Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

'to portray, within a compass which should be compatible with ani"mation and interest, their first deliverance, their heroism, and their 'misfortunes.' Of M. Sismondi's original work, in sixteen volumes, our critical opinion will be found in the second series of our Journal. Although the present publication is not designed to supersede it, those who are already in possession of the original, will be pleased to be carried more rapidly through the outlines of the history, while, to readers in general, this volume will convey a clearer idea and a stronger impression of the leading events. Compression has evidently been studied to the utmost; and by no other means could the multifarious mass of information have been comprised within a single volume. A very full and valuable Analytical and Chronological Table prefixed to the History, and a good Index, add not a little to the obligations we are laid under to both Author and Editor.

Art. IX. The Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy. For the Use of Schools. By Thomas Keightley, Author of the "Outlines of History" in the Cabinet Cyclopædia, &c. 18mo. pp. 202. Plates. London, 1832.

We have not seen the Author's larger work upon the same subject, to which he refers us in the Preface; but we have been much pleased with this ingenious attempt to furnish an explanation of the poetic mythology of the Ancients, at once intelligible to youth, and fit for their perusal. There is nothing in this Volume to offend the delicacy of the female mind, or to suggest offensive associations. The explanations of the legends are ingenious, and as authentic as the nature of the thing admits; and Mr. Keightley has evidently taken great pains, in order that those who derive their first mythological ideas from this book, may have nothing to unlearn in their future progress. The wood-cuts are taken partly from antiques, and partly from Flaxman's classic designs.

Art. X.

Illustrations of the Vaudois, in a Series of Views: Engraved by Edward Finden, from Drawings by Hugh Dyke Acland. Accompanied with Descriptions. Royal 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. London, 1831.

THE drawings for these prints, were originally intended to illustrate the Author's highly interesting volume entitled " The Glorious Recovery by the Vaudois of their Valleys"; published in 1827 *. Mr. Acland has obeyed the requests of many persons' in republishing the prints in a separate form, prefixing to them a very brief outline of the most remarkable incidents of the history. They are twelve in number, beautifully engraved, and the scenes are highly interesting and picturesque. To those persons who are in possession of Mr. Gilly's Narrative, these Illustrations will be particularly acceptable; and we are, for our own part, so well pleased with this elegant publication, that we cannot withhold our tribute of thanks to the Author.

* See Eclectic Review, 3d Series, Vol. I. p.

253.

ART. XI. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

We readily comply with the request to give insertion to the following statement.

TAHITI AND THE PITCAIRN ISLANDers.

In the Missionary Chronicle for the month of January last, it was stated that the Inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island had been removed to Tahiti. Of this event an account entirely unsupported, in many respects, by actual occurrences, and calculated to excite strong prejudice against the missionaries in Tahiti, has been widely circulated by several of the public journals.

The Directors of the London Missionary Society deem it quite unnecessary to reply to every anonymous calumniator, who may choose to give vent to his disappointment or ill-nature, by attempts to bring discredit on their missionaries; but they are, at all times, solicitous to furnish such information as they possess, that may be suited to counteract any unfavourable impression which misrepresentations may have produced on the minds of the friends of the missionaries, and the supporters of the Society.

In the account above referred to, it is insinuated that the Pitcairn islanders were removed through the representations of the missionaries, and contrary to their own wishes. How far such was the fact will appear, when it is remembered that almost every one, who has visited the retreat of the mutineers, has spoken of the inconvenience to which the increasing number of their descendants were exposed, from the circumscribed extent of the ground capable of cultivation, and especially from the scanty supply of water which the island afforded. On these accounts the inhabitants themselves requested to be conveyed to some other place, where the means of subsistence might be obtained in greater abundance. This request was made, in the first instance, to government, through the medium of a captain in his Majesty's navy, by whom they were visited, and was acceded to before the missionaries in Tahiti were even acquainted with the desire of the Pitcairn island

ers to remove.

One of the senior missionaries, Mr. Nott, who was in England at the time when the subject was under the consideration of government, expressed, when solicited, his opinion, that for the benefit of the islanders, Tahiti would be preferable to New South Wales; and, on his return, was the bearer of a letter from his Majesty's government to Pomare, soliciting, from the king and chiefs of Tahiti, a favourable reception for the Pitcairn islanders, should they be disposed to remove to their territory.

When Captain Laws, of the Satellite, was at Tahiti, in 1829, he received from the late Pomare, in a public assembly of chiefs and others, an assurance of protection for the Pitcairn islanders, and of an allotment of land for their support, should they remove to Tahiti.

Captain Sandiland, of H. M. S. Comet, having been directed to carry' into effect the benevolent intentions of Government, reached Pitcairn's Island in the month of February 1831, when he found the inhabitants distressed for want of water. As soon as informed that there was an opportunity for emigrating to Tahiti, one half of them immediately declared their determination to do so, and, on the ensuing day, the remainder came to the same resolution. They embarked accordingly without delay, and reached Tahiti in the close of the month of March last. It has been already announced, that they arrived at an exceedingly critical time; the inhabitants of that island were apparently on the eve of civil war, in consequence of some differences which existed between the queen and the hereditary chiefs. But, notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, both parties welcomed the arrival of the strangers, and assured the commander of the Comet that the promise of protection and aid which had been made by the late king, Pomare, should be faithfully performed. The differences between the queen and her chiefs were, at length, amicably adjusted. On this occasion Captain Sandiland addressed to the missionaries the letter already referred to, in which he observes,

6.66

Gentlemen, I return you my most cordial expression of thanks for the promptitude with which you were pleased to make known my sentiments, to the queen and her chiefs, upon the existing differences, in which I had the happiness to concur with you all; and if they were received with respect, I must sincerely ascribe it much more to the intelligence and ability displayed by you at so momentous and interesting a time, than to any intrinsic merit that my proposals possessed; and it is a circumstance affording me the highest satisfaction, to observe the great estimation you are all held in by the queen and her chiefs, which could not have been obtained but by a faithful discharge of your duties, as ministers of Christ and teachers of our holy religion; and it will be peculiarly gratifying to me to make known these circumstances most fully to those authorities whom it is my duty to inform of this transaction."

Two days after their arrival on the shores of Tahiti, the Pitcairn islanders were landed, and before the Comet sailed a tract of land was granted by the queen for their use; besides which, an agreement was made by the captain with a respectable settler in Tahiti to supply them with vegetables every day, and with fresh meat three times a week.

The climate of the Society Islands is certainly as salubrious as that of Pitcairn's. The queen of Tahiti gave up a large house for their accommodation; and the people, willing also to second the friendly intentions of the British government, assisted in erecting for the strangers more permanent dwellings: while the ample provision that was made for their support for six months after their arrival, shews the absurdity of the account referred to in the beginning of these remarks, in which, among other things, it is stated, that "the probable consequence (of their removal to Tahiti) will be that these unfortunate people must all die, if some means of restoring them to their island are not soon found." From a statement in the Sydney Gazette, in the month of May last, it appears that some of them were

in negociation with a resident in Tahiti for the purpose of establishing a pearl-fishery on Elizabeth Island, situated in the neighbourhood of that which they had left. The individual wished, for this purpose, to purchase, of one of the missionaries, a schooner which had been built to enable the missionaries to visit the islands, to which, by means of native teachers, a knowledge of the gospel has been conveyed. Mr. Williams, the owner of the vessel, was not willing to part with the ship; and this circumstance will, in some degree, account for the injurious representation which is given of the conduct of the missionaries.

The assertion that the Pitcairn islanders "did not willingly quit their island, but at the instigation of those who went to seek them," is evidently at variance with the facts already stated. No intelligence has yet been received of their dissatisfaction; and the other parts of the account, in reference to which these remarks are offered, are, in all probability, not entitled to greater regard than those whi have been already shown to be entirely without foundation.

In the press, and speedily will be published, “ Valleys, and other poems, by Samuel Stennett, of the Rev. W. Ward, late of Serampore," &c.

e Mtyrs of the uthor of Memoirs

ART. XII. WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

HISTORY.

The Cabinet Annual Register, and Historical, Political, Biographical, and Miscellaneous Chronicle, for the Year 1831. Royal 18mo. 8s. in Cloth, or 10s. 6d. Morocco.

Strictly neutral in politics, this work aspires to present to the public, a History of the Year at once brief and Comprehensive.'

History of the Jews, in all Ages. By the Author of "History in all Ages." 12mo. 10s. 6d. half bound.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Times, a Sermon preached Dec. 18, 1831, in the Baptist Chapel, ChippingNorton, Oxon. By William Catton. 8vo. price 6d.

Quintus Servinton, a Tale, founded upon Incidents of Real Occurrence. 3 Vols. 12mo. (Hobart Town, printed.)

POLITICS.

On Political Economy, in connexion with the Moral State and Moral Prospects of Society. By Thomas Chalmers, Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo. 12s.

Essay on the Right of the Hindoos over Ancestral Property according to the Law of Bengal. By Rajah Rammohun Roy. Second edition. With an Appendix, con

taining Letters on the Hindoo Law of Inheritance. 8vo.

THEOLOGY.

Dissertations on the Principles and Arrangement of a Harmony of the Gospels. By the Rev. Edward Greswell, M.A., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. In Three Volumes, 8vo.

Harmonica Evangelica, sive Quatuor Evangelia Græcè pro Temporis et Rerum Serie in Partes quinque Distributa. Edidit Edvardus Greswell, A.M. Coll. C. C. Apud Oxon. Socius. 1 Vol. 8vo.

A Treatise on the Authority, Ends, and Observance of the Christian Sabbath, with an Appendix, containing a Variety of Documentary Evidence respecting prevalent Abuses, and Means for their Suppression. By the Rev. Duncan Macfarlan, Minister of Renfrew. 12mo. 4s.

Illustrations of the Christian Faith, and Christian Virtues: drawn from the Bible. By M. S. Haynes. Author of "Scenes and Thoughts," &c. 12mo. 3s.

TRAVELS.

Illustrations of the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their Manners, Customs, Habits, and Religious Opinions. Made during a Twelve Years' Residence in their immediate Society. By Mrs. Meer Hassan Ali. 2 Vols. 8vo.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR APRIL, 1832.

Art. I.-1. The Divine Authority and Perpetual Obligation of the

Lord's Day, asserted in Seven
Church of St. Mary, Islington.
12mo. pp. 206. Price 2s. 6d.

Sermons, delivered at the Parish By Daniel Wilson, M.A. Vicar. London, 1831.

2. Brief Remarks on the History, Authority, and Use of the Sabbath. By Joseph John Gurney. Second Edition. 18mo. pp. 103. London, 1831.

3. Four Lectures on the Law of the Sabbath, as contained in the Scriptures. By Henry Forster Burder, D.D. 18mo. pp. 111. Price 2s. London, 1831.

4. Discourses on the Sabbath. By Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. 12mo. pp. 295. Price 4s. 6d. Glasgow, 1832.

5. The Modern Sabbath examined. 8vo. pp. xiv. 297. London, 1832.

6. The Ordinances of Religion practically illustrated and applied. By John Davies, B.D. Rector of St. Pancras, Chichester, and Author of "An Estimate of the Human Mind," &c. 8vo. pp. xvi. 308. Price 7s. 6d. London, 1832.

:

7. A Treatise on the Authority, Ends, and Observance of the Christian Sabbath with an Appendix, containing a Variety of Documentary Evidence respecting prevalent Abuses, and Means for their Suppression. By the Rev. Duncan Macfarlan, Minister of Renfrew. 12mo. pp. 271. Price 4s. Glasgow, 1832.

8. Three Sermons on the Lord's Day. By the Rev. John Forbes, Minister of the Outer High Church, Glasgow. 18mo. pp. 118. Glasgow, 1831.

9. Third Annual Report of the General Union for promoting the Observance of the Christian Sabbath, presented May 10th, 1831.

VOL. VII.-N.S.

ΙΙ

« EdellinenJatka »