The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-12 00:00:00

EBRITISII PRESS.I

To a sensible spectator nothing can be more
amusing than to see the bustle, the agitation, the
alarm, and the tremulous hope, which certain
New spapers feel or feign► with the utmost imagin-
able gravity, about a war which it is as impos-
sible should be actually undertaken as to make
the mountains of Spain change places with the
icebergs of Greenland. If it were really in the
folly of the Bourbons to say such a war, it were
still greater folly to believe it until the positive
vision supersede faith by fact. But in the mean
time topics are suggested, and discussions are
entered into, which cannot fail to stimulate
thought and to nourish wisdom. This is the first
direct benefit which other nations must derive
from the Revolution in Spain. The sight of its
prosperity operates upon the minions of absolute
and abused power as salt upon gorged leeches.

[NEW TlNtEs.]
Our letters from Paris are of Monday evening.
The Duke of Wellington had arrived in that
capital with a view to the peaceable arrangement
of affairs with Spain. It is immaterial to ob-
serve that the Spanish Journal, the Espectador,
of the 2d instant, contains an article, evidently
dictated by the Republican Ministers, but in
a very moderate and subdued tone. They wish
it to be understood that they are adverse to
the violent Jacobins, who, they say, " make
war on the great body with even more bitterness
than the enemies of the new Institutions." To
this affected moderation we pay but little regard.
No -doubt, when the Newspaper-writer, San
Miguel, finds himself in the exalted station of
Minister for Foreign Affairs, he wishes to keep
there; But does he dare to oppose the frantic
wretches of the Landaburian Club ?

[MORNING CHRONICLE.]
Fortunately for us, we have a Foreign Mi-
nister who seems to know what is due to
the country, and who is sensible how much
the interests of Britain would suffer from the
projects of the French Government. The
value of Spain to this country, great as it is in
a commercial paint of view, might still be
greatly increased by wise arrangements.—
Some idea may be formed of the importance
of its agricultural produce, when it is known
that an able individual, who had access to
the hest information.' states the worth of
that of the Kingdom of Valencia alone, in 1788,
at 4,100,0001., without including wheat, oats,
maize, &c., of which no account could be obtain-
ed. The intermeddling with the affairs of Spain
has already 'been attended with the most mis-
chievous consequences to its industry; and the
French Government, instead of being allowed to
annoy the Spaniards still farther, ought to be
compelled to indemnify them for what injury has
already been done.—The French Papers attri-
bute the deepest designs to our contemporary,
The Courier, whose mystifications they suppose
thrown out with a view to leave them in uncer-
tainty as to the real intentions of our Govern-
ment. how can the English Ministry, they say,
oppose war, while their Official Paper advocates
it ? This does indeed seem odd ; but our con-
temporary is too profound to tell them this se-
cret.

[MORNING POST.]
The Paris Journals to the nib inst. contain

no fresh intelligence from Spain or the army of
observation, which still remains in its quarters
without making any movement indicatory of ap-
proaching hostilities. The apprehended war,
indeed, seems to be transferred to the French
Cabinet, where it rages with no small violence
and activity, as the articles in the Journals of the
Parties which compose the Ministry may testify.
—The existence of those two parties in the same
administration is not sufficiently attended to to
this country, otherwise less surprise would he
felt at the opposite sentiments which the various
French Ministerial Papers are continually found
to express. TO come to a clear understanding Of
the whole, it must be kept in mind that' the Jour-
nal elei'DlGiity is the organ of the Moderates or

of Mr. De Villele's party : and the Quolidienne
and l'Etoile, thOse of the Ultra Members of the
Ministry ; whilst the Monileur is a kind of neu-
tral publication, which admits the opinions of
both sides, and seldom expresses one of its own;
or, if it does, involves it in such a happy ambi-
guity of terms as to avoid giving offence or a de•
cided triumph to either party.

[MORNING HERALD.]
The Continental Mails of yesterday leave the
question of peace or war as uncertain as before.
The Monileur has charged itself with the burden
of the pacific article of the Journal des DAats,
but the Etoile—also a Government Journal—
contains an eager and rather trivial reply to it.
We notice these thing's, without setting much
value on them. To perceive objects of such mag-
nitude, as peace or war between two nations,
through such media as the columns of a Journal,
because that Journal calls itself Ministerial,
would be to resemble the sapient astronomer,
who thought he had discovered an elephant in
the moon, when he beheld but an unlucky fly im-
prisoned in his telescope. If the issue of this ques-
tion depended, as it lately seemed, and as the
French Government pretended, upon the answer
of the Spaniards to the demands of France, we
should have left either of doubt or hope. The
last arrivals from Madrid put it beyond a doubt
that any dictation of the slightest change in their
Constitution, by a foreign and hostile power,
would be scouted by the Spaniards on the in-
stant.
In a recent secret sitting of the Cortes,
an allusion to this subject is stated to have ex-
cited a ferment of general indignation. ,

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

( From the Bury Gazette, Dec. 11.)

The Congress at length has closed its delibe-
rations, and by its final act, left France at.liberty to defend her-
self against the aggressions of revolutionary Spain, and even to
declare war against her, if she see occasion. Situated as France
is, freedom of action on such a subject is absolutely essential
to her existence as a nation. The Sovereigns of Europe have
declared their wish to see France a great and flourishing king-
dom—they have solemnly affirmed that they did not arm to
destroy France, but to sublue that detestable system of go-
vernment which made her a curse to every other nation : a
universal depredator and despoiler. Having attained this de-
sirable object—having rescued Europe from France, and France
from herself, to leave her now so fettered and controuled as to be
unable to defend her own against the storm that threatens on the
Spanish frontier would be an act of greater cruelty, of grosser in-
justice, than any that ever yet assumed the guise of political rec.
titude. It is absurd to talk of giving France a Constitution, if
her Government is to be under an external controul : to be
great, she must be free ; and the act which has for selfish pur-
poses heen strained into a virtual declaration of war is, in fact,
nothing more than an acknowledgment of that freedom. The
Continental Powers, having held her in check from the Treaty
of Paris to the dissolution of Congress, have now removed all
restraints, and once more trusted her to her 'own guidance.
The reluctance with which this point hai been conceded
evinces much disinclination on the part of the Allies to leave'
Spain at the mercy of France, and we very much doubt whe-
ther the Ministers of the latter country would have been able
to surmount that reluctance but for the manifesto of Mina, and
the massacres and burnings which have followed it ; these are,
in fact, the arguments which have compelled the Allies to
withdraw their protection from Spain, in order that France may
defend herself from so dangerous a neighbour. It appears that
our own Cabinet regards this act of Congress as a tacit concur-
rence in any offensive measures France may resort to, and
therefore England will not be a party to the transaction ; and it
is from a principle of wise and sound policy, a sense of substan-
tial justice, that she withholds her consent. In the councils of
nations, England has defended Spain ; in the field, has rescued
her from the scourge of one French dynasty, and is ready to pro-
tect her from the aggessions of another; but she will not sanc-
tion, with the seal of her great name, all the deeds of blood
with which the late defeated followers of Napoleon may wish to
wreak their vengeance on the country which, with the aid of
Britain, ejected and subdued them. Let France defend her
own frontier—let her protect her people from the revolutionary
pestilence, by her sanitary cordon—let her, if she can conquer,
or even exterminate, Mina and his horde of murderers—but let
her not pour into the fields of Spain her hosts of disbanded
veterans, to fight the battles of a foolish Bigot, and prevent the
noble-minded Spaniards from achieving, in peace, a better Con-
stitution than either Ferdinand or Mina ever yet imagined.—
France is, at present, but as a smothered volcano : the great
mass of the people, wearied with war, and satisfied with safety,
are content with the mild sway of Louis, and almost forget the
dazzling glare of Napoleon's military pomp and iron rule.—
But though the many are at peace, there are spirits compelled
to gnaw their hearts in silence, yet ready on the first shadow
of occasion to burst forth and spread around them discord and
death. Can the French Government know this, and not feel
apprehensive that the contagion of revolt may cross the Pyren-
nees, and again infect to the centre a nation which, for thirty
years, has existed but in the feverish excitements of trea-
son, war, and homicide, and whose blood, coerced into tem_
perance, has not yet subsided into a sane and healthful
calm. Every lawful exercise of power—every honourable effort
tending to secure France from a renewal of revolutionary hor-
rors—will command the respect and be seconded by the good
wishes of the virtuous and wise ; but should pride or fear in-
duce her to plunge into a needless war for a worthless object,

her triumphs will obtain no honour, her defeat deserve no com-
miseration. Louis has been placed upon the throne of his
ancestors by the united strength, and common consent of the
greatest powers of Europe; not for his own sake, but for his
country's ; if he really love that country—if lie really value
that throne—let him beware lest by one act of compliance
with the mad councils of intemperate friends he sacrifice both
for ever.

At a meeting of Magistrates, held not long
since in Somersetshire, a very respectable farmer
was summoned before them for killing game on
he manor or one of the then sitting Magistrates,
and convicted in the penalty of 51. The farmer
pleaded very hard against the conviction, but all

3 vain : he then stated that he had an informa-

tion to lay against a respectable person then pre-
sent. He was requested to lay it on oath; he
did so, and had the aforesaid Magistrate con-
victed in the penalty of 101. f'or killing game, he
having neglected to take out his certificate.—
•
( inieg.)
The fog was so dense in the Metropolis yes-
terday, that most or the public offices, and many
of the shops, particularly in the City, were
obliged to be, lighted up.

7

SOCIETY
FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

RE PORT

Of the SOCIETY for PROMOTING CHRISTIAN
KNOWLEDGE, with an ACCOUNT of the RECEIPTS
and EXPENDITURE from April 1821, to April 1822.
( Concluded from yesterday's Su x.)
MADRAS.
In the early part of the present year an excellent Report was
received from the District Committee at Madras. This per-
haps, is one of the most important and interesting documents
which has ever been presented to the Board. It comprises a
very clear abstract of the proceedings of the Society in the
Carnatic, from the year 1710 to the present day. Much of the
information contained in this Report, has already been laid
before the public, at different times, in a less regular and au-
thentic form ; but infinite credit is due to the Madras Committee
for having collected materials so widely scattered, and thus
given a clear and comprehensive sketch of the state of Christi-
anity in the south of India. It may, indeed, be affirmed,
without presumption, that the zeal, judgment, and ability, dis-
played at Madras since the establishment of the District Com-
mittee in August 1815, are worthy of the purest ages of the
Church • and will not only he memorable in the records of this
Society, in the annals of Christianity itselt.
The Report details, at considerable length, the measures
which have been adopted for restoring the Missionary esta-
blishment at Vipery to an efficient state. 'This establishment
has existed since the year 1710, when " the Society undertook the
management of such charities as were, or should be, put into
their hands, for the support and enlargement of the Protestant
Mission then maintained by the King of Denmark at Tran-
quebar." During the remainder of the last century, two Mis-
sionaries appear to have been constantly maintained, at Vipery,
who, in 'addition to their other duties, undertook the superin-
tendance of the Printing-press attached to the Mission. In the
year 1802, Mr. nezold, one of the Missionaries, went to Cal-
cutta, for the purpose of teaching the Tamil language in the
college recently founded by the Marquis Wellesley. During
his absence his exemplary colleague, Mr. Gerick 6, died ; and
Dr. Rottler, of the Tranquebar Mission, was appointed to take
charge of the Vipery congregation. In 1804 Mr. Panold re-
turned from Calcutta, and immediately resumed his clerical
duties in conjunction with Dr. Rottler. This continued till
1807, when Dr. Realer returned to Tranquebar • and Mr.
Pmzold administered the affairs of the Mission till the period
of his death.

At this juncture the District Committee at Madras had been
established about two years, and was already in a state of re-
gular and effectual operation. It was accordingly proposed to
the Society, by Messrs. Pohle and Kolhoff„ the only surviving
Missionaries at Tanjore, that the affairs of the Vipery Mission
should be placed under the special superintendence of the
Madras District Committee. This judicious and happy sug-
gestion was at once adopted. The care of the congregation was
again intrusted to Dr. Bottler, and a Special Sub-Committee
was appointed to " ascertain the nature, extent, and condition,
of the Society's Mission at the Presidency, and to take such
measures as should appear necessary for its preservation, as
well as for the temporary administration of the several cha-
rities connected with it."

This inquiry was prosecuted with the greatest diligence. To
every Member of the Special Sub-Committee, and especially
to their indefatigable Secretary, Mr. Gwatkin, the most cordial
thanks of the Society are justly due. They displayed the
greatest zeal, promptitude, and judgment, through the whole
investigation ; and have unquestionably, rendered a most im-
portant service to the Christian cause. By their exertion it
was soon discovered that the Mission at Vipery was possessed
of considerable property under the will of Mr. Gericke, now
yielding an annual income of 3,822 rupees ; besides an addi-
tional sum of money, and some houses in reversion. The
Church, Mission-house, Burying-ground, with a garden ad-
jacent, and the houses occupied by the schoolmasters, were
also reported as the property of the Mission ; together with a
Library of 900 volumes, machinery and materials for Printing
and Book-binding, Church furniture, Communion Plate, and
other effects. An English, and a Tamil school, were also at-
tached to the Mission; the former containing sixteen scholars,
the latter thirty-three. These schools were particularly recom-
mended to the attention of the District Committee, as affording
a refuge " for children, who are not entitled to admission into
either of the twn'Military Asylums at the Presidency."
On the strength of this Report, the District Committee pro-
, seeded without delay " to place the whole institution in a state
of permanent efficiency." The buildings, with the exception
of the Church, were enlarged and put into complete repair
under the direction of Major de Havilland; a gentleman who
is actively engaged in promoting, by every means in his power,
the Christian cause in this part of the world. The schools were
increased, and put under more exact regulations ; and the
Printing-press at Vipery, which for above a century had con-
! tributed to the propagation of Religion in the East, but had now
almost fallen into decay, was completely re-established. This
indeed was a matter of some expence and difficulty ; but by
the exertions of the Local Committee, and by a donation of
2001., which the Bishop granted for this purpose on account
of the Society, this most important object was at length accom-
plished. in the month of February 1820, the Press was open-
ed, and is now in a state of greater activity than at any former
period. " It is adequate," says the Bishop, "to its own
support, and not only supplies the Society's Missions with
all the books required, hut is actually printing for others at the
ordinary rate of profit *."
Since the publication of the Madras Report, other important
documents relative to the Vipery Mission have been received.
On the Ist of March, 1821, Major de Havilland reported to the
Madras Committee, that in his opinion the Mission Church
at Vipery, from its original construction and present state,
would neither admit of enlargement nor of complete repair ;
and that it would ultimately be the cheapest and most effectual
mode of proceeding, to erect a new Church, and to convert the
present edifice to the use of the School Establishment. The
expence of this operation he estimated at 5,000 Pagodas, or
2,0001.

1 ,
With this proposal the Madras Committee entirely concurred,
and they lost no time in submitting the whole matter to the con-
sideration of the Bishop. In Mr. Clarke's letter to his Lord-
ship on this subject, dated 20th June, 1821, it is observed, that
" the Mission funds, though recovering from the sate of decay
into which they had fallen, and therefore able to provide for
the necessary current expences, are entirely incompetent
to furnish the means for erecting a new Church ; and that
unless material assistance can be received by a donation
from England, the execution of the work must be indefi-
nitely postponed." The Bishop's feeling on this important
question cannot be so well expressed as in his own words.—
"The Society, I am apprehensive, will consider me as not suf-
ficiently parsimonious of their resources, when, after having re-
commended an increase of their Missionary Establishment in
I the South, which is absolutely indispensable, and to which they
have agreed, and now the extension of their Missionary endea-
-1 yours to this part of'lndia (Bengal), I proceed to countenance
an application contained in the enclosed documents from Ma-
dras.l- I must, however, beg leave to observe, that these in-
creasing demands on your funds do greatly. arise out of the
more promising aspect of Christian affairs in this country ge-
nerally ; and still more, with respect to the application from
Madras, out of the highly flourishing state of your Missionary
concerns in that quarter. I question, indeed, whether in the
history of Christian Missions from any Church it will be found
to have been surpassed.—The Congregation and Schools, which
were lately in so distressed a condition, have increased three or
four fold ; and this circumstance is of course the only ground
for the present application. As to the native Christians them.
selves, they are in general so poor, that a contribution to the
amount of one fiftieth part of the sum required would distress
them ; and the suggestion of raising money by the offer of
making'the Church the common property of the Christian Com-
munity in that part of Madras, is quite incompatible with the
object contemplated.
" I do not, therefore, know by what means the wants of the
Christians at Vipery, who are under the pastoral care of our
Missionaries, can be met, unless the Society can present them
with a Church. The sum required is, indeed considerable, al-
though I should hope that when the great exertions of the So-
ciety in that quarter are duly weighed, and the especial circum-
stances demanding such a disbursement are understood, your
funds would not ultimately be impoverished. I do therefore
venture to recommend, that at least the enclosed documents from
Madras may receive the fullest consideration of the East
India Mission Committee.—l would further observe that
the same facilities may not hereafter be afforded for
acomplishing the object in question, which offer them-
selves at present. The Society have a friend in Major de
Havilland, such as they may not find whenever he ceases to be
a member of the Madras District Committee. This gentleman
is at tite head of the Engineer department at Madras. He is
possessed of great skill and experience as an Architect, and his
desire to promote the interests of the Society has been shewn in
his gratuitous professional services. lam convinced that if a
Church be built for the Mission, it will never be done in a bet-
ter manner, or at a cheaper rate, than under Major de Havil-
land's superintendance. To; the zeal, and intelligence, and un-
remitted labours of the Vipery Special Committee, formed at a
moment when that Mission was threatened with extinction, I
can hardly estimate our debt of gratitude. Future generations,
we may trust, with the Divine blessing, will reap the fruits of
their Christian exertions."

It will naturally be supposed that an application thus highly
sanctioned, and embracing an object so materially affecting the

• Bishop of Calcutta's Letter to Dr. Baskin, dated Calcutta,
4th August, 1821.
t These documents are Major de Havilland's Report. Pro-
ceedings of the Madras Committee, 18th of May, 1821, and
Mr. Clarke's Letter to the Bishop.

interests of Religion, was favourably received by the Board in
London. At the last general meeting on the 9th of July, it
was unanimously resolved that a sum not exceeding 2,0001.
should be appropriated to the erection of a Church at Vipery.
The intention of the Board, in passing this vote, was to prevent
delay, and to enable the Bishop of Calcutta to make such ad-
vances on the Society's account, as might, in his judgment, ap-
pear necessary for the immediate prosecution of the work. It
is hoped, however, that an object of such importance as the
erection of a Mission Church at the principal station in Southern
India, will excite a strong interest among the friends of Chris-
tianity, and will ultimately be accomplished without any se-
rious encroachment on the Society's funds.
In other parts of this Presidency the affairs of the Society are
no less prosperous. Depots of books have been established at
Masulipatam, Trichinapoly, Bangalore, Tellicherry, Secunde-
rabad, and Benary. No Missionary has yet been appointed at
Cuddalore or at Tinnevelly. : but the spiritual wants of the sta-
tions in the latter district have been admirably supplied by the
Chaplain of Palamcottah. The Mission of Tanjore, has been
assigned to the Rev. Mr. Sperschneider; that of Trichinapoly to
the Rev. Mr. Rosen ; and that of Vipery to the Rev. Mr. Hau-
broe. The Rev. Dr. Bottler also, who for mazy years has ren-
dered essential service to the Church in India, still officiates at
Vipery. At an advanced period of life he retains great vigour
and activity. It is highly satisfactory to add, that the Bishop
speaks in very handsome terms of the conduct and ability of the
younger Missionaries.