a humid matter, which was soon dissipated in the open air, without leaving any traces.

In traversing the surface of the crater, we perceived a focus, half covered by a large mass of pumice stone, and which, from its whole circumference, emitted a strong heat. The thermometer, placed at first at the entrance of it, and then immersed to as great a depth as the nature of the ground and the heat would admit, never rose higher than 22 degrees. This singularity surprised us, but we were not able to explain it.

The volcanic productions which we observed in the whole crater were lava, exceedingly porous, and which the fire in certain places had reduced to scoriæ. It was of a dark brown colour, and sometimes reddish, but it is rare to find any white. The substances nearest the spiracles are all covered or impregnated with sulphur. This mineral is found very often in a state of oxygenation. It is sometimes white, and sometimes of a yellowish colour, and the sharp and pungent impression it leaves on the tongue sufficiently indicates the state in which it is.

The burning focus, of which we have spoken, produces the same results. Some basaltic lava is also found, but in small quantity; one specimen only, of a considerable weight and beautiful polish, attracted our attention.

On the north side of the crater there are two large fissures, one of which is twenty feet in depth, and the other about fifteen. They are shaped like an inverted cone. The matter with which they are covered is entirely similar to that on the rest of the surface. They emit neither smoke nor heat; yet some sulphureous productions plainly shew, that the fire in these places has not long been extinct.

When we had finished these few observations, it was necessary that we should think of returning. The descent is far less laborious than the ascent; for it is difficult to climb eminences where the points of support are so moveable. Besides, people cannot ascend but one at a time in succession, after long intervals, for fear of burying under a torrent of volcanic matters those who follow, as the foot, when moved, displaces the ashes, &c. to the distance of thirty feet round.

When we arrived at the two precipices, we were obliged to ascend by mounting on the shoulders of a man placed at the bottom, and laying hold of a stick held by another at the top, and to rest our feet no where but in a very gentle manner. At length, by prudence and caution, we reached the summit of Vesuvius without any accident, but exhausted with fatigue, and so covered with ashes and smoke, as to be scarcely distinguishable. Our six companions, who had not descended into the crater, were overjoyed when they saw us again, and supplied us with some refreshments, of which we had great need.

When one grand difficulty is surmounted, inferior ones are overlooked, as of little importance. In less than twenty-five minutes, we again descended, having confirmed, after examining various stones, this observation, that Vesuvius is the only known volcano which throws up from its bowels primordial substances, without being altered by the fire, and such as are found at present in banks and veins.

At half after eight in the morning we arrived at Portici, the inhabitants of which were much surprised to see us return all safe. Their delicious fruits, and their excellent wine, called lacryma Christi, soon made us forget our fatigue, and we then proceeded to Naples, which we reached in safety.

The result of this excursion, which was only an experiment, can be of no further use than to shew the possibility of reaching the crater, and to open the way to it to philosophers, naturalists, and chemists, who, by exploring this immense furnace of nature at their leisure, will find a variety of matters, which will afford an ample field for the application of their chemical knowledge, and may enable them to make discoveries interesting to the arts and the sciences.

The names of the eight Frenchmen, in the order in which they descended, are as follow: Debeer, secretary to the Ambassador Alquier; Hodouart, chief engineer of bridges and causeways, attached to the army of Italy; Wickar, painter; Dampierre, adjutant-commandant; Bagneris, physician to the army of observation; Fressinet and Andras, French travellers; and Moulin, inspector of posts.

gination, the most capricious and uncertain of all causes, account for a similarity of effect, which no course of education, nor early prepossessions themselves, (strong as these usually are), are competent to produce?

Take a true Christian from any parish in England, and let him meet one of the converted Indians of North America. Find them but a common language in which they may convey their meaning to one another, in an instant they will perfectly comprehend each other's views and feelings on every topic in religion-their hearts will be laid open, so to speak, to each other's discernment-they will "love each other with a pure heart fervently," as brethren, united in one sentiment and in one interest, who accidentally meet together, after a long and painful separation. How will you account for this Indian so well understanding the Englishman, when perhaps there is not a man living in his own town or parish,

to whom he is not an absolute barbarian, when he attempts to speak what he thinks and feels about a Saviour and a life to come, about the beauty of holiness, or the deformity of sin? Surely, there must be reality, where, without any previous communication, there is so much coincidence and agreement!

Had you lived at the day of Pentecost, and had heard the first disciples speaking to men of every nation under heaven in the language wherein they were born, you would have bowed to the reality of their pretensions, and confessed a miracle. Behold, then, the counterpart of this miracle; equally astonishing, and unaccountable upon any natural principles! all the difference is, that in that case, one person spake many languages-in this, many persons of every kindred and nation, and tongue and people, whither the Gospel hath come, speak one language.

(To be continued.)

1. The True Churchmen ascertained: or an Apology for those of the Regular Clergy of the Establishment, who are sometimes called Evangelical Ministers: occasioned by several modern Publications. By J. OVERTON, A. B. 8vo. pp. xv. & 422 8s. Mawman. "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." " 1 Pet. iii 15. "We have in fact lost many of our people to Sectaries, by not preaching in a manner sufficiently evangelical; and we shall neither recover them from the extravagances into which they have run, nor keep more from going over to them, but by returning to the right way."-Archbishop Secker.

As this Work is evidently the result of much careful and laborious research, and is executed with ability and candour, and as it undertakes to state and defend the real doctrines of the Established Church, we think it of sufficient

importance to occupy for a few months a considerable share of this department of our Miscellany. We shall endeavour to bring before our readers a faithful analysis of the Author's sentiments, and reserve any remarks which we may have to make upon the Work to the close.

The writer begins his Preface, by assigning his reasons for vindicating his friends under the term "evangelical;" it being that under which, among others, they are accused; that which they are constantly charged with having arrogated to themselves; and which, in reality, is, in some degree, characteristic of them. The following extract from this preface clearly defines the characters, who come within the line of his vindication :—

Be it known, however, to the writers in question, and to all others who do not know it, that a large number of those Ministers whom, by name and direct allusion, they class with Methodists, Enthusiasts, Fanatics, and Schismatics, are wholly unconscious of affording any other cause for this treatment than a strict adherence to the vows of their Ordination; that they equally respect in their theory and their practice, the doctrines and constitution of the Established Church; lament, most cordially, every occasion, and every degree of deviation from her; and wish for nothing so much as her preservation in her genuine purity. And for these, and these EXCLUSIVELY, under whatever title they are found, it is the object of this work to apologize. This it is particularly requested, that the reader would fully understand, and constantly remember. Whatever may incidentally be said of persons guilty of any species of irregularity, with whom these characters have been confounded, will only apply to them just so far as they adhere to this standard. And whoever puts any construction upon the book, contrary to this declaration, will wholly misrepresent and pervert it. Nor will the work become responsible for the doctrines of any persons except those for whom by name it undertakes. Few, however, it is believed, will be found of the denomination and description in question, who will not cordially subscribe to their sentiments. (p. iv. v.)

Our author asserts, that his exposure of occasional and partial deviations from a constitution fundamentally sound, is consistent with true regard to this constitution, and affords no sufficient ground of triumph to the enemies of the Establishment, whose schemes are radically defective, and contain the principles of endless divisions and confusion, in their very na

ture.

He charges the act of aggression upon those divines, who had attacked personally and by name a number of individuals, who had taken no such liberty with them; but respecting these his opponents he adds this caution, "Nor is it the writer's intention, that a single passage should be applied to any divine, who does not professedly hold the doctrines advanced in their works; or, that they should be responsible for the doctrines of each other, any farther than they professedly agree."

In the following paragraph Mr. Overton alludes to the professions of the Anti-Jacobin Reviewers, and the Editors.

of the British Critic, in the outset of their respective undertakings :—

Of one class of readers, the writer solicites candour; of another, he demands justice. Those who have assumed the immediate office of giving a verdict on such occasions, it will be found, are deeply interested in the business. They therefore, according to the ordinary course of justice, are incapacitated for being heard; or, at the most, they can only give a sort of "exparte" evidence. Those of them, however, although interested, may be ex ected to act honourably whose main and professed object it is to expose the UNFAIRNESS OF REVIEWERS. (p. viii.)

*

He proceeds:—

treated, is as old-fashioned as the doctrine The manner in which the subject is here which is defended. A leading characteristic of this is, to advance nothing without PROOF; founded in argument, or supported by testito claim credit for nothing which is not either admit nothing at second hand; but to bring formony; and, in the use of this testimony, to ward the vouchers to speak for themselves; or at least, to specify their names, and characters, and places of abode. (p. viii. ix.)

adopted is, in questions of fact, of which kind Tedious as the mode of investigation here the present inquiry must chiefly be considered, the wisdom of ages has discovered no method so certain for arriving at truth. And really, there is no end of regarding what angry opponents merely affirm of each other On this plan, the chief of the apostles may be represented as "mad," and Christ himself charged with immorality and obnoxious connections. (See Matt xi. 19, and Acts xxvi. 24.) Nor do sheer vulgar prejudices, suppositions that those who differ from us, in religious opinion, are a kind of monsters in the creation, at all change their nature whether they proceed from the "great vulgar" or the small; from the chair of some learned seminary, or from that of the nursing

room.

The method here pursued affords also the best security against the iniquity of quotation itself. It is, "prima facie," a pledge of the writer's fairness, as removing all hope that dishonesty would remain undetected. It affords easy means of examination and satisfaction to those who are doubtful It is indeed scarcely possible not, sometimes, to misunderstand, and of course, to misrepresent an author. It is still less possible to avoid the imputation of this conduct; because, when placed, however justly, in a situation that is unpleasant to him, a disingenious writer will deny his own doctrine, and equivocate even with himself. In what is here given as quotation, the words of the author are carefully distinguished. For the justness of what he is said to teach in effect, to insinuate, intimate, &c. the places referred to must answer. No stress is laid on mere cri

Christ. Observ. No. 1.

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