judging of the merits of his published journals. To pass by unheeded the leading design of any writer is to treat him with gross injustice, and tax ourselves with profitless toil:-it is to attempt searching the house without a key, to explore the labyrinth without a clew! We have heard some witticisms about Mr. Wolff"s Journal, containing more words than ideas. But what do these generally prove?-not the verbose propensity of the journalist, but the stolidity of the witling. Take, for instance, the longest of his catalogues of names, or that which exhibits a tabular view of the genealogies of the Afghans. It must be owned, that if one venture to peruse this list, without any reference to the intention of the writer, or the purpose which he designed it to serve, it may appear dry, dull, and meaningless. But the primary question ought to be what was the writer's object, and how is it promoted by this lengthy register? The grand object was to discover the lost tribes of Israel. Current report pointed to the Afghans as being a portion of the surviving remnant. How then were the claims of this people to be decided? In no way which we can conceive so satisfactory as that adopted by Mr. Wolff. He at once refers to their own genealogical tables. He presents the most accredited of these to his readers, that they may be enabled to judge for themselves. And whether they shew any interest in such investigations or not, he cannot be answerable for their want of interest, or their deliverance of hasty judgments. When he has done what was best for the furtherance of his peculiar design, has he not done all that could reasonably be expected? And will not all men of sound sense be amply satisfied? We need not however wonder at the discordance of sentiment respecting Mr. Wolff's Journals. Performances, of a nature more generally intelligible, constantly call forth similar varieties of opinion. We take up a scientific volume on Botany, Mineralogy, or Geology. We find it consist of one string of technical terms, from beginning to end. How dull and stupid! may sentimentalists exclaim: and why? because there are no flowers of thought or speech to suit their taste. How clear and precise, how penetrating and profound, how invaluable! may the votaries of science exclaim and why? because the whole is admirably adapted to promote the object intended, i. e. to identify and distinguish every individual of each class of genera and species. And if the lovers of sentiment wish their imaginations to be regaled by the blush of roses and the perfumes of jessamine, by the sparkling of jewels and the varied hues of animated nature, let them at once resort to the pages of the romancer or the poet. Not unlike these differences of judgment must be the varieties of opinion entertained by the student of theology and this world's "gay triflers," respecting the Journals of the Jewish Missionary. Having done, for the present, with Mr. Wolff, we must renew our request to correspondents, that they specially direct their attention to the social, moral, and religious condition of the people of India. Before us there is a vast work; nothing less than the emancipation of a hundred millions of captives morally and spiritually debased. And whatever communication may tend more or less, directly or indirectly, to the advancement of the work, will be at all times welcomed by us. Are there many current languages and dialects? Let us have remarks on the significancy of important terms, on the rationale of peculiar idioms, or any methods that may facilitate the acquisition of them. Are there ancient writings and fragments of writings on different departments of knowledge? Let us have analyses or illustrations of them. Are those arts that conduce to the comforts of life and the refinement of society in a state of extreme rudeness? Let us have practical suggestions respecting the best modes of improving them. Are the productive powers of this vast population lying comparatively dormant and inefficient? Let us have new channels pointed out for awakening and directing the industry of the country. Are the multitude sunk in the lowest depths of ignorance? Let us have plans for accelerating the progress of education, and securing the hearty cooperation of the Natives themselves. Are there manners, customs, and festivities that fetter and demoralize the people? Let us have these exposed in the way most likely to ensure their abolition. Is the vast mass still slumbering in midnight darkness, without a knowledge of the true God, the true Saviour, and the true Comforter? Let us have arousing appeals to the hearts and consciences, convincing addresses to the understanding, successful exposures of error, triumphant defences of the truth. In a word, let every one, in the sphere in which his lot and experience may have been cast, endeavour to collect and digest, facts and observations relating to any topic that may prove interesting or useful to the wise and the good, and through them to the millions of India. We cannot omit the present opportunity of tendering our thanks to the Editors of those public journals who have favoured us with friendly notices-the Hurkaru, the India Gazette, the John Bull, the Philanthropist, the Indian Register, and others. And when we consider the differences of opinion on subjects of vital importance that may be supposed to exist between us and the conductors of some of these, the notices bestowed are entitled to our special acknowledgments. In justice also, we must add, that even in cases where, in the exercise of that independence of thought which every man ought to claim as his birth-right, there has been a dissent from those views and opinions that secured our approbation, the dissent has generally been couched in terms so moderate as to command our respectful attention. We must now thank our numerous friends and readers, with all possible cordiality, for the extent and efficiency of their support. And in conclusion, we cannot do better than earnestly exhort them to be ever alive to the glorious end of their being. Another year has now closed, and ere the next shall have concluded its course, you may take your station among the society of immortals. Shall it be that of the reprobate or the blessed? To escape. the one, and join the other, we beseech you not to neglect the redeeming" of your precious time. Despise not the happiness of a life of communion with God—a life which is a prepara tion for heaven, and an earnest of its blessedness, Be aroused to a true sense of the emptiness of the world-the utter insufficiency of its enjoyments. Resort no longer to "lying vanities," when the unchangeable Jehovah beckons you to his presence. Attempt not to lean upon frail and broken reeds, when ye may come and build upon "the rock of ages." Be not unwise to "spend your money on that which is not bread, and your labour on that which satisfieth not ;" when ye may "mount on wings as eagles," and "partake of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Oh, continue not to draw from the polluted streams of earthly delight, when ye may come and drink out of those rivers of unalloyed pleasure which ever satisfy and never cease to flow!-Awaking from the sleep and slumber of indifference, arise, and assert the prerogative of emancipated spirits: shake your souls loose from. the cleaving dregs of mortality: buoyant with elastic energy, let them be disengaged from the contracted sphere of time and sense: unconfined by the laws and measures of earth-born principles, let them look beyond the horizon of carnal designs and worldly policies; puissant with inward might, let them mount in the freshness of youthful vigour into the calm ether of intellectual and spiritual light-let them spread and extend themselves into the boundless amplitudes of the divine omnipresence:-then shall the present joys of earthly communion fade before the radiations of the eternal sun; and the most glowing images become shadowy representations of the effluxes of the fountain of goodness; and the flowers of all visible excellencies, the crowns of fine gold, and the palms of triumph, and the harps of sweetest sound, and the streams of divine pleasure, and the fragrant beauties of Paradise-all, all will sink into dim corporeal resemblances before the archetypal loveliness of the uncreated essence, on the bosom of which the souls of the redeemed may expand themselves into fuller dimensions, with an increasing capacity of enjoyment throughout the measureless circuit of eternity. D. II.— A Comparison of the Hebrew and Greek Alphabets with the Sanscrit and Bengalee, together with Rules for the Spelling of Proper Names. Uniformity in the spelling of western proper Names in eastern languages, has long been felt a desideratum, and the importance of it becomes every day more apparent. The present is an attempt to lay the foundation of a uniform system for the spelling of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin proper names, in the Sanscrit and Bengalee languages, by a comparison of the alphabets; and when this has been well considered and settled, it is proposed to raise upon it a regular superstructure, by rendering into the latter, the proper names found in the former languages. ג ב , and, without dots, are aspirates, and would be expressed in Sanscrit by, and, and Bengalee by, and ; but as there are no corresponding letters in Greek, they are omitted. The difference between and is too slight to admit of a distinction, the latter being only a strong aspiration of the former: hence,, and, must stand for both. The distinction can be preserved in some languages, as in the Arabic and Persian, by or and The Viserga (:) may be used for them in some cases. In double consonants, when euphony will not allow both to be pronounced, the first of them may be omitted. And for a similar reason an aspirate may in such cases be changed into its corresponding unaspirated letter. y must always be expressed according to the vowel that is sub scribed. When has the dot on the left hand, it is the same as and must be rendered accordingly. ૬ The Greek must be expressed by its compounds, or in Sanscrit by. The vowel () segol is the short vowel of both El, is of n The same may The Hebrew and Greek may be expressed by the inherent vowels in Sanscrit and Bengalee. The Greek is used in the Septuagint as equivalent toor. GENERAL AND SPECIAL RULES. 1. All proper names must be spelt invariably according to the expression given them in the language to which they belong; |