cipated from the formation of a Church Establishment in India, will be realized; and that the various plans for the diffusion of true religion among its inhabitants, which have been so wisely laid and so auspiciously commenced by your lamented predecessor, will, under your superintendence and controul, advance with a steady and uninterrupted progress. They ground this assurance upon the rare union of intellectual and moral qualities which combine to form your character. They ground it upon the stedfastness of purpose, with which, from the period of your admission into the ministry, you have exclusively dedicated your time and talents to the peculiar studies of your sacred profession; abandoning that human learning in which you had already shewn that you were capable of attaining the highest excellence, and renouncing the certain prospect of literary fame. But, above all, they ground this assurance upon the signal proof of self-devotion, which you have given by your acceptance of the episcopal office. With respect to any other individual, who had been placed at the head of the Church Establishment in India, a suspicion might have been entertained that some worldly desire, some feeling of ambition, mingled itself with the motives by which he was actuated; but, in your case, such a suspicion would be destitute even of the semblance of truth: every enjoyment, which a well-regulated mind can derive from the possession of wealth, was placed within your reach: every avenue to professional distinction and dignity, if these had been the objects of your solicitude, lay open before you. What then was the motive which could incline you to quit your native land?-to exchange the delights of home for a tedious voyage to distant regions ?-to separate yourself from the friends with whom you had conversed from your earliest years? What, but an ardent wish to become the instrument of good to others a holy zeal in your Master's service-a firm persuasion, that it was your bounden duty to submit yourself unreservedly to His disposal; to shrink from no labour, which He might impose; to count no sacrifice hard, which He might require?

"Of the benefits, which will arise to the Indian Church from a spirit of selfdevotion so pure and so disinterested, the Society feel that it is impossible to form an exaggerated estimate.

"Nor has this act of self-devotion been the result of sudden impulse: it has been performed after serious reflection, and

with an accurate knowledge of the difficulties by which your path will be obstructed. You have not engaged in this holy warfare without previously counting the cost. So deeply were you impressed with the responsibility which must attach to the episcopal office in India, that you heșitated to accept it. But, upon maturer deliberation, you felt that a call was made upon you-a call, to disobey which would argue a culpable distrust of the protection of Him who made it. You assured yourself, that the requisite strength would be supplied by the same Almighty Power which imposed the burthen. Among the circumstances which have attended your recent appointment, the Society dwell upon this with peculiar satisfaction; inasmuch as it forms a striking feature of resemblance between your Lordship and your lamented predecessor; who, like you, originally felt, and, like you, subsequently overcame, a reluctance to undertake the administration of the Indian diocese.

"Before that accomplished prelate quitted his native shores, which he was, alas ! destined never to revisit, this Society, in a valedictory address, entreated him to honour with his countenance and protection their exertions for the propagation and maintenance of the Christian religion in the East. They stated their exertions to consist, in sending out missionariesin procuring translations, into the dialects of Hindostan, of the Scriptures and the Liturgy of our Church, and distributing them throughout the country-and in encouraging the erection of Schools, for the instruction of children, as well of Europeans as of Natives. They further invited his attention to the formation of institutions in imitation of the Diocesan and District Committees, which had about that period been established in different parts of England and Wales.

"In the designs recommended to his notice by the Society, your lamented predecessor was pleased to promise his cordial co-operation. Under his fostering care, Committees were formed in the three Presidencies and in Ceylon, from the labours of which the most beneficial results have arisen. The limits which the Society must prescribe to themselves in the present address, will not allow them to enter into a minute detail of their results: yet they cannot deny themselves the gratification of particularly referring to the re-establishment of the Vepery Mission Press, through the interposition of the Madras Committee; a measure fraught with the most important benefits

to the cause of the Gospel, since it supplies the means of diffusing through the whole of Southern India the word of knowledge and of life."

The Bishop of Calcutta, in his reply, strongly expressed "the settled purpose of his mind” to devote his best talents "to the great cause in which all our hearts are engaged, and for which is not our duty only, but our illustrious privilege, to labour." His Lordship has also pledged himself with equal animation to forward the excellent designs of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, particularly as respects their rising Mission College at Calcutta. To the Church Missionary Society, also, his Lordship has expressed his warm acknowledgement, for the confidence reposed in him, by placing at his disposal the sum of 1000%. which had been voted by that Society for the college for the year 1822. He had reason to believe that the sum may be most advantageously applied, in placing the printing department of the college on an efficient footing; but, on his arrival at Calcutta, he will confer on the best appropriation of this sum with the Society's Corresponding Committee. His Lordship entirely approves of the principles on which the Society's missions in the East have been conducted, and has proceeded to his destination with the most cordial disposition to render them every assistance in his power.

RELIGIOUS NECESSITIES OF

SOUTH AMERICA.

The blessed effects of the Bible Society, in binding together men of every name and nation in the ties of good will and brotherhood, are strikingly evinced in the following observations, delivered at the last anniversary of the United States Bible Society, held at New York, by a Spanish gentleman, Senor Vicente Rocafurte, a native of Peru. The speech is not less interesting, also, from the statements contained in it relative to the religious necessities of South America, and the possibility of supplying them. Senor ·Rocafurte remarked:

"Conscious as I am of the impossibility of expressing properly my thoughts in the English language, I would excuse myself from occupying a single moment of the time of this meeting; but the love of my country, superior to any self-consideration, impels me to break silence, and ask your indulgence.

"Born in South America, near the Equator, under the Spanish yoke and In

quisitorial fanaticism, how gratifying is it for me to meet here so many good Christians, the glory of America, and consolation of humanity! My joy can be better understood than described. Where can there be an emotion more pure and exalted, than that which I experience at this moment; seeing myself surrounded, for the first time in my life, by so many worthy supporters of religion, who, in spite of the apparent diversity in dress and worship, are all enlightened with the wisdom of the Bible, and united by the brotherly love of the Gospel? From this very difference of opinions and sects, results a harmony as admirable in the moral order as it is in the planetary system: and in the same manner as the different stars, at different distances, in submission to the same law of attraction, revolve without interfering, never altering the calmness of the sky; so Christians, subjected to the will of God as revealed in the Bible, meet one another with cheerfulness. Animated by the benevolent Spirit of the Gospel, they love their fellow-creatures, give up their passions, seek the road to heaven by a perfect self-denial of their own concerns, and serve the true God of charity, extending by their good actions the sphere of human happiness.

"This picture of virtue and religious tolerance is only to be found in the United States of America, in England, and among the nations which enjoy the benefit of free institutions; manifesting, in the purest light, the perfect concord and union between Christian morality, political liberty, and genuine principles of legislation.

"This truth is extremely important for a South American, conscious of the noble struggle in which his countrymen are engaged, to expel from their fruitful shores the monster of despotism; and to extinguish for ever that monastic superstition, the enemy to every useful reform

that lever which shakes the earth, fixing in heaven its point of support; which, in the name, and in behalf of religion, sacrificed to its avarice the innocent race of Peruvian Yncas, condemned to the stake the unfortunate Guatimozin, the last of the Mexican emperors, and established in unhappy America the sanguinary worship of Inquisitorial fanaticism. It is not enough to know that there is a perfect union between morality and legislation : its application to the new governments of America is indispensable.

"To you, noble promoters of virtue,

Provincial Estates are to be the legal organ of the various subordinate estates of each province. The king will cause to be sent to each of these assemblies, for discussion, those projects of laws which concern that particular province. So long as no general assembly is convened, the king will also send to the provincial assemblies such general projects of laws as relate to changes in taxation, and the rights of persons and property. He will further receive from them petitions and remonstrances; and will leave them to decide upon the commercial affairs of their respective provinces, subject to his approbation. It will, however, be wholly at his irresponsible discretion to summon the Estates General when he shall think it necessary; and should this seldom, or never, happen, the provincial assemblies will have no means of intercourse, unity, or effectual remonstrance. Still, though the measure is thus, and in other ways, very imperfect, we hail it as the beginning of a better system than that which has hitherto prevailed. The discussions in the assemblies, though they will be perhaps greatly shackled and unduly influenced, must gradually. work, new reformations, and enlighten the minds of the people, whom it seems to be the object of the allied Sovereigns on the continent to shroud in perpetual darkness, superstition, and servitude.

TURKEY.-We have no precise facts of individually great importance to lay before our readers respecting the advance of the cause of Greek freedom; but the general tone of the communications from that quarter is strongly in favour of it. The Turks have no victories to boast of, either by sea or land; and even this negative circumstance is a powerful argument in support of the insurgent interest. The Greeks, meanwhile, are strengthening themselves and exhausting their ene mies; and are acquiring that mutual good understanding and well-organized system which can scarcely fail of rendering them ultimately victorious. The differences between Turkey and Russia remain unsettled, notwithstanding the earnest intervention of the British ambassador.

DOMESTIC.

The temporary political stagnation usually attendant upon the close of Parliament, presents no events or discussions of a domestic nature which

particularly call for notice. The daily journals are filled chiefly with the reports of provincial trials. Some of the Judges, we observe, have expressed great satisfaction at being now permitted by law to restrict pronouncing sentence of death to those cases alone in which it is intended to be carried into execution. The solemn effect and moral impression of these painful exceptions have been greatly heightened by this wise regulation.-In consequence also of another recent, Act, the nation has been spared the disgusting and barbarous ceremonies which have given so much public. offence, in the case of suicides. The bodies of those fearfully presumptuous individuals, who rush uncalled to their awful account, may now be deposited privately in a burial ground, but not attended by the performance of those Christian rites, which are still justly confined by the Church to those who are supposed, in the judgment of charity," to die in the Lord." The alteration in the law merely sets aside "the cross-road, the stake, and the mallet," which punished the innocent survivors only, and not the suicide.— The magistrates, and others, in many parts of the country are turning their attention to several subjects of great public interest, particularly the improvement of Prison Discipline. In some instances they have succeeded in suppressing unchartered fairs, and they are about to use their efforts to do so in others. In some places also they have effectually availed themselves of Mr. Martin's bill to suppress bullbaiting, which had hitherto been permitted with impunity in some of our towns and villages.-We might mention many other circumstances which, however slight individually considered, taken together prove we trust that there is a spirit of improvement at work throughout the country, which will not rest till all our laws and national customs become what religion, justice, and humanity require that they should be.

The late assizes have witnessed, in almost every part of the kingdom, a very diminished amount of offences: a circumstance which is attributed, with great appearance of reason, to the institution of the Tread-mill, and its happy effect in debarring from the commission of crime. In some counties the calendar did not amount to half the number which it used to contain in former years; and as this re

duction has been most remarkable in situations where the tread-mill has been in most efficient operation, we are justified in assuming the beneficial tendency of this excellent secondary punishment, the inventor of which deserves well of his country and of humanity at large.

We were not aware when our last number went to press that the Marriage Bill had passed. The following are its chief provisions.-Its operation commences from the 1st of November ensuing. It repeals 26th George II. c. 33, and 4th George IV. c. 17, except so far as these Acts repeal former enactments. Banns are to be published three times in the usual form. If the parties reside in different parishes, the banns are to be published in both. The bishop, with the consent of the patron, may license any public chapel having a chapelry, for the marriage of inhabitants of that chapelry or extra-parochial place; a conspicuous notice being placed in the chapel that the chapel is licensed for that purpose. The chapel-warden, or other officer, is to see that the legal forms are complied with; and the chapel registry is to be kept similarly to that in churches. Banns are in every case to be published from a book provided for the purpose, and not from loose papers. The Clergy are not obliged to publish banns under seven days' written notice, containing the names, abodes, and required residence of the parties. Banns are to be republished if the marriage is not solemnized within three months. Licences shall be given only for marriage in the parish in which one of the parties has resided fifteen days. If any person, giving his name and abode, enters a caveat, a licence shall not be issued till the judge out of whose office the licence is to issue has examined the matter, or till the caveat is withdrawn. Extraparochial places shall belong, for the purposes of this Act, to the next adjoining parish or chapelry. For avoiding fraud and collusion in obtaining licences, one of the parties shall swear before the surrogate that he or she knows of no lawful impediment; that one of the parties has lived the fifteen days preceding within the parish where the marriage is to be solem

nized; and, where either of the parties is under age, and not a widow or widower, that the persons required to give consent have given it. The persons to give consent are-the father, if living; or the guardians, or one of them, if the father is dead; or the mother, if unmarried, and there are no guardians; if the mother is married, then the guardians appointed by the Court of Chancery. If the parties required to give consent are beyond sea, or non compos mentis, then the Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Master of the Rolls, or Vice-Chancellor, may, if the marriage is proper, give consent. Licences remain in force only three mouths. None of the provisions of the Act affect special licences. Persons solemnizing marriages without being in Holy Orders, or without licence or banns, or elsewhere than in a church or public chapel, shall be transported for fourteen years; and marriages wilfully contracted under any of these circumstances shall be void. Where a valid marriage is solemnized contrary to this Act, by a false oath or fraud, and either party is under age, the delinquent party forfeits all property accruing from the marriage, which is to be secured, on the application of the non-consenting parent or guar dian, to the innocent party and the children; and if both the parties have offended, to the children, with such a life-interest only to the offenders as the Court of Chaucery may think reasonable. The parent or guardian must prove that he did not discover the marriage till within three months before his application. Information for the forfeiture of the property must he filed within a year of the marriage. The actual residence of the parties shall not be called in question after they are married. There are to be two witnesses to a marriage; and the register is to be in the usual form. False entries, forging, and destroying registers, are to be visited with fourteen years' transportation. The Royal Family, Quakers, and Jews, are exempted from the Act, which extends only to England.

We may take another opportunity of commenting on some of these provisions.