ever delivered from a pulpit. In his prayer, however, after many petitions in behalf of his Majesty, he added the words, "Bless also the Queen;" and for this high crime and misdemeanour he was, the same evening, placed under military arrest by his commanding officer! This proceeding has excited a strong feeling of surprise-perhaps of indignation-particularly among the members of the Presbytery of Kirkcudbright, who are no strangers to the soundness of Mr. Gillespie's political principles, and who are themselves in the general practice of praying for her Majesty. How the matter will end we know not; but we should suppose the clergy of Scotland will be apt to view the arrest of Mr. Gillespie as an insult offered to the whole order, especially after the independence of the Kirk of Scotland on this very point-a thing, indeed, that never could be doubted was so distinctly recognised in the last General Assembly. The chaplain of a regiment is, no doubt, bound to conform himself to the wishes of his colonel in as

far as regards time and place; but farther than this no officer has any right to interfere; and it would certainly be very strange if the wise heads and bold hearts who, in imitation of John Knox, have never ceased to assert the independence of the Presbyterian form of worship, would concede to a military officer a power which cannot be claimed even by the King upon the throne. We also understand that a yeomanry corps are only under martial law when called into actual service, and that consequently no chaplain is liable to be arrested when the corps, in which he happens to officiate, is merely assembled for the purpose of training. If this view of the subject be correct, it follows that Mr. Gillespie was illegally arrested. Besides, it is quite obvious that the zeal of the colonel alluded to must, in the end, defeat its own purpose. A reverend gentleman in the same neighbourhood, noted for his talents and loyalty, when asked whether he ever prayed for the Queen, replied, "No; but I shall certainly do so the moment am interdicted;" and several other clergymen, we understand, who had previously abstained from praying for her Majesty, have since commenced the practice, with the express view of repelling what they conceive to be a practical encroachment on the liberty of the Church. -Star.

I

At a meeting of the Presbytery, held at Kirkcudbright lately, the case of Mr. GILLESPIE's arrest by Colonel Gordon, for praying for the Queen, came before them, when they agreed to a man that the chaplain of the corps had done

nothing to merit such treatment, and without deciding further, came to the resolution of laying the commandant's conduct before the next General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Her Majesty has since been regularly prayed for in that quarter.

Sir Alexander Gordon, and his son, James Gordon, Esq., of Culvenham, the Kirk Session of Crossmichael, on the 16th elders who composed the meeting of the of July last, at which, in contravention of the laws and constitution of the Church of Scotland, and in opposition to the Moderator, a resolution had been entered opinion of the Clergyman presiding as into, to the effect that no minister appointed to officiate in that parish during for her Majesty the Queen, appeared, we the vacancy, should pray in express words hear, at the bar of the Presbytery of Kirkcudbright, on Wednesday the 6th instant. Having there stated, that in obedience to the judgment of the Presbytery of the 2d of August, they had erased from the records of the Kirk Sesresolution in question was contained, and declared that they had no intention of infringing the rights of the Church, however in appearance they seemed to do so, and in the amplest manner apologized for their conduct, Presbytery were pleased to accept their apology, and agreed to sist all further procedure in the business. After the spirited and decided vindication on the part of the Presbytery Church, with respect to prayers for perof Kirkcudbright of the rights of the sons in authority, it is to be hoped that in this quarter these rights will not again be invaded.—Dumfries Courier.

sion the minute in which the obnoxious

A letter from Glasgow, dated August 5, says " A young clergyman a short time since visited one of the neighbouring parishes, and performed the duty of the Church, with the view of gaining the suffrages of the parishioners to be appointed as the successor of the incumbent, who was far advanced in years, and meant to resign. Unfortunately for him, however, he omitted the prayer for the Queen, which gave so much offence to the females of the parish that they all interposed to prevent his election, and, it is scarcely necessary to add, succeeded."

-Times.

Trials for Blasphemy.

A bookseller of the name of DAVIDSON and JANE CARLILE, the wife of the notorious Deistical publisher, now in Dorchester gaol, were tried in the Court of

King's Bench, Monday, October 23rd, for selling profane and blasphemous pub lications, and were both found GUILTY. In our next Number will be inserted the best account of the trials that we may be able to obtain.

Unauthorized Psalms in the Church. A question came before the Ecclesiastical Court at York, at the last assizes, which is of considerable importance to the Members of the Established Church. The case was, "Daniel Holy and others v. the Rev. T. Cotterill, minister of St. Paul's Church, Sheffield." The allegation was for acting contrary to the rules of worship of the Church of England, in introducing a book of metrical psalms and hymns not authorized by the Book of Common Prayer. After Mr. Nicoll had been heard against the practice of introducing metrical psalms and hymns, except such as appear in the Prayer Book, and Mr. Sinclair had replied, Mr. Vernon (the Commissary) said it was a very important question, and he should take time before he pronounced upon it. There was perhaps not a clergyman in the kingdom who had not violated the law, if Mr. Cotterill had done so; and nothing had been said to satisfy his mind, that, if this selection was illegal, those of Tate and Brady, and Sternhold and Hopkins, were not equally so. He conceived the selection entitled to much praise; but if there were any particular passages objectionable, he was sure the clergyman would not wish to press them." The Archbishop," said Mr. Vernon, “would be happy to act as a mediator between the parties; and I think it would be much for the cause of religion that a compromise should take place."

The Lords of the Treasury have bestowed on Dr. STUART, of Luss, £1000, in consideration of the zeal, industry and fidelity, with which he has devoted a large portion of his life to the labour of conveying to the inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland, the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in their native language. (See List of Books, p. 550.)

FOREIGN. FRANCE.

THE fixed population of PARIS amounts to 657,172 persons, and the fluctuating population, of the strangers, to 56,794; so that Paris altogether contains 713,966 inhabitants. The number of women in Paris exceeds that of the men by nearly a fifth; so that of every five girls one at least is condemned to celibacy, without counting the number corresponding to that of the men who live and die bachelors.

A great sensation has been produced in Paris at least, by the Duchess of Berri having brought forth a son, heir to the monarchy. A late number of the Traveller newspaper says, "The French papers contain a creation of Knights of the Holy Ghost, and other promotions, on account of the birth of the young PRINCE. The French continue to be ecstatic. The young Prince and his mother are well. The Bulletin of Saturday runs thus :—

"His Royal Highness Monsieur the Duke of Bourdeaux continues to enjoy the best health. The Prince has taken the breast several times during the night.'

"

"The preceding was one to this effect: His Royal Highness, my Lord the Duke of Bourdeaux, executes perfectly all his functions.' We have no doubt that his Royal Righness, of one day old, executes them much better than the functions of royalty are ordinarily executed."

Singular and appalling Suicide.—Paris, Sept. 9. On Thursday last, a man, who, with others, was looking at the Bear called Martin, in the King's Garden, availed himself of a moment when the keeper turned his back, and jumped into the den. He was instantly torn in pieces, and almost wholly devoured by the ferocious animal.

SPAIN.

The Monastic orders have been abolished by the Spanish Cortes, which was decided by a majority of 107 against 32. A pension is granted to every monk, proportioned to his age.

No new convents

or noviciates are allowed. Only one convent of each order is permitted in the same place, and no convent is to continue with less than 24 professors. The property of the suppressed convents, is to be applied to the public credit, and the superabundant revenues of those that are allowed to exist are to be used for the same object. The books, paintings, &c. of the suppressed convents are either to form a national library, or to be distributed among the different museums and establishments of public instruction.

(Extract of a Letter from Madrid, September 21.)

You have heard of the recent law for the extinction of the Jesuits, and also of its having received the Royal sanction: it was formally published at the casa del ayuntamiento, or mansion, a few days ago, and nothing could be more interesting to the lovers of political reform, than the ceremony observed on the occasion. A splendid procession, composed of all the authorities, attended by large bodies of the National Militia, horse

and foot, and followed by not less than a hundred elegant carriages filled with females of the first rank, went from the Chamber of Cortes to the above place, when, on its arrival, the law was read aloud from the balcony to an immense concourse of the inhabitants of Madrid, who rent the air with shouts of joy at this new triumph of liberty and knowledge over the barbarism and bigotry of past days. Two fine bands of music relieved each other alternately, in playing the most favourite patriotic airs of the day, and a flourish of trumpets both preceded and followed the promulgation of the decree. Many of those present did not fail to contrast this procession with those of other times, instituted for the sole purpose of perpetuating tyranny and superstition.

HOLLAND.

Public Schools.-There are at this pe riod in the Latin Schools in Holland 1200 scholars. In the Lyceums, Atheneums and Colleges, established in 29 towns of the Southern provinces, there are 3800 students. In these latter establishments, Greek, Latin, the mathematics, geography and history are always taught. In the University of Louvain there are 254 students; at Liege, 381; at Ghent, 201; at Leyden, 315; at Utrecht, 205; and 215 at Groningen.

GERMANY.

Austria.

The Jews. His Majesty the Emperor has given the following order respecting the Israelites: The Rabbies are in future to be examined in the philosophical sciences and in religion before they are appointed to any charge, and in return, their salaries shall be adequate to the learning they possess. Further, the Prayer Books are to be translated into the language of the country, and all sermons and devotions are to be held in the same. The Israelitish youth, moreover, shall henceforth partake fully of the public institutions for instruction, religion excepted. In fine, the Israelitish subjects themselves are expected to accelerate, by the induction of proper manners, professions and other employments, the time when the state can treat them like the rest of the subjects, and when their longer separation will be unnecessary. Government will not fail to facilitate and encourage the use of means which must conduct to an end so auspicious for human society. (Vossian Newspaper, No. 8, article Vienna, the 9th of February, 1820.)

Vienna.

An announcement is made here of a new journal under the title of Concordia, and the tendency of which is to be politico-religious. It will be endeavoured to make religion support the system of legitimacy, and the existing order of things will be exhibited as founded on, and maintained by, the principles of the Christian religion. M. Schlegel, who is employed in the Chancellary under Prince Metternich, and who was formerly Austrian Counsellor of Legation to the Diet of Frankfort, is to be the principal editor. He will have for colleagues, M. Frederick Von Gentz, Austrian Aulic Counsellor ; M. Adam Muller, hitherto Austrian Consul-General at Leipsic; and M. Werner, the famous ecclesiastic, now a priest. All these gentlemen are apostates from the Protestant religion, and from their names it may easily be conjectured what will be the political spirit of their journal.

Some Protestant German Sovereigns have entered into and proposed for the acceptance of the Holy See, an arrangement for the spiritual government of the Catholic Church, in their respective states, under the title of "A Declaration, in form of a Pragmatic Sauction, drawn up at Frankfort on the Maine, by the Plenipotentiaries of several Protestant Powers of Germany, concerning the Organization of the Catholic Dioceses in their States."

The Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh Schwerin published an ordinance in February last, in concert with the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, abolishing personal slavery throughout his territories.

Hanover.

The Hanoverian journals contain the following statement:-"We hear that, in the present Session of the Assembly of States, it will be proposed to abolish tithes, or at least to substitute for them a tax of another kind. The advantages arising from this measure could not fail to have a great influence on the agricultural prosperity of our kingdom, for it is, in fact, almost wholly an agricultural country, the manufactures being in comparison insignificant; and as there is a great extent of heath and waste land, which no one has yet ventured to cultivate, because of the great expense which such an enterprise would require, (the tithes and land-tax must be added,) the abolition of these imposts will much facilitate undertakings of this nature, and the Diet will merit the gratitude of the country if they carry this plan into execution.'

POLAND.

The spirit of Kosciusko still subsists in this outraged country. "Freedom shrieked," says the poet, when he fell; but she may be soothed by beholding the survivors of the patriot emulating his noble character. The Autocrat of all the Russias," the magnanimous Alexander," lately submitted by his ministers to the Diet at Warsaw the projet of a criminal code. This was debated with much warmth for three days successively, and was at length rejected by a majority of 120 to 3! The ground of the rejection was the gross defect of the code with regard to all securities for the freedom of the subject, and the absence of all provision for a Trial by Jury. Thus it appears that, though nations may yet be transferred by the strong arm of a Congress or a Holy Alliance from master to master, like cattle upon a farm, they are no longer found to be the same animals that they were in the days of ignorance, when every petty tyrant night drive and drub and clog and manacle them for his pleasure, and with impunity.

PRUSSIA.

The Jews. A dignitary of the church has lately published a sermon, entitled "The Signs of the Times," in which he insinuates the expectation that the King will follow the example of the Emperor of Austria in consulting the instruction of the Jews and the melioration of their condition. The King lately stood Godfather to a converted Jew, to whom he has since sent a rescript, promising him a place in the financial department.

DENMARK.

A Copenhagen paper announces the death of the celebrated Icelandic poet, JOHN THORLASKEN, who had translated into his native language Milton's Paradise Lost and Klopstock's Messiah.

NORWAY.

M. C. M. FALSEN, of Bergen, has published a "Catechism of the Norwegian Constitution," on the most free and independent principles. Though a noble himself, he wishes that there were no privileged order, and that all subjects were equal in the eye of the law.

AMERICA.-UNITED STATES. Law against Duelling.-A Bill has passed its third reading in the Legislature of ALABAMA, to take effect from the 1st

day of March, which subjects the party engaged in a duel to three months' imprisonment, and a fine of 2000 dollars, one half to go to the Public Treasury, the other to the Informer. The offender to give security for his good behaviour for holding any office in the State and for two years, and to be disqualified from being a Member of either House of the General Assembly. The Bill requires every officer of the State to take an oath that he has not, since the passing of this act, violated its provisions, and that he will not during his continuance therein.

A late fatal Duel.-The details of the Commodore Decatur are given at great duel between Commodore Barron and length in the American papers. They fought at eight paces: both were wounded. A most extraordinary proceeding took place in the House of Representatives. Mr. Randolph proposed that the House should adjourn, to give the Members an opportunity to attend the funeral of Commodore Decatur, and that they should wear crape round the left arm till the end of the Session. This motion was opposed by Mr. Taylor, of New York, who said he would resist it, as Commodore Decatur had died in the act of setting the laws of God and his country at defiance. The notice was withdrawn.

Jewish Colony.-A Jewish merchant, of New York, named Mordecai Noah, has demanded permission from the Government of the United States, to become the purchaser of an island on the Niagara, between the Lakes Erie and Ontario, not far from the English territory, and containing about a thousand acres on its surface. The member of Congress who acted as reporter of the commission charged to examine this demand, pointed out to the Chamber, in very lively colours, the persecutions to which the Jews are still exposed in many parts of Europe, and suggested that the professed principles of the United States perfectly coincided with the views of Mr. Noah, in seeking to make this purchase: it being his object to offer an asylum, under the protection of the liberal and tolerant laws of the United States, to a class of men who sought in vain for a country on the soil of the old world. In short, it is the intention of this opulent Jew to found a colony of his countrymen in this island, and his proposition has been sanctioned by the American Legislature.