the accuracy of the authorized translation of the Scriptures? And if not, why suppose that mere common sense is sufficient to decide upon points which have employed the learning and sagacity of successive ages, which require a knowledge of ancient languages and customs, an acquaintance with history, and an extent of research and correctness of argumentation, which by no means fall to the lot of the great body of mankind? It is to little purpose that common can comprehend the ten arguments alleged against the Gospel, if it cannot also take in the ninety in its favour. sense What then, say the admirers of Paine, are the poor to do; for learning they have none, and common sense, it appears, will not by itself settle the questions at issue? We reply, that common sense will settle the only question which ought to be at issue; and that the unfairness of Paine and his colleagues is conspicuous in bringing questions to be decided by common sense, which do not come under the province of this useful endowment. Common sense would tell the poor man, that he is not a competent judge of the greater part of Paine's arguments, and that those who are reject them. Common sense would tell the poor, that what is admitted by the wise and good as a Divine Revelation, ought not to be treated with jests and buffoonery; but deserves veneration and calm inquiry, and comes with a presumptive evidence in its favour which ought not to be lightly rejected. Common sense would leave to the learned the examination of points beyond its ordinary researches, and would take their evidence as data on which to form its own conclusions. Common sense would honestly weigh the character of such men as the unhappy being whom our author has pourtrayed; and would ask how far it was probable that those who were honest and disinterested in CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 220. nothing else, should be so in undermining the basis of civil and ecclesiastical polity; and how far a notoriously vicious man was likely to be the exclusive proprietor of the key of moral and theological knowledge? Common sense would lead men to believe Christianity, were there no other reason, from its internal evidence; its adaptation to the wants and wishes of mankind; its development of the human heart, and all its broadly marked characteristics, as a revelation from God. Common sense would reject sarcasms, obscenity, and levity, as unworthy of the cause of Truth; and judging by the plain facts of the case, would decide, that a system possessing such testimonies as Christianity must be allowed to possess, and producing such virtues as it undeniably produces, could not be the work of an impostor. It is, in fact, no slight presumptive proof in favour of the Gospel, that it possesses that very sort of evidence which the case required. It makes its appeal to the great body of mankind, trusting chiefly (of course under the unseen protection of its Divine Author) to the ordinary arguments which sway the uneducated of all countries, who are in the habit of admitting, as true and indisputable, many things which they cannot prove, but which they firmly believe, and which habitually influence their conduct. The argument of authority, in its various forms, is that which chiefly decides the opinions of the illiterate: the followers of Paine himself can, generally speaking, have no other argument for their "no-creed" than the assertions of their leader; for it surely will not be pretended that they are complete For a sketch of the character of some other of these "oracles that set the world on fire," we would refer our readers to an interesting sermon recently published, on "The State of the Country," by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham. 2 N masters of his subject, and can judge how far his arguments rest on true propositions, and are cast in a truly logical mould. Now this argument of authority is abundantly in favour of the Gospel; and by means of it, that dispensation is usually believed in our early years. But as the nature of revelation is better known, new and higher arguments are discovered; and should the mind expand, so as to grasp the question in an intellectual point of view, the evidence will amount to the very highest kind of moral demonstration. The illiterate have not this argument, it is true; but they do not want it; they could not comprehend it: they do not seek for it in other things, and they shew their common sense by forming their principles, and regulating their conduct, in a mode more congenial with their habits and powers of mind. But for the intellectual there are arguments in abundance; and arguments of such cogency, that it would be difficult to find an inquirer who entered honestly upon the investigation, and returned unconvinced. One remark more, and we have done. How do men argue and act in analogous cases? Would it be thought right, even by those who contend for the unrestricted dissemination of infidel abuse and blasphemy, that books and tracts, affirming the duty and the delight of sensual indulgencies, and sup porting that licentious theory by arguments, and statements, and exhibitions, calculated to inflame the depraved, and to corrupt the hitherto undebauched imagination, should be freely circulated among our youth of both sexes? Would they contend, in this instance, that if the doctrine promulgated were false, it might be refuted by fair argument, and the evil be thus prevented? Would they not rather feel that such writings were not to be tolerated for one moment; that they must be suppressed, as contra bonos mores, as poisoning the very springs of human conduct? What good could be hoped for, in such a case, from the tardy deductions of reason, or the authoritative declarations of experience? The poison had been already administered, and would be likely, in a vast majority of instances, to operate with a force and rapidity which would render useless any remedies that could be applied. And yet can any man doubt that the arguments in favour of purity of couduct would exceedingly outweigh, in the estimation of cool and sober reason, those which it could be possible to adduce in favour of a life of licentiousness? Nevertheless, who is there that would choose to expose his own sons and daughters, or the boys and girls of the next village school, to the hazardous experiment of an unrestrained discussion of such a subject?' LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, &c. &c. GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARINGfor publication:-Principles of Political Economy, by Mr. Malthus;The Personal History of George III. by E. H. Locker;-A History of his Reign by the Rev. A. Stewart ;-The Life and Writings of the late Mr. Sheridan, now first collected;-The late War in Spain, by R. Southey-The History of the Indian Archipelago, by J. Crawford ;— A Picturesque Tour from Mount Simp lon to Milan;-Two Expeditions behind the Blue Mountains in New South We are glad to see that Mr. Harford has published an edition of his useful work in a cheaper (for the present is a very cheap) form for distribution; namely, one shilling per copy, or ten shillings per dozen. The profits of the work, if any, will be given to the Bris tol Infirmary. Wales, by J. Oxley;-The Elementary Parts of Pestalozzi's Mother's Book by P. H. Pullen;-Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words, by the Rev. C. Colton;-The History of Parga, by H. Foseolo. In the press:-The History of the Rebellion in 1745 and 1746, from the Manuscripts of Chevalier Johnstone; Literary Hours, by Dr. Drake;-The late Political and Military Events in India, by H. T. Prinsep;-Journey in Carniola and Italy, by W. A. Cadell; Account of Timbuctoo and Housa;The last or Seventy-Eighth Number of Dr. Rees's Cyclopedia;—Travels in Nubia, Palestine, and Syria, by Capt. Mangles;-Travels through Holland, Germany, and France, by Mr. Jacob;General Index to the Literature of Great Britain and Ireland, by Dr. Watt;-The Topography of Athens, by Col. Leake;-A Visit to Upper Canada, by J. Strachan;-The Adventures of T. Eustace, by the Rev. S. Pigott;Two Tours in the South of France, and over the Alps;-Memorials of Royal Worth, by the Rev. I. Cobbin. Vaccination.-Sir G. Blane, Bart. in a paper read to the Medico Chirurgical Society, Nov. 10, 1819, selects four periods, each of fifteen years, for the purpose of exhibiting the mortality of small-pox in each of these series. The following is a summary : Ratio of the Mortality of Small-pox in London to the total Mortality. From 1706 to 1720, one in 12.7; that is, 78 in 1000.-From 1745 to 1759, one in 11.2; that is, 89 in 1000.-From 1785 to 1798, one in 10 6; that is, 94 in 1000. -From 1805 to 1818, one in 18.9; that is, 53 in 1000. Accounts from Macassar state, that the vaccine inoculation makes great progress there; above 1000 children having been inoculated by the surgeon, with lymph brought from Java. The King of Macassar has had all his children and several of his relations inoculated, and measures are taken to extend this useful discovery throughout the island of Celebes. In the neighbourhood of Newcastle, an extent of twenty-eight square miles on the surface of the earth presents a series of seventy-five miles of iron railways, while the interior of the adjacent coal mines contains them to as large an extent. Five or six waggons, made en tirely of iron, fastened to each other in regular succession, descend these roads without any other mover than their own gravitating force; while by means of a pulley, or wheel, a certain number of carriages, in descending, occasion a certain number of others to mount, in order to take in a load at the summit of the inclined plane. The Solar Eclipse, which will happen on the 7th of September of this year, will be the greatest which has been visible in this part of Europe since the year 1764; or will again be so before the year 1847. Like these two eclipses it will be annular: the position and magnitude of the ring will, of course, depend on the situation of the spectator. In no part of England will this annular appearance be observed: it will be seen, however, in the Shetland Islands. On the continent, also in any part of that track of country which extends nearly in a straight line from the north of Westphalia to the south of Italy, the inhabitants will have an opportunity of beholding this singular phenomenon. It has been stated, that the exemption which the inhabitants of London, for the most part enjoy, from some diseases common to other large capitals, is owing to the sulphureous naptha emitted from the coal checking the progress of febrile affection. To prove that the air is saturated with this naptha, it has been remarked, that the wasp, an insect to which sulphur is obnoxious, is never seen within the sphere of its action. France. A royal brig was lately fitted out at L'Orient for a voyage to Senegal, as a steam-packet, the first of this construction that has quitted a French port for a distant expedition. Intelligence has been received of her safe arrival at the place of her destination, having performed the passage in sixteen days. Russia. The ecclesiastical organization of the different religious denominations in Russia is as under: The Catholics of Lithuania, of White Russia, and Western Russia, have their archbishops, bishops, religious orders of both sexes, with colleges of Jesuits, &c.-The Protestants, both Lutheran and Reformed, have their superior consistories in each government. In Finland, these consistories have at their head a bishop, and in the other provinces, a superintendant general.-The Armenians, whether united or not, have their archbishops and bishops, and the latter class have a patriarch.-The Mo ravian Brethren of Sarepta have their separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Mahometans, whose number amounts to nearly three millions, have two muftis.-The sectaries of Lama have their lamas or priests.-The Schamans, and the unbaptized people of the Finnish race, have also their priests.-The Jews have their synagogues, their rabbins, and a superior school at Witepsk. -In general, all religious persuasions are allowed plenary toleration, provided they do not attempt to make proselytes. Mount Etna.-The travellers who have scaled Mount Etna vary much in their reckoning as to its height above the level of the sea. The Canon Recupero, an indefatigable traverser of "Mont Gibello," assigns to it 15,000 French feet. The Canon has been in the habit of making observations on the volcano, for nearly forty years successively, ascending it once every year. M. le Comte de Borch, in his letters on Sicily, assigns only 9,660 feet. M. de Saussure, finds the height by a barometrical observation to be 10,032 feet. Captain Smyth makes it 10,203 feet. All travellers who have ascended Etna agree, that from it may be seen the rock of Malta, the Æolian isles, the Ionian sea, the entrance of the Adriatic, and the coasts of Albania. India. The image of gold, described in the following document, is now deposited in the East-India Company's warehouse. "COPY.-Bombay, May 31,1819.-This is to certify, that the golden image of Vishnu, herewith exhibited, was found at Nassick, in the month of May, 1818, with jewels and other property belonging to his highuess Sereemunt Maharajah Bajee Row Peishwa Row Pundit Purdhan Babauder. — This beautiful image, which is composed of the finest gold from Mount Ophir, was made in the year 1707, and weighs three hundred and seventy tolas. It has ever since been preserved with the highest vene ration as one of the principal household deities in the family of Leewajee and his descendants. A numerous and expensive establishment of Bramins and other attendants were constantly maintained for it. It accompanied the late Peishwa in all his pilgrimages in a state palanquin, escorted by part of his choicest troops. In this manner the deity [idol] was sent to Nassick during the late Mahratta war, where it was discovered by the British authorities, and sent to Poonah, with the rest of the property found at Nassick, to the Hon. Mr. Elphinstone, who directed Capt. Fearon to dispose of the same on account of Government.-(Signed) J. Fearon." Pitcairn's Island.-A subscription was set on foot on the 1st of September, in Calcutta, and soon completed, for sup plying the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island with implements of husbandry, and other useful articles. These interesting people, it will be recollected, are descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty, and were visited a short time since by Captain Henderson, on his voyage from Valparaiso to Calcutta. The Captain is now proceeding again to Chili, in command of the ship Hercules, and proposes calling at Pitcairn's Island with the articles which have been purchased under his direction, for the use of its inhabitants. About 3,000 rupees have been expended. Among the articles which have been provided, besides useful tools and implements of husbandry, are some live stock, two chests of fruit-trees, secured for a long voyage, one keg of marrow-fat peas, two boxes of vegetables, and a select assortment of seeds and stones for sowing and planting, suited to the soil and climate of Pitcairn's Island, from Dr. Wallich, superintendant of the Botanic Garden; a strong boat, of which the islanders were much in want, and, we are glad to add, some elementary tracts, and a few Bibles and prayer-books. Grounds of Contentment, Religious, Moral, and Political, possessed by us, as Christians and as Britons; a Sermon, by the Rev. James Beaver, B. D. An Inquiry, chiefly on Principles of Religion, into the Nature and Discipline of Human Motives; by the Rev. John Penrose, M. A. formerly of C. C. C. Oxford. The Messiah, by Mr. Bayford. 8vo. 10s. Sermons, by Dr. Busfield. 8vo. Vol. II. 12s. Essay on the Trinity, by Mr. Jones. 18mo. 1s. 6d. Sermons on various Subjects and Occasions, by G. S. Faber, B. D. Vol. II. 8vo. 12s. The Truth, Nature, and Universality of the Gospel: a Sermon, preached at Stirling, June 29th, by Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. 1s. 6d. The Principles of true Christianity vindicated, in an Address to Deists, by William Grimshaw., Price 1s. or common 6d. Affliction; or the Blessings of God manifested. 8d. The Domestic Minister's Assistant: a Course of Morning and Evening Prayer for the Use of Families, with Prayers for particular Occasions. By the Rev. W. Jay. 8vo. An Inquiry on the Duty of Christians, with respect to War, including an Examination of the Principle of Peace Societies, by John Sheppard. 8vo. price 6s. Geraldine; or Modes of Faith and Practice; by a Lady. MISCELLANEOUS. The Chronology of the last fifty years. A Key to the Chronology of the Hindus. 2 vols. 8vo. 18s. Miscellanies; by the Rev. Richard Warner. 2 vols. 12mo. 10s. Lessons of Thrift; published for general Benefit, by a Member of the SaveAll Club. royal 8vo. 11. 1s. Lady Russell's Letters. 12mo. 6s. The Glory of Regality; a Historical Treatise of the Anointing and Crowning of the Kings and Queens of England; by A. Taylor, F. S. A. 8vo. 15s. A Commentary on the Systems which have been advanced for explaining the Planetary Motions; by J. Burney, R.N. F. R. S. 8vo. The Comforter, a Poem. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Poems, descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery; by John Clare, 5s. 6d. Retrospection, a Rural Poem. 12mo. 5s. Sacred Lyrics; by James Edmeston. 12mo. 4s. A Reply to an Article in the last Number, viz. LXIV. of the Edinburgh Review, entitled Parliamentary Enquiry. By John Davison, B. D. Rector of Washington, Durham, and late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. Svo. 3s. 6d. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. CHURCH OF ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY. THE Committee of this institution remark, that "although uniformity of judgment may not exist, they feel it to be their duty and delight, to hold the faith in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace.' And, since differences of opinion are permitted in the church militant, they would trace the wisdom of God in educing good from evil, and overruling the infirmities of Christians, -their watchful, and perhaps too suspicious, jealousy of each other,—for the more effectual preservation of the sacred writings, from the hand of sullen bigotry, that would encumber them with human traditions; from that of presumptuous theorists, who would rob them of passages that contain most salutary truths; and from the attempts of any, of whatever school, who might be disposed, with a bold temerity, to corrupt the sacred text. So that, in fact, the differences of modern Christians, like the too bitter dissensions of the ancients, contribute to secure for themselves, and to perpetuate for the benefit of posterity, the integrity of the inspired records." Notwithstanding the pressure of the times, the funds of the Society have improved during the past year. The list of subscribers has been enlarged, and a few handsome donations have |