MONTHLY NOTICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

ALTHOUGH an apparent calm has succeeded to the storm by which Paris has been recently agitated, it is a calm, on the continuance of which no dependence can be placed. The city, or rather the unhappy country of which that city is the capital, stands, as it has been observed, upon the crater of a heaving volcano; and, at any moment, the whole social edifice may be overwhelmed by the fiery torrent. Political arrangements made during the roar of fire-arms, can scarcely be regarded as likely to be permanent, or if permanent, to be satisfactory. "The sword," says a French newspaper, "is at present in the sheath; but it might be drawn, and the point placed on the heart of the republic." Should a military despotism indeed follow the late scenes of revolutionary violence, such a state of things would be in entire accordance with the ordinary progress of national events under similar circumstances; and in such a case, it would probably be felt that the rule of the royal sceptre had been ill exchanged for that of the general's sword.

Upon the future, however, as it respects France, it is useless to speculate. From her history, we may learn many important lessons; her future destinies are in the hands of Him who doeth according to his own will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.

From the contemplation of disturbed and restless France, we turn, naturally, and surely it should be gratefully, to the consideration of the state of affairs in our own country.

"Such," said Mr. Canning, as he gazed upon the noble line-of-battle ships in Plymouth harbour, "such as is one of these magnificent machines when springing from inaction to the display of its might; such is England herself, while, apparently passive and motionless, she silently concentrates the power which is to be put forth on an adequate occasion."

Such an occasion occurred on the 10th of April last; and England on that memorable day displayed her power. Under the blessing of Divine Providence, the display, on that single day, was enough; she

was not called upon to use her strength; that noble demonstration sufficed and the dangerous crisis past, the ringleaders of the misguided multitude were thenceforth left to be dealt with according to the ordinary process of law. The result may well be regarded as matter of thankfulness. The trials for sedition recently concluded, have been attended by no popular excitement; and the general acquiescence in the justice, or rather in the lenity, of the sentences respectively pronounced upon Ernest Jones and his accomplices, affords abundant proof that with the bulk of the religious and loyal population of England, Chartism finds no favour. "Fear God, and honour the king," is an injunction still held in respect by the people of this Christian land; nor need it be doubted, that the pure principles of religion, publicly professed, and by the blessing of God, to a great degree individually and practically recognized in Protestant England, have been the salt which, notwithstanding many national sins, has preserved her from the destructive influences which in neighbouring countries have levelled thrones, and broken down time-honoured institutions.

The PROTESTANTISM of England has pre-eminently distinguished her for above three hundred years; and during that period she has risen to an unexampled height of national greatness. To lure her from that pure faith, under the influence of which she has risen to the position of a "Queen among the nations," is the natural, as it is, indeed, the avowed purpose of the Romanists of the present day; a purpose, alas! but too successfully promoted by some who profess Protestant principles; and even remain, as yet, within the pale of our Scriptural church. It is surely then the part of England to guard well the jewel committed to her care. While the adherents of the Romish faith are making imposing displays of their increasing power and influence-displays, such as that which lately took place on occasion of the opening of the Popish cathedral in Southwark; when stoled priests, and mitred bishops—

"swept gorgeously in long array”—

let England exert herself to lay, broad and strong, the deep foundations of Christian truth, by the wide circulation of the Scriptures, and by the extension of Christian education. Good may thus come out of evil; and the proselyting efforts of the Romanists may tend, by quickening the energies of Protestant Christians in their work, to further the spread of Scriptural truth, and to promote the best interests of the masses of our population.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARY MAP OF THE WORLD; Coloured: to show the prevailing State of Religion in the several Countries; and containing all the Stations mentioned in "THE MISSIONARY GUIDE BOOK." Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, Fleet Street, London.

THE MISSIONARY GUIDE BOOK; or A Key to the Protestant Missionary Map of the World. Showing the Geography, Natural History, Climate, Population, and Government of the several Countries to which Missionary efforts have been directed; with the Moral, Social, and Religious Condition of their Inhabitants. Also the Rise and Progress of Missionary Operations in each Country. Illustrated by Forty-five wood-cuts, representing the Costume of each People. London Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, Fleet Street.

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THE MISSIONARY GUIDE BOOK, with the MAP to which it is a Key, supplies a want which has long been felt by those who are interested in the condition and progress of Christian Missions. The great object of the work is, as the able compiler states, "to make Missionary Intelligence more accessible than heretofore it has been, to all classes of the Christian community." The delineation of missionary character, and the details and results of missionary labour, embraced by this volume, are derived from the most authentic sources, and are well calculated to afford to readers who may desire information on such subjects, a comprehensive view of the actual condition and spiritual wants of the great family of mankind. The Statistical Tables, as it is stated, have been compiled "with great care" from the Annual Reports of the different Missionary Societies.

THE MAP is so coloured as to show the average proportion of Heathenism, Mohammedanism, Popery, and Protestantism, now existing in the world. To give the exact proportions on such a Map, would, of course, have been impracticable. The best authorities have beea consulted; and the information conveyed is probably as accurate as the most sedulous care on the part of the compiler could render it.

The value of such a work as this MISSIONARY GUIDE BOOK, is much greater than a mere glance at its title-page might lead the reader to suppose. In addition to its accounts of missionary labours, it exhibits comprehensive and accurate views of the geography, climate, natural, and political history of the countries of which it treats; supplying, on these and kindred subjects, a mass of most interesting, and in some instances, original information. In short, far from presenting a mere collection of statistical facts and observations, bearing upon the actual state and future prospects of the different Christian Missions now established in various parts of the earth, the volume before us is a work replete with general knowledge of a very interesting and attractive species.

As affording a fair specimen of the style and character of this work, we quote the following passage from a chapter treating of the "Social Habits and Manners" of the Indians of North America :

"In point of intellect, the mental faculties of the American savage are displayed in a remarkable degree. He shows a decided superiority over the uninstructed labourer in a civilized country, the energies of whose mind are benumbed amid the daily round of mechanical occupation. The Indian spends much of his time in arduous and difficult enterprises, where much contrivance is needed, and from which he must often extricate himself by presence of mind and ingenuity. His senses, particularly those of seeing and smelling, acquire a very great strength and acuteness; and in his wanderings, he gathers a minute acquaintance with the geography of the countries he traverses. He can even draw a rude outline of them by applying a mixture of charcoal and grease to prepared skins; and on seeing a regular map, he soon understands its construction, and readily finds out places. He easily finds his way through the forests, by merely observing the different aspect of the trees or shrubs when exposed to the north or to the south; as also, the position of the sun, which he can point out when hidden by clouds. Other faculties of a higher order are improved and strengthened by the scenes amid which the savage life of these Indians is spent. Embassies are constantly passing from one tribe to another, and develop in an extraordinary manner their powers of oratory. On every emergency, a council of the tribe is called; when the chiefs make long and eloquent speeches, prefacing each separate part of their discourse by delivering a string or belt of wampum (prepared skin) on which is figured a rude sketch of the substance of the debate. . . . These belts of wampum supply the place of books in some degree, as they have no written or pictorial mode of expressing themselves on paper; the absence of which, however, is supplied in a great measure, by their extremely retentive memory. ... The two principal languages of the Indians are the Delaware, and the Iroquois; and all the others are dialects of these. In things relating to common life, their languages are remarkably copious; but they are very deficient in expression in a general point of view. Before the labours of the Missionaries among them, they had no terms to express spiritual things; but since the Gospel has been preached among them, their language has gained much in this respect.

Their language is figurative in the highest degree, and full of images addressed to the senses. Ambassadors sent from one tribe to another to propose peace, would say, 'We rend the clouds asunder, and drive away all darkness from the heavens, that the Sun of Peace may shine with brightness over us all.'

“But the most prominent object of the savage American Indian's pursuit and passion is his warfare. Until he is brought under the dominion of the Prince of Peace, this is what presents him under the darkest aspect, and renders him more like a fiend than a man. The Indians love war, and glory in its deeds; but what keeps alive the hostilities existing between the tribes, is their spirit of revenge. Every Indian who falls into the power of an enemy, must have his ghost appeased by a victim from that hostile race; thus, one contest brings on another, and they are remarkable for concealing their passions, and waiting for a convenient opportunity of gratifying them. They often torture their victims most cruelly; and in these horrid spectacles, it is shocking to think, that the women take as active a part as the men; in short, their whole warfare is most savage and merciless; commencing with their wild and fierce war-dance, and accompanied with shouts and yellings the most terrific."

Although the native Indians of North America have neither priests, temples, nor idols, they possess such a belief in the existence of an unseen and spiritual world as powerfully influences their conduct. They firmly believe, that there is a life beyond the grave; and they entertain some notions, though by no means exalted ones, of the nature of the unknown land to which they hope to be transported after death. These notions, indeed, include no more, than the expectation of the prolongation of their present life and enjoyments, under more favourable and attractive circumstances. In that better land the sun shines for ever in unclouded brightness; the forests abound with deer; the lakes and rivers with fish; wives are always faithful and affectionate, and children always dutiful. Such is the heaven to which these poor heathen look forward; nor are their ideas of “The Great Spirit," "The Master of Life," of a purer or more exalted nature. The North American Indian, too, it should be remembered, presents, perhaps, upon the whole, as favourable a specimen as can be found upon earth of the heathen character.

Surely when we bear these things in mind, and observe, that of the Map which accompanies this valuable volume, the larger portion exhibits the black hue of heathenism-to say nothing of those countries which are overshadowed by the gross darkness of Mohammedanism, or enslaved by the errors and delusions of Popery-we must rejoice in every endeavour to plant the cross in these benighted regions; we must unite in the author's prayer, "that it may please God to call forth among us