The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-05-19 00:00:00

THE ARM Y.

(C I RC ULA R.
Ti) THE COICOXEL OF TYE REOMEXT Or FOOT.
War office, May 18, 1825.
having been decided that the duty of Paymaster to the
iel.vs of Regiments on Foreign Service shall be performed by a
`"isitern, anti that, to avoid the inconvenience winch would arise
lt,ll frequent chang .1, he shall be permitted to continue at home,
art; that he shall receive an allowance of four shillings a day for the
Performance of this duty ; I am to request that you will name a
Pr" Per Person from among the Sobaltertis of your regiment, to be
Pl,unted Acting Paymaster; and I hale to add that such Subaltern
..ot be required to enter into any bonds to the Crown.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant.
(Signed) PA LMERSTON.

CONTINENTAL SOCIETY.
The arnual Meeting of the Continental Society, established for
the daision of religious knowiedge over the Continent of Europe,
was held yesterday at the Frecmaaons' Hall.
;lir. Da ustMON D in the Chair.
The Annual Report, which was read by the Secretary, was re.
ceived with much' approbation. It detailed the operations of the
Society during the past year. The Report then alluded to the
funds of the Society. It stated that the receipts during the pre.
ceding year amounted to 2,0001. and the expenditure to taanewhat
more.

Major-General Net ti.r.r then moved the first Resolution.
" That the Report read by the Secretary be adapted
.by the
Meeting, and printed, under the orders of the Committee."
Mr. VANDE ex, a native of Denmark, seconded this Resolution.
He said he had been a 'reedier from the North to the South of
Europe. and felt pleasure in unfolding something of what he had
seen. Ile alluded to the period of the French Revolution, when
infidelity took possession of all classes on the Continent. An in-
difference now prevailed on the Continent on religious subjects,
which was not less dangerous than infidelity, because it assumed
the garb of Christianity. The prevailing notion on the Continent
was. that all faiths are the same ; that the religions ()tithe Turk,
the Jew, the Peon, and the Christian, arc equally pleasing in
the eye of God. The spirit of infidelity had even reached the
bleak mountains of Norway ; and in proportion as the people were
ignorant and uceducated, the moral effects of their departure from
the spirit of true religion became more apparent and deplorable.
[As Mr. Vandeue adverted to the ignorance and absence of reli.
gion amongst the population of Norway. he became sensibly al.
footed, and shed some team. Ile was loudly, cheered by the Meet-
ing.] In conclusion he observed, that the hope of many true
believers on the Confluent was directed to the Society, from whose
centime, under God, they looked fur • sensible and gradual dif.
fusion of religious truth. Ile suggested the utility of a mission to
Norway, and appealed to the liberality of Britaiu to contribute
to this laudable object. He feared he should be considered bold,
and was likely to he judged harshly. when he Otis came forward,
:o recommend pecuniary efforts. He cared not for the judgment of
men, but he trusted his humble example might have some effect,
when he came forward and thus bestowed what he had bought with
his blood. [3lr. N'andeux here took from his neck a gold medal.]
He said he had been a soldier—that he had fought fur fourteen
yeats under the banner of a temporal King, but he had determined
from henceforth to serve under no other banner but that of Christ.
The gold medal he now presented was given him by the King of
Wirtemberg, in return for his military services, to be worn by him
whilst he lived, and descend to ids family after his death but he
now gave it, not to the Treasurer, not to the Society—but to
Christ. Mr. Vandeux then sat down amidst warm and very gene-
ral applause.
The Rev. Dr. Bontre proposed the sefdnd Resolution. He
would not say that there was no religion in any particular place;
but it was too trite that there was too little religion everywhere;
and, when circumstances allowed it, who could deny that it was
most commendable to disseminate the word of God ? The tilt:Melon
of religious truth must be attended with the most blessed effects. It
was nothing to say that it was unnecessary to exert ourselves in
di.aerninating the word of God in countries whets religion is estab-
lished. But there are two kinds of religion—a corrupt religion, and
• pure religion ; and where a corrupt religion is, there should the
best exertions of the Society be directed, to counteract that which in
to the soul what poison is to the body. The true religion of Christ
has made a great progress, and would do so in despite of all op.
position. It was the duty of all Christians, therefore, to further so
glorious an okimt.
Professor THORLUCIC, of Berlin, seconded the Resolution. He
insisted upon the necessity for the formation of a Society like the
Continental Society, and the goad effects which were likely to antic
from it. It ma the opinion of many English travellers, that the
whole Continent was sunk in Paganism. This may be an exag-
gerated picture ; but it was not just to hide the disease, and it was
too true that many parts of the Continent were sunk in cell.
glows ignorance and apathy. He (Professor Thorluck) had known
nothing
.of vital Christianity until lie had reached his seventeenth
year. He was educated at a classical school, but his religions
teachers only taught him that Christ was a good man, though he
was a little enthusiastic. Religion was scaucely taught in those
schools. The teachers knew not what to say about religion ; and
sometimes, instead of religious lectures, gave lectures on physic
and agriculture. In the Duchy of Weimar, • Christian Physician
held prayer meetings, because in that whole country only two Mi-
nisters of the Gospel could be found. Such was the state of dark-
ness and the absence of religious truth in Germany. It was true,
that, under the inAttence of God, religion had recently, in some de-
gree, revived in Germany ; but much igonrance and apathy pre-
vailed ; and he (Professor Thorlock) determined to publish an ad.
deem to the British people, in which he should introduce many
feats diet he could not now mention. In those countries, where re-
ligion had just awakened, the efforts of die agents of the Con-
tinental Society would prove most useful. The impressions of
Christians in those countries were only superficial, but through the
influence of this Society, those persons would become deeply im-
pressed. He (Professor ThorluclO, when he returned to his own
country, woes' consider it net merely his duty, but would feel the
purest gratification, in forwarding the interests of the Society ; and
when he detailed to his countrymen its character and objecte, he
knew that many would burn with zeal to labour in its service.
(Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. 11I‘Ntit. moved the next Resolution. The for-
'nation of the Continental Society was universally admitted to have
been a desideratum. The agents of the Society did not interfere
with the internal reitilations of any religious community. It chal-
lenged scrutiny. It sought not to interfere with any religious sect,
but it never compromised the essential doctrines of Christianity.
Not to be exclusive on the material doctrines of religion, would be
to countenance infidelity. To be indifferent to essentials was to
fall into that state of irreligion and apathy which had been well
described by that soldier who had served under the banner, of a
temporal King, and now entered the service of an eternal King,
laying his trophy at the feet of Christ. (Cheers.) There was
already ton much of that spirit existing amongst ourselves. Per-
sons in influence and in power felt no difficulty in expressing their
conviction that various systems of religion were equally good; and
that the believer in Christ and the believer in Mahomet, it both
were equally sincere in their opinions, had both the same chance of
eternal salvation. A lamentable degree of carelessness existed on
this subject. Expediency is mule every thing, and the Son of God
an absolute nothing. In the words of a favourite Poet known to
all— " Fallible man, the church-bred youth replies,
Is still found fallible, however wise;
And differing judgments seem but to declare
That truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where."
But we do know, said the /lee. Gentleman, where truth lies—it
lies in the word of God, and I cannot sit down without observing,
that a great evil amongst ourselves, perhaps the greatest evil, is an
inoperative admission of divine truth.
Lieut. GORDON, R.N. said, he came forward this day to read
his recantation as to the expediency of the mode of promulgating
divine truth pursued by the Continental Society. He had the mis.
fortune of labouring under some misunderstanding respecting their
modes of operation, until within a very late petical. He never
doubted the milky of the Society, or the excellence of its objects ;
he had only doubted die expediency of its mode of operation. His
opinion on this point was now decidedly changed, and he should
feel it his duty to give the Society his humble but strenuous sup-
port. Mr. Gordon concluded by seconding the Resolution.
The Rev. Mr. Pope, of Cork, proposed the next Resolution.
He said the cause of this Society had excited a very deep interest in
the metropolis of the sister island. I'pon a very short notice a
crowded Meeting had been held in the Rotunda in Dublin. The
simplicity of the objects of the Continental Society war a powerful
recommendation. Its objects were, to extend the kingdom of the
Messiah, and to erect the standard of the Cross. There simple ob-
jects gave the Society a strong claim upon every servant of Christ.
The religious state of the Continent was another reason why this
Society deserved public support. He hoped he was now on terra
firma, when he protested against that system of religion which ma-
nacled the human mind, and held that man should not worship God
according to the dictates of his own heart. This religion contem-
plated the interference of other mediators between God and man
besides the man Christ Jesus, a d placed in subjection the blood
which flowed from Calvary. But besides Popery. Arianism and
Socinianism prevailed to a deplorable extent on the Continent. The
teachers of these religions denied the divinity of the Lord Jesus,
and differed little from absolute Deists. As Christians, therefore,
it was our duty to disseminate the Word of God and the doctrines
of Christianity amongst the nations of the Continent. But there
were other considerations which recommended this Society to the
support of the public. Many of our young men of rank and fashion
travel to the Continent ; and it cannot be disguised that Continental
manners are now producing very baneful effects in this country.
Many inhabitants of this country travel to the Continent to recover
balmy health ; and is it not well that those travellets should there
meet messengers that will direct them to that fountain where sin
and uncleanness may be cleansed ? Another ground of recommen-
dation to this Society was founded on our gratitude—on the debt
we owed to the Continent. From what fountain did the blessings
of the Reformation flow ? From the Continent. And, when the
sun of religion was set on that Continent, should we not be anxious
to distribute its beams, and produce light where darkness now
issued ? The Rev. Gentleman sat down amidst cheers.
The Rev. G. BURDER seconded this Resolution.
Mr. HALDANE moved the next Resolution. He mentioned that
he had received a letter from a friend in Geneva, stating that Dr.
Bruno, who attended Lord Byron at the close of his career, was now
in that country. Dr. Bruno was an Italian, and was brought up
under a system of religion which was a mockery to sense. Ile con-
tinued for many years indifferent to divine truth, but from the con-
versation of some enlightened Christians his sentiments were
changed, and he now declared that lie saw new beauties in Chris-
tianity which he had never before thought on. Dr. Brune was
now about to return to Greece, not to pursue that profession which
he exercised when he attended on Lord Byron ; he now returned as
the missionary of Jesus Christ. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. Mr. HATMORE seconded the Resolution.
Thanks were voted to the Committee and Officers for their ser-
vices during the past year, and a new Committee appointed.
Upon the motion of the Earl of Rolm at, thanks were then voted
to the Chairman, and the :fleeting separated.
A considerable collection was made at the doors.

- - -
RECRUITING EXTRAORGINARY.—The Dublin Morning.
Register says—" A young gentleman connected with nobility, not
wishing to lead a useless or inactive life, reviewed the three re-
cruiting parties io Ordway a few days ago, and admiring the
dress, appearance, ant. achievements of the 88th, or Connaught
Rangers, received the King's bounty, and mounted a cockade. lie
is not at all dApleased with his election, and, in despite of threats
and entreaties is determined to neck "fhe bubble reputation, even
in the cannon's mouth.' "

THE BRITISH PRESS 4

EAST INDIA SHIPPING:

LIST (IT PASSENGERS TER TUE WILLIAM MILES—S.
Beadle. from London to Madras and Bengal, outward bound, and
nailed front the Downs. 17th May, Its23:—Mrs. Adeline Pattie,
Mrs. W. B. Bayley. Mrs. Govan, Mrs. Bay, Miss Campbell,
hits' Sneyd, Miss Wheatley, Miss Silk. Alias Leycester, Miss
Ferguson, 'has A. Ferguson, Henry Millen, Es q. Bengal Civil
Service. Dr. Goran, W. Woodcock, Esq. wri:er, Mr. Spiess, fr7aq.
do., Di. Hay, Mr. Master, Cadet, Mr. G. W. Master, ditto, Mr.
It. A. Master, ditto. • •
The Coldstream, Captain W. 1411 for Madras and Bengal. wan
deapaiched this morning. The Guildford, Captain Johnston, and
the Malcolm, Captain Eyes, for Madras and Bengsl, are expected
to be despatched to-morrow afteimoon, from the East India
House.
Silt P Spogrx wt Tll.—Tile Lord Suffield, Monti!, from Lon.
don for Bergal, on the 28th February, in lat. 28 S. long. 30 W.
The following ships were lying a; the Sandwich Islands, October
8, 1024 :—The Favourite, Foord, 1„1101) barrels of oil ; glary,
1,600 ditto; Countess Morley, I ~A 8 ditto ; Partridge, —,
1.400 ditto; Charles. Butcher, supposed to be full.