scarcely half of them would remain. "What then becomes of these unfortunate people?' said M. de Chateauvieux. 'They get a piece of bread and are sent off, was the inhuman reply.But where do they go to ? To the mountains; some stop on the road, some die, others get home almost expiring with misery and famine, only to follow the same life the next year.' The Malaria is one of those singular phenomena whose origin has baffled every effort at discovery, and the remedy for which has never yet been ascertained. Attempts have been made to cultivate the soil of the Maremma, and colonies were established within its circuit, but the restless scythe of sure and silent death swept away the presumptuous intruders. During half of the year, a few miserable beings, armed with lances and clothed in skins, the living images of death, wander over these devoted plains with their flocks; and if accident should delay their return to the mountains, fall certain victims to this fatal disease. Immense numbers of sheep, cows, horses, and goats find a subsistence on these wastes and supply the markets of Rome and the Val d' Arno. The soil is extremely steril; the whiteness of the pure argil being only alloyed by a a mixture of sulphur, which is produced in great profusion. The cause of the Malaria, as we before remarked, has escaped all the investigations of science; it still remains a mystery no less profound, than its effects are dreadful. Some have supposed it to arise from the low pools of stagnant waters which collect on the face of the Maremma; but the disease prevails on the heights of Radicofani and within the lofty precincts of Volterra.

Some have supposed that the disease was caused by exposure to the sudden changes of temperature at the going down of the sun. This is supported, it is true, by the very weighty fact related by de Bonstetten in his Voyage au Latium, of a man who resided at Ardea sixteen years without being indisposed. But we doubt whether any solution that has ever been proposed was so perfectly ridiculous or so completely destitute of foundation.Do the people then die in the towns of

See Edinburgh Review for March, 1817, p. 57.

Vol. 2-No. VII.

47

this disease, where we know it to be a custom not to go out after dark, of mere exposure to a changing atmosphere? A short distance from the Porta del Popolo at Rome are two villas, one on each side of a small lane, but both situated on high ground. We were informed that during the summer season, a man would run very imminent danger of death in sleeping in one, while he might remain in the other with perfect impunity. How is this to be reconciled with the doctrine that the disease caused by the Malaria is nothing but fever and ague, brought on by exposure? The truth is, this dreadful enemy every year makes further inroads; no longer satisfied with pursuing the wretched thousands of enervated labourers and shepherds, who at evening crowd for safety into Rome, it is advancing into the city in the midst of darkness, and spreading from the Porta del Popolo, on the one side, and from the Palatine on the other, up the sides of the Quirinal. In 1791, says M. de Chateauvieux, Rome had a population of 160,000; at the time of this visit, it numbered only 100,000, of whom more than 10,000 were gardeners, shepherds and vine-dressers. Four years afterwards we heard it computed at from 80 to 90,000. Undoubtedly political events have had no small effect in diminishing the number of inhabitants; but still we believe the Malaria must have had a no less powerful influence. Annually it roams over the finest villas without the walls and ravages large districts of the town within; and neither the magnificence of the villa Borghese, nor the luxuriant beauty and towering pines of Doria Pamfili, can resist the assaults of this silent and deadly foe. Time seems to hold its mantle over the queen of cities, and to prepare by a fate as extraordinary as its former history, to blot it out from the admiration of mortals. Encompassed already by the awful stillness of a desolate waste, once filled up with sixty towns, which the antiquarian in vain attempts to trace, perhaps her own site may be hereafter unknown; and some future traveller may boast with enthusiasm of having once again penetrated its deserted streets, of hav ing visited the spot ennobled by the heroic virtue of Junius Brutus, or the eloquence and wisdom of Cato the censor.-North American Review

THEOLOGY.

THE Wise Builder; a Sermon delivered to the females of the First Parish in Amherst, Massachusetts; by Daniel A. Clark, Pastor of the First Church and Society in that town.Boston.

The Spiritual Temple; a Sermon delivered at the annual examination of the Foreign Mission School, in Cornwall, May 17th, 1820; by David L. Perry, Pastor of a church in Sharon.Hartford.

A Sermon delivered before the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company, in Boston, June 5th, 1820; the anniversary of their election of officers; by Rev. John Codman, A. M. of Dorchester.-Boston.

An Essay on the Baptism of John, in two parts. Part 1st. the question answered, To what dispensation did John's Baptism belong? Part 2d. Reply to a discourse on the design of John's Baptism, by Nathaniel Howe, A. M.: by Thomas Baldwin, D. D.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An Address delivered at the Forma tion of the Lycurgan Association in Yale College; by a member of the Junior Class. Published by order of the Society.-New-Haven.

Physiological and Chemical Re searches on the use of the Prussic or Hydro-Cyane acid in the treatment of diseases of the breast, and particularly in Pthisis Pulmonalis by F. Magendie M. D. &c translated from the French with Notes, &c.; by James G. Perce val, M. D.--New-Haven.

Percy's Masque, a Drama, in Five Acts. From the London Edition with: Alterations.-New-York.

An Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Saratoga and Ballston, with prac tical remarks of their use in various diseases, containing observations on the geology and mineralogy of the surrounding country, with a geological map; second edition enlarged and im proved; by Dr. John H. Steel.-Albany.

NOTICES OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS,

FOR several years past, the Sandwich Islands have presented objects of great curiosity to the inquisitive philanthropist. Since a christian mission from this country to these islands has been contemplated, and especially since the sailing of the missionaries last October, a general interest has been felt with respect to every thing, which relates to the civil polity, and present condition of the natives; as the reception of our brethren might be much affected by these things.

When the Thaddeus sailed, intelligence had not been received of the death of the old king Tamaahmaah, though such an event was considered as likely to take place soon. The life and activity of this man, his acquisition of property and power, and the order and subordination which he had enforced, have for many years attracted no small attention in Europe and America, and

his name frequently appears in English reviews. We have conversed with ma ny captains and others, who had been long and particularly acquainted with him. They unite in declaring, that be was a man of extraordinary talents: and that, with superiour advantages, be might have made a great statesman He was fond of property, and of commerce as the means of obtaining it Towards the close of life his avarice became more intense, as is generally the case with avaricious men, in all parts of the world. He hoarded Spanish dollars, and almost every kind of personal property, which was not immediately perishable. He had large stone-warehouses filled with drygoods, axes, hoes, fire-arms, and other instruments of defence and offence. He had a fort, with guns mounted, and sentinels regularly on duty. He owned three brigs, a schooner, and several small-craft. His control over the persons and property of his subjects was

absolute. To maintain this control it was a part of his policy to keep them poor and dependent, and to exercise his power continually. To his chiefs he granted certain privileges. One of them named Krimakoo, was always Called his prime minister by the Engfish and Americans, and was by them nicknamed Billy Pitt. He is described by all as being an able, intelligent and faithful agent. The principal queen is also said to be a shrewd sensible woeman, and to have exerted great influence. The late king was also high priest, an office which he assumed maby years ago, to obtain and secure his political authority. He was very strict in the performance of his sacerdotal functions, though it is supposed that the ceremonies of his religion were perfectly unintelligible even to the natives, and that he had no sort of confidence himself in the system.

Tamaahmaah was a strong athletic man till near the close of life, when he became quite emaciated, and died of a gradual decay. He was apprehensive of his approaching dissolution, appointed his only remaining son to succeed him, established his chiefs in their accustomed privileges, associated Billy Pitt and the principal queen with the young prince as advisers, and left the world without any fear that the succession would be disturbed. His subjects made a great lamention over him, and many of them have these words tattooed, that is, pricked into the skin of 'their arms and breasts with indelible ink, in large Roman letters: OUR GREAT AND GOOD KING TAMAAHMAAH DIED MAY 8, 1819. The age of the old king is supposed to have been about 70; the young king is about 23. His name is Reco-reco, and he has assumed that of his father.

The preceding facts are stated as introductory to others of a much more interesting nature, and which seem to have a most auspicious bearing on the mission, which left our shores attended by so many prayers, and has been the object of so much affectionate solicitude.

Early in the month of November, the young king, (who had himself been inducted into the office of high-priest before his father's death, with a view to preserve his political influence,) came to the resolution to destroy the whole system of idolatry. It is supposed that this was done with full delibe

ration, with the consent of all who had any voice in the government, and without any opposition from the people. With respect to these transactions, we have the most explicit statements from two eye-witnesses, masters of vessels, who have long been conversant with these islands, captain Blair and captain Clark, both of Boston. When the resolution was taken, orders were issued to set the buildings, and inclosures consecrated to idolatry, on fire; and while the flames were raging, the idols were thrown down, stripped of the cloth hung over them, and cast into the fire; and, what is still more marvellous, the whole taboo system was destroyed the same day. The sacred buildings were, some of them, thirty feet square. The sides were formed by posts 12 or 14 feet high, stuck into the ground, and the intervals filled with dry grass. The roofs were steep, and thatched with grass, in such a manner as to defend from rain. The morais, or sacred inclosures, were formed by a sort of fence, and were places, where human sacrifices were formerly practised. Before these inclosures stood the idols, from 3 to 14 feet high, the upper part being carved into a hideous resemblance of the human face.

The taboo system was that, which was perpetually used to interdict certain kinds of food, the doing of certain things on certain days, &c. &c. in short, to forbid whatever the king wished not to be done. On some subjects the taboo was in constant operation, and had been, very probably, for thousands of years. It forbade women and men to eat together, or to eat food cooked by the same fire. Certain kinds of food were utterly forbidden to the women; particularly pork and plantains, two very important articles in those islands. At the new moon, full, and quarters, when the king was in the morai, performing the various mummeries of idolatry, it was forbidden to women to go on the water. Every breach of the taboo exposed the delinquent to the punishment of death. But so well was the system understood by the people, and so great was the dread of transgression, that the taboo laws were very rigidly observed. We have said, that the taboo system has probably been in operation thousands of years. Our reasons for thinking so are these. The same system prevailed in the Society Islands, at the distance of three thou

sand miles nearly, and in New Zealand, at the distance of five thousand miles; while the New Zealanders have been so long separated from the Sandwich Islanders, that the languages of the two classes of people have become exceedingly different. The inhabitants of these remote islands probably never had any communication with each other till very recently, and now in European and American vessels only. But they must have descended from the same race of men, after the taboo system had been formed and was in full operation. This must have been long ago; but how long it would be useless to conjecture.

Captains Blair and Clark left Owhyhee about the 25th of November, and carried down to Woahoo and Atooi the king's orders to burn the monuments of idolatry there also. The order was promptly obeyed in both islands. In Atooi the morais and all the consecrated buildings, with the idols, were on fire the first evening after the order arrived.

The people of all these islands had heard what had been done at the Society Islands; and there is no doubt that Providence made use of this intelligence to prepare them for so wonderful a change. Capt. Blair informs us, that a native chief, named Tiamoko, called by Americans Governour Cox, has been for some time inclined to speak very contemptuously of the whole system of idolatry. He was the chief man in the island of Mowee, The chiefs and people in all the islands expressed a desire that missionaries might arrive, and teach them to read and write, as the people of the Society Islands had been taught. Tamoree, king of Atooi, and father of George, who went with the missionaries, was particularly desirous that teachers should arrive. He was very anxious to see his son, and has sent one of his subjects, by a vessel now on her way from Canton to Boston, with an express order for George to return. He has also manifested a great wish to visit Pomarre, at Otaheite, and see for himself the change that has taken place there.

Both captain Blair and captain Clark, who have been acquainted with these islands for more than 20 years, are confident, that the missionaries will be joyfully received by the natives; that now is the very time for their ar

rival; and that their services are peculiarly necessary to introduce the truth after the destruction of idolatry.

It is hoped that the missionaries arrived and were landed at least two months ago. What trials, or what encouragements, they have met with, we know not. To the care and direction of a merciful Providence let them be commended daily by all the friends of missions.-Panoplist.

A

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

London newspaper gives the following account of the meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society:

"The sixteenth Anniversary meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, was held yesterday, in Freemason's hall, Great Queen-street, and since the commencement of the Institution, it never has been more fully or more respectably attended. By eleven o'clock in the morning every part of the spacious hall, including the gallery above the cornice, was crowded to an overflow, and hundreds of applicants were unable to obtain admission at all.

Precisely at twelve o'clock the President of the Society, Lord Teignmouth, took the chair supported on his right by his Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, and on his left by the Bishops of Gloucester and Salisbury. There were also present the Earl of Harrowby, Viscount Galthorpe, Lords Gambier, Exmouth and Ashdown, the Right Hon. Charles Grant, Mr. Wilberforce, Sir T. C. Acland, Mr. Robert Grant, the Hon. and Rev. Gerald Noel, Mr. Butterworth, &c.

"From the length of the Report of the committee, and the great number of eloquent speakers, who delivered their sentiments on the occasion, we shall be able to give only a brief outline of the proceedings.

"The Noble Chairman opened the business of the day by congratulating the meeting upon their having again assembled upon so highly interesting and important an occasion, from the business of which he would not long detain them: but he should not be doing justice to his own feelings, or he trusted to theirs, if he failed to offer his sincere tribute of respect and gratitude to the memory of his Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent.

"The report of the committee, a very voluminous though avowedly compressed document, was then read by the Rev. Mr. Owen, assisted by the Rev. Daniel Wilson. It commenced with the Foreign relations of the Society. In France their exertions had answered their most sanguine expectations. Independently of the Parent Society, there were a great and increasing number of auxiliary ones, and not only were they supported by the Protestant part of the community, but by that which was exclusively Catholic. The Duc d'Angouleme, in reply to a letter which had been addressed to him, had expressed himself in the most friendly terms towards the society, and their objects, and the Duc de Cazes had not only expressed himself in a similar manner, but had subscribed one thousand livres in support of their funds. In the United Netherlands and its dependencies, christians of every denomination, and even Jews, exhibit the most earnest desire to possess the scriptures, and to support the societies by which they are distributed. From Switzerland, Hanover, Saxony, Wirtemberg, Prussia, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, and Norway, the intelligence was of the most gratifying kind. Similar accounts had been received from the Ionian Islands, and from Athens, where a Bible Society had been established under the patronage of the highest civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the place. The eighth report of the Calcutta Bible Society, and that from Madras and its dependencies, furnished abundant proof of the advantages derived from the labours of the parent society. In China, though the zealous power of the government still operates to prevent the admission of the Holy Scriptures; yet well founded hopes are entertained, that the exertions which are making, will eventually succeed in shedding the light of the Gospel over that vast empire. Under the direction of that excellent man, Dr. Morrison, the whole Bible has now been translated into the ChiDese language, and the one thousand pounds voted by the Society for that desirable object had been appropriated thereto. The New South Wales Bible Society had been zealously supported by all the civil, military and ecclesiastical authorities in the colony, and its establishment promised the most beneficial results. The reports

which had been made from the South Sea Islands were most gratifying.The whole Gospel of St. Luke bad been translated into the Otaheitan language, and three thousand copies had been printed and nearly distributed. Multitudes in those islands can now read with ease, and many can even write and read, and it was common to see them sitting in circles under the shade of trees, even till midnight, listening with profound attention to the reading of the scriptures. In Africa and America, the kingdom of Hayti and the Western Archipelago, there was unquestionable evidence of the great and growing success of that Holy cause, in which the society is engaged. In reporting the domestic concerns of the Society, the committee had the satisfaction of stating, that notwithstanding the untoward circumstances of the times, commercial difficulties, and antichristian doctrines, they continued most prosperous; though from the extraordinary exertions which had been made, the expenditure of the last year had exceeded that of the preceding one, at the same time there had not been a corresponding addition to their funds.

"The reading of the report having been concluded

"The Duke of Gloucester rose to move, that it be received and adopted. He said, it was truly gratifying to observe that at every succeeding anniversary the Reports were more and more encouraging. When they looked back to the time in which this Institution was first established, they must feel thankful for the great change which has taken place. Then only our country was engaged in the pious work-now they were assisted by every country throughout the civilized world; they had followed our glorious example and honoured us in so doing. The extension of our conquest, too, he might be allowed to say, had been conducive of happy effects; for wherever Britain had extended her protecting arm she had invariably increased the happiness of the people.After the admirable Report they had just heard read, it would be unnecessary for him to quote instances in support of this position, and therefore he should not detain them any longer than merely to observe that their exertions had been crowned with the most conspicuous success. Formerly, as he