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Their descent was seen for a considerable distance round, and two reports distinctly heard at Hillsborough, a distance of thirty miles. A fragment, weighing a pound and three quarters, struck a tree in the new ground of a Mr. Taylor, near where some woodcutters were at work, who, apprehending the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, ran home without once looking behind them. Encouraged, however, by a woman, whose curiosity was superior to her fears, they returned with her to the place, and brought away the stone, which was still hot. It is of a dark brown colour, porous, and contains iron.

The rivers and lakes of the lower pro vinces of Venezuela and Caraccas are full of the electrical eels, called Tremblados by the Spaniards, and Anguilles Tremblantes by the French colonists of Guiana. They are also found in the smaller lakes which are scattered at intervals in the vast plains that lie between the rivers Oronoco and Apura. The ancient road which led near Urittica has been abandoned, on account of the dangers run by those who crossed the waters, in which the mules were suddenly struck with an invisible commotion, rendered paralytic, and often drowned. Very often the fisherman received an electric shock, the conductor of which was his line. The electrical eel is six feet long. The Indians have so great a dread of this creature, and such repugnance to approach it while living, that M. de Humboldt had the utmost difliculty to obtain subjects for his experiments, He waited several days for this purpose in the little town of Calaboza, having learned that here they abounded. The owner of

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the house where he lodged exerted himself to procure some, but in vain. At length he resolved to repair to the spot where these eels were met with. Here occurred a spectacle of the newest description, and most extraordinary kind. About thirty mules and horses had been quickly driven toge ther from the neighbouring savannahs, where they live almost in a wild state, and are so numerous that the price of any one is but seven shillings, when the proprietor can be ascertained. The Indians, by driving them on all sides, forced them to seek refuge in the water, where they kept them by presenting harpoons fixed at the end of long canes, and by violent shoutings. The elec trical eels, roused by this tumult, rose to the surface of the water, and swimming abost like so many livid serpents, pursued the luckless quadrupeds, and gliding under their bellies, communicated the most violent and rapid shocks. The terrified horses, suffering agonies, raising their manes, and flashing fire from their straining eye-balls, rolling in pain, in vain endeavoured to escape. In less than five minutes two of them sunk under the water, and were drowned. Victory seemed now to declare for the gymnoti, But their activity began to diminish: fatigued by the repeated exertions of their nervous energy, they less frequently discharged their electric fluid. The horses which had survived the early attacks, gradually reco, vered their strength, and at the end of an hour the gymnoti retired from the combat, in such a state of languor and exhaustion, that they were without difficulty drawn to the shore by cords, having hooks at their ends.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

TEEOLOGY.

Cookson's Book of Common Prayer; with the Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England; with a Table of Contents, by means of which a child may refer to any particular part. No. 1. 9d.

A Refutation of Calvinism; in which the Doctrines of Original Sin, Grace, Regeneration, Justification, and Universal Redemption, are explained; and the peculiar tenets maintained by Calvin, upon these points, are proved to be contrary to Scripture, to the writings of the Ancient Fathers of the Christian Church, and to the Public Formularies of the Church of England. By George Toulmine, D. D. F. R. S. Lord Bi

shop of Lincoln, and Dean of St. Paul's, London. 8vo. 12s.

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Picturesque Voyage to India, by the Way of China. By Thomas Daniel, R. A., and William Daniel, A. R. A. Folio, with fifty engravings, 121.

The New Chronicles of England and France. By Robert Fabyan. Named by himself the Concordance of Histories. Reprinted from Pynson's edition of 1516: the first part collated with the edition of 1533 and 1559, and the second with a manuscript of the author's own time, as well as the subsequent editions: including the different Continuations: with a Biographical and Literary Preface. By Henry Ellis. 4to. 31. 35.

The remainder of the List of New Publications will be inserted in our next.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

„BRISTOL AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

The first anniversary of this society was held on the 7th instant, Philip Protheroe, Esq. the mayor, in the chair. The report of the committee for the preceding year was truly gratifying, and evinced the high degree of seal and activity which they and the officers of the society had employed in conducting its affairs, as well as the great liberality of the inhabitants of Bristol and its vicinity, in the support they have given to it. The Rev. Mr. Owen, who was present, in an animated and highly impressive speech, laid before the meeting an able and luminous exposition of the measures adopted by the parent society, and its auxiliary societies throughout the world; in the frigid, and in the torrid zones; from Labrador to Pega, and from Chili to Kamschatka. The meeting came to several unanimous resolutions, confirming their past proceedings, ordering the report now read to be printed, and returning thanks to the Bishop of Bristol, their president, and to the other officers of the society, and also to Mr. Owen, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Steinkopff, the secretaries of the parent institution.

EDINBURGH BIBLE SOCIETY.

The committee of this Society, some time ago, remitted two donations of 501, sterling, to the Evangelical Society at Stockholm, to be employed in diffusing the sacred Scriptres among the poor of Sweden. They have lately received an answer, acknowleiging the receipt of these sums, in the warmest terms of gratitude. The following is an extract, translated from the French.

"The committee of the Evangelical So-, ciety, bave charged us to express their most lively gratitude, and to present the respects due to your noble sentiments, and your ar dent zeal in diffusing on the earth the salutary doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures, which we have the happiness of revering with you, as the only touch-stone, of all life-giving wisdom, and of all divine

truth."

Be pleased, gentlemen, to be assured, on r part, that we have understood perfectly the spirit which animates you, and which bas induced you to make us so generous a present. Your donations shall be employed with the most scrupulous care, in the manuer which you have prescribed. We have al

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 110.

ready taken steps, which enable us to assure you, that, for the half of your donation, (i. e. 50%. sterling), about 1200 bound copies of the Books of the New Testament shall be found, about the end of this current year, among the hands of the poor, who, without doubt, will thank, with all their hearts, the donors of these precious (etrennes) newyear's gifts. The remainder of the sum shall be similarly disposed, according to your orders, as soon as an occasion presents itself.

“You will learn with joy, undoubtedly that, in every part of our country, the demands for our copies of the New Testament, (the Old being not yet finished), are so numerous and so urgent, that, when the third edition, (consisting of 6000, which, with the two preceding, amounts to a quantity of 11,000 copies) shall have left the press, there will still remain, tuexecuted, orders for many thousand copies, which will constrain us to put a fourth edition in hands, without delay."

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The intelligence lately received by the Edinburgh Bible Society from Ireland, is very encouraging. The Hibernian Bible Society held their annual meeting in Dublin on the 29th ult., when it appeared, that their disbursements amounted to near 2,8002. Irish, and they came before the public with a balance of no more than 16. 10s. 84. On the morning of that day, however, they' were informed of a donation from the Edin burgh Bible Society of 2001. sterling, which has been acknowledged in terms of the warmest gratitude. This donation is in uddition to three former ones, of 1001. each, in all 5001. The Hibernian Bible Society, aided by its various branches, has been the means of circulating, by sale, at low prices, during the current year, no fewer than 5,915 Bibles, and 8,714 Testaments, making a total of 14,629! The demand, so far from abating, is rapidly increasing, and the sacred Scriptures, are now exposed for sale, and purchased in some of the most popish parts of that country.

HIBERNIAN BIBLE SOCIETY, The statement contained in the close of the preceding article, is confirmed in all its parte by the report of the Hibernian Bible Society for the last year, which has been recently published. The meeting, at which this re

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port was made, was held in the Royal Exchange, Dublin, on the 20th of November Jast, the Bishop of Kildare in the chair. We insert an abstract of the report.

The report rea at the last annual meeting, led the committee to enter on their official duties with strong expectations of success. These expectations have been fully realized.

The committee's first care was to publish the report, with addresses to the people of Ireland at large, explaining the views of the society, and soliciting support. These appeals have not been made without effect.

During the year, two additional branches of the society have been formed; one the Tullamore branch, under the patronage of the Right Hon. the Earl of Charleville; and the other, the Mayo and Tuam branch, under the patronage of his Grace the Arch bishop of Tuam and the Lord Bishop of Killalla. And another right reverend pre late has announced his intention of encouraging a branch of the society in his dio

cese.

In their endeavours to circulate, the Scriptures in Ireland, the society continue to meet with the greatest encouragement and the most effectual co-operation from the friends of religion and social order in other parts of the empire. At the last meeting the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society towards this institution was mentioned. Considerable aid has since been received from two Bible Societies in Scot land; the East-Lothian Bible Society and the Edinburgh Bible Society. They also notice the liberality of the Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe, who has presented then with a donation of 501. The support which has thus been received from England and Scotland, while it displays the purest and most .disinterested benevolence in those who have given it, likewise furnishes the society at once with an approbation of its past labours, and a powerful incentive to future exertion.

It was stated at the last annual meeting, that the issue of Bibles and Testaments from the repository during the year ending November 1809, had nearly doubled that for the former one, and amounted to 9,034 Bibles, and Testaments. The issue of the last twelve months has exceeded that by more than 5,600 Bibles and Testaments. It amounts to 5,915 Bibles and 8,744 Testaments, making a total of 14,659. The society's funds have also considerably increased.

Of the good which has been done by the society, the committee can entertain no

doubt. They have too high an opinion of the word of God to suppose, that from 14 to 15,000 Bibles and Testaments could have been circulated during the last year, withous considerable influence on the religion and morals of those who have purchased them. Nor are they without positive information on this subject. Among other intimations of this kind, a communication front one of the branches of the society states, that ** the members are convinced, that the benefits by the circulation of the Scriptures in their vicinity have been considerable, and they ardently hope for an increased extension."

To conclude the committee have noticed with satisfaction the increasing interest the institution has excited, and the progress it has made under the fostering care of that Providence which has hitherto blessed it, and which they trust will continue to bless its exertions to disseminate among their fellow-countrymen," the law of the Lord, which converteth the soul-the statutes of the Lord, which make wise the simple."

SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE IN THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS.

We willingly comply with the request of a correspondent, in inserting the following communication.

The friends of that excellent institution, the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands, will learn with pleasure, that on Sunday, the 9th of December last, its cause was eloquently pleaded by the Rev. Mr. Basil Woodd, at Bentinck Chapel, Lisson Green, before a numerous and respectable audience. As soon as the nature and benefits of this institution were made known to this benevolent clergyman, he not only consented to be its advocate, at their last anniversary in May, but, in a manner the most liberal, undertook to make its merits still better known, by another sermon in its behalf. It is highly gratifying to see this institution patronised by able and respectable members of the Church of England. The institution is under the immediate care of the established church of Scotland, and its affairs are managed by her ministers with the greatest economy and effect; and there is little doubt, that, were it sufficiently known, among the members of their sister church in England, it would receive that extensive and zealous support, which is never withheld by them from any institution, built, like the present, on sound principles, pro

posing as its end the best interests of religion and civil society, and conducted by the approved friends of both.

Its operations are carried on chiefly by means of schools, planted throughout the remote and unenlightened districts of the North of Scotland, in which schools there are regularly and daily educated, about sisteen thousand children. Its effects have been manifest on the manners and morality of the people, and the advantages attending

it are so justly appreciated by the inhabitants, that their constant prayer is for an increase of its influence. Those who support a society by whom sixteen thousand souls are thus daily cared for, their minds opened, their morals improved, their habits of indus try formed, their families gladdened, and their country benefited, may well rejoice in the thought, that they are instrumental in a work of such philanthrophy, patriotism; and piety.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. Ter affairs of the Spanish Peninsula have undergone no material change since we took. our last monthly view of them. The fortress of Tortosa, in the province of Catalonia, fell into the hands of the French, almost as soon a the trenches were opened. Its surrender u attributed, with a great appearance of prebability, to treachery. The force employed in this siege was destined, it is said, to invest Tarragona.

With a view to diminish the resources of the enemy in Catalonia, a landing was ef fected from a British squadron in the bay of Palamos, by 600 men, under the command of Capt. Fane, of the Navy; and the batteries and vessels in the bay, consisting of three tational vessels, and eight loaded merchantmen, were taken possession of without any loss. The batteries were dismantled, the agazines ashore blown up, and the ships either burnt or brought away. In retiring, however, from a post on a hill which had been occupied, in order to prevent the enemy from interrupting these operations, the men fell into disorder, and, being attacked by a party of the enemy, who had been quiet spectators of all that had passed, 33 of the Den were killed, 89 were wounded, and 86 (among whom was Capt. Fane himself) were maken prisoners.

In Portugal the hostile armies continue to occapy nearly their former positions, which they are respectively employed in strengthening. The French army is supposed to be again in want of provisions; and it was expected that Massena would attempt to cross the Tagus, and advance into the province of Alentejo, both with a view to relieve the pressure of this wast, and to effect a junction with Mortier,

who is said to be advancing with 15 or 16,000 men, in the direction of Badajoz, but to be greatly impeded in his march by the Spanish guerillas. It was supposed he would attack Badajoz. In the north of Portugal the Portuguese militia had received a check from a body of French troops, under General Chaperede, employed in keeping open the rear of Massena's army.

The death of the Marquis Romana, who fell a victim to a fever, produced by over. exertion, and that of the Duke of Albuquerque, which has since occurred, have thrown some additional gloom over the Spanish cause. The Spanish troops with which Romana had joined Lord Wellington's army, were detached under General Mendizabel, to the succour of Badajoz; but, on hearing of Romana's death, they appear to have halted.

Lättle or no progress has been made in the siege of Cadiz. The Cortez continue their deliberations within its walls; but it cannot be expected that, cooped up as they are within the lines of a blockaded city, their sittings should excite much attention, or their decrees produce much effect. In the mean time, the revolutionary struggle in the Spanish provinces of South America seems to be extending, and also to be assuming, we are sorry to say it, a much more sanguinary cha racter.-Much blood has been shed in the provinces of Buenos Ayres, Peru, Mexico, and the Caraccas. In the first and last of these provinces, the popular party appear to enjoy the ascendancy; but in Mexico and Peru it is, for the present, retained by the adherents of the mother country.

While such is the state of the Portuguese and Spanish cause, the North of Europe has begun, if we may credit recent rumours, to

assume a different aspect with regard to Bosiaparte. On these rumours we are hot in doed disposed to place much reliance. Their amount is, that a Northern Confederacy, embracing Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, is likely to be formed with a view to their mutual protection from the devouring pretensions of Bonaparte; and that Bernadotte has lent himself to this confederacy. One circumstance; which has led to these surmises, has been a recent relaxation of the rigour of their commercial decrees towards this country, on the part both of Russia and Denmark. But we are inclined to apprehend that this relaxation has no other purpose in view but to excite a disposition in the government and people of this country to renew those trading speculations which have proved so gainful to the Continent; and so injurious to Great Britain, not only in a political and commercial, but in a moral point of view, Doubtless, when our merchants have been seduced again to risk in the ports of the Continent a sufficient amount of property to render such a measure advantageous, that property will be again confiscated and condemned without scruple.

I

The most important occurrence of the present month has been the fall of the Isle of France, the last remaining colony which France possessed in any quarter of the globe. This important conquest was happily gained with very inconsiderable loss. The troops under General Abercrombie first effected a Finding on the 29th of November, and on the 2d of December the French governor proposed terms, which led to the capituHition of the whole colony and its dependen eles on the succeeding day. The only unusual article in the capitulation is that which stipulates that the garrison shall not be considered as prisoners of war; a stipulation which we think to have been perfectly justified on the part of our commanders, by the blood and time which it probably saved,

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Our whole loss consisted in about 70 men killed and 90 wounded. Six frigates, a cur vette, and about 30 other ships, chiefly prizes, were taken possession of by the Br fish squadron, under Adnäral Bertier; so that the French naval force in the Indian seas, which has committed so many depredations during the last 15 years, on our commerce, is entirely annihilated. Batavia is now, indeed, almost the only port in Asia in which a flag, hostile to Great Britain, can find shelter; and it is supposed that General Abercrombie and Admiral Bertier will proceed, without delay, from the the Isle of France, in order to reduce it. The Dutch Spice islands, Banda, Amboyna, &c. have already fallen into our hands. The former of these was carried by a most gallant coup de main; the attacking party amounting to not more than a fourth part of the garrison that surrendered. This conquest was effected, without any loss, by a small squadron, consisting of two frigates and a sloop, under Captain Cole.

Nothing farther has transpired with respect to the state of our relations with America. A Minister (Mr. Foster) has at length been appointed by our Court, to suc ceed Mr. Jackson, as its representative with the United States; and it may now therefore he hoped that something will be done to heal the irritation that has prevailed between the two countries during the last four years. Mr. Perceval has declared that his Majesty's Government is disposed to make every amicable concession to the United States, which does not involve a sacrifice of those maritime rights that are essential to our own existence.

The only particulars in the internal policy of Bonaparte during the present month, which have attracted our attention, have been a decree imposing fresh restrictions on the press, and one which places all the Female Penitentiary Houses in Paris under the protection of Madame his mother.

GREAT BRITAIN,

THE expectation, which we represented in our last as existing, of an approaching change in the adminis tration, has not been fulfilled. The reason, doubtless, has chiefly been the very discernible improvement in the health of his Majesty. The apposition party is considered, by some of the warmer ministerialists, as deeply mortified by this apparently new turn in their affairs; while the opposition themselves applaud the

Regent for the whole of the conduct which he has pursued under all the difficulties of his case. They de scribe some of the most material of these difficulties as consisting in the restrictions under which he has been laid; as if the inability to create peers, and give away for life the few places which might fall, constituted any serious impediment to the adoption of the views of his Royal Highness, and to the due ad

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