Sarmatorum habitum fœdantur." This phrase is thus translated by Murphy: however, in consequence of frequent interOf late, marriages between the leading chieftains and the families of Sarmatia, they have been tainted with the manners of that country." I shall observe here, that the word fœdari almost always implies in Tacitus a moral corruption, being in the lowest state of savage ignorance nor would a people, whom he represents a be susceptible of any other. Finnis mira fe ritas, fæda paupertas; a people in that state cannot but be improved, instead of being corrupted, by an intermixture of foreign manners, unless these affect its morals; and in what respect this could be produced by the adoption of Sarmatic customs, does not appear by the text as it now stands. The cor rection I would propose is certainly a bold one. who exulted in having washed away the stain from his countrymen, was at length forced to give up his correction. Yet, from the dissimilitude of the crimes punished by the same kind of death, and from the severity of the penalty, unusual among rude and warlike nations against offences of that nature, I incline to think that the text is corrupted. The correction I would propose is perhaps greater than sound verbal criticism would warrant, did I not think it supported by Tacitus himself, who says in the same book (sect. xxiii): "In consensum vertit, ut primùm adoleverint, crinem barbamque summittere, nec nisi hoste caso exuere votívum obligatumque virtuti oris habitum. Super sanguinem et spolia revelant frontem, seque tum demùm pretia nascendi retulisse, dignosque patriâ ac parentibus ferunt. Ignavis et imbellibus manet squalor." From the reasons I have adduced, and from the re- I would read: "SOCERUM connubiis mixmarkable coincidence of expressions in both tis, nonnihil in Sarmatorum habitum fædanpassages, I would venture to propose reading tur;" importing, "By the promiscuous inthe first thus :- Ignavos et imbelles et squa-termarriages of fathers-in-law with their lore infames," &c. The meaning is sufficiently obvious not to need a translation. In the 59th section we read: "numerum liberorum finire,aut quemquam ex agnatis necare, habetur flagitium;" which is thus translated by Murphy: "To set limits to population, by rearing up only a certain number of children, and destroying the rest, is accounted a flagitious crime." Indeed the meaning of the text as it stands is sufficiently obvious; yet the word agnatis does not properly mean children, and if taken in that acceptation, the passage offers a tautology unworthy of Tacitus, and unlike his concise manner of writing. Some commentators have proposed to read natis, which does not obviate this last objection. I would venture to substitute agnitis (those they have acknowledged). Should this correction be adopted, the passage would then contain an allusion to a well-known practice of the Germans, which Tacitus has been censured for having omitted: I mean the custom of exposing their children on a buckler on the Rhine; if the child floated, he was held legitimate; but if he sunk, he was considered as of spurious birth.* Et quos nascentes explorat gurgite Rhenus. Lastly, we read in the 46th section, "Peucinorum, Venedorumque et Fennorum nationes Germanis an Sarmatis ascribam dubito. Quamquam Peucini, quos quidam Bastanos, vocant, sermone, cultu, sede, ac doariciliis, ut Germani agunt. Sordes omnium ac torpor; procerum connubitis mixtis nonnihil in * Vide Juliani Literam ad Maximum; Galen de Sanit. tuend.; Gregor. Nazianz, &c. Nonnus on that account gives the Rhine the epithet of xerxiyaμov, the test of connubial fidelity. daughters, they have, in some measure adoptThis meaning I shall attempt to explain, by ed the disgraceful customs of the Sarmats." ing to the present manners of the inhabitants a passage from Coxe's Voyage to Russia, relat of the country, where formerly dwelt the ancient people named in that passage (v. Clu verius); begging your readers to recollect, that Tacitus usually conveys information in a single word, leaving the rest to the reader's sagacity. Tacite abrégeait tout parce qu'il savait tout, said Montesquieu." In many families the father marries his son, while girl of more advanced age, in order, as it is a boy of seven, eight, or nine years old, to a said, to procure an able-bodied woman for domestic service: he cohabits with this perfrequently has several children by her. In now become his daughter-in-law, and my progress through Russia, I observed in family; one the peasant's real wife, who some cottages, as it were, two mistresses of a other, who was nominally the son's wife, was old enough to be his mother, and the but in reality the father's concubine. These incestuous marriages, sanctioned by inveterate custom, and permitted by the parish priests, were formerly more common than at present; but as the nation becomes more refined, the priests somewhat more enlightened, and as they have lately been discountenanced by government, they are daily falling into disuse, and, it is to be hoped, will be no longer tolerated." son, To justify the various corrections I have tions than the limits of your publication here proposed perhaps requires more elucidawould allow : I offer them merely as hints; and if they attract the attention of some of your learned correspondents, I shall have at tained my object. I am, Sir, &c. F. D. K. (Comp. Panorama, Vol. II. p. 1217.) The most remarkable invasion of England, because attended with the most lasting effects, is that of William of Normandy, usually called the Conqueror": an event which it is clearly understood Bonaparte considers as the prototype of that which he meditates against our island. We have never met with any historian who has set this history in a just light. The obvious facts, indeed, are narrated by all; but the previous political considerations connected with it, are seldom adverted to, if understood. Still less is it followed by any deductions calculated for usefulness on emergencies of a like kind. We propose, therefore, to take a cursory view of some of those circumstances which facilitated the conqueror's way to the crown. The first we shall notice is, that the Normans were originally Danes; and had, about two centuries before this event, permanently fixed themselves in the French province of Neustria ;-but, in like manner the Danes had established themselves in England, and a considerable proportion of the population of the island was descended from those establishments. There was, therefore, a general conformity of sentiments and manners between the invader and this description of Englishmen and it is well known that the expectation of suffering little by a change has a powerful effect on the human mind. Secondly, this conformity between the invader and those whom he attacked, had been greatly increased by the residence of Edward the Confessor, late King of England, in Normandy: where he was educated, where he had, of course, contracted an intimacy with the natives, and an affection for their manners. He gave a preponderance to the Norman language; and the politeness of his court was hewn in its conformity to the supposed superiority of that country. In fact, the fashion was Norman: the English studied the dress, equipage, entertainments, of that people: it even extended its influence beyond the court, for those who were no courtiers naturally followed the example of those who were. The writer of the life of William the Conqueror in the Harleian Collection says that " although King Edward was English by birth, yet by reason of his education in Normandy, he was altogether become a Norman, both in affection and behaviour of life. So as, in imitation of him, the English abandoned the ancient usages of their country, and with great affection, or affectation rather, conformed themselves to the fashions of France. His chief acqusintance and familiar friends were no other than Normans; towards whom, being a mild and soft-spirited prince, in his favours. These he enriched with great he was very bountiful and almost immoderate possessions; these he honoured with the highest places, both of dignity and of charge." Moreover there were two leading bodies of men whose bias was of moment on this subject. 1. The clergy. Ethelred bestowed the highest dignities in the church on Normans, as well as on Englishmen, and as the the same religion prevailed in both countries, and the clergy of both equally looked up to the Pope as their supreme head, there was no difficulty in the principal ecclesiastical dignities being held by foreigners. These afterwards befriended William all in their power. institutions of Normandy, an excellence and 2. The lawyers who attributed to the laws and importance which inclined them to look for precedents among those foreign yet familiar documents. Of the power of the clergy as a body, a body foreign to the nation, governed by its own laws, animated by its own spirit, and holding community and intercourse with other parts of itself, in distant dominions, we have, happily, no conception, for it is in vain to appeal to the present state of the Catholic countries of Europe, on this subject. They present but few points of similarity, and those feeble, compared with such as characterized the feelings and opinions of the eleventh century. Then the decisions of the Pope were final; his Bulls were authorities; and his ful minations were dreaded with the most excessive terror. now, we have seen the Apostolic see degraded, and, so effectually, that even its devotees, have diminished their veneration to mere respect. What was then attributed to the clergy individually, and the authority of the papacy in the abstract, was attributed to the church and churchmen held divided sway in the minds of the people, with that of the state. Of this empire over the mind William availed himself with the greatest dexterity. He first gained the Pope to his party, and communicated to him his intentions in confidence; thereby he converted the Pontiff from an indifferent arbitrator, to a well-wisher to his pretensions. He promised moreover, to hold the kingdom of England of the Apos tolic see. Influenced by these promises Alexander, then Pope, sent him a consecrated banner, an Agnus Dei of gold, and a relic of St. Peter's hairs: adding his blessing on the : This preponderating power in favour of William, moreover, acted on the contrary, to the prejudice of Harold, his competitor for Harold had placed the crown on his own head, the same day that King Edward was buried, without any ceremonies of religious consecration, without any solemnities of coronation, or any interference of the clergy. The clergy, therefore, considered him not merely as a person unconsecrated, but as one who designed to deprive them of their official importance, and who by his indifference to their rights, had injured themselves, the church, and the kingdom. On the one hand, therefore, they did not dare to disobey the injunctions of the Pope, even if they did not zealously promote their object by preparing the people for submission to the Normans; while on the other hand, they were at best cold friends to Harold, but more probably concealed and insidious enemies. Harold was not the true heir to the crown of England, but took advantage of the high stations he occupied to render himself master of all. Neither was his character free from gross faults and blemishes. with his father, in arms against King Edward; He had been, he had been, as almost all historians allow, sworn to an agreement with William in which he had admitted that sovereign's pretensions to the crown. The English nobility, therefore, were undecided, or broken into opposite parties, or at best lukewarm in his behalf. Some were prepared by circumstances, already mentioned, to become Normans; some were led to wish that the superiority of William might prevail, and the kingdom become improved by the accession of Normandy; some were for change, as they could not forsee the character of Harold's scarcely established government, and some, as they expected personal advantage from events. Few were willing to become subjects to one who for a long time had been their equal; and to whose aspiring mind they did not naturally owe any deference. the duties of a less eventful period. Harold might have exercised the government in the bition induced him to risque his fate on the name of the young prince, but personal amacquisition of a crown. The thers named Tosti, who excited the king of Harold was at enmity with one of his broNorway to invade the northern coast of England: and William not only seconded this endeavour of Fosti, but confederated with bined effect of their invasions, at the same the king of Norway, and planned the com time, but in different places: one advancing in the north, the other in the south. Tost with which he first ravaged the Isle of Wight, received from William a fleet of sixty ships; and other ccasts, but at length sailed for Scotland whence he joined the king of Norway off the Humber, and this united fleet sailed up that river, landed their forces, marched forward, and besieged York. This may be considered as a fatal error in Harold he had no navy. Tosti had been beaten on the coast: but had his fleet been followed by a superior English force, he never could have given assistance to the Norwegian monarch. after defeating the feeble opposition which invaders made themselves masters of York, They did their duty: but the event was dethe governors of that province could muster. marched into the north, defeated these Norstructive to their forces. Harold at length wegians; Tosti and Harfager their leaders were slain in battle, and the remains of their army escaped by a capitulation. But, in the mean time, the army of William was completed : he drew his forces from all the Continent? from France, from Germany, and from wherever adventurers chose to join his standard, Vallery on the eve of the feast of St. Michael and share his fortune. He sailed from St. A. D. 1066, with above 300 ships, and 67,000 Bay, in Sussex, having lost only two small men he landed the next day in Pevensey overladen vessels in the passage. He met with no opposition at sea, for Harold had no fleet : had no army stationed within any reasonable he received no check on the shore, for Harold joined William, induced by the causes which distance. On the contrary, many English anticipating the ultimate event of his success. we have already mentioned, and no doubt, It is clear that Harold was not the favourite of the English people; because, the name of Edgar Atheling, who was the true heir to the crown in right of blood, has been transmitted to us, with this distinction, “ Edgar Atheling, England's darling." This mark of the affections of the nation, shews sufficiently, that could the wishes of the people have been consulted, neither Harold nor William would have filled the English throne. Edgar was, unhappily too young to sustain a struggle for his birthright; he was but simple, and the powers of his mind were unequal to the exigencies of the time, even if they were equal to English nation were the cause of William's Thus it appears, that the divisions of the acquisition of the sovereignty. The influence of manners; the weight of ecclesisastical opinion and example; the blemishes of Harold's title and character, and the improvis dence of Harold as to his naval forces, were and so many encouragements to his foes. It so many disheartenings to his friends, is certain, also, that the bravery of Harold fatally misled him: his brother Gyrth, no less valiant than himself, advised him not to venture his person and fortune on a single But our object is not so much to enter on the details of these events as to sketch a general comparison of the situation of the public mind, at that time, and at present. The first point of comparison is the different state and power of the clergy, and clerical influence. At that time every person under excommunication was considered as lost both body and soul, both for time and eternity: all intercourse with him was forbid; every one who assisted or favoured him became implicated in his condition, and partook of his guilt: nor was this a light matter, since opinion gave infinite weight to this anathema, and faith never admitted a doubt as to the absolute and entire effect of the papal decretals, on earth, in purgatory, in Heaven and in hell. more likely to be pronouneed against those who favour the enemy, than against those who resist him. Are there then among us, those who favour the enemy? We can only answer, that, Bonaparte formerly told Count Markoff, then the Russian ambassador at Paris, that he had many more friends in Britain than people supposed." It is true, those who reported this were obliged by political motives to retract their report, but the fact we can take upon ourselves to affirm is true, nevertheless. We willingly hope, however, that this language was gasconade. It might have a purpose to answer for as to the veracity of the speaker, we by no means pledge ourselves to that. Yet it may serve to shew that in recommending unanimity to our countrymen, we are not without motives which may vindicate our conduct. We do seriously, also, desire those who indulge themselves in aping French fashions, French phrases, French manners, who affect to delight in French productions, servants, players, &c., to consider the immense evil which such conduct may produce to their country, and to banish such unworthy partialities from their minds, and even from their memories. The circumstances of the nation in respect to its navy are too strikingly different to be over looked. We shall not enlarge on this head, because whatever might be said will be anticipated by the reader: we therefore merely refer to our monthly reports of the number of the British fleet, and to our frequent occasion of recording the exploits of British seamen. These are indeed the strength of our navy, the bulwark of our Isle. The present state of the public mind in England is a perfect contrast to such superstitious sentiments. It is true that the king of Great Britain is annually excommunicated at Rome, from the balcony of St. Peter's: but it is equally true, that the brutum fulmen of that ceremony affects no one of his subjects. Not one in a hundred thousand is acquainted with the fact and not one in the whole population digests his beef and pudding the worse for it, or suffers it to disturb his slumbers on the night ensuing. In fact, were Bonaparte to procure a thousand bulls from his holiness in favour of his invasion, should he receive ten thousand agnus dei's, and apostolical benedictions without number, even the well informed Catholics would apologise for papal weakness, and To compare the title and character of Harold would smother a laugh while they drew a veil with those of his present Majesty were futility itself. Our King was born a Briton," but over the infirmity of their father. What then would be the sentiments of the Protestant he was born to the Throne; no one in seeing mass of the nation? it would treat such in-him seated in his dignity, saw an equal raised anity with derision; it would rouze tenfold above him. He is under no oath to Bonaparte. zeal in opposition to such insupportable arro-There is no one to whom the eye can turn gance, and would take a peculiar pleasure in with the smallest apprehension of rivalship. repelling with all its power the introduction and now, even Cardinal York, the last of the of popery and slavery. We may dismiss this Stuarts, has left this world, we hope for an consideration in a few words: the church was infinitely better. then independent of the state: they are now combined, and church and state are one: the church was then foreign; it is now native; it then acknowledged a foreign jurisdiction, was filled with foreigners, and was sure of retaining its importance under all events, it now acknowledges only the general laws of the land, scarcely a foreigner can be found in it; and it is sure of being treated with consummate indignity, should the general enemy effect his purposes. All the weight of the church is now in favour of the present government, and though excommunication, as an ecclesiastical censure, is so rare, that it is little thought of among us, yet we are certain, that it is much Dissention then, has no plea for rouzing its destructive powers, and forging the chains of its country under the pretence of natural feeedom: it is a monster to be struck down to the ground the moment its envenomed fang is discovered, or its horrid hiss is heard. No power can prevail against Britain which is not fostered in herself! May it never be the lot of future historians to record, that the fatal examples of ancient time were all lost, on the present, or that when Britain was attacked by her enemy, there were some gracious heaven!-there were some, who, by their criminal indifference, contributed to the dis honour and the destruction of their country: ACCOUNT OF THE VERSIONS OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES, NOW EXTANT AMONG THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN TRAVANCORE BY DR. BUCHANAN. Cochin, Jan. 1807. The Reverend Dr. Buchanan, who left Bengal some months ago, with the view of proceeding to Travancore, to enquire into the state of the Syrian Christians, arrived in that country about the beginning of November last, having travelled from Calcutta to Cape Comorin by land. His Highness the Rajah of Travancore was pleased to afford to Dr. Buchanan the most liberal assistance in the prosecution of his enquiries. About the middle of November, Dr. Buchanan proceeded from the sea coast into the interior of the country North East from Quilon, to visit the ancient Syrian Churches situated amongst the hills at the bottom of the high Ghauts, which divide the Carnatic from Malayala. The face of the country in general, in the vicinity of the mountains, exhibits a varied scene of hill and dale, and winding streams. These streams fall from the mountains and preserve the vallies in perpetual verdure. The woods produce Pepper, Cardamoms and Cassia or wild Cinnamon; also frankincense and other aromatic gums. What adds much to the grandeur of the scenery in this country is that the adjacent mountains of Travancore are not barren, but are covered with Teak forests, producing the largest timber in the world. dostan, and reminds him of another country. When Dr. Buchanan arrived at the remote Churches, he was informed by the inhabi tants that no European had, to their knowledge, visited the place before. The Romish Priests do not travel thither, there being no Church of their communion in that quarter. The number of Syrian Churches is greater than has been supposed. There are at this time fifty five Churches, in Malayala,* acknowledging the Patriarch of Antioch. The last Church was erected by the present Bishop in 1793. The Syrian Christians are not Nestorians. Formerly indeed they had Bishops of that communion, but the Liturgy of the present Church is derived from that of the early Church of Autioch, called, " Liturgia Jacobi Apostoli." They are usually denominated Jacobita; but they differ in ceremonial from the Church of that name in Syria, and indeed from any existing Church in the world. Their proper designation and that which is sanctioned by their own use, is, "Syrian Christians"; or, "The Syrian Church of Malayala." The doctrines of the Syrian Church are contained in a very few articles; and are not at variance in essentials with the doctrines of the Church of England. Their Bishop and Metropolitan, after conferring with his clergy on the subject, delivered the following opinion; "That an union with the English Church, or at least such a connection as should appear to both Churches practicable favourable to the advancement of religion." and expedient, would be a happy event and It is in contemplation to send to England some of the Syrian Youth for education and The present Bishop, Mar Dionysius, is a native of Malayala, but of Syrian extraction. He is a man of respectable character in his nation, and exercises himself in the pious discharge of the duties of his high office. He is now seventy-eight years of age, and pos sesses a venerable aspect, his white beard descending low to his girdle. On public occasions he wears the Episcopal Mitre, and is robed in a white vestment which covers long garments of red silk; and in his hand he holds the Pastoral staff. The first native Bishop was ordained by the Romish Church in 1663. But he was of the Romish communion. Since that period the old Syrians have continued, till lately, to receive their Bishops from Antioch. But that ancient The first view of the Christian Churches in this sequestered region of Hindostan, connected with the idea of their tranquil duration for so many ages, cannot fail to excite pleas-ordination. ing emotions in the mind of the beholder. The form of the oldest buildings is not unlike that of some of the old Parish Churches in England; the style of building in both being of Saracenic origin. They have sloping roofs, pointed-arch windows, and buttresses supporting the walls. The beams of the roofs being exposed to view are ornamented; and the ceiling of the choir and Altar is circular and fretted. In the Cathedral Churches, the shrines of the deceased Bishops are placed on each side of the Altar. Most of the Churches are built of a reddish stone squared and polished at the quarry, and are of durable construction, the front wall of the largest edifices being six feet thick. The Bells of the Churches are cast in the founderies of Travancore. Some of them are of large dimeusions; and have inscriptions in Syriac and Malayalim. In approaching a town in the evening, the sound of the bells may be heard at a distance, amongst the hills; a circumstance which causes the British Traveller to forget for a moment that he is ip Hin Malayala comprehends the mountains and the whole region within them, from Cape Comorin to Cape Illi. Whereas the Province of Malabar, commonly so called, contains only the Northern Districts; not including the country of Travancore. |