and that not only in their own colonies, but every where throughout the empire. Accordingly they may, after paying the duties established by the Tarriff, carry on trade in or out of the country, and follow mechanical business, arts, and professions: they may possess houses, keep shops, and establish every kind of fabric or manufactory without the necessity of being enlisted in any guild or corporation: they are also freed from all service, as will be defined in the sequel under a particular paragraph. 7. The members of the Society of Christian Israelites are permitted upon their appointed lands to brew beer, distil brandy, and prepare all sorts of waters and liquors not only for their own use, but also for sale to travellers, who may pass their settlements: but they are neither permitted to export such liquors from their colonies, nor to sell them out of their borders. 8. No person whatever, either of the crown or private, not belonging to the Society of Christian Israelites, is permitted to set up inns, public houses, or other buildings for similar purposes upon their lands, nor is any stranger not belonging to the Society, permitted to settle among them with.out their particular permission. But if the Society express a desire to receive some person among them for a time, they are permitted to do so, provided the persons received by them have regular passports, and the governors of their concerns, or the Office of Administration, be surety for them. 9, The Office of Administration for the Society of Christian Israelites obtain hereby, a right to give necessary passports to the members of the Society, which passports must be signed by the Superintendant, and furnished with the seal of said office. Such passports will be of value only for travelling within the empire; but in order to travel beyond the frontier, or to come from foreign countries into the empire, the members of this Society may be furnished with passports from the general legitimate authorities. 10. All who enter the Society are hereby liberated from all sorts of civil and military services. But if any of them should himself wish to enter this or the other service, he may be appointed to it. All settlements and houses of the Christian Israelites who belong to this Society will be likewise freed from all kinds of quartering soldiers, keeping posts, and giving horses, and from all other similar duties of the country. But if some person should be sent to the settlements by the Committee appointed for the Society on any business, enquiry or visitation, he inust be duly received. 11. Every colony of the Society of Christian Israelites is permitted to have continually one of their members residing at St. Petersburg, under the name of Trustee, or Agent, to execute their commissions, and dispatch all their business with the Committe appointed for the management of their affairs. 12. All who enter the Society of Christian Israelites have freedom from all duties for twenty years granted to them: when this time is expired, each of them will have to pay the same duties which all Russian nations are bound to pay according to their different stations, viz. tradesmen, the regular per cent of their capital; artists and professional men the civil duties. 13. Foreign Hebrews, who after they have embraced the Christian religion, should wish to enter the Society, settle on the same appointed lands, and to partake of the right granted to them, have perfect liberty to do so. They may leave Russia again whenever they should please, as is likewise permitted to all other members of the Society, provided they first pay their debts and three years duty to the crown, from the capital they have raised in Russia, according to the account which the Superintendant of the Society will conscientiously give concerning it. 14. It is left to the discretion of the Tutelary Committee to draw up, on the principles here laid down, the more circumstantial rules, both respecting the local management, public institutions, and all other affairs which may contribute best to the order and happiness of all, but especially with respect to institutions for moral cultivation and education of youths according to the true principles of Christianity. ALEXANDER. St. Petersburg, Easter Sunday, March 25, 1818. The foregoing Ukase was accompanied by two others of the same date, relating to the same object. The one which we have given complete is the second of the three. The first is entitled"Order to the Governing Senate" --in which the Emperor proclaims his noble purpose, and names the views and motives by which he has beer influenced to take such extraordinary steps in favor of the Christian Israelites ;-in which he also informs that " advantageous and convenient places for settlement, with adjoining lands, will be appointed to the converted Hebrews, in the Northern and Southern governments of the empire," and that Prince Galitzin, as Minister, is to be at the head of this establishment. In the third Ukase his Majesty names the President and Direc tors who will constitute the Tutelary Committee,-leaves it to them to appoint secretaries and clerks, and to add to the number of the Committee, if a greater number shall be found necessary. "The members of the Committee are declared to enter upon their labors simply out of zeal for the cause, and consequently receive no salary. To the Secretaries and Clerks however, they are to assign such salaries as they think proper. For this and other necessary expenses his Imperial Majesty orders for the present 10,000 rubles to the Committee's disposition-of which they will have to account to Prince Galitzin, who will report the same to the Emperor." The following extract from a letter to the Rev. Dr. Steinkoff, dated at St. Petersburg, April 20, O. S. 1817, will show that the Committee have commenced their labors, and that the measure adopted by the Emperor has excited great expectations. "The peculiar aspect of the times in which we live,—the favorable impressions towards Christianity prevalent among many Jews almost in all nationsthe singular advantages enjoyed in Russia for promoting a workof this kind, seem to encourage the hope that it is perhaps the will of the God of Israel that the great restoration of his chosen people should commence at least through the instrumentality and under the benign and pious reign of this chosen and anointed servant Alexander, the Cyrus of the church of God in the latter days. Pursuant to the Imperial Ukase of the 25 of March, the Committee for superintending the affairs of the Christian Israelites was founded on the 4th of April, in a full meeting of its members. The meeting was opened by reading the Imperial Ukase relative to this benevolent object; after which his Excellency Popoff, President of the Committee, addressed the members as follows : "Chosen and appointed to this new undertaking by the will of our most pious sovereign, let us enter upon it in humility of spirit as loyal and zealous subjects,-in simplicity of hearts as true Christians,-in unity of spirit as brethren, sons of one Father, who is God. Our most humane sovereign, being guided in his conduct by Christian principles feels for the present condition of the children of Israel returning to the Lord their God, and beginning to see that salvation which he hath prepared before the face of all people. The helpless condition of these converts has accordingly given rise to peculiar arrangements in favor of these descendants of Abraham, somewhat similar perhaps to what took place when the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to build the house of the Lord God of Israel." We cannot but regard the proceedings of Alexander in relation to the Jews, as among the most auspicious and pleasing occurVol. VI. No. 12. rences of this eventful age,adapted to excite much reflection in every country, and to diminish the sufferings of the Israelites in every part of the civilized world. The Ukase contains many benignant provisions; but the perfect liberty which is granted to every Christian Israelite to be of this or that denomination, whose opinions best accord with his own, and his entire exemption from all "military services," are traits as admirable as they are uncommon in the history of despotic governments. Happy would it be for rulers and for subjects if such liberty of conscience and such exemption from military services, should be extended by the several governments of christendom to every denomination of Christians, and to every class of men. The Holy Alliance of the three Sovereigns which was formed in 1815,-and in which it is supposed the Emperor of Russia was the principal agent-was of a character so uncommon as to excite both wonder and jealousy. Many intelligent men were disposed to regard it as a detestable species of political intrigue. Three years, however, have passed away since that remarkable occurrence; and it may now be asked, in what respects have the public acts of Alexander been contrary to the principles which he then avowed? And is not the Ukase in favor of the Jews accordant with those principles? Should this Emperor persevere in a course consistent with his public declarations, he will probably be a greater blessing to the world than any other man who has been permitted to wear. a crown or sway a sceptre. He may indeed disappoint the fond-. est hopes of the many millions 48 whose eyes are fixed on him as an instrument of great good to the human family; and it should be the humble prayer of every Christian that the widely extended power and influence of this monarch may never become subservient to mischievous designs, and that all his future conduct may be of a character to evince the sincerity of his professions of good will to man. IMPORTANT LETTER FROM BETALE- istic with a body who have united for the purpose of being followers of Christ and obedient to his precepts. In our Church Litany (and which is the same all over the world where we have Congregations) we pray :— "Watch graciously over all Kings, Princes and Governments, and hear our intercessions for them all! "Grant and preserve unto them thoughts of Peace and concord! "Guide and protect the magis-trates of the Land wherein we dwell, -and grant us to lead under them a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty! (And again,) "O thou preserver of men," send help to all that are in distress and danger! "Be the Saviour of all men; 1. Tim. iv. 10. "Have mercy on the whole Creation. Rom. viii. 19, 22. "Unite all the children of God in one Spirit. John xi. 52. "For the sake of that Peace which we have with thee, may we live peaceably with all men. Rom. xii. 18, &c." THE following letter was addressed to the Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Peace Society, by a venerable Minister of the Society of United Brethren-one who had long been employed as a Missionary among the Indians. The intelligent reader will be able to discover some of the true sources of our destructive and exterminating wars with the Indians; and also the principal reason why the many benevolent efforts, to civilize and christianize the Indians, have been in so great a degree, unsuccessful. We forbear to give the name of this worthy Minister of the Prince of peace, for this reason only-wars-the calamities, misery, poverty we venture to publish the letter without having asked his consent, and it is possible that he did not expect it would appear in print. Bethlehem, 16th Nov. 1818. SIR, and three Numbers of " the Friend of That the Society of United Brethren are friends of Peace, and averse to Wars and bloodshed, is character This short extract, will then sufficiently evince the peaceable disposition of our Society. The cruelties committed during and wretchedness, numbers are brought to thereby; and the effects wars have on the morals of many; although so well depicted by able writers in the Numbers you sent me -yet, in my humble opinion, do not reach to the whole extent of guilt which we bring upon ourselves, by giving way to the war spirit. Do not wars frequently hinder the spreading. of the gospel, nay operate in a direct way against this part of Christian duty? Is it not evident, that wars, and the murdering spirit attendant on the same, are repugnant to the preaching of the gospel, and the conversion of the heathen-a duty which our blessed Lord and Saviour-the God of peace, has commanded his servants to perform-" to preach the gospel to all nations of the earth," &c. What pains have alone the Society of United Brethren taken to do their part in this great work! what hardships, them, and that these were peaceable, and took no part in the war; yet this would not satisfy a blood-thirsty rabble, calling themselves Christians; and it was but by the most strenuous exertions of Government and other humane friends, that they were saved from sharing the same fate as had befel the Conestogo Indians.Compelled at length in the year 1772 to leave their fine improvements on Susquehanna, on account of the lands they lived on, together with that whole country. being sold by the Christian Nations to the Englishthey emigrated to the Ohio-established themselves anew in their own country, where their prosperity soon became visible. They had formed and adopted good rules and regulations among themselves-they kept the Sabbath day holy, and after the manner all good Christians do, their children were taught to read and write; no intoxications took place at their peaceful villages; their temporal pursuits were principally agricultural; they declared publicly a dangers, and privations have they been subjected to-willingly endured for the sole purpose of gaining souls for Christ, from among the heathen of this country! Ever since their first landing in this country they have been intent on this subject. Their Missionaries have exerted themselves to their utmost in doing their duty in being faithful to the trust committed to them. Some have persevered at their posts until death relieved them from their labours; one of whom, departing this life at the age of 87, had for upwards of 60 years been a Missionary, and within the last 40 years of his life, not been in the whole, 6 months absent from his post, and what had he witnessed during his long service? In Georgia where the brethren had in the year 1735 began a Mission among the Creek Indians, while the prospect was at best-the affection of the Chiefs gained the nation agreed to have the gospel preached to them-a school-house already built for the education of their children; that already in the year 1758 this estab-gainst wars and blood-shed, and when lishment was broke up, in consequence of a war having broke out between England and Spain-in which the brethren with the rest, were to turn out against the latter; but fighting and killing being not only contrary to their principles, but also in direct opposition to the service they were engaged in, they rather chose to leave that country, and engage in Missionary labours among the Indians, in the more peaceable province of Pennsylvania, and the Colonies lying to the Eastward of this. But what a series of troubles-what persecutions had they, together with their converts to endure, during a course of thirty odd years labour, while they resided on this side of the mountains? How often were plots laid for their destruction, especially when wars existed; wars indeed, which we had justly brought upon ourselves, by our base conduct towards them. Though it was well known, that the Christian Indians, during the wars of 1756-63 and 64, who were living near the Brethren's Settlements, were under the care and tuition of Missionaries stationary with the revolutionary war commenced, they passed a resolution, that no one, joining, or taking up the hatchet against either nation, whether English or Americans, could or should be permitted to live with them. Their numbers had so increased, that they were at the time near 500 souls, dwelling in three different places, and their living so peaceably together and with a plenty of every thing they wished for, operated as an encouragement to others of their nation to join them-and who were about joining them, when lo at the instigation of vagabond white people, who, under a pretence of attachment and loyalty to their king, had deserted from the American side, and gone over to the British-not however to serve in a legal way, but to act unbridled, or unrestrained, and have an opportunity of plotting and committing under the cloak of loyalty, the crimes of savage murder, on such of their former neighbours, whom they envied, as also on other inoffensive people. The Christian Indians, who until the fall of 1781, had lived unmolested, admired by their country |