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.