DONATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CHAR ITABLE INSTITUTIONS. The Treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, acknowledges the receipt of 20; beside various articles for the use $3,900 81, from March 21, to April of different missionary establishments. The Treasurer of the American Bible Society, acknowledges the receipt of $3,529 54 in the month of April. The Treasurer of the United Foreign Mission Society acknowledges the April. receipt of $1,952 10, in the month of Ordinations and Installations. April 4th. The Rev. ALFRED H. BETTS, was ordained at Brownhelm, Ohio, by the Presbytery of Portage, and ordained pastor of the church in that place. Sermon by the Rev. William Hanford. May 9th. The Rev. ENOCH Burt, was installed pastor of the associated Congregational Churches of Holland and South-Brimfield, Mass.-Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Ely, of Monson, Mass. View of Public Affairs. NAPLES. The revolutionists of Naples have been subdued. The exertion which they made to establish their independence was extremely feeble. Their armies have been disbanded, and some of the principal agents in the struggle for a representative government, have fled to foreign countries, among whom is General Pepe. In the possession of a large amount of public money he reached Barcelona. Austrian troops, to the number of 30,000, have taken possession of Naples. On the 24th of March, the revolutionary Parliament was dissolved, and on the 27th, the King of Naples entered his capital, amidst the acclamations of his subjects. TURKEY. Serious disturbances have taken place in this empire, and according to some accounts there is a prospect that the Greeks, who have so long groaned under the rod of the oppressor, will establish their independence. Great obstacles however, must be surmounted. The established government have powerful armies; and the neighbouring, christian governments, it is stated, will not lend their aid to the insurgents. The following extracts give some account of the insurrection, and of the state of the Turkish Government. "By a letter from a merchant, dated at Odessa, 9th Feb. N. S. he had suspended some commercial operations, in consequence of news having arrived there that the Greeks had revolted against the Turks, in Wallachia and Moldavia. The same letter states that it was reported there that the revolt was to be general throughout the Ottoman Empire, and was expected to break out on Sunday, the 11th Feb. to which effect all the Greek inhabitants of Odessa, without distinction, capable to bear arms, have enlisted themselves and set out for Moldavia, at the rate of from two hundred to three hundred per day excited by a spirit of patriotism to recover their liberty. It is reckoned that about 4000 Greeks will go from said city to join the army. It adds, that even some masters of ships, with their crews, have abandoned their vessels to go to fight. Several shopkeepers have sent off men at their own expense, and others sell off their goods at any price to join their companions: in short that it is difficult to imagine the enthusiasm which animates the people. TRIESTE, MARCH 3. Extract of a private letter in the Journal des Debats. The situation of our neighbors, the Turks, excites the most lively attention. The revolutionary movements of Moldavia and Wallachia, happened precisely at the same moment that the Greeks of the Isle of Candia refused to pay the extraordinary tribute, which the Musilbim, or Governor of the Isle, had ordered to be levied upon them. Albania is far from being tranquil ; the Torzidas, from which tribe the famous Ali Pacha descends, shew a disposition to maintain his Mouctas, in the possession of his hereditary domains. The old Ali Pacha himself, by means of his immense treasures, corrupts successively, the Generals who are sent to besiege him. The Servians are in negociation with the Porte, to demand the extension of the privileges that the late treaty between the Russians and the Ottoman empire insured them. The Divan has granted the diminution of the tribute Karatch, but not the military occupation of Belgrade. The inhabitants of Bornia, though fanatical musselmen, have quarrels with their Pacha respecting the privileges which bis troops arrogate to themselves; their minds are not alien from the disuse of a sort of independence, similar to that enjoyed by the Servians. To beighten their embarrassments, the Porte has imprudently announced its Intention of depriving the powerful viceroy of Egypt of a moiety of his Pachalick. In such a situation, it is to be remarked that the eternal negociation between the Divan and the Russian Ambassador, relating to the fortresses of Poti and Bathaim, (in lower Georgia) are not terminated. Those which had for their object the fixation of the limits on the side of Moldavia, were concluded some months ago, and it is not true, as was rumored, that the Russian army, under the orders of Prince Wittgenstein, is 100,000 strong; It scarcely consists of a quarter of that number, and is scarcely of sufficient force for the ordinary garrison service. Some Turks who have fled before the Arnauts and Wallachians, have arrived at the posts of the officers of the Austrian customs in the Bannat. As they dread the infection of the plague, they were not suffered to pass beyond the line of their offices; where they remain like heaps of merchandize. P. S. It is at this moment confidently said, that the insurrection in Wallachia and Moldavia is extending, and that nearly 30,000 Greeks have enrolled themselves under the banners of Prince Ypsilanti. Some Russian officers, who have followed him, have been deprived of their offices by the imperial government. An English ministerial paper says, "if Prince Ypsilanti cap maintain himself for a short time even, against the Ottoman arms, with any apparent strength of adherents and of resources, the insurrection will spread; but it can terminate only in a useless waste of human life. Should the Turkish government be too weak to quell the rebellion, Austria and Russia are at hand, to end the struggle. They will not be likely to permit the establishment of an independent Greek empire, and any question of protection by either of these powers, would involve formidable difficulties as connected with the political relations of Europe." SUMMARY. A bill, which was before the British Parliament for the relief of the Catho lics, passed the House of Commons by the House of Lords by a majority of 39. a majority of 14; but was rejected in Amendments to the Constitution of Massachusetts.---The committee appointed by the late Convention to réceive, count, and certify the votes on the several articles of amendment, met at Boston on the 23rd inst. It appears, according to the statement published in the Boston papers, that nine of the articles of amendment proposed, are ratified and adopted by a majority of the people. The other five amendments are rejected by a majority of votes. The following are the heads of each article:-1. Religious worship, rejected; 2. Change of Election day, do.; 3. Governor's Negative, accepted; 4. City Incorporations, do.; 5. Senate and House, rejected; 6. Qualification of Electors, accepted; 7. Choice of Notaries, &c. do.; 8. Militia minors allowed to vote for officers, do. ; 9. Removal of Judges, rejected; 10. Harvard College rights, do.; 11. New oath of office, accepted; 12. Old oath and test abolished, do.; 13. Incompatibility of offices, do.; 14. Provision for amendments, do. BALTIMORE, MAY 21. Lumber Trade.-It is estimated that upwards of 8,000,000 feet of lumber have been brought to this market from the states of New-York and Pennsylvania, down the Susquehannah river, during its late rise, as well as large quantities of pork, flour, &c. Brazil. A revolution broke out at Brazil, on the 10th of February. On the 26th of that month, the King swore to adopt the constitution to be formed by the Cortez at Lisbon. He intends returning to Portugal with his family. The Islands of St. Michael's and Madeira have proclaimed the constitution of Lisbon. The Portuguese Congress has abolished the Inquisition. The revolutionists in Piedmont have been subdued. The Swiss Cantons to preserve their territory from violation, propose to increase their army to 68,000 men. FRANKFORT, Jan. 21.-The ci-devant King of Sweden, lives like a private man in our city, and in the most retired manner. He has not even a single domestic in his service. He avoids as much as possible meeting the famous Charles Hesse, his adversary. (Prince of Hesse Rotenburg) who has resided for some time at Frankfort, and who also lives without any ser vant. Obituary. DIED in this city, on Sunday morning, the 27th inst, Mrs. ANN H. CONVERSE, aged 27; wife of Sherman Converse, and daughter of Samuel Perkins, Esq. of Windham. Mrs. Converse possessed a vigorous understanding, which had been improved by a good education; and she had the confidence and affection of all who enjoyed her acquaintance. During the present revival of religion in this place, she became the subject of deep religious impressions, which terminated, as there is every reason to believe, in the conversion of her soul to God. She made, some months since, a public profession of her faith in Christ, and in her daily walk, evinced the power of that religion, which controls the affections and regulates the conduct. It pleased the Gracious Being who had thus extended mercy to her, to put her faith to an early trial. After a short but distressing illness, she was called to depart this life. In full view of death, she expressed a strong confidence in the goodness of God, and relied with composure and joy upon the merits of the Saviour for acceptance with him. There were circumstances in the situation of the deceased, which rendered her death peculiarly affecting. A husband, parents, and numerous friends, were involved by it, in deep affliction; an only child, and that an infant of a few days old, appeared to solicit the kind attention of a mother. But He who seeth not as man seeth, determined the event, and the pious mind will reflect with gratitude upon the mercy connected with the judg ment. Before the deceased was visited with sickness, she was led to trust in God, and to hope in Christ; and was at the close of life enabled, with a hope, full of immortality, to commend her spirit into the hands of her Redeemer. In view of a scene like this, how invaluable do the consolations of religion appear! In the sudden death of this amiable and pious woman, the providence of God unites in saying "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." Answers to Correspondents. A. Z.; and W. W. will be inserted. Two communications from A. B. C. have been received. THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. No. VI.] JUNE, 1821. Heligious Communications. To the Editor of the Christian Spectator. I find that the Christian Spectator, Vol. II. No XI. contains a brief reply to the remarks of A. D. on two questions pertaining to Ecclesiastical Discipline. I am happy that your work is open to a free and candid discussion of important questions relating both to sentiment and practice in the christian church. As I find the sentiments relating to one of those questions are disputed, and supposed to be erroneous, I am inclined to submit a few remarks by way of reply; and more especially, since Farel, in view of one important point, has declared it "the duty of your correspondent to place it in its true light." The point alluded to is true light." The point alluded to is an exception to that rule of evidence which your correspondent" has considered as established both in the Old Testament and the New. Farel supposes he has discovered an exception which will justify a general departure from the rule established by divine authority. I fully agree that if he has formed a mistaken opinion, "the mistake is pretty extensive;" so extensive, indeed, that for the honer of the divine Legislator, the interest of the church, and the safety of the individual members of Christ's family, it ought to be pointed out, and placed in its true light. It is, if I do not misapprehend his meaning, the acknowledged opinion of the writer of the reply, that the divine Legislator did give a rule of evidence, plain, simple, and definite; and that this rule required for convic tion, two or three positive witnesses to the same overt act. He acknowledgVol. 3.-No. VI. 36 [VOL. III. es, in plain terms, that in Numb. xxxv, 30, Deut. xvii. 6, and xix. 15, "is fully witnesses to the same act are requistated the principle, that two or more red." He concedes further that "the first three passages selected from the New Testament, so "far as they relate to the question, go perhaps to establish the general law of evidence." To establish what general law of evidence? The law, unquestionably, contained in the passages quoted from the Old Testament, "in which is fully stated the principle, that two or more witnesses to the ed the sacred volume, and concludes The exception which F. considers as bearing so hard on the general rule as entirely to alter its complexion and force, is Deut. xxii. 25--27.-This, it is acknowledged, has been generally understood to bring a case to view, which will justify convicting of a crime on the testimony of one witness only; and where a capital punishment is the penalty. And I shall not deny that those who framed the penal statutes of this and other countries, have been influenced by this passage. But it is a notorious fact that civil courts always proceed with extreme caution in such cases. Probably an instance cannot be found where a man has been convicted and executed merely on the testimony of one person, without any corroborative fact by which her testimony is supported. And the reason probably is,that they feel the great danger of putting either life or liberty in the power of an individual. And possibly another reason of the caution may be that a doubt rests upon the mind whether the passage is thus to be understood. It is not certain but that the general opinion may be erroneous. It has been generally understood that the testimony of the abused person will alone convict and take away the life of the agressor. But before this instance is admitted as overthrowing,or essentially altering one of the most important laws in the statute book of the church, it should be proved that this is the meaning of the passage beyond the possibility of contradiction. If such an inference is to be drawn-an inference which takes away one of the most important privileges of the accused members of Christ's family, bare assumption is not enough. We know not what evidence was required that the betrothed damsel was in the field -that she was found there, and attacked. It is not said that two witnesses are not to be required to each of these facts. That the man should die, we agree. But that no testimony in the case was required only of the abused woman, is rather assumed, than declared in the Bible. Whether the case alluded to be an exception to the general rule of evidence, is a question which we may for the moment pass over. Admitting it be a fact that the testimony of the abused female did prove the crime alleged; and that this case is an exception to the general rule of evidence; yet it is difficult to see how this exception so alters the gen eral law, as to give authority to the church to convict upon "other testi. mony than that of two or three witnesses to the same overt act." It is justly observed by F. that the question is general, and the answer of A. D. is so. Is it not equally true that the rule of evidence laid down in the Bible is a general rule, embracing the whole range of crimes of which men may be accused? Of this there can be no doubt. Let me ask then, do civil courts with a general rule before them, if they find an exception to that rule, in one extraordinary case, feel at liberty to depart from it in all cases? Do they allow themselves to lay aside an established rule, that has become venerable by age and long use, and act according to the impulse of the moment? This would destroy the rule in all cases. Can we believe the divine Legislator has given a plain, definite rule of evidence for his church, and then by a single act, and that for an extraordinary specified case, set aside that rule, and left his church without any guide in the very interesting affair of judging in cases of discipline? If the argument of F. founded on the law relating to a crime, supposed to be proved by the testimony of a single witness, prove any thing, it will prove too much. If this comes in the place of the law to which it is supposed to be an exception, and is to govern the church in her decisions, then we may in other cases convict on the testimony of one witness. It is claimed that this is an exception to the general rule, or law of evidence; such an exception as warrants a departure from it, and justifies the church in finding a complaint suppor |