nor be forced to assist at heathen feasts and in heathen ceremonies. During the year 1800, in the Tranquebar mission, 21 Heathens, including 2 Caffries and 2 Malays, and 161 children born in the congregation, had been baptized. The communicants were 1115, the school children 200. From the Society's report, it further appears, that the number of children in the Charity Schools under the Society's patronage, in and about Lon don, amounts to 7108, viz. 4180 boys, 2928 girls; and that since the setting up of the schools, 42330 boys and 20399 girls have been put out to apprenticeships and services, or taken from school by their friends. It is also stated, that during the year 1801, the following books were distributed by the Society, viz. 7291 Bibles, 9958 New Testaments and Psalters, 12895 Common Prayers, 14710 other bound books, and 96354 small tracts. * We postpone some other Articles of Religious Intelligence for want of room. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. FRANCE. DURING the present month, the French Journals have been filled with vehement charges of treachery and hostility against the government of this country, which, with very little trouble, might be shewn to be wholly unfounded: but as none of our readers are likely to be influenced by them, and as our work we fear will not be of much use in dispelling the delusion in France, we shall not think it necessary to enter on their refutation. One object which Bonaparte seems greatly to have at heart, would appear, from a late official publication of his, to be the entire exclusion of Great Britain from the Continent. The publication to which we allude, is bis Address to the Deputies of the Helvetic Cantons, in which will be found several striking illustrations of his dislike to this country, and of his wish to give the law to other states. "There are in Switzerland," he observes, "both pure democracies, and governments engrossed by particular families: both cannot subsist together. The three principles on which alone tranquillity can be restored, are these-a general equality of rights among the Cantons, an entire renunciation of all aristocratic family rights, and a federative conformation in respect to each Canton. The French and Italian Republics cannot agree to the institution of a government in Switzerland that might become either directly or indirectly hostile to their interests. The insurgents have insulted the French nation, and have declared themselves against an equality of rights. It is the duty of France to take care that there shall not be formed on its border a system hostile to France. government will be established in Helvetia, such as in its spirit may be always A friendly to France. England has not, and ought not to have any relation with Switzerland. Her dangerous emissaries cannot be tolerated in this country. Switzerland has one mode of aspiring at real greatness: this would be by her incorporation with France, of which she would form two departments; but she has been separated from that country by nature, who has herself fixed its limits. Nothing but a federal government, adapted to the ancient constitution, but without inequality, without subjects, and without privileges or patricians, can suit Switzerland." The fate of Bonaparte's expedition to St. Domingo inust prove a great mortification to him. But it is said to have been of essential use to him, by affording easy means of ridding himself of the disaffected part of his troops. The equipment of vessels of war, continues to be carried on with great activity in the French ports; and an armament of a very extensive nature has been prepared, which is said to be intended for Louisiana. The probability, however, is, that its real destination is St. Domingo, although the unwillingness of the army to engage in that service makes it politic to conceal it. At Louisiana there can be no occasion for that numerous body of troops, or those great quantities of ordnance, &c. which have been embarked; while St. Domingo will be inevitably lost to the French, without large and speedy reinforcements. By what has recently passed, we are confirmed in the opinion which we expressed at the first, that its subjugation could only be effected by the almost total extermination of the Blacks. Depots have been established in France, for the reception of such as chuse to volunteer their services in the Colonies, but we apprehend they will not fill fast. Florida, it is said, has been ceded to France. By a decree of the French Senate, an annical sum of five millions of livres has been appropriated to the payment of the salaries of its own members; and a senatorship, with a salary of 25,000 livres, is affixed to every tribunal of appeal; the appointment to which, the Chief Consul retains in his own hands. The fashion of court mourning seems to have revived in France, the upper ranks having gone into mourning for General Lechre. The ancient dates also begin now to be subjoined to the revolutionary ones, in the Moniteur, the French official paper. These circumstances, though minute, are far from being unimportant. A Consular Decree has been issued, directing that the wife of the First Consul shall have four ladies to do the honours of the Palace. ITALY. · The organick law, which establishes the new government at Genoa, has been pubished there. According to it, the governmeat will consist of a Senate, in which a Doge is to preside. There are to be five great officers of state, viz. the Ministers of Justice and Legislation, of the Interior, of War, of the Marine, and of Finance. The senate is to consist of thirty senators; Each senator to be thirty years old, and remain in office six years. The Doge is to be chosen by the senate, and continue in office six years; nor can he be again elected till after six years. Letters from Genoa, of the 15th December, mention the sudden demolition of more than two-third parts of the village of Villaguardia, near Oneglia, by a convulsion of the earth. The village was composed of about eighty dwelling houses and four hundred inhabitants. It stood on the slope of a hill, in high cultivation, and abounding in copious springs of fresh water. On the evening of the 22d of November last, two apertures were found to have been convulsively made in the ground near the village church. It rained all that night. At day-break, on the 23d, an enormous mass burst down from the suminit of the hill, brought before it all the surface earth, and fell at last upon the houses of the vilLee. The roof of the church was the best thing demolished, then fifty-seven of the houses met, one after another, the same on throw. This passed in the course of the 21, and so slowly, that the unfortunate velagers could view, at leisure, the progress of their disaster. In the night of the 25d, the ruins were removed to the distance of two hundred paces from their former situation. On the morning of the 2th, the remaining houses were seen standing within a precipitous accumulation of earth, which, extending entirely round them, presented every where a peipendi cular front, and rose to the elevation of fifty fathoms. Vineyards, gardens, olivetrees, were all crushed, and carried in one mass into the next river. The channel of the river was filled up, and the stream above converted into a lake. An opposite rock, on the territory of Bestagno, at last arrested the motion of the mass. A slope, one of the best cultivated in Italy, remains now but a bare rock. On a tract of land, four miles long and one broad, there now remains nothing to strike the eye but ruined houses, deracinated trees, and stagnated water. The poor people of the village have no present shelter but that of a few of their cottages which are yet standing, and from which they can view only their ruined property, and desolated fields. TURKEY, The Navigation of the Black Sea by the English has commenced. EGYPT. The affairs of the Turks in this country, seem to be in a very desperate situation, and the wrecks of their army have probably been preserved from utter destruction, only by the protection of the British troops, which still garrison Alexandria. An agent from the First Consul has lately visited Egypt, under pretence of attending to the interests of French commerce in that quarter. This, however, is an idle pretence, and only shews how greatly Bonaparte languishes for the object on which he once fixed his heart. What course will now be pursued by this country, is uncertain. The abandonment of Egypt will probably be insisted on by Bonaparte; and yet, in its present circumstances of distraction, and in the weakened state of the Ottoman power in that quarter, our evacuation of it would prove, it is to be feared, only the signal for some fresh attempt of the First Consul. EAST INDIES. We mentioned, in a former number, the arrival of a Persian Ambassador at Bombay. Accounts have been recently received of his having been killed in an affray which took place between his attendants and the Sepoys who were on duty, and which he was endeavouring at the time to quell. A Court of Enquiry was insti tuted for investigating the affair. The troops under the command of General Baird, which had been employed in Egypt, have returned safely to Calcutta. in consequence of the resolution of the Court of Directors, directing the College recently instituted at Calcutta to be suppressed, the Marquis Wellesley has announced that it will cease on the 31st of December, 1803. An intimation is, however, at the same time given of a hope that, in consequence of the explanations which were to be made to the Directors upon the subject, their resolution abolishing the College, would be reversed before the period fixed for its extinction arrived. FRENCH WEST INDIES. The last dispatches from ST. DOMINGO, which have appeared in the Moniteur, are dated the 9th November, and they confirm, in nearly its whole extent, the disastrous intelligence of the French ariny, received by way of America. Leclerc fell a victim to the prevailing malady on the 2d of November. The black chiefs, who had submitted, had again revolted; the whole open country was in the hands of the negroes, and disease seemed to complete their wishes. A long journal of the progress of Leclerc's disorder, together with an account of the appearances on opening the body, signed by the physician who attended him, is published in the Moniteur. The journal concludes with the following words, "Il a rendu son ame juste & vertueuse a minuit & demi." Leclerc has been succeeded in his command by General Rochambeau, but as he had not yet reached the Cape, the detail of operations is given by General Boyer, and is in substance as follows: "In the month of June,Touissant Louverture was arrested and sent to France. The plots of that brigand being at an end, tranquillity was more than ever assured. The disarming the negroes was pursued with activity and success. Some slight insurrections broke out, and were quelled. The heat was, however, excessive; it be came impossible to make any movement. The least elevated mornes presented to us obstacles proportioned to the inconveniencies of the temperature. The number of brigands increased. Our hospitals were filled with sick, and every day the sickness made new ravages. The brigands calculated its progress with a secret joy; but our troops were every where, and fought with courage, and a part of the brigands were punished and disarmed. In the latter end of August, Ch. Belair, an atrocious African, rose in insurrection: a party of the colonial troops, in our pay, joined him. After different combats, the wretch was taken with his horrible wife. A military commission condemned him to death. In the South, partial insurrections equally took place. Domage revolted, and burnt several plantations: this wretch was arrested, tried, and put to death. The insurrections in other quarters were also quelled, and the chiefs died the death of criminals; since, the Southern part has been tranquil. The Northern part is a prey to the most dreadful disturbances. Dessa lines, Clervaux, and Christophe, are with the brigands. Their boldness increases with our weakness. Maurepan, and a great number of the chief, are arrested, and are on board the squadron, In the beginning of November, the General, impatient to It may fairly be presumed, that when so The misfortunes of the French, in the present instance, may be attributed to their perfidious conduct towards Touissant, whom they seized, in contempt of their engagements; and have now doomed, probably, to perpetual imprisonment. A letter said to have been addressed to Bonaparte by Touissant, on the first landing of the French force in St. Domingo, has been lately circulated, which, if genuine, reflects no less credit on his heart than on his understanding; while it may serve, in *We ventured some time ago strongly to recommend a pamphlet, entitled "The Crisis of the Sugar Colonies," to the consideration of all who were interested in their fate. Now that events have justified the predictions, and confirmed much of the reasoning, of the able and ingenious author of that work, it may not be unseasonable again to recommend it to their attentive perusal. some degree, to account for the cruel and treacherous conduct he has experienced. We cannot vouch for its authenticity, but when we compare it with his former letters, of the genuiness of which no doubt has ever been expressed, the internal evidence in its favour appears to us very strong. Had we had room we should have inserted this interesting letter, but we hope to find an early opportunity of giving it place in eur miscellaneous department. The French papers contain details from GUADALOUPE, by which it appears, that in spite of the assurances continually held forth of the prosperity of that colony, it is by no means freed from the ravages of the brigands. Admiral Lacrosse complains extremely of the Swedish commandant at St. Bartholomew, for not arresting those brigands who had escaped from Guadaloupe thither, and who frequently returned unobserved and renewed their depredations. GREAT BRITAIN. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. (Continued from vol. 1. p. 755). on Is a former number, we gave the substance of what had passed in the House of Commons, when the Address to the King, in answer to his Speech at the opening of the Session was moved. A second debate took place, on the 24th of November, bringing up the report of the address; in which Mr. Fox; The Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by General Maitland, and the Secretary at War; and Mr. Windham, supported by Mr. Elliot; went over similar ground to that which they occupied on the preceding day. We were pleased to observe a sentiment in Mr. Addington's speech, which reflects great credit on his constitutional principles. Speaking of what had appeared in public prints, both in this country and in France, he gave it as his opinion, that the violent language employed on both sides, was very reprehensible. He thought it unworthy of the good sense of this country: but yet it was not his wish, on that account, that a finger should be laid on the freedom of the British press: The worst consequences it could produce, were light and insignificant, compared with such an outrage. The only new view which was given of the policy to be pursued by this country, at the present crisis, was contained in a speech of considerable length made by Mr. Wilberforce. He took a comprehensive view of the subject before the House, and declared it to be his deliberate opinion, that Great Britain had been too forward to engage in war and in continental connections, and that, under the present circumstances of the country, it would be wise in us to pause before we renewed any continental alliance; for if the experience of the last ten years had not made us diffident upon these projects, it was most unhappily thrown away. He would add, that the people of this country were too honest to have much to do with the powers on the continent: we are always faithful to our engagements, they almost always faithless to us always, when it suits their conveniency: aud from this continental In the course of the debate Lord Temple having observed, that for this country to engage in war at the present moment was impracticable; that he did by no means wish for it, and that what he and his friends wished for was to convince the country, that, with the present set of ministers, they had no right to look for safety in war or security in peace, and that a change of men was necessary, Mr. Fox, with much pleasantry, commented on the noble Lord's eagerness to get into place, and advised him to pursue his object, if he would be successful, in a more politic and popular manner. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, on the 1st of December, the House in a Committee of Supply, resolved on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,that £2,781,532 15s. 2d. be granted to discharge outstanding Exchequer Bills, and on that of Sir Philip Stephens, that 50,000 men be granted for the sea service, including 12,000 marines, for the year 1803; and the following sums, for the space of 13 lunar months, for the said service: £1,202,500, at the rate of £1. 17s. per man per month. 1,235,000, victualling, £1. 18s. per man. 1,950,000, wear and tear, £3. per mau. 162,500, ordnance, 2s. per man, These different resolutions were agreed to without any opposition; but on bringing up the report of the committee, a debate took place, in which Mr. Thomas Grenville, supported by Mr. Canning and Dr. Lawrenc, complained that ministers had furnished no ground on which the House should vote so large a naval establishment as was proposed. They had not stated those new circumstances in the situation of Europe, which had induced them to alter the purpose, which they had announced last session, of reducing our naval force to 30,000 men, expressing many doubts at the same time, that they would not employ, with sufficient vigour, the large force entrusted to them. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Hawkesbury replied, that it would be very difficult to state the precise circumstances which seemed to them to require exactly 50,000 seamen, but on a general view of the situation and encreased dangers of this country, they thought such a number would be proper. It was their object to place the country on a footing in which she might preserve peace, and possess ample and sufficient means of security, Their wish was to preserve peace by honourable means, and certainly peace with a large establishment was not so bad as war, as some gentlemen had not very justly argued. The Attorney General expressed his surprise, that the opposition to the present vote should arise from a quarter where the clamour for a large establishment had been loudest, and the dangers of this country had been most strongly insisted on. They were convinced of the necessity of the measure, and yet they made long opposition speeches, It seemed to him, therefore, that the present opposition was no¬ thing more than a scramble for power, and that whatever measures ministers might pursue, they would still meet censure, unless they consented to gratify their opponents by resigning their places. A debate of a similar nature took place on the 8th December, when, in a Cominittee of Supply, the Army Estimates were voted for the ensuing year. The force moved for by the Secretary at War was 130,000 men, and he gave as reasons for so large an establishment the increasing power of France, the aggrandizing spirit of her government, and the formidable attitude which that country at this moment assumed. For though it was the sincere wish of government to perpetuate the peace, it was their duty and determination to be prepared to repel any attack which the ambition or malice of an enemy might prompt him to make. The force of France, at the present moment, amounted to 427,910 men, it was, therefore, no more than prudent to enlarge our force. Mr. Wyndham and his friends, while they signified that it was not their intention to oppose the supply moved for, affirmed that no public ground had been laid for it; no sufficient explanation had been made to the House of the reasons which had determined government to alter their former plan of a low peace establishment; and contended, that the fluctuating conduct of his majesty's ministers, and the want of vigour and capacity they had shewn in making the peace, and since, in their line of conduct with respect to France, de, prived them of all title to public contidence. Mr. Fox argued against the increase of our peace establishment on very different grounds, namely, that the French government was less in a situation than formerly to make any attempt upon this country; that even if she should wish to attack us, such was the state of her navy, that she could not do it with any hope of success. In short, he thought there was greater ground for believing that the present peace would be permanent, than if it had been made with the Bourbons; for he had no doubt the First Consul was sincerely desirous of peace, and knew that war would be likely to disturb his power. Mr. Sheridan, to whose speech on this night we have already alluded, took a line very different from his former political associate, a line, however, which appears to us to be consistent with sound sense and sound policy, and to do equal credit to his judgment aud candour. "The crisis in which we are placed," said he, "is so big with tremendous importance, so pregnant with difficulty, apprehension, and peril, that every member is called upon to deliver his opinion on the present state of af |