are before the public as well as those which he impugns; and it is not to be forgotten that, where facts themselves, depending on ocular observation, are at variance, he has the check of living witnesses at hand, who are able to confute or support him, a check from which his forerunner was exempt. We say thus much on meeting with the first serious difference, in statements of fact, between the two travellers, because we shall have more of them to notice hereafter. On the present occasion, we confine ourselves to summing up the principal grounds of Mr. Salt's opposition to Bruce's theory. First, then, he says, the expression in Scripture relative to the time occupied by the voyage to and from Ophir is not in itself so definite as to support a conclusion built entirely on its positive meaning:but, suppose it were, he proceeds to shew that, in point of fact, the regular course of the monsoons in the Red Sea and the Indian ocean does not bear out the inference, and is, on the contrary, materially different in effect from that at which Mr. Bruce has stated it for the sake of his argument. The silver mines of Sofala, and the antient towns of stone and lime in its neighbourhood, are circumstances resting on but slight proof, or on vague and uncertain tradition. The passage from Eupolemus is evidently still less to the purpose; and, to sum up all, as to the map given by Mr. Bruce "to relieve the difficulties of his reader," it is absolutely unworthy of notice, were it not for the errors to which it may lead from its extreme inaccuracy, and from its being founded entirely on visionary principles.' (Vide Salt, pp. 99. &c. Bruce, Vol. ii.) Yet, whatever may be said of his theories, if the late editor of Mr. Bruce (Mr. Murray) has found himself compelled to give up as mere fictions the entire narratives of that author's voyages from Loheia to Babelmandel, and from Cosseir to the Emerald Isle, abounding (as they do) in the details of minute occurrences, we do not see with what tolerable chance of success any unsupported facts of Mr. Bruce can be maintained against the authority of obser vations made by a living witness. Neither should Mr. Salt be censured for repeating these discoveries made by others to the injury of his predecessor's veracity, since they afford the most ample justification of his own unwillingness implicitly to believe, and (what some may call) his officiousness in confuting, other assertions resting on no better foundation.

It is time, however, that we should hasten to the main object of the author's expedition; and, as we are now on ground often before described, and of late very fully by the noble companion of Mr. Salt's former voyage, (see Lord Valentia's Travels, and our Review above quoted,) we shall consult our prescribed

limits;

limits; and, leaving Aden and Mocha behind us, we must bring down our narrative to the 11th of December, and cast anchor in the Bay of Amphila, on the opposite coast of the Red Sea. It will, however, be necessary to the reader's clear comprehension of the events which follow, and may also afford him an insight into some of the difficulties and embarrassments attendant on all endeavours to penetrate into the interior of Abyssinia from the Red Sea ports, to be made acquainted with certain transactions which had taken place previously to Mr. Salt's arrival at Mocha, and with the measures adopted by him in pursuance of them. Captain Rudland, who had been dispatched thither in the spring of the year with instructions from the Bombay government "for opening a commercial intercourse with Abyssinia," sent letters to the Ras immediately on his arrival, to explain the purport of his mission; accompanied by a similar communication to that useful and interesting personage, Mr. Nathaniel Pearce, whom Mr. Salt (it may be remembered) had left behind him on his former expedition. We continue the detail in the author's own words.

In July 1809, Captain Rudland received a very satisfactory answer from Ras Welled Selassé through Mr. Pearce, who in a very simple, clear, though singular narrative, gave a general account of the adventures he had encountered. He mentioned the disappointment which the Ras had unceasingly expressed at not hearing for so long a time from the English, and strongly confirmed his anxiety to encourage an intercourse with our nation: Mr. Pearce also added many useful observations on the description of articles likely to answer for the Abyssinian market. In consequence of these letters, Captain Rudland soon afterwards had sent over his assistant, Mr. Benzoni, in a country boat, with some articles of commerce, and a few presents, to Madir, a village in the Bay of Amphila, on the Abyssinian coast, to which place he had appointed Mr. Pearce to come down and receive them. The difficulties which Mr. Benzoni met with, and the dangers to which this ill concerted expedition exposed Mr. Pearce, will be given in a subsequent narrative of transac tions, which the latter related to me at Chelicut.

In a short time after this, the Ras had sent over one of the Mahomedan traders in his employ, named Hadje Hamood, who had returned with a few other articles by way of Massowa, but of his ar rival at Chelicut no intelligence had been received, and Captain Rudland seemed to entertain the opinion, that he was likely to meet with serious obstacles in passing Massowa, owing to a Sirdar, named Omar Aga, having arrived at the latter place from Jidda, who had dispossessed the Nayib of his authority, and taken upon himself the com

*Some curious particulars are given relative to the changes in public affairs at this last-mentioned town, since Lord Valentia's visit: but we have not room to insert them.

'mand.

mand. It may be necessary to observe, that at this time our relative situation with Jidda was extremely precarious, owing to the unprincipled character of its chief, who had very lately committed an act of great injustice against the British, in detaining some goods belonging to them, which had been landed under particular circumstances in his port.

• This state of affairs rendered it incumbent on me to obtain, if pos sible, a communication with the Ras previously to my attempting to penetrate into Abyssinia, I therefore hired at Mocha a trusty servant, named Hadjee Alli, and sent him over immediately to the Abyssinian coast with letters for the Ras and Mr. Pearce, in a country boat belonging to Yunus Beralli, a faithful Somauli, who had before rendered important services to the English. In these letters I announced my arrival with his Majesty's letter and presents for the Emperor Ayto Egwala Sion, (or Ayto Gualo, as he is commonly called,) expressing my anxiety to advance as soon as possible to the presence; and requesting that the Ras would send down Mr. Pearce, with a proper number of mules and people, to whatever point of the coast he might judge it most advisable for me to land.'

This dispatch was sent off on the 14th of October; and while waiting at Mocha in expectation of an answer, Mr. S. incidentally picked up other information, of a nature that will, no doubt, be interesting to all whose curiosity is excited towards the subject of discoveries in the interior of Africa. It relates to the countries of Efat and Hurrur, situated to the south-east of Abyssinia, and is introduced by an account of Hadjee Abdelkauder, a respectable old man,' and commercial agent at Mocha for the Sultaun of the last-mentioned kingdom.

This man was one of the best informed and most liberal minded Mahomedans I have ever been acquainted with, though he did not appear to be particularly fitted for the situation he held, owing to his possessing a strange carelessness with respect to pecuniary concerns, very uncommon among his countrymen. He had read a great deal for an Arab; his powers of comprehension and personal activity were very extraordinary for his years, (which I conceive must have bordered upon seventy,) and there was besides a certain vivacity and drollery in his manner that rendered his conversation singularly agreeable. I, once began a sketch of his features, but before it could be completed he found out my intention, and ran away laughing and shaking his head, saying," he was too old and too ugly;" nor could he ever again be induced to sit quiet when he saw a pencil in my hand. At the time he became known to me he was suffering severely from ulcerations in his legs, a disease which very frequently occurs in this chmate, but, by the daily use of a caustic application, which in the Red Sea is always found to be extremely beneficial, he received so much relief that his gratitude became unbounded.

From this man, and another person named Hadjee Belal, who had also acted as commercial agent to the Sultaun of Hurrur, and who afterwards attended me on my journey to Abyssinia, I learnt so

many curious particulars respecting the natives of the former country, as well as of the Galla and other tribes in its neighbourhood, that I resolved, from repeated assurances of its practicability, to send a person into that part of Africa by the way of Zeyla. It was my intention that he should direct his way through Hurrur into Efat, and thence proceed, if it could be effected, to join me in the neighbourhood of Gondar or Antalo, as circumstances might direct, while I determined, if possible, to return by the same route.

I was enabled to execute the former part of this scheme without putting the government to any great additional expence, through a power which the African Association had vested in me to draw upon it for a sum not exceeding five hundred pounds, and fortunately, there was a young man named Stuart, on board the Marian, who had joined us at the Cape, who appeared to me well qualified for such an employment. I accordingly engaged him to undertake the enterprise, and drew up a detail of instructions for his guidance, which has since been approved of by the Society in a manner highly gratifying to my feelings.'

Having allotted so much space to what we consider as necessary previous information, we must here pause before we resume our narrative.

[To be continued.]

ART. II. Sermons, chiefly on particular Occasions. By Archibald Alison, LL. B., Prebendary of Sarum, Rector of Rodington, Vicar of High Ercal, and Senior Minister of the Episcopal Chapel, Cowgate, Edinburgh. 8vo. pp. 466. 12s. Boards. Constable and Co. Edinburgh; Longman and Co. London. 1814.

WE

E coincide not with the man who, even in the beaten province of theology, "can go from Dan to Beersheba, and say it is all barren." Glutted as the market is with sermons, and common-place and monotonous as they generally are, exceptions occasionally present themselves to relieve the dullness which pervades this species of composition; and a star of peculiar radiance will sometimes arise, not only to light but to cheer our way, and to make us some amends for the drudgery which is too generally imposed on us in this path of our duty. An instance of this kind is supplied in Mr. Alison's volume of sermons, which is a gem of no ordinary brilliancy, and which may probably be found even of more value than our appreciation of it will indicate. From Scotland our best sermons are said to come: but this remark is not now to be confined to the church of the Presbytery, since we have before us a set of discourses, preached indeed on the other side of the Tweed, but proceeding from a clergyman of our episcopal

church.

church. Mr. Alison, with great animation and pathos, made the eulogy of the celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair on his ascent to the skies, and he has given full evidence of having caught his mantle as it fell. He seems to be inspired with the same all-pervading spirit of devotion, the same comprehensive mind, the same originality of reflection, and the same happy mode of displaying the beauties and enforcing the duties of religion, which have rendered the sermons of Blair so universally acceptable; and, if he be not equal to the Professor, he has a right to stand next to him on the same shelf. High as this commendation is, we have no fear of establishing it. These sermons, indeed, though written, as we are informed in a short and modest preface, in the course of duty, were not prepared for a common audience. The author tells us that his congregation is of a peculiar kind, being composed almost entirely of persons in the higher ranks, or in the more respectable conditions of society; and that one very interesting part of it is formed by the young, who, in the course of academical education, are preparing themselves for the important stations or the liberal professions of future life.' This circumstance will account for the peculiar genius, novelty, and impressiveness of these sermons, and for the aim of the preacher at a mode of eliciting and of enforcing moral and religious truths somewhat out of the common way.

The discourses are said to be composed chiefly for particular occasions, and we find a large proportion of them to have been preached on Fasts and Thanksgiving-days: but, though sermons on political subjects generally offer little that is attractive to the pious reader, Mr. Alison has contrived in every instance so to view the miseries and contentions of nations through the medium of religious philosophy, as to convert political reflections to a serious purpose. By no preacher that we recollect have sermons of this kind been managed with so much ability. They are indeed models in this department of pulpit-eloquence. With all the warmth of patriotism, he indulges in no virulence and untempered malignity against the enemy; — with a full apprehension of our danger, and with a deep sense of the long subjugated and degraded state of Europe, he never yields to despair. A prophetic glance pierces through the gloom of the darkest hour, and he anticipated the return of a bright day even when the darkness of the political horizon almost appalled the brave. In the sermon on the General Fast, 1803, he endeavours to rouse all the energies of the country for the great contest in which we were engaged:

We are summoned, in addition to the defence of our country, even to a nobler duty; and in the mighty designs of Providence, the same valour which is called to defend our land, is the great means by REV. DEC. 1814. which

A a