Shortly after, her opinions on public theatres underwent a change; and, as she has herself stated in the preface to the third volume of her works." she did not consider the stage in its present state as becoming the appearance or countenance of a Christian; on which account she thought proper to renounce her dramatic productions, in any other light than as mere poems." In 1785, Miss More wrote a biographical preface to the poems of Ann Yearsley, the milk-woman, a person by whom she was subsequently treated with singular ingratitude, and which led to some bitter satirical attacks; a collection of the controversy on which would form an octavo volume. In 1786, she published "Florio, a Tale for Fine Gentlemen and Fine Ladies;" and the "Bas Bleu, two poems;" and in 1786," Slavery," a poem. Her first prose publication was "Thoughts on the Importance of the Manners of the Great," printed in 1788; and followed, in 1791, by her "Estimate of the Religion of the Fashionable World," both of which attracted considerable attention. About the same time, she wrote a series of cheap" Tales of the Common People," one of the most popular of which was "The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain." In 1793, she published "Village Politics," in 12mo.; and after retiring about this period from the school at Bristol, to a residence at Mendip, she actively employed herself in establishing schools in that rude mining district. In 1793, she published, "Remarks on the Speech of M. Du Pont in the National Convention, on Religion and Education." In 1799, appeared her "Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education;" a work which so greatly confirmed her already high character as a preceptress, that, when the education of the Princess Charlotte of Wales became a subject of serious attention, her advice and assistance were requested by Queen Charlotte. Her ideas on the subject were afterwards given to the world, under the title of "Hints towards forming the Character of a Young Princess," 2 vols. 8vo. 1805. In 1809, appeared in 2 vols. 8vo., her "Calebs in search of a Wife." The title of this work was attractive, and the subject captivating, especially to young persons; and it was seasoned throughout with a happy vein of sarcasm, which enlivened the conveyance of its graver morals. There were no less than ten editions in less than one year. Her chief subsequent productions were: "Practical Piety, or the Influence of the Religion of the Heart on the Conduct of Life," 2 vols., 1811; "Christian Morals," 2 vols., 1812; "Essay on the Character and Writings of St. Paul," 2 vols., 1815; and "Moral Sketches of Prevailing Opinions and Manners, Foreign and Domestic, with Reflections on Prayer." The collection of her works is comprised in eleven octavo volumes. Few persons have enjoyed a higher degree of public esteem and veneration than Mrs. Hannah More. Early in life she attracted general notice by a brilliant display of literary talent, and was honoured with the intimate acquaintance of many highly eminent individuals. But she quitted in the prime of her days the bright circles of fashion and literature, and devoted herself to a life of active Christian benevolence, and to the composition of various works having for their object the religious improvement of mankind. Her practical conduct beautifully exemplified the moral energy of her Christian principles. She was the delight of a widely-extended sphere of friends, whom she charmed by her mental powers, edified by her example, and knit closely to her in affection by the warmth and constancy of her friendship. Mrs. More, is said to have realized upwards of 30,000l. by her writings. Her charitable bequests amount to upwards of 10,000. RAJAH RAMMOHUN ROY. Sept. 27, 1833-At Stapleton Park, the residence of Dr. Lant Carpenter, near Bristol, the Rajah Rammohun Roy. This learned Brahman, who, during his sojourn in this country has attracted a large portion of public attention, was the son of Ram Hant Roy. His grandfather resided at Moorshedabad, and filled some important offices under the Moguls; but being ill-treated by them towards the end of his life, his son took up his abode in the district of Bordouan, where he had landed property. There Rammohun Roy was born. After studying at Benares, and travelling to Persia and other countries of the East, he accepted employment under the East India Company, and attained the highest trust which could be enjoyed by a native, that of dewan, or revenue of ficer of the province of Rungpoor. Here he formed a friendship with Mr. Digby, a servant of the company, who assisted him in acquiring the English language. The body of Hindoo theology is comprised in the Veds, which are writings of very high antiquity, very copious, but obscure in style. Rammohun Roy translated them into the Bengalee and Hindoo language, for the benefit of his countrymen; and afterwards published an abridgment, for gratuitous and extensive distribution, of which he published an English translation in 1816. He subsequently printed, in Bengalee and in English, some of the principal chapters of the Veds. The father, Ram Hant Roy, died about 1804 or 5, having divided his property among his three sons. It was not long before Rammohun Roy became the only survivor; and he thereby possessed considerable property. From this period he appears to have commenced his plans of reforming the religion of his countrymen; and in the progress of his efforts to enlighten them, he must have expended large sums of money, for he gratuitously distributed most of his works which he published for the purpose. He now quitted Bordouan and removed to Moorshedabad, where he published in Persian, with an Arabic preface, a work entitled " Against the Idolatry of all Religions." No one undertook to refute this book; but it raised up against him a host of enemies, and in 1814 he retired to Calcutta, where he apapplied himself to the study of the English language both by reading and by conversation; and he also acquired some knowledge of Latin, and paid much attention to the mathematics. On directing himself to the Christian religion, Rammohun Roy found himself much perplexed by the variety of the doctrines which he found insisted upon; he resolved, therefore, to study the original Scriptures for himself; and for this purpose, he acquired the knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek languages. Becoming strongly impressed with the excellence and importance of the Christian system of morality, he published in 1820, in English, Sanscrit, and Bengalee, a series of selections, principally from the three first Gospels, which he entitled "The Precepts of Jesus, the Guide of Peace and Happiness." He passed by those portions of the Evangelists which have been made the basis of distinctive doctrines; and also (except where closely interwoven with the discourses of Christ) the narratives of miracles, believing these not fitted to effect the convictions of his countrymen. This work brought upon him some severe and unexpected animadversions in "The Friend of India." Under a designation of "Friend to Truth," Rammohun Roy published "An Appeal to the Christian Public in defence of the 'Precepts of Jesus';" in which he declares, "That the compiler believed, not only in one God, whose nature and essence is beyond human comprehension, but in the truths revealed in the Christian system." Dr. Marshman, of Serampore College, also published a series of animadversions, which led to a very remarkable reply from Rammohun Roy, with his name prefixed, which is distinguished by the closeness of his reasoning, the extent and critical accuracy of his Scriptural knowledge, the comprehensiveness of his investigation, the judiciousness of his arrangement, the lucid statement of his own opinions, and the acuteness and skill with which he controverts the position of his opponents. His long-formed purpose to visit Europe, and England in particular, seems to have been suspended by legal proceedings, which were instituted for the purpose of depriving him of caste, and thereby of his patrimonial inheritance; but which, at an immense expense, and by means of his profound acquaintance with the Hindoo law, he eventually defeated. At length, the Emperor of Delhi having given him, by firman, the title of Rajah, he embarked for England, where, shortly after his arrival, he was presented to his Majesty by the President of the Board of Control, and had a place assigned to him at the Coronation among the ambassadors. While in London he was present at several anniversary dinners, and other public meetings; and repeatedly attended the worship of the Unitarians, at their different chapels in or near the metropolis. It was, however, his system to avoid so far identifying himself with any religious body, as to make himself answerable for their act sand opinions; and be also wished to hear preachers of other denominations, who had acquired a just celebrity. The Rajah died of a fever, accompanied by inflammation of the brain. In consequence of a dread of further attacks on the property and the caste of his children, on the part of his bigoted countrymen, in case his body should have been deposited in a Christian cemetery, it was silently interred, October 18, within the precincts of Stapleton Grove. It is added that, so soon as he thought himself seriously ill, he called his native servant, Ram Rotton, to him, and directed him to closely observe all his actions, that he might on his return to India testify to his countrymen that he had never changed his religion, or lost his caste. FERDINAND VII., KING OF SPAIN. Ferdinand VII., King of Spain and the Indies, son of Charles IV., and of Maria Louisa of Parma, was born in the Palace of St. Ildefonso, on the 14th of October, 1784; consequently, at his demise, (September, 1833,) he had not quite completed his 49th year. At the age of six, he was proclaimed Prince of the Asturias. On the 19th of March, 1808, upon the abdication of his father (who lived till the 19th of January, 1819,) he ascended the throne. Six or seven years previously to this, Godoy, the Prince of Peace, undertook to bring about a marriage between Ferdinand and a Princess of England; but the rupture with Britain put a stop to the negotiation, and a double alliance was concluded between the heir of Spain, with his cousin, Maria Antoinette, daughter of Ferdinand IV., King of the Two Sicilies, and between the Prince Royal (now King of the Two Sicilies) and the Princess Maria Isabella, of Spain. The marriage took place in 1802. Ferdinand was devotedly attached to his wife; but she was hated by the King and Queen of Spain; and, after a life spent chiefly in melancholy retirement, she died childless, suddenly, and not without suspicion of poison. Godoy proposed, as a second wife for Ferdinand, a French lady of the house of Beauharnois; but the Prince refused the connexion. It was not until the year 1816, that King Ferdinand again married. He was then united to his own niece, the Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John VI. She died on the 26th of December, 1818; and, in 1819, he married his third wife, Maria Josephine, daughter of Prince Maximilian of Saxony. Her Majesty died on the 17th of May, 1829. Shortly afterwards, he married his surviving Queen, Maria Christina, (born April 27th, 1806,) third daughter of Francis I., present King of the Two Sicilies, and consequently, niece of Ferdinand. By her, he had a daughter, Donna Isabella, in favour of whose succession he obtained the sanction of the Cortes. Ferdinand's eldest brother, Carlos Maria Isidore, was born on the 29th of March, 1788; and he married, on the 29th of September, 1816, the Infanta Maria Frances, daughter of John VI. of Portugal; by whom he has three sons, the eldest of whom is in his sixteenth year. MARSHAL JOURDAN. Nov. 23.-At Paris, aged 71, Marshal Jourdan, Governor of the Hotel des Invalides. In 1790, he became Captain of ChasKkk seurs in the National Guard of his native town. In 1791 he commanded a battalion of volunteers of Haute-Vienne, which he led to the army of the North, and distinguished himself under Dumourier in the campaign of Belgium. His military talents were appreciated; and, in May, 1793, he obtained the rank of General of Brigade. In 1794 he was advanced to the command of the army of the Moselle. At the head of these troops he gained the victory of Fleurus, and planted his colours on the Rhine from Coblentz to Cleves. In the succeeding year he crossed the Rhine, and maintained the war with various success till 1796. In 1797 he started in his political career, having been nominated to the Council of Five Hundred. On the 18th Brumaire he was among those who foresaw the ambitious views of Bonaparte, and who acted on the reserve. The Emperor eyed him with disfavour, but he eventually rendered justice to his deserts and his unbending integrity. In 1802 he was called to the Council of State; the year succeeding saw him at the head of the army of Italy: and on the memorable 19th of May, 1804, he was created a marshal; but on the breaking out of the Austrian war (1805) he was superseded by Massena, an indignity of which he complained. In 1806 he governed Naples under Joseph Bonaparte; ard in 1808 he accompanied that personage in to Spain as his major-general. In the latter post Marshal Jourdan was overwhelmed with disgust, and his counsels were met with contempt, by the courtiers who surrounded the King of Spain; he demanded and obtained his recall at the close of 1809.— However, when the Russian campaign was decided, to his chagrin he was sent back to Spain, where he conducted the inglorious retreat from Madrid, and was at length overwhelmed in the ruin of Vittoria. Jourdan had already the reputation of having sustained more defeats than any other French general; but this last threw all his former ill success into the shade. Jourdan retired to Paris. There he quietly watched the declining fortunes of his master; after whose abdication he received a command from Louis. When Bonaparte returned from Elba, Jourdan retired into the country. He was one of the first to recognise the authority of Louis after the second restoration. In 1817 he was placed over the seventh military division, and in the year following, was admitted among the new peers. During the first days of the revolution of July, he was called to the ministry for Fo reign Affairs, but the men of the next day came in, and he willingly surrendered to them his place. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Governor of the Invalids, where he made himself as beloved by the aged warriors under his care as he had been by the soldiers when he was in the army. Marshal Jourdan was the last representative of the military glories of the Republic. "Jourdan is a poor general," said Napoleon, at St. Helena; "but he possessed the virtues, rare among his competitors, of honour, integrity, and humanity.” FOR THE FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH VOLUMES OF THE AMERICAN ANNUAL REGISTER: A. Acts of Congress- Relating to the navy and naval ser- vice, vol. v. 205. vii. 330. Relating to the army, v. 228. 229. Relating to pensions and pensioners, 207. 218. 221. 225. 227. 228. 229. Relating to the judiciary, v. 215. 218. To regulate the commercial inter- Relating to revolutionary soldiers, v. Relating to repeal of tonnage duties, v. Relating to copy rights, vi. 203. ted States and Denmark, v. 210. vi. 211. 217. vii. 335. viii. 403. 409. Relating to the United States Road, Bank of U. S., v. 147. vii. 69. viii. 21. vi. 217. Exclusion of the House of Brazil. Treaty with, v. 33. |