The subject of reform so engrosses the attention of the whole British nation, that the publick papers scarcely say a word on any other topick.

FRANCE. In the early part of the last month the publick papers announced great excitement in Paris, and in other parts of France, occasioned by the supposed neglect of the French ministry to interfere effectually in behalf of the Poles. The ministry, however, were sustained in the Chamber of Deputies, by an overwhelming majority. Then the rejection of the Reform Bill by the British House of Lords, was the engrossing subject for a few days. At the last accounts, however, the French Chamber of Deputies, leaving other people to take care of themselves, had been for some time busily and quietly engaged in disposing of the momentous question of the Peerage among themselves. The result is contained in the following extract from a communication from Paris; and is the only important article of French news that we have to report.

"The Bill for the Reformation of the Peerage has been finally disposed of by the Chamber of Deputies. It is founded on the principles that the Peerage should endure for life; that the nomination of the Peers should exist in the crown, and that their number should be unlimited. On these clauses there were ingrafted no less than 30 amendments, proposing different modes of election, instead of the royal nomination, limiting the privilege of their legislative functions to terms of years, and restricting the number of members in the Chamber. Over all these proposed changes, the ministerial project triumphed. It proposed classes or categories of persons, to which the Royal choice should be limited; but these categories, like the categories of Aristotle, were so general as to include nearly every supposable individual to whom the favour of the crown could be extended. They were accordingly adopted with some slight variation, and now compose a part of the Bill which has received the sanction of the Deputies. The Chamber came on Tuesday to a vote upon the whole bill, as amend ed on the discussion of its details, when there appeared in favour of its passing 386, and against it 40. The minority was, no doubt, composed of the two extreme parties, those who objected to the Bill, because they desired a senate elected by the people,-and those who resisted it, because they desired to return to an hereditary nobility. The chief interest of the piece now begins, instead of being terminated. The project of declaring the Chamber of Deputies a constituent body pro hac vice, [that is, a body to dispose finally of this question, without sending it to the Peers,] has been abandoned, and consequently the Peers will be called upon to decide on the retention, or surrender of their own honours and power.

SPAIN, PORTUGAL, and GREECE.-In regard to these states, the following article from a French paper gives nearly all the most recent intelligence-The National says: "We have learnt from good authority that the Spanish Government is not only urging the levy of the 20,000 men recently decreed, but is taking secret measures for raising double the number. The provinces which are exempt by their conscription, as Guipuzcoa, Alava, and others, have received orders to arm and equip a battalion of 1,000 men each. Two Portuguese Frigates and a Corvette with three hundred troops sailed from the Tagus on the 24th, to reinforce the garrison of Madeira, and the forts near Lisbon were putting in a state of preparation to meet the apprehended visit of Don Pedro. The further contents of these papers, as they relate to Greece, are not without interest. After the destruction of the Greek fleet, the troops of Government took possession of the fortress of Poros, and of the Steam Boats which escaped the conflagration. It is said that lighted matches were discovered both in these vessels, and in the cellars of the houses, whence it was inferred that it was intended to spread the work of destruction much farther. Hydra is now blockaded by Russian ships, and some say by English and French ships also; and it is remarked that Mavrocordato, the chief of the discontented, who had fled, and his adherents, to Hydra, had been stoned by the people." The last European intelligence contains an article from Spain, stating that Ferdinand had issued a proclamation of amnesty to all those who were concerned in the Spanish revolution, save those excepted by name and by a particular designation-Who will trust him?

BELGIUM and HOLLAND.-In the speech of the British monarch which preceded the prorogation of his parliament, we find the following paragraph, which we quote because the information it contains is doubtless authentick-"The Conference assembled in London has at length terminated its difficult and laborious discussions, by an arrangement unanimously agreed upon by the Plenipotentiaries of the five Powers for the separation of the states of Holland and Belgium, on terms by which the interests of both, together with the future security of other countries, have been carefully provided for." It appears that neither the Belgians nor the Dutch are left at liberty to modify the articles of the treaty, or to propose new conditions of arrangement. They

must adopt or reject the award as final; and in the latter alternative must place themselves in hostility to the Great Powers. The Belgic Ministry seem sadly perplexed at this peremptory demand of acquiescence. And it is also stated in the last advices that Holland is as little pleased as Belgium with the arrangement. It was even suspected by some, that on the expiration of the truce, which was just at hand, the war between these powers would be renewed. We think this improbable; both parties will grumble and submit. The award is probably as good an one as could be made. The French negotiator would take care of the interests of Belgium, and the Prussian negotiator of those of Holland. The arrangement, it appears, was unanimous.

POLAND is no more. It always appeared in the highest degree improbable to us, that the Polish armies which could not, or did not, maintain themselves against the Russians within the fortresses of Warsaw, could make any effectual opposition after. wards. The following statements appear to be correct:-"The cause of the patriots is for the present utterly lost. Of the treachery of a part of the Polish leaders there is no longer any doubt, and Krukowiecki, who was the latest commander in Warsaw, seems to have acted a conspicuous part in the sacrifice of his country. Modlin had surrendered, the Russians entering on the 9th October, and the army was entirely dispersed. The Grand Duke Michael and Marshal Paskewitsch had returned to Warsaw on the 8th of October. A number of Russian officers of rank had arrived there, and fifty officers also of different grades in the Polish army. Prince Czartoryski, General Skrzynecki and Count Malachowski, had retired into the Austrian territory; General Chlopicki, whose wounds were not yet healed, remains at Cracow."

"Warsaw, Oct. 9.-General Witt has issued a proclamation, in which he announces that in spite of the order to deliver arms of all kinds into the arsenal, and repeated warnings of the consequences, Joseph Ullerman, an inhabitant of Warsaw, had concealed in his house several carbines, and a considerable quantity of ball cartridges, for which he had been condemned by a court-martial to be shot, and was executed yesterday according to his sentence. Count Witt, in announcing this event, considers it as his duty to warn every one of the inevitable consequences of disregard of the order of the superior authorities."

In the fall of Poland another impressive lesson has been given to the world, of the direful effects of discord, insubordination and treachery, among a people contending for their rights. Had the Poles remained united, and retained their confidence in their gallant and accomplished commander-in-chief, Skrzynecki, we have little doubt that the Russians would not have been able to capture Warsaw, but must have retreated before the winter set in. It is perhaps not known to all our readers, that during the American revolution, a faction in our own Congress made a vigorous effort to displace General Washington. But the God of our fathers watched over us, and defeated their attempt; and our previous moral and social habits as a people, prepared us better for all the blessings of freedom than we think the Poles were prepared. We greatly rejoice that Skrzynecki and his firm copatriots have escaped into Austria. We trust they will not be delivered up, but pass on to France, Britain, and perhaps the United States. Who would not rejoice to see them here?

RUSSIA. The Emperor of Russia has issued a proclamation relative to Poland. The country is to return to its state before the war. Intimations are given of great lenity to be used toward those who implicitly submit to the Russian power; but no favour will be shown to those who, in any degree, oppose the constituted authorities. Marshal Paskewitsch is made governor of Warsaw, with the title of Prince Warsanski. Perhaps he will make as good a governor as any other-better, we think, than the Grand Duke Michael, and we hope far better than his deceased brother Constantine. A Russian item of news says "Field Marshal Count Diebitsch Sabalkanski was buried with great ceremony at St. Petersburgh, on the 27th of Sept. in the forms of the Protestant church. He was a Prussian." The cholera had increased at Petersburgh.

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.-We have nothing for the present month to chronicle, in regard to these great powers, except that the fearful cholera still exists, and spreads in various parts of their dominions. At Vienna it had once diminished, but again appeared to be increasing.

TURKEY.-The dreadful fire at Pera, one of the suburbs of Constantinople, which we mentioned last month, appears to have been more destructive than any thing of the kind we recollect in modern times. An English account of this catastrophe, which is going the round of the papers, seems more like a romance than the narrative of facts-Yet we believe it is materially true. This fire, with the plague and the cholera, have produced incalculable distress in Constantinople.

ASIA.

It appears that a disturbance has taken place in Canton;-that the Chinese, some say, headed by the Viceroy, had made an attack upon the factories, principally the English-had totally destroyed them, pulled down the King's picture-trampled upon it-that several of the Hong merchants, and some of the populace, had been killed, and that a total cessation of business had of course ensued. The British authorities threatened to stop the whole English trade, and issued notices to that effect, but finding that the proceedings of the Chinese emanated from Pekin, they have withdrawn their notice, and referred the affair to the Governor General of India, and the English government at home. A vessel has been despatched to the former, and they have chartered another to go to England. In the meantime, however, the trade continues. AFRICA.

ALGIERS. A French paper contains the following article:

"Algiers, in October. "Usury is one of the scourges of the colony. Numbers do not blush to lend money at 4 per cent. per month. A good tribunal, we hope, will soon do justice on such dishonourable proceedings.

"It is in contemplation to introduce the cochineal here. An American, settled at Bogota, intends, it is said, to import here, 1200 Nupal plants. We might easily have 10,000 plants in three years.

"Perfect tranquillity prevails here. But for the fatal south winds, which are detrimental to the health of the inhabitants, we should have every reason to congratulate ourselves on the present state of things."

Although tranquillity prevails at Algiers, it is otherwise at Bona, a small town on the coast, heretofore occupied by the French. The Bedouins, it appears, have taken it, and massacred all the French they could find!

If we had time and space, we should like to say something at length, in relation to the American Colony at Liberia. We can only state, that the Rev. Mr. Crosby, an agent of the Colonization Society, is travelling through the country, to endeavour to awaken a more lively interest in regard to this most interesting institution and enterprise, than exists at present. We heard him deliver a discourse on the last Lord's day, which we think was in no respect unsuitable to the solemnity of the sanctuary on the Sabbath, and calculated to stir up Christians, and philanthropists generally, to an attention to a neglected duty. We recommend his object to the favourable regard of our readers.

AMERICA.

It appears by the most recent accounts from the Southern part of our continent, that present appearances are more favourable to the peace and prosperity of our sister republicks there, than they were some time since. What is called the patriot army, after putting an end to the civil war in the United Provinces, had returned to Buenos Ayres, and was greeted with a kind of triumphal celebration. In Colombia appearances were favourable. It was expected that General Santander would be made president, and much good was anticipated from his administration. An insurrection in Peru had been put down: and the establishment of friendly relations between Colombia and the United States was confidently expected. Much the same may be said of Mexico. In Brazil, all was confusion-Confidence was destroyed, and commerce was nearly at an end.

UNITED STATES.-While we write, expectation is on tiptoe for the President's Message--It has not yet reached us. When it appears, if it contains any thing within our province of remark, as heretofore marked out, our readers will hear from us, Deo volente, in the coming month. One thing we have always inculcated, and now reiterate, the duty of constant and fervent prayer for our magistrates and legislators. The Influenza appears to be taking a sweep through the whole of our country. We have not indeed yet heard of it to the south and west. But it came to us from the north and east, and we have little doubt it will pervade the whole land. It is not in general a violent, although a very troublesome complaint-We have written our whole view of Publick Affairs under its oppressive influence. Scarcely an individual escapes it. But what cause of thankfulness have we to the Sovereign Disposer of all events, that in place of the awful visitation of the cholera, which now pervades and desolates so many regions of the old world, we are chastened with so light a rod!

An Index to the Ninth Volume of our work, which now closes, will be sent to our Subscribers with our next Number.

THE

MISSIONARY REPORTER.

EDITED BY J. T. RUSSELL, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

DECEMBER 1, 1831.

SYNODS AND PRESBYTERIES OF

THE WEST.

3d. That the Stated Clerk of Synod be directed to transmit a copy of the above resolutions of the Moderators to the Sy

nods named in the minute of the General Assembly, and to the next General Assembly.

SYNOD OF KENTUCKY.

In our last number, we published the resolutions which have recently been adopted by the Presbyteries of West Lexington, Steubenville, Redstone, and Miami, on the subject of Domestic Missions, and the Missionary Convention at Cincinnati. We now publish the resolutions of several other Synods and Presbyteries on the same subjects; and we earnestly invite the special attention of our readers, to these very important offiThe General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at its last meeting, recomcial documents. They express the sen-mended to the Synods and Presbyteries timents of the Western churches in language so plain, and unequivocal, that, he who runs, may read and understand.

SYNOD OF CINCINNATI.

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted at the late stated meeting of the Synod of Kentucky; the first resolution unanimously, the preamble and second resolution by large majorities.

of the church in the West, to agree on some plan for conducting Missions in the Valley of the Mississippi. In consequence of this recommendation, it becomes the duty of this Synod to express its opinions on this important subject.

The Committee, on the recommendation of the General Assembly, and the The power to send Missions to any communication of the Synod of Ohio, on part, to plant churches, or to supply vathe subject of Home Missions, recom-cancies, is one of great importance. The mended the adoption of the following resolutions.

peace and prosperity of our church depend on the proper exercise of this powResolved 1st. That as the Presbyte- er:-Those who wield it can give to the ries of the Synod are already auxiliary church almost any character they please, to the Board of Missions of the General and the question to be decided is, where Assembly, or to the American Home can this power be deposited to do the Missionary Society, allowing to individ-most good, with the least danger of abuse. uals and churches the privilege of co-operating with either of them which they may prefer; and as no regulation in the power of the Synod to adopt, can oblige individuals or churches to contribute contrary to their own views; a full and fair experiment of the measure already adopted ought to be made before any other method is proposed.

2d. That as no effort which this Synod can make would be likely to induce all the ministers and churches to unite either with the Assembly's Board, or the A. H. M. S, so it would be equally fruitless to attempt an amalgamation or united agency of those two institutions, or even the erection of a new Board to conflict with those already in existence, because a united agency, or a new Board, would be likely to foster old collisions, and originate new ones instead of allaying and removing them. 4P

VOL. IX.-Ch. Adv.

The tendency of all power is to accumulation and abuse; and has been a matter of great difficulty in church and state to select proper agents to execute important trusts, and to secure their strict ac countability. The powers of government have been usually vested in one man, or a few men, and the result has been the abuse of their authority, and the oppression and misery of the great body of the community. Power once obtained has been held with a firm hand, and the only remedy in most cases has been revolution.

'The statesmen who formed the civil government of our country adopted the principle that the people are the source of all power, and provided for their choosing and removing the officers of government.

Should those in office abuse the trust reposed in them, the people upon whom their acts operate will soon see

and feel it, and apply the remedy. The | which now link together the various same principles are recognized in the government of our church, and we believe they are "agreeable to scripture." All our churches in the United States constitute one church, in which a major. ity governs. Those who exercise authority in the church are elected by, and are accountable to, the people.