gence and influence, chosen from every part of the country, will almost necessarily in the end favour the cause of public liberty; nor can the chambers be made so completely air-tight by an imperial decree as to prevent the sentiments and discussions of the members having some considerable influence upon the minds of their countrymen at large.

UNITED STATES. Mr. Adams, on taking the oath of office as President, delivered an inaugural address, in which he depicts as follows the advances made by his country since the establishment of its independence.

"The year of jubilee, since the first formation of our Union, is just elapsed; that of the Declaration of our Independence is at hand. Since that period, a population of four millions has multiplied to twelve; a territory bounded by the Mississippi has been extended from sea to sea; new States have been admitted to the Union, in numbers equal to those of the first confederation; treaties of peace, amity, and commerce, have been concluded with the principal dominions of the earth; the people of other nations, inhabitants of regions acquired, not by conquest, but by compact, have been united with us in the participation of rights and duties, of our burdens and blessings; the forest has fallen by the axe of our woodmen; the soil has been made fertile by the tillage of our farmers; our commerce has whitened every ocean; the dominion of man over physical nature has been extended by the invention of our artists: liberty and law have marched hand in hand; all the purposes of human association have been accomplished as effectively as under any other government on the globe; and at a cost little exceeding, in a whole generation, the expenditure of other nations in a single year. Such is the unexaggerated picture of our condition, under a constitution founded upon the Republican principle of equal rights."

Mr. Adams admits that there have been shades in this picture, caused by differences of opinion upon the theory of Republicanism, the policy of America towards other states, and jealousies of sectional interests. All these, however, he states, are now at an end; and he exhorts his countrymen to discard from their hearts every remaining vestige of political hostility. We feel much more inclined to congratulate our Transatlantic brethren upon the substantial realities of this picture, than to protest against any partial exaggeration of the colouring; otherwise we might justly urge some abatements from these glowing descriptions, and not least that "plague spot" of

slavery which still infects so large a portion of the domestic soil of this land of freedom.

But we forbear; long may Great Britain and these flourishing States continue in sisterly amity, benefiting each other by their mutual intercourse and reciprocation of commerce, and promoting throughout the world those civil and religious blessings which each so richly enjoys.

SOUTH AMERICA.-The current intelligence from the whole family of the South and Central American States, Brazil partially excepted, continues to be of a gratifying character. Our readers will have seen, in another department of the present Number, some interesting details relative to the improved criminal jurisprudence and discipline of the jails in several of the new States. The message addressed by the Vice-president of Colombia, (the President Bolivar being absent with the army,) totheCongressof 1825, is marked by great wisdom, liberality, and firmness; and though at that period neither the decision of Great Britain to acknowledge their independence, nor the mortal blow to the power of Spain in Peru, was known: the executive government seemed perfectly confident of the stability and rapid prosperity of the Republic.--Å letter has appeared in the journals from Mr. Joseph Lancaster, dated Carraccas, in which he states that he is forming a school and a seminary for schoolmasters, and that a desire for education is very prevalent. The same remark applies to the other new States. The British and Foreign Bible Society, is sending out an agent to forward its benevolent designs in this vast continent.

DOMESTIC.

Intelligence has arrived from India of a series of decisive military successes in the contest with the Burmese. The whole Burman coast from Rangoon eastward, was subject to the British arms. The native forces, amounting to fifty or sixty thousand men, had been defeated with a loss of five thousand men killed and wounded; and re-collecting their strength, to the number of twenty or twenty-five thousand, were again completely routed. We trust that a decisive issue has been thus put to the war; and we would hope that in the end these unhappy pagans may reap some solid advantages from the new relations which may be formed with an enlightened and Christian country; but we stand appalled at the fearful sacrifice of human life, British, Indian, and Burman, which has attended this sanguinary contest, the causes and objects of which still remain unexplained.

The proceedings in parliament have been interrupted by the Easter holidays;

since which the subject of Catholic emancipation has been the chief topic of discussion. The bill for annulling the civil disqualifications of the Catholics, has passed the second reading in the house of commons by a majority of twenty-seven. Other bills have been introduced for raising the scale of the elective franchise in Ireland, and allowing stipends to the Roman-Catholic clergy; which provisions, it is contended, are politically necessary to lessen the influence which the abolition of civil disqualifications may throw into the popular scale, and to give the government a counterpoising weight. The former measure is advocated by its friends on the ground of simple justice, as well as of absolute necessity; the two latter are urged as matters of expediency, and chiefly with a view to quiet the fears of those who, from political views, object

to the bill for emancipation. We forbear entering into any discussion of the subject, especially as the details of the proposed countervailing plans are not before the public while this sheet is going to press.

The government measures for relaxing the restrictions on commerce have been fully detailed in parliament, but we have no space for the particulars. They are, however, liberal, and leave but few relics of the prohibitory system, and its attendant evils. Foreign corn and freegrown sugar are however still most impolitically kept out of the British market; but it is admitted that such a system cannot last much longer. Mr. Whitmore is about to propose some measures respecting corn this session; and the king's ministers have pledged themselves for a full parliamentary inquiry into the whole question next session.

REV. W. READ.

THE uncertainty of life, and the consequent necessity of being constantly ready for the summons of death, are subjects constantly illustrated and enforced: there are, however, some instances of sudden death which seem to proclaim these truths with a voice peculiarly audible and emphatic. Of this kind is that which I am about briefly to detail. I refer to the lamented death of the Rev. William Read, A. M. formerly of St. Edmund Hall, and late Curate of Stone Easton, Somersetshire. The calamity which terminated his valuable life, took place on the 14th of August last; but it is only recently that it has occurred to the writer to offer this brief memorial to the readers of your publication, who will feel interested in the deceased, as the writer of the affecting little memoir of Thomas Hogg, the Scottish wanderer, which was inserted in your Number for January 1823, and has since been presented to the public in tracts of various forms.

The facts to which I allude, were these: Mrs. Read was recovering from a transient indisposition, when her affectionate husband took advantage of a bright day to propose to her the benefit of air and exercise. Their eldest little boy, a child of more than ordinary promise, ac

companied them, and also a faithful man-servant. They took their drive, happy in each other's society, and hailing the smiling sky and luxuriant ' fields as in unison with the joyful and grateful emotions of their hearts. How fair the prospect, but how soon to fade! we may apply to it the Psalmist's words "The wind passeth over it, and it is gone." Their morning's excursion was nearly completed; and they drew nigh to their home, when the horse set off at full speed, and became ungovernable.

Could they have kept the main road, they might have yet escaped; but the horse having been accustomed to a short cut down a lane, turned quickly round and rushed into it. The vehicle was dashed against a wall, and every individual in it severely injured: Mr. Read was taken up insensible; Mrs. Read's skull was fractured, and her arm broken; the child's skull was fractured, and the servant's shoulder dislocated! It is not easy to conceive a scene more heart-rending than that which presented itself on the return of the party, all of whom had but three hours previously left home in health and spirits. How forcibly does it inculcate the sacred admonition, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh!" Mr. Read

remained in the same state of insensibility till the morning of the 16th; when his happy spirit, freed from the burden of the flesh, returned to God who gave it. The little boy recovered his faculties for a short space only, and was then observed to clasp his feeble hands, and utter, (though indistinctly,) the Lord's Prayer, adding, "I am going to heaven." His gentle spirit joined that of his father at the distance of only one hour. That so young a child should spontaneously commend his soul to God in prayer, in the hour of extremity, and under the pressure of such a weight of suffering, is worthy of being recorded, as affording encouragement to parents to bring up their offspring in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Mr. Read was called from his labours at the early age of thirtyfour, before he had borne much of the heat and burden of the day. No interval of returning reason occurred, during which he might bear his dying testimony to the truths which in the faithful discharge of his ministry it had been his constant endeavour to inculcate. The truly Christian spirit and happyconsistency of his conduct engaged the love and reverence of the poor, and commanded the respect and esteem of all. Even those who thought his principles too uncompromising respected him for his consistency, and loved him for his exemplary conduct. What those principles were, may be collected by your readers from the little memoir already mentioned.

Having a numerous family (eight children under eleven years of age), Mr. Read had undertaken the instruction of pupils by whom he was affectionately loved and honoured, and who can testify to the parental kindness with which he studied both their temporal and spiritual benefit. The afflicted widow is, through Divine mercy, after a long and painful illness, restored to her little family. Mr. Read passed his life in so retired

a manner that though all who knew him loved him, yet their number was but small. Divine grace had adorned his character with many beautiful traits; but these excellences were as unobtrusive as they were lovely, furnishing little upon which the pen of the biographer could dwell, though much upon which the recollections of friendship and affection cannot but expatiate. His piety too was of the like unostentatious kind. There are indeed records of it. It stands recorded in the language with which he was wont to commune with God and pour out his heart in secret. It stands recorded in the published production of his pen above mentioned. It stands recorded, it is trusted, in the memory and in the hearts of some who drank in lessons of heavenly wisdom from his lips, and are following him as he followed Christ. But its chief record is on high, and not to be divulged till that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.

Up to the period of Mr. Read's ordination his time was passed at school and the university, at neither of which places did any thing remarkable occur; except indeed the most important of all events, and that on which he ever reflected with devout feelings of gratitude; namely, his being brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. This took place at the early age of fourteen, in consequence of which he was preserved from falling into many of the sins peculiarlyincident toyouth.

Mr. Read served the curacy of Midsomer Norton, Somerset, seven years, and during four years of that period the cure of the neighbouring parish of Holcombe was added to his ministerial duties. It is not too much to say, that no individual in either of these parishes saw him depart without regret. The last four years of his ministry and of his life, were spent at Stone Easton, and terminated in the manner which it has been my painful office to record,

J.

No. 281.]

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCH IN FRANCE.

I

(Continued from p. 207.) WOULD now proceed to advert to some circumstances in the present condition of the French Church, which seem to afford a reasonable prospect of its increase and improvement.

1. The first point which I shall notice on the state of the Protestants of France is, the comparative toleration in which they are now permitted to exercise their religion *. No interruption is offered them in the exercise of public and social worship. Proselytes may be made to the Protestant Church, and any means be used to extend its boundaries which do not offend against the public peace. Protestant schools and universities may be instituted; and Protestant ministers have the privilege of teaching members of their own body in the different prisons and hospitals of the kingdom. There will of course occur, and especially amongst a people who are not as practised in toleration as we are in this country, many instances of attempts to restrain the liberty of the Protestants, and to prevent what may be regarded as the usurping influence of a falsely called Reformed Church. But this is not the common state of feeling: indeed, indifference to all religion is at this period too prevalent in France. Protestantism is, therefore, tolerated as

much by public opinion as by the law of the land. The distribution of useful books and tracts therefore is not prevented; and, in short, good may be done by any means which do not affect the public tranquillity. It is incumbent upon the Protestants of France not to permit their present advantages to remain unimproved, but to employ them zealously in extending the influence of true religion throughout their whole community; not knowing how soon a conjuncture may arise of evil influences, by which their means of beneficial exertion may be greatly abridged.

2. Another favourable circumstance in the present state of the Protestants of France is, the increasing distribution of the word of God among them.-By means of the exertions of the Bible Society, most of the urgent applications for the Scriptures have been answered; and in general those individuals alone are without them who, like many in this country, have not learned their inestimable value, or who have not the power of reading them. There are two versions of the Bible made use of by the Protestants of France, those of Martin and of Ostervald. The former is grounded upon the oldest translation originally patronized by Calvin. It is sound in its construction, and forcible in its style, although it is ancient and somewhat obscure. The version of Ostervald is of more recent date than that of Martin, which appeared about the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, but it is more paraphrastic and less vigorous. Two other versions have

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