ticity to the smoke, which rises in great abundance. The combustion, under such circumstances, must be very incomplete; for the carburetted hydrogen gas will be driven up the chimney uninflamed, and therefore the fuel will be used with little benefit. By paying attention to the quantity of coals put on the fire at once, and avoiding smothering it up, much will be contributed towards cleanliness and comfort; and more particularly so, if the following rules for properly managing it be observed. 1st, Stirring of a fire is of use, because it makes a hollow, where the air, being rarefied by the adjacent heat, the surrounding air rushes into this hollow, and gives life and support to the fire, and carries the flame with it. 2d, Never stir a fire when fresh coals are laid on, particularly when they are very small, because they immediately fall into the hollow place, and therefore ruin the fire. 3d, Always keep the bottom bars clear. 4th, Never begin to stir the fire at the top, unless when the bottom is quite clear, and the top only wants breaking. ANECDOTE. THE following Anecdote has been communicated in a letter, written by Mr. W. Ellis, residing in Eimeo, one of the Society Islands in the Southern Pacific ocean, situate about four leagues W. from the N. W. point of Otaheite. Some time ago, two principal chiefs, Taati and Ahurido, walking by the sea side, came to a place where a fisherman had been sharpening his hooks, but had unfortunately forgotten his file, which, in the estimation of all the natives, is an article of considerable value. As the fisherman had retired from the place, and was totally unknown to the chiefs, they picked up the file, and went on their way. They had not, however, proceeded far, before one of them, reflecting on the circumstance, said to the other, "This is not our file: and is not our taking it a kind of theft?"-"Perhaps it is," replied the other; yet as the real owner is unknown, I do not know who has a better right to it than ourselves." "I am satisfied," rejoined his companion, “that it is not ours, and therefore think we had better give it away." To this the other consented; and the 66 file was accordingly given to the first man they met, accompanied with its little history, and a strict injunction, that inquiry should be made after the unfortunate proprietor, to whom it should be given, if he could be discovered; if not, it was to become his own property. Mr. Ellis says, that in these distant regions, since the art of printing has been introduced, upwards of 7000 copies of school books have been completed:-that since the establishment of the press at Eimeo, some hundreds of the natives had learnt to read from the newly printed books:-that some thousands were waiting for the gospel of St. Luke, which was then in the press :-that of the first sheet, 3000 copies had been printed off :-that two natives assisted in the work:-and that an increased attention was manifested by all, to the unseen realities of the Eternal World. EMIGRANTS RETURNED. To counteract that strong propensity of emigration to America, which prevailed in this country some months since, and which has not yet wholly subsided, the following piece of information may perhaps prove serviceable to some of our readers. The distresses which many of our countrymen endure on the western side of the Atlantic, we have too much reason to believe, and this article confirms the fact. The first week in the present month, the ship Magnet, with 160 emigrants on board, arrived at Liverpool from New York; and on the Saturday following, the Betty from Baltimore, with an equal number. On board of the Rockingham, 32 lately reached Bristol; and in two vessels 105 not long since entered the Thames, in the greatest distress. They represent the condition of multitudes, whom they left behind, and who could not pay their passage home, as being truly deMany, they say, having traplorable. versed the northern regions of the United States, have reached the British settlements in North America in extreme wretchedness. If this communication, says our correspondent, shall prove the means of preventing even one individual from running into the same misery, the end will be answered. Liverpool, Oct. 15, 1819. 6 Doctrine of the Church of England, re- | the term went down is used; because specting Christ's Descent into Hell. TO THE EDITOR OF THE IMPERIAL SIR, Liverpool, Oct. 4th, 1819. our ideas are lost whilst attempting to From the manner in which the words stand in the Creed, it does not appear to me, that the assertion of Christ's having descended into hell was added to confirm his death in opposition to those who asserted that he did not really die;' for it is first asserted, 'I believe—he(Christ) was crucified, dead, and buried,' and then, after affirming the belief that he was really dead, it is asserted, 'he descended into hell:' and in the Article, the words as they stand need only to be properly examined, to show at once, that the invisible world is not meant :-'As Christ died for us, &c. so also is it to be believed, that he went down into hell.' The third Article in the Creed of the Established Church runs thus "As Christ died for us, and was buried; so I heartily coincide with C. S. and also is it to be believed, that he went F. in their opinion, that the word hell, down into hell." Mark the last five when used in reference to the soul of words,' he went down into hell:' do they Christ, in the scriptures, means the state convey to our minds the same mean- of separate souls, or the invisible world; ing as the words, he went into the invi-and taking hell in this sense, Christ did sible world, do? Certainly not: the go into hell. A Searcher' will not phrase went down,completely does away find in the scriptures any passage which with the possibility of the last word says, Christ descended into hell; hell meaning the invisible world; for the will find in Luke xxiii. 43. sufficient phrase applies only to that hell which proof to the contrary; therefore, the is the prison of Satan and his angels. belief that he descended into hell, is unscriptural, and ought to be reject ed; and if it is rejected, the man who rejects it, cannot declare in the immediate presence of an all-wise God" I believe he (Christ) descended into hell.' It may be objected, that the term went down' is only figurative: that, strictly speaking, we cannot apply it to any place unconnected with our earth, because the centre of the earth is the lowest point of descent which we can form any idea of: that it is only to accommodate our limited minds, that but he Your's, with all due respect, Review.-" Deism Refuted, or Plain Reasons for being a Christian. By Thomas Hartwell Horne, M. A. pp. 79, Cadel, London. Price one shilling." THE little work before us, like the sacred volume in defence of which it appears, brings with it such incontestable evidences of the author's sincerity to promote the best interests of mankind, as no impostor could embody in his pages. It is closely printed; and the price which it bears, furnishes demonstrative proof, that if profit were the object which the author had in view, he has most egregiously erred in his calculation. Mr. Horne does not profess to send this tract into the world as an original composition, but as a selection from some of the most celebrated authors who have appeared on the frontiers of Christianity, to defend its outworks from the attacks of Infidelity. To novelty of argument, it makes no pretensions. Against frequently refuted objections, when advanced with an air of originality, Mr. H. urges the replies which had been given when they first appeared; and combats the appeals which are made to the unholy passions of our nature, with weapons drawn from the armoury of truth. mankind both in this world and in that which shall succeed it. tions, on which the subtlety of Hume Into those nice metaphysical quesand Gibbon founded those paradoxes, whence they derived no small portion of their celebrity, this work does not pretend to enter. The arguments are popular; but they are energetic, and commanding; and are admirably calculated to make a powerful impression upon the minds of those, into whose hands the pamphlet will probably fall. We sincerely hope that it will be read with that attention which it deserves, and then we shall entertain no doubt whatever of the result. Of many plausible objections, distinct notice has been taken. These are clearly stated, and then confronted with the replies which they originally called into existence. Taken in the aggregate, this pamphlet presents to the reader such a compendium of evidence, in favour of all that the Christian holds dear in eternity, or in a state of preparation for it, that we feel no hesitation in saying, few tracts can be found, which within the same compass embodies, on this subject, such a connected chain of proofs. Under this conviction, we not only most strongly recommend it to public notice, but we are decidedly of opiThe arguments which he has ad- nion, that if some gentlemen of induced, are not unworthy the names dependent fortune, having the welfare of Boyle, Porteus, Watson, Marsh, of their country at heart, were to purLardner, Leland, Macknight, Paley, chase a number of copies of this tract, Ryan, Wheeler, Gilpin, Hartley, and and of others of a similar nature, in others, from whose writings he has order to give them an extensive discollected his observations. Through-tribution, or if they were to exert out the whole, a forcible appeal is made to the judgment and the understanding, without attempting to enlist the passions in favour of the cause he defends, by the fascinating, but artificial charms of eloquence, and the cant of unconvincing declamation. themselves to establish a fund for this purpose, that an essential service might be rendered to the community through their instrumentality. At any period, and under any circumstances, the respectable pamphlet on which we have made the preceding remarks, would be well worthy the attention of the public, independently of the important subject of which it treats, from the authorities it quotes, the arguments it contains, the erudition it displays, and the methodical arrangement given to the valuable materials which the compiler has so judiciously selected. The interests of mankind, both in time and in eternity, are indeed closely connected with the chain of reasoning which the author pursues; and the intimate connection subsisting between our interests and our duty, is a fact which he establishes on an immoveable basis. And from what he has advanced, this conclusion inevitably follows, that no theological system, even But in the present day, while the including ethics and morals, hitherto enemies of our holy religion are inpresented to the human understand-dustriously circulating publications, ing, can urge so fair a claim as Chris- with the avowed design of subverting tianity, for promoting the welfare of its principles, and demolishing the No. 8.-VOL. I. 3 D whole Christian system, this tract has an imperious claim upon the public; and so far as it is known, we flatter ourselves, that every man friendly to order, to the welfare of his country, and to the interest of Jesus Christ, whatever his private opinion on disputable points may be, will readily use his endeavours to give it publicity, and to extend its circulation. subject himself to that charge of blasphemy which Mr. Carlisle seems to have merited, is dishonourable to our common nature, as well as a disgrace to the age in which we live. But the fact itself tends to shew that alarming degradation of religious character, which might be expected uniformly to prevail, should Mr. Carlisle prove as successful in extinguishing all religious principles in others, as he has been in eradicating them from his own bosom. Should such an event happen, the horrors of moral anarchy would soon be associated with those produced by that which is denominated civil; and England would exhibit to the nations of the earth, a melancholy example of the complicated evils which would result from both. On former occasions, Infidelity, ashamed to appear in its native form, assumed an aspect and a name, calculated to disguise reality, and to impose upon the unsuspecting. Paine, however, when he published his Age of Reason, put on a bolder tone; and, with a degree of impudence unknown before, threw forth his naked principles before the public eye. These indeed, he endeavoured to accommodate to the degenerate propensities of the heart, by the licentious ideas which he contrived to interweave with the deleterious potion he attempted to convey to the mind; and by that defiance of authority, and contempt of what the friends of Revelation had been taught to revere as sacred, which he well knew would always be received with pleasure, and carefully cherished, by the restless, the turbulent, the ferocious, and the abandoned part of mankind. But the impudence of Paine defeated its own purposes. His Agement, if his principles should gain the of Reason operated as a powerful antidote to his Rights of Man; and multitudes turned with disgust from his politics, as soon as they discovered his theological creed. With men of Mr. Carlisle's theological character, it has long been a favourite maxim to declaim against the union which subsists between Church and State, under the pretext of introducing a reformation in each. They seem, however, to have forgotten, that between Infidelity, and the political principles they appear solicitous to establish, the connexion is not less conspicuous, than that which they seem anxious to abolish. And if the declarations of the defendant during the late trial, may be considered as a fair specimen of what will be public senti expect a convulsive change would produce, without adverting to the pernicious consequences which lurk in ambush. ascendancy, we can be at no loss for a reasonable ground of analogy, to know when civil anarchy shall march in the rear. The present occasion teaches an important lesson to all those who calAt this moment we perceive Infide-culate upon the advantages which they lity assuming a still more unblushing aspect. In the person of Mr. Richard Carlisle, we have seen Infidelity boldly enter a British court of judicature, and, in the face of legal authority, attempt to brand Christianity as an imposture; to represent her own claims as equal, if not paramount, to the religion of our country, which the wisest and best men this nation ever produced, have successively cherished, in every period of its history. Into the trial itself of this man, we have no intention at present to enter. His guilt has been determined by a jury of his countrymen, one half of whom he thought ought to have been infidels like himself; but the sentence of the judge has not yet been pronounced. That a man in this country should Such characters would act a prudent part, before they advance another step, to pause on the margin of the gulf which yawns before them, and contemplate, in the character of this blasphemer, the dangerous precipice on which they stand. Should the developement of this man's principles, openly avowed on his trial, operate like those of Paine's Age of Reason, by proving an antidote to his political doctrines, the more thoughtful and reflecting will abandon the visionary schemes they have so eagerly pursued and the sentence which shall be passed on Carlisle, may save our country from impending commotions. OPENING OF A CHURCH. Opening of the Church attached to the School for the Blind, in Liverpool. ON Wednesday, October 6, 1819, the Church which has been erected for this institution, was opened, for the first time, by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Chester. To the friends of religion, morality, virtue, and humanity, this was a truly gratifying spectacle; and it is with much pleasure we state, that it excited a considerable interest. The text chosen for the occasion, was from 1st of Kings, chapter viii. verse 18th.-And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build an house to my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. The discourse which accompanied this passage, embodied a powerful appeal to the hearts and understanding of the hearers. We understand, that at the request of the committee, his Lordship has consented that it shall be published. The collection which was made on the occasion, amounted to £282. 14s. 8d. It is pleasing to add, that the following ladies, supported by the gentlemen of the committee, condescended, in a manner characteristic of genuine benevolence, to hold the plates, and receive the contributions of the congregation:-the Countess of Sefton, Lady Georgiana Grenfell, Lady Mary Stanley, Lady Barton, Mrs. Blackburne, and Mrs. Patten Bold. The concourse of people assembled, amounted to about 1300. These, by the judicious arrangements which had previously been made, by the erection of seats over the altar,-by placing forms along the aisles,—and by the care which was taken in the distribution of the tickets, were furnished with every suitable accommodation. The service was read in a very impressive manner, by the Rev. Edward Hale, A. M. the minister of the church. Selections of sacred music appropriate to the occasion were performed by the pupils, associated with several instruments, which gave additional effect to the harmony. During the service, the blind pupils delivered their responses, with a degree of correctness, regularity, and feeling, which reflected an honour on themselves, and on their zealous chaplain, the Rev. Wm. Blundell; through whose unwearied and Local Improvements in Liverpool. THE spirit of improvement in this place, keeps pace with that spirit of benevolence which we have noticed in the preceding article. In addition to the church for the "Blind School," there are three churches now in a state of building or completing; namely, St. Luke's, St. Michael's, and St. George's, which, when finished, promise in conjunction with the "Church for the Blind," to rank among the most handsome sacred edifices of the present age. On the eastern side of the town, in an elevated and salubrious spot, Abercrombie-square has been laid out, on an extensive scale. This is now nearly enclosed with iron palisades; and, when completed, will rank among the most elegant in the kingdom. One of the most frequented streets in this populous town, having been found too narrow for public accommodation, has been widened considerably, the houses on one side having been taken down. The work is now rapidly going on, and when finished, it will contribute much to the health of the inhabitants, to the convenience of travelling, and to commercial transactions. Through Clayton-square a new road has lately been opened, which cannot fail to be of public utility, as it will afford an easy ascent to the higher parts of the town. Five new docks or basins are also in a state of great forwardness. Four of these are new, and one of them in particular is of such vast dimensions, that, when completed, it will stand among the proudest monuments of human ingenuity, exerted in gigantic labours. On Monday the 18th, John Tobin, Esq. was chosen mayor for the ensuing year. From this gentleman the inhabitants have every reason to expect |