In January 1813, Mr. Exley was honoured by the University of Aberdeen, with the degree of Master of Arts. As this mark of their respect came unsolicited and unsought by him, the favour which they conferred, was enhanced by the manner in which it was bestowed. In Philosophy, Mr. Exley embraced the Newtonian Theory, not from the authority of that great man, but because he found it the most rational, and best calculated to unfold the wonders of nature, and to assist man in reading the ample volume of creation. That he might, however, take his stand on solid ground, he not only studied this philosophy with deep attention, but also minutely examined the systems which were opposed to it, perusing the works of Gordon, Jones, Rogers, Saumarez, Hurley, Millar, Lacy, Bamfield, Vivian, &c. which were professedly written against Newton. In these works he found no solid arguments to invalidate the Newtonian theory, nor any system that could make the least pretension to supersede his philosophy, which he conceives will ever bloom with undiminished lustre, and advance in strength and beauty to the end of time, ever tending towards the point of scientific perfection. Twice, to all human appearance, he has been been brought to the point of death; once in 1797, and again in 1817. But in each of these trying seasons he found his mind in a state of tranquillity, and calmly fixed on God. It is in such awful moments as these, that the genuineness of religion appears. Mr. Exley still continues in Bristol, following his accustomed avocations, and occasionally warns his fellow creatures to flee from the wrath to come. Of some pamphlets besides those already mentioned, he has appeared as the author, particularly on a point of controversy that has lately been agitated among the Methodists. Several incidents of his life might have been collected, in addition to those we have already inserted; but to mere strangers they can afford but little interest. The life of a retired mathematician can hardly be expected to furnish any extensive variety. A sufficiency however appears to convince aspiring genius that the mountain of science may be scaled, and that virtuous fame awaits the ingenious and persevering to crown their laudible exertions with the triumphs of success. DISTRESS OF THE MORAVIAN MISSION rial Magazine, an account was given of the Moravian Missions; and although we were prevented from recording in detail, the various disasters to which their numerous establishments in foreign parts have of late been exposed, we were obliged, in justice to this amiable people, to notice in general terms, the hardships, privations, and distresses, which in many places they have been compelled to endure. We have now briefly to add to that catalogue of suffering, another scene of calamity, with which their missionaries have lately been afflicted in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope. It was the happy lot of Mr. Exley to be blessed with a religious education. | In the preceding Number of the ImpeHis parents were members of the Methodist Society, and constant attendants of the established church. Hence he had been taught from his infancy to know the scriptures of truth, and the way of righteousness. But although he had thus been brought up in the fear of God, and in a knowledge of the principles of the gospel, these were insufficient to renew his nature. The watchful eyes of his parents, and the discharge of family duties, such as reading the holy scriptures, and daily prayer, kept him indeed from the commission of flagrant sins, but even under these restraints, the corruptions of his heart still predominated. The necessity of attaining help laid upon one that is mighty, led him to seek salvation as it is exhibited in the gospel, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Nor did he seek in vain. He obtained a clear sense of the divine favour, about a week after he had reached his fifteenth year, since which time he has endeavoured to preserve a conscience void of offence towards God and man. It appears by letters lately received from the south of Africa, that their settlement, which had been for some time established on the Witte Revier, with every prospect of permanent success, has lately been attacked by the Caffres, and plundered, in such a manner as to reduce the settlers to a state of severe distress. This may be gathered from the statements given in the fol lowing extracts of a letter, dated Feb. 10th, 1819. 66 Yesterday, between five and six in the evening, our herd being about five minutes' walk from our house, feeding upon an open plain, above two hundred Caffres rushed out of the woods upon them, and (though all the men hastened with their fire-arms to the spot) drove off 235 head of cattle before our eyes. A great many of these naked fellows ran close to our dwellings towards the herd. A general hue-and-cry was raised, and the Hottentots fired upon the thieves; but nothing could stop their progress. It is supposed that two of them were killed, and five wounded. We are astonished at the escape of nine of our men, who were watching the herd, and got all among the Caffres. Some of them were in the greatest possible danger. One was in the river when the | Caffres plunged into the stream, and saved himself only by keeping under water while the banditti were swimming across it." | prevented from murdering his wife, only by the courageous interference of some large dogs, which nobly defended their mistress. After this deliverance, the family came to the brethren at Witte Revier, and took shelter among them. From this settlement, many efforts had been made to send a letter to the commander of some military forces at a distance, to implore assistance; but in some places the rivers were rendered impassable through the body of water which they contained, and on other occasions the surrounding country was so infested with the savages, that the journey could not be undertaken with any hope of success. To defend themselves against the attacks of the Caffres, whom they every hour expected, the settlers at Witte Revier and their Hottentots used every exertion, in making a kind of rampart round their houses, with waggons, and such heavy pieces of timber as they could collect On some occasions their women and children took up their In another part of the same letter, abode in their church, which, being the writer proceeds as follows. The closely guarded, they thought more farmers are assembled in the neigh-secure than their common habitations. bourhood of the Bosjeman's Revier, The distresses arising from these comwhere the Caffres have robbed them plicated disasters, have been most seof their cattle, set fire to the houses verely felt in the settlement. Proviand corn-stacks, and murdered many sions have been rendered peculiarly people. As we could not but suppose scarce and dear. On these accounts that numbers of them are lurking about we most cordially repeat their almost in the thickets, all around our settle- concluding sentiment: "Pray do not ment, we set thirteen men as guards forget our suffering poor. Several inover the remaining cattle, three of them dividuals here must perish, if they are mounted on horseback. not assisted by us; and our poor's box, owing to the high price of corn, is quite exhausted." 66 “Our brethren and sisters may easily conceive the anxiety we suffer. Many of the children cry out for food. Our people have lived chiefly on milk; and as the Caffres have stolen the whole of the first herd, among which were all the milch cows, they are in great distress. We are most afraid of a violent attack, the Caffres taking us by surprise, from which, may God in mercy protect us. Pray for us, for the help of man is vain. Thank God. we all enjoy good health. "J. H. SCHMITT." The same writer, adverting to the depredations committed by these barbarians, records several instances of peculiar distress. Among these he mentions an attack made by them upon a neighbour, Jacobus Scheeper. In this attack they stole his cattle, killed his European servant, and were LANCASHIRE AUXILIARY MISSIONARY On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 10th, 11th, and 12th of August, 1819, the Lancashire Auxiliary Missionary Society, in aid of the London Missionary Society, held its anniversary in Liverpool. On this interesting occasion, the cause of Missions was ably pleaded and defended, in discourses, by the Rev. P. Brotherston, of Dysart, North Britain; the Rev. Jos. Fletcher, Theological Tutor of the Independent Academy at Blackburn; the Rev. William Roby, of Manchester; and the Rev. William Thorp, of Bristol.-At the public meeting for business, held on the Thursday afternoon, in Great George-street Chapel, many eloquent addresses were delivered, in connection with the several resolutions passed, and a deep impression, favourable to the great cause, was produced upon a large and delighted auditory: and in the evening, at the same place, the friends of the institution celebrated together the Supper of the Lord, and renewed the pledge of their attachment to it at his table. The whole anniversary comprised a series of truly solemn and interesting services, which will long be remembered with grateful emotions by the multitudes who were privileged to participate in them. The great object of the London Missionary Society, is to send the Gospel simply, without any prescribed form of church government, to heathen and other unenlightened nations; and its fundamental principle is, an union of all denominations in the glorious cause. The missions of this society are numerous and extensive, and the field of its operations is daily enlarging. Its missionaries are labouring in the East and West Indies, in South Africa, in the islands of the Southern Pacific Ocean, and in many other places; and many of the heathen, through their instrumentality, have been turned from dumb idols to serve the living God. This has been most remarkably the case in the islands of the South Sea, where the natives, as a body, have forsaken idolatry, and embraced Christianity; where 70 christian temples are already erected; where the Sabbath is kept holy in a way unknown even in Britain, and where a Missionary Society is established amongst the natives, with Pomare the king as its president, in aid of that institution which sent them the Gospel. It appeared, by a paragraph in a letter from the Secretary of the parent Society to the Rev. Mr. Raffles, which was read to the meeting, that the expenditure of the past year had exceeded the income by £5000. We trust, however, that the liberality of the christian public will keep pace with the increasing exertions of this excellent society. We understand that about £300 was collected at the meetings in Liverpool. DISASTERS IN MANCHESTER. IT appears that a public meeting had been appointed to be held in Manchester on Monday, August the 9th, 1819, by some persons wishing for a reform in Parliament; but its legality being questioned, it was postponed until Monday, the 16th, when it assumed a form which it was thought would have placed all its friends under the protection of law. At the time appointed, a vast concourse of people assembled, amounting, according to various accounts, to 50,000, to 70,000, or to 150,000. Shortly after one o'clock, Mr. Hunt, and several others, made their appearance. Scarcely, however, had he begun to speak, before a military force, composed of horse and foot, that had been collected for the occasion, was seen in motion. The cavalry, on approaching, pressed through the crowd with precipitate violence, trampling under the feet of the horses such as could not escape, while the men cut with their sabres, apparently without any discrimination, whoever happened to come within their reach. Arriving at the place where Mr. Hunt and his associates stood, they ordered them to surrender; which mandate, when supported by the authority of a magistrate, was instantly obeyed. These were conducted to the house in which the magistrates were assembled, and, after an examination, several were committed to the New Bailey. In the mean while, the soldiers pursued the populace with unabated violence, and thus continued their exertions until the ground was cleared, and the unarmed fugitives were dispersed. Of the exact numbers in killed and wounded, scarcely any two accounts are alike. The highest amount that has been stated of the former, is six. From one statement we learn, that the number actually killed, and of those whose recovery is impossible, will not be less than ten, and that sixty have been brought as patients to the Infirmary. Many others have been under the care of surgeons in private practice; and others, who were strangers, have been conveyed to their own neighbourhood to have their wounds dressed. "We therefore think," says the same account," that there cannot have been fewer than 200 persons wounded, and some believe that 300 falls short of the number." On Friday the 20th, Mr. Hunt and his associates were brought again before the magistrates, when Mr. Norris addressed Mr. Hunt in nearly the fol lowing words: "Henry Hunt, the evi-unanimous opinion of the magistrates, dence for the prosecution upon the charge to be brought against you is now ready to be gone into; but evidence of a much more important and serious nature has gone before His Majesty's law officers, and it is the that it is their duty to detain you here upon a charge of HIGH TREASON; and you are remanded accordingly." Mr. Hunt declared his innocence. In this charge eight others were included, who all remain in custody. COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT, AUGUST 23, 1819. Ir is a pleasing task to record the events of the past month, as they seem indicative of a general improvement in Trade and: Commerce, which we trust is not far distant. In no other preceding month during the year, have the transactions been so important, affording decisive evidence of the Commerce of this port having assumed a more favourable aspect. Many articles are considerably enhanced in value, and a greater firmness is displayed by the holders of all descriptions of goods. Such an improvement could not have taken place here, without producing something like a correspondent effect in the manufacturing districts; and we are happy to learn, that such has been the case. This will be more evident, when we notice the large sales which have taken place in the article of Cotton Wool, as the sales during the last four weeks, amount to 50,200 bags, the greater part of which have been taken out of the market at gradually improving prices. The demand for all descriptions of Cottons still continues, though somewhat checked by the events which have taken place at Manchester during the last week. The wants of the trade for the raw material, furnish incontestable proof, that the manufactures have received a very favourable impulse; and, notwithstanding the gloom which has hung over the different branches of this article, we cannot but hail the above-mentioned circumstances, as tokens of returning prosperity. Dry Salting Articles, and Dyeing Stuffs, have also been more in request, evincing a tendency to advanee. The imports of Foreign Oak Bark, for Tanners' use, were never known to have been so heavy, and the prices have consequently been depressed, as the Importers always sell from the vessel, in order to avoid the heavy charges of landing, housing, &c. Good Dutch Bark, has been sold at £6 10s. to £7 per Ton.-German Bark, £6 per Ton. The prices of Timber are gradually creeping up; a circumstance which tends to corroborate the belief of the improvement in the internal commerce of the country, especially in the manufacturing districts.-Numbers of country purchasers have been in town, and readily take all the cargoes which are offering in the market. The news from the Greenland and Davies' Straits Fisheries having been more favourable, prices of Oils are become more moderate; and when we consider the great diminution in the consumption of Fish Oils, by the substitution of Gas upon a very large scale, the supplies will be found more than adequate to the demand, GRAIN. The sickle is now in full activity, and the weather continues very favourable to the labours of the harvest. On the last market-day there appeared an increased disposition to purchase fine qualities of English and Foreign Wheats, and sales were brisker at the former currency. The demand for Oats was more animated. Flour was in steady request. Fine Malting Barley was 3d. to 6d. per bushel dearer; inferior qualities were unsaleable. The Ports are now closed for the importation of all kinds of Grain for home consumption, except from the British Settlements; and, from the best information we can collect, are not likely to open before the month of February: much uncertainty, however, attaches to this measure, as the low qualities of Grain being taken into the average, tend to reduce the rate at which the ports open; whilst fine and fair qualities may rule extremely high. Salted Provisions are rising. Irish Butters are fail 3s. higher than during the preceding week: good new Belfast firsts bring 100s. per cwt.; other descriptions proportionately higher, and in fair demand. Beef and Pork are each 4s. to 6s. per barrel dearer. Colonial Produce. We still experience a pretty brisk demand for Plantation Sugar, and upwards of 7000 hhds. have been disposed of during the month: the prices have not varied much: Sugar-house Molasses in fair request, and prices stationary. Rums are improving in demand and price. This day a large sale by auction of Coffee took place, when the whole went off at an advance of 2s. per cwt. on former prices; the biddings were very spirited: the new duty upon this article, which is now 1s. per lb. makes this wholesome beverage come dear to the home consumer. The present being the season for Sheep-shearing, the prices of Tar have undergone some little improvement, but prices still rule very low. The emigrations from this port, from the 1st of January, 1819, to this day, as appears by the official documents, amount to-U. States, 4154-Brit. America, 457-Trinidad, 428 persons. The Easterly winds, which have prevailed during the past month, keep out many vessels, which are now anxiously expected from America, and the East and West Indies. Blanketing.. 177 pairs, 167907 White Salt to Foreign Parts 16341 tons. 45 0 FLAX, ton, £. s. 5 0 4 10 5 5 270 Rock Salt to Foreign Parts 1997 4 10 Ireland 3369 1184 chal. 2236 Prices of Stoch, London, 17th August. Bank Stock.... Cent Reduced 3 3 Cent Consols..... 4 Cent Consols. 5 ....233 a 721 714 91 Cent Navy Annuities ..105 Bank Long Annuities.... 191 Omnium Consols for Acct..... ......P. 41 .... 718 IRISH FUNDS.-August 17. Bank Stock American ........ 1 94 a 1 11 Baltic ......... 2 4 2 6 SALT PETRE, cwt. 30 0 34 0 GRAIN, s. d. s. d. Barley, Engl60. 40 a 5 3 Irish & Foreign 4 0 5 0 Beans, Engl. qr...44 0 48 0 Foreign....34 0 42 0 Flour, barrel, Cotton, W. India, 3 bags.-230 bales.American, 2752 bags.-10997 bales.Brazils, 6773 bags.-544 bales.-315 serons.East India, 1531 bales.-Smyrna, 70 bales. Corn, Wheat, 12287.-Barley, 1600.Oats, 9476.-Beans, 362.-Malt, 2245. Peas, 190 qrs. Rum, 1974 punch.-68 hhds.-Geneva, 30 pipés.-Wine, 185 hhds.-296 pipes. -1 cask.-1 butt.-11 aums. Tobacco, 793 hhds.-Rice, 2878 casks. 2000 bags. Flour, 808 brls.-Butter, 17421 firkins,-485 kegs, &c.-Fustic, 215 tons.-Logwood, 219 tons.-Tar, 8544 brls,-Turpentine, 3240 brls.Tallow, 1817 casks.-Ashes, 5976 brls. Hides,9900, 71 bdles.-Iron Bars,3172. PRINTED BY H. Fisher, LIVERPOOL, PRINTER IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY. Frank: 5:2 U Bourdeaux, 25: 50. Amsterdam, 120 C. F. Ditto at sight, 11: 17. Antwerp, Course of Exchange, in London, August 17. fort on the Main, 151. Ex. M. Madrid, 36. effect. Cadiz, 364. effect. Barcelona, 35. Gibraltar, 32. Leghorn, 49. Genoa, 44. Venice, Italian Liv. 26. 50. Malta, 48. Naples, 394. Palermo, 115. Lisbon, 534. Oporto, 54. Rio Janeiro, 584. Dublin, 134. 12: 5. Ex. M. Hamburg, 36 4 2 U. Altona, 36 Paris, 3 days' sight, 25: 20. |