misfortunes. During the prevalence of northerly winds, the weather is generally hazy, and the currents, governed by the winds, run with a rapidity which deceives all calculation; while the resemblance of the different keys to each other is such as often to prevent the seamen from ascertaining the situ ation of the vessel. The vicinity of Honduras to several of the Spanish settlements renders it an appropriate station for the introduction of our manufactures, a branch of trade which has hitherto been subject to considerable impediments. The same monopolizing prohibitions, in regard to trading with the United States, prevail in Honduras as in ourWest India islands; the consequence of which has been that our settlers have often been in great straits for provisions. Their industry has been so exclusively directed to the wood-trade, that very little has hitherto been done in extracting the treasures of the soil by cultivation : but it is of admirable richness, and fitted to produce either the sugar, the coffee, and the cotton of our West India islands, or the rice and the maize of the Continent. The fisheries also might be rendered very productive at present; that which is most followed is the turtle-fishery. A few of the turtle caught here find their way to London : but the greater part are consumed on the spot, and are of the species called "hawk's bill," which yields that valuable commodity, tortoise-shell.

The country remains almost entirely covered with woods Among its most striking curiosities, are the subterraneous passages called the Caves, which Captain Henderson thus describes :

'On a branch of the river Sibun, named Indian-creek, are situated the Caves. These are subterraneous passages which have been formed at the base of three or four mountains of very considerable height, no doubt by the force of the current of water, which probably for many centuries has forced its way through them. The largest of these passages is somewhat more than a quarter of a mile in length, though in this country it has a greater extent given to it.

It would certainly require no common powers of description to delineate with fidelity the exquisite beauties connected with the largest of the caves. The entrance to it from Indian-creek, after many windings, bursts suddenly on the sight, and resembles very closely the aperture of an oven, and is thickly overhung with rocks and trees of the grandest, but wildest workmanship. When this is passed, a wide and spacious lake instantly commences, the water of which is silent and deep, being scarcely heard to murmur, but during the most tempestuous floods. The lofty roof is arched with the most exact proportion, and is profusely studded with glittering crystallizations. Torch light affords the visitor the only means of advantageously viewing this sublime piece of scenery; for if in one or two places, an occasional beam of the sun, bursting with inconceivable lustre through the clefts of the mountain, be withdrawn, entire

Cc4

darkness

darkness pervades the whole; and the smallest sound made in passing being quickly loudly reverberated, is forcibly calculated to strike the ear with a feeling of solemn grandeur.

The caves are thought by some to have been produced by the labour of the Indians: hence the name of the water which finds its course through them; but this conjecture stands divested of every probability to support it. When the waters are at the lowest, the solitary recesses of the caves are the chosen haunts of many animals of prey, of which the tiger may be most frequently traced.'

The cutting of Mahogany takes place twice in the course of the year, viz. at Christmas and in autumn. The labour is performed by negroes, each gang of whom has a huntsman, whose business it is to search the woods and discover the spot on which the exertions of his fellow-labourers can be most profitably employed. His manner of doing this is by cutting his way through the thickest woods to the highest parts, and climbing the tallest tree for the purpose of surveying the surrounding country. The colour of the mahogany-leaves aids his eye in tracing the most abundant spot. To this, which is often at a great distance, he then directs his steps, cautiously avoiding to leave marks which might lead to a knowlege of his track, and enable any other than his master to take advantage of his discovery. In this intent, however, he is not always successful; because the faintest traces, such as the turning of the leaves, or the print of a footstep, will afford a clue to those who are accustomed to traverse forests. The mahogany tree is cut about twelve feet from the ground, the axe-man standing on a stage. The trunk of the tree furnishes, of course, the wood of largest dimensions: but for ornamental purposes the branches are preferable, the grain in them being closer, and the veins more variegated. As these trees are generally found separate and dispersed, a mahogany-walk comprehends an extent of several miles. Their growth is rapid, but not equal to that of the logwood tree, which is said to attain maturity in five years. The trunks and branches are dragged to the riverside, put together in rafts, and floated to the coast. Most of the negroes employed here have been brought from Jamaica, or have accompanied their owners from the United States; no direct importation from Africa having taken place. They are subjected to much less labour than the slaves in our sugar-colonies. The protection afforded by government to the Hondurastrade consists in a convoy being appointed from Jamaica twice in the year, viz. in January and July. The annual revenue of the settlement is about 5000l. sterling,

Captain Henderson next gives the natural history of Honduras, and discovers a degree of scientific knowlege which bespeaks both liberality of education and an attentive observance

of

of local objects. Of the aquatic species of birds around the Bay of Honduras, the Pelican and the Cormorant are the most predominant; the transparency of the sea on this coast affording powerful inducements to the resort of such voracious neighbours. The Swallows also appear in great numbers, and under circumstances which deserve attention. Their time of visiting this quarter is the rainy season. They are observed to quit in a body, as soon as the dawn appears, the Savannah in which they have been resting during the night, and to ascend into the air in a compact spiral form, like a water-spout or a column of smoke. Having attained a certain height, they disperse in quest of food, which forms the occupation of the day. At sun-set, their descent takes place in the same manner, with inconceivable rapidity, and with a noise which can be com pared only to the rushing of a blast or the fall of a torrent.

The author having been dispatched to the Mosquito shore, with presents to the Indian chiefs, relates his expedition in the form of a journal; which is entertaining, as well on account of his own adventures as for the traits which he gives of savage manners. He learned to his cost that the name of the shore had been very aptly bestowed; the flies being so troublesome as to oblige even the natives to quit their dwellings in certain seasons, and to pass the night in their little barks on the water. We were curious to learn what stage of savage-society the inhabitants of this quarter had reached, and found that they belonged to the class of "small despotisms;" which, in the opinion of a writer who is conversant with the progress of rude tribes *, is one of the most advanced periods of savage-history. All the offices of domestic life are performed by women; the succession to the crown is hereditary; and the royal power is completely despotic, absorbing within itself the executive, the legislative, and the judicial functions. They discover no trace of religious belief, except the adoration of evil spirits; and they have among them neither physician nor lawyer, but abound in conjurors. Polygamy is freely allowed: but adultery is punished, though not capitally. They can support long abstinence from food, but are in the habit of indemnifying themselves for it by the customary excesses of savages when provisions come into their possession; continuing their repast day and night, except in the short intervals of sleep, until the consumption of their stock is completed. The warriors of the Mosquito tribe may amount to the number of fifteen hundred ; and small as this force is, they are able to keep their inlandneighbours, whose manners are much ruder, in a state of de

See Murray on National Character, Review for November last,

pendence

renewed strength and animation. He despises all the insinuations by which the sect whom he opposes would intimidate him. He fairly tells them that to call him a Socinian is no more an answer to the argument, than to call him a Soap-boiler. The great inquiry is, whether the statement made or the doctrine advanced be true or false. His charge against those who designate themselves by the epithet of Evangelical preachers is direct : he accuses them of assuming, with the canting lamentations of their own vileness in their mouths, a title full of honourable distinction, a title to which they make out no just claim. So far from allowing them an exclusive right to the appellation of Evangelical preachers, he accuses them of scattering the seeds of error broad-cast over the land;' and he tells us, perhaps with too much severity, that they have all the craft of monks without their courtesy, and all the subtlety of the Jesuits without their learning.'

Among the collateral aids employed by the Methodistic sect, the writer notices, with some pleasantry, A Society of united Theological booksellers; who, after having without hesitation declared their decided attachment to the doctrines of Calvin, and made a subscription to Calvinism the cement of their association, have the assurance to boast of selling books" on an enlarged principle." These tradesmen have also the effrontery to invite private gentlemen to take shares in the concern; and to encourage speculation in this Calvinistic mode of money-getting, they hold out the prospect of dividends.

Really (says the Barrister) this is a most sacred system of moneyjobbing! a great desideratum no doubt to the members of the new religious world, to be able to circulate their peculiar doctrines at a profit of twelve per cent. The spirit of the FATHERS of the New Church is indeed most enterprising; the most zealous votaries of Mammon could not have struck out a better speculation. To contrive a scheme of monopoly that should at once concentrate their interest, and consolidate their power,and so to manage it, withal, as to carry a prospect of premium on the transferable shares, is really making their doctrines a goodly inheritance! The money-changers have returned again to the temple. Surely, in this age of mercenary speculation, we might at least have kept THEOLOGY unmixed with dividends, and funds, and transfers. Non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula possit.'

Having thus attacked the association with sarcasm, he adds, in a serious tone;

To Associations of this description, no Englishman ought to lend his support or co-operation. They pave the way to a gradual encroachment on every liberal principle of commercial dealing, which it is our common duty and our common interest to cherish and protect. They lead the way to other combinations the most arbi

trary

trary, and to other monopolies, the most invidious, oppressive, and illiberal. Let them come before the public in whatever shape, or under whatever disguise they may, they are pregnant with evils of the very worst kind. The British Constitution revolts from such Associations, and the Religion of Christianity disavows their support.'

After a little skirmishing against the manoeuvres of the sect, the author directs his attention to their prominent doctrines. At first, he is rather too fastidious in protesting against the phrases, rule of Faith and light of Nature. The former he pronounces to be absurd and unmeaning;' though to us a rule of faith is not a more unmeaning phrase than a rule of practice, because a revelation from God must serve to regulate or direct our minds in a right conception of both. On the phrase, "light of nature," he asks, what is this light? Is it imparted by animal nature, or vegetable nature, or the nature of man, or the nature of the world, or the moral nature of the human mind, or the physical nature of things? We beg leave to answer, From all and every part of nature. The works of the natural world are a book in which the mind of man, on studying it, reads the principles of natural religion, which principle sare the recognized basis of revealed religion. By the Light of Nature, no more is meant than is expressed in the beginning of the 19th Psalm, "The heavens declare the glory of God;" and we were surprized to find in this pamphlet any objection to the expression, for which the author wishes to substitute the works of the Almighty. In disputing with the infidel, what a smile of contempt should we receive, were we gravely to lay down this proposition, that the works of the Almighty prove the existence of the Almighty? These phrases are not peculiar to the Calvinistic sect, but are more in use with the asserters of natural Theology.

When the Barrister contends for the exercise of reason in religion, and for the utter impossibility of believing points which are completely incredible, we wholly accord with him; and his mode of exposing the fallacy of the argument used on this occasion coincides with some remarks which we have formerly made, with the same view. The mistake in all this controversy arises from not distinguishing between facts and causes.

To tell us of "mysteries revealed, that transcend finite reason," is to abuse the ear and the understanding with a jargon of words. The proposition is not intelligible. It is utter nonsense; for unless our reason can comprehend what is revealed, no revelation can be made. It is most clear, that nothing can be explained, unless there is a capacity of receiving the explanation.'

It is added.

• That