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think his Majesty and his advisers, have been injudicious.

FRANCE.

In this country where the happiness of the community has in so many instances been the sport of traitors, a new In conspiracy has been discovered. August, the government received information that some of the subaltern officers of the army were meditating a rebellion. Through the vigilance of the police, some of the conspirators were arrested. "Their plan appears to have been to sieze the Louvre, to penetrate by the Grand Gallery of the Museum to the King's apartments, whilst by way of a diversion, the soldiers, who were to have been gained, were to have had a skirmish, on the Place de Carousal, with the Guards of the Palace; and during the confusion of this scene, to have murdered the King and Royal Family. This effected, some member of the Family of Bonaparte, was to be called to the throne. Though the number and character of these bold fomenters of sedition, are despicable, still the conspiracy had it not been early checked, might have produced much bloodshed, and caused the death of the principal members of the royal family. Immediately on the discovery of this plot, the General Officers flocked round his Majesty and renewed their oaths of fidelity-The troops appear not to have been consulted in this affair."Other accounts state that the conspiracy was more formidable than was at first supposed. Several officers have fled to Belgium. Disturbances have taken place at Brest, and considerable excitement exists in different parts of the kingdom. The Court of Peers is engaged in the trial of those who have been arrested.

PORTUGAL.

The Portuguese are imitating the example of their Spanish neighbours, and are endeavouring to effect a constitutional revolution, which began with the soldiers stationed in the north of that kingdom. At Oporto, on the 25d of August, the civil and military authorities agreed to establish a provisional government. Troops were at the last dates, on the march for Lisbon, and the Council of the King had issued a proclamation for the assembling of the Cortes.

SUMMARY.

On the evening of the 26th inst. a fire broke out in a store on Long-Wharf, the progress of which was not arrested until 26 stores were consumed, and a great amount of property destroyed.

Gen. Joseph Hiester has been elected Governour of the State of Pennsylvania.

Alexander M'Nair has been chosen Governour of Missouri. This State is not yet admitted into the Union.

The seventy-four, building at Norfolk, has been launched, and named the DEL

AWARE.

A military road has been opened from Florence, Alabama, to New-Orleans.-Houses of entertainment are erected on the road. It is stated that this is 300 miles nearer than the old route.

In

On the 14th instant Mr. Guille made a successful ascent in his balloon, from Vauxhall Garden, in Philadelphia. about an hour and a quarter the balloon settled in the township of Hopewell, County of Hunterdon, 8 miles from Trenton, and 40 from Philadelphia. Mr. Guille intended to have descended in the parachute, but circumstances prevented, and induced him to remain in the balloon.

EASTPORT, ME. Sept. 23.

Eastport Bridge.-On Tuesday last the completion of the Bridge, which connects this Island with the Main Land, was celeof the weather, by a large concourse of brated, notwithstanding the inclemency citizens from this and the neighbouring towns. This bridge unites Moose Island with the Main land at the westerly outlet of the St. Croix, in the town of Perry. It is 1200 feet in length. The depth of water in the channel is 18 feet at low, and 43 feet at high water-length of posts 61 feet -cost 9600 dollars, exclusive of TollHouse, &c.-The posts are charred and oiled below low water mark to preserve

them from the worms.

Extract of a letter from Eastport, dated Sept. 25.

"A distressing fire took place in the British Province of Nova-Scotia on the 12th ult. It commenced in the respectable and flourishing town of Yarmouth, and extended four or five miles, burning all before it; between 40 and 50 buildings were destroyed, such as houses, barns, mills, &c. with a great number of cattle, hogs, and poultry, &c. one child was burnt at Yarmouth.-At the same time the town of Montague, (a French settlement) was visited with the same calamity, 42 buildthe Roman Catholic Church; one man ings were destroyed, among which was was burnt at that place. The fire was so rapid, that those who lost their buildings, saved little, if any, of their furniture, or

larger stocks of grain, hay, cattle, hogs, poultry, &c. It is described as being the greatest calamity that has ever happened in that part of the country."

The late fire at Nova-Scotia, in the neighborhood of Yarmouth, and near Annapolis county, extended its ravages for nearly 100 miles in extent, and continued in full blaze for nearly three days, destroy ing every blade of vegetation in its course. "The intensity of the heat," adds a Canada newspaper, "baked the crops of potatoes in the earth."

The Governour of South-Carolina has set apart Thursday, the 16th of Novem ber, to be observed as a day af Humiliation, Thanksgiving and Prayer.

Hayti. By private advices, we learn that the British Admiral has at length concluded a treaty with Christophe, by which be is to pay to the British Government at the rate of 45 dollars a head for every negro which they may land in bis dominions. It is presumed the negroes taken on board slave ships wai by the British he sent to Hayti. We are assured that this step has been taken by Christophe, because he has ascertained that his subjects decrease at the rate of 6 per cent per annum.-Philad. Press,

The personal property of the late Bishop of Winchester, amounted, to about £180,000 Sterling.

A Steam-ship is building at Liverpool, to sail between that place and Lisbon.

Spain -We have it from such authority as satisfies us of the fact, that the King of Spain has ratified the treaty with the United States for the cession of the FLORIDAS; we are also satisfied that the ratifified treaty is now in the United States, and will be submitted to Congress, immediately on its assembling next month.

The manifesto, the tyrannic and warlike manifesto of the Emperor Alexander on Spanish affairs, which we lately published, has been explained to the entire satisfaction of the Spanish King and Cortes. The Emperor is understood to have declared, in his explanatory state paper, that his first manifesto was predicted on the belief that the army had usurped the

authority of the kingdom, and dictated to the people by force of arms the present established form of government: but that subsequent advices having conveyed a more correct statement, and his imperial majesty being satisfied that the change in the government has been the act, not of the army, but of the Nation, he is now enthe constituted authorities and the Spanish tirely reconciled to the change, and hopes people may enjoy prosperity and happiness under the newly established order of things. These explanations and congrat ulations have been received in the most friendly spirit, and the best relations of friendliness are established between the two governments.-Dem. Press.

The Cortes of Spain has, among other acts abolished the order of Spanish Jesuits, and conferred upon Ferdinand the title of Father of his country.

Spanish Finances.-In a late report of the Minister of Finance, the following exhibit of the Expenses and Ways and Means, for 1820, were presented :—

Expenses for 1820, Ways and Means,

Deficiency,

Reals £900,000,000, 470,000,000

480,000,000

To meet this melancholy deficiency the Minister proposed to apply one seventh of the Church property to the state, and to open a loan for the balance. In the report which accompanied the estimates, the minister remarked, that their deficit tho' distressing was not insurmountable; that they must renounce all ideas of their ancient splendor; and commence a career of economy and frugality; that the absurd policy of burdening commerce with heavy duties must be abandoned; the maxim be adhered to, that the more liberty commerce enjoys, the more the public revenue will be increased; and that the free exportation of the products of the earth is as necessary to the pros perity of the State as it is beneficial to ag riculture.

The Hay harvest in Russia is said to have commenced last year in fourteen days after the snow had melted off the meadows.

Answers to Correspondents.

ZUINGLIUS, and several communications, without signatures, bave been re ceived.

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THE

CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR.

No. XI.]

NOVEMBER, 1820.

Heligious Communications.

For the Christian Spectator. Memoir of the Rev. Sylvester Larned.

DIED at New-Orleans, August 31st, of the yellow fever, the Rev. SYLVESTER LARNED, aged 24 years, pastor of the first Presbyterian church in that place.

The unusual interest which the death of Mr. L. has excited in various parts of our country, seems to demand that some brief sketch of his life and character should be given to the public. He was born in Pittsfield, Mass. and was the son of the late Col. Larned, who is known as having been extensively engaged in public life. In early life he was remarkable for sprightliness and gaiety of temper, and as soon as his mind began to develope itself, he gave decisive indications of a superior genius. He was graduated at Middlebury College with great reputation, in the year 1813, at the early age of 17. It was during the last year of his College life, that he became deeply impressed with the importance of religion, and gave evidence of having experienced its power in his own soul. His College friends who were with him during this interesting period, have often borne their testimony to the deep and awful pungency of his convictions, and to the delightful change which succeeded, and seemed to pervade his whole character.From this time, the great purposes of his life were changed, and he determined to devote himself to God, in Vol. 2-No. XI.

[VOL. II.

the ministry of the gospel. In any profession, he might have risen to a station of eminence, and at the bar particularly, his talents might have secured to him the highest reputation: but to preach the religion of Jesus, and to be instrumental in converting souls to God, he considered the most honourable and delightful of all employments. Accordingly, soon after he left College, he commenced his preparation for the ministry in the Theological Institution at Andover; but was induced from some local considerations, at an early period of his course, to transfer his relation to the sister seminary at Princeton. It was here that the writer of this article had the happiness to form an acquaintance with him, which, at the time, was a source of the liveliest satisfaction, and now that he is dead, is associated with the most tender and melancholy recollections.

During the period of his connection with the seminary, he exhibited marks of intellectual greatness, which left no doubt, that if his life was spared, he would fill some station of distinguished usefulness in the church. At the same time, it was often remarked by those who were his most intimate companions, and who had known him from the period of his first religious impressions, that the evidence of his christian character daily became brighter and more unquestionable. The part which he often took in the private religious exercises of the students, shewed that his heart was powerfully impressed 71

with the great realities of religion, and particularly with the magnitude and responsibility of the ministerial office.

with some of the most respectable and influential gentlemen in the city, to secure his permanent settlement among them, and measures were accordingly taken to accomplish the design. Mr. L. listened to their prož posals, and as soon as was convenient formed a Presbyterian church, of which he consented to become the pastors In the spring of 1818, he made a visit to this part of the couns try, with a view not only to escape the sickly climate of New-Orleans during the summer, but to negotiate for the building of a house of worship for the use of his congregation. Dar

In the summer of 1917, having completed a regular course of theological study, he was licensed to preach the gospel. From the first impression which was made on the public mind by his appearance in the pulpit, it was evident that he would be distinguished in his profession. His name was very soon associated with the highest powers of pulpit eloquence, and wherever he went, the intelligence that he was to preach, became the signal for an overwhelming this visit, which was the last that ing congregation. Within a few weeks after his licensure, he was ordained by the Presbytery of NewYork, with reference to a mission, which he had for some time been contemplating, through the western states to New-Orleans. The deplo rable immorality and licentiousness for which that city had long been so remarkable, awakened his interest and compassion, and induced a resolution to make an effort for their moral and religious improvement. He seemed to have been convinced, from a diligent attention to the indications of Providence, that this was the sphere in which his exertions were most demanded, and to which his duty plainly directed him.

In the succeeding autumn, he set out on his intended mission, and after travelling through most of the west ern states, he reached the place of his destination early in the winter. On his first arrival at New-Orleans, a general and unprecedented interest was awakened by his preaching, and every thing seemed to indicate that Providence had sent him thither to effect a great revolution in the character of that city. The ancommon' majesty with which he exhibited the truths of the gospel, the almost magic power by which he entranced and rivetted his hearers, drew after him a multitude composed of all classes from the highest to the lowest in society. It soon became an object

he ever made to his native region, he preached in most of our northern cit ies, and left an impression of his solemn and overwhelming eloquence, which it is believed will not soon be forgotten. Early in the succeeding autumn he returned to New-Orleans, where he was received by his congregation with expressions of increas ed affection, and resumed his minis terial labours among them with renewed zeal and alacrity By his persevering exertions, he succeeded in obtaining the amount necessary for the erection of a large and elegant church, which was opened in the summer of 1819.

In the course of the summer, Mr. L. left the city and retired for two or three months a considerable distance into the country. After the ravages of the fever had gone by, he returned to his congregation, and never after. wards left them for any considerable time, till his labours were terminated by death.

In the autumn of this year he was married to Miss Wyer, an amiable and respectable lady, formerly of Newburyport, Mass.

In the course of the last winter, he received a call to settle in the first Presbyterian church in Baltimore; but though there were many circumstances which rendered it extremely desirable to him to leave New-Orleans, he negatived the invitation from a conviction that the interests of the church required him to remais.

On the return of the warm season, contrary to the expectations and wishes of his distant friends, he determined to make the bold experiment of remaining in the city during the sickly months. We cannot but think that he misjudged in regard to his duty; and yet we have the fullest conviction that his motives were such as became a devoted minister of Christ. His conduct in leaving the city the preceding year, had been unjustly censured by some in his congregation, and he wished to convince them that he was really devoted to their interests, and the world, that he shrunk from no sacrifice which the cause of his Master was supposed to demand. Till near the close of August, he was flattered with the expectation that the city would escape in a great degree, the distressing calamity by which it had usually been visited; but at that time the fever suddenly appeared with almost unprecedented malignity, and seemed to threaten the destruction of the whole population. On the last Sabbath in August, Mr. L. appointed a day to be observed by his church as a season of public humiliation and prayer that God would avert the distressing judgment which was then hanging over their city. On the evening of the same day, he was himself seized with the fever, but in the early stage of it, strong hopes were entertained that it would take a favourable turn, and he would speedily be restored. But after two or three days, it was found that his symptoms were growing more alarming, and very soon, that his disease was too obstinate to yield to the power of medicine. When this distressing fact came to be realized, it was a moment of the deepest coneern, and the intelligence seemed to east an a additional shade of gloom over that devoted city. During the four or five days that his sickness eontinued, his reason for the most part remained unimpaired, and he was enabled to leave his dying testimony to the excellence of that reli-, gion, which it had been his delightful

employment to preach to others. As he approached the final conflict, he was calm and collected, and left the world with the prospect of entering on an exceeding great reward. The excellence of his character in the various relations which he sustained, receive a striking testimony, from the anguish of his afflicted widow, the tears and lamentatious of a large cir cle of friends, and the bursting hearts of a whole congregation.

It is not designed to give a full length portrait of Mr. Larned's character: all that will be attempted is the exhibition of a few of the most prominent traits. His intellect was unusually bold and vigorous, and fitted to grasp a mighty subject with the greatest advantage. The opera tions of his mind were also exceeding ly rapid. and the facility with which he investigated a difficult subject, or acquired knowledge of any kind, would seem almost incredible. But the most prominent feature of his mind, and that which so often threw an air of magic around his public performances, was an eloquent and pow erful imagination. Hardly any subject could be introduced but he would gather about it at pleasure a throng of the most brilliant and fascinating images. We are willing to admit that this was one secret of the prodi gious effect which was produced by his preaching. His mind was so fertile in beautiful images, that almost every subject which he touched, received a deep tinge from his imagination.

The style of Mr. Larned's eloquence was strikingly bold, and yet was happily couformed to the most refined and elegant models. It partook more of the French than of the English manner; and if it was faulty in any respect, we believe it was this; that there might sometimes be danger of its making a stronger impression on the imagination than the heart. His sentences were unusually: majestic and harmonious, his gestures and attitudes pertinent and commanding, and his voice susceptible of all

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