hours; while others, after appearing to be in a state of convalescence, relapsed and were carried off. It is said, that on one day five hundred were interred, and on another four hundred and eighty. The grave-diggers, though augmented, could not meet the demands made upon them; and more than a thousand, it is said, were laid in a large pit adjoining the burial-ground, out of which sand had been dug; and the coffins afterwards covered, as they could be overtaken, with earth and quick lime. About that time, the charge for digging a grave was twenty-five rubles, say, a guinea. Of the invalids, besides those whom I occasionally saw out of doors, there were three in the mission house, the progress and termination of whose malady I had an opportunity of observing. The first of them, a German, after most dreadful convulsions, died in the course of about six hours: the other two survived. One of these was Mrs. Glen, who was seized, with great violence, on the evening of the 9th instant; but, by the blessing of God on the meaus employed, the violence of the symptoms began to abate in the course of a few hours, and, at this date, with the exception of very great weakness from the loss of blood, &c. she feels herself pretty well. It pleased God that neither I nor any of our children (four in number) were affected; but such were our circumstances, that of the few English families of which our national circle is composed, scarcely one of them could help another; and as Russian servants could not be trusted, those who were well in a family had to act as sick nurses for the invalids. The visitation was trying, but mixed with many undeserved mercies; for-not to speak of numberless comforts during the continuance of the disease-it is remarkable, that, out of five adults among us that were seized with it, and some of them severely, not one has been removed; and all of them are now considered as out of danger. The only death among us was that of an infant, who was abandoned by his nurse.What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards us?' CALCUTTA. The Rev. T. Dealtry states, under date of July 6:- The lamented death of our dear and excellent friend the Rev. T. T. Thomason, having left the secretaryship of the Bible Society in this place vacant, the Committee have requested me to accept the office. Living near the depository, I have at length acceded to their request; though I feel deeply how utterly inadequate I am to the weight of duty and responsibility attached to this office. By God's help, however, I will do what I can, to secure the interest, and keep alive the excellent feeling, which exist in Calcutta, on all subjects connected with the charter of our salvation. May the Great Head of the Church give His blessing! 'I have now been a year in India; and have, from the first, been on the Committee. Many subjects of peculiar interest have come before us, during that time; but none more so than that of obtaining a standing and authorized version of the Scriptures in the Bengalee. To this the Committee have given unwearied attention; and they have hopes that they are now in a way likely to succeed. A sub-committee has been formed, consisting of the best scholars of the different denominations of Christians in this Presidency; and their labours are again to be submitted to the suggestions of other most distinguished scholars. They proceed, therefore, in some measure, after the manner in which the translators of our own authorized English version did: and may the Holy Spirit so direct their labours, that they may be equally successful! They have begun with the book of Genesis. "The Missionaries are constantly calling for the Scriptures in all the dialects of the Presidency: the Natives are eager to obtain them. The state of things here is indeed quite anomalous. In Calcutta there are thousands of youths receiving Christian education; and who can give a better account of the Christian faith and duty than many English boys of the same age, and yet retain all their heathen prejudices and practices. Converts you seldom hear but the Natives flock, on all hands, to receive Christian instruction. We cannot doubt that all this is preparing the way of the Lord: we may die, and not see the harvest; but, assuredly, it will be gathered in its season. of; "The Lord Bishop has most kindly taken the office of Patron of the Society here, and interests himself deeply in its objects. He is very active; and desirous of promoting the cause of God and truth in every way. May he long be spared to the Church.' GLOUCESTER SCHOOL FOR THE DAUGHTERS OF CLERGYMEN. WE have been desired to give publicity to the following plan, and shall be happy to aid it by every means in our 'power. It is a well known fact, that the income of a great number of Clergymen in this country is very limited; and that, in consequence, their daughters are often left without sufficient provision, and are unable, through the deficiencies of their education, to provide for themselves. To remedy, in some measure, this evil, a School was opened a few years ago in the north of England, for the education of the daughters of Clergymen in straitened circumstances; and its utility has been widely felt and acknowledged. But it is obvious, that one institution of this kind is quite inadequate to meet the wants of the poorer Clergy. It is therefore proposed to establish another in the city of Gloucester, for the same benevolent object. This Institution will be conducted on the principles of the Church of England, with an especial view to the training of the children under its care as useful members of society. Each Clergyman whose daughter is admitted into this School, will be expected to contribute in part to her maitenance and education. It is proposed, that £10. per annum be paid with each pupil receiving the usual course of instruction; but if accomplishments are required, the whole additional expence to be defrayed by the parent. It must be evident, that although the School is intended, in a small degree, to maintain itself, considerable funds will be required—in the first instance, to secure suitable accommodations ; and in annual subscriptions afterwards: but the friends of the design trust, that by strict attention to the economy and efficiency of the Institution, its character will secure for it adequate support. Every contributor or collector of £100. will have the nomination of a single candidate. Contributors or collectors of £200. will be allowed to nominate two candidates; and so on for every £100. subscribed. Any number of persons, not exceeding four, whose united contributions amount to £100, will have the nomination of one candidate. CONTINENTAL THE present circumstances of the Continent of Europe have induced the Continental Society to publish an Address, stating that in numerous instances the prejudices which have so long and so generally prevailed in favour of old superstitions, appear to have given way. Enactments to preserve and to perpetuate them, or to abridge the liberty of men's consciences, are repealed or superseded; and the unwillingness to hear opinions contrary to those taught and received from generation to generation, is no longer so common. Multitudes have proclaimed their liberty, many are inquiring after truth, and prepared to listen to ambassadors for Christ. The way is thus opened for the spread of truth, for imparting the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, the savour of his name, the hope of free and full forgiveness, and of eternal life and glory in Him. All vacancies which remain after the nominations are disposed of, shall be filled up at the discretion of the committee. The Trustees and Committee are highly respectable. The Rev. R. B. Holmes, Minister of Christ Church, Gloucester, Secretary. Subscriptions will be received by Messrs. Hankey, Fenchurch Street, and Messrs. Hatchard, Piccadilly. SOCIETY. The Continental Society employs and supports, either wholly or partly, as preachers of the Gospel, or distributors of the Scriptures and Tracts, forty-two labourers; ten in the North of France, one in the centre, three in the East, eight in the South-East, two in the South, six in the SouthWest, one in the North-West, six in the North of Germany, four in other parts, and one on the borders of Spain, with great and inestimable benefit to the Church of God in those parts; and its Committee are now called upon from many quarters to increase that number, but are unable because of their funds being exhausted; and they therefore earnestly request additional donations and subscriptions, which will be thankfully received by Messrs. Williams, Birchin Lane, Messrs. Hatchard and Son, Piccadilly, and Mr. Nisbet, Berners Street, &c. GAELIC SCHOOL SOCIETY. THIS Society, established in 1811, in Edinburgh for the support of Gaelic Schools, for the purpose of teaching the inhabitants of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to read the scriptures in their native language, has recently published an address, from which it appears that the Society has, during the last twenty years, taught upwards of sixty thousand persons, in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, to read the Bible in their native tongue; and has during the same period distributed nearly an equal number of copies of the sacred volume; and that such has been the eagerness of the people to learn to read "the words of eternal life," that in many stances the father and the grandfather have stood up in the same class with their children and grandchildren; and mothers, with infants in their arms, or the cradle at their feet, have joined in the exercises of these Gaelic schools. in The schools established by the society are of a migratory description; aud after the teachers have laboured for two or three years in one spot, they remove to a second, and subsequently to a third; by which means the benefits of a religious education are communicated to a greater number of persons, in a much shorter time, and at much less expense, than could possibly be accomplished in any other way. The number of schools maintained by the society averages from seventy to eighty; and the number of scholars is usually about five thousand. The teachers are men of piety and prudent zeal; and independently of the good which they do by teaching young and old to read the scriptures in their native language, the beneficial effects of their pious and consistent example, in the remote parts of the country where they are stationed, is incalculably great. Through the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and other institutions of the same nature, the society for the support of Gaelic schools has hitherto been gratuitously supplied with those copies of the Gaelic Scriptures of which it stood in need. The annual expenditure of the society is however, very considerable, in the payment of salaries to teachers, and printing Elementary Books, &c.Hitherto these expenses have been nearly met by the contributions of the friends of religion in Scotland, aided by the bounty of a few benevolent individuals in England; but a debt of more than two thousand pounds has gradually accumulated; and now very much impedes the operations of the society. A general appeal to the friends of religion in England has therefore been considered necessary, and we trust that this appeal will not be made in vain. Those who are contributing of their substance to establish schools for the instruction of the Heathen abroad; when they learn that there are, within the precincts of their own land, tens of thousands of persons who cannot read in any language whatever; to whom the Bible is a sealed book; and who hear not above once in a quarter of a year the sound of the gospel, will doubtless cheerfully contribute, and will no longer allow that the inhabitants of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who are also Britons, should remain comparatively ignorant of the Saviour of whom that Gospel speaks. Subscriptions and donations are received by Messrs. Nisbet, Berners Street, and Christy, Gracechurch Street. IRISH PREACHING IN ST. GILES'S. ON Sunday Nov. 28, the Rev. Henry Beamish, Rector of Kinsale in Ireland, commenced a service in the Episcopal Chapel, West Street, St. Giles's, and has since continued regularly reading prayers and preaching in the Irish tongue on Sunday mornings and evenings. The congregation on the first morning was smaller than had been anticipated, and there is reason conclude that efforts had been used to keep the poor Irish away. The subsequent congregations have however, we are happy to hear, been larger, and we doubt not that Mr. B's zealous and to affectionate discourses have been made the subject of conversation among multitudes of his fellow-countrymen in different parts of the metropolis, who from various causes have not yet ventured within the walls of his Chapel. We have never been sanguine as to the immediate effect of this benevolent attempt, but have at the same time always felt confident that steady perseverance, notwithstanding apparent discouragements, would be followed by most important, extensive, and beneficial results. REGISTER OF EVENTS. WE regret to state, that, since our last, frequent fires, supposed to be the work of incendiaries, have taken place, and that tumultuous assemblies have collected for the destruction of machinery, compelling Clergymen to lower their Tithes, and Agriculturists to raise their wages, &c. A royal proclamation has consequently been issued, prohibiting such practices, and a special commission sent down to try the offenders, several of whom have been convicted, and sentenced to capital or other punishments. It is impossible not to commiserate the cases of the unhappy men, who have been excited to such destructive conduct by the artifices and exhortation of crafty and designing persons; at the same time such disorders must be promptly repressed, and the agents severely punished, or all property would become insecure, and social order be entirely subverted. Parliament has been actively engaged during the month, and the New Ministry have evinced a steady determination to cultivate economy, and promote moderate reform in parliament and elsewhere. They are however cautious in pledging themselves on various topics, in consequence of their recent appointment to office, and the grand exposè of their plans is therefore postponed till after the Christmas vacation. On one point however, they have expressed a decided opinion, namely, the impropriety of allowing clergymen to occupy situations with cure of souls, which they cannot personally superintend. Dr. Philpotts had been appointed Bishop of Exeter, by the late administration. with the understanding that he should hold the valuable living of Stanhope, worth about £4000. per ann. in commendam. The new administration have however refused to sanction the proposed arrangement, though they consider that, under existing circumstances, the Bishop of Exeter is entitled to some situation of pecuniary advantage. Dr. Philpotts is stated not to have changed his opinion on Catholic Emancipation, as has been generally supposed, but only to have maintained, at the proper time, a discreet silence! In France the public attention has been rivetted on the Trial of the Ex-ministers : considerable alarm has been entertained on the ground of popular tumults: the populace crying vehemently for the death of the ministers, and thus endeavouring to overawe the court. The ministers have at length been sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. Disturbances have broken out in Poland, and the Arch-Duke Constantine has been compelled to flee. Six thousand lives are said to have been lost on the occasion. A large part of the Continent indeed appears in a most perturbed and alarming state "Send peace in our time, O Lord, we beseech thee." Notices and Acknowledgments. His plan WE must decline inserting the communication of ECONOMICUS. involves serious if not insuperable difficulties: how far these difficulties might be overcome by a discussion in the several Committees we are not able to say; at all events, such discussion would be entirely out of place in a periodical publication, and might produce great mischief. QUESITOR is assured that we see no danger whatever in the immediate abolition of Negro Slavery; and no difficulties which may not be obviated by common prudence. There is no danger-for the same force which now keeps the slaves quiet, would be fully competent to maintain peace when they are emancipated; to say nothing of the diminished provocation to which the negroes would be exposed. There is no danger of the plantations remaining uncultivated; the negroes would perform as much work when free labourers as they now do while slaves. They would in all human probability be better clothed, better fed, and more efficient and cheerful labourers. As to compensation, we conceive it to be a mere bugbear. We doubt whether the proprietors would really lose any thing by emancipation; we believe their estates would yield them just as many hogsheads of sugar and puncheons of rum as they now produce, and at quite as small an expense. But if not, the loss would be so small as to demand a very trifling compensation-so trifling, that this country would save the whole amount in the extra expense of troops, stores, equipments, &c. which the present system renders necessary. The religious and moral improvement of the Negro is, under existing circumstances, hopeless. On these points, we earnestly desire that the Bishops of Jamaica and Barbadoes may be examined before Parliament. We cannot however enlarge at present. Received-D. N. E.-S. T.-BENEVOLUS.-&c. CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN, AND Church of England Magazine. FEBRUARY 1831. THE REV. THOMAS ROBINSON, M. A. MR. ROBINSON's first entrance on his ministerial work at Leicester attracted immediate attention, and was accompanied with striking and important results. Religion appears at that period to have been at a very low ebb in that large and populous place. None of the clergy in the town were at all distinguished by theological attainments or ardent piety, though some had acquired considerable eminence in mathematical and scientific pursuits, and others had evinced very humane and benevolent dispositions. A few pious churchmen had, about six years before, formed a society on the plan of the late Dr. Woodward, and met regularly once a-week in St. Mary's vestry, where the then vicar, the Rev. Mr. Simmons, occasionally attended, and united in fervent prayer for the extension of true religion, and especially 'that God would be pleased to send into his churches, and particularly into this portion of his vineyard, faithful pastors, who might diligently, fervently, and fully preach the gospel of Christ.' But with this exception, there appeared few symptoms of spiritual life among Churchmen; while the congregations of dissenters, consisting of old Presbyterians and Baptists, with a few Methodists, were in a very feeble and languishing state. No sooner however did Mr. R. G commence his ministrations, than multitudes crowded to hear. He usually preached at St. Martin's Church in the morning, and almost invariably at All Saints in the afternoon; where numbers attended from the adjoining parishes, and after a short time many came in from different villages in the vicinity. His discourses were similar to those he had before proclaimed at Witcham and Wichford; and were delivered at Leicester with equal energy and success-vast numbers were awakened and led to repentance, faith, and holiness; while, on the other hand, bitter hostility, and determined and, in some cases, most indecent opposition was evinced. Those who are acquainted with the effect produced on the unregenerate heart by the holy and humbling doctrines of the gospel of Christ will not be surprised at this opposition. "While the strong man armed keepeth possession of the house, his goods are in peace." So long as men remain ignorant of the nature and requirements of true religion, they are well satisfied with themselves, and indulge in pleasing dreams of their own excellence: but when the spiritual nature and the extensive requirements of the holy law are made known; when the righteousness which they themselves have wrought out, and the services they have performed, are evinced to be |