Jews and the Gypsies,-from lately meeting, in Dr. Walsh's interesting "Journey from Constantinople," an assertion respecting them of a similar character with that of Mr. Laurence, relative to the Negro. "The Gypsies," says Dr. Walsh, are distinguished, like the Jews, by indelible personal marks, dark eyes, brown complexion, and black hair; and by unalterable moral qualities, an aversion to labour, and a propensity to petty theft." Theft, idleness, and the other vices which infect both Jews and Gypsies, are thus, it seems, as unalterable as dark eyes, brown complexion, and black hair; so that to attempt to introduce civilization, or practical Christianity, among either of those races, must be utterly visionary. When you can obliterate the "indelible personal marks," you may attempt to improve the "unalterable moral qualities;" but till then, organization will be too strong for Christianity." I am perfectly sure that Dr. Walsh did not intend to utter a sceptical sentiment, or to convey all that his words naturally imply; but this only adds to my painful conviction, that, even when there is no intention whatever of setting up physiology against the word of God, opinions are widely afloat, which, traced to their foundation, can be grounded only on such views respecting the congenital varieties of the "moral" as well as physical character of mankind, as forbid the idea of their ever being brought, unless by a direct miracle operating upon the material organization, to the unity of the Christian faith, or the practice of Christian virtues. Dr. Walsh says that the Gypsies "are considered incapable of discipline or instruction:" but has the experiment ever been fairly tried, either as respects Gypsies, or several other outcast classes of our common nature? South-Sea islanders were a few years since "considered' as irre claimable as Arabs are now; but see "what hath God wrought?" And have not Negroes been civilized and Christianized; yes, and "wild Irishes" too? Is organization too strong for the arm of Omnipotence, exerted in the use of those " means of grace" which he himself has prescribed? The Jew children in the schools at Bethnal Green, and the Gipsey children under the care of the Southampton Society, retain their "indelible personal marks; " but apart from the effects of early neglect and bad education, the alleged "unalterable moral qualities"of idleness and theft are not more conspicuous among them than among the children of Saffron Alley or Baldwin's Gardens. VALUABLE ANCIENT VOLUME. L. Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. I LATELY found on an upper shelf of an old library, enveloped in dust and cobwebs, a remarkable ancient volume, calculated as I thought to be of admirable service to mankind. It is full of important ancient histories, invaluable religious precepts, and many other matters which I shall not at present specify; and I could wish that it were better known, as it would supersede much of the trash which encumbers our libraries. I had indeed heard of its title before; and inquired of several friends whether they had ever seen it; but though they answered in the affirmative, they seemed to know so little of its contents, that I can scarcely credit their assertion. Happening to be in company one evening, soon after I had discovered my new treasure, I mentioned it to several of our circle, who all spoke in high terms of the interesting and valuable nature of its contents, and allowed that it would be well to circulate it for the public welfare; but they did not seem hearty in the cause,-and perhaps not without reason, as the work certainly contains some strong remarks which may be thought too personal. One of our party, a remarkably gay and giddy lady (though by no means too much so for good company), I could not very well ask to second my object, as the work says, "she that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth," which she might think pointed at herself. The rector of the parish, who happened to be playing a rubber with her, a worthy good man in his way, but lazy withal, and not very zealous in his parish, was much displeased with some personal reflections about "dumb dogs who could not bark." The rich Mr. A., the ambitious Mr. B., the beautiful Miss C., the elegant Mr. D., the witty Mr. E., and that profound scholar Mr. F., very naturally took offence at some uncourteous remarks about not glorying in riches, or might, or strength, or wisdom. Mr. G. the West-Indian planter, was much hurt with some observations on slaves and slavery, which he thought were interpolated by the Anti-Slavery Society, particularly where one of the writers in the work speaks of men-stealers and murderers in the same sentence, and where he calls a slave "his faithful and beloved brother." There are many other remarks in the book which our friends considered by no means in good taste; but we all agreed that if these were omitted, and those parts only published which relate to matters of history, and general good morals and manners, no offence could be taken by any person. Mrs. H. much liked the advice to husbands; and Mr. I. that to wives; and all of us agreed that the directions to servants in this age of insubordination are very excellent; though accompanied with some hints to their employers which most of us considered obsolete, if not dangerous in this revolutionary age, as they might fall into the hands of our domestics, and injure our character. These might be omitted. Would you, under all the circumstances of the case, recommend the re-publication of this remarkable volume; and with what limitations? Some of our friends thought it better to omit the publication altogether; others thought it better to give only select extracts: though two or three precise people, of rather peculiar opinions, considered it best to give the whole as it is; and thought that if we omitted all that might be considered personal, or uncharitable, or too strict, we should go far to cut up the whole book. A LOVER OF ANTIQUITIES. For the Christian Observer. RELINQUISHED MISSIONS: THE (Concluded from page 681.) THE following is the conclusion of the pious missionary's narrative. We retain as before the original spelling of names. "Nov. 19th, a servant of the English resident brought us some Persian cloathing, two mattrasses and covering, and provided another lodging for us, where we staid till the 23d, when the resident sent two horses to bring us to the English house, which is a considerable building with a pretty large garden. He received us very cordially, and promised to assist us in every thing. This promise he most faithfully performed during our whole stay. He is a very honest and intelligent man, much respected both by Persians and Armenians. He had never heard of the church to which we belong ; but when any visitors came to his house, especially Armenians, he always introduced us to them with the most obliging expressions. most of our time in this house, learning the Persian language. Saturdays and Sundays, the resident being always absent at Tulfa, we were alone, and called to mind with unspeakable gratitude, our lot of grace to belong to a people of the Lord, with whom we have an indissoluble and ever We spent lasting fellowship. We joined them in spirit, prayed for the conversion of the poor blind inhabitants of this country and all lands and nations on earth, for direction in our present difficult circumstances, and for grace to walk as children of God, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we partook of the Lord's Supper, we were richly comforted and strengthened, and experienced, that where even only two are met in Jesus' name, He is in the midst of them. "I must now and then insert some account of the state of Persia, because it throws light upon the subject of our mission. "December 20th, Adil Shaws' brother, Mirza, made his grand entry into Ispahan, and the king himself could not have been more highly honored. On the 21st, illuminations and bonfires were made upon the Meydan and Tshaarbag, which are the king's gardens. As we were to day for the first time alone with the resident, we took this opportunity to give him a short account of our church and its views in sending missionaries, and especially in sending us to the Gaures. He observed, that we had done well to apply to him on the subject, as he was able to serve us with some particular information concerning them, and would, if possible, help us to obtain our aim; that the greater part of them lived at Kerman, where they had their principal and best temple: and that the English have also a house there. "December 22d, we were called in the evening to Hassen Khan, the chief favorite of Mirza. Shach Nadir had ordered his eyes to be put out; but it was not done effectually, and he could see a little. He was troubled with smarting humors in them, for which we told him we might send him some medicines, but as to his eyes and sight, we had no power to restore them. We have been frequently with him, and he seemed thankful for the relief afforded him.--December 24th, Abel Hassen Khan, who was appointed Beglerbeg of Shiras, sent for us. His eyes were also pierced by Shach Nadir, but having been only partially affected, we could render him more essential service, for which he promised us 600 Thomass, or 1200 rupees. Four days after he set out for Shiras; and as we could not accompany him thither, without losing sight of our first object, we chose rather to remain poor, than become the servants of a Persian prince. They have here an opinion of European physicians far beyond what they deserve. Indeed there is much work for them, for though the air at Ispahan is wholesome, not one person in a hundred is free from disorders arising from a dissolute life. "December 31st, the king's brother sent the English resident a present of a Persian dress, a turban, and a large shawl to bind round the waist, such as the kings of Persia are used to send to the grandees, or their own relations. On this occasion a feast of three days was held, but every thing was conducted with order and sobriety. Persian music was introduced, which to us appeared rather discordant. In the evening we closed the year in our room, with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. January 13th, 1748, we had a day of much blessing, and partook of the holy communion. We regret exceedingly the loss of the books and manuscript accounts from our congregations, of which we had been robbed by the Curdes. Not a line is left us; and if we now and then remember a text or a hymn, that suits our circumstances, we feast upon it, and assist each other in recollecting it.-On the 17th, the interpreter brought us to the king's palace, where we met with many Persians of our caravan, who were glad to see us, and expressed their love for us in kind terms. Two of the ringleaders of the gang which robbed us having been taken with their booty, all of us were called January 23d, we again spoke with the resident concerning our journey to the Gaures at Kerman; but he advised us not to undertake it now, every thing being in the greatest confusion, and the roads extremely unsafe. This was indeed too true, and we were not a little grieved at the present prospect of affairs. Meanwhile the resident took much pains to procure the sum we were reputed to have lost, namely 1200 rupees, or about 150/ He applied for it to Mirza, and made use of a stratagem, unknown to us, as we were informed by the interpreter. In January 1747, Nadir Khan had urged him to procure him an European physician, being very ill and given up by the Persian physicians. No European being then in the country, the resident promised to write for one, and now made the Persians believe, that we were the people sent for, who had travelled at their own expence and therefore ought to be reimbursed.Since there has been so little snow this winter, that the roads are good and the air was growing warmer every day, we spoke again to the resident, and begged him to help us soon to proceed to Kerman, since it was not our purpose to settle at Ispahan. He answered, that he had received letters at the end of last week from Kerman, mentioning the deplorable state of that province, how Shach Nadir, and after him the Afghans, had ransacked and plundered the whole place: that the English house had been entirely plundered and ruined, and now stood empty, and that two Armenians and eight Gaures, who lived in it, had been murdered that the Gaures in Kerman, were a good, honest, industrious people, and the best nation in Persia, but most of them have been massacred, or dispersed, and driven away: that those living at Gabeabad were a very poor people, who in the time of Shach Hassein, about the year 1694, were compelled to become Mahometans, and those who would not submit were murdered, and that the town of Gabeabad, which is situated on a hill behind Tulfa, had been called Hassein abad: that the roads to Kerman were even more dangerous on account of numerous gangs of robbers, than those from Shermanchan to Ispahan. This account given us by the resident, which was confirmed from all parts, destroyed at once all our hopes soon to get amongst the Gaures, and filled our hearts with sorrow, We might have settled at Ispahan, and were much encouraged to do so; but we could not believe that it was the will of God, and therefore resolved to return to Europe by way of Bassora and Aleppo. The hopes of soon seeing our brethren again, after so many troubles and dangers, afforded us indeed the most heartfelt pleasure; but when we examined our hearts before the Lord, we were ashamed that we had had too strong a paroxysm of home sickness, and had consulted our own inclinations too much, as a source of comfort, in finding our plan defeated. For we are bound to love and serve our Savior alone, and willingly to sacrifice our all for him, who loved us and gave himself for us. We acknowledged, with repenting tears, our sin and weakness, and devoted ourselves anew to Him, weighing all circumstances, the result of our deliberations was this: that we should not now go to Kerman, nor remain in any other part of Persia, but return through Bassora to Cairo in Egypt, and there wait an answer to our letters sent to Europe with a proper representation of our situation. This resolution we made known to the resident on the 7th. On the 16th, we learnt, that a colony of Gaures had settled at Surat, and should not have been unwilling to go thither in quest of them, could we have obtained more certainty. In the evening we spoke with the French interpreter about the Gaures at Hassein-abad, near Tulfa, and his account was a full confirmation of all the resident had told us. February 25th, it was reported, that Emir Hassein Khan Beglerbeg in Tauris had revolted, and got an army together of bebetween 30 and 40,000 men to go to war with Adil Shaw. On the 29th, Mirza, having arrested Soran Khan, the brother-in-law and favorite of Adil Shaw, and planted the Meidan with cannon, seized on the effects of many Persian nobles. He also engaged the services of several thousand Afghans and Usbeck Tartars, and it was plain that he meant to declare himself king. All Ispahan was in an uproar on this occasion.-March 1st, Mirza sent a messenger to Emir Hassein Khan, at Tauris, to prevail upon him to join his party, and, on the 2d, beheaded Soran Khan. The whole town of Tulfa was laid under contributions, and a rich Armenian from thence kept himself concealed in the resident's house for fear of the collectors. The judgment of God hangs visibly over the Armenians and Greeks, but they will not consider it. They think of nothing but how to get money by merchandise, and are so famous for cheating, that it has become common proverb here, An Indian cheats a Jew, but an Armenian cheats an Indian.' As to religious matters, they are quite ignorant and stupid, even as to the letter; nei a ther have they any schools among them. In their hearts they are dead as stones; yet they think themselves the best of Christians, because they fast more than the Roman Catholics, and pray more than the Mahometans. They often, in a pharisaical manner, fall on their faces in the streets and mutter some prayers; yet they are so ignorant, that the Mahometans find it easy to make proselytes from among them, and thus whole villages are apostatized. Shach Nadir, who was a scourge to all Persia, was particularly so to the Armenians: he not only drained them of their riches, but treated them in the most cruel manner. The two chief and richest among them, Aradoun and Eminias, he robbed of all their wealth, and afterwards burnt them alive with two Jews and four Indians on the Meidan. Mirza, not having money enough to accomplish his revolt, immediately seized on Tulfa, bastinadoed the Calendar, or Sub-governor, and inflicted divers tortures upon the principal people, whose houses he forced, not even sparing the Armenian monks. On the 3d, he declared himself king, and, on the 5th, sent Selam Beg, whom he had declared Khan, with 10,000 soldiers against Hamadan. It was generally wished that Mirza might soon follow, for no one here was secure from being plundered as long as he staid. At last to the joy of the whole city, he marched out on the 12th, having just before sent a rich present to the English resident. On the 14th, we heard that Kerman was all in an uproar, and that all the roads to Ispahan were blocked up. We could not but feel some perplexity amidst this wild confusion, but remained quiet, and committed ourselves to the Lord. On the 15th, a Persian messenger arrived from Bassora. We were indeed disappointed in our hopes to receive some accounts from Europe, but were glad of a safe opportunity of sending our letters away. About this time all the shops in Ispahan were shut, and many |