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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 May last, viz.

Of Josiah Sherman, Esq. Albany Presbytery

Of Rev. Jeremiah Wood, do.

do.

Of Hugh Auchincloss, Esq. 1st Presbytery, New York
Of Samuel Bayard, Esq. Princeton

Of Rev. Geo. S. Woodhull, for the Scholarship of 1820

Of John Forsyth, Esq. one of the Executors of Robert Hall and of his sister
Marrion, their legacies, each $1250, to found a Scholarship, to be called the
ED. Scholarship

$7.06

1 37

50 00

16 66

10 00

2500 00

Amount

$2585 09

View of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

The most recent advices from Europe are from Liverpool, of the 17th of May, and from London, the 16th of the same month. The last accounts are of a very different aspect, as to the prospect of an immediate and general war in Europe, from those which reached us a month ago. All the great powers, however, are in such a state of preparation for war, and there are so many conflicting interests not yet arranged, that it would not be matter of much surprise if the next arrival should announce the actual commencement of a general war. At present, however, with the exception of the sanguinary warfare between the Poles and the Russians, Europe would seem to be disposed to remain at peace.

BRITAIN. The existing British ministry, finding that on the final question being taken in the House of Commons on their reform bill, there was a majority of EIGHT against it, tendered their resignations to the king. He refused to accept them, and determined forthwith on the bold measure of appealing immediately to the sense of his people, by a dissolution of parliament; and in this measure he acted with such promptitude as to take the House of Lords completely by surprise. Neglecting the usual ceremonies on such occasions, he appeared in person among them, while they were in great confusion, and endeavouring to get up a petition to him not to dissolve the exist ing parliament. His Majesty took his seat on the throne, wearing his crown and holding his sceptre in his hand. The Commons were summoned to attend at the bar, and about a hundred immediately gave their attendance. The speaker, on reaching the bar, brought up the civil list bill, and several others: and the royal assent was given in the customary manner to these bills. The king then read, in a firm tone of voice, a speech of which the introductory part was as follows:

"My Lords and Gentlemen-I have come to meet you for the purpose of proroguing this Parliament, with a view to its immediate dissolution.

"I have been induced to resort to this measure for the purpose of ascertaining the sense of my people, in the only way in which it can be most conveniently and authentically expressed, for the purpose of making such changes in the representation as circumstances may appear to require, and which, founded upon the acknowledged principles of the constitution, may tend at once to uphold the just rights and prerogatives of the crown, and to give security to the liberties of the people."

The king then thanked the Commons for several acts they had passed, particularly for one in which they had made a provision for "the state and comfort of his royal consort." He then assured both Lords and Commons that he entertained "the best hopes of a continuance of peace," and that his "most anxious endeavours should be used to preserve it." After this, he declared that he had resolved on the dissolution of Parliament "only by a desire and personal anxiety for the contentment and happiness of his subjects." He then turned to the Lord Chancellor and said, “My pleasure is, that this Parliament shall be prorogued, and forthwith, to Tuesday the 10th day of May next." The Lord Chancellor immediately said," My Lords and Gentlemen-It is his Majesty's will and pleasure that this Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday, the 10th of May next, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued till Tuesday the 10th day of May next." The Commons then immediately withdrew, and the king returned to his palace, amidst the enthusiastick acclamations of the people.

The foregoing transactions took place on the 22d of April. The next day the writs for the election of a new Parliament were issued, and the information spread with unprecedented rapidity into every part of the united kingdom. Never probably was England more agitated than it had been from the time of the dissolution of the Parliament, up to the date of the last advices. By the popular party the king is compared to Alfred the Great, and lauded to the skies. London has been illuminated, and in various parts of the country demonstrations have been given of ecstatick joy. On the other hand, however, the aristocracy have also been active, and it appears that their influence is greater than had been expected. Both parties were straining every nerve to attain the ascendancy in the pending elections for members of Parliament. The popular party calculated with confidence on a majority in the new Parliament, of from 100 to 150 members. A majority we have no doubt they will have-to what amount time only can disclose. In England, Scotland, and Ireland, and equally in all, the elections and the cause of reform, are the all-absorbing topicks. Nothing else is talked of, and on no other matter have we any report to make. We cannot, however, withhold the remark, that the reform bill, when carried, will probably be followed by great disappointment. The people look for immediate relief from their burdens and sufferings, and this relief no reform can produce-it can come only by slow advances; and we are not without fears that when the people feel their power, they will not use it with moderation and discretion. The hierarchy, we believe will, and we are sure it ought, to lose its secular influence, power and patronage-but we forbear. The duchess of Wellington died on the 24th of April.

FRANCE. The month past has given us no news of much importance from France. There have been numerous ephemeral changes and unimportant occurrences, of which it does not comport with our plan, in this department of our Miscellany, to take particular notice. The Session of the late French Chambers, or National Legislature, terminated on the 20th of April; when King Louis Philippe delivered to them, in person, a kind of valedictory speech, or address, which was well received. The Chamber of Peers put a negative on several bills sent to them by the Chamber of Deputies, which has given much dissatisfaction to the popular leaders, and to the party generally. The truth is, there is a very powerful republican party in France-a party that wish that the form of government should be that of a Republick, and not of a Monarchy. They consented to the present form for fear of foreign invasion and of internal excesses, but they have never been satisfied. They think that the government, even in its present form, might be, and ought to be, more popular and republican in its measures and spirit than it has been, or is at present. They suspect that those now in power have high monarchical wishes and views, and are endeavouring to shape all their measures in favour of regal and aristocratic pretensions and privileges. They think that the Peerage, if it must exist at all, ought not to be hereditary, and hope, at the next Session of the Chambers, when the number of Deputies will be considerably enlarged, and the state of the Peerage is to be finally settled, that no hereditary honours or titles, except those of the King, will be suffered to remain. This republican party also, would willingly have interfered with arms, to prevent Austria putting down the efforts of the patriots in Italy to effect a revolution there; and they probably have wished, and still wish, that France should interpose decisively in favour of the Poles, and perhaps of the Belgians also. It is this party which has recently produced some disturbances in Paris; and, with a view to thwart the Government, is doing all it can to honour the name and commemorate the exploits of Buonaparte. The Government, however, is still able to control this party-yielding to it in some things, and decidedly resisting it in others, and resolutely persisting in its endeavours to preserve the peace of the nation with foreign powers. At a recent meeting in Paris of the diplomatick corps of foreign nations, King Philippe gave, in reply to an address, the most unequivocal assurance of his desire and determination to preserve, to the utmost of his power, the peace of Europe. On the whole, we consider the state of France as still unsettled and equivocal; yet we hope that the necessary changes, if changes are indeed necessary, may be made without another overturning; but still we fear while we hope. Fayette is with the republican party, although he probably does not approve of all their measures.

BELGIUM remains much as it was represented to be in our report of last month. The last accounts state, that the national Congress was to convene on the 18th of May, when the decision of the Prince of Coburg, to whom the throne of that country had been offered, was expected to be definitely announced. This acceptance, if it take place, will doubtless extend English influence in that country; and yet we have seen one account, which states that the British court is decidedly opposed to this acceptance. In the mean time, intrigues, and plots, and confusion, greatly prevail, and the existing

ministry are exceedingly unpopular. The meeting of Congress is looked to as a remedy for these evils with how much, or how little reason, time will manifest.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.-These powers have recently given umbrage both to Britain and to France, by the ill treatment of British and French subjects and agents; and have been obliged to make humble concessions and prompt reparations to the offended powers, in order to avoid something worse.

ITALY. The last accounts from Italy state, that since the retrograde movement of the Austrian troops (for France insisted that these troops should be withdrawn) the patriots of Italy are again active, and causing some uneasy apprehensions to the Pope. Whether they will be able to effect any thing in favour of freedom remains to be seen-We think their prospects are by no means flattering.

GREECE. There has been another revolution in Greece. The representation is, that Capo d'Istria played the tyrant to such a degree as to be no longer sufferable; and that the people have risen, and taken all power out of his hands, and committed it to a council of their own appointment-This is all we know at present; and perhaps this statement, though positively made in the European papers lately received, will not turn out to be in accordance with facts. The poor Greeks seem to have been lately overlooked by the great powers, in consequence of their being obliged to look after their own concerns. Perhaps the Greeks, like other people, will do best-we think they will-if left to manage their own affairs in their own way.

Austria and PrUSSIA.-These two great powers appear to be watching with much anxiety the Belgic and Polish revolutions; to both of which there is no doubt they are decisively hostile; yet afraid to interfere, lest they should bring upon themselves foreign war and internal commotions. How long they will be able to keep their present attitude we are not able to conjecture. They will be fortunate if they can maintain it permanently.

POLAND. Never did a people contend for freedom and independence with more devotedness and heroick bravery, than the Poles have done, since the commencement of their late revolution: and it has been well remarked, in several of the European journals, that their cause as justly calls for the interference of other nations, as did that of Greece. Their brave army has also come under the chief command of one of the ablest generals of any age or country. Some of the manœuvres and enterprises of Skrzynecki (pronounced Skrenetske,) have strongly reminded us of those of our own Washington. Finding that the advance of the Russians under General Weimar, on the right of the Vistula, and in the neighbourhood of Warsaw, seemed to think themselves in safety, and to be somewhat off their guard, he caused a bridge of boats over the river to be covered with straw, on the night of the 31st of March, so that he passed it with his whole army, in such silence as to be unobserved either by friend or foe, till he fell with resistless impetuosity on Weimar's army, and put it completely to the route. He drove before him, through the whole of the succeeding day, every Russian corps that he found in his way, till the exhaustion of his troops compelled him to halt, in the evening. From that time till the date of the last accounts, he and field-marshal Diebitsch (De-bitch,) have been trying their whole skill in generalship, each to get the advantage of the other; and we may at least say, that the Russian conqueror of the Turk has met his full match in the accomplished and wary Pole. We cannot pretend to give in detail an account of the numerous actions and manœuvres which have taken place they have generally been in favour of the Poles; but in two instances, the intemperate courage of Polish generals, in pointed disobedience of orders, rushing on troops of manifold their own number, has been productive of most disastrous resultsdiminishing the Polish army by at least 12,000 men. After much and skilful management, Diebitsch was able to concentrate his whole army; and then, greatly superior in numbers to that of Skrzynecki, offered him battle, and did all in his power to draw on a general engagement. This the Polish general wisely and skilfully avoided, and fell back, constantly fighting the advance of the Russians, till he nearly reached Praga. Then the Russian general, fearful of a hostile population in his rear, and of being cut off from his supplies and reinforcements, took his turn to retreat, and the Polish general his turn to advance; and to harass the rear, and cut off every corps that was detached from the main army. In this manner the two armies, at the date of the last accounts, were brought very nearly to the position they were in when Diebitsch began to advance. We must not omit to mention, that about the time that Skrzynecki passed the Vistula, General Dwernicki, a bold and skilful partisan officer, marched a small army in a south-eastern direction from Warsaw, to endeavour to promote insurrectionary movements against the Russians among several of the former Polish provinces, and to attack the troops stationed there. For a time, his success was of the most brilliant kind, and

will probably indeed be of great ultimate utility. But the Russian forces in that quarter, after being concentrated and reinforced, outnumbered him so far, and pressed him so closely, that he was obliged, to avoid capture, to march into Austrian Galicia. Thither the Russians followed him, till they were stopped by a corps of German cavalry -They then apologised and retired; and the troops of General Dwernicki were compelled to surrender their arms, and to consent to be cantoned in such place as the Austrian authorities might appoint. This intelligence has been brought by the last arrival, and perhaps is not entirely correct; we fear however it is materially so-The Poles have taken several thousand Russian prisoners, some of high rank, and many cannon and small arms, and other stores, of which they were in great want. It is calculated that the Russian army has lost from fifty to sixty thousand men, by capture, death, and discase, since this Polish invasion. But the loss of the Poles has also been severe; and the country, traversed by both armies, has been so desolated, and agricultural operations so interrupted, that famine is seriously threatened. The cholera, too, has appeared in both armies. It is indeed represented as not having hitherto been malignant-A wide leathern belt, lined with flannel, and worn next the body, is said to prove highly salutary. Yet the state of Polish affairs, viewed in all their connexions and prospects, is affecting and afflictive, in a high degree. We sympathise with them, fear for them, and pray that God in his providence may send them deliverance, in whatsoever way he may see meet to appoint; and we hope he will.

RUSSIA. Great as have been the Russian losses in Poland, it is said that the war is popular in Russia; and that there has been a recent levy of 150,000 men to reinforce the army under the command of Diebitsch. Humanly speaking, therefore, it would seem as if the unhappy Poles must at last be crushed. But the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong. In ways unexpected and sometimes unthought of by mortals, the most formidable military preparations have frequently been rendered abortive. So it may be again-we say not that it will. The destiny of Poland is in the hand of the Almighty, and he will do that which seemeth him good.

TURKEY.-There has been a serious insurrection for some time past in the western part of European Turkey; and in an English journal brought by the last arrival we find the following paragraph:-"If it be true, as our Vienna communication announces, that the Pacha of Scutari is on his march to Constantinople, to re-establish the Janissaries, and to annul the Russian treaty, the emperor Nicholas will have to send another army across the Balkan, to re-establish his Turkish relations." Possibly here may be the way in which Poland may find deliverance.

[We find that our chronicle cannot, for the present month, circumnavigate the world. We yield reluctantly, but we must stop here.]

Our attendance on the General Assembly has not permitted us to finish, in our present number, as we wished and expected to do, the Memoir of Captain Wickes, and our Review of Luther on the Galatians. Those articles required an examination of papers, for the careful perusal of which we found it utterly impracticable to redeem the necessary time, during the past month-We hope to complete both these articles in our next number; and also to continue the interesting essays on Mental Science-whose author pleaded the same apology with us-an attendance on the General Assemblywhich we have offered to our readers, for an interruption for one month of a series, the unbroken continuance of which would naturally be expected. Our present number also is issued later in the month than usual. This has partly been occasioned by waiting for the interesting reports of the Boards of Missions and Education, attached to our workthe perusal of which will, we are sure, give our readers a pleasure which will abundantly compensate for a little delay.

THE

EDITED BY J. T. RUSSELL, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

JUNE 1, 1831.

THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

BOARD OF MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Of the Presbyterian Church in the U. States; laid before that body in May, 1831. The conversion of this revolted world to God must be regarded by every devoted christian, as an object of paramount importance and intense desire. The achievement of this hallowed enterprise has been formally and solemnly committed by the Great Head of the Church, to those who were purchased with his precious blood. To the chosen and sanctified members of his own "little flock," he exhibited "the world" as the appropriate field of benevolent effort and action; and to them he said, explicitly and emphatically, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." The obligation imposed by this divine command is certainly co-extensive with the work of redemption from sin-and it will rest in all its original force, upon the conscience of every ransomed sinner, until the last stone in the spiritual temple of Jehovah Jesus shall have been laid, with shoutings of "Grace, grace unto it." The elements of the moral revolutions which must precede and accompany the universal and triumphant reign of the Son of God upon earth, and the instrumentalities which are to be employed in effecting those moral revolutions, are all embosomed in the true and visible church of Jesus Christ. The high responsibilities of the work to be done are resting, therefore, pre-eminently, if not exclusively, upon those who have sincerely covenanted with God, and made a credible profession of the christian religion. From a share in these responsibilities, precisely proportioned to gifts bestowed, and opportunities afforded, no professing christian can possibly be freed. Whether he be viewed singly, as an individual member of the church universal, or in his more direct and immediate connexion with any particular branch of that universal church, he is manifestly bound by the prescribed and acknowledged terms of the covenant of grace, to live, and labor, and if need be, to suffer and die in the work of extending and establishing the kingdom of the Redeemer among men. In the household of faith, the principle has been immutably established, and where circumstances require, it must, in all its extent, be reduced to practice, "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

A

In presenting to the General Assembly an outline of their missionary operations during the past year, the Board are delightfully constrained both by a sense of duty and of gratitude, to acknowledge that the evangelical spirit of missions is manifestly and rapidly increasing, in the particular branch of the Church with which they stand connected, 'that the principles embraced in the preceding remarks are beginning to be more fully understood and appreciated by the Officers and private members of the Presbyterian Church, than they formerly were. spirit of sober inquiry, in reference to the obligations of the Church in her distinctive character, has gone forth extensively, and many of the private members and inferior judicatories have been aroused from their slumbers, and excited to comparatively vigorous and systematic efforts in the missionary enterprise. The beneficial results of such inquiry, are already exhibited in the increase of Sessional Auxiliaries, Corresponding Executive Committtees of Presbyteries, Missionary laborers and the means of their support. The advances, however, which have been made, in the course of the year, in these particulars, although truly encouraging, your Board are compelled to say, have fallen far, very far short, of those sacred and elevated attainments in christian liberality, and benevolent effort, which the mental and pecuniary resources of the church warranted us to expect, VOL. IX.-Ch. Adv. 2S

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