and swigged off its contents, | whistling and smacking their fingers, and calling out, tayeep, tayeep, good, good, as if bidding defiance, to the whole world to produce such another draught. Most of the party, induced by their example, tasted also of the far-famed waters, and having tasted, pronounced them of the finest relish, notwithstanding the pollution of clay and mud with which they were contaminated; a decision which we never had occasion to revoke during the whole time of our stay in Egypt, or even since. The water in Albania is good; but the water of the Nile is the finest in the world." Vol. I. Page 33. To this I may add, that when Antiochus The os, king of Syria, married the daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, (before Christ 250,) the latter ordered regular supplies of water from the Nile to be transmitted to her, believing it to be more beneficial to her health than any other. See Universal History, Vol. IX. Page 196. We may, therefore, easily conclude, that it was no small plague to the Egyptians, when they could not drink of the water of the river.'

EXODUS xx. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, &c. The Romanists get rid of this prohibition by omitting it; but the Greeks, though they abhor images, admit paintings. "No graven image is allowed in the Greek church; but the most hideous and blasphemous paintings, representative of God the Father, God the Son, the Virgin Mary, and some favourite saints, as Nicholas, Basil, or Spiridion, are always exhibited upon the walls." Ibid. Page 64.

MATT. xv. 9. In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. The superstitious frivolities of the Pharisee are equalled, if not surpassed, by the votaries of Muhammed. "In the creed of the Moslems the dog is held to be unclean, and must not so much as be touched; and if by any accident they come into contact with this faithful companion of our race, they must wash themselves in water before they can say their prayers or enter the harem, A true Mussulman generally carries along with him a mat, a cloak, or bit of cloth, on which he regularly prays, and the purity of which he watches with the utmost vigilance. If a dog happen to touch it, or even to tread upon the place on which it is usually spread, he is excited to the most furious indignation, and if not restrained, would severely chastise, if not put the animal to death. The mat, before it can be used again, must be shaken, and brushed, and cleaned; and strictly speaking, it ought to be washed with water; or, where water cannot be had, rubbed with sand. The place itself must undergo a similar purification, or be, exchanged for another. We had a dog on board the vessel, and when the poor animal chose to run about, it was ridiculous to see the capers which the Mussulmans cut to avoid him, and to keep him off the place sacred to their devotions. With every re spect for the religious feelings, or even superstitions of others, we cannot help feeling emotions of pity, or at times disgust, arising in our minds on witnessing so much stress laid upon non-essentials. Such a man would purloin another man's property, or even imbrue his hands in his blood;

but would not touch a dog, nor | dan, the other by Nablous and

a drop of wine, or a bit of pork, or consecrated paste, for the world." Ibid. Page 328. ZECHARIAH ix. 5. And the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. "Ashkelon was one of the proudest Satrapies of the lords of the Philistines; now there is not an inhabitant within its walls, and the prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled: The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.' When the prophecy was uttered, both of these cities were in an equally flourishing condition, and nothing but the prescience of heaven could pronounce on which of the two, and in what manner, the vial of his wrath should be poured out. Gaza is truly without a king, the lofty towers of Ashkelon lie scattered on the ground, and the ruins within its walls do not shelter a human being. How is the wrath of man made to praise his Creator! Hath he said, and shall he not do it? The oracle was delivered by the mouth of the prophet, more than 500 years before the Christian era, and we behold its accomplishment 1800 years after that event, and see with our eyes that the king has perished from Gaza, and that Ashkelon is not inhabited." Vol. II. Page 204.

Jennin through the mountainou's district, both of which are full of interesting scenes and places of glorious recollection. The former [i. e. the road by Jericho] is the shortest, and had it been also the safest, or equally safe, would probably have been preferred; but the unkindly disposition of the natives counterba lances every inducement. The traveller is liable to be insulted, plundered, and stopt on his journey. Even the presence of one or two Turkish soldiers is insuffi cient to protect him; for though the country is under the government of the Turks, yet their power is more nominal than real." Ibid. p. 395.

PSALM CXXV. 2. As the mountains are round about Jesusalem, &c. "It is relatively low in its situation, and is inclosed by low mountains on the north and on the east, and a high one on the south, and a low rocky flat on the west, stretching out toward Bethlehem." Ibid. P: 404.

MATT. xiii. 5. Some fell upon stony places, (or rather rocky places,) where they had not much | earth. Luke has it, some fell upon a rock, ch. viii. 6. Our Lord doubtless borrowed his illustrations from the common scenery around him. The fol lowing extract may elucidate the LUKE X. 30. A certain man above-cited passages:- The went down from Jerusalem to delightful vale of Esdraëlon is Jericho, and fell among thieves. but thinly inhabited, and is not We may gather from this that the half cultivated or stocked with road from Jerusalem to Jericho cattle; we did not pass a single was in our Lord's time much in village, and saw but few Bedofested by robbers. It is a sin ween encampments till we came gular fact, that the same circum- near to Bisan. As we approachstance characterises that districted this miserable village we graat the present day. "The roads dually withdrew from the vale, to Bisan [from Jerusalem] are, and got upon an elevated rocky one by Jericho, up the pleasing flat, covered with a thin and meaand fertile banks of the river Jor- gre sprinkling of earth; the ve

young children, while at the same time he began progressively, to despatch the great men who stood in the way of his advancement, and to concert expedients for effecting his diabolical purpose with as much show of decency as the nature of such a design would permit.

ing narrations, or confirmed his | tise, pretending great attachment prejudices by its partial details. to the widowed queen and her O that we had a series of histories written with this view, uniting correctness of style with impartiality of detail, and aiming to confirm and illustrate the predictions, facts, doctrines, and promises of the holy scriptures! It would greatly tend to correct the gross and dangerous errors of popular opinion, which, alas, are now but too often fostered and confirmed by its misrepresentation of motive and character.

Monstrous as was his purpose, he met with instruments base enough to aid him in effecting it, and that even among those who are exhorted to be "blameless as stewards of God." Even the church and the pulpit were made the places of political discussion: ingenuity was exhausted to invent pleas for his pretensions to the crown; and that time devoted to the praise of the usurper which should have been devoted to the

The goodness of the human heart is among the popular, but deceitful notions, which the narratives and reasonings of revelation alike disprove. Characters are there faithfully pourtrayed, whose early career seemed to justify the most gratifying expectations, until a change of circumstances developed their real na-praise of God, in order to work ture, and showed to the persons and others what was in their hearts. This appears to have been the case with Hazael, and not less so with Richard III.

Such had been his propriety of conduct during the life of the deceased monarch, his brother, that, on his death-bed, he was anxious that the regency should be confided to him during young Edward's minority; and such was the general confidence in him, that every one esteemed him as the protector of his nephew, and revered him as the guardian of the kingdom. But scarcely had he commenced the duties of this appointment before he resolved to betray his trust, and gratify to the utmost that ambition and self-interest which lurked in his heart, and waited but for opportunity to display their dire effects. To perfect such a design required the most consummate dissimulation, which he failed not to prac

on the passions of the people, and induce them to call for him as their king. The people, however, had no such wish. A meeting of the citizens was called for the same purpose, and was attended with similar success. The Duke of Buckingham, who harangued the meeting, was disappointed; the Recorder also addressed them, and but that a few obscure individuals were present, whom the servants of the interested succeeded in influencing faintly to say, "God save king Richard," the agents must have separated with disgrace. A meeting, however, had been called; the desired exclamation had been heard; it was pronounced the voice of the people, and the farce was acted of waiting on Richard to offer him the crown, which he pretended very reluctantly to accept. The murder of his two nephews, however, which soon followed, proved not only his

proposed to unite both factions, by marrying the Princess Elizabeth, of the house of York, daughter of the late king, to the Earl of Richmond. This met with the approbation of all parties, and it only remained to devise means for carrying it into effect.

A plan, however, so important, requiring exertions so great, and the employment of agents so numerous, could not long be concealed, especially as it was necessary that the feelings of the people should be excited by the knowledge of it. Richard was soon informed of the design, and Buckingham, well knowing the character of the king, fled into Wales, and threw off the mask; but the violent rains prevented his operations. The followers he had collected gradually deserted him, and he was obliged to seek safety by disguising himself; but, being soon discovered, he was

love of it, but his fear of losing it. I In what a state must have been the cause of religion, when nobles and clergy and people could tolerate such horrid proceedings! The first act of his ill-gotten power was to reward those who had favoured his treachery, particularly the Duke of Buckingham; and Richard seemed now only to have to enjoy his riches and honours. But God's thoughts are not as man's. How often does it happen that the most crafty are outwitted! How often does it occur that the wicked "eat of the fruit of their own way, and are filled with their own devices!" He who hath declared "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," bringeth their counsels to nought, and makes them the instruments of each other's destruction, Buckingham was the first to rebel, and he soon found he should not be unsupported. As time was afforded for men to re-brought to the king, and immeflect, irreligious as was the age, diately executed. Such was the they could not approve of the miserable end of this base man, scenes they had witnessed. The who so lately had essentially conLancastrians, in particular, encou-tributed to seat the tyrant on the raged every manifestation of discontent, which revived some faint hopes in their breasts of the ultimate success of their expiring cause. Buckingham attached himself to this party; and, as in any attempt to dethrone the tyrant, a successor must be at hand, application was made to the young Earl of Richmond, who was in the friendly custody of the Duke of Britany, and on whom the late king had ever looked with an eye of jealousy, as he was related to the house of Lancaster. Richard, although so wicked, was a man of talent, and successfully to conspire against him required great exertion. Experience had taught them that a nation divided against itself could not long stand; it was therefore

throne. The other conspirators took refuge abroad, or were in disguise at home. The Earl of Richmond, who was on his way to England, but was delayed by tempests, hearing of these calamities, returned to Britany. Richard, now triumphant, was left" to fill up the measure of his iniquity." He endeavoured to gain the favour of the people by passing some popular laws, and to secure his throne by proposing himself to marry the Princess Elizabeth, his niece; a dispensation in favour of which he felt confident he had influence enough to procure from Rome,-that court which, in its system, presents the most successful of Satan's plans of mental destruction.

This unnatural proceeding