discourse, which made great impression upon the hearers, was to prove, that love to Christ is the only true motive to Missionary exertion." At two o'clock, the annual meeting was held at the New London Tavern, Cheapside. -A report of the proceedings, during the last year, was read by the secretary; from which it appeared, that two settlements had been formed by the society's missionaries, on the Rio Pongas, to the north of the colony of Sierra Leone. One of these settlements consists of a house built in a Susoo town, called Fantimania, after the name of its chief; and the other, of various buildings, some miles below Fantimania; which lately constituted a factory, belonging to the deceased Mr. Gray, but was transferred, as a free gift to the Mission, by his representative, on condition of the missionaries receiving Mr. Gray's orphan children for education. The missionary Prasse is dead. Mr. Renner is married; and, with Mr. Butscher, occupies the two settlements while Mr. Nylander continues in care of the colony of Sierra Leone. Two other missionaries, Barneth and Wenzel, will immediately proceed to Africa, to assist their brethren on the Rio Pongas: and two others, Wilhelm and Klein, will continue for some time longer under the care of the Rev. Mr. Scott, at Aston Sandford, near Thame. The natives and traders in the vicinity of the settlements, have manifested a readiness to commit their children to the care of the missionaries; and, it is hoped, that the good seed will be thus extensively sown among the rising generation. The condition of that part of Africa is rapidly meliorating, in consequence of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Christianity appears to have had a vital influence on various maroons in the colony, who have been baptized by the missionary Nylander; and a Mandingo man and woman, have been admitted to that holy ordinance, who have given the most simple and satisfactory evidence of their conversion to the faith.. The society has granted five hundred pounds towards the translation and circulation of the Scriptures, in the various languages of the east; and is about to send out two settlers, well qualified for the purpose as a ship-builder and rope-maker, to form an establishment at the Bay of Islands, on the northern of the two New Zealand Islands; with the ultimate view of introducing the Gospel into those large and populous districts. Donations and subscriptions are received by Mr. Thomas Smith, deputy secretary, 19, Little Moorfields. For the latest accounts of the state of the settlements at Sierra Leone, Vide page 977. DIDASCALIA. HAYMARKET THEATRE. A new farce has appeared at this theatre, with an incident rather attractive to public curiosity; and as the author has published the history of it, we insert his title page, which will explain the circumstance to his wish. KILLING NO MURDER: a Farce: in two Acts, as performed with great Applause at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket: together with a Preface, and the Scene suppressed by Order of the Lord Chamberlain. Written by Theodore Edward Hook, Esq. The Music by Mr. Hook, Sen. 8vo. pp. 53. Price 2s. London, Tipper, 1809. This farce is ushered into the literary world by a preface, containing reiterated complaints against the Deputy of the Lord Chamberlain, Mr. Larpent, Licenser of Plays; and, by implication, against his lordship himself, for refusing to affix the official seal of approbation upon Killing no Murder, as the au thor originally wrote it. However, the only piece of intelligence we can glean from it is, "that government does not wish the Me"thodists to be ridiculed," nor any religious sect to be made the butt of either stage-wr ters, or stage-players, against that wise ordinance the Act of Toleration. On this our zealous and moral author belabours the Me thodists as unmercifully as they do in their turn the "Stage-players and their friend the Devil ;" and then relates the following as part of a sermon delivered, he says, " at that stye of mud and corruption, Rowland Hill's cha pel, on the destruction of Covent-Garden theatre and the annihilation of a score of firemen."..." Great news, my brethren! great "news! A great triumph has taken place over "the Devil and the Stage-players-a fire in "one of their houses-Oh may there be one "consumed every year!-It is my fervent "prayer! Mr. Hook, by way of contrast, we suppose, has added an advertisement replete with the most fulsome adulation to certain of the play actors. If this author, who is "no saint," is not ashamed, we at least may be allowed again to express a becoming sense of our regret at seeing such base servility on the part of literary men. How can they condescend to offer, with bended knee, incense to such shrines? We certainly conceive that the players, notwithstanding the modesty of this w ter, are far more indebted to authors who study to exhibit their talents to advantage, than authors are to them. Indeed, most stage. writers agree in their opinion on the very great ignorance of players, and we refer to some now living, who have not scrupled to complain how difficult it was to make them comprehend the clearest passages. Besides, as plays are made for representation, (and not for reading, now-a-days) they must, if these professors of buffoonery know any thing of their business, render the farce or play, far more entertaining on the stage than it can be in the closet; for what is a player, but un comédien qui entre dans la passion, as the French critics say.-Who then but must blush at reading the following exquisite effusion of gratitude on the part of T. E. Hook, Esquire? To the other gentlemen in the piece I offer "The great applause Killing no Murder, has received, calls me to make my acknowledgeWe should not have dwelt so long on a ments where they are due. To Mr. Larpent, silly farce, but for the singularity of its for refusing his licence, and creating an in- stery; and we are certainly less inclined to terest for the farce, I am first obliged to complain of the Lord Chamberlain's refusal Lord Dartmouth, for his concurrence in the to licence a character in it, than we are to refusal, equally indebted the Lord Chum- censure his granting one so easily for estaberlain and his Deputy were as good as ablishing an ENGLISH Opera incorporated with dozen newspaper paragraphs to me but I FRENCH Dancers. Moreover we sympathize cannot help observing, that if his lordship had with the author's extreme anxiety, to ex regulated the stage in the days of the English onerate himself from the charges of dis "loyalty or immorality." We therefore Aristophanes, such a Legget and Foole t would not have gone on well together. hope our readers will pardon us if we advise them to respect the morals and wit of this writer, wherever they find them! "Toto hoc in genere pugnæ." To Mathews ALL MY THANKS ARE INADEQUATE—but, as I am unable to do justice to his professional talents, already so well known and appreciated, I may perhaps be allowed to say, that all the approbation he receives in public as an actor, he fully deserves in private as a man. .I Liston, as Apollo, exceeded my anxious expectations; indeed all authors must be made by such an actor, because NO PART, AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, can be equal to his talents. To Mr. Grove I am much indebted; his attention to the little part of Sir Walter was in no small degree conducive to my success. This writer says, in his preface, "out came the murder: "--so it seems; and here, gentle reader, you have the key of the enigma,why so many wretched pieces succeed on the stage, ཚ་ by the aid of some dozen of newspaper "paragraphs!" This we have often hinted at, and at last it is frankly admitted by a professor of the art. This acknowledgment would not have been made, but for the Lord Chamberlain's refusal :-we therefore thank him." The Change, and Schools," says a celebrated writer," are full of quacks, jugglers, and plagiaries!" A correct specimen of the Attic salt of this piece, in which the author ambles up and down With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits; Soon kindled, and soon burnt. We are glad to hear this-we should be glad to hear the same of all the profession, who are not very decently complimented by this" but" of implication. We hope it is not otirical. 66 On Monday, July 10, a production, after the German school, was first exhibited at the Haymarket theatre, (the author has since published i) under the title of THE FOUNDLING OF THE FOREST: a Play. in three Acts, as now performing at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, with the most distinguished Success. By William Dimond, Esq. Author of Adrian and Orrila,' Hero of the North,'' Hunter of the Alps, &c. &c. 8vo. pp. 72. Price 2s. 6d. London, Longnian and Co. 1809. The scene is laid in Alsace at the chateau of Count de Valmont; who, even after the lapse of eighteen years, is inconsolable for the supposed death of his lady and only son. On his return from the German wars, he had been informed that his wife and child had been consumed in the midnight conflagration of his castle by the enemy; while the whole had proceeded from the machinations of his kinsman, Baron Longueville, who had propagated a report that the Count was slain in battle, and who sought to inherit the Count's estates, by exciting the Hugonots to set fire to the castle in his absence, for the destruction of the Countess and her son; bot' they found means to escape from the flames. On his return, the Count is made acquainted with this report, and he remains secluded from the world, a prey to despair; his only" solace arising from his niece Geraldine, his destined heiress, and Florian, the foundling, who gives name to the piece. His lady, in the meantime, continues in the belief that her husband is dead; and, persecuted by Lon gueville, she remains buried in obscurity, lamenting over her woes, and wanders by midnight through forests drear. The principal interest of the piece arises from the atrocious machinations of Longueville against the life of lorian, to whom the Count appears greatly attached, and for whom he destines the hand of his niece. After various vicissitudes, his attempts are at last discovered and foiled, and the Count finds Florian to be his son, and is again made happy by regaining his Countess, and Baron Longueville is committed to the dungeon to expiate his crimes. The story, as a theatrical vehicle, is interesting; and, as far as stage effect is concerned, is contrived with a great deal of skill; and we have no doubt, it will be approved of by those who love the marvellous, and are delighted with storms, spectres, assassins, midnight horrors, and the other paraphernalia of the German Muse, made so fashionable in our times by the inventors of horrible romances and mysteries.The language is occasionally bombastic, and in the character of Florian, for instance, is perfectly ridiculous. This young gentleman is made to talk more like a buffoon than a nobleman, his discourse is occasionally so inflated as to exceed all credibility. -What would our readers think of "Hope and Fancy making a ball-room of his heart." Poor gentleman, his heart must be a pretty place to dance a saraband in, to whisk a fandango, or to twirl a waltz ;—but our principal objection is to the strange way in which the Divinity is addressed. This blot defaces almost all the modern things called dramas or plays. In the farcical comedies we have low, vulgarswearing, unworthy even the refuse of society; while in the comédies larmoyantes, and tragedies, we have eternal imprecations of the Deity, indicative only of madness in literature. We shall, in our next, insert passages from the dramatic productions of this month, that our readers may be convinced what writers of the modern stage can exhibit in the dog-days, "vulgarly" (say our lexicographers) reputed to be unwholesome!" The bustle, the incidents, and the interest of the fable, insured it a very flattering reception, and will render it a favourite, notwithstanding literature gains very little by its introduction to the public. It is interspersed with songs, one of which we select to remind the author of what Pope says, "Want of decency shews want of sense." DUET.-Rosabelle and L'Eclair. Rosabelle. The precept of Bacchus to man proves a curse: Of myrtle or vine I pretend not to know, Among soi-disant jolly fellows, revelling in senseless ribaldry and inebriety, this song might be deemed very fine-but we shrewdly suspect that if the lines had been spoken at the theatre, instead of being sung, the audience would have resented the insult. At all events the Licenser should not have let them pass-for, as Dryden justly remarked to the Earl of Dorset: As Loid Chamber 66 lain, I know, you are absolute by your office, in all that belongs to the decency and good manners of the Stage. You can banish thence scurrility and profaneness, and restrain the licentious insolence of Poets and their Actors, in all things that shock the public quiet, or the reputation of private persons, under the notion of Humour!" This play is inscribed in some pretty lines, which we shall insert hereafter, to Mrs. Sophia Lee, and with pleasure we select the last passage in the work to prove, at least, how well Mr. Dimond can write. "Count de Valmont.-Eugenia, greet our love? Thou hendest o'er his forehead e'en as mutual image.-Ah! wilt thou weep, sweet in beauteous sorrow to embathe its neighboura lily, brimming with clear dews, that stoops and marring cares o'erborne, our long be ing bud. Through many a storm of perilous nighted loves at last encounter on a sun-bright course, and reach the haven of domestic peace. Thus Judah's pilgrim-one whose steps in vain Climb sky-crown'd rocks-o'erpace the burning plain, Just when his soul despairs-his spirits faint, LYCEUM. A new Opera has been brought forward at the Union Company of ENGLISH Opera and FRENCH Dancers. It is intitled the Russian The head it confounds, and the heart it be- Impostor; we shall notice it in our next witches. L'Eclair. I'm sure, the example of Cupid is worse, For he walks abroad without shirt, drawers, or breeches. number.--Want of roonr has alone prevented us from expatiating on this fresh insult to Literature. 4 the same danger, but, the most prompt and IXTRACTS FROM A REPORT MADE BY MA- energetic measures are taking for its safety." HOMED IBRAHIM, WHO 18 RECENTLY We have on several occasions called the te ion of our readers to the history and te doctrines of the Wahabees; a sect now sing into great importance in Arabia, and tely to prove extremely detrimental to the éponderance of the Grand Signior in those fts. It is even understood, that commucations have taken place between the British d the Wahabees on the side of Persia; d that the force of this party is not unely to act as a check on the Persian empire. hatever be the fact as to such transactions, I cannot but avail ourselves of an opportuty to present a more accurate view of the terior of Arabia, than has lately reached public. The very circuitous mode in fich such communications now come to our nds must be taken into consideration, in preciating this article. Hadgi Mahomed Ibrahim is a pilgrim who ated the tomb of Mahomet, &c. from detion: his journal has furnished us with e following information. The account he tes of the destruction of the tombs, &c. by far the most circumstantial that has ched Europe. Beside this, the picture he aws of a Patriarch who has attained the age one hundred and fifty-one years is interestg; and his account of the politics of the ferent courts of the Peninsula shews, that hether on a larger scale, or on a smaller, e ambition and emulations of the human art are perfectly similar. What are the ojects of Revolutions meditated in that untry, but counterparts to what we have held in Europe? It may be proper to recal the date of these ents to the recollection of our readers; hich we do, by translating from a foreign urnal an article dated Constantinople, Oct. , 1805.-"The progress of the Wecchabis is reached even to the holy city of Medina, hich has surrendered to them by capitulaon. The first act of the conquerors was to stroy the tomb of the founder of the Maometan religion. Mecca is threatened with Compare Panorama, Vol. VI. p. 296. VOL. VI. [Lit. Pan. Aug. 1809.] The report of the violent death of Mungo Park is too strongly confirmed by the account of Mahomed Ibrahim: unless that was the echo of the death of Major Houghton; as we know not the time when this reporter obtained his intelligence. We have not thought it adviseable to alter the mode of calculation, of expression, or of spelling employed by this writer: such peculiarities being in our opinion a feature in the human character. Neither have we omit ted his introductory account of the original Wahabee; as the circulation of such stories give an insight into the disposition and manners of the people of Arabia. Wuhabee Sheikh Abdool Wuhab bin Ferooz, an inhabitant of Luhsee, a man of extensive learning and erudition, had a son named Moohummud bin Abdool Wuhab equally distinguished for his literary talents. He sojourned three years at Bussora, where he acquired a knowledge of all the sciences, law, divine tradition, theology, logic, rhetoric, grammar, and the unity of God. When he returned to Luhsee his father was living, but had lost the use of his eves. On being ap prized of the return of his son, he became exceedingly dejected; his friends who were sitting with him, wondered at this, observing that the proficiency of his son should be a source of joy to him. The father replied: "Alas! this son is a terrible devil! his sin will prove him so. He will create a schism, in the revealed faith, and be the origin of civil commotions, also." On the death of his father, Abdool. Wuhab proceeded to the city of Duria (about 85 years ago). He afterwards joined his cousin Azeez, father of Savod, intimating to him,' that their faith was erroneous and improper; and inviting him to assist in converting the inhabitants of the desert. Their tenets have been disseminated by unheard-of tyranny and oppression: fraud, violence, usurpation, and plunder alone constitute their faith. Abdool Wuhab had three sons: Abdoolla, Hoossaine, and Chufeer: the last has a son, now at Zubad near Bussora, but not of this belief, having separated from them The pilgrims who left Syria, Egypt, and Turkey, with intention of visiting the sacred cities, brought with them considerable sum of money, for distribution in alms, on behal of the emperor. When they solicited per mission to enter the holy city of Mecca, the Wuhabee demanded the money they had brought. They remonstrated; but at length surrendered the money. He then ordered 2 I them to quit their arms; they hesitated, but were forced to submit :-And then, he sent them away without having performed their devotions. They returned with great reluctance. They were about 10,000. They carried back with them the merchandise they had brought. Several who advanced further secretly, for purposes of devotion, were decapitated: of which I was witness. The Wuhabee came this year with a great force: and would not allow a single person to have access to the Mausoleum of the prophet to discharge the ceremonies of Zeearut. No one dare acknowledge that he had performed those solemnities, nor did I avow it. I even went under pretence of viewing the country. I saw that the city is walled; and has a fort with guns mounted. Savod has also constructed a small castle in Mudeena, near Jinnut-col-Bukeeu. About this time the Wuhabee arrived on the spot; and having demolished the sepulchre of Fatima (on whom be the blessing of God!) and all the other tombs, they took out such precious stones, valuable pearls and diamonds, together with the other gold and silver ornaments as were used in the cenotaph of the prophet; and having appropriated the same to themselves, they proceeded to Duria, previously directing the people of Mudeena, and the inhabitants of Arabia, generally, not to allow any person to proceed to Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Hindoostan, or any country beyond the frontiers of Arabia; because the inhabitants of those countries were infidels, to be avoided as much as possible: threatening confiscation of goods to the party transgressing and reward to whoever should succeed against any of those territories, I have no doubt that not less than three thousand persons, inhabitants of Persia, came for the purpose of performing the pilgrimage; and from them the Wuhabee exacted the sum of one lac fifty thousand dollars, by way of tribute, or capitation tax, as the condition on which they were allowed to perform pilgrimage (hu) and afterwards, he dispatched them by way of Duria, forbidding them to proceed by the route of Bughdad. At all events, the sway and despotism, exercised by the Wuhabee in Arabia, exceed all bounds : being such that I cannot convey any adequate idea thereof. I have, further, been given to understand, by some of the Wuhabees, that their intentions are also directed against India. May the Almighty disappoint them, and render their designs abortive! All the inhabitants of the country of Arabia are much pleased with, and attached to the English. Savod, the present ruler, who is designated Wuhabee, has issued orders at every station, including Hodieda, &c. that British vessels shall experience no obstruction ør impediment in transacting their affairs. The Imaum of Senna, Muntoor Ulee Buni-ool-Abbas, has been on terms of friendship and harmony with the Christians for three centuries past; but more especially with the English, the French, the Lich, and Portuguese; and no disagreement is to be apprehended between him and them; fot he maintains an equal footing with the whole, generally, however cultivating a more friendly communication with the British nation, whose intercourse with his territories exceeds that of all others; he, therefore, considers it necessary to conciliate their good-will. The continuance of this state of amity between the Imaum and the Christian world, and the non-occurrence of any cause of dissension, is in consequence of the compact, which has existed between them for more than three hundred years, by which each agreed to cultivate the friendship of the rest, and to avoid every occasion of enuity or dis trust; an established maxim, which is found ed upon ancient usage; and ths he has, hitherto, adhered to without variation. Sheriff Ghalil (the governor of Mecca) is an excellent man, but money is his religion not, however, that courage and personal prowess are the less esteemed by him. Wa the English he is on terms of cordiality, and. judging from present appearances, no charge of sentiment on his part is to be apprehended, Sheriff Muhmood, (or Itumood) the gover nor of Loheia and Hodeida, has acquired the ascendancy in certain parts of Arabia; and is rendered perfectly secure by his power and strength. His present object is, to obla possession of Mokka, and the other territorio dependant upon Senna; and whenever i may succeed in those designs, it is his inten tion to subvert and overthrow some of lia established institutions of those countrie for instance, from all those who bring af cles of merchandise, he levies an additiona duty of ten per cent.; and it is his intention to exact the same from the English, (wh now pay a duty of three per cent.) whos admitting any deduction. Sheriff Muhmo having subdued several posts subordinate Senna, viz. Lubid, Hodeida, Lohuija ard Bytul Fukub, (Beit-al-Fakih) and establishest his authority therein, intends to seize upea some other places. With regard to Kamran, this is an island in which the construction of a fort was com menced by the Turks three hundred year back, and it continued, for a long time, their possession. Having however been subsequently abandoned by them, it remained uninhabited, without attracting the attention of any one to build thereon, or to improve its ruined fortifications, until three years ago, when Syed Moohummud Akil applied for to Sheriff Muhmood, who ceded it to bic on which he began to rebuild it, and to los tify it anew, by every means in his power; |