ments in the German tongue to the Rev. James Allott, Chaplain to the Forces, at the General Hospital, Lisbon, I can be answerable for the zeal and attention of that gentleman in applying and preserving the books committed to his charge." The second is from the Rev. Dr. Dakins, the Chaplain-general's Assistant, to the Secretaries of the Bible Society. "I have received from the Depository of the British and Foreign Bible Society, for the use of the troops confined by sickness and convalescent, at Royal York Hospital, Chelsea, 50 French, 20 Dutch, and 100 German Testaments; and I beg leave to return my grateful thanks to the Society for this supply, so valuable and so important. I will put them into the hands of the German Legion, and other foreigners serving his Majesty, myself; and I will add a few words of advice and exhortation at the same time. The good that is done by thus circulating the Scriptures is incalculable. Government has supplied the Barracks and other Hospitals with Common Prayers, English Testaments, and Bibles; and a selection of Religious Tracts, from the list published by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, has been made, and sanctioned by the archbishops and the bishop of London, and circulated with the Bibles. And it affords me the most heartfelt satisfaction to be enabled to say, that the poor sick soldiers receive the books with expressions of thankfulness and gratitude; and, instead of idling their time away in unseemly, or spending it in wicked conversation, they are frequently seen forming small parties, and reading the Bible and the religious tracts to each other. "I have taken the liberty to enclose two pound notes, as my mite towards your excellent and truly Christian design, and I hope you will permit me to insert my pame as subscribing one Guinea annually." The following letters have reference to the prisoners of war in this country, and with these we shall close our extracts. Translation of a letter from Mons. Cross. to the Agent for prisoners at Norman "The sacred books, which have been delivered to the prisoners, are, for the most part, preserved and respected, as they deserve to be. Messrs. &c. to whom the Bibles were given, have told me, that they derive the greatest consolation from them; and they offer their thanks to those pious and cha ritable persons who have taken a pleasure in imparting to them the word of God, in a situation in which the soul has so much need of comfort. Thus, Sir, the effect produced by these books is such as all Christian souls could desire." From a Correspondent, near Chatham. "As the British and Foreign Bible Society have honoured me with the charge of a considerable number of Bibles and Testaments, for distribution among the pri soners of war at this depot, I deem it my duty to give some account of the manner in which they have been distributed. "For many months past, numbers of the prisoners have manifested a great desire to read the Scriptures. As soon as I found this to be the case, in order to supply them as far as possible, and at the same time to prevent the books being too cheap, I procured one or two respectable officers on board of each ship, and committed to their care a few Bibles and Testaments, to lend out every day in the manner of circulating libraries. This plan has hitherto answered well, for we often see small parties collected together in different parts of the ship, and one engaged in reading to the rest. But in proportion as the Bible is known, the desire to read it becomes more general; hence, in addition to the circulating libraries, when I find a person who expresses a strong desire to possess a Bible or Testament of his own, to take home with him to his native country, I give him one." at "I would here beg leave to observe, that I do not fail to embrace the opportunity of cartels going to France with invalids; when such an opportunity offers, I give to each invalid a Bible or a Testament. With respect to the fruits which appear present, in addition to those I mentioned in a former letter, the sacred Scriptures are read with much apparent attention, and I doubt not with much real benefit. A few days ago I visited the general hospital ship, and was much pleased to see some of the poor dying captives reading the Bible as they lay in their beds. I have letters in my possession, both in French and German, expressive of the high sense of gratitude which many of those feel to whom the bounty of the British and Foreign Bible Society has extended." SOUTH-WEST ESSEX AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. We notice this Society, among a long list which may not prove interesting to all our American readers. In truth, we have not room in our present number, to appropriate to their details. But we select from the account of the meeting in July of the above named Society, the following paragraph as worthy of notice. "The gallant Admiral, who filled the chair, observed, in the course of his speech, that as a seaman, he was not much used to publick speaking, and his profession was not the most likely to lead him to speak on religious subjects; but he was convinced that the distribution of the Bible must be attended with the happiest effects; and he could add, from his own observation in the navy, that there was the highest state of discipline on board those ships in which the Bible was most read." A considerable sum of money was subscribed, and the proceedings of the day ap peared to create a great interest in the minds of those who were present. This is the fourth Auxiliary Bible Society that has been established in the county of Essex. SUPPLY OF BIBLES AND PRAYER-BOOKS TO THE NAVY. The following paragraph relating to the British Navy we insert with pleasure:"A distribution of books of devotion is to take place in the navy, in the following proportions, viz. one copy of the New Testament, two Common Prayer-Books, and two Psalters, for a mess of eight men; and one Bible to every two messes." DOMESTICK. We must apologize to our readers for the very scanty portion of matter we have to ay before them under this head. Beside having already exceeded the bounds of our proposed publication, which is one cause for our drawing more abruptly to a ¿lose, we have, in truth, no great variety of domestick religious intelligence before us. We should be glad if the religiously disposed, of all denominations, would fayour us with any communications that may come under their notice, for this department. In particular, we hold out the invitation to the members of the Bible and Missionary Societies of our country, to forward to us an account of their different meetings and transactions. These will always be thankfully received, and faithfully inserted. The following we extract from an Address delivered before the Washington Benevolent Society of Princeton, by Samuel Bayard, Esq.-After having expatiated in glowing and affectionate language, the perusal of which has been not a little interesting to us, on the character of our beloved and lamented political Parent, the Oratour goes on to observe: We have now contemplated our beloved WASHINGTON as a military chief, and as the first magistrate of our republick. Let us further view him in the retirement of private life, practising those useful and amiable virtues, which have given a finish to his exalted character. "A Christian is the highest style of man," and Washington was a real Christian. Too sincere to profess what he did not believe, and too great to be ashamed of what he did believe, he never hesitated to avow, by an open profession, his decided attachment to the religion of the cross. How constant and regular was his attendance on the duties of publick worship, and how solemn and devout was his deportment while thus engaged! On entering on any important trust, with what reverence and humility did he look up to the Father of Light for his guidance and favour; and never did he announce any signal publick blessing to his country, without gratefully ascribing it to the merciful interposition of an Almighty Benefactor. In his first official act as President of the United States, he addressed "his fervent supplications," (these are his own words,)" to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, and who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aid can supply every human defect, for his benediction on the government of the United States, that every instrument employed in its administration, might execute with success the functions allotted to his charge."-And after having imparted to Congress his sentiments on the important occasion, which then brought them together, he would not "take his leave of them without once more resorting to the benign parent of the human race, in humble supplication that his divine blessing might be rendered conspicuous in the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of the government must depend." Oh, my country! when this immortal man resigned the robe of civil authority→ could he with his mantle, but have left to his different successors in office a "por tion" of his pure and pious spirit, what an unspeakable benefit would have resulted to the American people! Extract of a letter from the Eastward, dated March 5, 1813. "I received another letter from........ yesterday-among other things he writes the revivals of religion in this region are greatly on the increase. The most grateful tidings constantly salute our ears from various other parts of our country. Many places in Massachusetts are blessed with copious showers of divine grace. În the town of Stockbridge, the work is wonderful, perhaps without a parallel-persons of all conditions of life, and of all ages, from ten years to upwards of seventy years, are monuments of the grace of God. The infidel and the universalist, equally with others, bow before the omnipotent arm of Jehovah. In many places in the western parts of the State of New-York, the out-pouring of God's Spirit is mighty to pulling down the strong holds of Satan's kingdom. In the town of Homer, a few weeks since, 100 persons were admitted into the Church at one time, and as many more are expected to be admitted at the next communion; and, blessed be God, we are not without tokens of his mercy in this place. About four weeks ago, there was a day of prayer for the revival of religion, observed by the Church here. It had beer The friends of infidelity have sometimes affected to question, whether, after all the recognitions made by Washington of the providence of God, he was really a believer in divine revelation. Let them be answered and silenced by the following quotations from his circular letter to the governours of the several states, on re signing his command of the American army." The free cultivation of letters the unbounded extension of commerce-the progressive refinement of mannersthe growing liberality of sentiment-and above all, the pure and benign light of revelation, have had a meliorating influence on mankind, and increased the blessings of society." "I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the state over which you preside, in his holy protection; and that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination, and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice-to love mercy-and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacifick temper of mind which were the characteristicks of the divine author of our blessed religion, without a humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. I have the honour to be, with much esteem and respect, Sir, Head-Quarters, Newburgh, June 18, 1783." appointed about a week, and so true is the word of God, that he will answer before we call, that at the prayer-meeting, we received the intelligence, that during the week preceding six persons were under solemn impressions. From that time, the work has been gradually on the increase-there are probably as many as 20, who are inquiring the way to Zion: among these we have reason to hope three or four have passed from death unto life. The change for the better is very great among religious people. May a gracious God preserve us from despising the day of small things, while we are anxiously looking forward for greater things than these." These are glad tidings indeed! What wonderful display of divine mercy is it, that in the midst of war, confusion, and wickedness, the Holy Spirit should be thus poured out on any part of our guilty land. "The revival of religion continues here. It has not diminished; but it does not increase, as fast as we are anxiously looking for. Thirteen will be taken into our Church the next Sabbath, and about 14 or 15 in the upper Church; 100 attended at a laté meeting held for persons under religious exercises. Professors appear to be roused as well as others a number meet every Thursday evening for prayer, &c. and appear much engaged. This is a token for good: may a Holy God cause the cloud to cover the whole land." Extract of a letter from a pious friend in Elizabeth-Town, dated March 15th, 1813. "I have the happiness to inform you, that it has been a very solemn winter with us. The Lord has done and is doing great things for us, whereof we are glad.-Not less than 150 souls are now deeply impressed and seriously inquiring the way to Zion." Extract of a letter from Mr. Wilberforce, of Great Britain, to a Member of the Bible Society of New-Jersey, dated 10th Sept. 1812. ❝ And now my dear Sir, let me hope that you will sympathize in the deep conoern with which my heart has been saddened in the afflicting prospect of a war between our two countries. Would to God, (I use not this solemn name, without the utmost seriousness,) that some son of meekness would cry out, "Sirs ye are Brethren," and who might have weight enough with your rulers, to awaken them to a due impression of the evils of war and the blessings of peace. And I must say if any admonitions can have this effect, it may be expected from some admirable papers, one of which, I think especially excellent, which was published in Boston.→→→ Surely, my dear Sir, surely there is, both on your side of the water and on ours, so much consideration as to dispose each to enter fairly into the situation of the other, and to become sensible that granting there may be on each side cause for complaint, yet that nothing but the extreme degree of passion or some worse principle could lead to its being deemed an adequate motive for bringing on both countries the greatest of all human evils, the consummation, as it too commonly is, of mortal fol lies and crimes, which generally produce their several punishments. I cannot but indulge a confident hope that the excellent institutions, which were the principal subject of your letter, may tend to cement a close and lasting friendship between our two countries, and have the blessed effect of diffusing with the word the Spirit also of the God of love.-I assure you I consider our Bible Societies, and the support, which in spite of prejudice they have received, as an indication of a smiling Provis dence, which fills me with hope and joy.” VIEW OF PUBLICK AFFAIRS. FOREIGN RUSSIA. In our last number we left the Russians returning to Moscow which had been recently evacuated by the French forces. Since that time they have continued to pursue their invaders with a great degree of enthusiasm; and the battles of Nara, Krasnoy, Beresina, and Wilna, have been so many victories which they have gained over the retreating army. The emperour Napoleon made this retreat under greater disadvantages than any with which he has had to contend in his astonishing course of military exploits. His armies, drawn almost into the heart of the Russian empire by the system of retreat which the Russians so steadily pursued, found themselves not only unable to support the rigours of the climate, but entirely deprived of provisions for themselves, and provender for their horses.-In this starving condition he commenced his retreat, pursued by clouds of Russians, among whom the Cossacks have made themselves very conspicuous, harassing the enemy in all directions, hovering on his flanks, and intercepting him in all his passes.-The accounts of such a precipitate and disastrous retreat must of course be confused, and it would be difficult for us to give a plain and concise statement of it, which would at the same time be entitled to the claim of accuracy. Suffice it to say that the Russians had doubtless passed the Niemen, but we have no authentick accounts of their having reached the Vistula. Memel and Koningsberg were in their possession. By the despatches of Lord Cathcart to his government, dated St. Petersburg, December 31st, it appears that after the battle of Kowno, which was fought on the 13th of December, the Russians were in possession of 41 Generals, 1,298 Officers, 167,516 Privates, and 1,131 Cannon. } Prisoners, It is stated, that in the short space of two days, the French lost $0,000 horses, by severity of weather and for want of provisions. The carnage of this dreadful retreat and pursuit, has been indeed horrible to contemplate; and though we have no means of ascertaining with precision the number of killed, yet it appears from the various statements before us that they cannot be less on both sides than the number of prisoners above stated. Whole corps have fallen in the field of battle; and, to use the phrase applied by the French to denote the utter extinction of some Bavarian and Saxon corpsils n'existent plus. From all this devastation the Emperour of France narrowly escaped, and arrived at Paris in the night of the 18th December. The Emperour Alexander had ordered a levy of 300,000 fresh troops. Gen. D'Yorck, commanding the Prussian forces, had deserted to the Russians with the whole force under his command, consisting of 30,000 men. GREAT BRITAIN. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has issued his Declaration' against this country, dated January 9th, 1815, which is to be considered as his manifesto, to the powers of the continent, explanatory of the causes of the war, and as his reply to the message of our Executive, which preceded the declaration of war. This document, drawn up, we understand, by Sir Vicary Gibbs, his majesty's attorney-general, has been translated into most of the languages of Europe. We pass over those parts |