• Hanes; with many others, for which | acute; and the work proves him to be 'I refer to Mr. Bryant.

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"

Such,' continues Mr. Townsend, are the rules of that Etymology, which, in many instances has been the suc'cessful auxiliary of Sir Wm. Drummond, and from the assistance of which, I hope my own system will receive equal support. I now pro'ceed to the consideration of my hypothesis, merely premising, that in the very same sense in which Sir W. 'to use his own words, understands "those parts of the Hebrew Scriptures which are usually called historical, to be partly allegorical, and partly historical,' 'do I, likewise ' receive and understand the Roman 'historians. The most strange and 6 almost unaccountable circumstance is this, that the very coincidences which identify the patriarchs with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, identify the Caesars with them also: a circumstance indeed so very surprising, that if I had time to prosecute the inquiry, I might prove, that as things which are equal to the same are equal to one another, the patriarchs are the Cæsars, and the Cæsars the sons of Jacob, because 'they are both synonymous with the Zodiac. I fear, however, this “de"cision would more embroil the fray," and I shall not therefore permit it to detain me longer from entering upon my disquisition.'

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6

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at once an excellent scholar and a judicious and able writer. In him Sir William Drummond has met with no ordinary antagonist, which we think will appear evident to every unprejudiced mind, by attending to the following quotations.

6

• Pontus

In his attempt, first, to prove Caius Julius Cæsar to be Gad, alias Aries; amongst other points of similarity, he contends for it on the ground of their conquests being the same. was conquered by Cæsar. The word pontus, is a compound of the prefix P, and the celebrated On, or and py. Its king was Pharnaces, that is, the 'ruler of the light; an epithet of the same pompous and magnificent description, usually assumed by Orien'tal monarchs. The word pharnaces is ' derived from and, with the common addition of anac, the most 'ancient title given to sovereigns. 'Pontus was a seat of the Tsabaistical superstition, and the fame of Cæsar, 'his knowledge, and eloquence, persuaded the king, at the first conferCæsar expended very little time in ence, to adopt the Roman almanac. 'the promulgation and establishment 6 of his new calendar; and it is to this rapidity of his astronomical success that he refers, in those well-known ' and emphatic words-veni, vidi, vici.

"The assassination of Cæsar is as allegorical as other incidents in his mysterious career. Many writers have asserted, that trees are symbols 'of the starry host; and Sir William Drummond has quoted many autho'rities to confirm this assertion. They 'have repaid the obligation by enabling him to prove, that the Amorites who dwelt in Hazazon-Tamar, were not lambs or teachers, but upper Thus armed with the arguments, branches. Brutus and Cassius were and plan, and example, of Sir William said to be the murderers of Cæsar. It Drummond, our author finds no diffi- is a very remarkable fact, that even culty, with the assistance of some or now, when we talk of this supposed all of the preceding rules, to prove ( assassination, we say Brutus and that the twelve Cæsars are the twelve Cassius, never Cassius and Brutus; signs of the Zodiac. 6 In some pasa custom not merely arbitrary, but sages, the style of Mr. Townsend is one corrupted from the traditionary commonplace, but it is generally 'words which were originally used to

describe this event.

NJ

Brutus is de- mean, Thou too, Brutus, art thou 'rived from a cypress tree, 'whence the Latin word brutus, a cypress; and Cassius, from wwp to 'collect, or assemble one by one.

It

seems at first sight a most singular ' phrase to say, the cypresses assem'bled one by one; but the real signifi'cation is, that the sign of the ram becomes invisible only when the other 'stars have gradually appeared above 'the horizon: they seem to assemble 6 one by one. The word n, which was corrupted into Brutus, was always used as the nominative; and though the form of the expression was retained, its meaning was lost, 'till it was my good fortune to recover it.

Among other phrases which have 'been adopted by Suetonius, to con•ceal his real meaning, the expression 'used by Cæsar to Brutus, when struck in the senate-house, is among the 'most enigmatical.

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The well-known words used at the Eleusinian myste'ries, konx, om, panx, were understood by none, till Captain Wilford shewed they were pure Sanscrit: so the expression in question, was handed down by tradition to Suetonius; and it has been since received in an acceptation totally distinct from its original signification; and it is worthy 'of remark, that Suetonius speaks with more than his usual caution, when he relates the supposed assas'sination.' From which originated the apocryphal story of Et tu Brute. How strangely have the world been deceived! This expression, though so long considered a simple Greek sentence, is Hebrew; and conpure 'tains an indirect allusion to the

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among the assassins of Cæsar! The meaning is, Must I, the sign of the Ram, must I, alas! be made equal to the Fishes?'

Mr. Townsend adds,' I claim no merit for this astonishing discovery. I am ' indebted to Sir William Drummond alone, for my initiation into these interesting mysteries. He is my teacher, and to him I beg to submit 'the honour of my reader's convic'tion.'

of a Review prevent us from present-
We regret, that the necessary limits
tions from this most interesting publi-
ing to our readers any further illustra-
cation.-From Caius Julius Cæsar to
Domitian, his observations extend;
and prove to a demonstration, that if
such inadmissible rules of Etymology
Drummond in his Edipus Judaicus,
as those virtually adopted by Sir Wm.
surdity, however great, which language
are once admitted, there is no ab-
be strained to import.
of a directly opposite nature may not

At length, in his conclusion, Mr.
Townsend observes, I now feel it in-

the author, and the probable consequences of that method of scripture interpretation proposed to us in the Edipus Judaicus.

'Sir William Drummond has long been eminent among you as a classi'cal scholar, and as an ingenious and elegant author.' Splendid talents, superior knowledge, the acquisitions ' of science, and the authority of rank, ' when however betrayed into the ser'vice of Infidelity, are like the gold and the jewels, the beautiful orna

ments, the bracelets, and the earrings, which the Israelites contributed

After a very singular and comic analysis of this sentence, Mr. Townsend, with the assistance of Sir William Drummond's plan of deriving, at length produces the following translation of Et tu Brute ; which we confess, the risibility it has excited in us, will scarcely permit us to transcribe. 'Must I, the conqueror of the constella-to the formation of a golden calf. tions, be made equal (to other signs) in the Zodiacal system? must I, alas! be made equal in the regula'tion? Or in other words, The expression of Cæsar to Brutus, does not

danger and folly of resting any system on coincidence, that fruitful pa' rent of palmistry, physiognomy, cra'niology, astrology, and every other 'absurdity which has amused or asto'nished the world.'

ANECDOTE OF CROMWELL.

plicity which gave it birth, that he might have a favourable opportunity of chastising the insolence of the Inquisition, through the instrumentality of its royal friend; and therefore sent back the following message.-“ That he was extremely glad to find his good friend and ally, the king of Portugal, had not been concerned in the affront which had been offered to the commonwealth of England, by the imprisonment of its Consul. That as this act had been done by another power, called the Inquisition, which was un

WHATEVER opinions may be entertained respecting the tyranny and usurpation of Cromwell, it must be allowed by all parties, that through the wisdom of his administration, and the terror of his arms, he procured for the Eng-known to Cromwell, and independent lish name, a degree of respectability in the eyes of foreigners, which former ages had never witnessed, and which since his days has rarely been surpassed. The following anecdote furnishes no contemptible evidence of the dread, with which his words were capable of inspiring the conductors of a tribunal, before whose power, even kings and emperors had been accustomed to tremble.

During the protectorate of Cromwell, when Mr. Maynard was British Consul in Portugal, the Inquisition, prodigal of its influence, forbad him to have divine worship performed even in his own house, according to the rites of Protestantism, although it was designed only for the members of the factory. Mr. Maynard, however, though a Catholic himself, was so far an Englishman, and so much a man of -honour, that he disregarded this order, and continued the chapel service as usual. As this was an affront neither to be tolerated nor forgiven, he was seized by the Inquisition, and committed a prisoner to a cell in this Holy Dungeon.

It was not long before Cromwell became acquainted with this affair; and, on making himself master of all the circumstances connected with the transaction, he sent to the king of Portugal, and in a peremptory tone demanded his release. The king, being equally unwilling to oppose the power of the Inquisition, and unable to resist the demands of Cromwell, had recourse to equivocation. He stated in his reply, that the Consul was not put under restraint by any power of his, but by the authority of a religious body; which acted in a great degree wholly independently of him.

Oliver, on receiving this reply, determined to avail himself of the du

of his very good friend the king of Portugal, he hoped for his majesty's assistance and co-operation, in chastising that court, which had alike insulted both powers by imprisoning the English Consul, who had been appointed to transact business in Portugal, under the immediate protection of his royal authority. Relying on this, he informed him, that he should instantly send over a fleet and an army, to fight that Inquisition; and he doubted not of his majesty's concurrence and aid in revenging the insult, by punishing those who had been guilty of the offence."

The king of Portugal, on receiving this message, found himself in a most unpleasant situation. With the intimations of Cromwell, he well knew it would be as vain to trifle, as it would be unavailing to attempt a resistance of his power. The Holy Inquisitors were soon made sensible of their condition; and their only hopes of averting the impending tempest, depended upon their success in securing the friendship of Mr. Maynard, whom they had confined. From the king of Portugal they had nothing to expect. He was glad to seek security in silence, leaving them to extricate themselves in the best manner they could, from the vengeance which they had incurred, by the undue exercise of their authority.

Their first attempt to liberate the prisoner, was through an officer, whose duty it was to supply him with his daily food. This man having received his instructions, entered into familiar conversation with the Consul; and after expressing a regard for his person, and compassion for his condition, offered to be an assistant to him in making his escape. This proposal being rejected, the officer expressed

Such was the honourable manner, both to his country and himself, in which this worthy Englishman at length obtained his liberty.

PERSIAN ETHICS.

2.

his wonder, that any one should appear backward to get by any means released from such a confinement; saying, he never knew a prisoner before, in that house, who would not have run any risks in endeavouring to obtain his liberty. To this, the Consul replied, that having been guilty of no offence, and trusting to his country for IN the Morals of Nasir, a celebrated procuring him justice, or for revenging Persian system of Ethics, it is said his wrongs, he therefore of himself that seven high qualities are necessary should make use of no extraordinary to give completion to the character of means for his deliverance; neither their kings: these are enumerated as would he dishonour himself by any follows:- 1. Paternal kindness. clandestine practices for that purpose. Magnanimity, including the moderaThis project failing, the next contri- tion of anger, the subjugation of lust, vance to which they had recourse was, and the perfection of mental excellenthat of leaving his prison door un-cies. 3. Firmness and consistency in locked; nay, open, with the passages counsel. 4. Resolution in the execusufficiently free for his going away, if tion of designs. 5. Patience in adverhe had been inclined. But this like- sity, and steady perseverance. 6. Clewise proved equally unsuccessful; for mency. 7. A disposition to encourage he kept within the cell, and discovered and render assistance to what is right. no kind of disposition to avail himOf the fourth quality, the following self of any opportunity for making his illustrative anecdote is related. escape. The next stratagem was, for The caliph Mamoon was seized on a an Inquisitor to visit him by a kind of certain occasion with an unnatural apaccident, while walking among the petite for eating earth; which very cells. His door being purposely left soon produced some visibly pernicious open, the Inquisitor affected to see him effects in his constitution. On conas he appeared to be passing by it; sulting his physicians, they readily when, out of much humanity, he stop-furnished a variety of prescriptions, ped, and asked him who he was? To this inquiry, the Consul, in his answer, gave the proper information. The Inquisitor then proceeded to inquire the cause of his being there? to which the prisoner replied, that he knew of no just cause, as he had been guilty of no offence; nor was he subject to that court. The Inquisitor then said, if such was the case, he might go about his business. To this, he intrepidly answered, that as his country had been dishonoured, and himself injured, by his being brought thither, unless due public satisfaction were given to both, he neither could, nor would, quit the place. After many consultations and expostulations, it was however at length stipulated, that he should be taken from the Inquisition in one of the king's coaches at mid-day, and set down in the middle of the great square, on the eastern side of the palace; which square was called the Pereiro de Paco, and was one of the most frequented places of the city. To this humilitating condition, the Holy Inquisition was compelled to submit, to avoid the vengeance of Cromwell.

the whole of which were tried, without subduing his strange propensity. One day, when he and his physicians were consulting on what might further be done, an acquaintance of the caliph entered the room. No sooner had he discovered, from their consultation of books, the affair which they had in hand, than he addressed himself to his afflicted friend in the following words: "Oh, leader of the faithful, where is that resolution which belongs to kings?" Mamoon, on hearing this, turned to his physicians, and said, "You need not take any further trouble, I shall soon get the better of my disease."

A correspondent who subscribes himself" A Reader," says, that the letter of the late Robert Burns, which appeared in the third number of the Imperial Magazine, has been before the public twenty-four years. He also observes, that it was originally addressed to Gavin Hamilton, Esq. and that, although it escaped the vigilant eye of Dr. Currie, he has a printed copy of it now in his possession.