Newspaper Page Text
No. 37 Vot, Vl.]
From the Works of Miss Jane Taylor.
HOW IT STRIKES A STRANGER.
In a remote period of antiquity, when
the supernatural and the marvellous ob
tained a readier credence than now, it was
fabled that a stranger of extraordinary ap
pearance was observed pacing the streets
of one of the magnificent cities of the east,
remarking ( with an eye of intelligent curi
osity every surrounding object. Several
individuals gathering around him, question
ed him concerning bis country and his busi
ness ; but they presently perceived that
he was unacquainted with their language,
and he soon discovered himself to be equal
Jy ignorant ol the most common usages of
society. At the same time, the dignity
and intelligence of his air and demeanour
forbade the idea of his being either a bar
twmnora luaatick. When at length he
understood by their signs, that they wish
ed to be informed whence he came, he
pointed with great, significance to the sky ;
upon which the crowd, concluding him to
be one of their deities', .were proceeding
to pay him divine honours : but he no soon
er comprehended their design, than he re
jected it with horror ; and bending his
knees and raising his hands towards heaven
in the attitude of prayer, gave them to un
derstand that he also was a worshipper of
ithetoiowers above.
i A'fef a time, it is said, that the mysteri
ous stranger accepted the hospitalities of
one of the nobles of the city ; under whose
root he applied himself with great diligence
to the acquirement of the language, in
which be made such surprising proficiency,
that in a few days he was able to bold in
telligent intercourse with those around him.
The noble host now resolved lo lake an
early opportunity of satisfying his curiosity
respecting the country and quality of his
guest: and upon his expressing this desire,
he stranger assured him he would answer
his inquiries after sunset. As night approach
ed, be led him forth upon the balconies of
the palace, which overlooked the wealthy
and populeos city. Innumerable lights
from its busy streets and splendid palaces
were now reflected io the dark bosom of
its noble river; where stately vessels laden
with rich merchandize from all parts of
the known world, lay anchored in the port.
This was a city in which the voice of the
Jmm-u and the viol, and the sound of the
millstone were continually heard: and
craftsmen of all kinds of craft were there;
and the light of a candle was seen in every
dwelling ;<s• the voice of the bride & bride
groom were heard. The stranger mused
Upon the glittering scene, and listened to
the confused murmur of mingling sounds.
Then suddenly raising his eyes to the star
ry Armament, he fixed them with an ex
pressive gaze od the beautiful evening star
which was just sinking behind a dark grove
that surrounded one of the principal lem
pies of the. city. “ Marvel not,’’ said he
to bis host, ‘"that I ain.wont to gaze with
fond affection on yonder silvery star. Ttiat
was my home ; yes, I was lately an inhabi
tant of that tranquil planet; from whence
a vain curiosity has tempted me to wander.
Often had i beheld with wondering admir
ation, this brilliant world of yours, ever one
Os the brightest gems of our firmament:
and the ardent desire I had long felt to
knoyt something of its condition, was at
length unexpectedly gratified. I received
permission and power from above to Ha
ver*? the mighty void, and to direct my
course to this distant sphere. To that per
mission, however, one condition was annex
ed, to which my eagerness for the enter
prize induced me hastily to coosent; name
ly, that i most (henceforth remain an in
habitant of thi| strange earth, and undergo
all the vicissitudes to which its natives are
subject. Tell me, therefore, I pray you,
what is the lot of man ; and explain to me
more tolly than iyet understand, all that I
hear and see around me.”
“ Truly, Sir,” replied the astonished no
ble, “although I am altogetherunacquaint
with the manners and customs, products
and privileges of your country, yet, me
thinks 1 cannot but congratulate you on
your arrival in our world ; especially since
it has been your good fortune to alight on a
part of it affording such various sources of
i enjoyment as this our. opulept and luxurious
[city. And be assured it will be my pride
Land pleasure to introduce you to all that is
Itnost worthy the attention of such a distin-
Iguished foreigner.
Our adventurer, accordingly, was pre
sently initiated in those arts of luxury and
■pleasure which were there well understood.
We was introduced by bis obliging host, to
■heir publick games and festivals ; to their
Bieati teal diversions and convivial assem-
Kties : and in,a short time he began to feel
Bpme relish for amusements, the meaning
|W which, at first, he could scarcely compre
| bend. The next lesson which it became
fdesirable to impart to him, was the oeces-
Ls'ily of acquiring wealth as the only means
lof obtaining pleasure. A fact which was
■no sooner understood by the stranger, than
Die gratefully accepted the offer ofhis friend
By host to place him in a situation in which
■he might amass riche*. To this object he
■began to apply himself with diligence ; and
Kras becoming in some measure reconciled
■o the manners and customs of our planet,
■strangely as they differed from thqse of his
THE MISSIONARY
own, when an incident occurred which
gave an entirely new direction to his ener
gies. m
It was but a few weeks after his arrival
on our earth, when, walking in the cool of
the day with his friend in the outskirts of
the city, bis attention was arrested by the
appearance of a spacious enclosure near
which they passed ; he inquired the use to
which it was appropriated.
“ is,” replied the nobleman, “ a place
of publick interment.”
“I do not understand you,” said the
stranger.
“ R is the place,” repeated his friend,
“ where we bury our dead.”
“ Excuse me, Sir,” replied bis compan
ion, with some embarrassment, “ I must
trouble you to explain yourself yet furth
er.”
The nobleman repeated the information
in still plainer terms.
“ I af n still at a loss to comprehend you
perfectly,” said the stranger, turning dead
ly pale. “This rajjst relate lo something
of which I was not only totally igoorant in
my own world, but of which I have, as yet,
had no intimation in yours. I pray you,
therefore, to satisfy my curiosity; for if 1
have any clue to your meaning, this, sure
ly, is a matter of more mighty concernment
than any to which you have hitherto direct
ed me.”
“ My good friend,” replied the nobleman,
“yon must be indeed a novice amougst us,
ifyoo have yet to learu that we must all,
sooner or later, submit to take our place in
these dismal abodes ; nor will I deny (bat it
is one of the least desirable of the circum
stances which appertain to our condition ;
for which reason it is a matter rarely refer
ed to io polished society, and this accounts
for your being hitherto uniformed on the
subject. But truly, Sir, if the inhabitants
of the plac.e whence you came are not lia
ble to any similar misfortune, 1 advise you
tohetake yourself back again with all speed;
for be assured there is no escape here; nor
could I guarantee your safety for a single
hour ”
“Alas,” replied the adventurer, “ I must
submit to the conditions of my enterprize;
of which, till now, 1 little understood the
import. But explain to me, I beseech you,
something more of the nature and conse
quences of this woudrous metamorphosis,
and tell me at what period it most common
ly happens to man.”
While he thus spoke, his voice faulter
ed, and his whole frame shook violently ;
his countenance was pale as death, and a
cold dew stood in large drops upon his
forehead.
By this time his companion, finding the
discourse beconiiog more serious than was
agreeable, declared that he must refer him
to the priests for farther information ; this
subject being very much out of his pro
vince.
“ How !” exclaimed the stranger, “ then
I cannot have understood you ;—do the
priests only die ?—are not you to die al
so ?”
His friend, evading these questions, has
tily conducted his importunate companion
to one of their magnificent temples, where
he gladly consigned him to the’ instructions
of the priesthood.
The emotion which the stranger had
betrayed when he received the first idea
of death, was yet slight ia comparison with
that which he experienced as soon as be
gathered from the discourses of the priests,
some notion of immortality, and of the al
ternative of happiness or misery in a future
state. But this agony of mind was ex
changed for transport when he learned,
that, by the performance of certain con
ditions before death, the state of happiness
might by secured. His eagerness to learn
the nature of these terms, excited the sur
prise and even the contempt of hi 9 sacred
teachers. They advised him to remain
satisfied for the present with the instruc
tions he had received, and to defer the re
mainder of the discussion till the morrow.
“How,” exclaimed the novice, “say
you not that death may come at any hour?
—may it not then come this hour?—and
what if -it should come before I have per
formed these conditions! Oh ! withhold not
this excellent knowledge from me a single
moment !”
The priests, suppressing a smile at his
simplicity, then proceeded to explain their
Theology to their attentive auditor: but
who shall describe the ecstacy of his hap
piness when he was given to understand,
(hat the required conditions were, general’
ly, of easy and pleasant performance ; and
that the occasional difficulties or inconve
niences which might attend them, would
entirely cease with the short term of his
earthly existence. “If, then, I understand
yon rightly,” said be to his instructers,
“this event which you call death, and
which seems m itself strangely terrible, is
most desirable and blissful. What a favour
is this wluth'is granted to me, in being sent
to inhabit a planet in which I can die !”
The priests again exchanged smiles with
each other; bat their ridicule was wholly
lost upon the enraptured stranger.
When the first transports of his emotion
bad subsided, he began to reflect with sore
uneasioe's* on the time he bad already lost
since his arrival.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, MARcin^ST
“ Alas, what have I“been doing!” ex
claimed he. “ This gold which 1 have
been collecting, tell me, reverend priests,
will it avail me any thing when the thirty
or forty years are expired which, you say,
I may possibly sojourn in your planet?”
“ Nay,” replied the priests, “ but verily
you will find it of excellent use so long as
you remain in it.”
“Avery little of it shall suffice tne,” re
plied he : “ fer consider, how soon this pe
riod will be past : what avails it what my
condition may be for so short a season ? I
will betake myself, from this hour, to the
grand concerns of which you have charita
bly informed me.”
Accordingly, from that period, continues
the legend, the straDger devoted himself to
the performance of those conditions on
which, he was told, his future welfare de
pqpded; but, in so doing, he had an oppo
sition to encounter wholly unexpected, and
for which he was even at a loss to account.
By thus devoting his chief attention to his
chief interests, he excited the surprise, the
contempt, and even the enmity of most of
the inhabitants of the city ; and they rarely
mentioned him but with a term of reproach,
which has been variously rendered in all
the modern languages.
Nothing could equal the stranger’s sur
prise at this circumstance ; as well as that
of his fellow citizens appearing, generally,
so extremely indifferent as they did to their ,
own interests. That they should have so
little prudence and forethought as to provide
only for their necessities and pleasures for
that short part of their existence in which
they were to reroaiu in this planet, jhe
could consider only as the effect of disor
dered intellect; so that he even returned
their incivilities to himself, with affection
ate expostulation, accompanied by lively
emotions of compassion and amazement.
If ever he was tempted for a moment to
violate any of the conditions of his future
happiness, he bewailed his own madness
with agonizing emotions; and to all the in
vitations he received from others to do any
thing inconsistent with his real interests,
he had but one answer, —“ Oh !” he would
say, “lam to die—l am lo die.”
——*xx::xx* —
From the National Intelligencer
COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
The eighth Anniversary Meeting o/ the i
American Colonization Society was held ort
Saturday evening, in the Court Room at
the Capitol. It was attended by an aini
ence of high respectability. Several of lie
Judges of the Supreme Court were prha
ent. as well as eminent members of lie
Bar, and many of the Reverend Clerjj.
The number of ladies, too, who anima ed
the proceedings of the meeting by th ir
presence and their smiles, we were pleated
to notice, was greater than us il. Tie
venerable Lafayette (ever true to lue
cause of freedom, in all its forms,) hoso ir
ed the Society by his attendance. The
Chair was taken about half past seven, by
William H. Fitzhugh, Esq. one of the V ec
Presidents. The Annual Report was then
read by the Rev. Mr. Gurley, liesidcct
Agent of the Society. ~
This document, which is oi'consntfrable
leogtb, presents, upon the whole, an en
couraging view of the state of this great
and interesting enterprise. Mr. Gurley,
who returned a few months ago from a vis
it to the Suciety’s settlement at Liberia,
gives a cheering account of its condition aod
prospects. Some evils, as might have been
expected, were found to exist there; but
these have been greatly mitigated, if not
wholly removed. The arrival of the new
colonists, who sailed from this country early
in the year, produced the liveliest joy.
The town of Monrovia is increasing with
rapidity ; its defences are complete, and its
inhabitants, for the most part, are contented
and happy. The Society’s attempts at
home, toward an augmentation of its fusds,
have not yet met with that success (hey so
well deserve—but the Directors are ans
mated with a determination to persevere in
their laudable efforts until they shall have
succeeded in rendering the undertaking an
object of national enterprise. When this
point shall have been reached, they look
upon complete success as certain. The
death of Gen. Harter received an appro
priate notice, and his eothusiaslick devotion
to the great design of the Society was com
memorated with becoming eulogy.
The Chairman then stated to the Meeting
that a distinguished gentleman from New
Jersey was in attendance from the Auxilia
ry Society of that State, and who would now
address the Meeting.
Richard Stockton, Esq. then rose, and
stated the formation and proceedings of the
Auxiliary Society in New Jersey, together
with the unlooked for success which had
attended its exertions. He presented
copy of its Constitution, together with a se
ries of resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors; and having thus concluded (be
duty assigned him. as a delegate, be pro
ceeded to address the meeting with great
feeling and eloquence on the general ob
jects and true policy of file Colonization So
ciety. He ascribed the uoexampled pros
perity of the United States to one great
leading cause, viz: (bat its institutions were
based on the principles of moral rectituds,
and the equal rights of men. He dwelt
with great earnestness on the necessity of
adhering to these principles, (which have
, so direct a bearing on the design of the So
ciety,) and illustrated the positions he took
i by ap appeal to history. He drew a glow
mg picture of the present miseries of Spain,
aud referred with pathos to her past atro
cities in South America. He insisted on
the doctrine of a providential retribution to
nations in their national capacity, and con
cluded by anticipating the judgement of pos
tefity when the history of (his Republick
shall pass in review before it.
G. \V. Custis, Esq. then moved the fol
lowing resolution :
Resolved , unanimously , That General La
fayette be ■ appointed a perpetual Vice
President of this Society.
Mr. Custis supported the resolution by
an address of great energy and animation.
He went into a brief review of the origin
and efforts of the society—paid a handsome
compliment to the free principles and pros
perous condition of the Eastern States—
mourned the existence of slavery to the
South—vindicated the Southern States from
all approbation of so great an evil, and re
joiced that there was, af length, a ground
of hope that it will one day be removed.
He encouraged the society to perseverance
and zeal, and presented the picture of a
free Republick, founded on the shores cf
Africa, and looking to this society as its ori
gin. He then altuded, in strong language,
to the efforis of the benevolent Lafayette
in the cause of freedom, and adverted, in
general language, to an attempt of this
friend of liberty to extend its benefits to the
African race, near half a century ago. [We
have since learned that these remarks al
laded to a fact, which deserves to be bet
ter known to the world, viz. that, nearly
fifty years ago, this friend of freedom pur
chased a large estate in Cayenne, with the
express view of ameliorating the condition
of the slaves upon it. We understand that
(he particulars of this interesting piece of
history are prepared, and will shortly be
published in a periodical work about to be
issued by the Society.]
The General replied in a few words, ex
pressive of tbe gratification he felt when in
vited to attend the anniversary of this Soci
ety, towards which he had ever felt the
highest respect and affection. He believed
that it was not usual to offer a resolution
like that now presented, while the person
who was the object of it was present. He
must stale, however, that circumstances
placed it out of his power to act as an offi
cer of the society, especially as he should
probably, ere long, cross the Atlantick; but
to be numbered among its members he
should consider as an honour highly grati
fying to l,iim. He did not know whether it
would be proper to decide on such a mo
tion while he was personally present. He
would, however, candidly repeat, that, to
be chosen a member of the Society would
be gratifying to his feelings, and very con
sonant to the principles of all bis life.
General Walter Jones then offered the
following resolution, which he accompanied
with a few short remarks, expressive of
thn deep sincerity with which he perform
ed a duty to which be had been appointed
by the wishes of his fellow-members :
Resolved } That this Society arenleeply
penetrated with regret for the great loss
they have been called to sostain in the’ re
cent death of one of their Vice Presidents,
General R. G. Harper; and that his distin
guished worth, and especially his zeal and
ability in the defence and promotion of the
objects of this Institution, shall be held in
affectionate and perpetual remembrance.
The resolution was unanimously agreed
to.
Mr. Gurley then addressed tbe meeting
in some very pertinent and eloquent re
marks on tbe course of policy which this
Society ought to pursue. Tbe leading
point of that policy he maintained to be an
appeal to the moral sense of the country.
He dwelt with earnestness on the. power of
the moral principle when once put in ac
tion, and contrasted its efficiency with that
of all lower considerations. He urged the
necessity of patience, candour disinterested
ness, and resolution, on each of which
points, (especially in the wisdom of making
fair and unvarnished statements of the So
ciety’s progress.) be made many beautifnl
observations. He concluded his address by
offering a resolution approbatory of the
conduct and services of Mr. Asitmun, tbe
Society’s Agent at Liberia, whose character
he vindicated in the most unqualified man
ner.
[Tbe resolution being objected to,as pre
mature, until the Society had more evidence
before them, Mr. G. consented to withdraw
it.]
Tbe following resolutions were then of
fered and adopted without objection 1 .
By Rev Dr. Laurie,
Resolved, Thai this Society acknowledge
with gratitude, tbe important aid which it
has received from various Auxiliary Insti
tutions
By Charles Carter Lee, Esq.
Resolved, That,this Society entertain a
grateful sense of tbe zeal and fidelity with
which the Managers have managed tbe con
cerns of the Society during the past year.
Tbe annual Election of Officers of the
Soeiety was then held, which resulted in
[Price $ 3 50 per ann.
the choice of the following gentlemen •
VICE PRESIDENTS.
Hon. Wm. H Crawford, of Georgia,
Hon. Henry Clay, of Kentucky,
Hon. Wm. Phillips, nf Massachusetts,
Hod. Henry Rutcers, of New York,
Hon. John E. Howard, of Maryland,
Hon. John C. Herbert, do
Hon. Daniel Webster, of Boston,
Hon. Isaac McKim, of Maryland,
Hon. John Marshall, of Virginia,
Gen. John Hartwell Cocke, of Virgin*,
Gen. Charles F. Mercer, do
Robert Ralston, Esq. of Pennsylvania,
Right Rev. Bishop White,
Jeremiah Day, D. D. Yale College,
Gen. Jon Mason, Dis. Col.
Samuel Bayard, Esq. New Jersey,
Wm. H. Fitzhugh, Esq. Virginia,
MANAGERS.
Francis S. Key, Esq.; Walter Jones, Esq.:
Rev. Dr. Jame 9 Laurie; Rev. Dr. S B
Balch; Rev. O. B. Brown; llev. Dr. Win
H. Wilmer; Reg. Wm. H. Hawley; R* •’
John Campbell; Wm. Thornton, Ek • To ’
sepb Gales, jun. Esq. .; Col. He"/ A shtoD >’
Dr. Thomas Henderson.
E. B. Caldwell, Fh\ Secretary; John
Underwood, Record Richard Smith, Esq.
‘Treasurer; Re-- Ralph R. Gurley, Jlgent.
And tb"< Ike Society adjourned.
From the JW w York Observer.
EXTRAORDINARY MUNIFICENCE.
Godfrey Haga, Esq. a citizen of Philadel
phia, died on Monday, the inst. leaving
an estate of more than $300,000, which be
disposed of in tbe following manner by his
will.
To the Pennsylvania Hospital, the sum of
SIOOO. To tbe Northern Dispensary,
$ 1000: To the Southern Dispensary,slooo.
To the Pennsylvania Institution for the.
Deaf and Djintb, SIOOO. To the German
Society, S2OOO. To the Bible Society,
S4OOO. To the Widow’s Asylum, SSOOO.
To the Orphan Asylum, SIO,OOO. To sun
dry persons, $50,500. To the Brethren’s
church (the Moravian church) in Philadel
phia, $2090. For the relief of superannu
ated preachers and their widows, and mis
sionaries and their widows, belonging to
the Brethren’s church, SGQOO. To the
Society for propagating the Gospel
among the Heathen, $20,000. This con
stitutes a fund, the interest of which is to
be applied by the Society for the purpose
of educating pious young men at Nazareth
Hall, for Ihe Gospel Ministry.
The residue of bis estate, valued at, more
than $200,000 is bequeathed to the said
Society for Propagating the Gospel among
the Heathen, and to be appropriated from
time to time, as the Society shall direct.
Mr. Haga, who had no patrimonial estate,
acquired his large fortune by industry and
economy. Throughout life he sustained
the character of a good man, (we use the
word emphatically) and did not’wait till the
hour of death to become charitable. For
his connexions, both in this ceuntry and in
Germany, be made provision while he was
in the enjoyment of health. His donations
for (he relief of the poor, and to publick in
stitutions, were many and munificent.-
When (he Brethren in Philadelphia deter
mined, a few years ago, to rebuild their
church, he gave them $5000: and those
who were best acquainted with him, say,
that from Ihe time of Mrs. Haga’s death,
until his own dissolution, -be expended in
charity more than SIOO,OOO.
Tbe simple interest of the money which
Mr. Haga has here given for the propaga
tion of the Gospel among (he Heathen, will
constantly support 25 Missionaries. The
whole number of missionaries employed by
the United Brethren in all parts of the
world, in 1819, was 85. Mr. Haga’s do
nation will enable the Society greatly to
eularge its sphere of operations.
From Poulson't American Daily Mvertistr.
THE SCRIPTURES IN SPANISH.
The American Bible Society have re
cently procured stereotype plates, for the
whole Spanish Bible, of the version of (be
Padre Scio, from the Madrid edition of
1779, superintended by the translator him
self Avery handsome edition printed
from them has just left the press; a copy
of which may be seen at our office. It js an
octavo volume of 1100 pages, neatly and
strongly bound in sheets, and on good paper.
Tbe objpet of tbe Society is, to circulate
these in Mexico, South America, and the
Spanish possessions in this hemisphere, ia
all of which the Scriptures are very scarce,
and command a good price. As the Socie
ty sell the copies at the very low price of
$1 50, merely covering the cost; we would
suggest to merchants trading with those
parts, that it might be well for them to send
parcels of these books to the ports where
they trade. We have no doubt they will
find for them such a market as will prove
profitable to themselves, while they are
promoting the benevolent objects of that
institution.
Prohibition of Bibles in Syria. —We learn
from an article in Bell’s Weekly Messenger,
speaking of the firman on this subject,
(which was published in our papti two
weeks since,) that the spirit with which the
injunctions of that mandate are to be carried
jntp effect is by *o means es a character to