geous exertions in behalf of this high-born grace. Menaced in our independence, he reminds us that united hearts and united counsels - are required; and he exhorts also to promptitude of action, persuaded that, by union and valour combined with a pious trust in the only giver of all victory," we can prove in the present crisis that England, single-handed, is a match for France. The whole discourse forms no unsuitable address to citizens in arms for the defence of their country against a menacing invader. Art. 58. The Benefits of Wisdom and the Evils of Sin, preached before the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn, Nov. 6, 1803, and published at the Request of the Bench. By the Rev. Robert Nares, Archdeacon of Stafford, &c. 8vo. 18. Rivingtons. The thought pursued in this discourse is acknowleged by the author to have been taken from Mr. Simeon's Skeletons of Sermons. It is closely paraphrastic of the text (Eccles. ix. 18.) and displays a doctrine not less important than indisputable. Art. 59. A Loyal Tribute to the Virtues of our amiable Sovereign, offered in a Sermon preached at Navestock, Essex, on a Day appointed to enrol Volunteers. By J. Filkes, Vicar. 8vo. Rivingtons. Is. To confirm loyal attachment to our temporal Sovereign, and to inspire sentiments of piety towards the Sovereign of the Universe, form the avowed design of this sermon. It is very short, and contains nothing objectionable. Art. 60. Preached in the Parish Church of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, A sensible and impressive discourse, establishing the truth of Christianity, on the threefold evidence of miracles, prophecy, and history; and at the same time urging an attention to the object immediately in view, from the example of our Saviour: who so frequently, and with such great compassion, exerted his miraculous power in healing the diseases, and removing the infirmities, of great numbers who resorted to him.-The pamphlet is published at request; and whatever profit may accrue will be devoted to the benefit of the Infirmary, some account of which forms several additional pages. IS. Art. 61. Preached before two Friendly Societies, by the Rev. Francis Mr. S. professes that this Sermon was sent to the press, in order the more strongly to imprint on the minds of his parishioners the sen timents of Unanimity and Loyalty, at this critical and eventful period; and that he was also actuated by a wish to contribute his mite towards cementing the peace and harmony of his neighbourhood, which had suffered interruption from disorder and alarm. ་ Mo-y. The discourse is sensible and animated, and calculated to promote the laudable purpose of the preacher :-but why has he omitted the first clause in the verse of his text, Honour all men,'-to which the Do Do Hi. the admonition that follows is in some degree opposed,- Love the This preacher's intention is to consider the advantages of Female Friendly Societies;' which he does in a sensible, and we may add a successful manner; for, we apprehend, every reader will be convinced of their utility, under uitable direction. Greatly to their honour, three ladies (sisters) have for some time established and supported a school for girls in the above named parish: from among whom, with an addition of others, a number of young women are collected, who by habits of industry and virtue contribute mutually to each other's assistance and future support. Two funds are formed for this purpose, one arising from the small but constant contribution of each member, and another from the donations of those who are styled honorary members, which provides for that kind of aid and encouragement which the former would be insufficient to obtaina The institution is well recommended by Mr. Lowe, and most certainly deserves praise, if a supply is promoted of religious, virtuous, and industrious, servants, wives, and mothers.' CORRESPONDENCE. The line of conduct which Mrs. Cappe informs us she has chosen to adopt precludes us from attempting any answer to the subject of her note, since we have never seen, and probably never shall see, the publication to which she refers; and if we did, we could not take any notice of it. Candidus will do us the honor to accept our thanks for his admonition and his offers: but perhaps he will not be much surprized if we demur to the former and decline the latter. We have received a 2d Letter from Mr. Bristed, which is very creditable to his powers of self examination and his openness to con viction. He expresses himself fully determined to make every beneficial use of the criticisms which we thought it our duty to offer on bis Pedestrian Tour (reviewed in our last Number): but, in reference to our remark that "the result of his researches is only that the Scotch are a less cleanly people than the English," he wishes it not to be forgotten that he endeavoured to do justice to the purity of the morals, and to the extent and diffusion of knowledge, which adorn the Scottish people, in p. 266. of Vol. II.' .. The APPENDIX to Vol. xliii of the M. R. is published with this Number. 98, Errors, pp. 5, 54, 57, 64, 89, 91, 102, 106, 109. THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For JUNE, 1804. ART. I. Travels in Turkey, Asia-Minor, Syria, and across the Desert into Egypt, during the Years 1799, 1800, and 1801, in Company with the Turkish Army, and the British Military Mission. To which are annexed Observations on the Plague, and on the Diseases prevalent in Turkey, and a Meteorological Journal. By William Wittman, M.D. of the Royal Artillery, and Surgeon to the British Military Mission acting with the Army of the Grand Vizier. 4to. pp. 600, and 22 Plates. 21. 12s. 6d. Boards. R. Phillips. 1803. Four government did not attach a professed corps of ans to our military expedition to the East, it has been made evident from the several publications which have originated in that enterprise, that it included men of science and curious observation, who were capable of availing themselves of every opportunity for collecting useful knowlege, and of making us better acquainted with regions which as yet are very imperfectly known to Europeans. Syria and Egypt having been the theatre. of the various singular and important transactions recorded in sacred history, our curiosity is peculiarly excited by the relations of the modern traveller into those regions. He carries us to places. with the names of which our ears have been familarized from our childhood, and respecting which our religion induces us to wish for particular information. The inquisitive are desirous of comparing existing facts with antient details; of ascertaining the present state of one country which is described by the antient Jews as "flowing with milk and honey," or as possessed of the most uncommon fertility, and of another which stands prominent in the earliest pages of history. Many travellers have endeavoured to satisfy this general desire for information: but, as we conceive that a variety of interesting particulars yet remain to be told, we are prepared to receive every new observer with complacency and satisfaction. Our recent publications respecting Egypt and Syria have this advantage over their predecessors, that the circumstances which they record were witnessed by gentlemen who enjoyed opporVOL. XLIV. I tunities tunities for research which are not attainable by the ordinary wanderer. It has been remarked that the French literati were protected by their army; and it is equally proper to observe that, as Dr. Wittman travelled in company with and making a part of the army which was dispatched from Constantinople to cooperate with our forces in Egypt, his privileges were those of a native Turk:- he had full leisure for observation on the characters of the people, and on the soil, climate, and natural productions of the countries through which the route lay. From the size of this volume, which is in the form of a journal, it will be apparent that Dr. W. was not an idle traveller; though, in certain instances, we should have been better satisfied had he been more diligent in his inquiries and more minute in his details. Lest, however, too much should be expected from the present work, the author thus speaks of his undertaking: In the course of his travels, he saw many things which, to him at least, were uncommon; and he was in the habit (partly to relieve his mind from the irksomeness of his situation, and partly in the hope of gratifying his particular friends) to note down whatever appeared worthy of remark. On communicating these notes to those for whom they were originally intended, it was their wish to see them in print, as containing matter which, according to their partial opinion, was calculated to interest a still wider circle. Such a task, when he commenced his journal, he did not expect he should have to encounter; and this statement, in every respect consonant to truth, he trusts will shield him from the severity of criticism, which is most properly directed against such publications as are, from the first, intended to challenge the approbation of the Public. He cannot flatter himself with the hope that these pages will be found equally agreeable to all readers. To some they will appear in parts defective, as they undoubtedly are; to others, the author may seem occasionally prolix, in recording the particulars of conversations held with different individuals, either on the civil or on the military state of the countries in which he resided. Yet those books are perhaps the most instructive, and not the least entertaining, which record things as they really happened. "Truth," says an admired author, "needs no ornament; and in my opinion what she borrows from the pencil is deformity." The journal commences with a short account of the British Military Mission sent to the Grand Seignor in 1799, which was designed to join the Turkish army and to co-operate with it against the common enemy. General Koehler and a few officers under him were appointed to act on this occasion; Dr. W. was associated with them in the capacity of surgeon to the mission; and they were to rendezvous at Constantinople; to which place the chiefs of the party went over-land, and the rest by sea. The author was among the latter; and he relates the particulars of his voyage from Gibraltar through the straits of of Messina, and among the Greek islands, to the capital of the Turkish Empire: where he arrived and joined the mission, June 14, 1799. Full leisure having been afforded to Dr. W. for the examination of this city, a description of it is first given: • Constantinople, comprehending its suburbs, some of which are so large that several authors have been led to consider them as distinct cities, is of very considerable extent. It is in the form of an unequal triangle, having one of its sides towards the sea of Marmora, another in front of the harbour, and the third towards the land. Being built on seven hills, on the sides of which the houses are placed, it has at a little distance the appearance of a vast amphitheatre, stretching itself over a very extensive territory. The mosques, or places of public worship, of which the principal one was the celebrated Christian church of St. Sophia, which name it still retains, are numerous, and several of them very large. They are not provided with bells; but each of them has one or several minarets, on which the muczins, or criers, are stationed to call the people to prayers. These minarets bear a strong resemblance in their form to a tall candle, having an extinguisher at its top. Nothing can be grander or more beautifully picturesque than the external appearance of Constantinople and of its vicinity. Within it has less to recommend it, the houses being but indifferently built, and the streets very narrow, The Seraglio, or palace of the Grand Sultan, occupies the space on which the ancient city of Byzantium formerly stood, at the extremity of the angle formed by the sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus. It is by far the most beautiful part of Constantinople, the projecting land on which it stands being covered by groves of cypress trees, which give a sublime effect to the magnificent buildings of which the palace is composed. On the opposite side of the harbour, the towns, or more properly speaking, suburbs of Galata, Pera, and Tophana, are situated; and, on the Asiatic side, opposite the point of the seraglio, stands the town or suburb of Scutari. From the great sloping of the hills on which they are placed, these suburbs have a very fine and romantic appearance, the houses seeming as if built tier upon tier. Being, however, principally constructed of wood, which is soon fretted and decayed by the intense heat of the sun in such a climate, the grandeur of the scene is diminished on a near approach. Between them cypress trees rear their lofty heads, and add greatly to the sublimity of the general effect. The cemeteries are also thickly planted with these trees; and the scene is thus rendered beautifully picturesque. In short, the external view of Constantinople, and of its environs, is at once sublime and pleasing; and with this view the tra veller ought to content himself, since, on a nearer inspection, he will find little to gratify his curiosity, or to excite his admiration. The Bosphorus, a beautiful canal, or narrow sea, from a mile o a mile and a half in breadth, and about twenty miles in length, forms the communication between the Euxine, or Black Sea, |