Our inquiries respecting the origin of the Bauddhic religion amongst the Siamese have been attended with but little success; nor do they leave us much ground to hope that any documents or writings they possess are calculated to throw any certain or steady light upon this interesting, but very obscure, subject. They state that 2340 years have elapsed since the religion was first introduced; a date which is said to be stated in their sacred books, and particularly in that called Pra-sakka-rah, which was written by Buddha himself, or at least under his direction. He commenced the task of converting men, by teaching them a more civilized mode of life, directing them to avoid rapine and plunder; to cultivate the soil, and to lay aside their ferocious manners, and to live in peace with each other, and with all other animals of the creation. His commands were, at first, but five; they were afterwards increased to eight. The five first alone are essential to the salvation of man, and he who observes them will assuredly merit heaven. These five are more particularly calculated for the lower orders; but it is very meritorious to observe the other three. Commands of Buddha : 1. Panna Thi-bāt, ham-mi kha Satt. You shall not kill an animal or living creature of any kind. 2. Ad thi ma than, ham-mi hai lac sab. The general persuasion amongst the Priests, however, is, that it had its origin in the country called Lanka, which they acknowledge to be Ceylon; for which island they still entertain the highest reverence, and imagine that there the doctrines of their You shall not steal any thing. faith are contained in their greatest 3. Kham-mi sumi cha-chan, ham-mi purity. Others maintain that it had hai somg sel näi phi ri yan than puun. its origin in the country called Kabillah Path, the amongst the Siamese for Europe; while others again assert it to be of domestic origin, and taught by a man sent from God. common name The person who taught them this religion is known under various names, as, Ong-Sam-ma, Sam Puttho, which is said to mean Omnipotens. Sommonokodam, i. e., one who steals cattle. Phut, and Phuti. (Pati, a lord?) Pra-phut, the high Lord. Pra-phuti-roop, i. e., the image of the high Lord. Before he was considered sacred, his name was Pra-si Thaat. He is said to have been born of a father called Soori-southoght, and of a mother called Pra-Soori-maha-maya. You shall not have intercourse with the wives of other men. kohoc sab plab. You shall not speak an untruth, or any falsehood on any occasion. 5. Sura me rai, hai mi rai dūūm kin sung nam maou. You shall not drink any intoxicating liquor, or any substance calculated to intoxicate. 7. Vi ka la po chaua, ham-mi hai kin khong nõek vela. You shall not eat after mid-day. 8. Oocha se jana, ham mi hai nōn nua thiang an vi chit ang gnam. It is not becoming to sleep on costly, soft, rich, and elevated beds. You shall sleep on a clean mat. There are, as has been already observed, set days, on which it is proper to worship at the temples, as on the eighth and fifteenth of the moon. There are also other days that are held sacred, and they are pointed out as such by persons who profess to be acquainted with judicial astrology. This sort of divination, however, is not cultivated by the Priests, who affect to consider it as profane and improper. Yet when the astrologers have pointed out particular days as proper for devotion, or as being fucky, or the contrary, the Priests observe them. It is customary for every Siamese to enter the rank of Priests in the course of his life. He may remain in it or leave it at pleasure. remaining in the mine after the inflammation of the fire-damp,) which precluded the possiblility of any human being existing in it for more than a few minutes. EXPLOSION OF GAS IN A COAL-MINE. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. THE following account of the explosion which took place in Jarrow Colliery, near Newcastle-uponTyne, January 17th, 1826, was read at the conclusion of a sermon preached on Monday evening, February 6th, in the Methodist Chapel, Brunswick-place, Newcastle, in aid of the fund for the relief of the eleven widows, forty-six children, and several other dependant relations, of the unfortunate persons who lost their lives on the melancholy occasion. The pit was in current work, and to all appearance perfectly safe, until the time of the accident, which took place about eight o'clock in the evening. It was one hundred and seventytwo fathoms, or the one-fifth part of a mile in depth; yet the explosion was so tremendous, that the smoke and dust were projected through the shaft into the air as it were from an enormous piece of artillery, and only the persons who were in the outer part of the seam or strata, fifteen in number, escaped with their lives. A scaffold, constructed of strong beams of timber, was blown up, and the workmen near it were saved with great difficulty. Happily seventeen men employed as coal-hewers had left their employment before the usual time, and by this means were preserved. A second favourable event was the preservation of the main air communication into the seam. Had not these two circumstances occurred, the number of sufferers would have been considerably augmented. In consequence of the principal stoppings and doors for carrying on the ventilation being rendered useless, the whole of the workings were filled with the after-damp, (carbonic acid and azote Although every effort was made to restore the ventilation, yet from the magnitude of the work, and the precautions necessary to be observed, two hours elapsed before the workings could be penetrated, and previously to a thorough examination twelve hours more elapsed. The sight of the pit was truly horrific. Men, boys, and horses, were seen in all directions lying dead, and gloomy desolation prevailed. Several of the human bodies were much burnt, and the fire had in some parts of the mine been so violent, that the wood was burned to charcoal, and the solid coal to cinder! Two boys had an almost miraculous escape. One of them states, that he had his back towards the place of the explosion, and was violently thrown down; on recovering his recollection another boy was leaning over him crying piteously. The lights were all extinguished, and the after - damp assailing them very strongly, he rose up, and desired his companion to follow him; but they had not proceeded many yards before the darkness, the altered condition of the mine, and the effects of the hot and suffocating after-damp, caused him to suspect that they were proceeding in a wrong direction; and, to add to his difficulty, the other boy was sinking to the ground, and strongly grasping him for support. To go forward appeared impossible, to remain many moments in the same situation was certain death; and the danger was greatly increased by the stones falling in large fragments around them. With a strong effort they pushed on at all hazards, the elder boy affectionately dragging his companion after him; and, through the merciful providence of God, they reached in safety the bottom of the shaft. The discharge of after-damp now increased; upwards of thirty horses were suffocated; although they were at a considerable distance froin the place of the explosion. The groans of the horses, and the echoing of their struggles in the agonies of death, were truly appalling. No want of assistance was experienced at this awful crisis, yet it was considerably retarded by the confusion which prevailed at the top of the pit. Untimely as the hour was, the whole neighbouring population appeared to be drawn together. The cries and lamentations of the dis tressed relations, the suggestions and opposing shouts of the persons busying themselves in the work, the blazing of the surrounding fires, and the uncertainty of the extent of the destruction, conspired to fill every breast with terror and distress. At eight o'clock the following morning commenced the melancholy task of sending up the dead bodies, many of whom (as the pitmen wear few clothes when engaged in their employment) were nearly naked two were placed together in a coalbasket and hoisted to the top of the pit, when the black and scathed bodies, with the skin off in many parts, were an affecting sight. Flannel was provided to wrap round them after being recognised, which in many instances could only be done by their shoes, and they were then delivered to their weeping widows and fatherless children. cases On the 20th the funerals took place. Thirty-four bodies, in some three out of one family, were carried to the tomb; a large concourse of persons, among whom were widows, parents, children, brothers, sisters, with many other relations, thronged the road for a considerable distance to the place of interment. It was indeed à mournful procession. The village, comprising one extensive range of houses, was filled with poignant grief, and general lamentation and woe prevailed. The cause of the explosion will probably remain unknown, as none are saved who were in the place where the blast originated. Speculation and distrust have in consequence been in exercise, and malignity, in a few cases, has attributed the accident to neglect. The managers of the colliery thoroughly investigated the business in the presence of the workmen; and, in order to satisfy the most dubious mind, also insisted that the workmen should themselves appoint some experienced person to examine and report on the catastrophe. Alexander Hall, of the men's own selection, has, assisted by a deputation of pit-men, done this; and these persons completely exculpate, to the satisfaction of all parties, every individual connected with the management of the pit. The coroner's verdict was, Accidental Death. JOHN DAGLISH. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Feb. 11th, 1826. P.S. These facts, with several other particulars connected with them, were obtained from a respectable person belonging to the colliery, who was an eye-witness of the event. PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE FROM FIRE. IN December last, a daughter of mine, about eight years of age, was standing near the fire, when a gust of flame suddenly issued from the grate, and her clothes were instantly ignited. Her mother, who was providentially in an adjoining apart ment, came to her assistance; but her efforts to stop the progress of the flame were ineffectual; and the fire had nearly communicated to all her clothes, when I was led to the spot by the screams of both the mother and child, the latter of whom I found : enveloped in flame. Not a moment was to be lost and I instantly threw the child on the stone-floor, in the room where the accident happened; and by rolling her two or three times backward and forward, I happily succeeded in effectually extinguishing the fire, and in saving the child from being materially injured. I have been induced to send this account for insertion in the Methodist Magazine by two reasons: First, as an expression of gratitude to Almighty God for his providential interference in behalf of the child; and secondly, to give publicity and recommendation to the same plan in all similar cases. This can always be resorted to,, when it would require time to procure carpeting, or any thing else, for the purpose of stifling the flame. When the patient is laid prostrate, the face and neck are also effectually preserved; whereas they are always injured, in consequence of the ascent of the flame, when the in dividual, whose clothes are ignited, remains in an erect posture. I have tried it, and believe that no plan whatever would succeed better. In this case no blame attaches to any individual: it was purely accidental. To deny a superintending Providence over the affairs of men, is to do violence to our better judgment, to contradict the express declarations of Scripture, and to oppose universal experience. C. HAWTHORNE. Downend, Jan. 20. 1826. ORIGINAL LETTERS OF MR. CHARLES WESLEY. To Mr. William Perronet. DEAR WILL, Manchester, Oct. 23, 1756. "WATCH and pray." Watching implies early rising. Pray;" that is, enter into thy closet. The first hour should always be sacred. Carry this point; and the world, the flesh, and the devil, shall fall before you. "A few minutes for prayer" are far better than none at all: but prayer never hinders business. Wholly taken up" therewith, yet time when you are not at the hospital, in reading, thinking, and praywhat concerned for your well-doing. ing. We are, you may believe, someWatch and pray always, that you may the judgments coming on the world, be counted worthy to escape and to stand before the Son of Man. The Lord bless and preserve you unto that day! Farewell. CHARLES WESLEY. Sevenoaks, Kent. begin the day in the spirit of prayer To Miss Perronet, at Shoreham, near and sacrifice: so shall you thrive indeed; and whatsoever you do, it shall prosper. Your faithful friend, CHARLES WESLEY. London, Nov. 28, 1778. MY VERY DEAR SISTER, Fear not, only believe: believe, and you shall see the salvation of God, and entirely acquiesce in his most blessed will. To-morrow we shall present your and our father at the altar, and pray, 1 trust, according to His will, whose Spirit helps our infirmities. If the time for your father's translation were fully come, I should think he would have had some warning or presage of it; though he is always ready. I carried your letter, as soon as received, to my brother, who thinks with me, that it is best not to bring back your brother, which a letter would surely do. Let your father determine it. Next Saturday my brother hopes to find our dearest friend better than A fall I had on Wednesday well I trust, with you, that father will be lent to you a little your blessed longer. But whenever he is taken up, you will be equally unwilling to part with him. That our will may be swallowed up in the divine, is the hearty prayer of, my dear sister, Your faithful servant, CHARLES WESLEY. To the Rev. Mr. Perronet, Vicar of REV. AND DEAR SIR, " I trust you will have another joyful meeting with your son William, and live to minister more blessings to your family and flock. My horse fell with me through weakness, having been almost starved at the Foundery. I feel nothing of my fall at present. Another would probably be my last. My partner and children sincerely rejoice in your recovery thus far. You will still remember them, and, dear Sir, your feeble servant, CHARLES Wesley. at times buffeted him, but he will more than recover all. It is well Be not afraid for him, he has an inyou did not bring your brother back. · fallible guide, who will never leave nor forsake hin. I never lost my faith for him, and wonder any of you should. You will find he is a chosen vessel; and when God has tried him, he will come forth as the love that never faileth. Let us gold. My companion salutes you in hear how the Lord deals with you. In his love, farewell. The Rev. Mr. Perronst, at Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, Kent. London, April 20, 1779. REV. AND DEAR SIR, NOTHING but the will of Providence can reconcile me to my not being able to visit you. How should I rejoice to see you better;-to see you quite recovered! How gladly would I serve as your Curate, till your son William supplanted me! When do you expect him? What success has he found in his claim to your inheritance? Does he bring Mr. Fletcher back with him? I can get no tidings of either. My brother and I agreed not to receive Mr. Maxfield again, as a fellow-labourer, till he acknowledged his fault, separating him and Mr. Madan by the blackest calumnies. Ought we not to wait for some word, of his being sensible of his ingratitude? Ought we to trust him, and the people to his care, without it? I have not the least spark of resentment towards Mr. Maxfield: but to deliver up our charge to him unconvinced, is to betray them. What is your daughter's judgment! My nuance of your prayers. She often wife and children beg the contiwishes to see you. Bishop is great, (I believe,) but my A few lines concerning your own CHARLES WESLEY. |