that the work is accompanied by a sufficient Index.

It is impossible not to dwell a little upon the plates. The drawings were made, and the outlines of the engraving etched, by the author. They were then severally acquatriated by Messrs. J. Hill, J. C. Stadler, and D. Havelle. The sketches of costume are tinted, and the remainder printed in brown, to resemble bistre drawings. Both the pencil and point of Mr. Hill, and the acquatinta of the other artists mentioned, are entitled to much praise.

A Grammar of the Persian Language, comprising a Portion of Arabic Inflexion, together with some Observations on the Structure of either Language, considered with Reference to the Principles of General Grammar. By M. Lumsden, LL. D. Professor of Arabic and Persian in the College of Fort William in Bengal. 2 vols. fol. Calcutta, 1810. Black, Parbury and Allen. Or this elaborate and learned work our limits only permit us to present a very short extract from the author's preface, from which will be perceived the extent and depth of his views:

"The public," says Dr. Lumsden, "have long been in possession of several Persian Grammars, among the number of which that written by Sir W. Jones has obtained the greatest share of celebrity. The work of Sir W. Jones was composed in England about forty years ago, in the very infancy of our progress in the study of the language and literature of Persia, and whatever merits or defects may be imputed to this popular performance, it must be admitted to have extended in a very eminent degree the number of European votaries to that department of oriental study.

How it contributed to this effect, it is not necessary to inquire here. My opinion of its execution is by no means favorable, but I respect the memory of Sir W: Jones, and am entirely disposed to admit that the obvious, and perhaps at

that time insuperable difficulties with which he had to contend, are more than sufficient to account for his failure, if in

deed he can be said to have failed in a work which has been always distinguished by the public favor (conceded perhaps to the poetical talents and taste of the author,) though not at all remarkable, in my judgment, for the essential merit of instructive excellence,

"The work of Sir W. Jones was fol

followed, after an interval of many years, by the publication of Mr. Gladwin's Persian Moonshee; a performance in which for the first time some of the elements of

Arabic Inflection were selected and ar, ranged for the useful purpose of facilitat ing the study of the Persian language. Notwithstanding the merit of that and other performances of the same author, for whose labors I am happy in this opportunity of professing my esteem, an opinion continued to prevail in the minds of many oriental scholars that much yet remained to be done for the elucidation of the principles of Persian Grammar. Admitting the accuracy of that opinion, the acknowledged importance of the Persian language demanded an attempt to supply the deficiency, and if such an attempt were admitted to be necessary, its execution could be no where so reasonably expected as from some of the members of the Col

lege of Fort William.

"I happened to be the only member of the Arabic and Persian departments of the college, who had leisure from other pursuits to devote to the compilation of a Persian Grammar; but though the task was deemed to be of easy accomplishment by those who had little knowledge of the subject, I was well aware of its many dif ficulties, and ignorant only of the means by which those difficulties have, as I trust, been since overcome. I would therefore have willingly conceded to the superior knowledge and talents of others, the me rit and labor of a work to which I was prompted by no impulse of inclination whatever; but as it was imposed by a sense of public duty, so it has been conducted throughout, I will venture to say, with an industry of research every where equal to the occasion of its exertion, and often rewarded with no ordinary success."

A SERIES of popular agricultural essays, written and printed at St. Helena, by Major Beatson, with the design, and hap pily with effect, of increasing the industry of the inhabitants of the island, occupy a considerable portion of the Major's Tracts relative to St. Helena, of which some notice was taken in our preceding number; and, while they reflect honour on the zeal displayed by that gentleman for the settlement formerly committed to his care, they also contain passages that well deserve the perusal of the general agriculturist.

In the "Introductory Chapter," the geological inquiries to which we have before referred, are pursued with much intelligence. Major B. contends for a twofold theory, the separate parts of which depend upon different species of evidence. He thinks (and he cites many physical facts that appear to be to his purpose), that St. Helena, Ascension, and Gough's Islands, are the remains of lofty eminences, on an island of considerable magnitude, now submerged in the sea; and he is disposed to find in that island the Atlautis of Plato.

The climate of St. Helena is warmly commended by Major B., who likewise speaks strongly for its resources as capable of yielding large supplies of salsola and orchel for our manufactories, as also of its capabilities as a rendezvous for India ships. In a general view, and in the present destination of the island of St. Helena, no anxiety, we may be sure, will be manifested to render it a place of trade; nor is even the advancement of its agriculture compatible, perhaps, with that reduction, rather than increase of population, which may, at this time, be desirable. Sixty sail of transports are said to be now in constant traffic between St. Helena and the Cape of Good Hope, for the supply of the former with provisions; and this state of things, it is not inconceivable, may better par with our temporary policy in regard to it, than any increase of its prosperity. Considerations of this kind, however, take nothing from the merit of the views of our respectable author; nor from the value of the several papers of which his volume is composed.

Accounts of the death of Kotzebue are confirmed. He was in the 55th year of his age; and, since the expulsion of the French from Germany, had resided at Koningsberg as Russian consul. Perhaps, since the days of Lopez de Vega, no author has been more remarkable for the Asiatic Journ.-No. IV.

number of his dramatic productions. It has been usual for a volume of new plays from his pen to appear annually at Leipsic; beside which, he published every year a collection of pieces intended to be adapted to music, in one volume, under the title of the Opera Almanac. The last work which has appeared under his, name, is one to which he has performed only the office of editor. It is a curious narrative, written by one of his sons, named Moritz, who was taken prisoner by the French during Buonaparte's campaign in Russia. Though a German born, (he was a native of the city of Weimar), Kotzebue had become a Russian by natu-. ralization, and his children are Russians by birth.

Kotzebue's son, in the account of his imprisonment by the French, relates the following anecdote relative to Buonaparte's passage through Eisnach, after he had abandoned the wreck of his army in the retreat from Moscow: "I had a letter to the postmistress, a handsome young woman, born at Weimar. She told me, that as she was knitting on the evening before, a man entered, wrapped up in a large pelisse. He laconically wished her good evening, and proceeded to warm his hands at the stove. Such visits were common at first, and she took no particular notice of him. He soon began, however, to make inquiries respecting the damage done by the blowing up of an ammunition waggon, and asked whether those who suffered by the accident had received the money which the French Emperor had ordered to be distributed among them? She related what she knew of the affair. He asked her whether she knew the Emperor? She answered she had only seen him transitorily. "Do you wish to see him?" "O yes!" He then threw back his pelisse, with the cape of which his face was partly covered, and said, "You see him now," The.. surprise of the postmistress may be easily conjectured. She offered him some refreshment, which he declined, Meanwhile there was a loud noise at the door," where Caulincourt was caning the postillions for delaying to put-to the horses. These gentlemen were on the point of returning like for like, when the postmaster, who recognized the Duke of Vicenza, ran to his assistance. In passing through the office, he found the Emperor paying.. compliments to his wife, and dissuading her from going to see what the noise was about. He went, however, to the door himself, put an end to the uproar, and VOL. I. 3 B

then proceeded further on his journey, after very politely taking leave of the postmaster and postmistress. He made the latter a present of a valuable ring." The numerous accidents that occur by the clothes of females and children taking fire might be prevented, by the linen, of which their dresses are made, being passed through a solution of alum, which is an effectual security against their catching fire.

Several beautiful petrifactions have been found at Wood-End, by Mr. Ryde of Awre. He has, also, from the wasting of the shore, occasioned by the subsiding of the Severn tides, discovered a petrified tooth of some enormous unknown animal.

The school of Sacred Music in Edinburgh, at this time reckons more than 250 pupils: they are taught upon the German plan, viz. by means of a large black board, on which the master writes his lessons with chalk.

A ship is now building at one of the dock-yards at Belfast upon a new construction: instead of sailing upon the point of a wedge, this vessel is to move on the base of a triangle, and to be worked hydrostatically, upon a new plan.

A company has been recently formed in Dublin, for introducing steam-boats into Ireland. They will commence the system by carrying passengers and goods between Dublin and Holyhead.

The small expedition about to explore the river Zaire, in the south of Africa, has sailed. A transport, called the Dorothy, accompanied by a steam-boat, the Congo, will proceed to the mouth of the river, where it will remain while the last-mentioned vessel is dispatched to follow the course of the Congo, to ascertain how far it is navigable, and the character of the inhabitants of its shores; as also that of the animals, and the various articles of commerce which that part of the world may produce. Every precaution has been taken to guard against the object of the expedition being disappointed. The Congo does not draw more than four feet of water. When it shall be found impracticable to proceed further in her, the undertaking will be confided to two small cutters, which are joined together, the mast and sails being stacked between them, so as to leave the navigators the full range of each, and these will not draw more than eighteen inches of water.Such arrangements give fair promises of ultimate success; but that which gives us most hope is the care taken to man this little expedition in the best possible manner. The hands to be employed, in number about 50, are all volunteers. None but those who are proved most efficient are accepted. Their exertions are stimulated by double pay. The Congo is about

90 tons, schooner-rigged, and draws about five feet water; she is fitted up entirely for the accommodation of officers and men, and for the reception of the objects of natural history, which may be collected in her progress up the river. The gentlemen engaged on this interesting expedition, in the scientific department, are Mr. Professor Smith, of Christiana, botanist and geologist; Mr. Tudor, comparative anatomist; Mr. Cranch, collector of objects of natural history; and a gardener to collect plants and seeds for his Majesty's gardens at Kew; besides Mr. Galway, a gentleman volunteer.There are also two fine blacks, natives of the kingdom of Congo, one of whom was born 800 miles up the Zaire. The officers are Captain Tuckey, commanding the expedition, Lieutenant Hawkey, Mr. Fitzmaurice, master and surveyor, Mr. M'Kerrow, assistant surgeon, two master's mates, and a purser. In addition to the Congo the transport takes out two double whale boats, so fixed together as to be able to carry 18 or 20 men each, and accommodate them under an awning, with three months provisions. These boats are intended to be drawn up to the upper part of any rapids or cataracts that may occur to obstruct the passage of the Congo. Captain Tuckey was an early coadjutor of the late able navigator, Captain Flinders, on the coast of New South Wales. Captain Tuckey is also advantageously known as the author of an elaborate and excellent work, entitled" Maritime Geography," comprized in four volumes octavo; the merits of which are said to have contributed much to his present appoint

ment.

Captain Welsh, of the Claudine, arrived from Batavia, has sent to Lloyd's the following letter:-" On the 10th of February, being then about 35 leagues distant from St. Michael's, we observed a great agitation of the waters; it was immediately followed by repeated and dreadful shocks of an earthquake; the sea so repeatedly broke over the vessel, that a great part of the cargo was obliged to be thrown overboard. The shocks appeared to come from the southward."

The Directors of the American Company at St. Petersburgh have recently communicated to the Imperial Academy of Sciences, the subjoined extract from the journal of the Lieutenant of Marine Lasarew, relating to the discovery of the Suwarow Islands :-"The Suwarow, a ship of the Russian American Company, commanded by Lieutenant Lasarew, sailed on the 20th of October 1813, from Cronstadt. After having touched at England, the Brazils, and New Holland, he sailed from Port Jackson for the Russian settlements in America. On the 27th of September 1814, his ship was surrounded by

a great number of birds, which increased towards sunset. These birds were so tame, that they began to suspect they were approaching an island. The Suwarow, having slackened sail, steered to the N. N. E., and about 11 at night a low island was perceived to the south and east although the breakers were heard at a distance, the ship continued driving on, as at the depth of 100 fathoms no ground could be found. On the approach of daylight, four other low islands were discovered. At the distance of three miles from the shore, the sea was more than 100 fathoms deep: when they reached the beach, they found these islands inhabited only by birds, crabs, and rats; there were here and there shrubs and cocoa trees, but no trace of inhabitants. Lieutenant Lasarew named them the Suwarow islands, after his ship. He fixed their south latitude at 13 deg. 13 min. 15 sec. and their longitude at 163 deg. 31 min. 4 sec. west of the meridian of Greenwich. Thus these newly discovered islands lie at an almost equal distance from Navigators' and the Society Islands."

The thirteenth number of the Pamphleteer, just published, contains, 1. National Establishment, National Security; or, Thoughts on the consequences of commuting the Tithes. By the Rev. W. Edmeads. II. Reasons for establishing a Registry of Slaves in the British colonies. III. The Speech of Mr. Phillips, delivered in the Court of Common Pleas, Dublin, in the Case of Guthrie v. Sterne, for Adultery. IV. Letters on Public House Licencing; showing the errors of the present System: together with a proposal for their cure. By a magistrate for Middlesex. V. A Review of the present ruined Condition of the Landed Interests; with Observations on the extent of their Losses and Distresses, and the Origin and History of these Distresses, the Funding System, the Sinking Fund, the Burthen of the Poor, the System of Tithes in Kind, Stock-Jobbing, Usury through the medium of redeemable Annuities, Employment of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors, the Public Debt, and the expediency of supporting the Public faith to its Creditors, the Reduction of the Legal Interest of Money, the Reduction of Rents. By H. Preston, Esq. VI. Considerations on the Propriety of making a remuneration to Witnesses in Civil Actions, for Loss of Time, and of allowing the same on the Taxation of Costs, as between Party and Party; with some Observations on the present System of Taxing Costs. By Charles Frost, Attorney at Law. VII. General Reflections on the Financial Situation of France in 1816.By M. Ch. Ganilh. Translated exclusively for the Pamphleteer. VIII. Letters

on the Political and Financial Situation of the British Empire in the Year 1816; being a Continuation of those of the years 1814 and 1815. Addressed to the Earl of Liverpool. By F. P. Elliot, Esq.IX. Considerations on the Rate of Interest, and on the Redeemable Annuities. By Edward Burtenshaw Sugden, Esq.-The foregoing pages furnish a valuable addition to the collection already presented in the twelve previous numbers of this most respectable publication.

Mr. J. A. Pope, translator of the Ardai Viraf Nameh, proposes to publish by subscription, the Maritime Philology of Hindustan, comprising a Dictionary of all the Sea terms used by the nations of Bengal, as well as those of Western India; with their derivations, and from whence adopted; with most of the proper names, in Arabic, Guzeratee, Concanee, and in the common jargon of Hindustan, in Chinese, and many in Malbaree and Malays; with a dissertation on the present state of Arabian, Indian, Chinese, and Malay Navigation; and notices respecting all the maritime tribes. The work will include, besides the sea terms and phrases, many geographical and commercial terms and descriptions. To which will be prefixed a dissertation on the poems sung and recited by all the Maritime tribes of Arabia and India.

The readers of the Asiatic Journal cannot have failed to remark the literary activity which distinguishes all communications from Java. It would probably be derogating unjustly from the merits of the several members of the Literary and Scientific Society in that settlement, were we to forget any of them in our grateful acknowledgements for the in-. dustry which so manifestly prevails; but, at least till we are otherwise informed, we shall attribute a very large proportion of what we so much admire, to the excitement and example of its excellent president, Governor Raffles. To the valuable account of aTour in Java, contained in the two preceding numbers of this Journal, is added, in the present, a portion of a Discourse delivered by the President on the 11th of September last, (see page 341.) The remainder will appear in the succeeding number. In that paper, the research, penetration, and grasp of mind of the President, have enabled him to present us with a hive of new and interesting materials. The theatre of his observations embraces the Eastern Islands, and extends to Japan. His philological remarks on the language of Celebes and Java are highly estimable, and important both to history and to the philosophy of the human mind. With respect to the Eastern Islands, he opens a new world of antiquities, of all the

bearings of which he is not himself, perhaps, at present aware. Those who do not subscribe to all his conjectures, will yet thank him for all his information. The views and character of Japan, communicated on the authority of Dr. Ainslie, in this Discourse, will be found gratifying, and, to most readers, unexpected in the extreme, The applause bestowed by the Japanese upon the work of Kaempfer is a singular literary anecdote; and the fact, that the English language is studied by order of the Emperor, and English books eagerly asked for in Japan, strongly marks the age in which we live, and the progress of human intercourse. "It is an extraordinary fact," says the President, "that notwithstanding the determination of the empire of Japan not to enter into foreign commerce, the English language, for seven years past, since the visit of Captain Pellew, has in obedience to an edict of the Emperor, been cultivated with considerable success, by the younger members of the College of Interpreters, who, indeed, on occasion of Dr. Ainslie's mission, were anxious in their inquiries after English books." Mr. Raffles says, a commerce between this country and Japan might easily be opened; and we find it ramoured that the Court of Directors of the East India Company is far from differing greatly in opinion with this gentleman upon the subject.

To the ardent and indefatigable mind of Mr. Raffles, all external stimulus is perhaps superfluous; and still less can any increase of industry be expected from the humble tribute of applause which this Journal is able to convey. Mr. Raffles is treading in a field of inquiry in which it seems probable that his name will never be forgotten. It is earnestly to be hoped that he has the means of procuring accurate drawings of the antiquities he describes.

Though it has been said above, that much of that literary lustre which has been mentioned as now spread over Java, is probably derived from the excitement and example of Mr. Railles, it is also to be confessed, that President appears to be not without worthy associates, in Major Johnson, Captain Baker, Lieutenant Heyland, and Drs. Horsefield and Ainslie; and, on the whole, there seems good reason to lament, that if any copies of the Transactions of the Literary and Scientific Society of Java have reached England, they have at least, been very few in number.

The ninth edition of "The Battle of Waterloo," an octavo volume of upward of two hundred and eighty-four closely printed pages, printed for Booth and Egerton, has just made its appearance. A more needful guide to modern conversation, nor to future history, cannot be

imagined, than this work, into which the industry and the patriotism of the compiler has drawn every species of information, every anecdote, every valuable reflection, every result,however remote, connected with that immortal victory which delivered England and the world. What would not be the value of a similar record of the battles of Cressy or Poictiers?

The twenty-fourth article of the Classicle Journal contains, amid a variety of articles in Classical, Biblical and Orien tal Literature, an essay, the design of which is to trace the Abyssinians to a Hebrew origin, and a continuation of Professor Scott's Inquiry into the Causes and Diversity of the Human Character in various Ages, Nations and Individuals.

The second part of Major Francklin's Inquiries concerning the site of Pali bothra, is received in England, and about to go to press. Major F.'s opinion upon this disputed question is, that the ancient city lay within the limits of the modern district of Bhaugulpoor.

Governor Raffles is said to be engaged in a translation of one of the old Javanese poems described in his Discourse.

The literary spirit in Java is not confinel to the English inhabitants. "The angry discussions on Dutch colonial literature," says a Bombay paper of July last, "which have lately agitated the patriotic spirit of all genuine Hollanders have not yet subsided. The Gazettes of every succeeding week are vehicles of long philippics; several of which contain a considerable share of point and humour, and must be exceedingly amusing to those acquainted with the subject under disquisition, and the individual combatants."

The late volcanic eruption, of which several notices have already appeared in the Asiatic Journal, occupy universal attention in Java. The following extract of a letter from Surabaia, combining accounts of an insurrection and a volcano, displays a felicity of composition, which, perhaps, ought to be added to the literary trophies of Java :

Extract of a letter, dated Sourabaia, 224 April." To-day we have had accounts of that wonder of nature, which caused such a total darkness to reign in this part of the island. Here we had it only for a short time, from 10 o'clock at night till between 10 and 11 next day, when it was as dark as darkness can be supposed to be. At Bangeewanjee, they had the same for three continued days, the ashes lying nine inches thick on the ground, the trees borne down and with→ ered with the weight, and some houses fallen in. All this proceeded from a vol cano bursting in the centre of the island, inland from Besookie, and close to which I had been a few days before, in pursuit of a set of rebels, who did not wish to