fact that at Wiemar, in Hesse Darmsdat, an edict has been issued by which they are rendered admissible to the public gymnasia and the University It is added that they are even authorized to intermarry with Christians, on certain conditions. In 1789, the number of Roman Catholics in England was 69,376. In 1817, they had increased to 500,000. There were but three Roman Catholic schools of any note in England in 1781. It is now said that there are upwards of fifty. A London paper mentions that a German residing in Japan, is writing a treatise on the Natural History of that country, which is expected to convey much interesting information. Alterations have commenced at Windsor Castle which are expected to employ 600 men for five years. Windsor Park embraces a circumference of nearly 27 miles-and the private rides now solely confined to the royal retinue, from their mazy turnings and wind ings, make the circuit greater than even 27 miles. Very gratifying proofs of the general intelligence and enterprise of the Swedish nation are furnished by the progress of their internal improvements. During the past year, six canals were begun, one of which is 36 Swedish miles in length, and employs 2,791 workmen. Two rivers were cleared and rendered navigable, so that lumber from their almost interminable forests, may now readily be transferred to any part of Europe. Eleven hundred colonists were transplanted to the forests of Dalecarlia, which they are cutting down and settling. Large marshes were drained, and converted to excellent land. A large building for a Library was erected at Upsal, at an expense of 50,000 rix-dollars. Six hundred and forty-two thousand rix-dollars were expended on repairing of cities, aqueducts, bridges, &c. Three great public roads were finished, leading across the mountains of Norway. Much has also been done to rebuild and repair their ortres ses. List of New Publications. Reading Exercises in Prose and Verse; carefully selected from the most approved authors, for Female Schools and Academies. By Samuel Whiting, Esq. Second Edition.-New-Haven. A Greek Grammar, principally abridg ed from that of Buttmann, for the use of Schools. A Summary of the Law and Practice of Real Actions. By Asahel Stearns, Professor of Law in Harvard University. A Letter to John Lowell, Esq., in Reply to a Publication entitled "Remarks on a Pamphlet printed by the Professors and Tutors of Harvard University, touching their Right to the exclusive Government of that Seminary." By Edward Everett. 80. pp. 102. The Ladies' Companion. Containing, First, Politeness of Manners and Behav iour, from the French of Abbè de Bellegarde. Second, Fenelon on Education. Third, Miss More's Essays. Fourth, Dean Swift's Letter to a Young Lady Newly Married. Fifth, Moore's Fables for the Female Sex, carefully Selected and Revised. By a Lady in the County of Wor cester, Mass. Keligious Intelligence. SANDWICH ISLANDS. The following extract from the Missionary Herald, after noticing the death of the king and queen of the Sandwich Islands, gives a brief historical sketch of the mission to those Islands.] The Missionary Herald for August, contained a notice of the voyage of the king and queen of the Sandwich Islands to England, with the circumstances attend. ing this extraordinary event. Such a proceeding, in the Ruler of more than 150,000 souls, whatever may be thought to be the degree of their barbarism, we believed could not fail to be followed by important consequences. Reho-reho no doubt regarded himself as going to a land, where the Sabbath was observed; where were a multitude of churches for Christian worship; where were numerous preachers of the Gospel, in character like the missionaries whom he had left behind; and where the good book of God, the Bible, was every where enjoyed. He probably expected to find whatever the missionaries had recommended to him, as suitable to be adopted in reference to his own people, carried into effect where he was going; and might possibly (for he possessed considerable sagacity,) have designed to remark the aspect of a country, which had been long Christian. After all the notices respecting the state of religion in England, which this work has heretofore contained, we surely need not stop to give our views of the actual moral and religious condition of that favoured country. But it is easy to see, that this young and inexperienced prince, immediately on his arrival, might be thrown into such circumstances, without the fault of the pious people there, that, during his whole stay, he should behold very little of genuine religion, and very much of a demoralizing character. We are not well informed as to his real circumstances, in the few weeks of health which he enjoyed after his arrival; but have reason to believe, that, from politica! considerations, he was induced to keep himself partially secluded from society, except that he visited the theatre, and the gardens of pleasure. The queen was the first who was attacked with a pulmonary inflammation; occasioned, in part, it is to be presumed, by her introduction into an atmosphere more cool, and dense, and humid, than she had been accustomed to; and in part, doubtless, by an unpropitious change of regimen, though the style of liv ing in Woahoo, was not wholly unlike to the English manner. She died early in July. Her character has always been favourably described by the missionaries. Comparing her with her own countrywomen, she must have been an interesting female; and many expectations of good from her influence, have been destroyed by her premature death-for she had scarcely passed the morning of life, when she died. The king survived her only a few days, and then sunk under the same disorder, brought on, probably, by the causes, only aggravated by his former dissipation. same The effects of this mysterious provi dence upon the Sandwich Islands, and upon the mission, are yet to be known. We think, however, that the friends of the mission have no reason for solicitude. The question of a successor cannot, as we can see, involve much difficulty. Though the heir to the kingly authority, a brother of the late king, is young, his title has been often acknowledged, and will not probably be contested. The principal chiefs are all friendly to the mission. And whoever is appointed regent,it may confidently be hoped, that the young prince will be situated where, during his minority, he may enjoy the salutary influence of the missionaries. The dealings of God towards that mission, have been wonderful from the first. The original missionaries embarked at Boston, before intelligence of any change in those islands had reached this country; and a speedy change was then wholly unlooked for. The brethren expected to find the old king alive, and strongly attached to his idols. They expected to find the morais standing, and the taboo system in full force. They expected to meet a long and determined opposition from a powerful, idolatrous priesthood. They expected to see human victims of fered in sacrifice, to behold bloody battles, and to experience many dangers, before idolatry was overthrown. But not one of these expectations was fulfilled!' Tamahamaha the 1st. suddenly died, and his son, the late king, on coming to authority, burned the morais, annulled the taboo system, abolished the priesthood, put an end to all sacrifices, and in short, overthrew idolatry. War was the consequence. But before the missionaries arrived, the Providence of God had hushed the islands to peace; and the messengers of salvation found a people without any religion, waiting, as it were, for the law of the true God! But the missionaries needed a patron: and a patron was provided. Among the natives found wandering on our shores, was the son of Tamoree, king of one of the leeward islands. This son had been taken under the care of the American churches, and was sent home to his father in the same ship that carried the missionaries. This secured the warm friendship and kindest services of Tamoree, which have been continued to this day. And when some foreigners, anxious to prejudice the natives against the missionaries, endeavoured to make the islanders believe, that, if they listened to such men, they would incur the displeasure of the English nation; and when, also, these foreigners propagated the most erroneous reports, with respect to the influence of missions on the South Sea Islands, with the same object in view; all their machin ations were overthrown unexpectedly and at once. God put it into the heart of the British government to purchase a vessel at the distant colony of New South Wales, and send it as a present to the king of the Sandwich Islands. This vessel, on the way to its destined place, touched at the particular island, in the cluster of the Society Islands, where Messrs. Tyerman and Bennet, a deputation from the London Missionary Society, happened then to be. The captain, who had this vessel in charge, offered to take a mission to the Marquesas, by way of the Sandwich Islands; and the brethren resolved that such a mission should be sent. These gentlemen accompanied by a missionary, who had long been on these favoured islands, and one or two of the converted natives, arrived at Woahoo just in the crisis produced by these evil reports. The visitors were Englishmen; they were also from the Society Islands; they came, too, in a vessel belonging to the king of England: and Mr Ellis, and Auna. and his wife, could speak in the language of the Sandwich Islanders. The fale reports were contradicted; the false impressions were removed: and the American Missionaries then rose higher in the general estimation, than they had ever been before! Nor was this all. The plan for proceeding to the Marquesas was providentially defeated. Instead of remaining at the Sandwich Islands but three weeks, as they had contemplated, the deputation were confined there more than as many months, and made a strong impression on the natives, and greatly strengthening the hands of the missionaries: and finally, at the earnest request of the king and his chiefs, Mr. Ellis, and the Taheitean chief were induced, contrary to all their original plans and expectations, to take up a permanent residence there. Thus, the language of the islands has been soon er acquired by our missionaries, the Gospel has been sooner preached, and books have been sooner prepared, printed, distributed and read. We think, moreover, that we have the key to the mystery, why Mr. Ellis was not permitted, in the Providence of God, to accompany the king to England: but not being quite certain of the fact, we shall not at present make use of it. Thus much we can say. Every providence seems to have had a merciful bearing upon the mission: and we can see how almost every thing, which, at the time appeared adverse, has been overruled for good. The preceding remarks we have been led into, by a consideration of the influence, which the king's death might have on the mission to his subjects. As the Lord hath done in time past, so we trust he will do in time to come. He has provided for the exigencies of that mission, when man could not fores e them, and of course could not provide for them. Man is short-sighted and feeble; kings and rulers are subject to death: but the "Lord reigneth-let the multitude of isles be glad thereof." SAMARITANS. [THE following account of an interview, with the Samaritans dwelling at Sychar ed in the Missionary Herald.] is from the Journal of Mr. Fisk, publish After taking some refreshment we went to visit the Samaritans, having first sent to the Kohen, or Priest, to know if a visit would be agreeable. His name is Shalmar ben Tabiah. His first name he sometimes pronounces Salomer. I believe it is the same as Solomon, which the Jews in Jerusalem now pronounce Shloma. He received us in a neat apartment, and we immediately entered into conversation. Ten or twelve other members of the sect soon came in. Our conversation was in Arabic. They represent the number of their houses to be 20 or 30,-about 60 pay the capitation tax. They say there are no other Samaritans in this country, but they are quite disposed to think they are numerous in other parts of the world. In Paris they suppose they were very numerous, until, in a time of war between the French and some other nation, the Samaritans were dispersed. They say that there are, however, four still living in Paris. They inquired whether there are any Samaritans in England, and seemed not at all gratified when we told them no. On learning that I was from America, they inquirthem no; but they confidently asserted the ed if there are Samaritans there. I old contrary, and that there are also many in India. They maintain that they are the lineal descendants of Jacob: the Kohen and his sons, only, of the tribe of Levi; one family from the tribe of Benjamin; four or five from Manasseh, and the rest from Ephraim. We asked what they would do for a priest, if the Kohen and his sons should die, and thus the tribe of Levi become extinct. They replied, (ba zah ma beseer,)"this does not happen." They all speak Arabic, but their books and public prayers are in Samaritan. They call their language Hebrew, and that which we call Hebrew they call Jewish; for they say their language is the true Hebrew in which the law was given. The difference consists in the use of a different alphabet and different pronunciation. They go three times a year to Mount Gerizim to worship, but do not offer sacrifices there now, as they did formerly, lest they should be molested by the Turks. But they offer their sacrifices in a more private way, in the city. We understood them to say, that they have no daily sacrifice. We visited their synagogue. It is a small dark, but neat room, with an altar, but without seats. We were obliged, before entering, to pull off not only our over-shoes, but also our slippers, which are not prohibited even in mosques; and Mr. Jowett was obliged to take off an outer garment, which he wears, that is lined with fur. No person can approach the altar, except the Kohen and his sons. They expect a Messiah, who is to be a Prophet and King, but a mere man, to live 120 years, as Moses did, and to reign at Naploos overall the world. Those who do not receive him, are tobe destroyed with the sword. The promise concerning the woman's seed does not, they believe, refer to the Messiah ; but that, concerning a prophet like unto Moses, does refer to him, as does also that concerning Siloh. Gen. 49: 10. They admit the sense of this passage as given in our translation, and try to show that there is still a sceptre somewhere in the hands of Judah, The Messiah will come when Israel repent. They say the story of the separation between Israel and Judah, under Jeroboam and Rehoboam, is a lie of the Jews. The city of Luz or Bethel, they gay, was on Mount Gerizim. Gen. 28:19. Jebus, they say, was also on this mount, and that Judges 19:10 as it stands in our copies, is not true. 20. We renewed our visit to the Samaritans. We had yesterday requested to see their ancient copy of the law. The Kohen objected, but after much persuading, and indirectly presenting the motive which generally prevails in this country, i. e. the offer of money, he at last consented to show it to us this morning In order to do it, he said he must first bathe, and then put on a particular dress for the oc casion. On our arrival at the synagogue, we waited a short time, and he appeared, entered the synagogue, approached the altar, kneeled and put his face to the floor, then opened the little closet which contained the holy book, kneeled and put his face to the floor again, then brought out the brass case, which contained the roll, and opened it so as to show us the manuscript, but we were not allowed to touch it. It is in the Samaritan character, and the Kohen says it was written by Abishua, the grandson of Aaron, thirteen years after the death of Moses, and 3260 years ago. See 1 Chron. 6:4. Another brass case stood near this, containing an exact copy of the original manuscript, said to have been made 800 years ago. On a shelf in the synagogue, were a considerable number of copies of the Samaritan Pentateuch. We saw also the relic of the Polyglott Bible mentioned by aundril. The Bible of the Samaritans contains only the five books of Moses. They have however, Joshua and Judges, but in separate books. They say that since Joshua there has been no prophet. He was the disciple of Moses, and inferior to him David was king in Jerusalem, but not a prophet. We inquired whether the Samaritans held it lawful to read the books of Christians. They said there was no law against it, and we left with them one Testament in Arabic, and another in Hebrew. At noon we left Naploos. A little way from the gate we observed, on our right hand, a mosque, which I suppose to be the one that travellers have mentioned as the place bought by Jacob "at the hand of the children of Hamor, Gen. 33:19. Jacob's well is to be seen near by, but through the ignorance of our guide we missed it. At six o'clock we arrived at Singil, and took lodgings with a Greek family, the only Christian family in the place. Before our arrival, we were overtaken by a heavy rain. REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN GERMANY. To the Editor of the (London) Baptist Magazine. SIR, Two pious German ministers of the reformed church, named J. Christian Reichardt, and J. George Wermelskirk, gave me, this morning, the following account of the revival of religion in Germany. It was not till since the close of the war, that any general attention was excited respecting evangelical religion. Five years ago there were five or six ministers belonging to each of the churches in Berlin, which amount to twenty-one, but not any of them evangelical persons; now there is no church where there is not, at least, one 606 Relig. Intel.-Soc. for the Propagation of Chris. Knowledge. [Nov. pious, evangelical pastor, preaching the doctrines of the Gospel, and adorning it by their conduct. In the University of Berlin, there are thirty or forty pious students. One of the professors, of the name of Tholock, about twenty-five years of age, who knows fifteen languages, is in the practice of receiving these every Wednesday at his own house, for the purpose of giving them religious instruction. About ten of these usually associate with my informant on a Saturday evening, at the University, for praying with them, and for reading and expounding the scriptures. Four of the professors in the University are pious evangelical men. One of these, named Neander, Professor of Evangelical History, is a converted Jew, of good reputation, and considerable standing. When Professor Tholock was, some time since, at Copenhagen, he inquired for a long time in vain, at the University, after pious young men at length, by accident, a person, who called at the inn, was discovered by him as being of that character, and he introduced him to a considerable number of pious youth, who were carnestly seeking after God. The pious students, who have been men. tioned as at the University at Berlin, were from different German Universities, and their statement respecting them was, that in all of them there were devoted youths, consecrating themselves to the service of God. with, at least, twenty evangelical pastors. The people, when they want a minister, no longer inquire for those who are distinguished by their literature; but they say, when one is recommended to them, "Is he a pious minister ?" A minister named Couard, about thirty years of age, who preaches in a church in Berlin, has an excessively crowded congregation of six or seven thousand hearers: he lately preached seven sermons from "Ye must be born again." The churches are forsaken where the Gospel is not faithfully preached. The same spirit of opposition exists there as in this country against evangelical religion. If they observe any to listen attentively, or appear serious and devout, they call them by way of reproach, "Head hangers." A person, from the neighbourhood of Brunswick, gave the following account. "Above five years since, there was not one pious person in all the neighbourhood, nor any evangelical minister. Two farmers were walking in their fields, when one of them, as if his mind had been instantly impressed with the subject, said, We possess all these riches, but we have never returned thanks to God, the giver of them. Surely we ought to do so. Come, let us kneel down, and give thanks, to God, and seek his pardon and blessing.' They enjoyed so much pleasure in this exercise, that they resolved to meet at one of their houses, on a Lord's-day ere At Erlangen, in Bavaria, there are inning, for praying and searching the scripthe University three Professors; one of whom has the reputation of being one of the most learned men on the Continent. At Basle, in Switzerland, they were informed, by one of their companions, that, in the year 1818, about twenty young men were brought to know the grace of God in truth. As they had no evangelical instructors, they frequently met together for reading the scriptures and prayer. One of these is engaged by the London Society for promoting the conversion of the Jews; and another named Burkhardt, brother to the late excellent Missionary, of that name, is an assistant minister with Dr. Steinkopff, in the Savoy, London. At Albufelt, in Prussia, there is a minister of the Lutheran church, named Doering, the apostle of the age. He pays particular regard to young persons. On a Monday evening he collects at his house about two hundred unmarried men; and on a Wednesday evening, about forty young ladies; for the purposes of giving them religious instruction. He is indefatigable in visiting the prisons and hospitals, distributing religious tracts, and ha been the instrument of the conversion of many to the knowledge of Christ. In all this vicinity, the churches are supplied tures. Their wives soon united with them. Others, who observed them thus assemble, asked, What are you doing? We will meet with you.' Thus, persons from different villages were collected, till the room was over crowded. These meetings were held in other adjacent villages, until there were ninety or an hundred serious persons. At length, one of the Lutheran pastors in the neighbour. hood became an enlightened man, and now they all attend upon his ministry." These revivals are attributed to the establishment of Bible and Missionary Societies; and the work of conversion has been so rapid, especially among students in the Universities, that scores of pious youths are burning with ardour to be employed in Missionary labours in any part of the globe. The two ministers, who are very serious, well-informed persons, who related the above facts, are about to visit Poland, in the service of the London Society for the Conversion of the Jews. J. I. The SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND FOR THE PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, has existed for nearly 120 years, |