enterprise as not very easy to be accomplished. The present mode of communication would perhaps be preferable. The navigation of the river Chagres being improved by means of steam boats, and a road constructed from Cruces to Panama, which is but seven leagues, and can be made passable for carriages, the course to the Pacifick would be very short. Even as the case is at present, Senor Hurtado, going with his family as far as Panama, has travelled from Jamaica to Buenaventura, (Popayan,) in only twenty days. Whatever may be the mode, the government of the Republick is disposed to encourage the projects which may be presented to facilitate the said communications across the Isthmus, and will give to the undertaking all the favour in their power, which will be compatible with the security and defence of the country. Cure of a Snake bite by common Hartshorn.-A physician, in a Calcutta paper, gives an account, of which the following is an extract, of an instantaneous cure, by the use of hartshorn, of the dangerous bite of the species of snake called Karaite. "A young stout Hindoo, about 20 years of age, was brought to my house, accompanied by his mother, together with a crowd of natives, in a state of insensibility, and apparently dead, from the bite of a snake, which accident had occurred a few minutes before my assistance was required. The teeth of the patient were firmly clenched, and to every appearance he was at the last extremity. I immediately forced his mouth open, and poured into his throat an ounce of common hartshorn. This medicine acted like a charm -the insensibility vanished, and he instantly started from the horizontal into an erect posture-opening his eyes, yet seeming incapable of understanding what was passing. Half an ounce more of hartshorn was administered, after which he drew a deep inspiration, inquiring where he was, and the occasion of his having been brought to my house. He then drank plentifully of water, and every unfavourable symptom disappearing, he who had half an hour before been conveyed to me while in the jaws of death, I had the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing walk forth, followed by the crowd, and return home barely supported by the persons who had brought his apparently lifeless body to my house." The wound, which was in the ankle, was also washed with Ammonia. Straw is likely to become an article of value. Great quantities of it are now manufactured in Pennsylvania into wrapping paper. One manufacturer advertises for 1,000 tons. Sugar Cane. We have received from our friend Hartwell H. Tarver, Esq. a stalk of sugar cane, of a species called the riband cane, the growth of his plantation in Twiggs county, upwards of six feet long. Notwithstanding the unfavourable season, and the very late drought, this cane will bear a proud comparison with the product of Louisiana. We are informed, by the very intelligent gentleman who brought us this cane, that it is a fair specimen of his crop, of about twenty acres. We hope that Mr. Tarver's industry and enterprise will be an encouragement to his fellow citizens.-Milledgeville Patriot. Raisins.-The editor of the Troy, N. Y. Sentinel, says he has received specimens of raisins, prepared by Mr. Learned, of Lansingburg, from grapes raised this year in his own garden. They were made from the white Madeira grape, or sweet water, as it is usually called, and cost no other trouble than cutting off the clusters and putting them twice into an oven after baking bread. Dr. Spafford, of the same place, has also made excellent raisins from his own grapes this year, with very little trouble; one species of his grape is the same as that from which the bloom raisin is made. Card-making Machine.-The invention of Mr. Amos Whittemore, of West Cambridge, Massachusetts, formed a new era in the mechanical ingenuity of this country, and the real importance of the machine can hardly be estimated. As a piece of mechanism, it has never been excelled; strips of smooth leather and rolls of wire are placed in one end of the apparatus, and the intricate process of cutting the leather to the exact size and pricking the holes is performed, while at the same moment the wire is cut, bent, and the teeth are inserted in their respective places; the cards then come out, perfectly formed, and completely finished for immediate use, occupying but a few moments in the operation. We heard the old gentleman, a few months before his death, while confined to his house by disease, relate the particulars of the origin and completion of his design, with an enthusiasm that would awaken youthful ambition to exert itself in something more than a limited sphere. He mentioned, that three days, as well as nights, were constantly devoted to the making and completion of his model, all of which was done in his own house, and the fear of losing sight of his plan, prevented every thing like repose until it was completed: the original he preserved and exhibited to his friends in his last days, as an evidence of industry, to stimu late the young to perseverance and exertion. For a number of years previous to his decease, he was feeble and much debilitated, and the great mental efforts and the intense and close application he made in bringing the machine to perfection, impaired his constitution, and produced a premature death. The proceeds of his ingenuity produced him something, but his wealth was far from being extensive, and little was left as the result of his arduous toil and intense mechanical research. Breakwater.-We have before us a mo" del of the Breakwater at Plymouth (England). This noble structure is 1700 yards in length, running nearly east and west, with an average width of 120 yards at the base, and 16 yards at the top. The expense, including piers, light-houses, &c. was £1,171,000, or $5,199,240. The general figure of the Breakwater is represented by this diagram: sents a smooth surface, while below, the rocks are, of course, piled in with less order. The only undertaking of the kind in this country, which will bear any comparison with the above, is the Breakwater erecting at the mouth of the Delaware. The figure will be nearly the same, the north side being 740 yards in length, the N. W. flank 440 yards, and the N. E. flank 580-total 1760, or 60 yards longer than the Breakwater at Plymouth. The angles which the flanks make with the centre are 135 degrees each. The estimated cubick feet of stone required for the undertaking is 26,908,646, and the estimated expense $2,326,627. The difference in the amount of stone required for this Breakwater and that at Plymouth, arises principally from the greater depth of water in the latter case. The mean depth of the harbour, to be created at the mouth of the Delaware, at low tide, will be 28 feet. Some portions of the walls are already within twelve feet of the surface. The slope of the interior side is to be in the ratio of half a yard horizontal to one perpendicular, and of the exterior side four yards horizontal to one perpendicular. The position of this Breakwater is near the South Cape of the Delaware, having between itself and the shore about half a mile of good anchorage. Either by the shore or the Breakwater all winds will be excluded, except those from the E. N. E. and a large space will be sheltered even from these. Keligious Intelligence. The following extract of a letter, which we have been permitted to publish, we think interesting, as calculated to give important information, in reference both to the political and religious state of Buenos Ayres. It serves to show the real cause of those sudden and violent changes in the government, of which there have been frequent instances, and one of very recent occurrence. The mass of the people are so little sensible of the value of the elective franchise, that they do not generally even exercise it; and hence a few ambitious men are elected into office, and a convulsion ensues, from their opponents endeavouring to displace them--which it is not very difficult to effect, because the community at large care but little who are their governors. The radical cause of all is, that dreadful religious superstition and ignorance, in which the people have been educated; and a part of which is strikingly depicted, in the description contained in the following letter, of the mummery which constitutes the process of making a Nun. It will take some considerable time, before real republicans can be made of such materials. And yet this is the system which his misnamed Holiness of Roine, is labouring to introduce into the United States. Romanists may make good citizens or subjects of a free state, when the large majority of that state are not Romanists. But let them be the majority, and let their system have its full and unqualified influence, and we seriously question whether, in such circumstances, real political freedom ever can exist. BUENOS AYRES. An Extract of a Letter to a Lady in this Country, from a Friend in Buenos Ayres. "So little interest do the mass of the people take even in the elections, that in order to get them to attend at all, they are always held on Sunday, and the bal. lot box is placed in the entrance of the principal churches, so that they can vote and go to mass at the same time. Yet even so, only a fragment of the people attend, and the votes of this fragment are inva. riably in accordance with the wishes of the existing authorities, or of a few intriguing men. At the last election for representatives, the party decidedly and confessedly the minority, but which happened for the time being to have the offices in their hands, gained the election, by several thousand votes. "The majority, or rather their leaders, refused to acknowledge the electiongot the offices into their own hands, and we are soon to have another election, in which, from the same voters, there will doubtless be as large a majority on the other side. "I do not mean, however, to give you a description of the political condition of those around me, nor should I have alluded at all to the subject, were it not that from a wrong impression on this point, far more is expected of this people, as respects knowledge and improvement, than ought to be-viewing them as they are. I have often been surprised that the influence of superstition over their minds has been so far weakened as it is, and that the priests have not been able more completely to stifle the spirit of inquiry, which is abroad among them, and which I trust is destined, under God, to bring them eventually into the light of his blessed gospel. "I mentioned to you in a former letter, an expected addition to one of the convents. Having expressed my desire of witnessing the ceremony, to the prioress, she promised to inform me when it was to take place, which she very kindly did, and I accordingly attended. The service VOL. VII. Ch. Adv. was introduced by a sermon, the promi nent object of which was, to illustrate and enforce the benefits and blessedness of monastick seclusion. After this, mass was celebrated. This is a Latin service, accompanied by some ceremonies of the priests over the consecrated bread of the sacrament, which they are taught is the real body of Christ, and these ceremonies a real and efficacious offering of the body of Christ, for the benefit of those to whom the priest chooses to apply it; this service is performed daily, in most of the churches. Mass being ended, the nuns descended from the gallery, and entered at the further end of the room, separated from the body of the church by an open grating, so that they could be distinctly seen. The priests also retired to the side of the church most remote from the grate, and directly in front of it, and commenced the Latin service adapted to the occasion; which consists of short sentences, chaunted alternately by the priests and the nuns; and each as they sang their respective parts, slowly and solemnly approached the grate. The victim was in front of the nuns, led between two of the oldest, and clothed in the vestments of the tomb. The death-like paleness of her countenance and her white muffler, as she advanced, formed a strong contrast to the dark complexions and large black mantles of her conductors. The sisterhood followed in pairs, each carrying a large wax candle lighted, in her hand. About a quarter of an hour was thus occupied in crossing the room, during which time, the ceremony far more resembled the conducting of a criminal to execution than any religious service. Indeed the ghastly paleness and sepulchral dress of the candidate, the slow and measured step of the procession, could hardly fail to impress the mind with the strong resem. blance of the whole scene to a publick execution. As they approached the grating a small door opened, which opens only on these occasions; the subject knelt on the threshold with a candle in her hand, and the provisor, who is the substitute for the bishop, read aloud the vows, to which she gave her assent, the whole sisterhood responding amen to every answer. The prioress then placed on her head a large black veil, as the sign of her final and perpetual seclusion from the world, and separation from all duties and interests without the walls of her cloister. The priest then pronounced a short benediction, and the door closed which separated her for ever from her family and friends, several of whom stood weeping without. She was then led to the other end of the room, when the ma4 C tron who had conducted her, placed on her head a crown of artificial flowers, which, though tastefully arranged, was of such an extravagant size as to give a somewhat fantastical appearance to the wearer, especially when contrasted with the broad black mantle beneath it. Thus decorated, she approached the grating, to converse with her friends, and others who' wished to ask her any questions. She declared herself perfectly happy, and strove to appear cheerful. Yet there was a visible melancholy in her pale countenance, which, notwithstanding all her efforts to conceal it, showed plainly that her heart did not respond to the cheerfulness she wished to exhibit. She seemed under thirty years of age; but what has induced her to immure herself in this tomb of the living, I had no means of ascertaining. But one similar case has occurred for a long time; and though I do not think this is one of the forms of superstition likely to be generally embraced, I must confess that I have witnessed nothing which impressed me so strongly, with a sense of the power of that corrupt system which teaches for doctrines the commandments of men; and under the name of godliness, destroy's the means of usefulness, and tears away its victims from the most sacred duties and relations of life." WEST INDIES. The friends of missions, many of whom are also ardent friends of the African race, are not perhaps as well informed as they ought to be, of the progress of missions among the coloured population of the West India islands, and the neighbouring district of the continent called Guiana. The devoted and self-denying Moravians, are the principal missionaries here; and in several places they are wonderfully successful. But the London Missionary Society has also an establishment at Berbice, and we take the following article from their Missionary Chronicle, attached to the Evangelical Magazine for October last-We must postpone till the coming month our domestick missionary communications, with the general remark that our home missions are doing well-we think very well. Extracts of a Letter from Mr. Wray, dated Berbice, 13th of June, 1829. In Berbice, we are, I trust, making some progress in the dissemination of Divine truth, though the seed springs up but slowly. The soil, indeed, is very barren and unpromising; but the Spirit of God can render the means used for its cultivation successful, so that the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; yea, it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. Since I last wrote to you, I have baptized fifteen adults from country plantations, who have publickly professed their faith in Christ and their obedience to him; also a number of boys and girls, who are making progress in learning the catechism. Last Sabbath our little chapel was very much crowded. Several were baptized; and three new members were admitted to the Lord's table for the first time. Six had been received, but three were prevented from attending by illness. Death of a Pious Female. Last month one of our first and most pious members, about eighty years of age, was called to her heavenly rest. She united with us in church fellowship nineteen or twenty years ago, in Demerara, and acted as a consistent Christian. Pro vidence directed her steps to Berbice; soon after which, I came to the colony to preach the gospel of our blessed Saviour. She again united with us in commemorating the love of Jesus at his table. She has been an ornament to her Christian profession; adorning the doctrine of God her Saviour, by leading a holy life; regularly attended at all the means of grace; and devoting her heart and her life to her Redeemer, whom she sincerely loved. On Thursday mornings, at a select meeting for religious conversation and prayer, she often spake with tears, in a most affecting manner, of the love of God to her soul; and of the great happiness she experienced in the ways of religion, and the support afforded her by her heavenly Father, under the trials and afflictions of life which, for many years, she had been called to pass through. Sometimes on these occasions, she engaged in prayer, and would be very fervent with God on the behalf of her children, her minister, and the members of the church, and for the spread of the gospel. She was not able to say much during the last two or "There we shall see his face, And never, never sin; Drink endless pleasures in." Though unable to speak, she expressed her satisfaction by the motion of her hand and a sweet smile on her countenance. She was conveyed to the silent tomb, amid the tears of many, both bond and free, who highly respected her. Account of a Pious Leper, &c. In visiting lately some of our people in affliction, I have also seen the happy effects of the gospel. Among them there was a poor leper, belonging to the British crown. I knew him when he was young and healthy, and an able boat-builder. He learned to read, and was baptized; but he has been confined for some years by this loathsome disease. The Lord, however, has been gracious to him, and has enlightened his mind in the knowledge of 571 himself. He opened his Bible which he "Salvation! O the joyful sound! I feel thankful to God that our chapel continues to be well attended, and that many of the country slaves in particular seem to be seeking the salvation of their souls. They are very anxious to be instructed, but they need line upon line and precept upon precept. This makes our progress appear slow, particularly as it respects their being admitted to baptism and the Lord's Supper; but the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain; so must we wait, till. it shall please God to pour out his Spirit upon the hearts of sin ners. The Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ac- The collection after the sermon before the Synod of Philadelphia in Carlisle, $34 77 |