gradual revival of employment in the manufacturing districts." All the arrangements of office in the new ministry and cabinet have been fully settled-Mr. Canning remains Premier. The Marquis of Anglesea is appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to succeed the Marquis of Wellesley some months hence. The Duke of Wellington had gone to Ireland on a visit to his brother. Mr. Canning had been ill, but was again restored to health. Mr. Huskisson had gone to the continent for the recovery of his health. Eleven professors had been appointed in the London University; two of them—Mr. Long of Virginia and Dr. Pattison of Baltimore, -from the United States. The Bank of England had resolved to discount at the rate of 4 per cent. instead of 5: and stocks and other property had in consequence risen rapidly in value. The ratification of the treaty between Britain and Mexico had arrived, and the vessel which conveyed it brought 1,200,000 dollars in specie-The most important article of intelligence relates to the treaty entered into by the three great powers, Britain, France, and Russia, for terminating the sanguinary conflict be tween the Turks and Greeks. It purports to have been signed in London by the plenipotentiaries of the high contracting parties, on the 6th of July last. The ratifications were to be exchanged in two months, and sooner if possible. It comes to this -the hostile parties shall be first requested, and then, if necessary, compelled to fight no more-Greece shall pay an annual tribute to Turkey, but shall choose her own rulers, subject to the approval of the Grand Seignior-The tribute to be fixed once for all, and the Greeks to indemnify the Turkish individuals who have lost property, beside paying the tribute-No Turks to remain in Greece, or in the Grecian islands, -None of the contracting powers to seek for themselves any augmentation of terri tory, or any commercial advantages for their subjects. How this treaty came before the publick is a mystery, and some have suspected it to be a forgery. We have no doubt, however, that it is genuine-The fleets which are to proceed to the Mediterranean and Archipelago are on their way. The Turk is restive, and professes to reject the offered mediation. If he should continue to do so, and eventually bring on himself the vengeance of the allied powers, it would seem to be a just retribution for his horrible cruelty to the Greeks. But our space forbids us to extend our remarks on this treaty-Perhaps we may hereafter resume the subject. FRANCE.-General La Fayette has been elected a member of the French chamber of deputies, in opposition to court influence, vigorously exercised in favour of a rival candidate. The general, with his son, celebrated the last anniversary of American independence in Paris, with about 80 Americans. Mr. Barnet, the American consul, presided, and Mr. Cooper, the novelist, was Vice President-Our minister, Mr. Brown, was a guest-The censorship of the press, which the monarch has undertaken to conduct without a special act of the legislature, is rigorously exercised, and is very unpopular. M. Cuvier refused to act as a censor, and has experienced the marked frowns of the court in consequence. War has actually commenced between France and Algiers, and a French fleet of 12 ships is to blockade the port of Algiers. A portion of the French troops yet remain in Spain. We are glad to find, by the religious jour1 nals which we peruse, that Bible and tract societies are likely to produce a happy influence in France, and that evangelical piety is gaining ground in the Protestant $ churches. SPAIN.—It appears that a revolt has taken place among the Spanish troops stationed at Algeziras and at the camp of St. Roch-Twelve officers have been arrested. Troubles also continue in Catalonia, and Count Torre Alba has fled to Gibraltar. Bands of robbers infest many parts of the country. The nation is said to be divided between two factions called the Carlists, who wish the king's brother Carlos to be raised to the throne; and the Ferdinandists, who are attached to the reigning monarch. The Spanish troops have withdrawn from the Portuguese frontier, and a reinforcement was about being sent to the Havanna. The treaty between France and Mexico has produced a great sensation in the Spanish court. PORTUGAL.-The affairs of this kingdom remain in a very unsettled state. There has been some change, said to be in favour of the liberal or constitutional party, in the administration of the government. A new minister of foreign affairs, and a new ambassador to the court of St. James', have been appointed. In the mean time, Don Miguel refuses to go to Brazil to receive his espoused wife, and in other respects is adverse to the execution of the orders of his brother and king. It seems to be generally believed that the affairs of Portugal cannot be settled, unless Don Pedro shall return and take the reins of government into his own hands-The insurgents are quelled, but the British troops remain in the kingdom. GREECE. The report of the defeat of the Greeks before Athens, which we mentioned in our last number, is fully confirmed-We have read the official communication of General Church on the subject. The conflict was severe and bloody-The Greeks lost between two and three thousand men-four or five general officers, and among the rest the gallant Fabvier. Yet General Church does not despair of the Gre cian cause. The Acropolis has fallen-There appears to have been a capitulation, and the Greek troops, if we rightly understand the accounts, were received on board of foreign vessels-We hope the intervention of the allied powers will come in time to prevent the farther effusion of blood. Both General Church and Lord Cochrane narrowly escaped captivity in the defeat before Athens-His lordship was watching the Turkish fleet, which was in force far superior to his own. Supplies of provisions from our country have reached Greece, and have afforded considerable relief to the distressed inhabitants. TURKEY.-Flushed with his late successes against the Greeks, the Grand Seignior seems to spurn the idea of any intervention or mediation of the Christian_powers. He will be obliged however to yield, either peaceably or by compulsion. His great ally, the Pacha of Egypt, has deserted him, and we expect shortly to hear that this Pacha has declared himself independent. The ways of Providence are often inscrutable, but always wise. In what precise way we know not, but we have no doubt that the Mahomedan power is hastening to its end. RUSSIA. It is stated, and with apparent truth, that Russia is about concluding peace with Persia-Russia gains a large accession of territory; considerably larger, we think, than that to which she laid claim before the war. ASIA. It appears from reports and communications which we have seen within the past month, that the missionary cause in Asia is prosperous. Bibles and tracts are widely distributed and gladly received; schools for the education of female, as well as male youth, are extending and producing a most salutary influence; and the number of hopeful converts to genuine Christianity is not small-The prospect is indeed cheering. Missionaries, and the funds to support them, are however greatly needed-In the civil or secular state of the country, we observe nothing of importance that is novel. Rangoon is said to have been wrested from the Burmese, by a hostile neighbouring power. AFRICA. Intelligence of the most gratifying kind has been recently received from the American colony of Liberia, as appears from the following extract of a letter from Captain Matthews, who commanded the Doris, the vessel which carrried out the last 'emigrants-The letter is dated "Porto-Praya, Cape de Verd, July 19th, 1827;" and the extract is as follows: "As Mr. Ashmun may not have had an opportunity of communicating with the United States since my departure from Mesurado, I have the honour to inform you, for the information of the Board of Managers, that we landed all our passengers in excellent health at Mesurado, 45 days after our departure from Hampton Roads. I have the satisfaction also to state, that at the date of my departure from the Cape, the 21st June, all the emigrants by the Doris had gone through the fever, two young children only fallen victims to it, and most of them were located and working on their farms on the Stockton. I have despatches on board the Doris, from Mr. Ashmun, for the Board, and the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, which I shall forward immediately on my arrival in Baltimore, for which place I shall sail in two or three days. It affords me much pleasure to bear testimony to the thriving and prosperous condition of the colony. The emigrants by the Doris, with one or two exceptions, appear to be highly pleased with their prospects." AMERICA. BRAZIL AND BUENOS AIRES.-Rumours for a month past have been in circulation, that a treaty of peace between these powers was being negotiated, under the friendly mediation of the British government. The last accounts lead us to believe that a treaty of peace is under consideration; but what are its terms we have not heard. We suspect that Don Pedro wishes for peace in America, that he may return to Portugal. COLOMBIA. The affairs of this republick are still in a state of agitation—and the views of Bolivar are in mystery-We still think he is honest. MEXICO. The legislature of Vera Cruz, one of the states included in the federa tion of this great republick, has lately violated all decency, dignity and equity, in some of its measures and acts. The commissary of the state, and superintendant of the customs, of the name of Esteva, an officer constitutionally appointed by the general government, had rendered himself obnoxious to a majority of the members of the legislature of Vera Cruz, by adopting political opinions hostile to theirs-and these opinions, as it would seem, favourable to our country. The legislature, without ceremony, expelled him from office, and drove him from the state. This was followed by a publick manifesto justifying their act, and in unqualified terms, reviling our government and its minister, Mr. Poinsett, as supposed parties to the supposed opinions, views and wishes of Esteva. This drew from Mr. Poinsett a counter address or manifesto, in which he has most clearly and triumphantly confuted every allegation, by which either his government or himself had been impeached. We wait to see the issue of this business-Vera Cruz will have to settle its dispute with the general congress of Mexico, and perhaps Mexico must have an explanation with our government. UNITED STATES.-Through the greater part of the month of August, a large portion of our country suffered pretty severely by drought, and in some places, the crops of Indian corn have been greatly injured. But copious rains have since succeeded, and vegetation has given to the earth the aspect of Spring, rather than of Autumn. Charleston, S. C. has suffered in a small degree, by yellow fever-Every other part of our country has escaped, and general health prevails. If our gratitude to God bore any proportion to his goodness to us, we should be pre-eminently a happy people. |