thor of Three Letters to the Editor of the Quarterly Review.' If BEN DAVID will consider all that we have already written, he will hardly expect that we should minutely examine his work; grateful although we are for his liberal and, we trust, sincere praise of our former labours. Ben David has attempted, after a fashion of his own, to demonstrate the genuineness of 1 John v. 7. He is a Socinian; and he endeavours to persuade the world that this verse affords the best proof in support of his peculiar opinions. The world, we believe, will conclude that he has ventured far into the region of paradox. He has informed us what, in his judgment, is the scope of St. John's first epistle, as well as of the disputed verse. He also states what he conceives to have been the fate of the verse, and predicts the consequences which will result from a demonstration of its genuineness."

(1) The scope of the epistle-It was written in opposition to the heresy of the Gnostics; and its object is to set aside the divinity of Christ, as an artifice to undermine the gospel.' (p. 11.) (2) The scope of the verse:

There are three bearing testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one: that is, of reus

τρεις εν μαρτύριον The meaning then is, that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, which are in heaven,bear testimony; and these three testimonies are one testimony. The testimony meant is that which it is the burden of the epistle to prove; namely, that JESUS IS THE CHRIST: meaning, in opposition to the Antichristian teachers, that the man Jesus, and not a God dwelling in the man Jesus, is the Christ.'-(p. 12.) (3) The fate of the verse:

'It descended from the old Italic version from the days of the apostles to the age of Jerome. But the copies which contained it were confined to confidential friends, or to the more trusty fathers of the church; while it was carefully excluded from those which were designed for general use. This precaution was naturally suggested by the dangers which on all sides had hitherto encompassed the text. But these dangers were in a great degree surmounted by the triumphs of orthodoxy. At length Pope Damasus thought it safe to restore the verse in the public version, and engaged Jerome to revise it, partly with a view to that purpose. Before the end was accomplished, Damasus died, and Jerome found protection in Eustochium, a lady of learning, influence and reputation, who had earnestly solicited him to restore the genuine text.'-(pp. 53, 54.) (4) The consequen es of he genuineness of the text:

"The orthodox faith will receive a shock which shall shatter its very foundations, and bring it, at no distant period, completely to the ground.'-(p. 3.)

Of the three first of these positions we will say nothing, for indeed we can scarcely help suspecting that Ben David is indulging a grave smile at the excellent prelate with whom we have just

parted,

parted, and at many other serious defenders of the verse. The commission of the copies which contained it to confidential friends and the more trusty fathers of the church may indeed well range with the reasons commonly assigned as sufficient to account for its nonappearance in the early Greek MSS. O Ben David's last position, we will only say, that it fills us with no dread-the orthodox faith does not rest upon a spurious or a disputed verse; it is built, and well built, upon the genuine word of God; and thus secured, it will endure for ever.

ART. IV.-The Mission to Siam, and Hué, the Capital of CochinChina, in the Years 1821, 2, from the Journal of the late George Finlayson, Esq. Surgeon and Naturalist to the Mission; with a Memoir of the Author by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Bt.

F.R.S. London. 1825.

THE

THE descriptions of Siam and its inhabitants given by la Loubère, Tachart, and Choisy, in the reign of Louis XIV., when that monarch sent Le Chevalier de Chaumont and others on an embassy thither, gave a temporary celebrity to this small and obscure nation; which, however, died away, as soon as it was found, in subsequent visits, that the extravagant praises and exaggerated descriptions of these Jesuits were unworthy of credit. It required not much sagacity in those whose object was gain, to discover that the elements of commerce were too ill understood by the ruling powers, and the resources of the country too insignificant, to afford any scope for European adventure in that way. Indeed it might have been known beforehand, that the Jesuits, advisedly as it would seem, were in the habit of extolling the virtues and magnifying the resources of all the Ultra-Gangetic nations, and, most of all, those of the Chinese whose paternal government, literary acquirements, mental accomplishments, and moral qualities were held up by them as examples for the rest of the world.

At the time of the French embassy abovementioned, the Eng. lish, Dutch, French, and Portugueze had all of them attempted to establish a commercial intercourse with Siam and Cochin China; but the restrictions under which alone they were allowed to trade, and the exactions to which they were made liable, rendered the commerce with those countries unworthy of being followed up, and it was dropped altogether by England.

Mr. Crawford, however, appears to have thought that the commerce of the Ultra-Gangetic nations might be renewed with advantage from Bengal; and with this view he prevailed on the Marquess of Hastings, then Governor-General, to send him on a

mission

mission to the kings of Siam and Cochin China. Such a proposal was perhaps the more readily acceded to, as a mean of putting to the proof those views, on the importance of a commerce with the nations of the east, which he had developed, as matter of speculation, in three portly octavo volumes. But alas! how very widely does the reality too often differ from the best concocted theory! A few tons of sugar, a little pepper, gum-benzoin, and sapan wood were found to be the principal articles the Siamese had to dispose of, with little or no demand for European produc in return:-not that the resources of the country are at all inadequate to an abundant supply of many very valuable articles of commerce, but they are suffered to remain inactive; there being but one grand merchant in the whole country, who sets his own price on every article of import and export-and that merchant is the sovereign despot.

The little volume which gives an account of Mr. Crawford's mission might perhaps, in some respects, have assumed a somewhat different character, had the life of the intelligent and active author been spared to allow him to prepare it for publication. From the knowledge which the rough copy of his journal displays in various departments of natural history, we should undoubtedly have been gratified with more ample descriptions of many of those curious and most exuberant productions of an intertropical climate, which are now only briefly touched on ;-touched, however, with a masterly hand in that general but highly interesting style of which Humboldt has set so happy an example, and which conveys so lively a picture of the great features of a country to the imagination of the reader. The jealousy of eastern courts, which treats all strangers as prisoners, is not propitious to the researches of the naturalist; yet his collection of plants and animals, as we learn from the introduction, is very considerable, and is placed in the library of the East India Company, for the inspection of the public. In his estimate of the physical and moral character of the people of those parts of the Asiatic continent and islands which he visited, we think that, on the whole, he has taken a correct view; and we are satisfied of the accuracy with which he has recorded the transactions of this abortive mission; although we dare say Mr. Crawford's account of it will soften. down some of the disagreeable circumstances in the proceedings at Siam and Cochin China, so humiliating to the importance and dignity of the envoy.*

The mission first touched at Pulo Penang, or Prince of

* In a letter from the author, (in an introduction by Sir Stamford Raffles, of considerable interest,) he says, 'Mr. Crawford means to write a book.'-'His opinion of things differs considerably from mine, for I was in fact a mere spectator."

VOL. XXXIII. NO. 65.-Q. R.

14

Wales's

Wales's Island, about the importance of which on the one hand, and utter worthlessness on the other, so much at one time was ́said and written; it now appears very favourably in Mr. Finlayson's animated description. That it had become a place of considerable trade was manifest from the multitude of ships of various nations and descriptions that were at anchor in the port— English, American, Chinese, Arabian, and Siamese. Its commercial character was further denoted by the crowd of foreigners from all parts of the east, who lined the beach; among whom the Malabar Chuliahs were easily recognized by their keen and prying looks into the appearance and countenance of each newly arriving stranger; looks, however, which partake as much of idleness as of expectant curiosity. Contrasted with these is the industrious and peaceable Chinaman, whose character is so justly described by our author.

We had not proceeded far, before a more interesting and more gratifying scene was expanded to our observation. Industry, active, useful, manly, and independent, seemed here to have found a congenial soil and fostering care. The indolent air of the Asiatic was thrown aside. Every arm laboured to produce some useful object, and every countenance, teeming with animation, seemed, as it were, directed to a set task. With the air, they had lost even the slender frame of the Asiatic; and the limbs, and muscularity, and symmetry were those of another and more energetic race. These were Chinese, a people highly valuable as settlers, by reason of their industrious and very regular habits, who had established on this spot the mechanical arts, on a scale which might even vie with that of European artists, but which we should look for in vain in any other part of India. It was a pleasing and gratifying spectacle, so much are we in India accustomed to the opposite, to see a numerous, very muscular, and apparently hardy race of people, labouring with a degree of energy and acuteness, which gave to their physical character a peculiar stamp, and placed them in a highly favourable point of view, when compared with the habits of the nations around them. Their manner of using their instruments, so different from the puerile style of Indian artists, had in it much of the dexterity of Europeans; while their condition bespoke them a flourishing and wealthy tribe. All the principal shops, all important and useful employments, and almost all the commerce of the island, was in their hands. Under the patronage of the British Government, they soon acquire riches; they meet with entire protection of property and person, and are cherished by the government, which, in return, derives benefit from their industry, and from the commercial and profitable speculations in which they usually engage.'—pp. 13, 14.

A population of about 30,000 inhabitants is said to be clustered together within a small compass; but the streets of the town are clean and handsome, the houses mostly of wood, raised on pillars from four to six feet high; and thatched with the light leaves of the

palm,

palm, which form an elegant roof: the dwellings of the Malabars are described as an exception to the general neatness of the the contrast indeed between them and the Chinese is very

striking.

Profiting by the mildness of the climate, they look not beyond shelter from the elements, and seclusion from the public eye a mean and sordid house afford both to their satisfaction. Ornament is never dreamt of, and even comfort is but little considered. Unlike to these, the Chinaman aims at neatness and even elegance in his dwelling, after having satisfied the more important objects of comfort and utility: hence the latter is rarely to be scen idling or sauntering about the streets : more numerous wants, more energetic occupations, more generous diet, demand more constant attention, and their gratification encroaches on his leisure hours. The Indian rarely passes an European of any rank without making an obeisance to him; and is in general abundantly submissive. The Chinaman will not submit to this distinction, whether from national pride and becoming independence of mind, or from assumed insolence, unauthorized, perhaps, in his native country, does not appear. However this may be, the latter is certainly the most becoming custom.'-pp. 15, 16.

The great profusion and extraordinary luxuriance of the surrounding vegetation, and, above all, of the numerous elegant palms, among which the cocoa and areca are most conspicuous-the various species of convolvuli and parasitical plants which line the hedges, and are seen running up to the extreme branches of the loftiest trees-the more humble herbaceous plants which cover the lower grounds, and the forests which creep up the acclivities to the very summits of the mountains-the varied features of hill and dale, both abounding with vegetation of the most exuberant kind—are well calculated, as our author says, to delight and astonish; but he adds truly, that though the poet may select such scenes for the abodes of bliss, of happiness, and mortal felicity, the philosophic inquirer will look to countries of less flattering aspect for the more favourable existence and developement, in the social state, of the mental faculties of the human race.'

Having described some of the more rare and curious objects of natural history, our author enumerates the vegetable products which may be considered as most important and useful in commerce and domestic economy; among the former, pepper is stat ed to be the principal article; the cultivation of which is almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese. The nutmeg may be reckoned next; it is now twenty years since the trees were first planted, of which there are stated to be at present one hundred and fifty thousand, and of these one third in a condition to bear fruit. Each tree is calculated to yield one thousand nuts annually, which sell for five Spanish dollars, and the mace for about the

same