To cultivating what in him is good,
Perfectible, and god-like." So occurred
The fourth election. Gloriously had dawned
O'er long-unsocial semi-barbarous lands

Where we sojourned, the morn of civil rights
Auspicious; everywhere the grand results
By the reformer promised to the east.
The humanizing presence of wise men
Anew set-up lapsed virtues. Courtesy
Brought forth man's nobler qualities, and laid
The storms of anger. When the nomad tribes
(Their hapless progeny, who by the hands.
Of evil-minded conquerors of old,

From razed and burning cities were out-thrust,
To leave their infants war against mankind,
War to the knife, for a sole heritage;)

Saw our determination to consult

Their welfare, a great change ensued; and lulled
Suspicion wonted jealousy removed,

Gave amity free course. We made them feasts,
And drained their flowing cups. Us welcoming
How many of their towers, rough indeed
And frowning in their outward aspect, looked
Kindly towards us, as o'ertook by night,
And worn with travel, we descried them near!
These toils conciliatory and benign

Sank deep into men's souls; and memory

Yet dwells upon them smiling: as in dreams, And reverie an exiled citizen

Hears national music; or the dulcet bells

Loud chiming from the aged and tremulous

towers

Of his cathedral: sweetly so our words
The Africans remembered; so they loved,
And gave
their children's children Britons'

names.

NOTE.

(11) Visiting the sites of the cities referred to in the text, the traveller is led into serious reflections on the destinies of the countries which, in his own day, happen to be flourishing. He thinks of England, standing alone in the dignity of freedom. He feels the immense responsibility they incur whose measures may compromise her security. England fallen, and the foundationstones of her constitution broken up, in what quarter of the globe might Liberty find rest for the sole of her foot? Would she any longer exist on this planet? Where? In America? The slave a man dragged by force from his country, the child by fraudulent means stolen,-may set foot on the American shore and not become free!

There the traffic in human flesh is not forbidden; it has the sanction of Law!

With regard to first-class nations of the old world, it would appear that, subit etiam ipsius inertiæ dulcedo: et invisa primo desidia postremo amatur. [Habit makes inaction itself sweet: and at first abhorred indolence is at last loved;] and that despotic power, like vice, is

A monster of so frightful mien,

As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet, seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

France is the solitary exception. The French understand well to assert and to vindicate public liberty; but have yet to learn of England, the conduct necessary to maintain and preserve the birth-right of a people.

Let not the momentous truth, deduced from all experience by a great historian, be forgotton by the people of England in every contemplated reform: Natura tamen infirmitatis humanæ tardiora sunt remedia, quam mala; et ut corpora lente augescunt, cito exstinguuntur, sic ingenia studiaque oppresseris facilius, quam revocaveris. Tacit. Agric. Vita. 3.

Through the nature of human infirmity remedial measures are far tardier in operation, than are evil ones; and, as bodies grow slowly but perish rapidly, so thou shalt oppress the free mind and the institutions of learning more easily, than recover them by pronouncing their recall.

X.

CHARITY.

The Euphrates and Indus are passed. Balkh. Lahore. Spencer arrives at a sequestered dale: its antique vestiges of luxury; its canal, ruinous palace, and sublime view of one of the Himaleh. Aliverdey; an eminent example of kindness of heart. He lays before the Electors his code of Poor Laws. His travels to visit the distressed. He expresses his strong opinion on the consequences of overlooking the difficulties and distresses of the poor; and offers to lead the electors into the dwelling-places of men struggling and perishing in the current of destitution. Affecting memoir of an artist's last hours.

THENCE o'er the broad Euphrates swept our

course

To the Suwad of Irak, and the vales

That, densely peopled, with their fruits and flowers

Wait on the town of Meschid: whence the bands Passed over Pul-i-Herkan bridge to Balkh : Balkh, glorying, her rosy daughters all

The fairy cities of the Orient calls,

And as the parent city is revered.

These lowlands traversed, we advanced to thread, Defile profound! the Dura i Zindan;