no more. While, in numerous lands and islands, great races of aboriginal and pagan men are wasting away to weakness and nothingness before the relentless approach of a power bearing the ensign of life, but doing the work of death!

"And even where this power has not exterminated, it has wrought evils of a perhaps darker character. It has actually rendered the living savage more savage, and the living heathen more heathen than ever. It has made, not Christianity, for of this little or nothing has been carried by the agents of this power-but the name of Christianity, an offence and a loathing to the whole pagan world. Through all the realms of heathenism, it has made that name synonymous with hypocrisy and deceit, cunning and fraud, oppression and cruelty, avarice and extortion, pollution and crime. In this state of things, let the true missionary of the cross approach, and offer the genuine religion of the gospel as a light from heaven, and as the only means of purity and of salvation to benighted man; and with what answer is he met? Go home and convert your own countrymen; cleanse your own seamen; regenerate the agents of your death-dealing commerce, and thus show that your religion is the boasted blessing which you represent. Then come to us and we will listen to your instructions, and examine the elaims of the gospel which you bring.'

Such is the effect of these proceedings in modern missions, upon the spread of the gospel during the last 350 years! But into this picture of darkness our author introduces a gleam of light, and well remarks that, "much as modern commerce has done to make the savage more savage, and the heathen more heathen, to make the name of Christianity a loathing, and that of civilization synonymous with a curse,—all this may be undone, and the aborigines and the pagan still reconciled to the gospel, if governments, merchant companies, and trading men, will but learn justice, truth, and mercy in their dealings, and leave unobstructed Christianity to do her own proper work."

He alludes to the dismal past as furnishing an ample store of facts in proof of this position, and refers to the philanthropic conduct of the Jesuits in Paraguay, recorded in history, to the Christian proceedings of ROGER WILLIAMS and WILLIAM PENN, two of "the most perfect Christian statesmen that ever breathed," who proved themselves the benefactors of the aborigines; and to the more recent missionary efforts among the untutored and once cannibal natives of the South Sea Islands, which have almost brought back the age of miracles; and says that "unless commerce, with her already begun trade in alcohol and disease, hatchets and murdering knives, should again succeed in arresting the triumphs of the gospel, and in pouring darkness over the light of that new-born Christianity, it will be to make those myriad isles smile as rejoicingly, under the full radiance of heavenly day, as they do amid the beams of nature's sun, and the bounties of nature's God."

He goes on to say that Christian missions do not fail because the gospel wants power to conquer, or because the missionary wants knowledge how to act, or because the pagan wants susceptibility to heavenly truth. If those who direct commerce, would leave Christianity unobstructed, to do her own proper work, if they would place truth, justice, and mercy, at the basis of their system, these missions would generally succeed. The success of missions under all past discouragements, is a hundred fold more than enough to justify all past expenditure, whether of money or of lives, and

amply sufficient to sustain and encourage us under any future labors and sacrifices, which the work may require.

This article is already longer than we intended it should be; we cannot, however, refrain from extracting the following passage, relating to the efforts which are making by philanthropic and Christian men in Great Britain and the United States, to give to modern commerce a noble and a more Christian character than it has yet sustained:

"The worst evils which commerce in her unsanctified state has disseminated, are war, slavery, intemperance, and disease. Why, then, just as this commerce has reached to something like its maturity, and accumulated a power capable of moving the world, have we seen these two great Christian nations stirred and wrought up, internally, with deep, steadily growing and resistless efforts to disseminate the spirit and the principles of peace; to wipe out the blot of slavery from the earth; to quench the fires of all-devouring intemperance; and to wash clean from their pollutions those hitherto de spised and neglected circumnavigators of the world,-our seamen? Had God designed the conversion of commerce, He could not, so far as we can perceive, have raised up a cluster of measures, more appropriate to His purpose than those, to the working of which, I have now pointed. What, then, must be our inference, when we see these measures really put in action, at the very time, and in the very places, where they are most needed; when we see mighty instrumentalities, embodying the common sentiment of the wise and good, pointed, like heaven's artillery, against the thickest host of the evils which modern commerce has bred, and pouring in upon that host a power which is every year becoming more and more resistless? What, but that God is actually doing his great work; that He is turning this commerce to himself, and preparing to make her His handmaid, in carrying the blessings of salvation to all mankind ?"

MERCANTILE LITERATURE.

A Course of Reading, drawn up by the HON. JAMES KENT, late Chancellor of the State of New York, for the use of the Members of the Mercantile Library Association. New York: Wiley & Putnam. 12mo. pp. 70. 1840.

Some of the public prints have spoken of this publication in terms of censure, as they have an unquestionable right to do, for the freedom of speech is inalienable. When, however, a writer finds that his own works have escaped the notice of one of the most distinguished jurists, accomplished scholars, and elegant speakers and writers the country has ever produced, he would do well to turn his eyes inward, and repeat the modest prayer of Robert Burns, before he utters the war-whoop of criticism

"O, would some power the giftie gie us,

To see oursels as others see us!"

He might reflect that the eyes of great men are never microscopic, and that there is such a thing as difference of taste and opinion. A glow-worm would very naturally, but very sillily, blame a Newton for not directing his telescope at his glimmering light instead of the starry heavens. We have known a man who could not abide Shakspeare;—but what of that? His dislike only proved the depravity of his own taste. We cannot say that we like every work recommended thus publicly by the learned chancellor; still, there is not a selection he has made that has not already received the approbation of some large class of readers.

STATISTICS OF INSURANCE.

TARIFF OF MINIMUM RATES OF PREMIUM, WITH CONDITIONS, ADOPTED BY THE BOSTON MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES, MARCH 9, 1840.*

2-If any goods are shipped and insured as on deck, not less than double premium to be charged, with condition not to be liable for damage by wet or exposure, nor for partial loss under fifteen per ct.

7-For any other division or allowance of average for partial loss on the whole interest of the assured under deck, than is provided for in our printed form of policy, an additional premium shall be charged of not less than one quarter per cent. except on the rates for such cases from Great Britain and Havre already provided for in this tariff; and except on risks North and East of Florida coastwise, on which not less than one eighth per cent. additional premium shall be charged. 3-To add not less than one quarter per cent. for each port used more than one, at either the beginning or the ending of the voyage, for each time used; except risks provided for in the 14th article.

9-In all cases of over-insurance, ten per ct. of the return premium is to be retained by the insurers, not exceeding one half per ct. on the amount of short property. 10-Premiums on vessels and freights not to be less than those on cargoes of general merchandise for same voyages.

11-Specie and bullion, excepting to port or ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, to be insured as the parties may agree: provided, that it shall never be at a greater reduction than one third from the rates herein fixed for merchandise on the same passage.

13-When several passages are included in the same policy, the rates for each passage are to be added together.

14-If insurance be made from foreign ports to port or ports of discharge, or final port of discharge, in the United States, the coastwise premium to be added for each. port used, more than one, in the United States.

15-With regard to risks not provided for in this tariff, it is agreed that the parties are to make contracts at discretion, but it is expected that the companies will require rates equivalent to those named in this tariff on risks of like value, acting in good faith, and not taking one risk for a lower rate in consideration of receiving the tariff rates on another.

The tariff and conditions of insurance for " East Coast of South America, United States, and Europe," "United States, India, China, and the Pacific Ocean," "United States and Europe," and "General Regulations," will be published in the August num. ber of this Magazine. The underwriters of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, have had a meeting in New York, for the purpose of equalizing the rates in the different cities, and are co-operating in measures that are calculated to prove mutually advantageous to the insurer and the insured.

FROM RUSSIA AND PORTS IN THE BALTIC TO THE U. STATES.

7-For any other division or allowance of average for partial loss on the whole interest of the assured under deck, than is provided for in our printed form of policy, an additional premium shall be charged of not less than one quarter per cent. except on the rates for such cases from Great Britain and Havre already provided for in this tariff; and except on risks North and East of Florida coast wise, on which not less than one eighth per cent. additional premium shall be charged. 8-To add not less than one quarter per ct. for each port used more than one, at either the beginning or the ending of the voyage, for each time used; except risks provided for in the 14th article, and, except for stopping at Elsineur.

9--In all cases of over-insurance, ten per ct. of the return premium is to retained by the insurers, not exceeding one half per ct. on the amount of short property. 10-Premiums on vessels and freights not to be less than those on cargoes of general merchandise for same voyages.

14-If insurance be made from foreign ports to port or ports of discharge, or final port of discharge, in the United States, the coastwise premium to be added for each port used, more than one, in the United States.

15-With regard to risks not provided for in this tariff, it is agreed that the parties are to make contracts at discretion, but it is expected that the companies will require rates equivalent to those named in this tariff on risks of like value, acting in good faith, and not taking one risk for a lower rate in consideration of receiving the tariff rates on another.

16-Copenhagen is considered as in the Baltic.

17-Gottenburg is not considered as in the Baltic.

1-2 pr. ct. to be added on risks sailing from ports in the Baltic, from October 1st to 15, both inclusive.

1 pr. ct. to be added on risks sailing from ports in the Baltic, from October 16th to 31st, both inclusive.

1 1-2 pr. ct. to be added on risks sailing from ports in the Baltic, after October 31st. 3.4 if the vessel from Cuba touches at a port in the United States

do for any purpose.

do

7-For any other division or allowance of average for partial loss on the whole inte. rest of the assured under deck, than is provided for in our printed form of policy, an additional premium shall be charged of not less than one quarter per cent. except on the rates for such cases from Great Britain and Havre already provided for in this tariff; and except on risks North and East of Florida coastwise, on which not less than one eighth per cent. additional premium shall be charged. 8-To add not less than one quarter per ct. for each port used more than one, at either the beginning or the ending of the voyage, for each time used; except risks provided for in the 14th article, and, except Elsineur, and a port for advice in the British Channel.

9-In all cases of over-insurance, ten per ct. of the return premium is to be retained by the insurers, not exceeding one half per ct. on the amount of short property. 10-Premiums on vessels and freights not to be less than those on cargoes of general merchandise for same voyages.

13-When several passages are included in the same policy, the rates for each passage are to be added together.

14-If insurance be made from foreign ports to port or ports of discharge, or final port of discharge, in the United States, the coastwise premium to be added for each port used, more than one, in the United States.

15-With regard to risks not provided for in this tariff, it is agreed that the parties are to make contracts at discretion, but it is expected that the companies will require rates equivalent to those named in this tariff on risks of like value, acting in good faith, and not taking one risk for a lower rate in consideration of receiving the tariff rates on another.

16-Copenhagen is considered as in the Baltic.

17-Gottenburg is not considered as in the Baltic.

VESSELS ON TIME.

Risks on Time on Vessels of Two Hundred Tons and Upwards.

To add one-half per cent. for each passage traversing the hurricane latitudes, viz: within the parallels of 100 and 28° of North latitude, and 58° and 86° of West longitude, between the 15th of July and 15th of October.

Risks on Vessels of smaller sizes usually employed in the W. I. Trade, and on Short

Voyages.

If engaged in more favorable employment, they may be placed under the rates of Vessels of 200 tons and upwards, instead of the following.]

To add 2 per cent. if within the parallels of 100 and 28° of North latitude, and 580 and 86° of West longitude, between 15th July and 15th October.

If North of latitude 500 North, and East of longitude 20 East, between 1st October and 1st March, 1 per cent additional premium to be paid.

In all cases of over-insurance, ten per cent. of the return premium is to be retained by the insurers, not exceeding one half per cent. on the amount of short property. For a continuance of the risk beyond the year, half per cent. shall be charged in addition to the pro rata premium for the time used.

If the policy be cancelled before the time expires, 10 per cent. of the whole premium to be paid in addition to the premium earned pro rata up to the time the policy is cancelled, but in case of the sale of a vessel, the policy may by consent be transferred,