erary or scientific societies, no institutions for the encouragement and promotion of the arts, no public schools, acade mies or colleges-in fact there are none in the kingdom. No reading rooms except in the King's library; few bookstores, and those of little note, and there is but one printing press and but one newspaper.

(find reason to believe, that few Portuguese have ever seen a bible. If it were distributed, and perhaps it might be by agents residing in the place, it would soon, no doubt, be in the hands of the priests. The influence which the priests maintain is very considerable; but it must be at

tributed rather to fear, than to love or respect. So little confidence have the Portuguese in general, in their integrity and honesty, that they are uneasy, and perhaps jealous, if they visit their families in their absence. Yet if they are not loved-if they are not respectedthey are feared; and this fear would lead them to show them whatever books of a religious nature were given to them; and thus a book so hostile to their already declining influence as the bible, would soon be where, if it were not destroyed, it would receive little or no attention.

RELIGIOUS.

The Moral Condition and Prospects of the Heathen. A Sermon, delivered at the Old South Church in Boston, before the Foreign Mission Society of Boston and the vicinity, at their annual meeting, Jan. 1, 1824. By Benjamin B. Wisner, Pastor of the Old South Church.

Walking in God's Name. A Sermon, preached before the Education Society of the Young Men of Boston, on their Fifth Anniversary, Jan. 25, 1824. By Samuel Porter Williams, V. D. M.

A Sermon, delivered in Boston, September 17, 1823, before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, at their fourteenth annual meeting. By Jeremiah Day, D. D. L L. D. President of Yale College. Published by request of the Board. Boston, 1823.

A Discourse, in which the doctrine of the Trinity is examined, and some remarks made on Calvinism; delivered at Cohasset, in two parts, on the morning and afternoon of Lord's Day, Dec. 7, 1823. By Jacob Flint, Minister of that town. Boston, 1824.

Trinitarians Rational; A Sermon, delivered in the Baptist church, Augusta, Georgia, on the 8th February, 1824. By W. T. Brantley, A. M. rector of said church.

A Communication from the Brookfield Association to the Ecclesiastical Council who ordained Rev. Loammi Ives Hoadley, over the 'Calvinistic Church in Worcester,' and Report of the Committee of the said Association, appointed to present the same. The Faith once delivered to the Saints; A Sermon delivered at Worcester, Mass. Oct. 15, 1823, at the Ordination of the Rev. Loammi I. Hoadley to the pastoral office over the Calvinistic Church and Society in that place. By Lyman Beecher, D. D. Second Edition, 20 cts. Boston.

Isaiah's Message to the American Nation-a new translation of Isaiah, chapter 18th; with notes, critical and explanatory; a remarkable Prophecy respecting the Restoration of the Jews, aided by the American Nation." By the Rev. J. M'Donald, A. M. 37 1-2 cents. Philadelphia.

The Christian Examiner and Theological Review: for January and February. No. I. Vol. I.

Village Hymns for Social Worship, selected and original; Designed as a supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns. By Rev. Asahel Nettleton. Goodwin & Co Hartford.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An Elementary Treatise on Conic Sections, Spherical Geometry, and Spherical Trigonometry. By Matthew R. Dutton, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Yale College ;-Being the Fifth and Sixth Parts of a Course of Mathematics adapted to the method of instruction in American Colleges. Howe & Spalding, New-Haven. 1824.

An Examination of Essays on Fevers, and other Medical Subjects, by Thomas Miner, M. D. with some observations on their doctrines and practice. By J. L. Comstock, M. D. 8vo. Hartford.

Catalogue of Minerals found in the state of Vermont, and in the adjacent states; together with their localities; including a number of the most interesting minerals which have been discovered in other parts of the United States; arranged alphabetically. Designed principally for the use of persons who have attended mineralogical lectures, in making collections of specimens. By Frederick Hall, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and Lecturer on Mineralogy, in Middlebury College. 8vo. Hartford.

The Analytic Guide, and Authentic Key to the art of Short Hand Writing,

by which the language of a public speaker may be recorded as fast as delivered in a style at once beautiful and legible: being a compilation from the latest European and American publications, with sundry improvements, adapted to the present state of literature in the United States. By M. T. C. Gould, Stenographer. 16mo. Third Edition. New-Haven, 1824.

The True Masonic Chart, or Hieroglyphical Monitor; containing all the emblems explained in the degrees of Entered

Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, Royal Arch, Royal Master, and Select Master: designed and duly arranged agreeably to the Lectures by R. W. Jeremy L. Cross, G. L. To which are added, Illustrations, Charges, Songs, &o. &c. Third Edition, with additions and emendations. 12mo. New-Haven, 1824.

Collections Historical and Miscellaneous; and Monthly Literary Journal. Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Vol. III.

PALESTINE MISSION.

(Extracted from the Missionary Herald for February.)

Journey of Messrs. Fisk and King, from Cairo to Jerusalem, through the Desert.

(Concluded from page 174.)

Monday 14.-Hitherto we had general ly enjoyed a refreshing north wind, which has served to mitigate the heat, and rendered our journey less tedious, than we had feared it would be. This morning a strong scorching wind from the S. E. commenced. It was indeed distressing. The air sometimes seemed as if it issued from the mouth of an oven. Many of the Arabs bound a handkerchief over their mouths and noses, as a defence against it. After riding six hours and a half, we pitched our tent on the plain of Loolia, near a well of miserable water. The thermometer in our tent stood at 99o. The country we passed was full of sand-hills. The wind sometimes blew the sand over the hills like snow in a storm. This has been a dreadful day.

[To avoid the heat of the day, they arose at midnight, and resumed their journey at one in the morning. They continued travelling till noon.]

The wind continued from S. E. during the night, aud we anticipated another dreadful day. But in the forenoon it changed to the S. W., and we were refreshed by a cooling breeze. The night was so cloudy that not a star appeared. The loaded camels, which during the day trayel like a flock, were all tied together when we travelled in the night. One is surprized to see how the Arabs, who are accustomed to the desert, will find their way in a dark night. After 11 hours ride, we pitched our tent at Aboo Jilbana. After the heat of yesterday, and our ride last sight, we all find ourselves unwell.

Wednesday, 16.-Resumed our journey at five in the morning. Soon came upon a harder road than we had found for several days. It was at no great distance The salt water had overfrom the sea. flowed it, and had been evaporated by the sun, leaving a considerable thickness of salt on the ground. At 2, we came upon the shore of the Mediterranean, where the waves were rolling, and foaming, and breaking, in a most beautiful and majestic manner. Turning from the seashore, and passing over a mountain of sand, we came in a little while to El Arish, a village situated in the desert. At Messaoudia, a watering place on the seashore, the caravan separated, and one part took a different route for Gaza. After riding ten hours and a half, we pitched our tent on the plain near the village. Our shekh belongs to this place. When he and his attendants met with their friends, we had an opportunity to observe a curious mode of salutation. They took each other by the hand, put their foreheads together, and smacked their lips, but without bringing their faces in contact. They repeated this joining of foreheads and distant kissing, four or five times, saying, Peace;" "Well?" "Thank God;" "How are you?" "Thank God;" "Peace." "God give you peace." "God bless you."

In conversation with the Greek, who is from Tocat, he told us that there are in that place 100 or 150 Greek houses, a bishop, six priests, and two churches. One priest is from Greece, and knows Greek; the rest understand only Turkish, though they perform their service in Greek, repeating the words, parrot-like, without understanding them.

[Messrs. Fisk and King represent the Arabs as exceedingly profane, in respect to the Divine Name, using it with very little reverence, and continually invoking it in confirmation of trifles and falsehoods.]

After riding nine hours and a half, we pitched our tent at Bur el Khoor, a large plain covered with grass and shrubs, on which several large flocks of sheep and goats were feeding, under the direction of Arab shepherds and shepherdesses. We walked up to the top of a sandhill near our tent, where we had a delightful view of the plain. After being so long in the wilderness, this view was indeed cheering. We have now just left the dominions of Mohammed Ali Pasha, and entered modern Syria. Whether we are yet within the limits of ancient Palestine, or not, we do not know.

Saturday, 19.-In the morning we found that some bold Bedouin had made his way into our encampment, and carried off a saddle. Mustapha went out, and finding a Bedouin, charged him with stealing it, and began to chastise him. He gave a signal, and a number of armed Bedouins made their appearance at a distance.The surrounding country was full of them; and, as all would be likely to unite together in case of a disturbance, it was thought prudent to leave them in quiet possession of the saddle, and to proceed as soon as possible. At 6, the caravan moved off the ground. As we proceeded, we found a gradual increase of vegetation, and cultivated fields became more frequent. At half past 10, we passed a well of water and some ruins. Two pillars of grey granite were standing. The place is called Rofa. This is probably the ancient Rophia, which was the first town in Syria, Rhinocalura (probably El Arish,) being the last in Egypt. At half past 11, after orossing a mountain which is called on one of our maps a continuation of Mount Seir, we came to the village Khan Yoanas, (the inn of Jonas,) the first village we have seen in Syria. It is surrounded by gardens, and is inhabited by Mussulmans, who have a tradition that the prophet Jonas once was here. East of it, on a hill, is another Mussulman village.

From Khan Yoanas we travelled several hours over a wide and beautiful plain, filled with herds of camels, sheep and goats, which were generally tended by Bedouin women. This is the ancient land of the Philistines. Here we were continually harrassed by the Bedouins, who seemed to spring up, like Hydras, in every corner.— First came 10 or 12 armed with swords and matchlocks. Their dress was merely a turban on the head, and a piece of cloth tied round the waist. They met our guide and camel drivers, took each other's hands, kissed, and had all the appearance of friends. It was, however, soon found that they wanted money. Our guide told them they must exact nothing from us, because we were Englishmen; for we

travel with English passports, and though we tell our attendants that we are Americans, yet they know no difference between us and Englishmen, having never before seen Americans, or heard of America. The name of Englishman is so much respected even among Bedouins, that we were not molested. For two hours, however, as we moved along, our attendants were engaged in loud and violent disputes with these and other companies of Bedouins, who came up after they went away. They extorted a few dollars from the Armenians and Greeks, and at last took an ass from one of the Arabs. Our shekh knew all these free-booters, and it is probably owing to his acquaintance with them, and his faithfulness to us, that they were so easily satisfied, and that we met with so little trouble from them. He says most of the Bedouins are much worse than these, and yet he called these Satans (Shaitan.)

Under a large Sycamore trec, we saw women and children threshing barley on the ground with long sticks. Near by was a shepherdess, tending a large flock, with her crook in her hand, and the skin of a lamb, having the wool on, thrown over her shoulders for a shawl.

At half past 5, after riding 11 hours and a half, we arrived at Gaza; took two small dirty apartments in a large filthy khan, and put up for the Sabbath, thankful that we were not among deserts of sand, or bands of Arab free-booters, so as to be obliged to travel on the Lord's day. Gaza is the city whose gates Sampson carried away, and where he slew 3000 Philistines at his death. We had no very good opportunity to judge of the popula tion of the place, but probably the estimation, given by geographers, of 5,000, is not far from the truth. Mussulmans nev er take a census, unless it be an enumeration of the houses, in order to tax them. The city stands on a little elevation. The houses are all built of stone, but make a very mean appearance. The scenery around is beautiful.

[They left Gaza on the forenoon of Monday, April 21st.]

We crossed a bridge over the bed of a small river, now dry; and then passed through groves of olives, and fields of grass, wheat, barley and tobacco. The plains were agreeably diversified by gentle elevations and small valleys. Five hours and a half from Gaza, we saw on our left, the village Mijdal, near the ruins of the ancient Askelon, which is now uninhabited. Such, at least, is the information gir. en us by the Arabs. After riding eight hours and a half, we pitched our tent near

the village Esdood, which, from its situation, and from the similarity of the name, we presume to be the ancient Ashdod. It consists of 100, or 150, of what the people call houses-miserable cabins and holes, built of stone, covered with branches of trees, and roots, and these again with earth, so that vegetation appears every where on the tops of them The place is wholly inhabited by Mussulmans.

[In 10 hours and a half ride after leaving Esdood, they arrived at Jaffa; and, word being given to Mr. Damiani, the English consul, his Dragoman, came to procure them admittance into the city. They took lodgings in the consul's house, which stands by the sea-side, and, as is supposed, at, or very near the place, where Simon the tanner lived, and the Apostle Peter was lodged. At evening, the table was served by a man of Greek origin, who was 100 years old, and had been 80 years a servant in the family of Mr. Damiani and his father.

On the 24th, they left Jaffa on mules and asses, and, after a ride of 4 hours, arrived at Rama, or Ramla, the Arimathea of the Scriptures, where they took lodgings for the night, in an Armenian convent.]

Friday, 25. At half past 5, we set out for Jerusalem, comforted with the hope, that this was the last day of our journey. In about two hours, we saw a Bedouin horseman sitting on the ground, a little before us, with his horse feeding by his side. As we advanced he rose, and boldly put himself in front of us all. The Christians, who were with us, and who rode forward, stopped and turned from him, as if he had been a lion. As soon as Mr. Damiani told him who we were, he let us pass quietly, but tried hard to get something from the rest of the company. He got nothing, however, except a trifle which the male drivers gave him, in order to be on good terms with him hereafter. At 8, we crossed a hill, and then entered a valley which we were half an hour in passing. Soon after this, we came among the mountains. Here we saw, at a distance, a camp of Bedouins. As soon as they saw us, one of their horse-men rode on swiftly, as if to interrupt our path. He came into the path before us, halted, and looked at us again, and then rode off. Had we been Rayahs, (i. e. christian subjects of the Grand Signor,) he would not probably have left us without money. For some time, our road lay along the bed of a brook, in a deep ravine, with mountains of rocks rising up like pyramids on each side of us. By degrees, the ascent became more steep, till we reached the height of these ragged mountains, where we had a

good view of the plains between us and Jaffa. It was often with difficulty that our beasts could walk, on account of the badness of the road, and the steepness of the mountains. These mountains are covered with small shrubs, suitable for goats, of which we saw several large flocks. There are no forests; but in the vallies, and on the sides of the hills, are many olives and fig trees. At a place called Sareen, two or three fierce, armed Bedouins appeared, and began to demand tribute. We rode on very carelessly, bid them good morning, and enquired after their health. They began to talk loudly, and ordered us to stop, but we rode on, and they did not attempt to stop us by force.When the native Christians and Jews pass such places, they have no way to get along, but to satisfy the rapacity of these plunderers.

[A little past noon, they came to a village, which Chateaubriand calls the village of Jeremiah. A little way from it, was a pure stream of water, flowing out of a rock, where they stopped to quench their thirst, and eat some bread and fruit.]

Thence we pursued our journey over a road impassable for camels, and very difficult for mules and asses. After crossing a high mountain, we passed through a deep valley, where is a small village called Kaloona. The mountains here are of a peculiar formation. They seem almost as if built by the hand of man, and rise gradually step by step, like Pyramids. Each step, however, is so fastened into the "Everlasting Hills," as to show you that it was placed there by the hand of Him, who existed "before the mountains were brought forth." On these steps,

which are sometimes three or four rods wide, and sometimes only a few feet, you see soil which produces shrubs, and when cultivated, vines, figs, and olives. The country continued the same till we were within half an hour of Jerusalem, when all at once Mount Olivet and the Holy City opened to our view. Thus it is often with the last hours of the Christian. He is obliged to pass over a rough and wearisome way, where he is continually exposed to the attacks of enemies, till near the close of life, till his feet are about to stand within the gates of the New Jerusalem, and then he is favoured with some bright visions of the place he is soon to enter.

As we drew near the city, we remembered how our dear brother Parsons, when wars and rumours of wars obliged him to leave the place, turned back his eyes, as he ascended the hill west of Jerusalem, and wept, and said, "If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me