made to the church. In some, revivals are now in progress, or hopefully commencing. Among these may be numbered the town of Kent, the first society in Chatham, and the society of Ridgebury. DEATH OF MISSIONARIES. We mentioned in our last the death of Mr. Ward, in India. We have now to state that the Rev. W. A. B. JOHNSON, the truly apostolick missionary of the London Church Missionary Society, and whose la bours and success at Sierra Leone were of a very distinguished character, died, in April last, of the yellow fever, on his passage from Sierra Leone to London. He was apparently in his usual health when he went on board. But doubtless he had received contagion, which in a few days produced the fever, that deprived the church and the world of his inestimable services. It appears that the Church Missionary Society have lost four other missionaries, at Sierra Leone-The Rev. S. FLOOD, PALMER, and SCHEMEL, and Mr. BUNYER, a schoolmaster. The Wesleyan mission to West Africa, has also experienced a serious loss, in the death of the Rev. Mr. LANE, one of their missionaries. And most worthy to stand in the list of deceased missionaries is the name of CATHARINE BROWN; with whose history many of our readers are familiar. She was one of the first converts to Christianity from among the Cherokee nation of Indians; and her labours and prayers were greatly and happily instrumental, in bringing nearly the whole of a large family connexion, to the knowledge, as we trust, of "the truth as it is in Jesus." We saw and conversed with her brother, on his return, last spring, from the missionary school at Cornwall in Connecticut; and seldom have we seen a more interesting and amiable young man-a gentleman in his manners and whole appearance, of considerable improve ment, devoutly pious, and devoted to the evangelizing of his Cherokee brethren. His deceased sister Catherine, to whom the whole family looked with veneration, as well they might, was indeed, by all that we have heard of her, a very extraordinary young woman. Her personal accomplishments and attractions, have been represented to us as of a pretty high order. But her mental culture, eminent discretion, and fervent piety, were her greatest and best distinctions. She was in missionary service at Creek-Path, when she was attacked with a pulmonary complaint. She was removed for medical assistance to Lime-stone, and placed under the care of Dr. Campbell, from whom she received every attention and kindness. But all was ineffectual to arrest her disease, which brought her rapidly to the grave, on the 18th of July last. The danger of disease and death in sickly regions, does not stop the enterprises of commerce and of science. But what is all the wealth and all the science on earth, in comparison with the salvation of immortal souls! We confidently trust that devoted Christians, male and female, will immediately offer, to take the place of those who have finished their labours on earth, and gone to their reward in heaven. And let every Christian feel the injunction of the great Head of the church, when performing what, with the deepest reverence, we would call his missionary errand in our guilty world-Thus runs the sacred record "When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.* Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." *How descriptive is this of the present state of the heathen and the Jews. The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church acknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. during the month of September last, viz. Of Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, a col- Of Rev. Samuel Bell, per Rev. Of Rev. John Clark, per Rev. $10 00 10 00 10 00 5 00 14.00 View of Publick Affairs. SPAIN. The last intelligence from Spain presents no favourable aspect of the Constitutional cause in that unhappy country. With the exception of a letter said to be received at Boston from Gibraltar, the most recent information comes to us through a French channel, and therefore is doubtless to be suspected of exaggeration in favour of the invaders. Still, there are a number of unquestionable facts, which seem to show that the cause of the Cortes is at a low ebb. Corunna and Vigo have been taken by the French, and the whole north-western part of the Peninsula, except a few strongholds (which also are closely besieged) is without resistance to their arms, and apparently reduced to a tame acquiescence in their authority. Ballasteros has added himself to the number of treacherous generals; a part of his army, at least, has gone with its commander, and the remainder is rendered inefficient. In no part of Spain are the Constitutionalists successful in opposing their invaders, farther than in the defence of a few fortified places-Even Mina, appears to be confined in his operations to Barcelona and its environs. Cadiz is closely blockaded both by sea and land. The Cortes have adjourned, and appointed a kind of executive committee to act in their behalf during their recess. The king, however, is reported to have made them a speech at the time of their adjournment, in which he spoke in commendation of their proceedings, and with high approbation of the stand they had made against their enemies. This speech was no doubt put into the king's mouth, and delivered by him only because he dared not refuse to utter it. It appears that the Duke D'Angouleme, whose head quarters are at Port St. Mary's, Cadiz Bay, is endeavouring to carry on a correspondence with the committee of the Cortes-It was even rumoured that Cadiz had capitulated. This, however, appears to be premature. The letter from Gibraltar, to which we have referred, is of later date than any other communication. It states that Cadiz is provisioned for five months, and that general Riego had quickly raised, at Malaga, an army of 8000 men. It represents, notwithstanding, what is fully apparent, that the Spaniards, in general, are spiritless-It also mentions that there was an expectation, of a mediatory interference on the part of Great Britain, and expresses an opinion that peace will shortly be concluded. The American frigate which was carrying our ambassador to Cadiz, was refused entrance by the blockading squadron, and immediately returned to Gibraltar. This was, at least, a discourteous act; and our ambassador, Mr. Nelson, is stated to have sent a remonstrance on the subject to the Duke de Angouleme. It is our belief that the French are heartily sick of the contest in which they are engaged, and that the Constitutionalists have at present but little hope of maintaining their ground. Yet it seems to us that if peace were immediately proclaimed, there could be no real peace, or tranquillity, in that wretched region, for years to come. The state of affairs in Spain presents to our view nothing but "confusion worse confounded." The French appear to be wholly dissatisfied with the extravagant expectations and exterminating wishes of the royal Junta created by themselves, and have actually taken away all real power from that body-The Junta, of course, hate the French; the Constitutionalists hate both; and a considerable part of the nation probably execrate them all. If, therefore, a formal peace were concluded immediately, Spain, it is clear, must be long torn by the most envenomed factions. Who can predict the event! We rejoice to leave it with Him, whose prerogative it is, to bring order out of confusion, light out of darkness, and good out of evil. PORTUGAL. Arbitrary royal power is still dominant in Portugal. Yet the latest accounts give us to understand that there is great discontent among the best informed part of the nation. We see not, indeed, how it could be otherwise. The army, likewise the instrument by which alone the existing authorities can maintain their ascendancy-is represented as discontented, and nearly ripe for mutiny. We should not be surprised if the news of another revolution in Portugal should be brought by the next arrival. ROME.-Pope Pius the VIIth died at Rome on the 20th of August last. Arrangements were making for the accustomed funeral rites, and for the election of a sovereign pontiff as a successor to the deceased-Of these we have not space to give an account. Time was when the filling of a vacancy in the Popedom was among the most important concerns that could take place in Europe. We rejoice that this is no longer the case-The Pope at present is little more than bishop of Rome. He is shorn of nearly all the power, out of his own territories, which he once possessed, except that of issuing bulls; and indeed these are scarcely more than BRUTA FULMINA. We hope and expect that they will soon become so inane as to be not worth the publishing. His Holiness deceased was a bitter enemy to Bible societies, and did all in his power to prevent their influence. It is possible, but we fear not very probable, that his successor will not, in this respect, follow his example. Wo to the church, or the individual, that would restrain the diffusion of the word of God. It will "run and be glorified," in spite of all opposition; and fearful must be the responsibility of those by whom the opposition is made. THE GREEKS.-Some recent accounts, which do not appear to be well authenticated and which we sincerely hope may prove false, represent the Greeks as having suffered defeat in some late encounters with their enemies the Turks, and that the latter had the occupancy of the straits of Thermopyla. We expect, however, as we intimated the last month, that deadly conflict and shocking carnage will be found to have marked the campaign that is now passing. Our prayer is that the God of armies may give the victory to those who are contending for all that is dear and sacred on earth. The last arrival from Smyrna had nothing to report, but that the Greek and Turkish fleets were both at sea, and that no engagement had yet taken place between them. This seems to encourage the hope that the previous accounts of the Turkish successes are unworthy of credit. FRANCE. Nothing of importance has transpired through the last month, in regard to the state of publick affairs in France. Whether the political calm and stillness lately prevalent there, be or be not the forerunner of earthquake and tempest, we leave to time, without a conjecture. GREAT BRITAIN.-The British parliament has been in recess since the 19th of July till the 30th ult. At such a time there is usually less of interest in the publick affairs of Great Britain than when parliament is sitting. A royal order, however, appears to have passed, having an unfavourable bearing on our commerce-It is professedly grounded on the want of reciprocity on our part, in the commerce which is the subject of the order. An arrangement will probably be made at the next meeting of Congress, which will be mutually satisfactory to the parties concerned. The state of Ireland is represented as somewhat more favourable. SOUTHERN AMERICA.-So far as we know, the state of publick affairs in this very interesting portion of the globe remains much as it was when we made our last statement. The only important change with which we are acquainted is that Morales, the Spanish general, has surrendered the town of Maracaibo to the Patriots, who are now in an almost undisturbed possession of the whole country which they denominate the Colombian republick. UNITED STATES.—The political concerns of our own country are familiar to the most of our readers, by means of the newspapers which are published in every section of it. We rejoice that the State of Indiana has resolved not to alter its constitution, while we much regret that the majority against the change should be--if the statement we have seen be correct-but a single unit. In Pennsylvania there is an ardent political controversy, in regard to the choice of a governor at the approaching election. Aloof from all such controversy ourselves, we wish we had influence enough to persuade our fellow citizens and fellow christians to subject their political zeal to the laws of candour and fairness, not to permit their minds to be absorbed or unduly agitated with concerns which will not long appear to be of the highest moment, and to guard against that indulgence of party feeling in which truth and temper, domestick peace and neighbourly kindness, are forgotten and violated. Perhaps the fruits of the earth have never been more abundant in any year since the settlement of our country, than in that which is drawing to a close. At the same time it is probable that (except the merciful exemption of our cities from the scourge of pestilence) no autumn was ever more sickly, than that which is now passing. In every state of the union to the south and west of New York, and in some parts of that state also, there has been we suspect an unparalleled prevalence of disease. The town of Natchez has been almost depopulated; and in many places scarcely a sufficient number of the inhabitants have remained in health to take care of those who have been sick. The general disease has been fever, of every shade and type, from slight intermittent to the most ardent and malignant of the bilious class. The mortality has been considerable, and yet by no means as great as might have been expected from the number who have suffered. In New England we have not heard that sickness has prevailed beyond the usual rate. But in the province of Maine an unusual drought rendered every combustible substance on the surface of the earth so inflammable, that an awful and desolating conflagration, kindled by accident, has swept over a considerable extent of country, consuming every thing which lay in its course. It could be extinguished by nothing but the rain of heaven, which put an end to its progress and ravages, after it had continued for many successive days. The distress and loss and injury occasioned by this calamity are great indeed Thus it appears that the people of the United States are called, by the providence of God, to "sing of mercy and of judgment." Let us remember that by both we should be led to repentance for our sins, to a deep sense of our dependance on God, to receive the Divine favours with humble gratitude, the Divine chastisements with submissive resignation, and to make speedy preparation to render up our final account with joy and not with grief. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. An "Address to the Students of the Theological Seminary at Princeton" will appear in our next. TRINITARIAN, No. III., H. G. and O. are received. ERRATUM IN OUR LAST NUMBER. Page 188, line 13th, dele the word Persians We are requested by the author of a letter in our last number addressed to “A Female Praying Association," to state that although a minister of the gospel, and an elder in the church of which the association is a part, he is not the pastor of that church-That he was represented to be so, by an error of the gentleman who transcribed the letter and sent it for insertion in the Advocate. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. AN NOVEMBER, 1823. Heligious Communications. FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF PRINCETON, N. J. DELIVERED SEPT. My Young Friends; Candidates for the circumstances have been changed for the better, and we have now every THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT facility for an advantageous attention to this duty, I do assure you that I feel a very serious responsibility for its proper discharge; and let me remind you, that so far as the duty shall be rightly discharged on my part, it will create on yours a responsibility, not less serious than my own, to regard and profit by what you will have heard. You are aware that it is a custom coeval with this institution, that its pupils, on their dismission at the close of every session, should be particularly addressed by one of the Directors of the Seminary. In the observance of the established usage, it has become my duty to address you at the present time: and I think it may be proper to begin with remarking, that as we are prone, in every thing which is customary, to fall into formality, there is evident danger that this service may become formal. The circumstances, indeed, in which it has hitherto been performed, have not been favourable to its being made either so instructive or so impressive, as it is certainly desirable that it should be rendered.* But as these The practice had previously been, to address and dismiss the students of the Seminary at a late hour in the evening, after a day of fatigue, and at the close of a publick service in the church. It was impracticable, in these circumstances, to say much; and not easy to attend properly to what was said. The Directors had therefore determined at a former meet ing, that the students should thenceforth be addressed in the Oratory of the Seminary, on the afternoon preceding the commencement of their vacation. This address was the first delivered in these fa yourable circumstances. VOL. I.-Ch. Adv. By the addresses made to you, on occasions like the present, the Directors of the Seminary wish to give their sanction, and the whole effect of their influence, to the counsels and instructions which they know you receive from your worthy professors: and they also suppose that there may be a few suggestions, which possibly may come with greater propriety, as well as with more weight, from a Director, speaking occasionally as the immediate representative of the Board, than from a professor, in the customary discharge of his official duties. Both directors and professorsmy young friends and brethren→→→ treat you and address you as they do, because they feel towards you an affection and an anxiety truly paternal. They take a very deep and tender interest in all that concerns you; not only because you are their own pupils, for whose happiness, usefulness and respectability, they are naturally solicitous; but especially and chiefly because they see in you men who are shortly to minister in 3 P |