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the principles of Christianity, and imparted what they have received of its sacred truths to their families and associates. "The habits of immorality which formerly prevailed without a check, have been in a great number of instances entirely removed; and honesty, sobriety, and industry have been fixed in them as opposite habits, and have operated, as all good examples must do, to raise the standard of morals, and to promote a somewhat better morality in even the uninstructed. Punishments have unquestionably been lessened, wherever religious instruction has prevailed. Of this the testimonies which the Committee have received are numerous."

"The institution of marriage has been a great and constant object with the Committee, and through difficulties which none but those who are intimately acquainted with the West Indies can estimate, it has been enforced, till in our old societies it has become a settled practice, and accounted an 'honourable estate.' Where it has gone hand in hand with the inculcation of religious principles, though unsanctioned by law, and of course a religious ceremony only, it has been observed in the majority of cases with sanctity, and has had the same moralizing effect as in all Christian societies. The domestic affections have been awakened; home, though the hut of a Negro, has been regarded

under new and milder associations; and parents and children have been connected in all the unchecked strength of a moral and hallowed relationship. Polygamy is entirely and without exception forbidden to all our Negro members and catechumens ; no man having two wives is admitted into society; he must choose one, and be formally married to her; and any deviation from this purity is, by our rules, followed by expulsion. With this formidable evil the missionaries have had long and seriously to struggle. If the doors of our society were opened to the Negroes who have two or more wives, or who change one at pleasure, the number of our members might be doubled in a few months; but the Committee have acted on the principle of not lowering the rule of the Gospel to circumstances, in any degree; being persuaded, that, by keeping this up to its true standard, happiness and morality, and every strong and healthful virtue, would rise with it. Their attention is now still more sedulously directed to meet the difficult cases, and the opposition to marriage which arise occasionally from different quarters."

The Committee append various communications of a most satisfactory kind, from official and other respectable persons conversant with the West Indies and interested in slave property, in confirmation of their statements.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN.

FRANCE. The object of the restitution of the censorship, at a time of more than usual apparent quietude, is now explained, as was indeed tacitly understood at the time, from the critical circumstances of the King's health, which have since terminated in his decease, after a painful and protracted struggle with his complicated maladies. His Majesty is succeded on the throne by his brother, now Charles the Tenth, who expresses himself as determined to adhere to the line of policy adopted by his predecessor. The succession has taken place without disturbance, and apparently with but a very moderate degree of public sensation; at least the strictness of the censorship, both before and since

the death of the king, has not allowed of any discussions which might have elicited popular feeling in a way hazardous to the present schemes of court policy. The King, we need scarcely add, died in full communion with the church of which he had been a most staunch member.

SPAIN. The indications of discontent in Spain continue most unequivocal, in spite of the arbitrary decrees of the King, the restraints of the press, and the presence of the French army. Relying probably upon this spirit, and the latent attachment of a large portion of the people to the constitutional system, a body of constitutionalists, composed chiefly of refugees from Gibraltar, under the command of the ex-colonel Valdez, prepared an ex

pedition against the town and island of Tarifa, and, surprising the garrison, took possession of the place. They were subsequently expelled by the French and Government troops, and considerable numbers of the prisoners have fallen by the hands of the executioner. Blood continues still to flow, and the hour of peace to that unhappy country appears to be still very distant. The strictest search continues to be made for malcontents, especially Freemasons, or members of secret societies, on whom are denounced the penalties due " to treason against God and the king!" And, what is even still more to be lamented, the country continues to be shut against the entrance of that sacred light which would "make manifest" and "reprove" its deeds of anarchy and blood. We hear nothing of the circulation of the Bible, or the institution of schools, or of any other measures calculated to lessen the prevalence of religious bigotry or political despotism. Happily such a state of affairs cannot, either in the nature of things, or in the obvious aspect of society, or consistently with the declarations of Inspired Truth, be any where of perpetual duration. A better, a brighter day, will sooner or later arrive, when the kingdoms of this world shall become "the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ," and, under the principles of his holy religion (we speak not of a literal millennium), kings and nations shall mutually recognise and practise all that can tend to the welfare of the community, and the well-ordered liberty and happiness of individuals. Let every Chris

tian, in his respective station of life, endeavour, by every means in his power, to hasten on the approach of a consummation so devoutly to be desired.

GREECE. The intelligence of the recapture of Ipsara by the Greeks has been confirmed. The Turks, in addition to their expulsion, suffered greatly, and their invading armament is said to be so crippled as not to be in a condition speedily to give the Greeks much trouble. Greece seems reanimated by this new victory.

MEXICO. The ex-emperor Iturbide, who lately sailed from this country for the scene of his former successes and defeats, was arrested immediately upon his landing, and shot without ceremony, as a traitor and an outlaw. It was considered by the existing government that Iturbide's return to Mexico was either in the pursuit of objects of personal ambition, or as an agent of the friends of the Holy Alliance in Europe; and that, if suffered to set his foot within the limits of the Mexican empire, he would be the means of renewing those scenes of civil warfare which had begun to close, and perhaps of crushing their nascent liberties.

DOMESTIC.

There is no subject of domestic intelligence which occurs to us as deserving particular notice. The country enjoys profound tranquillity, and a large measure of prosperity. Let us be grateful for our privileges, and solicitous to make use of them for the high ends for which they were graciously afforded.

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. C. J. Blomfield, D.D. to be Bp. of Chester, vice Dr. Law, Bp. of Bath and Wells.

Hon. and Rev. James Somers Cocks, M.A. a Prebendary of Hereford.

Rev. Wm. Vansittart, Prebendary of Carlisle, vice Bp. Law.

Rev. Edw. Fane, M.A. a Prebendary of Salisbury, vice Bp. Carr.

Rev. C. Benson, St. Giles's in the Fields R. Middlesex.

Rev. Mr. Sherlock Cacey, Peter Javy R. Devon.

Rev. Augustus Campbell, Childwall V. Lancashire.

Rev. James Donne, jun. M.A. St. Paul's V. Bedford.

Rev. Charles Drury, M.A. second portion of Pontesbury R. Salop.

Rev. Dr. French, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, Creetingham V. Suffolk. Rev. W. S. Gilly, one of the Preachers to the Philanthropic Society, London.

Rev. Henry Gipps, B. C. L. St. Peter's V. and St. Owen's R. Hereford.

Rev. T. S. Gossett, Old Windsor V. Rev. Cornelius Pitt, Hasleton R. with Enworth Chap. co. Gloucester.

Rev. H. G. Liddell, Kenaldkirk R. Yorkshire.

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Rev. Hen. Michael Wagner, Brighton V. Sussex..

Rev. W. E. L. Faulkner, Domestic Chaplain to Duke of Sussex.

Rev. Wm. Hart Coleridge, D.D. Bishop of Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands.

Rev. T. H. Mirehouse, South Grantham Prebend at Salisbury, vice Rennell. Rev. John Hen. Sparke, Prebendary of Ely, to be Chancellor of Ely.

Rev. G. P. Marriot, (Vicar of Eynesford, Kent, and Rector of Haseleigh, Essex), a Minor Canon of Canterbury Cathedral.

Rev. R. Empson, B.A. West Butterwick Perpetual Curacy, Lincolnshire.

Rev. Mr. Gale, Taunton St. James V. Rev. James Holmes, Compton Abdale Perp. Cur. Gloucestershire.

Rev. Leonard Jenyns, West Dereham Perp. Cur. Norfolk.

Hon. and Rev. Mr. King, Chesterford R. Essex.

Rev. William Logie, Kirkwall and St. Olay Church, in the presbytery of Kirkwall, and county of Orkney.

Rev. Francis Metcalf, Rigton V. co. York.

Rev. Archdeacon Pott, Kensington V. Middlesex.

Rev. John Owen Parr, Durnford V. Wilts.

Rev. J. B. Smith, Martin R. near Horncastle, Line.

Rev. Mr. Spry of Birmingham, to be Minister of the New Church, Langhamplace, Middlesex.

Rev. W. Wilson, D.D. Oakely R. Hants, and St. Cross V. in town of Southampton.

Rev. H. Donne, Chaplain to Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury.

Rev. James Blomfield, one of Domestic Chaplains to the Bp. Chester.

Rev. Robert Hodgson, D.D. Dean of Carlisle, is appointed Chaplain-General to the Forces.

Rev. Henry Law, to be Archdeacon of Richmond, in the diocese of Chester.

Rev. T. H. Biggs, Dormington V. with Bartestree Chap. annexed, co. Hereford. Rev. Edward Gwyn Blyth, Burnham Deepdale R. Norfolk.

Rev. H. Law, West Camell R. Somers. Rev. Geo. Macfarlan, Gainford V. Durham.

Rev. R. Moore, Cley next the Sea R. Norfolk.

Rev. James Dewhurst Spriggs, Brockley R. Suffolk.

Rev. H. Stebbing, Ilketshall, St. Laurence, Perp. Cur. Norfolk.

Rev. Henry Taylor, Stoke near Grantham V. Lincolnshire.

DISPENSATION.

Rev. J. S. Hewett, D. D. to hold Ewhurst R. with Rotherhithe R. Surrey.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

R. H.; CURATOR; PUBLIUS; R. K.; A. B.; J. P.; C. W.; P. M. H.; Y. S.; T. N. P.; W. M.; E. M. B.; J. G. H.; are under consideration. A. S. L. had better send his receipt to one of the Medical Journals. We admit, with our reprover R. L., that Mr. Wilson's account of the elocution of "the resident English Chaplain at Geneva" might have been spared in the published Letters, or at least had better have been given only in blank. We certainly, should not have quoted it, had it occurred to us that it might wound the feelings of any individual. We rather felt pleased at the "excellence" of our countryman's sermon, notwithstanding his alleged " feebleness and unimpressiveness" of style and manner; and our only reason for inserting the passage was, as we said in the review, "to convey a useful hint to our own Clerical Countrymen," of whom it has been repeatedly remarked, that, as a body, they fall as short of the Continental preachers in pathos and energy, as they usually excel them in solidity and scriptural correctness of sentiment.

It is not our plan to insert deaths, births, or marriages.

We see no advantage in entering further upon the discussion to which C. C. C' communication relates. If he meant no more than that a deaf and dumb person should not be merely taught manual signs, without also learning (not attempting to articulate) a language, we can only ask C. C. C. in return, if he ever heard of any person advocating or attempting such a process. There can be no doubt whether - a deaf and dumb person shall learn to understand a language, and also to read and write it, but only whether he shall attempt to speak it and this, which our correspondent now professes to be a point of "very minor import," is, in our view, the very point of greatest importance, indeed the only one in discussion. Let him fairly meet this part of the question if he can and we will candidly weigh his arguments. We are much obliged by the American communication which he has forwarded to us; and are also happy to learn that he by no means objects to the plan of teaching the deaf and dumb in National Schools being tried, though he continues to doubt its practicability, ไม่

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THE

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 274.]

OCTOBER, 1824. [No. 10. Vol. XXIV.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. THOMAS COTTERILL.

IN

(Concluded from p. 535.)

N 1808 Mr. Cotterill married; and when his family increased he was compelled to add to his other labours the care of pupils: for his income, while at Lane End, never exceeded a hundred pounds a-year. He could not consequently now devote every evening in the week to his parochial labours: but he had an extraordinary art of finding time for all his duties; and he debarred himself even of necessary rest, in order to prepare a volume of family prayers, which have met with general approbation.

At the commencement of 1817, he obtained the perpetual curacy of St. Paul's, Sheffield, in a manner as honourable to the worthy vicar on whom the appointment devolved as to himself. That gentleman having formed a favourable opinion of Mr. Cotterill's character and talents from general report, and from the perusal of a visitation sermon which he had published, was so anxious to ascertain how far his qualifications as a preacher fitted him for so important a situation, that he went over to Lane End for the purpose of being present during divine service. Every thing which he there heard and saw convinced him of Mr. Cotterill's ministerial excellence, and the result was the removal of the latter to Sheffield in the following summer. In this new situation, which was in every respect one of increased importance, he shewed himself, as he had ever done, "ready to every good word CHRIST OBSERV. No. 274.

and work." For a time his character was by some persons ill understood, and his motives were suspected; so that he met with considerable opposition, especially on account of his having introduced a new Book of Psalms and Hymns. This dispute was, however, at length amicably adjusted by a reference to his Grace the Archbishop of York, who, with great kindness and conciliation, engaged to revise a selection subsequently prepared by Mr. Cotterill, which he allowed to be dedicated to himself* ; and he liberally supplied the congregation of St. Paul's with copies at his own expense. Of the kind and judicious conduct of the Archbishop in this affair, as well as on various other occasions, Mr. Cotterill always spoke with feelings of the liveliest gratitude.

After the favourable termination of the misunderstanding alluded to, the voice of opposition was heard no longer, and the strongest bond of union was formed between Mr. Cotterill and the flock committed to his care. His ministerial duties (till a few months before his death) consisted of two services at his own church, and a sermon once a month at the parish church on the Sunday, and also on the Wednesday evening, besides occasional services. In turn with the other clergy of the place, he visited the infirmary and workhouse. He also regularly gave instruction of a more private nature to some of the poor who, from old

• A large edition of these Psalms and

Hymns, which have been very extensively adopted, was lately published by Messrs. Cadell.

4 1

age or other circumstances, stood in peculiar need of it; and once a-week the assembled the teachers and scholars of the Sunday school connected with his church. It needs scarcely be remarked, that he was also in the constant habit of visiting the sick and afflicted. Being no less able than willing to give suitable advice in most exigencies, either of a temporal or spiritual nature, a considerable portion of his time was occupied in attending to such applications. He delighted in the office of a peace-maker, and he was peculiarly fitted for it by his quick discrimination of character and his unfailing sweetness of temper. He never thought of himself when an opportunity occurred of doing good to others. Every one could read in his countenance, "Here I am: employ me as you will for your benefit, provided the object be a lawful one." With such a disposition and such unusual powers of usefulness, his empleyments, amidst so large a population as that of Sheffield, would have been quite as much as his strength would allow, even if he had not unhappily been obliged, from the smallness of his income, to receive pupils into his house, who occupied seven or eight hours of his laborious day. The consequence was, that he seldom had leisure for the preparation of his sermons, an occupation which afforded him the highest enjoyment, till late in the evening; and some. times he devoted whole nights to that object. No constitution could long bear up under such a pressure of engagements; and, about six months before his death, his friends saw with anxiety that his health was gradually declining. At their earnest solicitation he reluctantly gave up preaching at the parish church, and about the same time spent a few weeks for the benefit of the sea air at Bridlington, chiefly, however, on account of the ill health of his wife. this was a season only of comparafive rest. While there, he preached

But

regularly in the church, and exerted himself in various ways with such unaffected modesty and humility that he will be long remembered at Bridlington as a faithful and affectionate minister of "Christ's flock scattered throughout the world."

On his return to Sheffield, his friends were grieved to find that he had derived little benefit from change of air, yet he continued the performance of his usual duties, till Sunday, November 23d, when he was so much exhausted after the morning service, that he gladly accepted an offer of assistance in the afternoon. In a few days he was attacked by a fever, which appeared soon to yield to the remedies employed; but, attempting to resume his labours with his pupils, he brought on a relapse, which assumed a very alarming aspect. From this time he was evidently impressed with the idea that he should not recover; and even during his delirium eternity seems constantly to have occupied his mind. Often would he imagine his beloved flock before him, and address to them the most affectionate and awakening expostulations on the vanity of the world, the nearness of eternity, and the necessity of a heavenly mind for the enjoyment of future blessedness. Sometimes he would call successively for his children; and, reminding them of their peculiar failings and dangers, he would address them on that great subject which filled his mind, with all the authority of a father, yet with a sweetness of voice and manner which was peculiar to him, and never forsook him. "Upon more than one occasion," Mr. Price states in his sermon," in the earlier part of his illness, when he was quite himself, calling me by my name, he said, with great affection and solemnity.

The day, the day is nearer than you conceive.' Mr. Price adds several remarks which he made during his mental wanderings, but which he mentions merely as shewing the habitual bent of his thoughts.

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