to train them up in the principles of piety and virtue, and they appear to approach nearer to the state of primeval innocence and simplicity, than, perhaps, any other community. Their condition presents a delightful picture of social happiness. The Bible is their directory. Most of them, who are above ten years of age, can read it. A considerable part of their time is employed in offering up praises to the Almighty. Nearly the whole of the Sabbath is spent in prayer, singing, and reading the Holy Scriptures. Every morning, at four o'clock, they assemble in their respective habitations for family worship, when an appropriate psalm is sung. At eleven, all the families meet together on a green, in the front of their dwellings, when John Adams reads prayers and portions of the Scriptures, and one or two psalms are sung. Before sunset, they thus assemble again. Afterwards, they have family prayer, sing the Evening Hymn, and retire to rest.

"This little island is extremely healthy, and produces, with very little labour, all the necessaries of life, and some of its luxuries. The scenery, where this interesting portion of the human race have fixed their habitations, is described as peculiarly picturesque and beautiful.

From this remote, and, in various respects desirable spot, anxiety, however, is not excluded. The number of ships which touch at this island, both English and American, is now much greater than formerly. John Adams is apprehensive that this may lead to an intercourse between strangers and his people, injurious to their morals and happiness. Although possessing considerable physical strength with the use of his faculties entire, he is yet sensible of his advancing age, and feels desirous, as do the adult portion of his large family, that an individual, of weight and excellence of character, to acquire over the people a personal influence at once just and beneficial, should settle in the island during his life-time. The plans such an individual might form for promoting the education, religious improvement, and social welfare of the people, John Adams would second with all the influence which he himself derives from their confirmed attachment and affectionate veneration.

"It it the desire of Mr. Adams and his people, that the person who may settle on the island with those views should be an Englishman, a minister, and that he should be sent out under the sanction of the London Missionary Society."

Pitcairn's Island is about six miles in length by three in breadth, and would therefore, with a population as dense as that of the Netherlands or Ireland, sustain from 3000 to 4000 people. It is very fertile, and enjoys a fine climate, being situated twenty-five degrees south of the equator, and surrounded by a wide ex

panse of ocean. Its interesting inhabitants are represented by all who have visited them, as very neat in their dwellings, active and industrious in their habits, and affectionate, cheerful, and modest in their intercourse with each other. Their venerable patriarch is now nearly or quite seventy years of age. We ear. nestly pray that his successor may be chosen and prepared of God for his paternal office; we know of no trust so interesting and so sacred as that which will be confided to his hands.

REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. NETTLETON, to the Editor of the Christian Mirror, dated, Bolton, Conn. Nov. 25th, 1823.

"The revival of religion in the eastern part of the State of Counecticut, has perhaps never been more interesting than within a few weeks past. I propose to give you the outlines of it from its commencement. It has heretofore been a common remark among christians, that revivals have ever been much less frequent and less powerful, in the eastern, than in the western part of this State. Many of these churches have in years past been favored with seasons more or less reviving; but never with such a general and powerful refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

This revival commenced in Somers June 1822; and has continued, increasing and spreading like a fire from house to house, and from heart to heart, over sixteen or eighteen churches and congregations, with more or less power and rapidity until the present moment.

The following towns and societies are contiguous, and have all shared in one extensive revival :

In Somers, 150 have hopefully been made the subjects of divine grace.-In South Wilbraham 100-In Ellington it commenced with power in one congregation, and within a few days, a number were rejoicing in hope, when all at once it stopped-In Tolland, during one week 30 were rejoicing in hope: the number of hopeful conversions there is 130.-In North Coventry 120.--In South Coventry, North Mansfield, and South Mansfield, about 100 each.-In Columbia 40.-In Lebanon 90.-In Goshen 30.-In Bozrah between 60 and 70.-In Montville 90.In Chaplin 50.-The work has recently commenced, and is advancing with power in Hampton, and within a few weeks, 50 or more are rejoicing in hope."

In the above cluster of towns, including Millington and Colchester, where very interesting revivals have commenced within a few weeks past, the number of those in the congregational societies, who have

criminal by the "ordinary punishment of hanging."

The Holy Alliance may now enjoy a respite from their paternal labors for the good of Europe, but that their work is ended is more than appearances permit us to believe. There is still existing, not only in prostrate Spain, but in the whole family of Europe a spirit which, however it may be awed and checked for a time, can by no physical force be ultimately destroyed.

ENGLAND.-A considerable naval force has recently been fitting in the ports of England for foreign service. There has been some speculation among editors, French as well as English, respecting the object of this force; its immediate destination, it is said, is to the West Indies, though there are strong reasons for believing that it has an ultimate reference to the dispo*sition which the Allied Powers may manifest towards the republics of South America. For ourselves we see nothing in the late ferment respecting slavery in the West Indies, which should require the presence of so important an armament.

GREECE.--Recent accounts from this quarter are conflicting and unsatisfactory. A careful review however of the closing campaign authorizes us to say that it has been disastrous to the Turks, because in all its important points, they have failed of

success.

mans.

"The Swiss had sent off two convoys of arms, munitions, medicines, common and lithographic presses, with surgeons and engineers."

The Greek Society at London has sent a second agent to Greece.

DOMESTIC.

In the United States the cause of the Greeks has recently excited an unusual degree of attention. At an early period

of the present session of Congress, Mr. Webster of Massachusetts submitted to the House of Representatives a resolution, providing for the expences incident to the appointment of an Agent or Commis sioner to Greece, whenever the President shall deem it expedient to make such appointment.

In offering the resolution, Mr. Webster stated,it was far from being his wish,in any manner, to commit the House, in this or any of the political contests of Europe; but the President of the United States having, in his message to Congress, not only expressed a belief that the Greek nation in its present struggle with its opposers, had the good wishes of the whole civilized world, but also advanced the opinion that the Turkish dominion over that country, was lost forever; he thought that if such were the fact, it was important that congress should act upon the subject. The main object he had in view he confessed, was to obtain from this House, an expression, responsive to the sentiment of the Message, in reference to the sacrifices and sufferings of that heroic people-sacrifices and sufferings, which ought to excite the sympathy of every liberal minded mau in Europe as well as in this country. But whatever might be the case with other na tions, we certainly ought not to be restrained rom expressing, with freedom

what are our views in relation to the Greek cause, so far as may be done without committing ourselves in the contest. And he really did hope that we should show to the world, that there is at least, one government which does entertain a proper view of that barbarous despotism, which under the eyes of Europe,has been permitted, by a system of the foulest atrocity, to attempt to crush an interesting christian nation.

In most of our large towns and Literary Institutions, meetings have been held in reference to this subject, and resolutions adopted, expressive of sentiments alike honorable to our citizens as members of a free community, and as friends of humanity. They speak a language worthy of the cause which called them forth, and such as the circumstances of the age require. They are a proof too, of the existence, and the energy of that principle in the American people, which removes them farther from the supporters of legiti macy, than the breadth of the Atlantic, and is a safer bulwark than its billows.

Catholic clergyman,(b) for whose partialities we must, however, make some abatement,-"These were not only read with avidity by the friends of religion, but consulted and studied by all the scholars of Europe." The publications of the various protestant societies of Europe and America comprise a far greater number of volumes; and these volumes are in reality valuable.(c) Some of them contain, it is freely admitted, much that is uninteresting, and much that is offensive to taste. The journals of some of the missionaries are particularly liable to this charge; amendment in this respect may, however, be expected, especially as the subject is exciting attention in our literaary publications.(d) But the same charge lies against three fourths of our books of travels.(e)

Finally, we must bear in mind that these publications tend to diffuse a species of knowledge, which otherwise must be much more limited. Acquaintance with foreign manners and customs is generally confined to scholars, or to the higher ranks of life; to those who have access to public libraries, or can purchase extensive works. But the missionary publications carry information on these subjects to the poorest and most secluded citizen. many years since, it was a matter of dispute in England, whether suicide was actually the custom of the Hindoo widow. Now, almost every child in the kingdom well knows the fact.

Not

If then it could not be shown that missions have added any thing to the common stock of knowledge, the considerations now stated, might show that they stand in an important connection with its general diffusion,

(b) Who abridged the original in 8 volumes, 8vo. in 1817.-Prel. Lett. Ed.

(c) The Quarterly Review pronounces them superior to the Lett. Ed. (vol. 6, p. 274.)

(d) See Evangelical and Literary Mag

azine.

(e) Eg. Lewis & Clark in North-America; full of vulgarity and indecencies. Mawe in South-America; so much sleep at night, and so many miles by day.

and of course with its general progress. But they actually have enlarged the amount of human knowledge. They have made important contributions to several departments, and particularly to geography, the natural sciences, moral and civil history,philology,and oriental literature.

It is easy to see how missions contribute, both to the definiteness and the extent of geographical knowledge. They are generally established in countries which have never been fully explored, and the missionaries, by their own journies, and by the statements of natives from different and distant places, may learn many particulars which must wholly escape the transient traveller. No nations have been more distinguished for their additions to geographical science, than the Spanish and Portuguese, and their missionaries to America, Africa and China, claim a share in this honor. The fathers in Pekin published a large map of the Chinese empire. The first accounts of Congo and Abyssinia, were from the missionaries in those countries. Many of the men were indeed exceedingly stupid;-they expected to infuse christianity into the sable kings and queens by the mere process of flagellation. In every trifling occurrence, they read a miracle performed in their behalf by the holy virgin, or by some departed saint.. Still they added to the knowledge of their countrymen. One(a) of them describes the very same sources of the Nile which Bruce afterwards visited, and describes them, it is said, as minutely as that celebrated traveller. The Jesuits in South America explored regions which had been entered by no European. In these excursions, many lost their lives.(b)

(a) Father Payz Quart. Rev. vol. 17, p.

332.

(6) They were sometimes cut off by the savages. Sometimes, in passing on the river, the missionaries, with their converts, would sing hymns, &c. These would attract the savages (very fond of music,) to the banks, and draw them after the boats, thus realizing the fables of Orpheus. Lett. Ed.