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[Vo. 7 Vol. Vl.] for the missionary. Messrs. Editors —The communication of the Rev. E. Battle addressed to myself, and contained in the Missionary of the sth inst. I am sorry to say savours too much of a di rect challenge to combat. Controversy never promoted the cause of oor Redeem er, nay, it extinguishes the sacred flame, as water quenches the crackling fire. For this reason it should be avoided as much as possible, and ODly used when some truth of vital importance is assailed. Publick con tests of this kind are, especially, fraught with ruinous consequences to the cause of truth, and should be deprecated by every friend to the best interests of society. If they are unavoidable on these points of mi nor importance, let them be conducted by a private correspondence, bat let not the opponents descend in the face of the world into the arena, to dispute the truth of their respective systems. Such a practice never made converts, bat it has confirmed preju dices already bitter, and only widened a breach which was already too broad. Having thus avowed my disapprobation of a publick examination of controverted questions, you will be prepared to learn that it is my positive determination to pay no attention to any thing of this nature which may be cast before the publick. I have thus far, in my journey through life, endeavour ed to walk in the paths of peace. And it is my desire to live in peace with all men. I have no objection to meet any man, any brother, in the manner l have already men tioned, aDd giving any subject he pleases, a thorough examination. My creed I be lieve to be defensible. And I wish it lobe distinctly understood by all whom it may concern, that it is not for want of evidence nor a firm belief in the rectitude of the sen timents I adhere to, that induces me to de cline such an encounter. They have been defended a thousand times, and established to the satisfaction of unprejudiced persons, and it is therefore useless to agitate these waters already troubled at this time.— II Peace on earth, and good will to man,” should be our motto, and st holiness to the Lord” engraved on every heart. lam your repeatedly obliged, and very bumble servant, JOHN S. WILSON. Ruckersville. July 19, 1824. THE PRESENT KING OF FRANCE. 11 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Extract of a genuine letter from a French no bleman, dated Paris, May 6, 1816. The heft answers I can give to questions about Louis XVIII. is to relate, as nearly as possible, his own remarks, at an audience with which l was honoured last week, after my return from an exile of 24 years. To ftny congratulations on his majesty’s restora tion, he said. My friend, I wear indeed the crown of my ancestors, hut it is changed into a crown of thorns, the pangs of which are only known to, as they are only felt hy its unfor tunate bearer. The most abused of my predecessors have been praised for some good traits, while I am blamed without mer cy by every one, though it is the study ol my life to do nothing but what my con science approves as just and praiseworthy. If I select my counsellors among the revo lutionists, because I think them best ac quainted with the present state of France, I am reproached by the royalists with worse than ingratitude. If I appoiut a royalist council, the revolutionists create an alarm, by accusing me of an intention to subvert the constitution, if I have a mixed minis try, as at present, their jealousy and disum eo leave me no quiet; and to thwart each other, they display either an untimely se verity or a daDgerous weakness. Having a firm belief in the religion of my ancestors, I only do my duty in observing strictly its precepts; but having solemnly promised a religious toleration, 1 aWo leave all iny sub jects a full liberty of conscience. Well, the catholicks therefore suspect roe of infi deliiy, while the protestants represent me as a superstitious bigot. Though I ana un able to satisfy at once all the sufferers in my cause by the revolution, all are impa tient for immediate reward; those whom I can remunerate blame me for not doing enough, while the other pretenders hold me out both as unjust and unfeeling. If I think any particular merit deserves particu lar distinction, favouritism is the general cry ; while, when I disregard some unmer ited claims, I am accused either of envy, or ignorance, or neglect. My situation is not less unfortunate with regard to foreigners. Russia has one idea of governing France, England has anoiher, Austria differs from both, and Prussia differs from the three oth er allies. When therefore I please one I am sure to displease the other, and I am equally tormented with their projects, and THE MISSIONARY. Os all the dispositions and fili* 1 . 6 ? nd P reach lhe Gospel to every Jreatnfe—/,! Christ. humbled by their menaces and pretensions. From Rome and Madrid I am reproached for not introducing religious intolerance; while I am libelled in England and Ameri ca for not admitting democratick licentious ness under the name of liberty, and anti so cial doctrines under the Dame of liberty of the press. If I punish a traitor, lam styl ed a merciless tyrant; if I pardon him lam ridiculed as a trembling imbecile. Had I pardoned the three Englishmen, other for eigners would have reproached roe with partiality to England; while the French and English factions would have asserted, that fear and not clemency was my motive. Even in my own family, opinions are divided about my publick acts: some of my rela tives seem to think that I sway too much like a successor of a revolutionary upstart; while on the other hand, the duke of O and his party appear discontented because 1 do not govern enough like a revolutionary usurper. After these lamentable facts, you cannot doubt of my sincerity when I affirm,, that I loDg for the moment when my Crea tor will retake this my crown of thorns, by . xchang:ng my throne in this palace of the Thuilleries, for my tomb in the abbey of St. Dennis. During the whole time his majesty thus condescended speakin? to me, tears were in his eyes, and his whole countenance be spoke a grief which must have been so much the more poignant, as policy must general ly require its concealment. I arn convinc. ed this good prince wouid never have reign ed so long, had he not considered it as ado ty Providence has imposed on him by his birth.” Entanglements of the Law. —A gentleman from Vermont, with whom we have recent ly conversed, informs us that a case is now pending in one of the Courts in that Slate which will in his opinion issue in the min of the property of one or both the parties. It originated in a dispute, which atthe begin ning might have been probably settled by the payment of a single dollar. Its orig n was this. An ariicle of about the value of 75 cents, was missing- from a school, and a lad, who was afterwards suspected to have had it in his possession, was charged with (he theft. This was considered by the friends of the. lad as a design to fix upon him a stigma, deserving from them an ex presion of their sense of injury. The dis pute proceeded to a legal prosecution. This, however, did not settle (he affair; but from various causes, the trial was con tinued froir. one court to another, till both parties are now supposed to be each res ponsible for something like S2OOO, and the legal decision is yet deferred to a future session of the tribunal to which it ha 9 been presented. Eight lawyers, we are told, have been employed and in the pay of (he parties; and perhaps, whilst their clients continue able to pay them their fees, they will not be in haste to conclude the trial. This is one of the multitude of cases, to which the advice of Solomon is strikingly applicable. Leave off contention before it be meddled with. [CA Watch. Quarterly Review. —ln the number of this work for April last, which hasjust come to hand,and in the article reviewing Dwight’s Travels, there i an allusion to the hack neyed story of Ferguson’s sparing the life of Washington,at the Battle of Brandy wine. We are iuformed by a friend, who posses ses the best means of information, that the facts are simply these:—Major (then Cap tain) Ferguson, was at that time in com mand of a picked corps of marksmen. The officer next in command was a native, and is now a resident in this State. On the day of that battle, having been skirmishing in front of the British army, Ferguson halted his men under the cover of a wood. While in this situation, two officers approached their cover exposed in the open field. One of them was particularly distinguished by his uniform, which was green, and orna mented rather more than usnal. At this of ficer, a serjeant of the Riflemen stepped from his rank- 1 , and was in the act of firing, when Fergusoo, who was himself wounded, interfered, and probably saved his life. From some circumstances, Ferguson believ ed that he had saved the life of Washing ton. But the American officer already mentioned, knew the pprson of the Ameri can chief, having met him in society before the war. It was, however, 100 soothing to the pride or feelings of Ferguson to believe that it was any other than Washington, and from his impressions, the error has finally crept into history. Os the fact that it was not Washington, the American gentleman is certain, and from some inquires that he made at the time, he has been induced to believe that the individual who was spared wa9 the Count Pulaski.— JV. Y. Com. Adv. THE ASHANTEES. The disaster which has recently befallen Sir Charles McCarthy and his party, gives a peculiar interest to the following account ol the Ashan tees, by whom his army was destroyed. The Gold Coast is hilly, and from the margin of the sea to the extent of twelve or fifteen hotizonlal uiile inland, clothed with thicket, tall trees and fibrous stems, which are every where blended together in the most entangled intricacy. Beyond this boundary, and on the northern frontier of Fantee, the land is leas incervated, but MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 182A unluckily more obstructed by vegetable substances, for hereabouts commences that stupendous front, whose objects are of the most collossal kinds, and whose productions, although for the most part unknown to us, are valuable even in the markets of Salgha, Llouraboh, and Yandy. When the forces of Ashantee take the field, they usually push forward a body of two or three thousand men, to the distance of two or more days’ journey from the main army, covering the enemies’ towns or frontiers, by little de tached corps of observation, who prosecute their march by night only, in the most in tricate part 9 of the forest, seeking refuge as occasiou may require, in the loftiest boughs ot the trees, where they sustain life for many days, if necessary, upon a sort of soluble gum, pounded grain and war nuts, called gouro, which they never travel with out. As the main body advances, so do these corps of warriour9, strengthened by others, concentrate themselves within a compass adequate to support the war with a mo9t deadly effect, from the canopy which conceals them; for duiiog the attack, these elevated soldiers pour incessantly upon the foe, a tempest ol musket shots, (the Ashan tees cut the lead into square slugs) and poi soned missiles, javelins and arrows, whose venom is justly to be dreaded from the mor tal effects, which follow the slightest wound. The precautions taken by the Ashantees, during a march through the enemy’s coun try, are pqual to what is related of the tribes ot North American Indians, and it is almost impossible, from other causes con nected with the superstitious rituals of the oations, to glean intelligence adapted to the service of an opposing army; for, incredi ble as it may seem, it often occurs as it hap pened in the Gamar war, which terminated in the defeat and death ofDrokra, that the King of Ashantee iD person, at the head of a powerful army, is able to conceal himself in the heart o( an enemy’s country, until the crisis is deemed auspicious to military action. AMERICAN UNITARIAN WRITERS. ‘I he creed of Unitarians, according to a remark of one of them, consists principally “* not believing it is well furnished with negatives, but has very little that is positive. It is always an easy matter to raise objec tions. The man, says Johnson, who can not build a hovel can demolish a palace. We see men who have no belief in the di vinity of a Saviour, no belief in the Atone ment which he has made, no belief io the fact that men Deed such an atonement, and no belief in the regenerating and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, bu3y in en deavouring to make converts to their own heartless and cheerless system, if indeed we may call that a system, which is made up of conjecture, and doubt, and disbelief. These scepticks have our sincere pity, and they would have it if the evils of scep ticism were confined to the present life. What a restless being must a sceptick be, according to the following description of him by an old writer. “ A sceptick io reli gion,” says he, “is one that hangs in the balance with all sorts of opinions; whereof not one hut stirs him, and none sways him. A man guiltier of credulity than he is taken be ; for it is out of his belief of every thing, that he believes nothing. Each religion scares him from its contrary, none persuades him to itself. He would be wholly a Chris tian, but that he is something of an Atheist; and wholly an Atheist, but that he is partly a Christian; and a perfect Heretick, but that there are so many to distract him. He finds reason in all opinions, truth in none ; indeed the least reason perplexes him, and the best will do! satisfy him. He finds doubts and scruples better than resolves and is always too hard for himself. How irifiniti-ly superiour to such a char acter, was Richard Cecil, a man distinguish ed for acuteness, but eminent also for unaf fected piety. He observes—“ I have long adopted an expedient, which I have found of singular service. I have a shelf in my study, for tried authors, and one in my mind, for tried principles and characters. When an author has stood a thorough examination, and will bear to be taken us a guide, I put bias on the shelf! When I have fully made up my mind on a principle, I put it on the shelf! A hundred subtle objections may be brought against this principle: I may meet with some of them, perhaps: but my principle is on the shelf! Generally, I may be able to recal the reasons which weighed with me to put it (here ; but, it not, I am not to be sent out to sea again. Time was, when I saw through and detected all the subtleties that could be brought against it. I have past evidence of having been fully convinced: aDd there on the shelf it shall lie!” We have made these remarks and quota tions for the purpose of introducing to the notice of our readers, the following extract from “An Exhibition of Unitarianism,” a pamphlet lately published. [Religious Intelligencer. CHARACTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. American Unitarian Writers. There is perhaps no term or phrase of frequeDt occurrence in the New Testament, with which readers in general are more perplexed, and concerning the meaning of which they feel more doubtful, than that of “ holy ghost,” or “ holy spirit.”— Christ. Dis. Vol. i. p. 2CO. JVew Series. The natural roan rcceivelh not the things of the Spirit of God. —1 Cor. 2: 14. We endeavoured to show in our last num ber, that there is no plausible pretence of scriptural evidence for the existence of any being distinct from God the Father, called the Holy Spirit.— Christ. Dis. Vol. ii. p. 365. JVew Series. As to the Spirit or a suppose.d third per son in the divine nature, they (the scrip tures) never mention it as an object of love, confidence, praise, or worship. No pray er, recorded in the bible, is addressed to the Father, Son and Spirit. There is the same evidence that God is one person, as that he is one being; nor do the scriptures any where intimate, that he is three in any sense whatever. —Bailey’s Sermons. Ser mon 1. p. 11. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, &c. John 14: 26. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy-Ghost.—Mat. 26 : 19. Likewise the Spirit also hetpeth our infirmities; for we know not what to pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself roaketh intercession for us, with groaning* that cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.— Rom. 8: 26, 27. Few will assert, I believe, that the Bible contains the record of divine worship being offered by inspired men to the Holy Ghost, or that the Holy Spirit is presented by the sacred writers, as the object of our worship. In the revelation of the New Testament, no duty to the Holy Ghost is enjoined, which men are to perform. We are neither com manded to love or to fear, honour or obey him ; nor to exercise towards him any de vout affection.— Bancroft's Sermons , p. 78. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.—2 Cor. 13 : 14. And grtere not the Holy Spirit of God, where by ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.— Eph. 4: 30. Quench not the Spirit.—2Thess 5: 19. These terms (Spirit, Spirit ot God, Holy Ghost) are all used in the Bible, to express the means with which God has been pleased to favour men, to enlighten their minds and improve their dispositions.— Bancroft's Ser mons , p. 87. From the review of Scripture which we have taken, we find no proof of the exis fence of an eternal Spirit distinct from God, possessing (he attributes of Supreme Divin ity and very God.— Bancroft's Sermons , p. 93. How much more shull the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit ottered himself without spot to God, &c.--Heb. 9: 14. HUMAN DEPRAVITY. American Unitarian Writers. Man is by nature, by which is to be un derstood, as he is born into the world, a9he comes from the hands of his Creator, inno cent and pure ; free from all moral corrup tion, a9 well as destitute of all positive ho liness; and, until he has,by the i xercise of his faculties, actually formed a character either good or bad, an object of divine com placency and favour. He is by nature no more inclined to vice than virtue, and is equally capable, in the ordinary use of hi* faculties, and with the common assistance afforded him of either.— Ware's Letters to Trinitarians and Calvinists , p, 20 and 21. The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.—Gen. 8: 21. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, ami madness is in their heart while they live.—Eccl. 9: 3. The heart is deceitful above all things, and des perately wicked.—Jer. 17: 9. I insist that if we take a fair and full view, we shall find that wickedness, far from being the prevailing part of the hu man character, makes but an inconsiderable part of it.— Ware's Letters, p. 24. The heart of the sous of men is fully set in them to do evil.—Eccl. 8: 11. There i9 accordingly no more propriety in speaking of sinners, as being m a slate of nature, than in saying that holy men are in a state of nature. He who follows after holiness and righteousne-s, as truly follows nature, as he who indulges the sinful affec tions.— Ware's Answer to Wood's Reply, p. 45. Among whom we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desireß of the flesh and of the mind ; and were by nature children of wrath , even as others. — Eph. 2: 3. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spir itually discerned.—l Cor. 2: 14. Those now born into the world in Chris tian lands, are not in the same sense that these Ephesians were, children of wrath by nature, but as these same Ephesians were after their conversion to Christianity, saved by the grace of God, quickened and raised from the dead, made nigh by the blood of Christ, follow citizens with the saints of the household of God. All this language was applied to the Ephesians universally after their conversion, and all of it is as applies ble universally now to those who are Chris tians by birth ; as distinguished from those, who are heathen by birth.— Ware's Let ters, p. 47. Let every person judge from his own experience, and he would as soon believe that heaven is the favourite home of pollu tion as that the natural character of man is the abode of nothing but pollution.— Unit. Mis. 1822. p. 200. [Price $3 50 per amt. No man, I am persuaded, was ever led by personal observation and experience to the thought of au original depravity of hu man nature, &c.— Ware's Letters, pT 29. Behold I wasjhapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.—Psalm 51: 5. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.—Rom. 7: 18. We have spkeu of sinners as if they were mere sinners, which is lhe most unfa vourable view of lhe subject that can be taken for our principles; nor is it a fair view ; for in fict no such persons exist. — Chr. Dis. 1822. p 453. No person is without some principles of goodness— Unit Mis 1821. p. 161. 7 here is no fear of God before their eyes.—Ro man. 3:18. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and (hat every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continu ally.—Gen. 6: 5. But upon analyzing the feelings and af fections of sinners, towards God, we shall tiod that they do not in fact hate him in the strict and philosophical sense of that word. We are aware that the term is often used in scripture to express the slate of a sinner with respect to the Deity; but every one knows, that the language of scripture is not philosophical hut popular; so that although it is certainly true, that sinners hate God in the sense intended in scripture, it by do means follows, that they hate him in the strict and philosophical sense.— Christ. Dis 1822. p. 451. We think therefore, that we may assert without fear of contradiction, that it is not in human nature to hate infinite i>urity.—- Chris. Disciple , 1822 p. 452. They have seen and rated both me and mr Father.—John 15: 24. Haters of God. —Rom. 1: 30. All men, as far as their moral nature is concerned, ore born as much in the image of God, as Adam was created. —Unit. Mis. 1821 p. 157. By one man’s disobedience many were mads sinners—Rom. 5: 19. ministers OF THE GOSPEL Should do all in their power to circulate reli gious newspapers among the people ufiheir charge. Ist. Because they are commanded to “be instant in season and out of season,” and to use their utmost exertions to turn men “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” 2d. Because such papers are among the most efficient means of enlightening tne minds of the people—of preparing them to receive into “ honest and good hearts” the “ word preached”—and of inducing them to contribute of their substance to send to the gospel “ into all the world” that it may he “preached to every creature.” 3d. Because such papers wili frequently find their way into the hands of vicious and depraved persons, sud thus become silent preachers to such as will not hear the gospel fiotn the lips of Christ’s Minis ters. 4th. Because the pprusal of such papers has frequently been blessed in the conver sion ol souls to God. Many instances of the kind have come to our knowledge; and doubtless many more will be brought to light in that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be known. sth. Because through these papers we hear what the Lord is doing in his vine yard; they bring us those “good tidings” which cause “joy in the pre.sence of the angels of God in Heaven,” and light up the fire ofgratitude, love and praise in the bo soms ol the saints ou earth, and cause them to pray more earnestly—“ O Lord, revive thy work,” and “ let thy kingdom come.” Many more reasons might be given, but the foregoing ought to be sufficient to stim ulate every minister to persevere in bis ex ertions, until every family under bis pastor al care is regularly supplied with a religious uewspaper. Should he find any who are really too poor to bear the expense, tri fling as it ig—let him induce the rich of his flock to supply the deficiency; and let him assure them that “he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he givelh will he repay him agaro.” The good Mr. Fletcher used to observe, that if he could be instrumental in raising iD one individual one good desire, he should consider himself amply compensated for a life of toil and trouble. Let the ministers of the present day imitate the perseverance of the “ holy men of old,” and they wili save many soul 9 from death, and gather very many gems to glitter in the crowns of their rejoicing, in (be day of the Lord Jesus. Zion's Herald. From the Theological Repertory. ANECDOTE. The Protestant Wife and Catliolick Husband. The following anecdote was communica ted to the w riter, by a gentleman who gave assurance of its being genuine. The force of it, however, does not depend od that cir cumstance j because the experiment may be easily made, if any one has a mind to de scend to tli£t mode of testing the sincerity °f some professions of faith, which are very boldly made. A Protestant lady was married to a Calh olick gentleman; who, notwithstanding his agreement to the contrary, soon after mar riage begat) to harass bis wife on the sub*