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requires much to be obviated, in every congregation, before the duty can be well and effectually performed: I mean that of finding people at home, and so much disengaged from company and business as the work of pastoral visitation requires. A sure way of obviating this difficulty is the visiting formally and by appointment, which it is to be regretted has gone so much into disuse. This mode has the double advantage of ensuring the attendance of the family at the time appointed, and of preventing the minister's neglect of one important duty. Nor will the formality of it be repulsive or offensive, since it will produce the occasion and prepare the way for frequent informal calls, in which a familiar acquaintance with a people is acquired, and instruction and comfort adapted to the various incidents of life is given and received with mutual comfort and profit.

I shall conclude, Sir, with adding the general complaint, that a minister finds among his people at large, so much evident reluctance to be pressed on the subject of personal religion, as to produce a very serious difficulty and discouragement. Every man knows how painful it is to press any disagreeable subject; and every man may therefore form some idea of the effort it must cost to make it one's continual business to press that subject which is found, by the strangest operation of human depravity, to be more uniformly disagreeable than any other. Let not those readers who have felt too stupid to oppose, excuse themselves; since their deadly stupidity is a greater hindrance and presents a greater discouragement, than the most evident reluctance.

I wish your readers, who may have ever made complaints of these pastors for not visiting their houses, would enquire whether they may not have been themselves the cause (I say not the excusing cause) of the neglect of which they complain. They may not have rudely opposed his kind and Christian approaches; but their apparent occupancy in business and pleasure; their apparent indifference and reluctance to personal conversation; their apparent dread of the gloom of religion; the little success he has had in attempting to converse with them, may have assured him that he should find no easy access, until sickness or sorrow should be his forerunner. And I beg them to consider, how readily they might draw their pastors to their houses and their hearts, if they would always feel that readiness to receive them which makes them willing, as well as acceptable visitants to the houses of affliction. Surely those who so readily hear the call of your distress and mingle with your sorrows, will be still more ready to meet you in the time of your prosperity. EXPERIENEC.

THE DUEL.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

SIR-It appears from the public prints, that the expected rencontre between two distinguished individuals at the south,* has taken place; and eventuated in one of them having received a severe, perhaps, a mor

*Mc Duffie aud Cumming.

tal wound. Public anxiety for the event of their meeting has therefore ceased. It is time that the voice of public reprobation should be heard. There is a numerous class of citizens who are influenced in forming their opinions on this subject, by no unjust partiality or personal dislike; and they are deterred from expressing them, by no fear. Their number is already immense, and is increasing with unexampled rapidity. Within a short period, they will give law to public opinion, will affix to duelling and its votaries, their true character; and transmit that character, with its personal stigmas, to distant generations. Much as the duellist may reluctate at the thought, his future reputation, if he shall live at all in the remembrance of his countrymen, will be according to the weight of the sanctuary, and the impartial decision of Christian principle.

Let the duellist then, and all who have either adopted his ideas of honour, or laboured to extenuate his crime, hear.

We do not regard the duellist as being, in general, actuated in shedding the blood of his fellow, by mistaken principles of honour, nor by any principles or feelings, which merit the name of honourable. It is notorious, that duellists discover, in their treatment of each other, their correspondence, challenges and preparation for the combat, a determined enmity and fiend-like malice. Their feelings are those of envy and wounded pride, and their conduct wears the genuine aspect of savage revenge. What they term the honourable way of adjusting their differences, and which is, indeed, sufficiently deliberate, open, and outrageous, is merely a substitute for the stroke of the fist or the dirk. Deprive the duellist of his pistols and his sword, and he would resort, like the inferior animals, to the arms with which nature has provided him. We should soon be presented with a fearful havoc among the ears and eyeballs of these high minded gentlemen.

It is perfectly absurd, and has been shown, by irrefragable arguments, to be absurd, to consider single combat a proper means, or any means at all, of obtaining due reparation for a real or intended injury. No duellist is observed to make a religious appeal to Providence for the right decision of his cause. Each is accustomed to regard himself as the injured party, and yet both voluntarily put themselves in precisely the same circumstances of hazard. Both understand, that the momentous result depends very much upon their comparative skill in pointing their weapons. The best shot (in the language of duellists) is the most likely to obtain his object, and both are liable to fall. They will both retain their former character with an enlightened public, but with the additional stigma of this murderous transaction. He who was a liar and a scoundrel before he exchanged shots with his antagonist, is equally so still. The victor has washed his character from no stain, has rescued it from no unjust imputation; but he has proved to all, that he is capable of almost any crime. I can now believe him guilty of any action, which a haughty, selfish, and revengeful mind, might judge conducive to his interests. Having thus demonstrated, that he holds the laws of his country and his God in contempt; that no regard for the welfare of his former friend, nor sympathy with the widow and the orphan, can restrain his hand from the work of death; he ought, in time to come, to hope for no respect, as a man of principle and common humanity. He is no Christian-he is no patriot.

I cannot therefore subscribe to the revolting expressions of regret, to be found, in most of our papers, at the loss which the public sustains, in the premature death of any duellist. Every duel affords sufficient cause of regret. I highly prize the institutions of my country, and cannot bear to see them trampled in the dust. I respect the interests of mankind, and of my fellow-citizens in particular. There lives not, in the bosom of the writer, a solitary wish to inflict an injury, even on the duellist himself. I love his immortal spirit. And it is beyond measure painful to see its welfare sacrificed for ever,-to trace, in imagination, its flight from the scene of vengeful combat, into the presence of a holy God, and to his final retribution.

But it is no part of my belief, that the death of a duellist can be properly represented as a public loss. Splendid talents he may indeed have possessed; but having so fearlessly expressed his disregard of the laws of God and man, his future influence is to be suspected. A nation like ours, can have no real want either of talent or stern integrity, to direct its public measures. It can easily spare from its councils those who evidently do not possess the latter. Let the duellist rest assured, that his premature death will inflict no real wound on his country; that, in sober truth, he cannot die too soon, either for the morality or the safety of the republic.

Entelligence.

CIVIS INDIGNANS.

ASIATIC ISLANDS.

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

'The joint letter of the Missionaries is dated Jaffna, Aug. 11th, 1821. It begins with an affectionate and somewhat lengthened notice of Mrs. Poor. She rested from her labours on the 9th of May; and after her decease, Mr. and Mrs. Richards removed to Tillipally.

The letter then presents a detail of occurrences in relation to Mr. Garrett. On being refused permission to reside on the island, Mr. Garrett removed to Negapatam, with the intention of residing a short time with the Rev. T. H. Squance, a Wesleyan missionary; but learning that he could remain no where in the possessions of the East India Company, without permission from the government, which, on being requested, would probably be denied, he removed to Tranquebar, a Danish settlement, and, since the year 1705, a station of the Danish Mission College.

Mr. Garrett afterwards removed to Bombay to take the place of Mr. Bardwell in the superintendance of the Printing-Office. The following paragraphs will be read with interest :—

"By a recent communication from the government of this island, we have received the first notice, that our mission has been sanctioned by the British government. We have reason to be thankful that we have the prospect of spending our lives among these perishing heathen."

"At Tillipally, on the 22d of April last, the two children from the boardingschool, (Nathaniel Niles and Jordan Lodge,) were baptized, and received as members of the church of Christ."

There were three other candidates for admission, two of whom (Valen and Porter) were afterwards received.

"It was a very interesting scene to behold these children, separated from their perishing countrymen, willing to take up the cross, and bear it after Jesus. Niles and Jordan Lodge were baptized by brother Poor. Mr. Chater, Baptist missionary, administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Four or five hundred persons were present, the greater part of whom were children.

"We are happy to state, that two of the individuals, Valen and Porter, mentioned above, were, on the 4th of this month, admitted to the church.

"At the same time George Kock (the young man whom brother Warren took to assist him in the medical department at Tillipally, and who now serves in the same capacity at Pandeteripo,) was received. For some time past, he has visited the people from house to house, for the purpose of instructing them in the plan of salvation through Christ. His knowledge of the native language gives him great facility in communicating religious truths.

One of the boys attached to the boarding-school at Pandeteripo, made a profession of his faith in Christ on the 10th of this month. His name is P. M. Whelpley. He is 16 years of age. His father was formerly a Catholic. In consequence of his committing his children to the care of Protestants, he has been excluded from the Catholic communion. He appeared entirely willing that his son should join us. This boy received his first religious impressions at Tillipally, two years ago; and gives pleasing evidence of piety.

"It is with devout thankfulness that we state, that from the time of sister Poor's death, the Lord seems to have been operating by his Spirit, upon the minds of a number at Tillipally, particularly among the boys and girls in the boarding-school. We entertain the hope that two of the girls have passed from death to life.

"Our church now consists of 24 members. Thirteen of the brethren and sisters; George Kock, Amy Tompkins, a woman of colour who accompanied Dr. Scudder from America, Francis Malleappa, Gabriel Tissera, Nicholas Permander, Philip Matthew, Valen, Ebenezer Porter, Jordan Lodge, Nathaniel Niles, and P. M. Whelpley. Twenty-one of this number sat down together at the communion table at Tillipally, on the 4th of this month.

"In compliance with the directions of the Prudential Committee, brother Scudder has been admitted to the ministry, by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery.

"Having been examined on experimental religion, and theology, he was ordained in the Wesleyan chapel at Jaffnapatam, on the evening of the 15th of May. The introductory prayer was inade by the Rev. Mr. Chater, Baptist missionary; the sermon by brother Meigs; the consecrating prayer by brother Spaulding; the charge by brother Winslow; the right hand of fellowship by brother Roberts, Wesleyan missionary; and the concluding prayer by brother Poor. Brother Woodward, though very feeble, was able to read the last hymn. Brother Richards was absent, on account of ill health. It was peculiarly interesting to see missionaries of different denominations, lay aside all party distinctions, and unite as brethren " Miss. Her.

UNITED STATES.-NEW-YORK RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. View of the Tenth Annual Report, presented in April, 1822. (Concluded from p. 52.)

THE balance remaining in the treasury on the 10th of April, was $146 56, against which is to be placed the amount of about $950, debts due from the Society for printing, and for money obtained on Loan, as before alluded to. This loan was liberally furnished for one year without interest, by two members of the Board. The advantage derived from it, independent of the saving of interest, has been very important. By its means a large number of Tracts has VOL. IX.

15

been put into circulation; a portion of these have been sold, and the amount reinvested in Tracts, and many of these again may be sold before the term of the loan expires. It is evident, that the benefit arising from this operation is incalculable, while the inconvenience to the lenders is of trifling importance, It is not always to be expected that capitalists will lend their money on such occasions without interest; but it may be hoped that the example afforded in this instance, and the experience of its good effects, will induce others to proffer similar loans as they may be wanted, at least on condition of receiving legal interest.

Amongst the receipts of the year are $80, contributed by the ladies of four of the Presbyterian Churches in this city, for the purpose of constituting their respective pastors members for life of the Society.

There is no class of our fellow-citizens which possesses so many opportunities for the judicious distribution of Tracts, as that of Christian ministers; but they are generally amongst those least able to subscribe to public institutions. It is reasonable, therefore, that they should be enabled by others to avail themselves of the benefits of membership; and as there is no association to which a minister of the Gospel can be more appropriately a member, than that of a Religious Tract Society, it is highly desirable that the example of the ladies above mentioned, should be generally imitated.

In consequence of the embarrassments of the Society, the Board were induced, in February last, to request the favour of the Rev. Mr. Cox to preach a discourse for the benefit of the institution. The proposition was very kindly acceded to, and the use of the Church in Murray-street was very readily granted for the purpose. The discourse was eloquent and impressive, and the collection, one of the largest ever obtained for the Society. Besides this collection, it will be seen that others have been taken up in several of the churches of the city, and encouragement has been given, that this effort will be very generally made.

"The Youth's Auxiliary Religious Tract Society" was formed last October for the purpose of purchasing and distributing the publications of the N. Y. Religious Tract Society, 2000 of which they have put in circulation. A similar institution was formed in this city, in February last, denominated "The OliverStreet Juvenile Auxiliary Religious Tract Society." About 7000 tracts have been purchased, and $26,69 transmitted to the parent society. These two societies were formed without any concert, in different parts of the city, and uninfluenced by the members of the Board. Thus they seem to have been moved to this excellent work, by the spirit of the Redeemer alone.

We

The managers next mention the exertions of the ladies, in forming a "Female Branch" in this society, in terms of commendation. have already published their proceedings. The report proceeds :The judicious manner in which these pious Females have proposed to divide their labours, and the alacrity and zeal with which their work has been commenced, afford a prospect of success beyond the most sanguine expectations of the friends of the association.

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