On their arrival at Portsmouth, they found, to their great mortification, that the ship had sailed, and was just getting out of sight. They returned to London greatly dejected; but, in a few days, they heard the news of the total loss of the ship in which they were to have sailed (the Halsewell) which was wrecked on the coast of Cornwall, and most of those on board perished. Here they had to admire the providence that detained them! Their losing their passage was a little trial; but it prevented a much greater, the loss of their lives. Letters and Conversational Remarks by the late Rev. Mr. Newton, p. 169. Doubtless, many similar events have occurred: one is recollected. A pious young man was in the habit of saying, on various occasions of disappointment, It is all for the best.' His companions would sometimes jeer him on this account. He was about to take a voyage. All was ready; and, as he was getting into the ship, he fell and broke his leg. "Is this for the best too?" said one of his acquaintance. I doubt not,' replied he, that it is; and, indeed, so it proved; for, as in the former case, the ship was lost, and the crew perished.--It is a certain truth, and let Christians take the comfort of it, All things work together for good to them that love God, and who are called according to his purpose.' What an argument for calm acquiescence in the disposals of Providence! Study the doctrine of Preventives! 6 • Good when he gives, supremely good, Nor less when he denies ; E'en crosses, from his sovʼreign hand, Sir, ANSWER TO A QUERY. To the Editor. IN Answer to a Query on Job iv. 17, 18(And his angels he charged with folly) I would offer the following remarks : — 1st, It is evident to every one who examines the word here translated Folly, that it is not so rendered in any other part of the Bible; but that its proper meaning is Praise (Ps xix. 14, et ul. freq.); in which sense the Seventy have generally interpreted it, though in Job they have deviated from their usual practice. 2dly, The two verbs are in the future tense, consequently the reason given by the Querist for his applying them to fallen angels, is nugatory. 3dly, There appears to be an ellipsis in this sentence, which is very common in the poetical books; viz. That of a negative XVII. 4 A expressed in the for her part of a sentence, and the repetition of it understood in the latter*; thus, in Psalm lxxvi. 5 : 4thly, These things premised, I would submit the following as a more correct version of the passage in question: Job iv. 16, 17, ་ Shall man than the ELOAN be more just ? Mo e than his Maker shall man be pure? Bh la! if not in his own servants he will confide, And not even to his angels will ascribe praise, 18, How much less to them that dwell in houses of clay !' &c. If any further explanation is wished for, permit me to refer your Correspondent to the words of our Lord (Luke xvii. 9, 10): Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done only that which was our duty to do.' Yours, &c. SELINE. * See Granville Sharpe's Peculiarities of the Hebrew tongue. ACCOUNT OF THE REV. SAMUEL MARSDEN'S EXERTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Such of our readers as are not in the habit of reading the ECLECTIC REVIEW, will be obliged to us for reprinting a very interesting narrative, which lately appeared in that able and excellent publication. It was introduced in the review of a valuable French work, entitled A Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere,' compiled by M. Péron, a Naturalist, employed on the expedition by the French government. It commences with the following extract from M. Péron: MR. SAMUEL MARSDEN, pastor of the town of Paramatta, owns six hundred and fifty-one acres, of which one hundred and three are devoted to different kinds of cultivation; while he grazes on his farm, besides his flocks of sheep (amounting to about eight hundred) ten horses or mares, twenty-six horned cattle, thirty pigs, and ten goats. This farm is at some distance, in the interior of the country, on the left of the river Paramatta. From the brow of the hill on which it is situated, we behold a part of the stream: its buildings are spacious and well constructed ;--the garden is already enriched with the greater number of the fruit-trees of Europe; and yet, no longer ago than 1794, the whole of this spot was covered with immense and useless forests of Eucalyptus *. With what interest have I trodden over The red gum-tree: a genus indigenous to New Holland, of the Icosandrian Monogynian class and order, comprizing fifteen species.' Rev. these new meadows, through the midst of which this respectable pastor conducted me himself with the most affectionate kindness! Who could have believed it! This residence is seven or eight miles from Paramatta, isolated, in a manner, in the midst of woods; and it was over a very excellent road, in a very elegant chaise, that Mr. Marsden drove me to it. What pains, what exertions must have been taken to open such communications! - and these communications, these pastures, these fields, these harvests, these orchards, these flocks, are the work of eight years!" 6 This compliment,' say the Eclectic Reviewers, is due to one of the most excellent characters of the day, a character that seems expressly formed by Providence to produce a most beneficial change throughout not only the limited tract of New South Wales, but the vast extent of Australasia; to Christianize and civilize the barbarians that constitute its original inhabitants; and to re-Christianize and re-civilize the hordes of wretched culprits that are vomited by our prison-ships upon its shores. Our readers, we trust, will be pleased to become a little more acquainted with a man, who promises to flourish so fairly in future history; and, if the feelings of friendship should give somewhat too high a colouring to the sketch, they will at least admit, when they have perused it, that there is some apology for the excess. As for the subject of it, he is now at too great a distance to be affected by any eulogy we can offer, or we should be compelled to silence. It is about fifteen years ago that the Rev. Samuel Marsden, then an under graduate at St. John's College, Cambridge, was applied to indirectly by government, to undertak the office of Chaplain to his Majesty's territory in New South Wales. The application was admirably directed. Young as he was, there was well known to be in him, by those who made the application, a firmness of principle, an intrepidity of spirit, a cheerfulness of heart, in conjunction with a judgment peculiarly strong, and a mind richly stored with knowledge, and, above all, with religious knowledge, that promised the happiest effects from his acceptance of the offer. In the first instance, however, he refused; but, upon a second application, he replied, that he was sensible of the importance of the office; so sensible, indeed, that he hardly dared to accept it upon any terms, but that, if no properer person could be found, he would consent to undertake it. He was appointed accordingly; and, while the ship in which he was to take his passage was preparing, he resided chiefly at Hull, in Yorkshire (from which port the vessel was to proceed) and was indefatigable in rendering assistance to his clerical brethren, who gladly availed themselves of his help. It was not many Sundays afterwards, that, as he was on the point of ascending the pulpit, he heard the signal gun fire unexpectedly: it was an impressive scene; he was then just married; the congregation were acquainted with the meaning of the signal as well as himself; it was impossible for him to preach; he took his bride under his arm, and, followed by the whole congregation, who accompanied him to the beach, entered into the boat that was waiting for him, giving and receiving benedictions. 'Mr. Marsden's voyage proved not unprosperous; and on his arrival at Port Jackson, he immediately devoted himself to every pursuit in which he entertained a hope of being serviceable, either by example or instruction. His clerical labours alone were heavy; having, on the departure of the Rev. Mr. Johnstone, whom he succeeded to officiate at the three settlements of Sydney, Paramatta, and Hawkesbury, without any assistance whatever. He by no means confined himself, however, to the stated duties of his office, laborious as they were. To the poor and idle free-settlers he gave an example of indefatigable industry, by skilfully and successfully cultivating the land that had been granted him by government: he generously interfered in their distresses, established schools for their children, and often relieved their necessities. To the unhappy culprits, whom the justice of an offended country had banished from their native soil, he administered alternately exhortation and comfort; in many instances, as M. Péron very justly observes, he reclaimed them; for it was by his incessant watchfulness that, under the blessing of a superintending Providence, this most inconceivable metamorphosis' was chiefly produced, and that some of these wretches, formerly but the scum and shame of their country, became industrious cultivators, happy and peaceable citizens;'-to which the author might have added, sincere and practical Christians, evincing a piety as exemplary as their former guilt. On taking his place on the magisterial bench, his sphere of general usefulness was considerably extended; and in the discharge of this very important function (important more especially in such a colony, and in its infant state) he was altogether as unremitting as in his clerical duties. The native barbarians themselves highly esteemed him; for he had frequently travelled up the interior to the distance of eight or ten days journey in conjunction with Governor King or Governor Bligh; and he had acquired so much of their language as to be able to hold conversation with them upon general subjects. In a few years, he became the common father of the country. In the times of hostility with the natives, he was deputed as the minister of conciliation; ventured among them unaccompanied by guards or other attendants, and always procured the restoration of peace, through the mildness of his manners and the respect that was universally entertained for him; while in every domestic complaint from different villages, he was uniformly appointed arbitrator by the governor, and generally succeeded in removing, or at least in mitigating, their respective evils. Yet though he prevailed in much, he by no means prevailed in every thing. There were mischiefs that lay far above his reach, and utterly contemned his control. On the first establishment of the colony, all military officers were peremptorily forbidden to take their wives with them; and there is one instance of a lady, who, having resolved, out of love to her husband, to steal over to New South Wales in the guise of a sailor, was sent back by Governor Phillip, on his being apprized of it, after having completed nearly half her long and harrassing voyage. What then was to be expected from the licentious manners of a large body of military officers thus situated, themselves exposed to the daily temptations of women of abandoned lives, but often of beautiful persons, and at the same time as ready to become the tempters as the tempted! Of what avail, under such circumstances, would be the voice of an angel, or of one rising from the dead? Moses and the prophets, and Christ himself, were actually set before them by their established and zealous chaplain; but to as little purpose as of old. Yet, from them, chiefly, was it neces sary for the bench of magistrates to be chosen; and with them, as a magistrate, was this excellent chaplain compelled to associate. Our readers must anticipate the natural result; the most hardened and abandoned women too often appeared fearlessly before the court, when arraigned for the grossest crimes, well knowing that they had secured a majority of votes among their judges. It was altogether as impossible, in many instances, to obtain a sentence against male offenders; for these, being promiscuously connected with the women, made instruments of them to obtain, in like manner, a judgment in their favour. So that, instead of the perfect security in regard to person and property, asserted by M. Peron, which cannot be felt where therc is not the utmost facility of obtaining redress, of all existing spots in New South Wales, the court of judicature at Sydney became at length the most iniquitous and abandoned; the authority of the governor grew as little respected as that of the clergyman; and the former, even in his military capacity, had at length no control over his inferior officers. It was impossible that such a state of things could last long. Supplication, exhortation, expostulation, on the part of Mr. Marsden, were equally in vain; his efforts were poisoned at the very fountain; his life was not unfrequently in jeopardy; and anticipating the fearful result that must sooner or later succeed to such a state of anarchy, he applied to the Governor for permission, which was cheerfully granted him, to take a voyage to England, in order to represent in person to his Majesty's ministers the perilous state of the colony, and point out the best means of its rescue. 'He arrived rather more than two years ago, and immediately obtained an audience of Lord Castlereagh; who, while in the act of forming, upon the suggestions and written report of Mr. Marsden, a plan for suppressing this iniquitous system, received a |