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AFRICA. CRUELTY OF THE HEATHEW. Extract from the Journal of Mr. Henry Helm, Missionary at Griqua-Town. July 22, 1820. Andrew Waterboer told me, that some Bushmen, who lately remov ed from Griqua-town, bad left their aged mother, who was very ill, in the following manner: she being unable to move, re mained lying on the ground in her hut, when her children, intending to take the materials of it with them, took it to pieces over her head, and left her in this condi tion to the mercy of others. She remain ed in this state till next morning, when A. VVaterboer hearing of it, took her to his own house, and charged her daughter, who is in bis service, to take care of her mother; but she refused, saying, that her mother being too old to get her living by labour, did not deserve to be taken care of, or to have any more victuals. Andrew provided for her till the 25th of this month, when she died. It is customary among the Namaquas, Corannas, and Bushmen to put an end to the lives of old and infirm persons in a man ner equally cruel. The Namaquas, when removing to another place, put them into a kraal of bushes, leaving nothing with them but a little water. The Corannas place such persons on a wild ox, which is driven into the woods on the banks of the Great River. The ox having discharged his rider, returns to the kraal of his mns {nam Bushmen, beside the above method, will drag them into the fields far from their kraal, and leave them there a prey for wolves. A few weeks ago, at Jan Kaar's place, two days journey from hence, some of the Bushmen dragged an old woman in to the fields in the afternoon ; Jan Kaar heard of it, but not till next morning, when he went in search of her, and found her destroyed by the wolves! What a comment is this on the apostle Paul's character of the heathen, Rom. i. 81. “ Without natural affection .” Journal of the Mariners’ Church. To the Editor of the Seamen's Magazine. Sir, —Knowing the interest you take in all the efforts that are made for the salva tion of seamen, and your desire that God would make them instruments in carrying the Gospel throughout the world, I feel happy in informing you, in addition to what you have already received, of the blessed effects produced by the Mariners’ Church, and the Bethel Union Society. At the staled meeting in the Mariners’ Church, on Wednesday evening, 29th August, the fol lowing note was read by the Rev. Mr. Chase:— 44 i earnestly request, that prayers be offered up to Almighty God, that he will have mercy on my soul.” (Signed “ Richard Welling.” Mr. C. being pre sent, stated he had visited him ; that he was a seaman, in great distress in body and mind. Some very appropriate remark* were made on the note, and fervent prayers were offered up in his behalf. Being re quested to call and see him, I was accom panied by Mr. C. to his boarding-house, , where I was soon satisfied the Lord had be gun a blessed work in hi heart. “ Where , did you receive the first impressions that you are a lost and undone sinner?” 11 In ‘ this house,” was his answer. 44 Do you go to the Mariners’ Church ?” “ I do.” j “ Do you believe you ever received any . benefit by goin g there ?” 41 Yes, Ido ; on the Wednesday evening week, I was at the prayer meeiir.g there, and an address, made by an old man,* and the prayers of fered up for seamen made me feel very solemn, but those feelings soon left me; but on Thursday and Friday I could not encu eiv torget ihem. On Friday evening last, I was sitting below with my shipmates, and did nut feel well ; between eight and nine o’clock i was suddenly tilled with hor rour about my soul—l could not sit where I *■ as ; I retired to a place alone, and the agony of my body for the concern of my soul, was so great, the blood flew from m nose, and before it cold be stopped, four quarts discharged from me, which made me very weak ; and ever since, whe.n I am in distress for my soul, it produces a dis charge of blood. But lam now better : I can pray, which gives me some relief. But my prayers must be short.” Do you think, and believe your prayers are‘in cere ?” 4 O Sir, l never had any thing that ever came from my heart with more sincer jty. And I hope this sudden change in my heart will be followed with the same effect it had ten months ago on one of my ship mates while on our passage home to Neu - York. He was the profanest man 1 evei saw, and always treated religion with awful contempt; —and his parents the same, be cause they were pious. Oue day, whife we were all forward, and he was blasphem ing in the greatest degree, which made us all look at him with astonishment, he on a sudden stopped, and said, 4 0, what a sin ner I am ! 1 am fit for nothing but hell, I cannot live so; I must pray, and you must not disturb me.” He did pray three or four times everyday all the passage home, and exhorted us all to do as he did. for we were all lost sinners; and he has not sworn one oath from that time to this. He has been here to see me, and he talks like a Christian, and I hope the Lord will deal with me as he has with him.” A captain H, received conviction of his sinful state in our Bethel meetings on board of vessels; and these convictions have now got to such a height that he is in great dis tress, and is anxious for the salvation of bis soul. I am, Sir, yours, &c. C. P. To the Editor of the Seaman's Magazine. Sir—l know you will join in ipjoicing * Rev. Joseph Eastburn, of Philadelphia. I with me and many others in the goodness 1 and mercy of the Lord among our seafaring brethren. He has been convincing sever al, within the last fifteen days, “ofsin, of righteousness, and a judgment to come.” But yesterday, he permitted our eyes to see, and our ears to hear, that which was never seen nor heard in Ameiica, and perhaps in no part of the world before. As we have had morning and evening service only in the Mariners’ Church, for four or five Sundays past, we had a prayer meet ing, commencing at two o’clock in the af ternoon, and our intention was to continue one hour only. But yesterday week, and yesterday, we were under the necessity of continuing our exercises until 4 o’clock, oa account of the number of seamen present, and the solemnity that pervaded every countenance. Yesterday, after prayisg, exhorting, singing, and reading some inter esting communications, we dismissed the audience, and invited all such to stay who wished to converse on the subject of their precious and immortal souls. Seventeen returned and took their seats, with counte nances that depicted great distress of mind. After having engaged in prayer we began to converse with them individually, andnot one out of all present could refrain fram weeping, and some were so distressed they could not be pacified—one in who was convicted on board the brig Phoebe Ann, at our Bethel meeting last Friday evening. I cannot describe the ‘"mlf a^ctln^To see such a number of weatherbeaten men, from 20 to 40 years of age, weeping all around us, crying, “ what shall I do—l am a lust sinner—l know I deserve hell—l have abused the goodness of God.” The fear of hell did not seem to terrify them as much as their sinning against God in vari ous ways. Some had promised God, when in danger, if be would spare their lives, they would live devoted to Him, and his holy religion ; but they had despised those promises, and had been more wicked than before—(heir confessions were various, and mingled with grief and distress. Fours, &c. C. P. October 1. EXTRACT From (he Charge of Chief Justice Mellen to the Grand Jury for the Cojiaty of Somerset , Maine. “Our government is founded on princi ples of equal rights and privileges. Everv man has claims to distinctions, to honour, and to offices, when he can found those claims on his own merits and the virtues of his life. We are not at liberty, then, to thwart our own principles, and by neglec ting to furnish the means of early educa tion, deprive thousands in the community of the privileges which belong to them ; the privilege of becoming men of talents : men of extensive usefulness, and ornameats to their country. “In connexion with the subject of pub lick schools, it is natural to lo!c to the in numerable advantages resulting to the community from the religious instruction of the pulpit. Enjoying, as we do, the most ample liberty of conscience, we are with out excuse if we do not prize it as it de serves, and avail ourselves of the count less blessings which it places within our reach. We have the privilege of worship ping God according to the dictates of our own consciences: Let us not then abuse the privilege by neglecting it. Indeed, a steady, serious, and sincere observance of the worship of God in his sanctuary, and reverence for the institutions of religion, are the only sure and effectual proof which we can give to the world of tbe exahed es timation in which we hold this privilege. “ As we prize and cherish onr liberty, we have, as citizens of a free country, pe culiar reasons for cherishing and advancing the Christian religion. In illustration of this truth, 1 cannot express myself so hap i>ily as in tbe words of h distinguished Di vine and excellent man* ; ‘ Religion,’ he observes, ‘ befriends liberty. It diminish es the necessity of publick testrniuts, and, in a great measure, supersedes the use of force in administering the laws, and this is done by making men a law to themselves. Take away the purifying and restraining influence of religion, and selfishness, rapa city, and injustice, will break out into new excesses, and, amidst the increasing perils of society, government must be strengthen ed to defend it. Diminish principle and you increase the need of force in a com '■unity. In this country, government needs not <he array of power which you meet in oth “r natious. No guards of soldiers, no host 9 • if spies—no vexations regulations of police. But it accomplishes its beneficent purposes by a few unarmed judges anil civil officers, and operates so silently around us that ma ny of us enjoy its blessings with hardly a thought of its existence. And this is the perfection of freedom. We owe all this to the power of those laws which religion writes on our hearts; which unite and concentrate publick opinion against injustice and oppression; which spread a spirit of equity and good will through the commu nity. Thus Religion is the soul of Freed om ; and no nation under heaven has snch an interest in it as ourselves.” * Dr. Channing. ANECDOTE OF WHITFIELD. It is reported of this eloquent, powerful, but ecccntrick preacher, that, in a sermon exhorting his hearers to read their Bibles more than they did, he added, 44 I love to see the Word of God well thumbed , as if it had been read till the inside is dirty ; but there are some whose Bibles I grieve to say, lie in a corner so outwardly covered with dust, that damnation may be traced on them with the finger in legible characters.” Govcrnour’s Message. Executive Department, Georgia. > Milledgeville, 6th November, 1821. Fellow-citixeus of tte Senate, and House of Representatives You have again convened as the repre sentatives of the people, clothed with the authority of Hr*- I—‘-o 1 —‘-o e — goot\ Regarding the period m auspicious, l indulge the hope that it will he zealously improved in giving strength and durability to those institutions which it is the pride and the duty of every patriot and philan thropist to cherish. You have entrusted to you the destinies of a rich and rising state; rich in her genius and resources, and rising in her consequence and impor tance as a member of the Union. The constitution, in distributing its re quirements, has made it the duty of the Ex ecutive to “give to the General Assembly from time to time, information of the state of the republick, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may deem necessary and expedient.” In obe dience to this command, I proceed to lay before you such subjects as present them selves to my mind, as being proper for le gislative consideration. In a state like ours, undergoing continual changes on account of the extension of its limits, much local legislation is made necessary, which might Mherwie be avoided. The leading points to which yor attention ought to be more particui*ity-- j .. irmTruie, appear lO me to be Ptiblick Education and Internal Improvement. To define the objects and to trace the effects of these, would be an unnecessary labour, because they are alrea dy obvious to every attentive and observ ing mind. But that the first should not be overlooked or forgotten, those who have gone before us, have directed in the 13th section of the 4th article of the Constitution, that “ the arts and sciences shall be promo ted in one or more seminaries of learning and the legislature shall as soon as conve niently may be, give such further donations and privileges to those already established as may be necessary to secure the objects of their institution.” Here an obligation is imposed, the wisdom of which becomes the more manifest, when we consider the cha racters of those who founded our republick and thp concurring opinions of distinguished statesmen of the present day. But a still higher sanction is derived from the father of our republick, who has said, “ that in proportion as the structure of government gives weight to publick opinion, it is essen tial that publick opinion should be enlight ened.” Under the influence of principles like these, the endowment of a University and of County Academies, has at different periods been attempted by the legislature. It is a fact however, much to be lamented, that our literary institutions have not as yet; answered the expectations of their benevo-j lent founders. The reason perhaps may j be found in a want of age and experience,’ and in a disproportion between the means I furnished and the ends intended. We have now, I consider, passed beyoud the embar-1 rassments of the first, and our increasing! resources are sufficient to obviate the last. j 1. he legislature of 1817, acting under this belief, appropriated the sum of 250,0001 dollars for the future establishment and support of Free Schools throughout the l state. This fund has been increased by j the addition of lands designated in an act of 1818. The system of Free Schools seems to have been ingrafted on the original scheme as suggested in the constitution. W tnle I consider it more benevolent in de sign* I tear it will be more difficult to be carried into effect. With a view to a fur therance of the plan, a committee was ap pointed at the last annual session, to pre pare, arrange, and digest a system for free schools, and to report the same to the House of Representatives on or before the 10th day of the present month. Looking to this committee for an examination of the subject in detail, l indulge the hope that such result will be furnished as will ope rate to the general diffusion of knowledge amongst the destitute part of our popula tion. The resources of thp state when re duced to our control wiil be sufficient to sup port the most liberal encouragement of the University, County Academies, Private Schools, and Internal Improvement. For the advancement of these objects, resour ces were created, and to these they ought to be applied. You will discover from a report of the Surveyor General herewith transmitted, that fifty lots subject to he drawn for in the i last lottery remain undisposed of. These, together with districts 12 and 13 in Appling i county, nod (lie very valuat/hr frnoliuus and i reserves furnished by the lands lately ac- 1 qu/red, form a fund with which the the Le gislature may conduct an extensive enter prise of any description for the respectabil-’ ity of the state and the good of the commu nity. In connexion with this subject, and in compliance with the requests of the legis latures of the states of Maryland and New- Haitpshire, I lay before you resolutions of those legislatures relating to appropria tions made by Congress for the purposes of education. These proceedings are so sound in principle, and so ably supported, that I consider them entitled to particular con sideration. Resolutions have been passed heretofore in 1817 and 1819, directing an investment of the Free School Fund, and the Fund for Internal Improvement in safe and profita ble stock. These resolutions hare not been | carried fully into effect. The omission has J arisen iu part from the difficulty of finding la sufficient amount i mrUt which could ibe considered, both 44 safe and profitable.” Although the resolution did not so direct, yet I considered it good policy to make the investment in stock of the banks of our own state. In looking to the condition ot those institutions, a great difference is found to exist in the price of their stock; some at so great an advance beyond par value, and others so much below it, as to render it equally imprudent to purchase either. If individuals remarkable for the prudent management of their funds, have well-foiyy 1 ded reasons to curtail tbeir ep tffftffinfhjiaftant appropriation. But the present and future generations being deeply interested in the product of the Free School Fund, it becomes matter of concern that it should be so managed, as to be safe and productive. llow this is to be effected will be for the legislature to de termine. By an examination of the char ters of the different banks, it will be easily ascertained which affords the most security, and experience will settle the question as to profit. I would suggest it as matter of proper investigation, whether the capital stock of such bank could not be 90 enlarg ed as to admit the investment of such funds as the state might wish to dispose of in that way. The internal improvement of the state, 1 consider a9 an object which well deserves & will no doubt meet your serious conside ration. The state ha 9 certainly acquired that strength and maturity which enables her to take efficient measures upon a sub jdet so immediately connected with her fu- j ture growth and prosperity. The extent; of our territory, the amount and value of j its productions, its r.anaritji ..flr—J .. xel tor bluer states, render it a mailer of, the first consequence, that the facilities of intercourse and transportation should he as 1 extensive as possible. The improvement of our highways through the agency of road laws, has had a fair experiment. This has been a fruitful subject of legislation, and ‘ but little benefit has resulted to (Tie com munity. In fact, the difference between the effect produced by the present road laws, and no laws at all, would not, I con ceive, be very striking. Whether tbe de fect be in the law or in the want of its ex ecution, the consequence to the communi ty is the same. Other states have made advances in this department, highly to their credit, but more conspicuously to their couvenience. Difficulties seemingly insur mountable have been overcome, and points originally remote have been brought in near connexion. These great and desira ble objects have been effected by the means of Turnpikes and Navigation. In the first, Georgia has made no experiment, and in tbe latter her experiments have in a great degree been unsuccessful. These lessons however in the school of experience, wiil be profitable, and we shall he able to pro ceed more advantageously for the future by avoiding the errours of the past. There are great and leading market roads in the state, which might be subjected to (he turn pike system, much to the convenience of the community, and perhaps to the individ ual profit of Ihose who might feel disposed to embark in such an enterprise, iam of opinion that such a work would succeed best by the incorporation of companies, and by uniting the funds and exertions of indi viduals with those of the state. In any plan of internal improvement, much aid was anticipated by the legislature from the appointment of an Engineer. No appoint ment, however, has yet been made. 1 lay before you the correspondence which has been had upon the subject, by which you will be the better enabled to determine whether the office should have been con ferred, or for the present withheld. For the past year no satisfactory survey could have been made, of any of our rivers on account of the continual rains by which they have been flooded. The law creat ing this office provides a competent salary to attract the attention of one of compe tent genius and practical information, and none other ought to be selected. Upon his draughts, reports and estimates, it is probable much legislation would be found ed. It is therefore the more important, that they should be such as to form a safe reliance. A wasteful use of the publick treasure has already occurred by large ex penditures on useless or impracticable works, founded on loose and erroneous cal culations. The improvements which are progressing upon the Savannah, Tugalo and Oconee rivers will be more fully ex , plained to you by the documents herewith ! transmitted containing a correspondence with his Excellency the Governour of South j Carolina, and the reports of different boards of commissioners. The policy of that state seems to be liberal and energetick, and 1 j should hope that none other will be adopt , ed by Georgia. Proceedings are still pending in the dis trict court ofthe United States, in relation to certain Africans introduced into the state in violation of law. For a time these pro ceedings were delayed by claims interposed by William Bowen and Miguel de Castro. Upon the dismissal of these claims, it was hoped that no further obstacle to a speedy decision would have presented itself. But while an allegation was in progress, at the instance of the state, for the purpose of a condemnation of the property, anew and unexpected claim has made its appearance in the name of John Madrazo, seeking a recovery of the negroes on hand, and the proceeds of those that have been sold. For want of such condemnation, the reso : lution of the last legislature, directing a dis position of the Africans has not been com plied with. This last claim having been represented to me by the counsel employ ed, as being prosecuted by counsel, able and numerous, to wit: Messrs. Harris,Charl ton, Bulloch, Wayne and Wilde, I have en gaged the services of assistant counsel, Messrs. Davies and Law, and directed an early determination of the case. From a late interview with Judge Davies, I have reason to expect a decision on the second Tuesday of the present month. But from i the invention of lho9e claiming to be in teresled it may be protracted still long (;r I communicate to you the proceedings the legislature of the stale of Ohio up 0|) the subject of a contest between the ; of the United States ai l - that statAuu arising from the sale of f rac ® nons in the years 1806 and 1807, has been so delayed in its collection, as that consi ( ] e . rable loss is expected. For further infor mation I refer you to a correspondence with the Solicitor General of this circuit, and with John W. Burney, Esquire, a copj of which is communicated. Soon after the adjournment of the extra session of the Legislature in May last, as di rected by resolution, 1 wrote to the Secre tary of War, with a view to obtain an en largement of the instructions issued to James P. Preston, Esquire, the commissioner ap pointed by the President to settle the claims? of our citizens agaiust the Creek Nation! under the late treaty made at the India! Springs. 1 transmit you a copy of the leli ter and the reply. The commissioner prog ceedmg under the enlarged instruction® has beeu for some time at Athens, amiH I am informed, has acted on a large amounl of citizens claims. Claimants are still pre® senting themselves, and 1 consider it pro-1 per that the commission should conlraoel open in Ibis state or elsewhere, to meet! the exigencies of those who have not coins I j in, either from want of information, or from j the difficulty of procuring testimony. It isj ! itor of congratulation that these demands , so just and so old, are about to be ascertain ed and satisfied. The Govemours of Alabama and Ten nessee have been written to upon the sub ject of a further acquisition of territory The subject is deeply interesting to (lie state, and to (he individuals who compose it. Until we stand upon the whole of tin territory which we own and carry on.r set tlemenis to our ultimate limits, any go-Viera and permanent system of publick improve rnent will be attended with difficulties am measurably retarded. Copies of the let ters above alluded to are laid before you. A statement of warrants drawn on th< Treasurer, during the political year eigh teen hundred and twenty-one, and a list c Executive appointments accompany this message. Two statements, one by the president of the State Bank, and tbe other by the pre sident of the Darien Bank, as required by resolution, are in the Executive Office, sub ject to your examination. The printing of the Digest compiled by L. Q.. C. Lamar, Esquire, under the author ity of the state, has been contracted to be performed by T. S. Hannon. By the con tract, the delivery of the requisite number of copies was to take place by the fir- 1 lav of March next, yet I have assurances tnat the books will be ready for distribution in the course of your present session. By the copy of a letter herewith commu nicated, you will be informed that the Hon. Freeman Walker has resigned his seal in the Senate of the United States. This re signation is to be regretted, that gentleman having been enabled by his talents, and dis posed from principle, to he serviceable to his country, and to give efficient opposition to some great and leading measures, by tbe success of which, it is believed, the southern interests would have been mate rially affected. The appointment of a suc cessor will devolve on you, and it is desira ble that is should be made as early as con venient. A question of some magnitude has lately ‘ been submitted by the legislature to the decision of the people. A stui*iem ot itie result you win find annexed, by which it appm-e that a large majority are opposed to a convention. The constitution under which we live has been in operation near twenfty-lour years.—lt was formed it is true, wheii the 9tate of our country was comparatively r, '.de and uncultivated, yet partaking of the re publicanism for which our fathers Anight, it has led us to an elevation from which we have a full view of our growing prosperity. In these times of publick excitement, I am of opinion that the people have derided rightly in not committing their safety 1 the storm. It cannot be supposed that this pub lick excitement has escaped my attention, and no man more than myself regrets its extent, and the painful feuds which it has produced. This regret would be greatly heightened, if, upon a dispassionate review of the whole ground, I could believe chat the cause of such dissention, could lie pro perly attributed to myself. The impartial observer must have discovered the true source, and having done go, must be pre pared to acquit me of all accountability. It is no matter of surprize that parties should exist, for they are always to be found where the people are free; and no evil is to he apprehended until they degenerate into fac tion.—When this occurs, the publick good gives way to the unworthy feelings of disap pointed ambition. Amid the struggles which have taken place for some time past, we have heard an honest difference of opin ion temperately expressed, we have seen the warmer conflicts of party, and we have seen too, some of the works of faction. The traces of the latter are to be found in some of the attempts which have been made to disparage my administration. Os this character, I view those proceedings, which, in the pretended form of legislative privi lege, and in language heated and indecorous, exjpress a censure of one of my official acts, as being 44 a departure from the essential limits of the constitution.”—This act may have contained too much of energy, and pro duced too much good to accord with the views and wishes of some, yet I feel that it is consistent 44 vyith the unalterable princi ples intended for all times,” and shall have no fears in submitting it to the decision of the wise and unprejudiced. I was a Georgian before the constitution was formed, and ’ have reason to remember some of the events