confirmation in the continuance of We have not ourselves been ac fupport it experienced from his immediate fuperiors, as well as from his fucceffors in office.' It has appeared to us, that, in order to afford fome proper view of these volumes, no method that we could take, would be more acceptable or fatisfactory to our readers, than that of extracting fome parts of the tranflator's preliminary difcourfe, and adding fome occafional remarks. Many of the regulations and diftinetions, which the Hedaya prefcribes, will, no doubt, have an odd appearance to us, whofe manner of acting, and mode of thinking, are fo different from thofe of the Afiatics. It might, in general, be imagined, that the rules of right and juftice fhould, in a degree, bear an affinity among all people, though the method of obferving them, or of cenfuring their neglect, may greatly vary. Fact has, however, proved, that men, when left to themfelves, have failed in feveral respects, even on the plaineft points of juftice and humanity. As to the code here given, no doubt, fome of the directions may be confidered as obfolete, even in the countries in which they originated; fome may be frivolous, needlefs, or of a miftaken kind; and others, merely repetitions of what had before been offered; while, in a general view, they tend to maintain peace and order, and to preferve the comfort and welfare of fociety, according to the apprehenfions and prejudices of thofe people to whom they immediately relate. Several of them have undoubtedly looked with a favourable afpect on thofe objects, to which all laws ought to be directed, -the fafety and the advantages of the community, and of individuals. VOL. XXXIII. cuftomed to form any high opinion of the adminiftration of juftice among the Arabians or Mohamme dans. However good their law may he, hiftorians have generally led us to believe that it is executed in a fummary way; by the defpotic order, or according to the paflions, or the intereft, of the chief; whofe dictates, even if he happens to be a fenfible and a good kind of man, are far too authoritative and arbitrary, if not too fevere, to be relifhed by those who have any juft fense of the rights and comforts of human nature. In more civilized countries, and under far better governments, than those of the Eaftern world, it is greatly to be regretted, that fo much difficulty attends the attainment of perfonal juftice, or the redrefs of injuries: obftacles and delays, in thefe refpects, are moft vexatious, injurious to peace, to health, to property; and, after all, even when the decifion may be juft, the expence attending it, feldom affords the victorious party much reafon to rejoice; and not unfrequently does it throw him into embarrailments and diftrefs, perhaps equal to a defeat. On the whole, we confider this publication as a great curiofity, which may gratify many an inquifitive and trudious mind. We do not pretend to allert the fidelity and accuracy of the verfion; of which, however, we entertain no doubt. We refpect the modefty and diffidence with which Mr. Hamilton fpeaks of his performance; and we find no difficulty in concurring in his opinion, when he obferves, that 'the chief bufinefs of a tranflator, is fcrupulous accuracy, and the only merit he can claim, laborious appliI i cation. cation. The former of thefe the prefent tranflator has endeavoured to preferve, and the latter he prefumes to affirm has not been want ing.' We are unwilling to finifh this article without taking fome notice of the introductory addrefs, written by the compofers of the Perfic verhon. It is in the true Eastern manner, and begins as follows: Praife and glory unbounded is due to that adorable Being, in the investigation of whose ways, through their feveral mazes, the most learned theologians are exhaufted, and the moft contemplative philofophers, in the wilderness of research, find the foot of comprehension fhackled with the fetters of amazement! Duly to return thanks for his favours (which to offer is a duty indifpenfably in cumbent on every exiftent being) is impoffible; and to touch the skirt of his intelligence, (which exceeds the power of the finger of diligence,) by force of reafon and ftudy, im practicable! Salutations innumer. able are alfo to be prefented at the tribunal of Him* who is feated of the elect throne, to follow whose infallible inftitutes is a certain means of attaining the Divine favour, and whofe world-illuminating lamp of law derives its facred light from the morning beams of the Day of Judgement.' In the course of this addrefs, great commendations are bestowed on the governor-general, Mr. Haftings. These volumes are concluded by an index, intended in fome degree to fupply the place of a gloffary: there is alfo an index referring to Arabic terms used, and authorities quoted, in the work. With pain we add, that, fince this article was written, the literary world has fuftained a lofs by the death of the very ingenious and deferving tranflator of this work: who, as we have heard, irreparably im paired his health by his great appli cation to this laborious undertaking. Mahommed. THE END. PRINTED BY T, BURTON, NO, SI, LITTLE QUEEN-STREET, LINCOLN'S-INN FIELDS. THE CONTENTS. HISTORY OF EUROPE. СНАР. І. Prepoffeffion of the Turks in favour of their own Military Charader. Haffan Ali Kk crowned ericoned Emperor. Grants, as by free-will to the Hungarians, what ke kai Favour. Page! CHAP. II. Progrefs of the Spirit of Freedom. Modified by the different Characters of Nations, peror, and State of the Country. Infurrections. Valour and Succefs of the Infr gents. Engagement at Turnhout, and at Tirlemont. Action between the Auf- 1 trians and Patriots in the open Field. The Patriots become Mafters of the Tous and Citadel of Ghent. Relaxation of Difcipline in the Auftrian Armies. vantages arifing to the Patriots from the Reduction of Ghent. The Emperer deavours to reconcile the Provinces to his Government by fair Promises. Dar Attempt of a Band of Patriots in the Capital of Brabant. Succeeds. The Au trians driven out of Bruffels. Rejoicings at Bruffels. The States affume the Reins of Government. Confederation between the States of Brabant and they Flanders. Acceded to by all the other Provinces, except Limbourg. The Unit Belgic States provide for their Security, by raifing an Army. The Aufbian Ne therlands at this Time the principal Object of Political Attention. Reflection in the ufual State of weaker, when united to fronger States. Splendid Hopes from Miferable Effects of Newfangled and Democratical Principles. Patristic Af fembly inflituted at Bruffels. Their Reafonings and Claims. Political Can- ftitution of the Provinces of the Netherlands. The Principles and Pretenfi the Patriotic Affembly offenfive to the Nobility and Clergy. Means empl by thefe Order's for quashing the Doctrines of the Democrats. Effects of the State of Parties. Prepanderating Influence of the Clergy. Measures taken the Nobility for the Recovery of their Popularity. Without any confiderable F P Popular Difcontents rife to a Pitch of Refilessness and Commotion. Troops employed Juddenly and Shamefully abandoned by the Army. Imprifoned in the Citadel of: Antwerp. Charges brought against him. Duke of Unfel perfecuted by Congress. The Congrefs becomes unpopular and odious to the Bulk of the People. Imprifon ment of Vandermerfch refented by his Countrymen the People of Flanders. De- clining State of the new Government. Expectations from the Acceffion of Leo- pold II. to the Auftrian Dominions. Almoft, though not entirely disappointed. Memorial of Leopold to the Inhabitants of the Netherlands. Criticifms on that Piece. Conduct of Leopold vindicated. Character of Sovereign Princes in gene- ral. The Firmness of Leopold revives a Party in his Favour. Quick Increase of the Loyalifts, in both Numbers and Courage. Arguments in Favour of a Reunion with the House of Auftria, and of Hereditary Monarchy in general. Letter to Congress from the King of Pruffia. Blind Ambition, Obftinacy, and Rashness of Congrefs. Notification to Congress of the Terms of Reconciliation between his Im- perial Majefty and the Belgic Nation. Confented to by the three allied and mediating Powers. Strange Obftinacy of Congress. A Degree of Reunion among the difcordant Parties in the Netherlands brought about by a common Hatred of the Auftrian Government. Hoftilities renewed with great Animofity. Two of the Provinces that remained in Obedience to the Auftrians. A great Refource to the Auftrians. Rapid Growth of Ambition. Character of the Brabanters. Wild Schemes of Conqueft. Repulse of the Brabanters from Limbourg. Various Ep- counters. A large Auftrian Army marches against the Low Countries. At- tempts of Congress to rouxe the Nation to Perfeverance in Arms against the Auf- trians. Made in vain. Various Proposals for Reconciliation. Rejected by the Auftrians. The Auftrians, under General Bender, enter Brabant. All the Provinces fubmut again, on very favourable Conditions, to the House of Auftria. Peace on the Ground of the Status quo, rejected by the Empress of Rufia. Ambitious Kk 2 Lofs |