An the unavoidable lot of all men. Those sacred pages inform us, That tribulations are fatherly chastisements; tokens of our Maker's love, and fruits of his care: that they are intended to work in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and to work out for us an eternal weight of glory. Another recommendation of the Scriptures is, that they afford the most awful and the most amiable manifestations of the Godhead. His glory shines, and his goodness smiles, in those divine pages, with unparalleled lustre. Here we have a satisfac-spiritless and fugitive cordials? No: tory explanation of our own state. The origin of evil is traced; the cause of all our misery discovered; and the remedy, the infallible remedy, both clearly shewn, and freely offered. The merits of the bleeding Jesus lay a firm foundation for all our hopes: while gratitude for his dying love suggests the most winning incitement to every duty.-Morality, admired morality, is delineated in all its branches: is placed upon its proper basis, and raised to its highest elevation.-The Spirit of God is promised, to enlighten the darkness of our understandings, and strengthen the imbecility of our wills. What an ample provision is made by those blessed books, for all our spiritual wants! And, in this respect, how indisputable is their superiority to all other compositions! Is any one convinced of guilt, as provoking Heaven, and ruining the soul!-let him ask reason to point out a means of reconciliation, and a refuge of safety. Reason hesitates, as she replies: "The Deity may, perhaps, | accept our supplications, and grant forgiveness." But the Scriptures leave us not to the sad uncertainty of conjecture. They speak the language of clear assurance. God has set forth a propitiation. He does forgive our iniquities: He will remember our sins no more. Are we assaulted by temptation, or averse to duty?-Philosophy may attempt to parry the thrust, or to stir up the reluctant mind, by disclosing the deformity of vice, and urging the fitness of things. The Bible recommends no such incompetent succours. My grace, says its almighty Author, is sufficient for thee-Sin shall not have dominion over you.-The great Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength, He worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Should we be visited with sickness, or overtaken by any calamity, the consolation which Plato offers, is, That such dispensations coincide with the universal plan of Divine government. -Virgil will tell us, for relief, that afflictive visitations are, more or less, Should we, under the summons of death, have recourse to the most cele→ brated comforters in the heathen world; they would increase our apprehensions, rather than mitigate our dread.-Death is represented by the great master of their schools, "as the most formidable of all evils."-They were not able positively to determine, whether the soul survived; and never so much as dreamt of the resurrection of the body.-Whereas, the book of God strips the monster of his horrors, or turns him into a messenger of peace: gives him an angel's face, and a deliverer's hand; ascertaining to the souls of the righteous, an immediate translation into the regions of bliss; and ensuring to their bodies a most advantageous revival, at the restoration of all things. Inestimable book! It heals the maladies of life, and subdues the fear of death. It strikes a lightsome vista through the gloom of the grave; and opens a charming, a glorious prospect, of immortality in the heavens.] These, with many other excellencies peculiar to the Scriptures, one would imagine, more than sufficient to engage every sensible heart in their favour; and introduce them, with the highest esteem, into every improved conversation! Another very distinguishing peculiarity of the Sacred Writings just occurs to my mind-the method of communicating advice, or administering reproof, by parables. A method, which levels itself to the lowest apprehensions, without giving offence to the most supercilious temper. Yet is it as much superior to plain unornamented precepts; as the enlivened scenes of a well-wrought tragedy, are more impressive and affecting, than a simple narration of the plot. It has been very justly remarked, that this eloquence of similitudes is equally All these circumstances remind me affecting to the wise, and intelligible of an encomium, most deservedly given to the ignorant.—It shews, rather than to the Bible, which, though quite artrelates, the point to be illustrated.-It less, is, I think, abundantly more exhas been admired by the best judgespressive than the most laboured efin all ages; but never was carried to its highest perfection, till our Lord spoke the parable of the Prodigal, which has a beauty that no paraphrase can heighten; a perspicuity, that renders all interpretation needless; and a force, which every reader, not totally insensible, must feel. forts of rhetoric.-It came from the lips of a martyr, who, being condemned to die for his inviolable adherence to the pure doctrines of Scripture, when he arrived at the stake, and had composed himself for execution, took his final leave in these affecting words, “Farewell, sun and moon! Farewell, all the beauties of creation, and comforts of life! Farewell, my honoured friends! Farewell, my beloved relations! And, farewell, thou precious, The condescension and goodness of GLEANINGS;-RELIGIOUS, LITERARY, refine our morals. Who then would not gladly receive that gracious exhortation: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly? Who would not willingly obey that benign command, Thou shalt talk of it, when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up? When I consider the language of the Scriptures, and sometimes experience their energy on my soul; I am inclined to say, " Other writings, though polished with the nicest touches of art, only tinkle on the ear, or affect us like the shepherd's reed. But these, even amidst all their noble negligence, strike,-alarm, transport ussomewhat like the voice of thunder, or the archangel's trumpet." When I consider the contents of the Scriptures, and believe myself interested in the promises they make, and the privileges they confer, I am induced to cry out, "What are all the other books in the world, compared with these invaluable volumes? No more than an entertaining novel, or a few prudential rules for domestic economy, compared with a parent's will, a royal charter, or an imperial grant of titles and manors.' in Southern Africa, the following picture of A Bushman's Spoon.-In Burchell's Travels savage simplicity is given:-In one house, a litte family group were drinking their goats'milk from a leathern bowl, in a manner perfectly novel. Of all the instruments for conveying liquid to the mouth, a brush must appear the least adapted to such a purpose: but with no other means than this, they emptied their bowl; and perhaps they have discovered that the greater length of time which this mode requires, prolongs also the pleasure of hair, and of a thickness sufficient to fill the their meal. The brush was made of strong mouth. The manner of using it was by dipping it into the bowl, and sucking the milk out. Antiquities concerning Coals.-This useful fossil was known to the Britons before the ar rival of the Romans, who, says Pennant, had not even a name for coals, though Theophrastus describes them very accurately, at least three centuries before the time of Cæsar, and even says that they were known to workers in brass. Brand says that they were burnt by the Romans. The Anglo-Saxons knew, and partly used them. Brand, however, observes, that they were not mentioned under the Danish usurpation, nor under the Normans; but were known in the reign of Henry III. In 1306 they were prohibited at London as a nui sance, but used in the palace in 1321, and be- English butcher, at Calais, killed a bullock teen musket-shots, two nails, and the button of a soldier's coat. It is supposed the animal must have licked them up while grazing. A Blind Traveller.-Mr. James Hoffman, a man who has been blind since he was twelve years of age, arrived at Irkutz in Siberia, on September 16th, 1823. He set out from Eugland without any companions, and accomplished the almost, for him, inconceivable task of travelling to Siberia quite alone. What is more extraordinary, is, that he speaks hardly any other language than English. He takes a guide from one town to another, and writes down every thing that he can learn with a machine invented in England, and adopted in many schools. At Irkutz he expressed great pleasure at finding some of his countrymen, with whom he could converse familiarly about the place and the animals. He is said to be about 30 years of age, with an agreeable and intelligent countenance. Gastric Juices.-Dr. Pearson, of Georgestreet, Hanover-square, London, in lecturing a few days ago on the stomach, observed that this organ had no power over substances endued with vitality; and that this circumstance accounted for the fact of the prophet Jonah having remained undigested in the stomach of the whale for the space of three days and three nights. Seidlitz Powders.-From the testimony of a medical gentleman on a late trial, it appeared, that two scruples of supercarbonate of soda, two scruples of Rochelle salts, and two scruples of tartaric acid, dissolved in half-a-pint of spring water, possess in a high degree the medicinal properties of the celebrated Seidlitz spring in Germany. Great Wall of China.-The great wall of China is so enormous, that, admitting what has hitherto passed uncontradicted, that its length is 1500 miles, and the dimensions throughout pretty much the same as where it was crossed by the British embassy, the materials of all the dwelling-houses of England and Scotland, (supposing them to amount to 1,800,000, and to average on the whole 2000 cubic feet of masonry and brickwork,) are barely equivalent to the bulk or solid contents of the great wall of China. Nor are the projecting massy towers of stone and brick included in this calculation; these alone, supposing them to continue throughout at bowshot distance, were calculated to contain as much masonry and brickwork as all London! To give another idea of the mass of matter in this stupendous fabric, it may be observed, that it is more than sufficient to surround the circumference of the earth on two of its great circles, with two walls, each six feet high, and two feet thick! Gas Apparatus.-The town of Abergavenny was lately lighted with gas upon an improved principle, discovered by Mr. Simeon Broadmeadow, which promises considerable advantage to gas-works, by superseding the use of the retort and purifier, as the common coke or coal-tar answers the purpose of the retort, and the purifier is rendered altogether useless. By this method, the quantity of inflammable gas is increased full one-third, and, by the action of atmospheric air, rendered perfectly pure. This improvement is equally applicable to gas manufactured from oil. Huge Block of Granite. A solid block of granite, of a beautiful gray colour, was lately detached from a quarry in Aberdeenshire, of the extraordinary dimensions of 22 feet long, 16 feet high, and ten feet wide. It was separated from the rock by a bore of ten feet deep and two and a half inches diameter, charged with 20lbs. of gunpowder. The weight of this tremendous stone is 270 tons. Fire-damps.-A miner of Stafford, of the name of Lovat, has, it is stated, devised means for avoiding the danger of fire-damps in mines, by the introduction of currents of air, and their circulation by bellows worked by steam. On Time and Pulsation. "Place a rummer on the table, and suspend from a piece of thread, carried over the pulse of the thumb, a shilling into the centre of the circumference of the glass, about half an inch below the brim, resting the elbow on the table, so that the arm may be perfectly steady. Place the thread, which may be about seven or eight inches long, over the pulse of the thumb, (the nail of course turned towards the rummer,) securing the end of the thread by the first finger about half way down the thumb, so as not to interfere with the action of the pulse. It will then be seen, after a moment or two, that the shilling will move like the pendulum of a clock, till eventually it will strike distinctly against the rummer the last hour, be it twelve or one, or what it may, and no more-sometimes pausing half a minute or so before completing the hour, when more than one-after which the motion of the shilling gradually decreasing, it will remain still. I should be glad if any correspondent would favour you with a few lines on the probable cause of this curious operation. I have tried it myself, and found it exactly to answer the particulars given. Literary Notices. Just Published. T. G." Scurry's Captivity under Hyder Ali and Tippoo Saib. With a portrait. This little vo lume contains a simple unadorned statement of the horrid cruelties and insults exercised on the Author, and his companions in misfortune, by these two eastern despots. The Exempla Minora, or Eton English Examples, rendered into familiar Latin. By the Rev. Thomas Smith, of Cambridge. Literally translated from the Greek, by T. W. C. Edwards, M.A. The King Edipus of Sophocles, beautifully printed in 8vo, and hotpressed. In this edition will be found the Text of Brunck, correctly edited, the Metres or Scanning, the Greek Order, Verbal Translation, and Notes, Historical, Critical, and Explanatory. | The Anti-Swedenborg. In one vol. 12mo. Price 2s. boards. A Course of Lectures, illustrative of the Pilgrim's Progress. By the Rev. Daniel Warr, Haverfordwest. One vol. 8vo. 8s. The Doctrines of General Redemption, as held by the Church of England and by the early Dutch Arminians, exhibited in their Scriptural Evidence, and in their Connexion with the civil and religious Liberties of Mankind. By James Nichols. In one vol. 8vo. Price 16s. boards. Price 10s. 6d. boards, A Dictionary of All Religions, and Religious Denominations, Ancient and Modern, Jewish, Pagan, Mahometan, or Christian: also of Ecclesiastical History. An Essay on Truth, the Causes of Error, &c. By the late Rev. Andrew Fuller. The State of the World at Christ's Appearance. By Mrs. | Hannah Adams, Original Editor of the Work. To which are appended, A Sketch of Missionary Geography; with Practical Reflections on the whole. By T. Williams. Mr. Richard Baynes, of Paternoster-row, has just published a new edition of the Sermons of the late Rev. James Saurin, French Church at the Hague. Translated by the Rev. Robert Robinson, Henry Hunter, D.D., and the Rev. Joseph Sutcliffe, A.M. with additional Sermons, now first translated. The whole corrected and revised, By the Rev. Samuel Burder, A.M. Author of Oriental Customs, &c. &c. Beautifully printed in 6 vols. 8vo. With a superior engraved Portrait of the Author. Price 3. 3. boards. The Seventh and Eighth Volumes of a new and uniform edition of the whole Works of John Owen, D.D. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Dean of Christ Church. To be completed in 16 handsome vols. 8vo. Price 12s. each. For the present month, price 1s. Critica Biblica, or Magazine of Sacred Literature. The object of this work is to excite an increasing attention among the middle classes of society to the study of the Holy Scriptures; by furnishing, in the most interesting shape, information upon every topic of Biblical Criticism and Illustration. Sermons preached in St. John's Church, Glasgow. By Thomas Chalmers, D.D. 8vo. 10s. 6d. boards. The Oratorical Class Book; with the Principles of Elocution Simplified and Illustrated by Suitable Examples. Intended for the use of Public and Private Seminaries. By A. M. Hartley, Teacher of Elocution, Glasgow. 12mo. 4s. boards. A new and greatly improved edition of Dr. Brown's History of Missions. In two thick vols. 8vo. 269. boards. Sacred Dissertations on the Apostles' Creed. By Herman Witsius, D.D. Translated from the Latin, and followed with Notes, Critical · and Explanatory. By Donald Frazer, Minister of the Gospel, Kennoway. In two thick vols. 8vo. 22s. boards. In the Press. Julius Klaproth's Description of the Empire of China is preparing for publication, in two quarto volumes. It will embrace a general historical sketch; and a statistical, commercial, &c. account of the various provinces. We look for a work of labour, research, and interest. The Rev. Thomas Smith, editor of the accented Etou Grammar with notes, has in the press a new edition of Phædrus with the Scanning from the text of Sterling, whose Persius is also undergoing a new edition. Mr. Wight, a reporter to the Morning Herald, has in the press a selection of one hundred of the most humorous and entertaining of his Reports during the last three years, illustrated with numerous wood cuts by George Cruik shank. T. W. C. Edwards, M. A. has in the press, An Epitome of Greek Prosody, being a brief exposition of the Quantity, Accentuation, and Versification of the Greek Language. The East-India Vade-Mecum, being a complete Guide to Gentlemen proceeding to the East Indies in either the Civil, Military, or Naval Service, or on other Pursuits; much im. proved from the work of the late Captain Williamson, being a condensed compilation of his and various other publications, and the result of personal observation. By Dr. J. B. Gilchrist. In one large vol. 8vo. an improved edition of Milburn's Oriental Commerce, or the EastIndia Trader's Complete Guide. Originally compiled by the late William Milburn, Esq. of the Hon. East-India Company's Service. Abridged, improved, and brought down to the present time. By Thomas Thornton. A Bibliographical and Descriptive Tour from Scarborough to the Library of a Philobiblist, in its neighbourhood; intended to form a brochure of the interesting and rare produc tions contained in that rich repository. By John Cole, Bookseller, Scarborough. Mr. Blaquier has in the press a volume on the Origin and Progress of the Greek Revolution, together with some account of the Manners and Customs of Greece, Anecdotes of the Military Chiefs, &c. being the result of materials collected during his recent visit to the Morea and Ionian Islands. Harding's Short Hand. Second edition, with corrections and improvements. 3s. Sermons and Plans of Sermons on important Texts of Holy Scripture, (never before pub. lished.) By the late Rev. Joseph Benson. Part I. 8vo. 5s. boards. Aureus, or the Adventures of a Sovereign. Written by Himself. In two vols. 12mo. The Plenary Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures Asserted, and Infidel Objections shewn to be unfounded, by new and conclusive evidence. In Six Lectures, now delivering at Albion Hall, London Wall. By the Rev. S. Noble. Svo. boards. A new periodical work, to be entitled La Bilancia, or a Journal of Theatrical Music. Mr. M. Plum, of Glasgow, has announced that he is printing an Italian Translation of Dodsley's Economy of Human Life, rendered into that language by Signor Aloisi, a native of Tuscany. Also, that immediately he will publish a Vol. entitled "Recollections of an Eventful Life chiefly passed in the Army. By a Soldier." Containing, Sketches of a Sailor's Life-The Army-Operations at Cadiz by the Troops under Gen. Graham--Grand Army in PortugalGen. Picton's division, with stations of the va rious engagements where that division fought -amongst others, Fuento de Orno, Roderigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, &c. up to the year 1814. Preparing for the Press. A Practical Guide to English Composition; or, a comprehensive System of English Grammar, Criticism, and Logic, arranged and illus. trated upon a new and improved Plan; containing apposite Principles, Rules, and Examples, for writing correctly and elegantly upon every subject. Adapted to the use of Schools and of Private Students. By the Rev. Peter Smith, A.M. Ludolph, or the Light of Nature, a Poem. By Charlotte Caroline Richardson. Brief Memoir of Krishna Pal, the first Hindoo in Bengal who broke the chain of the Cast by embracing the Gospel. By the late Rev. Wm. Ward, of Serampore. 12me. is. True Happiness only found in the Christian Life. By the Author of Israel's Shepherd. In two vols. post 8vo. with a fine portrait, by Warren, from an original picture, The Life of Jeremy Taylor, and a Critical Examination of bis Writings. By Dr. Heber, Bishop of Cal cutta. Theology explained and defended, in a series of Sermons. By Timothy Dwight, S.T.D. LL.D. With the Life of the Author. In six vols. fl. 4s. boards. Joseph and his Brethren, a Scriptural Drama, By H. L. Howard. 8vo. 7s. 6d. boards. An Appeal to the British Nation on the Humanity and Policy of forming a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck. By Sir W. Hillary, Bart. Dissenting Registers of Births, Marriages, and Burials examined as Documents of Evidence. By a Barister. Leisure Hours. 12mo. 48. A Tribute of parental affection to the Memory of a beloved and only Daughter. By the Rev. Charles Jerram, Cobham, Surrey. 12mo. Price 48. 6d. COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT, 27th DECEMBER, 1823. THE year which is about to close, has been productive of considerable fluctuations in the mercantile world, chiefly arising from an apprehension of a change in political circumstances. The probability that the invasion of Spain by France would involve this country in war, occasioned a great advance in the prices of goods, without reference to stocks, production, or probable supplies. Our government, however, having declared its intention to preserve a strict neutrality, the prices of goods declined, and the reaction in a short space of time threw them back, even below the point from whence they rose. The determination of Ministers not to intermeddle with other powers, enabled them to pursue a measure of great good to the country, in the reduction of some taxes peculiarly pressing, such as the diminishing the duties on salt, leather, and the assessed taxes. An abundant harvest, though not favoured by congenial weather, has kept the price of grain at moderate rates, yet sufficiently remunerating to the grower. The legislative enactments completed in the present year, with reference to our navigation and warehousing system, have been made to meet the antisocial measures of other powers against our commerce-and will tend, in our opinion, to exalt the commercial superiority of Great Britain. In the Western World, the British flag has waved in every accessible port of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. English establishments have been formed in places known formerly only to the readers of the voyages of circumnavigators, and the recent appointments. Demi-diplomatic agents from this country to the different states of South America, evince pretty clearly the determination of our government to protect British interests, so deeply concerned in that traffic. Should remonstrances be made against these measures by other powers, a formal recognition of the independence of the Southern American states must be the consequence; and from whence would result doubtless many privileges to British goods, ships, and ports. Political differences, either on this or any subject likely to involve us in a war, would tend to depress the value of the state papers of the powers of Europe, and could not fail to throw the monopoly of the products of the two Arctics into our ports, as well as to encourage exclusive deposits of continental goods in our landing warehouses. Anticipating, and sincerely wishing as we do, that the good understanding with other powers will not be disturbed, and looking to the recent changes of affairs in Spain and Portugal, it follows, that the South American States will be left to work out and consolidate their independence, and that British commerce will be placed on an equality with that of other nations; the consequence will be, (as the manufacturers of Great Britain have nothing to fear from the competition of those of other countries, if placed on equal terms) that the growing stability and population of the Western World, and the increasing consumption of the East Indies, will considerably augment the demand and vent for the manufactures of this country, and, in process of time, more than compensate the deficiency occasioned by the restrictive measures adopted by the European powers against those branches of our industry. From a review of the preceding, it may be fairly inferred, that a year seldom or ever closed upon Great Britain with more causes of satisfaction and of thankfulness to the Almighty Disposer of events. Peace at home and abroad-the commerce and manufactures of the country in a state of considerable welfare-a contented population-an equilibrium of prices in the necessaries of life, which amply reward the agriculturist, and do not distress the consumer. We proceed now to present our readers with a statement of the currencies in several articles-adding a few remarks applicable to each. Sugar-must always occupy a prominent place. Of British Plantation East India Havannah The imports into London are- 1822.. Brazil.... |