Nearly at the fame time, when thefe events took place in Europe, Lord Keith, with a powerful fleet and a large body of troops, appeared near Alexandria in Egypt. Early in the month of March, general Abercrombie landed the army under his command in Egypt. The French, having collected their troops from Cairo and other parts of the country, on the 21ft of March, made a well-directed, fu to dictate, or to continue the war, until his difpofition should be more amicable and conciliatory. She magnanimously determined on the latter. The armies of France were numerous and powerful. They were ftimulated to action by the thirst of glory and an implacable fpirit of revenge. The greatest exertions were made to reinforce her armies in Egypt, and to be prepared for a defcent on Great-Britain. At the fame time, the north-rious and persevering attack upon ern powers were with expedition, the British army. After a long firmness and unanimity, preparing for their own defence and to carry into immediate effect the defigns of the coalition. Britain, with a vigor and difpatch which fuch a crifis demanded, prepared to defend herself at home, and to annoy the enemy abroad. Early in the fpring a powerful armament was fent into the Baltic. Two great events, under the divine fuperintendence, foon took place, which changed the whole afpect of affairs in the north. and hard fought battle, in which great generalfhip, exertion and heroism had been displayed by the refpective armies, and great loffes in officers and men had been fuftained by both, victory declared in favor of the English. The confequences were fatal to the interests of France in Egypt. Great exertions were made by the French people to reinforce their armies in that country, but the great superiority of the British navy rendered it impracticable. By the fame means, the English were enabled to reinforce their army from all quarters, and, it feems, finally have captivated and brought off the whole French army. Such is the naval force of Britain that she has been able to defeat her enemies in the Baltic, to fend a powerful armament into Egypt, and at the fame time to blockade the principal On the 23d of March, 1801, Paul, emperor of all the Ruffias, the leader, most engaged and powerful prince in the coalition, was no more. Alexander, a prince of a better mind, and different politics, afcended the Imperial throne. A few days after, April 2d, Lord Nelfon, in a moft dreadful action of four hours, deftroyed the flect of Denmark, lying before Copen-ports of France, Spain and Holhagen, and having made himself master of the harbour, the capital of the nation lay at his mercy. Thefe great and unexpected events broke the northern coalition. The Danes, to fave their capital, agreed upon an armistice which has not been broken. By treaty, the difficulties fubfifting between GreatBritain and Ruflia, were foon after amicably adjufted.* * June 17th, 1801. land; and to prevent any attempts of the enemy upon her own coafts. Thefe events have finally terminated in preliminaries of peace, between the British and French nations. By thefe a foundation is, probably, laid for the pacification of all Europe, by a definitive treaty. This will be another great and moft defireable event. While these things have been acacomplishing, and preparing the way for a general pacification, confiderable progrefs has been made in carrying into execution the articles of the treaty of Luneville and France, Germany and Italy appear to have been progreffing toward a ftate of rest. That in the courfe of his providence, for their correction, and the accomplishment of his own wife and holy purposes, he often fetteth up over them the bafeft of men: That, in a most wonderful manner, he disappointeth the deviAnother event which claims ces of the crafty and carrieth the special notice, and was probably counfl of the froward headlong*. an article of that treaty, is the re- Never, perhaps, was this in any eftablishment of Popery in France, inftance more strikingly exem Italy, and fome other parts, even plified than in the progrefs and terwith a numerous train of Jefuits, mination of the late European war. an order fo mischievous, fo repug. Not a fingle defign has been annant to the liberty and happiness of fwered, for which any of the bel mankind, as, many years fince, to ligerent powers profeffedly began have been suppressed in all the Ro- it. The emperor of Germany man Catholic countries. As the and the king of Pruffia embarked pope nevertheless is divested of in it to affift and fave the king of temporal dominion, and his reve- France, and to humble his rebelAues in a manner annihilated, helious fubjects. From the high must be confidered as in a manner tone with which the duke of Brunf fallen. His power is circumfcri- wick began his operations, it ap bed, his influence is exceedingly peared that he expected foon to be diminished, and his very existence at Paris, and fet the king and royis dependent on the precarious will al family at liberty; and that if and convenience of the firft conful any oppofition fhould be made, he of France, or of other defpots, fhould triumphantly mark his route who may fucceed him, in the gov- with blood and carnage. But inernment of France and Italy. ftead of this expected triumph, the combined armies were obliged to retire with great loss and fhame. The king of Pruffia, to fave him While popery is fo weakened and fallen, the Turkish empire feems to be exceedingly rent and broken, by numerous internal fac-felf, foon withdrew from the war. tions and rebellions, and rapidly haftening to a total diffolution. These are fome of the principal events of the last year, which merit our notice, in Europe and other foreign parts. Thefe events, viewed in their connection with the extenfive and bloody war which they have terminated, with the views with which it was undertaken and the manner in which it has ended, will afford many interefting obfervations. They afford the most demonstrative evidence, That the Moft High ruleth in the kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomfoever he will; The oppofition which had been made, inflamed the French people, and inftead of giving any relief to the king and royal family, precipitated their deftruction. The emperor of Germany, with all the affiftance of his allies, has been unable to defend himself, and has been obliged to fubmit to the humiliating terms of a great diminution of his empire. England and Spain embarked in the war to fupport monarchy in France, and to preferve the balance of Europe; but they effected neither. Spain Job v. 12, 13: was obliged to make peace with France and even to unite with her in the war, against other nations, to prevent her own ruin, by the power and intrigue of the French people. Great-Britain, though The hath exhibited great prowefs and performed wonders on the feas, hath gained nothing fufficient to indemnify her for the war. She has had hard labor and been put to an immenfe expense to defend her dominions, and maintain her extenfive commerce. France commenced the war for the deftruction of kings and defpotifm, and to reftore to the French people the rights of men, and equal liberty. But after all her brilliant victories and fuccefs upon the land, the war has terminated in an ufurper and defpot; who has the lives, property and liberties of the nation more entirely at his disposal, than any monarch, who has ever fat upon the throne of France. Tho' the hath extended her territory, yet millions of her inhabitants have been facrificed, fome of her moft ancient and renowned cities have been deftroyed, her navy and commerce ruined, and the nation in volved in an enormous debt. With refpect to thofe bloody men who were the principal leaders of the first revolutions, God hath, in a manner no lefs wonderful, difappointed their defigns, and righteously rewarded them according to their works. They fought their own aggrandizement, and the accomplishment of their own felfish and party schemes, and fucceffively loft their heads, in their unprincipled career. While like wicked Haman they were climbing for glory, they came to that ruin which they had projected for others. Thus God taketh the wife in their own craftiness. Further, it was the defign of the first revolutionists to abolish the fabbath, all public worship, and the Chriftian religion, in the French nation. But even in this their defigns have been equally fruftrated. It is now found neceffary, after the boasted age of reafon, af ter all the light of philofophifm and illuminatifm, that France fhould have a religion. Its re-eftablishment, by the first conful, is indeed remarkable; and that he fhould hold the right of the former monarchs of France, of prefenting perfons to all ecclefiaftical livings; and that the pope is to do his pleafure in approving and confecrating them to office. The aid of religion is neceffary for the order and happiness of a people, even under a defpotic government. Much Jefs can any people be free, and happy under milder forms of government, without Chriftian morals. Further, a review of the war naturally leads us to reflect on the terribleness of the divine chaftisements, and what reafon all men and kingdoms have to fear before God. He corrects like himself, and is known by the judgments which he executeth. When he affumes the rod, whets his glittering fword and his hand takes hold on judgment, he will render vengeance to his enemies and reward them that hate him*. He does not barely correct individuals, particular cities and nations, but a world of finners. How have Europe and the four quarters of the earth, in the late war, trembled at his rebuke? How have the nations melted like wax before him? How have cities and kingdoms been fhaken and overthrown? How have millions been fwept from the earth? How have they died in a moment, in the very glory of life? What a * Deuteronomy xxxii. 41. will do the works of apoftates, they fhall alfo be partakers of their plagues. He teacheth by his prov idence as well as word that obedience is the only way of fafety, and .that righteoufnefs exalteth a nation. But how fhould we rejoice, that God for a moment is fufpending his awful chaftifements? That this dreadful war is terminated? That peace, with her olive branch, once more gives reft to Europe? O how do we rejoice for the fake of human nature, that the flow of human blood is ftopped? That the doors of doleful prifons are opened to the captives, and that the diftreffes of millions are relieved? That thousands are returning from captivity and the horrors of war, to the bofoms of their respective countries, and to the embraces of parents and friends? What matter of joy, that millions to whom there was no fafety when they went out or when they came in, when they lay down or when they rofe up, may now repofe themselves in peace? But how fhould we rejoice more ef large proportion of the earth hath been filled with blood and carnage, diftrefs and mourning? Hath not God made his arrows drunk with blood, and hath not his fword devoured fleb? Has not this been a righteous retaliation of the wickedness of the kings, courts, and people of Europe? Of the Roman Catholics and Turks? Has it not been a faithful accomplishment of the divine threatenings? They have wonderfully apoftatized from God, been leaders in infidelity and debauchery, countenanced philofophifm, deceit and corruption; and exalted themselves above God. How righteous has he therefore been in caufing their wickedness to shake their thrones, depopulate and impoverish their kingdoms, and to make their fubjects miferable? How righteous and how conformable to the threatenings of his word, that he should give to the Roman Catholics and the Turks, thofe implacable enemies, blood to drink? God hath not only fhown his great power, juftice, and hatred of fin, but his truth and veracity, and the uni-pecially for the fake of our fellowformity of his providence in pun- chriftians, our brethren in Chrift ifhing the great apoftacies of man- Jefus, that their diftreffes are rekind. He punished the wicked- lieved and their condition melioranefs of the old world with an uni- ted? That they may enjoy fabbaths verfal deluge: Of Sodom and Go- and ordinances in peace, and ferve morrah with a total overthrow, by the Lord without fear and diftraca ftorm of fire and brimftone from tion? That the means of commuheaven Of the Canaanites by a nication with each other, for the general extirpation: Of his own purposes of information, mutual covenant people by the Babyloni- quickening and joy, and for con an and Roman captivities and dif- certing the great interefts of their perfions: Of the Chriftian church common Saviour will be more faby the Turks, Goths, Vandals cile, fafe and expeditious? That and other babarous nations. The this will afford happy advantages great apoftacy of Europe he hath for the fpread of the gospel, for expunished with the late horrible war. tending the knowledge, kingdom Thus he fills the earth with his glo- and glory of the Redeemer to the ry, and caufes the wrath of man moft diftant parts of the earth? In to praife him. Thus he warns all these we will rejoice. O fweet bethe nations of mankind that if they nign peace, great nurse of science, commerce, wealth, religion and, the word and ordinances have been public happinefs, with what joy do attended with unufual fuccefs, are we hail thee to our tumultuous further manifeftations of the divine world? To Europe, and efpecial- beneficence. The flourishing state ly to the land of our forefather's of our fchools, and especially of fepulchres? With what cordiality the college in this State, the applido we congratulate the millions of cation and good order of the ftuEurope, and especially our breth-dents and the increase of their numren in Chrift Jefus, on this aufpicious event? How does it enliven the joys of this New-Year? Our animated thanksgivings fhall afcend with theirs to his throne, who maketh wars to ccafe unto the end of the earth, and maketh peace in his high places. From paft experience may they learn the madness of war, cultivate the arts of peace, obediently and thankfully improve its ineftimable bleffings. From a contemplation of foreign events let us return home, and review those of our own country. The events of the year in America have been peculiarly expreffive of the divine patience and beneficence. The very providential arrival of the American fquadron in the Mediterranean, while the fhips of the Tripolitans lay at Gibraltar, the blockade and total defeat of that armament without the firing of a gun, the prefervation of hundreds of our countrymen from the moft dreadful captivity and fervitude, and the retaining of fo much American property as was fecured by that event, merit our notice and praife. The ratification of the treaty with France, the peace we have enjoyed the past year with foreign kingdoms, and with the wild men of the American forefts, and that there have been no infurrections amongourfelves, challenge our feligious acknowledgments. That general health and plenty have pervaded our villages, cities and fates; and fpecially, that our churches have had reft and been edified, and that in fome places. bers are worthy of notice. How numerous, great and extensive have been the public bleffings of the past year? With what propriety may America adopt the language of the pfalmift? Praise the Lord, O Jerufalem; praise thy God O Zion, For he hath ftrengthened the bars of thy gates: He hath bleed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the fineft of the wheat.+ But to make these contemplations ftill more interesting let every one review the past year with refpect to himself. I, let each one fay, have lived another year, crow. ned with mercy and loving-kind nefs. I have enjoyed all this national good, with countless perfonal and domeftic blessings! What have I rendered, and what am I rendering to the Lord for all these benefits? Has all this good led me to repentance? Has it filled my heart with gratitude and my lips with praife? Or do I live in ingratitude, and after my hardness and impenitent heart treasure up unto myself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God? Let the profeffor fay, I have fworn allegiance to my Lord, his vows are upon me, and I cannot go back! Have I lived the life of a Chriftian the year paft? Have I * A large beautiful college has been erected the last year; and in five years the number of ftudents has increafed about one hundred. + Pfalm cxlvii. 12, 13, 14. |