Christophe. These works manifest not only a thorough knowledge of the particular questions at issue, but much general information, and great acuteness of intellect. "I perceive," he says, "in the course of your letter, that one of your great objects is to generate distrust between us and the brave and loyal British Nation, by threatening us with the co-operation of her arms against us. But could you for one moment persuade yourself that we should be the dupes of your perfidy and falsehood, when in the public prints we witness all the efforts which the English Government and the virtuous philanthropists of that nation have been making in our favour? I can, moreover, assure you, that we have various extra-official documents, which prove to us that the views of the powers of Europe towards us are very remote indeed from those you would assign to them. Far from having gained your end, see what you have in effect done. You have thrown light on our course. You have given us new motives for attaching ourselves to the great British Nation, and new grounds of execration against you, and for distrusting your criminal schemes."

A General Medina, who was attached to the Mission of Dauxion Lavaysse, was sent by him to Cape Francois, to conduct the negotiation with Christophe. He was there recognised as a person who had served in the army of Toussaint Louverture, and who having been entrusted with an important post, betrayed it to the French force under Le Clerc. On this account, and because he was also without

seized. From these papers it appe that his real mission, which he prete to be wholly pacific, was to excite d and insurrection among the Haytians is therefore intended to bring him to as a spy.

We are happy to observe that the of France has formally and officially claimed any participation in the pro ings of M. Dauxion Lavaysse. His sion is stated to have been directed t single point of procuring informatio guide the deliberations of the French vernment. The tone adopted, therefo his letters to the Haytian Chiefs is w disavowed. We are glad of this, fo king's own sake. But knowing the ch ter of M. Malouet, we can have no that the conduct of the agents has conceived in the spirit of their emplo secret instructions. It has, howeve far as we can judge, been a very fort circumstance for the cause of negro dom that these instructions were fr with such entire fatuity. It has exting ed for ever the hopes entertained b Colonists of regaining their ancient fo in St. Domingo. It has confirmed liberty and independence of Hayti,

The President Petion has testifie gratitude to Great Britain, for the a with which she has espoused the cau the African race, by reducing the ra duties on British merchandise imp into his dominions to five per cent, in often per cent, which is the rate levi the goods of all other countries.

THE dull uniformity of our domestic history has been relieved only by the extension and modification of the Order of the Bath, so as to embrace a great number of meritorious naval and military officers and the death of that noted imposter, Joanna Southcott. We have hitherto avoided any reference to that unhappy woman or her deluded followers, feeling that it was a case equally beyond the reach of reason and ridicule. The bubble, however, is at length burst. Her imposture has been de. tected; and the folly of those who counte. nanced it has been exposed, even to their own conviction, by one to whose arguments

there is no reply. They have been d from this refuge of lies; but doubtles same blind credulity and drivelling which led them to enrol themselv the list of Joanna Southcott's follo will make them fit dupes of the first tender to supernatural revelation may assume the same confident and denounce on all that is superi rank and station the vengeance of ven. A Brothers and a Southcott had their day; and it is not a remarkable that, with few excep the followers of the former have the most devoted disciples of the I

We wait to see to what new prophet they will now attach themselves; persuaded that, in their present state of mind, they will build their faith on any rather than on Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life," and who requires that we

should be born again," "deny ours selves," and "crucify the world and the flesh," if we would be numbered among his followers.

Parliament will re-assemble on the 9th of February.

To the E litor of the Christian Observer.

In sending you the following account, I feel that I am only paying a debt of justice to him who is the subject of it, to the cause which he was made the honoured instrument of supporting, and to the Christian world to whom such a character cannot but be dear.

On Sunday, Sept. 25th, 1814, died, in the midst of his vigour as a man, and of his usefulness as a minister, the Rev. JOHN GRUNDY THOMPSON, M. A., for six years Curate of White Roothing, Essex; his death was occasioned by the rapid increase of internal inflammation terminating in the thrush, which suddenly removed him hence after only a few days' confinement, and only two or three of apprehension and alarm. His loss has made a breach, both in the parish and neighourhood, which cannot be easily repaired. The influence of his character was felt throughout the whole of the surrounding circle, as was amply testified by the respect shewn at his funeral, but more especially on the following day, when his funeral sermon was attended not only by an overflow ing church and a crowded porch, but also by a permanent tribute of respect to his memory; an ample fund having been subscribed to transmit to posterity, by means of a tablet in the church which was the scene of his labours, some record of the virtues and graces which distinguished him.

The particulars of his life are not unlike those of many other faithful Christians. After receiving his ed ucation at school, he was removed

to Cambridge, with the view of qualifying himself to become a minister of the Established Church. Here, instead of devoting himself to the studies peculiar to the university, he occupied himself in reading the sermons of our divines, from King William's days to the present time; and he afterwards used to lament the time which he might more profitably have devoted to the perusal of those of an earlier period and of a more decidedly evangelical character, or to the study of the sacred Scriptures. He read much, but he acquired little sound knowledge; and he left college after taking his Bachelor's degree, with a deep impression, indeed, that seriousness and sobriety became the ministerial character, but with views of divinity lamentably defi cient, confused, and erroneous. In this state, with very imperfect notions, it may be presumed, of the awful responsibility which had devolved on him, he entered into holy orders.

In the year 1800, he came to Cambridge, for the purpose of taking his Master's degree, where the writer of this account, who had been brought there by a similar intention, met him. I had known a little of him while we were undergraduates, having occasionally seen him in the society of a common friend by means of the same friend, we were now again brought together. As we walking in the streets of Cambridge, I took occasion to remark, that we who had undertaken the ministry, had in general but very inadequate views of the importance of the obligations imposed on us; and that

were

had at that time been about three years in a curacy, and about a month before had visited a clergyman in the neighbourhood, whose views I found to be very different from my own; and I left him with the impression, that whether he was right or not, (and I could not deny that he made his case out fairly by the Scriptures,) one thing was plain, I was certainly wrong. This persuasion I imparted to my dear deceased friend. It was all I then knew, and the hint was not lost on him. He never forgot this conversation: from it he dated the first rise of real seriousness in his heart; and when we were brought into closer intercourse in after-life, he frequently mentioned it with pleasure and gratitude. Indeed, it was only a month before his decease, (little did I then apprehend it was the last time I should see him on this side the grave!) while we were conversing on the inercies of God in our social circle, that he dwelt on this circumstance with thankful. ness and praise to God.

And here let me pause for a mo. ment, to admire the mercy of God which overrules such apparently weak means to the production of so much good. An unpremeditated word falling from the lips of some trifler, is improved to the conversion of a minister of the Gospel, and through him, perhaps, to the conversion of thousands; the grace which was found in him flowing to his converts, and through them perhaps to their children and neighbours to a remote posterity.

His thoughts having been thus called to the subject, Mr. Thomp. son soon saw the inconsistency of his general course of conduct with his obligations as a clergyman: and as these convictions were strengthened by reflection, the power of religion gradually increased; new habits and sentiments were induced; new principles were im

from each other during the years of this change, I can speak of his progress in ge terms, as it was indicated by correspondence. I parted with at Cambridge without any e tation of meeting him again in the course of a year he ed himself of a slight occasi commencing a correspondence me, which was continued, and became interesting. His vie religion, like my own, were very imperfect and confused what we knew we freely imp to each other.

Thus passed the interme years, till the opening of when a lectureship in the pop town in which he resided be vacant. It was in the gift of o the London Companies: he to town, therefore, to canvass f and resided with me during hurried season.

While he wa

ting with me, the vacancy of V Roothing was announced. It mediately occurred to him, that we might come together; and he might be my curate. Obsta however, interposed at the tin effectual barrier to this design he quitted town, having equall linquished all views of succee in his application for the lec ship, or of commencing a intimate connection with me.

Nearly half a year had been sumed in inquiries and treati my part for a suitable curate without effect; til at length, ing mentioned my difficulty to Thompson, in the course of correspondence, he appointed meet me at White Roothing; he decided on accepting the cu I bless God for all the me which have been the resul that determination, to ourselve well as to the parish and neight hood. Six years have elapsed that time, and I only exp the general sentiment, when 1

whole circle over which his influence extended. A spirit of peace, and conciliation, and love, character. ised his public as well as his private life. It was the constant observation of those who visited him; "What a savour of love and godliness seems to mark this happy place!" I have known persons who have said, that they never left his company without some spiritual improvement. For myself, I seldom returned from my periodical visits to him, without a deeper impression of the excellence of heavenly things, a deeper conviction of the blessedness of a life of faith, and of the necessary efficacy of Christian principles to produce what was lovely, attractive, and desirable in human conduct. His family was admitted by all, to be a family of unity, peace, love, and holy fellowship.

But there will be no room to wonder at this constant exercise of love in his outward conduct, if we consider the deep-wrought spirituality of his mind. I have known few men so well; but I never knew any who seemed to walk more closely with God. He had deep and abiding views of the mercy of God in Christ; of his free favour, unmerited love, and boundless compassion to every penitent sinner; and as this was the subject on which he loved to dwell, both in and out of the pulpit,, so it was evidently that by which his own Soul was constantly animated and supported. I have known him in difficulties, but they were no difficulties to him: they would have appalled most men, but they only serv ed to unite him more closely to his God; and though I have sometimes attributed this confidence, in some measure, to constitutional, hardihood of character, yet this was so temper ed by Christian meekness, that on a closer inspection I was convinced it Was the effort of faith, not of animal courage. A sense of redeemning mercy, experienced in his own soul, was evidently the main spring of his holy obedience. And as the love of God to sinners was the leading topic of his ministry and of his conversa

tion, it was as evidently the source of his own consolation and joy. The spirit, the subject, and the end of his conversation was Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for

ever.

My dear friend published but little : a sermon, preached at the Visitation of the Clergy at Grantham, about eight years since, and two pamphlets in defence of the Bible Society, which were probably of use in silencing the opposition made to it in that quarter in which he lived, and which are distinguished both by the force of their arguments, and by a delicate regard for the feelings and a sincere desire for the conviction of his opponent.

His death was answerable to his life, though it afforded, from the rapidity of its advance, but little opportunity for the display of his princi ples. It was remarked, however, by those who knew him, and attended him in his sickness, that his peculiarly strong views of the Divine mercy to him as a sinner, upheld him to the last. He trusted that God would do with him whatever he saw best. His tranquillity was not, apparently, interrupted for a moment by any anxiety as to a provision for his widow and seven children: he left these his dearest earthly blessings, as he left himself, simply to the disposal of the divine goodness and love. He often blessed God aloud, that he had not then a God to seek, He remarked, that during the short time of his rapidly progressive ill. ness, he had enjoyed more of the presence of God than he had ever done before and about an hour and a half before his death, when the increasing symptoms gave no hope of his recovery, he said to a friend, that he had no doubt that all was well as to his best interests: and not long before his death, as the difficulty of respiration arose almost to suffocation, he observed calmly, to the physician who attended him, that this could not last long. He soon after expired, continuing collected and sensible to the last.

:

To all human appearance, it was more probable that the affection of