vocally to all the world; and may God prosper their labours! and unite us all together in the bands of faith, hope, and charity, and grant that we may in all things glorify his holy name.

I remain, Mr. Editor, your constant Reader,

X.

THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

DR. ZIMMERMAN, of Darmstadt, one of the most enlightened and liberal-minded writers of the present day, -a man whose popularity in Germany is based on the soundness of his moral and the rational freedom of his political views, and whose pen is rendered still more eloquent, because it is never wielded but for the noble purpose of dispelling error or ameliorating the condition of his fellow-mortals, whether intellectual or physical-has just published twelve "Exhortations with reference to the present convulsed times:"-which, were they adopted as the text-book of Cabinets, would leave us little to fear, and everything to hope, from the issue of the murky future that frowns around us. It must suffice at present to indulge in one single quotation, as characteristic of the point of view under which he conceives that future to be capable of being converted to a rich and saving account, and we will but add our hearty concurrence in every sentiment which it breathes :-" Strengthened as it is by the experience of every returning day, I cannot part with the conviction that there is no help nor remedy for the times in which we live, but in a return to the profession and practice of Christianity. Busy and exert ourselves as we will to make or extort constitutions, laws, or ordinances, no state of permanent welfare can be, unless nations graft the influence of religious morals on their thoughts and ways; in the increasing license, and unbridled lust for change, which agitates the public mind at this day, that will be thoughtlessly and mercilessly torn down to-morrow, which to-day owes its existence to puerile acclamation; and if the world do not speedily recover the right use of its reason, it requires no gift of prophecy to predict that, ere long, the infatuated multitude will revolutionize themselves to utter destruction in the maze of political delirium.”

BINGHAM'S ANTIQUITIES.

THE following testimony to the excellence of Bingham's Antiquities, from the unwilling pen of a Romanist, may not be unacceptable to our readers.

"Non imus inficias opus hoc eruditionis copia, et qua scriptum est ordinis perspicuitate, laudari posse; sectæ tamen, cui auctor addictus fuerat, erroribus ita inquinatum est, ut jure illud Roma, 17 Maii, 1734, vetuerit. Utinam vel Mamachius quod inchoavit, opus Binghamiano oppositum perficiat, &c. ne Protestantes Binghamum tam sæpe ostentent, nullumque, qui de sacris antiquitatibus tam copiose egerit, apud nos [Papicolas] esse glorientur."-Zaccaria Biblioth. Ritualis, tom. ii. p. 335.

CHURCH REFORM.

MR. EDITOR,--I have read with much pleasure a little pamphlet on Church Reform, which has been lately published by Dr. Burton, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford. Though I do not think the Professor has mentioned all the cases in which reform in the Church might be safely and usefully accomplished; yet, what he has proposed would doubtless be very beneficial, and not liable, in principle, to any serious objection. The residence of a good parish priest in each parish in the kingdom is the great desideratum in order to the effectual promotion of true and pure Christianity throughout Great Britain. But the very small income of many livings proves, at present, a great, if not an insurmountable obstacle: for it can scarcely be expected that pluralities will be abolished, till the income arising in each parish shall be sufficient for the decent maintenance of a resident incumbent. To the speedy augmentation, therefore, of these small livings the attention of all those who wish well to the cause of religion, and the efficiency of the Church of England, ought to be directed. This, as may be supposed, is one of the principal objects to which Dr. Burton's attention has been directed. "Among all the schemes," says Dr. Burton, "which I have met with, there is none which is more practicable, and more grounded upon principles of justice and Christian charity, than that which proposes that the payment of tenths should be made real, instead of nominal. The fund which is called Queen Ann's Bounty, and which is now extremely slow in its operation, would then be increased rapidly: all the smaller benefices might very soon be augmented, and the inequality of livings, which is now so much complained of, would every year be diminishing. One great recommendation to this scheme is, that it contains no new principle. It is no rash untried theory, but merely the extension and improvement of one which has been in operation for a long time."* I have long thought, with Dr. Burton, that an increase of the yearly tenths would be a most desirable measure.

However

My only objection is, as to the ratio of that increase. different the value of yearly tenth is, from what it was in the reign of Henry VIII., an increase to ten times the present amount is a step very likely to be rendered abortive, from the opposition it would meet with from the patrons of livings. I think, therefore, that the plan would be more likely to succeed, by proposing a smaller increase of the annual tenths. I would, therefore, submit, as an amendment, a plan, of which the following is an outline. I agree with Dr. Burton that the augmented tenth should not be payable by present incumbents: and I also agree with him that, if a good example were set, many of the present incumbents would consent to increase their annual payments. The payment of first-fruits is, at present, in many cases a serious inconvenience. It is a burden imposed at a time when the new incumbent, having already had increased expenses, with little, if any, receipt of additional income, is least able to bear it.

• Burton's Thoughts on the demand for Church Reform.

I would, therefore, make the first-fruits payable, by all spiritual persons, by instalments, within three years. I would next exonerate all livings of 2001. per annum and under from the payments of firstfruits and tenths. The next step would be to carry into effect a hint thrown out by Dr. Burton: "A graduated scale might be agreed upon; and every living above a certain value, as well as preferment in cathedrals, might be taxed according to its income."

According to this proposal, livings worth from 300l. to 500l. per annum should pay an annual sum not exceeding one-fortieth part of the value. This, I think, would be a sufficient increase. At present I pay for my own living less than a hundred and fiftieth part. From 500l. to 1000l. the annual payment might be increased to onetwentieth part; and from 1000l. onwards, to one-tenth: preferments in cathedrals to be subject to the same rule; and, as they fluctuate greatly in annual value, to be taken on an average of ten years.

I wish to say a few words on another point, not referred to by Dr. Burton. It is, doubtless, of great importance that every Bishop should have a sufficient income from his bishopric to discharge the necessary expenses of his high function, and to give a liberal support to religious and charitable institutions. The Bishop, also, ought not to hold a subordinate office in the Church. He ought neither to be a dean, an archdeacon, nor the incumbent of a parish. I see no reason why bishoprics exceeding 2,000l. per annum in value should not pay a sum, as yearly tenths, varying from a fortieth to a tenth of their average receipts: detaching from the augmented bishoprics, first, all livings with cure of souls; 2dly, deaneries, archdeaconries, &c. All sums raised by this augmentation of annual tenths to be applied respectively to the raising livings, first to 2001., and then to 3001. per annum, and bishoprics to 2,000l. per annum. It may be objected, that the process necessary to carry this plan into effect would be inquisitorial. I am decidedly of opinion, that the Church would be benefited if the full extent of its income were known; at present, it is grossly and wickedly exaggerated. It is time to meet the false and scandalous statements of a corrupt press by a fair and open inquiry.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

A WESTERN INCUMBENT.

RELIGIOUS STATE OF GEORGIA.

THE Greek faith, according to the ritual of Grusia, is the predominant religion in this quarter of the globe. The people of Grusia embraced Christianity as far back as the times of Constantine the Great, and as a nation adhered firmly to the Gospel, though some few individuals and frontier-villages, nay, even some of their czars, at times adopted Islamism. The superintendence of all ecclesiastical matters is exercised by the Katholikos, or Eparch of Grusia: a dignity which has hitherto been almost exclusively vested in a member of the ruling dynasty. Tiflis is the seat of his see, and he is one of the

members of the directing synod at St. Petersburgh. His establishment consists of twelve archbishops, bishops, and metropolitans, thirteen archimandrites, and the diocese contains thirteen monasteries, namely, eleven of the Grusian and two of the Greek Church. The whole of them are richly endowed with landed property: but there is not a single nunnery throughout the country. The churches are nearly three thousand in number, though the greater portion of them has been destroyed or abandoned, in consequence of the inroads of the Persians. Here and there, in secluded spots, a few monks have erected hermitages, where they pass their days in estrangement from the tumults of the world. The Christians of the Grusian heresy are exceedingly superstitious, and look up with great veneration to their priests: notwithstanding this, both pastor and flock are in the highest degree tolerant towards those who are of a different persuasion. A remarkable instance of this feeling exists at Tiflis, where sixteen orthodox churches are surrounded by thirteen Armenian, four Roman Catholic, and three Persian places of worship. Catholic missionaries have been settled in Georgia since the year 1725; they have a Franciscan convent and church in Tiflis. The Armenians, who constitute one fourth of the population of Grusia, and have monopolized the whole of its commercial traffic, have rigidly adhered to their own faith. The Turcomans are Mahometans, and have their own imams. The Jew has also retained the faith of his ancestors, and his exclusive supremacy in usurious dealings.-Klaproth "Tableau Historique du Caucase."

LIFE OF COLUMBUS.

MR. EDITOR,-In a Tetraglott Psalter, printed at Genoa in 1516, the subjoined Life of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS is given by way of commentary upon the third verse of the nineteenth Psalm. The discoverer himself was born at Genoa; and died in 1506, ten years before the date above-mentioned. I have transcribed it literatim according to the ancient orthography; though I have not been so scrupulous with the punctuation, which was very incorrect. Should you deem the relic worthy of preservation, it is much at the service of your readers.

r. T.

Et in fines mundi uerba eorum. Saltem téporibus nostris quibus mirabili ausu Christophori columbi genuensis, alter pene orbis repertus est, Christianorumq: cetui aggregatus. At uero quoniam Columbus frequéter predicabat se a Deo electum, ut per ipsum adimpleretur hec prophetia, non alienu existimaui uitam ipsius hoc loco inserere. Igitur Christophorus cognomento Columbus, patria genuensis, uilibus ortus parentibus, nostra etate fuit, qui sua industria plus terrarum et pellagi exploraverit paucis mēsibus, quam pene reliqui omnes mortales uniuersis retro actis seculis. Mira res, sed tamen plurium iam non nauium modo, sed classium et exercituu euntium redeuntiumq: testimonio explorata & certa. Hic, puerilibus annis uix prima elementa edoctus, pubescēs iam rei maritime operam dedit:

dein, profecto in Lusitaniam fratre, ac Ulissippone questum instituente pingendarum tabellarum, ad usum maritimum effigiantium maria & portus & litora, huiusmodi maritimos sinus atq: insulas didicit ab eo, que ibi tum forte is a plurimis acceperat, qui ex regio instituto ibant quotannis ad explorandas inaccessas ethiopum terras, & occeani intra meridiem & occasum remotas plagas. Cum quibus is pluries sermone ferens, quæq: ab his acceperat conferens cum his que et in suis ipse jam dudum fuerat meditatus picturis, et legerat apud cosmographos, tandem uenerat in opinionem posse omnino fieri, ut qui, ethiopum ad libicum uergentiu litora linques, rectus dirigat inter zephirum et libicum. nauigationē, paucis mensibus aut insulam aliquam, aut ultimas indorum continentis terras assequeretur. Que ubi satis exacte percepit a fratre, serio intra se rem examinans, nōnullis regis hispani proceribus ostendit esse i animo sibi, modo rex necessaria conficiende rei subministret, longe celerius quam lusitani fecissent, nouas terras, nouosq: adire populos, regiones postremo antehac incognitas penetrare. Fit celeriter de re hac uerbum regi, qui tum regum lusitanorum emulatione, tum studio huiusmodi nouarum rerum, et glorie que sibi ac posteris posset de ea re accedere, pellectus, diu re cum Columbo tractata, nauigia tandem exornari duo iubet, quibus soluens Columbus, ad insulasq: fortunatas nauigans, cursum instituit paululum ab occidentali linea sinister, inter libicum s. ac zephirum, remotior tamen longe a libico, & ferme zephiro junctus. Ubi cōplurium dierum cursus exactus est, et computata ratione cognitum, quadragies se se iam centena passuum millia esse permensum recto cursu, ceteri quidem, spe omni lapsi, referendum iam esse pedem, & cursum in contrariam partem flectendum contendebant: ipse uero in incepto persistere, &, quantum coniectura assequi posset, promittere haud longius diei unius nauigatione abesse uel continentes aliquas terras, uel insulas. Haud abfuit dictis fides. Quippe sequéti luce terras nescio quas conspicati naute eum laudibus efferre, & maximam in hominis opinione fiduciam reponere. Insule erant, ut postea cognitum est, ferme innumere, non longe a continentibus quibusdam terris, ut pre se ferebat aspectus. Ex huiusmodi insulis nonnullas animadversum ferre homines incultos, cognomento caniballos, humanis ad esum carnis minime abhorrentes, ac uicinos populos latrociniis infestantes, cauatis quibusdam magnarum arborum truncis, quibus ad proximas trahicientes insulas homines, quasi lupi, in cibum uenentur. Nec defuit fortuna ex his unam nauiculis cum suis huiusmodi ductoribus comprehendendi, idq: haud incruenta pugna, qui postmodum usq: in hispaniam sospites uecti sunt. Que prima est inuenta ex insulis hispana est nuncupata. In eaq: inuenti mortales innumeri paupertate & nuditate conspicui, quos primo nutibus ad congressum comiter inuitatos, donisq: allectos, ubi propius accesserut, facile apparebat, & dissimilem suo candorem, & habitum & inauditum antea ad eos accessum, ceteraq: omnia quasi e celo aduenientium, obstupescere & mirari: quippe color illis lōge dissimilis nostro, minime tamen niger, sed auro persimilis ; lacerna illis collo pēdebat, berebatq: pectori contegens pudenda quasi uelamen, cui modicum annexu esset aurum, eaq: comunis mariu & feminarū, no amplius uirginu. Nam uirgines nude prorsus incedunt, donec a uiris quibusdam eius rei peritis, osseo quodā veluti digito, uirginitate exuantur. Nulla apud