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little to boast, that the people of America may not enjoy, if they succeed in this great struggle. The town of North-Stonington comprises probably not more than the one-hundredth part of the population of Connecticut. Six hundred thousand or eight hundred thousand dollars per annum, therefore, are or ought to be saved to that State, by the operation of temperance alone. And all this accumulating capital is forthwith rendered productive; for men who become temperate, have clear heads and industrious hands; they are prudent and thrifty, devoting more hours each day to profitable employment; and their industry, being more judiciously directed, is more productive. Idleness is banished; the great fountain of disease is dried up. As the habits become more simple, the taste for hurtful luxuries, vicious indulgences, and childish amusements, unavoidably declines. Men seek their appropriate excitement, where alone it can be found, in enterprises of useful business, in the exertion of talent for the good of others, and in the ennobling labors of benevolence." "In the year 1828," says a lately published communication, "there were within the limits of the town of Lyme, no less than twenty-two licensed retailers of intoxicating liquors, all of whom sold what they could, and manufactured drunkards according to law. In that year, the temperance reformation commenced among us; and the number of these licensed drunkardmakers has been gradually falling off ever since. From one January to another, when the licensing board have met, the change in public sentiment respecting the rum traffic, has been very apparent. A year ago, but two applications were made to our board; and on Monday last, when the board met again, no applicant appeared, to claim the usual license: so that now it is our happiness to state, that in a portion of our county, twelve miles by eight, constituting the largest town in our State, there is not a single grog-shop. Such a result is, of course, most cheering to the friends of temperance and sobriety; especially as it has been with us occasioned, not by any accidental or temporary circumstances, but by a progressive and radical alteration of public feeling and sentiment. And as the opinion is fast gaining ground, that the traffic in ardent spirits is immoral and sinful,' we feel confident, that there will never be another application made to a town council in Lyme, for a license to sell the drink of the drunkard."

Results of such a nature, it may be added, are cheering to every genuine friend of religion and human weal among us. They have been looked upon also with no ordinary feelings of interest, among the christians and philanthropists of Europe. We cannot resist the pleasure of recording on our pages, a paragraph from a recent letter of the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, to E. C. Delavan, Esq., containing a fine and generous commendation of American temperance principles. "I offer to your country," he says,

"my sincere congratulations, and the humble testimony of my delighted admiration, on the signal, wonderful, and most beatifying success of this great plan of national reformation; and which, even at this present time, to say nothing of what will be done in years to come, is a more glorious achievement than that which effected your political independence. It is at once far more difficult and far more honorable for a people to throw off the yoke of their vices, than that of their oppressors; and there seems to me nothing impossible in the career of either moral or political greatness, to that country, which, by one grand co-operative effort, can, by the blessing of God, deliver itself, as yours is now doing, from the curse of intemperance. For the sake of the world, my dear sir, and all future generations of mankind, I beseech you to go on in this splendid course of national virtue. I have patriotism enough to wish this laurel had been plucked by my own country; but since this is not granted to us, I rejoice that it is yours. It is a precious one. Preserve it from fading by a relaxation of zeal in the cause; and deem not the honor complete, till the world shall talk of the United States, as a land without a still, and without a drinker of ardent spirit. If you ever arrive at this elevation of moral greatness, your example must and will be felt in the world. Self-preservation, if nothing else, will drive other nations into imitation of your example. In this, as in other instances, you are raised up by the Ruler of the universe, to be a model to the civilized and uncivilized world. Experiments are carried on at this moment, upon your territory, the results of which are to be felt to the end of time. If I could think it right to envy any one, I should envy you Americans, in reference to several things which are connected with your internal history." Let this reformation be completed in our land, and, according to the intimation of the writer now quoted, what an influence would not be exerted among all nations with whom we hold any intercourse! It would itself effect that previous change before adverted to, that preparation probably necessary for the results of public sentiment in other nations, by which not only the temperance cause would obtain among them, but other great moral reformations would be achieved. Such a change might be expected from the triumph of temperance here, since that triumph would be the most striking proof of the power of public opinion, and the most magnificent exhibition of moral influence, that have ever appeared in the story of the human race. Thus, in this and many other instances of our enterprising and active spirit, especially as directed towards benevolent objects, how much of good and of glory might we not win for ourselves, and for the world!

It might not be irrelevant here, to advert particularly to that share of an enterprising and active spirit, which is possessed by the christian ministry of this country, and which, in their case, operates still

more, if possible, through a moral influence. In those pursuits which are appropriate to their calling, its effects are no less decided than desirable. That it is a powerful engine in achieving the results already spoken of, none will doubt. That special dependence will be placed upon it, in order to realize ulterior and still greater triumphs of principle, is equally clear. This spirit of the ministry is admirably adapted to the purpose, of keeping the springs of a virtuous influence and benevolent sensibility in motion, among the community. It first, indeed, touches those springs, and all in a sense depends upon it. But, as we designed rather to glance at this principle, than to illustrate it,-an attempt which would require a separate article, we will not add to our remarks, except to say, in general, that the institution of the christian ministry as we have it in this country, in its purity and in its beneficence, if it is not all that can be desired, is yet more than other nations enjoy; and will be felt to be an occasion of gratitude to God, by all who look forward to the eventual regeneration of the world.

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6. The large number of people already pious in our land, is a circumstance signally favorable for doing good on an effectual and extensive plan. Were the nation all pious, of course every moral achievement, in respect to ourselves, would be completed. We then should have nothing to do, in the way of advancing the kingdom of Christ, but to carry, as on the swift winds, the gospel of salvation to every destitute nation and tribe. But, since piety is not universal among us, much effort must be expended on portions of our own country, as well as on other countries, that we may a nation wholly consecrated to God, and that they may, in the first instance, be brought to the knowledge of his grace. In attempting these greater things, it will be felt to be an essential advantage, that religion has already gained such numbers, and such influence, to its side. Taking the country throughout, christians are not a handful. A goodly host is now rallying around the cross. This circumstance is highly important, in view of the work to be done. Here is the germ of a more expanded reformation. The revivals of religion, which, with little abatement, have continued so many years among us, have brought large numbers into the church of Christ. These revivals have been enjoyed mostly in the Northern States, and in portions of the West; but they are now affecting and blessing the South. The important State of Virginia is at present more distinguished, perhaps, by the effusions of divine grace, than any other State in the Union. The blessing has descended upon all the ranks and professions of life, and upon every description of previous moral character, passing by neither the amiable moralist, the open transgressor, nor the blaspheming infidel. The more influential class of citizens have, within a short time, been brought into the enjoyment of christian hope, in a proportion, per

haps, exceeding that of others. The learned professions, aside from that of the ministry, in which piety should always exist, and signally flourish, have come in for a large share of the sacred influence. In the profession of law, where there have not always been spirits kindred to that of Hale, are now found many consistent followers of Christ,-bright examples of the power of faith. In the medical profession, which certainly used to lean strongly to the side of unbelief, a great change has taken place for the better; and it at present includes not a few of the most devoted christians in the land. Numbers, elevated by the suffrages of their countrymen, to stations of authority, are become the servants of righteousness. In this state of things, there would seem to be a preparation, designed by Him whose are the Spirit's influences, for signal exertions in securing blessings to the needy throughout the world. Christians were made such, to answer purposes not merely in respect to themselves, but to mankind at large. It has been excellently remarked, in a public communication of late, that "the conversation and correspondence of ministers, and other christians, show, that the all-important truth is more and more intelligently embraced; that the church was constituted by its Divine Head, and its individual members were redeemed by his precious blood, and renovated by the Spirit, and are preserved in faith and hope, and blessed in providence, not chiefly that they may have the comforts of life, and the consolations of piety, and be fitted for, and ultimately received to heaven; but that they may be the salt of the earth,' and the light of the world,'-the means of diffusing, as extensively and rapidly as possible, the knowledge and blessings of true religion."

Let this great truth then, we would say in concluding, be engraven on every heart. If we may draw any inference from the divine economy, the spiritual condition of myriads in this country and in other countries, is to be affected by the instrumentality which God has here raised up, in the late augmentation of his church. Many will go forth, and are going forth, through the extent of the land, preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified, rearing churches, and promoting the various measures of benevolence. Many will go forth, and are going forth, to the Gentile nations, with a view to erect the standard of the cross among them, and secure both their temporal and eternal well-being. It is already seen, in the increasing energies of missionary societies, and in the larger number who are offering their services to those societies, that the claims of perishing pagans will not be disregarded, by the sons and daughters of the American churches. In all probability, as the years roll on, we shall gather our greenest laurels, in promoting, through the instrumentality of our missionaries, the highest interests of mankind.

ART. III. THE HAND, ITS MECHANISM AND VITAL ENDOW. MENTS, AS EVINCING DESIGN.

The Hand, its Mechanism and Vital Endowments, as evincing Design; BY SIF CHARLES BELL, K. G. U. F. R. S. L. & E., Philadelphia, Carey, Lea & Blanchard. 1833.

SIR CHARLES BELL is one of the most distinguished British anatomists and physiologists now living. It was he who made the important discovery, that the functions of sensation and muscular motion are performed through the instrumentality of distinct sets of nerves; thus verifying, in a remarkable manner, the antecedent and philosophical conjecture of that sagacious man and close observer, Dr. Spurzheim. The book before us was written, by appointment, as one of the Bridgewater Treatises,-a series of discourses, by some of the most distinguished men in Britain, having for their object to prove and illustrate the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifested in the creation. It evinces much ingenuity and research, and a familiar acquaintance with all the scientific relations of the subject proposed for discussion. The production has thus great value and interest, and, we have no doubt, will be highly prized by all who know how to appreciate it; but, that there will be no disappointment, particularly after only a superficial perusal, on comparing the subject-matter and avowed object of the treatise, with the treatise itself, we dare not say. It would be little suspected, perhaps, on a hasty examination of the work, that its direct purpose was to demonstrate "the power, wisdom, and goodness of God," as shown in the mechanism and adaptation of the human hand. The instances in which a fact or contrivance is pointed out and dwelt upon, in order to prove wisely designing and benevolent cause, are too rare and incidental. The most curious and interesting truths, the most surprising analogies, adaptations the most wonderful and precise, arrangements purely benevolent, specimens of the most exquisite workmanship, seem too often to present to the author no other than physical connections and relations. We have much faithful, minute, and sometimes graphic description, it is true; but we have a right, in such a treatise, to expect something more. We want the argument. We want pointed out to us, in regular sequence, the links which connect an organized being with the throne of the Almighty; and when a Creator has been demonstrated, we wish to know what reason may legitimately infer respecting his character, from the nature of the bond which unites him to his works. In the book in question, we have placed before us materials considerably numerous, out of which to frame the argument for God's attributes; but the argument itself, as it truly exists, and might be shown, is not sufficiently and methodically attempted. To bring

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