RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. the way to the place of their destinafion, we shall not only be willing but thankful to be employed." DENMARK. Extract of a Letter from two Missionaries sent out from Edinburgh. Copenhagen, Sept. 17, 1805. Dear Brother, Through the lovingkindness of the Lord, who hath watched over us to do is good, we can say, that since the time we left you we have lacked nothing, except it be the society of our Christian brethren; and even this hath been amply supplied by our kind an Almighty Friend, "who sticketh closer than a brother." Here we are surrounded with thousands; but where to find a friend of Jesus we know not. Satan has his seat here. The Lord's Day is profaned in the most open manner; the greater part of the people attend to their work; the shops in general are open, and traffic is carried on, even in the streets. What of their religion we saw, seemed to us to be altogether foreign to the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus. These things taken together, made us deeply concerned for the lamentable state of the people in this place: nevertheless, we hope the Lord has a remnant here, according to the election of grace. We earnestly wish to have an opportunity of being useful during the short time we are to be here; but what means to use, in order to attain this, we are quite uncertain. We understand there is no English preacher here, though there are a considerable number who understand nothing but the English language. We are not without hope that this circumstance may be the means of opening a door of usefulness for us, at least among Our countrymen. We have already given away a few Tracts, and have the prospect of distributing a number more. We have been making enquiry about the probable expense of having a Tract publisted in the Danish language; and we hope this will be obtained at a moderate expense, which we have no doubt our friends at home will cheerfully defray. Thus, though our hearts be as much as ever fixed on preaching the gospel to the poor Hindoos in India, we conceive it our duty to be missionaries wherever the Lord is pleased to rast our lot, however short our stay in that particular place may be. In this way it was that the gospel was introduced at Ephesus by Paul, while he tarred there a few days in his way from Corinth to Jerusalem (Acts xviii. P-23). In like manner it was in 43 DISTRESS IN GERMANY. No sooner was the distress of the Germans, as represented in our last Number, known, than the liberality of the public was instantly afforded. Their sympathy was testified at once, in a maner highly honourable to their character, whereby the Committee were not only indemnified for the amount of the sum guaranteed by them, but enabled to give directions to their friends abroad to administer relief in a more extensive degree. In order to prevent the benevolence of the public from being intercepted, and falling into improper hands, much deliberation has been employed; and the precautionary instructions which have been given, are such as to leave no material cause for apprehension on this subject. It was our intention to present to our readers a List of the Subscriptions and Collections already made for the distressed Germans, which amount to 37661. 98. 9d. and two full pages were actually composed; but when the following intelligence came to hand, we immediately determined to insert it, as being far more interesting to the public. London, Dec. 23, 1805. At the late meetings of the Committee, the following intelligence was received, which, agreeably to the intimation before given, they now communicate to the public. The first information is derived from the Rev. C. E. A. Schwabe, Minister of the German St. Georges Church, Goodinan's Fields, Ayliffe Street, Dec. 17, 1805. "During my stay on the Continent, in the months of July, August, and September, I witnessed, particularly in Saxony, affecting scenes of distress, Bread had risen to three times the price at which it had been a twelvemonth before; and in several places scarcely could be obtained. The Governments were obliged to have the houses searched, and to force phose who bad a little store leit, to bring market. An article of food, to watch to . nothing but the danger of being starved could induce men to have recourse, was given to the poor for bread. The country people cut down the corn before it was ripe; and braved the prohibition of the Government with the exclamation, Give us bread for our families!" Distress led great numbers to commit depredations. In one small town (Sonderhansen) not less than 60 persons were, at the time when I passed through it, confined in dungeons for setting fire, in a stare of despair, to several houses and villages. Contagious discases were apprehended; and must I fear be the final issue of these terrible calamities. Late accounts describe the present situation of the inhabitants of that country as infinitely worse than it was during the summer. A friend of mine wrote a few weeks ago from Erfurt as follows: We flattered ourselves, that our situation would be a little more tolerable after the harvest; but, alas! the scarcity is far greater than it was; and an army of 50,0co men is collecting in our neighbourhood. Sometimes, distress would tempt us to doubt of a Divine Providence. Yet it is our comfort, God still lives; and extraordinary evils lead often to extraordinary means of rel ef." Another friend, of the same neighbourhood, writes. I assure you, we are in a dreadful embarrassment; and I do not know what we are to do. The people are in despair. If thing, do not soon change, we shall have a general revolution; for the greater part have nothing to live on, and the little that is left must be given to the military." C. E. A. SCHWABE, Minister of the German Church, Goodman's Fields, Londoa." The Commitice felt great interest in the above communication, and ordered some relief without delay. The following is translated from a printed paper, published and circulated by the Mercantile Body at Ulm, dated Nov. 19, 180g, some copies of which have been sen: over to their Correspondents in London: "Since the end of September our country has been overrun with soldiers: indeed, with whole armies, unprovided with any stores. Ulm itself was, in the course of five weeks, compelled to maintain 15,877 officers, 347,415 privates, and 41,739 horses. More than 20,000 men were quartered at a time in the city, which of itself contains only 13,00 inhabitants, and less than 1600 houses. The distress, occasioned by it is indescribable: the town seemed to be nothing but barracks and stables. Ladies in childbed and sick people were obliged to give up their warm rooms to the soldiers. "By day and night watch-fires were kept burning, both within and without the walls of the city. Thus not only all fuel in the city was consuined; but the soldiers also took all the pailings, benches, and summer- houses in the gardens, and also, in many parts of the town, the doors, window-shutters, and even the very farniture of the houses to use as fire-wood. By repeated cannonading, the houses, gardens, and plantations were, in many parts of the town, completely destroyed, not to mention the anxiety, want, and famine itself, which many endured; the horror excited by the sight of the filthy, loathsome appearance of the streets; and the personal ill-treatment those received who did not immediately comply with requests that were utterly out of their power to graut. "Melancholy as is the picture that the city presented, yet Misery seems in still more wretched form to have visited the surrounding villages: for there the inhabitants were still more exposed to the outrages and pillaging of the soldiers, who were exasperated by the severity of the weather and the want of regular supplies of provisions. Clothes, beds, furniture, cattle of every description, corn, wood, money of the poor inhabitants were destroyed, con'sumed, or taken away. Provisions are in some places so entirely consumed, that there is not even corn left for sowing, nor horses or implements of husbandry to till the ground. These unfortunate sufferers must remain the prey of misery, unless some nobleminded generous Christians, who have not experienced the horrible disasters of war, should hasten to their assistance." The Committee think it suitable here to observe, that although it may be proper to insert letters from different parts of Germany, in order that an adequate idea may be formed of the greatness and extent of the sufferings; and although, as Christians, they commiserate the distresses of all men, and more particularly sympathize with such, as against their inclinations are forced into subjection by the French; yet they will not cease to recollect, RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. that it is their especial duty to a ford relief to those who are in alliance with this country. The following intelligence has been received from the Rev. W. Kuener, German Chaplain to his Majesty at St. James's, in a letter addressed to the Rev. Mr. Steinkopf. "Stafford-Place, Dec. 19, 1805. "My dear Friend, "To make you sensible of the calamities sustained by his Majesty's subjects in Hanover, I need not have recourse to minute details. It is notorious, that ever since the month of June, 1863, when Hanover was invaded by a French army, that country has beca ruined, and the well-being of most of its loyal inhabitants destroyed systematically. Exorbitant contributions were raised; and every month new taxes invented, that fell most heavily even on the lowest class of the subjugated; while thousands of French conscrips, who wantel every thing, successively poured in, and were quar tered in great nutubers on every housekeeper and lodger; and, when clothed and fed, were called away, to give room to others, that were to be provided for in the same manner. Soon the most industrious men throughout the country became unable to bear these expenses; all commerce and business being nearly stopped; the levied money being sent to France in large sums; the harvests proving scanty, and the prices of every thing rising in proportion as more was wanted, made the sad effects of this pubfic calamity woefully felt, especially in guch communities and families as had formerly supported themselves by their industry. In every town, every village, many honest, respectable people were reduced to beggary, and almost to despair, for want of the absolute necessaries of life. After having sold and pawned whatever they had to part with, numbers of them I know to have 45 been obliged to leave their homes, their starving wives and children; and some to have fled over to England, to enrol themselves as privates in his Majesty's army, amongst whom were clergymen's sons, and several other respectable persons, who had followed mercantile or literary professions. It was not before things were come to this extremity that part of the French invaders, by the movements of Prussia, were obliged to withdraw, clearing away most of the cattle that were left to the unhappy peasantry. But yet several thousands of the enemy occupy the fortress of Hameln, plaguing its inhabitants, destroying and pillaging the country around: and a large army of English, Russian, Prussian, and Swedish troops is now assembling. To provide for these, all the grain of the exhausted country has already been threshed out by order of government; and although they are no longer exposed to the points of French bayonets, yet such is now the situation of many thousands of my poor countrymen, that I can assure you, on authentic intelligence, they are in the greatest want of relief; and are most sorely distressed to get bread for themselves and for their children, and to be sheltered from the cold. My worthy friend, yours entirely, W. KUEPPK. This affecting communication made a strong impression on the Committee; and in consideration of the length and severity of the sufferings of the Hanverians, and their common relation with us to the government of his Majesty, a considerable sum was appropriated to their immediate relief. The Committee have received a letter from a confidential friend on the Continent, which allords them ground to believe, that before this time, the first fruits of British Liberality have reached some of the sufferers in Germany; and, no doubt, excited suitable sentiments of gratitude to God for tais seasonable interposition. Subscriptions will be received at the following Bankers in London: Messrs. Hankey and Co. Fenchurch Street; Messrs. Hoare, Fleet Street; Messrs. Smith and Holt, Old Broad Street; Messrs. Jones, Lloyd, Hulme and Co. Lothbury; NEW YORK. We are glad to find that the malignent fever, which prevailed in New York, during the months of September and part of October, had, at the be ginning of November, wholly disappeared. During its prevalence, 607 persons had been visited with the fever: of whom 254 had died, viz. 166 males and eighty-eight females. The vast importance of the object to which the Committee of the Religious Tract Society now intreat your attention, will, I trust, be a sufficient apology for the present Address. The religious part of the community have long observed and lamented the baneful influence of the profane and profligate Tracts so generally circulated by the hawkers and other venders of small publications. No adequate means, however, have hitherto been adopted for counteracting them, by supplying Tracts on terms sufficiently alluring, and, at the same time, on a plan involving combined and persevering exertions.. The Committee of the Religious Tract Society have therefore commenced the publication of a series of cheap Tracts, desigued to be both entertaining and instructive, having cuts, and printed in the same form with those at present sold by the hawkers, The Society's Tracts are sold in London, and by their agents in the country, on such terms to as yield to the Time. hawker a profit far superior to any Tracts hitherto published. (See the advertisement on the cover of this Ma gazine.) The Committee, therefore, not doubting that the importance of such a measure will be obvious to every one, intreat the co-operation of your Society, and beg leave to suggest, that it may be afforded in a manner very beneficial to the object, by your embracing every opportunity of recommending to the hawkers to avail themselves of the su perior advantages yielded by the Society's prices, and by inducing shopkeepers to sell the Tracts at a moderate profit to the hawkers, and also by retail. Should such persons be engaged by your Society, it should be recommended to them to make it known at such places as are frequented by the hawkers; the result of which would doubtless prove of material advantage. Submitting the above to the serious consideration of your Society, I remain, dear brethren, yours, in the bonds of Christian affection, JOSEPH HUGHES, Secretary, Battersea, near London, {The Doctrine of Atonement consistent } Reason. Preachers. Mr. Thorp. Jan. 15, W. Tabernacle. On the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. Mr. Lowell. Apr. 17, Th. Pithay. May 13, Tu. Castle Gr. Jinie 11, W. Tabernacle. July 15, Tu. Broadmead. Aug. 12, Tu. Pithay. Souls of Men. The State of the Disciples Minds dur- The almost Christian. Sept. 28, Th. Castle Green. Cn the Doctrine of the Resurrection, Nov. 12, W. Tabernacle. The Awful Tendency of Unbelief. Tab. Minister Dr. Ryland. Mr. Page. Pithay Minis Mr. Thorp. Tab. Minister. Mr. Lowell. Mr. Page. Dr. Ryland. Pithay Minis, United Meeting of Prayer, for the Success of the Gospel at Home and Abroad, to be held in Bristol, for the Year 1806, List of Lectures in and near London for January. 1. Wed. Ev. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, New Court, Carey Str. 2. Th. Er. Fetter Lane, Mr. Burder. The Witness, &c. of the Spirit. 5. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Street, 6. Mon. Er. Missionary Prayer-Meet- 9. Th. Mouthly Meeting (Independ.) postponed to January the 16th. Ev. Fetter Lane, Mr. Ford.-The Fear of Death. 12. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Str. Mr. Hughes; Hare Court, Mr. Burder; Crown Court, Mr. Webb; Orange Str. Mr. Townsend; Palace Str. Mr. Buck; Dean Str. Mr. Stollery; Peter Street, Mr. Greig. 13. Mon. Ev. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, Surry Chapel. 14. Tu. M. Broad Str. Mr.Humphreys. 15. Wed. Ev. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, at Dr. Rippon's. 16. Time. Th. M. Monthly Meeting(Indep.) fication. --- The Ev. Fetter Lane, Mr. Clayton. The Sin of Profane Swearing. 19. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Str. Mr. Gaffee; Crown Court, Mr. Collyer; Palace Str. Dr. Dance; Orange Street, Mr. Burder; Dean Street, Mr. Powel. 21. Tu. M. Broad Street, Mr. Ford. Wed. En. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, at Mr. Clayton's. Ee. At Mr. Wall's, Mr. Collyer to preach. The Journey of Israel in the Wilderness, &c. 23. Th. Ev. Tetter Lane, Mr. Hughes. -Spiritual Declension. 22. 26. LORD'S DAY Ev. Broad Str. Mr. Dore; Hare Court, Mr.Lyndal; Crown Court, Mr. Stollery; Palace Street, Mr. J. Thomas; Dean Street, Mr. Booth; Chapel Street, Mr. Atkinson; Peter Street, Dr. Hamilton 28. Tu. M. Broad Str. Mr. Humphrys. 29. Wed. Er. Prayer-Meeting for the Nation, at Mr. Brooksbank's. 30. Th. Ev. Fetter Lane, Mr. Townsend. Hell. (Several of the New Lists of Leetures not being sent to the Publishers, this List is unavoidably incomplete.) MINISTERS SUPPLYING AT The Tabernacle and Tottenham, Mr. Surry Chapel, Rev. Rowland Hill Sion, Mr. Brown. Hoxton, Mr. Mark, of Weathersfield. List of the Monthly Lectures at Manchester, for 1806. Subje&s. |