As we know that the printed Minutes of the General Assembly have been distributed, we have, although with reluctance, discontinued their publication in our present number, but shall resume it in our next.

The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church asknowledges the receipt of the following sums for their Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J. during the month of September last, viz.

Of the Rev. Dr. John Codman, of Dorchester, Mass. per Messrs. Hurd and
Sewall, his sixth annual payment for the Contingent Fund
Of the Wheelock estate, per Robert Ralston, esq. being the payment of a
draft sent as a remittance on account of rent for the same fund

Amount received for the Contingent Fund $627 56 Of Rev. Henry R. Weed, of Albany, per Rev. Thos. J. Biggs, a donation from an individual, for the Permanent Fund

Of the Rev. John Goldsmith, per Rev. Dr. Janeway, collected in Jamaica,
L. 1. for the Professorship to be endowed by the Synods of New York and
New Jersey -

Of the Rev. John Williamson, treasurer of the Presbytery of Mecklenburg,
North Carolina, per John Irwin, esq. collected on subscriptions obtained
by Rev. Samuel S. Davis, for the Southern Professorship -

Of Rev. Charles Hodge, per Rev. Dr. Ezra Fisk, on account of Rev. George
Stebbins' subscription for the Senior Class of 1823 Scholarship

Diew of Publick Affairs.

EUROPE.

All the late accounts from Europe agree in stating, that throughout the whole of that continent the heat and drought of the last summer have been great and unusual, and that in a variety of places epidemick and mortal disease has been prevalent.

BRITAIN. London papers have been received in this country as late as the 31st of August, and Liverpool to the 2d of September ult.-It seems to be a doubtful point, whether the distress arising from the stagnation of trade and the want of employment, which has so extensively and grievously prevailed in Britain for a year past, is on the whole diminished, or not. In some places it is clear that there is a change for the better. In others there is no change; and in others again, the sufferings of the poor seem to be on the increase, and their prospects to be gloomy in the extreme. From Ireland, the accounts are such as cannot be read without pain, and we had almost said without horror. In Dublin, and in one or two other places, large mobs had assembled, and had seized by force on provisions of various kinds, wherever they could be found. From one region of this unhappy country, we have seen an official communication, which states that, in addition to other causes productive of want, an unusual drought had almost totally destroyed the potato crop, and that absolute famine would soon pervade that whole region, unless speedily supplied with food from abroad. The winter is looked to with anxiety and dismay. Putrid fevers, the manifest consequence of the want of wholesome food and other necessaries, were prevailing in Dublin, and in several other parts of the island. Charitable donations had been largely made, but were utterly insufficient to afford the necessary relief; and yet these, it was supposed, could not much longer be continued-Who that has sympathy for human sufferings, but must have it all awakened by this recital! And who, in this land of plenty and equal rights, but must feel gratitude to God, for a more favourable allotment of his providence, than is enjoyed by the inhabitants of the isles of our ancestors!

Parliament had been prorogued from the 24th of August to the 2d of November. We perceive from the view of publick affairs in the Christian Observer for July, that a very large proportion of the members of the old Parliament, had been returned for the new; and that the cause of Catholick emancipation had probably lost ground in England, and gained considerably in Ireland, by the recent elections. Mr. Canning, it was understood, was on the point of setting out for Paris; and the quid nuncks were exercising their ingenuity, in conjectures on the cause or object of his going abroad, at a time when his presence was so much needed at home.

The most important article of information received from Britain during the last month, so far as this country is concerned, is the order of the king in council relative to our trading with the British West India islands, and with his Britannick Majesty's possessions on the American continent. By this order a duty of 94 cents per ton is imposed on all vessels from the United States, and ten per cent additional duties on their cargoes, after the 1st of Dec. next. This it is understood amounts to an absolute prohibition of trade with the places specified: And this duty is professedly imposed to countervail a like imposition on British vessels in our ports; and one account states that the British order was issued the day after our ambassador, Mr. Gallatin, had had his first interview with Mr. Canning. It is believed, however, that measures will be taken shortly to settle the existing differences, to the satisfaction of both countries.

FRANCE. No news of much importance has reached us from France, in the course of the last month-That which will be found under another head, relative to the slave-trade, is for us the most interesting. The vintage of the current year promised to be exuberant, and the country at large was in a state of quietness. A kind of con. gress of the allied powers was expected to meet at Johannesburg; but we have not been able to ascertain the precise objects to which its attention was to be directed. The Protestants of France are making laudable exertions to disseminate the scriptures and religious tracts, and to establish Sabbath schools; and it is stated that their prospects of success are promising. But they are hated and opposed by the Jesuits; and the influence of the court, although not openly exercised against them, is certainly in no degree friendly to their operations; and we should not be surprised to see it, before long, fully and formally arrayed against them-We believe that the Protestant population of France is scarcely one-tenth of the whole.

The notorious Talleyrand is said to have gone on an important and special mission to London, supposed to relate to the new constitution of Portugal-It seems strange that Canning should go to Paris, and Talleyrand to London, at the same time.

PORTUGAL. The new constitution of Portugal has received some active opposition from the devoted friends of absolute government. Don Miguel has professedly used his influence to prevent opposition, and has taken his oath to support the new charter; but his partizans have notwithstanding, declared it to be illegal and inadmissible. He is doubtless deeply hostile to it, yet it seems likely to be established. The Monks and part of the army appear to be the most dissatisfied. Some whole regiments have rebelled, and marched into Spain. The Spaniards, it is said, have disarmed the rebels, but have not sent them back to their country; and it is stated that the allied powers have determined not to oppose the wishes and arrangements of Don Pedro, in regard to his native country. Since we began to write, an arrival, direct from Lisbon, brings intelligence, that while there, an insurrection took place of those hostile to the new constitution; which however was subdued, and 500 of the insurgents incarcerated.

SPAIN. AS might be expected, the Spanish monarch continues to be dreadfully alarmed, at having Constitutionalists such near neighbours as are the Portuguese. Every measure which he and his court could devise, to prevent the contagion of Constitutionalism from spreading into Spain has been adopted. Edicts and proclamations for this purpose, of the most extraordinary and even ludicrous kind, have been published. They would fain make it treason not only to speak, but even to think, of any other government than an absolute monarchy. In the mean time, the Spanish ministry has been changed, with the exception of the Duke del Infantado.

AUSTRIA. We rejoice whenever we find any government taking measures for the abolition or prevention of slavery; and therefore state with great pleasure, that the Austrian government, according to the London papers, has issued a document, the first article of which is as follows:-"Every slave shall become free, the moment he touches the soil of Austria, or even one of its ships."-A tremendous hail storm has desolated the country in the neighbourhood of Vienna, except those fields in which Paragreles were erected, which it is affirmed have entirely escaped. These Paragreles, of which a particular description will be found in another part of our number for the present month, are coming into great repute in Europe.

GREECE. We have not been able to satisfy ourselves in regard to the real state of Greece at the present time. That its state is deplorable we know. Ibrahim Pacha is permitted to march almost wherever he pleases; and the Greek leaders are still divided among themselves But whether their affairs are, on the whole, growing better or worse, we are not able to decide-The accounts are various and contradictory. There is no authentick intelligence of the arrival of Lord Cochrane at Napoli. The Greeks appear to expect much from his operations, and we earnestly hope they will not be disappointed. In the mean time, a very expensive steam vessel, built in Britain, which was expected to join his squadron, has turned out to be perfectly worthless. We do think that some of the great European powers are seriously meditating an interference in the Grecian cause; but whether it will eventuate in any thing efficient and useful is yet uncertain. A limited monarchy is talked of as a form of government for them; and a peace to be made with the Turks on condition of paying an annual tribute, has also been suggested-The king of Bavaria, in addition to a handsome donation formerly made to redeem Greek women and children, has lately made a subscription to aid the Greeks in their struggle, of about five thousand pounds sterling; and handsome contributions are also being made in France and other parts of Europe.

RUSSIA. An imperial Manifesto was published at St. Petersburgh, on the 29th of July, relative to the late conspiracy. It is an able paper, giving a short, but lucid view, of the origin and object of the conspiracy, the detection, trial and punishment of the conspirators, accompanied with remarks on the whole, and admonitions and assurances from the emperor, suited to the occasion. We cannot pretend to epitomize this Manifesto. The object of the conspiracy was, ultimately to revolutionize the Russian empire. To effect this, the first important measure was to assassinate the late Emperor Alexander. His unexpected death precipitated the conspirators into the measures which they took to oppose the accession of Nicholas, and these led to the investigation that has terminated in their detection and punishment. A few of them have suffered death, and the rest have been condemned to the mines, or banished for life; and it is believed that every germ of the conspiracy has been discovered and destroyed-The remarks of the emperor, and his advice and assurances to his subjects, with which the Manifesto concludes, do honour to the head and heart from which they proceeded. Justice requires us to say this, while we still regret and condemn the part which Nicholas has taken in the suppression of Bible societies. On the 31st of July (O. S.) divine service was celebrated in a temple, erected for the purpose, within the Kremlin, in the city of Moscow, "to give thanks to the Almighty for the protection which he had granted to the imperial family." Nothing could exceed the pomp of this religious ceremonial. The emperor and the whole imperial family, except the Grand Duke Constantine, as well as the principal grandees of the empire, were present. In the Kremlin were as

sembled 16,000 infantry and cavalry. Five thousand monks clothed in their richest garments, formed two ranks, through which the procession advanced to the temple. During its advance the bands of the regiments played the air of " God save the Emperor." The thundering of cannon and the pealing of bells announced the commencement of divine service. When the prayers for the preservation and long life of the imperial family were about to begin, the empress mother, their highnesses, the general officers, and all the people, prostrated themselves on the earth with their heads uncovered-But we cannot give a recital of the whole. We must however remark, that amidst all this imposing exterior, it was only the homage of the heart that was acceptable to the God whom they professed to worship-We hope there was something of this, mingled with the pomp and superstition of this singular spectacle. A grand parade finished the solemnity-The coronation of the emperor was to take place about the beginning of September.

TURKEY, The Sultan Mahmoud, as well as the Emperor Nicholas, has published a manifesto-the Turks call it a firman. This firman makes known, that the cause of the proceedings against the Janissaries was, their absolute refusal to learn the European military exercise, which was deemed essential to the preservation of the Ottoman power. But it also states in general, that the Janissaries "who formerly gained so many victories, and conquered so many countries, had insensibly degenerated and become cowardly and mutinous." It affirms that "those troops, in the wars which have been carried on for this century past, have despised the orders of their chiefs, have been seized with consternation from the slightest causes, have spread terror from false news, quitted their ranks and shamefully fled before the enemy, abandoning to them the fortresses and provinces." For these reasons the Sultan states, that he had resolved to dissolve finally the Janissary corps, and he recites the measures he has taken for the purpose, and their success hitherto. The whole paper is characterized by all the peculiarities of Mahomedanism; and among other things, charges the Janissaries with having recently torn and destroyed a copy of "the holy book," the Koran.-We perceive there is much speculation among the European journalists, as to the effects likely to result from the dissolution of this long standing engine of Ottoman power. For ourselves, we do not think it is yet a settled point that the Janissaries will not rally and dethrone the Sultan ; although we admit that the probability is against the occurrence of this event. We believe from scripture prophecy, that the delusions of Mohammed will ere long come to an end; but what instruments will be used, or in what manner this event will be brought about, we presume not to predict.

ASIA.

The following is an extract from the London Courier of the 29th of August. "An overland despatch has been received by his Majesty's Government from Bengal, dated Calcutta, April 7, via Bombay and Constantinople. The Treaty of Peace between the Burmese and the English was ratified on the 24th of February, upon the conditions of the Preliminary Treaty. The army under Sir A. Campbell had returned to Rangoon, and Sir A. Campbell was proceeding to Calcutta. The Burmese cede to the British the provinces of Yeh, Tavoy, Mergui, and Tanasserim. The king of Siam and his subjects are included in the stipulations of the treaty. An accredited British Minister, with an escort of fifty men, is to reside at the Court of Ava, and an accredited Burmese Minister, attended by a similar escort, is to reside at Calcutta. The Burmese, by virtue of the treaty, give up all claim to Assam, Cachar, and Jyntea, and acknowledge Gumbeer Singh, Rajah of Munnipore. The British are to retain Arracan, Ramree, Cheduba, and Sandowey. The total amount of the indemnity to be paid by the Burmese, is one crore of rupees. A commercial treaty is to be entered into between both powers, stipulating for freedom of navigation, including the commerce in grain. There was some severe fighting before the Burmese monarch acceded to the conditions."

We are still without any recent and distinct information relative to the Missionaries. AFRICA.

It appears that the Ashantees are again in force, and threatening the British possessions on the Western coast of Africa. Their tardy movements, however, have allowed the British so to reinforce their forts and stations, as to place them in what is considered a state of safety.

Despatches have been received from the British Consul at Tripoli, conveying the welcome intelligence, that major Laing had arrived in safety and health, at the great centre of African internal commerce, the long sought city of Timbuctoo. Captain Clapperton had also arrived at Sackatoo, and thence had sent forward despatches to Britain, and was making his way toward the northern parts of Africa. It seems to be confidently expected that the much contested question about the course and termination of the river Niger, will be conclusively settled by the reports of these travellers; and that their discoveries will greatly extend the commerce and power of Britain.

The French Minister of Marine has lately issued a publication, the purport of which

is to show that France has honestly and actively endeavoured to suppress the African slave trade. If this be so, it can only be said, that their endeavours have not been attended with the desired success. That horrible trade is still prosecuted, almost as extensively as ever; and it is certainly carried on chiefly by the ships of France, Spain, and Portugal. AMERICA.

CONGRESS OF PANAMA-The Congress of Panama, it appears, did not wait for the arrival of Plenipotentiaries from the United States, nor for representatives from some of the States of Southern America, before they proceeded to business. Nor did they spend time in tardy deliberations. On the 15th of July the representatives present concluded and ratified what they denominate "A Treaty of Alliance and Perpetual Amity between the uniting Republicks-an unqualified league, a limited treaty, and a compact." We have not seen the instrument; but it appears that the four Republicks of Mexico, Colombia, Guatimala, and Peru, are certainly parties to the contract. Whether Buenos Ayres is so, or not, we are unable to say. After the formation of this treaty, the Congress, on account of the unhealthiness of Panama, and the want of accommodations, adjourned to continue their sessions at the city of TACUBAYA," two leagues distant from the city of Mexico. We are not informed of the time of the contemplated meeting. Perhaps it has not been definitively fixed, but left for determination when a sufficient number of representatives shall have arrived at Tacubaya to constitute the Congress anew. We are glad to learn that Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Rochester will probably set out for the place of meeting, in a month or six weeks from the present time. On this subject we understand they wait to know the pleasure of our government.

MEXICO. The government of Mexico has committed the superintendance and command of its whole naval force to Commodore Porter; who has left the United States and repaired to Mexico, to fill the high and arduous station which has been assigned him there.

COLOMBIA. From the information received within the month from this republick, we are led to hope that the ardent and conflicting parties which have unhappily been formed in this infant state, will subside without bloodshed. Bolivar has probably arrived ere this at Bogota, and Paez has always declared that he would submit implicitly to the Liberator's decision; and should he refuse to do so, the most of his party will probably desert him.

BUENOS AYRES.-There seems to be much vapouring and but little fighting, between the fleets and armies of Buenos Ayres and the Emperor of Brazil. On the 11th of June there was a naval action, in which it is reported that the Brazilian squadron lost thirty killed and more than double that number wounded. Admiral Brown has been highly lauded by the Buenos Ayreans for his gallantry and skill on this occasion. But nothing decisive was the consequence. Both the British and French commanders of ships of war have set at defiance the pretended blockade of the Rio de la Plata. Provisions were scarce and high at Buenos Ayres-flour was at thirty dollars the barrel. The constituent congress of the United Provinces was employed in framing a federal constitution. The President Rivadavia was obnoxious to some of the Provinces, and they refused to acknowledge his authority.

UNITED STATES.-At the treaty lately made by Governor Cass with the Indians at the Fond du Lac, there were present about one thousand Indians, who conducted themselves, during the whole negotiation, in the most exemplary manner. A cession has. been made to the United States, of the right to search for and take away any minerals or metals, which may be found in their country. This grant is thought to be highly important to the government. Pure copper has been found in so many places in that region as to leave little doubt of its being abundantly scattered; and it will probably not be long before the procuring of it will become a national object.

Malignant fever, it appears, has for some time past been mournfully destructive of life in the towns of Mobile and Norfolk; but a great abatement of the scourge is announced in the last accounts from those places. In other places bilious, remittent and intermittent fevers, have unusually prevailed within the last month. The greater part of our land notwithstanding, remains healthy-some parts remarkably so, for the autumnal

season.

In a large portion of our country, elections will this month take place for members of Congress, and of the state legislatures-Some elections have already been made. It ought to be remembered that it is weak and inconsistent, to complain of our representatives for wasting their time and dishonouring their country in the legislative halls, and yet to send thither again, the very men who have already been leaders in the mischief. In the elective franchise a constitutional remedy for this evil exists, and was intended to exist; and if the people do not use the remedy, they make themselves parties to the disgraceful and injurious proceedings of which they pretend to complain. Let every man conscientiously do his duty on the day of election, and it may be hoped that, under the Divine blessing, the coming winter will exhibit other scenes in our national councils, than were unhappily witnessed during the last.