very few lines with which your son ace companied it, he was so kind as to offer to take charge of any answer which I might transmit to him for you; but till this moment, when I was casting my eye on it in order to learn his address that I might direct a note I had written to invite him to Kensington Gore, (my resi-, dence,) I did not observe that he said a letter must be sent to him, early in this week in order to be forwarded. I am sorry to say, that this is Thursday. Still, I may be in time; and I am so very unwilling to lose this opportunity of exchanging, from the heart, your peaceful saluta tion, that I instantly lay aside some very pressing business, in which I was engaged, for the purpose of scribbling a brief and hasty reply to your most welcome epistle. "The wise man, or rather the Wisdom of Revelation, has compared "good news from a far country" to the gratification of the most importunate of our bodily wants and appetites; and surely this news is justly more grateful, when it conveys the the accents of peace and love from a country, once a land, literally as well as figuratively, of brethren, but since render ed not only strange but hostile; and when those accents are strictly in unison with the feelings of the person to whom they are addressed, and, as notes in unison are wont to do, call forth responsive tones of kindred harmony Indeed, my dear Sir, I have scarcely been able to confine myself to metaphorical language, while I have been writing the above sentence. We do not lament the death of a wife, or a child in couplets, but in broken and rude sentences; and I have with difficulty restrained my pen from more simple expressions of unaffected grief on account of this sad war, in which our two countries are engaged."

"It is balm to my wounded feelings to indulge, as I justly may, the reflection, that these feelings of mine are by no means peculiar to myself, but that they are those of almost all good men among us; and surely this consideration may both lead us to hope, that the war will not be of much longer duration, and also that, when peace shall once more be restored, it will be peace indeed, and the two countries will not be Lkely again to suffer themselves to be drawn into a rupture. But I must turn to other topics, and hasten to a conclusion of my hurried scrawl; for by keeping it beyond to-day, I may lose altogether the opportunity of conveying it to you.

"It rejoices my heart to find, that the friends of religion, on your side of the Atlantic, are interested for the benighted millions of our Indian empire. I will take

the liberty of sending you a copy of a publication of two of my speeches (put together) on that subject. The Christian Observer's kind partiality spoke of my efforts on that occasion so favorably, that, were reputation my object, I should have abstained from printing my speeches. But they contained some passages, (extracted from the ponderous volumes of East India Documents laid on the table of the House of Commons, during the progress of the measure,) which appear to me decisive on the controverted points, of the moral character of the Hindoos, &c. therefore, as the only way of providing for the diffusion of these, I consented to the publication. On consideration I will send you four copies, as you may perhaps be able to circulate them among your religious friends and connexions in other parts of America."

"Farewell, my dear Sir. I rejoice to think, that amid war and misery the sources of peace and happiness, (their only true sources,) are multiplying, in the number and exuberance of their healing streams, in both our countries. The great, yet still growing success of the Bible Society, (the British and Foreign of course I mean,) the increased yet still increasing prevalence of the missionary spiritthe advanced and the continually advanc ing progress of education among adults, and even the aged, as well as among chil dren, with various other particulars which I could specify above all, the increased and increasing number of pious and truly enlightened and fervent ministers of our Church Establishment, as well as the success and growing charity of various classes' of Dissenters;-all these quite warm my heart, and fill me with hope, as well as, I trust, with gratitude. It is with difficulty, that I force myself to conclude with begging you to remember me and my wife, and dear children, in your prayers, and assuring vou, that I am with real esteem and regard, my dear Sir, Yours very sincerely,

W. WILBERFORCE." DONATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF FOREIGN MISSIONS AND TRANSLATIONS.

May 23, 1814. From the Foreign Mis sionary Society in Salem and the Vicinity, by Mr. John Jenks, the Treasurer, viz. Contribution at the annual meeting, $76 33 Donations to the Society by a friend, by the hand of the Rev. Mr. Walker, 50.00

Carried forward $126 35

Brought forward 126 33 Donation by a member 5 00 Amount of annual subscriptions paid in,

24. From Mrs. Mary Beattie, a pious woman, communicated on her death-bed, by the Rev. Dr. Spring,

From the Female Cent Society in Worcester, by the Rev. Dr. Austin,

From Mrs. Mary Green, by the Rev. Paul Litchfield, of Carlisle,

From five children in S. Reading, for the translations,

From individuals in Hopkinton, by the Rev. Nathaniel Howe,

25. From a pious young woman, communicated on her death-bed, by Mr. Artemas Woodward,

From females in Sandwich, half to missions and half to translations, by the Rev. Jonathan Burr,

From Mrs. Eunice Kingsbury, of Framingham, by Mr. N. Willis, From a female friend, by the Rev. John Cleaveland, for the translations,

From Mrs. Prudence
Clark, of do. for do.
From a friend of missions

8 00 of do. for do.

25 86

100

41

10 42

1.00

5 12

80

2.00

1 00

50-43 50

31. From the Female Cent Society in Winchendon, remitted by Mrs Sarah Pilsbury, the Treasurer, by the hand of Samuel Prentiss, Esq. (half for missions and half for translations,)

From Miss Lucy Hale of Winchendon, by the same hand,

June 2. From the Rev. Jonathan Cogswell and another subscriber to the Foreign Mission Society in Saco,

From the Cent Society in Hardwick, remitted by Mrs. Sarah Holt,

From the Female Cent
Society in Montpelier,
(Ver.) by the Rev. Chester
Wright,

From an individual in 100 Randolph, (Ver.) by the same hand,

ford (Con.) by the Rev.

William Fisher,

8 50

A friend to missions in

From a sincere friend to the heathen, by the Rev. Eli Smith,

27. From the Auxiliary Foreign Mission Society of Franklin County, by Jerom Ripley, Esq. the Treasurer,

From Mr. Solomon Goodell, of Jamaica, (Ver.) by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, to the permanent fund, to be applied to the diffusion of a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in the East,

From the Rev. Eliphalet Lyman, of Woodstock, (Con.) by the Rev. Dr. Lyman towards the permanent fund,

40 00

10 00

7. From the Female Religious Society in Braintree, by the Rev. R. S. Storrs.

From individuals in Braintree, by the Rev. R. S. Storrs,

18. From the Foreign Mission Society of Bath and the Vicinity by Mr. Jonathan Hyde, the Treas

urer,

22. From a female friend of missions, by Mr. N. Lord,

5 00

92 00

5 00

18 98

10 00

94 00

1 00

Carried forward $1241 26

5 00

Brought forward $1241 26 From Miss E. M. of Goshen, Mass. by Mr. Horatio Bardwell, 24. From Mr. Isaac Porter, of Westfield, Mass. by the Rev. Isaac Knapp,

27. From a female friend of missions, by Mrs. Hardy,

From the Foreign Mission Society of North Yarmouth and the Vicinity, by the Hon. Ammi R. Mitchell, Esq. the Treasurer,

From the Aiding Foreign Mission Society in Plympton, by the Rev. Elijah Dexter, the Treasurer,

From the Plympton Branch of the Heathen's Friend Society, by Mrs. Mary Dexter, the Treas

urer,

5.00

60 00

16 97

9 50 $1,340 73

N. B. The following letter was omitted last month.

"Dear Sir,

"FApril, 1814.

I TRANSMIT you the trifling sum of five dollars, in support of the Gospel of Christ, among the poor heathen of India. I would leave it at the discretion of the Society, whether to devote it to the purpose of translating the Holy Scriptures, or of supporting faithful missionaries in the ends of the earth.

This is the first donation I have ever made for the promotion of the religion of Jesus, our dear Redeemer; but, with his blessing, I shall strive to bestow as much every quarter; confident that in the times of revolution and peril, this is the only fund, where the stock of the Christian can be safely lodged.

CHRISTOPHILOS.

The Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions."

MEMOIRS OF MRS. NEWELL.

TO THE PUBLIC.

As there have been some mistaken reports, respecting the profits arising from the sale of Mrs. Newell's Memoirs, it may not be improper to make the following statement of facts.

For the labor of preparing the Memoirs for the press, the Compiler received, as the avails of the first edition, nearly fifty dollars, beside what was sufficient to pay. several small sums to several persons, who had assisted him as transcribers.

Early in May, the Compiler committed the work and whatever interest he

OBITUARY.

DIED, in France, of his wounds, Gen. FORESTIER, a prisoner to the allies.

In England, Maj. Gen. Sir JOHN DOUGLAS, the defender of Acre in Palestine.

Also, Capt. JOHN STOCKHAM, who commanded the Thunderer, 74, in the battle of Trafalgar.

In the state of New York, Lieut. WELLER, of U. S. army, shot by a recruit, whom he was attempting to compel to do his duty.

At Portsmouth, N. H. the Hon. JONATHAN WARNER, aged 88, and his sister, Mrs. Sherburne, relict of Henry Sherburne, Esq. aged 95.

At Burlington, Mass. Mrs. ABIGAIL JONES, relict of the Rev. Thomas Jones, formerly minister of that place, aged 94.

At Boston, on the 13th ult. the Hon. ROBERT TREAT PAINE, Esq. aged 84. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had been a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, and sustained many other im portant offices.

At Courtlandt, (N. Y.) the Hon. PIERRE VAN COURTLANDT, aged 94. He had been a member of Congress, and Lieut. Governor of the state of New York.

In London, the Rev. WILLIAM PETERS, a member of the Royal Academy and a celebrated painter.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

WE have on our files many articles, which are necessarily deferred. We regret this necessity, particularly in regard to several obituary notices, and an account of the Benevolent Society in Yale College.

The remaining part of the Report of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Missiona ry Society will appear next month. We are compelled to divide this valuable drcument much against our inclination. The pecuniary accounts of the Society will also be found in our next number.

1

LXII. Review of the Dorches ter Controversy.

t

(Concluded from p. 281.)

In the course of this review, the reader has been brought to the decision of the first council. We think every reflecting per. son will see, in the progress and result of that council, and in the subsequent continuance of the parish controversy, 'that mutual councils are most inadequate tribunals. Whenever the parties to a parish controversy differ on points of real importance, the probability is very great, that they can find ministers, who differ with each other in the same manner, and who will be disposed to support the parties with which they respectively agree.

In

many cases, such a differ ence is compatible with fairness and candor, and ought to bring no reproach on those, who ad here to either side of the question.

In other cases, prejudice and party views may overpower the voice of reason, and clamorously demand their victim. In both these classes of supposable cases, the ends of justice will be utterly frustrated by relying on a mutual council, chosen equally by both parties: for whether VOL. X.

VOL. X.

the parties are moderate or violent, candid or prejudiced, honest or dishonest, they will naturally and almost inevitably select such ministers, as are known to agree with them, respectively, in opinion. How is such a council to come to any decision? If there should unexpectedly be a decision by a single vote, how is such a decision to command the respect and cheerful submission of the party against whom it is made? What would be thought of a political arrangement, which should refer all important legal questions to a court composed of members, half of whom should be selected by one party and half by the other; especially if the dispute hinged on some great question, such as the constitutionality of a law, on which there was a diversity of opinion, and men of intelligence had taken opposite sides? What would be thought of making arbitration the only method of deciding questions of property, liberty, and life? Arbitrations are sometimes useful; but it is a notorious fact, that they are sometimes the sources of monstrous injustice, either from ignorance, a silly attempt to please both parties, or a tinid yielding to popular clamor. Though the regular courts of

justice are not absolutely free from exposure to these evils, they are much less exposed to them, than any tribunals could be, which were selected by the parties, with a particular view to each controversy. We hesitate not to say, that the political condition of this country would be intolerable, if questions affecting character, property, and life, were to be decided only by arbitrations, in the preparation for which the creditor and debtor, the person injured in his reputation and the slanderer, the pub lic and the criminal, should have an equal influence.

The same reasoning applies, in a considerable degree at least, to ecclesiastical disputes. If differences of opinion will arise, concerning which the interests of the church require a decision to be made by others beside the parties, it is certainly wise to have some tribunal agreed upon, previous to the origin of the differences, in order to avoid end less bickering in the attempt to constitute a tribunal, after the roots of bitterness have struck deep, and extensive parties have been formed. But if, on the other hand, there is no such thing as ecclesiastical authority sanctioned by the Scriptures; or if each church is perfectly com petent to settle within itself all questions and disputes which can exist; or if no church has a right to settle any question, or give any opinion, but every professor of religion must be left by his brethren to do what seemeth good in his own eyes ;-on any of these suppositions, mutual councils are much worse than useless. They aggravate parish contests, while, on either of

these suppositions, they ought to possess no remedial authority.

So far as the charges against Mr. Codman's moral and ministerial character were concerned, the decisions of the first council were highly beneficial; as these charges have not since made any impression upon a single person, so far as we have been able to ascertain.

Had the motion prevailed, which censured Mr. Codman in regard to exchanges, it was the avowed intention of the advo cates of that motion, to introduce another motion to the following purport: That the council advise to a dissolution of the connexion between Mr. C. and his people, unless he will engage to ex change ministerial labors with the members of the Boston As sociationg enerally. No person, however, undertook to show the consistency of this motion with the admission, that Mr. C.'s first refusal to pledge himself to ex change with any man or any body of men whatever was a correct reservation of his rights.

After the decision of the first council, there was a good op. portunity for Mr. C.'s opposers to lay aside their hostility. They still professed no dislike to his preaching; they still professed to think favorably of his talents and ministerial, character. The charges of a moral nature, which, as was evidently the case, they had thrown into the scale, as make weights merely, they pro fessed themselves willing to take out with their own hands, if Mr. C. would pledge himself to ex change with their favorites. The council was unable to decide the question of exchanges. Mr. C. was not censured on this ac