cially if a scholar also, like Mr. Jolliffe, would make eager researches for a fruit endowed with such remarkable properties. We must confess that the result has not been very satisfactory, but let it be given in the author's own words:

'I own I looked for these apples with unusual avidity, and after making a proper deduction for the rhetorical flourishes of Tacitus and Josephus, I am willing to fancy that I discovered the peculiar fruit mentioned by those writers. They grow in clusters on a shrub five or six feet high, and are about the size of a small apricot: the colour is a bright yellow, which, contrasting with the delicate verdure of the foliage, seemed like the union of gold with emeralds. Possibly, when ripe they may crumble into dust upon any violent pressure, but those which I gathered did not retain the slightest mark of any indenture from the touch. I found them in a thicket of brush-wood, about half a mile distant from the plain of Jericho.'

It can in fact be little doubted that, in descriptions of a scene of such desolation, which Heathens as well as Jews acknowleged to have proceeded from Divine anger, much adscititious terror was superadded to the tale, in the account of its permanent effects.

We must here take leave of a pleasant companion, with thanks for the amusement which he has afforded us.

ART. II. Narrative of a Journey into Persia, in the Suite of the Imperial Russian Embassy, in the Year 1817. By Moritz Von Kotzebue, Captain of the Staff of the Russian Army, Knight of the Order of St. Wladimir of Russia, and of the Persian Order of the Sun and Lion. Translated from the German. Illustrated by Plates. 8vo. pp. 328. 12s. Boards. Longman and Co. 1819.

THE

HE author of this work, son of the celebrated and unfortunate dramatist, is employed in the military service of Russia, and was attached in a mathematical capacity to the embassy lately sent by Alexander to the court of Persia. He now communicates the journal of his travels; which, however amusing, displays little of the higher science that is to be expected from official investigations. From Moscow, the Captain and his companions proceeded through Woronesch, along the banks of the Don, to Norvo-Tscherkash at the head of the sea of Azof; and thence to Wanutschei Jerlik, a quarantine station which separates the European from the Asiatic governments of Russia. Having entered the department of Caucasus, and reposed at Stawrapol, they had to engage armed protection; ascending for a while the river

Kuba,

Kuba, but passing from Georgefsk into the valley of the Terek: of which the descending course is next pursued below Mozdok, and is described as terrifically romantic. Highlands are crossed on the way to Tiflis; and, at the beginning of the descent, the climate is stated to acquire a softer character, and to announce the progress from a Russian into a Persian atmosphere.

Thus far the narrative, which is rapid, and not divided into days, may be considered as prefatory: but the reader may wish that it had been accompanied by an engraved route of the journey, because several towns, mountains, and streams, are mentioned, which in our western maps are not yet recorded. It is of great importance in this country to know which is the best over-land way to Persia, whether on the northern or the southern side of the Black Sea. Our Indian travellers would choose accordingly.

Mr. Kotzebue begins his description of Grusia at the fortyseventh page, and observes that but few places occur in the province at which armed escorts are necessary. Tiflis is rapidly improving; very much in consequence of General Jermoloff having set the example of rebuilding his house in a modern style, with a fine piazza. The fashion prevailed, and nobody would be satisfied without a piazza.' In the ruder and quieter parts of a country, nothing is more useful than to introduce some new form of architectural expence : because, in common with all sorts of luxury, it employs the population, enlarges the practice of the arts of life, and tends to enhance the wages of labour; while it has this additional recommendation, that, whereas the expence of feasts or of apparel entirely evaporates with the occasions by which they were caused, the productions of the architect endure, and contribute from age to age to the convenience of families and to the decoration of cities.

On the 17th of April, 1817, the embassy, several portions of which had waited for each other at Tiflis, set out on its mission, General Jermoloff being at its head, accompanied by seventeen principal officers, and a suite in proportion; the whole amounting to about 300 persons. The narrative now assumes strictly the form of a journal; every day's march being specified, and the halting-place at night. Of so large a party, the progress was necessarily slow; much baggage, including the Ambassador's kitchen, and some of the presents for the Persian court, was to be moved and guarded; and, perhaps, those who are paid by the day willingly leave some work to be done to-morrow. By the end of April, the party was at the foot of Mount Ararat; on the 29th of that month,

the

the acknowleged territory of Persia was entered, and the entertainment of the embassy became the hospitable care of the Persian court. Still so much of independence prevails among the mountain hordes, that they can hardly be called subject to the sovereign whom they recognize.

We extract a part of the journal of the 1st of May.

The weather was perceptibly warmer during the night than it had hitherto been. This day's march will take us into the plain. The Cossack General Sisajeff, and several other officers who had accompanied us thus far, returned to Gumri, and we proceeded without their protection on our journey. The day was very hot; and the ground being stony, our march, for several hours, was very troublesome. Some great convulsions of nature must have formerly taken place here; for, as far as the eye can reach, the ground is so thickly strewed with large and small stones, that a horse has difficulty in crossing it. This dreary sight vanished after some time; and the plain of Erivan, together with Mount Ararat, offered themselves to our view with increasing interest. But how shall I describe the pleasing emotion which rose within us, on suddenly discovering, after a fatiguing journey in the land of the Moslems, the towers and walls of a splendid convent! It is the celebrated Jatshmiasin, the residence of the Armenian patriarchs, -a defenceless lamb among wolves. This sacred abode has, during the last fifteen hundred years, bid defiance to war, and its destructive consequences; nothing could shake it, nor, during this long period, divert its inhabitants for a single day from the pious occupation of prayer. The venerable patriarch Efremkam, surrounded by the priesthood, advanced in person to meet the Ambassador, and taking his Excellency by the hand, led him, amidst the ringing of bells, and the acclamations of the Armenian people collected from the neighbourhood, to the residence which had been prepared for him.

We were all conducted to neat and clean apartments, such as we had long been deprived of, and shall not again meet with during the whole journey. At a splendid supper such wine was placed before us, as fully convinced me that old father Noah must have planted the first vineyard here. We learned with delight, that we were to remain a day at this place.

'The convent of Jatshmiasin, which, in the Armenian language, signifies "Descent of the Son of God," is a splendid edifice. It consists of several courts, which are paved with flag-stones, and planted with handsome trees; and in some of which are basins of water, and fountains, affording cool and agreeable walks during the heat of the weather. The style of its architecture is half European and half Asiatic; but it is good, and adapted to purposes of utility. The old church, in the centre of the convent, which has stood during fifteen hundred years, is of rare and beautiful architecture, combining grandeur with simplicity. It was built by St. Gregorius, the founder of the convent, on the spot where he witnessed the descent of the Holy Ghost. He is said REV. APRIL, 1820.

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to have several times attempted to ascend Mount Ararat, with a view to obtain a fragment of Noah's ark, but in vain; at last the Almighty conveyed to him, in a dream, the object of his desire, which is still preserved! Immense treasures have been collected here, from various parts of the world; for it is only at this place that an Armenian can purchase the holy ointment, as the patriarch in person, together with twelve bishops, must be present at its preparation, and it is in this convent alone, which contains three hundred priests, that that number of dignitaries can be found collected together. The villages belonging to Jatshmiasin are deserving of notice, from their affluence. Indeed there would long since have been a flourishing town here, if the Persian government had not permitted the governor of the province of Erivan to plunder the convent at his pleasure. I feel convinced that the King, who has a great and honourable mind, is ignorant of the conduct of this monster, or he would, before now, have freed the poor inhabitants of the district from his capricious tyranny. This satrap has, during his government, amassed enormous wealth, which he is now too old to enjoy. He still, however, continues to plunder the people from habit, and the convent from real heartfelt satisfaction! He carries the system so far, that he compels the convent to pay a large sum, whenever he hears that a Christian traveller has passed the night there! What must not these people have suffered, on account of their hospitality to us! He is not ashamed to say, "These dogs at Jatshmiasin are glad when they can entertain a new Christian comer; they have the pleasure; I will have the money!" When he is at a loss to find a pretext for his almost daily exactions, he arranges a hunting party from Erivan, and visits the convent on his way. This honour must be dearly paid for. Many of his favourites, who can procure wine no where else, establish themselves there for weeks together, in order that they may riot in drunkenness, which their religion expressly forbids. If every want be not provided for, they threaten to make false reports to the governor, who, of course, would immediately levy pecuniary contributions! Thus the sanctuary of Armenian Christendom is continually exposed to the tyrannical exactions of a contemptible man, who is, at the same time, the most notorious drunkard in the province. The poor patriarch is much grieved to see the donations of pious Christians daily squandered away on such unworthy purposes. It has been already found necessary to encroach upon the ancient funds of the convent, to meet the current expenditure; but all its members are resolved to suffer with patience, and never, even if their resources should become exhausted, to abandon this sacred abode, whilst God grants them strength and fortitude. It was from a consideration of these circumstances, that on the return of the embassy General Jermoloff decided to take another road, and not revisit Jatshmiasin.'

Of the present state of Persia, so much has lately been said by Morier, by Tancoigne, (see vol. lxxxviii. p. 501.) and in

other

other books which we have noticed, that it will suffice to observe that the Russian embassy reached Tauris on the 19th of May, and was received there by Abbas-Mirza; of whom it may be desirable to hear this author's opinion, since he is the disciple of English instructors, and intent on introducing British civilization into Persia.

I should take this opportunity of stating, that the introduction of regular discipline into the Persian army, and the formation of its artillery, within these few years, are entirely due to AbbasMirza; and it must be allowed that he has, for so short a period, with the assistance indeed of able English officers, achieved a great deal. Only those who are thoroughly acquainted with the pertinacious obstinacy of the Persians, and their dread of every innovation, can form any conception of the obstacles which the Prince had to surmount in accomplishing his views. Nothing less than the appearance of so enlightened a prince, I may say, such a phenomenon amidst the Persian people, could have produced such a reform in the army. His principal attention has been directed to the organization of the infantry and cavalry; and in this he has also afforded a proof of his acuteness, as the Persian horse is already sufficiently good, although it cannot be compared with regular cavalry. But the Persian cavalry is an object of national pride, and on that ground alone the Prince could not interfere with its actual condition. He is powerfully supported in the attainment of his views by the King, who has appointed him heir to his throne, on account of his judgment and the mildness of his character; but still more, because his mother was of the family of Kadjor, from which the Shah himself has issued. The eldest brother, who governs several of the southern provinces of the kingdom, is not much pleased with this selection. He is a coarse and cruel man, who delights in witnessing the barbarous punishments of putting out eyes, tearing out hearts, &c. He has succeeded in undermining his brother's reputation among the principal families of Persia, whose sons all run into his service; and he has artfully led them to consider the introduction of a regular system of discipline into the army, not only as a ridiculous, but a culpable innovation, in as much as it entails an intercourse with Europeans, which is not strictly compatible with the religion of the Persians. He tells them that his brother's measures are injurious to the national honour, that his foreign predilections may perhaps 'induce him to adopt the customs, the dress, and even the religion of Europe; and by such idle tales as these, this man courts the favour of many Persians, who find an indolent life in his service more consonant to their inclinations, than it would be to go through the daily military exercises, and submit to the discipline of AbbasMirza.'

May 26. The embassy left Tauris; lodged on the 28th at the castle of Udgani, a seat of Abbas-Mirza, of which a drawing is given, and which he had offered for their accom

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modation;