Newspaper Page Text
MISSION ARY.
CHINA.
The Stupidity and Cruelty of Idolaters ,
Exemplified m the conduct of the Chinese ;
extracted from the Journal of Mr. Med
hurst, when he resided in Penang. j
Jan. 7, 1821. — Walking out, I called at
the house of a man, who was engraving an
idol; and, on looking round, I perceived his
houe to he full of the works of his own
hands. I could not help feeling n holy in
dignation at such affronts on the Divine Ma
jeety, to suppose him to be like unto wood
and stone, graven by art and man’s device. I
1 spoke to him on the folly of trusting to
the works of his own hands, but I found him
to be nearly as ignorant as the idols he was
making. “ They that make them are like
unto them.” He was unable to give any
consistent excuse for his folly,acknowledg
ed that he was a mere imitator of others,
and was making the idols for his own gam.
On my return, l visited a temple in ruins
the altar neglected, and the god remov
ed. I longed for the time when the shrines
of idolatry shall all meet a similar fate.
When l inquired why the temple was de
serted, I was tcdd very eagerly that the god
had selected another spot for his residence
in preference to this. I doubted how it was
possible for a log of wood to be capable of
choice, or to express his desire to others;
ihey said mere was no difficulty in either ;
for when they were carrying the god round
the village, in bis chair of state, (borne
generally by four meu only,) on its arrival
at the particular spot which the god pre
ferred, the chair suddenly became heavy,
and twenty men could not move it thence.
My informant said he was not an eye-wit
ness of this circumstance, but he firmly be
lieved it. What a pity it is that they do not
trouble themselves to inquire into the truth
or falsehood of such things, before they
1 give an implicit credence to them.
Murder of Female infants by the Chinese.
Jan. 18. —A mao came for medicine to
av with whom 1 conversed awhile private
v.’ 1 asked him how long he had left Chi
ia, and whether he ever thought upon his
family there. He said he frequently
‘thought on them, and intended next year to
; return and visit them, for he had three sons
•and one daughter who was married. ‘I
had another daughter (he added) hut 1 did
not bring her up.’ ‘Not bring her up.
(said J) what did you then do with her?’ I
her (said he) : this year also I
heard by letter that another daughter was
born; 1 sent word to have that smothered
also, hnt the mother has preserved it alive.’
i was shocked at this speech, and still more
at the horrid indifference with w hich he ut
tered if. * What, (said I) murder your own
children? Do you not shudder at such an
act V ‘Oh ! no, (said he) it is a very com
mon thing in China; we put the female
children out of the way, to save the trouble
of bringing them up; some people have
smothered five or six daughters ’ My hnr
rour was increased by his continued indiffer- j
cnce, and (he lightness with which such j
crimes are perpetrated in China with impu- j
nity, which must be the case, when they are j
related without fear of detection, as the j
common occurrences of life. I felt I had a
murderer by my side, who must without re- j
pentance inevitably perish. I told him!
plainly that he had committed a most dread-
Sul sin, and that he was in danger of eternal
wrath. Though I said this with thegieat
:est seriousness and earnestness, at first he
nly laughed, and it was some time before
would acknowledge that he had done
rong: however, afterwards he seemed to
el a little concerned, and 1 hope affected
- hat an awful view does this present b!
“le ‘Celestial Empire,’ loaded with crime,
ieluged with blood, and ripe for destruc
ion’
Bible in China. —The Rev. Dr. Morrison
under the date of March 21, 1822, writes
from Canton, that the printing of the whole
hible in Chinese, carrying on at Malacca,
raws near to a close. He observes, “ You
i iave mistaken my phrase, that ‘ one Chi
nese had suffered for righteousness sake.’
Ie suffered imprisonment, and scourging,
•ud the loss of all the little property he
possessed, but he did not suffer death ; he
yet lives, aud was one of the four persons
who loft China to go to Malacca, to com
plete the printing of the scriptures.
“ The govt-rnour of Ochotsk has grate
fully acknowledged the receipt of those
copies of the Scriptures, which 1 sent up to
that unfrequented portion of the globe.
“The Chinese scribe, who many years
ago wrote out for the type-cutters my first
edition of the New Testament, although
long since out of my employ, and at that
time feeling rather an nversion to Bible
truths, appears now to believe that the re
ligion of Jesus is from Heaven, which is
emne encouragement. We have prepared
the seed, to which, when extensively sown,
we hope God will no’ deny his blessing.
A defence of the Deity and Atonement of
Christ, in reply to Ram-Molum-Roy, of Cal
cutta, by Dr. Marshman, of Serampore, has
been published in England.
Choctaw mission.
The Herald contains uDdor this head a
consolatory letter written by Mr. David
Folsom to Mr. KißgsfcwVy oti occasion o f (he
death of his wife. We give an extract
from it—knowing that, as the editor of the
Herald observes, “ maay will be pleased to
gee exactly how the good sense of a Choc
taw chief, who is almost wholly self-taught,
expresses tiself in n foreign language.”
Pigeon Xoost, Sept. 23, 1822.
Pear Sir, — Yours of the lGlb inst. was
received with much sorriness. I do not
know what to say to you that would'give
you -<ome relief in the day of your affliction,
1 cun only say in a fetv words that l am in- 1
deed sorry, and do feel that 1 have lost one
of mv best friends
Tiie Choctaws who was aot become ac
quainted with Mrs K. do not know the
great affliction has befallen on our school.
But I know many of us, we ought to hum
ble for the loss of our mother and teacher.
It must be mors trial to you a while you
have vour motherless children in your arm.
Rut w'e will notice one thing. “<* rel *” ,n
• the Bible, this same God who lias seen best
to take our mother from us, did command
i his servant Abraham to offer his only sou on
the sacrifice —God did try our t *ra
ham, and 1 can only say he has tried you al
-1 o —l hope this same God has seen yon
1 bumble before him, and give yourself up to
hito to dispose of you as he sees best. And
that you will go forth with more zeal in up
building Zion in this land more than you ev
| ei- did. Please to receive this as coming
from a petson who share the sorry with
you. Your friend,
DAVID FOLSOM.
Rev . C. Kingsbury.
Mr. Folsom has recently sent on a list of
books which he wishes to obtain at his own
expense for his private library. Among
them arc the “Encyclopedia,” bouad in
calf, and “Scott’s Family Bible,’ quarto,
with the marginal references.
But the enemies of God, will still say,
“Indians cannot be converted to Christian
ity, nor made to appreciate the blessings ol
civilization.”
The receipts of the American Board from
December 13. to Jan. 12, inclusive, were
£4,085, 67—in addition to which, donations
to a considerable amount in clothing, &c.
are acknowledged—and part ol a legacy of
Dr. Solomon Everest, Canton, Con. £750.
[fioston Recorder.
It U feared that Vhe civilization and con
version of the Indiaus on our borders will
be retarded by the repeal by Congress of
laws passed for regulating trade with them.
Spiri'ui'us liquors can be openly introduced.
DIVERSITY.
From Pouhon's Advertiser.
HUMAN LIFE.
The following admirable allegory is so exquis
itely conducted, so beautifully descriptive of Hu
man Life, its dangers and temptations, and the
necessity of religion r or our guide, that, with the
exception of one or two pieces, it has probably
scarce a rival in this department of English lit
erature.
A few mornings ago, as 1 was taking my
walk upon an eminence, which commands
a view of the Forth, with the vessels sailing
along, I sat down, and taking out my Latin
Bible, opened, by accident, at a place in the
book ol Job, ix. 25, “ Now my days are pas
! sed away as the swift ships.” Shutting the
i bot-k, I fell a musing on this affecting com
■ parison. Whether the following happened
1 to me in a dream, or waking reverie, I can
not tell: but I fancied myself on the bank
of a river, or sea, the opposite side of which
was hid from view, being involved in clouds
! and mist. On the shore stood a multitude,
which no man could number, waiting for
passage. I saw a great many ships laking
in passengers, and several persous going
aootit in the garb cf pilots, offering their
services. Being ignorant, and curious to
know what all these things meant, I applied
to a grave old man who stood by, giving in
siructior.s to the departing passengers. His
name, I remember, was the Genius of Hu
man Life. “My son, said he, you stand on
the banks of the stream of Time; all those
people are hound for Eternity , that undis
covered country from whence no traveller
returns. The country is very large, and
divided into two parts; the one called the
Land of Glory , the other the Kingdom of
Darkness. The names of these in the garb
of pilots, are Religion, Virtue , Pleasure.
They who are so wise as to choose Religion
for their guide, have a safe, though fre
quently a rough passage; they are, at last,
landed in the happy climes, where sighiog
and sorrow forever fly away ; they likewise
have a secondary director. Virtue; but
there is a spurious Virtue, who pretends to
govern by himself, bu* the wretches who
trust to him, as well as those who have
Pleasure for their pilot, are either ship
wrecked or cast away ou the Kingdom of
Darkness. But the vessel in which you i
must embark approachesyou must be- j
gone; remember what depends on your
conduct.” No sooner had he left me, than
I found myself surrounded by (hose pilots I
mentioned before ; Immediately I forgot all
that the old man had said to me, and, se
duced by the fair promises of Pleasure,
chose him for my director; we weighed an
chor with a fair gale, the sky serene ; the
sea calm; innumerable little isles lifted
their green’ heads around us, covered with
trees.in full blossom: dissolved in stnpid
mirth we were rallied on, regardless of the
past —of the future unmindful. On a sudden
the sky was darkened, the winds roared, the
sea raged, red rose the sand from the bot
tom of the troubled deep—the angel oflhe
waters lifted up his voice. At that instant
a strong ship passed by: I saw Religion at
the helm; “come out from among them”
he said, i and a few others threw our
selves into his ship. The wretches we
now left were tossed on the swelling deep;
the waters on every side, poured through
the riven vessel; they cursed the Lord; —
When lo! a Send rose from the deep, and,
in a voice like distant thunder, thus spoke
—“ I am Abaddon , the first born of Death—
ye are my prey; open thou abyss to re
ceive them.” As he thus spoke, they
sunk, and the waves closed over their heads.
The storm was turned into a calm, and we
heard a voice saying “ fear not, for I am
with you;—when you pass through the wa
ters they shall not overflow you.”—Our
hearts are filled with joy ; 1 was engaged in
discourse with one of my new companions,
when one Irom the top of the mast cried
out, “ courage my friends, I see the fair
haven, the land that is yet afar off.” j
started and awaked. *
universal salvation.
A venerable clergyman in America, j
grieved to see the docirine of universal sal
vation prevailing in hie congregation, was.
desirous of prov..ting its progress by con
vincing Mr. M , the preacher of the
doctrine, that his system was unscriptural
and dangerous to society. For this purpose
he requested the company of Mr. M j
on au evening, and being too old to manage ;
the argument himself, he desired a young
clergyman of his acquaintance to attend and j
assist him. The aged gentleman opened
the conversation of the evening by inform
ing his yung brother in the ministry, that
he had requested*the company of Mr. M
and himself, in order to have the doctrine
of universal salvation fairly discussed in his .
presence, for he thought Mr M roig)it
be convinced of his errour; but he was too
old himself to manage the debate —he
therefore desired the young clergyman to
enter upon the debate with Mr. M
“ Why Sir,” replied the gentleman with his
usual address, “ Jesus Christ says, “ Iletkat
believeth shall be saved , and he that belicveth
not shall be damned Mr. M says, “Afo
one shall be damned the dispute then lies
between Jesus Chris’ and M 7. M , and
1 wish to be excused from an interference.”
[Columb. Mag.
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.
Extracts from Mr. Colden’s Speech in the House
of Representatives of the United States, on
the Bill to provide for the occupation of Colum
bia River.
A citizen of New York, who was by pro
fession a mariner—a Captain Fanning—as
sociated with some 12 or 20 other persons,
determined to engage in an expedition to
search for islands in the South Seas, where
they had heard seals abounded. They pur
chased a ship called the Catharine, the cost
of which could nut have been above 15,000
dollars. The parlies were to be sharers in
proportion to their respective contributions.
The resources of some were so limited,
(bat they could aot advance money for the
necessary supplies. One furnished cord
age, another sail-cloth, another iron, anoth
er provisions, most of which were obtained
on credit. Part of the out-fit 1 well recol
lect was some casks of wine, furnished by
one of the parties, because he had it in his
power to obtain a credit for that article,
when he could not for those more suited to
the expedition. Another part of the equip
ment was a forge. Many of the hands were
artisans. The vessel left the po<-t of New
York in the summer. She was then inade
quately rigged; but while in her progress,
her sails and rigging were Completed, and
by means of the forge, the tools and the in
struments by which they were to execute
their plan when they arrived at their des
tination, were manufactured on board the
vessel. The whole out-fit independent of
the vessel, I verily believe did not cost five
thousand dollars.
After traversing the ocean for a length
of lime, in high and unfrequented latitudes,
i they found a barren and deserted island of
which they were in search. They soon
obtained a cargo of seal-skins, with which
they proceeded lo Canton, leaving a part
of the crew on the island, with no other
supplies than some few barrels of provisions,
and some two or three casks of the wine I
have before mentioned. As to the rest,the
reliance for subsistence was on the seal’s
flesh. In China tte skins were sold to
great profit, and the Catharine returned to
N York with a cargo of not less, I am cer
tain, than one hundred thousand dollars ;
and I believe I should be within bounds if 1
were to say a great deal more. Another
vessel was despatched for the party left on
the island, who it was found had provided a
second ample cargo, which again was carri
ed lo China ; and, with the proceeds, an
other East India cargo of great value was
procured and brought to N. York. This
trade continued and augmented till it em
ployed many vessels, and its profits were
so large that they formed the capitals of
several commercial houses, which were
considered among the opulent of the city.—
It is true that they have all, l believe,
shared the fate of many who have been ru
ined by the vicissitudes of past times.
It is curious to trace what was the usual
course of this commerce. The teas and
other India goods were generally sent to
Amsterdam, Hamburgh, Bremen and other
places in the north of Europe, where they
were sold at enormous profits. The pro
ceeds were remitted to England, for which
the adventurers sold bills in New York,
which were purchased by British agents,
who advanced for them the precious metals
in money brought to our continent from S.
America, as the price of English manufac
tures sent to that country. Sir, 1 have re
lated the circumstances of these adventu
rers not only for the purpose of exhibiting
the value and importance of the trade in
the South Seas, but I have been anxious to
avail myself of the opportunity bf showing,
by this relation, how fallacious are the cal
culations of those who estimate the prosper
ity of our country by the custom-house ac
count of oo> exports and imports. In the
instances 1 have mentioned, it is probable
the vessels carried little or nothing which
was entered to the credit of our exports ;
whereas their return cargoes swelled the
amount pf our imports many hundreds of
thousands of dollars. Finally, the value of
these cargoes in a foreign market, were re
alized in our own country, and a sum equal
to their worth actually added to our stock
of specie. Every day, the consequences of
the China trade ars deprecated. It is ac
cused of robbing us of our coin ; hut it is
easy to see, that for every dollar taken from
us, to be laid out in India, many may be re
turned. The goods purchased in Asia are
sold in Europe with the additional value
they will acquire from our erflarprize, in
dustry, mercantile knowledge, skill and t
naval architecture end navigation. These j
are part of the riches of our country, and it I
is with these that we pay in part, at least, f
for the merchandize we import. It seems j
In me utterly fallacious, (o say that we can
give uothmg for the goods that come to us i
from abroad hut the produce we export. It i
this were so, inasmuch ns our imports have
been much greater than our exports, we
must indeed long since have been _ hank
rupis ; and yet is it not certain that, in spile
of all predictions, and notwithstanding some
| local and temporary embarrassments, the
! nation lias been uniformly and rapidly in
creasing in wealth and prosperity !
Sir, I do verily believe, that in 20 years,
and if not in 20, in 50 years, a person setting
out from London to go to India will find N.
York, Albany and Sandusky, post towns on
his route. By pursuing, continually, near-
I |y a west course, he will cross the Atlantic!?,
reach Albany—follow the New York ca
nal—embark on Lake E-ie—pass through
the Ohio Canal, and pursue the Ohio, Mis
sissippi, and Missouri, to the fool of the
Rocky Mountains, over which he will trav
’ erse a turnpike of only 75 miles, which will
! bring him to the waters of the Columbia ;
upon these he will reach the Pacilick, and
from thence he will cross a ferry to the Asi
atick continent; a ferry some two or three
! thousand rodes, I admit ; but one which, in
reference to steam boat navigation,
which those seas are particularly adapted.
! would be no more than so many hundred
miles would have been some few years
since. By pursuing this course, the trav
eller will have about 120 degrees of longi
tude to traverse —Whereas, if he proceed
ed east from London, he could not reach
the eastern coast of Asia without travers
ing 240 degrees of longitude ; and if he pur
| sued the usual route, by doubling either of
the Capes, to the difference of longitude
j must be added the degrees of latitude ae
| must necessarily twice pass over. Is it not
! reasonable then to suppose, that at some
I I period not very remote, the eastern trade
may be pursued in the course I have desig
nated ? And will not the measure which is
| contemplated by the bill accelerate the ar
rival of that period ? Sir, I am aware that
by many these will be considered as extrav
agant and visionary ideas. But, let me ask,
are they more extravagant than it would
have been only ten years ago to have pre
dicted that the waters of the great lakes
; would be emptied into the Atlantick at New
! York —that the course of the Hudson would
! be turned, and part of her waters sent to
I seek the ocean through the gulf of St. Law
rence ; that by artificial means this great
! continent would be divided into islands, the
! borders of which are more extensive than
all the shores of Europe, and these islands
infinitely better adapted to navigation and
commerce than if they were surrounded by
oceans?
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
From a late Report of Mr. Jefferson, Rec
tor of this Institution, to the Legislature,
the following facts are collected. Ten dis
tinct houses or pavilions are erected, con
taining each a lecturing room, with gener
ally four other apartments for the accom
modation of a Professor and his family—a
garden, &c. Six hotels for dieting the stu
dents, with the necessary appendages; one
hundred and nine dormitories,* sufficient
each for the accommodation of two students,
arranged in four distiuct rows between the
pavilions and hotels and united with them
by covered ways. These buildings are in
readiness or nearly so for occupation, and
they are mostly paid for. One building yet
remains to be erected to complete the es
tablishment—a building to contain rooms
for religious worship, publick examinations,
library and other associated purposes.
This will cost accordiug to estimate nearly
$47,000, and has not been commenced for
want of funds. It is not proposed to open
the Institution till this building is completed
—which may not be till after three or four
years. It has been considered a defect in
the plan of this University that the estab
lishment of no professorship of,Divinity was
contemplated in it. The Rector and Visi
ters propose as a remedy for this defect,
that all denominations of Christians shall
have liberty to establish their respective
Theological schools on the confines of the
University, so that their students may have
ready and convenient access and attendance
on the scientifick lectures of the Institution.
These schools are to be independent of the
University and of each other —but the stu
dents belonging to them may participate in
all the literary advantages of the Univer
sity. [Boston Recorder.
* We have seen it stated in several papers,
that accommodations were provided for 2000 stu
dents. This is probably correct, though not agree
able to the Report in the National Intelligencer,
from which this abstract is made.
THE SERPENT— From Dr. Cross.
The serpent alone is an anomaly in the
midst of animals, and forms an interruption
in the gradation—a break in the continu
ousness of their system. That an animal of
such passions and powers should be neces
sitated to (rail its length in close prostra
tion over the earth’s roughness, is quite un
accountable upon natural principles, but tal
lies well with the doom recorded in sacred
writ. “ Thou art cursed above all cattle,
and above every beast of the field; upen
thy belly shall thou go.” The sentence
pronounced seems to imply that the animal
had originally possessed feet, which either!
were, as a penal forfeiture., stricken off, or |
allowed to decay through disuse, conse-l
quent on the assumption of the lying pos- ■
ture. Whether this animal was chosen, on
account of its cruelty, as the most suitable 1
instrument for effecting the diabolical pur
pose gainst mankind, or whether the cold
cruelty of that animal, now become prover
bial, may have partly resulted from the Di
vine curse; certainly Ihe arch-fiend could
not possibly have received a truer represec
(alive in the shape of flesh and blood. Thi
lachrymal gland for supplying tears is alto
gether wanting : and generally the salivary
glands, instead of saliva, furnish venom, of
which the fangs nre the conduits and innoc
nlatnrs. Os benignity there is none—of
sympathy there is none—of remorse there
is none. Well was that glistening nnd vari
egated surface calculated to delude artless,
credulous woman, from suspecting those
eyes without a tear—and those ears deaf
to the shrieks of fear, and to the groans of
agony —and that heart, through which the
blood that circulates is cold—and that
mouth, whose soleduty is to grasp, and
while grasping to poison—and that throat
which opens wide for devouring—and that
inaw, so insatiable as to glut itself, at every
meal, into a long continued lethargy.
LITERARY.
Messrs. Wells & Lilly hav’e just publish
ed “ A Narrative of the Expedition to Don
gola and Sennaar, made under the command
of bis Excellency Ismael Pasha. By Geo.
Bethune English.”
This gentleman, after receiving :liiera
ry and theological education al Cambridge,
commenced publick preaching,and publish
ed a polemical ivori? in Theology. A few Y
years since he abandoned the clerical pro
fession, and received a comtnissiun as an
officer in our marine corps, in w hich sta
tion he was ordered to serve in our squad
ron in the Mediterranean. This commis
sion he. soon resigned, end through the in
fluence of the British Consul General in
Egypt, was appointed by Mehemmed Ali
Pasha, Viceroy of Egypt, to he Topgi Bashi
or General of Artillery,under the command
of Ismael Pasha, youngest son of the Vice
roy, in an expedition to conquer the provin
ces on the Nile from the Second Cataract
to Sennaar inclusive.
The various fortunes, the unquestionable
talents, and the extraordinary adventures
of our countryman, will excite an ardent
curiosity to peruse the work. Sedan Gaz.
The History of (he United Slates, by C.
Butler, in 8 octavo vols. is severely criti
cised in flie last number of the North
American Review. The extracts which
are made from the work support the critij
cism.
Maj. H. Lee has prepared for publication
a tract for the purpose of vindicating the
memory of his father, in regard both tu his
services as a soldier, and his credit as a wri
ter, which he. conceives to be injuriou ly
assailed by Judge Johnson, in his sketc hes
of the Life of Gen. Greene. Extracts from
this tract have already appeared in the
National Intelligencer.
Rev. Colin M’lver, of Fayetteville, has
issued proposals for printing, by subscrip
tion, a volume of sermons to be called the
“ Southern Preacher.' 1 ' 1 The volume is to
contain 400 pages, and neatly bound and
lettered, will be delivered to subscribers at
the moderate sum of two dollars. The
Sermons are to be furnished mostly by cler
gymen of different religious denominations
in North Carolina. Among these are the
venerable President of N. C. University,
Rev. Dr. Joseph Caldwell, Rev. Dr. Mc-
Pheeters; Rev Shepherd Kollock, Prof,
of Rhetorick in the University, Rev. Elisha
Mitchell, Professor of Mathematicks in the
same ; Rev. Wm. Hooper, formerly Pro
fessor of Languages in the University, now
rector of St. John’s church, Fayetteville,
and other clergymen in North and South
Carolina and Georgia. South. Intel.
It is announced that the author of “ The
Spy,” and “ The Pioneers,” has another
Tale in preparation, which is to be entitled
“ The Pilot—a Tale of the Sea.”
Peverille of the Peake, says the London
Morn. Chronicle of Dec. 28,which may now
be soon expected to appear in the enlarg
ed form of four vols. (hy the “ Author ot
Waverley”)—commences, we understand,
with the latter period of the Protectorate,
and is continued through the Restoration,
and a great part of the reign of Charles 11.
It contains a character of Oliver Cromwell,
and doubtless the author has also introdu
ced several of the strking personages who
graced or dishonoured the court of the res
tored iqpnargb, to diversify and embellish
his story.
Ays wmm.mAww
ZION, MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1823.
We observe that the appeal which we
lately made in behalf of the Chickasaw’
mission, has subjected us to (he notice of
the editors of the National Intelligencer , who
ha’ve copied a par! of our remarks as a spe
cimen of “ the begging system”—an epi
thet which one of their correspondents ifts
applied to all those calls that are made up
on the Church for the means of extending
religious instruction. As we are perfectly’
willing to share in the obloquy and ridicule
which may he cast upon the friends of Chris
tian missions, it is not in the spirit of re
orimation that we notice the manner in
which the editors of the Intelligencer have
presented our remarks to their readers.—
We must be permitted lo say, however, that
had they barely mentioned the object for
which this “seductive appeal,” as thej’
term it, was made, it would have been no
disparagement to that reputation for justice
aud candour, which they seem so sedulous
to acquire and maintain. A mere glance
at the Rpport of the Manager', would have