formably to general opinion, that female fluency in discourse is greater and more persevering than that of the other sex; it behoves women the more steadily to remember, that the fountain will be estimated according to the stream. If the rill run babbling along, shallow and frothy, the source will be deemed incapable of supplying a profound and tranquil current. If the former be muddy, bitter and corrosive, its offensiveness will be ascribed to the inherent qualities of the latter.

Among the faults which is usual to hear laid to the charge of young women, when female discourse is canvassed, vanity, affectation, and frivolousness, seem to furnish the most prevailing theme of censure. That in a great number of instances the censure is warranted, cannot be denied: and every young woman ought to beware, lest there should be ground for applying it with justice to herself. For, if it should be with justice applied to her, let her be assured, that whatever may be the circumstances of palliation, by which a part of the blame may be transferred elsewhere; there will yet be, in the most favourable case, a large residuum, for which she ought to be, and must be, personally responsible. But it is no more than common candour to avow, that in addition to those defects which frequently subsist in the plan of female education, there is another cause to which a portion of this vanity, and of its concomitant habits and errors, must be ascribed; namely, the injudicious and reprehensible behaviour of the other sex.

From the remarks which have been made on the frivolousness of language and sentiment which often appears agreeable to women; and even to women who are qualified both to communicate and to enjoy the highest pleasures of conversation which can flow from cultivated minds; let it not be inferred, that the mixed discourse either of female society, or of young persons of the two sexes, is to resemble the discussions of a board of philosophers: and that ease and gaiety, and laughter and wit, are to be proscribed as inveterate enemies of sobriety and good sense. Let ease exempt from affectation, gaiety prompted by innocence, laughter, the effusion of ingenious delight, and wit unstained with any tincture of malevolence, enliven the hours of social converse. But let it not be thought that their enlivening influence is unreasonably curtailed, if good sense be empowered at all times to superintend their proceedings; and if sobriety be authorized sometimes to interpose topics, which may exercise and improve the faculties of the understanding.

The true sources of useful and pleasing conversation, whether in men or in women (and let it be remembered that no conversation can be truly pleasing that is not accompanied by simplicity of manners), are virtuous dispositions, right judgment, and polished taste. I mention them in the order in which they appear to be requisite. Persons of either sex, who ambitiously endeavour to supply, by artificial props, or to compensate, by artificial ornaments, the want of any of these solid foundations of improving and attractive discourse, may for a time amuse the indolent, or may catch the applause of ignorance and folly. But they will not long render themselves acceptable even in mixed company, to considerate observers. And they will altogether fail in the far more important office of diffusing improvement, of communicating pleasure, and of gaining friendship and affection, in the society of private life.-Gisborne's Female Duties.

MARTHA, THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF

THE REV. OLIVER HEYWOOD. OLIVER HEYWOOD was one of the two thousand ejected ministers of 1662, whose privations, like those of many of his brethren, were exceedingly trying, by which their principles of piety were finely illustrated. Dr. Fawcett mentions the generous bebaviour of Martha, the excellent servant of Mr. Heywood, remarking, "The little stock of money was quite exhausted, the family provisions were entirely consumed, and Martha, the faithful servant, could lend no more assistance from the little savings of former days." Mr. H. still trusted that God would provide; when he had nothing but the Divine promise to live upon, he said;

66

"When cruise and barrel both are dry,

"We still will trust in God Most High." When the children began to be impatient for want of food, Mr. H. called his servant, and said to her, Martha, take a basket, and go to Halifax; call upon Mr. N. the shopkeeper, in Northgate, and tell him, I desire him to lend me five shillings. If he will be kind enough to do it, buy us some cheese, some bread, and such other little things as you know we most want; and be as expeditious as you can, for the poor children begin to be fretful for want of something to eat. Put on your hat and cloak, and the Lord give you good speed; in the meantime, we will offer up our requests to Him who feeds the young ravens when they cry, and who knows what we have need of before we ask Him." Martha observed her master's directions; but when she came near the house where she was ordered to beg the loan of five shillings, through timidity and bashfulness, her heart failed her. She passed the door again and again, without having courage to go in and tell her errand. At length, Mr. N., standing at his shop-door, and seeing Martha in the street, called her to him, and said, "Are not you Mr. Heywood's servant?" When she had, with an anxious heart, answered in the affirmative, he added, “I am glad I have this opportunity of seeing you; some friends at M- have remitted to me five guineas for your master, and I was just thinking how I could contrive to send it." Martha burst into tears, and for some time could not utter a syllable. The necessities of the family, their trust in Providence, the seasonableness of the supply, and a variety of other ideas breaking in upon her mind at once, quite overpowered her. At length she told Mr. N. upon what errand she came, but that she had not courage to ask him to lend her poor master money. The tradesman could not but be affected with the story, and told Martha to come to him when the like necessity should press upon them at any future time. She made haste to procure the necessary provisions, and with a heart lightened of its burden, ran home to tell the success of her journey!

MRS. HANNAH MORE'S BENEVOLENCE. MRS. HANNAH MORE'S benevolence corresponded happily with her whole character, sanctified by Christian principle. The following paragraph will afford a beautiful illustration of it. She says, in a letter to Sir W. W. Pepys,-" I have lately had a small legacy left me by a dignitary in the cathedral of Lincoln, whose name I had never heard, accompanied by a passage in his will more gratifying than his twenty guineas. With this bequest I have indulged myself by redeeming two little slaves in the Burman empire, a country of nineteen millions, not

THOU wilt not grieve, dear child, for me,
When I shall sweetly sleep;
From sin, and death, and sorrow free:-
My darling will not weep.

Thou wilt not mournfully desire

That I could still be near,

When He shall bid me "come up higher,"
Whose voice I wait to hear.

But thou wilt think how peacefully
Thy mother takes her rest;
Repose more sweet than thine could be,
When pillowed on her breast.

Thou wilt not for her sufferings mourn,
Nor cast thy spirit down;
The dying pillow has a thorn-

So had the Saviour's crown!

And when those waters shall be crost,
Which may awhile divide,
Thou wilt not deem thy mother lost
Though on the distant side.

Our Father's house is there, my love,
And many mansions too;

I to my heavenly home remove,
And there I'll wait for you!

MRS. HOUSEMAN'S PREPARATION FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER.

"APRIL 29. This day was our preparation for the Lord's Supper. I have been hearing of Christ Jesus; what a gift he is to those who are his people, a free gift, valuable, full and comprehensive! He is a gift of love, suitable, seasonable, satisfying, and a lasting one. Then we were put upon inquiring, whether we had received this gift? Those that have, have been made sensible of the need of Christ. They have seen the fulness and excellency of him, and have been made to desire him, and been willing to receive him upon Gospel terms. Such that have Christ, are of the same mind that Christ was. And such as have Christ, have earnest desires after more enjoyment of Christ here, and are longing after the full enjoyment of him in glory.

Upon the hearing and mature deliberation hereof, I have good ground to hope I have experienced this in my soul. But I have great cause to lament and be ashamed that I make no more progress, that I am still but a babe, a dwarf in grace. O! my want of life, growth, and activity in holiness!"

ILLUSTRATION OF MATTHEW v. 21-26. OUR respected correspondent" Reader," who desires an 66 exposition of Matthew v. 21-26, particularly the last four verses," shall have our best endeavours to give a satisfactory exposition" of it, in hope of its being the means of promoting his spiritual edification.

Clearly to perceive the force of our Saviour's reasoning in this section of his discourse, it will be necessary to review the whole paragraph from verse 17. An expository paraphrase will, perhaps, convey the fullest idea of the passage, as designed to annihilate the corrupt interpretations inculcated upon the people by the traditions of the carnal Pharisees.

Verse 17. Think not that I am come to abrogate the moral law, or to disallow the writings of the prophets, by teaching doctrines contrary to the Old Testament. No; my ministry is designed to confirm and fulfil them: to establish the moral law as an everlasting rule of righteousness, and vindicate it from all the pernicious glosses of irreligious teachers.

Verse 18. For I assure you, with all solemnity, that no part of the typical ceremonies, nor any prediction of the Old Testament predictions shall be left unfilled until their designs shall have been accomplished.

Verse 19. Whosoever, therefore, shall corruptly set aside the least of these moral commandments, and teach others the same practice, shall be regarded as unworthy to be a member, much less an officer, in the church on earth, and of admission to the assembly in heaven: but he who shall honour them as the laws of God, and inculcate the same upon others, shall be highly esteemed in the church, and inherit immortal glory.

Verse 20. For I solemnly admonish you, that unless you embrace my mission, and regard my righteousness as fulfilling the law, and your personal conformity to its precepts be more conscientious, extensive, and spiritual than that of the Pharisees, those vain pretenders to superior holiness, you can have no right to the blessings of the new covenant on earth, nor can you be admitted to his heavenly kingdom.

Verse 21. Now to give you an example of their defective interpretations of the moral law; they pretend that there is no disobedience to the ancient commands, which prohibit murder, and adjudging murderers to death, except in taking away the life of a man. But such is the spirituality and extent of this commandment, that whosoever indulges rash and causeless anger, or a malicious and revengeful temper, is, in the account of God, guilty of murder in his heart, and thereby exposed to his righteous judgment. And whosoever in pride and passion shall add to his secret anger opprobious words of contempt, or, for instance, shall call his brother raca, that is, thou worthless empty fellow, shall be exposed to yet more terrible effects of the Divine resentment, and be obnoxious to a yet severer punishment than they inflicted by the Sanhedrin; but whosoever in his unrestrained passion shall presume to call his brother More, [Gr. Maps] that is, thou graceless wicked villain, thereby impeaching his moral character as well as reflecting on his intellectual, shall be obnoxious to the fire of hell, a future punishment more dreadful than that of being burnt alive in the valley of Hinnom, whence you borrow the name of those infernal regions.

Verse 23. Remember, therefore, never to indulge in causeless anger and evil speaking; lay aside all animosities, or your most expensive sacrifices will be in vain and if thou art bringing thy gift to the

:

altar of God, and there recollectest that thy brother has any just cause of complaint against thee, do not content thyself with a secret, perhaps a treacherous, purpose, of accommodating the affair with him; but leave thy offering there with the minister, and hasten to be reconciled to thy brother by an acknowledgment of thy fault and a prompt satisfaction, and then return and present thy offering in hope of acceptance with God.

Verse 25. Apply this advice to suits at law, if unhappily you are engaged in them: come to a friendly agreement with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way going with him to a magistrate: lest the adversary should deliver thee to be tried before the judge; and the judge deciding the cause against thee, deliver thee to the officer of the court, to keep thee in custody till payment be made; and thou, not having sufficient by thee to discharge an account increased by many additional articles of expense, should be cast into prison.

Verse 26. Certainly I assure thee, thy antagonist, having got such advantage against thee, will be and thou shalt by no means be discharged rigorous; until thou hast paid the last farthing of thy debt and expenses. And surely if, by impenitent wickedness, thou makest thyself the prisoner of Divine justice, thy case will be still more deplorable, and utterly hopeless!

accommo

Metaphorical interpretation," and " dation of Scripture" are common with many; and the latter two verses have afforded a fine field for ingenious men with fertile imaginations; these have applied the passages allegorically, as if the adversary was the justice of God, demanding payment of our debts of duty; the way, this present life, the judge, God himself; the officer, the devil; the prison, the pit of hell; and the uttermost farthing, the least sin which will never be remitted without satisfaction. This, however ingenious, does not seem to agree with the context, nor with the design of our blessed Saviour.

REVIEW.

The Mysteries of Providence, and the Triumphs of Grace. By the Author of "The Prospect; or, Scenes of Real Life." 12mo. cloth, pp. viii.— 394. Edinburgh: Whyte.

"THIS volume contains the history of two young ladies, who were brought, by a series of singular circumstances, to the saving knowledge of Divine truth, together with a delineation of their different characters, and the different alternations of their subsequent Christian course." Preface, p. vii.

Talents of a superior and enviable order are possessed by the writer of this unusually interesting volume; he displays sound theological knowledgean exuberant imagination-an extensive acquaintance with human nature-and an usual command of beautiful language. Although there is no parade of learning in this work, there are strong indications of considerable reading, and evidences of eminent personal religion in the writer. Altogether it is a highly instructive volume, whose various details strikingly illustrate its title, and cannot fail to delight and improve every reader, who is capable of appreciating elegant composition, especially in connexion with the most remarkable developments of "The Mysteries of Providence and Triumphs of Grace."

We know nothing of the fair author of this work; but we congratulate her on the demand for a second edition, it is so admirably adapted to be useful to the

younger but rising branches of those families, who, though trained in the observances of religious ordinances, are tempted to doubt the reality or importance of vital Christianity.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD ENCOURAGED,
ISAIAH XL. 26-31.

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who bath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Go! track the worlds of cloudless light,
The burning stars-that o'er the night
Their golden radiance fling;
And say, by whom their hosts were made,
By whom, the deep foundations laid,
And whence their glories spring.
Who doth the heav'ns with lustre gild,
Like armies marshall'd in the field

Prepared to meet the foe;

Or from their deep recesses call-
And names, appropriate, give to all

The orbs that round them glow?
Sustain'd, by His Almighty hand,
Unmoved-unawed-the countless band
Their daily courses run;

By His mysterious virtue fed,
They still their lustrous beauty shed,
As in the blaze of noon.

Why sayest thou, O! son of man,
Who ne'er th' Eternal mind might scan-
My path from God is hid ?"
Or why, with most imagin'd fear,
Conceive thyself forgotten here,

As one amongst the dead?

Hast thou not known?-hast thou not heard?
Hath never voice with thee conferr'd

From height-or depth beneath:
That He, who first unroll'd the skies,
Doth still control the destinies

Of all that live and breathe?
The youth, that on their strength rely,
May soon grow faint, and tire, and die,
And quickly pass away :-
But they, who on the Saviour wait,
Like eagles will renew their state,
Impervious to decay!

J. S.

London: Printed by JAMES S. HODSON, at his residence, No. 15, Cross Street, Hatton Garden, and Published by him at 112, Fleet Street; where all communications for the Editor (post paid) are to be addressed; sold also by Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., and by all other Booksellers, Newsvenders, &c. in the KingThe trade may be supplied in London, by STEILL, Paternoster Row BERGER, Holywell Street, Strand; in Manchester, by Ellerby: Sheffield, Innocent; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Finlay and Charlton; Liverpool, Arnold.

dom.

MY SCRAP BOOK.

LEAF XC.

"The Bee that wanders, and sips from every flower, disposes what she has gathered into her cells."-SENECA. NARRATIVE OF THE DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF THE ENGLISH IN THE BLACKHOLE, AT CALCUTTA.

IN poring over the dark and frightful annals of human depravity, an attentive observer cannot fail

VOL. V.

to be struck with the abundant evidence they afford, that no sin more hardens the heart, or has been more fruitful of crime, than covetousness. Hence, when we turn to the sacred pages of inspiration, we everywhere meet with peculiarly awful denunciations of divine wrath against the votaries to this most dangerous, because, perhaps, most insidious of soul-destroying vices. History, ecclesiastical and profane, teems with records of enormities perpetrated by the slaves of avarice. But of all the acts of dreadful atrocity prompted by the thirst for gold, of

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which I ever read, few have equalled, none perhaps surpassed that, the particulars of which I shall proceed to detail in my present leaf.

Sur Raja al Dowlat, viceroy of Bengal, instigated by his avarice, having formed designs against the English settlements, under the belief that they abounded with treasure; he, in May 1756, on the most false and frivolous pretences, invested the English factory at Cassinbuzar; and having, under the sanction of a safe conduct, invited Mr. Watts the chief to a conference, he perfidiously detained him prisoner; and by fraud and force possessed himself of the factory. Elated with this exploit, he, in a few weeks raised a numerous army, and marching to Calcutta, invested it on the 18th of June 1756. The governor seized with a panic disgracefully fled without firing a single shot, and with some principal persons took refuge on board a ship in the river; thus leaving the fort and citizens to their fate. Mr. Holwell, the second in command, though thus cowardly abandoned by the governor, bravely resolved with a few gallant officers and a feeble garrison, to attempt the defence of the place; and with uncommon courage and resolution maintained it against several furious attacks; but at length overpowered by numbers, and the enemy having forced an entrance into the castle, he was compelled to capitulate, and the viceroy engaged on the word of a soldier that no injury should be done to him or the garrison. The first object of the viceroy on his entry was, to take possession of the immense treasure he supposed to be concealed there; but finding in the treasury only the small sum of 50,000 rupees, his rage knew no bounds, and sending for Mr. Holwell, he first bitterly reproached him for the vigorous defence he had made, and then ordered him and the whole of his companions, in all, one hundred and forty-six persons of both sexes, to be driven into the prison aptly called the Black-hole. This dungeon was just eighteen feet square thickly walled up on each side. Not a breath of air was admissible in any part excepting through two small strongly iron-barred windows in the western wall, and even these small apertures opened into a close veranda. Into this dire sepulchre then, were thrust these one hundred and forty-six miserable captives of a gold-thirsty tyrant; and to add to their wo, many of them were severely wounded; when it is remembered too, that this took place in the climate of Bengal, in the hottest month in the year, and this very night also happened to be particularly sultry-conceive, humane reader, the horrors of their situation. Transported with rage at finding themselves thus inhumanly doomed to suffocation, their first efforts were violently but vainly directed towards forcing the door; that by rushing upon the swords of the barbarians that guarded them, they might put a period to their sufferings. But the door being made to open inwards, and the rush of the crowd upon it rendering all their efforts unavailing, they were overwhelmed with distraction and despair. Mr. Holwell being near one of the windows, called to the jemmautdaar or serjeant of the Indian guard, and offered him a thousand rupees to remove half of them into another apartment; he replied it was impossible; but upon Mr. Holwell increasing his offer to two thousand, the man said he would try what could be done, and went away; he however soon returned with the fatal announcement that the viceroy was asleep and it would be death to the person who dared to disturb him. The air soon became pestilential, and a profuse sweat broke out upon every individual, accompanied with a burning thirst which as the body was more and more drained of its moisture, increased till it became

quite intolerable; difficulty of respiration ensued, and every one gasped for breath. Every moment added to their distress, and every attempt to change their positions, from the painful pressure it produced, only aggravated their misery. In desperation and despair they renewed their attempts to force the door and provoke the guard to fire upon them. Hoarse screams of Water! Water! Water! issued from every parched throat. At last, even the jemmautdaar was moved to something like compassion, and he ordered the soldiers to bring some skins of water; but the only way by which they could convey it through the bars was in squeezed hats. Furious and fatal were the struggles to obtain this alleviation of their torment; the very sight of it induced delirium. In consequence of these contests very little of the water was obtained even by those who stood nearest the windows, the greater part of it being spilt uselessly over their heads; while those at the further side of the dungeon cried and implored in vain for a single drop. Horrible confusion now reigned. Those at a distance striving to force a passage to the windows, the weak were pressed down never more to rise. The account of the scene that followed is appalling to humanity, and strikingly illustrative of that declaration of holy writ, "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." Will it be believed that the death-struggles of these hapless victims for the water, were converted by their inhuman guards into a source of brutal merriment ! Yet such is the undeniable the hateful verity. They ordered more water to be brought, and with it torches to be held to the bars that they might enjoy the savage amusement of beholding the desperate dying efforts of the miserable captives to obtain one cooling draught. About eleven o'clock Mr. Holwell finding six of his particular friends expired at his feet, and himself so closely wedged as to be nearly deprived of motion, begged that they would in pity allow him to retire from the window and die in quiet. Not even in those fearful circumstances was all distinction levelled, for such was their respect for his rank and character, that they opened a passage for him to a platform on the other side of the dungeon, where lying down on some dead bodies, he commended his soul to God; but his thirst, his difficulty of breathing, and painful palpitations becoming insupportable, he again rose and rushed towards the window crying aloud For God's sake! Water! Water! Surprised to find him still alive, again did his wretched companions exhibit their extraordinary regard to his person, not one of them attempting to touch a drop till he had been supplied. Breathing now more freely, and the palpitations in some measure abating, he retired to the centre, which, as one third of their number had perished, was not so much crowded. Here, seating himself on his dead friends, and finding that the water instead of allaying, seemed rather to increase his thirst, he resolved to drink no more, but at intervals, he moistened his mouth by sucking the perspiration from his shirt sleeves; which, he afterwards declared, he experienced at the time, to be soft, pleasant, and refreshing. They now dropped on every side; and a steam and stench arose from the dead bodies as pungent and as volatile as spirits of hartshorn; all therefore who could not get near the windows, were suffocated. So deadly was the effect of this pestilential effluvium that at two o'clock in the morning, fifty only remained alive. Mr. Holwell once more withdrew himself to the platform and laid himself down by the Revd. Jervas Bellamy, who, with his son, lay dead in each other's embrace. Here, when daylight broke, he was discovered senseless, and apparently lifeless. But as his surviving