motives, are not in a situation to express their real sentiments.

The termination of the Syrian campaigns, the ascendency of British influence, and the Overland communication with India, have turned the public attention to Egypt more particularly; and although I speak generally of Syria and the Turkish Empire, my observations refer chiefly to the banks of the Nile. The present is a most important epoch in the history of the world, and it is interesting to watch the changes which are taking place. I have commented on the progress of civilization, and illustrated Scripture by facts, customs, and the fulfilment of ancient prophecy : and I am not without hope that my remarks may tend, in some degree to counteract the spirit of infidelity which has, of late years, been gradually insinuating itself throughout Europe: nevertheless, the publication cannot be considered a religious one. I have adopted the style of a narrative, and carefully avoided politics, attaching myself to no party. My opportunities in the country were known to be extensive, being in daily communication with natives and Europeans; and since my return, I have kept up a regular correspondence with public and official individuals. I am in possession of important documents relative to the late crisis, and I have preserved from authentic sources, faithful records of passing events up to the present date; so that, although I have refrained from entering upon those minutia and political reasonings, which characterize purely historical writings, these volumes will be found to contain every thing which is important in reference to Mohammed Ali and his own times. I have continually appealed to the Pascha's actions, be

cause I do not admire his principles; but I have, at the same time, pointed out in what way his despotic measures are calculated to do good.

As regards the antiquities, I have nothing new to offer, and I do not profess to write about them: nevertheless, I have not passed them over in silence. We have many excellent works on the subject, and to these I have referred. The same may be said of the ancient and natural history of Egypt, the manners and customs of the Aborigines, and the religious rites and ceremonies of that mysterious, talented, and extraordinary people, who for centuries held the world in awe, and taught our fathers wisdom. I have alluded to all these things en passant, and I trust in a way which will prove useful for it has been my earnest wish to adduce such facts only as are historically incontrovertible, and the legitimate inferences from which are calculated to instruct the understanding, and improve the heart. I have endeavoured to lay before the reader in a simple, plain, and unpretending form, circumstances which, whilst they illustrate the fulfilment of prophecy, will convince him of the utter insignificance of all human wisdom, when not regulated by virtuous principles, and which, if duly reflected on, will leave a just and lasting impression upon his mind, of the awful judgments denounced against the wicked, and which, as the Bible testifies, were so literally and fearfully brought to pass. I have commented on the rise and fall of nations, the progress of Science and the Arts—the baneful effects of education without religion -the folly of intellectual, and still more, of worldly pride the terrible consequences of idolatry and superstition, the defection of the Jews, on whom such signal blessings had been lavished, their captivity, dis

persion, and promised restoration, their recent persecution the sufferings of the early Christians-the present state of the Protestant Church, and the propagation of the true Gospel, in spite of the pernicious innovations of presumptuous and corrupt men. I have, moreover, considered the religion of Mohammed, the spiritual darkness which for ages overshadowed the earth-the persecution of the sword— the decline of Islamism, and the extensive changes which are now going on in the East-together with the remarkable subserviency of all worldly institutions, and the schemes of ambitious men (established as they are for secular, if not for selfish purposes,) to the accomplishment of the great and beneficent designs of Providence, viz., the progress of Christianity, and Civilization, and the ultimate Unity of Christ's Church!

"There's a Divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will!"

SHAKSPEARE.

"When the proud steed shall know why man restrains

His fiery course, or drives him o'er the plains;

When the dull ox, why now he breaks the clod,

Is now a victim, and now Egypt's god;
Then shall man's pride and dullness comprehend
His actions', passions', being's use and end;
Why doing, suffering, check'd, impell'd; and why
This hour a slave, the next a deity.

Then say not man's imperfect, Heaven in fault;
Say, rather, man's as perfect as he ought;

His knowledge measur'd to his state and place;
His time a moment, and a point his space.

If to be perfect in a certain sphere,
What matter, soon or late, or here, or there?

The blest to-day is as completely so,

As who began a thousand years ago.

PREFACE.

Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate,
All but the page prescrib'd,-their present state;
From brutes what men, from men what spirits know;
Or who could suffer being here below?

The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,

Had he thy reason, would he skip and play?
Pleas'd to the last, he crops the flowery food,
And licks the hand just raised to shed his blood.
Oh blindness to the future! kindly given,
That each may fill the circle mark'd by Heaven;
Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,

A hero perish, or a sparrow fall,

Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd,

And now a bubble burst, and now-a world.
Hope humbly then; with trembling pinions soar,
Wait the great teacher, Death; and God adore."

xi

Woburn-place, Russell-square,
November 17, 1842.

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