bourers. Whatever other qualities these pictures may want, they are never wanting in grace. Taste was certainly more generally diffused amongst the ancients than it ever has been in modern times. But with them there were some aberrations. A most paltry fountain lately turned out, and many disgusting exhibitions in the most public parts of the city abundantly prove this.

I translate for your amusement the proclamation for the coronation of the Virgin, that I mentioned in my last letter.

"The Most Reverend Chapter of St. Peter's at Rome, in compliance with the will of the Count Alexander Sforza Pallaricini, is accustomed to distribute every year certain crowns of gold, to decorate the brows of those images of the blessed Virgin, the most celebrated either for their antiquity, their wonderous works, (Qu. prodigies or miracles,) or for their popu larity, in order to increase ever more and more the worship of such images, and to excite the piety and devotion of the faithful towards the great mother of God.

"Now the above-mentioned most reverend Chapter, having listened to the claims urged in favour of the image of the immaculate Conception, which is adored (che si venera), in the church of Jesu Vecchio in Naples, represented by a little wooden statue, (statuetta dilegno,) three palms high, (the palm is more than a foot English,) with an infant Jesus in its arms; and having found these claims to be supported by satisfactory evidence and solid documents, have judged it right to award a golden crown, not only to the image of the Virgin, but also to that of the infant Jesus in her arms. With this decision, the supreme Pontiff, Leo. 12, has signified his approbation in his apostolic brief, (Qu. Bull,) issued on the 2d of December, 1826; (enlightened age!) and he has not only signified his approval of this act, but has pleased to grant an abundant portion of grace and indulgence to all who shall assist in the ceremony of the coronation, or be present in the church on that great day." Then follows the order to the Archbishop to do it, and the approbation of the King of Naples, as well as all the prayers and bymns that are to be said or sung to this little wooden image, before and after the coronation, &c. &c.

In compliance with this proclamation, the coronation took place on the appointed day; the King and all the Royal Family attended, and paraded round the church with candles in their hands, at the tail of the Virgin. The child was crowned first, and a very considerable agitation was visible amongst the assembled multitude, but when the Archbishop raised the crown to the head of the Virgin, the emotion rose to a shout or scream of veneration and praise that rent the air. Had

been there, he would have said, "the infant Jesus obtained the silver medal of considerable approbation, but for the Virgin Mother was reserved the golden prize of supereminent applause."

Let it be understood, that this was no thing done in a corner; it is no private or domestic proof of royal superstition, but a notorious circumstance, authorized by the Pope and made known to the faithful by a printed proclamation, and that no part of its value should be lost, the whole was detailed in the newspaper people. the following day for the edification of the

gences, (from which I gave you an exSince I bought my book of indultract in my last,) I have got into the mystery to secret of many things that were before a monies, and keeping up this mummery is me; attending these cerenot spontaneous devotion, but a regular calculation of profit and loss, by which the people, through the grace and indulgence of the Pope, cheat the devil out of his right to torment them; all this is regularly set down in a book, with the value calculated of every prayer, and every genuflexion, and every kissing of the cross, &c. &c., that people may go through in the course of the year. think I shall translate this book from I beginning to end when I get to England ; it is the choicest specimen of the enlightened age that I have yet met with; (it bears date 1826, and is published in lightened government of Austria.) Venice, under the authority of the en

I heard a curious sermon on the eve of the feast of the dead, in which the priest was urging the people to give money for gatory. prayers to be said for the souls in purHe described the torments of the dead with sufficiently terrible minuteness; and after quoting the 25th chap. of Matthew from the 31st verse to the end, he said, now, if doing these acts of charity to men while on earth be of such value, single grain (farthing), spent in the ser"Is vi dico;" I say unto you, that a vice of the dead is of infinitely more value, from hell. as by such a gift you may redeem a soul

Naples, March 6, 1827. The Carnival is at length over, and lo the season of riot, noise, confusion, and dissipation has succeeded that of sackcloth of dancing and masquerading till six or and ashes. The people of fashion, instead seven in the morning, are content to play voluptuous dinners, and still more volupat cards till two or three; and instead of tuous suppers, are satisfied to have their consisting of every delicious fish of the tables supplied with only a dozen dishes, season, dressed in all the variety of the most inventive cookery, with an after

course of pastry, and a desert of fruit and sweetmeats. Thus they fast! I had no idea of the extent to which the carnival was carried till this year. The first winter I was in Italy was Jubilee or Holy Year; in Rome there was no Caruival; last winter it was holy year here, and though the carnival did take place, it was kept greatly within bounds; but this season there has been a re-action, in revenge for the abstinence which the holy year had imposed upon them, and they have, indeed, given full swing to their gay propensities. Night after night, at one house or the other, they have had their balls in fancy dresses, French plays, tableaux, charades, &c. &c. so that with arranging the costume in one case, studying and rehearsing the characters in another, and providing amusing varieties in a third, &c. the whole time of Lords and Ladies, Princesses, Dukes and Duchesses, Counts and Countesses has been fully occupied; and now it is all over, they require time to recover their lost beauty. The pallid cheek, the sunken eye, the nerveless fibre, proclaim the reluctant truth, and tell, in terms too plain even for flattery to conceal, that these are not the purposes for which we ought to live. Death, too, in the midst of their rioting, as if in mockery of all the world calls pleasure, took his stand and played his part. Oue young man, Mr. S, who at the commencement was in every gay and brilliant circle, is now in his grave. One of the beautiful daughters of the Duchess of Manchester, Lady Emily Montague, who but a few nights before I saw dancing in all the buoyancy of spirits that youth and admiration give, was suddenly snatched away; sickness also removed for a few weeks the Prince Leopold, and occasioned, for a time, a blank in their entertainments, which ill accorded with the ambition of the giver. These things are felt, where every body is known, much more than they can be in greater cities or wider circles. Addison's dream of the people on the ice seems here completely realised; one drops in, then another, and then a third, but the rest go on pursuing the same senseless round, and filling up the mazes of the never-ending dance, till each, in his turn, finds the hole through which he slips, and is never seen again. In the regular course, and in the ordinary duties and business of life, there seems to be a time for death. The gaps made in families and friends, however severoly felt, are not entirely unexpected, nor is the mind entirely unprepared for them; but here, where people have no business but pleasure, aud no occupation but amusement, the effect is tremendous. The bold hand which seizes and snatches the gay creatures from the scene which they embellish, appears unlooked for and out of place. They should, as Macbeth

says, "die hereafter," when " there might be a time for such a word," or rather they should learn, while living, to reflect upon the purposes for which they live.

How does the Catholic question go on? Will the death of the Duke of York make any change? All the people who have come out here lately, are endeavouring to prove to me that it is time the emancipation was carried. I am no politician, but when I first came to Italy, and saw the paralyzing effect that the tenets of this church have on the human mind, I could not but feel horror at the idea of enlarging its influence or extending its power. But if it is true that the time is come when all these checks and tests are to be thrown aside, and every thing be left to its free operation, I am sure I would never oppose my opinion to the general good. So deep an impression, however, has been made on my mind, by what I have seen of the nature, character, and conduct of this diabolical church, that I believe I shall be one of the latest convinced, and one of the slowest to admit the new principle of universal toleration. Religious freedom they have, political power they want. I suppose the experiment of giving it them must be tried, and the proof of its wisdom left to the result. It seems a hazardous course, but it is a liberal, and perhaps a Christian course.

REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN AMERICA.

(To the Editors.)

GENTLEMEN,-The following letter was lately received by a respectable Minister of the Congregational Denomination in North Wales, from the Rev. Robert Everett, formerly of Denbigh, but now resident at a place, called Utica, in North America. It is a most interesting communication; and I trust the perusal of it will be eminently conducive to the promotion of "pure and undefiled religion" in this country. What is recorded about the manner in which the families of ungodly people are visited by "Christian instructors," may be of great use. Those who are themselves "among the saved," ought to be every day" abounding in the work of the Lord."

I am, your's sincerely,

S.

(From a Minister formerly in Wales.) "Utica, Oct. 28th, 1826. "Dear Brother,--The most important news that I can inform you of in this letter is, that there has been for the last twelve months a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord on the congregations in this country. A little more than a year ago, all was barrenness, and indifference, and formality in the churches, especially in these parts. Yet there were some who

light, the God of all grace was pleased to rift upon his burdened spirit the light of his countenance, and he went home rejoicing in Christ.

"There is a great deal of visiting from house to house here in times of revivals, to talk personally to sinners, and to pray for them, which appears to be attended with a great blessing. One time a Minister (this was at Rome) went into the house of some ungodly people, and after conversing with them awhile on the state of their souls, he asked them individually if they would wish to be prayed for, and stated one condition, viz. that they must promise to try to pray for themselves; otherwise he did not think it his duty to pray for them, nor could he pray for them. Each one consented, and promised to do so, excepting one girl; she would not promise to pray for herself, nor did she care whether she was prayed for. The Minister reasoned with her, but in vain; at last, he told her, she must then retire to another room while he prayed with the others. She did so, and he prayed for each one personally, and when he came to her case he paused, as if not knowing what to say; but at length prayed for her, and appeared to be assisted in his prayer for her, more than for any of the rest. The wicked prayerless girl overheard the prayer; she was pricked to the heart; and has afterwards given evidence, that prayer is her delight; and she is one of the humble followers of the Lord Jesus. Other instances might be given, but I must cease. The revival still continues, though not so powerful as it has been. About 2500 have been hopefully brought to the knowledge of Christ during the present year in this country. It contains about 60,000 inhabitants. In our small society, between 40 and 50 have been received since last Christmas. Our church consists now of about 130; but being very much scattered through the country, they are hardly ever all present at the same time. Though I have long delayed writing to you, yet I hope you will not follow the example. Please to write to me soon again; I feel, as if I could have no time even to write to my dear friends in Wales. Pray for me, that the work of the Lord may ever be my delight, and that I may be faithful wherever I shall have to finish my few days.

"Your's truly and affectionately,
ROBERT EVERETT."

PROGRESS OF ANTI-SLAVERY OPINIONS
IN THE UNITED STATES.

The cause of injured Africa is taking a stronger hold on the sympathies and charities of the people, with each succeeding year. Many a benevolent eye is directed to the movements of the American Colonization Society, with the deepest

interest. And although it is hoping too much, to expect the entire abolition of slavery, throughout the land, by the direct efforts of this, Institution, yet it is impossible to say, that its indirect and ultimale effects may not be of this gigantic character. Public opinion in this country is the lever which moves every thing; and by operating upon this, as the Colonization Society is doing, the most efficient method is adopted, of accomplishing the grand design which is in view, and will never be lost sight of by thousands of American citizens. Already are there established, in different parts of the land, more than a hundred Anti-Slavery Societies, SEVENTY-THREE OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN SLAVE-HOLDING STATES. Within about a year past, the Friends' Yearly Meeting in North Carolina have removed to more favourable climes not less than 300 people of colour, and are making arrangements for still further and larger removals. In the month of Jannary last, 34 coloured emigrants sailed from Boston for Liberia, under the patronage of the American Colonization Society; and in February, 154 from Norfolk, Va. for the same destination. Another expedition is fitting out at Baltimore, and will sail in a few days. The population of this flourishing Colony is now 500 or 600. In the latter part of 1825, two churches were built by the colonists; and in the spring of 1826, a Missionary Society was formed. Five or six schools are in operation; in which not only the children of emigrants are instructed, but also 60 children of natives. An earnest desire has been expressed by all the Leeward tribes, except one, that schools may be immediately established among them, for the instruction of their children. More than one hundred and fifty Africans, who had been seized for transportation as slaves, have been rescued by the colonists; and by the same instrumentality, in connection with that of the British Colony at Sierra Leone, the slave trade has been banished, almost entirely, from a line of coast three hundred miles in extent. With the help of a printingpress, which was carried out by the expedition from Boston, a newspaper was commenced in the Colony on the 15th of February last; but in consequence of the untimely death of Mr. Force, the printer, only one or two numbers were issued. In the death of this young man, and of Rev. Messrs. Sessions and Holton, who accompanied the expedition, one as agent of the Society, and the other as a Missionary, and of 15 out of the 34 emigrants composing it, the Colony has suffered a severe loss. The fate of these men, we believe, has convinced the friends of African Colonization, that in future, the emigrants must be gathered from the Middle and Southern States.