idea of perishing in this hated spot-at dragging the chain of blighted hope, of crushed ambition for years-at wasting the meridian of my days in oppressive vacuity; and I eagerly looked abroad for some means, however desperate, for effecting a change in my condition. To have deserted my post would have been an act of madness; I was in the very heart of Hindostan,—a stranger amidst millions, and must have rambled for months as a mendicant fakir, or perished under the swords or spears of the bands of robbers that traversed the Continent, or been devoured by the wild beasts that swarmed in every jungle and forest. I cursed the tropical sun, whose rays were ever beating upon me-I cursed the teeming earth that sent up the prodigality of its riches around me, and yearnedoh, God! with what intensity,-for the sight of the cool groves and cottages of England.

"About half a mile from the palace I inhabited was a narrow and secluded glen of the most exquisite and picturesque loveliness. For some months after my arrival, and before my growing impatience had rendered every thing hateful to me, it had been my favourite walk. A small stream ran through it, supplied by copious springs sanctified in the eyes of the natives by some event, the memory of which had alone been preserved by oral tradition. An immense banian-tree afforded delicious shelter; and the rich green sward, the silk-cotton tree, and the Decannee bean, with its black stems and crimson and scarlet blossoms, when glowing beneath the setting sun, had an effect inconceivably splendid. Hour after hour did I sit watching the antics of the Entellus and Wanderoo monkies, sporting in a group of mango and tamarind trees; or, stretched at length on the borders of the tank, pleased myself with the motions of the gorgeous water-lilies, as they moved upon its surface, while the bulbul was singing its vesper-song perched on the summit of a betelnut tree, and the living drapery of magnificent bindweeds were becoming studded with flower-gems, which appeared as the first stars of night twinkled in the deep-blue heaven. Why do I recall such a scene of loveliness? Is it not present now before my aching vision? and was it not here that my evil passions made me a murderer?

At

"At the extremity of this glen, its walls washed by the sacred springs and partly surrounded by them, and in the midst of a mangotope, stood a Jain temple, of peculiar holiness. Hither, at stated periods, resorted pilgrims from the most remote parts of Western India, bringing rich offerings, to perform their peculiar rites. other times, a few attendant priests were alone to be found in its vicinity. The chief of these was Amoora, a venerable man, of simple and pure manners and of noble piety, though he bowed down before a senseless idol. He was universally beloved, and by his sect viewed as a saint; and no man, whether Christian or Hindoo, ever deserved the character more justly. I admired his mild dignity and his unbounded benevolence, and had more than once served him essentially in his disputes with the needy and base-minded prince who had the nominal sovereignty of the district. A degree of confidence and friendly feeling had grown up between us, and few days elapsed that I did not see and converse with the wise and amiable

A moora. The prejudice of caste wore away, and I was admitted privately into the very sanctum of the temple. Its gloom, its massy and pillared walls covered with ancient sculpture, and the strangely deformed image, the object of worship, interested me for a time. But the change came over my spirits, and I visited him less frequently. For this he remonstrated, and kindly urged me to come more frequently; and, after repeated solicitations, I one day again entered the lovely valley. Its natural beauties were unchanged, but I passed them unheeded, and once more stood within the gloom, and before the idol of the Jain temple. It was rudely fashioned in the form of a gigantic woman, and was of massy gold, with diamonds of immense value for eyes, and pendants at its ears. I gazed upon it with a sardonic grin- it was an idol that would have been worshipped in any nation-when suddenly the idea shot into my mind that I could despoil it of its ornaments. I trembled as this flashed through my brain like lightning; and, hastily retiring, brooded over the newly-awakened thought. Base and ignoble as it was, it took exclusive possession of my mind. Day after day I returned to the temple;-sophistry came to my aid. I reasoned myself into the belief that the appropriation of this now useless wealth would be an act that could injure no man, and that it would at once replace me in a rank of which I deemed myself unjustly deprived. Fool, fool, and worse than fool! I was ignorant that one deed of direct wrong is the gateway to the deepest crime.

:

"The time came-the moment was favourable. With the wary consideration of a practised thief, I took precautions. My rank and my situation would place me above all suspicion a band of predatory freebooters had been committing depredations in the neighbourhood, and I seized upon the opportunity. The attendants on the temple were engaged at a village festival; and, walking out armed with a light boar-spear, I reached the quiet mango-tope. Not a human being was in sight; and, pushing open Amoora's private door, I stood before the idol. I shook like a frightened child, and for a moment was irresolute; but the genius of evil is ever present, and I dislodged the diamonds with the point of my spear. Whilst hastily securing them, I was alarmed by a slight noise; and, looking around me, I saw Amoora's daughter gazing upon me with a look of horror, I trembled violently,-I would have fled; but fled whither? I was too confused, too hurried for consideration, and, in my desperation, I threw my boar-spear at the beautiful and unoffending girl, and she fell mortally wounded. One long and piercing shriek re-echoed through the gloomy temple. I was in an agony of terror, but my spear must be secured. I rushed to the bleeding object of my dastardly vengeance, and, snatching the weapon, turned to flee away. My evil genius was, however, too busily at work; and hardly had I succeeded in freeing my spear, when the venerable and hoary-headed Amoora, roused by the shriek of his child, entered the doorway. I would have given a million of worlds to have been guiltless of my first crime, but there lay the bleeding evidence; and roused to madness by my situation, and forgetful of

all but self, I rushed upon the old man, and added another stain to the deep one that was already on my soul.

My diabolical errand being thus effected, I left the desecrated temple, and regained my own home unobserved. The deed of violence was soon known, and suspicion fell upon the roving bands which were known to be in the neighbourhood. I placed myself at the head of the forces that were burning with desire to avenge the death of the patriarch of his people. Our search was successful: more than one band of marauders was annihilated; and as we bore back the bloody trophies of our labours, I was hailed as the avenger of Amoora.

"Years have flown over my head-I was again wealthy-my diamonds were worth the ransom of princes, and I again mingled with that world, the burning desire to revisit which had been my great temptation. But I came not alone-Amoora and his child were my guests and constant companions. Sleeping or waking, in solitude or in society, the Hindoo girl and her venerable father were with me. I should have perished by my own hand long ago, had it not been for the damning conviction that death would bring me no respite,that I should exchange one mode of suffering only for anotherthat my fate was sealed here and hereafter. I sinned, and I am punished. The dead have been my companions, and eternal misery is my portion."

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ANECDOTE OF THE LATE MR. PERRY, OF THE CHRONICLE.

THE late Mr. Perry's private, political, and literary life is a desideratum. We remember dining with him some years ago at the table of Sir James Mackintosh, when he was in a peculiarly pleasant mood,' and when he poured out a flood of anecdote and acute observation, the gatherings of a busy and intellectual career. Amongst other things talked over after dinner, were his own earliest London reminiscences, when he said as follows:

"I came to London, Sir, with a single half-crown in my pocket; and my sole introduction was a letter from a country bookseller to a London brother of the craft, begging him to give me his aid, as I was a cleverish sort of a young man, and could write an Essay. On presenting my credentials, the worthy man was evidently puzzled what to do with me, and very civilly handed me over to a Newspaper Editor. No encouragement was held out in the Essay line; but I was asked, could I report? After having had explained to me what reporting meant, I answered I did not know, but that I was willing to try; and it was

fixed that I should make the experiment. Accordingly, I spent part of my half-crown in providing myself with a small bottle of ink for my waistcoat-pocket, a quire of paper, and a short pen; and, thus equipped, accompanied a gentleman of the press,' who was to serve as a guide to my inexperience to the House of Commons. When we had taken our post-by no means a comfortable one, I prepared for action, and very deliberately drew out my paper and placed it on the crown of my hat. My companions asked me 'what I was after?' After!' I replied, reporting, to be sure.' 'Oh!" said they, smiling, that won't do, reporting is carried on here by the head, not by the hand.' This greatly discomfited me. However, the business of the evening commenced, several members spoke at considerable length, and I listened as intently as the novelty of my situation would permit me. Well, Sir, after a time we withdrew, and, retiring to my obscure lodging, I began to report,' and I wrote in full several of the speeches. This done, I hurried away to my principal, who looked very blank, and exclaimed, This won't do this won't do why, you will fill the whole paper with parliamentary debates. We want the marrow, the substance, the pith of a few principal men? for the rest, it signifies nothing.' Away I posted back, compressed and condensed my elaborations, and returned to the office. The look of the paper was more business-like: the report was read and approved; I was paid what seemed to my wants a liberal sum, and engaged for a limited period. Then, Sir, the number of reporters in the house was not equal to my own present establishment."

6

ED.

LITERARY REVIEW FOR AUGUST.

The History of the Assassins; translated from the German of Joseph Von Hammer. By Charles Wood, M.D.

The little information we possess of Oriental literature is very remarkable. Few of our scholars devote their time to this division of learning; and though every encouragement is now held out for its prosecution, no great amount of knowledge has yet been furnished us. On the Continent the spirit of literary inquiry has been more actively directed towards the East; and Wilken, Déguignes, Silvestre de Sacy, Quatremère, Jourdain, and others, have laboured successfully; but above all, Von Hammer stands pre-eminent for the many important works he has produced on the history and literature of Turkey, Persia, and Arabia. We should rejoice to see this learned Orientalist's work on Turkey in an English dress: it would be particularly interesting at

this moment, when we are called upon to witness the feeble remnant of the once powerful Khaliphat crumbling into dust.

"The History of the Assassins' forms one of the most extraordinary chapters in the record of fanaticism: and were it not that the proofs are indisputable, one might be disposed to question the existence of a dominion founded on, and sustained by, murder. Yet a dominion thus sustained for three centuries, carried desolation and terror into high places:' despotism sunk before it, and religion and morals gave way to the imposture of sanctity. Occasional mention is made of this strange association in the accounts which have come down to us of the Crusaders, between whom and these miscreants friendly relations occasionally existed, and whose daggers were as much at the service of Christian knights, as of the profligate viziers of the Eastern governments. Marco Polo also makes mention of the Assassins, but the father of modern travellers has had but a small share of credit, hitherto attached to his narratives. As our knowledge of the East, however, becomes more extensive and accurate, the old Venetian rises in our estimation; and though some of the marvels, which he says he witnessed, may never be verified, inquiries have convinced us that he saw a great deal more than is commonly supposed.

Von Hammer begins his work by an elaborate statement of Islamism-its principles, its founders, and its sects; which is distinguished for its extensive research and its sound views. Of all the passions," he says, "which have ever called into action the tongue, the pen, or the sword—which have overturned the throne, and shaken the altar to its base, ambition is the first and mightiest. It uses crime as a means-virtue as a mask. It respects nothing sacred, and yet it has recourse to that which is most beloved, because the most secure, that of all held most sacred by man-religion. Hence the history of religion is never more tempestuous and sanguinary, than when the tiara, united to the diadem, imparts and receives an increased power. The union of the supreme, temporal, and spiritual rule, which the steady policy of the popes, never to be diverted from its objects, has for centuries in vain sought to achieve, is a fundamental maxim of Islamism. The khalif, or successor of the prophet, was not only Emir al Mominin, Commander of the True Believers, but also Iman al Moslimin, Chief of the Devout-supreme lord and pontiff-not merely invested with the standard and the sword, but also the prophet's staff and mantle."

We would willingly give an analysis of this work, but it would be impossible to do justice to its many excellences in the space to which we are necessarily confined. The initiatory banquet of the Devoted, when all the charms of the Mahometan paradise were let loose upon them, the intoxicating pastiles of henbane, and the subsequent utter abandonment of self on the part of the Fedavi, or brothers, are pictures of humanity unequalled for their colouring. The charge brought against the lion-hearted Richard of England, of having employed the daggers of these men for the removal of Conrad, lord of Tyre, and marquis of Montserrat, is a stumbling-block in the way of Von Hammer. We know not why it should be so, as it appears that the bloody services of these men were in requisition by all parties, in that age of fierce strife, and of recklessness of human life. That it would add no glory to his scutcheon is certain, but we see no improbability in it.

The reign of the Assassins was extinguished in the ruins of the Khalifat of Bagdad-an event which their atrocious murders had greatly tended to hasten. The Mongol irruption swept away thrones and dynasties; and Bagdad, the citadel of the Holy, perished beneath the swords of the fierce invaders. The history here given of the mutations in the kingdoms and states of the East, and of the overthrow of the Throne of the Prophet, is full of curious and recondite information. The Assassins play a prominent part, and the details given of their power, their influence, their manners, their religion, and their rulers, are painfully interesting. The work is one of great value