Art. 43. The Wrongs of Unterwalden. Originally published in Sept. 1798. Translated by the Rev. Weeden Butler, M. A. of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. 8vo. 25. Cawthorn. 1799.

This pamphlet gives not a general history of the French attack on the liberties of Swisserland, under the insidious pretence of union and alli ance, but a declamatory account of the contest between the Republican troops under Gen. Schawenburg, and the cantons of Schwitz, Uri, and Unterwalden; particularly the latter; 1600 of whose valiant sons, after having fought for thirteen hours against a body of 16,000 Republican troops, were at length obliged to yield to such superior numbers, and to take refuge in the mountains. The enormities perpetrated by the French, after the defeat of this little army of heroes, are here dèscribed with a very warm pencil; a pencil better fitted perhaps to give strong colouring than a just likeness. At all events, the picture is such as must interest every friend to humanity and freedom, and extort applause and sympathy for the brave inhabitants of Unterwalden. Art. 44. St. Godwin : : a Tale of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Century. By Count Reginald De St. Leon. PP. 235. 3s. 6d. Wright. 1800.

12mo.

Blessed (say we) be the man who invented laughing." Sancho was never more relieved by sleep than we, who are obliged to wade through a mass of dulness, are by a hearty laugh; we hope, therefore, that Mr. Godwin will not be offended, if we confess that we have been amused by this burlesque on his St. Leon. (See page 23 of the last Review.) It is written with some humour and pleasantry; and it glances not only at the incongruities of St. Leon, but also at the singular opinions delivered by the Author in his book on "Political Justice," and in other publications.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We cannot discover any ground for the dissatisfaction apparent in the letter of our respectable correspondent at Troston. With regard to the extent of the article in question, and to the degree of praise contained in it, we shall abide by our judgment and taste; leaving to others the free exercise of their capacities in these respects: hanc veniam petimus damusque vicissim. The concluding monitory remarks were not designed to convey any imputation in the present instance, for we had no private information on the subject to warrant any censure but they were meant purely as cautionary, and to call to remembrance the consequences of injudicious patronage in former cases. -The trifling mis statement of a christian name we shall correct in our notices of errata.

A Reply to the Speech of the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, in February last, is received: but the subject is now out of time.

Lieutenant Foster's Translation of the King of Prussia's Military Instructions was mentioned in our 2 3d vol. N. S. p. 327.

Review for September, p. 11. 1. 14. put a comma after ' Scie.". P. 40. 1. 8. from bott. for persue,' r. peruse. P. 56. 1. 6. for George,' r. Robert. P. 112. 1. 7. for were,' r. was.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For NOVEMBER, 1800.

ART. I. An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo (Tisu) Lama in Tibet: containing a Narrative of a Journey through Budtan, and Part of Tibet; by Captain Samuel Turner. To which are added, Views taken on the Spot, by Lieut. Samuel Davis; and Observations botanical, mineralogical, and medical, by Mr. Robert Saunders. 4to. PP. 500. 21. 2s. Boards. Nicol

1800.

IN the year 1772, the Rajah of Budtan, descending from the

lofty mountains which constitute his domains, over-ran with little opposition the district of Cûs-behar, a tributary dependence on the Suba of Bengal. The English government detached a military force, which repelled the invaders; and was preparing to carry its arms into the Budtan territory, when, at the intercession of the Tisu Lama, a peace was concluded with the Rajah, and the former boundaries were restored. Mr. Hastings judged the opportunity favourable for the establishment of a commercial intercourse between the inhabitants of Bengal and their northern neighbours; and for ascertaining the actual state of countries hitherto unexplored by Europeans; excepting where they had been marked by the wandering footsteps of the Romish missionaries, whose habits and views sel dom accredited the veracity of their narratives. Mr. Bogle was accordingly deputed on an embassy to the Tisu Lama; he reached Deseripghè in October 1774; and after having resided there and at Tisulumbu till March 1775, he returned to Bengal: but his death, soon after his return, deprived the world of the information which he had acquired during his residence in Tibet..

Among the tribes which constitute the religious votaries of the Lamas (Pontiffs) of Tibet, are numbered the Manchu Tartars, whose chiefs fill the throne of China. When the late Emperor, Kienlong, had almost attained his seventieth year, the Tisu Lama was earnestly solicited to honour that anniversary with his presence. Accordingly, the Lama began his journey from

VOL. XXXIII.

e

Tisulumbu

Tisulumbu in July 1779; in 46 days, he reached Duchu, seated on the banks of a river of the same name; 21 days more brought him to Thuctaring; 19 days afterward, he reached Cumbu, a populous city, where stands, near a small river, a large and famous Putala, or temple of public worship (Buddhala, the mansion of Buddha). Here the snow prevented his farther progress, and four months elapsed before he resumed his journey. Seven days from Cumbu, lay Tumdatolu, in the province of Alasia; and in mihe more the Lama arrived at Nisar, a very large city. Seventy days more, during which several considerable places are mentioned as lying in the route, brought him to Singding, whither the Emperor had repaired to receive him; and, after having loaded with presents the venerable head of the faith, he conducted him in great state to a magnificent mansion allotted for his reception. in the metropolis, Pechin. His journey occupied a period of twelve months; and the roads were crowded with votaries, who prostrated themselves and their offerings at the feet of Tisu Lama. About a month after his arrival in the capital of China, he was seized with the small-pox, which terminated his days in July 1780, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the Chinese physicians, and the despair of their sovereign. His character yet stands in the highest estimation with his subjects; and by Mr. Bogle he was represented as humane, benevolent, and comparatively well informed. A temple of pure gold, large enough to contain the coffin, was prepared by the Emperor's orders; which, with his remains, was conveyed to Tisulumbu, where they still attract the devotion of the Tartar tribes.

An account of these events had scarcely reached Calcutta, before it was succeeded by intelligence of the re-appearance of the Lama in Tibet: The soul of the late Lama, according to the doctrines of their faith, having passed into, and animated the body of an infant, who, on the discovery of his identity, by such testimonies as their religion prescribes, was acknowleged and proclaimed by the same title and appellation as his predecessor.' Governor Hastings, on the receipt of these accounts, proposed to the Board to send a second deputation to Tibet; and Captain Turner was accordingly nominated for this service in January 1783.

From the district of Cusbehar to the foot of the Budtan mountains, extends a plain, about 30 miles in breadth, choked, rather than clothed, with the most luxuriant vegetation. The exhalations necessarily arising from the multitude of springs, which the vicinity of the mountains produces, are collected and confined by almost impervious woods, and generate an atmosphere, through which no traveller ever passed with impunity."

Situated

Situated near the extremity of this plain, lay Chichacatta, which our travellers reached on the 11th May 1783. Eight miles farther, began the assemblage of mountains which constitute the territory of Budtan, distinguished by the general appellation of Tangustan, and giving the name of Tangun to a breed of horses found only there. They are distinguished in colour by a general tendency to piebald; about 13 hands in height, short bodies, clean limbed, and, though deep in the chest, yet extremely active.'-After having commenced the ascent of the mountains, the first place which presents itself is Buxidwar, consisting of ten or twelve houses, placed on a table of levelled rock, surrounded on three sides by lofty mountains, and open only to the south, which affords a narrow prospect of Bengal. Here the common beverage of the Budtias was presented; Chong, a slightly acid and spirituous liquor, extemporaneously prepared by the infusion of a mass of grain in a state of fermentation; and Arra, an ardent spirit obtained from Chong by distillation. Already, the vegetable productions of Bengal required cultivation; and the appearance of raspberry bushes indicated a change of climate.-Continuing their ascent, surTounded by lofty mountains, covered to their summits with trees clothed in moss, the travellers reached Gygugu, 12 miles from Buxidwar; it consisted of five or six houses, supported on bambu props. Thirteen miles from Gygugu, and in a still more elevated situation, is Murichom, consisting of about 20 houses, built of stone, with clay as a cement; raspberries, strawberries, peaches, and oranges, were the spontaneous productions of the hills; and that species of cinnamon, the leaves of which, under the denomination of Tizpat, are used throughout Hindustan for culinary purposes. Here the travellers fell in with the Tehin-chu, foaming at the bottom of high mountains, which frequently alter its course; and sometimes rushing over stupendous precipices. Their route retraced its

course as far as the capital of Budtan.

Pursuing their ascent, they crossed a bridge composed of chains, which extended over the Tehinchu, and reached Chuca, 18 miles distant from Murichom. On the five chains that support the platform, are placed several layers of strong coarse mats of bambu, loosely put down, so as to play with the swing of the bridge; and a fence on each side, of the same materials, contributes to the security of the passenger.' The castle of Chuca, a large square building on elevated ground, afforded them a lodging for the evening. From Chuca, the country opens, and presents to view many well cultivated fields and distant villages. Punuga lies ten miles distant: the mountains which environ it are covered with pine and fir; and there

is not a plant to be seen that is not of European growth. Much of the rock in the neighbourhood consists of limestone.-The castle of Chupea is about half way up a mountain, in a bleak but beautifully romantic situation :-a neighbouring mountain was covered with snow on the 29th May, and the thermometer at noon stood at 57°. Eleven miles farther, the castle of Paugah, a square stone tower, stands on the side, of a rocky eminence, which abundantly supplies it with ammunition. The road to the village of Nomnu, eight miles farther, led by the river along the sides of the mountains; over which, hermitages and villages were scattered, with portions of cultivated ground in their vicinity. An orchard in the neighbourhood yielded wal nuts, apples, peaches, pears, apricots, and barberries.

As the embassy approached the capital, the country became more populous and better cultivated; the Tehinchu ran with less rapidity, watering a most beautiful valley, in which not a spot of land was unemployed. Wangoca lay ten miles from Nomnu, and beyond it our travellers entered the vale of Tasisudon, the residence of the Budtan Rajah. They were conducted to a house to the northward of the palace, and at no great distance from it, situated on an eminence high above the river, which runs on the other side of a road that winds round the base of a hill.

The 3d of June was fixed for receiving the English ambassador. Capt. T. says:

The officers accompanied us through sevesal passages, and up a number of lofty ladders, which connect the different floors, till at length we arrived at the elevated station occupied by the Rajah, near the summit of the citadel. After a short pause upon the landing place, the door was thrown open, and we were ushered into a small but well proportioned room, having on the west side an arched balcony with sliding curtains, being the only aperture for the admission of light, immediately opposite to the door by which we entered, and before which a skreen projected nearly one third of the breadth of the room. The remaining space on the wall, beyond the skreen, was decorated with portraits, wrought in silk, of some champions of their faith, as stiff and formal as any heroes that ever appeared in tapestry. The walls of the room were coloured with blue, and the arches of the balcony, pillars, doors, &c. were painted with vermilion, and ornamented with gilding. The Rajah was habited in a deep garnet-co loured cloth, and sat cross-legged upon a pile of cushions, in the remote corner of the room, with the balcony upon his right hand; upon his left stood a cabinet of diminutive idols, and a variety of con secrated trinkets; close upon his right was placed an escrutoire, for the deposit of papers, required to be at hand; and before him was a small painted bench, to place his tea cup on, and answering all the other purposes of a table. We each advanced, presenting one after the other, a white silk scarf, or long narrow piece of pelong, fringed

at