with our fellow-atom; and here we find, by some, winds, one against the other, causes them to asagency not yet understood, that we are travelling cend, and once more crossing the belt of calms, southwards in the upper regions of the atmo- they make their way still in their onward course; sphere, and not along the surface of the world, the northern particle, with which we will suppose until we reach about the parallel of thirty north ourselves still in company, taking an upper course, latitude, in the vicinity of the Canary islands. until, arrived at the zone of Capricorn, between Here we meet with a similar supposed particle, twenty and thirty degrees of south latitude, it entravelling also in the upper atmosphere the re- counters the southerly breezes, and this time deturn journey towards the pole. The two adverse scending, comes out at the lower surface on the particles press against each other with their en- opposite side of the calm region, and makes its tire force, and, being of equal power, produce an way to the south pole as a surface wind. Enterequilibrium or accumulation of dead air. This is ing the polar regions obliquely, it is pressed the calm belt of Cancer. against by similar particles coming from every meridian; and as it approaches the higher latitudes, having less space to move in, it flies along more rapidly and more obliquely, until it, with all the rest, is whirled about the pole in a continued circular gale. At last, reaching the great polar vortex, pressed up on every side, it is carried upwards to the regions of atmosphere above, whence it commences again its circuit, and journeys back to the north as an upper current, thus fulfilling its allotted task of turning about unto the north. It now passes back over the same space; but this time its path is altered: where it was before an upper current, it is now a surface wind, and vice versa. From under this belt or bank of calms, two surface currents of wind are ejected, one towards the equator, and, from the cause already assigned, taking a south-westerly course as the north-east wind; the other towards the pole, as the southwest passage wind. These winds coming out, as they do, at the lower surface of this calm region, must come from above by means of downward currents, just as we may suppose a vessel of water filled from the top by two streams flowing in from opposite directions, and flowing out from two openings below in contrary channels. In support of this downward theory of the air, we find the testimony of Humboldt, who tells us, (as others do,) that in this calm region the barometer stands higher than it does to the north or south of it. Not the least interesting feature of this journey of the winds, is the fact, that the currents of air thus forced out from the lower surface of this calm belt, are not those which were previously travelling in the contrary direction: the wind from the pole does not sink down and return northwards as a surface wind; it has yet a long journey before it a journey given it to perform by infinite wisdom for wise and beneficent purposes. It has yet to go towards the south before it turneth about unto the north. The particle of air in company with which we have travelled thus far, makes its way by some mysterious agencybelieved to be electrical, and indeed all but proved to be so by Faraday's recent discoveriesacross this calm zone, but at the same time downwards, and appears on the surface going southerly as the North-east Trade Wind. It cannot pass along in the upper air, for there is another similar particle wending its way back to the pole, having performed the allotted circuit which this one, fresh from the north, is about to make. As the North-east Trade, our particle journeys until near the equator, where it encounters a similar particle at the South-east Trade. Here, at this place of the equatorial meeting, there is another conflict, and another calm region, as all those who have made a voyage to the south know full well. The consequence of this encounter of the two typical particles is similar to that which took place at the calm belt of Cancer, but is brought about in a different manner. The great heat of the sun near the equator, added to the presence of the two conflicting come; They joyed-but the voice of their gladness is dumb. They died--ay, they died! and we things that are now, Yea, hope and despondence, and pleasure and pain, Still follow each other like surge upon surge. 'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of a breath, KNOX. SUMMARY OF NEWS. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.-The British mailsteamship Asia, from Liverpool on the 3d inst., arrived at New York on the 15th. RUSSIA AND TURKEY.-Omar Pasha, after leaving garrisons in the different fortresses on the right bank of the river, has marched the bulk of his troops back to the quarters which they occupied before crossing the Danube. The Turks had, how. ever, formed an intrenched camp for eight thousand men between Kalafat and Krajova. The continued heavy rains along the whole of the Lower Danube had rendered military operations on an extensive scale impossible, and no battle, equal in importance to that of Oltenitza, had since taken place. Skirmishes, however, continually took place between small parties, frequently at tended by much loss on both sides." Hostilities have commenced on the Black Sea. The Russian frigate Waldimir has been captured by a Turkish steamer, and, on the other hand, an Egyptian steamer of ten guns has been taken, after a desperate resistance, by a Russian ship. The combined English and French fleets remained at their anchorage. In Asia the Turks continued to be successful. They have not only successfully defended the Fort St. Nicholas, but have captured the important fortress of Usurghette and Soukumaleh. The Russian reserve corps were moving from Bessarabia to Wallachia. Much importance is attached to the position that may be assumed by Servia, where Russian intrigue is actively at work. The French government is said to have received the answer of the Emperor of Russia to the last of the pacific propositions made by Austria. The Czar declares that he cannot accept of any project of arrangement that does not issue directly from Turkey, and that henceforth the fate of arms must decide the question. ENGLAND.-There was a heavy decline in the Liverpool Grain Market. Wheat had declined 3d to 4d per quarter, and flour two shillings per barrel. The Cotton Market remained unchanged. FRANCE.-The Emperor of Russia has sold out his shares in the French funds. The Duchess of Orleans declares that she does not recognise the late fusion of the Bourbons, but maintains her own and her son's claims to the throne inviolate. The cholera was making progress in Paris. Within the last eight days, the price of grain, in most of the departments, has experienced a decline of 1f 50c per hectolitre. ITALY.-At Milan, the most unheard of precautions are taken by the Austrians to guard against a supposed conspiracy. Guards were doubled in most of the streets, and their posts are defended by stockades. The officers' box in the Theatre is fenced off from the others, and no one is admitted at the door of the house without exhibiting a passport or carta di securrezza. Every dwelling house must be closed at midnight, under penalty of arrest and fine of the inhabitants. and cities, except Obispa, which wished him to be declared perpetual Dictator. The piratical expedition, which has been noticed as preparing in California, sailed thence in the Caroline on the 17th of the 10th month, and proceeded to La Paz, in Lower California. The town was captured, the Governor taken prisoner, the Mexican flag in front of the Governor's house was hauled down, and that of the marauders substituted. They then proclaimed Lower California an indepen. dent Republic, and their leader, Capt. Walker, was chosen President. They afterwards proceeded to Cape St. Lucas, and after remaining in that place one day, embarked for Magdalena Bay. Their further proceedings are unknown. CALIFORNIA. The steamship George Law, from the 12th inst., bringing the California mail of the Aspinwall, arrived at New York on the morning of 16th ult., 464 passengers and $887,666 in gold. has been formed at San Francisco, for the establish A private company, with a capital of $10,000,000, ment of steam communication with China. Mayor Garrison has sent in a message to the of San Francisco, which is but little short of Common Council, on the funded and floating debt $2,000,000. The estimated expenditures for the coming year are $897,000. The city is to be lighted gas on the 1st prox. with DOMESTIC. CONGRESS.-In the Senate, on the 13th, Serator Hunter reported a bill providing, that hereafter all money appropriated for the pay and mileage of Senators shall be drawn from the Treasury by the Secretary of the Senate, and be by him disbursed as directed by the Senate; the Secretary of the Senate hereafter to be considered a disbursing officer of the Government, and to give an annual bond of $20,000, and to receive for his services as such $1000 annually. The bill was considered and passed. Senator Bright, from the Finance Committee, reported a Bill prescribing the manner of the appointment of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, making the appointment by the President and Senate. The bill was read a third time and passed. A number of other bills were read and referred. On the 14th Senator Dodge, of lowa, brought in a bill for the organization of the territory of Nebraska; which was read twice and referred. Senator Sumner submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Committee on the Judiciary to consider the expediency of providing for the appointment of a Commissioner to revise and simplify the Statutes of the United States. On the 15th Senator Seward gave notice of a bill for the early construction of the Pacific railroad. The President's Message was divided and referred to the appropriate committees. In the House of Representatives, on the 14th, Boyce offered a resolution, that in view of the large and increasing surplus in the Treasury, the duties on imported goods shall be so reduced as to raise only so much revenue as may be necessary for the economical administration of the government. The Senate's joint resolution, author zing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay for codifying and revising the revenue laws, was referred to the Com MEXICO.-Intelligence from Mexico has been re-mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union. ceived at New Orleans, informing that Santa Anna has been proclaimed Dictator for a period of ten years, with the consent of all the principal States On the 15th, the Homestead bill was reported back to the House from the Committee on Agriculture. FRIENDS' REVIEW. VOL. VII. A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL. PHILADELPHIA, TWELFTH MONTH 31, 1853. EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SAMUEL RHOADS, No. 50 North Fourth Street, PHILADELPHIA. No. 16. which exist in the body of the people, and directing it to one object-the general good-that nations become strong; and we are sure, with thy enlightened mind, it is not necessary for us to dwell on the happy effects produced by a free Price two dollars per annum, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE, toleration, in matters of religion, in those coun or six copies for ten dollars. Postage on this paper, when paid quarterly or yearly in advance, 13 cents per annum in Pennsylvania and 26 cents per annum in other States. tries in which it is enjoyed." In the interview which they had with the king, on presenting the address from which the above is extracted, William Allen remarks, that "The king told us a great deal about the state SOME ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF of Norway, and what he had done for that coun THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN NORWAY. (Continued from page 227.) try, regretting that there were some things in their old constitution which were very hurtful; he said the peasants were not represented in their government, &c. . . . We spoke of the Friends in Norway, and he told us that the affair of marriage had been before the council, and it was concluded that, provided it was performed after the manner of Friends, and registered, it should be lawful, and that he would protect, not only the Friends there at present, but those who might join them in future." Early in the year 1845, the meeting for sufferings in London was seriously occupied with the consideration of how far it could beneficially interfere in bringing the suffering case of Friends in Norway before their own government. It was understood, that the propriety of granting a larger degree of toleration, was occupying the mind of the king of Sweden and Norway; and that of some other persons of influence in those countries. The late king had been visited by William Allen and Stephen Grellett, in the year 1818, when, in the address which they prepared and presented to him, they say, "We are deeply convinced that in proportion as the benign spirit of the Gospel is submitted to, in the hearts of men universally, it will lead to order, to subordination, and to peace in the earth; for, proceed- Entertaining a strong persuasion that the going from the source of infinite love, it produces vernment was very favorably disposed, and that nothing but good-will towards the whole human the subject of granting greater liberty to Dissentfamily; it teaches charity for those who differers was to be brought before the Storthing or from us; and, accordingly, the true church has been under persecution, at times, from the earliest ages, but has never persecuted. "He said, 'Your Friends cannot avenge themselves; all that their principles permit is, if possible to parry the blows which may be aimed at them; but they cannot, otherwise, defend themselves; they, therefore, have a double claim to protection;' and this, he assured me, they should have." Parliament which was to assemble at Christiania, in 1845, in the first month, the meeting for sufferings proceeded to prepare a full and strong, but respectful memorial on behalf of the Friends of Stavanger and other parts of Norway. The points adverted to in it were, The free liberty of public worship, of marriage, a reference to water baptism, exemption from oaths, and relief in the case of ecclesiastical demands. "We have been particularly gratified in being informed of thy disposition to grant liberty of conscience and indulgence to religious scruples; for as every man must give account of himself unto God; he is bound to perform worship in the manner which he is convinced, in his own mind, is most acceptable in the Divine sight; and we take the liberty to solicit thy kind protection of It is worthy of observation how the little body those who, though they may differ in sentiment of Friends in Norway, abiding faithful in their from the religion of the country, yet, by their allegiance to God and to his Christ, and being lives and conduct, give proof that their only ob- made willing to suffer for the testimonies given ject is to preserve a conscience_void of offence them to bear to the truths of the gospel, in meektoward God and toward men. It is by concen-ness and wisdom, was a means, under the Divine trating all the talent and all the good feeling blessing, of obtaining greater liberty of conscience 2 for the people generally. The following resolution of the Storthing, held at Christiania, and confirmed by the king, is a remarkable proof of it: "Law relating to those who profess themselves of the Christian Religion, without being members of the State Church. "Palace of Stockholm, 16th July, 1845. "WE, OSCAR, by the grace of God King of Sweden and Norway, of the Goths and Venders. "Make known, That the resolution of the Storthing, now regularly assembled, of the 4th of June of the present year, has been laid before us, of the following tenor: "S. 1. Dissenters, or such as profess themselves of the Christian religion, without being members of the State Church, have free public exercise of religion, within the bounds of law and propriety, and may form congregations under the directions of their own priests or elders. stated its birth-day, sex, and name, with the names of its parents. Dissenters who belong to a regular congregation, have, besides, within three months, under the same penalty, to inform their own priest or elder, as well of births and deaths, as of marriages entered into. entering into marriage, is to be held or made, under pain of fine, before the marriage is contracted in the before cited manner. "S. 6. Marriage between Dissenters becomes, by operation of the civil law alone, thus established that an instrument (or document) be drawn out before a public notary, in the place where the man or woman concerned resides, wherein they declare themselves married people. Before such can be granted, the above-named officer has to demand the same legal proofs as those the priest requires in a contract of marriage in the State church; yet no publication of bans is required, nor any proof of baptism, or of having received the Lord's Supper. The public notary has, within eight days, to give notice of the marriage entered into to the curate of the place where the married couple take up their "S. 2. The priests or elders, named in the abode. In accordance with the above cited regu preceding section, shall, before they are acknow-lation, no marriage, or any other act in use on ledged in such character, satisfy the civil magistrate of the place that they are accepted for (or approved of) by a certain community, and, besides, deliver in a written oath or affirmation to the same magistrate, (see section 10,) to the effect that they, in their office, will act according to the laws of the State, and be faithful to truth and duty; in which respect, they are subjected to similar guarantees as the officers of the State. "S. 8. Children of married people, one of They have to keep the registers, which are pre-whom belongs to the State church, are considered scribed by the king, with exactness, and which as belonging to it, unless the parents make an are to be exhibited when called for, for the in- express declaration to the contrary. Children spection of the magistrates. At the expiration of married people, who are both Dissenters, are of each year, they have to send to the magistrate regarded as not belonging to the State church, a list of the members of the congregation, and unless the parents make an express declaration the marriages, births and deaths, which have thereof. In the event of the parents living sepataken place in the course of the year. They are rate, or of their death, the person taking charge further obliged to give certificates, and commu- of the education of the children is to deliver a nicate to the magistrate explanations concerning valid declaration in this respect. their congregations, in like manner with the priests of the State church. "S. 7. Marriage, between a Lutheran and a Dissenter, is established by marrying in the State church; in which case, however, proof of the Dissenter's baptism, and his having received the Lord's Supper, is not required. "S. 9. Children who are not to be educated in the Lutheran religion, may, if desired, be ex"S. 3. Such as belong to Dissenting congre-empted from the instruction in it in the public gations (or churches) are exempted from other schools. But the director of the school, in taxes to the State church and its officers, than every case, is to see that the instruction of the tithes, and contributions or imposts attached to children, in regard to religion, is not neglected. the property whereof they may be in possession. "S. 10. They whose religious profession per"S. 4. Before any building is used by a Dis-mits not of oaths, under any form, shall, in those senting congregation for Divine service, the civil magistrate of the place must be informed. Divine service may not be held with locked doors. For transgression of any of the regulations, the priest, the elder, or he who has spoken (or lectured) in the meeting, is to be punished. "S. 5. Dissenters, whether they belong to a regular congregation or not, have to announce the births and deaths to the curate of the place, within a month after they have happened, under a fine of five specie dollars for every week that the announcement afterwards may be delayed. In the announcement of a child's birth, shall be cases where an oath is required, deliver a promise or affirmation in the manner the king may determine, which shall be esteemed as valid as if an oath were taken by them. They whose religious profession does not admit of their taking an oath in the form prescribed for members of the State church, shall take it in such form as the king may determine. "S. 11. Summonses or offices in the State church may not be given to dissenters. "S. 12. The taxes (or contributions) paid to the guardians of the poor, to schools, or other public institutions, in connexion with certain ec clesiastical acts, are to be participated in by Dis-, 15; the rescript of the 6th September, 1690, senters, in those cases where these ecclesiastical concerning professors of other religions; the reacts would have been performed for them, had script of the 7th of September, 1736; the rethey been members of the State church. If the scripts of 5th March and 2d April, 1745, rechurch or its officers receive any part in such lating to separatists; privileges of the 15th May, contributions, Dissenters are exempted from pay- 1747; ordinance of 19th September, 1766; proing this part. clamation of 23d December, 1771; assent of 31st January, 1772, concerning marriages with those of the Reformed religion; and royal resolution of 6th March, (circular of 27th March), 1813; also the regulations concerning professors of other (or strange) religions, contained in the church ritual of 28th July, 1685, chap, 9, is abolished. S. 13. The regulations of the State church, concerning rest and cessation from work on Sundays and its holidays, are also binding for Dis senters. "S. 14. If the Dissenters do not use the church-yards belonging to the State church, they are, however, subject both to the orders of police (for salubrity) respecting burials, and the further determination of the chief magistrate, with respect to the choice of the place of burial. "S. 15. In general, no one is acknowledged as having left the State church, before he, having attained the age of nineteen years, has personally appeared before the priest concerned, and announced his leaving it, for insertion in the minis-law. terial book. How far, in some cases, exception "Given at the palace of Stockholm, the 16th as to age, or postponement of confirmation, may take place, is to be decided by the king. "Finally are abolished the Norwegian laws, 6, 1, 1 to 6, and the order of police of October 22, 1701; 2d post, cap. 1, so far as the therein contained resolutions are in opposition to this "S. 16. When a Dissenter will go over to the State church, he must apply to a minister. If he be not baptized, he must go through the ceremony, according to the appointment of the ritual for the baptism of adults. In the contrary case, it is sufficient that the person concerned satisfy the priest, in conjunction with two assistants of the parish and another clergyman, that he has a satisfactory knowledge of the doctrine of the State church; and that their witness hereof, as well as the concerned party's declaration, that he will go over to the State church, be entered in the ministerial book. "S. 17. Every one who seeks by inducements opposed to general good order; by promises of temporal advantage; by fraudulent means; or by threats, to bring over any one from one religious profession to another, is, so far as the action does not involve any higher punishment, to be punished with fine; and in case of repetition, with imprisonment and fine. law. "And we have accepted and affirmed, as we hereby do accept and affirm, this resolution as of July, 1845. Under our hand and the seal of "OSCAR." (To be continued.) THE ARTS BEFORE THE FLOOD. The period referred to in the heading of this paper is so remote in the historical existence of the globe, and the records that have descended to this time are so scanty and so brief, that it would be unreasonable to expect that much could be gathered now, relative to the arts before the Flood. The early portion of the holy Scriptures is the only trustworthy source of information open to us; all that tradition can legitimately do is to corroborate. From that source we learn that the antediluvians had not simply discovered useful inventions, but had even entered the domain of the fine arts. While they cultivated the soil for their support, and built cities for their accommodation and comfort, they had the sweet strains of music, instrumental as well as vocal, to relieve their leisure, and cheer their solitary hours. "S. 18. As far as no exception is made, either In preparing this article, we have drawn freely in the regulations of the fundamental law, or in on a work by Dr. Kitto-a gentleman whose the present law, the different Christian profes-name, as a writer on biblical themes, is celebrasions of faith involve no difference in duties or rights, whereof, for an example, it is a consequence, that, on the one side, no religious profession can exempt from military service; and on the other hand, the regulations which make heirship, allodiality, or any other rights dependent upon baptism, shall not be to the prejudice of those Dissenters, by whom the rite of baptism in general, and the christening of children in partieular, is not acknowledged. "S. 19. By the present law is abolished, that of the statutes of Christian 5th, 2 s., laying a prohibition on the free exercise of religion out of the established worship; the same statutes, 2, 18, ted over the Christian world. The "Pictorial Bible," a work published several years since, met with a very favorable reception, and commanded an extensive sale. The "Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature," (Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh,) an invaluable book to students, followed, and we believe was also successful. A couple of years ago Dr. Kitto projected a series of volumes, several of which have been published by Messrs. Oliphant & Son, Edinburgh, possessing the same general character, but cast in a more popular mould. This must not be understood as a reproduction of his former works-it is entirely new, and is a most valuable addition to our sacred lit |