throne of Mercy in a solemn and impressive prayer; in which the prisoner appeared earnestly to unite; and which suitably affected the spectators, who were calculated to exceed 20,000. PHILLIPS then handed Sheriff BRADFORD a paper which he requested might be read as his dying words-After this was read, he mounted the moveable platform without the smallest trepidation, and the cap being placed ever his face, he signified a wish to be heard; when he sung three verses with a distinct and audible voice.

"In a moment after he dropped a handkerchief, as a signal that he wished no longer delay, and evidently braced his body to sustain the shock with steadiness.-The platform dropped instantly, and he died apparently without suffering."

REMARKS OCCASIONED BY THE ABOVE

EXECUTION.

THIS solemn event, which has excited much interest in the town of Boston, ought not to pass away unimproved. The punishment of murder, by death, has been established for the purpose of making an awful example of the guilty, and thus preventing a recurrence of the crime. But this object will not be attained, if with the interment of the unfortunate malefactor, his sin and its consequences should be forgotten. The execution of a man for murder who was only 26 years of age, is a warning which should be regarded by all. It should leave an impression on the public mind, that sin will not go unpunished; that magistrates are a terror to evil doers; and that he who is "a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

When I saw the officers of justice conducting PHILLIPS to the gallows, a passage in Ecclesiastes occurred to my mind. If the thoughts which it suggested, should be considered as having a useful tendency, it would give me pleasure to see them inserted in the Magazine.

Be not over-much wicked, neither be thou foolish: Why shouldest thou Vol. I.

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die before thy time? Eccles. vii. 17. It must not be inferred, from the mode of expression employed in this passage, that men are allowed to be wicked to a certain extent such an inference would be contrary to the whole tenor of sacred writ. The curse is denounced upon him who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them, as well as upon him who is a notorious profligate. The plain import of the passage seems to be this; the man who gives himself up to work wickedness, not only exposes his soul to eternal death, but hastens the dissolution of his body. It is as though the inspired writer had said; "If the consideration of the worth of thy soul has no effect in deterring thee from sin, remember, that the indulgence of vicious appetites and passions will destroy thy body, and bring thee to an untimely grave."

With respect to the interrogation, Why shouldest thou die before thy time? it may be asked, Is not the number of our days determined? Is there not an appointed time for man upon earth? Are not the minutest circumstances, even the hour of our death perfectly known to the Lord? To these questions there can be no hesitancy in giving a reply in the affirmative. How then can we die before our time? Two, considerations will serve to remove this difficulty from the mind.

1. The period allotted by Providence for man upon earth, is said to be "threescore years and ten." But men who are "over-much wicked," generally die before this time. I conceive it is with reference to the limits of "threescore years and ten," that the Psalmist says, "Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.” Psalm lv. 23.

2. Making suitable allowance for constitutional infirmities, and granting, that the seeds of death which are sown in our frame, come to maturity sooner in some than in others; still, we are to remem

ber, that in the Divine mind the time is not appointed without regard also to the means employed, and that the wickedness of the profligate is a means of shortening those days, which, otherwise, they might have lived.

1st. There is a direct tendency in many sins to bring on disease and death.

The man who indulges himself in acts of intemperance, has reason to fear that he will die before his time. Mark the commencement, the progress, and deadly effects of this wide-spreading evil, as exemplified in cases which have come under your own observation. A youth of promise begins to asscciate with young men of loose principles. He spends his evenings and his Sabbaths with them at a tavern. As yet, he has no love for the inebriating cup; but to avoid the imputation of poverty, or of being a young man without spirit, and to escape the derision of his companions, he determines to follow their example. If they take their glass he will take his; if they call for a bottle, he will call for one too. Unhappily for him, he kindles a spark within him, which it is difficult to quench. He superinduces an appetite which cannot be satisfied, without endangering his fairest prospects for time and eternity. When he becomes habituated to this sin, it is not enough that he is guilty of excess at night; the fatal draught is deemed necessary in the morning, and repeated through the day. What is the consequence? -Alas! what is not the consequence? He loses his relish for food-his hands tremble-he is unfit for buisn ss-his friends become suspicious that all is not right -they withdraw their confidence from him-the fiery liquid which he has drank is burning up his vitals-and though his death may be lingering, it is inevitable. I would that this were all a fiction; but alas! it is drawn from the scenes of real life. One of the most em

inent physicians of America, has stated the melancholy fact, that in the United States not less than 4000 die annually, the victims of intemperance. O! then, Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Why shouldest thou die before thy time?

He who indulges in voluptuous pleasures, pursues a course which must shorten his years. The slave of inordinate appetites, sinneth against his own body. He saps the foundation of his health, and brings upon himself disease and death. O that all young men would listen to the counsel which Solomon gave when cautioning youth against the abodes of wantonness and infamy. After pourtraying the insidious arts of the strange woman, he says, Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths: For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way. to hell, going down to the chambers of death. Prov. vii. 25, 26, 27.

2d. A wicked life often brings down the special judgments of GOD. We have no reason to expect a general distribution of rewards and punishments in this world. It is not uncommon for the virtuous to suffer, and the vicious to prosper; yet to shew that justice has not forsaken the earth, there are recorded in the Scriptures awful instances of the judgments of Gov against them that do wickedly. The two sons of Aaron were destroyed for their impiety. The two sons of Eli were cut off by the sword, for being "sons of Belial," and causing the people to abhor the offering of the Lord. earth opened and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, for rebelling against Moses and Aaron. It would occupy too much of your Magazine to enter minutely into the histories of Achan, Annanias, and Herod; or to describe the sins and the consequent ruin of the antediluvian world -of Sodom and Gommorrah, and of the city of Jerusalem. While

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our eyes look back on these affecting scenes, we are ready to exclaim with the Psalmist, The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth

away.

3d. Men who are over-much wicked are in danger of dying before their time by the sword of justice.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper." A wicked man may for a season practise iniquity with out detection; but his crimes are generally brought to light. He either becomes so hardened as to be less cautious; his associates betray him, or, by some unexpected occurence, his lurking place and his offences become known. This is particularly the case with respect to murder. It is so appointed in the providence of God, that, in almost every instance, the man who is guilty of murder, is sooner or later convicted of guilt, and brought to a disgraceful end.

4th. The remorse of conscience which is felt at a recollection of excessive wickedness is frequently the occasion of untimely death.

I need only to refer to the history of Judas for proof of this. When he saw that the Saviour was condemned, he was filled with the keenest agony of mind. He brought his ill-gotten gain to the cief priests and elders, "saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.""

As I should be sorry to tire the patience of your readers, I will close this communication with a few practical hints."

1. How important that ye who are parents should watch over the morals of your children; keep them from evil company; see that they pay a decent respect to the Sabbath, and attend with you on the public worship of GOD. Take care that falsehood, profane

ness, intemperance, and other obvious departures from propriety of conduct, be accompanied with tokens of your pointed disapprobation. Remember Eli. He was a good man, but he neglected family government; his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. His misguided tenderness brought upon his house and upon the whole land a succession of calamities; "for there fell of Israel 30,000 footmen, and the Ark of GOD was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were slain. When Eli heard this, it so agitated his aged frame, "that he fell from off the seat backward, by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died." O! that par-" ents may profit by this tale of wo. Give your children wholesome advice; reason with them; admonish them; pray with them and for them." Thus you may be instrumental of rescuing them from temporal ruin,, of preparing them to be useful members of the Commonwealth, and of securing the salvation of their souls.

2. It is hoped that no person will be satisfied with his character and condition, merely because he has committed no flagrant sins. Though I have chiefly confined my remarks to the dreadful effects of being over-much wicked, yet let it not be supposed that the least offence against Gop can be committed with impunity. As one leak is sufficient to sink a ship, so one sin is sufficient to destroy the soul. It ought also to be remembered, that one sin often leads to the commission of others, at the mention of which the person would once have been filled with horror. When Elisha foretold the enormous crimes which Hazael would be led to perpetrate, he asked with indignation, But what! is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing? And yet he soon became a monster of iniquity. This was the case with the unfortunate PHILLIPS. On the morning of the day in which he became a murder:

er, no doubt he would have shuddered at the thought of such guilt. But observe the hardening nature of sin. He came ashore on the Sabbath, and instead of going to some place of worship, he sauntered from tavern to tavern. In the evening he met with Dennegri, whose improper conduct, arising from intoxication, produced a quarrel. PHILLIPS was also under the excitement of liquor, which increased his passion to madness. In the frenzy of the moment, he seized the fatal weapon and gave those blows, under the effects of which Dennegri lingered a few days and died. Since then, the unhappy culprit has been tried, condemned, and publicly hanged. Thus two men have been cut off in the midst of their days in consequence of intemperance,

3. I would embrace this opportunity of urging the utility and importance of Sabbath Schools.

In the preceding remarks it has been proved, that in many instances, the perpetration of crime is the cause of untimely death, There is equal proof that ignorance is the fruitful scource of crimes. It is natural for all to seek after enjoyment, and happiness. But if a person cannot read, if his mind is entirely uncultivated, and no religious truths are imprinted on his memory, or his heart; he will seek for happiness in mere animal gratification. And as the conscience of such a man erects but a feeble barrier against the torrent of his corrupt appetites, he will, in the indulgence of these, be regardless of the peace and order of society; while he entails on himself disease and death in their most terrific forms. But teach a person to read, and to think, impart to him religious in

struction, and you open new and nobler sources of enjoyment, than all the pleasures of sense can boast. It is stated in the very interesting and able "report of the New-York Sunday School Union Society, that upon examination in a foreign country, it appears, that of those who suffer for capital crimes, not one in ten can read; and on the other hand, that out of thousands educated in a Sunday School, not one was ever convicted before a magistrate." When I asked PHILLIPS if he had a bible, he replied, No, sir, I can neither read nor write. This single fact speaks volumes. If then, you would wish to be instruments of preventing dissipation and crime, lend your assistance in the instruction of poor children. Encourage by your presence and exertions Sabbath Schools. Here the children are not only taught to read, but they are instructed in the great truths of religion; they are taught to respect the Lord's Day, and required to attend on the public worship of GOD. Incalculable benefits have already followed the establishment of these schools. Ignorant, wicked youths, have not only been collected from the streets, and taught to read, but they have been made wise unto salvation. While examining the Scriptures at home, their parents, who were thoughtless and profane before, have been filled with remorse, and have with weeping and supplication sought, and found an interest in the pardoning mercy of GOD. Is any thing wanting to animate you in this work of love? Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

EUMENES.

Extract of a Letter from Rev. GEORGE H. HOUGH, to one of the Editors, dated SERAMPORE, April 27, 1816.

Rev. and dear Sir,

THE time of our sailing was probaby known to you soon after that event. We went to sea under a fair and pleasant breeze, which continued several days, and carried us rapidly on our voyage; and it is remarkable, that during the whole passage, we were retarded but by few calms, and diverted from the intended course by no storms. In a hundred and twenty days, after we took the last survey of the American coast, we beheld that of the Asiatic; and on the hundred and thirty-second after we embarked, through the tender mercies of Him, who "walketh on the wings of the wind," and "measureth the waters in the hollow of his hand," we reached in health and safety the port of Calcutta. Our arrival was made known to Dr. Ca rey's son (the Doctor having gone to Serampore) who came on board in the evening, and politely offered us every accommodation that hospitality or Christian affection could suggest. We, however, remained on board that night; and the next morning went to the Mission-house at Calcutta, where we were very cordially received by brethren Lawson, and Eustis Carey, (a nephew of the Doctor) as also afterwards by their wives, at their private dwellings.

The Missionaries at Serampore, hearing of our arrival, the same day sent their boat, with brother Rowe and Mr. John Marshman, to convey us to this place; but wishing to send letters by a ship then dropping down the river, bound to Salem, we did not come here until

yesterday. We are here very pleasantly accommodated in the same rooms where the pious and devout Mrs. Newell found a resting place.

The missionary brethren are all in the enjoyment of good health, and with the utmost ardour and assiduity are pursuing the various branches of business, appertaining to this most flourishing and important establishment. The work of translating the Scriptures in thirtythree different languages is going forward under the direction and superintendence of Doctors Carey, Marshman, and Rev. Mr. Ward. The printing-office is one of the largest I ever saw; having, I be lieve, 160 frames with their cases, to which thirty-eight cases more may be added, making in all, nearly two hundred cases of types. Ten presses are in operation. The printing-house is, as nigh as I can calculate without exact admeasurement, about 108 feet long by 50 wide. Two partitions pass along its length, dividing the building into three equal apartments of about 16 feet wide, of which the middle is the press-room, and the other two occupied by casemen. Here natives only are employed, amounting to the number of a hundred and fifty.

Besides the European school for young ladies, under the direction of Mrs. Marshman, in which the various branches of English literature, together with music, painting, and embroidery, are taught, and which consists of fifty scholars; there are two others, composed of boys, conducted by Mr. Marshman, who instructs in the English language, the one consisting of about fifty, and another of about the same number, for Portuguese