fragrance, and joyful promise of spring, into the coldness,and barrenness,and gloominess of winter."--p.357. "No case of a dying unbeliever has been made so much of, by way of a set-off to the testimony of Christians, as that of David Hume. The evident object of Adam Smith, the narrator, is to put up his friend for a comparison with believers. Gibbon says, He died the death of a philosopher.' Nothing can be more affected, more evidently contrived for stage effect, or, even on infidel principles, more disgraceful to such a mind as Hume's, than the manner of his death, according to the account given by his friend. He knew his end was near. Whether he was to be annihilated, or to be for ever happy, or for ever miserable, was a question involved, on his own principles, in impenetrable darkness. It was the tremendous question to be then decided. Reason and decency demanded that it should be seriously contemplated. How does he await the approach of eternity? Said Chesterfield (an infidel also.) When one does see death near, let the best or the worst people say what they please, it is a serious consideration." Does Hume treat it as a serious consideration? He is diverting himself! With what? With preparing his Essay in Defence of Suicide for a new edition; reading books of amusement; and sometimes with a game at cards! He is diverting himself again! With what next? With talking silly stuff about Charon and his boat, and the river Styx! Such are a philosopher's diversions, where common sense teaches other people to be, at least, grave and thoughtful. But why divert himself? Why turn off his mind from death? Why the need of his writings, and his cards, and his books of amusement, and his trifling conversations! Was he afraid to let his mind settle down quietly and alone to the contemplation of all that was at stake in the crisis before him? Whatever the explanation of his levity, it was ill-timed, out of taste, badly got up; an affected piece of over acting, intended for posthumous fame, to say the best of it. He died as a fool dieth. Take his own views, as thus expressed, at the end of his Natural History of Religion: comfortable views exhibited by the belief of futurity are ravishing and delightful. But how quickly these vanish on the appearance of its terrors, which keep a more firm and durable possession of the human mind. The whole is a riddle, an enigma, an inexplicable mystery. Doubt, uncertainty, suspense of judgment, appear the only result of our most accurate scrutiny concerning this subject.' In his own estimation, then, futurity had its terrors. Doubt, inexplicable mystery, hung over his future destiny! Whether he was not to be a child of hell for ever, his most accurate scrutiny could only suspend his judgment! In this tremendous suspense, he plays cards, as it were, on his coffin-lid! jests about ridiculous fables, as he steps down to the momentous uncertainties, but eternal realities, of the future! If a finger had been about to receive its sentence, whether to be amputated or not, he would at the least have been more grave. How far such a death-bed scene is honourable to philosophy or infidelity, or fit to be compared with that of millions of Christians, I need not say. But this is the fairest aspect of the matter on the side of infidelity."-p. 359 to 361. The "Shall I lead you to the horrible spectacle of Voltaire, in the arms of death, and expecting in a few moments to stand at the bar of God. He has just returned from a feast of applause in the theatre, to be laid on a bed of death, in the agonies of an upbraiding conscience. The physician enters. 'Doctor,' said the apostle of infidelity, with the utmost consternation, I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I am worth, if you will give me six months' life.' The physician told him he could not live six weeks. "Then,' said he, I shall go to hell.' His companions in guilt, D'Alembert, Diderot, and Marmontel, hasten to keep up his courage, but meet nothing but reproach and horror. In spite of the guard of infidels about him, he sends for the Abbé Gautier to come as soon as possible. In his presence, and that of other witnesses, he signs a recantation of infidelity, and professes to die in the church. It is sent to the rector of St. Sulpice and the archbishop of Paris for approval. The Abbé Gautier returns with it, but cannot enter. Every avenue to the dying infidel is defended by those who had shared in his conspiracy against Christianity. They want to hide his terrors and their own shame. Now it is, that D'Alembert, Diderot, and about twenty others, of like character, who beset his apartment, never approach him but to hear their condemnation. Retire he often exclaims, with execrations, it is you that have brought me to my present state! Begone! I could have done without you all; but you could not exist without me! And what a wretched glory have you produced me? Then his conspiracy comes before him, and, alternately supplicating and blaspheming, he complains that he is abandoned by God and man, and often cries out, Oh Christ! Oh Jesus Christ!' He is looking on 2D. SERIES, NO. 31.-VOL. III. Him whom he pierced! He is drinking the cup of trembling! the foretaste of the second death! The Mareschal de Richelieu flies from the scene, declaring it too terrible to be sustained. The physicians, thunderstruck, retire; declaring the death of the impious man to be terrible indeed.' One of them pronounces that the furies of Orestes could give but a faint idea of those of Voltaire."-p. 364, 365. BRIEF SURVEY OF BOOKS. 1. Sermons on the Hinderances of Practical Godliness, by Matthew Henry, Religious Tract Society,) are published for the first time from his manuscript. They are sixteen in number, and the subjects upon which they treat are laid out in a clear and forcible manner. The language is occasionally quaint, but never involved or obscure. The name of their author is a sufficient guarantee for their worth, while their price (a fraction more than a penny each) is a considerable recommendation. 2. The Scrap Book, by the author of Elizabeth Allen, &c. (Seeley, London,) has a very elegant exterior, and contains a variety of articles in prose and verse, generally a page or two in length, which are chiefly of a religious character. Several of the prose articles are interesting, but few are of very great importance. The pieces in verse are not of a high order, being more creditable to the piety than the poetic genius of the author. We observe, the term imputed righteousness is used several times. It will, nevertheless, form a very pretty little Christian present. that The 3. The Prodigal, or Youth Admonished, in a brief View of our Lord's Parable of the Prodigal Son, by J. Thornton, (Westley and Davis, London,) adds to the number of works of sterling value for the improvement of the rising generation. subject is ably handled, and the comparison well preserved throughout. The evils of prodigality, infidelity, and vice, in reference to this world and the next, are emphatically stated, and the vital doctrines of the gospel seriously enforced. We wish that such books as this were more widely circulated among young men ; and recommend all who are going to cross the ocean, to provide themselves with this and similar books, not only to beguile the tedium of the voyage, but to instruct the mind on the most important subjects. 4. On Spirituality of Mind, by Joseph Fletcher, D. D., (Westley and Davis, London,) was first published as a sermon, but is now put into its present form for more general circulation. It is an admirable exposition of the subject. The origin of spiritual-mindedness; its characteristic indications; the means of promoting it; and its importance, are treated of with great clearness, energy, and spirituality. 175.-VOL. XV. 2 U 5. The Young Christian; or, a Familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Duty, by Jacob Abbott, (Religious Tract Society,) and, 6. The same, with a Preface and Corrections, by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, M.A., (Seeley, London,) are different editions of a most valuable American work. The latter is far superior to the former, in typography and general appearance; and has our decided preference for its punctuation, &c. but the former is more suited to the pockets of the poor. A young Christian will scarcely find a more useful assistant. 7. Anecdotes; the Holy Scriptures, (Religious Tract Society,) contains many interesting incidents relative to the Bible, under various heads, such as historical facts in reference to the Scriptures;' Facts illustrative of the need of the Scriptures.' "The blessed effects produced by the Scriptures;' Instances of attachment to the Scriptures,' &c. Young persons should read such books as this. 8. Family Classical Library, Nos. XXXVIII, and XL. (Valpy, London,) though not in consecutive order, shew us that the spirited publisher is determined to redeem his pledge for the style of getting up.' The first of these contains the remainder of the Iliad, and the commencement of the Odyssey-Pope's Translation. The latter ends with book IX. of Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Dryden, Pope, Congreve, Addison, and others. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. Dr. FORSTER, in his highly useful work entitled an Encyclopædia of Natural Phenomena, has divided the year into six seasons instead of four, as being more agreeable to the phenomena of nature: these seasons he has respectively termed the Primaveral, Vernal, Solstitial, Estival, Autumnal, and Brumal; and he has also given the mean time of their commencement, viz. the Primaveral on or about February the 2d; the Vernal about the 6th of April; the Solstitial about June 11th; the Estival about the 15th of July; the Autumnal about the 29th of September; and the Brumal about the 8th of December. The reason for introducing these seasons to the notice of the reader is this; in our future observations, instead of giving the mean temperature for each month regularly, we shall give the mean temperature of each season. In the course of the writer's observations, he has noticed that these seasons may be further divided into smaller portions; and these portions appear to be regulated by two distinct classes of phenomena. The first of these consist of certain changes in the wind: the aerial currents may be divided into two portions; those from the south-west, and those from the north-east; the boundaries between these portions are the southeast, and north-west points. For some length of time, the direction of the wind may be from the south-western hemisphere; it may then be observed to shift round to the north-eastern hemisphere; and the time during which it blows from either of these hemispheres may be termed an anemonal period. The commencement of each season appears to be identical with the commencement of an anemonal period. Another circumstance that appears to govern the commencement of a season is the established weather that accompanies an anemonal period: it frequently happens, that when the anemonal periods change, the weather is unsettled; and this unsettled state of the weather sometimes continues during a whole period, and on some occasions through a great portion of a season: at other times, one division of a season is attended throughout with fine weather, but still at every change of the anemonal periods a corresponding change in the atmosphere is noticed by a change in the clouds, &c. We shall therefore, in the future observations, in addition to the mean temperature of the seasons, point out the anemonal periods, together with the weather and other natural phenomena connected therewith. In closing these preliminary observations, we shall give a brief account of the last Primaveral and Vernal seasons. Each of these seasons were resolved by natural phenomena into two distinct parts, which in these instances may be termed early and late. The early Primaveral extended from the commencement of February, to the early part of March, and was particularly noted for its mildness. Mr. Veall the meteorological correspondent to the Philosophical Magazine, residing at Boston, has ascertained that last February was the mildest that has occurred for seven years; and also that there was more humidity than in any February during the same period. The late Primaveral extended to the end of March, and was noted for its inclemency. Mr. V. also found March to be colder than any preceding March that had occurred for seven years. The early Vernal extended from the beginning to the end of April, and was generally showery: and the late Vernal occupied the whole of May; this part was particularly dry, rain having fallen on one day only, between May 3rd and June 1st, inclusive. In our next, we shall give the mean temperature of the late Vernal, the number of anemonal periods observed therein, &c. ANNIVERSARIES OF BENEVOLENT INSTI TUTIONS IN THE METROPOLIS. ECCLESIASTICAL KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY. THE Fourth Annual Meeting of this Society was held in the great room of the City of London Tavern, on Wednesday evening, May 1st, and was most numerously attended. A. Pellatt, Esq. in the chair. The Rev. Dr. Cox, one of the Secretaries, read the Report. It alluded to the diffusion of its pamphlets on Church polity and history, as having much informed the public mind, established Dissenters in their principles, and led the community to entertain juster views of the purity of the Christian dispensation. It condemned the civil disabilities under which Dissenters at present labour, only on account of their religious views, and declared that the simple object of this Society was to complete that Reformation which had been so long retarded by the worldly-minded spirit of a secular Church. The Society had published no less than 41 pamphlets on different subjects, many of which had passed through several editions, and all of them had been circulated to a great extent. A. Pellatt, Esq. J. Brown, Esq. Rev. J. E. Giles, Rev. J. Burnet, Rev. R. Ainslie, F. Edwards, Esq. H. Thompson, Esq. and Dr. Bennett, addressed the meeting. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONGST THE JEWS. On Friday, May 3d, the annual meeting of this Society was held in Exeter Hall, Strand. The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry in the chair. The children under the protection of the Society, who were present on the platform, were seventy. The Report stated, that the cause was gaining ground, both as respected the growing interest for the conversion of the Jews, and also the encouragement given by the Jews themselves. The receipts of the Society for the last year were £1,100, being less than those of the previous year by £461. This was accounted for from the cir cumstance of many of the country auxiliary Societies being unvisited. The Rev. E. Bickersteth, J. P. Plumptre, Esq. M.P., and several other gentlemen, addressed the meeting. BOOK SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE AMONG THE POOR. The eighty-third Anniversary of this Instition was held in Exeter Hall, on Friday evening, May 3d. Mr. Alderman Wilson was called to the chair. The Rev. R. H. Shepherd read the Report. Several sterling works of the most eminent and useful of the old divines had been The number of reprinted at low prices. books circulated in the course of the past year was 23,500, being an increase of 7,500 beyond the circulation of the year preceding. Many of these books had reached as far as the antipodes and there was no quarter of the globe in which they might not be found. The sales of books had considerably increased also. The gratuitous supplies and assistances towards the establishment of Village Libraries, had not been at all equal to the demands forwarded to the Committee, because of the state of the funds. On the necessity of meeting such demands, however, it dwelt with considerable emphasis, on account of the great progress of education, and the importance of supplying the appetite thus excited with wholesome and salutary food. While such vast sums were raised for the millions of perishing heathen, the millions of our native population ought not to be overlooked. It was highly desirable to afford assistance to pastors and missionaries, as well as to villages and poor churches; and for this purpose, the co-operation of Christians of all denominations was earnestly requested. Mr. Alderman Wilson, The Rev. T. Timpson, Rev. E. A. Dunn, Rev. G. Evans, Mr. J. C. Evans, J. Payne, Esq. J. Smith, Esq. Mr. Royston, Rev. A. Bell, Rev. T. Bradshaw, Rev. R. H. Shepherd, and Rev. G. Pritchard addressed the meeting. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. The Twenty-eighth General Meeting of this Institution was held in Exeter Hall on Monday, May 6th. Lord John Russell in the chair. Henry Dunn, Esq. said, that he should read but a very brief abstract of the Report upon that occasion. The Institution, though not under its present name, had been founded for a quarter of a century; and by its diffusion of scriptural and useful knowledge, it had been the means of correcting much evil, and of effecting a great change in public opinion as to the utility of a moral and religious education. A respectful tribute was paid to the memory of the late Rev. Rowland Hill, who had been an active member of the Committee for nearly twenty years, and one of whose last acts was to send a spontaneous donation to the funds of the Society. (Hear.) The Central School, in the Borough, was in a flourishing state, and reflected high credit on the superintendent, Mr. Crossley. Sixtythree candidates had been admitted, to learn the system; fifty-one had been appointed to the charge of Schools; eight Schools had been supplied with teachers; fifteen missionaries had applied, to obtain an insight into the system. The Foreign operations of the Society were next noticed. In France the government began to be fully alive to the importance of a moral and religious education, and were disposed to promote the system of mutual instruction: 1581 Schools had been opened, and 2,900,000 children were receiving their benefits. Scriptural truth was decidedly advancing in France; large supplies of Bibles and Testaments had been granted by the British and Foreign Bible Society; and 40,000 copies of the Scriptures were ordered to be printed by the council of instruction. (Hear.) Greece was the object of anxious solicitude, as the point from which the Word of God would one day go forth to the surrounding nations. In the Ionian Isles there were 127 Schools for boys, in which 4962 were instructed daily. A foundation for all that was lovely, honest, and of good report, was likely to laid in Greece by the moral and religious education of its young female population, (Cheers.) Throughout Asia Minor, scriptural instruction was rapidly spreading; and on the site of the decayed churches of Asia, Schools were now in active operation. In Southern and Western Africa, various Schools among the Hottentots were in a thriving state. Schools had been recently established in Macarthy's Island, for the benefit of the Foulah tribes. In adverting to Sierra Leone, honourable mention was made of Mrs. Hannah Kilham, .who up to the latest period of her life had cheerfully encountered dangers, in order to facilitate the welfare of the barbarous tribes of the West, and to prepare the way for the civilization of Africa. The Report concluded by stating, that the finances of the Society were altogether inadequate to meet the demands constantly made upon it, and strongly urged the necessity of an increase of annual subscribers. The income of the Society during the past year amounted to £2978. 10s. 6d., its expenditure to £3212. 11s. 7d. The Rev. J. W. Cunningham, Henry Pownall, Esq., Rev. G. Clayton, Rev. J. Phillipps, Rev. G. Marsden, Rev. John Burnet, Mr. France, and Lord John Russell addressed the meeting. PORT OF LONDON AND BETHEL UNION SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting of the friends and supporters of this institution was held at the City of London Tavern, on Monday, May 6th. The Right Hon. Lord Mountsandford in the chair. The Rev. E. Muscutt read the Report, which opened with regretting the death of Lord Gambier, many years the president of the Society; and proceeded to give an account of the operations of the Society during the past year. Very encouraging information had been received from various foreign parts, relating to the Bethel meetings and their beneficial influence among the sailors, and the inhabitants of the coasts off which they had been held. Dr. Morison, of China, reported, that the American Sailors' Society had sent a chaplain thither to attend to the seamen of all nations frequenting that port. Bethel meetings at home had been constantly held, and well attended. The floating chapel was still supplied gratuitously by various ministers: 4067 sailors had attended public worship on board, and nearly an equal number of general hearers. 987 books, and 34 Bibles and Testaments, had been distributed by this Society among seamen. There were 220 children receiving instruction in the dayschools at Wapping. The patronage of the Merchants Seamen's Orphan Asylum had been considerably augmented; the institution had received 48 boys and 24 girls during the five years of its existence. The Sailor's Magazine had been discontinued on account of the low state of the funds. The Report concluded by calling on the religious public for increased support. The Rev. John Clayton, Capt. Smith, R.N., Rev. W. Hodgson, Rev. C. Hyatt, W. Manning, Esq., Capt. Orton, R. H. Marten, Esq. G. Jackson, and others, addressed the meeting. IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. The nineteenth general meeting of this Society was held at Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, on Tuesday evening, May 7th, Thos. Walker, Esq. in the chair. The Rev. A. Tidman then read an abstract of the Report. The agents of the Society, it stated, had been much honoured by God in the prosecution of their righteous and holy cause, and, amidst the prevalence of a dreadful pestilence, their lives had been preserved. A rapid sketch was given of the stations occupied, the number of agents employed, the nature of the labours in which they had been engaged, and the success which had attended their varied exertions. By means of preaching and scripture reading, many congregations had been raised, and Christian churches formed. Schools had been established both for children and adults; bibles and tracts had been distributed, and great attention had been excited. As to the funds, there had been a falling off to the amount of £450. Ireland, amidst her own deep poverty, had done what she could; and Scotland had not been backward to shew its regard to the good cause. Some of the auxiliaries in England also had done well, though as to many churches, especially in the metropolis, the hopes of the committee had been greatly disappointed. It was earnestly hoped, that while the mercy of Britain was extended to the wants of another hemisphere, it would not allow those who were so near home to remain in ignorance. Six millions of the inhabitants of Ireland were in awful ignorance, and under the influence of debasing superstitions. Success had attended the exertions which had been made, and there was every encouragement to renewed efforts, and to fervent prayer. The foe to be sure. subdued was powerful, but the means employed were peaceful, and the triumph was Prophecy depicted the final overthrow of the accursed system by which Ireland was enthralled, and the Prince of peace would claim her as his own. The income of the Society amounted to 30967. 18s.9d. and the disbursements to £3098. 18s. 10d.; there were engagements and debts to the amount of £600, and £500 stock had been sold out. Congregational collections were very strongly urged. The Rev. G. Clayton. Rev. D. Stuart, Josiah Conder, Esq., Rev. John Burnet, Rev. Dr. Styles, and Rev. Dr. Morison addressed the meeting. HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. On Tuesday, May 14th, the public meeting was held in Exeter Hall, which began to fill at an early hour. Thomas Thompson, Esq., the treasurer, in the chair. The Rev. Mr. Henry, of Tooting, then read a brief abstract of the Report of the operations of the Society during the past year. The debt which had so long embarrassed the Society had been liquidated, and some new stations had been occupied; four especially were named, one in the vicinity of Bridport in Dorsetshire, one at Twyford in Berkshire, one at Brixham in Devon, and one at Sutton Colefield in Warwickshire. Some stations from which the missionaries had been withdrawn were reopened. At Market Bosworth, Bicester, and some other places, Christian churches had been formed, and regular pastors settled. Several instances, had occurred, in which the utility of a union between the auxiliaries of the Society and county associations, had been illustrated. The counties were then named in alphabetical order, and one station was selected from each as a specimen of the general progress of the labours of the Society. Preaching had been introduced, schools established, and many works of piety and benevolence set on foot, in places where the labours of no regular minister were at all encroached upon. An acknowledgment was made of aid received from the Tract Society, and various Bible Auxiliaries, as well as to several ladies who had contributed works of various kinds for the benefit of the funds. The receipts of the Society had amounted to £4947, leaving but a very small balance in the hands of the treasurer, to meet all the expenses of the coming year. The principal speakers were, T. Thompson, Esq., the Rev. John Clayton, Rev. J. Sebree, Rev. Dr. Morison, Rev. Mr. Luke, Rev. Dr. Bennett, and Rev. J. E. Good. BRITISH AND FOREIGN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the supporters of this institution was held at Exeter Hall, on Tuesday, May 21. The assembly was numerous, and of the highest respectability. A few minutes after twelve o'clock, the Lord Bishop of London appeared on the platform, and was warmly greeted. His Lordship having taken the chair as President, The Secretary read the Report, of which the following is an abstract "By the instrumentality of the Society's agents, ninety Auxiliary Societies have been established during the year; and the information diffused by lectures and public meetings has led to the formation of numerous other associations in many parts of the country. Mr. Moore has been engaged as an agent, whose chief duty is to establish societies in the several divisions of the capital, and bring those already formed into a more vigorous state of organization. The number of societies in England, including the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, and Man, which have been reported to the Parent Institution, is 301, being an increase, upon those reported last year, of 206; and this number does not include numerous Congregational and other associations, existing in connexion with several of the auxiliaries. The number of individuals who have joined these institutions in England, and the islands already mentioned, is 53,433, being an increase in the number reported during the year, of 31,408. The number of tracts printed, during the year, is 505,000, making the total of those issued from the press, in London alone, since the commencement of the Society, 1,500,000. Your committee receive the highest encouragement from the testimony of ministers of the gospel at home and abroad, showing the connexion that exists between the success of this Society and the progress of religion. So powerfully has this been felt by many of the missionaries of the London Missionary Society, that they have exerted themselves to promote the establishment of Temperance Societies; and your committee have the pleasure of stating, that Societies are already formed in South Africa, Caledon institution, Pecaltsdorp, Hankey, Witenhage, Port Elizabeth, Theopolis, Graham's Town, and Philippolis. In the course of the year, your committee have received the gratifying intelligence, that two individuals have relinquished the spirit trade from conscientious motives; Mr. John Fowler, a highly respectable wine and spirit merchant, at Melksham, Wiltshire; and Mr. John Bockett, a rectifying distiller, in the metropolis. Four vessels sail from Sunderland without being supplied with spirits by the owners. The Staindrop, Capt. Harrison, 'on her return home from Archangel, last year, encountered a heavy gale, accompanied by a severe storm of snow. The crew were supplied with hot coffee, and they acknowledged that it answered better than spirits, to which they had been formerly accustomed. The same vessel sailed the last month |