202 2)tuerizala Vuoiltitcriitia -AN D-- GENESEE EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1862 ZORN W. MEARS. SHALL THE NORTH BE UNITED ? WITH an earnest and united North the sue• oess of the Southern Rebellion is impossible. Nine millions of people can never withstand twenty-two millions, when both are essentially of the same race, and when the minority is superior to the majority, neither in pecuniary resources, nor in any of the materials of war, If it is right even to speak of the possibility of the dismemberment and disintegration of this noble Republic, and the construction out of its ruins of a great slave oligarchy in the South, it can only be predicated . upon such a serious di vision of sentiment in the loyal States as will cripple their resources, and 'constrain them to put forth in the struggle but a small fraction of their strength. ' But, if this is true, what shall we say of those who are working, either designedly or uninten tionally:to produce just this result, who write and speak so as to destroy all confidence in our National administration who denounce its policy as both , puerile and utterly inefficient, boldly charge our rulers as seeking in everything they do their own personal elevation to positions of influence and power, and unhesitatingly declare that a revolution at home, must precede any de cided victories abroad ! Are not such men guilty of treasonable conduct ? Do they not give aid and comfort to the , enemy*? If their speeches and newspaper articles renal the South do they. not nerve the arm o' every rebel, and revive hope in many a ‘ bosom where it was ready to perish ? We , would- not be understood, in this, as con demning a kind and yetfaithful criticism both of public men and their acts. . We have no purpcse in what we are now writing, to muzzle the press, even in these days of extremest national peril ? But between kind criticism , and stark denunci ation, faithful expostulation, and malignant fault finding is there no difference ? Is a calm argu ment to open the eyes of our rulers to the fact that they have adopted a wrong policy, the same thing as to exhaust in their abuse the whole, cat alogue' of opprobrious epithets ? To tell the people that the administration has not always been wise, and that our good pilot, called to steer our notional ship in an unknown sea, has not always turned the helm in the direction that 'he should, is that all one with saying that he has "not an element • for leadership, not one particle of heroic enthusiasm," and that in our present position of danger, we " must cease looking any more to our Government.? " The true libeirty of speech and the prens does not demand that such language shoulti be allowed. And yit how much of it have we of late seen and heard, and that too from some quarters little antic ipated. , . That. such a man as Wendell Phillips, and the small class he represents, should at length be found uttering the fiercest invectives against our national administration, is not perhaps to be wondered at. • We were always distrustful of the loyalty of these men, and supposed that for con tinuance it would be like "the morning cloud and the early dew." Men who before the war could find no language strong enough to express their hatred of our Constitution, could hardly have been expected to support a war that was institu ted for its maintenance, or to cherish any kindly feeling toward an administration that did n'ot at ones ignore all its provisions. Nor still again, were we at all, surprised that recently in calling his people together to pray for our President, Dr. Cheever,•should be reported as employing language like this : "We must continue praying until our President's deaf ears are unstopped. When above all the thundlrings of the Border States he too will hear the voice of God " Let my people go." The President must no longer fight against God, to placate the Border States." After listening, some months since, to a sermon from this divine, upon the pas sage of Scripture just quoted, which contained a long comparison between Mr. Lincoln and Pha roah—by no means favorable to the former,—few utterances on this point, however intemperate, could astonish us. But, as we have already intimated, such senti ments and language have, of late. appeared in un expected quarters. :Until the recent repulse of our army before Richmond, the course , of the. Independent has, under the editorship of Mr. Beecher, been pre eminently loyal. Indeed, no, more eloquent reprover of the spirit we now condemn could be found in the land, than this' weekly. It exhorted men to. forget all minor` differences in their earnest efforts to maintain the integrity of the 'Union. It bade us all, in burning words, seek first the preservation Of our' GovernMent, and in the presence of supreme danger, " even to waive our principles." It was ever ready to aptak of our President in words of' kindness, and when freely criticising, as it al ways did, his policy, its mode of doing it clearly indicated its sincere friendithip: Take a few sen tences, as examples : " The great duty now is to, Maintain a united North., No event can be more sure than the victory of this Government over the slaveholders' conspiracy, if the loyal States are united. But if secret feuds or open factions shall divide and paralyze the popular feeling, the cause will fail, tr succeed only after long, and wasting, and - useless expenditures. * * * " We do not yield our principles, because we waive them in the presence of supreme danger. First keep the ship from sinking, then hold council how to steer her." Aye, more, so exceeding jealous was then this journal of everything that might by any possibility divide the loyal States, that noticing the absence of the name of Governor Andrews, of Massachusetts, from that list of eighteen Governors who requested the President to call upon the several States for an increase of our army,.and supposing the absence designed, it took upon itself the task of ministering to that functionary a deserved - rebuke. We quote its language " THE NORTE( .MUBT BE UNITED.' " States must not allow themselves to make conditions with the Government. If Governor Andrew, whose name we do not find among the Governors who petition the President, (lemmas for Massachusetts certain political terms, then may Ohio and Pennsylvania, Between these in : compatible demands the Government will be kit powerless, aud rebellion will thrive." Alas I for the change that a few weeks have wrought in the spirit of this journal, and in the views of its editor. What could have produced it we know not. When, however, upon the great interests imperiled in this contest, we look and see that their danger was never before greater, so inopportune is this change, as to constrain us more in sorrow than in anger, "to repeat to that journal the words of the wise matt : "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is bcrn.for ad versity." In the very next issue to that from which we have quoted, there was commenced a series of editorial articles that have been continued in every subsequent number; and that we unhesita tingly pronounce as most dangerous to the peace and unity of the North. In these articles the Administration has been condemned severely and unsparingly. They have pronounced it im becile, and entirely inadequate to meet 'the exi gencies of the times. They have denounced all our leaders, both civil and military, as " no lead ers, as unworthy and incompetent." Five of the members of President Lincoln's cabinet they have accused of shaping all their policy with a view to the next Presidency. They speak of the voluntary withdrawal"of Fremont from the' -ac tive duties of the field, as . if he hat been offi cially-set aside; and boldly declare that this was done " for the sake of politicians, and:of jealois technical officers whom God never made generals, and of whom,' therefore, West Point could only make engineers." They bid us ceaselooleing any more to our Government for deliverance in this hour of peril, and even dare to insinuate that the time is coming, when our rulers "fugitives from our proud capital, it will be left to the Great Pea= ple, taking up the despairing work, to etrryit forth to victory." Do we at all misrepresent the spirit and teaching of this journal - The follow ing are among its most recent utterances: Editar. " This great conflict, thus far, has been, itt every proper and honorable sense, a Campaign of the Common People without a Leader. Fie mont had the qualities which win confidence and fire the people's heart with enthhsiasm. But in the sight of five men, each one of whom intend ed to be the next 'President of a' country which their timid and sluggish policy bids fair to put out of existence before the next Presidential election, this was an unpardonable fault. Be has been laid aside for the sake of politicians and of jealous technical officers, whom G6d never made Generals, and of whom, therefore, West Point could make only Engineers." '' * * " Mr. Lincoln is.a good, man : a considerate, prudent, honest politician. But not a spark of genius has he; not an element for Leadership; not one particle of heroic enthusiasm. 'the peo ple long to twine about him. NeVer was such op portunity. No man since the world beg . aVos had circumstances thronging about him,: ufilor ing, demanding him to be Great, who has,shown such singular self-denial. While he considers, Events are moving. * * * * * * * * But we must cease look*, any more to Go vernment, we must turn to ourselves. A time may be near when the people will be called' to act with prudence and courage beyond all pre= cadent. After strength has been' frittered , away' in mending the manhood of Border-State eunuchs, and reverses have come, and our` rulers are'fugitives from the proud Capital, should they deem the task of maintaining the sanctity and integrity of the national soil hopeless, then this Great People, moving through all their states, may yet be called to take up the despairing work and carry it forth to victory ! The People must have the Leaders. As yet, they have riot found them !" Can anything more , effectually weaken ,, t,he faith of the people in our national administration, than such language? Does it not quench that patriotic zeal that burning in many a youthful bosom makes it look to the now decimated ranks of our army, as its place of glory and duty Would any father believing in the truthfulness of such utterances, give his son to 'this struggle, or any son, in the same faith separate himself frem the quiet endearments of home ? Should a copy , of the journal from which the above extracts are made, by any possibility, pass beyond the lines of our army and reach the capital of the rebellion, would they not prove sweet morselsvf comfort to our enetny and be reprinted in every Southern paper 7 We do not Mean to charge The Independetut" with any intention to distract and divide the North. Of purpose, we do not believe that it would be guilty of any such thing. But in re ality, is it not doing this? Is not this the direct, tendency of that whole series of editorial articles whip]) have recently appeared in its columns, in large, type and leaded ? We cannot doubt it. In its relation to our national administration " The luchpendent" is in a position precisely similar to that which the Epbesianshurch sus• tained to Christ in the time of John. It has left its first love. And we know of no more fitting exhortation with which, to address it, than those words of the Apostle to that fallen church " member therefore from. whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works. " Was have no purpose—in thus criticising the editorial's of our cotemporary—to defend, or, even to expresti any opinion as to the widow of 'the policy adOpted by our National Administra tion. It is possible that it may, be too timid and too slow, and ,. that it: follows. too tardily the plain indications of Providence. Nor, with the press that should in the spirit of kindness say this, should we have any quarrel. Yet even here we cannot refrain. from a passing reference to the groat fact, that the possession of pOwer--" if there be any nobleness of character on which to work, always leads to a moderation, in Its exercise, which is not attained by even better men in inferior stations: " When Oliver Crodwell came to wield the fewer of Church and State, he WAS toleraut to a degree which his humbler followers were incapable of imitating or understanding. And had" Mr. Lincoln remained in Springfield, a quiet lawyer, we are not sure but that he would have unhesitatingly. condemn ed the very policy which now, as the President of the United States, he pursues. Moreover, what careful observer of the public acts of the Administration, and of the great events that are almost daily transpiring iu this country, can fail to see that they are all grad ually, but certainly tending to that very con summation that some would immediately precipi-. tate. God has been leading us to that goal unitedly and harmoniously. The progress that in a single year we have made towards it is won derful. Let us not fall out by the way, or be in any undue haste, and we shall finally reach it. One great danaer of failure is division among ourselves. That patriotism which we now most need in all the loyal States, is like that whielt Macaulay in his'' Lays of Ancient Rome" tells' us existed in the days of kloratius.. "Then none NVFIS for a party ; Then all were for the. btate ; * * * * ** * The Romans were like brothers In tlye brave days of old." prolitttian and &mote (tranpliot. REVIVAL NEEDED NOW. THE loud caff of the hour is for. an exten sive spiritual revival. No peril of the times is, in its remote effect, so fearful, as that which grows out of the widely prevalent spiritual. de clension. After a few days, a large, and proba bly the most influential part of• our young men, will be . amid the scenes 'of war. Their spiritual state,•both while abroad, and on their return, will be deeply'affected by the tone of piety in the churches at home. Among these young men are many who go forth with the views of God upon them. In the well-ordered covenant, they have been consecra ted to him, and they have grown- to manhood under the holy -influences of a religious home and a Christian sanctuary. Some of them are com municants in our churches, teachers in our Sab. bath Schools, active participants in , our prayer meetings, and generous workere our' associa tions for Christian effort. Others of them, with out having as yet afforded evidence of fitness for death, still possess high' moral sense, and have lived thus far irreproachable outward lives. We believe that enough of this class have gone, and are now going, to stamp the moral character of the army, 'as a whole, provided they can themselves walk unharmed amid the pollu ting tendencies of war. We believe this, whe ther they do or do not make a majority of the whole. We have a faith;in the power of a well sustained goodness over vice, ,which inspires the assurance that in any association, from the pi rate's den upward,.a calm, consistent and prayer ftil minority will in the end abash wickedness and secure respect for virtue. The chief inter est gathers around the question, will our virtu ous, arid especially our pious soldiers stand the shock:of this encounter with vice ? . Will they impress their moral characteristics upon all the scenes in which they bear a part,' and all the so ciety which -comes within reach`of their influence? Or will the prevalent aggressive power be-found on the side of those deep and loathsome corrup tions which have, in the main, been the eonewn itants of camp life?' , The issue. depends largely upon the state of religion in the churches at. home. From the prayers of a lifeless Christianity, .they have noth ing to hope: from .the spiritual sympathies and preyaler.t supplications of an awakened church, the only sufficient confidence in their steadfast ness must come. There is no reason in the nature of .their ser . vice, why their moral or religious character should suffer. They are not men who have sought war as a profession, or taken to camp life from pro pensity. They go forth to this strife on no prin ciple which involves approbation of war as such, or whichaffiliates with its brutalizing tendencies. They go at the call of duty—stern, inexorable, unwelcome duty—as much duty to God a.s to their country ; for under all the chturnstances, the triumph of this rebellion would not be-alone the defeat of the North, but the destruction-of the Government. To destroy Government, is to break the ordinance ofJleaven. The protection of this ordinance is the high cause to which our, soldiers have consecrated themselves, and such a consecration carries with it no necessity for the usual' bad-influence of war upon religion and mo ral character. Outside of the'less of direct spir itual influences, there' is no reason why the pions among them should not still lit'e in earnest am . munion with God, and 'thus make the religious element in the army to become an influence from which Satan will shrink as hcipeless of corruption, and-which will impress itself upon all the wild soldier life in every command. There is no rea son why couv'e,rsions should not go on—why imany of these whom we have sent forth as only amiable and moral; like the young man whom Jesus loved, should not return to us, if they re turn at all, with renewed hearts„ But we have no expectation of this, if the vi tal and praying Christianity of the land is to sub mit to a state of suspense until this all-engrossing strife for national existence .is at an end. The most terrible calamity which can befall our sol diers, is the loss of a r3vived and praying church • s. at. Mine. We mean a church that prays, not alonelor the success of their enterprise, but for their Souls and that does it with such prayer and supplication as Gad is ace astomerlto hear. At thig. moment we see to hi . ..her peril of the war than the habit into which Christians and church+ are growing, of charging upon it our' spiritual delinquencies, and ever speaking as if no direct spiritual progress is to be expected under the excitement of the times. We.have never seen an lc when the church had so much to,, fear frail eh a nation. ,We have never seen the time when an earnest and highly spiritual religion was SO much needed as now. Let the active and holy influences of an availing religion fail our young men in the army, and thousands whom we sent away pure, refined, temperate, moral, and perhaps hopefully pions, will return pointed, foul-mouthed, debauched and lost to all the lovely things of life. No conflict between patriot and rebel will be more fearful „than the inevitable strife for conquest between religion and sin in every camp. Whichever flir ty is victor, leaves its, impression on the vanquish ed, inefFacable and eternal. In such an eneoun ter let our young soldiers fall, and the loss to the'. church and country, of their influence for good, is probably beyond redemption. Woe to all that is lovely and of good report, if, in the future, this land should be overrun by a returned sol diery, who went out from ua men, but returned demons ! To secure this, little is wanting but the de. parture of the Spirit from the church. Let the close of this war find the religion of the land all in torpor, and let our vast army, hardened by war vices, fall back upon dead churches and thriftless ministrations, and there be no living religious antagonism to the burning floods of wickedness which mark all their homeward track, and the ruin then to be feared, is more profound than the deepest yawning gulf of black secession, while, compared with the present political strife, the war orredemption will want mrs formonths, and of energies, thousands for one. We mean to speak in no despairing tone, of spiritual prospects:: we will never despair of doing good so long as Jesus is King and Head over an for his church. But, in perfect consistency with this trust, we fully believe that a general religious declension, at this time would be terri bly disastrous to the'immediate ftitive of this land. The American church has never before seen a time when the loss of warm religious en gagedness would be so wicked and so nearly fatal. No trumpet pealing of the hour is so stirring as that which summons every Christian in the land. to pray. " 0 LORD , REVIVE THY . WORK'!" HOME MISSIONARY LETTERS. WANT OF CHURCH EDIFICES. WE commend the following eases to the Church Extension Committee Says a Missionary in " You will be glad to:het ar?that my congrega tion is still on the increase; so much so, that we have had to enlarge our hall where.we worship, by taking down a partition wall. " A number of families, heretofore not in the habit of attending divine worship, have been steadily with us this summer, and listen to the truth with marked attention, bringing their chil dren with then', glad to place them under did in fluence of. the Sabbath School We greatly need a church edifice, but are not yet able to build." • WITHIN SIGHT OP NEW YORK, "We are , a feeble, eoznparatively stationary church, simply because of our straitened accom modations. Our church will seat 200—crowded, 250, ,and our seats are all rented except two .or three' undesirable ones. With suitable attrat"- tive accommodations we • might have been to day self-sustaining." MON lOWA. Mr. Carroll, of Wyoxii`kig, lowa, writes: " A week ago yesterday,'Cur church was dedi cated. It was a time long to be remembered by this community, especially by the little band that had so long and nobly struggled for , the comple tion of a suitable house of worship. Rev. Dr. Russell, of Bewin's Prairie, preached the sernion, the remaining part of the, dedicatory services were,conducted by the pastor. We now have a comfortable little brick church, 28x45, and it is paid for ! For being able to say so much, , we are in a large, measure indebted to the kindness and generosity of Sirs. of Pittsburg. :the church is an ornament to the town, andits beautiful little spire can be seen, fortunes around. This part—the spire—id the work of the ladies of this church "and secietv, and is a fit monument to their industry and 'benevolence. May this, church long stand, and may it prove an effective instrument in building up. a spiritual temple that shall rest 'upon the foundation:of the apostles and proplibts,Jesus Christ ‘ himself he ing the chief corner-stone."' ' ' , PATRIOTISM AND . THE WAR., Nearly all our, missionaries at the, West are suffering in consequence of the war. Yet all are patriotic and determined. Says one of them : " Our littleAmmiinity'has shown quite alla-" triotio interest during the last year. They have given about §l.OO 'in cash, which has been in vested almost solely in the purchase of cloth, yarn, and other materials for the soldiers—chiefly those in the hospitals—amithen, our ladies have ' , made up' these materials into shirts, drawers, slippers, stockings, bandages, etc. - I love to feel, that the •patriotism around me is energetic, and founded in ,true religious principle. Such patriotism is new needed:" - Another, a missionary in the neighborhood' of 'the` Missiasippi, deplores his losses as 'follows : "No churches suffer more by the war than the feeble churches of the West ProM theta . some of our best and most active men go. Wit God reigns, and he w i illiftitnily bring forth judg ment unto victory ." " Just no* there is great stir West, as East for new enlistments for the war. Recruiting is gait* on. Two companies departed from ',this place before. Both were in the battle at Pitts burgh Landing. Nothwithstauding the war, and deep agitations and sore trials, as a church we have endeavored to holdourway. Though, on . our nUmberS . have been depleted by the war, our ,congregations, Sabbath Schools, and our prayer meetings, average much as before." "The river being blockaded, makei busi ness dull, but we live in hopes and trust in God, that, he will interpose, axed stay the tide of war. " 44 EGYPI`IANS, And still another.says,: . --"Our church in C. suTers gr atly in consequence of so;many of our leading members being in the Army. One was instantly killed in the' battle of Pittsburg Land ing. Two others, both' elders, were severely wounded, in the same battle; and. Captain, act-, ing-Colonel B. is still confined at home from x. the effects of his wounds since that engagement. His brother was also wounded, but he has latelY returned to the army. qur soldiers 'Suffered' ter ribly in that bloody conflict. "The pressing call of our country will, no doubt, take many more of our brave. Egyptians into the field of battle. In this struggle for our national existence we are furnishing our best men oarfew church members mostly leaving us. But our prayers go With them, and are often, offered up to the throtie- of grace . for them. They are greatly needed at home, but still more urgently wanted " in the army. We who are left at home have," much to do—a double portion, in consequence of - their absence, being 'thrown upon our hands. May God grant as wisdom and grace to do our work wisely,' and well." 0118, TRUST Here 'is the opinion of judge for'many years a resident in the valley of the ~Missisippi, and alittouglikA "ruling "Instead of a "teachipg" elder, his words --- the Wads of eiober, causer- Valve and educated , - Christian, are worthy of being pondered. 134 says of the war '" My trust is not Halleck, or MoCleillua; or Stanton, or the President, or any other man— but in God ! Ido not believe he intends to give us over to destruction ; but I do .= belieVe that he intends to make an end of slavery; and that thigtiwar will last just so long as it, is, ne cesaary, to accomplish that purpose. And I. aut , about ready to say, if not in any other way, then let it be by blood! It may be that such a crime against High'Heaven as human slavery, . can only be expiated by lltaptbant of blood; and that the Almighty intends to give so signal an instance chastisement for this sin that it may be an example and warning to the nations, and a lesson that need not be repeated for all time to come." REV.'SAMUEL JESSO, of Montrose, Penna 4 son of Judge' JessuP;hasitesi,gned the chiplainEy of the 6th Regiment Nana'. Reserves and has been honorably discharged from the service of the United States, for the purpose of going as a mis sionary to• Syria. Mr. Jessup was under appoint ment by the A.merican Board,for Syria,when the re bellion broke out, and has been chaplain since that time. 'The demands of Syria at this time are such as to, make it necessary for him to leave _ immediately for that field. . Mr. Jessup follows ht brother, the Rev. EL H. Jessup now a missionary in Syiisr. THE NOON-DAY PRAYER MEETING. WE understand that the committee having charge of the Noon Day Prayer Meeting in San som Street Church, have publicly and resolutely removed the stringency which his been felt by those wishing to carry to the throne of grace the most important interests of the times. Prayers and addresses bearing unmistakably upon the : condition of the country and the necessities of the war, are henceforth 'to NI prominent in the exercises. In fact the meeting will probably be come chiefly a meeting for prayer in behalf of &he nation'and the soldiers of our army. This opening of a free door of utterance fer subjects with which every loyal Chrtitian heart burns, was demanded by the general sense of the meeting, and was cordially accepted by, the mass of its friends. Its < effects are already well marked bythe spirit of the exercises, and we confident. ly look for a proportionate increase in the atten dance. We expect that many ministers and others who, for some time past, have been pain fully exercised respectin g' their duty toward this meeting, will now feel their, hesitation happily relieved. 'We believe the spirit exists in Phila delphia Christianity to give one hour each day to, united : public prayer for the Government, and forthe, soldier fighting in the bloody field or suf fering in the hospital; and when than spirit is brought into action, then may we not look for a revival of the old days of the glorious noon-day prayer meeting • A PEEP. INTO CAMP. A smAyetrat sees more of us than we:do of ourselves ; and therefore, though Brother Stewart gratifies us all exceedingly .with his Camp Letters, so fresh, graphic, natural, and instructive, I venture a word additional con cerning a place, which, ere this reaches your readers, will'have fallen into the dusty oblivion of the historic past—Harrison's Landing, the Tor res Vedras of the 'America Peninsula. After the usual trials of , patience in finding the proper officers, and obtaining military passes at Baltimore, I found myself on board the splen did steamer, ,Georgianna, with a crowded deck and cabin. Here was a physician from New England in search of a dying son in the army. There was an Irishwoman going to her sick hus band. Most of the passengers were soldiers and officers joining' their regiments:' Among the latterwereseveral chaplains; some of whom af fecting the ordinary undress uniform, were not at all distingnishable from other officers. Sug gesting, to chaplains Hattin, Frocamb ,and ams, the propriety :of .a prayer-meeting, and're ceiving a hearty endorsement, permission was asked of -the captain,.and immediately granted: " I have not` heard a prayer, said he, since this war began : but I .try to pray myself. I was thrown an orphan boy in the world at ten years doge. I have seen death in every form; and have been preserved. No man has' more reason to be thankful to God , than myself. I. shall be very glad of the opportunity of your -meeting." I quote his words, as expressing a sentiment which •I have frequently heard expressed by the' better 'class of sea-faring men ; and which when properly 'cultivated, has resulted in such revivals a:g those in the Wabash. Our meeting Was 442'leply interesting: Two chaplains were so deep : . ly exercised by it, that they could not refrain from publicly sneering - B.nd blaming it after they had got their segars lighted, and steam- up, among, the crowd of lawyers on the steps of the Hygea, next morning at Fortress Monroe: • • Passing through another series of Provost Marshals' operations here, we embarked in the mail boat for thejamee 'river, amidst the most intense heat. A train" of gravel ears, closely covered' with sick soldiers, slowly moved offin the scorchine• sun. As I Watched them, the saying of an eccentric physician occurred to me, that, "It is very hard to kill a sick man." We soon neared Newport News, and passed the wrecks of the Cumber/and and Congress; marking the decline and fall of wooden navies, and the anni hilatioU of all maritime supremacy built Upon ' . Hearts of Oak.' Farther up we saw the ruins of the first church built on the Continent, near. Jamestown, of brick imported from England. The James river was all . alive with shipping; seheeners, stearners, tugs, gun-boats and trans ports of-all kinds.; but it.was the commerce of war. No signs of life and industry attracted the admiring eye of the yoyager, as on , the Hudson -or, theDelaware .. The plantatiens, once famous for• their tobacco, which, in the incipiency =of paper meney, was used as 6urreney, were as,bar ren and dyspeptic as the eaters of the poison; and the curse of slavery has prevented the de velopMent of other'fOrins of industry. A few fourth.rate farm houses Ilona the hanks, and here and there a pretentious mansion in the distance, broke the solitude of the . vast expanse of brush wood. Even good original . forest . was scarce. An. `air of stillness and desolation hung over the latid. : - At Jamestown, a gun-boat;- .steamed out and totk usluider her protection, heading, in for-the rebel batteries; and for probable sites foesite m :: pore fortification& On .our return, we shelled' one'of them—theshells - fiying along with an in- Where is he ? where is he ?' where is he ? but not waiting for an answer, ex ploded with indignant bangs in the middle of the work. Further up, we could see distinctly the rebel -trains on the Pe.tersburg and City Point railroad, from the ,:hurricane deck. Steamers crowded,with the returned:, prisoners from Rieh mood, brought us into still. closer contact with Sewage, and gave us a startling inside vievrof Richmond and its miseries. Going ashore on Tuesday morning, and finding an intelligent contraband, who didn't know his right hand from his left, to carry my baggage, I headed him for the hospital flag on the Harrison mansion, about a mile from the landing, and Ibunti it surrounded by a miserable 'multitude from the ri eld • hospitals, which had been concen trated there for shipment, preparatory to the ad vance of the army. The wharf was covered with tnusickns discharged ; and all non-combatants were started out of the way.. The poor fellows were delighted with the idea of getting away from the Peninqa,•and hardly eared where they were sent, provided it was northward, out of that torrid, heat ; which drives away all the white in habitants able to remove, during the dog-days, and Which would soon have had all our army in hospital. They came one by one to Bro. Sloan's tent, for some little morsels of nourishment. One wanted a little butter on his hard cracker; ano ther longed fora bite ot a pickle for his feverish mouth; a mouthful of 'soft bread was earnestly. ,sought. Others not able to come, imuld send a comrade fora mouthful of tea, or a spoonfUt of jelly for a drink. In every case, while his stores lasted, the little 'boon was freely and cheerfully granted, until Bro Sloan had not enough of pro visions let for his own dinner; for these were his own private stores he was giving, the boxes of the Christian Commission being packed ma under marching orders, like everything else iii camp; all save one large, final mess of gruel, which the good man left me to see cooked and distributed to his hungry family. It is on the march, and in transit that those unable.to 'shift for themselves suffer in this selfish world. " Where do you head for ? ", said I to two young I heroes on the down steamier, with one pair of legs and two pairs of crutches bet Ween them. " To.rx State, sir; if we live teget there?! "Why.should you not get there P". i‘ We can't jostle through the crowd down stairs to the table, and we have not got lur pay. yet; and have had nothing to eat since we left camp?' It was then long after dark. Of course the Comtaission saw them comfortably cared for, and carried to the Paymaster's office. ' There are hundreds of' cases of suffering which no general rules, can provide for; and which must be neglected if Christian benevolence he not at hand to relieve. When our 3000 returned prisoners came down' from Richmond, unwelcomed even by • a cheer, the agent of the Christian Commission emptied his boxes of clothing, and give shirts to over 400 of the poor captives; who might all have been made comfortable ifsome s,upposed red tape man acles • had not bound up the hands of other cha ritable Commission& The chaplains, regimental surgeons, and pa tients in the field hospitals, all• gratefully acknow ledge the promptness and efficiency of the , simple rule of the Christian Commission. " Send agents who have benevolent hearts' and good, common sense, And allow them to act according to the necessity of the case." The Stock of oatmeal, farina, soda biscuits, beef tea, canned:fresh meats for soup, and "sugar, is exhausted, and must be immediately renewed,.as these things are more indispensable than pills; with due deference to the Doctors. Our men lost their knapsacks in the retreat, and in them their Testaments and Hymn books. This is a great loss; in many instances it, is the los§ of the only outward ordinance of religion' the soldier enjoys. - It must be immediately sup plied. Thirty thousand Testaments and , hymn books at five cents each must be bought, paid for, forwarded, and distributed to the Army of the Potomac, in ten days. The C hristian'Oommis sion will do, the work, if the churches will give the money. How, many congregations will sup ply, each a regiment averaging about six .hun dred men ? Will yours. be one ? 'ls it too much to ask that the men, -Whom we are marching to battle and to death, be supplied with at leapt a • copy of the Word of Life ? If any of these men fall in battle, dying, for your rights and liberties, , without the possibility of reading Christ's. offer of salvation, and so:perish eternally, can you say, reader; "Well I am clear of his blood ! 7 Passing on to heat! , quarters, , mm and leing fi:om Adjutant-General Williams- - every facility fir tile prosecution of our work, I explore& my way through the camps to that of..the 'lo2nd Pennsylvania, and received such a hearty saints, tion of welcome from ,brother Stewart as aston, ished the Lieutenant-Colonel, whose tent he sharei. - found them all ,packed up for ,the march, baggage on board. the barges, wagons ready, six day's victuals , prepared, orders for 150' rounds of • ammunition, siege guns gone ahead, and the boys in high spirits at the prospect of active service again: It is true 'they regretted , leaving the comforts= they`' had accumulated in camp; for though the rude beds of three inch oak saplings, the. table of rough boards, the round six inch poles which served for, seats, and the wells lined, with pork barrels, which accom modated men and officers aliko, did not seem very inviting to a stranger, these gentlemen declared they were 'quite luxurious after the mud and exposure of their week's march thither.' ' e e n Six hundred and twenty-svn stalWart - veter ans manoeuvred under the fatherly eye of Colonel RawleY at dress parade, only two companies re-, porting a couple of absentees. 'reaching was announced by the Colonel at:the close, and by the light of the stars - 41nd camp fires, a large,con gregation speedily formed in hollow square, and commenced singing familiar hymns, withont a beak.. I never preached to a more - solenin an thence We felt that we would never' all meet again, and who would fall in the next Week's fighting none could tell. Rejoicitio:Youn. converts, and one young ',earnest enquirer came into the tent, and conversed., till late. An earnest family prayer a grey- blan ket thrown over •me, the heavy breathing of the fatigued Lientenant-Colonel, who had been out 012 guard -for twenty-four 'hours, in the face' of the enemy, .a trumpet blast, the .. rolling of the reveille, a hasty wash in a cupful water, a cUp of coffee and a cracker, Gilbert McMaster's wagon and . mules, and negro driver, a hearty God-bless-you all round ; and I turnmy back ,on the rude logbreast Works, the lofty pines, the white mill and farm house, .the trampled and i baked fields, the brave, whole-souled Colonel, the noble chaplain, and the weather-worn, battle-stained veterans of the Army of the Potomac. When we nex.t'meet, - God grant each one of us the Vic-- tor's palm and crown. Pb. P. EAGERNESS FOR 'RELIGIOUS READING. Rev J. Alvord actin( for the American Tract SoCiety, among the soldiers a yecent letter, thus refers to their desires for good reading. " I have been. among the new troops in Gen. Shield's Division to-day. They have some good. Chaplains, but are wholly destitute of reading matter. No mails ever react theta. from Wash ington, and they were in an inaccessible region until now. It is good to take these Ohio and Western Virginia regiments by the hand, and do for them as we have done for others. Tioeir,teon.- der , and gratitUde is ,unbounded. I told the Chaplains, as I drove into their camp this morn ing, that I had got ! things for soul and, body. Well,, we are: glad.to see you; we have all" the comforts we need.ffor both sick and well, so far as the body is concerned; but if you have any' good ,reading do let us have ia - It was the first , time my delicacies had been - wholly overloi3ked,' and the food for the soul seized upon. I found afterwards, too, that their sick hid scarcelitany , thing but the coarse army rations. The crowd of common soldiers around, my wagon showed the same striking preference. It was greeting to Ace them extend their .brawny hands right over jars of sweetmeats, boxes of crackers, and bottle . ; of wiee, and seize upon that 'Banner.' ,They had not seen it before, and the Flag (I had a few hun dredi'ef it) took them by AUGITST 21, BRITISH IGNORANCE OF AMERICA. Our statement of last week,. that one of the chief causes of the strange attitude of England towards this country was the profound ignor ance, even of well educated Englishmen, with regard .to American matters, is sustained by the following. eitriet of a letter from Dr. McClintock to the Illegtodist: 'lt is a pity that the British people generally get their information about foreign affairs from the Times and not from the Hews or Star. These latter journals are not fashionable; they are popu lar, not aristocratic papers' . The consequence is that the public mind is'entirely uninformed, or, what is worse, Misinfermed, on the whole ques tion. Indeed; it' is not too much to say that the British people have been drenched and drugged with lies by th.s, organs Of public opinion. - With every disposition to be kind, and 'even generous, toward imerica - , the average Englishman is in. capable, to-day, ()fright feeling toward us, simp ly because his Wad i . li!as been so completely led astray. I have often, in conversation with men of estimable character, and ofgood position, been compelled to pity theirignorance, and to indulge their petulance, jUst as I would bear with the follies of a child. ," The other day, for instance, a clergyman of the Church of England, an intelligent and good man, asked me if' had heard that the Norther ners had laid down their arms.' The poor man thought we had given up , the contest. He thought it was a`very wicked war, until. I told him that it was, in effect, a war to decide wheth er African slavery should have a temporary or a permanent existence in America; whereupon he was greatly astonished. Another case, also oc curring within a week is that of a very eminent Wesleyan minister, who assured ;a friend of mine that the Northern people, were fighting solely for power and money, , - A third ease is a conver sation with a British army officer, four days ago. He appeared 14:1 be well informed on military matters, but complained that so little accurate information could be had about the American war. I told him it; was not the policy of the Times to give accurate information,but rather to befog the public mind as much as Possible. 'But You can't expect to conquer the ! South. They are in theright. .Thenegroes oughtto be slaves; and their masters are right in fighting for sla very.' Ah !' said - I, 'that ise. new doctrine from British lips! 'Oh I' was his reply, 'we have can ting fellows enongh•in England to rail at slave ry, but.they know nothing about it. The South is right, and:will beat you ; es they ought to do! So you see the pro-slavery men and anti-slavery men of England. agree in one thing—in desiring that the South sliKiald conquer the North; not ailtbe anti-slavery men of England, thank God, but thole who allow themselves to be led by the 'nose by Lord ~Brougham -and other such aristo cratic philanthropists, whose hatred of democracy is far more virulent than their hatred of slavery." Am Chock fate. THE REV. S. W. CHITTENiSzN, has accepted the call of the• First Presbyterian church of the Borough of Darby, and entered upon his work. The church is a very pretty Building, a few miles out of Philadelphia, upon the. Darby road. As yet, the congregation is in its infancy, but will we are confident, grow under the ministry of Mr. Crittenden, and become a stable and useful body- . . Mr. Crittenden's- Post. Office address is, .kin sessing, Pennsylvania. SACRED Music.--Joseph Bettell, Esq., of New York, has made donationi of $5OOO to Yale Col lege, to promote:the study of sacred music in that institution, PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC SCHOOLs.—The whole number . of public schools in Pennsylvania outside of the city of Philadelphia is 11,910, being an in crease of 333 during the past year. pear fublitations. NEW GYMNASTICS, FOE *EN, womizi, AND CHILDREN. By Dio Lewis, M.D. Boston : Tick nor & Fields. PhiladelPhia :44ippincott &-Co. In this neat and prefueely illustrated volatile, Dr. Lewis gives a series : of lessons in gymnastics, and the dumh.bell etereise, with hints about desks and the.,care of'a the organs of the body. The - hook is well — Worthy of the attention of teachers and parents. It is written by an en thusia.st and expert, and bears the impress of earnestness `and` experience. Dr. Lewis Is - the princiPidtof the. Boston Normal: Institute for Physical Education_ THE FLYING DUTCWMAN.—By John G. Saxe Ifinst - rated. New York Cirleton. Phil adelphia: T. B. Peterson. The .Itrath. of Herr Von: Stopple Nose.," Saxe's new poem, is here illustrated by sixteen comic engravings and giverLto us in < a fine style of art as toprinting, paper, and binding, It is a rich bit of fan wittily illustrated. - Lis MismunEs. Pain , UT MAitrus. By Victor HUgo. Tr-gm - late& Awn the 'French by Charles E; Wilbur. The third of this Series, almlay famous, is produced, by. Carletpu,-of New York.. Freneh exaggerations of human 'feeling, emo tion, expression,-netion, grow mare exaggerated and unnatural in translation. , Though bearable in the original, in which they have the freshness of authorship, in translation 'their exaggerations lose, the lea spark - of nature. We do not like the book. Sold in Philadelphia by T. B. Peter son & Brothers.: ' • OLOtre-EVS -POEMS:--The Poems of Arthur Hugh Cltinah' 2 l3eston: Ticknor* & Fields. Tioknoi* Fields, in ihis pretty 18mo. add an intereating xolume to their . "bine and gold setiel.T7, Clough, born at yLiverpoolin 1819, was a true Rugby boy; a successful Oxford student, but not ,a fullY successful man. SyMpathizing with the reVolationists of 1848-9, he took. part in that effort to replace dilspotisni by free governments, and was in Rome when it was captured it - 3 , the French. Some years he passed in this country, but returned, to England where he died in 1859. His poems are far above mediocrity. Fresh, sparkling and rapid, with flashes revealing keen insight into the myiteries of the emo tions, they please constantly, and at times thrill the reader. Wherehe touches the spiritual he beeotaes misty, not to - say, incomprehensible. Sold by JJ.I I pp n c ott & Co.; Philadel phia.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers