to shield them against conviction; yet there will always be found some candid, impartial persons, who are sincerely seeking for truth; and these, often, have had no favourable opportunity of weighing the evidence, for and against the point in dispute. Moreover, as evidence is always on the side of truth, it is for its advantage that every subject should be thoroughly discussed; for the probability is, that in such a conflict, truth will prevail. Besides, many persons who hold opinions which are disputed, main tain them hesitatingly; because they are afraid that possibly those who oppose them, may have arguments sufficient to overthrow their opinions: but when they are permitted to hear a publick discussion, in which all the ingenuity and learning of an able opponent are exhausted in assailing them, without effect, their faith becomes firm, when before it was wavering. This scene, also, furnishes a severe test of the moral temperament of the disputants. We can scarcely conceive of any situation, in which a greater combination of qualities are requisite to enable a man to act as becomes the Christian character. Some of these, indeed, belong to the natural constitution; but the most important qualifications for a Christian polemick, are of the moral or religious kind. "Meekly to instruct those who oppose themselves," is no easy task. To "contend earnestly for the faith," and yet employ no "carnal weapons," requires a heart disciplined in the school of grace. To feel that an advantage is gained over an adversary, and yet experience no vain self-exultation, is not the attainment of even every good man. Some disputants seem to think they have attained the point of excellence in publick controversy, when. they keep clear of anger, and the perturbation of mortified pride; but, while they shun one evil, they fall into another. They manifest to all, that their good nature is the effect of consummate, over-weening vanity. But the evils which attend this species of controversy, are also numerous. Among the chief, we may reckon the angry and malevolent feelings which it is apt to generate, in the minds of the partisans of the respective disputants, if not in themselves. These feelings are commonly so strong, that no arguments employed in the refutation of error, have the least effect in producing conviction. How seldom has it been known, that the opinions of any one were changed by hearing a publick controversy? The victory is commonly claimed by both parties, if the abilities of the combatants are any how equally balanced. Moreover, it is certain, that the majority of a large promiscuous assembly, in no country, are capable of understanding and appreciating the force and bearing of arguments brought forward in controversy. A satirical stroke, or a lively sally of wit, or happy repartee, produces on the multitude, much greater effect than the strongest reasonings. Much depends also on the acuteness, promptness, and self-possession of the disputants. Often, a man by a happy constitutional temperament, united with quickness of conception, and readiness of utterance, and an imposing air of confidence, will, in the judgment of a promiscuous assembly, gain the advantage over an antagonist greatly his superior in abilities, and who has truth on his side. Another evil of controversy so conducted, is, that it generates and exasperates the spirit of disputation among the people; so that not only is Christian affection obstructed in its exercise, but social harmony, among neighbours, is interrupted. And whatever may be said of the benefits of well-conducted controversy, to the intelligent and thinking part of the community, it is obvious, that a spirit of controversy among the people commonly, is a great evil; which is not compensated by any increase of knowledge which some of them may, by this means, obtain. Our answer to the question proposed then, is, that, in general, the evils of such controversies, before the multitude, overbalance the advantages: but there are doubtless occasions and exigencies, when they become not only expedient, but necessary, for the vindication of truth. There are in the world, vain, arrogant, dogmatical polemicks, who, unless their mouths are stopped, will do much to subvert the truth, and to unsettle the minds of the people;" "for their word will eat as doth a canker," "and overthrow the faith of some." Such men became very troublesome and pestiferous in the primitive churches, before the death of the apostles, as we learn from the latest writings of Paul and Peter, and from the epistle of Jude. Now, when such disseminators of error, and disturbers of the peace of the church, appear, it is expedient for those whom God has endowed with the talents requisite for the publick defence of the truth, to stand forth, and resist the torrent of heresy and disorder, which threatens destruction to the heri tage of the Lord. When the exigency exists, which calls for this species of warfare, must be determined by the circumstances of the case; and every man, with the advice of pious and judicious friends, must determine for himself, whether he is qualified to support the honour of divine truth, in such a publick contest. And, although "the servant of the Lord must not strive," without just cause, or about things of small consequence; yet, he "must contend earnestly for the faith;" and is not at liberty, in the indulgence of his own feelings, or VOL VII.-Ch. Adv. to gratify the fastidious taste of others, to shrink from the contest, in which the cause of God and truth is involved. The author of the book, now under review, has already published the argument of a controversy, held in Philadelphia, with a bold adversary of the truth; and however the prudent might have disapproved of the undertaking; yet, it must be now apparent to all the friends of truth, that in this instance, the result of publick controversy was very favourable; for it had the effect of checking the progress of a pestiferous error, and of silencing the arrogant boasting of a man who had, for a long time, defied the armies of the living God. Let those who, in all cases, disapprove such a mode of discussing theological subjects, inform us how the same effect could have been produced by other means; or let them acknowledge that there are occasions when such controversy is lawful. Publick controversy, viva voce, was so much in vogue, in every ceding the Reformation, that it is part of Europe, in the period prenot surprising that all the reformers were frequently engaged in disputes of this kind, with their adversaries of the Romish church. And, indeed, when the art of printing was in its infancy, there was a much stronger reason for resorting to this method of vindicating the truth and refuting error, than exists at present, when books and tracts can be so easily put into circulation. As it may serve to give the reader some idea of the state of religious controversy at that period and afterwards, we shall briefly mention some of the principal polemical discussions, which have been held by eminent men, in different places. D (To be continued.) Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc. The Level of the Sea. There is, perhaps, nothing which illustrates in a more strik ing manner the exact accordance of Nature's phenomena with the few general expressions or laws which describe them all, than the perfect level of the ocean as a liquid surface. The sea never rises or falls in any place, even one inch, but in obedience to fixed laws, and these changes may generally be foreseen and allowed for. For instance, the eastern trade winds and other causes force the water of the ocean towards the African coast, so as to keep the Red Sea about twenty feet above the general ocean level; and the Mediterranean Sea is a little below that level, because the evaporation from it is greater than the supply of its rivers-causing it to receive an additional supply by the Strait of Gibraltar; but in all such cases the effect is as constant as the disturbing cause, and therefore can be calculated upon with confidence. Were it not for this perfect exactness, in what a precarious state would the inhabitants exist on the sea-shores and on the banks of low rivers! Few of the inhabitants of London, perhaps, reflect, when standing close by the side of their noble river, and gazing on the rapid flood-tide pouring inland through the bridges, that although sixty miles from the sea, they are placed as low as persons sailing upon its face, where perhaps at the time there may be tossing waves, covered with wrecks and the drowning. In Holland, which is a low flat, formed chiefly by the mud and sand brought down by the Rhine and neighbouring rivers, much of the country is really below the level of the common spring tides, and is only protected from daily in undations by artificial dykes or ramparts of great strength. What awful uncertainty would hang over the existence of the Dutch, if the level of the sea were subject to change; for, while we know the water of the ocean to be seventeen miles higher at the equator than at the poles, owing to the centrifugal force of the earth's rotation, were the level now established, from any cause to be suddenly changed but ten feet, millions of human beings would be the victims.-Scotsman. Light of the Glow-Shell.-The animals which inhabit shells of the genus Pholas, have the property of emitting a phosphorescent liquor which shines with brilliancy, and illuminates whatever it touches. This was observed, even by the ancients; and Pliny tells us, that the Pholas shines in the mouth of the person who eats it, and renders the hands and clothes luminous when brought in contact with them.Many interesting experiments were made on this luminous matter by the Academi cians of Bologna, and the celebrated French naturalist, Reaumur. It was found that its brilliancy was in proportion to its freshness; but even in a dry state, the phosphorescence may be revived by the application of fresh or salt water, though brandy or ardent spirit of any kind immediately extinguishes it; and all the acids destroy it entirely. The luminous water, when poured upon fresh calcined gypsum, rock-crystal, or sugar, becomes more vivid. Milk rendered luminous by the liquor loses its phosphorescence when mixed with sulphuric acid, but recovers it on the addition of carbonate of, potash. A single Pholas renders seven ounces of milk so beautifully luminous, that it makes all the surrounding objects visible in the dark. But, when the milk is excluded from the air, the light is extinguished. Differently coloured substances are powerfully affected by this kind of light. White appears to imbibe and emit the greatest quantity: yellow and green in less proportions. Red will hardly emit any light, and violet the least of all, when the Pholas is put into glasses tinged with these several colours. Growth of Cotton-Cotton grows in the forests of the torrid regions of Africa and America, on tall thorny trees, in India on a lofty shrub, and in Malta and the islands of the Archipelago, on an herbaceous plant. "In Guzerat," as related in Forbes' Oriental Memoirs, the "rice and cotton fields are both planted at the commenceformer is sown in furrows, and reaped in ment of the rainy season in June. The about three months; the cotton shrub, which grows to the height of three or four feet, and in verdure resembles the currant bush; requires a longer time to bring its delicate produce to perfection.-These neither impede its growth, nor prevent it shrubs, planted between the rows of rice, is over they put forth a beautiful yellow being reaped. Soon after the rice harvest flower, with a crimson eye in each petal; this is succeeded by a green pod, filled with a white stringy pulp; the pod turns brown and hard as it ripens, and then separates into two or three divisions containing the cotton. A luxuriant field, exhibiting at the same time the expanding blossom, the bursting capsule, and the snowy flakes of ripe cotton, is one of the most beautiful objects in the agriculture of Hindostan. Herodotus says, the Indians in his time possessed a kind of plant, which instead of fruit, produced wool, of a finer and better quality than that of sheep, of which the natives made their clothes. This plant was no doubt the same as the modern cotton of India." Ornithological Ventriloquist.—The cele brated Monsieur Alexandre, whose powers of ventriloquism have been so much admired, seems to be outdone in his art by an American bird, the yellow-breasted chat (Pipra Polyglotta). When the haunt of this bird is approached, he scolds the intruder in an endless variety of odd, uncouth monosyllables, difficult to describe, but easily imitated so as to deceive the bird himself, and draw him onwards to a good distance. In this case, his responses are constant and rapid, strongly expressive of anxiety and anger; and, while the bird is always unseen, the voice shifts from place to place among the bushes, as if proceeding from a spirit. First are heard short notes, like the whistling of a duck's wings, beginning loud and rapid, and be coming lower and slower till they end in detached notes. Then succeeds something like the barking of young puppies, followed by a variety of guttural sounds like those of the same quadruped, and ending like the mewing of a cat, but much hoarser. All these are given with great vehemence, and in different keys so as to a pear sometimes at a great distance, and instantly again quite near you. In mild, serene moon-light nights, it continues this motley medley of ventriloquism the whole night long, responding to its own echoes. Amer. Ornithology. Animal Charcoal.-Some years ago, the newspapers gave an account of an establishment at Copenhagen, in which the charcoal made from bones was used with great success in the purification of common oils, whilst the gas which was generated served to light a great part of the neighbourhood. An establishment of this kind is being formed at Stockholm. It is said that the most rancid fish oils are made equal to the finest sperm oil by the use of this charcoal; and that in consequence of the profit resulting from its employment in that way, the gas which the bones give out in great abundance can be supplied at a much cheaper rate than the gas obtained from coals. It is rather singular, that the experiment has not been tried in this country. The Paris Journal du Commerce of the 18th of October, announces that a young Frenchman, M. Caillet, had penetrated to Timbuctoo in Africa, and was soon to be in Paris from Toulon, where he had arrived on his return. He was addressed to the Geographical Society of Paris by the French Consul at Tangiers. Gold Washings. Strange as it may appear, it is a fact, that till very lately the jewellers were in the constant practice of throwing away the water into which they dip articles of jewellery after they are taken out of the boil (a menstruum of nitro-muriatic acid, employed to give them a high finish) without being at all aware of the quantity of gold that was thrown away with it. Of late, a person possessed of some chemical knowledge, is said to have made an handsome livelihood, by instructing jewellers, at the rate of five guineas each, in a method of recovering gold contained in the washings. This method consists simply in adding a solution of copperas, which precipates the gold, and then fusing the residuum with nitre, by which the iron in combination is oxydated, and the gold left in a pure state. In boring for water on the island, at the Sewell, a vein of water was struck at the upper end of this village, owned by Mr. depth of 160 feet, which emits an inflamfectly free from the nauseous smell of the mable gas in large quantities. It is so peroil gas, that its existence was discovered only by the casual introduction of a light into the mouth of the well.-Watertown Register. Ginger-A specimen of the growth of native ginger, has been left with us by Mr. four years past, on common land, and exRaiford, who has raised it successfully for posed to all the variations of our climate. That in our office, was planted in February last, is now in full vigour and luxuriance, and in a few weeks would ripen. From several experiments made in its culture on a small scale, it might, it is thought, be made a profitable article, considering the demand for it.-Savannah Georgian. Gas Spring-The Utica (N.Y.) Sentinel gives an account of the discovery of a Gas Spring near the Universalist Church in that village. It burns with great intensity, and affords a brilliant light. Measures are taken to confine it, with a view of ascertaining its nature more particularly, and exhibit its inflammable properties more readily. There is now to be seen at the house, formerly Kirkham's Hotel, Hartford, the head of a sea serpent, fifteen feet in length and seven feet in width, and said to weigh 1200lbs. It is indeed a curiosity.-Conn. Mirror. Dyspepsia.—This prevalent, and in many cases, terrible disease, arising from a deranged state of the liver, is characterized by an inordinate acidity of the stomach, and until this be subdued, the process of emaciation goes on with a steady pace, bidding defiance to all the nostrums and palliatives so plentifully prescribed. Having been a severe sufferer, I feel it a duty to others in my case, to communicate a simple, safe, and effectual remedy for the morbid and acid state of stomach alluded to. It is nothing more than a strong tea of wooD soor, drank freely, cold, at the pleasure of the patient. Let the experiment be fully made, and if others experience the same happy result as myself, their testimony may be given to the publick, through the channel of your paper, and prove an extensive benefit to the community.-N. Y. Daily Adv. The potato was at first positively proscribed in France. Baudin relates, that in his time its use was prohibited in Burgundy, because it was supposed to generate leprosy! It was chiefly through the exertions of the celebrated chymist Parmentier, that the prejudices of the French people against it were removed, and that it was brought into general use amongst them. Yet even as late as the revolution, so little were the vulgar reconciled to this species of food, that on Parmentier being proposed for some municipal office, one of the voters furiously opposed him, on account of the share he had in their introduction. "He will make us eat nothing but potatoes," said he, "for it was he who invented them." On the 13th, 14th, and 15th, of September, powerful shocks of an earthquake were felt in Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the neighbourhood of Murcia. Guardamar, Terra Vieja, San Xavier, and especially Terra de la Mata, suffered greatly by it. In the latter place almost all the houses were overthrown. In the others the buildings had suffered severely, most of those which were not destroyed presenting fissures from top to bottom. The inhabitants had withdrawn into the country, and constructed rude cabins for a temporary shelter. At Murcia three shocks had been felt, and the inhabitants were preparing to leave the city. All this part of Spain is in dismay and desolation. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Diplomacy of the United States. Examination of the Reasons why the present System of Auctions should be abolished. Rev. Mr. Fuller's Sermon, entitled the "Threshing Instrument." Arthur Monteith: being a continuation of the "Scottish Orphans." The Mirror; by a Lady. Second Series "Tales of a Grandfa ther." Second Series of Fairy Legends in the South of Ireland. Garden's Anecdotes of the American Revolution. Stewart's Journal, 2d edition, with additions. Keligious Intelligence. NARRATIVE OF THE SICKNESS AND lyn and New York came safely to hand, and in a state of complete preservation. But could they have arrived a year ago, they might have contributed to the pre cipally they were doubtless put up. But as it is, I do feel that it is far more than I had ever anticipated, and I am not ashamed to say that it is the most liberal present that I have ever received at the I should have rejoiced to share them, is islands. My dear Elizabeth, with whom now an angel in heaven, and far beyond the need of earthly luxuries to add to her health or happiness. is now no more, and for whose sake prin We have been permitted to pub-servation of the health of one who, alas! lish the following extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Bishop, giving an account of the illness and death of his wife, to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Sanford, of Brooklyn, New York. Who can read it without the deepest sympathy with the sufferings of Christian missionaries! And yet who is not tempted to envy their triumphs of Christian faith, and their expectancy of a crown of glory, among the brightest in the heavenly state! Oahu, Sandwich Islands, June 1, 1828. Dear Brother Sanford.-Your truly affectionate epistle of Oct. 17th, was welcomed in April, at the arrival of the reinforcement. The supplies put up for me in Brook to decline, in consequence of nursing a A year ago last April her health began healthy child without the means of keeping up her system. It was a time of drought with us at Hawaii, and vegetables could not be obtained for our tables. Added to this, our supply of flour failed, and for three months we were without bread. For myself, I succeeded to keep along in tolerable health, but that of my dear wife went down, and she became invalid. To finish the work which disease had commenced, she undertook out |