a Dow many years in this country, and baptism was over, the Scripture, and had conversed with many Protestants, Mr. King prayed. In the afternoon but never was able to persuade one: I baptized the child of Mr. Wilkinand told that we want humility, for son, an English merchant at this if we had humility, we should believe place. Mr. King remarked in his in the Pope. He ran finally away journal, that it was the most interestand I ran after him, and told him that ing scene he had ever witnessed, as he was not able to answer. As sevewe had just come from the house of ral other patres were present, he was Jew, whose son had been circumcised, ashamed and came back, argued for to behold a Jew baptizing a child in some moments, and ran away again, the name of the Father, of the Son, and brought to me the following book, and of the Holy Ghost. He said it which he told me I should take with was coming from the old and bloody me home, and read it. The title of covenant, to the new and better disthe book is, "Verita della Chrieea pensation-it was like coming from Catholica Romana dimostrata illustra- the darkness which covered the Egypta e difesa. Da F. R Antonio Val-tians, to the land of Goshen where secchi dell' ord. de Predicatori Pub. there was light. Prim, Professore di Teologia nell' Dr. Marpurgo, the Jew was presUniversita di Padova." In the fron-ent when I' baptized the child of Mr. tispiece was the representation of Wilkinson, and when I expounded the ship of St. Peter, with the words the scripture. "Turbari potest, mergi non potest." I sat down to-day in the streets of Alexandria and sold Bibles. We called then on Mr. Dumreicher, the Danish Consul. Mr. King spake to him in French, on the Jan. 17: We called to-day on Dr. great importance of faith in Christ, to Marpurgo to witness the circumcis-preserve us from the evil that is in the ion of his child, but the ceremony was world-of the worth of the soul-of already over. Mr. King and myself the false and fading nature of all earthconversed with ten gentleman-like ly greatness-of the importance of atJews about Jesus Christ. One of them tending to the concerns of our souls had read the Gospel, Voltaire, Volney, while it is called to-day. He receivRousseau, and De Civitate Dei of St. ed what Mr. King said in a most Austin. Mr. King told him that he friendly manner. Two or three othhad likewise read Voltaire and Vol-er gentlemen were present, one of ney, and he perceived that there was much more sense in the writings of Voltaire and Volney, than in the pages of the Talmud.' whom began to speak with great violence, saying, that he did not believe that God would damn men because they did not believe in Christ. Mr. I baptized in the forenoon, the son King asked him how he knew the of John Gliddon, Esq. for, as I re- character of God. He said, from ceived some orders of the Vicar-Gen- nature. Mr. King then told him that eral of the Pope when at Rome, I if he judged of him in this way simply, tho't not to transgress the rules laid he had reason to tremble; for it was down by the visible church; especial-possible that the same God who desly as the Church of England acknowl-troyed the inhabitants of Alleppo by edges the ordinations of the Church an earthquake, and the cities around of Rome. It is a singular coincidence, Mount Etna, by torrents of Lava, that I performed, two months before, and who caused so much pain and the funeral service of one of Mr. Glid-death in this world by plague and don's sons. I expounded, after the pestilence, might possibly make him Mrs. Hannah More miserable in another world, and to all eternity. A long discussion then ensued, in which Mr. King pointed out to him the depravity of his heart, as the cause of his unbelief, and the utter impossibility of living a holy life, without the grace of God through the blood of Christ; and that if he were He tried seve MRS. HANNAH MOORE. 165 Journal of Observations in England, Scotland, We arrived at Barley Wood about noon, and were kindly and politely not washed by this blood he must be received by Martha More, the only lost irrecoverably. The infidel re-author. Their situation is delightful sister and domestic companion of the plied to Mr. King, that he was not The cottage as it is called, though covprepared to answer. ral times to interrupt Mr. King in ered with thatch, is extremely neat and tasteful; and both within and his arguments, and spake with the without, wears all the appearance of greatest violence. simple elegance. It occupies a situMr. Leutzman, who was pres-ation on the gentle declivity of an ent told me that he was entirely sen-eminence, and commands a view of sible of the force of Mr. King's ar- the village of Wrington, a short disguments, and was touched by the tance below, and a richly variegated meekness and gentleness which Mr. country, within an extensive horizon. King displayed. The French gentle--The selection of this spot, the plan man himself became very civil towards of the cottage, and the arrangement Mr. King. of the grounds, are due to the ingenuity and talent of the two sisters, and Jan. 18. I sold to-day seventeen Bibles and Testaments for seventy-reflect the greatest honor upon their two piastres. I conversed to-day taste and judgment. In the short with thirteen Jews. Some of them conversation we had with Martha bought Italian Testaments and Bi- More, before her sister joined us, the bles. Brother Fisk attended the ser- former spoke much of the latter, and mon in the Greek convent, and disappeared as much interested in the tributed 140 Tracts, and I conversed reputation of her works, and as highly with Jews. Brother King conversed to enjoy their celebrity, as the author with two Jews, who were very atten-herself could do. The latter soon tive. came in and took us by the hand, with I dined with four Jews who were great ease and urbanity. She congratinfidels. They told me that they be-alated my friend W. as an old friend, came infidels by having read the Tal mud. One of them told me he would be obliged to believe in Christ, if he did admit the Old Testament. I preached to them Christ, and him cru-introduced to them as an American, cified. Abbote L. a Catholic clergyman, likes very much the word of God and deplored to-day the ignorance of the monks. (To be continued.) Philosophers and physicians rally reckon sorrow among the causes of shortening life. whom she had not seen for a considerable time. A table was placed in the middle of the room, around which we all seated ourselves, and, as I was the conversation turned upon that quarter of the globe. The charitable and religious institutions of our country were inquired after by Hannah, with the zeal of one who feels a lively concern for the good of mankind, in every part of the world.--She gene-showed us a letter she had received chief from a deaf and duinb child of Dr. . of Hartford, Connecticut, accum She panied by an explanatory letter from us to suppress. These two ladies are the worthy principal of the Institu- the survivors of a family of five sisters, tion in that town, for the institution who formerly lived in Bristol, and subof the Deaf and Dumb. The letters sequently at Bath. Some of them had given her much pleasure. The were the managers of a distinguished cause of Bible societies she has much female school by which they increasat heart, and is decidedly opposed, ed the means of their support. They though a firm Church woman, to the all possessed talents above mediocrirestrictive principles advocated by ty; but Hannah is alone celebrated for some of the mitred heads of the es- her literary productions. She was tablishment. She had just given a warmly beloved by them all, proving, notable demonstration of her zeal in that her talents have ever been associthis cause. The anniversary of theated with amiable qualities; and with Auxiliary Society of the neighborhood, true goodness of heart. Her search was held last week, and she and her after Happiness, and Sacred Dramas, sister gave a dinner and a tea enter- she told me were the juvenile productainment to the whole company. tions of seventeen; and written with There were no less than 103 persons the intention to counteract the grow who partook of the dinner, and 300 ing custom of introducing into female that drank tea. As many as the cot-boarding schools, plays of an improptage would hold were accommodated er tendency, and allowing them to be in it; and the rest were served upon acted by the pupils. Her views she the lawn around it. Among them were thought had been successful. thirty-seven clergymen, and the Bish- and her surviving sister retired some op of Gloucester. Notwithstanding years ago to this spot, which they she is at the age of 75, and has endur-found in a state wild and uncultivated many attacks of disease, she went ed. They selected it for the beauty yesterday twenty two miles to attend and healthiness of its situation; and a Sunday School. Her constitution, had they surveyed all the south of (or, as she termed it, her muscular England, it is questionable whether power,) she said, was very strong, for they could have found a situation it had carried, her with the blessing more truly delightful. The village at of Providence, the assaults of twenty the foot of the hill, contains an old mortal diseases. She acknowledged Gothic church and provides them with that she had been much opposed to all the faculties of mere neighborhood, America, during the revolutionary at a convenient distance. The house struggle, but admitted that we had is large enough for all the purposes many worthy characters amongst us. of domestic comfort and hospitality. The native strength of her mind has The walls of the sitting room, below, enabled her to surmount most of the are ornamented with the portraits of prejudices arising from political op- their most distinguished friends. On position; but it was still apparent, our attention being turned to them, from the conversation of these worthy the characters of the individuals, and ladies, that the want of that more ex-particularly their most valuable qualact information, which can only be obtained by proximity and intimacy, tends to keep alive the prejudices which sprang from the contest of independence, and which not only the true interests of both nations, but ev ery principle of virtue should induce ities, were adverted to by Hannah Moore with a warmth & energy, which proved that age had not diminished the force of her early recollections, nor the ardor of her friendship. Ainong these favorites, I noticed, particularly, the likenesses of Wm. Wil Hints on Religious Controversy. 167 berforce, Elizabeth Carter, Richard its erection; for in an old thatched Reynolds, and Henderson, the house adjoining the church-yard in celebrated youthful genius of Bristol. the village of Wrington, at the foot In one corner of the room, was a pic-of the hill, did that great man draw ture which had been sent her from his first breath. His mother, while Geneva. It was a descriptive scene travelling, was constrained to take from one of the most interesting pas-up her residence in this house, until sages of Celebs.-Lucilla in the at-her new-born child was old enough titude of prayer at the bed side of her for her to pursue the journey. poor sick neighbour. Her bed cham- We all left Barley Wood, with ber, into which we were introduced feelings of much satisfaction from the for the sake of a more complete pros-visit. Mine was not diminished, by pect of the country, contained her fi-carrying with me a present of a copy brary, which I should estimate at least of "Christian Morals," from the han's a thousand volumes. It consists of of the author, given as a memorandum the most select and valuable works of the visit, and in which she wrote upon theology and general litera- my name in an excellent hand, withture. She showed us a letter from a out spectacles. It is rare, indeed to Russian Princess, written with her find so much vivacity of manners, at own hand, in broken English, solely || so advanced a period of life, as those to acknowledge the satisfaction and ladies possess. They are fond of a benefit which the works of Hannah country life. Hannah remarked to Moore had afforded her. We were us, that the only natural pleasures gratified too, with seeing a translation, which remained to her in their full of Cælebs in the German language, force, were the love of the country, and a splendidly bound copy of it in and of flowers. the French, sent to her as a present from the continent. Industry is doubtless one of the habitual virtues of these worthy sisters. Besides the 1. Consider "the truth" as worth numerous literary productions of the the labor of search and discussion. elder, and the extensive charitable of-To find out and make known the truth fices in which they are engaged, every thing within and without the cottage, the furniture, the needle-work, the flowers, bears the impression of taste and activity. We pursued the windings of a gravelled walk among the shrubbery, and reposed ourselves on seats in rustic arbours, from which glimpses are obtained of the expanded valley below. In an open spot, at one of the turns of the walk, was a neat but plain menument, to the memory of Bishop Porteus, who had been their particular friend, and in another, a more costly, stone was erected to the memory of John Locke. This was a present to these sisters from Lady Montague, and a very appropriate place it is for From the Southern Intelligencer. HINTS ON RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY. should be the object. It is mere cant to lament over the proper discussion of important and interesting subjects, for how else is the truth to be elicit ed? 2. Consider that some truths are more important than others. It inay be wise in general, it must be our duty in particular instances, to avoid the discussion of minor topics. The passion and zeal of men are generally excited in an inverse ratio to the clearness and importance of the subject. 3. There are times when all controversy must be waved. There are persons with whom it is worse than idle to reason, To know what occa sions and what characters are thus 108 Hints on Religious Controversy unsuited to discussions of this nature || wicked; yet both sides often triumph.. is a valuable endowment. The ene- 8. Put no confidence, at the outset, mies of religion rejoice when a chris-in your ability to convince your antian mistakes in these things. 4. The subjects most worthy of your zeal and labor are those which will commonly be most briefly despatched. Much therefore it is not best to say at once. 5. Remember that the passions have nothing to do in this case. They only do harm when suffered to have any influence. They warp our judg ment, they distort the subject, they alienate our antagonist, they disgust all who are witnesses, they block up the way to truth and conviction on both sides. tagonist. If you feel such a confidence, you know nothing of huinan, nature. Be not sure, that you are willing yourself to be convinced. You may think you are, and you ought to be so, but perhaps a short experiment may prove the contrary, and still you may never suspect the truth. Conviction is seldom the direct effect of disputing it is more frequently produced by the reflection and study to which candid discussion excites a fair mind. Be not solicitous to reply to every thing said. The best answer is of ten silence. I do not mean the silence of contempt. He who shows contempt, will not convince; he is too proud and selfish to wish to convince, and while perhaps he despises others. as ignorant, proves by this behaviour the supreme littleness of his own soul. To make your opponent look or feel 6. No truly pious man can reconcile it to himself to urge any argument which does not convince his own mind. A Christian reasoner should be will ing, the instant a flaw is pointed out in any of his arguments, to lay it aside, just as he who is building rejects every piece of timber in which a defect is found as unfit for his pur-unpleasantly, or to confute him should pose. not be your object at all. Some errors, however, (not persons) are to be treat ed with contempt. 10. Never consent to engage in an argument unless your antagonist will agree with you on some common principles to set out upon. All reasoning otherwise is vainer than the whistling of the winds. Your terms also should be strictly defined, and both parties should adhere conscientiously to the definitions. If you are on the right side, this will be your best policy, as honesty always is. If not it will tend much to open your eyes. 7. Satire, invective, clamor, ridicule, sneers, contemptuous expressions towards an antagonist are unjustifiable for many reasons. They are as fit and as likely to be employed in a bad as a good cause. They are too often proofs of a bad state of present feeling, if not of the want of true religion. They never produce any good effect; but while they cherish pride in him who uses them, they provoke him against whom they are aimed. Even of pleasantry, not in itself offensive to our opponent, it may be doubted whether it be suited to the proper end of all religious discus- 11. When the discussion is over, sion. To relieve a dry argument in reflect calmly and candidly. If you this way may appear occasionally, are then satisfied that you were wrong, not amiss; the danger is that a step acknowledge it and feel indebted to farther may be taken almost uncon-him who was the means of bringing sciously, and satire and ridicule in- you to see your error, and above all troduced. To triumph, when we sup- to God for enlightening your mind. pose a victory gained, is weak and in this manner. DIALECTICUS. |