monies to the Principles of Natural Religion. IV. Testimonies to the general importance of religious Belief. V. Testimonies to the particular uses of Religion-as a bond of society-as a rule of con.. duct-as a source of consolation. VI. Testimonies to the connexion. of religious sentiments and virtuous conduct with Happiness, VII.. Testimonies to the Evidences and Excellence of Christianity, VIII. Testimonies to the general doctrines of Christianity. IX. Testimonies to the particular doctrines of Revelation: 1. the existence of spiritual beings; 2. the Trinity; 3. human depravity; 4. the evil and penalty of sin; 5. man's incapability of claiming merit with God; 6. the mediation and atonement of Christ; 7. salvation by the grace of God; 8. repentance and conversion, X. Testimonies to the Duties of Christianity. Appendix: 1. traditionary and historical Testimonies to the truth of Scripture History; 2. physiological and geological Testimonies to the Mosaic account of the Creation; 3. miscellaneous extracts.'

The public are, we think, much indebted to Mr. Brewster for the labour bestowed on this very judicious and interesting collection, which cannot fail to do essential service.

Art. VII. Narrative of a Voyage round the World, in the Uranie and Physicienne Corvettes, commanded by Captain Freycinet, during the Years 1817, 1818, 1819, and 1820; on a scientific Expedition undertaken by Order of the French Government. In a Series of Letters to a Friend. By J. Arago, Draftsman to the Expedition. With 26 Engravings. To which is prefixed, the Report made to the Academy of Sciences, on the general Results of the Expe dition. 4to. pp. 586. Price 3l. 138. 6d. London. 1823.

M. ARAGO plays a little the Gascon when he says,› There is scarcely a midshipman in our navy (the • French) who could not now, if required, steer a vessel to 'Kamtschatka, to Otaheite, or to New Zealand;' but he is not far from right when he adds, that the Pacific Ocean has 'been so frequently explored, that it is almost better known, ' and certainly less dangerous than the Mediterranean.' A voyage round the world is no longer a novelty or a tale of wonder; but, in the hands of a Frenchman, the narrative of such a tour cannot fail to be in a high degree entertaining. This merit certainly attaches to the present volume. Its Author displays all the mercurial liveliness of the national character, in the vivacity of his descriptions and of his petits sentiments: it is some drawback on this captivating quality, that he is often very flippant, and sometimes very nasty, which is fully accounted for by his having grafted the morals of a sailor on the habits of a Frenchman. During a three years' voyage, he became acquainted,' as he tells us, with nuVol. XX. N. S.

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'merous tribes, hunted with the Brasilian and the Guanche, danced with the negroes of Africa, and slept under the hut of the Sandwich islander. I participated,' he adds, in the ⚫ festivals of these children of nature, I sat at their hospitable tables, and, every where welcomed, I every where contri buted my share by a cheerful gayety or the present of some European trifles.' Unfettered by the rigid shackles of morality, this all-accommodating citizen of the world found no difficulty in adapting himself and shaping his gallantries to his company, of whatever colour or character. No one goes through the world so easily as a Frenchman; and he must, therefore, needs be the best man to go round it,-an adventure sometimes accomplished with less difficulty.

Our Author was, as set forth in the title-page, the draftsman attached to the Expedition, and his sketches are the most interesting and perhaps valuable part of the work. They are extremely spirited and characteristic; sometimes, we suspect, a little outstepping the tameness of nature for the sake of gaining effect, yet, substantially accurate, and forming a good index to the most important contents. As we cannot recommend the work to our readers, on account of its perpetual and flagrant indelicacy, we shall endeavour to give the substance of the information which it comprises.

The Uranie sailed from Toulon in Sept. 17, 1817, and reached Rio Janeiro, Dec. 6. where the Commander devoted nearly two months to observations on the pendulum and compass. Between sixty and seventy pages are occupied with a description of the Brazilian capital and the manners of its inhabitants, of which it may be enough to state, that it entirely coincides with the account given by Mr. Luccock* and other English travellers. It is, however, gratifying to find a Frenchman speaking with horror of the slave-trade, and of the atrocious cruelty with which the negroes are treated. At the period of his visit, Rio contained, according to his statement, 120,000 souls, of whom five sixths were purchased slaves; and fifty vessels were engaged in the trade. It is still considered,' he says, as problematical whether the negroes are men or brutes: they are employed as the first, but beaten like the 'latter.' The problem has been solved at St. Domingo.

'I have seen-yes, I have myself seen,' says M. Arago, two young ladies whose countenances wore the expression of mildness and benevolence, endeavour, by way of pastime, to cut, at a certain distance with a whip, the face of a negro, whom they had ordered

See Eclectic Review, Vol. XVI. p. 193.

not to stir from the spot. This exercise seemed to amuse them. I would mention their names if their father, who came in after the first essay, had not severely reprimanded them for their cruelty.'

A Portuguese, lately going along a narrow path, met a negro, who stepped aside to let him pass. Not satisfied with this, he ordered the slave to leap the ditch: the poor fellow muttered an excuse, and screwed himself up still closer. The Portuguese struck him with his cane. Enraged at this treatment, and unable to contain himself, the black gave his assailant a blow on the head, and ran away. The Portuguese discovered where he lived, signified to his master his wish to buy the negro, offered so large a sum, that the owner could not resist the temptation, and the wretched slave expired the following day under the lash. These acts of cruelty are not punished here. Are not such traits characteristic of a nation?'

We hope not, if a nation includes its colonies. These things are not confined to the Portuguese. M. Arago, though doubtless a good Catholic, does not spare the monks; an ignorant ⚫ and debauched crew,' he terms them, sufficiently powerful to place themselves out of the reach of the law, but still too weak to seize the supreme authority,-a scandalous troop of sluggards and libertines,' who swarm in every street. He saw one, in the slave market, cheapening a young female slave, whom he bought for six quadruples: this was a venial act compared to the practices with which they are charged. The following anecdote of the present sovereign of Brazil, is worth transcribing, if it may be depended upon.

'When the Count Dos Arcos had quelled the insurrection at Pernambuco, the king, on receiving the agreeable intelligence, asked the heir to the throne, what reward he could confer in token of his gratitude for so signal a service. "Create him prince-royal: I shall not be jealous of him," replied Don Pedro.'

From this Prince, Brazil has much to hope for.-Our Author was much struck with the contrast presented by the appearance of Cape Town, in the brilliant whiteness of the houses, the ⚫ astonishing' cleanliness (to a Frenchman just from Brazil) of the windows and steps, as well as of the interior, the broad and straight streets, the superb terraces, the spacious barracks, -a real palace; the imposing and well-disciplined appearance of the troops,-almost equal to the imperial guard; and above all, the magnificent' beauty and elegance of the fair sex, who are described as having the very complexion of Frenchwomen, or, if any thing, it is rather more delicate.'

The town-house is magnificent, and reminded me of those beautiful mansions which you discover, at intervals, in the environs of Genoa. It is in vain to try to distinguish the public edifices: the

private houses rival them in grandeur and elegance. The churches are small but clean. In each of them, instruction is daily given to negro slaves.'

We are glad to receive this last article of information, if it be so. • The abolition of the slave trade,' we are moreover informed by our all-informed Traveller, is said to be very prejudicial to the welfare of the colony, as it is now become ⚫ necessary to employ free Hottentots in tending the cattle and ⚫ in agricultural labour.' As M. Arago approaches the Mauritius, the philanthropic horror of slavery which he discovers at Brazil, sensibly diminishes. The negro slaves at the Cape appeared to him neither so handsome nor so strong as those at Rio Janeiro, but quite as lazy and as thievish. Alas!' he exclaims, they thieve by instinct.'

"It would be as difficult to cure a negro of the passion for thieving, as to keep a Gascon from boasting, a Norman from perjury, a Breton from drinking, and a Frenchwoman from being a coquette,'

Let us hope, for the honour of France and of human nature, that if it is only as difficult, the poor Negroes may yet learn honesty. But, alas! again, there is no Roman Catholic church at the Cape.'

Our Author finds himself at home at the Isle of France: he pronounces it the Paris of India.' The manners, costume, language, but, above all, the hearts and feelings of the in'habitants are,' he says, completely French;' and he adds: There is, in my estimation, an infinitely greater distance between Paris and Bourdeaux, than between Paris and the Isle of France.' The balls, the ladies, the society of the Oval • Table.'-oh! were it not for hurricanes, earthquakes, and conflagrations, it would be a French paradise; and sorely does M. Arago grudge the English the possession of it. A few circumstances, however, are slightly mentioned, which would somewhat lessen its attractions to our readers.

'The interior of the houses,' he states, is not destitute of elegance, but, in point of cleanliness, they are far behind those of the Cape. Here every thing is of finer quality; there in nicer order. At the Mauritius, the articles of furniture are more costly, more sumptuous; at the Cape, they are more homely, but more convenient. In short, cleanliness is a luxury in this colony; in the other, a necessary; and in this particular the Cape must be preferred to Port Louis in every other, the Isle of France has greatly the advantage.'

He goes on to make a further concession in favour of Cape Town as regards the architecture of the houses and public buildings, and the laying out of the streets. As to the state

of morals, those of the Cape cannot at all events be much worse. The girls,' indeed, we are told, that is to say, the Whites, are brought up in sentiments of modesty, which heighten the lustre of their charms,'-the grand purpose, doubtless, which modesty in a woman, at least in a Parisian, is designed to answer. But the free mulatto women, being prohibited intermarrying with the white colonists, think it much more honourable to be the mistresses of young Europeans, than the lawful wives of free mulattoes*.' These women are represented as frequently distinguished by the most perfect symmetry of form, manners the most gentle and insinuating, exquisite cleanliness, talents peculiarly adapted to conversation; in short, all the qualities of the heart comheart_com'patible with the absence of modesty.' Many of these Laises and Aspasias are wealthy, and are in the habit of presiding at ' enticing balls and entertainments,' at which they daily collect swarms of admirers, whites alone being admitted to them. M. Arago frankly confesses, that it seems difficult, if not 'impossible, for a young man who for the first time tastes ⚫ the sweets of liberty, to withstand the allurements by which he is soon surrounded.' Such is the state of society at Port Louis; and such, more or less, is the state of things at Calcutta and at Barbadoes. The only remedy for the evil is slightly hinted at by our Author, when he puts it as a question, whether the Government will at length permit marriages between free women and the white colonists. He adds:

It has already winked at several unions of this kind; and, for my part, I am of opinion that, by the force of circumstances, what is now regarded as a favour, will finally triumph over the repugnance of the whites, and the original intention of the legislator. Besides, I cannot see that this would be any great misfortune, or indeed any misfortune at all; for, every thing duly considered, it is perhaps better that, in proportion as the original stain becomes effaced, the whites should admit among them that portion of the mulatto population which, from education and good conduct, shall appear worthy of the favour. The disproportion between the black and white population

*This is notoriously the case in our West India islands, and for the same reason. A recent writer, in attacking the Registry Bill, while he pleads for the necessity of introducing marriage among the slaves, and confesses that an immoral connexion between the females and the whites, prevails, with scarcely an exception, among the married, not less than the unmarried men; declares, that he would guard against any intermarriages between the whites and the women of colour, by having attached to the crime, the heaviest pains and penalties of a felonious act. See Wilberforce's Appeal. 1823. p. 22.