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ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. John Hatchard, M. A. to the Vicarage of St. Andrew's, Plymouth. Rev. Rich. Jenkyns, D.D. Dinder Prebend, at Wells.

Rev. Robert Holdsworth, to a Preb. at Exeter.

Rev. W. H. Arundell, Cheriton FitzPaine R. Devon.

Rev. Jos. Badeley, Blewbury V. Berks. Rev. J. C. Clapp, Clusten R. Wilts. Rev. W. C. Fetton, Cowthorp R. co. York.

Rev. William Harriott, Odiham V, Hants.

Rev. Sam. Hill, Snargate, Kent. Rev. Mr. Hume, Warminster V. Wilts. Rev. J. Howard, Taconelston R. Norfolk.

Rev. Dr. Ingram, President of Trinity Coll. Garsington R. Oxford.

Rev. Henry J. Jones, Flint Perpetual Curacy.

Rev. C. L. Kerby, B. C. L. one of the three portions of Bampton V. vice Richards, resigned.

Rev. Mr. Knight, Sheffield, St. Paul's Perpetual Curacy.

Rev. W. B. Landon, Lillinstone Lovell R. Oxon.

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Rev. Thomas Nelson, Little Dunkeld Church and Parish, co. Perth.

Rev. W. Palmer, Petesworth V. co. Warwick.

Rev. J. Wing, Cheynies, R. Bucks. Rev. J. Merrewether, Chaplain to the Duchess of Clarence,

Rev. George Crookshank, Chaplain to Dow. Countess of Clonmell.

Rev. Wm. Fred. Hamilton, Chaplain to Visct. Melbourne."

Rev. Thomas Henry White, Priest Vicar of the Very Rev. the Dean of Lichfield. Rev. Daniel Wilson, Prebend of Rochester.

Dr. David Lamont, to be one of his Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary in Scot land.

Rev. J. Bull, B.D. Canon Resid. of Exeter.

Rev. Edward Fane, Lime, &c. Prebend Salisbury:

Rev. W. Hewson, Prebend of St. David's.

Rev. J. H. J, Chichester, Arlington R. Devonshire.

Rev. Thomas Carew, Haccombe R Devon.

Rev. John Evans, Penhedoo Llan Flangel R. co. Pembroke.

Rev. S. Fenton, Fishguard V. co. Pemb Rev. W. C. Fetton, Cowthorp R. co. York.

Rev. G. Hodgson, Christchurch R. Birmingham.

Rev. Robert Roe Houston, Artwick R. with Artsey V. Bedfordshire.

Rev. J. Ker, Polmont Church, eo. Stir

ling.

Rev. William Vansittart, Prebend of Carlisle.

Rev. James Monkhouse Knott, Wormleighton V. Warwickshire.

Rev. John Overton, jun. Perp. Cure of Bilton in Holderness.

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Rey. W. Phelps, Meare V. Somerset. Rev. Dr. Richards, St. Martin in the Fields V. Westminster.

Rev. C. Rose, B.D. Preacher at Whitehall.

Rev. R. F. St. Barbe, Stockton R. Wilts

Rev. John Sheepshanks, St. Gluvias V. Cornwall.

Rev. J. S. Stafford, Mettingham V. Suffolk.

Rev. H. Symonds, D.D. All Saints V. Hereford.

Rev. W. Wilson, D.D. Holy Rood V... Southampton.

Rev. A. Walker, to Elgin Church, Scotland.

Rev. W. Hale Hale, to be one of the Chaplains to the Bishop of Chester.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

E. R.; CLERICUS; 15; J. P. S.; LYSLAS; E. K.; H. W.; and R. F.; are under consideration."

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THE

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 275.]

NOVEMBER, 1824. [No. 11. Vol. XXIV.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

For the Christian Observer. CONVERSION AND DEATH OF COUNT STRUENSEE *.

COUNT STRUENSEE was the

son of a German divine of some eminence, who, among other preferments, was Professor of Theology at Halle, in Saxony. His mother also was descended from a respectable family. They were both persons of the most simple and fervent piety, as appears both from their letters, and from the account which Struensee himself gives of their anxiety with respect to his religious principles during his youth. The Count was born, Aug. 5, 1737: he was educated first in the celebrated Orphan House of Dr. Franke, and subsequently at the University of Halle, where he devoted his mind to physic, and is supposed to have then first imbibed, from the companions of his studies, those infidel opinions which distinguished him through life. He then went with his father to Altona, where he settled, and entered into the practice of his profession both with reputation and success. By what means he was first introduced to the notice of Christian VII., the King of Denmark, does not appear: we find him in 1768 raised to the rank of physician to

The following relation is abridged from Mr. Rennell's edition of the Narrative written in German, by Dr. Munter, and translated into English by the Rev. Mr. Wendeborn in 1774. This work was rarely to be met with, and was scarcely known even by name, when it was recently reprinted, with an introduction and notes, by the late Mr. Rennell.

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 275.

his majesty, and appointed to attend him during his tour through some of the courts of Europe. Struensee accordingly accompanied Christian on his travels; and, while

at Paris, he formed an intimate friendship and connexion with a Dane of good family, Brandt, the subsequent associate of his crimes and of their punishment. During his stay in France, Struensee had insinuated himself into the good graces of the King; and, to so high a degree of favour did he eventually rise, that soon after the King's return to Copenhagen he was raised to the rank of a privy councillor, and was presented to the Queen, the sister of our late monarch, with whom he soon became as great a favourite as with her husband. He received every day from both of them fresh and valuable marks of their consideration and regard. Brandt, who had been for some little time in disgrace, was recalled from Paris, and reinstated in his office at court, through the intervention of Struensee; and they were both shortly after, at the same time, raised to the rank of Count. Struensee was now the declared and confidential favourite of the King, and in a very short space of time was appointed prime minister, with almost unlimited political powers.

Meanwhile, the attachment of 'the Queen to Struensee exceeded, in appearance at least, the bounds of all moderation. Of all this the King was a quiet and an indifferent spectator. Weakened both in mind and body by every species of excess, he had sunk into a state of total apathy and imbecility. He 4 S

was quite disqualified for taking any part in the management of public affairs the administration therefore of the state devolved entirely upon the Queen, Struensee, and their adherents, who ruled without responsibility or control.

Had Struensee confined himself to politics, he might perhaps have escaped the weight of general indignation which at last overwhelmed him. His abilities were commanding, his powers of application great, his views enlarged, his resolutions were both rapidly taken and decisively carried into effect. Many of his public measures were calculated to improve and to aggrandize the state. Yet even in this department he exposed himself to much unpopularity by measures equally odious and unadvised; and by none more than by banishing from court Count Bernstorff, an old and favourite minister of the crown, a man of unimpeached integrity and character. This was a transaction which gave him much uneasiness at the close of his life.

Profligacy was the rock upon which Count Struensee split. He was generous, open, and without hypocrisy; but his moral principle was corrupt, and his life a tissue of licentiousness, which the extraordinary powers of his mind enabled him for some time to reconcile with the discharge of his political duties. Towards the close of his administration, however, he seemed to have partly lost his strength of understanding, and, amidst the difficulties which were increasing upon him on every side, to have acted without any sort of foresight or vigour. But the profligacy of Struensee was not confined to himself alone. It was the object of his perverted ambition to corrupt the purity and to undermine the principles of the whole court and capital, to remove the landmarks of right and wrong, to hold oût every incentive to iniquity, and to create every facility for its indulgence. Upon all points of religion and morals he was a professed scof

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fer, and appeared peculiarly anxious that his opinions upon these subjects should be disseminated and adopted. Masked balls and other kinds of foreign amusements, especially calculated to foster profligacy and intrigue, were introduced for the first time at the Danish Court. Of all these amusements Struensee was the indefatigable leader, and the devoted partaker; and he unhappily found but too many of the Danish nobility, who, either in the spirit of adulation, or from the love of indulgence, became his associates. In most capitals these scenes of dissipation and vice would have had a most injurious effect upon the general morality of the country, and would gradually have corrupted the middle and lower orders by a descending contagion: but the primitive and sturdy principles of the Danes, aided by the purity of their national religion, withstood the infection; and, instead of the popularity which Struensee probably expected to reap from his relaxation of ancient discipline, he excited rather a feeling of disgust and abhorrence. One of the boldest of his acts was to repeal a very old and severe law against adultery. This measure was considered as no less than holding out a reward for the commission of the crime, and was received accordingly with strong marks of national indignation.

But it pleased God soon to arrest this infatuated man in his vicious career. While Struensee was lulled by the indulgence of his passions into a fatal security, his enemies were active in preparing for his destruction. The Queen dowager and her son were at the head of the hostile party; but from their general want of political talent, they created little apprehension. They were joined by some of the ancient nobility, who were indignant at seeing the Danish Monarchy under the command of a foreigner, to the exclusion of themselves and others who had juster claims to public rank and authority. In one plan to seize the

persons of the Queen and the Count, they were disconcerted; but shortly after, a more favourable opportunity presented itself. They had already gained over to their party a sufficient number of the soldiery, with whom Struensee was no favourite; and all other circumstances were arranged with admirable dexterity for the execution of their purpose. Accordingly, at the conclusion of a masked ball, which was given at the Royal Palace, on the 15th of January, 1772, Koller Banner, after the whole party had retired and all was quiet, entered the bedchamber of Christian, and informed him that there was a conspiracy against his person and dignity, at the head of which were his wife, Count Struensee, and their associates. He urged the King to sign an order for their immediate arrest. Christian however at first, whether from affection for the Count, or from that obstinacy which is the natural consequence of imbecility, steadily refused. The Queen dowager and Prince Frederic were then called in to enforce the requisition; and at last, by means of absolute threats, they obtained his reluctant signature. Not a moment was lost: Koller Banner made his way in stantly to the chamber of Struensee, forced open the door, and found him asleep in his bed. The Count made no resistance to the order, but suffered himself to be quietly conveyed in a coach to the citadel. Count Brandt, having made some shew of resistance, was at last forced to surrender himself, and was lodged in the same prison. Their adherents also shared a similar fate. Early the next morning, the Queen was hurried away to Cronsburg, a fortress about twenty-four miles from Copenhagen, in which she was for some time confined.

After Count Struensee had been in close confinement for nearly six weeks, the Government of the country, well knowing the fate which must ultimately await him, and desirous of affording him an opportunity of

changing his infidel opinions before he should be called out of the world, appointed Dr. Munter, the minister of a German church in Copenhagen, to visit him in prison, and to administer such spiritual advice and consolation as might be best adapted to the Count's unhappy situation. Dr. Munter's Narrative contains an account of the process by which the Count was led, from the grossest infidelity, to a steady conviction of the great truths of the Gospel, of the difficulties which impeded his progress, and of the arguments and books which were used to remove them. Appended to the Narrative is an interesting letter written by Struensee to Dr. Munter before his execution, and which he composed for the express purpose of shewing that his conversion was sincere. He remarked to Dr. Munter, when he put into his hands this letter," I am pretty well acquainted with the turn of thinking of sceptics and unbelievers, and will prevent them from saying that I turned Christian from fear and weakness of understanding. I must endeavour to convince them, that I have examined the subject, and reasoned upon it; to shew them, for instance, what is my opinion of the mysteries of religion, and why I do not think them contradictory to reason. If such of my readers as are Christians should find my ideas not altogether as they should be, or my expressions sometimes improper, I hope they will not be surprised, considering how new these truths are to me, and how little I am qualified to speak or to write about them. You know, my dear friend, how I now believe, without any further reasoning or explanation or insight into the connexion of the whole system, every thing that Christ has taught, because his word is sufficient for me."

The following extracts from this auto-biographical detail will shew the state of mind of this unhappy man at the period of his first interview with Dr. Munter. It contains a most affecting graphical descrip

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tion of the heart of a philosophical unbeliever, whose inordinate love of the world, its sins and its vanities, and a fixed hatred of the restraints of religion, had been the real source of those baleful opinions which self-love proudly attributed to the free exercise of the rational powers. Let the modern sceptic interrogate his own heart whether his principles also do not result from the operation of similar causes; and let him seriously reflect upon the infinite folly of committing his highest, his eternal welfare, to a mere hypothesis utterly vague and unfounded, and which every page of the history before us proves to have been as incapable of affording repose to the mind, as of standing the test of deliberate investigation.

"To Dr. Munter.

"You desire, my dear friend, that I should leave behind me my thoughts, in what manner I have been induced to alter my sentiments with regard to religion. You have been witness of the change. You have been my guide, and therefore I am infinitely indebted to you; and I satisfy your desire with so much the greater pleasure, as it will afford me an opportunity of recollecting the train of ideas and impressions of mind which have produced my present sentiments, and confirm my present conviction.

teenth year, all my time was taken up in studying physic. Though I afterwards spent much time in reading other books, it was only to divert myself, and to extend my knowledge of those sciences by means of which I hoped to make my fortune. The violence of my passions which made me abandon myself in my youth to all sensual pleasures and extravagancies, left me scarcely time to think of morality, much less of religion.

"When experience afterwards taught me how little satisfaction was to be found in the irregular enjoyment of such pleasures, and reflection convinced me that a certain inward satisfaction was requisite for my happiness, such as cannot be attained either by the observance of particular duties, or by the omission of scandalous excesses; I endeavoured to imprint in my mind such principles as I judged proper to govern my actions, and which I thought would answer the end I had in view.

But how did I undertake this task? My memory was filled with moral principles, but, at the same time, I had various excuses to reconcile a complying reason with the weaknesses and the infirmities of the human heart. My understanding was prepossessed with doubts and difficulties against the infallibility of those means by which we arrive at truth and certainty. My will was, if not fully determined, yet secretly much inclined to comply only with such duties as did not lay me under the necessity of sacrificing my favourite inclinations. These were my guides in my researches.

"My unbelief and my aversion to religion were founded neither upon an accurate inquiry into its truth, nor upon a critical examination of those doubts that are generally urged against it. They arose, as is usual in such cases, from a very general and superficial knowledge of religion on one side, and a "I took it for granted, that in powerful inclination to disobey its matters merely relative to the happrecepts on the other, together with piness of man, neither a deep una readiness to entertain every objec- derstanding, nor wit nor learning, tion which I discovered against it. was required; but that our own exYou know how indifferent is that perience and ideas only, of which common instruction in religion which every one must be conscious, were is given in public schools; yet I was sufficient to find out the truth. The to blame in not having made use of necessity of avoiding all disagreethe private instructions and example able sensations of pain, of sickness, of my parents. From my four-of reproach, as well self-reproach as

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