solemn demeanour of the worshipper, who, even in the busy market-place, appears wholly abstracted from the concerns of the world, is very remarkable. The practice of praying in a public place is so general in the East, and attracts so little notice on the part of the Muslims, that we must be charitable, and must not regard it as a result of hypocrisy or ostentation.”—(Vol. i. pp. 23, 24.)

For the sake of juxtaposition, we shall introduce here an extract from her seventh letter, dated October 18th, Ramadán, 1842.

"This is the twelfth day of Ramadán, or the month of abstinence; and I do heartily pity those who observe the fast.... And no one can hear the cry of joy which rings and echoes through the city at sunset, when, in token that the fasting is over for at least some hours, a cannon is discharged from the citadel, without rejoicing with the people, that another day of Ramadán has passed. But no sound is so imposing as the night-call to prayer from the minarets. I mentioned to you our impressions on hearing it first at Alexandria; but here, in Cairo, it is infinitely more striking. On some occasions, when the wind is favourable, we can hear perhaps a hundred voices, in solemn, and indeed harmonious, concert. Here the Mueddins, raised between earth and heaven, call on their fellow-creatures to worship heaven's God: and, oh! as their voices are borne on the night-wind, let the silent prayer of every Christian who hears them ascend to a throne of grace for mercy on their behalf. They are more especially objects of pity, because they have the light of the gospel in their own land; but how is that light obscured! Prejudice, and (shall I write it?) the conduct of many Europeans dwelling among them and calling themselves Christians, have blinded their eyes, and because of the sins of others, the true Christian spends his strength in vain. Far be it from me to cast a sweeping censure, but our respectable and respected friends here will join me as I raise my voice against those nominal Christians, who, by their profligacy, prove ever rocks a-head' to the already prejudiced Muslim. This always important city may now be ranked among men's thoroughfares' in a wide sense, and we must only hope that the day may come when the phrase, These are Christians,' will no longer convey reproach."-(Vol. i. pp. 107-110.)

We are sure this appeal will meet with a feeling response in the hearts of many; and were this the only passage of a Christian character in the work before us, we think it might be taken as a sufficient pledge that nothing will meet the eye which a Christian parent would wish to conceal from a son or daughter. We are bound, indeed, to say, that the letters breathe throughout a pure and gentle spirit, and can only regret that the writer has not indulged a little more in moral and religious remark.

Her second letter, containing a general account of Alexandria, with some antiquarian notices, thus concludes:

"And now, if my account of Alexandria and its monuments has been too brief, I must plead as my apology, my anxiety to pursue our route: but I must add, that although the modern Alexandria is the successor of one of the most illustrious cities of ancient times, it disappoints me, and occasions only melancholy reflections.

"Truly history confers a deep interest on this spot, once the chief seat of Egyptian learning, the theatre of many wars and bloody tragedies, the scene of the martyrdom of St. Mark, the birth-place and residence of many of the most eminent fathers of the Church, and the hot-bed of schisms and heresies.

But it is only in retrospect we find that on which our minds can rest, and which can give rise to reflections which may be pursued to advantage."(Vol. i. pp. 43, 41.)

The remaining letters (twenty-eight in number) are dated Cairo, the stated residence of Mr. Lane and his sister. The topics are various, and many of them touched upon in a manner highly interesting, and, to the young especially, very instructive, as first sketches of Egyptian manners, antiquities, &c. The letters introducing us to the Turkish hareem have a peculiar value: our authoress having opportunities of observation which few Europeans have enjoyed, and which none but a lady like herself could command. We could much wish, indeed, to offer some remarks on this subject-a subject noticed in a way little to our taste in the last Quarterly Review-but there are reasons which at present peremptorily forbid; and we must now hasten to conclude with a few additional extracts, illustrative of the spirit of the work, and which we believe will be interesting to our readers.

In her progress up the Mahmoodeeych-a canal commenced and completed in the year 1819, at the cost of about 12,000 lives in the course of ten months, out of 300,000 employed to dig itMrs. P., in her usual spirit, thus notices an Arab custom :

"A custom," she says, "which is always observed by the Arab boatmen, at the commencement of a voyage, much pleased me. As soon as the wind had filled our large sail, the Reyyis (or captain of the boat) exclaimed, ElFat-'hah. This is the title of the opening chapter of the Kur-'an (a short and simple prayer), which the Reyyis and all the crew repeated together in a low tone of voice. Would to heaven, that, in this respect, the example of the poor Muslim might be followed by our countrymen; that our dependence on the protecting providence of God, might be universally acknowledged and every journey and every voyage be sanctified by prayer."—(Vol. i. p. 51.)

Speaking of the Egyptian religious festivals, she afterwards observes, however

"You may be surprised to hear that the manners of the modern Egyptians are not wholly different from those of the ancient Alexandrians, who flocked to the licentious festivals celebrated at Canopus in honour of the god Serapis. Innumerable boats covered the canal, by night as well as by day, conveying pilgrims of both sexes, dancing, singing, and drinking, and availing them selves in every way of the religious license afforded them. So, in the present day, vast numbers of the male inhabitants of the metropolis of Egypt, and persons from other parts, with numerous courtesans, repair to the festival celebrated in commemoration of the birth of the seyyid Ahmad El-Bedawee (a celebrated Muslim saint), at Tanta, in the Delta, where swarms of dancinggirls and singers contribute to their amusement, and where, I am told, brandy is drank almost as freely as coffee."-(Vol. i. pp. 55, 56.)

In the fourth and fourteenth letters, we have a very singular account of a haunted house-the temporary residence of Mr. Lane -and one which gives a striking idea of the superstitions of the

country. The letter, (28th), and the Appendix (A) on the performances of the celebrated magician of the city of Cairo, will be read with interest, and suggest, perhaps, a few reflections akin to those contained in our January number, on Harriet Martineau and Mesmerism.

But we pass on to another extract.

....

As to the vermin of Egypt," Mrs. P. remarks, "I really think that the flies occasion the greatest annoyance, so abundant are they, and so distressing. But the gravest annoyances are scorpions, and of these we have found three, one of which was exactly three inches in length. I was much distressed on finding these, but comforted on hearing that if the wound they inflict be immediately scarified, and an application of sal ammoniac be made, it does not prove fatal. These applications, however, though absolutely necessary, are very painful; and I trust we may be spared the necessity of resorting to such means. Fearing for my children, for their sakes I am a coward, and I feel it is ever necessary to bear in mind, that we cannot wander where we can be outcasts from the care of Heaven, or strangers to the protecting providence of God."-(Vol. i. p. 113.)

We can well understand and appreciate the sincerity of her remark on another occasion.

Contend against me who may, I must ever maintain my opinion, that no love is so deep, no attachment so strong, as that of mother to child, and of child to mother."-(p. 68.)

In the eighth letter we have a full description of the procession of the Mahmal, preparatory to the departure of the great caravan of pilgrims for Mekkah, and an account of the origin of the ceremony. It concludes with the following statement; a statement which, with many others, clearly indicates the wane of Islamism.

"The external covering of the Mahmal has been black brocade: that I have seen this morning is red, and I understand that it is shabby, in comparison with those of former years: indeed each year (my brother tells me) all that is connected with this procession becomes less remarkable, and less money is expended on it by the government. But to me, and to those of us who had not previously seen it, it was extremely interesting. There were none of the great men habited in cloth of gold, who preceded it on former occasions: neither were the camels handsomely caparisoned."-(Vol. ii. pp. 121, 122.)

The 12th letter contains a most affecting account of the state and treatment of the lunatics confined in the Máristan, or hospital. Our author observes: "If insanity, the most severe of human woes, calls for our tenderest sympathy, the condition of these wretched lunatics in Cairo cries aloud for our deepest commiseration. How their situation can be mended I know not: the government alone can interfere, and the government does not." Afterwards, however, she adds, "Their condition will, I believe, in a few weeks, be greatly ameliorated. They are, I have since heard, to be removed to an hospital, where they will be under the superintendence of a celebrated French surgeon, Clot Bey."

We need hardly apologize for our next extract:--

"On the north of the metropolis are seen the plains of Heliopolis and Goshen. No one with a spark of feeling can look unmoved on such a prospect: the physical sight has enough to charm it: but the deepest interest is felt while, in gazing on this scene, the mind's eye runs rapidly over the historic pages of the Word of God. The oppression and the deliverances of the tribes of Israel, and the miracles which marked that deliverance, all these events are overwhelmingly present to the memory, while looking on the scenes they have consecrated-their subsequent prosperity, disobedience, and punishment, all pass in melancholy review. O! that the power of Almighty God may be present with those who labour for their restoration, and may they at length,' as Mr. Wilberforce beautifully expresses his petition on their behalf, may they at length acknowledge their long-neglected Saviour.' Well have they been described as 'tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast.' Often 'houseless, homeless, and proscribed,' they endure every indignity and become inured to every hardship; but the eye of God is still upon them, and his ear is open to their prayers. How true it is that hitherto 'they will not turn to him that they might receive mercy,' but they are not forsaken: and while we hear with thankfulness of the zeal of many from among their own people in the cause of Christianity, we trust that the day is not far off when, rather than

'Weep for those who wept by Babel's stream,

Whose shrines are desolate, whose land a dream,'

we shall rejoice in the prospect of that blessed time when the Lord God shall give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;' when all nations of the earth shall rejoice with Jerusalem, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.""(Vol. i. pp. 185, 186.)

Letters 15, 18, 20, 25, and 30 admit us to an interior view of the hareem, and we much regret that it is not in our power to give an outline, with the remarks which this interesting subject suggests. We may possibly take it up in a subsequent article, contenting ourselves at present with the writer's introduction, in which she pays so just and significant a tribute to the resident female missionary to whom we have already alluded.

"I am aware," she says, "that by description I cannot do them justice, but I will endeavour to give you faithful pictures of those hareems I have already seen and first I must tell you that I am indebted to the kindness of Mrs. Sieder, the lady of our excellent resident missionary, who has gained the confidence of the most distinguished hareems in this country, and has given me some introductions I particularly desired, without any reserve, and in the most ready and friendly manner.'

As a general summary we must, however, give one more extract.

"My brother's account of the hareem, and all that he has written respecting the manners and customs of the women of this country, I have found to be not only minutely accurate, but of the utmost value to me in preparing me for the life which I am now leading. His information, however, on those subjects, being derived only from other men, is, of course, imperfect: and he has occasionally desired that I should supply its deficiencies, both by my own personal observation, and by learning as much as possible of the state and

morals of the women, and of the manner in which they are treated, from their own mouths.

"When my experience with respect to the hareem was much shorter as to time, and more limited as to its objects, than it has now been, I was unwilling to express to you an opinion with which I was forcibly impressed within a few months after my arrival in this country: that a very large proportion of the men, and not a few of the women, are frequently, and almost habitually, guilty of the most abominable acts of cruelty and oppression. Though I have seen much that is amiable in the persons with whom I am acquainted here, the opinions above expressed has been so frequently and strongly confirmed that I cannot withstand the conviction of its being correct.

"The wives and female slaves, in the houses of the higher orders, are generally, if I may judge from what I have seen and heard, treated by the husband and master with much kindness, and the condition of the slaves seems to be, in one respect, preferable to that of the wives as the latter are often in constant fear of being divorced: while the sale of a slave who has been long in a family, unless on account of pecuniary distress, is reckoned highly disreputable; and if she have borne a child to her master, and he acknowledge it to be his own, to sell her is illegal. But among the middle and lower classes, both wives and females are often treated with the utmost brutality the former are often cruelly beaten and the latter, not unfrequently beaten to death!"-(Vol. ii. pp. 94, 95.)

The moral condition of the Copts is thus noticed, and gives occasion to a pleasing reference to the English missionaries in Cairo :—

"A neighbour of ours, a few weeks ago," she writes, "flogged his wife in a most barbarous manner, and turned her out of doors, because his supper was not ready precisely at the time appointed. Two days after, however, he brought her back. The same man, not long since, beat a female slave so severely that she lingered in great pain for about a week, and then died. This man is a Copt, by profession a Christian! Another man beat one of his female slaves until she threw herself from a window, and thus killed herself on the spot. This man also is of the same profession! Much are they mistaken who say, 'What need is there of missionaries here to instruct the Copts, who are a Christian people?' One who knows them well assures me that their moral state is far worse than that of the Muslims: that in the conduct of the latter there is much more Christianity than is exhibited in that of the former. But the remarks which I am making apply to both the Muslims and the nominal Christians, but to these are more extensively applicable. How sad that the duty of regarding truth should oblige me to make such a distinction!

"The English institution in this city, the chief object of which is to introduce among the Copts that sound knowledge which is the first requisite to improve their religious and moral condition, I look upon as one of the most useful of all the establishments of the missionary society. The accounts of it which have appeared in the publications of that society have scarcely shown its full importance: for this cannot be duly appreciated by any one who does not know by experience the state of the people whom it is designed to benefit, and the admirable judgment and indefatigable and self-denying zeal with which its objects are pursued. Connected with this institution is a chapel, sufficiently large and very commodious and comfortable, where I am thankful to have opportunities to join in the service of our church, and to hear many an excellent sermon."-(Vol. ii. 95-97.)

We must now conclude with an extract, the interest and value of which our readers can hardly fail to appreciate, more especially