and Satan conjointly on the throne of the uni

verse.

When we take these views of apostacy, we are ready to exclaim, Can there be any thing so iniquitous, so appalling, in the systems of Hindooism or barbarian polytheism? What are even distinctions of caste, or idol-chariots, or Suttees, or cannibalism itself, in comparison of this? Is not Satan more ruinous, when he appears as an angel of light, than when he discovers himself in his true character of a fiend of darkness?

CHAP. VI.

MORAL CHARACTER OF GREEKS.

Greek Character not inferior to Turkish Violation of the Third Commandment-Anecdote of a Greek Priest, who swore with delight on procuring the New Testament-The Fourth Commandment-The Sixth-Dissensions during the Revolution-Rival Chieftains of the Morea - Vengeance inflicted on Turks- The Turk burnt alive by a Greek Woman-Union of Cruelty and Superstition at SpezzieInstance of Generosity to Turkish Prisoners-The Seventh Commandment-Divorces-Kindness of Brothers to their Sisters-Freedom from Drunkenness-Rapine and Piracy— Greek Klephts - Robbery of an Ecclesiastic of RankMurder of a Bishop by the Maniotes-Suppression of Piracy on the arrival of Capo d'Istria.

Ir is extremely common to depress the character of Greeks below the very level of Turkish degradation. Truth obliges me to confess, that the Greeks are demoralized to a melancholy extent; but certainly, as far as my own observation has gone, they are not inferior to Turks. There are crimes of a very base character, of which the traveller is compelled to hear amongst Turks; but he rarely hears of any thing similar amongst Greeks. And if, in other respects, the Greek

can claim no superiority to his Turkish master, at least he can render some reason for his degradation. He may ask, with justice, "If the master be vicious, how can the slave be virtuous? If the preceptor incite to crime, how can the pupil learn morals?" What, in truth, can be expected from a nation subjected, for ages, to the most oppressive yoke under which the human race ever groaned? The Greeks often tell you, "that it is impossible for a man to live in Turkey who is open and upright in his dealings: nothing will save from ruin, but duplicity and concealment." Without attempting to justify the assertion, it may be adduced as declaratory of the temptation to obliquity, in which their unhappy circumstances have placed them. If, therefore, my duty oblige me to bring forward statements highly unfavourable to Greek character, it is not because I think human nature more intensely vitiated in Greeks than in other men. I doubt not that Englishmen, had they been subjected to Turkish thraldom for a similar period of time, would have exhibited as melancholy an example of the awful corruption of the human heart. A Greek is a man; and, if he has become a deeply corrupted being, it is only one proof, amongst ten thousand, how truly the carnal mind

is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. In this painful sense, the Greek may say, Homo sum; nihil humani à me alienum puto.

It might almost seem as if a total ignorance existed in Turkey of the force and meaning of the Third Commandment. Appeals to the name of God are introduced on the most trivial occasions; and even, not unfrequently, by the clerical order. How little sense of the impropriety of this custom exists amongst the Greeks may be inferred by a fact, of which I was assured by an English Missionary. A Greek Priest came to purchase a copy of the New Testament. When he had obtained it, he appeared delighted with his prize. He pressed it to his lips; and swore most solemnly, by the Deity, how great was his satisfaction. Oaths, by the Virgin, by "the Honoured Cross," and by a large variety of saints, are also common. The curses and abusive epithets in use are profane beyond description. There is one expression, which may be heard almost daily in some parts, so replete with horror, that I never could have conceived a demon in Hell would have uttered so blasphemous and awful a sentiment.

As little idea exists of the obligation of the

Fourth Commandment. No Greek, I imagine, would ever hesitate to transact any worldly business on the Lord's Day, if circumstances appeared to require it. a considerable extent, suspended; but more for the purpose of amusement, apparently, than for any religious purpose. When the public service of the church is concluded, the day is devoted to visiting, and to any employment which appears

Commerce is certainly, to

attractive.

In the regular course of affairs, the violation of the Sixth Commandment, amongst private individuals, is not so frequently heard of as in England. With whatever facility, and celerity, Sultans and Pashas may destroy their victims, the private person, whether Greek or Turk, seldom takes the life of his fellow-creature. But such has been the perpetual state of anarchy and revolution recurring in Turkey, that it has afforded scope for the developement of the sanguinary and merciless character of human nature, more fully, perhaps, than any other country, In addition to horrors of this nature, on which I have touched in other places, I shall now bring forward facts peculiarly relating to the Greeks. It is when laws are suspended for a number of years, that we may judge of the true propensities