that country, and, of course, were forever debarred all intercourse. That was a most unfortunate event, as it fixed in the minds of the Chinese, a prejudice, not soon to be wiped away.

VIII. ASIA IŃ GENERAL.

1. It is time, we dismiss the consideration of particulars, and take a more general view of this noble and important quarter of the earth. The Almighty Creator and Governor of the world has distinguished and dignified Asia above the other grand divisions of the globe, in various respects. Here the grand progenitors of the human race began to people and replenish the earth. Here the delightful bowers of Paradise diffused their fragrance, and displayed their beauty. Here the first empires were founded; and the first principles of social order and civil combination began their career. From this, as from a central point, the first families of the earth were spread abroad, and grew into nations and kingdoms. Here the mighty work of redemption was accomplished, by the incarnation and death of the Son of God, to bring about which, was the ultimate design of creation and Providence; and here was first set up that kingdom, which is to endure throughout all generations, and which is finally to fill the earth with its glory.

2. As Asia is the largest of the grand divisions of the globe, so it, in general, possesses the most excellent soil, and the fairest and most regular climates. It produces, accordingly, every thing useful, valuable, rich and beautiful. The most important and useful kinds of grain; all the precious metals; a great variety of most valuable jewels; the richest silks; the most excellent drugs and medicines; and in a word, all the necessaries and all the luxuries of life, are there obtained in the richest abundance, and many of them, with little labor or expense.

3. Asia seems to have been a region best adapted to the culture of the human species. We infer this from a remarkable event, viz. that the savage nations of Europe, Africa and America are, and have been in every age, far more savage, and sunk much deeper on the scale of reason, than those of Asia. Indeed, it has been affirmed by some, that a savage nation never existed in Asia. The Scythians and Tartars were nearest to a savage state; but how far, indeed, were they above that state in several important

respects. Their skill and power in war have been far superior to those of savages in the other quarters of the world. They nearly conquered the Medes and Persians; and were always a terror to the Greeks and Romans. Their invasions have been conducted with a deep policy; and their battle was always terrible.

4. The Asiatics are generally of a milder and more pacific and amiable character, than most other nations. This is very perceivable in the Russian empire, as soon as you pass out of Europe into Asia; you observe milder manners, and even a more soft and engaging countenance, together with more hospitality, and urbanity of treatment. The Persians and Hindoos are graceful and elegant in their form; and their deportment is politely civil; indeed, Persia may, in some respects, be called the France of Asia. The ground we have taken in this article, is justified by comparing the wars of Asia with those of the other parts of the world.

A few great conquerors, in distant ages of the world, have made considerable commotions; but in regard to wars, when did Asia ever resemble Europe in the times of Alexander, Cesar, Constantine, Charlemagne, Lewis XIV. or Napoleon? When was Asia seen in the state, in which Europe has been for ten years past? Should it be objected, that they are pacific, because they are ignorant; for the sake of peace then, let all nations become ignorant, as soon as possible. But that is not a fact. It is not owing to their ignorance. The governments of China, India, Persia and Arabia know as well the state of their neighbors, as those of Europe do.

According to the tenor of the above objection, it is much best for nations to be ignorant. If knowledge will set men to killing one another with diabolical rage and infernal malice; yea, if it will make men, in this respect, worse than devils, it had better be let alone. Our Saviour affirms, that there is a degree of union in Satan's kingdom; and a great poet declares,

"Devil with devil damn'd, firm cóncord hold

"Men only disagree, of creatures rational."Milton.

5. That the nations of Asia have never sunk so low into a savage state, as many others, seems to be owing to their very great natural advantages, of which, if they had made a proper improvement, they might have risen to an

astonishing height of learning, wisdom and virtue. But here they have failed. On the soft bosom of luxury, they have been hushed to a long and inglorious repose. Their eyes seem forever shut to all true and solid glory. They never once look up to that distant and lofty summit, to which, man may rise by energy, by perseverance, integrity and virtue. They place the sum of happiness in rest-a most foolish and absurd philosophy, equally opposed to reason, virtue and the nature of all intelligent beings.

6. Monarchy prevails every where in Asia, and that in its simplest form. It seems in vain to talk of natural advantages, when it is certain, there is no nation in all this immense region, which has any proper knowledge or use of its inherent rights. Natural rights may as well not exist, as to be neither known nor enjoyed; and such is the uniform condition of the people of Asia. If, in any case, the strictness and energy of despotism fail, it is not owing to the lenient influence of reason and virtue, but it is where government gives way to anarchy; and all principles of order fail before ignorance, vice and barbarity.

Nor is man there more ignorant of his own rights, than he is of the true character of his Maker, and of his duty and obligation to him. There are still some Christian churches in Asia; but, for the most part, they have little of Christianity, but the name. In contemplating Asia, we have before us, a vast region of mental and moral darkness. There are few circumstances, which look like the dawn of improvement; and, from all we can discover, this whole quarter of the globe is undergoing a gradual decline toward a state of barbarity. To this observation, however, Russia, certainly, if not China, forms an exception. It is highly questionable, whether the increasing intercourse of Europeans with the Eastern Asiatics, is of any valuable tendency to the latter. The horrid wickedness, on every occasion, displayed by Europeans, has fixed in the minds of those nations, invincible prejudices against their government, general character and especially against their religion.

It is a melancholy reflection, how little the conduct of Christian nations has been calculated to recommend their religion to their unbelieving neighbors. Will heathens judge of the nature of Christianity, by the conduct of a few solitary individuals? or will they be more likely to draw their conclusions from the conduct of a nation? What conclusion, then, must the Chinese, Indians and Islanders, draw,

concerning the Christian system, from the conduct of such Europeans, as have visited their country; as of the English, Dutch, Portuguese, &c.? They must conclude Christianity to be a cloak for every species of villany-to be but another name for cruelty, injustice, dishonesty, intrigue, perfidy, and every crime that is atrocious and enormous; and of all religions in the world, they must think it the worst.

It is not strange, that the missionaries, sent into those countries to preach the gospel, have met with impediments, and that their success has been small. It is rather astonishing, that they ever, in one instance, got a candid and patient hearing. The Indians, especially, have a strong attachment to their own religion, handed down from their ancestors; and what reason they have to detest and abhor the people of Europe, is a matter notorious to the universe.

These

It seems to be matter of regret, that the fair and spacious realms of Asia should lie, from age to age, void of intellectual culture; that the human mind should there be fettered by the absurdest superstitions, and inflated with error and falsehood, instead of being expanded and enriched by the divine, immortal food of knowledge and virtue, drawn from the fountain of eternal perfection. But so it is. things are governed by an unseen hand. The time may come, when the face of the moral, and, of course, of the natural world, shall be changed-when the wilderness and solitary place shall blossom like the rose-when all the families and nations of the earth shall be of one mind, and shall allay their thirst at the same pure fountain of heavenly wisdom. The Indian shall then no longer adore the sun, nor think to wash away his moral pollutions in the stream of the Ganges. The Abyssinian shall no more worship the father of waters; nor the arctic savage the genius of storms and darkness; but all nations shall adore one God, submit to his moral government, rejoice in his perfections, and confide in his grace. May that time soon arrive. May the changes, which must prepare its way be hastened, till HE shall come, whose right it is to reign.

CHAPTER XII.

PRESENT STATE OF AFRICA.

THE continent of Africa is shaped like a pyramid,* whose base is washed by the Mediterranean sea-its western side, by the Atlantic, and its eastern, by the Indian ocean; while its point, or apex, projects southwardly into the great South Sea. This vast peninsula is joined to Asia at its northeast corner by the isthmus of Suez, about sixty miles over. It extends from 37 degrees north, to 34 degrees south latitude, and from about 17 west, to 51 degrees east longitude, and is 4,300 miles long, and 3,500. miles wide; and is supposed to contain 8,506,208 square miles.

The commercial advantages of Africa, in point of local situation, may well compare with those of the other quarters of the globe. Its proximity to the great oceans and their numberless islands, and its position with respect to the other continents, all declare its situation to be highly favorable for every interest of commerce. It lies in the bosom of the Atlantic, Southern and Indian oceans. Asia and the East Indies stretch eastwardly of it, and are accessible either through the Indian ocean, or from the Red Sea through the straits of Babelmandel. From the northern shores of Africa, all the Mediterranean lies in view; nor was it a tedious voyage for the Africans to go into the Black Sea; and, from the strait of Gibraltar, they coasted with ease along all the West of Europe, even to the Baltic or Norwegian seas.

If their commercial advantages are great, their agricultural are, or at least once were, if possible, still greater. All ancient history speaks in the highest terms of the extreme fertility of the lands of Africa.† We cannot say positively whether this fertility was universal; but it undoubtedly was common to all the northern shores. It is at least possible, that the continent of Africa was once as deeply clothed with vegetation, as that of South America, though, indeed, not very probable. The continual action

* Or rather, like a triangle.-Ed.

By Africa, the ancients understood Africa Proper, a very small part of the vast country of Africa.-Ed.