part of our allies, yet the course of events during the last twelve years, would have sufficiently proved the comparative inefficiency of large confederacies, composed as they must be of heterogeneous materials, and actuated by a variety of contending interests. It would therefore justly be esteemed the height of folly, if with our recent experience, we should plunge again into a war, depending on the aid of those powcrs who have already forfeited every claim to confidence, and have so often abused the liberality of Great Britain.

Let it never be forgotten, that bent as those powers have shewn themselves to be on the extension of their own territories, whatever sacrifice of principle and good faith it may cost, it is always in the power of France to detach them from any coalition they might form with us, by merely holding out the plunder and partition of Turkey as a bait for their cupidity.

When we consider these thingswhen we consider also the state of our finances, the irritable and exposed condition of Ireland, and the great objects of national improvement which demand the attention of government, but which, in case of war, must necessarily be postponed: we do most anxiously wish that it may please the disposer of all events to preserve to us the blessing of peace; and to maintain in our rulers a spirit of moderation and forbearance, that influenced in no degree by feelings of resentment, pride, or vain glory, nor by popular clamour should it be employed, they may wait the clear and unequivocal call of duty-the impulse of necessity, before they engage in a war which must be productive of extensive and complicated evils. We trust that it may please God to grant us a long interval of repose, and that they will sedulously employ the golden opportunity in restoring the nation to a sane and healthful state. To introduce into the administration of our finances a strict and undeviating economy, and to retrench every needless expense; to revise the poor laws, with an especial reference to the comfort and moral habits of the poor; so to amend our system of police, that it may serve to prevent as well as to punish crimes;

to facilitate the cultivation of our waste lands, and the improvement of our fisheries, in order to furnish both employment and sustenance to the poor; to promote population, the great sinew of our strength, and prevent emigrations; to take measures for improving the condition of the clergy in every part of the country, and providing for the spiritual instruction of the people; to repress and punish that shameless profligacy which pervades, not less the higher than the lower ranks, and which proves the fruitful source of crimes; to ensure the attachment of our soldiers and sailors, by attending not only to their comfort, but to that of their families; to promote a general system of education for youth which shall have for its object their careful instruction in the duties they owe to God and man, and the formation of habits of sobriety and useful industry; to provide adequate remedies for the distempered state of Ireland; to inspect the administration of our immense empire in India, and to frame such regulations as may prevent its being a source of weakness instead of strength to this country; to amend the existing system of our West Indian possessions; and to open new sources of wealth in Africa and elsewhere; are some of the objects which, in the peculiarly critical circumstances of the present period, seem to require the legis lative interference of our imperial parliament, and the active vigilance of our executive government. We trust they will meet with that attention from both which they merit; and that under the blessing and superintending care of Providence, the deliberations and measures of our rulers, will be made conducive to the maintenance of tranquillity, both foreign and domestic,, the increase of national prosperity, the promotion of the paramount interests of morality and religion, and the advancement of the glory of God. Nov. 21, 1802.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. ON the 16th inst. the Parliament assembled, when the House of Commons proceeded to the election of a Speaker. On the motion of Sir, William Scott, seconded by Mr. H. Lascelles, the Right Honourable Charles Abbott

cellor of the Exchequer and Lord Castlereagh, and here it will strike our readers that the line they profess to take, with respect to continental politics, differs, in no great degree, from what will be found on that subject in our prefatory observations.

"The grand principle," they observed, "on which peace was made, was, that for us to continue the war for continental objects, without any continental support, would be equally idle and absurd. In regard to continental objects our expectations had ceased; it was better therefore to take the chance of peace than of war. Countries indeed" they admit, "have duties as well as individuals: the best policy by which both can be actuated is that exalted benevolence, which while it seeks the happiness of the object exercising it, is ever anxious to relieve the oppressed and redress the injured; and on this ground, among others, we should not give up the continent. But yet, we are not bound to become political knights errant, and to throw down the gauntlet in cases where our interference must be unavailing. With respect to the cruel and oppressive partition of Poland, for instance, there existed in this country but one opinion, yet does any one impute blame to us for not having involved ourselves in war in order to rescue that ill fated country from the miseries to which it was subjected. King William, fond as he was of continental politics, deemed it unwise to interpose without a sufficient cooperation. His Majesty's ministers are anxious to preserve unimpaired the relations of peace and amity with France; but if they were not, does any prospect of active support present itself in any part of the continent? And even, if they had such a prospect, it would not prove the propriety of going to war. If a barrier could have been erected against the encroachments of France, it ought not to have been neglected. Never was any thing more unjust than her conduct in the affair of the indemnities and in that of Switzerland: but would that circumstance in the present state of Europe warrant our re-engaging in war, which is at all times a dreadful evil? If peace can be maintained with honour, it is better it should be maintained. As to Switzerland no encouragement was given by our government to the discontented in that country, nor has its dignity been compromised by any unavailing interference. In short, the object of his Majesty's ministers will be to improve the peace that has been made, while they vigilant ly watch the course of events, and are prepared for every exigency. Their policy will be not to abstract this country from the continent altogether and confine it to its insular interest alone; not to accelerate its interference in continental discussions, upon light and trivial grounds: but to consider its interests, as they should be viewed by every wise man, upon the principles by which they have been hitherto promoted,regulated, and established." The long expected ambassador from France, Gen. Andreussi, has at length arrived in town.

Lord Whitworth, our ambassador to France, has likewise arrived at Paris.

On the 17th a convocation, by virtue of the king's writ, was held at the chapter house in St. Paul's church-yard.

The prayers and litany were read in Latin by the bishop of Rochester.

The sermon was preached by the archdeacon of St. Alban's. He took his text in the original Greek language, and preached the sermon in Latin; it lasted twenty-five minutes, but of course not to the edification of the major part of his numerous congregation. After the whole of the service, the archbishop of Canterbury gave the blessing in English.

one.

The public attention has been much occupied by the apprehension of Colonel Despard, and a number of others, on a charge of a treasonable conspiracy. He, together with thirtytwo labouring men and soldiers, were seized at a public house at Lambeth on the night of the 16th, and the printed form of an oath of a very treasonable description, together with a copy of seditious toasts, being found upon them, left little room to doubt that the object of their meeting was a very criminal The whole affair is involved at present in considerable obscurity, no very precise information being as yet afforded to the public respecting it. The life of the king, it is said, was to be attacked on going to the house of Lords, although, unless the conspiracy be of a more extensive nature than is yet known, we do not see what the conspirators could have promised themselves from such an attempt. It seems to be more certain that a main object of the conspirators was to seduce the guards from their allegiance, and in a few instances they appear to have succeeded. But whatever may have been the real and ultimate drift of the conspirators, we have abundant cause for gratitude to God, that their purposes have for the present been defeated by the seasonable vigilance of government.

The directors of the bank have consented to postpone the redemption of the omnium which was fixed for the 10th of December, on condition that the holders of the scrip shall make good the last payment of 15 per cent. on the 17th of December next; and that they shall pay 40 per cent. of the advances made by the bank on the 21st of January; 30 per cent. on the 18th of February; and 30 per cent. on the 18th of March. This resolution has not had the effect of raising the stocks, which have continued, the consols at about 68, and omnium at a discount of about 10 per cent.

A minute inspection of all the dock yards, and other great depots of naval stores, under the eye of the present first lord of the admiralty, has proved, it is said, effectually corrective of the old complicated system under which the nation has been so long and shamefully defrauded.

A murder, accompanied by circumstances of peculiar atrocity, was lately committed on

Hounslow Heath. The unhappy sufferer was Mr. Steele, of Catherine-street in the Strand. A great degree of vigilance has been exerted by the police for the discovery of the perpetrators of this horrid act, but they have hitherto eluded pursuit. Strong hopes however are entertained of their apprehension.

On the 25th of October came on at the Old Bailey the trial of Richard Codling the captain, John Reid the supercargo, and Geo. Easterby and Wm Macfarlane the owners of the brig Adventure, which we stated to have been fraudulently sunk in the neighbourhood of Brighton. Reid was acquitted, but the other three, their criminality being substantiated by the most satisfactory evidence, were found guilty. The judge immediately passed sentence of death on Codling, but the case of the owners was reserved for the opinion of the twelve judges.

We are happy to say, that by the laudable and unremitting exertions of the SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF VICE, John Har

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. SIR,

ris, another of those pests of the community who are employed in corrupting the public morals by the dissemination of books and prints of a most horrid tendency, has been brought to justice. He has been sentenced to two years imprisonment in the Cold Bathfields house of correction, and to stand in the pillory once.

IRELAND.

We are extremely concerned to perceive the continuance of a spirit of insubordination and rapine in several parts of this county. The most flagitious outrages are said to be frequently committed on the persons and oroperty of the peaceable and loyal inhabitants. We trust that the state of our Sister Kingdom will occupy the serious attention of Parliament, and that effectual measures will be taken both for securing its present peace, and for ameliorating the moral state of its inhabitants, so as to lay a foundation for permanent tranquillity and prosperity.

THE kind reception which you have given to the short history which I transmitted to you, of my eldest son, encourages me to proceed in sending you some anecdotes of the rest of my children, whom it pleased God to remove from this state of trial, during the vigour of their youth.

Five years after the death of that son, it seemed good to the wise Disposer of all events, to deprive me of one of my daughters, by the same disorder which had proved fatal to her brother.

My daughter A. was impressed from her infancy with a serious sense of eternal things, so that the work of grace upon her heart was such as our Lord describes in one of his parables. So is the kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up be knoweth not how For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 26.

Here it may not be improper to remark, that when the Spirit of God makes use of education as the means of producing sound conver sion, we are not always to expect such a sudden change of conduct as we see happily to take place in some who have lived in the contempt or neglect of religion. The seed instilled by the care of a parent or guardian, and watered with daily prayers and instructions, groweth up we know not how, but bringeth forth in the end the genuine fruits of righteousness. Those who have been thus gradually led to a right faith in Jesus Christ, and a sincere dedication of themselves to his service, ought not to be disturbed because they cannot fix on any distinct period of their

lives, when their views and tempers were suddenly changed. If such persons, from a consciousness of their guilt and innate depravity, have fled to Christ for refuge from the curse of God's law; if their hopes of justification and salvation are fixed on the merits of their Redeemer; and if the love of God and of all mankind is truly shed abroad in their hearts; they have reason to rejoice in God as their Saviour, and to look forward with a confident hope of future glory.

She

My daughter A. was in many respects a pattern to the younger part of the family was diligent, frugal, and industrious, while she was at school; and continued to be so when she had arrived at adult age.

The temper of her mind, with respect to spiritual things at this period of life, will be most clearly shewn by a few extracts from the papers found in her burean after her death, To which I must add, that her conduct was conformable to these private thoughts.

Her watchfulness over her own heart, appears from the following observations which she had made upon herself. "I want to feel a more universal love to God, that all my actions may be governed by that-my thoughts and my affections. I find dispositions rising daily which are contrary to this. I seem to want to appear religions, and to be thought well of; and because one in the family behaves towards me as if he thought I was very loose in my notions of religion, I find great risings against him. This is an unchristian temper. If I had that humility which the Gospel requires, I should know, that no opinion of me is too mean. My corrupt nature rebels against this; and this will hinder m growth in grace, if not subdued O God, t power alone can work a true change in r and subdue my heart to thee."

Again she writes thus-"I fear I do many times dishonour God, by a very hasty temper. If I were truely humble, should I be so soon. hurt, and put out of temper, by any little incivility? Oh, I desire it, that whenever I give way to this disposition, I may suffer from it, and feel how hateful it is in God's sight."

Her watchfulness over the state of her mind in company, appears from the following remark. "I have this day had some friends with me who are quite worldly people; and though our conversation has had, I trust, nothing inconsistent with godliness in it, yet my heart has not been with God. O dreadful state of insensibility!"

On this head, I find the following remark, either made by herself, or extracted from some author she had been reading. "Those christians who are unavoidably obliged to be sometimes in the company of the ungodly, will never have peace in their own minds, if they do not deal faithfully with such."

Her earnest desires after holiness, are shewn in such reflections as these-"I want a principle of godliness in the soul at all times guiding me? "I trust I can say with sincerity, that it is, and shall be, my endeavour to strive against sing"

"I find that I have been expecting and desiring to be impelled by the influences of God's Spirit, to do his will, without giving myself the pain of striving to overcome by grace.

"Instead of resolving to give up my own ease and pleasure, rather than not do my duty to God and man; I seem to leave that determination till the trial should come. O God, give me power and strength to do all thy will, however contrary to flesh and blood."

Her watchfulness over her mind, in prayer and other religious exercises, appears from the following reflections upon her own conduct.

past seven to my own room, till supper-after supper, amuse myself as I like best."

In this short account of her daily employments, there is no mention made of visiting, or working for the poor, in both which she was frequently employed. These labours of love, I suppose, were included under the heads of walking and working.

Some forms of prayer were found written in a small book, which seemed to have been much used.

She had begun a kind of common-place book of the Scriptures, with the view of extracting, and classing under proper heads, such passages as she judged most applicable to her own ease, and suitable to advance the Christian life. The heads were such as these

"The passages of Scripture which excite confidence in God."-" The promises of God to those who are desirous to love him, and to those who have chosen him for their God." She had also written out many passages, describing the distinguishing characters of the children of God.

These short extracts will serve to convey some idea how the days of her youth were spent.

When she was twenty-three years of age, she was seized with a spitting of blood, which brought her life into some danger. However, it pleased God at that time to restore her health; but the disease returned in her twenty-sixth year, and brought on a consumption, which proved fatal to her soon after she had completed that year.

Soon after her recovery from the former attack, her mind was much exercised for some time with a trial of too delicate a nature to be minutely related. Suffice it to say, that a considerable struggle took place, in which religion triumphed over a temporary affection.

&c.

I am not certain at what age she wrote down the following rules for spending the day, as the memorandum bears no date; but I apprehend it must have been several years before her death. "Read some portion of Scripture before breakfast. If I have not time before, immediately after. Settle household matters. Then spend half an hour in reading English grammar. After that, work the remainler of the morning, leaving time for walking id dressing. After dinner work a little

en read some serious book; after tea, read ory-work if I have time. Retire at half

In this furnace of affliction her gracious Saviour meant, I doubt not, to purify her soul; and, indeed, she came out of it as gold purified in the fire. As her disease increased, the tranquillity of her mind was restored; and she was at last enabled to rejoice in God her Saviour.

I shall communicate an account of her be