merce, the teaching, the philosophy of the age, every thing, according to the two colloquists, verges to the same issue, either to irreligion, or what Southey considers the two extremes of religion, Socinianism, and what he phrases religiosity. Of course he finds the established church of England the happy medium between them. The manner in which a state is bound to interest itself in the religious institutions which are interwoven with an establishment, is eloquently set forth in the following paragraph, which we recommend to the attention of those, who advocate legislative interference in matters of conscience, as one of the most eloquent paragraphs on their side of the question we have seen. 'It is better thus to discriminate, than to condemn in the gross. Religion does not throw itself bodily across the march of society, but, if rightly used, is the lantern to its path which ever way it goes. It is the object of these volumes to inculcate this to impress the nation with the importance of recognising in all its institutions, whatever the class, and whatever the age of the persons they affect, a principle which (as the whole history of mankind shows) will make itself felt, whether they bear or whether they forbear; felt, for the exaltation of a people, if it be respected; felt for their prostration, if it be despised. It is a truth to which the heathens themselves were alive; the vital importance of preserving the palladium within the walls was no more than an allegory; and that voice, again, in the Jewish historian which was heard to say, 'Let us go hence,'— metabainomen enteuthen, is now, as it was then, the signal of the city's overthrow. The seditious are well aware of all this; and, accordingly, the weapon which they have ever found the most efficient for sapping the foundations of a state, has been infidelity. The ruling powers have not always been equally impressed with the importance of making religion their friend. Here our own have erred even at home: what wonder if they have erred at a distance from home!' Our attention was first arrested to this article, by the exceedingly eloquent, tender and pathetic paragraphs, that close it. We are sure, that none of our readers, who have hearts on the left side, will think it too long. It seems to us in Southey's best manner. “Meanwhile, let us seek repose from the troubled thoughts which the contemplation of national insecurity suggests, in the following picture of domestic feeling, which few can regard without some emotion, and with which many will sympathize from sad experience. "The best general view of Derwentwater is from the terrace, between Applethwaite and Milbeck, a little beyond the former hamlet. The old roofs and chimneys of that hamlet come finely on the foreground, and the trees upon the Ornathwaite estate give there a richness to the middle ground, which is wanting in other parts of the vale. From that spot I once saw three artists sketching it at the same time-William Westall (who has engraved it among his admirable views of Keswick,) Glover, and Edward Nash, my dear kind-hearted friend and fellow-traveller, whose death has darkened some of the blithest recollections of my latter life. I know not from which of the surrounding heights it is seen to the most advantage; any one will amply repay the labor of the ascent: and often as I have ascended them all, it has never been without a fresh delight. The best near view is from a field adjoining Friar's Craig. There it is that, if I had Alladdin's lamp or Fortunatus's purse (with leave of Greenwich Hospital be it spoken,) I would build myself a house. 'Thither I had strolled, on one of those first genial days of spring which seem to affect the animal not less than the vegetable creation. At such times even I, sedentary as I am, feel a craving for the open air and sunshine, and creep out as instinctively as snails after a shower. Such seasons, which have an exhilarating effect upon youth, produce a soothing one when we are advanced in life. The root of an ash tree, on the bank which bends round the little bay, had been half bared by the waters during one of the winter floods, and afforded a commodious resting-place, whereon I took my seat, at once basking in the sun and bathing, as it were, in the vernal breeze. But delightful as all about me was to eye, and ear, and feeling, it brought with it a natural reflection, that the scene which I now beheld was the same which it had been and would continue to be, while so many of those with whom I had formerly enjoyed it, were passed away. Our day-dreams become retrospective as we advance in years; and the heart feeds as naturally upon remembrance in age, as upon hopes in youth. "Where are they gone, the old familiar faces?" 'I thought of her, whom I had often seen plying her little skiff upon the glassy water, the lady of the lake. It was like a poet's dream, or a vision of romance, to behold her or like a vision or a dream she had departed! "O gentle Emma, o'er a lovelier form Than thine earth never closed; nor e'er did heaven 'I thought of D., the most familiar of my friends during those years when we lived near enough for familiar intercourse-my friend, and the friend of all who were dearest to me; a man, of whom all who knew him will concur with me in saying, that they never knew, nor could conceive of one more strictly dutiful, more actively benevolent, more truly kind, more thoroughly good; the pleasantest companion, the sincerest counsellor, the most considerate friend, the kindest host, the welcomest guest. After our separation, he had visited me here three summers; with him it was that I had first explored this land of lakes in all directions; and again and again should we have retraced our steps in the wildest recesses of these vales and mountains, and lived over the past again, if he had not, too early for all who loved him, "Began the travel of eternity." I called to mind my hopeful H-, too, so often the sweet companion of my morning walks to this very spot; in whom I had fondly thought my better part should have survived me, and "Thy dead shall live, O Lord! together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust! for Thy dew is as the dew of herbs; and the earth shall cast out her dead!" 'Surely, to the sincere believer death would be an object of desire instead of dread, were it not for those ties-those heart-strings-by which we are attached to life. Nor, indeed, do I believe that it is natural to fear death, however generally it may be thought so. From my own feelings I have little right to judge; for although habitually mindful that the hour cometh, and even now may be, it has never approached actually near enough to make me apprehend its effect upon myself. But from what I have observed, and what I have heard those persons say whose professions lead them to the dying, I am induced to infer that the fear of death is not common, and that where it exists it proceeds rather from a diseased and enfeebled mind, than from any principle in our nature Certain it is, that among the poor the approach of dissolution is usually regarded with a quiet and natural composure, which it is consolatory to contemplate, and which is as far removed from the dead palsy of unbelief as it is from the delirious raptures of fanaticism. Theirs is a true, unhesitating faith; and they are willing to lay down the burden of a weary life, in the sure and certain hope of a blessed immortality. Who, indeed, is there, that would not gladly make the exchange, if he lived only for himself, and were to leave none who stood in need of him-no eyes to weep at his departure, no hearts to weep for his loss? The day of death, says the preacher, is better than the day of one's birth; a sentence to which whoever has lived long, and may humbly hope that he has not lived ill, must heartily assent.'-vol. i. p. 242. CRAWFURD'S EMBASSY TO AVA. THE next article, on Crawfurd's journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General of India to the Court of Ava, 1827, is one of very high and sustained interest, but which we could not condense within our limits. We quote one or two pictures. The mode of punishing crimes, less than capital, in Burmah, is technically phrased in their language 'Spreading out in the hot sun.' The offender who undergoes it, is stretched upon his back in the hot sun; and is thus exposed for a given number of hours in the hottest part of the day, with a weight on his breast, more or less heavy, according to the nature of the offence; or rather according to the king's opinion of it. The journalist records, with much simplicity, the manner in which the embassy was overreached by the cunning Burmese. It is well known, that it was at the close of a war, in which the English had defeated them, and held, in fact, the destinies of their country at their disposal. They wished the English embassador to pay the same degrading homage with the embassadors from the countries adjoining them. Some of these degradations consisted in taking off the shoes, when going into the presence, knocking the head on the ground, asking pardon for the offences committed the past year, and the like. It will naturally be supposed, that the proud embassador of a triumphant people, who held the fate of the country in their hands, would not be likely to submit to these humiliations. But the court put off the presentation, under one pretext and another, until the annual period came round, in which the retainers, and great officers and oriental embassadors presented themselves to perform these ceremonies. The British embassy was introduced among them, leaving the obvious impression, that they had come to discharge the same duties with the rest. The following was the address to his majesty of Burmah, at each presentation: 'Most excellent glorious Sovereign of Land and Sea, Lord of the Celestial (Saddan) Elephant, Lord of all White Elephants, Master of the Supernatural Weapon, (Sakya,) Sovereign Controller of the present state of existence, Great King of Righteousness, Object of Worship! On this excellent propitious occasion, when your Majesty, at the close of Lent, grants forgiveness, the English ruler of India, under the excellent golden foot, makes an obeisance of submission (shi-ko,) and tenders offerings of expiation.'-p. 136. Nothing can exceed this, except the birth day ode of the laureate of his majesty of Timbuctoo. We quote from memory, but the following is nearly correct: Whoo! Bung dong! Bow now Son of the sun and brother of the moon, Huggaboo jah, Huggaboo joo! Hail to the royal Quashiboo! Emperor and Lord of Timbuctoo! We recommend the two samples above to all persons, laureates and others, who wish to come over plastering handsomely. Lay on thickSome will stick, says the plasterer. There is, also, a noble energy in the above, worth a ton of sleeping landscapes, and silvery moons, &c. the namby pamby of modern poets. We quote one passage more from this very amusing article. It is the historical record, in the court archives of Burmah, of the rise, progress and issue of their war with the English, who, as we have seen, completely defeated them, and compelled them to accept any terms, which the English saw fit to dictate. Their account of the war runs thus. 'I learnt last night, from good authority, that the court historiographer had recorded in the national chronicle his account of the war with the English. It was to the following purport :-In the years 1186 and 87, the Kula-pyu, or white strangers of the west, fastened a quarrel upon the Lord of the Golden Palace. They landed at Rangoon, took that place and Prome, and were permitted to advance as far as Yandabo; for the king, from motives of piety and regard to life, made no effort whatever to oppose them. The strangers had spent vast sums of money in their enterprise; and by the time they reached Yandabo, their resources were exhausted, and they were in great distress. They petitioned the king, who, in his clemency and generosity, sent them large sums of money to pay their expenses back, and ordered them out of the country.'-p. 176. Mr. Judson's account of their religion is interesting. The universe is replete with an infinity of souls, which have been transmigrating in different bodies from all eternity; ascent or descent in the scale of existence being at every change of state ascertained by the immutably myste rious laws of fate,' according to the merit or demerit of the individual. No being is exempt from sickness, old age, and death. Instability, pain, and change are the three grand characteristics of all existence. 'However highly exalted in the celestial regions, and whatever number of ages of happiness may roll on,' say the Burmans,' the fatal symptom of a moisture under the arm-pits will at length display itself. The mortal being, when this presents itself, must be prepared to exchange the blandishments and dalliance of celestial beauties, for the gridirons, pitchforks, mallets, and other instruments of torture of the infernal regions. The chief end of man, according to the Burmese, is to terminate the fatiguing course of transmigratory existence. This attainment the Lord Gautama made in the eightieth year of his life, and all his immediate disciples have participated in the same happy fate. What remains to the present race of beings is to aim at passing their time in the regions of men and gods, until they shall come in contact with the next Budd'ha, the Lord Arimiteya, whom they may hope to accompany to the Golden World of Nib-ban, or annihilation.'-p. 391. The article closes with an account of great interest, of the manner, in which the British are establishing new towns and settlements, in their conquered provinces. Lectures on School-keeping. By SAMUEL R. HALL. Boston: Richardson, Lord & Holbrook. 1829. pp. 135. THE pulpit, when employed for its legitimate purposes, is a noble intellectual engine, and operates a prodigious influence, even occupied as it is. The press, venal and phrenzied, as it is, with party influence, is a machine of almost incalculable power. But schools, after all, are the lever that Archimedes demanded-and they constitute the power, that moves the moral world. All we need, is to place this immense power on the right pivot, and direct the movement to right ends. We should find it difficult to impart to our readers an adequate idea of the pleasure, we feel, in seeing the glorious and truly republican system of Common Schools going so triumphantly into effect in Ohio; and becoming a matter of legislative investigation and enactment in the other western states. Republicanism can subsist on no other basis. No plan will ever be devised, capable of diffusing that sound and available instruction, upon which alone institutions like ours can be perpetuated. An ignorant people, talk as loudly as they may, raise the blustering fury of a party standard as fiercely as they will are slaves; and must be slaves in fact, whatever they are in appearance, and in their own estimation. The Omnipotent has laid it in the unchangeable laws of our world, that ignorance is slavery, and knowledge power. A rightly instructed people can no more be enslaved, than a sanc and sober man can will, and execute his own misery and ruin. Among the immense mass of matter, that the press now puts forth, in relation to schools and instruction, it cannot be expected, but there will be produced a great amount of dull and prosing writing. We turn over all the pages with respect--for they all inform us, if nothing more, that |