SCRIPTURE GAZETTEER. (Continued from p. 326.) CYPRUS (fuir, or fairness), a famous island in the Mediterranean sea, between Cilicia and Syria. It is distant, according to Dr. Wells, about a hundred miles from the main-land of Syria, and about sixty from Cilicia; is extended in length from east to west about two hundred miles, and in breadth sixty. The ancients were of opinion it took its name from the cypress tree, which grows there in great abundance. They celebrate it much for its fertility, as being sufficiently provided with all things within itself; for which reason they call it the rich and happy island: but so infamous was it for luxury, and all kinds of debauchery, that it gave the name Cypris, or Cypria, to Venus, who was the chief goddess of it in the time of heathenism, when they used to consecrate their women to prostitution, and by a law compel them to cohabit with strangers, as did the Babylonians. The apostle Paul and Barnabas departed from Antioch, embarked at Seleucia, and landed in the isle of Cyprus. Acts xiii, 4, 5, 6. While they continued at Salamis, they preached Jesus Christ in the Jewish synagogues, and from thence they went and visited all the cities in the island, preaching the Gospel everywhere. At Paphos they met with the pretended prophet Barjesus, whom St. Paul struck with blindness. St. Barnabas is considered as the principal apostle and first bishop of this island, where it is said he suffered martyrdom. CYRENE (a wall) a city of Lybia in Africa, which, as it was the principal city of that province, sometimes gave it the name of Cyrenean, which, by St. Luke (Acts ii, 10), is paraphrastically called Libya, about Cyrene. This was a city of great note, and one of such power as even to contend with Carthage for pre eminence. It is famous in profane writers for being the birth-place of Eratosthenes the mathematician and Callimachus the poet; and in holy writ as being the birth-place of Simon, whom the Jews compelled to bear our Saviour's cross. Matth. xxvii, 32. There were a great many Jews near Cyrene, and great numbers of them embraced the Christian religion (Acts xi, 20, and xiii); but others opposed it with much obstinacy. D. DABERATH (a word or thing), a town belonging to the tribe of Zebulon, or at least in the confines of this tribe (Josh. xix, 12). But Joshua shows very clearly (xxi, 28), that there is a town of this name in the tribe of Issachar, this tribe having made a cession of this town to the Levites for their habitation. Josephus frequently speaks of this place under the name of Daburitta or Darabitta, situated in the great plain at the extremity of Galilee and Samaria. DALMANUTHA (a bucket). St. Mark (viii, 10) says, that our Saviour embarked with his disciples upon the sea of Tiberias and came to Dalmanutha. St. Matthew (xvi, 59) says that he went to Magdala. Some copies read Magedan; and many MSS of St. Mark read it thus. The Syriac, Arabic, and several old copies, read Magedan. The place to which our Saviour came at this time, says Dr. Wells, lay between or in the neighbourhood of Magdala and Dalmanutha; and these were seated on the eastern side of the sea. DALMATIA (deceitful lamps), a part of old Illyria, lying along the Gulf of Venice. Titus preached the Gospel here. 2 Tim. iv, 10. DAMASCUS (a sackful of blood), a celebrated city in Syria, and one of the most venerable for antiquity in the whole world, being the birth-place of Eliezer, the steward of Abraham. Nor has it been less considerable on account of its strength and greatness, being for a long time the capital of Syria, and the residence of the Syrian kings mentioned in the Old Testament. To pass by other titles, it is styled by Julian the Eye of the East, and stands in every respect in one of the most delightful situations of the whole world. Maundrell acquaints us, that no place can promise the beholder at a distance greater voluptuousness; insomuch that the Turks have a tradition, that their prophet coming near Damascus, took his station upon a certain precipice for some time, in order to view the city; and considering its enchanting beauty and delightfulness, he would not tempt his frailty by entering into it, but instantly departed with this reflection, that there was but one Paradise designed for man, and for his part he was resolved not to take his in this world. The city is situate in an even plain, so that the eye can but just discern the mountains that encompass it on the farther side. It stands on the west side of the plain, at not above two miles distance from the place where the river Barrady breaks out from between the mountains, its gardens extending almost to that very place. At about five hundred paces from Damascus on the south side, upon the highway, the place is shown where St. Paul was thrown upon the ground, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Here a church was built, which at present is entirely ruined. In the same city is still to be seen the house which is said to be that of Ananias, who baptized and instructed St. Paul; it was changed into a church, but the Turks have made a mosque of it. Several writers have been of opinion, that Cain and Abel dwelt near Damascus, and that this city took its name from the blood of Abel, Dam, in Hebrew, signifying blood, and Sachi, a righteous person; and they still show in these parts, Abel's monument, which is said to be forty feet in length. The Jews and Christians have a tradition, that Paradise was situated in the valley of Damascus. The beauty and fertility of this place induced the inhabitants to be of this opinion, though it is at a considerable distance from the Tigris and Euphrates. They also assert that Adam was created near Damascus, of a certain red earth, which is to be seen at the same place, and which to them seemed more proper than any other to form flesh. For a further account of this delightful place, we refer our readers to Maundrell's Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem. DEBIR, otherwise called Kirjath-sepher, or the city of letters, or Kirjath-arba, a city in the tribe of Judah, very near Hebron. The first inhabitants of it were giants, of the race of Anak. Joshua (x, 39) took it, and put the king to death, who commanded in it. Debir fell by lot to Caleb; and Othniel going first to the assault, and entering the place, Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in inarriage. Debir was one of the cities belonging to the Levites. DECAPOLIS (place of ten cities), a country in Palestine, so called because it contained ten principal cities, situated some on this, and some on the other side Jordan. There is mention of this country in Matth. iv, 26, and in Mark v, 20. DERBE (a sting), a city of Lycaonia, whither Paul and Barnabas retreated after having been driven from Iconium (Acts xiv, 6) in the year of Christ 41. DAR, or Dora, the capital of a country in the land of Canaan, called in Hebrew Nephat-Dor. Joshua (xii, 2, 3) conquered it, and killed its king. He gave the city to the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan. Josh. xvii, 11. Dor is situated upon the Mediterranean sea, with a very bad port belonging to it. It lies near Cesarea, in Palestine, and near Mount Carmel. Autiochus besieged Tryphon, the usurper of the kingdom of Syria, in this city. MY SCRAP BOOK. LEAF XIV. "The Bee that wanders, and sips from every flower, disposes what she has gathered into her cells."-SENECA. Old MR. THOMAS BRADBURY was remarkable for a One evening, strict punctuality in family devotion. when the bell had rung, his servants ran hastily up to prayer, and forgot to shut the area door, next the street. Some fellows seeking an opportunity to commit a robbery, happened to observe the door open, and one of them getting over the palisades, entered the house. Creeping up stairs, he heard the old gentleman at prayer, that God would preserve his house from thieves. The man was thunder-struck, and unable to persist in his design. He therefore returned and told the circumstance to his companions, who abused him for his timidity. But the man himself was so affected, that some time after, he related the event to Mr. Bradbury, and became an attendant on his ministry. Illustration of Malachi iv. 2.-The late Mr. Robinson, of Cambridge, called upon a friend*, just as he had received a letter from his son, who was surgeon on board a vessel then lying off Smyrna. The son mentioned to his father, that every morning about sun-rise, a fresh gale of air blew from the sea across the land, and from its wholesomeness and utility in clearing the infected air, this wind is always called the Doctor. ," said Mr. Robinson, "it strikes me, that the Now," prophet Malachi, who lived in that quarter of the world, might allude to this circumstance, when he says, "The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.' The Psalmist mentions the wings of the wind; and it appears to me, that this salubrious breeze which attends the rising of the sun, may be properly enough considered as the wings of the sun, which contain such healing influences, rather than the beams of the sun, as that passage has been commonly understood." The late Rev. William Button. Apologue.-Having in my youth notions of severe piety, says a Persian writer, I used to rise in the night, to watch, pray, and read the Koran. One night, wholly engaged in these exercises, my father, a man of pracBehold," tical virtue, awoke while I was reading. said I to him, "thy other children are lost in irreligious "Son of slumber, while I alone wake to praise God.” my soul," replied my father, "it is better to sleep, than wake to remark the faults of thy brethren."-SADI. - Christian Liberality, an Anecdote.· Many persons contract their liberality, if by any providential occurrences they suffer losses in their secular affairs. That some good men, however, have been of another mind, and that they have not been afraid to trust God under such circumstances, will fully appear from the following incident, which is related by Mr. Tong, in his Life of Mr. Shower, p. 3. A religious and wealthy merchant in Derbyshire, having heard of the loss of a ship near Hull, in which he had effects to the value of Ì,500. presently called to his cash-keeper, and ordered him to distribute 100. amongst such poor ministers and Christians as he should direct: "for," said he, "if it be going by 1,500l. at a lump, it is time to make sure of some part of it before it be all gone!" What is given for the sake of Christ, shall be amply and certainly recompensed. A gentleman of very little seriousness, being once in company of Mr. R. ROGERS, an old nonconformist minister, said to him, "Mr. Rogers, I like your company, but you are so precise." "O Sir," replied he, "I serve a precise God.” MR. BUNYAN having once preached with particular warmth and liberty, one of his hearers observed to him, Ay," what a delightful sermon he had delivered. said the good man, "you need not remind me of that, for the devil told me so before I left the pulpit." SPANISH PROVERBS. We can say nothing of the day till the sun is set. Be slow in choosing a friend, but slower in changing. Companionship and good-fellowship, must not be mistaken for true friendship. Content in the humblest dwelling, is better than care in a splendid palace. Consider well before you tie a knot you can never undo. He who makes an idol of his interest, makes a martyr of his religion. Actions deliberated upon, are seldom embittered by repentance. Let not thy heart be upon the world, when thy hands are raised in prayer. -- THE CHRISTIAN'S WANTS. I want that sacred flame of love to God, Which every evil passion shall subdue, That like the sun diffuses all abroad, And leads spectators to admire him too. I want a full release from every sin, From all its guilt, and captivating powers, From all that keen distress I feel within, That racks my waking and my sleeping hours. I wantthe smiles of his beloved face, On which my hopes and comforts only live, The sacred influence, the saving grace, Which he hath purchas'd, and alone can give. I want the blessed Spirit near my heart, To purify and change that loathsome waste: O that my God would energy impart, And let my soul his new creation taste. I want that wisdom which is from above, To teach me when to speak, and what conceal; The serpent well attemper'd with the dove, And pious prudence mix'd with fervent zeal. I want more gratitude for what I have; O that my God would this desire fulfil! And when he dooms my comforts to the grave, Grant me more resignation to his will. I want-affections that have larger scope, I want - alas! I want I know not what; — But if my suit in part must be denied, May sorrows well prepare for joys on high; Thus every want shall more than be supplied, And every wish in full fruition die. S. J. B*****. 'Sincerity has a certain steady dignity in itself, that always obtains respect; and though it may sometimes not be very pleasing to vanity, it is never liable to the disapprobation attendant on fickleness and levity." "They have reason to be well pleased with their lot in life, who can distinguish the hand of God in their misfortunes." ON THE PORTRAIT OF A KNEELING CHILD. "Or lisps with holy look his evening prayer."-CAMPBELL. " MOTHER! teach thy child to pray, Mother! teach thy child to kneel, He must venture with the strong; But may not a moment rest. Prayer will prove both shield and sword, Mother! teach thy child to pray, * Gen. ii, 7. S. HOPKINS. ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE."-GEN. XIX, 17. SINNER, rise! with ardour rise, Be unto salvation wise, Nor longer dare delay. See the crown of life in view, Jesus holds it out to you; Now the glorious prize pursue, Clouds will soon o'erspread your skies, Now is the day, now is the hour; You are weak, he'll grant you power: Say, poor sinner, dost thou know, Stay not then in all the plain, Ere God's wrath, like burning rain, Nor longer dare delay. EVANGELICAL BIOGRAPHY. G. M. B. MEMOIR OF THE REV. ALEXANDER WAUGH, D.D. 18mo. cloth, pp. 72, with a portrait, Simpkin and Marshall, London. Christianity embodied was scarcely ever seen to greater advantage, than in the benevolent and heavenly temper, and the holy life, of the late Dr. Waugh. This piece of biography is small and unpretending; but it contains a beautiful miniature portrait of that great, and good, and useful man. FOX'S ESTIMATE OF THE BENEFITS OF PRINTING. Christianity was restored at the Protestant Reformation. Humanly speaking, this could not have been accomplished, but for the glorious invention of Printing. Fox, the martyrologist, remarks on this subject: -“By printing tongues are known, knowledge groweth, judg ment increaseth, books are dispersed, the Scriptures are seen, the doctors are read, stories are opened, times compared, truth discerned, falsehood detected, and all through the benefit of printing. Wherefore I suppose, that either the pope must abolish printing, or he must seek a new world to reign over; for else, as this world standeth, printing will doubtless abolish him. But the pope and all his college of cardinals must understand, that through the light of printing the world beginneth now to have eyes to see, and heads to judge: he cannot walk so visible in a net, but he will be spied. Although by power he before stopped the mouth of John Huss and of Jerome, that they might not preach, thinking to make his kingdom sure; yet, instead of John Huss and others, God hath opened the press to preach, whose voice the pope is never able to stop, with all the puissance of his triple crown. By this printing, as by the gift of tongues, and as by the singular organ of the Holy Ghost, the doctrine of the Gospel soundeth to all nations and countries under heaven; and what God revealeth to one man is dispersed to many, and what is known to one nation is opened to all.” London: Printed and Published by C. WOOD AND SON, Poppin's Court, Fleet Street; to whom all Communications for the Editor (post paid) should be addressed; and sold by all Booksellers and Newsmen in the United Kingdom. Hawkers and Dealers supplied on Wholesale Terms, in London, by STRILI, Paternoster Row; BERGER, Holywell Street, Strand; J. PATT18, 16, High Street, St. Giles's; and W. N. BAKER, 16, City Road, PENNY MAGAZINE. N: 76. NOVEMBER 16, 1833. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY C. WOOD AND SON, POPPIN'S COURT, FLEET STREET, LONDON. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY, AND THEIR EMPIRE. THE British Empire in India has been described as the nost extraordinary spectacle "which the political world ever saw" as nearly equalling in extent that which the Romans once established in Europe; while it has surpassed and differs from theirs in the celerity and inferior agency, numerically considered, by which it has been acquired; in the benevolent character and efficiency of its administration; and in its remoteness from the seat and source of the ruling power and influence. The empire thus subjected to the dominion of Great Britain comprehends more than 500,000 square miles of territory in the peninsula of India, inhabited by not less than 100,000,000 of human beings; and is at a distance from Great Britain of 5,000 miles by land, and 12,000 miles by sea. Not the least remarkable circumstance connected with this empire is, that it was acquired, and its government has been administered, by a joint-stock company of merchants, whose high and sovereign commands upon all points connected with government are issued without observation from their commercial hall in Leadenhall Street, London. VOL. II. At no former period in the history of the world ha such a spectacle been presented to the contemplation of mankind; and it now derives additional interest from the consideration, that Christianity in its imperishable interests is deeply involved in the future conduct of this corporation. The trade with India first commenced in 1599. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth established a company to con duct it; but this company appears to have been a shipping company; the adventurers sending their goods at their own risk. In 1612 the funds of individuals were combined into a common capital or stock, of which each person held a share or shares, according to the sum which he had subscribed for the purposes of trade. The value of a share was 501, and the capital formed by these shares amounted to 740,000. The traffic appears to have been at that period lucrative, and to have afforded a considerable profit to the first adventurers, notwithstanding many losses which they sustained through the rivalry and malice of the Dutch. Hitherto the Company had traded under a royal charter, unsupported by parliamentary authority, which gave them an exclusive privilege. The profits which the Company thus acquired, induced others to inquire into the validity of their claims; and it was decided, 3 A that, without the sanction of every branch of the legislature, no charter could convey the privilege of an exclusive trade; accordingly, many adventurers engaged in the Indian trade, independently of the Company; and the profits of those who had supposed themselves to be possessed of an exclusive privilege, were greatly injured by the competition. In this situation the Company's affairs continued until 1698, when, to obtain a charter conferring an exclusive privilege of trading to India, a number of subscribers, unconnected, with the old Company, offered to King William 2,000,000l., at 8 per cent. interest: whereupon, the old Company, to maintain their privileges, offered to government 700,000/. at 4 per cent. Necessity induced the administration to accept the larger sum, though at the higher interest. A new Company was thus erected: but the old Company was not abolished. Rivalry was the consequence, and the interests of both parties were injured by it: besides, the new subscribers were not obliged to unite in a joint stock. A few of them insisted upon carrying on the trade separately, and mutual jealousy arose, highly prejudicial to all the chartered adventurers. In 1702, by what was called an "Indenture Tripartite," of which Queen Anne formed the third party, the two companies were in some measure united; and, in 1708, they were, by act of parliament, formed into one company, under the denomination of The United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East Indies, a name which they have ever since retained. The individuals, indeed, who had insisted upon a separate trade, were not immediately deprived of their privileges, but the Company was authorized, after three years' notice, to purchase the capital of those individuals, and thus to convert the whole capital into a joint stock. The Company's capital stock, which is vested in the British funds, has been subsequently augmented, and amounted, in 1812, to 6,000,0007. On the renewal of the East India Company's charter, in 1813, a new era in Indian commerce commenced, the trade being thrown open to the enterprise of individuals, under certain restrictions and regulations, as specified at large in the Act of the 53 Geo. III, cap. 55. The following abstract is from Colquhoun : By this Act the territorial acquisitions in India, with the late acquisitions on the continent of Asia, or in any island north of the Equator, are to remain in the government of the East India Company for 20 years, from the 10th of April, 1814. The Company have also the exclusive monopoly of the trade to and from China, for the like term of years. Private traders, subjects of His Majesty, in the United Kingdom, may export goods to any port or place within the limits of the Company's charter, provided the return cargoes are sent to such ports only in Great Britain and Ireland, as shall be specified by an order of His Majesty in Council in Great Britain, and by the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Ireland. 'By this Act, the East India Directors are hereafter required to keep separate and distinct accounts of their territorial, political, and commercial affairs, which have been heretofore so amalgamated as to render it impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to ascertain the profit or loss on their trade. "In the same year, the Acts of the 54 Geo. III, cap. 34, 35, 36, make further regulations with respect to the East India trade. By the first Act, British subjects may trade between the United Kingdom and the limits of the Company's charter, and to any intermediate port or place situate in North and South America (British Colonies in America excepted), either directly or circuitously, provided they do not trade in tea; excepting also the dominions of the emperor of China. The second Act allows trade to be carried on in India in ships not British built, until the 1st of January, 1815. The third Act makes various regulations with respect to duties, drawbacks, manifests, &c. These four Acts of Parliament regulate the whole of the trade to India, in conformity to the new system which has been established." By the act recently passed, the East India Company are altogether divested of their commercial character, and remain incorporated for the purpose of governing India only; concerning which, we shall give some important information in a future Number. SCRIPTURE BIOGRAPHY. ABRAHAM. Abraham's Conduct towards Lot. THE Conduct of Abraham towards his nephew Lot, finely exhibits to us the amiable character of the patriarch. Lot had accompanied his uncle from Haran, and during three years, attended him in his sojourning in Canaan and Egypt. But it became indispensably necessary that they should separate, their households were so large, and their cattle became so numerous. It has been common to represent Lot as a very young man, entirely dependent upon Abraham, and as having received from him all the property which he possessed. But this arises from a serious mistake: for though Abraham was his uncle, and might be his senior, it could be but very little, as Lot's father was the elder brother of Abraham, and sixty years older than he. It is evident also, that Lot had considerable possessions in Haran, doubtless left him by his deceased parent. The riches of Lot might not be equal to those of Abraham, but the sacred writer observes, "And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together for their substance was very great, so that they could not dwell together." Gen. xiii, 5, 6. Sincere friendship, founded upon religious principle, united the hearts of these two excellent men, and a separation must have been truly painful to both of them. But "there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle, and the herdmen of Lot's cattle." And what rendered the appearance of strife the more disreputable was, the masters were worshippers of the true God: it was even dangerous to them, as foreigners, for "the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land." The fire thus kindled might possibly be inflamed, until the masters should be led take part with the servants, and thus their friendship would cease. This was perceived by Abraham, and with a noble magnanimity, equal to his prudent sagacity, he proposed a separation to his nephew. "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." Ver. 8, 9. Language fails justly to characterize the disinterested proposition of Abraham. A thousand sermons preached, and as many volumes written, to recommend a spirit of peacefulness, benevolence, and condescending politeness, were far short of the expressive and persuasive lesson which we are taught by this act of the patriarch. Lot being younger than Abraham, and certainly under many obligations o him, ought to have |