home and abroad. Thirty-six young men having their probation of four years, were received into full connexion. The sight of such a number of men, in the prime of life, possessing genuine piety, fervent zeal, and considerable learning, devoting themselves to the work of the Ministry, and solemnly set apart for the service of God, was deeply effecting. The President, the Rev. John Gaulter, with his usual zeal and activity, dispatched the business which came under consideration with such promptitude and ability, that the Conference concluded at an earlier period, than it had for many preceding years. On the following day the Preachers who were present received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the hands of the President, assisted by some of the senior brethren. The several Preachings, during the whole time of the Conference, were attended by crowded congregations; and the powerful and impressive Sermons which were delivered, not only commanded deep and silent attention, but excited the most lively feelings of devotion, and elevated the Soul to a blessed participation of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. Eight additional Missionaries are to be sent to the East Indies, Ceylon, India, and other parts of the world the ensuing year. The number of Travelling Preachers is as follows: In England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Norman Isles, On Foreign Missions in Asia, Africa, the West-Indies, British America, Newfoundland, &c. 585 46 RUSSIA. A college for teaching the Oriental language has been established at St. Petersburg; and the Emperor Alexander is a subscriber to a new Russian religious newspaper, called the Messenger of Sion. FRANCE. A periodical work is about to commence at Paris with the title of The French Israelite, to contain :—1. Translations of select portions of the Bible, extracts from works of Jewish theology, biographical accounts of doctors of the law, and other eminent Israelites: 2. to the Jews, and analyses of works conaccounts of events and facts interesting cerning their civil and moral situation: 3. researches into the history, antiquities, laws, and literature of the Jewish people. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, composed of Delegates from Religious Congregations in the States of New-York and New-Jersey, assembled at Kingston, Ulster County, in October last. The occasion of this meeting is understood to have been in reference to the Theological School connected with Queen's College, at New Brunswick. The decision of the Synod was unanimously in favour of the continuance of this connexion. The Hampshire Bible Society held its Anniversary Meeting at Northampton, on the 15th October. It appears from 27 the report of the Directors the receipts 104 for the last year amounted to $1096 70; 5 of which $400 had been paid over to the American Bible Society. The number of Bibles purchased by the Society within the year was 800, of which 506 98 had been distributed. 7 The following Societies, (says the Total 872 Christian Herald,) have lately become auxiliary to the National Institution : Besides, Supernumeraries, The total number of members in Great Britain is In the West-Indies, Nova-Scotia, and the other Missions, 77 viz. 193,685 22,897 "The Bible Society of Fredericksburgh,' (Va.), Rev. E. C. M'Guire, Cor. Sec'y. "The Vermont B. S.' "The Aux. B. S. of Ashville,' (N. C.), Francis H. Porter, Cor. Secretary. 'The B. S. of Columbia County,' (N. Y.), Rev. James Strong, Secretary. The Female B. S. of Wilkesbarre.' (Pa.), Mrs. Mary Bowman, Secretary. "The Female B. S. of Dutchess County,' (N. Y.), (formerly the B. S. of Amenia ;) become auxiliary 1st Oct. 1817- Mrs. Sally Hyde, Principal; Mrs. Eliza- stalled Pastor of the Church and Socibeth Reynolds, Secretary. The above additions make the number of Auxiliaries known-one hundred and eighteen. The Rev. Reuben Taylor has been in ety in Trumbull, Conn. The Rev. Messrs. Wheelock and Colman, Missionaries, have sailed from Boston in the ship Independence, for Calcutta. All-useless from their arms the battered shield Reclined-when from the Thermian hills ap pear The midnight bands-and on the deafened ear Burst the barbaric shout-on, on they pour→→ The Grecians saw, but no debasing fear press-still serene-they saw the tempest Oppress'd their hearts in that tremendous hour; lour "The shades of death were on them--and they fell, Buried in carnage that their valour madeThessalia's plains the richest crimson drank That e'er in human veins hath proudly played, Sublimer courage never was displayed; Admiring ages eternize their name, And the sweet muse in deathless numbers bade The dirgeful harp their matchless worth pro claim Their mighty deeds record-record the despot's shame. "Yet doubly glorious was that strenuous day, With double laurels crown'd; the rising sun Beheld the Asian fleets, in proud array, Swarm o'er the shaded ocean; when begun (Ere Phoebus yet his noontide race had run) To Doric measures, and the martial strain Of sacred pæan (both combined in one of stedfast Greece to plough the wide cerulean Harmonious melody) the naval train plain. "True-they were few-but they were led by those With whom to fear a greater wonder seem'd Than aught imagination can disclose, Or bard hath sung, or prophet ever dreamed: Full to the air their waving pennants streamed; Broad to the sun their brazen bucklers blaz'd, Their helmets glisten'd, and their lances gleam'd. Awed, panic-struck, the mute barbarians gaz'd, Waiting the stern attack, with eyes by terror glazed. "And now the clamours of the battle swell, Euboea's shores the dread alarms resound; On every side the iron tempest fellThe fight was hid; and o'er the blue profound Death reign'd in every shape, and stalk'd around; Nor did the havoc or the slaughter cease, Till not a Persian bark entire was found; Till Victory garlanded the brows of GreeceAnd yielded to her sway the empire of the seas. "Such were the deeds that round th' admiring world Bore the proud tidings of Hellenic fame: Where'er Achaia's standard was unfurl'd The gladden'd nations hail'd with loud acclaim The fostering glories of her conquering name. For not alone in arms was she renown'd With her the heaven-descended muses came; And where the cords of slavery she unbound, She pour'd with freedom's light, the light of art around." Thus would I muse upon the glorious days Of ancient fame, and my quick pulse would beat To livelier measures, while I told their praise, The mountain-echoes would the sound re peat, And to my ear restore them. From my seat Among the rocks, I viewed the gray-rob'd heaven; For now the westering sun had gone to greet Atlantic skies, and virgin-vested Even A soft and blending tint to all the scene had given. And from behind her cloudy rampart rose Ere life its keener edge of bliss had lostWhen carelessly I wander'd mid the bowers Of blameless infancy, and cropped their tender flowers. And when the mild sultana of the night Climbed her high arch of noon, and from her car The pure effulgence of her pearly light Stream'd o'er the heavens, and dimm'd each weeping star, (Weeping to see itself eclipsed) and far In her white beams the dark-green foliage shone, And sparkling rivers o'er their beds of spar Rolled their transparent waves-to rove alone Was my supreme delight-nor have I ever known A purer joy than such enchanting scenes Yield my transported heart; when all is still, When soothing quietness the breast serenes, And the soft murmurs of a brawling rill, Gurgling beside some green and moonlight bill, Makes music to the ear-and whispering winds The atmosphere with dewy fragrance fillOh! contemplation every instant finds Some new attraction still for elevated minds : Of nature's varied sovereignty, declare The Mighty Hand that form'd, that rear'd, and plac'd them there! How deep the silence! pure the soft night-air! This grassy bank shall be my sylvan bed: Here will I lie, and con bewitching themes, While fragrant airs delicious coolness shed. For the American Monthly Magazine. To a Stone from the Island of the "Lady of the Lake," presented by a friend who had visited Lock Katrine. Thou little brown stone, oh, what hast thou seen, Since the flood roll'd thee up on your island so green; How many vast ages have travell'd thee o'er, Like wave, after wave, on thy lake-girded shore? How alter'd are all things, while thou art alone Unalter'd, unchang'd, the same little brown stone! How many huge trees have sprung where you lay, Have grown up, and flourish'd, and moulder'd away; How long was the time, when the deer's tread alone Tore the branches away which thy lake had o'ergrown, When the eagle alone woke the echo that slept On the mountains around which thy paradise kept. Ah, what hast thou seen since man swayed thy shore ? Saw'st thou the first boat which that plunderer bore? And well hast thou mark'd every change he has made Since he first drove thy deer from their far-spreading shade? Wast thou there when fair Ellen first walk'd on thy shore? Didst thou see the proud bark as the pine flag they bore? Didst thou hear the loud shout of the Saxon afar, And saw'st thou thy clan as they fell in the war? Or has thy fair lake never heard the war cry, Sounding shrill as the bird of thy own native sky? And wilt thou not one moment raise Thy name, thy date, thy life declare- Perhaps a Helen, from whose eye (O! not like thee would I remain, But, has thy soul, O maid! so long Or has it in some distant clime Or lock'd in everlasting sleep Or exil'd to some humbler sphere Whoe'er thou beest, thy sad remains M. C. ART. 10. DRAMATIC CENSOR. NEW-YORK THEATRE. SINCE INCE the departure of Mr. Incledon, who contributed so much to the pleasure of the last month, the lovers of musick and the drama have been regaled with a succession of rich entertainments, by Mr. Phillips, another melodist of high reputation, who has recently come among This gentleman has, we believe, been greeted with a more unqualified approbation than any person of his profession who has ever appeared on our boards. He sings with an accuracy that proves his science, and a taste and expression that go straight to the heart. His voice is fine, though by no means us. der kind; but in those songs, which are distinguished by eloquence of thought and that ardour of feeling that is kindled by a nice sense of right and wrong which turn upon the great subjects of a nation's welfare, and are addressed to the ears of patriot citizens, a person of much enthusiasm and a somewhat martial imagination, would easily outstrip in his expectations, the utmost powers of Mr. Phillips' voice. Nevertheless, it is a delight to hear him; and there is one excellence, in which we have never known his equal-that is, distinctness of utterance. As an actor, Mr. Phillips holds a respectable rank; and his Seraskier, Belino and Orlando, are pleasing exhibitions of histrionic talents. In regard to the permanent members of the Thespian corps, little new is to be said. Mrs. Barnes has, on some occasions, displayed fine talents before very thin houses; Miss Johnson has, we think, improved, both in singing and acting, and is gaining upon the good opinion of the audience; and Mrs. Baldwin, who is certainly able in her cast of characters, has added to her praise by singing a song in the Midnight Hour, so finely as to be most cordially encored. We have not yet had opportunity to witness the performance of "Touchstone, or The World as it goes" but generally the male performers have had but little occasion to exercise their best talents during the recent abdication of Tragedy and Comedy in favour of Opera, and we should be glad if some plan could be fallen upon to leave those legitimate sovereigns in possession of the stage, and at the same time permit the "sweet singers" to remain. BRITISH THEATRICALS. The following account of the scene which was exhibited on the occasion of Mr. Kem, ble's retiring from the stage, which we have taken from a London Magazine, is calculated to impress us with great respect, both for the actor and for the audience. For the actor that in that elevated path which he ever trod, he should have so wonderfully excelled; for the audience that they had not only the discernment to discriminate that excellence, but the sense to appreciate it. The performer whose utterance and action can give full force to the conceptions of Shakspeare, must share largely in the best boons of nature and education, and will always command the regard and the veneration of the lovers of genius. The only way to produce actors of the character and eminence of Kemble, is, whilst we bow before his worth, to look down with scorn upon the coxcombs who VOL. 11-No. 11. 17 have the impudence to ape his manner, without the sense to imitate his qualities. The commendation bestowed upon fools is a robbery from men of merit. Whilst an ignorant public is stupid enough to applaud mere starers, and starters, and stampers, they will never have any thing else to admire. COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. The only circumstance worthy of remark between our last report and the closing of this house for the season has been the retire ment of Mr. Kemble from the stage. This event took place on the 23d of June, after the performance of Coriolanus for his own benefit. The interest excited by its approach surpassed every thing of the kind on similar occasions. The whole of the boxes and places which could be secured had been taken a fortnight before; and in their anxiety to witness the last appearance of this great actor, numbers began to collect round the entrance of the pit so early as twelve o'clock. The rush on the opening of the doors was in consequence tremendous, though not productive of any serious acci dent, and the house was instantly filled. Never did Kemble perform the arduous part of Coriolanus with more energy and grandeur, and his unabated professional powers served only to add to the public regret for the immediate loss of his exertions. The audience eagerly seized every passage in the play that could be applied to the situation of their justly valued favourite, and marked them with enthusiastic applause. Between the acts an address to Mr. Kemble, printed on a folio sheet, was circulated through the house. A copy of it printed in gold letters upon white satin, encompassed by a border of fanciful ornaments einbroidered in gold, and accompanied by a superb crown of laurel, was banded to the front of the pit to be pre. sented at the conclusion. At the fall of the curtain, placards were exhibited in different parts of the pit and galleries, inscribed with this further manifestation of the public wish, "No farewell for ever from Kemble." Owing to a misconception that these were designed to prevent Mr. Kemble from delivering any address, murmurs immediately arose. this circumstance only afforded an additional proof of public esteem. The idea that a prevention or disrespect was intended, occasioned some tumult, although it soon appeared that the audience had but one wish and opinion. A short but anxious interval ensued. The curtain was again drawn up; a grand street of Rome, which forms a principal scene in the tragedy, was displayed; and Kemble, in the Roman costume, in which he had performed Coriolanus, came forward. One of those lofty public edifices which adorned the capital of the ancient world rose behind him. The impression produced by this unison, on such an occasion, was deeply felt. It appeared as if Kemble, the Roman spirit, the Roman grandeur, and Rome itself, were about to disappear from the stage, and leave a chesin which could no more be filled But |