the Pope reigned paramount over all the nations of Europe. He excommunicated and dethroned kings, and princes, at his pleasure. So abject has been the submission, that a king of England thought himself honoured, by being permitted to put the Pontiff's foot into the stirrup when mounting his horse. Their spiritual bondage was such, that a bull from his holiness, had more influence on their benighted minds, than the commands of Almighty God. Blessed be God, who by his Gospel, has so wonderfully chased this thick darkness from so many nations. Our highly favoured land has been long distinguished in this respect, may its inhabitants show their gratitude, by the emphatical language of holy lives, and rejoice in the anticipation of the fulfilment of promises and prophecies;-that, "the heathen shall be given "to the Redeemer for his inheritance, and "the utmost parts of the earth for his "possession." And that his Gospel shall continue to increase in the hearts of mankind, till the knowledge of the glory of

"the Lord shall cover the earth, as the wa

"ters cover the sea.' ""

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
"Does his successive journey run;

"His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
"Till suns shall rise and set no more."

WATTS.

During our voyage we beheld ruins of various majestic buildings of antiquity, several of them, the wonted retreats of the Roman Emperors, whose tottering vestiges loudly proclaim the transitory nature of human grandeur.

"Worn on the edge of days, the brass consumes,

"The busto moulders, and the deep cut marble,

Unsteady to the steel, gives up its charge,

66 Ambition, half convicted of her folly,

angs down her head, and reddens at the tale."

"At dead of night, mid his oraison, hears
"Aghast the voice of time! disparting towers,
"Tumbling all precipitate down, dashed,

"Rattling around, loud thundering to the moon."

DYER.

Before our return we passed near the islands of Elba and Corsica. The former is about twelve miles in length, and rather narrow. It has an excellent harbour, named Porto Ferrajo, and produces fruit, fish, &c. and the town is of considerable note.

The latter is divided from Sardinia by a very narrow and dangerous channel, and is very mountainous. It is about eighty-five miles long, and in some parts, fifty broad. The soil is rather barren, especially near the mountains; but the air is much superior to that of its neighbouring island Sardinia. It produces considerable quantities of corn, oil, wine, and chesnuts; the inhabitants are very temperate in their food, and patient in enduring hardships.

The Corsicans have formerly made great struggles for their liberties, especially during the government of the Genoese, who, in the plenitude of power, frequently oppressed the natives; till, at length, by repeated acts of injustice, they so kindled the 664667 A

indignation of the Corsicans, that a general revolt ensued.

They fixed their attention on their countryman Paoli, who had before given proofs of his integrity and abilities, for their leadcr, who established the revolution, and under whose government, justice and equity was administered. The spirit of the inhabitants being thus revived, agriculture and commerce soon followed, and the people experienced the protection and blessings of a mild government, in an eminent degree.

Their former unwise governors were now ready to tremble at the very men whom they had recently treated so severely, and they thought it convenient to give up to France, what they could no longer retain themselves, and which in reality, they no longer possessed.

Notwithstanding this, confiding in their native courage and strength, the Corsicans

defended themselves against France itself, upwards of a year; at length persuasion in a measure effected that which open force could not, and the generality of the natives surrendered themselves to its government; but many securing themselves in their fastnesses, were not easily reduced; and seve ral have, perhaps to this day, éscaped the involuntary surrender of their liberty.

During the early part of the revolution in France, the people of this island appeared desirous of uniting with Great Britain; which union was effected in 1794. Soon after, from a variety of circumstances, it again became subject to France, under whose government it still is, and is likely to continue.

It gave birth to the present phenomenon of the day, Buonaparte, who by the rapidity of his advances towards the summit of ambition, has astonished the nations.

It is but thin of inhabitants; they are robust, and laborious, especially in travers