all others lived in an uncivilized state of barbarism; it was there that a race, (now regarded as the refuse and outcast of society, because forsooth their hair is naturally frizzled and woolly, and their skin black,) studied the laws and phenomena of nature, and borrowed from thence the archetype and model of those civil and religious systems, which still obtain, with some variation, in every nation of the globe. A little lower, the greyish spots that thou mayest observe, are the pyramids (1,) whose ponderous masses must heretofore have overawed thy senses with stupendous wonder and astonishment, when on the spot. Farther on, the coast (3) that thou beholdest bounded by the sea on the one side, and by a ridge of narrow mountains on the other, was the site and abode of the Phenecian nations; there stood the powerful cities of Tyre, Sidon, Ascalon, Gaza, and Berytus. This river, that seems to have no issue or outlet, by which it discharges itself (4) is the Jordan; and those barren and dry rocks were formerly the theatre of events, which have embraced the whole world in their consequences. Here are seen the desert of Horeb, and mount Sinai (5,) where, by means of which, the vulgar are universally ignorant, a profound and enterprising character laid the foundation of institutions, whose influence has been felt by the whole human race. Upon the barren tract of land on the confines of this desert, there no longer exists any percepible trace of splendour; and yet this was formerly the seat of commercial affluence. Here were the ports

of the Idumeans (g,) from whence the fleets of the Phenicians and the Jews, coasting along the peninsula of Arabia sailed to the Persian gulf, in order to take in lading, and to import from thence the pearls of Hevila, and the gold of Saba and of Ophir. Yes, it was here, on the coast of Oman and Bahrain, that the emporium of this luxurious species of commerce was fixed, which, as it removed and was transferred by mercantile revolutions from one country to another, became the critical die, by the cast of which the fate of ancient nations was decided. Hither were brought the spices and precious stones of Ceylon, the shawls of Cassimere, the diamonds of Golconda, the amber of the Maldives, the musk of Thibet, the aloes of Cochin, the monkeys and the peacocks of the continent of India, the incense of Hadramût, the myrrh, the silver, the gold-dust, and the ivory of Africa. From hence valuable cargoes of these commodities were exported, sometimes by the route of the red Sea, in Egyptian and Syrian bottoms, which successively contributed to nourish the opulence of Thebes, of Sidon, of Memphis, and of Jerusalem; and again, sometimes by taking the course of the Tigris and the Euphrates, the same articles of merchandise tended to awaken the activity of the Assyrians, the Medes, the Chaldeans, and the Persians; and, according as the riches, which they introduced, were used or abused, they became alternately a pillar of support, or an engine of destruction to their power, Radiating from this centre of agrandisement, the

D

magnificence of Persepolis, acquired its collective dimensions and growth, of which thou mayest observe the mouldering columns (8;) as did that also of Ecbatana (9,) whose sevenfold walls that once inclosed it, are now levelled with the dust; and of Babylon (10,) the relics of which are at present no more than a few confused heaps of earth (h;) likewise of Nineveh (11,) whose name, at this day, is hardly recognised; as well as that of Thapsacus, of Anatho, of Gerra, and of the desolate and memorable Palmyra. Oh! ye names for ever glorious! ye celebrated scenes! ye renowned countries! how replete is your modern aspect with sublime instruction! How many profound truths are there written on the surface of that precious spot of earth! Bear me, ye powers of memory, through the eventful history of past times! and, ye places that have witnessed the life and progression of man in the circle of so many different ages, aid my recollection, while I endeavour to trace the revolutionary vicissitudes of his fortune! Develope the impulsive motives that actuated and interested his conduct on these important occasions, and measure the force and extent of its consequences through all the miscellaneous series of his public transactions! Disclose the genuine sources, from whence he derived his success and his disgrace! Call forth his understanding to the knowledge of those causes, from which his misfortunes radically spring! shew him by the map of his own errors, the way to reform! Teach and demonstrate to him the advantage

and dignity of his own proper self-wisdom! Hold up the mirror of past generations for his inspection; and, from the lives and experience of those of his species who have gone before him, let him collect the constituent features of his own personal happiness, and bequeath the picture, as an instructive legacy, to posterity!"

CHAP. V.

CONDITION OF MAN IN THE UNIVERSE.

THE Genius paused; and, after a few moments of silence, thus resumed his discourse: "I have already observed to thee, thou friend of truth! that it is in vain for man to attribute his misfortunes to obscure and imaginary agents, and to derive his evils from the operation of mysterious causes, which have no concern in their production. In the general order of the universe, his condition is doubtless subjected to a number of inconveniences, and his existence too over-ruled by superior powers; but these powers are neither the decrees of a blind destiny, nor the caprices of whimsical and fantastic beings. Man, like the world of which he forms a part, is governed by natural laws, regular in their operation, unerring in their effects, immutable in their essence; and these laws, the universal source of good and evil, are neither written in the distant stars, nor concealed in mysterious codes; inherent in the very nature of all ter

restrial beings, identified by their existence, they are at all times and in all places present to the mind of man; they act upon his senses, suggest themselves to his intellect, and annex to every action its correspondent punishment and reward. Let man study these laws, let him understand his own nature, and the nature of the beings that surround him, and he will soon discover the agents, by which his destiny is regulated, and the causes of his afflictions with their appropriate remedies.

"When the secret power that animates the universe, formed this habitable globe, it stamped on the beings which compose it certain properties essential to each, which became their distinctive rule of action, the bond of their reciprocal connections, and the cause of harmony collectively in the whole. Thus, it established a regular order of causes and effects, of principles and consequences, which, under the appearance of accident or chance, governs the universe, and maintains the equilibrium of the world. Hence it gave to fire motion and activity; to air elasticity; to matter weight and density; it made air lighter than water, metals heavier than earth, wood less cohesive than steel; it ordained the flame to ascend, the stone to fall, and the plant to vegetate ;— to man, whom it formed to encounter the action and impulse of so many different beings upon him, with the wish at the same time of preserving his frail existence, it gave the property of sensibility. By this faculty, every action prejudicial to his existence gave him an impression of pain and of evil; and ev