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Vo. 1 VOL. Vl.] Extracts Irom Dr. Ramsay's History of South Carolina. ’ Drunkenness may be called an endemick vice of Carolina. The climate disposes to it, and (he combined influence of religion and education, (oo often fail to restrain it. Tne free perspiration which takes place especially in summer, calls for a great pro portion of liquid to replace the discharged fluid. Several persons are contented with the beverage of nature, and maintain good health and spirits without any artificial li quor whatever ; but a much greater num ber drir.k water when they can get nothing else. The most harmless substitute that has ever been found for that pure element is beer. This communicates strength while it quenches thirst, and in its most common lorms does not readily intoxicate. Unfortunately for Carolinians cheap fer mented liquors do not suit wilh their cli mate, especially m the summer when they are mo.-t wanted. Reronrse is generally had to spirituous liquors; medical theories are made to bend to appetite. Accom.mo dating professional men by their example and advice, recommend it as a corrector of the water. Such opinions are readily re ceived and acted upon. The general posi tion being once admitted that the addition of rum, gin, brandy, or whiskey, is an im provenv.nt of water, it is no easy matter to stop at the precise point of temperance. The reasoning powers are so far the dupe? of sense, that a little more and a litde stron ger is taken without hesir.lion. Thirst makes the first drink a plentiful one: a few supplementary draughts complete the busi ness of intoxication, and induce an oblivion ofall cares. A repetition of the pleasing delusion takes place : an habit of ehriety is insensibly formed. To resist a growing fondness for liquor in its first stage is possi ble, but it requires much fortitude and per severance. When the habit is completely formed, reason is dethroned: the reins are surrendered to appetite and the unhappy man is hurried on irom bad to worse till he becomes a nuisance in society. All these temptations to intoxication are increased by idleness. Men are so consti tuted as to be incapable of total stagnation. Something to stimulate the senses, employ the body or occupy the mind, is a matter of absolute necessity. He wbo®e vacant mind cannot amuse itself wilh reading, reasoning, reflecting, or the reveries of imagination; wiiose circumstances elevate him above bodily labour; has only one avenue left t > save himself from the painful sensations of being without any employment for mind or body : that is, to rouse his senses by the poignancy of something that acts directly and strongly upon them. This may be dune by tobacco, opium, and some other ir ritatmg substances, but by nothing so read ily or so conveniently as by ardent spirits. The draught which at first excited the sen ses, soon becomes inadequate. The quan tity must therefore be increased. A per furious habit is thus insensibly formed from having nothing to do. The hard labouring man is assailed by {•djttiptations of a different nature. Labour ill warm weather excites great thirst. The attending depression of spirits i* supposed to requiresomelhingconlial. The quantity ol water which nature require*, dashed with only a common portion of ardent spirit®, makes in the whole too much of the latter for health or comfar*. Habits of intoxica tion in this manner grow on persons of this description while they are without any ap prehensions of their transgressing the rule® of temperance. Thus a large proportion of the laborers who take up their abode in Carolina, either lose their healths or their lives in the course of a few years. Drop fies, complaints of the liver, dyspepsia or bad digestion close the scene with people of this description. i To rhese may be added the gentlemen Aho spend their afternoons and evenings over their wine. By the help of semiannu al fits of the gout they sometimes make out to live for several years, though they sel dom go to bed sober. Their habiis are expensive, destructive of time, and incon distent with close application to business; but their live* are not so directly and imme diately threatened as in the ca®e of lhose who in shorter spaces drink equal quanti se* of spirituous liquors. Perplexity, from debt and other etnbar rasetnents or troubles, is in Carolina a com mon cause of inebriation This state of mind produces a physical effect which re seinbles the pressure of a bar across the breat. To remove that sensation, and to drown care, recourse is had to the oblivious draught. But being often repeated, it dis qualifies the sufferer from manly exertions to extricate himself. Instead of more in dustry and economy, it too often happens that more ardent spirits are taken till the case becomes hopeless. The too early introduction of young lads into company has an unhappy effect on their habits. They need not the stimulus of strong drink, and are often indifferent and sometimes averse to it; but when fashion leads the way, they have not fortitude enough to make a stand. They are apt to prefer social folly to singular wisdom. To he occasionally drunk in good company, is considered by (heiryoung companions as a proof of spirit. As duels are sometimes THE MISSIONARY. fought against the grain incompliance with custom, so habits of iotoxication are con tracted by young men not from any self in dulgence in the beginning but merely to please other people. When once contract ed they are rarely laid aside. The good Datured, pleasant, accommodating youth, dies a sot before he attains a middle age. WheD all the preceding classes are taken into view, the number of strictly temper ate people is far short of what is generally supposed. On this subject medical men have much better opportunities of informa tion than others. Let him that stands, take heed lest be fall ; for the temptations to drunkenness are. so great and so common, as partly resulting from the climate, that great self command, prudence and fortitude, and a strict discipline of the passions and appetites, are absolutely necessary to main tain the empire of reason over sense. FEMALE INFLUENCE. From an Esay on the Influence of Women in civ ilized countries, copied from the Family Visitor. 1. MarriedLarties. —The influence which is peculiar to married ladies, results from Ihpir connexion and intercourse with their husbands and their children. It is in vain for a man to say, uxori, nuhere n v !o me®, my wife shall not wearthp ‘ breeks.’ Now and then, perhaps, when their wills come in direct contact, he may keep possession of the field, and flatter himself that he has won the victory. But even then his gene rosity, if he have any, will induce him to wave any advantage he might have derived from it. And oineteen times in twenty, while he thinks he is pursuing an indepen dent course, and assumes all the credit of his success, the suggestions or persuasions of his companion are influencing bis opin ion®, and controlling his conduct. If in ad dition to the usual charms of hpr sex, °he possesses gentleness of manners, sweetness of disposition, and a well cultivated mind, it must require a singular share of obstina cy to withstand her influence in a single iu stance. As it regards the rising genera tion, the case is still more plain. Children in the early period of life, are almost whol ly under the care and direction of the mo ther. Their minds are developed under her tender and constant cultivation. Their characters are usually formed at that early period, when their ideas being few, itnpres sions are easily made, and when they natu rally apply to their mother for advice and instruction. Besides the greater freedom, which is observable in their intercourse wilh her than with their father, and the fact, that they are almost continually in her society, it constitutes a great part of her occupation to unfold their tender powers, and impart to them the rudiments of their education. A pious, intelligent, and faith ful mother is the greatest earthly blessing that a merciful Providence can bestow on a child If she performs her duty, her off spring will rie up and call her blessed It is evident from the biographies of Washing ton and Dwight, that their intellectual and moral greatness wa® derived from the bles sing of heaven on the instructions and ad vice of their mothers. The same is no doubt true of many, if not all the worthies of our land, and the benefactors of our race. 2. Young Ladies. —Next to mother*, the young ladies have the greatest agency in forming the character of the other sex Their influence commence* at a period when it i® most neednl. Young men, al though their characters are in a great mea ®ure formed, require some powerful re straint, jut at the time when they are be coming acquainted with the world, and are beginning to move beyond the inspection of a mother’s eye. The young females, with whom they then associate, are the guardi an? of their virtue, and are accountable for most of the evil practices into which they fall. It requires hut tittle observation, to he convinced, that multitudes of young men, who are destitute of religions principle, pursue (hat line of conduct which is most likely to meet the views of the young la dies with whom they associate, and whose approbation they desire to obtain. There is not a vice prevalent among them, that would not he relinquished, were it repro bated, and the perpetrators of it avoided, by the young, the fashionable, and the in telligent of our sex. None but the most hardened and impudent blasphemer will even now utter an oath in the presence of any respectable female. Why then i not profanity banished fr>m our country? Be cause we welcome the swearer into our society, on condition that when he retires, he may give full vent to the oaths which have accumulated in proportion to the peri od of restraint. If the omission to do good, or to prevent evil, when in one’s power, be a crime, what a tremendous account we shall have to render on the score of pro fanity, intemperance, gambling and duel ling! These practices, which disturb the peace of society, mar the happiness of fam ilies, burry multitudes to death and perdi tion, and must ultimately call down the in dignalioo of Heaven on our country, might be greatly restrained, if not entirely exter minated, by a vigorous and judicious effort on the part of our sex. Let the practices themselves be uniformly mentioned in] Ofall the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity ‘ Rebgionlnd mpporfs.- JVashivglorx. MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA.) MONDAY, JUNE 21 film! terms of reprobation; and let u 9 avoid those who pursue them, as we would the midnight assassin, or the grand adversary ot God and man. Unless we set our faces against them, blood will be found, in our skirts, and a most solemn account roust he rendered for those that are lost through our neglect. There is another point to which I wish to call the attention of my young compan ions—l mean the intellectual improvement of the young men. A large proportion of them have no great fondness for study ; and those who do not rely on a profession for a support, acquire just as much information as will enable them to pass through life with respectability. Both the kind and ex tent of their knowledge, are determined by us. Whatever may be our standard of im provement, theirs will never rise very far above it. If a little light reading will ena ble them to appear well in our society, they will never become any thing more than mere pedants. Still, however, it is extremely mortifying to them to be found our inferiours—to be unable to converse on subjects which we introduce. I have seen many a young man shrink almost into anni hilation, on betraying his ignorance in pre sence of a favourite female. Such an oc cnrrence, whenever it happens, imparts to him an impulse and an energy and perse verance, which any other cause whatever would fail to produce. I well recollect one instance. A young man is now pursuing his studies with unwearied industry and sig nal success in one of our Colleges, who, but for discovering his inferiority to a lady in conversation, would uever have had en ergy enough to obtain an education. Simi lar instances are numerous. Several young ladies of my acquaintance, by continuing their studies two or three years beyond (he period which custom has prescribed for the education of our sex, and thus adding to the accomplishment of the female character, a sound and thorough education, have thrown around them a literary atmosphere, and excited a wonderful spirit of improve ment in all the young men within the cir cle of their acquaintance. None dare at tempt to palm pedantry on them for sound learning. These ladies are not only an honour to the “ Ancient Dominion,” but they deserve a place among her greatest benefactors and her noblest patriots. Were all the fair of Virginia possessed of the same attainments, they would exert a greater influence in raising the literary character of the State, and in giving her an elevated rank in the Union, than all the Colleges and Universities in the land. Jennie Deans. Christian Eloquence. Extract from the Speech of the Hon. David Dag gett, before the American Bible Society. To those who occupy exalted places,and who are to a certain extent the vicegerents of Heaven on earth, this book enjoins rules for the discharge of their high trusts,which should be written in letters of gold on eve ry hall of legislation—on every tribunal of justice—and on every throne of power.— “ The God of Israel said, the Rock of Isra el spake to me ; he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God ” Such an administration would be “ as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the ten der grass springing out of the ground, by clear shining after rain ;” and under such an administration the eye of benevolence might look for the influence on those who “ submit to the powers that be,” of that precious maxim, “ whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.” The solemn declaration, “ that righte ousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a re proach to any people,” should admonish those cities, stales and empires which dis regard truth, equity and justice, and which delight “ in hearing the confused noise of the warriour, and in seeing garments roll ed in blood,” that a tremendous curse has gone forth, “shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this.” The patriot should turn away with dis gust from the Absaloms who proclaim in the streets, “ Oh that we were made judges in the land, that any man who hath any suit or cause might come unto us, and we would do him justice.” It is recorded of the ancient felon who made this declaration, that he stole the hearts of the men of Israel, and that “ when any man came nigh unto him to do him obeisance, be put forth his hand and took him and kissed him.” If this was the first kiss to betray, unhappily it was not the last. The patriotism of Ne hemiab was of a different stamp. Laborr ing, with one hand to build the walls of Jerusalem, and holding in the other wea pons of defence against bis enemies, he manifested his perseverance and love of country by deeds and not by words only. Under their influence he made that heroick and magnanimous speech, “ Should such a man as 1 flee? and who is there that being as I am, would go into the temple to save bis life?—l will not go in.” The declarations, “ifany will not work neither shall he eat,”—“ the hand of the diligent maketh rich,”—“ the hand of the diligent shall bear rule,”—“ he that galh ereth by labour shall increase,” —are pro verbs of inestimable worth, and powerfully tend to promote industry, the parent of health and plenty. And how is sloth re proved in the hitting sarcasm, “ Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise, which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in harvest.” How is the man addicted to sloth, by thi? com parison sunk below the groveling insect? In passing by his farm we should expect to see “ his fields all grown over with (horns, and that nettles had covered the face there of, and the stone walls broken down.” In the Bible, the character of a virtuous woman is drawn with unrivalled beauty. *1 he estimate of her worth, “her price is above rubies,” prepares the reader fora description unlike those which abound in novels and romances. Os this description, a scholar and a Christian of our own day thus speaks—“ The foregoing is a picture of a fine lady, drawn by a most celebrated artist, and proper to be hung up in a gilt frame in every family-hall or parlour in the United Stales.” It A polite and courteous demeanour unit ed with genuine hospitality, be a virtue, where shall we find a more delightful ex ample of it than in Abram. “He sal in the tent door in the hect of the day, and lo three men stood by him.” He met them so courteously, entertained them so hospita bly, and gave such signal proof® of genuine benevolence, that he showed himselffit for ihe society of angel®, and accordingly “ en tertained angels unawares.” This story, without adverting to the principal incident —his fervent intercession for Sodom—f lords a fine specimen of the exercise of the kind and gentle virtues. The manner in which this patriarch set tled the dispute between his herdsmen and ‘.hose of Lot, is worthy the attention ofall who disturb the peace of society by their controversies.—“ Is not (he whole land be fore thee! Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then 1 will go to the right, or if thou depart lo the right hand, then will I go the left.” This simple proposition for a treaty, might make some diplomatists blush; nor was his conduct the result of pusillanimity, for he was as brave r.s he was courteous. An example is furni*hpd by Solomon, of the respectful treatment due from children to their parents. When Bathsheba, his mother, came in to see him, that powerful and accomplished monarch, in the midst of the splendors of royalty, rose up to meet her,and bowed himself, and caused her to he seated on his right hand. From the lips of such a wise aod dutiful son we might ex pect to bear that withering declaration of filial cruelty and ingratitude. “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despisetb lo obey his mother, the ravens of the val ley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it.” The story of Joseph is a theme of uni versal admiration. It abounds with inci dents the most inleresting and instructive. What a pathetick expostulation, mixed with parental affection, do we hear from a father, “Joseph is not—Simeon is not—and ye will take Benjamin away.” Where have tender emotions, submission and resignation to affliction, appeared so happily blended as in the simple expressions, “II I am be reaved, lam bereaved,?” Observe also a son inquiring of his brethren in the peculiar circumstances of the case, “ Is your father, the old man of whom ye spake, yet alive?” And again, “I am Joseph, doth my father yet live ?” Where has there been such an exhibi tion of tenderness and compassion as in rais ing from death and giving to his disconso late mother, the son of the widow of Nain ? Where is there a parallel of the miracle of restoring alive to his weeping sisters the dead Lazarus? And were it not that in these works of benevolence, the Saviour obscures every other object, what ought to be said of the beloved Mary, who washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head ? How severely are the unfeeling 1 churl and the furious bigot reproved and tbeir hateful characters exposed, in the simple story of the kind Samaritan ? Who that reads it, will ever after pass by on the oth er side ? “ He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city,”—“Let not the sun go down on thy wrath,” —“ Be ye kindly affectioned one towards another, forgiving one another”—“Overcome evil with good,” and innumerable other precepts de signed to direct and control the passions which operate in the life and conversation of raeo, are found in nameless variety on the pages of this book. This book delights the Christian, as it prescribes the rules of his faith and prac tice—it delights the scholar by its sublimity, and the orator its eloquence, while it opens exhaustless treasures of knowledge to all who read it. Why then are not its praises on every tongue ? Is it because the light of the Bible shining on the moral world be comes so familiar to the eye of the Chris tian, that like the most glorious object in the natural world shedding daily its bles sings on all created matter, it is too often [Pn’ce $3 50 per ann. forgotten, regarded with indifference or neglected? This book the Bible Society proposes to send to every house and every ear within its reach. For its encouragement, if such a work of beDevolence need encourage ment, there is contained in it. an assurance animating to every heart. If the Bible, as is believed, is calculated to bless those to whom it is given, is there not ground of congratulation, in the declaration, “It is more blessed to give than to receive ?” I have madp these brief observations on the Holy Scriptures, as they bear on the welfare of man here—as they regard this life only. lam aware that their chief ex cellency and glory have been by me in these remarks unnoticed. Are “ life and immortality brought to light by the Gos pel ? Does it contain a proclamation of pardon to the unnumbered millions of the revolted subjects of this Province of the Dominions of the King of Kings? Does it propose the only terms of their restoration to his favour, and of their deliverance from that wrath which shall forever beat on the guilty soul?— Here then is its glory. But of this it becomes not me to speak. It be comes those to speak especially, who are the heralds of the salvation of the cross, in the midst of whom I uow stand, who join the song of the angels at Bethlehem, and who by their labours, their counsels and their prayers, are bidding God speed “ to the angel flying through the midst of Heav en, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto all that dwell on the earth.” VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES. Extract from the Speech of the Rev. Dr. Mc- Murray, before the American Bible Society. There are scenes which occur in the every day’s observation of one, the duties of whose sacred office lead him to be the frequent visiter of the abodes of poverty, and often to sit by the bed of sickness and death to administer the consolations of re ligion to the distressed and the dying; which set forth the excellence of the Bible as adapted to the present state of man, in a way which no powers of human understand ing could unfold, and which the most captiv ating displays of human eloquence would fail to impress on the heart. Ah sir! could we present to the view of this assembly to-day, the interior of one of the innumerable dwellings in which is ex hibited to the eye of the observer every form of human wretchedness; where guilt and hopelessness had once added their gall to the wormwood of poverty and sorrow ; hut which have been cheered and blessed with that word of eternal life, which puts imperishable wealth into the possession of the poor, which diffuses joy and gladness into Ihp afflicted heart, and pours down the light and ti.e glory of heaven on the dark ness and corruption of the tomb! Cooid we witness the change produced ; could we see the content and gratitude of the heart, giving animation and serenity to the pallid features; and could we hear the thanksgiv ings and praises to a God of providence, poured plentifully forth to sweeten and to bless the scanty crust of bread and cup of water! Could we present to the view of this assembly one of the many victims of vice and of ignorance and of profligacy, once lost to relatives, lost to society, lost to God, and to heaven ; who have by its re novating power been reclaimed, and raised to respectability and usefulness! Could we present to view one of the innumerable in stances which have occurred in which the child of affliction has been taught to re joice in tribulation, and the victim of dis ease to resign up his spirit in hope of fu ture glory; no other argument would be necessary to bring with irresistible force to the conviction of all, the importance of the object contemplated by this Institution. —zzZzzz-nezzzzzzc— HEATHENISM. At the opening of the Chatham Garden Theatre, New York, on the evening of the 17th of May, a Prize Address, written by a lady of Boston, was recited. Os its poeti cal merits, which do not strike us as being remarkable, we say nothing. The follow ing lines we quote, as specimens of the hea thenish modes of thought aod expression which are not uncommon in the popular lit erature of the present day, in Christian nations : The Stage !—whence rise in tributary flame. Our mingled offerings to Apollo’s name • If h,m ’ our willing vows, we pay to night; Throng round his shrine, and consummate his rite ; To him, and his, we dedicate the dome— It is his Temple—be it hence his home ! A Greek or Roman poet would have writ ten in the same strain,on a similar occasion It may be said, that the terms used are sim ple figures of speech, a D d relate to personi fications of abstract ideas. The fact wa the same in ancient times. Apollo was then a mere personification, but he was, nevertheless, worshipped, as the “ God of the unerring bow, The Lord of light, and poesy, and wit, The Sun in human limbs arrayed.” There is, however, a strict keeping j D the case before os. A Theatre bag noth ing m common with Christian institutions and ideas. ’ There is a circumstance connected with the late address, on which we must animat!-