MISCELLANEOUS. Universal History and Literature, from the German of Professor Bredow. By Major Bell. Royal folio. 17. 10s. The Complete Servant. By Samuel and Sarah Adams. 12mo. 7s. 6d. Civil Architecture. By J. Burridge. Antiquities in Westminster. By T. Moule. Classical Bibliography. By J. W. Moss, 2 vols. 8vo. ll. 10s. The Life of the Rev. J. Braithwaite. By R. Dickinson. 12mo. 6s. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. CHURCH-BUILDING COMMIS SION. THE Fifth Report of his Majesty's Commissioners for building and promoting the building of additional Churches in populous Parishes, announces that twenty churches and chapels have been completed since the last Report, by which accommodation has been provided for 13,631 persons in pews, and for 17,287 poor persons in free seats; making, in the 45 churches and chapels now completed, a total provision for 72,578 persons (including 44,313 free seats for the use of the poor). The Report goes on to state, that 30 churches and chapels are now in progress, and that 20 of these churches and chapels will be completed in the course of the present year.-Exchequer bills already issued to carry the object into effect, amount to the sum of 645,900. MISSIONARY SEMINARY AT BERLIN. Respecting the present state of this Seminary, the Rev. Mr. Jænicke writes in the following terms:-"There continue to be twelve dear brethren in our seminary at Berlin, ready to go forth to the work of their Lord. In literary education they are advanced further than any of the former students, and in piety they yield to none of their predecessors. If the Lord should incline to us the hearts of one of the Missionary Societies in England, to promote some of our dear young brethren to the harvest amongst the heathen, we confidently trust that the believers in Germany would be willing for still greater offerings, and that in future Missionary Societies in Britain will not have to complain of the want of agents, nor those in Germany be able to excuse themselves by the want of opportunity to take part in the most sacred of causes. ral kind, and by means of the system of mutual instruction, on the continent of Europe, are given in the last Report of the British and Foreign School Society. On the continent of Europe, France first claims attention. The Committee deeply regret that their Report must again be unfavourable. The Executive Government has withdrawn its assistance: hostility to Scriptural instruction seems lamentably prevalent; and, in consequence, the aid, hitherto derived from benevolent individuals, or the municipal authorities in large towns, is materially diminished. There is reason to believe that this opposition is greatly encouraged by the ecclesiastics. The schools in France are not so numerous as before: it is thought that there may be still from 600 to 800. The schools in Paris, which are 22 in number, and are supported by the city, contain 5000 scholars: they are reported to be going on well. The accounts from the Netherlands are very encouraging. Two large model schools are now in preparation at Brussels, with suitable residences for the master and mistress. Several cities and towns have been supplied with masters who have been regularly trained in the system; and the Scripture Lessons, in French, are permitted to be used. His Excellency the Baron de Falck, the minister of public instruction, zealously promotes education among the poor. His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, and the Prince of Orange, patronise the object: under whose auspices the system of mutual instruction will undoubtedly prosper. The British system has been introduced into Denmark, in the villages of which country education has been long enjoyed, while the inhabitants of the large towns were surprisingly neglected. In several of the old schools the plan of mutual instruction had been adopted. The expense SCRIPTURAL EDUCATION ON of preparing the writing lessons was de THE CONTINENT. The following details relative to the progress of education, chiefly of a Scriptu frayed by a donation from the King, who, with the Queen, is represented as highly pleased with the system. Mr. Gerelius is prosecuting his labours in Sweden, if not with splendid success, yet not without beneficial results. There are several schools in Stockholm; some of which are so crowded, that many children are waiting for admission these schools contain about 500 scholars. There are upward of 80 schools in different parts of Sweden; and the British system is said to be encouraged by all branches of the community. By the persevering exertions of the Russian Bible Societies, great progress is made in the design of supplying all the nations and tribes of that immense empire with the sacred Scriptures. The general establishment of schools will be a necessary appendage to these efforts: the Committee trust that the importance of this measure will not be overlooked. Application has been made to Mr. Heard, by General Ballashif, to organize a model school at Riazan; with a view to the introduction of the British system into the five provinces of which he is the governor, and which are situated in the centre of the Russian dominions. The School for Foreigners has been eminently successful: the numbers thronging for admission were so great, that a larger building was found requisite, and a fine hall, capable of accommodating 600 children, has been engaged: the former school-room is to be appropriated to the instruction of 150 girls. Some striking anecdotes have been communicated to the Committee, shewing the happy effects of Scriptural Education both on the pupils and on their parents. Though no direct information has reached the Committee from Tuscany, the schools there, upward of thirty in number, superintended by the active friends who form the Education Society at Florence, continue to thrive and bear fruit. At Naples, one of the large schools which had been suppressed has been re-opened, with promising indications of efforts being made for the opening of others. Very little intelligence has been received from Spain. That the progress of education has been, in some instances at least, checked by recent occurrences, it seems impossible to question. The flourishing schools at Seville were suppressed on the approach of the French army: it is not improbable that a similar disaster has occurred in some other places. But when it is considered that the British system was introduced into Spain before the late disturbances, and under the royal sanction, it may be hoped that it will not be suffered CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 285. to wither and die: this hope is further justified by the fact, that the central schools in Madrid are prospering, assisted by the direct patronage and personal superintendence of the Duke del Infantados, NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. The following passages contain the substance of the last Report. "In one part of the field selected for your labours, certainty and system have taken the place of diffidence and difficulty and doubt; and the arm of God has deigned to use the arm of princely power to carry into effect its measures of mercy. While in the other part an extended and still widening space is courting the culture of your industry, and crying to the sincerity of your professions to remove from it the reproach of barrenness.' "The first point on which your Committee appeal to you, not for your approbation alone, but for your unqualified and grateful concurrence, is that involved in the code of Regulations for providing the Army with Bibles and Testaments,' recommended by three prelates who have long held distinguished patronage in your Society, and approved by his Most Gracious Majesty himself. It is proposed, that the following arrangements shall be made for providing the army with Bibles and Testaments, through the medium of the Chaplain-general only. "1. That a circular letter shall be addressed by the Adjutant-general to the different regiments throughout the service, acquainting them that the Commander-inChief has deemed it expedient to cancel all orders which gave a sanction to direct communications and correspondence between the Naval and Military Bible Society and commanding officers of corps; that such correspondence can only be held with the Chaplain-general of the army, who will obtain from the Naval and Military Bible Society, and other sources, the means of complying with all requisitions of this description which commanding officers may address to him. "2. That commanding officers shall be directed by the Adjutant-general, to send to the Chaplain-general an immediate return of the number of Bibles, Testaments, and Books of Common Prayer, in the possession of the men, and of the number necessary to furnish one to every man who can read. "3. That exclusive of the requisitions which may follow this circular instruction, the Chaplain-general will procure, from 4 G the Naval and Military Bible Society, and other sources, such number of Bibles and Testaments, and Books of Common Prayer, together with such Religious Tracts as he may think sufficient, to be lodged as a depôt in the orderly room of each corps, in order that recruits, and others wanting such books, may be provided from time to time as they may require them: That these Bibles, &c. shall be kept in a chest; and that the state of this depôt of books shall be inspected at the half-yearly inspections, and the number of Bibles, &c. in store, inserted on the back of each half-yearly return transmitted to the Adjutant-general: the Adjutant-general will furnish the Chaplain-general, half yearly, with a return of what is required to keep these depôts of books complete. "4. That the expense of furnishing these books to the soldiers now in want of them, as well as to all the recruits who may, from time to time, join their respective corps, shall be borne by the public. But that each man who is found, upon the usual periodical examination of his necessaries, to have lost or disposed of his books, shall be again provided from the depôt of Bibles, Testaments, &c. at his own expense; and commanding officers of corps will address to the Chaplaingeneral a return every six months of such deficiences. (Signed) "C. CANTUAR. E. EBOR. "London, Feb. 1825. W. LONDON." The consequence of this regulation had been, that a communication had been entered into with the Very Rev. the Dean of Carlisle, Chaplain-general of his Majesty's forces, in which it was understood that the Bibles necessary for completing and keeping complete the supply for the whole British Army would be drawn from the depository of this Society, the price not exceeding that at which Government had already been offered a supply; which would leave a charge of about two shillings per volume to be made up from the funds of this Society. The Committee were in daily expectation of a requisition for seven thousand copies. The Committee state, that “they feel it unnecessary to make any comment upon the attainment of a measure so replete with the fulfilment of the best wishes of the Society." They add, that "they exult in an order so reasonable and wise in all its bearings, and most fit to stand written in characters of durability in the regulations of a Christian army." The second point to which the Committee call the attention of the subscri bers, is the extension of the space sought to be occupied by the Society, and consequently a modification of some of its original laws;-that whereas the objects to whom the bounty of this Society was restricted, were the British Navy and Army, that restriction should cease; and that the objects coming under the naval denomination should include the sailors in the service of the Honourable the EastIndia Company, and fishermen, and all mariners, whether connected with inland or general navigation. This modification contains nothing more than the application of the Society's operations to a body of men already partially connected with it, and not adequately provided for by any other specific institution. The Committee confidently expect that it will be followed by a large accession of auxiliaries in the different seaports. It is also hoped, that in time it will have the effect of opening wider the door of communication with the Royal Navy; an object which the Committee regret to say is yet but very partially accomplished.-The issues of Bibles and Testaments this year have exceeded the last one by nearly seven hundred copies, amounting to six thousand and forty-nine Bibles and Testaments, making the total issues of the Society a hundred and seventy-five thousand four hundred copies. The debt under which the Society stood at its last anniversary has been paid off. ROMAN-CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN CHINA. The following recent intelligence is contained in a letter from M. Fontana, Bishop of Sinite, and Apostolic Vicar of Suetechura in China: we need make no comment upon it.-"Persecution, which raged with great violence five years ago, and which has never entirely subsided, had nevertheless gradually diminished; but, in 1824, it was renewed in several places, on account of a conspiracy formed against the Emperor by a sect of pagans, but happily discovered. The examinations relative to this affair served as a pretext to call the Christians to an account. Most of them escaped by giving money; a few yielded to fear, and placed superstitious tablets in their houses: others, however, resisted with great courage, and made a noble profession of the faith for which they suffered. "Among the latter, the Christians of two towns, called Lo-Tcha-hien and TchoungKian-hien, distinguished themselves by their constancy. Efforts were made to visit the Christians. In the course of constrain them to apostatize, but nearly all, of whom five are infirm, and can no longer both men and women, shewed themselves disposed to suffer death rather than renounce their faith. This conduct drew upon them all sorts of insults, ill-treatment, and vexations: at length they were left quiet, but nine Christians of Lo-Tchahien, who by their exertions encouraged others, were conducted before the gover nor, who omitted neither caresses nor punishments to induce them to renounce their faith. These noble believers throwing themselves upon their knees, declared that they would voluntarily suffer death for the sake of their religion. The viceroy, affected by their firmness, did not condemn them to death, but perpetual banishment in Tartary. The Emperor confirmed the sentence; and the nine Christians departed for the place of their exile, in May 1824, with their wives, who resolved to follow them. The Christians of the other town, Tchoung-Kian-hien, were likewise illtreated; and here, also, there were nine who distinguished themselves by more courage than the rest. "Notwithstanding these occurrences, and although the Christians were extremely ill-treated in many places, the exercises of religion were no where interrupted, and the missionaries were able to visit almost all the Christian institutions, and administer the sacrifice to the faithful. The Christians who, at the beginning of the persecution, had been condemned to carry the cangue until death, constantly displayed the same firmness. The Emperor, upon his accession to the throne, remitted the punishment of those under condemnation. The Christians condemned to the cangue were also to return home, but upon condition of renouncing their religion. 1824, all those who carried the cangue were brought before the governors, and urged to make abjuration, in order to enjoy the grace promised. All of them, except one, confessed the faith anew, and consequently continued to carry the cangue voluntarily. Monsieur Thadee Lieon, a Chinese priest, was strangled for having refused to renounce the Christian religion, and having confessed that he was a priest and preacher of the said religion. In "In 1824 the establishment of a seminary was commenced, in which are collected twelve pupils, who study Latin and are formed in the practice of piety, under a Chinese priest. Many others solicit admission; but the difficulty of the times and the poverty of the mission prevent the reception of a greater number. The number of the Chinese priests is twenty-six; PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY IN Messrs. Tyerinan and Bennet, missionary inspectors, make the following report respecting the progress of the people of Tahiti. "We visited these kind and interesting people in many of their dwelling-houses, and were every where treated with some little refreshment placed on a neatly covered table, while we were seated on a sofa in the English manner; all which tables and sofas are of their own manufacture. Many of them also dress on the Sundays in good English clothes; and all would do so if they could obtain the means, and for which they are striving. We were favoured with a delightful opportunity of witnessing the advances which these people are making in civilization, at a feast which they obligingly made for us upon the Patu, which is a noble stone-platform of very great extent, formed upon the spot, and with the stones, of a vast idol temple or Marae. Here, as at Raiatea, and Huahine, all the congregation assembled in families, each having its sofa or sofas, its table or tables, and these neatly covered with a table-cloth. An awning of native cloth screened them from the sun. Men, women, and children were comfortably dressed. They all partook of a dinner in the English manner; each family, generally speaking, having provided their own dinner. With great delight we went from family-party to familyparty, and rejoiced to see so much neatness and comfort, and so much manifest happiness. "We had, during the day, many excellent speeches from various chiefs and others; and every one, iz some part or other of his speech, adverted to the wonderful change and benefits that receiving the word of God has produced; and then, in various ways, contrasting their former degraded with their present elevated and happy condition; and generally closing with an exhortation to be grateful to God, and diligent to improve their great pri vileges." incidental expenses, 25 cents. Candidates for Orders will receive instruction gratis. POOR PIOUS CLERGY SOCIETY. We have so often detailed the plan and proceedings of this truly benevolent and useful institution, that in bringing its NEW-YORK EPISCOPAL SEMI- last Report before our readers, we need NARY. The foundation stone of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States has been recently laid at Greenwich, near New York. Numerous clergymen of the Episcopal Church, the trustees, professors, and students of the seminary, together with deputations from the vestries of several Episcopal churches, the junior students, and several bishops attended on the occasion. A short address, setting forth the objects of the intended building, and the hopes and views of those who were about to erect it, was delivered by Bishop White. A prayer was put up by him for the blessing of God on it and its founders, and on the labours of those who should be called to teach or to learn within its walls. A box was then handed to the bishop, in which were separately placed the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, Homilies of the Church, and the documents relative to the seminary. These were enclosed in the corner stone prepared for the purpose-the bishop receiving from the architect a hammer, with which he struck the stone, and dedicated it in the name of the three persons of the Trinity. The same ceremony was repeated by the other bishops. OHIO EPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. It will be gratifying to those of our readers who have interested themselves in the proposed Episcopal College in Ohio, to learn that its incipient operations are already in progress. The preparatory departments of the institution are for the present opened at the residence of the president, Bishop P. Chase, near Worthington in Ohio. Two instructors of ability have been engaged to assist the president, and the course of study is the same as in the most approved American academies and colleges. The students will reside under the same roof with the president and instructors, and be continually subject to their inspection. The terms will be, for tuition in the collegiate studies, (per annum) 20 dollars; academical studies, 10 dollars; board per week, one dollar; only copy a few extracts from recent letters received from the objects of its bounty. "1. I still remain the curate of- -:my incoine in the last year was 1351. I have nine children dependent on me for support-my hearers may amount to 500. There is a charity school on the public plan; and, thank God, there is not the least want of Christian education for the poor-," 2. "At present I am in want of a situation as a parish minister, in consequence of the death of the incumbent. The total income which I have been in the habit of receiving from clerical sources is 60. per annum; but during the last twelve months, in consequence of my furnishing supplies to neighbouring clergymen, who have wanted assistance, it has amounted to 80. Fifty pounds of it from the superintendence of the school. I have a wife and five children, all dependent on me for support, in addition to a female servant, whose services are indispensably necessary to us." 3. "I have lately been removed to the parish of at a salary of seventy-five pounds, with an aged mother of 87, and an infirm wife of 70, to provide for, and am myself 63 years of age; having nothing but my bare salary for our support. If you are of opinion that my case will meet the attention of the Committee, which the Almighty knows is distressing enough, I will thank you to lay it before them." 4. "I beg leave to say, that my circumstances are nearly as they were the last time I addressed the Society, save a few additional troubles, being four in family. My salary sixty pounds a year. We have been visited with illness, which occasioned us to have recourse to medical aid, the bill for which I have not yet received. My poor wife is hardly recovered. I must not omit to mention, that although we have to contend with a few earthly troubles, spiritual consolation is administered to soothe them: not a little of which I reap in my feeble labours in the ministry. I have the sacrament now in my two churches administered monthly; which before was only four |