Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

are now happy to add, that the subject has been referred to a highly respectable committee, who deem it inexpedient to recommend the removal of the MissionHouse. This will render further remarks, on our part, unnecessary; except, perhaps to add, that we have full confidence, that great good will result from a continuance of the mission: and our hope, that the Christians of our city will cherish it with renewed tenderness, zeal, and liberality.

Donations for this mission may be left in the box, placed for that purpose, in the Herald office, No. 128, Broadway.

We acknowledge our obligations to the" Charleston (S. C.) Bethel Union" for a subscription for ten copies of "The Christian Herald & Seaman's Magazine ; to the "New-York Bethel Union" for ten copies; and to many individuals both in town and country, who have promoted its circulation. We beg the friends of the work, particularly, to note the fact, that while Religious Publications, in other places can count their patrons by thousands, the C. H. and S. M. is not supported without a personal sacrifice, which no individual ought long to sustain.

We may say with one of our correspondents, that our work "receives more praise than patronage." The testimonies we are daily receiving convince us that it is not altogether unworthy of a patronage much more extensive. For whatever merit it may possess, and for the good, which, under the divine blessing, we trust it does, we are greatly indebted to several valuable friends. Had it more patronage, it would probably have more merit and usefulness.

Cannot the city of New-York, with its twenty thousand professing Christians, give ample support to one religious publication? With three times the popula tion of Boston, shall it yield not more than one tenth part as much support to the religious press? While the press, devoted to the necessary secularities of life issues daily its thousands of sheets, and affords an immense revenue to its various proprietors, shall the religious press issue only a few hundreds once or twice a month, without affording even a maintenance to those who conduct it.

We have not hitherto troubled our readers with the private affairs of our work, but after more than three years labour, without a pecuniary benefit equal to that of the most common day labourer, we are constrained to announce the fact, that our fellow Christians may see all the inducements for future efforts to support and promote the religious press.

We have not room now to notice the "religious celebration of the Fourth of July, 1822," but shall in our next.

CIVIL RETROSPECT.
FOREIGN.

Europe. The aspect of Europe has not changed since our last ar ticle. The affairs of Russia and Turkey, and the war in Greece, have not received any more decisive character since May. A report is in circulation that a Congress is to be held in Europe (at Florence report says) for adjusting the affairs of Russia, Greece and Turkey, at which the Grand Seignior is to send an ambassador. How far any considerable mediation may be admitted we have no means of judging, nor are we clear that the practice of settling the concerns of nations by the authoritative interference of their neighbours, will conduce, on the whole, to the welfare of the the world.

Ireland and England.—In Ireland disturbances by the disaffected have in some degree subsided. But it now appears that large districts of that country are suffering the horrors of famine and attendant pestilence. It appears that the last crop of potatoes was cut short, and consequently the means of living of those of the poor, who depended in a considerable measure upon the produce of their small potato gardens, were lessened, and before the new crop was planted

the old store had been consumed. In England the agricultural interest is suffering from the abundance of its produce and the consequent diminution of its value of this produce no doubt large supplies are, in the ordinary internal commerce of those kingdoms, remitted to Ireland, and we are informed that the price of provisions there is but little enhanced by the failure of the crop. The real cause, therefore, of the distress lies in the condition of poverty and dependence in which the Irish peasantry are placed, which render it impossible for them to purchase food when they are disappointed in raising it, at whatever rate of cheapness it can be afforded. The consequence, therefore, of a failure in the earth to supply its expected portion of food is either the miseries of famine, or insurrections arising out of the maddening reflections of people starving in the midst of surrounding abundance. In the mean time, in England, very considerable endeavours are making to supply food to the distressed parts of the sister kingdom, out of the funds of private liberality as well as the national treasury, and some endeavours have been made by parliamentary enactments to supply with work for the public, the poor of parts of the country, who might thus be able to obtain the means of purchasing food by their industry. We rejoice at both of these things. The first, by stimulating the kindly and paternal feelings of the English people, will give a permanency to their better feelings towards their Irish fellow-subjects, and from the attention which the voice and feelings of the people in favour of objects confessedly important and capable of general appreciation, will exact from government, will have a strong tendency to induce the adoption of measures for counteracting and correcting the existing evils in the condition of Ireland. At the same time, (although we believe that the feelings which prompt us to liberality are stronger and more permanent causes of good will, than those which the receipt of favours draws forth,) it will we hope tend to soften that bitterness towards England which exists in the minds of the Irish, and which their political and religious circumstances serve to keep alive. The other measure we are also happy to witness, as we conceive it to be founded on just views of the evil under which the country labours, the want of means and opportunities to call forth its industry. If the wealth which is drawn from Ireland by its wealthy nonresidents were spent in encouraging its domestic industry, the individuals of its population would not be so dependent upon the produce of their solitary acre; but by being employed in Occupations for which a steady and constant remuneration would thus be provided, and which depended on no fluctuations but those of the industry of the people, their dependence for food would have its basis enlarged from the scanty acre of their own gardens to embrace the general produce of all the portion of the world reached by British commerce. Habits of industry, frugality and prudence must also be formed in the great body of the people, habits for which the Irish at home are not the most remarkable; and this can only be done by the diffusion of education and the dissemination of correct religious principles. Indeed, we consider the present condition of Ireland as a striking illustration of the extent to which what are usually consiVOL. IX.

16

dered the unavoidable evils of the world, owe their origin to the weakness and the wickedness of man, to the ill directed and the shortsighted views of human policy,-by which the produce of the earth is rendered so much less available to the general welfare of the human race than the exuberant bounty of Providence has made practicable.

St. Domingo.-A rumour has recently been in circulation that a French fleet had arrived at St. Domingo, and that an intercourse had been opened between it and the President of Hayti; the object of which is supposed to be the cession of some part of that island to the French. What confidence may be placed in the rumour we know not should it prove true, it will probably be an event of much importance to this part of the world, and we shall make it the occasion of some reflections on this very interesting country. At present we shall content ourselves with hoping, for reasons satisfactory in our own view, that it is but an empty report.

Mexico. In Mexico, the chieftain under whom the revolution has been conducted, has caused himself to be declared Emperor: and one of the Bishops to be created a Pope. Thus the new world seems to be growing apace, having now an Emperor and a Pope: how stable the power of the former, or how certain the infallibility of the latter will prove, time alone will determine.

DOMESTIC.

Commercial Treaty.-Nothing of importance has lately taken place in our domestic affairs. A commercial treaty has been recently concluded with France, regulating the commerce with that country, rather on the basis of equalizing the destructions to the trade of the two countries, than placing it on a basis of reciprocal accommodation. We hail it however as the commencement of a series of more friendly measures, since an agreement as to the mode of differing seems a natural forerunner of friendly intercourse.

Piracies. The piracies in the West Indian seas continue in deplorable frequency, and accompanied with circumstances of great barbarity. The island of Cuba seems to afford the pirates a rendezvous and protection, either from a connivance at the piracies, which we shall be slow to believe, or from an inability in its government to restrain these crimes. If the latter be the case, we shall rejoice at seeing it transferred to other hands; and we may before long see the commercial powers interested in the trade of the new world, finding it necessary to protect themselves from the plunders and murders thus originating, by a transfer of this country to a government of greater efficiency. Such an one we could name, to whom that country would in some respects be a valuable acquisition, equally beneficial to the island itself and to the interests of the commercial world. How far the possession of Cuba would subserve the interests of the country to which we allude, is a question of great delicacy and difficulty, which we have no desire to agitate. And we freely confess that speculations like these are to be classed among projects that are possible rather than probable or practicable.

June 29,

1822.

Seaman's Magazine.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they [sailors] glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Psalms.

SAILING ON SUNDAY.

To the Editor of the Seaman's Magazine.

SIR-I rejoice very much to see it announced in the daily papers, that the owners of the Charleston Packets, Franklin, Empress, President, Amelia, and Com. Perry, have agreed to despatch those ships on Thursday of each week, from New-York, and on Monday from Charleston, instead of fixing (as is too often the case with packets) the Sabbath for the day of sailing. I hope that all passengers, who profess to fear God, will make it a matter of conscience to give these vessels the preference over all other ships, steam ships &c. which are despatched on Sunday, either statedly, or when convenient, without regarding the feelings of Christians, the interest of religion, or the awful threatenings of God's word. The sailing of vessels on Sunday is the greatest hindrance to the success of the efforts now so generally making for the salvation of the souls of seamen: and I have often been grieved to see the names of ministers of the gospel, and other professors of religion among the passengers who have encouraged the violation of God's commandments, by their patronage of those vessels which were advertised and intended to sail on the Sabbath. Could they go with some of those who devote an hour on Sabbath morning in visiting the boarding-houses of seamen, to invite them to Church, they would witness effects of the sailing of vessels on Sunday, the sight of which, if it did not induce them to forego all the advantage they promise themselves from this species of contempt of God's law, would certainly convince them that the evil complained of is a great one. Nor do I despair, Mr. Editor, that the time is near, when Christians, Christian Ministers, and Doctors of Divinity, will feel that the influence which may result from their example, on the eternal state of only a common sailor, is more to be thought of, than the saving of a day, as it is called, or the convenience of going in one vessel in preference to another.

I was pained to know, last fall, that several reverend gentlemen, whose known piety leads us to impute the fact to a singular inadvertance, went out on Sunday, in the steam ship. I have understood that the Rev. Dr. Mason, in taking a passage for England, stipulated that the ship should not sail on Sunday-and I know another instance when two passengers engaged their births on the same condition, and actually by this means induced the master to sail on Saturday, thereby avoiding the profanation of the Sabbath.

The objections to sailing on the Sabbath, I should suppose, would readily suggest themselves to every pious individual.-The neglect, or interruption of the appropriate duties of that holy day, not only with respect to those who sail, but to many others. Boarding-houses and private families are disturbed by the bustle of preparation; waiters, porters, hostlers, coachmen, and sometimes cartmen, must be employed, filling the streets with the confusion of other days; friends must call or be called upon to take leave, or perhaps, accompany them to the ship," and seamen are also prevented from attending Church: and, in short, all are prevented from enjoying the public and private privileges of the Sabbath, when an attempt is made to sail on that day, whether it be successful or not.

"to

I could mention some captains and merchants who are too conscientious to sail or despatch vessels on the Sabbath; and the time will, I trust, shortly come, when all who profess to follow Christ will be too conscientious to do it or encourage its being done. Let all think of the judgment day, and I am persuaded they will be much more afraid to trifle with God's command, to KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY.

Yours &c.

SIR MATTHEW HALE.

THE CHARACTER OF SEAMEN, AN OBSTACLE TO MIS

SIONS.

ONE of the Missionaries of the Sandwich Islands, in a letter to a friend near Boston, published in the Boston Recorder, suggests the importance of making some special effort to remove the obstacle to foreign missons which the wicked practices and the general character of seamen present. "A premium" says he," has been offered in France for the best book for prisoners. Might not a premium be offered in America for the best book for SEAMEN; with particular reference to their influence on the cause of foreign missions, and the spiritual and eternal welfare of the heathen whom they visit? Or, for the best plan of promoting the usefulness of" seamen "who might declare to every heathen tribe they visit, that there is a God in heaven whom they worship solely, whose name they love, whose Sabbath they sanctify, and whose salvation is intended for the whole world?"

NORTH-EAST LONDON AUXILIARY SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND BETHEL UNION. (Continued from p. 61.)

Capt. W. H. ANGUS.-Ladies and Gentlemen,--I rise with great pleasure on the present occasion, and I think it an additional honour to follow my reverend friend. I will beg to bring forward a matter of fact or two on the subject of this Society. Fifteen years ago I commanded a vessel in the merchant service; it fell to my lot to lodge under the roof of a pious widow, who had a son, the stay and support

* See an account of his ordination as a Missionary to Seamen in our last No.

« AnteriorContinuar »