Christianity themselves, but became afterwards the means of imparting it to others, so that a silent and gradual extension took place. It is stated by Niecamp, that in thirty years, beginning at 1705, there had been converted at Tranquebar 3517 persons, of whom 2331 were then alive. In Madras, Tanjore, and other districts, the converts amounted to 1140."

The Protestant nations, and particularly the English, had been long reproached with an indifference to the religious interests of their eastern subjects. Their conduct here, formed a striking contrast to that zeal, however little distinguished by knowledge, which had certainly distinguished the Catholic nations. The present age has done much to wipe off this reproach. The chief merit is due to the mission founded at Serampore about the end of the last century, by some individuals of the Baptist persuasion. None seems ever to have been conducted on principles of purer philanthropy, or in a manner more worthy of the Christian character. In prosecuting their objects, the missionaries have made a progress in philological science and research, which has commanded the admiration even of those who could not otherwise estimate the value of their exertions. Through their efforts, the difficulties once supposed insurmountable, which opposed our knowledge of the languages of India, have been entirely removed. They have accomplished the task, supposed, if possible, still more arduous, of reading and writing the Chinese language: and thus, there is now scarcely a people from the Indus to the Eastern Ocean, who may not read in their own language the greater part of the sacred volume.

Besides a review of a variety of travels through different parts of Hindostan, Mr. Murray gives a very instructive view of the geography and the statistics of that part of India. These subjects he takes up under the following heads.-Physical aspect of Hindostan-System of Agriculture-Natural Products-Population— Religion and Literature-General view of Hindoo Society-and British System in India. After this, we have a review of travels through the Holy Land, Persia, Eastern India, China, Japan, and Siberia.

We have, however, said enough, we trust, to convince our readers that the work is composed of valuable materials, and that Mr. Murray has executed his task of arrangement and condensation, with much care and ability. He has the art, not only of seizing upon the prominent and interesting parts of narratives, but of making a happy use of them, without lengthening his composition by formal quotations.

ART. VIII.-Memoirs of the Life of ANDREW HOFER; containing an account of the transactions in the Tyrol during the year 1809. Taken from the German. By Charles Henry Hall, Esq. London. John Murray, 1820. 8vo. Pp. 221.

THE

HE war in which the Tyrolese bravely defended their liberties against the French and Bavarians, in the year 1809, has been so often described; so much interest was taken in it in this country at the time; and the details were so deliciously romantic, so truly indicative of a noble people strenuously exerting themselves in a noble cause, that we run great risk of wearying our readers by referring to the subject. Few persons, we believe, have not read, in some journal or other, of the remarkable anecdote of Speckbacher's dog carrying dispatches past the Bavarians under his tail; of the destruction of a part of the French army by an artificial avalanche of stones and trees hurled on it " in the name of the holy trinity," or of the old white headed man, who, when surrounded, and having no hope of escape, shot one of his assailants with his only remaining charge, and grappling another, sprung with him into the river beneath. Whoever is already acquainted with these interesting details, will not patiently hear any meaner or tamer story. The reader, we are also persuaded, will like a great part of the work now before us very ill; for it is evidently intended to reduce Hofer, the great hero and idol of the Tyrolese, below the level of ordinary men. We readily admit, that the discovery of truth is, as Mr. Hall says, of more importance than the excitement of fictitious interest;" and we should have thought him "not undeserving of thanks," though "his narrative had somewhat degraded Hofer in our estimation," if he had "made the true character of the Tyrolese chief familiar "to the English public." Preface. But this public is not accustomed to believe implicitly anonymous statements, proceeding probably from an envious, and not, as Mr. Hall calls him, fortunate rival. It does not judge of men like a German baron, who values them "like turnips, according to the quantity of their root under ground;" and it will require some other autho rity than that of the present work, to believe that the humble innkeeper, who was called by the general consent of his countrymen to command them in the day of tribulation and of battle, was a common man, He was suddenly elevated to the chief authority in the land, he possessed it for a considerable time, at a period of confusion, and never was accused of one act of insolence or oppression; he administered the whole revenues of

his native country, with a power of levying contributions, and never appropriated improperly a penny to himself, but expended his own substance, and left his widow at his death in far worse circumstances than she had been before the elevation of her husband;-at his death, too, every Tyrolese eye was wet, and nobody triumphed but the enemies of his country. Of such a man the British public will not believe, without good evidence, that

"He was carousing in a public-house at the moment of two celebrated battles; that he was particularly annoyed when business interrupted his conviviality; that he was devoted to the bottle.' That he was incapable of directing a march, or indeed any disposition of his troops,' pages 5-6. That he preferred head quarters to any other place, because there was better cheer there." 'That his letters were so wild, and his intelligence so inconsistent and unconnected, that he, (Hormayr,) was unable to understand their (the letter's,) intentions: That Hofer passed the principal part of his time at the ale-house, but was particularly fond of writing, and dispatching couriers, without considering the dangers they ran of falling into the hands of the enemy." Pp. 104, 105.

All these, and many more such accusations, are incredible.

"The reader will easily remark the inconsistency of Hofer's head being turned by his unexpected good fortune,' and yet, he was never known to abuse the powers he was entrusted with." Page 7. At page 178,' indecision is described as a fatal defect in his character; at page 127, it is said, that the cool determination with which he acted on all occasions, his zeal for the cause, and, above all, the sort of idolatry with which he was looked up to by the Tyrolese, gave him more weight than any other of the chiefs. At the same page, Hormayr is described as applying to Hofer in all emergencies; at page 6, however, which contains a general summary of Hofer's character, he is said to have been constantly at variance with Hormayr.” - Such inconsistencies, and there are many such, would prevent the injurious statements being believed, although there was no possibility of tracing them to the pen of a man mortified by being eclipsed by one of the rude peasants whom he had been accustomed to despise.

The translator says in the preface, that

"The history of Hofer' was first printed at Leipsic, in the year 1817. It is an anonymous publication, but it has been conjectured, and not without reason, that it is the production either of Baron Hormayr, one of the most active leaders of the Tyrolese patriots, or of some person in his confidence, whom he supplied with materials for the work."

Its contents put this beyond conjecture. It is much more the history of Baron Hormayr, of his thoughts, and proclamations, and wonderful achievements, of his inflammatory sore throats from cold, and of his sickness from fatigue, than of the individual whose name, to catch the attention of the world, is given to it. Who but Hormayr could have known what sort of letters Hofer wrote to him? What his opinion of Hofer was? Or have been so intimately acquainted with all Hormayr's thoughts, as the writer of this book? Who but Hormayr, instigated by vanity,

could have falsely asserted that he appointed Hofer a chief? The latter part of the book, in which events are described that Hormayr had no concern in-when he had left the Tyrol, and Hofer was no longer his competitor-does Hofer much more justice than the first part, which is with us a reason for concluding it to be the production of Hormayr. Who but he could have given to the world the private letters addressed to him by the Archduke John? The materials of the work must have been supplied by him. And because he, Joseph Baron Hormayr, is well known as the author of a " History of the Tyrol," of a "History of Austria," and of a "History of Modern Europe from the death of Frederick the Great;" because the style is the same in these his acknowledged productions, and in this anonymous work; and because a similar confusion of thought and arrangement pervades them all,-we conclude, without hesitation, Baron Hormayr to be its author.

66

Supposing this matter settled, we shall point out some circumstances with regard to Hormayr, which would naturally have an influence on his opinions of Hofer. It is well known, that scarcely any of the Tyrolese nobles, and Hormayr is one, took part in the insurrection. On the contrary, they opposed it, and were considered by the peasants to be almost as much their enemies as the French or Bavarians. The nobles saw in a moment the peasantry free from their controul, and using those hereditary privileges of which the nobles were themselves too indolent or too timid to avail themselves. Hormayr undoubtedly shared the opinions and prejudices of the rank to which he belongs. There were also several causes why he, of all men, should feel mortified at the brilliant career and influence of Hofer. Hormayr was appointed by the emperor of Austria Intendant in the Tyrol, but found himself of little importance, because Hofer was the idol of the peaple, the leader they voluntarily obeyed. Out of the pages of the present book, Baron Hormayr as a famous chief in the insur"rection of the Tyrol," is not much known. Here he is described as issuing long-winded proclamations almost every day, and laughing at such characteristic addresses as this from Hofer :

"Dear Brethren of the upper Innthal. For God, the emperor, and our dear native country. To-morrow early in the morning is fixed for the attack. With the help of our holy mother we will seize and destroy the Bavarians, and we confide ourselves to the beloved Jesus. Come to our assistance, but if you fancy yourselves wiser than divine providence, we will do without "ANDREW HOFER."

you.

"Hormayr was always actively employed, he devoted even his nights to business, and was never at rest until he had possessed himself of the most advantageous posts." Hormayr could not have made a better choice than

Hofer;' he had to thank Hormayr, who had been induced to select him as a leader from the mildness of his disposition."

These passages, and a hundred such might be quoted, shew an anxiety for fame, that must have been excessively disappointed to find the name of the poor publican sounded throughout Europe, while, except the baron himself, no one spoke of the Intendant of the emperor. It was another source of ill will, when peace was made between Austria and France, and the former ordered its troops to evacuate the Tyrol, and the Tyrolese to lay down their arms, that Hofer refused to obey. Hormayr left the country, Hofer rejected all his solicitation to accompany him; and the former had the mortification to see even a part of the Austrian troops disobey, and join the peasant leader whom they admired. The courtly Hofrath also could ill bear with the coarse manners of the publican, He was offended that Hofer, the ge neral of an army, the counsellor, and often we believe the master of the Intendant, preserved his original mode of living, and continued to dwell in public houses, and drink Schnapps. Yet, it was only by remaining familiar with his fellow soldiers that Hofer could retain his influence, and so his power to be of service to his emperor. These circumstances are quite sufficient to make any opinions of Hormayr, that are derogatory to Hofer, be received with much hesitation, and to render them unworthy of credit, when full of such inconsistencies as we have pointed out. We have shewn that he is the author of the book, that he had many motives for lowering the reputation of Hofer, and that his assertions with regard to him are inconsistent with one an other. Baron Hormayr has gained, from his historical researches, the title of historiographer in Austria, and a considerable share of literary reputation. He might therefore have been above attempting to steal the hard-earned laurels from the warrior's brow, to entwine them with his own; yet he not only injures a departed hero, but by destroying his reputation, he carries desolation into the heart of his widow and children. know, for we had the honour of seeing Mrs. Hofer in 1817, that nothing then grieved her so much as the ill-founded calumnies against the memory of her husband, which had penetrated even to her retirement. In pointing out, then, some of the mis-statements of this book, and its probable author, we do justice to the dead, and may perchance relieve some of the sorrows of the widow and children of a hero. Baron Hormayr, we are assured, has the power of advancing Hofer's son. As the Emperor's Intendant in the Tyrol, the world will expect it of him; and should young Hofer, after being taken from his native mountains, receive no other reward than an ensign's commission in the

We