I. Idolatry has been renounced by the inhabitants of no less than eight islands. But, justly to appreciate the importance of this statement, it is necessary to consider, for a moment, what idolatry is; that it is a systematic alienation ofthe heart from God, by means of which the immortal mind, already a captive to sin, is bound still faster in this dreadful captivity, by the spirit of a sensualizing and infatuating superstition. To break the fetters forged by this spirit, and to liberate the mind from a thraldom so awful, are alone achievements of high and inestimable importance. This, however, has been accomplished in the islands of the South Sea. But the subversion of idolatry there involves the abolition of various other dreadful evils. 1. Of Infanticide, which is already nearly exploded. 2. the Arreoy society, a privileged order, who practised the vilest cruelty and abominations with the total dissolution of that society, it may be expected that infant murder will entirely cease. S. Of human sacrifices. 4. Of the murder of prisoners taken in battle. 5. Of the principal causes of war itself. 6. Of various other immoral and pernicious practices connected with their idolatry. II. With idolatry, the people have renounced their former system of thinking and acting an evident reformation of manners has taken place, their vain and indecent amusements, are almost entirely laid aside, and a degree of domestic and social intercourse is enjoyed to which formerly they were entirely strangers.† Ill. The Christian religion, as a system, is now the re'igion of Otaheite, Eimeo, and six other islands. The natives have erect ed places of worship in every district of each island. They strictly observe the sabbath, and constantly assemble together for Christian worship and instruction; and they act thus (a point of greater importance,) spontaneously, it being evident, that the Missionaries can attend to preach, or to direct the worship, at comparatively but few places. Every where they are believed to observe private prayer, and, in Eimeo, almost every house has family worship. IV. A desire for knowledge is univer sally planted among the natives. They are every where importunate for books, and for Missionaries to come and instruct them; and, where they cannot obtain the latter advantage, and have proper books, they teach each other. What such a state of things may ultimately lead to, under the faithful labours of nearly twenty Christian Missionaries, and the blessing of God upon their labours, it is not for us to say, but surely the most encouraging and pleasing expectations may reasonably be entertained. V. At least three thousand of the natives are supplied with books, and are able to make use of them, and many hundreds of them can read well. VI. The way is opened, in the islands, to civilization, to the introduction of the use. ful arts, to the cultivation of the earth, &c. &c. Where the precepts of Christianity are diffused, idleness never fails to become disreputable. VII. It may be expected, that the institution of marriage among the natives will gradually lay the foundation of domestic and social happiness, and that the general influence of Christianity will rear and ce. ment the superstructure. VIII. It is at least probable, that the example of these islauders will have a beneficial influence upon the natives of other keeping the sabbath day-that of late, they did no kind of work-nor went out of their "The men, women, and children now all houses, except to worship God-and that the eat together; and although this may not ap- whole of the day was employed in religious pear to be of much consequence, yet their for-worship, or in teaching one another to read. mer custom led on to many and great evils." Ibid. +"The horrid practice of killing men, to offer them in sacrifice, we trust will never again occur on the shores of Otaheite."-Let ter of Mr. Hayward. "When Mr. Crook with his family ar rived in the Active, on the coast of Otaheite, they were much surprised, that not a single native could be seen all along the shore, as the vessel sailed, nor could they perceive any smoke arising from their dwellings. This excited in the mind of Mr. C. and others, a painful suspicion, that the island had been subdued and all the inhabitants cut off in the war. In the midst of this agitation of mind, one of the sailors, an Otaheitan, who left Port Jackson in the Active, observed, that the natives were At length, the vessel came to anchor in Matavai Bay; but not a native made his appearance until Monday morning; when great numbers repaired to the brig, bringing with them their usual testimonies of hospitality, of food and fruit of all kinds, with other presents of cloth, &c. They were highly pleased and thankful to God that he had sent another teacher among them, and fully satisfied all on board that they had been observing the sabbath."-Letter of Mr. B. Rassall, of Parramatta. "We are happy to notice, that the sabbath is observed in a manner very different from what it used to be, and the natives now dress their food on the Saturday evenings, as the Missionaries have ever done."-Letter of Mr. Hayward. islands of the Pacific Ocean, as the intelligence successively reaches them; aud thus prepare the way for other missions, and of new triumphs of Christianity*. IX. We further observe, that the moral revolution which has been effected in the out South Seas, presents to the church a great practical evidence, that the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST is the grand instrument to be employed for the subversion of idolatry, with all its concomitant evils. X. The encouragemeut which it holds out to the patient faith and persevering exertions of long unsuccessful Missionaries, is a circumstance of great importance to such Missionaries, and also to the Managers of Missionary Institutions in general. It is now about twenty years since eight of the present Missionaries were first lauded on the shores of Otaheite; it is but recently that their labours have been crowned with that large success, which has added new vigour and warmth to the missionary spirit, and imparted delight to every Christian mind, On several occasious the mission seemed on the verge of ruin-the light, which had long shone dimly, repeatedly appeared to be nearly extinct-but, under the good providence of the Almighty and his gracious influence, it has at length burst out into a far brighter day than the Missionaries ever anticipated. XI. The steadfast virtue and patient perseverance of the Missionaries, who have for so long a time laboured amidst temptations so violent, privations so depressing, and afflictions so numerous and severe, form a highly important addition to the evidences of the reality and power of religion. XII. What has been accomplished by the instrumentality of Missionary exertions in the South Seas, and the prospects which are there opened of future benefit to the souls and bodies of the natives, present the most animating encouragement to the friends of the Society and of Christians at Jarge, not merely to the exercise of liberality in the support of this particular mission, but of missions to the heathen in general. The events which have been recited are sufficient to convince the most sceptical that their contributions will not be thrown away as in an idle speculation or adventure; but that they will be made, under God, a blessing of invaluable worth and import ance to others, and return a hundred fold, Nay, who can say that the facts of the preceding narrative, printed and dispersed in the various languages of the East, may not contribute to the subversion of idolatry, even there? in delightful emotions of joy, gratitude, and praise, into their own bosoms. These important facts and observations present to the whole christian world, a very powerful encouragement to prosecute, with a zeal and activity more correspondent to its high and infiuite importance, the great cause of missions to the heathen. They also furnish a motive to benevolent liberality; and as the maintenance of the South Sea mission is necessarily attended with a heavy expense, we recommend it to the liberal bounty of all, who take an interest in the happiness of mankind. A complete Survey of Scripture Geography, containing an Historical account of primitive Nations, and of all countries and people mentioned in Sacred History. To which is prefixed an Introductory Essay concerning the origin, occasion, character, and meaning of each book or writing mentioned in the Holy Bible, &c. &c. By Thomas Heming, of Magdalene Hall, Oxford, 4to. with an Atlas of coloured Maps, £3 10s. without the Atlas, and with two Maps, £1. Leigh, London, 1818. Mr. Geography and Chronology have been justly termed "the eyes of history." To pretend to read history, and least of all sacred history, without these aids, would be to little or no purpose. Heming has therefore conferred a very essential benefit on biblical Students, in the elegant and accurate work of which we are now to give some account to our readers. It consists of two parts; 1. an Introductory Essay embracing the most important subjects, the knowledge of which is indispensibly necessary to the correct understanding of the Sacred Scriptures; and 2. The Geography and History of the Old and New Testament. A considerable part of the Introductory Essay is devoted to the elucidation of the cosmogony aud chronology of Moses. This is accomplished in a masterly manner; and those facts in Geclogy which seem to contradict the chronology of the sacred Historian, are here reconciled by a new and simple hypothesis, which it would be unjust to withhold from our readers. From many recent evidences, deduced from the structure of its strata, and the order in which fossil remains are deposited therein, persons best versed in this knowledge are disposed to consider the earth older than the common reckoning of the Hebrew Masorites, which is nearly conformable with the computation adopted in the English Bible. But no system of chronology can be formed upon the evidence | afforded by fossil remains, as they are called; which are those petrifactions found in quarries and excavations, some present ing animal, and some vegetable characteristics. Many of these curious productions have been found in mountains, several thousand yards above the level of the sea. In order to reconcile these phenomena with the Mosaic account of the creation, it has been suggested, that the information contained in the two first verses of Genesis, indicates that the earth might have been some time (if we may be allowed to apply the appellation time in this place) formed before it received the impulse and motion which, after the light was divided from the darkness, produced the succession of day and night. It has been observed by an eminent geologist, that by including the history which the first five verses of Genesis contain in the first day's progress of the creation, many of the doubts and sceptical notions have arisen: whereas, if we consider that something antecedent is implied in the two first verses, it might relieve the doubt, and prevent the incredulity of many. that in which they are frequently found; and that the numerous beds of matter could not have all been left from a single inundation. Without any better knowledge of the science of geology than a few facts, it would be presumption to say that many of the conclusions which it has produced, in contradiction to the Mosaic history of the deluge, have arisen from too slight a consideration of the particulars therein described; and of the consequences that must naturally have followed such a flood. As, however, there seem to be misconceptions respecting what Moses has related to us regarding the destruction of the earth, it is possible that, by observing more closely the description of the event, it may be reconciled with all the phenomena of geology and of time. May not erroneous opinions have been formed, upon the supposition that the flood subsided more immediately that it is described to have done? From the time the ark rested, till the waters were sufficiently abated for Noah to quit it, was, according to the account, seven months and ten days. And although that part of the earth which was destined to receive those who had survived the awful catastrophe was dry, it is not surely to be inferred that every other region was, at the same time, free from the element with which it had been so completely overwhelmed. Is it not more probable that many years elapsed before the total retreat of the flood from off all parts of the earth? Certainly the waters diminished more slowly and gradually than many, from glancing over the short narrative, suppose. The ideas, when a subject is very rapidly described, are generally too faint and transient; and leave but a very inadequate and dim representation for the Geologists generally contend that there have been many inundations of the earth; and that the different species of rocks have been formed of the matter deposited within them at different periods upon the recession of the waters. Some of the ancient philosophers supposed the earth had suffer-judgment to work upon. ed many catastrophes of this kind. Eusehius cites Plato, who distinguished the Flood of Noah, as universal, by the term xxтaxλvoμos, the deluge. Polyhistor also, a very eminent heathen writer, who flourished about a century before the Chris tian era, has more emphatically called it, τον μεγαν κατακλυσμον, the Great Deluge. The object of these geological opinions, with regard to chronology, is to show the reasons upon which persons have contended against the age of the world, as computed by the Scripture account: alleging, that in so short a space as 4160 years, the time, according to the Mosaic history, since the general deluge, some of the physical combinations which the structure of the earth evinces, could not have acquired such a compact and positive state of transition as From twelve mouths' inundation, and the tempests, torrents, cataracts, and irruptions, by which it is stated to have been produced, must not the earth have been much loosened and dissolved? Is it according to nature to suppose that it would at once, and in all parts, settle and become solid, compact, and firm? Both from the history, and from nature, we may reasonably suppose that the waters did not disperse and vanish from the face of the earth in a sudden manner: also, that all parts of the terrestrial globe were not at once alike strong and perfectly fixed. May we not, moreover, with good reason suppose, that many large lakes and inland seas would be formed as the flood declined? If then those parts of the earth in which any of these new seas were left, were not suffi ciently stable, they would in some place | phabetical Writing was not practised give way, though perhaps not for many before the time of Moses. He has also years; for the effects of future frosts and pointed out some mistakes relative to rains would weaken rather than strengthen the supposed situation of the mountains them; and as they afterwards burst at dif- of Ararat, on which the ark rested, and ferent times, in different places of the earth, the waters rushing forth with irresistible concerning the time when the dispersion fury, would carry with them whatsoever most probably took place. might be in their way, till they reached some place more able to confine them. The whole surface of the earth presents vestiges of such irruptions as those of lakes; and may not thus the irregularities of its surface be accounted for, and the succes sion of strata have been formed? Is it not possible, from such cousequences, that mountains may have been piled on moun tains? May not the shells, found in such elevated parts of the land, have been carried thither since the deluge by overwhelming torrents thus caused? Of the impetus of such unimprisoned seas, the imagination can obtain but very feeble and inadequate notions. These disquisitions are succeeded by a series of brief prefaces to the various books of the old and New Testament. On topics like these, which have been so often, and so ably illustrated, novelty of information is not to be expected; but to those who may not be possessed of the biblical works of the Bishop of Lincoln, of Dr. Gray, Mr. Horne, and other critical writers, this part of Mr. Heming's work will prove extremely useful. The introduction concludes with an account of the antient trauscripts and versions, a chronological list of the various translations of the Bible to the Our author next proceeds to examine, present time, and an account of the prinwith conciseness indeed, but with per- cipal polyglott editions of the Scripspicuity, the four principal systems of tures. As Mr. Heming has made but Bible Chronology which have been pro- cursory mention of the Antwerp Polyposed, and declares in favor of the He-glott, we shall endeavour to supply his brew Chronology, as established by Ken-deficiency by giving a brief account of nedy, and on which the Usserian or it. This noble work was printed at Bible Chronology is founded. The Chro- Antwerp by the celebrated and learned nological System of the Rev. Dr. Hales, printer, Christopher Plantin, in eight who had criticised his predecessors in volumes, folio. between the years 1569 this branch of science, (and Kennedy in and 1572. Five hundred copies only particular) with caustic severity, is here were struck off; the greater part of reviewed with considerable asperity. Al- which being lost in a voyage to Spain, though we value Dr. H's work very the Antwerp Polyglott has become of highly for the numerous learned expla-extreme rarity. It was printed in He. nations which it gives of difficult pas-brew, Greek, Latin, and Chaldee; and sages in Holy writ, justice requires us to admit that he has a formidable antagonist in Mr. Heming. The extraordinary population of the earth at the time of the deluge, which has excited the sneers of some infidels, and the ridicule of others, is proved by a minute and most ingenious calculation; and the objections which have been raised against the longevity of the patriarchs are here solved, and their longevity is accounted for by all the evidence that history admits. The oral transmission of events and facts through the antediluvian period, and the divine origin of writing, are next treated of Mr. Heming has proved by a train of conclusive evidence, that Al contains, besides the whole of the Complutensian Polyglott, a Chaldee paraphrase of part of the Old Testament, which Cardinal Ximenes (who munificently defrayed the expense of the Complutensian Polyglott) had deposited in the public library at Alcala, having had particular reasons for declining to publish it. The Antwerp Polyglott also contains a Syriac version of the New Testament, and Santes Pagninus's Latin translation of the Scriptures as corrected by Arias Montanus, the learned editor of this noble undertaking. The three last volumes are filled with lexicons and grammars of the various languages in which the Scriptures are printed, together with indexes, and a treatise on Sa 2 vols. £1. 4s. Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, London. many. cred Antiquities. The Hebrew text of the Antwerp Polyglott is said to have been compiled from the Complutensian M. SCHLEGEL holds a most distinedition, and from the celebrated Hebrew guished rank among the literati of GelBible printed by Bomberg at Venice. The second and principal portion of this formed of them when they were anThe highest expectations were elegant publication comprises a copious nounced; crowded audiences, comprisview of Scriptural Geography, princi-ing the most accomplished and intellipally founded on the justly celebrated gent individuals of Vienna, attested the work of Dr. Wells, and in which the deep interest, that was excited by the imUsserian or Bible Chronology is adopt-portance of the subject, and the celebrity ed. This part is illustrated by an Atlas of the Lecturer and now when the of Maps, twenty-two in number, and charm which attended the delivery of most beautifully coloured. Besides, a them has subsided, the Lectures of map, illustrating the early part of Scrip- Schlegel still continue to delight and to ture History, it contains thirteen maps instruct. Among those who attended of the territories occupied by the tribes the delivery of these Lectures, was the of Israel, one of the journey ngs of the late eminent Madame Stael, by whom Israelites, plans of the temple and city they have been thus characterized. of Jerusalem, a general map of Pales- "W. Schlegel has given a course of tine, Asia Minor, Palestine and Greece, Dramatic Literature at Vienna, which places mentioned in the Old and New comprises every thing remarkable that has Testament, with those remote from the been composed for the theatre from the Holy Land, the travels of St. Paul, and time of the Grecians to our own days: it a chart, on Mercator's principle, exhi- is not a barreu nomenclature of the works biting the present religion, population, of their different sorts of literature with all of the various authors; he seizes the spirit and state of civilization of every country in the known world, with tabular in-ble that to produce such consequences exthe imagination of a poet. We are sensidexes of latitudes, longitudes, and Scrip- traordinary studies are required: but learnture references. Its construction is most ing is not perceived in this work, except ingenious, and the mass of information by his perfect knowledge of the chefswhich it presents at one glance, appears d'auvre of composition. In a few pages to be very correct. we reap the fruit of the labour of a whole life; every opinion formed by the author, From the preceding abstract, our rea- every epithet given to the writers of whom ders will perceive that this volume con-he speaks, is beautiful and just, concise and tains a large body of important Biblical animated. He has found the art of treating Criticism and Geography. To divines the finest pieces of poetry as so many wonand bible students, it presents a most ders of nature, and of painting them in valuable manual; and we trust that an lively colours which do not injure the justextensive sale will remunerate the pub- too often that imagination, far from being ness of the outline; for we cannot repeat lisher and editor for the labour and expense bestowed in the execution of this than any other faculty of the mind; and an enemy to truth, brings it forward more splendid, yet cheap and accurate work. all those who depend upon it as an excuse It is proper to add, that as the Scrip- for indefinite terms or exaggerated exture Atlas was delivered to the public pressions, are at least as destitute of poetry before the Geography was printed, theas of good sense. purchasers of the former may be accommodated with the latter, separately from the Atlas. A Course of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. By Augustus William Schlegel. Translated from the original German. By John Black, 8vo. "An analysis of the principles on which both tragedy and comedy are founded, is treated in this course with much depth of philosophy this kind of merit is often found among the German writers; but Schlegel has no equal in the art of inspiring his own admiration; in general, be shows himself attached to a simple taste, deviates from his usual opinions in favour sometimes bordering on rusticity but he of the inhabitants of the south. Their |