frequently done, more particularly by selecting Sunday as a day for travelling, for taking long journies, which might as well be performed at any other time. This is a direct violation of the fourth commandment, which expressly gives the sabbath as a day of rest to our servants and our cat

tle.

"This temporary suspension of labour, this refreshment and relief from incessant toil, is most graciously allowed, even to the brute creation, by the great Governor of the universe, whose mercy extends over all his works. It is the boon of heaven itself; it is a small drop of comfort thrown into their cup of misery; and to wrest from them this only privilege, this sweetest consolation of their wretched existence, is a degree of inhumanity for which there wants a name, and of which few people I am persuaded, if they could be brought to reflect seriously upon it, would ever be guilty." p. 255, 256.

Lecture XI. Matth. xiii.-Nature and use of Parables.

Lecture XII. Matthew xiii. continued.-Parable of the Sower explained.

Lecture XIII. Matth. xiii. continued.-Parable of the Tares explained.

Lecture XIV. Matthew xiv.-History of Herod and Herodias.-Death of John the Baptist.

From the remarks arising from the circumstances connected with the murder of John, we select the following:

"We here see a fatal proof of the extreme barbarities to which that most diabolical sentiment of revenge will drive the natural tenderness even of a female mind; what a close connection there is between crimes of apparently very different complexion; and how frequently the uncontrolled indulgence of what are called the softer affections, lead ultimately to the most violent excesses of the malignant passions. The voluptuary generally piques himself on his benevolence, his humanity, and gentleness of disposition. His claim even to those virtues is at the best very problematical; because, in his pursuit of pleasure, he makes no scruple of sacrificing the peace, the comfort, the happiness of those for whom he pretends the tenderest affection, to

VOL. I.

the gratification of his own selfish desires. But however he may preserve his good humour, when he meets with no resistance, the moment he is thwarted and opposed in his flagitious purposes, he has no hesitation in going any lengths to gain his point, and will fight his way to the object he has in view through the heart of the very best friend he has in the world. The same thing we see in a still more striking point of view, in the conduct of Herodias. She was at first only a bold, unprincipled libertine, and might perhaps be admired and celebrated, as many others of that description have been, for her good temper, her sensibility, her generosity to the poor; and with this character she might have gone out of the world, had no such person as John arisen to reprove her and her husband for their profligacy, and to endanger the continuance of her guilty commerce. But no sooner does he rebuke them as they de served, than Herodias shewed that she had other passions to indulge be sides those which had hitherto disgraced her character; and that, when she found it necessary to her pleas sures, she could be as cruel as she had been licentious; could contrive and accomplish the destruction of a great and good man, could feast her eyes with the sight of his mangled head in a charger, could even make her own poor child the instrument of her vengeance, and, as I am inclined to think, a reluctant accomplice in a most atrocious murder.

"Here is a most awful lesson held out, not only to the female sex, but to both sexes, to persons of all ages and conditions, to beware of giving way to any one evil propensity in their nature, however it may be disguised under popular names, however indulgently it may be treated by the world, however it may be authorized by the general practice of mankind; because they here see, that they may not only be led into the grossest extravagancies of that individual passion, but may also be insensibly betrayed into the commission of crimes of the deepest dye, which in their serious moments they always contemplated with the utmost horror." p. 377379.

Lecture XV. Matthew xvii.-The Transfiguration of Christ.

Tt

great many dyers, and the waters of the TIGRIS are said to be peculiarly, adapted to the purposes of that trade.

"In some branches these people are equal, if not superior, to many Europeans; but the weavers are very inferior to the English; and the cloth they make, whether of woollen, cotton, or silk, is always very narrow. They entertain a very high opinion of the British manufactures, and the very name of an Englishman is sufficient to gain the greatest respect.

"People of all descriptions seem here to enjoy much liberty. The various sects of Christians have their chapels and churches, and each follows his own mode of worship without molestation." p. 161-163.

Facing page 179 is a plate, representing a portable spinning machine, used at KESSERECK and GERMILLY in ARMENIA, by which one man spins two threads, twists the two threads he has spun before, and turns the wheel at the same time.

Among some of the manners and customs noticed, we think the following merits attention.

"At one o'clock we arrived at the encampment of HASSAN CHILLABY; for here also the inhabitants, having quitted the town, which was about two miles distant, had encamped on a hill.

"I now found that we could not proceed farther without a very strong guard.

"The people belonging to the tent wherein we rested were very attentive, and I was fortunate in cultivating the friendship of the women, who took some pains to provide such food and refreshment as they thought I should like best. I had also a favourable opportunity of observing their manners and customs.

"The whole of the cattle belonging to these encampments are driven every morning into such of the val lies as contain the greatest plenty of water and vegetation, where they are watched all day by two or three persons employed for that purpose, and in the evening are brought back again. The tents are always pitched in a circle, and the cattle remain all night in the centre.

The people rise at dawn of day, and the first employment of the wo men is to milk their cows and goats, which are immediately sent off again

to pasture. The women then put the milk into a sort of bottle made of a goat's skin, every part of which is sewed up except the neck; but when they are churning, the neck is tied with a string close and tight enough to prevent the milk running out. They then fix three strong sticks in the ground, in a form something like what we often use in raising weights, only on a smaller scale. From these they suspend the goat's skin tied by each end, and continue shaking it backward and forward till it becomes butter; and they easily know when it is ready by the noise it makes. They then empty the skins into a large vessel, skim off the butter, put hot water into the skin to clean it, and hang it up to dry.

"Besides this employment, they have also to bake bread every morning for the day's consumption; for all this work is performed by the women. The bread is baked on large iron plates, as in many parts of EUROPE; but should any of the women happen to lie longer than usual in the morning, so as not to be able to get their work done before the sun becomes hot, they not only have to work in the sun, but are heartily laughed at by better housewives." p. 187-189.

In the course of the journey the author had an opportunity of witnessing the agility of his conductors. He says, "they would sometimes draw out of the ranks half a dozen on each side, and throw blunted spears, at which exercise these men are wonderfully dexterous, being able to pick up spears from the ground without quitting their horses. They have also a particular method of avoiding their opponents spears by hanging down on the opposite side of the horse, and thus exposing only one foot, yet al the same time going on full gallop. But though the men are at this exercise so much superior to Europeans, I was even more entertained by observing the motions of the horses, some of which were beautiful white Arabians. The horseman makes very little use of the reins on these occa sions, and the horse is governed by the motions of the rider's body. If the latter lean towards the right or left, the horse will turn to that side, and if the motion be quick will gallop full speed. If the rider lean forward, the horse gallops straight on; and if the man raise his body upright, the

horse, though at that time on full speed, will stop in a moment, without the rider touching the bridle." p. 196, 197.

Amasia is considered by our Author to be a very pleasant situation, and he has given the representation of it in a plate.

"For nearly a mile above the town was a deep valley, in which were many gardens and orchards. There was also a fine stream of water running from the mountains that we had come over, on which were several mills.

"AMASIA is a very extensive and populous town, nearly as large as TOCAT, and is surrounded by many lofty rugged mountains. The faces of these mountains have nearly half a mile of almost perpendicular height; and in one of these are several places cut in the solid rock, similar to a Hindoo pagoda, and which can only be approached by little narrow passes cut through the rock." p. 211, 212. The method of watering this town deserves notice.

"The town is well watered, particularly the lower parts, by means of large wheels near thirty feet in diameter. These are turned by the stream, having a great many large buckets fastened to them. As the wheel turns round, these buckets empty themselves into troughs fixed within a few feet as high as the wheel. By this method they are enabled to keep up a continual stream of water, which is conveyed by pipes from the troughs to the hummums, fountains, &c." p. 212, 213.

A custom among the Grecian women is thus noticed. "At a village called BENLEE, we stopt half an hour at a Greek's house to refresh. The master of the house had two very beautiful daughters. The Greeks in general have handsome features; but these particularly attracted my attention. They, as well as the peasantry in general, had a very ridiculous custom of tying all their treasure round their necks; and I have actually seen some wear three or four hundred Venetian sequins perforated and fastened round their necks with silk strings. This custom, however, is confined to the unmarried part of the sex, wives having no ornament whatever on that part of their persons." p. 247, 248.

The author also notices the method used here of separating the corn from

the straw, and observed the same to be adopted in all countries where the rains are periodical. "They make a ring about forty yards round, sometimes of clay, and sometimes paved. They then bring their corn from the field, and throw it in a heap in the middle of the ring. They have a sledge too, which is sometimes drawn by bullocks, sometimes by horses, and some of these have pieces of iron driven into the bottom, to cut the straw as it goes round, though in others I have seen flint stones fastened to the bottom. Upon the sledge is a heavy weight. Beside the person who drives the cattle, another is employed with a fork in tossing the straw from the ring, if the grain is extracted, and taking fresh from the heap in the middle. In this manner they are enabled to continue till they have extracted the whole of their corn, without being in any danger of having it spoiled by rain. This is much quicker, and easier too, than our mode of thrashing in ENGLAND." p. 249, 250.

The Author thinks the same method might be adopted in England, under covered buildings, much to the advantage of agriculture.

The last mechanical object which engaged the Author's attention is of some importance, and thus noticed. "On the river DANUBE, below PESTE, are many floating corn-mills, which are admirably adapted for the purpose. The vessels on which the mills are built are always kept afloat and at anchor in the middle of the stream; the wheel is turned by the current, and I am of opinion, that mills built on a similar construction might be made serviceable on the river THAMES, without obstructing the navigation; for we have too many instances of flour and bread advancing in price, on account of the mills in the neighbourhood not being able to raise a sufficient supply, particularly in dry seasons." p. 275, 276.

LXXXVI. TRAVELS through Sweden, Finland, and Lapland, to the North Cape, in the Years 1798 and 1799. By JOSEPH ASCERBI. In Trvo Volumes. Illustrated with Seventeen elegant Engravings. 4to.

HE first volume contains thirty T chapters, to which is prefixed a portrait of the author, engraved by