spicuously; but, when read entire, as it now stands, it will suffici ently explain my meaning.

"To keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book, we ought so to read the Apocalypse as to understand it. There is a twofold knowledge of the Bible-an intellectual and spiritual understanding thereof which should be carefully distinguished from each other. The intellectual knowledge of the Bible is obtained by the application of the unassisted faculties of the human mind. This knowledge is common to the believer and to the unbeliever; to him that fears O God, and to him that fears Him not. By means of this knowledge, many of the wise, the noble, and the learned, who have neither part nor lot in this matter, are better acquainted with the historical and geographical parts of the Bible, with its minute details and subtle criticisms, than the humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. On the contrary, the spiritual understanding of the Bible is peculiar to the people of God, its contents being engraven on their hearts, as far as the knowledge thereof is necessary to salvation, by the finger of the Holy Ghost. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

"Now, as the Apocalypse is written in typical and symbolical language, unless we intellectually understand the signification of these types and symbols, we shall know little more of the sayings of the prophecy of this book, than we should know were we to read them in an unknown tongue. As no man can understand an art or science unless he be conversant with the technical terms in which the knowledge of that art or science is conveyed, so no man can understand the sayings of the prophecy of this book unless he can interpret the types and symbols, under which imagery its sacred contents are unfolded to our view. Intellectually to understand the Apocalypse, we must compare scripture with scripture, prophecy with prophecy, and prophecy with sacred and profane history. Furthermore, to understand the Apocalypse, we must avail ourselves of the discoveries of those who have preceded us in this sacred study. So many valuable dissertations on prophecy have been published in this country, that no man can plead the want of literary assistance as an excuse for neglecting this interesting study; and I consider the injunction of our text to be obligatory upon every individual who has money to purchase, and time to read, the familiar expositions of prophecy written by Bishop Newton, Faber, and Gauntlett." By inserting the above explanation, you will particularly oblige Your obedient Servant,

Southampton, July 27, 1827.

Willing to allow Mr. Coleman the full benefit of his explanation, we shall not add a word of comment or reply, leaving our readers to judge how far our strictures were warranted by the citations.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1827.

Art. I. 1. Travels from India to England; comprehending a Visit to the Burman Empire, and a Journey through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c. In the Years 1825, 26. By James Edward Alexander, Esq. Lieut. late H. M.'s 13th Light Dragoons, and attached to the Suite of Col. Macdonald Kinneir, K.L.S. Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Tehran. 4to. pp. xvi. 302. Plates. Price 1. 11s. 6d. London. 1827.

2. Sketches of Persia, from the Journals of a Traveller in the East. In two volumes, sm. 8vo. pp. 560. London. 1827.

W HOEVER has read Chardin and Jonas Hanway, Morier

and Sir R. K. Porter, Capt. Fraser's account of Khorasan and the Caspian Provinces, Elphinstone's Caubul, and Pottinger's Beloochistan, together with Sir John Malcolm's brief History of Persia-that is to say, those readers who have had the opportunity and enterprise to wade through fifteen ponderous quartos, we beg Sir Wm. Ouseley's pardon for omitting his three volumes of Travels and Researches,-will have obtained a very tolerably clear idea of the past history and present condition of that country. To such persons, nevertheless, we may confidently recommend Lieutenant Alexander's pleasing volume as no unworthy supplement. Besides furnishing an account of the late mission of Col. Macdonald Kinneir, and the latest information respecting the state of affairs at the Court of Tehran, it contains, in the Appendix, a Summary ' of the Causes and Events of the existing War between Rus'sia and Persia;' which will enable the reader to understand the relative position of the two belligerents, and to estimate the claims and policy of that gigantic power which, not content with the ninth part of terra firma, is anxious to enclose the Euxine and the Caspian within its boundaries, and to join Scythia to Muscovy.

To persons who have not leisure or courage to encounter VOL. XXVIII. N.S.

T

such an array of quarto volumes, but who wish, at small cost, to know something about Persia, its manners and customs, scenery and antiquities, these Sketches' will afford a very elegant mélange of description, anecdote, tale, and substantial information, forming altogether two of the most delightful and fascinating volumes that have appeared for many a season. In fact, together with Hajji Baba, they afford a complete insight into the living manners and general character of Persian society. The view given us in Mr. Morier's story is extremely to the disadvantage of the Frenchmen of Asia.' The present volumes form, in a certain degree, a vindication of their character from indiscriminate reprobation; and whether it be owing to the Writer's amiable predisposition to think better of men and things, or to superior opportunities and talents for observation, a much more pleasing picture is given of the people at large. It is the eye, the disposition, and the judgement of the observer,' it is justly remarked,

more than what is actually seen, that stamps the condition of distant nations with those who have to form their opinions at secondhand; and the generality of readers who have their happiness grounded on a natural prejudice in favour of their own ways and usages, lean towards such as minister to their pride and patriotism, by throwing a dark shade on all they meet different from old England, or some of those countries in its vicinity, for which their good climate, cheap viands, and well-flavoured wines have created a predilection.

The eastern hemisphere continues to have a certain venerable air with old men, from a belief that the star of knowledge first en. lightened its horizon. Children delight in it from its containing the enchanting tales of the "Thousand and One Nights." Ladies admire its flowered muslins, rich shawls, pure pearls, and brilliant diamonds. Merchants view it as a source of commercial wealth. The naturalist, the botanist, and the geologist search its plains, its forests, and its mountains, for unicorns, spikenard, splendid specimens of zeolite, and grand basaltic formations. The English soldier looks to its fields for a harvest of reputation; while pious missionaries sally forth with more than military zeal, to reclaim the millions of the East from their errors, and direct them in the path of life. Almost all these, however different their objects, concur in one sentiment, that the rulers of the East are despots, and their subjects slaves; that the former are cruel, the latter degraded and miserable, and both equally ignorant.'-Sketches, Vol. I. p. 11.

This sentiment is assuredly in unison with fact; nor can we suppose that this Writer means to question it; but we may concede that truth is not always fairness, and that our conclusions are often too precipitate in following out causes into consequences. With regard to the misery produced by the oriental system of government, there is, perhaps, reason to question

whether, under the existing circumstances of society, it is fairly chargeable with all the evils which we are apt to ascribe to it.

Because men continue, like their ancestors, to live under an arbitrary monarch, and have not the precise qualities upon which we value ourselves, we hasten to the conclusion, that they are slaves and barbarians, whom the force of habit and prejudice alone saves from being as miserable as they are degraded. Viewing them in this light, we waste a pity upon them which they neither value nor understand; nor has it, if we analyze its grounds, any just foundation. Though unacquainted with political freedom,. though superficial in science, and unlearned in Greek and Latin, they are not without defences against injustice or despotism; and the very condition of their society gives them, on all points affecting themselves, their families, or friends, an intuitive quickness and clearness of perception, which appears wonderful to men rendered dull, as it were, by civilization. Neither are such nations deficient in those arts which are subservient to the subsistence, and promote the enjoyments of man, and they are, per.. haps, more alive than we improved beings to those passions whence so much of our happiness and misery flow. I have travelled much, but have found little difference in the aggregate of human felicity. My pride and patriotism have often been flattered by the complaints and comparisons of the discontented; but I have never met with any considerable number of a tribe or nation, who would have exchanged their condition for that of any other people upon the earth. When I have succeeded, as I often did, in raising admiration and envy, by dwelling npon the advantages of the British government, I have invariably found that those feelings vanished, when I explained more specifically the sacrifices of personal liberty, the restraints of the law, and the burden of taxation by which these advantages are purchased." Vol. II. pp. 173—5.

It is very consolatory to think that eels and Persians do not so much mind being flayed when they are used to it; and that there is a large amount of animal bliss which very much depends upon ignorance. Still, though usage, education, and national pride may reconcile the minds of the natives to a great deal of what Englishmen would regard as insufferably degrading and oppressive, and the quantum of animal enjoyment may not be so much less under such a state of things as we are apt to imagine, we cannot go quite so far as this ingenious apologist for the powers that be, and the things that be, who would fain persuade us that freedom and happiness are, like taste, incapable of being brought to any fixed standard. Eng. lish travellers are, perhaps, too ready to pronounce, that every thing is wrong which does not accord with their own habits and feelings; but there is an opposite extreme, a latitudinarian creed on points of religion, morals, and government, which is not less at variance with sound philosophy and genuine philanthropy.

We have been so much pleased with the graphic sketches of this lively Writer, that we feel reluctant to animadvert upon the false sentiment which occasionally mingles itself with the observations suggested by the state of Persian society. We regret to meet with innuendoes relative to national efforts to spread knowledge' and ' precocious plans' originating in the foolish pride of our knowledge,' which are at least capable of being injuriously misapplied. Such passages remind us too strongly of Sir William Gell's attempt to write down the Greek cause and the Bible Society, on the ground that the annual spoliation of a pasha or two is not half so great a nuisance as that sort of pretended liberty which is the boast of Geneva.' We altogether forget,' says the present Apologist for the Persians, that it is from the general condition of the country, that the character of the population is chiefly 'formed.' Surely those persons cannot be justly accused of this forgetfulness, who infer that character from the general condition of the people. For instance, it has been inferred, that a state of personal insecurity and constant oppression, such as attends the alternation of anarchy and despotism to which Persia has ever been subject, would induce, as the general character of the population, meanness and distrust, cunning and dishonesty, recklessness and falsehood; and accordingly, these, by the common consent of all travellers, are reported to be the most prominent qualities of the Persian character. The people are, in truth,' we are told by Captain Fraser, forced to every shift of cunning and duplicity, to baffle the avarice ' of their masters.' They are treacherous and deceitful, defi⚫cient in gratitude and all the more amiable dispositions of the 'mind. To protect themselves from extortion, they resort to frauds and untruths. They are, perhaps, not naturally cruel, ⚫ but the little value set upon human life, and the acts of cruelty so frequently committed before their eyes by their rulers, have familiarized them with bloodshed.' The insecurity of life, limb, or property, even for the passing day, produces a 'corresponding mistrust among individuals; each lives but for himself, and for the hour. Man fears man; the servant dis⚫ trusts his master, the master his servant; ..... the father and son dread and often hate each other. Even the wife, uncer'tain of her husband's life and of her childrens' affection, feels a separate and selfish interest, and grasps what she can secure and secrete of his property, to provide for the evil day. The 'worst is, that there is no rational prospect of melioration, no 'point from which to look forward to a happier state of society, for there is no hope of any change in the system of govern

'ment.'