Page images
PDF
EPUB

5000 dollars a year have been appropriated for the support of another college, at Jacksonville, in the same State.

Twenty-three millions of newspapers are published every year in Great Britain. The tax on advertisements produces 170,000 pounds per annum.

Lindley Murray.--A memoir of Lindley Murray, in the Christian Observer, contains the following statement respecting his works. "His "English Grammar" has reached a fortieth edition; his "First Book" and his "Key" the seventeenth; his Spelling-book and his "Exercises" the thirty-fourth; and his "Abridgment" the ninety-second; his "English Reader" the nineteenth, and the "Introduction" to it the twenty-second; his "Power of Religion"

the eighteenth; several also of his other works have gone through numerous editions. For many years past each of these editions has consisted of six, ten, or twelve thousand copies. Of his "Abridgement" alone it is calculated that not less than one million copies have been circulated. These issues are independent of the numerous editions in the United States of America, where Mr. Murray's publications are quite as popular as in Great Britain.

India. The absurd science of phrenology has been transplanted to India, where it has found a soil in which it is said to flourish. Besides the lectures at Calcutta, others have been delivered to crowded audiences at Madras.

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

[blocks in formation]

the Board of Trustees, with the Doings of the Board thereon. Amherst. Pp. 22.

Brief View of the American Educa

tion Society, with an Appeal to the Christian Public. Nov. 1826. pp. 24.

An Inaugural Address, delivered before the Directors of the Theological Seminary of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; by S. S. Schmucker, A. M., at his Introduction into the Professorship of Christian Theology, September 5, 1826; together with the Charge delivered to him by the Rev. D. F. Schaeffer, A. M. Carlisle, Pa. pp. 40.

An Address, delivered in Burlington, upon the Inaugaration of the Author to the Office of President of the University of Vermont, Nov. 28, 1826. By James Marsh. Burlington. pp. 31.

MONTHLY RECORD.

Prize Essay.-The Committee of Correspondence, appointed by the Synod of Albany, on the Sanctification of

the Sabbath, have reported that fortyfour essays have been received and examined that many of them display

great talent, industrious research, and
a pious regard for the sanctification of
the Sabbath; but that two of the
number in the opinion of the commit-
tee, stand prominent in point of excel-
lence; one under the motto "Remem-
ber the Sabbath day to keep it holy;"
and the other under the signature
“Patriæ Amicus." The first of these
treats of the perpetuity and divine au-
thority of the Sabbath; and the other,
of the Sabbath as a rest to be occupied
in personal, domestic, and social reli-
gion.

The committee could have wished, were it agreeable to the original proposals, to have divided the premium between the two individuals who may be ascertained as the authors of these essays; because taken together they form a proper whole. But in such a disposal they feel themselves restrained.

They do, therefore, unanimously award the prize to the author of the essay, under the motto "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." But whilst they do this, they earnestly, recommend that the production of "Patriæ Amicus" should be published in connexion with the other, and with the real name of the author, should This rehis consent be obtained.

commendation is given under a lively sense of the importance of the matter it contains, the style in which it is composed, and the impression it is calculated to make.

The above report having been read and accepted, the envelope having the motto referred to was opened, when the author to whom the premium is awarded, was found to be WILLIAM JAY, of Bedford, Westchester county.

Christian Benevolence.-The NewYork Observer has given the public a very interesting "retrospective survey," of Christian enterprise, from which we take the following items. In the subjoined table are exhibited "the receipts of several of the most important benevolent institutions in our country during the year embraced in their last Reports, except in the case of those concerning which we have more recent information. The month shows the time in 1826 when the year terminated to which the receipts respectively belong; but if no VOL. I.-No. II.

14

month is expressed, the entire civil
year is intended.
American Board Sept.
Am. Educa'n Soc. 1826 about
Am. Bible Society 1826
Am. Tract Society 1826
Am. Baptist Board April
United F. M. Soc. May
U.D.,nowA.H.M.S.1826
Am. Coloniz. Soc. 1825
Am. Jews' Soc. May
Presb. Ed. Soc.
Am. T. Soc. Bost.

Meth. Mis. Soc.
Con. Mis. Soc.

$67,401 90

60,000 00

53,184 84

20,000 00

17,770 36

14,199 39

11,935 00

10,936 04

8,595.00

May about
May 29

8,000 00

6,335 05

4,969 00

May 1825

4,908 22

$288,214 80

"Here then," the Editors remark, "are thirteen benevolent Societies, receiving in a single year an income of TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS, only one of which was in existence at the beginning of 1809, and that one the least productive of them all! Numerous other Societies, some of them not less important in their results, are established in different parts of the land; and other charities are bestowed which are not less noble, and tell not less on the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom."

Extending their view across the waters, they state that the receipts of fifteen of the benevolent societies of Great Britain, during the year embraced in their Reports for 1825, amounted to ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND

SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUND-
DOLLARS;
RED AND TWENTY-SEVEN

and probably those of the last year
have been at least equally great.

To show that these sums have not

been given or applied in vain, we have the following animating summary.

"It is the result of careful investigation, that during the past twentyfive years, more than five millions of Bibles and Testaments have been distributed over the globe, in about one hundred and fifty languages and dialects: that there are now, in different parts of the heathen world, about 300 missionary stations; not less than 1,000 missionaries, 400 of whom are native converts; 40 printing-presses; 150,000 children under instruction; and, including those in the West Indies and Society Islands, at least 40,000 converts who give evidence of a saving change.

Burmah.-The following account from the London Missionary Register, of the sufferings and deliverance of the missionaries at Ava, is contained in a letter from Mrs. Judson, to an English gentleman, dated 12th of March.

"Knowing your interest in the Burman Mission, and assured of personal sympathy and regard, I will endeavor to give you, in my usual way, a general relation of events for the last two years.

In my last to you, I mentioned that everything had a warlike appearance. The Burman government, however, had no idea that the English were in earnest in their communications: consequently they heard the report that Rangoon was taken with surprise and amazement. No preparation had been made at that port, for the reception of strangers; and even the Viceroy was absent. An army was immediately raised, and ordered to march under the command of the Khgee-Woongyee, who was to be joined on his way down by Schagah-Woongyee, he having been recently appointed Viceroy of Rangoon.

As soon as the first force was despatched, the Government had leisure to look round, and inquire into the cause of Rangoon being taken, and the probable intentions of the arrival of those strangers. It was at once concluded, that spies were in the country; who had communicated the state of things, and invited the foreigners over: and who so likely to be spies as Rogers, Gauger, and Laird, who, under the garb of Merchants, had plotted so much evil! They were all three accordingly arrested, and put in confinement. We now, more than ever, began to tremble for ourselves, and hourly to expect some dreadful scene. In examining the accounts of Mr. Gauger it was found that Mr. Judson and Dr. Price had taken money of him; which circumstance, to the uninformed mind of a Burmese, was sufficient evidence that they also were spies, and in the employ of the English Government, as they received their supplies from an Englishman. The King had, before, been advised to put the Missionaries in confinement; but his reply had been, "They are true men: let them remain." He was now, however, informed of the abovementioned circumstance; and, in an angry

tone, issued an order for the immediate arrest of Dr. Price and Mr. Judson.

And now commenced a series of oppressive acts, which we should, before, have thought human nature incapable of committing.

On the 8th of June, a City Writer," at the head of a dozen savages, with one whose marked face denoted him an executioner, rushed into the house, and demanded Mr. Judson. "You are called by the King," said the Writer, (a mode of expression when about to execute the King's order,) and instantly the small cord was produced by the spotted face, who roughly seized Mr. Judson, threw him on the floor, and tied his hands behind him. The scene was now dreadful. The little children were screaming with fearthe Burmans in our employ running here and there, endeavouring to escape the hands of those unfeeling wretches-and the Bengal servants mute with amazement and horror, at the situation in which they saw their Master. I offered money to the executioner, and entreated him to untie Mr. Judson; but in vain were my tears and entreaties: they led him away, I knew not whither: and I was left guarded by ten men, who had received strict orders to confine me close, and let no one go in or out. I retired to my room; and attempted to pour out my soul to Him, who, for our sakes, was bound and led away to execution: and even in that dreadful moment I experienced a degree of consolation hardly to be expected.

But this employment was of short duration. The magistrate of that part of Ava in which we lived was in the verandah continually calling me to come out, and submit to his examinations. Supposing that all our letters and writings would be examined, and feeling conscious of having noted down every occurrence since my arriavl in Ava, I instantly destroyed every thing of the kind, having no time to make a selection; and then went out to receive the officer. This Writer was ordered to write down my name, age, and country, with the names of my four little Burman Girls, and those of the two Bengalee Servants; and then pronounced us all slaves of the King, again ordered the guard to watch me closely, and departed. It was now near evening: with what

anxiety I waited the return of our faithful Moung Ing, who had followed Mr. Judson at a short distance, to see what became of him! I had then no doubt but I could procure the release of Mr. Judson if he had not been executed, by getting a petition presented to the Queen: but I was also a prisoner, and could not move out of the house. After dark, Moung Ing returned, with the intelligence that he saw Mr. Judson conducted to the court-house, and thence to the deathprison, the gates of which were closed and he saw no more. What a night was now before me! The uncertainty of Mr. Judson's fate, my own unprotected situation, and the savage conduct of the ten Burmans, all conspired to make it the most dreadful night that I ever passed. I barred the doors, and retired with the four Burman children into the inner room. ⚫ The guards were constantly ordering me to unbar the gates and come out, as they could not be assured of my safety, if I remained within. They next threatened to go in, and inform the magistrate that I had secreted myself; and that they must not be blamed if I made my escape: finding themselves unsuccessful in their demands, they took the two servants and made their feet fast in the stocks: as I apparently took no notice of this, they ordered the stocks to be raised, which makes the situation of the person confined extremely painful: this I could not bear to see, and promised them all a present in the morning, if they would release the servants. The next morning I sent Moung Ing with a piece of silver, in order to gain admission to the prison to ascertain the real situation of Mr. Judson. Dr. Price and the three Englishmen were all confined in the inner prison, each with three pair of iron fetters, and fastened to a long pole."

Mrs. Judson, soon after, by importunate solicitations, and the offer of presents, obtained permission to visit

the

governor and lay before him the relation of the brutal manner of the arrest of her husband, and his dreadful situation and by the payment of a considerable sum, had the satisfaction of being assured that he and Dr. Price should be removed to a more comforta

ble prison.

Her next object was to get a peti

tion presented to the Queen; but as a personal interview was impossible, on account of their being prisoners, she was obliged to address her through the medium of her brother's wife, from whom in better days she had received distinguished favours. This interview is related as follows.

"She was lolling in state, and hardly deigned to raise her eyes on my entrance into her splendid hall. I took my seat, not at a respectful distance or at her bidding, but as near as I could well approach, that she might not lose a syllable of what I had to communicate. I waited not for the question usually asked, "What do you want?" Grief made me bold; and, at once, I began a relation of our wrongs. I stated to her that Dr. Price and Mr. Judson were Americans-that they were Ministers of Religion-that they had nothing to do with war or politics-and that she well knew that even their residence in Ava was in consequence of the King's command. In vain I strove to work on her feelings, by requesting her to imagine herself in my situation-a stranger in a foreign land, and deprived of the protection of an only friend, who, without any alleged crime, was thrown into prison and fetters. She unfolded the present, and coolly said, "Your case is not singular: the other white prisoners suffer equally with your husband. I will however present your petition to her Majesty the Queen: come again to-morrow."

She went away, to use her own words, with little hope, and that was diminished, when on the following day, she was informed that her petition had been presented to the Queen, and that her reply was, "He is not to be executed: let him remain where he is." And when Mrs. J. afterwards repeated her solicitations, she became irritated, and warned her against making any farther effort. In the mean time her trials were increased, if possible, by the loss of most of their possessions, which were taken by the king's officers. The letter contin

ues.

"For the next seven months, hardly a day passed in which I did not visit some one member of Government, in order to interest their feelings on our behalf. The King's mother, sister, and brother, each in turn, exerted

their influence in our favour; but, so great was their fear of the Queen, that neither of them ventured to make a direct application to his Majesty ; and, although my various efforts were useless as to their grand object, yet the hopes which they exerted kept our minds from sinking, and enabled us to endure our long imprisonment better than we otherwise could have done.

The last person to whom I applied, was the celebrated Bundoolah, just previous to his departure for Rangoon. He had gained some advantages over the native soldiers at Arracan, 200 of whom he had sent as prisoners to Ava: this, together with the circumstance of his having obtained two or three thousand English muskets, gained him a most favourable reception at Court; and every honour, in the power of the King to bestow, was heaped upon him. He had the entire management of affairs, and in fact was the real King of the country. With fear and trembling I presented to him a written petition for the liberation of Dr. Price and Mr. Judson he listened to the petition attentively, made some inquiries relative to our coming to Ava, and then said that he would reflect on the subject-"Come again to-morrow." My hopes were now more sanguine than ever; but the morrow dashed them all, when the proud Bundoolah uttered-" I shall soon return from Rangoon, when I will release the Teachers, with all the other prisoners."

::

The war was now prosecuted with all the energy of which the Burmans are capable. Their expectations of complete victory were high; for their General was invincible, and the glory of their King would accompany their armies. The Governmnnt talked loudly of taking Bengal, when they had driven the presumptuous creatures from their own territories; and of destroying from the earth every whitefaced stranger. So great was their hatred to the very appearance of a foreigner, that I frequently trembled when walking the streets; and, that I might not immediately be recognised as a stranger, and sometimes gain admission to Mr. Judson's prison, I adopted the Burman dress altogether.

Extortion and oppression had now become so familiar to us that we daily expected their appearance in some new garb or other. Sometimes, for ten

days together, I was not allowed to see Mr. Judson; and even then could gain admittance only after dark, when I was obliged to return to our house, two miles, without an attendant.

The means which we invented for communication were such as necessity alone could have suggested. At first, I wrote to him on a flat cake, baked for the purpose, and buried it in a bowl of rice; and, in return, he communicated his situation on a piece of tile, on which, when wet with water, the writing became invisible, but when dried perfectly legible. But, after some months' experience, we found that the most convenient as well as safest mode of writing, was to roll up a chit, and put it in the long nose of a coffee-pot in which I sent his tea. These circumstances may appear trivial; but they serve to shew to what straits and shifts we were driven it would have been a crime of the highest nature, to be found making communications to a prisoner, however nearly related."

Bundoolah departed from Ava with an army of 50,000 men: and their minds were ultimately excited by hope and fear, as they received the uncertain intelligence of the various success of the contending parties; for, in the arrival of foreign troops consisted their only hopes of deliverance.

"The news at length came, that the English Army were advancing, and that they were within 20 miles of Donaboo. The town was all confusion, and the Queen began to send away, to a more secure place, her immense treasure.

It was now the first of March, the commencement of the hot season; which, in Ava, is peculiarly severe. The white prisoners were all put inside of the common prison, in five pair of irons each; and where they were so crowded with Burman thieves and robbers, that they had not sufficient room to lie down. There were at the time near a hundred prisoners, all in one room, without a window or hole for the admittance of air, and the door half closed. I again applied to the Governor of the city to allow the Missionaries to be removed to their former place, or at least to let them remain outside of the door during the day. I offered him money, and promised to reward him handsomely when in my power; but all in vain. The

« PreviousContinue »