delivered their enumerated goods into the lazaretto, they ran up the river in two tides, and at the next flood entered the London Docks.

Captain Newman viewed again with increased pleasure, the name of the "Chapel for Seamen." On the next Sabbath he went with his wife and child, and almost all his hands, to join in divine worship; and, putting up a note to the minister, publicly acknowledged his obligations, and expressed his gratitude to God, for a safe and happy voyage. Nor did he forget inwardly to bless God for having put into the hearts of his servants such love for sailors as prompted them to prepare the accommodation he then enjoyed, and to establish the PORT OF LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

RELIGION AMONG SEAMEN.

CIVIL RETROSPECT.

THE NEWS which it is our more especial purpose to bring to the knowledge of our readers, seems in some measure separated from what politicians usually understand by that term. Yet we are not of those who think or feel that the events which are agitating nations with political storms, or disturbing the calm of our domestic politics, are of little interest to us as Christians: we know that all these things have their part in advancing that kingdom which shall come. Religion is not, in our opinion, confined in her curiosity merely to those events which go under the ordinary appellation of religious news. Her hallowed curiosity has a field which knows no bounds: influenced alike by a tender regard for the welfare of all the nations of the earthby an anxiety for the spreading of all truth, and the extinction of all error-by a solicitude for the universal prevalence of civil liberty, and the destruction of every kind of tyranny over the bodies as well as consciences of men. Religion does not find herself out of her path in inquiring the history of the times. And happy might she be, if among her professed followers, she saw less of a separation between religion and secular concerns: not, indeed, by embracing the former in the latter, but by examining all secular concerns and events, with a curiosity, an imagination, and a judgment graduated wholly on a religious scale.

Impressed with these views, and wishing to bring into the bosom of all the families into which our publication has the privilege of an introduction, some account of those events which excite so much interest in the hearts of the world at large, accompanied with remarks intended to draw them within our religious horizon, we shall endeavour, from time to time, perhaps monthly, to give a summary of the news of the day.

For October, 1821.

FOREIGN.-During this month public attention has been almost exclusively fixed on the Turkish Empire. Our readers are all aware of the extreme and cruel despotism under which portions of that Empire, and particularly Greece, have groaned and bled. Recent events have caused this tyranny to break forth with more than usual excess; and the murder of old men, of women, of children, the demolition of Christian churches, and the assassination of patriarchs and priests of the Greek church; the perpetration, in short, of every horrible outrage and enormity, have anew signalized Turkish ferocity and Mahommedan fanaticism. These excesses have induced the Emperor of Russia, with whom, and the revolted subjects of Turkey, the tie of a common religion forms a bond of sympathy, to take the part of outraged humanity, and threatened the Empire and religion of Turkey with entire destruction from the face of Europe. The balance still hangs in equilibrio, between war and submission, on the part of the Turks; and the purposes of Providence are still veiled in the darkness which He maketh his pavilion. The event, whichever it be, cannot but be grateful to Christendom. The security of the Greek church, some stability in the enjoyment of property in Greece, a more free commercial intercourse between the countries on the Black Sea and the rest of Europe, and the prostration of Mahommedan insolence, which a compliance with the de mands of Russia will effect, are events most important to the welfare of the countries particularly interested, and would, to all appearance, secure an entrance for the light of the Gospel to that East, on which the Sun of Righteousness shone on his first rising. While, on the other hand, a war which, to all human calculation, must eventuate in the total destruction of the Turkish Empire in Europe, will, although at an expense of much bloodshed, secure the same and other important objects, probably, with greater permanency. We confess we seldom feel so strongly for the parties in a foreign quarrel,

The rest of Europe gives room for little remark. The probability of a rise in the price of Bread-stuffs in some parts of Europe, from a failure in the harvest, has attracted much attention in this country, and excited among us hopes of great advantages. Although we shall never rejoice that our fellow men are in want, merely because it redounds to our benefit, yet we cannot but feel grateful to the All-wise and Almighty One, who created the heavens and the earth, that he has so made the world, that while want and famine threaten one part of the earth, plenty and abundance in another should, by means of commerce, enable us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked of a distant region;-that this relief, too, is secured not merely by a sympathy, which might be greatest where the means of relief were least, but by the powerful bonds of self-interest; and that while we are thus made the instruments of his plans of good, we are permitted to enjoy a rich reward in the increased comforts of our own home.*

DOMESTIC. Our domestic summary has no political event of consequence sufficient to excite much attention. Governor Jackson, of Florida, has committed the late Spanish governor of that province to prison, to compel hiin to deliver certain documents claimed by the American authorities. For the honour of our country we hope that sufficient necessity, as well as clear justifiable right, will be proved for a measure, in appearance, to say the least, the most arbitrary and despotic.

Our newspapers continue to be filled with accounts of the disasters of the late gales which have swept the coast of this country. How many have been called, unprepared, without previous warning, to their last account! How awful the sentence which must be passed upon some who are thus called to render it. Among others we noticed that in one Spanish port, two slave-ships, with a number of human beings, crew as well as slaves, have been sunk, and, in the phrase of the day, not a soul saved-not a soul saved! awful indeed. Yet of the many who may read these lines, and may assent to these expressions, how few will reflect that their own end may be as sudden-as dreadful; and who can say how near? Of their company, whether at sea or on land, it may perhaps be said as truly as of the slave dealers, not a soul is saved: for says our Saviour, in noticing a disaster of a kind somewhat similar, "except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." If death were not so common, such events as our late gales could not but affect the most careless; and yet, how false, how insane is the delusion by which the very cause of our danger's being more imminent is made the reason why we shut our eyes to it.

One other event in our own country demands a notice, which we most reluctantly give it: we allude to the regulations in Pensacola, respecting the Sabbath. It seems, according to the substance of the preamble to the regulations in question, that it has been usual for most sects of Christians to set apart one day out of seven for religious purposes, (out of human wisdom and philosophy, no doubt;) and it being proper that this should not be interrupted, and yet one whole day being more than the manners and customs of that country require, the Sunday, until noon, is to be a day of rest from business; but during the rest of the day all amusements, not unlawful in that country, are allowed.

A more open and public profaning of the "Sabbath of the Lord thy God" has never been witnessed, except in the attempt to abolish it altogether. Had nothing whatever, of the nature alluded to, been said or done by the local authorities in question, God's Sabbath would have preferred a direct accusation to the conscience of every transgressor: but to delude the poor wretches who look to the laws of the land, and the example of their rulers, as a guide for their conduct, by inducing them to suppose God's Sabbath so much a matter of mere convenience as that the city officers of a paltry town can dispense with its being hallowed more than half a day, is giving the institution a blow the more deadly, because more insidious. But we cannot fear on this subject. If indeed God be the author of the Sabbath, He is not too weak to take care of his own and the miserable heathen, there and elsewhere, who publicly profane the Sabbath in their public institutions, will find his eye never to slumber; and may feel his arm too heavy for them, when its strokes shall descend in vengeance.

New-York, October 31, 1821.

The delay in publishing this article has brought us news that the harvests were not so short abroad as was expected. Nevertheless, we give the article as it was, without alteration, believing that those who would have approved of our remarks, if published a fortnight since, will not even now think them unjust.

ERRATA. For "Intelligence," on the first page of this number, read "Misrellany."-For "Vandoise," page 388 et seq. read "Vaudoise."

He was

A GENTLEMAN of liberal education was, some years ago, engaged as Principal of a respectable academy in the town of not altogether a novice in the art of teaching, having spent several years in the practice of it, and considered, with some attention, different methods of subjecting the youthful mind to salutary discipline. It was not, however, his happiness to be entirely satisfied with the views of most teachers on this subject, and particularly in the article of govern

His experience and observation, as well as his philosophy, led to the belief that, in this department of education, sufficient account is not ordinarily made of the judgment and consciences of youth. Both these he had pretty uniformly found to be decisively on the side of good behaviour; and he resolved upon making, if possible, fair trial of a government more nearly religious and moral, than is adopted in many of our seminaries. To the success of such an experiment, the internal condition of the academy, previously to its being placed under his care, was as unfavourable as misconduct, on the part both of instructer and pupils, could well have rendered it. The instructer was, in manner, formal, peremptory, and passionate. His pupils were, many of them, too old to be easy scared, and too inconsiderate to reason themselves into proper submission. Idleness and censure, rebellion and chastisement, had become the order of the day. In these circumstances, the Principal, whose term had expired, resigned his charge, and took leave of his scholars, without regret; while they were only restrained by the interposition of the trustees of the seminary from pursuing him with 'hisses and insults.

The gentleman already mentioned as his successor, entered upon his arduous duties, with no peculiar advantages for discharging them with success. He was, indeed, reported to the students as an instructer, who might be expected to pursue the mildest measures, and consult faithfully their best interests; but no formal efforts were made to restore order among them, nor to insure their submission to his regimen. In pursuance of his design to obtain a moral ascendency over his pupils, and to manage them, as much as possible, by considerations addressed to their understanding and conscience, he commenced with giving them a familiar and affectionate lecture on the interesting relation which was now constituted between himself and them; and the serious influence which it was calculated to have upon their future character and enjoyments. VOL. VIII.

53.

He stated very particularly the object, which their beloved parents had in placing them under his instructions; and the solemn obligations resting upon both teacher and pupils, not to disappoint their reasonable hopes. They were told, and repeatedly assured, that the course of obedience, industry, and piety, was incomparably the most honourable and happy for themselves, as well as pleasing to all good men, and even to God himself. Great stress was laid on the circumstance of their being the creatures of God, who would hold them accountable for the manner in which they should improve their present advantages. The address concluded with the annunciation of a small number of rules, which were to be considered as fundamental in the government of the academy. These rules were repeated, familiarly explained, and shown to be both desirable and necessary. It was made plain to their understandings, that their refusal, or unnecessary neglect to observe them, would prove not only a real offence against their instructer, parents or guardians, but also a heinous sin against Jehovah; and that, on each of these accounts, but more especially the last, there would be a painful necessity of chastising it.

There was but little reason to hope that the refractory spirit of a considerable number of youths, who had been, for some time, accustomed to disobey and insult their instructers at pleasure, would immediately yield to the voice of mild persuasion. Some impression was, however, observed to have been made by the considerations addressed to them. They seemed to be startled at the disgraceful character, and serious consequences of the conduct, which they had before regarded only in the light of truant offences against their teacher. And the repetition of such persuasives evidently served to render the impression more deep and permanent.

It was no part of the plan in question to spare the rod entirely, as being an unlawful means of subduing the refractory; but the object was, to give to moral and religious considerations their proper place, and greatest practical influence. Accordingly, when any pupil was detected (as some few individuals were) in a plain and unnecessary violation of an established rule, recourse was sometimes had to corporal punishment. But the manner of inflicting it was somewhat singular.

The offender, upon his being detected, was not chastised forthwith; nor was he put immediately upon his trial. He was simply admonished of the fact, that his instructer suspected him guilty of a particular fault, and would be prepared to attend to the subject at a given time. The time being arrived, he was arraigned before the proper authority, and put rather formally upon his defence. Great care was observed in making a true and candid statement of his crime, and affording him every reasonable advantage for clearing himself, that the decision might be such as would accord with his own unbiassed judgment. He was treated seriously, but with evident kindness; and no advantage was taken of his situation to upbraid him with his former misdemeanors. Having brought the trial to a conclusion, it was usual to dismiss the subject until the succeeding day, or the evening of the same. But the pupil was informed what must be his punishment, and also of the time when he would receive it.

At the hour appointed, he was called the second time from his seat, and, in an affectionate but serious tone, reminded of his fault, its charac

ter, and unhappy consequences; was assured that his instructer indulged no unfriendly feelings towards him; but was about to give the most decisive proof of his solicitude to save him from the paths of the destroyer. All this passed in the presence of his fellow students, and was accompanied by friendly cautions to them to avoid the like offence, or others, to which they were thought to be particularly inclined. In these addresses, occasion was sometimes taken to speak of the person on trial, or to be punished, with great candour. Mention was made of his good qualities, and how easily he might, in future, avoid disgracing them by a repetition of his crime. It was often judged expedient to assure him, that upon his reformation, neither his offence nor his chastisement would be remembered to his injury; and to request the scholars to treat him with their former kindness. His case was also remembered in the prayer which closed the exercises of the day, and solemn request was made unto God to forgive his sin, and render the chastisement an effectual means of his reformation.

The reader has probably began to anticipate the happy result of this mode of government. Its success was, indeed, most complete. A few instances of chastisement, rendered not only punishment in general, but the conduct which led to its infliction, universally odious. But one instance of corporal punishment occurred for a period of sixteen months; during which time the academy was preserved in a high state of discipline. The Principal gained the esteem and confidence of his scholars to a degree which was considered altogether singular; and had the most happy influence in correcting their faults, and forming them to industrious and moral habits. It soon became unnecessary for him to address them, even at school, in language more harsh and peremptory, than is usually adopted by parents, in the best regulated families. He not only forbore to threaten, but even to command them. His wishes were, on ordinary occasions, expressed to them in the style of request; and were met by a willing and prompt attention. Their cheerful submission, during the hours of study, was soon observed to produce a happy effect on their habitual temper and conduct. The change was visible in their behaviour, at their homes and boarding houses; and gave them, for the time, a more considerate and benevolent, as well as a more moral and serious character, than is seen to distinguish most other collections of youth at our higher schools.

AMICUS.

For the Christian Herald.

TO MY BROTHER.*

You do believe, yes, you know that a total renovation of soul must take place, to prepare you for Heaven,-that you do not cordially love God, or love his glory,-that you have not committed your soul to Christ,

This letter was addressed, by a gentleman in a neighbouring city, to his brother, who lived in a place where the Lord had commenced, and is still carrying on, an extensive work of grace. It has been extensively circulated in private circles, with the salutary effect of producing a spirit of inquiry on the important subject of the soul's salvation. If any of our readers have not experienced that change of heart which the gospel requires, (John iii.) we would urge them to adopt the plan here recommended, and to begin at once the work of repentance and reformation.