confirmation in the continuance of fupport it experienced from his immediate fuperiors, as well as from his fucceffors in office.' It has appeared to us, that, in order to afford fome proper view of thefe volumes, no method that we could take, would be more acceptable or fatisfactory to our readers, than that of extracting fome parts of the tranflator's preliminary difcourfe, and adding fonie occafional remarks, Many of the regulations and diftinctions, which the Hedaya prefcribes, will, no doubt, have an odd appearance to us, whole manner of acting, and mode of thinking, are fo different from thofe of the Afiatics. It might, in general, be imagined, that the rules of right and juftice fhould, in a degree, bear an affinity among all people, though the method of obferving them, or of cenfuring their neglect, may greatly vary. Fact has, however, proved, that men, when left to themfelves, have failed in feveral refpects, even on the plaineft points of justice and humanity. As to the code here given, no doubt, fome of the directions may be confidered as obfolete, even in the countries in which they originated; fome may be frivolous, needlefs, or of a miftaken kind; and others, merely repetitions of what had before been offered; while, in a general view, they tend to maintain peace and order, and to preferve the comfort and welfare of fociety, according to the apprehenfions and prejudices of thofe people to whom they immediately relate. Several of them have undoubtedly looked with a favourable afpect on thofe objects, to which all laws ought to be directed, -the fafety and the advantages of the community, and of individuals. VOL. XXXIII. We have not ourselves been accuftomed to form any high opinion of the administration of juftice among the Arabians or Mohammedans. However good their law may he, hiftorians have generally led us to believe that it is executed in a funmary way; by the defpotic order, or according to the pallions, or the intereft, of the chief; whofe dictates, even if he happens to be a fenfible and a good kind of man, are far too authoritative and arbitrary, if not too fevere, to be relifhed by thofe who have any juft fenfe of the rights and comforts.of human nature. In more civilized countries, and under far better governments, than thofe of the Eafiern world, it is greatly to be regretted, that fo much difficulty attends the attainment of perfonal juftice, or the redrefs of injuries: obitacles and delays, in thefe refpects, are most vexatious, injurious to peace, to health, to property; and, after all, even when the decifion may be juft, the expence attending it, feldom affords the victorious party much reafon to rejoice; and not unfrequently does it throw hin into embarrafiments and diftref, perhaps equal to a defeat. On the whole, we confider this publication as a great curiofity, which may gratify many an inquifitive and ftudious mind. We do not pretend to affert the fidelity and accuracy of the verfion; of which, however, we entertain no doubt. We refpect the modefty and diffidence with which Mr. Hamilton fpeaks of his performance; and we find no difficulty in concurring in his opinion, when he obferves, that the chief bufinefs of a tranflator, is fcrupulous accuracy, and the only inerit he can clain, laborious appli I i cation. cation. The former of these the present tranflator has endeavoured to preferve, and the latter he prefumes to affirm has not been wanting.' We are unwilling to finish this article without taking fome notice of the introductory addrefs, written by the compofers of the Perfic verfion. It is in the true Eastern man ner, and begins as follows: Praise and glory unbounded is due to that adorable Being, in the investigation of whofe ways, through their several mazes, the most learned theologians are exhausted, and the moft contemplative philofophers, in the wilderness of research, find the foot of comprehenfion fhackled with the fetters of amazement! Duly to return thanks for his favours (which to offer is a duty indifpenfably incumbent on every exiftent being) is impoffible; and to touch the fkirt of his intelligence, (which exceeds the power of the finger of diligence,) by force of reafon and ftudy, im practicable! Salutations innumer able are alfo to be prefented at the tribunal of Him who is feated on the elect throne, to follow whofe infallible inftitutes is a certain means of attaining the Divine favour, and whofe world-illuminating lamp of law derives its facred light from the morning beams of the Day of Judgement.' In the course of this address, great commendations are bestowed on the governor-general, Mr. Haftings. Thefe volumes are concluded by an index, intended in fome degree to fupply the place of a gloffary: there is alfo an index referring to Arabic terms used, and authorities quoted, in the work. With pain we add, that, fince this article was written, the literary world has fuftained a lofs by the death of the very ingenious and de ferving tranflator of this work: who, as we have heard, irreparably impaired his health by his great appli cation to this laborious undertaking, PAINTED BY T. BURTON, NO, ZI, LITTLE QUEEN-STREET, LINCOLN'S-INN FIELDS. THE CONTENTS. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. Prepoffeffion of the Turks in favour of their own Military Character. Hafan Ali Kk crowned + crowned Emperor. Grants, as by free-will to the Hungarians, what he had refused to their importunate Solicitations. Settlement of his Family, and Inter- marriages. Various Acts of his Imperial Majefty's prudent Condefcenfion and Peace concluded between the Court of Vienna and the Ottoman Porte CHAP. II. Progrefs of the Spirit of Freedom. Modified by the different Characters of Nations. peror, and State of the Country. Infurrections. Valour and Succefs of the Infar- gents. Engagement at Turnhout, and at Tirlemont. Action between the Auf- trians and Patriots in the open Field. The Patriots become Mafters of the Town and Citadel of Ghent. Relaxation of Difcipline in the Auftrian Armies. Ad- vantages arifing to the Patriots from the Reduction of Ghent. The Emperor en- deavours to reconcile the Provinces to his Government by fair Promifes. Daring Attempt of a Band of Patriots in the Capital of Brabant. Succeeds. The Auf- trians driven out of Bruffels. Rejoicings at Bruffels. The States affume the Reins of Government. Confederation between the States of Brabant and those of Flanders. Acceded to by all the other Provinces, except Limbourg. The United Belgic States provide for their Security, by raifing an Army. The Auftrian Ne- therlands at this Time the principal Object of Political Attention. Reflections the ufual State of weaker, when united to ftronger States. Splendid Hopes from Miferable Effects of Newfangled and Democratical Principles. Jembly inftituted at Brujels. Their Reafonings and Claims. ftitution of the Provinces of the Netherlands. The Principles and Pretenfions of the Patriotic Affembly offenfive to the Nobility and Clergy. by thefe Orders for quashing the Doctrines of the Democrats. State of Parties. Preponderating Influence of the Clergy. the Nobility for the Recovery of their Popularity. Without any Popular Difcontents rife to a Pitch of Reftleness and Commotion. Troops employed CHAP. IV. Peace on the Ground of the Status quo, rejected by the Emprefs of Ruffia. Ambitious Kk 2 Lofs |