And Eebatana's seven walls;
And Tadmor's, lie in dust;

And Royal Susa's bowers and halls,
The Persian monarch's trust.

Time with his tarnish wore them old,
Like a moth-fretted robe;

Or rushing ages swept and roll'd
Their glory from the globe!
The cedar, marble, iron, brass,
That form'd each lofty dome,
Exhibit now a shapeless mass,
The loathsome reptiles' home.
Time leaves a rust on all below,
That wears it to the core;

A thousand wrecks his rapids show,
And ask a thousand more.

My Country! but I would not ring
A note of sad despair;

Or say, that future bards may sing,
That England's glories were!

Yet Time has ting'd thy locks with grey,
Thy youthful bloom is past;
And antiquarians sigh and say,
Thou art not what thou wast!

Yon abbey walls, yon ancient cross,
Yon ivy-mantled tower,

Yon castle keep, yon Roman fosse,
Are trophies of his power.

And should the hand a "Tekel" write,
That lays the proudest low;

Thy bloom shall wither in a blight,

And melt away like snow.

Then ne'er in fleets and armies boast,
Their prowess is in vain :

Tis prayer must bulwark round thy coast,
And boliness sustain.

Thy sure palladium is faith;

Thy talisman is prayer;

Thy amulet a hallow'd wreath
Of self-dist rusting care.

Around thy glory be the fence
Of providence sublime;

And thou shalt flourish ages hence,
Despite of father Time.

Yes, if thy senates truth inspire,
Thy kings he just and wise;"
Coeval with the wandering fire
That lights the bright blue skies!
Keighley.

JOSHUA MARSDEN.

From the voyages, dangerous adventures, and hardly-earned information of numerous travellers, they have produced a volume of great utility, entertainment, and interest; having condensed within a narrow compass nearly all that is important in the numerous works which they have consulted.

Commencing with a general view of the natural features of Africa, and noticing the knowledge of the ancients respecting this vast continent, they proceed to the settlements of the Arabs, and thence descend to the early discoveries of the Portuguese, the English, and the French. From these general views they follow the discoveries of about thirty adventurers, into these burning, barren, and dreary regions; extracting from their publications, the interesting materials from which their own volume derives its importance and value. Of their style and manner, and of the nature of this volume, the reader will be able to form a tolerable estimate from the following para. graphs.

Having made some cursory observations on the vegetable productions of the fertile regions, and traced them to the margins of the desert, where silence, sterility, and solitude hold undisturbed dominion, they thus characterize the animal tribes.

"The animal world in Africa cbanges equally its nature as it passes from one to another of these opposite regions. In those plains which are inundated by the great rivers, it multiplies at an extraordinary rate, and often assumes huge and repulsive forms. Throughout all this continent the wild tribes exist in large and formidable numbers, and there is scarcely a tract which they do not either hold in full possession, or tiercely dis pute with man. Even the most densely peopled countries border on wide forests and wastes, whose savage tenants find their prey occasionally in man himself, as well as in the domestic animals which surround him; and when the scent of human

Adventure in Africa, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time: with Illustrations of the Geology, Mineralogy, and Zoology. By Professor Jameson, James Wilson, and Hugh Murray, Esqs. 12mo. pp. 500. Simpkin and Marshall. London. 1830.

To extract the substance of voluminous publications, and compress it into an essence, is an arduous undertaking, in which but few adventurers are happily successful. Every one, however, is ready to admit, that such compressions are in many cases desirable, but we learn from experience, that wishes are always more easily formed than gratified.

Among the fortunate competitors for fame in this field of difficult rivalry, professor Jameson and Co., in the work before us, have a claim to pre-eminent regard.

gry monsters hasten from every side to the feast of blood.

"The lion, that king of the desert, that mightiest among the tribes which have the wilderness for

their abode, abounds in Africa, and causes all her forests to re-echo his midnight roar. Yet both his courage and fierceness have, it is said, been overhim, or evade his first dreadful spring, rarely falls

rated; and the man who can undauntedly face

bis victim. Wider ravages are committed by the hyena, not the strongest, but the most ferocious and untameable of all the beasts of prey. These creatures, by moving in numerous bands, achieve what is beyond the single strength of the greater animals; they burst with mighty inroad into the cities, and have even carried by storm fortified enclosures.

The elephant roams in vast herds through the densely wooded tracts of the interior, disputing with the lion the rank of king of the lower creation: matchless in bulk and strength, yet tranquil, majestic, peaceful, led in troops under

the guidance of the most ancient of the number,

baving a social, and almost moral existence. Instead of the tiger, Africa has the leopard and the panther, belonging, however, only to certain of its districts.

"In the large and broad rivers of Africa, and through the immense forests which over-shadow them, a race of amphibious animals of monstrous

form and size display their unwieldy figures. The rhinoceros, though not strictly amphibious, slowly traverses marshes and swampy grounds, and almost equals the elephant in strength and defensive powers, but wants his stature, his dignity, and his wisdom. The single or double horn with which be defends himself, is an article of commerce in the East, though not valued in Europe. A still huger shape is that of the hippopotamus, or river borse, fitted alike to stalk on land, or march along the bottom of the waters, or to swim on their surface. He is slow, ponderous, and gentle; yet when annoyed, either by design or accident, his wrath is terrible; he rushes up from his watery retreat, and by merely striking with his enormous tusks, can overset or sink a loaded canoe. But the most dreaded of all the inhabitants of the African rivers is the crocodile, the largest and tiercest of the lizard tribe. He lies like a log upon the waters, watching for his prey, attacking men, and even the strongest animals, which, however, engage with him in obstinate and deadly encounters.

"We have not yet done with all the monstrous and prodigious forms which Africa generates. She swarms with the serpent brood, which spread terror, some by their deadly poison, others by their mere bulk and strength. In this last respect, the African serpents have struck the world with amazement; ancient history records that whole provinces were over-run by them; and that one, after disputing the passage of a river with the Roman army was destroyed only by the battering engine."-p. 7.

Of the orang-outang, the account given is too singular to be omitted. This animal, which, in form and action, in many particulars resembles the human species, Mr. Wilson thus describes.

"Two species of African orang-outang seem to have been described by the earlier writers. These were probably the young and the old of the same species seen apart at different times, for later researches do not lead to the belief of their being more than one.

"The greatest of these monsters,' says Battell, is called pongo in their language; and the less is called engeco. This pongo is exactly proportioned like a man; but he is more like a giant in stature; for he is very tall, and hath a man's face, hollow-eyed, with long hair upon his brows. His

face and ears are without hair, and his bands also. His body is full of hair, but not very thick, and it is of a dunnish colour. He differeth not from man but in his legs, for they have no calf. He goeth always upon his legs, and carrieth his bands clasped on the nape of his neck, when he goeth upon the ground. They sleep in trees, and build shelter from the rain. They feed upon the fruit that they find in the woods, and upon nuts; for they eat no kind of flesh. They cannot speak, and appear to have no more understanding than a beast. The people of this country, when they travel in the woods, make fires where they sleep in the night, and in the morning when they are gone, the pongos will come and sit by the fire till it goeth out; for they have no understanding to lay the wood together, or any means to light it. They go many together, and often kill the negroes that travel in the woods. Many times they fall upon the elephants which come to feed where they may be, and so beat them with their clubbed fists, and with pieces of wood, that they will run roaring away from them. Those pongos are seldom or never taken alive, because they are so strong, that ten men cannot hold one of them; but yet they take many of their young ones with poisoned arrows. The young pongo hangeth on his mother's belly, with his hands fast clasped about her; so that when any of the country people kill any of the females, they take the one which hangeth fast upon its mother, and being thus domesticated and trained up from their infant state, become exceed.

ingly familiar and taine, and are found useful in many employments about the house."

"Purchas informs us, on the authority of a personal conversation with Battell, that a pongo on one occasion carried off a young negro, who lived for an entire season in the society of these animals; that on his return, the negro stated that they had never injured him, but, on the contrary, were greatly delighted with his company, and that the females especially, shewed a great predilection for him, and not only brought him abund ance of nuts and wild fruits, but carefully and courageously defended him from the attacks of serpents, and beasts of prey.

"With the exception of such information as has been drawn from the observance of one or two young individuals sent alive to Europe, our know. fedge of this species has not increased. We have become aware of the inaccuracy and exaggeration of previous statements, but have not ourselves succeeded in filling up the picture. It is indeed singular, that when the history of animals inhabiting New Holland, or the most distant islands in the Indian ocean, are annually receiving so much new and correct iilustration, the most remarkable species of the brute creation, inhabiting a comparatively neighbouring country, should have remained for about 2,000 years under the shade of an almost fabulous name, and that the wild man of the woods' should express all we yet really know of the African orang-outang in the adult state."-p. 400.

To the geology of Africa Mr. Wilson has devoted an extended chapter. In another, the quadrupeds claim his exclusive attention. A third chapter delineates the characters and peculiarities of the feathered tribes. Reptiles, fishes, and insects, also hold a prominent rank in his catalogue, thus contributing their portion to the interest and value of this publication. We have not, however, either time or room for any further extracts. For additional information, the reader must have recourse to the work itself. We have perused it with much pleasure; and feel no hesitation in avowing our opinion, that for the trifling sum of five shillings, it presents to the public almost every thing of importance respecting Africa, which the most voluminous and expensive publications contain.

REVIEW.-The Present State of Austra lia; a Description of the Country; its Advantages and Prospects with reference to Emigration.-Manners, Customs, and Condition of its Aboriginal Inhabitants. By Robert Dawson, Esq., 8vo. pp. 484. Smith, Elder, and Co. London. 1830. THE increasing importance of New South Wales, is every day attracting a considerable share of public attention. The situation, extent, and internal resources of this vast, but in a great measure unexplored territory, already display the seeds of future empire, in a state of healthy, luxuriant, and promising germination. From the period of its settlement to this time, the rapid advances which have been made in coloniza

tion, agriculture, and commerce, furnish prognostics of its approaching greatness; and it is not improbable that an equal number of years will present New South Wales as a phenomenon to excite the astonishment of the parent country, if not of all the nations in Europe. Every work, therefore, which tends to analyze its power, to trace the progress of its enterprising spirit, and develop its general character, cannot but prove acceptable to the English reader.

The work before us contains a considerable fund of important, useful, and entertaining information. In those portions which relate to the aboriginal inhabitants, it is particularly interesting. The numerous anecdotes and incidents respecting them with which it is enlivened, serve to develop their character in a more decisive way than any formal dissertation, and dry detail can possibly afford. By these we are introduced to their manner of living, their domestic scenery, modes of warfare, habits of wandering, readiness to repel aggression, and disposition to revenge the unprovoked injuries, which, in too many instances, they have been doomed to sustain from the white invaders of their country.

The following extract will shew, that the term savage might be transferred from the natives to their calumniators and destroyers, without any great abuse of language.

"The natives are a mild and barmless race of savages; and where any mischief has been done by them, the cause has generally arisen, I believe, in bad treatment by their white neighbours. Short as my residence has been here, I have, perhaps, bad more intercourse with these people, and more favourable opportunities of seeing what they really are, than any other person in the colony. My object has always been to conciliate them, to give them an interest in cultivating our friendship, and to afford them protection against the injuries or insults from the people on this establishment, or elsewhere within my jurisdiction. They have usually been treated in distant parts of the colony, as if they had been dogs, and shot by convict servants, at a distance from society, for the most triding causes. There has, perhaps, been more of this done near this settlement, and on the banks of two rivers which empty themselves into this harbour, than in any other part of the colony; and it has arisen from the speculators in timber, who formerly obtained licenses from the governor to eut cedar and blue gum wood for exportation upon land not located.

"The natives complained to me frequently, that white fellow shot their relations and friends, and shewed me many orphans, whose parents had fallen by the hands of white men near this spot. They pointed out one white man, on his coming to beg some provisions for his party up the river Karuah, who they said had killed ten; and the wretch did not deny it, but said he would kill them whenever he could. It was well for him that be had no white man to depose to the facts, or I would have had him off to jail at once."-p. 58.

This latter circumstance throws over the white man's character, a shade much deeper

than that with which the skin of the natives

Port Stephens, about 120 miles N. of Sydney.

is tinged. In a subsequent page, Mr. Dawson thus sums up his opinion of them.

"They are, however, one of the best natured people in the world, and would never hurt a white man, if treated with civility and kindness. I would trust myself any where with them; and with my own blacks by my side, as I call them, I should feel myself safe against any enemy I could meet with in the bush. They are excellent shots, and I have often lent them a musket to shoot kangaroos, when it has always been taken care of, and safely returned."-p. 63.

The character thus given of the untutored natives, is illustrated by numerous facts and incidents which fully warrant the author's conclusions. His intercourse with them was of three years' continuance, and his situation as chief agent to the Australian agricultural company, furnished him with the fairest opportunities of forming an accurate judgment of the people whom he describes. The result is highly favourable to their understandings, and to their notions of justice and propriety, on all the important questions in which their reputation as a people is concerned. We cannot, therefore, but infer from the varied and multiplied statements respecting them, given in this volume, that they have been both injured and calumniated by many writers, whom justice, or more correct information, should have taught a very different lesson.

Of the country at large, its natural productions, and physical capabilities, Mr. Dawson has given a general and satisfactory account. His eye and ear were always open to appearances and passing events. Hence, his narratives, descriptions, and details, are always interesting; and, on many occasions, particularly respecting the natives, more instructive than those of most other preceding writers.

To such as calculate on emigration to these distant regions, his volume affords much valuable information. The advantages and disadvantages he appears to have balanced with discriminating impartiality; and to all who are turning their attention towards embarkation, a perusal of this volume becomes indispensable.

On those portions of New South Wales which he had an opportunity of inspecting, Mr. Dawson has thrown a clear and steady light, and respecting others of which he could obtain any authentic information, the report in general is in unison with his own representations. We cannot follow him through the numerous scenes and topics which occupy thirteen chapters and an appendix, but we can say in general terms, that we have been much gratified with a perusal of what he has written. The information which it contains is both diversified and important, while the domestic

been forgotten by a numerous class of readers; but, becoming scarce through the lapse of time, their intrinsic excellence has been less generally known than their merit had a right to claim. In bringing them, therefore, again before the world, Mr. Valpy has enabled the religious public to avail themselves of their theological and argumentative wealth.

To the members of the Church of England, Bishop Sherlock's Works will be particularly acceptable; and, in connexion with the productions of other writers of the same class, they will form a library of genuine excellence. In this library the friends of the Establishment will find sentiments congenial with their own, stated with perspicuity, and defended with all the force that revelation and argument, on such occasions, can be expected to supply.

REVIEW.-Divines of the Church of England, &c. The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow, with some Account of his Life; Summary of each Discourse, Notes, &c. By the Rev. T. S. Hughes, B. D. 8vo. 2 vols. pp. 530-504. Valpy, London,

1830.

DR. ISAAC BARROW was an ornament to the age in which he lived, as well as an honour to the country that gave him birth. He was one of the most profound scholars of his day, and distinguished himself as a mathematician as well as a divine. For copiousness of thought, and vigour of intellect, he had few equals, and perhaps no superiors. It was either his misfortune, or his glory, to live in the turbulent times of the Commonwealth and of Charles; and to feel occasionally the withering influence of political and theological faction and intole

rance.

But through all the variations of these tempestuous seasons, his character remaining unblemished, rendered him highly respectable in the eyes even of those who wanted either firmness or integrity to imitate his conduct. He has been represented as "charitable in a mean estate, disinterested in a flourishing one, serene and content in all fortunes, of the strictest integrity, above all artifice and disguise, always friendly and courteous."

Of this truly great and learned divine these volumes contain the sermons. Some few among them have originated in particular occasions, but the great bulk are on the plain and practical doctrines, principles, and precepts of the gospel. In every department, the strength of mind and amiable spirit of this author are always apparent; and although they make no display of learn2D. SERIES, NO. 1.—VOL. I.

ing, they bear evident marks of being the production of a learned man.

Soon after Dr. Barrow's death, his works were published in three or four folio volumes. They were well received at the time, and have since passed through several editions. The lapse of years has not impaired their excellence. Their intrinsic worth has kept them alive to the present hour; and in this new edition Mr. Valpy has rendered an essential service to the religious public, by calling them again to the notice of the present generation; and by thus reviving their untarnished fame, transmitting them to the still more distant periods of posterity. Of men like Dr. Isaac Barrow, the Establishment may justly make an honourable boast; his works bear evidence to his high deserts; and praise on such a man must be lavish indeed, in order to exceed his merits.

REVIEW.-Illustrations of the Practical Power of Faith; in a Series of Popular Discourses on part of the Eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews. By T. Binney. 8vo. pp. 430. Holdsworth, London,

1830.

No portion of the Sacred Volume could be better adapted to illustrate the practical power of faith, than this which the author has selected. The facts recorded are, in themselves, a bright illustration of its influence and efficacy; but ample room remains to extend the application of the principles laid down by the authority of inspiration. To this important subject Mr. Binney has turned his attention with laudable ardour, and persevering zeal. The numerous topics which his texts have suggested, he has drawn forth and unfolded, pointing out their bearings and import, and giving them an appropriate application to the various branches of his congregation.

These Discourses place the practical power of faith in a commanding attitude, without inducing a belief that supernatural agency is expected to perform miracles to gratify idle curiosity. The promises of the Gospel furnish the only legitimate ground of the believer's hope; and he who regulates his faith according to this standard, may rationally and devoutly expect the full accomplishment of all that are applicable to his condition.

This volume is neatly, and even elegantly printed; the type is clear and beautiful : nor do we recollect to have noted any typographical errors. Though not ornamented with the external decorations by which many modern publications are distinguish.

145.-VOL. XIII.