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Alone unchang'd the cypress yet remains,
And still her colour as her form retains.

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Now gently stealing on the yielding sense,
Soft breathing gales their gather'd sweets dispense
From thousand aromatic plants, that grow

In wild luxuriance on the mountain's brow;
From cultur'd fields, where blooms the early vine,
And embryo blossoms swell with future wine;
But chiefly thence, where, clad in vernal bloom,
The grape of Corinth* sheds its rich perfume.
Still is the landscape; nature sleeps around;
All motion dead, and hush'd is ev'ry sound;
Save where the unyok'd heifer roams at large,
Or the rude goatherd tends his wand'ring charge,
And, as their bleatings faintly strike my ear,
In mingled notes the herdsman's strain I hear,
List'ning his carol, as in uncouth rhymes
He sings the warlike deeds of other times;
Or wildly modulates to simple lays

His reed-the Doric reed of ancient days.'

At this still hour, when peace and silence reign,
Remembrance wakes the sadly-pleasing strain
Of former joys; and fancy loves to stray
O'er seas and distant shores, a trackless way!
With tears unbidden swells my pensive eye,
And bends its eager gaze on vacancy
Or, darting upwards through the fields of light,
Explores the starry rulers of the night;
And vainly seeks, among their radiant band,
To fix the zenith of my native land.”

There are several curious notes, the quantity of which we think Mr. W. might have advantageously augmented.

A short appendix is added, on the Romaic or Modern Greek language, as spoken in the Ionian Isles. On this, however, we forbear to make any remark; as the writer, in another part of the volume, lanients his ignorance of this tongue, (p. 45.) It is much to be wished, that Mr. Walpole, who is eminently qualified for the task, we imagine, by his attainments, and extensive acquaintance with the islands and coasts of ancient Greece, would favour the world with his matured thoughts on the subject in a regular dissertation.

* The currant or grape of Corinth is the staple commodity of Zante, that island being almost exclusively devoted to its culture, insomuch that it does not supply one fourth part of the corn necessary for the support of its population. The annual export of this article amounts on an ave rage to 8,000,000lbs. Cephalonia, and the Morea, jointly furnish about the same quantity: the greater part of this article is consumed in Great Bri

tain.

Art. XI. The Star in the East; a Sermon delivered in the ParishChurch of St. James, Bristol, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 1809, for the Benefit of the "Society for Missions to Africa and the East." By the Rev Claudius Buchanan, LL. D. Published by Request. 8vo. PP. 43. Price 1s. Longman and Co. Hatchard, and Seeley. 1809, COPIOUS knowledge of the subject, clear and concise statement, evangelical theology, and good language, are no more than what we expected in a sermon from Dr. Buchanan. The catholic spirit too, and the zeal and seriousness of this sermon, will gratify every liberal and devout reader. The preacher also appears with a freshness, if we may so express it, of oriental knowledge and impressions, which renders all his allusions and illustrations peculiarly congenial with his subject. The train of thoughts has a very pleasing cast of the climate in which the speaker has lately prosecuted his studies and observations; and is yet soundly European in its substance, quite free from the feebleness and extravagance so remarkable in oriental compositions.

The first part of the sermon is intended very briefly to state a certain degree of evidence of the general truth of Christianity, which is supplied to us by some circumstances in the state and literature of the East. This evidence arises from-1. Ancient writings of India, containing particulars of the history of Christ. 2. Certain doctrines of the East shadowing forth the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, and manifestly derived from a common origin. 3. The state of the Jews in the East, confirming the truth of ancient próphecy. 4. The state of the Syrian Christians in the East, subsisting, for many ages, a separate and distinct people in the midst of the heathen world. On the two first of these points, we think the Doctor is quite right to dwell but a moment. He gives a striking description of the state of the Jews in Asia.

The Jews are scattered over the whole face of the East, and the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning them is far more evident in these regions, than it is here among Christian nations.

the

By express prophecy, the Jews were sentenced to become scorn and reproach of all people,' and 'a proverb and bye-word among all nations.' Now, that their stubborn unbelief should be a reproach to them among Christian nations here in the West, is not so strange. But to have seen them (as I have seen them) insulted and persecuted by the ignorant nations of the East; in the very words of prophecy, trodden down of the heathen,' trodden down by a people who never heard the name of Christ; who never knew that the Jews had rejected Christ; and who, in fact, punished the Jews without knowing their crime, this

I say, hath appeared to me an awful completion of the divine sentence.' p. 11.

The second branch of the discourse offers some evidence of the divine power of the Christian religion in the East. Dr. B. justly sets small account on the operations of the popish missions; though he thinks they may have contributed in a small degree to facilitate the introduction of genuine Christianity. He enlarges, with animation, on the effects of the Danish mission, and particularly during the labours of Swartz and his coadjutors. When, however, he says that 'multitudes' of Hindoos were converted to Protestant Chris tianity, we wish he had adopted a more definite expression, The number cani ot properly be called a multitude, as compared with the population of the country. A pleasing account is given of an Indian commemoration of the introduction of Protestant Christianity.

A jubilee has lately been celebrated in India, in honour of the gospel. In the month of July 1806, a jubilee was observed by these Hindoo churches (those of the peninsula) in commemoration of the arrival of the two first Protestant Missionaries on the 9th of July, 1706. The year 1806, being the hundredth year (or the second fiftieth) since the gospel first visited their land, was to them the year of jubilee.' The happy occasion had been long anticipated, and was marked with demonstrations of joy and gladness. The people, as we were informed, walked in procession to their churches, carrying palms in their hands, and singing the 98th psalm, and, after offering up praises and thanksgiving to the Most High, they heard a sermon suitable to the day.'

The preacher dwells with exultation on the prodigious exertions for translating the bible into so many languages; predicting, with probability, that very soon the most barbarous dialects on earth will be forced to speak of divine truth. We are much gratified by the liberality which the Doctor displays, respecting the difference of the denominations of the Christians engaged in propagating the gospel in the East, and his representation of the harmlessness and insignificance of these differences to the converts from heathenism.

Our preacher might be expected to make some allusion to the recent controversy, which his own Memoir' contributed so much to excite. This he does, in dignified terms, strongly but calmly expressive of the folly and futility of attempting to restrain the propagation of Christianity in India; and he dismisses the subject with the following very remarkable observations.

In the mean time, while men hold different opinions on the subject here, the great work goes on in the East. The Christians there will probably never hear of our dissentions, nor, if they should hear of them, would they be much interested about them. And on this point I

judge it right to notice a very singular mistake, which appears to have existed on both sides of the question. It seems to have been understood that we have it in our power to prevent the progress of Christianity in India, if we wish so to do; if such a measure should be recommended by what is called a wise policy.' But we have no power to prevent the extension of the Christian religion in India. We have it in our power indeed greatly to promote it, but we have no power to destroy it. It would be as easy to extinguish Christianity in Great Britain as in India. There are thousands of Christians in India-hundreds of thousands of Christians. And while we are contending here, whether it be a proper thing to convert the Hindoos, they will go on extending the bounds of their churches, keeping their jubilees, and enjoying the blessings of the gospel, regardless of our opinions or authority.'

While we are disputing here, whether the faith of Christ can save the heathens, the gospel hath gone forth for the healing of the nations." A congregation of Hindoos will assemble on the morning of the sabbath, under the shade of a Banian tree, not one of whom perhaps ever heard of Great Britain by name.'

With some expressions of hope, that the light may dawn' on Arabia, the preacher introduces a most interesting uarrative of the conversion of two Mahometans of rank and of great accomplishments, Abdallah and Sabat, the former of whom became a martyr for Christianity, the latter is now translating the bible into the Persian language.

This interesting sermon concludes with an animated notice of those various signs of the times,' which seem indicative that some great things are on the eve of being accomplished for the illumination and conversion of mankind; accompanied by a solemn enforcement of the necessity, to all men, of a transformation of the mind.

Art. XII. Report of the Secretary of the American Treasury on the Subject of Public Roads and Canals; made in Pursuance of a Resolution of Senate, of March 2, 1807. Printed by Order of the Senate. pp. 123. Washington. 1808.

AS this report is not published for sale, and cannot fall into the hands of many English readers, we shall give a larger account of its contents than a mere regard to its comparative importance would suggest. It is divided into five heads; 1. Great canals along the Atlantic sea coast. 2. Communications between the Atlantic and western waters. 3. Communications between the Atlantic rivers and the river St. Lawrence and great lakes. 4. Interior canals. 5. Turnpike or artificial roads; and two communications by Messrs. B. H. Latrobe and Robert Fulton, in reply to circular queries on the subject of the report transmitted by the secretary of the treasury, are added, as containing much interesting practical information, connected with observations of a general nature.

VOL. V.

3 D

1

With respect to the first object, the Secretary (Albert Gallatin) observes, that

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The map of the United States will shew that they possess a tide-water navigation, secure from storms and enemies, and which, from Massachusetts to the southern extremity of Georgia, is principally, if not solely, interrupted by four necks of land. These are, the isthmus of Barnstable that part of New Jersey that extends from the Rariton to the Delaware; the peninsula between the Delaware and the Chesapeake; and that low. and marshy tract which divides the Chesapeake from Albemarle sound. It is ascertained that a navigation for sea vessels, drawing eight feet water, may be effected across the three last; and a canal is also believed to be practicable, not perhaps across the isthmus of Barnstable, but from the harbour of Boston to that of Rhode island. The Massachusetts canal would be about 26, the New Jersey about 28, and each of the two southern about 22, miles in length, making altogether less than one hundred miles.'

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Under the second head it is stated, that the great elevation of the Alleghany mountains, in several places 3000 feet above the level of the sea, together with the want of lakes or natural reservoirs in the high grounds south of 41° N. latitude, render it impracticable to open a canal communication.

The works necessary in order to facilitate the communications from the seaports across the mountains to the western waters,must therefore consist either of artificial roads extending the whole way from tidewater, to the nearest and most convenient navigable western waters; or of improvements in the navigation of the leading Atlantic rivers, to the highest practicable points, connected by artificial roads across the mountains, with the nearest points from which a permanent navigation can be relied on down the western rivers.”

On this subject, however, Mr. Robert Fulton's opinion is deserving of attention. In the year 1795, that gentleman communicated a plan for the construction of small canals, on the principle of the inclined plane, to the Board of Agriculture in this country; which, after lying dormant for upwards of ten years, was published in the fifth volume of their Communications, Part 1 In reviewing that volume, we took occasion to commend Mr. Fulton's plan; and we regret to see that his abilities have now been transferred to another country. With respect to the apprehended impracticability of connecting the sea coast with the western water by interior navigation, he maintains, that

There is no difficulty in carrying canals over our highest mountains, and even where nature has denied us water. For water is always to be found in the valleys, and the canal can be constructed to the foot of the mountain, carrying the water to that situation. Should there be no water on the mountain or its sides, there will be wood or coals, either or both of which can be brought cheap to the work by means of the canal. Then with steam-engines the upper ponds of the canal can be filled from the lower levels, and with the engines the boats can on inclined planes be drawn from

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