Perhaps the qualifying clause in all things not contrary to the will of God,' which Mr. Fry introduces as a modifying principle in reference to the submission due to the civil power, may furnish their apology. It will deserve consideration, then, whether this benefit of clergy' is available for the vindication of other persons. Let this saving clause be uniformly attached to the promulgation of the doctrines of passive obedience' and non-resistance,' and they will then appear in a form not very agreeable or favourable to the abettors of arbitrary power. Mr. Fry's Compendium of Church History is an instructive and interesting survey of the varied changes of the Christian profession in its direct relations to the Christian doctrine, and as influenced by the secular associations with which it has but too extensively been allied. The accordance of his religious principles with those of the late Mr. Milner, is apparent in almost every page of the present work, and their agreement or mutual resemblance in other respects, will be noticed by their readers. Their zeal for the doctrines of the Reformation, and for the interests of a pure, spiritual profession of Christianity, is alike unquestionable. To such readers as wish for an Ecclesiastical History written on the model of Milner's, and animated by the same spirit, Mr. Fry's work will be highly acceptable, particularly as it is complete, and comprised within a single volume. In a general way, we have found ourselves agreeing with the Author, both in his strictures and his commendations, and have repeatedly had occasion to applaud his liberal and candid spirit. But we cannot dismiss from our minds, on closing his work, the conviction that it might have possessed still higher claims to our approval, if the prejudices of the Author, as a minister of a secular church, had been less apparent. Where full justice is not rendered to any parties, the omission is to be attributed to this influence. This is more, particularly apparent in the Author's treatment of the originators and vindicators of our religious liberties. The reader must seek elsewhere for an adequate exhibition of the services which they rendered to their country and the Church of Christ.

Art. V. The Wonders of Elora; or the Narrative of a Journey to the Temples and Dwellings excavated out of a Mountain of Granite, and extending upwards of a Mile and a Quarter, at Elora, in the East Indies; by the route of Poona, Ahmednuggur, and Toka, returning by Dowlutabad and Aurungabad; with some General Observations on the People and Country. By John B. Seely, Captain in the Bombay Native Infantry, and late in the Military Service of his Highness the Rajah of Nagpour 8vo. pp. 560. Price 16s. London. 1824.

BEFO

EFORE we enter upon the very interesting subject to which this volume relates, we feel called upon to notice the reasons assigned by Capt. Seely in his Preface, for favouring the public with the present account of these extraordinary excavations, which we agree with him in considering as one of the most remarkable remains of antiquity in the known world.

Innumerable works have been published on the Antiquities of Greece, Rome, and Egypt; but, with the exception of two or three incidental notices by travellers, scanty and imperfect, the wonderful caverned Temples of Elora are known but to a very few persons. This arises partly from their being noticed in large expensive works, solely devoted to oriental literature, unknown by name even to many readers, and out of the reach of the majority. p. v.

'I was strengthened in my resolution (to publish) on observing the following apposite passage in the Edinburgh Review (No. 50, p. 486.)" In lately perusing the MS. journal of one of the most accomplished visitants of India, we were struck with regret and surprise, that in Daniel's prints, and Sir C. Malet's mensurations, the public have no description of the region of wonders, which lies within a few miles of the Godavery: the remains of Aurunzebe's magnificence at Aurungabad, the unparalleled fort of Dowlutabad, and the excavations of Elora, which dispute with the Pyramids the first place among those works which are undertaken to display power and to embody feeling, without being subservient to any purpose of utility.”› p. viii.

And again, in the body of the work, after selecting for description the choicest of the excavated caves, and dwelling on the elaborate magnificence of Kailasa, Capt. Seely stops his narrative to remark, that

‹ a wide field is still open, promising an abundant harvest; for truly we are yet in our infancy in regard to our knowledge of India and its one hundred million of inhabitants. It is a very interesting country, and it is incredible how little it is known to the British public. There is not one person in twenty that ever knew there was such a place as Elora. While every part of Europe is ransacked and tortured, and every stone wall and mutilated statue is honoured with VOL. XXV. N S.

E

half a dozen distinct histories, the vast continent of Asia remains a terra incognita."

Now, while we give the Author credit for this praiseworthy attempt to extend the boundaries of knowledge, and to awaken the public mind to a new train of research, we must take the liberty to remark, that it becomes him who sets forth on the achievement, not to take it for granted that the public are totally excluded from a subject, because his own information is imperfect. If by seven-eighths of the public' be meant the large proportion of persons who are wholly immersed in business or occupied with labour, they know as little of the wonders of Thebes, or of the stupendous circle of Abury. But we must put in a protest against involving the majority of well-informed readers in this charge, who cannot have stood in need of Capt. Seely's narrative to familiarise them with these admirable caves. Sir Charles Mallet's account, to which our Author himself adverts at p. 327, (notwithstanding the Edinburgh Reviewer names only the Mensurations,) exhibits to the full as ample a detail of their extent and their extraordinary character as is contained in the present work. The fact is, that the caves of Elora have been given with a splendour and fidelity of detail not bestowed upon any similar work of antiquity. Where are the volumes which can vie in this respect with the larger series of coloured engrav ings, devoted to these caves, by Mr. Daniel, which are also faithfully given in a reduced form in a distinct work published in 1816? At a time when the press is teeming with works illustrative of the history, antiquities, and topography of India, -when British travellers are exploring not only the peninsula, but all the remote dependencies of our Indian empire, and penetrating into the neighbouring states,-when, too, periodical registers and reviews exclusively devoted to Asiatic intelligence and literature, evince the increased interest which is taken in every thing relating to India,-how can this gentleman have persuaded himself that India still remains a terra incognita? The Author has done himself honour by the spirit and enterprise discovered in undertaking a toilsome journey of more, than 300 miles, for the purpose of visiting these caves; and we should have had great pleasure in recommending his volume to our readers as a lively and entertaining narrative of his journey, had he not unfortunately mixed up with the Wonders of Elora, strictures upon subjects far more important than the Hindu mythology, and, in a tone somewhat too decisive and oracular, laid down positions and opinions extremely erroneous. In reviewing a work of this description, it is not a

little annoying to be summoned from the romantic and the picturesque to repel some fresh ignorant, though not, perhaps, ill-intentioned attack upon the Missionaries, or to expose, for the thousandth time, the misrepresentations which are so credulously received on the subject of Hindoo innocence and purity.

Our Author's narrative of his route to Elora contains little that is either new or interesting. Of Bombay, from which place he set out, he speaks in terms of strong partiality.

The climate of Bombay is preferable to most parts of India, having a refreshing sea-breeze, commonly called, from its healthful effects, the Doctor. There is now very little wood in the island, no marshes, and but few large pools of stagnant water. To these causes, much of the sickness that prevails in other parts of India must be attributed; and the salubrity of Bombay causes it to be resorted to by invalids from the other presidencies and the interior. Nothing can be more delightful than the rides and drives in this island: they extend twenty-one miles, and communicate with the neighbouring island of Salsette by means of a causeway, The prospect is as grand and beautiful as can be imagined. The mighty range of the Ghâts towering in the clouds, and extending as far as the eye. can reach; the bold views on the continent; the diversified objects in the island; old ruinous convents and monasteries erected by its former conquerors, the Portuguese; the noble country-houses of the Europeans, Hindu pagodas, and Mahometan mosques; the remains of Mahratta forts and buildings: these, with the rural appearance of Hindu villages, where every patch of ground is richly cultivated, or ornamented, and interspersed with groves of date and cocoa-nut trees, afford a prospect of luxuriance and beauty no where to be met with, but in the Concan.

Nor is it on land alone that Bombay possesses the advantages of situation. Its harbour, from its great size, the smoothness of the water, and, for the greater part of the day, having a fine sea-breeze blowing, affords almost constant opportunity for aquatic excursions: so open, indeed, and, at the same time, secure is the bay, that for miles in various directions, the smallest boats may proceed with safety, and by means of the tide, return almost at a fixed hour. These excursions may be extended seaward, inland, or over to the Mahratta continent, for several miles, embracing in the journey a variety of beautiful, picturesque, and grand scenery. How widely different from the boasted river parties in the Ganges about Calcutta ; where you have a muddy, and often a very dangerous stream to sail on, with light and hot sultry airs, impregnated with all the poisonous effects of miasma, the wind hardly sufficiently strong to impel the boat, or else tracking by means of a dozen poor wretches slowly struggling through the low, marshy, and swampy banks of the Ganges, where the eye is unrelieved by the smallest change of scenery, and not a hill is to be seen in any direction; in short, where an uninterrupted view of jungle, flat land, water, and mud presents itself."

At Madras, the scene on the water is widely different from what we see either at Calcutta or at Bombay; and a journey on it, whether for amusement or business, is any thing but agreeable; for you are often in danger of your life, and always in dread, in passing to and fro through the tremendously high and long surfs that incessantly roll on the Coromandel shores.'

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Mrs. Graham speaks of Bombay in almost as favourable terms. Its excellent harbour, the fertility of the adjoining districts, the agreeableness of the climate, and the extreme beauty of the scenery, all contribute,' she says, 'to make it one of the most charming spots in the world." Mr. Howison, on the other hand, says, that the fineness of the prospect from the sea, has been much over-rated; that the islands of Salsetta and Elephanta are rather pretty,' but that of Bombay appears very barren, having no timber except a few cocoa-nut groves. The place itself, he represents as wholly destitute of any thing like Eastern magnificence, the streets being narrow and unpaved, the houses resembling ware-rooms, and the best parts scarcely equalling the native suburbs of the capitals of the sister presidencies. Bombay, upon the whole,' he adds, is a very disappointing place.' Thus travellers differ! But when Captain Seely remarks, that the Bay, from the great variety of luxuriant scenery and its size, would bear a comparison' with that of Naples, he is certainly most unfortunate in his attempt at illustration. There is a river in Macedon, and there is also moreover a river at Monmouth.' The characteristic features of fair Parthenope-the grand amphitheatrical sweep from Portici to Miserum, the villas and gardens scattered over the hills, and above all, Vesuvius,together with the classic associations which heighten the picturesque effect of the scenery, present as strong a contrast to the Indian landscape, at least in the moral impression, as can well be imagined.

At Capooly, the second stage from Panwell, our Traveller found himself

"at the very base of the great barrier wall of rock that supports the table-land of the Deccan, propping up an immense tract of country, some large rivers, several millions of people, and many cities, towns, and villages. This enormous chain of mountain is securely fastened by iron-bound buttresses of primeval granite, as naked and frightful to look on in some places, as they are romantic and singular in others. Above and beyond these mountains, we fancy another world, of whose inhabitants we know nothing, nor how to visit them, how to penetrate their country, or how to scale their inaccessible-looking wall, extending for thirteen degrees of latitude, and rising to a height of from 4 to 5500 feet.' p. 46.