three hundred dead; and I must necessarily have overlooked many, having to observe both sides of the road. I saw one poor creature partly eaten, though alive; the crows had made an incision on the back, and were pulling at the wound when I came up; the poor creature, feeling the torment, moved his head and shoulders for a moment; the birds flew up, but immediately returned and commenced their meal.'

"Mrs. Lacy says

"On the first and second day we had some rain, and the three following days the rain descended without intermission, till the poor pilgrims were seen in every direction, dead and in the agonies of death-dying by five, tens, and twenties; and in some parts there were hundreds to be seen in one place. Mr Lacy counted upwards of ninety; and in another place Mr Bampton counted a hundred and forty; the former I saw myself, though I left it to Mr. Lacy to count them. I shall avoid seeing so degrading and shocking a scene again. In the hospital, I believe I have seen thirty dead at once, and numbers more in the agonies of death." "

IRISH CATHOLICS.

[The subject of the Emancipation of Irish Catholics has for a long time engaged the attention of the British Parliament.From the feeling with which many, both in Britain and America, speak, on the injustice of withholding from the Catholics all their claims, a person would be ready to infer, that the whole body of the people are held in the most wretched and degrading slavery. Such, indeed, their priests represent them to be, and the cry is prolonged by the people, till the tale of distress is believed by all who are not acquainted with the true state of the case.

The following statement made by a Catholic peer in 1811, as given in the following article from the Edinburgh Ch. Mag. will shew how unnecessary this outcry is, on the part of the Catholic people, and how uncalled for is the sympathy of Protestants for their supposed distress. It is not, perhaps, generally known, that every dissenter, not only in Ireland, but in Scotland and England, lies under the same political disabilities with the Catholics. Yet we hear no complaint from them, and no outcry about the Emancipation of Protestant Dissenters. The truth is, nothing will satisfy the Catholics, but supreme power. This is the true meaning of emancipation with them: and if they obtain this, Britain may judge from the past, what she will then have to experience. The total abolition of the tythe system for the support of the Established religion, so far as Catholics and Dissenters are concerned, both in Britain and Ireland, is a measure which justice imperiously demands; but if Britain wishes to avoid the miseries of Catholic domination, the Emancipation question must remain as it is.]

We

From the language used by some of the most strenuous advocates for the Catholic claims, we should be inclined to suspect that they are really unacquainted with the situation in which the Roman Catholics actually are. hear declamations upon the cruelty of "preventing any man from worshipping his Creator in the way that he thinks will be most acceptable according

to his conscience," from which a person unacquainted with the real state of the case would naturally infer, that the Catholics laboured under many restrictions respecting their religious worship. We are daily told of the necessity of emancipating the Catholics, just as if they were in a state of slavery. This is quite contrary to the fact. The late Lord Petre, a nobleman of the bighest character, and a strenuous supporter of the Roman Catholics, says, in a pamphlet written by him upon this subject, that" Whatever grevious and oppressive restraints the Irish Catholics were subject to heretofore, they at present actually enjoy the full exercise of their religion, which the state has completely sanctioned, by taking upon itself the expences of erecting Colleges, and maintaining them, &c. for the education of its clergy. The admission in favour of persons of the Roman Catholic persuasion, have also of late years been very considerable in many other respects. They are allowed to hold places of emolument, to the amount of £300 a year; they are admitted to the practice of the Bar; they are enabled to bear commissions in the army as far as the rank of Colonel, inclusive; they are permitted the free exercise of their elective franchises; and, what is by no means least in respectability and importance, they are empowered to execute the useful and honourable functions of the inagistracy. From this plain statement it follows, that the great mass of the people in Ireland, namely, the lower and middle orders, possessing aleady so many rights of citizenship in common with their other fellow şubjects, could scarcely desire any farther immediate or personal benefit from more ample concessions, or even what is called a complete emancipation of the Catholics." Such is the language of a Roman Catholic peer, and the warm advocate of the Irish Catholics; and yet some of their Protestant friends are daily asserting, that our Roman Catholic fellow subjects are in a state of the most disgraceful proscription, and are not permitted to worship God according to their consciences, in their own way!

The violent papers and speeches that have been published in Ireland on this subject, are founded on the grossest of falsehood, and calculated to sow dissensions, and create sedition among the ignorant.

THE CASE OF WILLIAM MORGAN.

Nothing is yet known of the fate of this man. Governor Clinton has issued a second proclamation, offering a reward of $300 for the discovery of the offenders, and a further reward of $200 for authentic information of the place where the said William Morgan has been conveyed. Three of the persons engaged in conveying Morgan away, viz: Nicholas G. Chesebro, Edward Sawyer, and Hiram Hubbard have been arrested in Canandaigua and put under heavy penalties to answer for their conduct under the second proclamation. "But," says the Batavia Advocate, "so long as the authority to try, and the prerogative of pardoning the culprits in case they are convicted, rest in the hands of masons, we think they have little punishment to apprehend. We have not forgotten the mysterious pardon of Benjamin Green." The event will show how far these remarks are correct. It is well understood that the proceedings in Batavia had the sanction of the Grand Lodge. And the circumstances of the whole transaction are such as to leave no doubt on every sober mind, that the whole must have been planned and effected by a very extensive combination of masons, whether in the capacity of a lodge or not is of very little consequence. While this combination is not exposed and subjected to merited punishment, it will tend but little to wipe the stain of this foul transaction from masonry, for two or three lodges to meet and pass resolutions disavowing all knowledge of, and participation in these proceedings. This has been done by the Ontario lodge at Canandaigua, and by one or two others; and the persons apprehended have been suspended from masonic fellowship,

as if forsooth, these three individuals were the only persons concerned in this transaction, or known to the members of the western lodges to be so!

The masonic paper in this city, (with the character of which our readers are already acquainted,) which is supported by masons, and the columns of which may be supposed to be filled with what is agreeable to the majority of its readers, has at length noticed the subject: but noticed it only to treat with levity and scorn an outrage committed by masons on the laws of society and the feelings of humanity; and to turn the sufferings of the widow and the orphan which this has caused, into ridicule. We envy not the joy of the hearts that can indulge in mirth on such a subject, nor the honor of the socie ty that owns their possessors as its members.

1640

MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN.

The following papers the first of which is from the Edinburgh Christian Magazine for 1811, may be considered as furnishing a brief sketch of the missions of the United Brethren or Moravians, from their commencement in 1732, to the present time. The exertions made by this small society for carrying the gospel to the heathen, entitle it to the highest praise. This body adheres to the doctrines of the Reformation as set forth in the Augsburg Confession. Their form of church goverment is peculiar to themselves.

A concise account of the Missions of the United Brethren among heathen nations, has long been desired; and such an account having recently been presented to the public, we are happy to have an opportunity of making our readers better acquainted with the nature and extent of the exertions of this valuable body of Christians. Ever since the year 1732, the church of the Brethren have endeavoured to extend the benefits of Christianity to heathen nations. From small beginnings, their missions have increased to thirty settlements, in which about 150 missionaries are employed, who have under their care 24,000 converts, from among various heathen tribes.

The settlements of the United Brethren among the heathen, on the 1st of January last, were as follows, viz.

Begun in 1732, in the Danish West India islands among the negro slaves; in St Thomas, two settlements; in St Croix, three; in St Jan, two. Begun in 1733, in Greenland, three. Begun in 1734, among the native Indians in North America, two settlements, one in Upper Canada, and one in the Muskingum; since which one has been formed, in 1801, among the Cherokees, and one among the Creeks in 1807. Begun in 1738, in South America, three settlements among the negro slaves, free negroes, and native Indians, in and near Surinam. Begun in 1754, in Jamaica, two settlements; in 1756, in Antigua, three; in 1764, among the Esquimaux Indians, on the coast of Labrador, three; in 1765, one in Barbadoes, and one among the Calmucs at Sarepta, near the Caspian Sea; and in 1775, one in the island of St Kitt's. In 1736, a settlement was formed among the Hottentots, near the Cape of Good Hope, which it became necessary to abandon, but the attempt was renewed in 1792, and two settlements have been formed there. In all, 29. The Brethren had formerly three flourishing settlements on the Musking in North America. In the American war, the settlements were destroyed, and the inhabitants partly murdered.

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In 1736, George Schmidt, a man of remarkable zeal and courage, had succeeded in forming a small congregation from among the Hottentots. He left. them to the care of a pious man, and returned to Europe to procure assist

ance.

The Dutch East-India company would not, however, permit him to resume his labours, lest the conversion of the Hottentots should injure the colony, At length, in 1792, after repeated applications, leave was given 19,

the Brethren to send out fresh missionaries. The different governments. whether British or Dutch, have since been extremely favourable to them; and they now proceed successfully on the very spot, Bavian's Kloof, where George Schmidt had laboured. This place, in 1792, was barren and uninhabited. At present there are five married, and two single missionaries, residing there, with about 1000 Hottentots. A second mission has been begun, by desire of Earl Caledon, of whom the missionaries speak in the very highest

terms.

Attempts have been made to establish missionaries near Tranquebar, on the Coromandel coast, in the Nicobar islands, and at Serampore and Potna in Bengal. But various circumstances, particularly the expence, which far exceeded the ability of the Brethren, occasioned the relinquishment of all these attempts.

The mission at Sarepta has not been very successful among the Calmuc Tartars, for whose benefit it was designed, although the exertions of the missionaries have been great and persevering. They have, however, been made very useful to the German colonists on the Wolga, and they have also turned their attention to the education of heathen children.

The most flourishing missions at present are those in Greenland, Labrador, Antigua, St Kitt's, the Danish West India islands, and the Cape of Good Hope. In Jamaica, the progress has been slow.

Missions have also been attempted to the following places, which have not succeeded; to Lapland in 1735; to the coast of Guinea in 1737, and again in 1768; to the negroes in Georgia, in 1738; to the slaves in Algiers, in 1739: to Ceylon, in 1740; to Persia, in 1747; and to Egypt in 1752. In Upper Egypt, there was some prospect of success; but the wars of the Beys made the stay of the Brethren unadviseable.

A General Synod of the Brethren's church was, lately held, at Herrnhut, in Germany. The following are the most important particulars contained in the Report presented by the Directors of the Missions on that occasion, and which contains a summary view of

The last Seven Years' Proceedings.

The period of seven years, which has elapsed since the last Synod of the Church of the Brethren in 1818, has been a time of much activity in regard to our missions, and replete with proofs of the wonder working grace of our God and Saviour; insomuch, that in reviewing it, we stand astonished, and feel excited to praise and thanksgiving to him who has done so much for the promotion of his glory throughout the whole extent of our missionary labor.

The continual extension of our missions in all parts occasioned an aunual expenditure of between 50,000 and 60,000 rix dollars (35,000 and 40,000 dollars:) and it sometimes appeared, as if we might almost lose courage, and feel our faith failing, as to the possibility of continuing either to provide for the necessary current expenses, or to pay off a debt of about 20,000 rix dollars, which, as an accumulating burden lay heavy upon us. But praise be to the Lord our Saviour, who has yet enabled us to bear and remove it! The general disposition to promote the cause of missions, which of late manifested itself in Great Britain and Ireland, and on the continent of Europe, had that effect, that it directed the attention of the friends of missions to the labors of the brethren also. Thus the Associations of friends in England and Scotland were formed, who most generously used every means to further and support the work; and it is principally owing to their liberal exertions, that the state of our missionary fund has been so much improved. We are likewise greatly indebted to considerable contributions from our friends in Wurtemberg, Prussia, Saxony, and Switzerland; and as far as under the pressure of unfavorable circumstances could be afforded, to our friends and brethren in the northern kingdoms of Europe, and in North America. But as, under every consideration, the Brethren's missions among the heathen, from their very commencement, have been a work of faith, so they will continue to be; and

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it is our duty, amidst a consciousness of our own weakness, childlikely to look for help to that Lord, who fulfills all his purposes, and has numberless ways and means at command to accomplish whatever may be profitable for his kingdom. These things, that appear impossible to man, are the least of his operations.

During the seven years alluded to, thirty six missionaries have departed to eternal rest; and forty five have been obliged, on account of age and infirmaties, to retire from their labor: one hundred and twenty seven are now employed in thirty four settlements.

Greenland. The missionaries had long ago contemplated the propriety of forming a new settlement in the southern district, near Staatenhuck; and by occasion of a reconnoitering journey, undertaken by brother Kleinschmidt, from Lichtenau, circumstances appeared so inviting, that the Elders, Conference of the Unity was induced to apply for permission to establish a fourth missionary settlement in Greenland, which the king of Denmark kindly granted in 1822: the necessary preliminaries having been settled, in a conversation with brother Kleinschmidt during his visit to us in 1824, a beginning was made to form a new settlement, called Frederickstal, on the Koenigsbach, or King's brook: more difficulties appear to attend the commencement of this mission, than formelly that at Lichtenau. Brother Jacob Beck, who had served the Greenland mission above fifty years, did not live to see this new prospect for the benefit of his dear Greenlanders open to his view.

In North America there is a station in the state of Gergia among the Indians, one in North-Carolina among the Negroes, and one in New-Fairfiield, Canada. The progress of the mission has been particularly encouraging during the abovementioned period, in the British West India Islands. In Barbadoes the missianaries were invited to 20 different plantations. During the abovementioned period, 34 missionaries have been sent to the Danish West India Islands, 13 of whom are dead. The missionaries in South Africa have an establishment at Groenekloof, and are labouring with considerable success among the Caffrees. An attempt has been made to establish a mission among the Calmucks on the river Wolga,which proved unsuccessful by the Greek church's prohibiting them to baptize converts, claiming it as her own sole right.

Through the instrumentality of the Brethren, upwards of 33,000 converts have been gathered from among the Gentiles to the visible church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SABBATH SCHOOLS IN ALBANY.

The scholars of the different Sabbath Schools in this city, yesterday attended at the 1st Presbyterian church, where an address was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Ferris. There were about eleven hundred children, and the sight of so many who perhaps but for this benevolent institution would be brought up in ignorance and depravity, was most pleasing and interesting. There are now under the care of the Albany County Union, 18 schools, containing 1762 children, taught by 193 teachers, exclusive of officers: making an increase since the last year, of 6 schools, 63 teachers, and 742 scholars. Of these, about 250 scholars are without the city.-Albany Gaz.

ACCOUNT OF A SUTTEE IN INDIA.

"SIR, I think an account of a Suttee which took place in this city two evenings ago, will show you, in a most striking manner, with what cruelty they are sometimes accompanied. The unfortunate Braminee, of her own accord, had ascended the funeral pile of her husband's bones, (for he had died at a distance,) but finding the torture of the fire more than she could bear, by a violent struggle she threw herself from the flames, and tottering to a