rent, bearing every thing before it. The shock which it gave the inhabitants, was dreadful. II. About the sixth day of the disease, it entered the mission-house. I was transcribing a letter when my wife came into my study, and informed me that Mr. Becker, our excellent young German friend, was attacked. He had been with me just before, conversing about a sermon of Dr. Stennett's, which had afforded him peculiar delight, and he took the book with him to translate the sermon into the German language, hoping that other poor sinners might derive as much advantage from it as he had done. But, ah! in a moment he was laid on the bed of suffering, and all his labours were at an end. I went down stairs to see him, and found him convulsed in a most alarming manner. His groans and screams pierced my heart; but his agonies were quickly over—in a few hours after he expired! Dear young man! he was much beloved by us for his zealous endeavours to do good, having exerted himself most laudably for the spiritual benefit of the German population, who have been for years destitute of a pastor, and are left as sheep without a shepherd. But he is gone: his tongue is now silent in the grave, and his pen is laid down for ever. The next person who was seized in our house was good Mrs. Lovets, another of our German friends. She was the wife of the Sarepta commissioner. The disease rapidly preyed upon her frame, and she sunk into the arms of death. After her funeral, her bereaved husband hastened away with his three motherless children, in the hope of escaping the contagion; but he carried death with him; and three stages from Astracan he died, and was buried by the road-side; for such was the fear and horror of the villagers near him, that they would not permit him to come near them while he lived, nor to be buried near them after he was dead. Next, my beloved wife was attacked. Our family physician was at this time also affected by the cholera; but he prescribed for Mrs. Glen, who, after lingering in awful suspense for some time on the brink of eternity, was mercifully restored Oh, I cannot tell you how it comforted me, while I stood watching by her bed-side, to hear her confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners! She trusted simply in the Redeemer, looking for redemption through his blood-the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. And, ah! where else should sinners look but to Jesus? If God has so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, it is sufficient. Here let me rest, with the sweet assurance that the man who believes on him shall be saved. III. Having stated what particularly referred to my own family, I will now give you a more extensive view of it. In general, business of every kind was at a stand. The bank suspended its operations. In the bazaar not a whisper was heard; even the Kabaks, those scenes of iniquity, those moral pests, were abandoned, and a general gloom spread over the countenances of the few solitary individuals who were to be seen walking through the streets. This gloom was heightened by their attitude, moving pensively about with handkerchiefs at their noses, perfumed with, or containing camphor; so as to counteract the infection, with which it was supposed by medical gentlemen that the open air was in a measure saturated. According to the best accounts, when the disease was at its height, the number of funerals, on one particular day, was 500, and on another, 480. More than 1000 were buried about this time in a large sand-pit, for want of graves, which could not be dug so fast as required, nor at a rate that the poor could afford; twenty-five roubles being demanded for each. Such a time was never before seen in Astracan. On the roads leading to the burial grounds, which are out of the city, scarcely any thing was to be seen from morning to night, but funeral processions. During its progress, more than sixty officers, from the Governor, the Admiral of the Fleet, the Rector of the University, and downwards, fell victims to it; and the number of the dead of all descriptions, in the city alone (the resident population being not more than 40,000,) is calculated at 6000, beside 1000, or, as some say, 2000 of those from the interior of Russia, who were passing the summer here, and who fled to the towns and villages up the Volga, in hopes of escaping it. Of these, forty were found on the road-side unburied, on the first three stages, until notice was given of the circumstance to the commanding officer of the district; but the greater part of the fugitives who fell victims to the disease, met their fate on the Volga. Nearly 10,000 left the city, it is said, in great confusion; and being ill provided with food and other necessaries, were reduced to indescribable hardships on their passage up the river, as the Calmucks on its banks would have no intercourse with them. It is said, that in one or more of these boats, the people all perished from the cholera, and having none left to man them, were at last carried down the stream, with the residue of the dead on board. In other cases the ravages on board these boats were dreadful. With such scenes before their eyes, or reported on credible authority, it was almost impossible for the most thoughtless to be altogether unconcerned at the time; yet, alas! it is lamentable to see, that now the danger here is considered as past, many are returning to their vicious practices, like the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. From the above it appears, that about a sixth or seventh of our whole population have been cut off. It is supposed that half the adults have been affected by it. Some children have died, but comparatively few. Through the tender mercies of our God, I have been preserved without the least injury, and have been enabled to attend to the sick in the house, and also to render some assistance to our neighbours. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Dear friends, what think you of this awful visitation? Oh, if ever there was a solemn providence which called on sinners to prepare to meet their God, it is this; yes, it calls aloud to every one of us. Perhaps the cholera morbus may never visit the place where you reside, but it may; who can say that it shall not? When it was raging twelve years ago in India, no one thought it would destroy a sixth part of the population of Astracan. Oh, think of the awful consequences of being hurried into the presence of your Judge unprepared! Reader, say not that your present occupations are so impor tant as not to allow you to attend to these things. What are you doing? Surely your engagements are not more important than the governor of a province, or the commander of a fleet, or the rector of a university; but the gentlemen who filled these high official situations at Astracan, were suddenly removed by the cold, resistless hand of death! Come, then, I beseech you, and consider your ways. Be assured there is nothing on earth so important to you and to me, as to be prepared for heaven; that when we are absent from the body, we may be present with the Lord. Hence it becomes a matter of universal concern to know wherein this preparation consists. An error here may prove fatal. Examine it well. Every man is a sinner; and as such is in a state of condemnation. How then can he be pardoned? How can he be justified in the sight of a just and holy God? The Bible must decide. This blessed book declares, that by the deeds of the law shall no flesh living be justified; therefore it is a fruitless effort to seek justification by our own doing. No man can redeem his own soul, or give to God a ransom for his brother; therefore it is in vain to seek help from man. What then are we to do? Why, in the great work of a sinner's salvation, we must look away from all creatures, for they cannot procure for us the pardon of one sin-no, not one. But, blessed be God! we are not left without a directory in this momentous affair. Oh, no!-for thus it is written-" God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here, then, is the glorious discovery! The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, is an atonement for the sins of the world; and whosoever, young or old, rich or poor, whosoever believes in Him, becomes a partaker of this great salvation. His sins are blotted out; his person is justified; and, being justified, he is safe; he has peace with God; he has joy in the Holy Ghost; he has a title to heaven. Oh, what a happy state! Having thus committed his precious soul to the keeping of the matchless Saviour, he delights to meditate on him; seeks daily communion with him; strives continually to honour him, by a holy and useful life; and looks forward with joy to the day when he shall join that great multitude, which no man can number, in singing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory, and honour, and blessing; for he has redeemed us to God by his blood, and we shall reign with him for ever." It was this precious faith in Jesus, which supported Mrs. Glen in the prospect of eternity; and this same precious faith will support you in life and in death, and prepare you for a glorious immortality. Hallelujah! hallelujah! Young people; you are now in the prime of life. What an affecting lesson does the case of good Mr. Becker teach you! He also was young, but he feared the Lord, and was engaged in the delightful work of attempting to do good to others. This was his happiness; this was his joy. What a sweet preparation for a better world! Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. But, ah, how few young people are acting so wisely! Dear young friends, my heart yearns over you; the summons may come as suddenly for you as it came to him. Are you ready? Have you given your heart to God? Are you trusting in the merits of Christ? Are you walking in the narrow path which leads to glory? Oh, if you are acting thus, then happy are ye! Go forward. May your life be long spared to honour your Redeemer! Yet if, while thus engaged, any of you be cut off in the days of youth, nothing will afford your sorrowing parents so much pleasure, as the thought that you were prepared for glory. Oh, do not neglect this great salvation! Husbands and wives; you can judge better than others, what must have been the feelings of Mr. and Mrs. Glen while she was struggling with this alarming disease, and her affectionate partner stood weeping by what he feared would be her dying bed. Oh, what can comfort under such circumstances? What can bind up the breaking heart? What can dry up the falling tear? Only one thing; and that is what the Saviour denominates the "one thing needful." Yes; it was her hope in Christ-her simple reliance on Christ alone. And would not you like to see your partners in this happy frame when they are passing through the dark valley of the shadow of death? Remember that the time will come when you must part; the cold hand of death will separate the dearest friends; and what will console you then, but a good hope that your beloved partners are prepared for the mansions of bliss. And have you any scriptural ground to hope that it will be so? Examine yourself whether ye be in the faith. Prove yourselves by the un erring standard of God's holy word; and give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, until you have obtained peace and satisfaction on this grand and important subject. Ye zealous and devoted servants of the Lord; let this awful visitation of Providence quicken you in your labours of love. If any thing can give Mr. Glen pain, now he sees his wife restored and his children smiling around him, it is the thought that many are gone beyond the reach of his voice, whom he never faithfully warned to flee from the wrath to come. Now, now is the time to work; soon, very soon, all our opportunities will be over; our tongues will be silent in death, and our bodies lodged in the house appointed for all living; therefore, whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Before I conclude, I cannot help noticing the dreadful obduracy of the human heart. Mr. Glen says, "Now the danger here is considered as past, many are returning to their old vicious practices, like the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." Is not this dreadful? er, see what man is when left to himself. Oh, cry day and night unto God to give you a new heart and a right spirit; to hold up your going, and preserve you from evil; to guide you by his Spirit, and lead you in the way everlasting. Read Most affectionately I entreat you to give up yourself to the life-giving Saviour, then you will be prepared for every event. Amen. (Signed) RICHARD KNILL. St. Petersburgh, September 8th, 1830. The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., during the month of January last, viz. Of Rev. John W. Scott, a quarter's rent, for the contingent fund $87 50 37 50 Amount received $125 00 Diew of Publick Affairs. The ebb tide of news has succeeded to the flood. We find it stated in the paper of the morning of January 31, on the evening of which we write, that there has not been an arrival from Europe in twenty-seven days. We last month brought down our chronicle to the date of December 9th, from Britain, and to the 6th of the same month from France. An arrival at Halifax, Nova Scotia, has brought intelligence from Falmouth to the 11th of December, only two days later than that received a month ago. It is of little importance, but we give the whole we have seen-it is as follows:- "In the British Parliament on the 9th of December, the Regency Bill was brought down from the House of Lords, and was read a first time. The Pope's nuncio in Paris is stripped of his honours; and the French soldiers are no longer to attend The man who attempted assassination in the House of Lords has been handed over to the civil power; he says he had an account to settle with the Duke of Wellington. The incendiary outrages which have been committed over so great a portion of England, have, for the most part, ceased on the strict enforcement of the law. The majority of nearly all classes of the citizens of Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, mass. even Liege, particularly the armed burghers, are, it is said, in favour of the accession of the Prince of Orange, or one of his sons, as the means of restoring peace and confidence." We have also observed an European article during the last month, in which it is stated, we think authentically, that the island of Candia has been ceded by the Turkish Sultan to his ally, or subject, the Viceroy of Egypt; and that the inhabitants of the island, both Greeks and Turks, are filled with joy by this transfer. This is all the recent information from the old world which we are able to communicate.Since writing as above, we find in the morning paper of February 1, that by an arrival at New York, European intelligence to the 19th of December inclusive, has been received a summary of it is as follows The prominent article of intelligence by this arrival is, the account of a revolution in Russian Poland. It appears that the Archduke Constantine, who governed Poland, in behalf of his brother Nicholas, after several tyrannical and cruel acts, which had much incensed the Poles, undertook to inflict discipline on the pupils of the military school at Warsaw. These pupils, on some occasion of a publick dinner, bad drank some offensive toasts, and among others, one to the memory of the celebrated Kosciusko. Constantine, informed of this by his spies, ordered a commission to inquire into the affair. The commission considered the conduct of the youth as either harmless or not worthy of regard; and so reported. Not satisfied with this, the Vice-Emperor committed the inquiry to two general officers; and still not satisfied with their treatment of the business, he interposed by his own immediate authority, inflicted a severe punishment on several of the young men, and sent a large number of them to prison. This arbitrary proceeding exasperated the publick mind. The young men of the military school rose in a body to break the chains of their comrades, and take vengeance upon the oppressor of their country. Detachments of regiments of the Russian Guard, who, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, formed part of the garrison at Warsaw, were ordered to put down the rebellious pupils, whilst several companies of Polish troops took part with the latter. Thus the combat began. The insurgents having forced their way through the Russian troops, marched immediately towards the Belvidere, the residence of the Grand Duke Constantine, half a league from Warsaw. His officers fell under the blows of national vengeance, but Constantine made his escape by a back door. It appears that the Grand Duke, in fear of some popular disturbance, had some time previously sent away his wife: and when out of reach of the insurrectionists, he issued a proclamation, saying, that he had permitted the Polish troops who had remained faithful to him, to return to their comrades, and added, "I am setting out with the imperial troops, to proceed to a distance from the capital; and I hope from Polish good faith, that they will not be harassed, in their movements to reach the empire." It is evident from this, that he considered his Russian troops as inadequate to resist the force which the Poles could array against them. On the return of the Polish regiments to Warsaw, they were received with enthusiastick approbation by their countrymen. The inhabitants of all ranks rushed to arms, and the whole country was in commotion, and flying to the succour of Warsaw. A provisional government was formed, and the names of those who compose it are given in the publick papers. It appears that the struggle at Warsaw was sanguinary. One account states that "nine Russian generals and the principal officers of state, were put to death; and also that a great number of the Russian soldiery were massacred." This we exceedingly regret, as it will greatly incense the Russian soldiery. General Diebitsch, who was at Berlin when the insurrection took place, had left it to put himself at the head of his immense army, we suppose with a view to suppress this revolution in its infancy. The Poles, we doubt not, will fight to desperation, as indeed they did when Suwarrow took Warsaw by storm; but humanly speaking, it seems impossible that they should forcibly resist the Russian legions. Yet the God of battles may order it otherwise than short-sighted mortals can forecast; and of this, history, both sacred and profane, furnishes nume. rous instances. Information had been received in London from France, of the death of the highly' distinguished deputy, B. Constant. His funeral was celebrated with national honours. Eighty thousand men in military array, were drawn out on the occasion. With the exception of Lafayette, probably no man in France was more popular. It appears also, that the news of the recent revolution in Russian Poland, had reached Paris; and a short speech of General Lafayette is given in the papers, in which he explicitly maintains and it was heard with acclamation,-that France will not suffer either Austria or Prussia to interfere in aid of Russia against Poland-which, as these three great powers were all concerned in the partition of this country, we suppose he thought probable. In short, the indications of a general war in Europe, are far greater than they were, when we last month gave our views on this subject. Still, we hope there will not be a general war. There is reason to think that France and Britain either have already, or very speedily will, enter into a formal agreement, and make it known to the world, that they will not consent that, in any case, one nation shall interfere in the concerns of another. If this take place, Russia may shed much Polish blood, without the aid of Austria and Prussia, and yet no general war ensue. But we think that the military spirit in France is ardently in favour of war; and in a short time, it is stated that they will have (including the National Guard) from nine to twelve hundred thousand soldiers equipped for action. It is hardly to be expected, if this be so, that such a body of troops, filled with military enthusiasm, will not find, or make, some occasion to display their heroick valour. There is a rumour, likewise, of an insurrection in a part of Prussia; and also the statement of the suppression of one at Milan, which was on the eve of breaking out. But these accounts, though not improbable, are not yet authenticated. The news, so far as Britain is immediately concerned, is not of great interest. Talleyrand is to be recalled to France, at his own request; and is to be succeeded by the Count Flahault. The internal state of the country is said to be far from quiescent; and incendiary acts are still frequent. A motion was expected to be made in parliament, to suppress Cobbett's Weekly Register, as being of treasonable tendency. It was thought that Hunt, the coadjutor of Cobbett, was likely to be chosen a member of parliament. The provisional government at Brussels was employed in framing a new constitu tion. The king of Holland had referred his concern with Belgium to the decision of the foreign ambassadors in London. Pope Pius VII., whose illness we mentioned last month, has died of the gout in the stomach. AMERICA. COLOMBIA. There is reason to believe that the Liberator Bolivar has gone to his last account. After well authenticated information of his being on the brink of the grave with a consumptive complaint, his farewell letter to his countrymen has made its appearance. Among other things, he says, "I have laboured with disinterestedness, sacrificing my own fortune, and even my tranquillity *** I have been the victim of my persecutors, who have driven me to the borders of the grave. I freely pardon them Colombians! should my death be the means of allaying the rage of party spirit, and consolidating the union, I go down in tranquillity to the tomb." The effect of his removal from the theatre on which he has acted so conspicuous, and for a while at least, so glorious a part, time will decide; and time alone, it would seem, will enable us to pronounce a just verdict on his whole career and character. MEXICO. Recent advices from this large republick, represent the state of the country to be more favourable than it recently was. It is hoped that the civil war is nearly or quite terminated; and that peace and prosperity are likely to ensue-With such hopes we mingle many fears. UNITED STATES.-Our Congress have made but little progress in the despatch of publick business; and but little time remains for them to do any thing, although much ought to be done. On the all important concern of the Indians, very numerous and earnest petitions and remonstrances have been addressed to Congress, from various parts of our country. The missionaries, too, of several religious denominations, who have been residing in the Indian country for years past, have drawn up and published an able, temperate and lucid statement, calculated to correct the unfavourable and slanderous reports, which the enemies of the Indians, in and out of Congress, have circulated, in regard to their state and their wishes. But alas! we fear that Congress will rise, without doing any thing for their relief; and before the next meeting, their oppressors may effect all their purposes. What will be the issue of the conflict between the state of Georgia and the supreme court of the United States, is as yet unknown,-but appearances are most inauspicious. Possibly the chastisement of heaven for our national injustice and oppression of the Indians, is to come out of this very affair: so that we may see our crime in its punishment.-May a merciful God turn us from our sins, and turn his displeasure from us. ERRATUM. A more important error than has ever before occurred in the typography of our work, appears on the last page of Publick Affairs, in our last number. It took place in correcting the proof, after it had passed from the hands of the editor. A whole line is misplaced-The 32d line from the bottom of the page, should change place with that which is next below it. This will restore the sense, which, as the lines stand, is entirely destroyed. |