contemplate. The passages of the Balkan are very difficult; to say nothing of the formidable mountain Turkish cavalry, called Spahis or Delhis (madmen), and other impedi

ments.

The author now proceeded to cross the Danube, and we cannot resist giving the result of his observations as he sat in the midst of the river.

"When we arrived in the middle of the current, and had a full and distinct view of both sides, I was greatly struck with the contrast. On the south, nothing could be more beautiful and pastoral than the prospect; the hanging banks of the river were clothed with vineyards, which yielded such abundant crops, that they formed the food of the Russians who

were encamped among them during the siege. From hence the ground rose gradually into undulating hills-some covered with green sward, and some with wood; between them were pastures filled with cattle, or cultivated land in fallow, or springing corn. The villages of the peasantry were scattered among these hills; and everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, the view was very lovely and inviting. The country on the north side was dull, naked, and flat, without a tree, a hill, an enclosure, or a village, covered in several places with dense dark mists; and, as far as the eye could reach, appearing to be fenny, foggy, and sterile. That northern tribes should wish to leave this dismal-looking region, and pass over to the other more lovely and inviting shore, seems perfectly natural; and they have attempted to do so from the earliest periods of history. Few have passed from

the south, except for a temporary purpose. But the inhabitants of this side have been always engaged in efforts to repel the tribes of the other, who have,

in all ages, crowded over to make perma nent establishments; and hordes of Sarmatians, Scythians, Iluns, Vandals, Goths and Russians, have been, and are at this day, deserting their dreary wastes, and swarining across to these more genial shores." pp. 224-226.

At Rutschuk the author was informed that the plague was raging in the country through which he was to advance; and, at Buchorest, the capital of Wallachia, he found that the report was not unfounded. This city is built on the river Domnitza; and contains about 80,000 inhabitants. The author describes it as exhibiting a singular mixture of Tartar and Turkish ha

bits; and as distinguished (in common, however, with other towns in the same country) from the rest of the world by boarded streets, of which he gives the worst possible report. His description of the moral character of the inhabitants is most painful. Oh, that the northern invaders might be permitted to open a way for the introduction of the Scriptures, into a spot from which they are almost as carefully excluded as from the citadel of Mohammedanism at Constantinople!

At Petesh, our author reaches the base of the Carpathian moun

tains.

Soon after he passes on to Rimnik, in which district the battle of Drageschan was fought, and mournfully distinguished by the extermination of a band of young students,

who there devoted themselves for the liberties of Greece. Under an influence, worthy of the brighter days of their country, these youthful heroes forsook, as by some contemporaneous influence, their schools, colleges, and homes, and ranged themselves under the banner of Ypselantes against an overwhelming army of Turks.

The traveller reached the Carpathian mountains at a pass called Rothentûrn, or Red Tower. And here he was subjected to a species of quarantine which, as he truly says, instead of curing the sick, was likely to infect and destroy the healthy. From thence he passes onward over the plains of Transylvania, now in the occupation of Austria. In this part of his work he gives a somewhat minute and interesting account of that singular people, the Gypsies; called, in that country whence they first proceeded to England, and where they are still collected in large numbers, Czingaries. Their characteristics of body and mind, in Bohemia, are precisely those by which they are distinguished here. In our own country we are not aware that they make the slightest acknowledgment of any religion. In Bohemia, on

tables with liberal extracts of matter, in a great degree fresh and original. But before we dismiss the volume, we will take the liberty of offering a few remarks suggested by the affecting picture which he presents of every province on his route in which Mohammedanism is the ruling faith.

There was a period in the history of the world, when the eye of every Christian was turned upon Mohammedanism; and when to investigate its principles, and to trace out their practical consequences in the destinies of mankind, was the great business of authors, divines, and statesmen. But of late years the Mohammedan nations have so evidently been declining in power, and have been so little in circumstances to extend their dominion, that few modern writers have given themselves the smallest trouble on the subject. But, whatever statesmen may think, no disciple of Christ ought to contemplate, for a moment, that gross imposition on the credulity of mankind, without the most unmixed horror, and the most settled purpose to discharge his part in the work of extinguishing it. Let the nature of Mohammedanism be considered-its monstrous exhibition of the Divine character-its allurements to the lusts and cruelty of mankind-its unsocial, exclusive, and blood-thirsty temper-its profligate contempt of human life--and its implacable hatred to Christianity. Let also its effects upon the interests and happiness of mankind be considered. Look at Turkey, transformed into a wilderness. Look at depopulated provinces-a starving population-filth, with all its consequent diseases a state of things in which no man is secure of cither his property or his life for a moment and you have the genuine picture of its practical results. And is not such a system to be contemplated with detestation? and must not every servant of God long and pray for the period when it shall be swept from the earth, and

the throne of love and righteousness be established in its place? This is one of the facts which more especially makes us rejoice in the establishment of the various Missionary societies in the Mediterranean. AÏthough their conductors have been able to accomplish little, they have done something. It is consolatory to hear that Bibles and tracts have been circulated to a considerable extent in Mohammedan countries. And here may we be permitted to express our hopes, that these societies sufficiently call to mind. the general circumstances of Mohammedan nations. For if it is an encouragement to know that they are not in what may be termed an altogether barbarous state; and that they are, therefore, open, at least in some instances, to the mode of argument and operation, which it is most easy and natural for European missionaries to employ; it is of consequence, also, to recollect, that this advance upon the intelligence of savage life demands corresponding attainments in those sent to instruct them. Henry Martyn appears to have been the most successful missionary to Mohammedans in modern times; and, "being dead," we are thankful to say "he yet speaketh" in the works he has bequeathed to us for their use. But all his communications with them serve to convince us that he had to deal, especially in their Muftis, with men completely armed with the objections which infidelity suggests, and to be met only by logical acuteness, as well as real scriptural knowledge. Savages, whose superstition is chiefly that of the fancy or passions, are easily persuaded to admit the truth of miracles; from their "resemblance to the supposed interpo. sitions of their deities; from their ignorance of the force of natural causes; from their instinctive propensity to believe in all that is extraordinary." But it is very difficult to bring the argument from prophecy to bear upon them; as

this demands a more improved habit of reasoning-a power of pursuing the course of events from age to age--and of handling the links of a long chain of reasoning. The Mohammedans however, while they admit the argument from miracles, are perfectly capable of comprehending that from prophecy. And it is a mode of argument, we think, actively to be pursued with them. All this, however, supposes body of missionaries qualified to instruct them; and with such, we venture to hope, the various missionary schools and colleges, and especially that attached to the Church Missionary Society, will gradually supply them. Some of the ardent spirits of the age appear to fancy that all missionary means for the extinction of Mohammedanism are superfluous; and that the cause may be safely consigned to the sword of the Russians, and the course of events as depicted in the prophetic volume. And even the more sober interpreters concur in thinking that the fall of Popery and of Mohammedanism will be nearly contemporaneous. The moment, however, at which this double blow will be inflicted upon the head of Antichrist, is among the times and seasons with which no man is acquainted. In the mean time, let us not be idle. Let the devout worshipper not "hold his peace" till the righteousness of "the Gospel" go forth

"as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth;" till the universal church become "a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God." Nor let us despair of success in whatever labours are bestowed upon this generous object. Mohammedanism presents many points of hope and attraction to the enlightened and undaunted missionary. Its followers are the inhabitants of states just civilized enough to perceive their want of more civilization-just instructed enough in religion to perceive,-when they are brought to think at all,-their want of a purer faith. They are not bound by the shackles of idolatry ; they worship one God; they believe in the immortality of the soul, and in a future judgment; they allow the Pentateuch and the Gospel to be sacred books: they consider the patriarch Abraham as the first founder of their religion. There is, therefore, much common ground on which to erect the instruments of spiritual warfare. And may many soldiers of the Cross be found to enter upon a crusade, not of military adventure and personal ambition, but of holiness and peace, in which the war is headed by "the Captain of our salvation," of which the banner is love, and the chosen instruments are, reason, and tenderness, and a holy life.

GREAT BRITAIN.

In the press, or preparing for publication : -Gideon, and other Poems; by the Author of " My Early Years:"-Essentials of Hebrew Grammar; by the Rev. J. Crocker.

The Committee of the Society for superseding the Necessity of Climbing Boys state, that the measures adopted for promoting

the use of Glass's improved machine, procuring its introduction into public buildings, and establishing auxiliary associations in the country for the same purpose, have been attended with all the good effects which the most sanguine friend to the institution could have anticipated. For the means of effecting this object, the Committee are indebted to the liberality of a small body of subscribers;

but had a more extended support been afforded them, they would have been enabled to accomplish much more. There being no charges for rent or salaries, the only expenses incurred by the Committee have been for the establishments of Glass and Day, for spreading information of the efficacy of the machine, and for printing and advertising. To meet these exigencies, a moderate but regular annual subscription is desirable. The tract, entitled "Practical Information," &c., which has been appended to our pages, renders it unnecessary to repeat the information contained in it. We are happy to learn that our circulation of this paper has greatly promoted the objects of the society. The machine is being introduced into many government departments and royal palaces, and the example has been extensively followed by many public institutions. As much of the evil which it is the object of the society to counteract has arisen from the irregular construction of chimneys, clauses have been introduced into the draft of the New Building Act, providing for the construction of flues, in future, in such a manner as to admit of being readily swept by machinery. The committee have also prepared the draft of a Bill for the better regulation of Chimney Sweepers and their Apprentices. These clauses provide that no boys under fourteen years of age shall be apprenticed to the trade, and prohibit climbing chimneys for the purpose of sweeping, coring, or extinguishing fires, by any person under twenty-one years of age.

Dr. Forster has conducted a variety of experiments to shew that original and reflected light may be distinguished from each other by causing the object glass of a telescope to vibrate, so as rapidly to change the inclination of its plane to the object; in which case reflected light remains unchanged after its refraction; whereas original light becomes decomposed into its colours. The fixed stars gave coloured light; the planets white; though the latter might be decomposed like the former through a prism. The discovery will be applied to ascertain whether comets shine by native or borrowed light.

Dr. Johnson's favourite willow-tree, which he always went to see when he visited Lichfield, was lately blown down. It is stated to have measured no less than twenty-nine feet in circumference.

The following are the altitudes above the sea of the chief hills in Kent, Essex, Middlesex, and Surrey:-Kent: Allington CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 330.

case

We are glad to find that the ecclesiastical court has at length pronounced a sentence of deprivation of his benefice against Dr. Free, of Sutton, whose inmoralities have been so often publicly noticed. But how wretched must be the state of discipline among us, that so opprobrious a should have been so long pending, and at such an enormous expense to the prosecutors! The learned judge stated, that it is highly honourable to our clergy that so few examples of scandal are found among them the expectation of legal visitation certainly cannot have much influence in the matter.

:

Captain Ross has sailed on another voyage for the discovery of the north-west passage.

Tobacco is extensively planted in Ireland; and the quantity grown last year, if foreign and imported, would have yielded 140,000l. to the revenue. No duty is attached to Irish tobacco, but the growth is interdicted in England.

FRANCE.

The Revue Encyclopedique states, that although, in consequence of the colonial system, sugar is a very expensive article in France, the best refined sugar is to be had at Antwerp, duty paid, at sixpence or sixpence-halfpenny per lb.; and that sugar exported from France, with the allowance of the drawback, is sold in Switzerland at about half the cost for which it is to be had by the consumer in France. In consequence of this high price of sugar the consumption in France is very small, only averaging five pounds yearly to each individual; whereas, in the United States, according to Humboldt, it is eight pounds; in England fourteen; in Hamburgh ten; and in the rest of Germany six. Beet-root sugar can now be manufactured in France as low as threepence per lb., and is likely to be still cheaper.

It is a remarkable indication of the depression of the Protestant church in 3 E