people, nevertheless, generally bore their privations with great patience. Riots had mostly ceased, and designing incendiaries were discountenanced. It seemed to be the general expectation, that the first business of Parliament after it should convene, would be, to take some measures to relieve the general distress. The last accounts, however, state that the ministers of the crown discountenanced the idea of relief from the national treasury. It does indeed seem as if the unequal distribution of property in Britain, had brought the nation very near to a fearful crisis. For a large mass of population to be literally famishing with hunger, in view of others who are wallowing in wealth and luxury, is a state of things which cannot long continue, in a community where so much information is possessed, and where the love of liberty is so ardent, as it is in Britain. Some measures must ultimately, and we think speedily, be taken, to bring the different classes of society, in point of property and enjoyment, nearer together.

The elections for members of parliament seem in general to have resulted in favour of the ministerial party and candidates. Cobbett and Hunt had not only been disappointed, but distanced in the contest. We are not able to say whether the friends of Catholick emancipation have, on the whole, gained or lost, in members of Parliament, by the late elections. The dignified Catholick clergy have recently issued a manifesto in England, stating their religious and political creed; with a view to show that their principles are not dangerous or unfriendly to a Protestant state. The paper is ably and artfully drawn up. What effect it will have remains to be seen-Parliament had been a second time prorogued-to the 24th of August-Business of every kind, in the manufacturing and commercial world, was enervated, and in some places almost at a stand. Yet in London money was plenty-The capitalists knew not how or where to employ their funds-The harvest of grain in England, and the crop of potatoes in Ireland, happily for the poor, promised to be abundant.

FRANCE. The last arrivals from Europe bring information that the French armed vessels, in the ports and on the coast of Spain, chase the Colombian privateers that appear there, and treat them as enemies. This doubtless is war with Colombia in fact, at the very time that the agents of France are endeavouring to obtain commercial fa vours from that republick. The truth is that France is sadly embarrassed by her connexion with Spain. She must support Spain, or receive no compensation for her late military operations there; and she cannot support Spain without losing all the advantages of commercial intercourse with her late colonies on the American Continent.

An entire calm seems at present to prevail in the interior of France. Except the above, we notice nothing in this kingdom, during the past month, of general interest -The French chambers were adjourned on the 6th of July, amidst cries of vive le Roy-Trade and manufactures are in a depressed state, but not accompanied with extreme suffering among the poor, as in Britain.

SPAIN.--We learn that the king of Spain has manifested the most marked displeasure, on receiving the intelligence of the course about to be pursued by the emperor Don Pedro, with respect to Portugal. He acted like himself, that is, very childishly, on the occasion; called all the foreign ambassadors about him, and uttered his complaints to them; and kept his palace in confusion for a whole day. His great fear is, that the liberal party, still existing in Spain, may give him new trouble, if the projects of Don Pedro, in regard to the neighbouring kingdom, should be realized. It is said that his cabinet has addressed notes to the ministers of France, Austria and Russia, to induce their respective governments to prevent, by all possible means, the carrying into effect of the Constitution granted to Fortugal. How they will " it up" time will disclose.

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It also appears that the Algerine cruisers have recently been ravaging the coast of Spain, and that the Spanish monarch has purchased a peace of the Dey of Algiers, at the price of six millions of reals-The declension of commerce at Cadiz is said to have banished a fourth part of the population, and to have reduced the remainder to a state of wretchedness. Insurrection, and the fear of insurrection, in various places, requires constantly the marching and countermarching of troops, to keep the people in awe. In Madrid itself, order is sustained only by military force.

PORTUGAL.-Arrangements seem to be quietly going forward in this kingdom-the alarm of Spain notwithstanding-to carry into effect the new constitution granted by the emperor Don Pedro. He has published a general amnesty to all criminals in Portugal.

ROME. It is said that the massacre at Missolonghi, has made so deep an impression on the Roman Pontiff, that he has it in contemplation to address a letter, in favour of the Greeks, to all the Christian potentates. But why, we ask, this circuitous way to

effect his object? He has had a direct influence with the Grand Senior, to obtain a Firman to suppress the distribution of the sacred scriptures, in every part of the Ottoman empire; and will not the same good friend, again listen to him, when he pleads for the poor Greeks? But most seriously, if the Pope is really animated with a desire to serve the Greeks, we give him credit for his humanity; and only wish that he had, pro hac vice, the influence with Christian princes which his predecessors once had But he has it not; and those princes will give all his entreaties to the wind, unless they perceive that they can promote some of their own selfish views, by complying with them.

The most vigorous measures have been taken at Rome, for the entire suppression, and prevention hereafter, of all secret societies, in all the states of the church. To favour them in any way, is declared to be high treason, and punishable by death. The bishop appointed by the Pope for Louisiana, has resigned his appointment.

GREECE. The capture of Missolonghi seems to have had the most disheartening effect on the whole of Greece. The Turkish forces march in all directions, with very little opposition, or even annoyance-Ibrahim Pacha, on his way from Patras to Trippolitza, dispersed, without a conflict, the small Greek bands which lay in his route, took several small fortresses, without resistance, and on his near approach to Trippolitza, the 3000 troops which had been embodied there under Colcotroni, were reduced by desertion to 500; and these, with their commander, took to flight. Measures were taken for the reduction of Athens-From what quarter deliverance is to arise for Greece, we know not; and yet we do not resign our hope that it will appear.

TURKEY.-The present Grand Senior, who with the cruelty of an infernal seems to unite much courage and general talent, has made an attempt, which promises to be successful, entirely to annihilate, throughout his whole dominions, the military corps of Janisaries-heretofore the strong arm, and chief reliance of the Ottoman power. It appears the state of things had come to that pass, that the Sultan must either de stroy the Janisaries, or that they would dethrone and decapitate him; as their order have heretofore been wont to do, when a Sultan incurred their displeasure. In these circumstances, the present Sultan, by wily management, concealed from them his purpose, till he had made sure of the support of the other troops, Asiatick and Egyptian; and then made a daring attack on the quarters of the Janisaries in Constantinople, routed them completely, and spared none till he had obtained a complete victory. He has since abolished the whole order, and sought by every art he can invent, to extinguish it utterly, by rendering it dangerous and disgraceful to show a Janisary the least favour or affection. There are, however, yet remaining in Turkey, a number of Janisary corps and stations, not reduced; and a reaction may possibly take place. If not, it is not easy to say, what will be the consequence of this change in the Turkish system. It will probably be followed by important consequences of some kind.

RUSSIA. It is said in the Paris papers, that accounts had been received there from St. Petersburgh, of the date of July 4th, stating that the sentence of the conspirators had been pronounced, and that only seven were condemned to death. Other accounts say, that the Emperor Nicholas is opposed to inflicting this sentence on any of the guilty. We believe the truth is, that there is great and extensive uneasiness in the emperor's dominions, and that he wishes to take that course which will cause the least excitement, but is really at a loss how to act. It is said that when he caused it to be made known to the troops in his capital, that he had satisfactorily adjusted all his difficulties with the Porte, the officers received the information with sullen silence. They no doubt wished for a war, and are disobliged that their wishes have been disappointed.

SWEDEN.-It appears that there has been a failure of the harvest in Sweden, and that a consequent scarcity is fully expected. Great damage has also been sustained by fires raging in the forests, in almost all the provinces of this kingdom.

ASIA.

We believe the Burmese war is terminated. A British paper says "The following article was taken from the Madras Courier extra, of March 29th, 1826

"The treaty of peace ratified by the king, and accompanied by the first instalment, twenty-five lacks, of the pecuniary part of the price of it, was delivered to our com missioners, by a deputation of ministers sent from the Golden Court to our head quar ters at Yeandaboo, forty-two miles from Ava, on the 24th of February-when royal salutes were fired by our forces, and tokens of friendship exchanged between the two parties, on the occasion."

We have heard nothing very recently of the missionaries; but our understanding is, that they are safe; and that by acting as mediators and interpreters for the Burmese, they have obtained their good will, and thus have brightened their prospects of success in disseminating the gospel among them.

AFRICA.

The British, it appears, are prosecuting their exploring expeditions into the heart of Africa, with great zeal and perseverance; and if the articles which appear in the publick papers may be relied on, the prospect of complete success is better now than at any former period. Morocco is suffering dreadfully by famine and disease.

We learn with pleasure from the African Repository for August, printed at Wash ington city, that "the governor of Sierra Leone has laid a blockade on the line of coast reaching from that colony to Cape Mount inclusive;" and that "Captains Chase and Cottrell have either captured, or 'payed' away every Guineaman, known to be on any part of the coast, between Cape Palmas and Sierra Leone." Our own colony at Liberia, has also interdicted the slave trade, "on the whole line of coast between Cape Mount and Trade Town, both inclusive." In all this we cordially rejoice; but yet it is a fact which ought not to be concealed, that the slave trade is still carried on, to a most shocking extent--Probably there is little diminution in the number of slaves now carried from the African coast, and that of any former period-The parties to this infamous traffick are chiefly French, Spaniards and Portuguese. AMERICA.

PANAMA. The Congress at Panama has at length been opened. The discourse delivered on the occasion by Senor Vidaurre has been brought to this country; and it is said to be in the hands of a translator for the purpose of publication-It is probably a paper in which many will take a deep interest.

BRAZIL AND BUENOS AYRES.-We have recently heard nothing which we deem worth reporting, of the war which still exists between these states; unless it be that Admiral Brown is closely blockaded by the Brazilian squadron.

COLOMBIA. The executive department of the government of Colombia have published a manifesto, relative to the insurrection in Venezuela, of the date of the 12th of July last. The government vindicates itself against all the charges brought against it by General Paez, and calls upon the nation to defend and sustain the sacred code of her liberties. It appears by the last accounts that the cause of Paez is far less popular than we had supposed it to be. It seems that the country in general is not with him, but against him. He will therefore probably be subdued: but as he commands a considerable army of disciplined troops, who appear to be attached to him, much blood will, we fear, be shed in the conflict, unless it shall be prevented by the arrival of Bolivar.

On the 18th of June last, a most terrifick earthquake took place at Bogota. Some houses were entirely thrown down, and very many greatly injured. The terror occa sioned by the shock was extreme, and yet it is stated that only three lives were lost. GUATEMALA.-It appears that about a year ago the Government of the Republick of Central America, called for proposals for effecting a navigable communication between the Atlantick and Pacifick Oceans, through Nicaragua, one of the States of Central America; and that several companies have been formed for the purpose in Europe, as well as one, if not more, in the United States. Official information has lately been transmitted to President Adams, that the contract for this noble and inte. resting undertaking, has been given to the company in New York, of which A. H. Palmer, Esq. is a leading member. The route of the contemplated canal is by the river St. John into the Lake of Nicaragua, and from the western extremity of that lake, about seventeen miles, to the Pacifick. The company is to have the right of toll, and certain other exclusive privileges, supposed to be of great value. A plan of this kind has been long in contemplation; and if it shall be successfully executed, it will produce wonderful changes in the commercial world-A voyage from our country to the Gallipagos, or even to the Otaheitan or Sandwich Islands, will be about as easy as to Britain, France, or Spain.

UNITED STATES.-At the commencement of the present season, the prospects of our country, in regard to the fruits of the earth, seemed to be gloomy; but it is drawing to a close in a manner which demands our warmest gratitude to the Giver of all good, for the happy change which has taken place. The abundant, and even superabundant rains, which have fallen, and the warmth with which they have been accompanied, have produced an unusual plenty of almost every vegetable production, and of the best qualities. Losses, indeed, to a considerable amount, have been sustained, as the effects of torrents. But the general benefit is great and unexpected. Nor, as yet, has that scourge of our country, the yellow fever, appeared in any part of our land. Health, as well as plenty, generally prevails. "O that man would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

DECEMBER, 1826.

Heligious Communications.