toms of the Levant. Generally speaking, people, in these countries seem not to understand a book, till they have made it vocal. They usually go on reading aloud, with a kind of singing voice; moving their heads and bodies in time, and making a monotonous cadence at regular intervals-thus giving emphasis; although not such an emphasis, pliant to the sense, as would please an English ear. Very often they seem to read without perceiving the sense; and to be pleased with themselves, merely because they can go through the mechanical act of reading in any way. They run over a full period, as if they had no perception of it; and stop in the middle of a sentence, wherever they may happen to want to take breath. On one occasion, when I was shewing some persons from an English Book how we read, inartificially and naturally, they laughed, and said, "You are not reading: you are talking." I might retort upon an Oriental Reader-"You are not reading; you are chaunting." I can very well understand how it was that Philip should hear at what passage in Isaiah the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading, before he was invited to come up and sit with him in the chariot (Acts viii. 30, 31.) The Eunuch, though probably reading to himself, and not particularly designing to be heard by his attendants, would read loud enough to be understood by a person at some distance.

FRANK ROMAN-CATHOLIC MISSIONS.

It may be well here to notice, in detail, the state of the Roman-Catholic Missions from Europe. Beirout, Jerusalem, and Aleppo appear to be the

central stations, with which the Latin Convents correspond. The Superior in Beirout is of the Franciscan Order; and has under him Beirout, Saide, Hareesa, Abiene, Selimi, and one of the two Convents at Damascus; with one or two more in Mount Lebanon, the names of which 1 have not correctly taken down on subjects of Religion, they refer directly to Rome; but, for Civil protection, look to the French Consuls. The Convent in Jerusalem has under its jurisdiction Bethlehem, Nazareth, Ramla, Acre, and the other of the two Frank Convents at Damascus: these, also, on Religious subjects correspond directly with Rome; but, for Civil matters, are under Spanish protection. There is also a Latin establishment in Cyprus. At Aleppo, I was informed, are four Frank Convents, belonging to as many different Orders, viz. Franciscans, Capuchins, Carmelites, and Jesuits: these last-the Order of Jesuits having, at its dissolution, changed its title to that of Lazzarists-are under the immediate cognisance of Monseignior Gandolfi.

DECAYED STATE OF THESE MISSIONS.

Although it is somewhat an anticipation of remarks subsequently made in various parts of the Holy Land, I cannot forbear noticing, in this place, the surprising decay of Missionary Spirit and Learning in these Establishments.

I met with one of the Latin Friars, who has resided between twenty and thirty years in these countries, and yet knows only sufficient of Arabic to converse on common topics, but can neither read nor write the language; and this, more or less, is the actual state of nearly all.

But that which is to be noticed with the greatest concern, is the spirit of worldliness, and even of infidelity, manifested by some of them. They sometimes also speak so freely against their own Church, that I have instantly checked myself with the thought -"What encouragement can we have given to them to speak thus? Indifference to the Religion which they profess is surely at least as blameable as bigotry." They appear to be far less supported than formerly by the countries which they have left; and yet not much attached to the foreign country in which they reside-occupying Convents, built in other times and by men of a different stamp.

How many temptations to sloth, trifling, and sin, does this Monastic System furnish! In the performance of their multiplied rites, it is to be feared, the mind can enjoy very little pure and heavenly delight from the genial influence of friendly and social prayer they are in a manner debarred; for every thing must be done by rule and form, and according to book: the office of preaching not being practised by them, or at the most very rarely, they are deprived of that powerful impulse to cultivate habits of furnishing and improving their minds, and of cherishing and pouring forth their best affections toward all around them. On those festivals which lead them more peculiarly into contact with the Frank Residents of the principal towns, an easy convivial temper is found to be a greater recommendation, than spirituality of mind and conversation. The holy rest of the Sabbath is, moreover, universally profaned to purposes of visiting, and amusements of every description. If to all this it be added, that the spirit of Infidelity, in its gradual

course from the West and South of Europe into the Levant, finds not much purity of manners to discountenance or power of learning to refute it, we shall have a tolerably complete picture of the melancholy condition of this region.

The decay of the Romish Missions is certainly opening the way for the labours of Protestant Christians: but how loudly does it teach the Members of all our rising Institutions to fear, lest they, in their turn, should become secular, corrupt, and inefficient! It is, indeed, a solemn call upon us, to look well to our motives and our measures-to endeavour to approve ourselves in all things as the Ministers of God; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the Word of Truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right-hand and on the left.

DEPARTURE FROM BEIROUT FOR JERUSALEM.

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1823-After having furnished ourselves with a supply of the Scriptures to distribute on our way to Jerusalem, four heavy boxes of them having been sent forward by sea to Acre, Mr. Fisk and myself took our departure from Beirout this morning. Our road lay over the hills south of Beirout, which, running to the westward, form a promontory by which this part of the coast is distinguished by mariners, as their guide to the harbour of Beirout. Our passage over these hills, which are of red-coloured sand, was to me very oppressive; and, as soon as we reached a small miserable khan on the sea coast, I gladly threw myself down to rest while some provisions were prepared.

NABYOONAS.

We then coasted all the way to Nabyoonas, or Nabi Yunas, a very commodious khan, kept by a Dervish, who entertained us hospitably for our money. We observed at sea, not above two miles from us, a Greek Cruiser, which had picked up four small vessels as prizes, and was keeping them together till the next morning.

The spot called Nabi Yunas is a pleasant retired beach; where, as the tradition of the country says, the Prophet Jonas was cast upon dry land, after being three days and three nights in the belly of the whale. The Dervish, a Mahomedan, who received us, owns this tradition, as well as the Christians. In the evening, he sat with us half-an-hour, while we produced our Arabic Bible and read, partly we to him and partly he to us, the story of Jonah, out of the Book of that Prophet. He kissed the book, and exclaimed, "The English know more about their religion, than we do about ours!" On his leaving our room, we had prayers with our servant; reading the Second Chapter of Jonah in Italian. We did not omit to pray that we might be preserved from Jonah's unfaithfulness, and have grace to go whithersoever it might please God to send us.

SAIDE.

Wednesday, Oct. 29-We arrived at Saide about ten o'clock in the morning*. This city has a

"The Christians lost the city of Saide in 1111. They took it again from the Saracens, and St. Louis repaired it, in the year 1250: but the Saracens made themselves masters of it, a second time, in the year 1289; and the Emir Fakredin judged fit to block up the harbour, that he might for ever keep at a distance his enemies." (Lettres Edif. et Curieuses: Vol. I. p. 214.)