therefore, considered that if he could induce him to favour his views, he would have no reason to fear interruption from other quarters. He, therefore, resolved to apply to him, and obtained the opportunity through the influence of the then British Minister at Madrid, Mr. Villiers, (now Earl of Clarendon,) by whom, on other occasions, with true English and Christian heartiness, he was greatly assisted in the prosecution of his plans. We shall first give the interview itself, and then subjoin a remark or two upon it. 66 Early one morning I repaired to the palace, in a wing of which was the office of the Prime Minister; it was bitterly cold, and the Guadarama, of which there is a noble view from the palace plain, was covered with snow. For at least three hours I remained shivering with cold in an ante-room, with several other aspirants for an interview with the man of power: at last, however, my turn came, and I was ushered into the presence of Mendizabal. "He stood behind a table covered with papers, on which his eye was intently fixed. He took not the slightest notice when I entered, and I had leisure enough to survey him. He was a huge athletic man, somewhat taller than myself, who measure six feet two without my shoes; his complexion was florid, his features fine and regular, his nose quite aquiline; and his teeth splendidly white: though scarcely fifty years of age, his hair was remarkably grey. He was dressed in a rich morning gown, with a gold chain round his neck, and Morocco slippers on his feet. After I had been standing about a quarter of an hour, he suddenly lifted up a pair of sharp eyes, and fixed them upon me with a peculiarly scrutinizing glance. I have seen a glance very similar to that among the Beni Israel,' thought I to myself. My interview with him lasted nearly an hour. Some singular discourse passed between us. I found him, as I had been informed, a bitter enemy to the Bible Society, of which he spoke in terms of hatred and contempt, and by no means a friend to the Christian religion, which I could easily account for. I was not discouraged, however, and pressed upon him the matter which brought me thither; and was eventually so far successful as to obtain a promise that, at the expiration of a few months, when he hoped the country would be in a more tranquil state, I should be allowed to print the Scriptures. "As I was going away he said, 'Yours is not the first application I have had ever since I have held the reins of government, I have been pestered in this manner by English, calling themselves Evangelical Christians, who have of late come flocking over into Spain. Only last week a hunchbacked fellow found his way into my cabinet whilst I was engaged in important business, and told me that Christ was coming. And now you have made your appearance, and almost persuaded me to embroil myself yet more with the priesthood, as if they did not abhor me enough already. What a strange infatuation is this which drives you over lands and waters with Bibles in your hands! My good Sir, it is not Bibles we want, but rather guns and gunpowder to put down the rebels with, and above all, money, that we may pay the troops. Whenever you come with these three things, you shall have a hearty welcome: if not, we really can dispense with your visits, however great the honour.' I told him, there would be no end to the troubles of this afflicted country until the Gospel had free circulation. He replied, 'I expected that answer; for I have not lived thirteen years in England without forming some acquaintance with the phraseology of you good folks. Now pray go: you see how engaged I am. Come again whenever you please, but let it not be within the next three months.'"-Vol. i., p. 243. This is painfully amusing. Popery makes men enemies to Christianity, because they see it at first under no other form; and when they become influenced by the proud prejudices of an infidel philosophy, they look with contempt on the spirituality of the Gospel. And then, hating the Priests, and yet wishing to conciliate them, when they have taken away their property, they think of pleasing them by humouring their opposition to the Bible. Yes; give them guns, gunpowder, and money; and their own wisdom is quite enough to put the country into a right state! After all, what have they done? Till Spain be a land of Bibles, however the work of pulling down may go on, that of skilfully building up will make little progress. 205 BUFFALOES IN PEGUE. IN the Asiatic Journal for February, 1843, is a paper, entitled, "Reminiscences, by an Officer, of the Burmese War in 1836." The following extract will be interesting to the readers of "The Youth's Instructer." The buffaloe of Pegue has been occasionally alluded to as differing much from that of Hindostan. It is monstrous in size, and most savage in temper, though a domestic animal. It has the same antipathy to scarlet as horned cattle in England have, as we soldiers often found to our imminent hazard, and many of our poor fellows were gored. In one instance I was taking an evening ride with a brother officer in the neighbourhood of Pegue, when, in skirting the ditch that encircles the fort, we came somewhat abruptly upon a large herd of these animals, taking their evening bath, their heads only being visible above water. On our approaching, one fellow rose up from the mud in which he had been wallowing, and stared at us most inauspiciously: this movement was instantly followed up by a similar one on the part of the whole drove, who simultaneously dashed out of the water, and rushed after us at full speed. We of course put spurs to our ponies, and galloped off into the jungle by the first track that presented itself; and it was only by this means that we escaped their fury, for soon on all sides we heard the underwood crackling before them, but luckily they did not take our road, and we were soon beyond their reach. I lost my cap, however, in the race, though I found it again the same evening, having returned when the coast was clear. Whilst in the act of escaping the brutes, I contrived to slip off my red jacket, and tuck it under my arm, for this it was that caused the alarm. On another occasion, three of us were out shooting near the same point, when one of these monsters came down upon us at the charge step. There was, of course, a general retreat, and the enemy's progress was only checked by my discharging at him my fowling-piece, which was loaded with snipe-shot. VOL. VII. Second Series. M REVIEW. 1. Judah's Lion: by Charlotte Elizabeth. Large 18mo., pp. 433. Seeleys. WE are not fond of religious fictions, but anything from the prolific pen of Charlotte Elizabeth deserves attention. This is a tale of a young Jew, and of a Christian child, chiefly by whose instrumentality the Jew completes his ancient faith by embracing the testimony to the Messiahship of Jesus, borne by the New Testament. The details are somewhat highly coloured, but the general character of the narrative is interesting, as its grand object is good. The Jew who rejects the true Messiah, can never be even a Jew perfectly. He must be either a philosophical infidel, or a degraded votary of unmeaning and abject superstition: and such, we fear, are too many Jews at the present day. 2. Electricity. Square 16mo., pp. 184. Religious Tract Society. THE Religious Tract Society has lately brought out several elegant and useful little volumes in this form. Such as, "Insects;" ، Birds ; &c. 66 Electricity" is now given. For the young these works are especially adapted: though, as compendiums of the various subjects of which they treat, older persons may read them with both pleasure and advantage. 3. Old Humphrey's Walks in London, and its Neighbourhood. 18mo,, pp. 352. Religious Tract Society. THE title describes the work, which brings before the reader the "sights of London." They who cannot visit London, have the opportunity thus afforded them, at a trifling expense, of quietly experiencing the gratification and profit of a ramble about the metropolis, 4. Sketch of Popery. 24mo., pp. 300. 5. M'Gavin on the End of Controversy. 24mo., pp. 416, BOTH these have recently been published by the Religious Tract Society; and to those youthful readers who, at this eventful period, desire to become acquainted with the general principles of the mighty controversy that is now going on, these pocket volumes will be highly serviceable. We have no wish to make our readers mere controversialists; but the very essence of saving truth is now brought into question. At present, we content ourselves with calling their attention to these cheap and portable volumes. Perhaps we may take an opportunity before long, in the body of "The Youth's Instructer," of entering on the subject, and pointing out the ground which the young Protestant ought to occupy. 6. Useful Hints to Teachers. By the Committee of the Home and Colonial Infant-School Society. 18mo., pp. 70. Nisbets. THIS excellent volume has been sent us for notice, and we mention it with pleasure. Although primarily designed for Infantschool Teachers, it suggests many things that would be useful to Sabbath-school Teachers, or to older brothers and sisters, wishing to Education instruct the junior members of their respective families. is now becoming a great national question, and youthful students will do well to make themselves acquainted with what may be termed its philosophy; its principles, and general rules. 7. A Course of Lectures to Young Men: on Science, Literature, and Religion: delivered in Glasgow by Ministers of various Collins; Denominations. Second Series. 12mo., pp. 356. Glasgow. London: Whittakers; Hamiltons; Simpkins. THIS is not a book for the very young; but for those who are old enough to be pursuing some plan of self-instruction, it is a very valuable work. It contains eleven Lectures on the subjects referred to in the title, and would be a suitable present for a youth leaving home, to stand on the shelf which should furnish him with the We shall very likely best sort of company for his leisure hours. make an extract or two from some of the Lectures in some following Number of "The Youth's Instructer." NOTICES OF ANIMATED AND VEGETABLE NATURE, FOR JUNE, 1843. BY MR. WILLIAM ROGERSON, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. "BUT noon's subduing heat and glare Have melted to a milder air; And O! there comes, so calm and boon, All round is bright, and you may see And the rich blackbird's strains, that swell The first half of the month.-THE squirrel and dormouse build their nests, and bring forth their young: the brown rat and the The cuckoo mole frequently leave their runs in search of water. continues to be heard. The rook, the jackdaw, the magpie, and jay |