jects, were, "An Armenian Grammar," a "History of Etchmeasin,' a "Treatise on Good Behaviour," a "Tract on Precious Stones," and a "Romance of the City of Brass."

The Armenians annually publish an almanack, but, like the Greeks, Russians, and other branches of the Eastern Church, adhere to the old style, rejecting the reformation of the calendar which the Western Christians adopted. Their almanack, however, is distinguished by some peculiarities. They call the 8th of February, Gemrei evel behava: that is, the day in which the heat of the sun descends into the air. They denominate the 25th of February, Gemrei sani béab, the day on which it descends into the waters: and the 4th of March, they distinguish as Gemrei salis filtoorab, or the day in which it descends into the earth, and renders it fit for all agricultural purposes. Besides this, they mark occasional variations of temperature by events which they say they have occasioned. The 9th of March, and seven days and eight nights after, they call Berdouil adjus, or the cold of the old women; because, as they say, when it first was noted, a number of old women perished in the fire, in order to escape the intensity of the cold. The weather, before and after this period, is very mild; but during my residence at Constantinople, I remarked that every year, at this precise period, a N. E. wind set in from the Black Sea, generally accompanied by a drift of snow, and the thermometer fell sometimes to the freezing point. Armenian almanack, therefore, is founded on the constant observation of the people, and justified by the surprising regularity with which the anomaly annually occurs.

The

The Armenian language has this singular peculiarity, that, different from all others in the East, it is read like those of Europe, from left to right. This is accounted for by supposing it to be a language of modern structure, and the mode of writing it introduced among the nation after their intercourse with Europeans. There is no such writing found on the coins or other ancient monuments of the country. At the present day, even its use is very limited, being exclusively confined to the people themselves, and never learned by those with whom they have any intercourse. Almost all Armenians, therefore, are compelled to learn Turkish or Italian, as mediums of communication, which they often prefer, and understand better than their own. I have met with many Armenians who could read and write both these languages, who could not trans· late for me their own books.

The Armenians, though once well known in the West, where their spirit of commercial enterprize carried them through every part of Europe, are now selam

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ITALY.

Visit to Loretto-Its Chapel and Relics-Sinigaglia--Urbino, the birth place of Rafaelle

Its Scenery-Burning of Bibles at Naples-Effects of the Bible Society's Contro versy in Italy.

The

We left Rome by the Perugia road, passed Turni without stopping to see the water-fall, and crossed the Appenines by Tollino, Casenove, and Tolenteno. Appenines are always beautiful, cross them when you will, but I think this road the most varied and the most luxuriant. Our next point was Lorretto. You are not ignorant of the character this little town has held in Catholic Europe. The house in which the Virgin Mary lived at Nazareth, was brought to the shores of the Adriatic by angels, and after sundry movings, (always angelic,) was at length fixed on the hill of Lorretto. The pilgrimages of sovereigns, princesses, of noble ladies, and noble knights to this celebrated shrine, are too well known to require description, and the treasures deposited by the votaries in the sacristy of the church, as offerings to the Madonna, are equally notorious. The French revelled here in gold and jewels. The young priest who showed us the sacristy, told us of their sacrilegious robberies with tearful eyes, and turned our attention, with a triumphant smile, to the new presents that had been recently made, and to the recent visit of some Catholic princesses and noble ladies, who were endeavouring to revive the fallen splendour of this holy house. We saw the devotees going round and round the house on their knees, the constant repetition of which penance, age after age, has worn deep furrows in the solid marble. There is a book printed and published at Lorretto, giving an account of the various aerial wanderings of this uncouth and miserable fabric. There are attestations of witnesses, who saw the angels carry it through the air, and the

deposition of a party of priests, who were despatched to Nazareth, to compare the size and character of the walls with the foundation. What gives a peculiar value and interest to it is, that the "santissima schudella," or most holy porridge-pot--the very one in which the Virgin Mary made pap, was found hanging to the walls; and in a little niche was a crucifix, which the learned editor wisely observes is, probably, the first that was ever used in Christian devotion. This sort of book is published and read by Catholics, real, enlightened, emancipated Catholics. Glorious emancipation! noble liberty! They are free to believe every thing but truth, and to do every thing but righteousness! We left them wearing the hard stones with their knees, and kissing with the profoundest devotion the holy porridge-pot. We soon now left behind us every thing that was beautiful in scenery and landscape. The shores of the Adriatic are flat, stale, and unprofitable, and but for the beauty of the oxen, which are of a fine cream colour, and bring to mind the basso relievos of the ancients, there would be nothing to induce one to look to the right hand or to the left. We passed through Sinigaglia at the time of the fair; it was curious to see the principal streets of the town covered entirely by an awning of canvass, stretched across from roof to roof. The effects of the shops, with all their treasures spread out, and the people in their gayest dresses, walking in a delightful shade, was a thing new to an English eye. At Pesaro my travelling companion knocked up, and as Pesaro contains nothing curious, I was resolved, if possible, to go to Urbino. There is an arbitrary post law in the Pope's dominions, which compels you, if you arrive at a town with post horses, to leave it with post horses, or not leave it at all for three days. Mr.

after much hesitation, consented to go with me to Urbino, and we were obliged to be subject to the charge of post horses, though it is not a post road, nor did the horses do post service. How shall I tell you all the delights of this visit to the birth-place of the greatest painter the world has produced. Urbino is situated on a high and romantic hill; its very position indicates the cradle of genius; and it is so far from all high roads, and so out of the way of ordinary traffic, that you can almost imagine it to be just what it was in Rafaelle's time. I looked with veneration on its walls, entered its gates in silence, and trod on its very weeds with respect and tenderness. The only thing that annoyed me was the very mean and unpoetical appearance and dress of the people; had I found such beings in Urbino, as are to be found in some of the Roman states, dressed in the magnificent costume of Mola or Sonnino,

the illusion would have been complete ; I should have been carried back at once three hundred years. But though the people may be altered the country is not. The hills over which Rafaelle looked, the rivers by which be wandered, and the paths which he daily trod; these still exist, and these the mind clings to with the most delightful associations; there is a well just without the town, which I could be positive is the very one he introduced in his picture of Rebecca, and the thistles and weeds seem to be the lineal descendants of those he put into the landscape of his early holy families. I staid at Urbino three days, and while my travelling companion recovered his health and spirits, I made some memorandums of the town and its vicinity.

-and

There have been two attempts made to send Bibles here, one by Mr. the other by the means of an English merchant. In both cases they were ordered to be burnt by the executioner; one parcel, however, was saved, by the interference of the British Consul, and sent to Malta, not without some twitches of conscience in the Archbishop and Ministers of Police, who thought it much more righteous to have them destroyed.

The quarrels of the members of the Bible Society are copied into all the journals, and are looked upon as a great omen of good to the true church. There was always something about that Institution which frightened them terribly, and they are already singing songs of triumph at the prospect of its fall.

IRISH SUPERSTITION.--THE FESTIVAL OF ST. DECLAN.

The following narrative, extracted from the Waterford Mail, describes a scene of gross superstition and debauchery, which is annually exhibited under the eye of many Romish priests, and in the venerated name of religion. This, and similar instances of Irish fanaticism have been the frequent subjects of just reprobation in the public journals, yet they are continued and encouraged by that very priesthood who possess sufficient influence at once to abolish them. Long have they withheld multitudes of their deluded people from the blessings of a scriptural education, and it cannot longer be doubted, after the transactions of the last general election, that the Romish clergy of Ireland possess influence sufficient to induce the peasantry to defy their landlords, and hazard all their worldly hopes for the furtherance of the true faith. We shall not then be guilty of uncharitable censures, when we declare that those priests who possess this commanding controul over the people, and yet tolerate these scenes of degrading superstition and brutalizing excess on the patrons of fanaticism and crime, and the

enemies alike of the country and of the religion which their impositions degrade.

"This annual scene of disgusting superstition was exhibited at Ardmore, in the county of Waterford, on the 24th ult., that being the day appointed by the Roman Catholic Church on which honour is publicly to be paid to the memory of Declan, the tutelary Saint of that district. Several thousand persons of all ages and sexes assembled upon this occasion. The greater part of the extensive strand, which forms the western part of Ardmore Bay, was literally covered by a dense mass of people. Tents and stands for the sale of whiskey, &c. &c. were placed in parallel lines along the shore; the whole, at a distance, bore the appearance of a vast encampment. Each tent had its green ensign waving on high, bearing some patriotic motto. At an early hour in the day, those whom a religious feeling had drawn to the spot commenced their devotional exercises, in a state of half nudity, by passing under the holy rock of St. Declan. The male part of the assemblage clad in trowsers and shirts, or in shirts alone; the female, in petticoats pinned above the knees, and some of the more devout still less clad, performed for their souls' sake this religious ceremony. Two hundred and ninety persons of both sexes, thus prepared, knelt at one time indiscriminately around the stone, and passed separately under it to the other side. This was not effected without considerable pain and difficulty, owing to the narrowness of the passage and the sharpness of the rocks within. Stretched at full length on the ground, on the face and stomach, each devotee moved forward as if in the act of swimming, and thus squeezed or dragged themselves through. Both sexes were obliged to submit to this humiliating mode of proceeding. Very indecent exposures of the person were unavoidably made, differing in degree as the corpulence of the sufferer caused, in the passing, exertions more or less violent. Upwards of eleven hundred persons were observed to go through this ceremony in the course of the day. A reverend gentleman, who stood by part of the time, was heard to exclaim, O, great is their faith.' Several of their reverences passed and repassed to and from the chapel, close by, the holy rock, during the day. This object of so great veneration is believed to be holy, and to be endued with miraculous powers. It is said to have been wafted from Rome upon the surface of the ocean, at the period of St. Declan's founding his church at Ardmore, and to have borne on its top a large bell for the church tower, and also vestments for the saint himself.

་

"At a short distance from this sacred

memorial, on a cliff overhanging the sea,

is the well of the Saint. Thither the crowds repair, the devotions at the rock being ended. Hlaving drank plentifully of its waters, they wash their legs and feet in the stream which issues from it, and, telling their beads, sprinkle themselves and their neighbours with the sanctifying liquid. These performances over, the grave of the patron' Saint is then resorted to. Hundreds at a time crowded around it, and crushed and trampled one upon another in their eagerness to obtain a handful of the earth which is believed to cover the mortal remains of Declan. woman stood breast high in the grave, and served out a small portion of its clay to each person requiring it, from whom in return she received a penny or halfpenny for the love of the Saint. In the course of time the abode of the saint has sunk to the depth of nearly four feet, the clay having been scooped away by the finger nails of the pious Catholics.

A

"A human skull of large dimensions was placed at the head of the tomb, before which the people bowed, believing it to be the identical skull of the tutelar saint, who that day was present to look upon their devotions, and who would, on his return to the mansions of bliss, intercede at the throne of· grace for all such as did him honour. This visit to St. Declan's grave completed the devotional exercises of a day, held in greater honour than the Sabbath by all those who venerate the Saint's ⚫ name and worship at his shrine. Nevertheless, the sanctity of a day, marked even by the most humiliating exercises of devotion, did not prevent its night being passed in riot and debauchery. The tents, which, throughout the day, the duties owing to the Patron Saint had caused to be empty, as evening closed became thronged with the devotionalists of the morning, and resounded till daybreak with the oaths of the blasphemer, and the shouts of the drunkard."

CHALLENGE TO THE POPISH CLERGY.

The following challenge to a public discussion has recently appeared in several of the Dublin newspapers :

I, the undermentioned, challenge, in the name of the Lord, all the Bishops, and Priests, and Doctors of the Church of Rome, to meet me publicly, in a month hence, in Dublin. Whosoever will please to accept this challenge is requested to have the goodness to communicate with W. C. Hogan, Esq. 44, York Street, Dublin, in order that preliminary arrangements may be made.

"JOSEPH WOULFF,

Missionary for Palestine and Persia, formerly
Pupil of the Propaganda at Rome."

"I beg leave to second the above challenge, and to state, that whether the

"Sept. 16, 1826."

THE CONTINUED INTOLERANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF LAUSANNE.

:

Severe illness had prevented our principal correspondent at Paris from writing, during the period that the London Committee were in anxious expectation. We have now obtained communications. The plan of an emigration to New Orleans appears to be so obstructed by difficulties, that there is now little hope of carrying it into effect. The larger number of the exiles are in different parts of France, mostly near the frontier of their own. country; and some have found residences in other parts of Switzerland. The Lausanne Government has not rescinded any of its persecuting edicts, nor made any concession from its unrighteous measures. Some fresh prosecutions have been commenced. In a few cases, parties con-> demned under previous suits have been acquitted upon appeal. Public opinion seems to be acquiring more strength, in opposition to the intolerance of the government. The execution of the decrees against religious meetings depends much on the spirit of the magistrates and the clergy, in different places. In some towns and villages, considerable indulgence is shown in others, the local authorities are vigilant and severe. We have, however, the assurance that the spirit of vital religion is generally lively and active, and that the distribution of the aid sent from this country has had a very happy effect, in alleviating the distress, and in exciting devout gratitude to British benevolence, and to Him who is its supreme author. One of the exiled ministers, residing near the frontier, a young man, is alarmingly ill, and consumptive symptoms are feared. Since his expenses are thus necessarily increased, and he is become incapable of any exertion for his own benefit, we have acquiesced in the recommendation of our Paris correspondent, to grant him a second donation of 250 francs, or the equivalent of £10. Our correspondent further writes, that there do not appear as yet the proper occasions for applying the remaining funds, and therefore he recommends our waiting for a time, and watching the course of events, which will undoubtedly produce new exigencies. Whatever may arise, and our proceedings accordingly, we shall in due course lay before our christian friends who have entrusted their bounty to our disposal. And we earnestly request

BLACKBURN ACADEMY.

The annual examination of the theological students educated here, took place on June 21, and the following day. The Committee of Examination having called the Rev. Dr. Clunie to the Chair, proceeded to examine the several classes in

the Latin, Greck, and Hebrew languages; mathematics, and natural philosophy; and in general grammar, and the philosophy of the mind. In the classical department, considerable portions were read and explained from Cæsar, Virgil, Horace, and Juvenal, Xenophon, Homer, Aristotle, and Plato; in which the students displayed a highly respectable acquaintance with the minutiae of the respective languages, and great diligence and perseverance in their acquisition.

In the philosophical department, they illustrated various principles in pneumatics and hydrostatics, by performing several interesting experiments; and throughout the whole examination, they acquitted themselves much to the satisfaction of the Committee, as well as to the credit of themselves and their able and faithful tutors. After the business of the Institution had been transacted by the General Committee, Mr. Moses delivered an academical oration, on "the tendency of the doctrine of salvation by grace to promote holiness;" after which a public meeting was held, and various resolutions were passed, expressive of the high approbation of the constituents, in the superintendence, arrangements, and success of this important Institution. But we regret to state, that one circumstance would not permit us to indulge unmingled joy the state of the funds, which have very materially suffered, from the unexampled distress of the surrounding mercantile district; a circumstance which, we hope, will receive the kind consideration of the Christian public, and especially of those on whom the storm of general calamity has but very partially

fallen.

OPENING OF THE MISSION COLLEGE,

HOXTON.

Our readers are informed that the Missionary Seminary, established at Gosport by Dr. Bogue, under the patronage

of the London Missionary Society, was, upon his lamented decease, removed by a vote of the Directors, to the vicinity of the Metropolis. Anxious did they look around the environs of London for suitable premises, but in vain, till the Committee of Hoxton Academy, about to remove their Institution to Highbury College, offered to let, at a very moderate rental, the academic premises to them. It was generally felt that the situation was undesirable, and the accommodations incomplete, but the cheapness of the pre.mises, and the very limited number of the mission family, compared with that of the Academy, led the Directors to hope, that by extensive alterations, room might be found for thirty inmates, whereas sixty could not continue, but at the sacrifice of decorum and health.

After an outlay of several hundred pounds, convenient studies and sleeping rooms have been provided on the premises for twenty students, beside respectable apartments for the tutor's family; and on Tuesday, Oct. 10, two religious services were held in Hoxton Chapel, to commend the tutors and students of the MISSION COLLEGE, to the care and benediction of the great Head of the Church. In the morning, the Rev. George Burder, senior Secretary of the Missionary Society, commenced the service by reading and prayer. The Rev. John Griffin, of Portsea, preached an interesting retrospective sermon from Isa, xxviii. 29, and the Rev. Matthew Wilks closed the service with prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. W. F. Platt opened the service, when the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, delivered an eloquent sermon from John iii. 30, on the prospective usefulness of the Missionary Society; the Rev. A. Waugh, D. D. closed the service with prayer.

The very unfavourable state of the weather in the morning, deprived many of the opportunity of hearing Mr. Griffin, while the pressure of a recent and afflictive bereavement compelled Mr. James very considerably to shorten the discourse in the evening. We are informed, however, that the public are likely to possess them through the medium of the press.

ORDINATIONS.

Mr. W. Malden, late of Hoxton College, was on Thursday, August 10, set apart to the pastoral office, over the Independent church at Chichester. The Rev. W. Bannister, of Arundel, commenced the services of the day by reading the Scriptures and prayer; Rev. Dr. Harris, of Hoxton College, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions; Rev. J. Griffin, of Portsea, presented the ordination prayer, with the imposition of hands; Rev. S. Hillyard, of Bedford, gave

the charge; Rev. J. Hunt, of Chelmsford, preached to the people; and the Rev. J. Cooper, of Emsworth, concluded with prayer. In the evening of the same day, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Harris; and, on the preceding evening, a sermon, preparatory to the ordination, was preached by the Rev. T. Binny, of Newport.

August 30, Mr. J. S. Hine was set apart to the pastoral care of the Independent Church at Wirksworth, Derbyshire. The Rev. J. Wilson, of Matlock, read and prayed. The Rev. G. D. Mudie, of Chesterfield, delivered the introductory discourse, and received the answers of the church and pastor to the usual questions. The Rev. T. R. Gawthorne, of Belper, offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. R. Alliott, of Nottingham, gave the charge. The Rev. J. Gawthorn, of Derby, preached to the people.

On Wednesday, September 6, the Rev. J, P. Dobson, late of Wareham, and formerly a student at Wymondley, was publicly recognized as pastor of the Church of Christ assembling in New Broad Street, London. The Rev. Thomas Binney, of Newport, Isle of Wight, commenced the service; the Rev. Dr. Smith, Theological Tutor at Homerton College, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the questions; Mr. H. Snelgar, one of the deacons, gave an account of the proceedings of the church; the Rev. Thomas Morell, Theological Tutor at Wymondley College, prayed the ordination prayer; the Rev. James Dobson, of Chishill, gave the charge, from 1 Tim. iv. 6; the Rev. John Clayton, jun. offered up the general prayer; the Rev. Dr. Collyer preached to the people from 1 Thess. iii. 12, 13; the Rev. J. Snelgar concluded; and the Rev. W. Deering read the hymns.

Ordination of a Missionary for Ireland.— October 11, 1826, the Rev. J. T. Evison, late a student at Gosport, was solemnly set apart, at Claremont Chapel, Pentonville, as a Missionary for Ireland, under the superintendence of the Irish Evangelical Society. Rev. H. Evison, of Clapton, read the Scriptures and prayed; Rev. J. Blackburn delivered the introductory statements and asked the questions; Rev. G. Collison offered the ordination prayer; Rev. J. P. Smith, D. D. delivered the charge, founded on Isaiah vi. 8-10; Rev. E. Parsons, Jun. addressed the people; and Rev. S. Curwen concluded with prayer. Rev. R. Richards, of Cannock, gave out the hymns. The whole service was truly interesting and impressive, and the claims of Ireland appeared deeply to interest the very crowded assembly. Mr. Evison is appointed to Roscommon and its vicinity, as the sphere of his labours. He has already spent some months there,