Religious Denominations, &c. Waldenses, of which, there are still some remains; but a great part of the people were driven by a long and cruel persecution within the pale of the Roman Church, in which they still continue. Population 4,000,000. Government-each Canton is an independent republic, but the whole are united in à confederacy, governed by a general diet. In some of the Cantons the government is democratic, but in most of them it is obligarchic with few limits.-The government of Piedmont is monarchical. FRANCE. Present State of leligion, &c. formerly 15 great schools, 90 smaller, and two Latin schools. Both the ministers and schools subsisted in a great measure by charitable assistance from Holland, Switzerland, and even England: but the events of the late war have reduced them to much wretchedness and misery. Ever since the establishment of the free institutions of Switzerland, this country has been much distinguished for the general information of its citizens. The Protestant Cantons, at least, have educated their children as well as any part of Europe. Geneva, the largest city in the country, where the Reformation was matured by Calvin and his associates, and which became the nursery of the Presbyterian church, has always taken the lead in education, and has now a very flourishing university. At present, Switzerland is recovering from the desolations of the late wars. Education is provided for by the support of Primary Schools. FRANCE. Catholics, with free tolera- In the South of France the tion to Protestants, who are gospel is heard with eagerness, very numerous in the South of and evangelical ministers from France, but with a great num-other countries are received ber of Infidels throughout the with open arms; the fullest country. Jews, and all other liberty of conscience is allowdenominations, are likewise tol-ed, and there is an university erated. Population, 24,000,- for the education of the pro000. Government,limited mon-testant clergy. Mr. Martin, a archy. young minister from Bourdeaux, is now in England for the express purpose of learning the new system of education, with a view to introduce it into his native country. Religious Religious Denuminations, &c. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. Present State of Religion, &c. ligious toleration and the general distribution of landed property, effected by the late changes in France, have given a spring to education among that wealthy and active people which is likely to produce the happiest effects. The protestants are making great exertions to promote the interests of religion and education, with much encouragement and success. Here are 22,300 " Primary Schools." Still the great majority of children are without education. SPAIN. The introduction of an English army into these countries Catholics, without Toleration to any other Denomination.— The late Cortes shewed a dis-had a tendency to weaken the position to enlighten the people, and tolerate Protestants; per but Ferdinand VII. since his return has re-established the order of Jesuits, and the Inquisition; and liberal men have 'been made the objects of secution. The Catholic Clergy in Spain are estimated at 200,000, and in Portugal but little less. In Portugal the same bigotry and superstition prevails, but the assistance they have received from the English inclines them to somewhat more liberality; and English Protestants may live. unmolested, though not beloved. Population, 13,000,000. The Government of Spain is limited hereditary monarchy, the of making laws is power fixed in the Cortes jointly with the King-The Government of Portugal is monarchical, with a Cortes like that of Spain, a prejudices of the people against there is little to recommend protestants as heretics, though true religion in the general of the late Cortes were also famorals of the soldiers. Some vourable to a reformation of religion, and of the priests, which has been lately given as the true reason of their being so obnoxious to the present government, which is certainly under the influence of the church. The Spanish universities, which have heretofore been numerous, and all their literary institutions, are in a low state. The pernicious ef fects of monastic influence have excluded the modern improveThe ments in education. country appears to be getting into a settled state under the ancient regimen ; and the late commotions, it would seem, must produce an activity fa vourable to true religion and education. The operations of the press are rapidly increas ing, and the effect is sure. Religious Denominations, &c. ITALY, including Naples and Rome is the metropolis of the Catholic Church, and the Popedom. No toleration to Protestants can be expected here, though the Pope shews some peculiar civilities to the English nation, for which he has certainly abundant reason but he has complained of a protestant church being allowed at Venice. There are 9 or 10,000 Jews resident in Rome and its vicinity. The inhabitants of Naples and Sicily (about six millions) are also Catholics. In 1782 there were counted in Naples above 45,525 priests, 24,694 monks, 20,793 nuns ; but the next year a decree passed to dissolve 466 convents, which must have greatly lessened them. Population 15,000,000. Government, monarchical. TURKEY in Europe, with the Present Stale of Religion, &c. ITALY. A protestant congregation has been lately formed at Naples; the government has granted them one of the unoccupied churches for their wor ship, and there seems a great disposition to listen to evangelical preaching. It is said also, that the Pope has complained of the protestant worship being tolerated at Venice. Catholic bigotry has long had less influence in Italy than in some other countries. Little of religion remains in this fine country but the forms of the catholic church. The state of education is very low. And, although monastic influence is declining, the indolence of the people prevents any great ef forts for its revival. TURKEY. Isles of the Archipelago. It is hoped among the Greek, The Empire is Mahometan, as well as Protestant Chrisand Toleration is purchased by tians, thinly scattered over this the payment of a capitation empire, may be found the seed Tax. Of Christians, those of of a future Christian church, the Greek Church are far the whenever it may please God to most numerous, and are in some open a door for the gospel to parts (as in Moldavia and Wal-enter this country. Great eflachia) admitted to places of trust and honour. The Greeks, in general, are subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople in ecclesiastical matters; but there are some Armenians, Copts, Nestorians, &c. The Jews are very numerous, and subject to a chief of their own nation. Government despotic. Population, 8,000,000. forts are made by the Greeks, amid all the burdens of their oppressive war, to restore their ancient literature. Should they obtain their independence, of which the prospect is favourable, there is reason to expect the establishment of Christianity among them, on gospel principles, which may open the way for the restoration of the church to the land of its nativity. From the indolent and dissolute Turk little is to be expected. Religious Denominations, &c. RUSSIA in Europe. The Greek Church is the establishment in this country, with a free Toleration to Raskolniks, or Dissenters, as well as to Catholics, Protestants and Jews. Present State of Religion, &c. RUSSIA. The emperor's patronage of bible societies in Petersburgh, Moscow, &c. cannot but have a favourable aspect to the cause of true religion. Mr. Pinkerton gives a pleasing account of the orthodoxy of the Greek The Church is governed, not by the patriarch of Constanti-Church, as to the main points nople, as formerly; but by a of the Christian religion, and grand national council of Ec- mentions several denominations clesiastics, in which the Em- of Raskolniks (or Dissenters) peror has a layman of high who discover much of the life rank as his representative. and power of religion. Under The church service is perform- the munificent patronage of the ed in the old Sclavonian lan- emperor and the benevolent guage.-[Pinkerton.] Popu-exertions of many of the nobilfation, 33,000,000. Govern-ity, the interests of education ment, a Constitutional mon- are much improving. But archy. ASIA. much is to be done, for the greater part of the peasantry are in a most ignorant and depressed state. ASIA. RUSSIA in Asia. The United Brethren have RUSSIA in Asia, including Siberia, Kamschatka, &c. The Greek Church is the es-long had a missionary estabtablished religion in all the civ-lishment at Sarepta, and the ilized provinces; but with a Russian government encouraggeneral toleration throughout ed protestant settlements on this vast empire. A great part the banks of the Wolga. Some of the inhabitants of the Desert years since the Edinburgh misare Pagan Tartars of the Sam- sionary society also attempted inan religion. Some attach a mission at Karass, near Asgreat importance to the form trachan: but all were broken of their whiskers; and the Al-up (at least for the present) by taians are so fond of military the calamitous effects of the show, that they dress up their late war. The missionaries of idol deity in the uniform of an both settlements have, howevofficer of dragoons. The Kam-er, in the mean time been useschatkans have been converted fully and honorably employed to the Greek religion by a ten in translating the New Testayears exemption from all tax- ment, the one (whose work is es ! Population, 3,000,000. already in circulation,) into the Government, monarchical. Turkish language, and the other into that of the Kalmuck Tartars, many of whom have embraced Religious Denominations, &c. TURKEY in Asia. Mahometans occupy Palestine, or the holy land, Syria, Mesopotamia, and other countries, the scene of Scripture history: but there are also many Jews and Christians, of various denominations, who are indulged, by paying for it, with living under the ecclesiastical ment of the respective patriarchs, whether of Jerusalem or Antioch, Alexandria or Constantinople. The same may be said of the Nestorians, Armenians, and other reputed sectaries. Population, 10,000,000. Government, monarchical, and irregular, void of liberty. ARABIA. govern Mahometans, Sabeans, and Wahabees. Population, 8 millions. Government-Each inland tribe is under the government of petty princes, (orSheiks.) They have no other laws than those found in the Koran. Present State of Religion, &c. embraced Chistianity in the Greek Church. A mission is also in contemplation to the Mongul, and Manjur Tartars, who reside in that part of Siberia which borders on the Chinese empire. Bible societies have been formed, not only at Petersburgh and Moscow under royal patronage, but in the provinces of Esthonia and Livonia, for the express purpose of printing the New Testament and religious tracts in those dialects. TURKEY, Arabia, Persia, Tar tary. No Mission has yet been attempted to these countries, bat the way is preparing by printing the Scriptures in almost all the various languages of the East. A mission was attempted by the late Mr. Bloomfield at the Isle of Malta, with a view to introduce the gospel into the Greek Isles, and eventually into Turkey; but the pestilence which raged there, and the death of that missionary, have hitherto retarded the object. It is not, however, forgotten. Dr. Naudi has been attempting to excite attention to it among the Christians residing on the borders of the Mediterranean; and mentions it as a promising circumstance, that there have been of late many conversions of Jews residing in those parts. A late decree in Persia has permitted the public reading of the scriptures. No part of the world affords a more inviting 20* scene |