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instance a clergyman requested the Society to undertake to repress the licentiousness of his parish, which was represented as a task. become too arduous for the parish officers. The prosecutions of this class, resorted to by the Society since the last Report; have amounted to 150, all of which were cases in which previous admonition had failed to produce any effect. The attention of the Society to this offence has been complained of as harsh and unjustifiable. This com plaint is ably repelled, and it is shewn that no blame can attach to the Society which does not at least equally attach to the laws of the land. On this subject the learned Judge Blackstone has thus expressed himself:—

their shops on a Sunday, it is evident that others must either do the same, or risk the loss of their customers. To relieve them therefore from this hardship, it is in justice due to them, that the law be applied equally to all."

The Committee next state the efforts they have made, and the success they have had, in detecting the venders of obscene books and prints; several of whom are under prosecution,

The accounts received from the Societies at York, Hull, Chatham, and Rochester, are highly satisfactory. Much has been done at each of these places for the suppression of the flagrant evils of prostitution and the violation of the Sabbath. At Hull alone, fourteen brothels had been suppressed, and befour more remained under prosecution; sides which, some landlords, through fear of disgrace, had cleared their houses of infamous tenants, whose crimes they had before promoted.

The Committee have assisted in establish · ́ing similar societies at Newcastle upon Tyne, Liverpool, and Stowmarket; and also at Oxford, under tle patronage of the Vice-Chancellor.

"The profanation of the Lord's-day is an offence against God and religion, punished by the municipal law of England; for, besides the notorions indecency and scandal of permitting any secular business to be publicly transacted on that day in a country that professes Christianity, and the corruption of morals, which usually follows its profanation, the keeping one day in seven holy, as a time of relaxation and refreshment, as well as for public worship, is of admirable service to a state, considered merely as a civil institution, It humanizes, by the help of society and conversation, the manners of the lower classes, which would otherwise degenerate into sordid ferocity and savage selfishness of spi-description. rit: it enables the industrious workman to "I received your much-esteemed favour, pursue his occupation in the ensuing week in answer to mine of the 9th February, and with health and cheerfulness: it imprints on immediately after began my proceedings the minds of the people that sense of their nearly in the following manner. It was my duty to God so necessary to make them good1 ́intention to have sent a private notice to each citizens; but which yet would be worn out and defaced by an unremitting continuance of labour without any stated times of recalling them to the worship of their Maker, 4 Bl. C. p. 68.

The Committee add, in conclusion, "that, independently of the obligation which is incumbent on every one to obey, both the laws of God, which command that the Lord'sday shall be kept holy, and those of the land, which prohibit, under certain penalties, all open profanations of it; it is evident that much temporal advantage and comfort would be derived to all who live by trade or labour, from an entire cessation of their ordinary business and occupations on the Sabbath, It is felt, and has frequently been expressed to the Society by many tradesmen, as a great hardship that they cannot enjoy one-day's respite in the week from the fatigues of bus siness; and that they are deprived of an opportunity of attending public worship. But if some persons of that description open

The following extract of a letter from Stowmarket will illustrate the benefits derived from the institution of societies of this

person, but having but one of each sort, I called on them, read the printed one to them, and left a written copy, allowing them two more Sundays. By some I was much abused, and by others welcomed. After the expiration of the two Sundays allowed, many were informed that they should be still supplied with goods on a Sunday; I therefore deemed it necessary to have it regularly cried, (that all those who should henceforth, &c.) which was done on the 21st ult. in every part of the town, and the next day being Sunday, I had the satisfaction to see every shop closed, and the town wear quite a different aspect. The printed papers greatly conduced to effect my purpose; and had it not been for the aid of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, I should have found much trouble, even in compulsory measures, This is one more, amongst the many evils suppressed by that excellent institution, whose aid is here gratefully acknowledged by, &c."

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VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

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and the rout became general. The prisoners: taken on the field of battle, and in the pursuit, amounted to about seven thousand men, among whom were one general, six colonels, and one hundred and thirty other officers. The number of killed and wounded is estimated at ten to twelve thousand men. Eleven pieces of cannon, two eagles, and six stand of colours, fell into our hands. Marmont himself was severely wounded, and is said to be since dead of his wounds; and four French general officers were killed.

Our own loss on this occasion was, as might be expected, severe. Major-General Le Marchant was killed, and Marshal Beres

Marmont, whom in our last number we left retreating before the allies, having been largely reinforced by the accession of General Bonnet's artny, and of the garrisons on the northern sea-coast of Spain, appears to have resolved on cutting off Lord Wellington from Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo. With this view, he continued, from the 15th to the 22d of July, to make a rapid succession of masterly movements; but they were all com-ford, Lieutenant-Generals Cotton, Leith, and pletely frustrated by the skill and vigilance of his lordship. During the whole of this critical week, the hostile armies appear to have been for the most part within sight of each other. On the 18th they came into contact, and a partial engagement ensued, in which our troops had the advantage, having taken prisoners General Carrier, and about two hundred and forty men, and killed and wounded many. The allied loss was ninety five killed, about four hundred wounded, and fifty-four missing.

Cole, and Major-General Allen, severely wounded. The total loss of the allies, in the battle and in the pursuit, including officers, amounted to seven hundred and fortyfive killed, four thousand three hundred and thirty wounded, and two hundred and sixtytwo missing. The loss of the British alone, was about four hundred and twenty killed, and two thousand seven hundred and fifty wounded; among whom were thirty. one officers killed, and one hundred and seventy-six wounded. The Spaniards lost two killed and four wounded. The remainder of the loss was Portuguese.

It appears, that Joseph Bonaparte left Madrid on the 21st, with about fourteen thousand men, intending to join Marmont, whose purpose it probably was, to defer a general battle until this reinforcement had arrived. The attack of Lord Wellington frustrated that intention. Joseph, on hearing of Marmont's defeat, retraced his steps towards Madrid; and so near were our troops

On the morning of the 21st, both armies were near the Tormes, a little to the south, ward of Salamanca The whole of that day was consumed in manoeuvring, with a view, on the part of the enemy, to, turn one or other of our flanks, so as to be able to commence his attack with advantage. Every manœuvre was anticipated with admirable foresight by Lord Wellington, and its object defcated. A great part of the succeeding day, the 22d, was consumed in si milar movements. About two in the after-to him at one time, that on the 25th about noon, Marmont, whose army was strongly thirty of his rear-guard were made prisoners, posted, made a great effort to turn our right; a short time after he himself had quitted the flank, and by this effort weakened his centre. spot. When he arrived within a short disLord Wellington, however, had been prepared tance of Madrid, instead of proceeding thi for this event; and at the moment when the ther, he changed his route, and marched in enemy thought he had gained his point, he the direction of Segovia, hoping probably found himself out-flanked and turned on his to effect a junction with the army of Marleft, and at the same moment attacked both in mont, which had passed Valladolid, abandonfront and in flank with a vigour which nothing ing in that place much stores and ammunicould resist. The attack was completely tion, and a number of sick and wounded, and successful, and the enemy's left was over had taken the direction of Burgos. On the thrown. Successive attacks were then made. 4th instant, Lord Wellington's head-quarters on the heights where the main body of the were at Cuellar, but a part of his army had hostile army was posted; and though our been pushed forward after the flying columns divisions were twice repulsed, the heights were of the French. Suchet was said to be advance. at length carried in the most gallant style, ing towards Madrid, with fifteen thousand

men, in the hope of retrieving the French affairs. % 79%

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General Hill continued to keep the enemy in check in the south. His head-quarters, by the last accounts, were at Zafra. On the northern shore of Spain a squadron under Sir Home Popham has been employed in beating up the enemy's quarters, and appears to have been of some use in distracting his attention. St. Andero has been evacuated *by the French, and is in our possession:"

The bombardment of Cadiz has recently proceeded with an increase of vigour, and some slight damage has been done to the town, and some alarm created among the inhabitants, by the bursting of shells.

No account has yet been received of the landing on the Peninsula of the large armament of British troops from Sicily, and Spanish troops from Minorca, which had been collected at the latter place, and was supposed to be destined for Catalonia.

NORTH OF EUROPE.

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in turn the assailants and pursuers. And it
should arrive, and that Bonaparte should be
is obvious, that if such a favourable moment
forced to retrace his steps, his retreat through
a hostile country must be disastrous in pro-
portion to the distance to which he may have
penetrated,

Russia and Turkey.
Peace has certainly been made between

Peace has also been declared between Great Britain and both Russia and Sweden. A confident hope is entertained that Sweden Bonaparte, and a large armament is said to will take an active part in the war against have been almost in a state of readiness for can be no doubt that 40 or 50,000 Swedes, effecting a descent on Pomerania. There under Bernadotte, landing in that quarter, might operate most important effects, and give a perfectly new aspect to the whole state of continental affairs.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: : No general battle has yet taken place be- United States, against Great Britain. The War has at length been declared by th tween the immense armies of Russians and French which are now opposed to each other the 18th of June. It is accompanied by a act of Congress, declaring war, is dated on the plains of Russia. The Russians per-message from the President, which may be sist in their plan of avoiding a general en- considered as the Manifesto of America. Its gagement, and the utmost efforts of Bona- object is to present; in a cumulative view, parte have proved unavailing to force them all the alleged wrongs inflicted by Great Brito depart from it. They continue also to de- tain on America, and which have led to this stroy their magazines, and waste the country appeal to arms, the ultima ratio regum. in the line of their retreat. The French Even those wrongs are produced, as in the bulletins which have reached us down to the 7th inst. (viz. the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, tion had been made and accepted. The case of the Chesapeak, for which repara11th and 12th,) are filled with details of move point chiefly dwelt upon, is the injury atisments and of partial engagements, but con- ing from our Orders in Council. On this tain no account of any very decisive advan- ground it is, that hopes are entertained that tages on either side. The Russians appear the repeal of those Orders, when known, will on the whole to have been successful in re- lead to a suspension of hostilities. We are pelling the attacks of the French, and Bona- far from sanguine on this point. We shall, parte's own bulletins contain admissions to however, hail with delight any return on this effect. The last bulletin was dated from the part of America to more peaceful counWitepsk, where Bonaparte had fixed his sels-The only effects which have hitherto head-quarters. The Russian armies were followed the declaration of war, have been ranged between that place and Smolensk, the capture of ships at sea belonging to both evidently intending, if forced to it, to fall countries, and the detention of some Ameback on Moscow. Indeed, the Emperor rican ships in our ports. has declared himself prepared even to aban- discussion of the reasons given by the AmeWe defer any don Moscow to the enemy, if the success of rican government for plunging into this war, bis systematic plan of defensive warfare until it shall be decided, whether the war is should require it. His object seems to be to to proceed notwithstanding the abrogation of preserve the Russian armies in an unbroken our Orders in Council. state, until events shall favour their becoming

GREAT

Parliament was prorogued on the 30th of July, by the Lord Chancellor. The speech read by him in the name of the Prince Regent, after expressing deep concern at the

BRITAIN.

continuance of his Majesty's indisposition, and deploring the event which had so long interrupted the deliberations of Parliament, alludes to the affairs of the Peninsula, and to

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rica; a hope is, however, expressed, that the relations of peace and amity may yet be restored, but if not, the Prince Regent relies on the support of all classes, in a contest involving the honour of the crown and the best interests of the kingdom. The speech concludes with adverting to the disturbances which had taken place in the northern counties, and declares, that it will be a principal object of his Royal Highness's áttention, to make an effectual and prudent use of the powers vested in him for the pro

the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and 'Badajoz, as affording a hope of bringing those affairs to a prosperous issue. The renewal of the war in the North is said to furnish an additional proof of the little security to be • derived from submission to the usurpations of the French government; and the Prince Regent hopes that Parliament will approve of his affording to the powers engage i in this contest, every degree of co-operation consist ent with the interests of the empire. Great regret is expressed at the hostile measures recently adopted by the government of Ame-tection of the people.

OBITUARY.

ON Thursday, the 6th of August, died Jacob Min, a Jew, and native of Elbing, in Polish Prussia.

He embraced the Christian faith upwards of twelve months ago, and was publicly baptized by the Rev. Dr. Nicol, at the Jews' Chapel, on the 20th of May last. From the time he professed the Christian religion, he was diligent in attending the means of grace at the Jews' Chapel. Having received a German Bible from the London Society, he was observed to be constantly and seriously engaged in perusing it; and from the plain and unequivocal declarations he made of his faith in the Messiah, there is good ground to believe that the Scriptures were accompanied with the blessing of the Holy Spirit. He had been, in one moment, reduced from very affluent circumstances to poverty, by the incursion of the French. From the natural independence of his mind, he applied himself diligently, at the age of fortythree, to learn the business of a tailor; but grief was rapidly undermining his constitution. He gradually became weaker, and, soon after his baptism, was so reduced, as to be confined to his room. During his illness, he often expressed the greatest solicitude about his family, who arrived in England only five weeks before his death, and to whom he earnestly and repeatedly recommended the Christian religion. Fearing he might not live to see them, and being deeply

Last Number, p. 442, col. 2, p. 451, col. 2,

concerned for their eternal interests, he had, before their arrival, made a will, appointing the Rev. Thos. Fry, the Rev. J. S. C. F. Frey, and Joseph Fox, Esq. guardians of his tive children, with full power to secure their instruction in the Christian religion. When his family arrived, he committed his wife and children to the London Society, expressing the greatest resignation, and declaring the satisfaction it would give him to see them baptized. He was sensible to the last, and his conversations evinced that he built his hopes on that Foundation which God hath laid in Zion.

He was interred in the German buryingground, Ayliff Street, Goodman's Fields, attended by the committee of the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, and the children under its patronage. The Rev. Dr. Schwabe addressed a numerous and attentive audience in the German language, and spoke to the children in English; and the Rev. Mr. Frey concluded with an address in English.

The above account is printed by desire of the committee of the Society there mentioned; who also wish it to be announced, that two sermons, preached at the anniversary meeting of the Society, by the Rev. W, Marsh, and the Rev. Dr. Collyer, will shortly be published.

ERRATA.

l. 10 from bottom, for lost read loss.
1. 2, for 17, read 17

1. 4, for ', read "

p. 457, col. 1, J. 19 from bottom, fur insinuate read institute.
p. 467, col. 1, 1. 20 from bottom, for Bibles read Prayer-books.
p. 474, col. 1, 1. 17, for so read to.

col. 2, 1. 16 from bottom, for unseasonably read unreasonably. For "Answers to Correspondents" see 2d page Blue Cover.

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ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THE REV.

1

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HENRY SCOUGAL.

(Continued from p. 486.)

his lectures on the public I duties of to clerical office, Professor Scougal was full and copious on the subject of preaching. It has been already observed, that be revived the practice of lecturing*, as it is termed in Scotland; or, to use his own words, long texts and short Sermons; a most useful and edifying exercise both to the minister and his hearers, and which he strongly recommended by precept as well as example.

for the

meditation and mental prayer foregoing week, that it may thereby sink deep into our spirits, and affect our own hearts, which would make us more capable of teaching others. He thought it, a fit expe dient for composing us to a serious and affectionate preaching, to propose to ourselves, in the meditation of it, purely the glory of God and the good of men's souls, and to haye this always in our eye; and, in our preaching, to make frequent recollections of the Divine presence, and short ejaculations towards Heaven, thereby to preserve us in that humble temper, that seriousness and His counsels to the students re- gravity, that becomes us in the prespecting the matter and manner of sence of God, and as the ambassatheir sermons are thus summed up dors of Christ. And how conformby Dr. Gairden :-"He thought it able was his practice to those rules! should be a minister's care to choose How did the Holy Spirit by him enseasonable and useful subjects, such lighten our minds and affect our as might instruct the minds of the hearts! There are some kinds of people and better their lives, not to words and expressions, some tones entertain them with debates and and ways of utterance, which will strifes of words;that he should ex- raise the passions and affections of press himself in the most plain and predisposed tempers, without at all affectionate manner, not in airy and enlightening their minds, even as fanciful words, nor in words too big music does; and there are others with sense and having a great many capable of laying open the nature thoughts crowded together, which and the reason of things, but in so the people's understandings cannot dry a manner that they float merely reach; nor in philosophical terms upon our understanding as matter of and expressions, which are not fa- speculation and talk, and do not sink miliar to vulgar understandings; nor into our hearts. But, sure, I may in making use of an unusual word, appeal to all that heard him, whether where there could be found one his discourses, and his manner of uttermore plain and ordinary to expressing them, did not serve at once both the thought as fully. He looked upon it as a most useful help for composing sermons, to make the Sunday's sermon the subject of our

That is, commenting upon a whole chapter or large portion of Scripture. :

CHRIST. OBSEry. No. 129.

to enlighten their minds and warm
their hearts. And so tender was
he of the honour and reputation due
to the preaching of the Gospel, that
as he was careful, on the one hand,
to express himself in the most plain,
intelligible, and affectionate words;

4 B

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