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Scriven was elected moderator, and the
Rev. H. A. Boyd clerk. Letters from 21
churches were read. The Treadway
church, having obtained a dismission from
Edgefield Association, was received into
this body. The Association having taken
into consideration the great want of the
Gospel ministry in various places within
tbeir bounds, and being encouraged by the
report of the missionary emplo/ed last 1
year, appointed the following brethren to
attend specially to Domestick Missions, with
permission to form their own laws—viz. —
H. A. Boyd, James Wilson. W. A. Lawton,
P. D. Duncan,Darling Peebles,J. S. Fouke,
B. S. Scriveo, and Thomas Polbill. The
present inode of representation was chang
ed, so as to allow each church, having more ■
than 100 members, three delegates in the
Association. The second Tuesday in Feb
ruary neit, in accordance with the Charles
ton and Moriah Associations, was set apart
as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer.;
The next circular letter is to be on the im
portance of encouraging itinerant preaching,
by forming societies and raising funds for
’ that purpose, it was recommended to the
churches to form Tract Societies auxiliary
to the American Baptist Tract Society; k
the general establishment of Sabbath
schools for the religious instruction of chil
dren.
Union Meetings were appointed a9 fol
lows: Meeting House, Jan. 21;
Lower Saiiketcher, May 20; Mount Hope,
Julv 22; Willow Swamp, Oct. 21.
The next meeting of the Association will
be held at Union Church, Upper Three
Runs, Barnwell district, oo the Saturday be
fore the 4th Lord’s Day in November.
Oo the Sabbath of the present session,
the congregation was so large, that it was
found necessary tp appoint two different pla
ces for preaching in the forenoon, afternoon
and evening.
Stale of the Churches. — Baptized last year
481, Received by letter 65, Dismissed 67,
Excommunicated 31, Restored 22, Dead
06, Total Communicants 3323-
We have before mentioned the fact that
there had beeß a revival of religion in the
Black Swamp or Robertville Church, one
pf the churches of this Association—but it
now appears that thi*Jrevival was still more
extensive. To the Black Swamp Church
(39 members were added; to Eohaw 73,
Healing Spring 45, Pipe Creek 33, Beati
fnr: 41, Rosemary 74—besides “mallemum
hers to other churches.— South. Intel.
From the Columbian Star.
Newhoff., (Gi ) Sept. 2.
Sir,
During the intermission of our Decern
bpr meeting, our minister read the accooo!
ot the effects produced on some sailors, in
: the’Tract on"'* Preface Swearing.” Near-1
ly all )u’ congregation were thrown m*o |,
tears; severs! ‘.jjere mnt.i affected— jr j,
communion season was uou-u .:lv pleasant.],
and many of us seemed (o say—we will be
more active—we will do something for the ,
Redeemer. To the reading of the account ,
atnve mentioned, may be attributed the
formation oi the “Newhope Tract Society.” i
A Constitution was prepared the same j
week; and soon 23 subscribers were ob- ‘
tamed. On the 31 of’ July, the Society I
wo organized by choosing the following (
officer-:
Rev. A.he! Sherwood, President. !
“ R-ua Fitzpatrick, Esq. Secretary. j,
Captaia Jnhn.C, Webb, Treasurer.
Thomi* Crawford. E*q. ~|
(’apt. N. C. Thornton, | j
J)r. John D. Swift, J- Directors.
Mr. Reuben Right,
Mr. John Park, J
REVIVAL IN CEYLON.
A letter from one. of the missionaries in
CeyDo, to the editor of the New Haven ‘
Religious Intelligencer, dated Oodooville,!
Jaffna, Match 23, 1821, says, “Y ou have 1
no doubt wondered at the goodness of
God to ns so unworthy, and you will won 1
dec s(iii more when you hear that he ha* 1
lately poured out his Spirit, so that we !
have seen nearly every individual connect
ed with our station inquire what shall 1
do *o ba laved.” The work commenced 1
at Ondoovilte, Manepy, Pandi'errepo and 1
Bifticotta. In (lie boarding schools, study ‘’
has bea u laid aside for many days together. ‘
It his aojieared to us a great work, and we !
see t:o evidence that it i9 at an end. At
our stations, those who have appeared well, :
generally appear to be going forward, and
there are occasionally, new instances of
ho.;i'cer tog —some among the school-mas
tPi* t aufl a few others from without, have
been affected, and there is a general ioqui
ry abroad, concerning this new and strange
wort:. In the town of Jaffoapatam espe
ctally, one school is much affected, and ihe
nominal Christians of Ch. David’s church,
are awaking front their sleep. I would
mention tb*. number of hopeful converts,
but we scarcely allow ourselves to count
them.”
Protestant Bible Society of France .
Within a few days past we have receiv
ed the report of the Geuor.il Protestant
Bible Society ot Paris.—ln is indeed a most J
interfiling document. It begins with sta- ,
ting that the society met on (he 261 h of
April at coon—The Marquis de Jaucourt,
a peer of France president. A detail is
given of the officer* of the society, and of
the dt-t.iuguwhed strangers who were pre
sent. The meeting as usual, was opened
xv ith prayer. The prayer is truly excel
lent ; and we are re joiced to observe that
it was concluded with a distinct ascription
of praise l® the ajoiatile Trinity, thus—l
Heat;, 0 Gorl, our prayer, through Jesus I
Christ thy Son; to whom, as thee, heaven-1
ly Father, and to the Holy Spirit, one-only |
G ; i) ner-pally blessed, he honour, praige ■
hoi! glory, for ever ami ever, —Amen.” |
After litis th/e President made an address to j
the Society. The report of the committee [
nu then read by “ Baron Pelet de la La
zera.” We have not room to give even
an epitome of this report. It states, that
during the past year, there had been issued
• rom the various depositories ot the Society,
four thousand and fifty Bibles, and eight
thousand three hundred and four New Tes
i laments; and that the whole number issued
by the Society, since its establishment, was
j eighteen thousand six hundred and six Bi
i bles, and twenty-three New Testaments,
i j it says, there are two hundred thousand
j Protestant families in France ; and justly
, ! observes that all their issues, as yet, will af
i; ford hut a very scanty supply of the word
,of life to this extensive population.—lt
should be recollected, that the Bihle had
almost vanished from France, during the
revolution.
MISCELLANEOUSr
i CONVERSATIONS OF LORD BYRON.
This Book contains u Journal of his lord
ship’s conversations at Pisa in the years
1821 and 22, by Thomas Medwin, Esq. an
intimate friend of Byron, and is designed to
supply, as far as possible, the place of his
Memoirs which were destroyed. If the
work deserves the character of authentici
ty which it claims, our former opinion of
bis lordship’s private character, low as it
was, was far above his own representations
of it. His life was that of a consistent inG
del, wretched and vicious in the extreme.
The hook is a disgrace to himself, his pa
rents, and most of hi 9 associates. The un
faithfulness of his parents evidently gave
the tone to his principles and conduct; and
bis life is a solemn lesson on the awful
weight of parental responsibility. Ilis fa
(her, he says, “seemed born for his own
ruin, and that of the other sex.” “My
mother, when she was in a rage with me,
u*ed to say, “ Ah you little dog, you are a
Byrou all over; you are as bad as your fa
ther !” Could any thing short of a miracle
have prevented young Byron, with such pa
rental instruction and example, from be
coming an Atheist and a libertine? VVitb
such a man it is madness for a woman to ex
pect domestick happiness. Hear his own
account of his matrimonial difficulties.
“ You ask if Lady Byron were ever in love
with me —No ! I was the fashion when she
first came out: I had the character of being
a great lake, and was a great dandy—both
ot which young ladies like. She married
me Irora vanity and the hope of reforming
and fixing me.” “ IVe had a house in town,
j gave dinner parties, had separate carriages,
| and launched into every sort of extrava
gt.nce.” “I have prejudices about women,
Ido not like to see then; eat. Ido not like
to be interrupted when lam writing. Lady j
Byron dui not attend to these whims of■
mine.” Having mentioned the derange
ment of hi* affairs in consequence of their
extravagance, he says, “ I was standing be
fore the fire, ruminating upon the embar
rassmeni of my affairs, and other annoyan
ces, when Lady Byron came up to me and
-aid, Byron, am I in your way?|to which I
replied, damnably I” In regard to their sep
aration, he says, “ I need not tell you of
the obloquy and opprobrium that were cast
upon my name when our separation was
made pubiick. All my former friends, ev
en my cousin, George Byron, who had
been brought up with me, and whom I lov
ed as a brother, took my wife’s part. I was
abused in the pubiick prints, made the com
tnnn talk of private companies, hissed as 1
went to the House of Lords, insulted in the
streets, afraid to go to the theatre —and la
dy Jersey was the only person in the sash- j
ionable world that did not look upon me asj
a monster. [ Family Visiter.
Fi'otn the Edinburgh Review.
AMERICAN PROPENSITY TO GLORY, j
VVe can inform the Americans what are
the inevitable consequences of being too i
fond of glory: Taxes upon every article!
that enter* into the mouth, or covers the
hack, or is placed under the foot: taxes up
on every thing which is pleasant to see,
hear feel, smell or taste; taxes upon
warmth, light or locomotion ; taxe9 on eve
ry thing on the earth, and the water under
the earth, on every thing that comes from
abroad, or is grown at borne; taxes on the
raw material; twxes on every fresh value
that is added to it by the industry of man ;
taxes on the cause which pamper* man’s
appetite, aod the drug which restores him
to health; on the ermine which decorates
the judge, and the rope that hangs the
criminal; on the poor man's salt, and the
rich man’s spice ; on the brass nails of the
coffin, and the ribbons of the bride ; at bed
or board, couchant or levant, we must pay :
The school boy whip* his taxed top, the
beardless youth manages his taxed horse,
with a taxed bridle on a taxed road; and
the dyine Englishman, pouring hismpdicine
which has paid 7 per cent, into a spoon that
has paid 15 per cent, flings himself back
upon hi* chintz bed, which has paid 22 per
cent, makes his will on an eight pound
stamp, and expires in the arms of an apoth
ecary. who has paid a license of an hund
red pounds for the privilege of putting him
to dea'h. His whole property is then im
mediately taxed from two to nineteen per
cent. Besides the probate, laige fees are
demanded for burying him in the chancel;
his virtue is handed down to posterity on
taxed marble ; and he is then gathered to
his fathers; —to be taxed no more.
From the “ Excursion” of an Englishman in the i
United States.
PRAIRIES ON FIRE.
“The road to St Louis, with the excep
j lion of an occasional tract of forest, passes
! through nothing but prairie. It is custom- j
j ary with the Indians and hunters to set fire
to the long grass for the pnrpose of com
’ petting the game to take shelter io tbe
i woods, where they dan more easily get at
: it. They do this in the autumn or winter,
1 when the grass, which is often four or five
feet in height, becomes dry. flow the last
autumn had been very wet, and on that ac
count the prairies had not all been fired, so
that when I passed through, the grass, in
many of them, was still unburnt. I had of
ten heard of the grand spectacle they pre
sent, when on fire, and was fortunate enough
to witness it. I was riding between Carlisle
a small village on the Kaskaskia river, and
St. Louis, when I observed a very thick
smoke issuing from a small belt of wood, on
the edge of the prairie, about two miles a
head of me, and just where the road enter
ed the forest. The wind was blowing to
wards me very violently, and in a minute
or two the flames dashed out of the wood
into the long grass of the prairie. That
on the right hand of the**o.id had been
burnt before, and accordingly l rode a little
off in that direction. The flames advanced
very rapidly, continued to spread, and be
fore they hau arrived opposite to where
I stood, formed a blaze of fire nearly a mile
in length.
“How shall I describe tbe sublime spec
tacle that then presented itself? I have
seen the old Atlantick in his fury,a thunder
storm in the Alps,and the cataracts ofNiag
ara; but nothing could be compared to what
1 saw at this moment.
“ The line of flame rushed through the
long grass with tremendous violence, and
a noise like thunder ; while over the fire
there hovered a dense cloud of smoke.
Tbe wind, whichever) previously had been
high, was increased by the blaze which it
fanned; and with such vehemence did it
drive along the flames, that largo m.issp*
of them appeared actually to leap forward
and dart into tbe grass, several yards in ad
vance of the line. It passed me like a
whirlwind, and with a fury I never shall lor
get.”
“I afterwards saw several prairies on
fire, but was not within two or three mile*
of them. They produce a beautiful tfffc
during the night, the clouds immediately
over them reflecting the light, and appear
ing almost on fire themselves.—YVhen,dur
ing a dark night, there are two or three
of these meadows on fire at a time, the ef
fect is ol course very much heightened;
and the whole heavens are then tinged with
a deep and sullen red.”
378C8
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, JAN. 24, 18i5.
In relation to Divine worship, tivo things
may be mentioned as subjects of deep and
feeling regret—the one is, that “ so few
come to our solemn feasts”—and the oilier,
that so faint an impression of everlasting
things is made upon the minds of those who
either habitually or occasionally attend up
on the services of the sanctuary. As it is
designed by the Great King aed Hpnd of
the Church, that his kingdom up.rn tbe
earth shall depend upon means for its ad
vancement, may not some plan be propos
ed Io remedy these evils ? Or are they
who bear the Christian name to hang their
harps upon the willows like the discooso-,
late daughters of Israel, a they sat down
by the waters of Baby'on ? It i* only when
hope utterly fails, that exertions should
fail. The promises of God, however, yet
remain immutable, and facts could be ad
duced to 9hew that none ever served him
for naught, that none ever sought him in
vain, that none were ever abandoned who
placed an implicit reliance upon his word.
Would Christians remedy the evils of
which they compiain ? Let them attend to
the direction of an apostle who says, “ For
sake not assembling yourselves together as
the manner of some is, who draw back to
perdition ?” Let them not only attend up
on the worship of God themselves in all his
appointed means, and at all proper season*,
but let them say to others, “ Come lei us
go op to the house of the Loid.” “ Let us
wait upon him in his sanctuary.” Let it
be remembered that there is no individual
who has not some influence ; and that influ
ence is clothed with a kind of supernatural
power, which has Divine truth for its aid.
“ Weak things” in this panoply can “ con
found the things that are mighty.” But
when Christians only attend church when
it is perfectly convenient, and use no exer
tions to take their families and their neigh
bours with them to the house of God, they
may long continue the complaint that but
“ few come to our solemn feasts.”
Most of those mto whose hands this paper
may fall, have probably seen the time when
unusual solemnity has pervaded a worship
ping congregation,and they have gone away
under the impression that there was a re*
ality in the religion of the gospel. But
why is it that there is no more solemnity
now, even at our most solemn meetings ?
Many reasons might be assigned, which to
the skeptical may appear enthusiastick,&. to
•he antihomian as bordering on legality.
The people go reluctantly to the house of
God and are in haste to leave it. But few
attend upon any of the means of grace, and
fewer pray for the prosperity of Zion.—
Those who minister at the altar, partaking
of the spirit of their people, sre careful to
say nothing to awaken their prejudices, ex
cite inquiry, or rouse them from their slum’
bers, lest in dealing out reproof and doc’
trine, they should equally censure and in’
struct themselves. The congregation dis
| perses after numberless salutations have
1 passed—inquiries made on matters of busi
ness or pleasure, and sometimes amidst as
! much glee as in leaving a ball room or the
atre. Nothing more is said or thought of
the sermom It therefore need not be a
matter of wonder that no lasting impression
is made.
There was a custom in the Churches
( some years past, of considering Sanramen
! tal occasions, seasons of more than ordinary
solemnity. Tbe Thursday previous to tbe
Lord’s Day, on which the Supper commem
orative of the Death of Christ was to be ad
ministered, was observed as a day of Fasting
and Prayer by the Cbnrch. On Friday and
Saturday, ordinary husioess was much as
possible dispensed with, auti all thaPoould,
attended divine worship'. A multitude as
sembled on the Sabbath, together with *
number of Ministers, who alternately pro
claimed to them the message of Heaven.
On Monday a Farewell Discourse was de
livered, and the people, many of whom
came from a distance, returned home re
freshed with the Bread of Life. Something
parallel to this is observed in some of the
Churches, and the good effects of it are seen
anil felt. Were it practised in all, it is he
lieved that it would be found an instrument
of making an impression upon the pnhlick
miod, that Religion is important, that it is
the One Thing Needful.
It t* evident from the whole tenor of rev
--lalion, that no effectual good cart be done
unless it be through the instrumentality of
the Spirit of God. Yet when hi* people’
assemble in his name, and are willing to
tarry awhile and wait any pray lor his bles
sing, may they not expect it ? Numerous
instances are probably in the recollection
of most pious people, where no apparent
good was done till after their meeting had
been continued for several days in succes
sion: Then, as at the Wedding in Galilee,
the last wine was the best. If the vision
tarry, why not wait for it? If the blessing*
of the Go- pel are worth any thing (and who
can say that they are not of everlasting im
portance ?) why not seek them with the
whole heart? Why, on the most solemn oc
casions, do we hasten from (he presence of
Jehovah ?
POLITICAL.
The Message of Gov. Clinton to the Legislature
of Now York, which convened on the 4th inst.
is a document of unusual interest. Though prin
cipally confined to topicks of a local nature, it is
oeverthele*s calculated to arrest the attention of
the politician, scholar and civilian in every sec
tion of the union. Whatever diversity of opinion
may exist relative to the pubiick career of this
gentleman, the superiority of his intellect and the
comprehensiveness ofhis views, are universally
acknowledged ; and the unp-tus which he has
given to the great work oflnland Navigation, will
more than atone for any errors which he may
have committed when the turbulence of party ren
dered it almost impossible for a man in pubiick
life to avoid being drawn into tbe vortex, and
consequently subjected to censure and reproach.
Wi have neither time nor space to give any
thing like an abstract of this message, which oc
cupies eight closely printed columns of the New
York papers ; but we have copied a portion of
his remarks relative to Education, Interna) Im
provement, and the unfortunate collisions of the
Federal and Slate authorities, which we feel as
sured will be read with the attention which they
merit.
A republican government is certainly
most congenial with the nature, most propi
tiou* to the welfare, and most conducive to
tbe dignity of our species. Man becomes
degraded in proportion as he loses the right
us self government. Every effort ought
therefore to be made to fortify our free in
stitutions; and the great bulwark of securi
ty is to be. found in education—the culture
of the heart and tbe head—the diffusion of
knowledge, piety aud morality. A virtu
ous and enlightened man can never submit
to degradation; and a virtuous and enlight,
ened people will never breathe io the at
mosphere of slavery . Upon education we
must therefore rely for the purity, the
preservation, and the perpetuation of Re
publican government. In this sacred cause
we cannot exercise too much liberality.
It is identified with our best interests in Ibis
world, and with our best destinies in the
world to come. Much indeed has been
done, and we have only to cast our eyes
over the state, and rejoice in the harvest
which it has already yielded. But much
more remains that ought to be done—And
the following statement is exhibited with a
view to animate you to greater exertions.
The number of children taught in our
common schools during the last year ex
ceeds 400,000, ar.d is probably more than
one fourth of our whole population. Ten
thousand three hundred and eighty-three
have been instructed in the Free and chari
ty schools in the city of New York, a num
ber by no means proportioned to the wants
of its population. The students in the in
corporated academies amount to about
2,683, and in the colleges to 755.
Tbe fund for the common schools may
be stated at upwards of 1,739,000 dollars;
and its annual income at 98,000 dollars, to
which may be added the interest on the fu
ture sales of lands and on tbe disposal of es
cheated property, the proceeds of which
latter item may be added to the capital.
However imposing this fund mny ap
pear, it is sufficiently obvious that it ought
to be augmented. This state is capable of
poppoi ting fourteen millions f inhabitants.
This appropriation will therefore soon be
found far behind the progress of population
and the requisitions for instruction.
Deeply impressed with the momentous
nature of this department of our social poli
cy to the cardinal interests of the state, l
cannot withhold one important fact derived
from past experience. Os the many thou
sands who hare been instructed in our Free
schools in the city of New York, there is
not a solitary instance known of any'one
having been convicted of crimes.. In fur
therance of this invaluable system, I recom
mend to your consideration the education
of cobnpefent teachers on the monitorial
plan, its more general introduction, and the
distribution of useful books.
I canr.bl refrain upon this occasion from
• congratulating you and our country on the
propitious spirit which is generally diffused
through the other state? in favour of Inter
nal Improvements. The slajte of Ohio has
now under consideration a stupendous pro
ject for uniting (he Ohio river with Lake
Erie, which may justly he cqbsidtfed i pi q
iougalfoo or continuance of our Erie canal,
and ivhicjh will connect the Hudson with the
.Mississippi, and convert “a most important
portion of the United State? into one vast
i e land. I ,ball welcome the commence
ment, and hail the consummation of ihjp”
work as among the most auspicious events
in our history. It will open to our trade
(fee most luxuriant valley ofithe Mississippi
and it* auxiliary river. It will immeasura
bly enhance the value and usefulness of our
works, concentrate the commerce of the
East and West in onr great emporium, and
bind the Union together by indissoluble ties,
i’he state of Ohio is distinguished for fer
tility of soil, benignity of climate, moral
power and prospective resources.
The revenue from the canals will pay in
reasounble time the interest of the sum
peuded'for its completion, and form a large
surplus applicable to the speedv extinguish
ment ot the debt: and there can be no
doubt but that the necessary foods rnsv tie
p rode red in this state on easy and satisfac
tory terms.
I cannot pass over in silence; the attempt
which has been recently made to bring the
boats navigating our canals within the ope
ration ol n e statutes, for regulKlmg the
coasting trade of the United States by re
quii ing from such boats enrolment .. . li
cense, and the payment of .tonnage, duties.
The canals are the property of the s , ie,
are within the jurisdiction of the stole* have
been constructed by the state, and .-.au be
destroyed by the 9ta(e. They have been
made at its expense after the gyiie’a: gov
ernment had refused all participati in nod
assistance, it cannot well be perceived
how the regulation of commerce with
foreign nations, and among the several
stales or with the Indian tribes,” can au
thorize an interference with vessels prose
cuting an inland trade through artitkial
channels. The coasting trade is entirely
distinct from a trade through our canals,
w hich no state in the Uniou nor the gener
al government itself, has a right to enjoy
withom our consent.
The consequences of such assumptions
would be, if carried into effect, to annihilate
our revenue arising from tolls, to produce
the most oppressive measures, to.destroy
the whole system of internal improve
ments, and to prostrate the authority o r the ■
state governments.
A just exposition of the laws of the Unit
ed Slates cannot authorize, tneir applica
tion to such cases. But if a different ‘inter
pretation should prevail, then it becomes
a senou- 1 question indeed whether the state
can enforce its laws imposing tolls. The
Supreme Court of the United State? has sol
emnly adjudged that a coasting license from
a collector is a grant of the right of naviga
tion. it so, and that right being deriver!
from a law of Congress, it will .he conleorj?
ed that it cannot be prohibited, nor control
led by any state law. The right, to 4 be
complete,must be enjoyed without restraint.
The state cannot demand a toll as the
price of the enjoyment of such a right, if it
has not the power to prohibit such enjoy
ment altogether.
It may he further remarked that the pow
er to regulate commerce among the states,
under which the act regulating the coasting
trade was passed, is held by that high tri
bunal to he exclusively in Congress. If so,
and it that act, or any other act which Con
gress may pass under that power, can be
applied to the canals, it would follow as a
consequence that our laws imposing tolls,
are void from the beginning. The state
has no power to adopt them, and i6 ttml
view ot the subject, it would seem to be
immaterial whether aDy license be taken
out under the act of Coogres9 or not.
The supreme court has also declared that
the power to regulate commerce includes
a power to regulate navigation as one
means of carrying on commerce. The
same remark may be made with equal
•orce, concerning any kind of transporta
tion whether by land or water, the power
to regulate commerce applying to the one
as well as to the other. If Congress can
declare that a boat passing between differ
ent parts of the same district within the
same state, shall take, a license, why can it
not direct that a wagon shall take one un
der similar circumstances ? When we shall
have arrived al this point, we shall begio'to
have 9omp adequate notion of the extent to
which this claim may be carried.
I shall say no more on this subject at this
time. I will not entertain a doubt but that
the national government will command the
abandonment of a claim so unfounded and
pernicious; and I am persuaded that it has
been preferred without due reflectiqp, and
wilbont instructions from superiour author
ity. But it this course shall not be pursued,
it will then be your duty to take that stand,
which ihe rights and safely of. the people
imperiously demand.
The considerations which grow out oj