struggle for Greek Independence, not fewer than 100,000 individuals perished on the altar of Musselman fanaticism: the victims of which may indeed be traced everywhere, from "the banks of the Danube to the cataracts of the Nile."

Nor have the followers of the Prophet succeeded better in preserving the Monuments of Grecian Art, than in governing the Greek people. Their skill, in this respect, has been sufficiently indicated by the fact of their having built the bas-reliefs of Halicarnassus into the walls of a fort, and worked up the relics of the Parthenon, in the erection of Cow-pens and Pig-sties. In fact, the march of Civilization in the Turkish Empire, has, until lately, if not still, been a retrograde movement. They could turn St. Sophia into a Mosque; but so far as being imbued with the spirit of progress goes, the Civilization of the East has proved utterly useless to rulers of this stolid race. The lessons of Science have been wasted on these "brains of lead." The Arts have had no charms for this half barbarian and half fanatic race. As to the religious element in the Civilization of the Greeks, little was to be expected from that. The Musselman faith could not possibly have remained in the ascendant in Turkey, if the doctrine of "the Cross" had not been rendered powerless by the numerous folds of error in which it was enveloped. In a pitched battle, the pure, and unadulterated "truth as it is in Jesus," must have had an easy triumph over the falsehoods uttered in the name of the Prophet. It is well, then, to remember, that the Mahommedan delusion has not triumphed over "the Cross," but over a system of Superstition on which the Eastern Church, of the Greek communion, has bestowed the venerated name of "the Cross."

After three or four centuries of conflict, we behold the Greek and Turkish races in the same position, with respect to each other, as at the period of the Ottoman conquest; but, in the interval, Turkey has become to European Statesmen, the great diplomatic difficulty, just as Ireland has long been the great Administrative difficulty of Statesmen, on this side the Channel. What Catholicism has done for the latter, the Moslem and the Greek Church have done for the former, and their forms of religion are equally the Curse of both. Hence, we cannot resist the conviction that the regeneration of Turkey must be sought, from henceforth, at the hands of our Missionary Societies, and not at those of the Greek and Latin Churches. Holding these views, we are devoutly grateful to Almighty God, that Turkey is becoming on a large scale the scene of Protestant Missionary effort. We rejoice that to its vast provinces in Europe and Asia-twice as extensive as Great Britain and France both-Missionaries have been sent from "the New World," a region of the Globe whose existence was unknown at the time of the Turkish Conquest. These agents are destined, we doubt not, to be followed by others from both England and America, now that we have an open door of access to the millions who occupy what survives, or squat amid the ruins of what once was Tyre and Sidon, Antioch and Jerusalem, Damascus and Bagdad, Babylon and Palmyra. In ancient times, these regions of Classic story were to Western Europe more distant than Australia

now is from this country. To the common people, they were the land of Romance. Rumour made the East, with its great metropolis, a region of unexampled splendour. The metropolis, in particular, with its gilded domes-its magnificent cupolas-its fairy-like minarets -its groves of elegant trees, with all their variety of form and hue, were thought of, as the creations of an enchantment. The discovery of the Mariner's Compass has, to borrow a galvanic allusion, completed the circuit, and brought the East into our own system. The application of Steam as a motive power to sea-going vessels, has still more facilitated our intercourse with the people of the East, and contributed to the extension of our acquaintance with their peculiar institutions, their manners, and their customs. And, after the lapse of centuries, we are constrained to acknowledge a substantial truthfulness in the rumours concerning the far-famed city of the illustrious Constantine. Alas! that it has become the head-quarters of the Moslem; that the moral condition of the people should contrast, so unfavourably, with the charms of climate and of scenery; that it should be the pest land of a prophet who has left none of the credentials of a prophet behind him; of a superstition whose most splendid triumphs are cemented with blood, and of a people whose social development is stunted by polygamy, and whose highest aspirations are limited to a Paradise of sense and of sensuality.

Our readers will be right glad to find, that every item of information concerning this people, is being turned to good account, and that Christian philanthropy is now busily employed in subordinating all the appliances of a higher Civilization, and a purer Faith, to overthrow the barbarism of the Turk and the superstition of the Greek, as well as to repay a debt of gratitude, many centuries old, which the Western owes to the Eastern world. From the East sprang both our Civilization and our Religion. The West has also been enriched for ages by its commerce with the East. It is fitting, therefore, that Western nations should now repay this debt in a spiritual currency: that the Missionaries and Colporteurs of the West should essay the rekindling of those lamps which once shed their radiance on the Mediterranean, and the opening up of a new Commerce in the Eastern world, the staple of which shall be the wisdom that is "more precious than rubies."

THE GREAT MORAL REVOLUTION IN THE
CELESTIAL EMPIRE.

ONE of the most extraordinary revolutions of this, or of any age, is now going on among the three hundred millions of Buddhists, scattered abroad throughout the immense territory of the Chinese empire. Every scrap of intelligence, on this subject, must be of interest to our readers. We make no apology, therefore, for having culled the fol lowing particulars from a recent communication of the Rev. Mr. Medhurst to the Secretary of the London Missionary Society.

As to their worship, Mr. Medhurst tells us, that the insurgents wor

ship God, under the name of Shang-te: that they worship him every day, and previous to every meal. As to their manners, he tells us, they will not allow a man to smoke common tobacco, or opium; to gamble, drink, quarrel, indulge in sensuality, or steal. Furthermore, we learn from Mr. Medhurst, that Tae-ping-wang (their chief) actually exists, and that his image is not carried about, as some have reported. He is said to be an actual living man who is frequently carried about in a chair, but so shrouded in deep folds of silk, that the common people cannot get even a glance at him. The highest officers, however, see him every night, when they go to consult about affairs of state, and to receive orders. Tae-ping-wang is believed by his followers to have been up into heaven. As to the insurgent troops, they are said to receive no pay; and further, that if any one is found to have more than five dollars in his possession, he is immediately bambooed for not having given it up previously. All monies, immediately they are acquired, are handed over to the general treasury, which is said to abound with untold heaps of dollars, religiously devoted to the purchase of provisions and other stores, to enable them to carry on their great revolutionary enterprise. At the first outbreak, a large number of women fought in the ranks of the insurgent army, but since the establishment of the rebels in Nanking, they have been separated, because there is no longer any need for the women to engage in warfare. They are now, therefore, kept apart, have their various duties to perform, and are engaged for a great part of their time in learning, each band of twenty-five women having an instructress over them. As for the men, they are told, their business, for the present, is to fight and work, and when the empire is gained, they shall enjoy the company of their wives again. Every man and woman is regularly registered, so that there will not, it is said, be the slightest difficulty in restoring to every man his rightful partner.

Wherever the insurgents go, they destroy everything belonging to Buddha and Taou; the books, the temples, the images, and, it is feared, in many instances, the followers, all perish in one common destruction. They keep the Sabbath by abstaining from all unnecessary work, and by assembling in large halls for public worship, and to receive instruction from their chiefs. No attention is bestowed on the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, but the name of "Jesus" is known, though, alas! not sufficiently, in the insurgent camp. Altogether, this is a most remarkable revolution. What motives must have been necessary to induce the destruction of books and images, whose traditions reach backward, beyond the earliest periods of a people who boast a higher antiquity than any other race! We have seen another communication from Mr. Medhurst, which will cast still further light on the principles and habits of the insurgents. This excellent individual was preaching in a place of worship, belonging to the London Missionary Society, in Shanghae, when suddenly a man stood up in the midst of the congregation, and exclaimed, "That is true; that is true! The idols must perish, and shall perish. I am a Kwang-se-man, a follower of Tae-ping-wang; we all of us worship one God and believe in Jesus, while we do our utmost to put down

idolatry; everywhere demolishing the temples, and destroying the idols, and exhorting the people to forsake these superstitions. When we commenced, two years ago, we were only 3,000 in number, and we have marched from one end of the empire to the other, putting to flight whole armies of the Mandarin troops that were sent against us. If it had not been that God was on our side, we could not have thus prevailed against such overwhelming numbers; but now our troops have arrived at Teen-tsin, and we expect soon to be victorious over the whole empire." He then proceeded to exhort the people, in a most lively and earnest strain, to abandon idolatry, which was only worship of devils, and perseverance in which would involve them in the misery of hell; while by giving it up, and believing in Jesus, they would obtain the salvation of their souls. "As for us," he said, "we feel quite happy in the profession of our religion, and look on the day of our death as the happiest period of our existence. When any of our number die, we never weep, but congratulate each other on the joyful occasion, because a brother is gone to glory, to enjoy all the magnificence and splendour of the heavenly world. While continuing here, we make it our business to keep the commandments, to worship God, and to exhort each other to do good; for which end we have frequent meetings for preaching and prayer. What is the use, then, of you Chinese going on to burn incense and candles, and gilt paper? which, if your idols really required it, would only show their covetous dispositions; just like the Mandarins who seize men by the throat, and, if they will not give money, squeeze them severely, but, if they will, they only squeeze them gently." He went on to inveigh against the prevailing vices of his countrymen, particularly opiumsmoking. "But you must be quick," he added, "for Tae-ping-wang is coming, and he will not allow the least infringement of his rulesno opium, no tobacco, no snuff, no wine, and no vicious indulgence of any kind. All offences against the commandments of God are punished by him with the severest rigour, while the incorrigible are beheaded-therefore, repent in time."

How astonishing the progress of this revolution! In an age eminent for great events, this Chinese Revolution bids fair to establish claims to pre-eminence. Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes!

INFIDELITY.

SIDE VIEWS OF VOLTAIRE, THE GREAT APOSTLE OF INFIDELITY. The tender Mercies of the Arch-Sceptic.

A WRITER in the "Leisure Hour" says-Voltaire, and the men with whom he acted, were perpetually vaunting the superiority of philosophy over religion. It would be worth asking whether their philosophy deserved the name, if there were any room for putting such a question. But the fact is too obvious to be doubted for a moment. Their philosophy was falsely so called;

it was a mixture of vanity and verbiage; bold assumption and fine talking, nothing more. But what sort of influence did their philosophy, such as it was, exert? Did it make them upright, honest, and philanthropic ? Did it tend to purify their hearts, and inspire them with generous and disinterested sentiments ? Christianity has done this for millions who were destitute of the intellectual advantages which they enjoyed. We are justified in demanding what their boasted philosophy did for them. Let us see. Voltaire had certain notions respecting war. When it suited him, he could rave about its inhumanity, but at other times he could treat both its principles, and the horrors which flowed from it, with the coolest indifference. His model hero, Frederic, king of Prussia, surnamed the Great, had conquered Silesia. Our readers will remember how he suddenly broke into the Austrian dominions with a powerful army, the bloody struggle that ensued, what battles were fought, aud how many thousands fell. At the close of the war, Frederic wrote its history, and therein confessed that he was induced to enter upon the war merely by ambition, interest, and the desire to be spoken of, combined with his having plenty of troops and money, and being of a rather vivacious character. There was some nobleness in making the confession; but why does it not appear in his printed book? Because Voltaire persuaded him to expunge it. Frederic was an infidel, and such a confession might have damaged the cause of infidelity. While the seven years' war was yet raging, we find Voltaire writing thus: "I must tell you that I have been crying, Vive le roi, on hearing that the French have killed 4000 English with the bayonet. This was not humane, but it was necessary." Necessary! another of those words which depict the man and his epoch. Again he writes; "People talk still of two or three massacres. What then are we to do? Why, present Tancred in December, print it in January, and laugh!" This is the book which he dedicated to Madame de Pompadour.

A few years after the termination of the seven years' war, Prussia and Austria joined in the first partition of Poland. It is well known how that act of injustice embittered the last hours of Maria Theresa. She had only been a subordinate actor in the tragedy; the chief part was played by Frederic. But who suggested to him so foul a crime as the wanton overthrow of a neighbouring state? Alas! for the philanthropy and liberalism of our philosopher! The suggestion came from Voltaire; and it was not his fault if France did not do for Geneva what Frederic did for Poland. Such sympathy did he feel for the work of carnage, that he invented a machine, a sort of chariot, armed with scythes, by which he expected that 600 men, and as many horses, would be able to destroy an army of 10,000 men. Writing to Catherine, Empress of Russia, who, though she had acquiesced in the murder of her husband, was a saint with the Encyclopædist, he says of the Turks, with whom she was then at war, "Will these barbarians always attack as hussars? will they never present themselves in close array, so as to be run through by some of my Babylonian cars? I should wish at least to have con