with the awful delight with which we have heretofore frequently perused it.

Dante Alighieri, by his early devotion to the Ghibelline party at Florence drew upon himself the enmity of pope Boniface VIII. who by open denunciations as well as by private intrigues, procured his complete ruin and his banishment from his native city. Wandering from one town of Italy to another, frequently reduced to the lowest extremity of want, his mind, enriched with all the knowledge attainable at that period, and imbued with the most exalted sentiments of the obligations of man to God and to his fellow creatures, burnt with indignation at the wrongs which human nature and christianity sustained from the conduct of the Roman See. By the artifices of the popes, the States of Italy, (at the subjugation or the control of which they continually aimed) were instigated to constant hatred of one another, and in their mutual conflicts sought the protection sometimes of the Empire and sometimes of France. The sovereigns of Germany indeed urged a union of the Italian states, but whenever they took any measures to effect so desireable an event, the jealousy of France was awakened and the popes in alliance with the French King used all the terrible means with which the bigotry of superstition had armed them, to maintain and increase the dissentions of the christian world. Some patriotic spirits, however, continually sighed for the confederacy and deliverance of the whole of Italy, and they were encouraged by the imperial court, through views frequently as selfish as those of France and the Pope, to look to the emperor for support. This party was called the Bianchi or Ghibellines while the favourers of the Pope and the French monarch were denominated the Neri or the Guelphs. The moral and political prospects in which the Ghibellines were engaged were of a lofty character. They looked for the foundation of extensive or even universal empire, of which Rome should be the centre, and in which justice and pure religion should have domination. "This fancied empire, they called in the language of Scripture the New Jerusalem, and the head of it the King of kings, who was to humble the pride of the servant of servants." As a shelter from persecution which the open avowal of such views would have certainly drawn down on the heads of those who entertained and promoted them, recourse was had to allegories: the writers in that species of literature were numerous, and it was secretly understood among the members of the Ghibelline faction, that the papal authority, or, rather, that the era of

papal iniquity, was figured by the statue seen by Nebuchednezzar in his dream, and that the papal court, was the hell, mentioned in Job, where "the light is as darkness,"

It was during this unfortuuate period, that Dante, banished though the influence of the pope, made his pilgrimage thoughout Italy,

in search of a subsistence and a shelter. And what scenes did he there behold! At every step a crime, at every look a misfortune, and turbulence, alarm, blood, and misery every where. Could he shut his eyes to the cause of all this woe? It was while in this state of distress and poverty, that his poem was composed; and writing its various parts while he was wandering about, and often interrupting his lalours, either to fly from the persecution which pursued him, or to procure the necessaries of life, how more than probable is it that he checked many of his original impulses! His enemy was too formidable for him to venture openly to express all the just hatred he felt, a hatred which was continually aggravated by the weight of his own misfortunes, and the sight of those of others! What resource had he then? Silence! yes, such silence as Petrarch and Boccaccio observed in their pastorals: sometimes he did burst forth into an open excla

mation, but he soon again veiled it in mystery: as in the Monarchia for instance, which was written at the time when the speedy arrival of the Emperor in Italy was looked for: "Not only do they defraud the Church, but what is worse, every day they usurp some ecclesiastical patrimony, and thus she is becoming poor and miserable. What can we say of such pastors? What can we say, when we see them squandering away property which should be inviolate, or else converting it into the aggrandizement of their own families? But perhaps it is better, with the materials we have already in our hands, to wait in patient silence, for the coming of our Saviour." (Book 2.)—p. 53.

As the body of the work before us consists entirely of the adaptations of the explanation founded upon this basis to the three great divisions of the Divina Commedia, our readers connot expect us to follow him in such an undertaking. We have certainly been much gratified by some portions of the unravelling of this entangled web, and have felt ourselves the more and more astonished, at the efforts of the mind of the great Poet which seems to have been endeavouring, at the same moment, and in the same words, to illude and deceive the iniquitous and tyrannical power of the papacy, while it is instructing and encouraging the confederate foes of that power, in the strongest possible language; embodying invective against their detested oppressor, with

elevated promises of ultimate success and transcendant glory. Yet with all the illucidation afforded by Signor Rossetti, there will still be obscurities in the great work of Alighieri remaining, whichwill stand as proofs, either that the strength of his genius sometimes carried him beyond the conventional limits of the Ghibelline allegories, or that this mystical language was never accurately reduced to a system. Both these, whatever Signor Rossetti may urge to the contrary, are circumstances so likely in themselves to have occurred, and are so clearly manifest in numerous passages, which the Signior will have much difficulty to explain, should he ever have the courage to write a complete commentary on Dante's works, as having actually happened, that, we cannot but conclude allegorical literature to have been always a hateful fetter to genius. Dante indeed surpassed all other writers of that school, in tossing his chains with poetic dignity about him, but it is in those passages where he seems to have forgot that disguise was necessary, that he stands before us principally in all the sublimity of his native genius

EUROPE IN THE SUMMER OF 1834. THE war in Portugal occupied the first months of summer. Dom Miguel having called in his garrisons from Figueira and Coimbra, and his forces from the north, marched out of Santarem, and concentrating his whole force upon the heights of Asseceira, was determined to stake the crown of Portugal upon the issue of a general battle. The army of Dom Pedro, under the command of the Duke of Terceira, immediately accepted this challenge, and marching from before Santarem; a general engagement ensued, which ended in the complete defeat of Dom Miguel's army with great slaughter, numerous prisoners and the defection of a large portion of his troops, who upon this signal defeat, entered the ranks of Dom Pedro. Dom Miguel pressed by the victors, re-entered Santarem, but being instantly driven across the Tagus, he sought refuge in Elvas: however, on reaching Evora, somewhat out of the direct route, he was met by the forces of Dom Pedro, under the command of Marshal Saldana, while the army under the Duke of Terceira advanced upon his rear. Thus couped up, his whole army became mutinous, and after an attempt to negociate an armistice, which failed, Dom Miguel surrendered at discretion. Subsequently, all the garrisons of Portugal surrendered to Donna Maria II.; the crown

jewels, which are exceedingly valuable, were delivered up, and Dom Miguel embarked for and arrived at Genoa.

The crown of Portugal was thus safely placed upon the head of Donna Maria; the Cortes of that kingdom have since been convened at Lisbon, and they have decreed that Dom Pedro shall be Regent of Por tugal, during the minority of the Queen. The finances and currency are also placed in a train of settlement, such as bids fair to relieve the government from its embarrassments, and redeem the credit of that country.

Spain is yet perturbed. Don Carlos, on the surrender of Dom Miguel, requested the Portuguese authorities to procure him a passage in a British ship of war to England, which request was granted, and on the 18th June, this prince, with his spouse, three sons, and several females of his family, landed from the Donegal of 78 guns, at Portsmouth. After a short stay in England, Don Carlos, in the most mysterious manner, left London, where he and his family had some time resided, and landed in the north of Spain. Anxiety for her husband, and the hardships she had endured in Portugal, induced severe indisposition in Donna Maria Francisca, the spouse of Don Carlos, and she died near Portsmouth early in the present month. The civil war yet continues in the north, with various success. At Madrid the Cortes have assembled and are in full debate. The rights of the people and the finances of the nation are the subjects discussed, and upon these, some hasty resolutions have been already passed: meanwhile, if strong reinforcements are not soon sent to the army in the north, the insurrection may become general there, and exceedingly injurious to that country, which seems to be enthusiastic in the cause of Don Carlos.

France is pronounced by thousands to be the land of liberality and liberty; but how do these matter stand? Liberty of conscience is placed in the hands of every village mayor, of which there are between thirty and forty thousand throughout the nation, each of which may or may not refuse to admit, within his jurisdiction, a Protestant meeting, even for prayer only, as well as for preaching or teaching. These mayors are for the most part Roman Catholics, and they refuse to allow these meetings, lest they should be refused absolution by their priests, and because they detest and denounce Protestants as heretics. In the worst days of popery, did any thing exceed this, except actual imprison

ments, racking, and burnings? To complete the embarrassment of those who long to spread the truth, the law of the 26th February 1834, forbids all persons from distributing any tracts or small publications whatever. In what profound ignorance must the rising generation in France be involved, if this law is not evaded! Could any mode be adopted, better calculated to ingulf all France in popery ? But these vile prohibitions must eventually fall beneath the preaching of the gospel, which, maugre every barrier, is and will be preached to that nation. France is tranquil, and its vast armament commands the respect of neighbouring nations.

Great Britain has shared in the general perturbation of Europe; a war of words, if not of deadly artillery, has shaken it to its very centre. The vehemence of its

senators in their legislative halls has surpassed all precedent, and their wordy declamation has dethroned legitimate argument; confusion in place of order, and ambiguity instead of demonstration, have triumphed, and in their triumphs degraded the nation frightful is the example they have set to the people, and, apt to learn even evil from the superior orders, portentous is the progress they have already made.

If the spirit of domination has, in ancient times, risen up, and, in vindictive potence, frightened a nation from its propriety, at this eventful moment it seeks to overawe a world-stamping beneath its feet the residue of mankind. Stern debate is made the instrument of this ambition, and parties enter the arena, not to argue a question, but to carry a point. Argument must bow to clamour; and, to make sure work, a sturdy declaimer, the leader of his party, starts up, catches the eye of the chairman, begins a speech, says in ten minutes every thing he is capable of saying upon the subject in debate, repeats what he has already advanced, flies off into matter irrelevant, and immediately upon his being called to order, exclaims, "I am in possession of the chair, and am determined, if I am interrupted, to speak until midnight;" and, in fact, he does speak, until his opponents, worn out with the length and vociferation of his speech, are beaten out of the field; and when they have, through sheer exhaustion, retired, he carries his point by a majority of those who remain; and who, in fact, altogether amount only to a small minority of the original audience. That the laws of debate should bear any man out in the exercise of such domination as this, is a sad proof of the depraved taste

of the times in which we live. Alas! that the legislative assemblies of Great Britain should have spent so long a session as their last amidst this war of words, and effected so little for the people and for their country! With the exception of some partial ebullitions of feeling, the emancipation of the slaves on the first of August, in the West Indies and other British colonies, has passed over tranquilly; and nothing has yet appeared to disappoint the hopes of those who have thus successfully contended for the abolition of slavery. Missionaries and bibles have been liberally provided for these (now) our brethren.

An early and an abundant harvest has crowned the labours of the husbandman, for which, as justly due to Him who hath bountifully given, be all praise.

Ireland is yet a prey to the great agi. tator; and awful frays, in this age unknown to other nations, still cruelly afflict her population: the killed and wounded in these feudal battles are numerous, and the widows and orphans thus rendered destitute, sore afflict the land.

In Denmark, the great fosterer of the missionary cause, peace still reigns; and may she abound in every good word and work!

Sweden and Norway present to Europe a placidity and urbanity as pleasing as unexpected. Nursed by the demon of war, and cradled amidst the hurricanes of the French revolution, himself at maturity a first-rate actor in these scenes of blood, could it have been surmised by the keenest politician, that an adventurer, raised therefrom to a potent throne, would have thus consolidated and governed a kingdom? Yet such was and is Bernadotte, the present king of Sweden and Norway.

Russia, ever upon the grasp for territory, having effectually subjugated Poland, and humbled the Grand Seignor, is resuming a stern debate with Persia, respecting the boundaries of the provinces wrested from that power during the late war. This debate has slept, and by many it was thought this was the sleep of death, but leisure for its resumption having occurred at the court of Moscow, aroused from its trance, new vigours urge it forward, and who can predict its issue? The flattering attention paid by Russia to the Sublime Porte, after despoiling several of the Turkish provinces, the surly vengeance hurled over Poland, and the avaricious grasping of Persian and other territories, bear out, in the image of the book of Daniel, "the feet of the bear." Unceasingly pawing after empire, whether the grinding of its jaws gnashes destruc

tion, or its suffocating hugs induce debility and dissolution, death to others seems life to this empire. Of man, whether individual, or congregated into a nation, or aggregated by the union of nations, we too often have to note the insatiate lust of power, the ambition of rule, and the avaricious gust of accumulation-riches and power, more frequent in the exercise of evil than in the pursuit of good. Alas, such feelings accord with the depravity of human nature, whether urged into exercise by a torrid or a frigid atmosphere, or nurtured by the milder regions of our own sphere. A much larger Russian force is kept up in the eastern than in the western portions of this empire. The emperor Nicholas is

about to review his western armies at and near Wilna; after which it seems to be his intention to review his large forces in the south-east. The disturbed state of the Turkish empire in the east, as well as the unsettled affair with Persia in that quarter, predominates with the Russian emperor over all the affairs of Europe.

From Constantinople we learn that the Grand Sultan is so much enraged with the mis-government of Mehemet Ali in Syria, that he is about to declare war against him, and that he is mustering all his forces, both by sea and land, for an irruption into this territory. It is probable that this resolution was formed while the rebellion at Syria was at its height, and that on learning that it is now suppressed, he may change his purpose.

The discernment even of Mahommedan rulers has made out the growing truth of the superiority of the Greek youths, who are educated in the recently formed semi. naries of that fine couutry; and the Turks are establishing schools amongst themselves upon the Grecian models: yea, even the youths who are enrolled in the armies are ordered by the commanding officers to become scholars in these schools. Mathematical instruments, orreries, &c., are procured, together with translations of geographical and topographical descriptions of Turkey and the adjacent countries; and books on all subjects are being procured, at a great expense, for these schools, by the authorities of Constantinople and the Turkish provinces. Knowledge is thus providentially increasing, and we trust, by the grace of God, to behold in these regions truth established, to fall no more, for ever. Even so be it, O Lord!

Although the finest provinces of the East were wrested from the Porte by Mehemet Ali, pacha of Egypt, and his son Ibrahim, their power therein does not appear

to be so absolute and stable as many sanguine persons anticipated. The inhabitants of Syria and parts adjacent have mutinied under the tyranny of these new lords, and, reinforced by hordes of Bedouins, have broken out into open rebellion, and cut off whole squadrons of Ibrahim's army indeed, his losses have been so great in putting down this rebellion, that his father, Mehemet Ali, is marching to his succour with the whole force of Egypt by sea and land. Gaza, Jerusalem, Samaria, Mount Carmel, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Hebron, and a host of places familiar to us in holy writ, have become in this warfare scenes of carnage, and some of them of desolation. Alas! for the boasted liberty of Syria and Palestina; the freedom of the sons of Israel, and the toleration of Christians therein under Ibrahim Pacha; accord. ing to present appearances, all these are in imminent danger, if they yet exist.

Greece, according to prophetic lore, will become a potent state once more: she has already set out; and although her career is slow and in its infancy, impeded by frequent revolts and disturbances, we mark its progress, which evidently looks upward. Knowledge is progressing, liberty germs forth, and religion, in the bud, is ready to bear flowers and fruit. May she never more be barren and unfruitful, but bring forth fruit to perfection! Those fine epistles of St. Paul, which were written to her churches, glow with the graces of the Spirit, and beam forth truth, even to us in this latter day; and to modern Greece they bear the same features they did in times of yore; for such is the plenum of revelation, that it is ever new unto all generations:

Italy, a speckled bird, in all its varieties, is to be wondered at, from "the Eternal City," the tomb of truth, (where the statue of Peter the fisherman has supplanted, upon the tallest columns in Rome, the statues of the august Cæsars,) to the Janus of Italy, that land of superstition, whose cruel persecutions have filled the vallies of the Alps with blood-the blood of martyrs to the religion of Jesus, the Saviour of men; all the length and the breadth of this land, from Rome to Turin, bows down (yet heaves with internal perturbations) to armed Austrians, who have military possession of the whole country.

In Austria, armies have been added to the armies she possessed, the fortifications of Vienna have been augmented, batteries along the coasts and upon the military roads have been constructed, and towards Dalmatia artillery and stores forwarded,

and at all points Austria is assuming an attitude, calculated to inspire awe into all the neighbouring states. Do the stars in their courses fight against Austria? Is it needful that army upon army should be raised to repel them? Alas! for this country, in the day of her visitation these will not avail to save.

Germany and Switzerland are more than usually tranquil; their armies are complete, and no foe has yet taken the field against them. A large proportion of the population of Europe have learned the manual exercise; and to shoulder a deadly firelock with the grace of a soldier, bids fair to be

the lot of almost every able-bodied man in this quarter of the globe.

Prussia is at rest. How deeply to be lamented are the alliances into which this reformed state enters, while its religious code is in accordance with protestantism, and many of its ministers would do honour to any country. Saxony, unmolested and unmolesting, pursues her way. Of Holland and Belgium we passing note, As was yesterday, even so is this day, and it is probable will be to-morrow also-at war and at peace, they incessantly growl, but never fight. WM. COLDwell.

King Square, Sept. 20, 1834.

N. E.