Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-03-07

|cnrrence, and public executions few
In one of the protestant cantons in Swift
Fzerland, the executioner was called up
on to perform the hateful Office, only
once in the long space of twenty years
And we learn from statements made on
the authority of the right non. G. Hope.
atthe conclusion of his circuit at Glas-
gov, In 1903, that the entire number OF
commitments in Scotland for crimiDai
offences, from the time of the Union
1897, up to that period, but a very lit.
tie exceeded the average number of an
nual commitments and prosecutions for
like offences in England and Wales, for
the preceding three years.
/" There il also, sir, a country in which
the case is strikingly the reverse Of these:
Lit is calculated that of the whole mass OF
Irish population, not larger proportion
than one in three. or perhaps four, is able
to read. And what's the moral condi-
ton Of this people ? Robberies and muir
ders are awfully frequent. To corr
ment on these facts, sir, would be libel
lous on the understandings of all who
hear me they come home to the judg-
ment and feelings Of. every rejecting be-
ing.
!" There. are yet, sir, two other facts,
to which, as bearing distinctly on the sub
|ject in discussion, | must beg your atten-
|tion. The first Of these is, that, of the
large number of unhappy persons who
have forfeited their lives to the violated
laws Of this country, but very minute
proportion has been found able to read.
This was ascertained in particular man
ner by the late governor of Newgate, MIR.
Alderman. who assures us of the number
Iof feions whom he had known executed,
/ not one in hundred had learned to
Tread or write In perfect accordance
with this statement, are the observations
of DR.. Ford, the respected ordinary of
Newgate. The other fact to which al
Jude, sir, more Immediately relates to the
lgood effects of Sunday Schools, and is
this, that instances have but very rarely
occurred Of persons instructed at a Sun
day School, being convicted of crime.
Out of 1000 boys thathave. been educated
at the Sunday Schoolsin Gloucester, but
Ione instance of this was ever known -
After glancing at some of the benefits Of
Sunday Schools, the speaker proceeds !:
e | will just mention another advantage
of no mean Importance, connected with
these schools, the habituating children to
ia becoming reverence for the Lords day,
Hundreds of criminals have declared at
the place Of execution, that the profana.
|tion of the Sabbath was the first step in
the career of vice. The barriers of mo-
|rality once broken down--the compunc,
Etuous remonstrances of conscience once
Isilesced, the transition to crimes of great
Ter moral turpitude, was found easy and
natural"
Whoever contemplates these facts, or
looks into any part of the history of our
SUNDAY schools, will not wonder that
they are popular on the other side of the
Atlantic, and that, after witnessing their
happy effectsdGring five and thirty years,
there is scarcsly a village in England
without one:
Commercial .qduertiser.
In l8i5-sess horned cattle, eo47f
sheep-were drove into the market at
Halifax, n S. Besides what was brought
in slaughtered.
Two men have recently lost their
lives at Halifax, by sleeping in a room
In which charcoal was left burning.
The English East India Company
have sent large collection Of the most
costly Perfumery as present to the En-
peror of China.
REVEAL Of Religion in Nsao York.
Extract Of a letter just received in Phi.
ladelphia from New York.
1--WE trust the Lord is about to pour
cut his Spirit on this our sinful city.
The work is evidently seen among the
.peopls of Mr.. Springs congregation,
that together with all the other church
es. have been. for this some time past,
is in an awfully dead & cold state as ever
vas known before so much inatteRtion !:
PRAYER meetings and societies badly at
.o.lI D4 80. Ill on'kc ho INTO God