How shall we account for the fact that there nowhere exists a complete and uniform edition of the works of this philosopher and mathematician? There has not, so far as we know, been any reprint in very modern times even of his best and most masterly productions? Many of his works are extremely scarce, so as never to have been seen much less studied by recent investigators in the higher walks of philosophy. The thing is to be accounted for chiefly, we believe, by the manner in which he assailed particular doctrines, political, constitutional, ecclesiastical, and religious, which prevailed during the Usurpation of Cromwell and the succeeding reign, the periods at which Hobbes flourished. His metaphysical doctrines, for example, on the subject of Liberty and Necessity, and the manner in which he philosophized concerning moral motives, impulses and feelings, were exceedingly distasteful to vast numbers of the most influential men both in church and state. The truth is that abstract propositions, or general metaphysical opinions as advanced by Hobbes, were pursued to conclusions not only frequently different from what he acknowledged, but to the extent of establishing for him the character of a sceptic, even of an atheist ; thus producing an irrational disrepute.

We do not at present attempt to enter upon any minute detail of the Malmesbury philosopher's works, much less to give an analysis of any one of them, nor any summary sketch of what we consider to be his peculiar defects, errors, and merits. Some, perhaps many, of the objections to which he lays himself open, had their origin in the circumstances of the era in which he distinguished himself. But whatever these may have been speculatively, there can be but one opinion of his searching, vigorous, perspicuous pursuit of truth, of his intellectual pre-eminence, and of his talent in communicating to the student a like free, fearless, and gratifying habit of investigation and ratiocination.

We anticipate that the present earnest and competent editor will in the course of this elegant and complete reprint of all the works of Hobbes, the translations which are not always identical with the original treatises that have undergone a version, as well as the Latin, -avail himself of an opportunity to give the public a philosphical estimate of the life, genius and writings of his author. At any rate the undertaking alone of a carefully revised and collated reprint deserves the warmest acknowledgements in the name of science, and the most hearty wishes that the whole may be brought out in a similar style to the treatise De Corpore, the Vite Hobbianc Auctarium, and the autobiography in Latin verse, which enrich the present commencing volumes.

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ART. XI.-The Claims of Japan and Malaysia upon Christendom, exhibited in Notes of Voyages, made in 1837, from Canton, in the Ship Morrison, and Brig Himmaleh, under Direction of the Owners. 2 Vols. 12mo. New York: French. London: Wiley and Putnam. SLY and grasping fellows are the Yankees. They say they have no colonies; speak of the fact in a sort of boasting manner, as if while a great people and fully aware of their strength, they only sought to cultivate friendly and mercantile relations with every people and all nations, far or near, upon principles of perfect reciprocity and equality. They have no colonies; they do not aspire to hold any foreign country under their thraldom. But they have no objections to a gradual yet rapid encroachment upon the Red men of America; they court the opportunity of annexing to their immense territory, Texas; while there are now before us evidence of an American mercantile house, acting, as with the countenance of its home government, in the character of diplomatic agents, but chiefly, no doubt, for the more limited benefit of the firm itself, in a way that contemplates not merely an influence over and a special intercourse with numberless races of the human family, but that puts religion forward and conversion to the Christian faith as the prime motive. The owners alluded to, although they profess to have the Missionary cause chiefly at heart, cannot, according to the narratives before us, disguise the fact, that Mammon is the great god of their homage.

We have often heard of commerce, civilization, and Christian missionary enterprise being united; and believe when the several departments of secular and spiritual efforts are judiciously joined under separate heads and labourers, the best interests are promoted both as regards the present and the future. But we must always entertain doubts of the policy that undertakes double purposes in the name of single and the same parties, when these purposes are so inconveniently linked as those of present personal pecuniary profit, and the future welfare of strangers; and we proceed to exhibit some account of the two voyages, the narratives of which fill the volumes before us, feeling satisfied that upon their own showing, the reader will detect proofs of predominating worldly skill and forethought under the mask of Christian and disinterested philanthropy; for, although it may not be a strongly avowed instance of pure generosity, the benefit of the nations visited is proclaimed to be the prime and paramount object held in view.

Of the voyage of the Morrison, we had some months ago an account in the" Journal of an Expedition from Singapore to Japan," by the medical officer employed in it, Dr. Parker; and we then surmised that it was an American speculation, or that the parties

undertaking it were from the United States. We have now another and a somewhat fuller narrative of the same adventure, furnished by a Mr. King, who appears to have had the direction of the religious branch of the undertaking. The ostensible object of the voyage was to restore to their homes seven shipwrecked Japanese, whom a mercantile house at Canton, viz., that of Oliphant and Co., seems to have dextrously got into its custody from the British Superintendent, under whose charge they were; the real purpose, however, unquestionably being to establish a commercial footing in the most exclusive country, and among the people most jealous of all nations in the world of foreign intercourse and interference.

The speculation failed, and hardly any results deserving repetition attended it, commercial, geographical, or philanthropic. The Japanese authorities would have nothing to do with the Americans, with the Morrison, or with its cargo, living or inert. They fired upon the intruders with right good-will, and drove them from their shores, to the no small annoyance and displeasure, nay, the invoked and meditated retaliation of Mr. King, and of course of the semidiplomatic and legislating firm of Oliphant and Co. But to the Notes descriptive of the first of these voyages, we must have recourse before an adequate idea of the cunningly concocted and promptly thwarted enterprise can be formed.

Having anchored in the outer bay of Yeddo, an attempt was made to get four papers conveyed to the Japanese authorities; the first being intended to introduce the seven returned men,-the second describing America,-the third presenting a list of presents, and the fourth a list of the cargo on board. The translation of the first paper is given as follows:

"The American merchant King respectfully addresses his imperial majesty on the subject of the return of seven of his shipwrecked subjects. He is come to this honourable country from Cap-shuy-moon in China, in a ship of three masts, &c. &c., called the Morrison,' commanded by Capt. Ingersoll, having on board a physician, a naturalist, &c. &c. Three of the shipwrecked men, which he has brought with him, are natives of the village of Ono-oura, in the district of Stangoi, in the principality of Owari; their names, Ewa,' æt. 33; Kioko,' 21; Oto,' 19. They left Owari in November, 1830, in a rich junk for Yeddo, and meeting with a great tempest, lost their mast and their reckoning, and drifted fourteen months on the wide ocean without knowing whither they went. Their eleven companions sickened and died, and they three only remained alive, when their junk was thrown on shore in a country called Columbia, belonging to America, and in part inhabited by savage tribes. Some hunters in that country kindly took care of them, and sent them in a ship to China, where they lived nineteen months at a place called Heang-shanheen. The good people there, remembering the words of Mencius, that he who does not rescue the shipwrecked, is worse than a wolf,' took care of them until an opportunity might offer for their return to their

native country again. The other four shipwrecked men are natives of different villages in the island of Kiusiu; their names, Chiojo,' æt. 28; 'Yusaboroo,' 25; Cumatoroo,' 28. They left a port in the island of Amákusa in December, 1834, bound to Nagasaki, but were driven off in a tyfung, lost their mast and rudder, and, after drifting thirty-five days, were cast on shore in a country called Takarobo. Thence the people of that country sent them to Heang-shan-heen, where they met with their three countrymen, whose shipwreck has been detailed above. Now, I seeing the distressed condition of these men, have brought them back to their country, that they may be restored to their homes, and behold again their aged parents. Respectfully submitting this statement, I request that an officer may be sent on board to receive them-to hear the foreign news-to inspect the register of my vessel-to grant supplies and permission to trade. I also request, that if there be any shipwrecked Americans in your country, they may be given up to me, that I may take them home with me on my return."

It will be admitted, we think, that this document exhibits an unusual degree of diplomatic distinctness and force. In the other papers the skill and ingenuity of Oliphant and Co. are points not less remarkable. Here follows the translation of them, beginning with the discourse about Yankee land:

"America lies to the east of your honourable country, distant two months' voyage. Its western parts are not yet cleared, but are still inhabited by savage tribes. On its eastern side, where the people are civilised, and from which we come, it is separated from England and Holland by a wide ocean. Hence it appears that America stands alone, and does not border upon any other of the nations known to the Japanese. The population of America is not great, though the country is extensive. Two hundred years ago it was entirely inhabited by savages; but at that time, English, Dutch, and other nations went there, and established colonies. Their descendants increased gradually, and sixty-two years ago they chose their first president, named Washington. That high office is now filled by the eighth president. Within the space of sixty-two years America has been twice invaded, but its people have never attacked other countries, nor possessed themselves of foreign territory. The American vessels sail faster than those of other nations, traversing every sea, and informing themselves of whatever passes in every country. If permitted to have intercourse with Japan, they will communicate always the latest intelligence. The laws of America are just and equitable, and punishment is inflicted only on the guilty. God is worshipped by every man according to his own conscience, and there is perfect toleration of all religions. We ourselves worship the God of peace, respect our superiors, and live in harmony with one another. Our countrymen have not yet visited your honourable country, but only know that in old times the merchants of all nations were admitted to your harbours. Afterwards, having transgressed the laws, they were restricted or expelled. Now, we, coming for the first time, and not having done wrong, request permission to carry on a friendly intercourse on the ancient footing.' The

list of presents comprised a portrait of Washington, a telescope, a pair of globes, an encyclopædia, a collection of American treaties, an American history, &c. &c., to which the following remark was appended. Lan. guages of nations differ, and perhaps ours, though much more extensively spoken than the Dutch or Portuguese, may not be understood in your honourable country. If so, and at your request, one of my party shall remain in Japan a year to teach our language.' The list of articles of merchandise on board was closed by a simple request to have free intercourse with the native merchants, so that future cargoes might be made to suit, in all respects, the Japanese taste. Those who are familiar with the accounts given of Japanese ideas, prejudices, &c, will perceive why some points have been touched on in these papers, and others avoided or suppressed. To the above communications there was added a further one of Dr. Parker, respecting the medicines he had brought with him, ⚫ the wonderful efficacy of which, as well as the singular skill of their employer, could only be known by experience.""

In some of the foregoing passages the boastings, the insinuations, and the compliments may be deemed laughably preposterous. The design of the whole is cunningly devised. What we have next to quote, however, appears to us, still more disgustingly hypocritical, jesuitically artful, and monstrously false and dangerous in principle. The doctrine in short is this, might gives right.

The reader is to bear in mind that the answer to the cunning contrivances of the Americans was a not ill directed salutation from certain batteries; nor was a second attempt at negotiation at another part of the coast more successful, or less significantly replied to. The expedition, no doubt deeply chagrined and desperately angry, was therefore obliged to turn about, and taste the bitterness resulting from this ingeniously devised scheme having been so summarily disposed of. But what does the describer of these events propose now to his countrymen and the government of America, whose laws are just and equitable," and who inflict punishment "only on the guilty?" He says,

"As I regarded the possession of three Japanese, who had been wrecked on the American coast, as an opportunity afforded by Providence of getting into private communication with Japan, so I look upon the injury done to the American flag in the treatment of the Morrison, as an occasion too valuable to be lost for bringing national influence to bear on the point where private effort has failed to make any impression. My view of national remonstrance is, that it is never dishonourable, even when unsuccessful. To submit for a time may sometimes be the duty of a Christian nation; to submit to suffer as an evil-doer,' by implication with other men's sins, never. To clear itself from all such debasing connexions, is an object worthy of every nation careful of its Christian honour. On the other hand, the gratification of private or public revenge, the resort to any other than open measures for redress, the punishment of the innocent with or for the guilty, is national degradation;