Extract of a Letter from Stuttgardl, WHAT Would you feel, could you now see our city! It has quite the appearance of a camp, 20,000 French soldiers having been quartered upon Bs. We have two officers and twelve privates in our own house; and some of our neighbours had from thirty to forty. Provisions became so scarce, that they were hardly to be procured. There are some districts in the vicinity of Ulm, in which every thing is entirely consumed; and we have to fear a general famine. The vintage of this year has also failed. London, Nov. 22, 1805: IN consequence of the above and similar information, a Meeting of a few Friends was this day held at Messrs. Hardcastle's and Reyner's, - versed the country in various direc tions; and, at the point of the bayonet, have compelled the farmers to thresh out their grain for the use of the French army; the season too has been so unfavourable, that the vintage has failed, therefore, the poor inhabitants can now, neither get bread for themselves or their children to eat ; nor their common beverage, of low wines, to drink. As to animal food, the armies have, in many places, cleared away most of the cattle. There are numbers of very pious people in the utmost distress, for want of the absolute necessaries of life. The Company present, feeling the pressing urgency of the case, and sensible that not a day should be lost in sending some relief to the poor sufferers, most heartily determined, To guarantee the payment of aconsiderable sum of money, which was speciated (on the expectation of its being raised by Subscriptions and Public Collections, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) and to give orders by this night's post, to some confidential friends on the Continent. to expend that amount in the purchase of provisions, and otherwise, as they shall be directed. G. WOLFF, Esq. in the Chair; Many particulars were detailed, of the extreme distresses experienced at this time in various parts of Germany; of which most authentic accounts have been received from different quarters. Foraging parties of soldiers have traThe following Gentlemen were appointed a CoMMITTEE, to receive Subscriptions, and to apportion future Relief, to be sent to various Places and Persons on the Continent: George Wolf, Esq. America Square R. Steven, Esq. Upper Thames Street Christopher Sundius, Esq. Fea Court Subscriptions will also be received at the following Bankers: Messrs. Hoare's, Fleet Street. The following Sums have been already subscribed: Mess. Sundius and Shirreff Herman Schroeder, Esq. Mr. Middleton, Fleet Street 10 10 Rev. G. Clayton's Chapel 36 8 Ditto, the Rev. J.Campbell's 24 3 9 Capt. J. Wilson 20 - 50 0660 The Rev. Mr. Burder and the Publishers of this Magazine, will also most gladly receive Subscriptions for this truly benevolent purpose. N. B. It is believed, that a more general Collection at Places of Worship will be made, at least, in and about London; but there had not been time to make the affair generally known when this account was sent to press. We hope, in our next Month's Magazine, to announce such a Subscription as will manifest the inquence of Christianity in this country. VICTORY ASCRIBED TO GOD. After the late very important action at sea, wherein that great instrument of our national defence, Lord Nelson, lost his valuable life, auf by which so glorions and decisive a victory was obtained over the Combined Fleet of our enemies, the Commander in Chief, Admiral Collingwood, published the following General Order to the Fleet, which we insert with peculiar satisfaction, rejoicing to find a British Admiral, in the moment of triumph, ascribing to the Lord of Hosts the whole glory of his success, and calling on the brave Scamen to humble themselves for their sins, and to seek forgiveness at the hand of God: GENERAL ORDER. "The Almighty God, whose arm is strength, having of his great mercy been pleased to crown the exertions of his Majesty's fleet with success, in giving them a complete victory over their enemies, on the, 2 Lot of this month; and that all praise and thanksgiving may be of. fered up to the throne of grace for the great benefits to our country and to mankind, "I have thought proper, that a day should be appointed of Gene This victory was immediately followed by another; in which Admiral Sir R. Strachan, with four sail of the line, captured four of the enemies men of war, which escaped in the former action, and brought them into port. On account of these two signal victories, his Majesty has been pleased to issue his Royal Proclamation, appoint ing Thursday, December 5, to be observed as a day of Public Thanksgiving to God for the late signal victory at sea. The national gratitude will, no doubt, induce all who fear God, to keep the appointed day with peculiar and unfeigued devotion. + The fleet having been dispered by a gale of wind, no day could then be appointed for the above purpose. MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS. L. s. d. Rev. Mr. Griffin and Congregation, Portsea (received Oct. 15) ༤༠༠༠༠ Rev. Mr. Smith and Congregation, Leek, Staffordshire, by the hands of the Rev. Mr. Moseley, Hanley 25 858 Aberdeen Society for Foreign Missions, by the Rev. Js. Bentley In the last Number, for "40l. 105." as the amount of a Collection at Hammersmith, read « 411. 109." HOME INTELLIGENCE. An Address to the British Public, an the Moral and Religious State of Ireland. { Abridged from a Pamphlet lately circulated in London by the Gentlemen who propose to form The Hibernian Society, for the general Difusion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland.] "TRUE Charity, ever active, disinterested, and industrious even to seek its objects, can never want opportunities of exertion so long as our world is the abode of guilt and misery. But the subjects to which British benevolence is now called, require no laborious search to ascertain them: they appeal to feelings not of pure disinterestedness alone; and they present a fair prospect of success to measures of active diligence, comparatively very easy and moderate. Britons, Ireland is now your sister! Out of the dust of spiritual misery she lifts up her head, she stretches forth her suppliant hands to you, she cries for that help which you have richly the power to bestow; - and shall she cry in vain No. It is yours to say, "Her bread shall be given her, and her water shall be sure. It is yours, under the smiles of Providence, to deal out the bread of Heaven to her famished children, and to turn the streams of salvation into her parched telds. "Subjects of one Sovereign, and now united under the same legislature, the friends of Great Britain must be the friends of Ireland. In addition to the strong bonds, so powerfully felt by every enlarged mind, which unite Christian benevolence with every child of Adam, and prompt to seek the highest interests of all nations of men, whom God has made of one blood to dwell upon the earth," there are, in the present case, the most awakening reasons of moral and political interest, to rouse the inmediate attention and the most zealous labours of British Christians. From "Hiberuia has groaned for ages under an oppressive load of Anti-Christianism, contrived with systematic dexterity to fetter every energy of the human mind, to undermine the only true grounds of sound morality, and to root ont the best and tenderest charities of the human breast; an apostate and pernicious superstition, the enemy of rational picly and scriptural knowledge, of arts and improvement, of civilization, industry, and commerce. various causes ever to be deplored, the, blessings of the glorious Reformation have never yet flowed through our sister island in any other than a very shallow streamlet. Nearly 300 years have now elapsed since that memorable period; but what have British Protestants done for the instruction of their Irish brethren? Alas! the question raises a reply of grief and shame. In future times, it will appear scarcely credible that this enlightened nation, itself possessing so richly the treasures of scriptural truth and Christian freedom, could have been so completely unconcerned as to any attempts for ca tending those blessings to its own brethren. And what have been the cou sequences? Such as might have been with reason expected. Ignorance, vice, wretchedness, and credulous bigotry have maintained, and even extended their ascendency. Civil discontents, inflamed by the animosity of religious dissention, have ferociously torn and trampled upon the very ties of Nature and Society. Our restless national foc saw and seized the inviting opportunity. The demon of rebellion howled the signal; and the fair fields of Ireland were drenched with the blood of her children! Has not such a country, in such circumstances, the most commanding claims on the affection, the commiseration, the unceasing prayers, and the generous labours of British Protestants? "Let the following simple statement of facts have the consideration which it merits: "According to the latest and best authenticated accounts, the whole population of Ireland is nearly 5,400,000 souls. Of this large population, fontfifths are Roman Catholics: and the remaining fifth, though nominally Protestant, is seriously apprehended to include but a very small minority of such as practically exemplify the superior purity of their religion. "The greatest proportion of Protestant inhabitants is found in the eastern part of the province of Ulster; for many of the inhabitants of that district are the descendants of settlers from Scotland, who still retain the Presbyterian profession. Yet even there, the Roman Catholics are supposed to be more numerous than the aggregate of Protestants of all denominations. "The province of Leinster contains a much greater proportion of Protestants than Connaught or Munster. The parish of Tullow is considered as the most Protestant one of the diocese to which it belongs. The number of families which it contained in the year 1795, was 1009: of which, only 154 were Protestants. So that, even here, the Catholics were to the Pretestants as upwards of six to one. In the county of Kilkenny, there were, in the year 1800, 17,212 families; of which only 941 were Protestants. That is above seventeen to one. in the parish of St. Mullin's, there are 4cco Roman Catholics, and but one Protestant.— In the diocese of Kilmacduagh, the number of Protestant and Roman Ca tholie families was, in 1795, eighty-five Protestant, 4,408 Roman Catholics. That is nearly fifty-two to one. - - In several districts in the provinces of Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, the average number of Roman Catholics to Protestants, is nearly as twenty to one "If the existence of these facts be matter of painful reflection to every serious Protestant, what must be his feelings on being informed, that this superiority of numbers is, in a great measure, owing to the accession of numerous converts from Protestantism? Yet such is the melancholy case! From the scarcity of Bibles, from the great deficiency of a pious Protestant ministry, from the practice of non-residence in some of the clergy, from the absolute want of churches in many parishes, together with the unremitted activity of the priests, and the effect of intermarriages with Catholics, - hundreds of families, once Protestant, have joined the communion of the church of Rome! The little Protestant colonies which were planted at different periods before the year 1731, especially in the provinces of Munster and Connaught, have, with very few exceptions, totally disappeared. It is also well known, that in towns wherein the Protestants were far more numerous than the Catholics, about the beginning of the last century, the latter are at present more so than the former. "Ireland would be a singular exception to the experience of ages, if it did not manifest the baneful influence of Popish error and superstition, in the intellectual and moral condition of those who belong to that communion. Undoubtedly, among the higher classes, there are many individuals of liberal education, and minds well-in formed on subjects of general science; though, with respect to the knowledge and use of the holy Scriptures, there is reason to apprehend that Roman Catholics, in the most respectable ranks, are awfully the subjects of darkness and pernicious prejudices. "But the great body of the Irish Catholics is of the lower classes; and in their enslaved minds the grossest ignorance undeniably reigos. With respect to the perfections of God, the requirements of his law, the nature of sin and holiness, the work of the Saviour and of the Holy Ghost, they, in general, entertain conceptions scarcely more just than those of the benighted fleathen. Many, even of the priests, appear to know little more on these important subjects than the laity. Thousands of the common people are persuaded, that Protestants do not believe in Christ, and are enemies to the cross. But all that these poor people know of the cross is, the idolizing of its image, and the tracing of its form with their fingers; and their acquaintance wit the history of Jesus Christ is, in a great measure, made up of certain legends about Him and his Mother going to mass; and other fictions equally monstrous. "Another distinguishing feature of Popery, is the subjection of the conscience, as well as of the understanding to the sovereignty of an unscriptural church, which usurps an absolute dominion over the faith and practice of its members. The lower classes of the Catholics in Ireland, regularly go to confession once or twice a year. Their standard of morality is derived chiefly from the connection of certain actions with the prison or the gallows, and from the obligations of confession and penance. This latter part of the standard cannot but appear very defective, if it be considered that great numbers of people are known to go through the whole service of confession, absolution, &c. for the sins of the preceding six or twelve months, in a time so short as to be almost incredibie: and when a poor Papist has performed the expiatory actions or sufferings which his spiritual father has prescribed, his solicitude is generally at an end. "In this abject state of mind, it cannot but follow, that Vice must reign almost without controul; that useful arts can make but small advances; that every effort for civilization of manners Dust be materially frustrated; and that the enemies to the peace and happiness of the Empire, will have every facility to invite and to aid their des signs of sedation and rebellion." [To be concluded in the Supplement.} THE JEWS. Mr. Frey commenced his Lectures to his countrymen, the Jews, at Mr. Ball's chapel, in Jewry Street, London, on Saturday evening, July 6; and has continued them regularly ever since. For several weeks, 2 or 300 Jews, it is supposed, were among the numerous congregations that attended; and it was affecting to behold the aspect of the audiences on those occasions. Much attention was excited: some behaved very seriously; while others, like their brethren of old, "contradicted and blasphemed." A considerable sensation was certainly observable among the numerous body of Jews in London; which soon gave occasion to some measures among thôt rulers t present thefe att dance. What the were we come, positively assert: 14 #13, that the rich Jews were poked from attending, under 2o perdity of rool. each; and that die your people were threatened with excommunication, and the los of all their Jewish privileges. Se this period, but few, comparatively, have ventured to hear; in generii, twenty or thirty at most. A few, however, have constantly united with Mr. Frey at his weekly, meetings for prayer; some of whom, there is good reason to hope, have received spiritual benefit, so that his labours have not been altogether in vain. We trust, that all who love the Lord Jesus Christ and immortal souls, will continue in fervent prayer for the conversion of the poor beuighted children of Abraham, that they may no longer "abide in unbelief, but be grafted in the good olive-tree; for God is able to graft them in again."- Rom. xi. 23. Mr. Frey has removed to Mr. Smith's, No. 105, Bishopsgate Street. List of Lectures in and near London for December. 1. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Street, Mr. Brooksbank; Hare Court, 2. Mon. Ev. Missionary Prayer-Meet- 3. Tu. M. Broad Str. Dr. Fisher. 5. Thurs. THANKSGIVING DAY. 8. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Street, 9. Mon. Er. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, Surry Chapel. Jo. Tu. M. Broad Street, Mr. Clayton. 11. Wed. Ev. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, at Dr. Trotter's and Mr. Nicol's, Swallow Street. Th. M.Monthly Meeting(Indep.) at the Rev. Messrs. Towle and Barber's, London Wall, Mr. Kello to preach. -Vital Christianity, &c. 12. Ev. Fetter Lane, Mr. Goode.- 15. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Str. Mr. Mr. Upton; Devonshire Square, 17. Tu. M Broad Str. Mr. Goode. 19. Wall's, Moorfields. Slavery and Deliverance of Israel in Egypt. Th. M. Monthly Meeting (Bap.) at Mr. Dore's, Maze Pond, Dr. Rippon to preach. The Witness, Zeal, and Earnest of the Spirit. Er. Fetter Lane, Mr. Waugh.The blessedness of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ. |