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testimony may be given to the publick, through the channel of your paper, and prove an extensive benefit to the community.-N. Y. Daily Adv.

The potato was at first positively proscribed in France. Baudin relates, that in his time its use was prohibited in Burgundy, because it was supposed to generate leprosy! It was chiefly through the exertions of the celebrated chymist Parmentier, that the prejudices of the French people against it were removed, and that it was brought into general use amongst them. Yet even as late as the revolution, so little were the vulgar reconciled to this species of food, that on Parmentier being proposed for some municipal office, one of the voters furiously opposed him, on account of the share he had in their introduction. "He will make us eat nothing but potatoes," said he, "for it was he who invented them."

On the 13th, 14th, and 15th, of September, powerful shocks of an earthquake were felt in Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the neighbourhood of Murcia. Guardamar, Terra Vieja, San Xavier, and especially Terra de la Mata, suffered greatly by it. In the latter place almost all the houses were overthrown.

In the others the buildings had suffered severely, most of those which were not destroyed presenting fissures from top to bottom. The inhabitants had withdrawn into the country, and constructed rude cabins for a temporary shelter. At Murcia three shocks had been felt, and the inhabitants were preparing to leave the city. All this part of Spain is in dismay and desolation.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Diplomacy of the United States.
Domestick Duties; by Mrs. W. Parkes.
Leigh's Picture of London.

Examination of the Reasons why the present System of Auctions should be abolished.

Rev. Mr. Fuller's Sermon, entitled the "Threshing Instrument."

Arthur Monteith: being a continuation of the "Scottish Orphans."

The Mirror; by a Lady.

Second Series "Tales of a Grandfather."

Second Series of Fairy Legends in the South of Ireland.

Garden's Anecdotes of the American Revolution.

Stewart's Journal, 3d edition, with additions.

Keligious Intelligence.

NARRATIVE OF THE SICKNESS AND
DEATH OF MRS. BISHOP, AT THE
SANDWICH ISLANDS.

not

lyn and New York came safely to hand, and in a state of complete preservation. But could they have arrived a year ago, they might have contributed to the preWe have been permitted to pub-is now no more, and for whose sake prin servation of the health of one who, alas! lish the following extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Bishop, giving an account of the illness and death of his wife, to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Sanford, of Brooklyn, New York. Who can read it without the deepest sympathy with the sufferings of Christian missionaries! And yet who is not tempted to envy their triumphs of Christian faith, and their expectancy of a crown of glory, among the brightest in the heavenly state!

Oahu, Sandwich Islands, June 1, 1828.

Dear Brother Sanford.-Your truly affectionate epistle of Oct. 17th, was welcomed in April, at the arrival of the reinforcement.

The supplies put up for me in Brook

cipally they were doubtless put up. But as it is, I do feel that it is far more than I had ever anticipated, and I am ashamed to say that it is the most liberal present that I have ever received at the islands. My dear Elizabeth, with whom I should have rejoiced to share them, is now an angel in heaven, and far beyond the need of earthly luxuries to add to her health or happiness.

A year ago last April her health began to decline, in consequence of nursing a healthy child without the means of keeping up her system. It was a time of drought with us at Hawaii, and vegetables could not be obtained for our tables. Added to this, our supply of flour failed, and for three months we were without bread. For myself, I succeeded to keep along in tolerable health, but that of my dear wife went down, and she became invalid. To finish the work which disease had commenced, she undertook out

of pure necessity, to nurse two of her sick sisters, who were confined at Kailua at nearly the same time, in July and August; so that at the close of their illness, her health was completely ruined and her constitution became a wreck from which she never recovered.

Early in September she was attacked with dyspepsia in its severest form, and though every means within our power was resorted to in order to her restoration, yet the disease baffled all the efforts of medicine or change of situation, till finally other disorders setting in she was carried off.

She took her final leave of us on the 21st of February last, and now rests in peace in the bosom of her Saviour. But she has left behind her a sweet savour, whose fragrance smells to heaven. She has bequeathed to us her testimony to the worth of religion, and with her dying voice confirmed the truth of what she had most faithfully inculcated in her life. Her acquaintance in the world was not extensive, and her worth little known, except by the select few who knew her best, and even those few have never real ized the full value of her society until deprived of it. Now they can look back and trace the visible footsteps of her labours of love, and ask, "shall we see her like again?" Now they can bewail the breach that her death has made in our number, with little hope that it can be repaired again. To me she was all that I could desire, lovely and kind as ever youthful fancy could picture to the mind. She was my only earthly treasure, and my widowed heart is left desolate and solitary, but not comfortless. The assurance that her death has proved a lasting spiritual benefit to many who before were without God and without hope, bids me rejoice and give God thanks for the affiction. The circumstances attending her death have been instrumental in promoting the most glorious revival of religion of which I was ever a witness. More than 200 persons residing at Kailua, have recently come out on the Lord's side, and taken up their cross for Jesus' sake. Among this number are included almost the whole of her former pupils, who loved her as a mother, and did every thing in their power by kind assiduous attentions, to soothe the pains of dissolution. They heard her dying prayers and exhortations, her charge to meet her in heaven, and injunctions to holiness of life. They firmly believed that she had gone to glory, and when the funeral solemnities were past, they all came to Mr. Thurston and me to make the great inquiry, "what shall we do to be saved?" For the last three months little else but the subject of religion has been the theme of inquiry,

and new cases have been daily added to the number of those whose desire it is to be saved.

Thus you see, my brother, how the Lord has turned our mourning into joy, and our heaviness into songs of praise. As for myself, I would not have it other. wise, could I by a word recal her back again into this world of pain and sorrow. I feel confident that He who removed from my children their nearest earthly protector, will provide for them a home hereafter. At present I retain my little son, now sixteen months old, with me. He has been sick ever since the 1st of February last, and for most of the time dangerously. I have given up my time to attend upon him, so that I have done little else; nor have I done any thing of consequence for nearly a year, except nurse the sick. I have usually preached once or twice a week, however, though that is a small proportion of the amount of a missionary's duty at these islands. I am now on a visit at Oahu, whither I came in April last to meet the brethren of the mission. I hope to return again soon, and spend the summer in travelling over the desolate places of Hawaii, and preaching salvation to them that sit in darkness.

Please to inform Mrs. Codwise that her letter to Mrs. B. has been received by me, and merits an answer as soon as time will permit; she may expect to hear from me by the fall ships. There will now be no farther need of presents to my Elizabeth, but I have two little orphans who have a claim upon the sympathy of Christians in America, and I should be gratified to receive ready made articles of clothing, hats, shoes, &c. suitable for children of both sexes, between the ages of 3 and 6 years.

I remain, my dear Brother, Yours, in the bonds of the Gospel, A. BISHOP. REV. J. SANFORD.

Extracted from the Evangelical Church

Journal for Sept. 1, 1827.

Russia. According to the latest census the following appears to be the proportion of the different religious sects in the Russian empire. Christians-Greeks, 33,000,000; Roman Catholics, 6,800,000; Lutherans, 1,400,000; Armenians, 42,000; Reformed, 20,000; Moravian Brethren, 9,000; Mennonists, 5,000; total 41,276,000. Jews, 500,000; Mahometans, 1,850,000. Heathens-Worshippers of Fire, 600,000; Lamaits, 300,000; Brahmins, 300. Grand total 44,526,300.

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MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

(Continued from page 317.)

SEVENTH COMMUNICATION.

To the Executive Committee of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly.

Lewistown, Pa. Aug. 11th, 1828. Christian Brethren,-On the 7th and 8th days of the present month, I travelled from Philadelphia to this place. On the 9th, in going to and from Meveytown, I rode twenty-two miles; preached to the people of Wayne Church, under the pas toral care of the Rev. James S. Woods; was present at the choice of four new el ders and three deacons; and although wholly unexpected by the people, yet obtained the names of fifty-seven contributors to our Missionary Fund, together with a donation of seventy-five cents.Yesterday Mr. Woods preached in his Wayne congregation, and received twenty-five additional names. The catalogue of our patrons in this small and feeble congregation, which enjoys the labours of a pastor only half of his time, consists of seventy-five contributors of fifty cents each, and eight of twenty-five cents each, including the Pastor, Elders, Deacons, &c.

The whole sum received from the Wayne church, located at Meveytown, commonly called Waynesburg, is $15

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Haller, 624 cents, which he said he had found a few days ago, and thought he ought to return to HIM whose providence sent it. After service in the morning I presented a paper of which the annexed is a copy :

"Lewistown, Pa. Aug. 10th, 1828. "The persons whose names are underwritten, have expressed THEIR PURPOSE to pay to the Session of the Presbyterian Church in Lewistown, on or before the 25th day of December in each year, the sums affixed to their names; that the same may be paid as the yearly contribution of the Lewistown Congregation to the Board of Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States."

This was subscribed by two of $1 each, 60 of 50 cents, and 6 of 25 cents each. The amount already paid me from the church in Lewistown, is $21 62. ·

To-day, the 11th of August, I have rode 14 miles to and from East Kishacoquillas Church, which is under the pastoral care of the Rev. James H. Stuart; and after preaching on the delightful subject of turning many to righteousness, fifty of his congregation gave me their names to be appended to a form of subscription similar to the one dated at Lewistown. The sum of $1200 was paid me in hand; and as some showers of rain prevented a full attendance of his people, Mr. Stuart retains the paper, to complete the list of those who are willing to aid our missionary operations.

This evening I have addressed the Sab. bath School Teachers belonging to the fore them the example of Christ Jesus, Church in Lewistown, and have set bethe great Sabbath School Teacher; who by his Spirit, teaches his whole church, especially on the Lord's day.

Hitherto I cannot but think the Lord has prospered me as the agent of the Board; and I feel grateful that I have uniformly met with a kind reception. Particularly I am indebted in this region of country to the Rev. Mr. Woods and one of his Elders, Wm. M'Cay, Esq. Yours in gospel bonds,

EZRA STILES ELY, Cor. Sec. and Gen. Agent.

The Committee have also received $15 00 from a few ladies of Landisburgh, transmitted by the Rev. Joseph M. Olmstead to Mr. Nicholas Murray, and by him paid to the Board.

Signed, by order of the Executive Committee.

GEO. W. BLIGHT.

Sec. of the Executive Committee.

EIGHTH COMMUNICATION.

The following communications of the 20th ult. and 1st inst. have been received from the General Agent, read, and order. ed to be printed.

The Committee acknowledge the receipt of one hundred dollars from Gen. Daniel Montgomery, of Danville, from whose letter enclosing the same to a friend in this city, they have been permit ted to make the following extract: "Please hand the enclosed sum to the Secretary of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. I am led to believe, that under the new organized state of that Board, much good will be done for the promotion of piety generally, and for the enlargement of our Church in particular."

By order of the Executive Committee. G. W. BLIGHT, Sec'ry.

Miflintown, Pa. August 20th, 1828. To the Executive Committee of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly:

Brethren,-On the 12th of August, 1828, I arrived in Huntingdon, and discoursed in the evening on the subject of my mission, to more people than the little church now occupied by the Presbyterian Congregation in that place could hold. The people who are under the pastoral care of our fellow-labourer, the Rev. John Peebles, have for more than a year been occupied with purposes and efforts to collect the means for building a new church edifice. Before I had arrived, they had subscribed among themselves about $1400 towards this object, and were ready to lay the chief corner stone. As agent of the Board, I felt it to be my duty to promote in Huntingdon, so far as I might be enabled, this object, and not to attempt at present, procuring contribu tions there for any other purpose. The Christian cause has long suffered in that borough for want of a suitable house of worship.

On the 13th, I discoursed to a numerous concourse of people, assembled to witness the ceremony of depositing a Bible, a Psalm Book, and a record on parchment of certain "memorabilia," in the cavity of the corner stone; and before the audience dispersed, by concert with the Elders, Trustees, and Building Committee, I caused subscription papers to be circulated, on which the aggregate sum of three hundred and eighty three dollars and 78 cents was either paid, or promised, to me as the general agent of our Board, towards the completion of the church. Mr. Jacob Miller also gave me a donation of $10 00, which I paid over in

the name of the Board, to the same object.

On the 14th of August the Rev. Mr. Peebles took me to his congregation at Hart's Log, and I had at the same time, the pleasure of meeting the Rev. James Thompson, with a part of his congregation of Alexandria. After I had preached to the people, these two ministerial brethren encouraged their congregations to unite with their brethren in other churches, in the fifty-cent contribution. Accordingly I obtained the following subscriptions from the Hart's Log congregation, viz. 27 for 50 cents each, and 6 for 25 cents each, making in all $15 subscribed.

Of the Rev. Mr. Thompson's congrega tion of Alexandria, I obtained 27 for 50 cents each, and 2 for 25 cents each, making in all 14 dollars. Could I have visited Mr. Thompson's congregation at Shaver's creek, I might have probably obtained sixty subscribers; but he and Mr. Peebles will endeavour to prosecute the business. Considering the destitute state of many places in Huntingdon county, I have promised them, as agent of the Board, that if they will collect half the missionary pay for 1 year, our Board will support such a minister as we shall send them for the other half.

On the evening of the 16th ult. I preached in Bellefonte. On the 17th 1 preached at Lick run, ten miles east of Bellefonte, in the morning, to a congre gation under the pastoral care of Rev. James Linn; and obtained a subscription of 135 dollars towards the erection of a new house of worship, which is greatly needed for the accommodation of the people. In the afternoon and evening I preached again in Bellefonte, and obtained for the Board of Missions the following subscriptions to the usual form, viz. 3 for 25 cents each, and 48 for 50 cents each.

Col. Richard Thomas gave a donation of 50 cents. The amount subscribed in Bellefonte was $25 25, of which $14 37 were paid to me as agent.

August 18. In returning through Lewistown, I received from 8 subscribers 20 cents each. Of the Wayne Church, I received the same sum from Mr. John Montgomery, and Mr. Wm. Dusart, and $3 50 from John Oliver, esq. for himself and six children.

At 5 o'clock, P. M. I reached Mifflintown, and having preached to the congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Hutchinson, obtained the following subscriptions to the usual form, viz. 5 for 25 cents each, and 24 for 50 cents each.

The above subscriptions amount to $14 18 cts. of which sum $6 93 were paid to me in hand, together with a donation of 1 dollar, from Mr. James Bryson.-Many

of brother Hutchinson's people were absent; but he will promote the great in terests of the General Assembly with fidelity.

On the 19th inst. brother Hutchinson kindly took me eight miles to the Lower Tuscarora Church under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Coulter, in which a large congregation expected my arrival.-After sermon I received the following subscriptions, viz. 20 for 25 cents each, and 40 for 50 cents each, and 1 of one dollar.

The above subscriptions amount to $26 50 cts, of which 82 25 were paid to your agent. Brother Coulter is a sound and pious Presbyterian minister, who will cooperate with us zealously.

Philadelphia, Sept. 1st, 1828. Brethren, On the 21st of August, I preached in Harrisburgh, Pa. and endeavoured to excite our fellow Christians there to more active, systematic and persevering exertions for the conversion of our country and of the world to the faith and fellowship of Jesus Christ. The congregation in that place, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Wm. R. De Witt, has lately undertaken to establish two scholarships by a subscription of $75 a year for each, to be paid for a term of years; and the communicants have made arrange ments for contributing yearly as much as one dollar for each, to be equally divided between the American Home Missionary Society, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. That your agent might not seem to interfere with either of these institutions, no subscription for our Board was solicited in this congregation; which is now more flourishing than at any former period of its existence; and is doing as much again as it would have thought practicable a year ago. An increasing spirit of liberality will probably enable them ere long to collect for us $77, (they have 154 communicants,) without diminishing any of their other religious charities. When Christians generally are as active, diligent, prudent, enterprising and frugal in acquir. ing and saving money for Christ's sake, as they have been, for at least 16 centuries past, in hoarding wealth which may be worse than useless for their sons and daughters; they will be astonished at their own means of usefulness, and a new age will have come indeed, in which the Lord of Glory will receive the first fruits of all our increase. It is becoming more and more a generally received doctrine, and practical principle of action, that sincerity in religion reaches a man's purse no less than his heart; and that a person's profession of faith ought to be distrusted, who is ever ready with his prayers, con

versation, confessions and arguments to build up the Redeemer's kingdom, but virtually says "my money belongs to my. self and my children."

On the 23d and 24th of August, I delivered four discourses in the Presbyterian Church in Reading, Pa, in which the Rev. John F. Grier, D.D. is pastor. One was particularly addressed to the teachers and pupils of two Sabbath Schools in that Borough, 600 of whom were present on the occasion; and nearly filled the lower part of the church.

I am happy to inform the Committee, that Dr. Grier, and the Session of his congregation before my arrival among them as agent, had determined to convene all the communicants under their care on the Monday succeeding their next communion season, for the purpose of having their names enrolled on our list of contri

butors, and for making at the same time the first payment of 50 cents each. Of course the way was happily prepared for me to explain and enforce the measure agreed upon by the Session.

Such a "ready mind" as has been discovered here would be most grateful in every congregation in our connexion; and I would earnestly entreat the Sessions of other churches to take order on the subject of aiding our Board, before it will be possible for any messenger of the churches to visit them.

So soon as the contemplated meeting of communicants in Dr. Grier's shall have taken place, he will remit me the names subscribed to our usual form, together with the amount of money contributed.

On the 28th of August, having occasion to be at Princeton, N. J. to attend the meeting of the Committee of the General Assembly on the subject of Psalmody, I received from the Rev. George S. Woodhull, pastor of the church in that place, thirty dollars for our Board; the same having been collected at the monthly concert of prayer, and by order of the Session paid to our use.

In my short agency of about seven weeks I have travelled more than 900 miles and preached 34 sermons. My tra velling expenses have been $41 44; and for the supply of my pulpit I have paid $70. The sum of $202 28 paid to me as agent, together with my own subscription of $100, I have paid to the Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly, making $302 28. This is exclusive of $383 78 subscribed for the church in Huntingdon; and of $135 subscribed in

Lick Run.

The occurrence of a communion season in the church under my care; attendance on the Committee of Examination at the Theological Seminary in Princeton; and

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