by large projecting brackets. Its height from the ground or base of the edifice measures about one hundred and eighty feet, so that the view from it necessarily extends all over Malta, and even admits of Gozo being distinctly seen. Lastly comes the glass lantern, surmounted by a colossal winged figure, with a wreath in its right hand, meant to represent some messenger angel. The total height of the edifice is about two hundred feet.

On comparing the church at Musta with the Pantheon at Rome, the diameter at the former is found to be equal to that of the latter, when the thickness of the walls is included in both cases in the calculation. If these be excluded, then the diameter of the interior of the Pantheon surpasses that of the church at Musta, for the walls of this having been most necessarily built of an immense thickness, are equal to a fifth part of its interior, whereas, those of the Pantheon only take up one sixth part.

The elevation of the temple at Musta is greater than that of the Pantheon, which is as broad as it is high. Mr. Grognet insists that in a round temple the height should surpass the breadth, and he has acted up to this in his plan. The diameter of the lantern of the Pantheon measures full twenty-eight feet, while that of the church at Musta only measures eighteen. The interior of the church widely differs from that of the Pantheon. It contains one large and six small chapels. In the largest is placed the principal altar. The village of Musta is about five miles from town, and is situated in rather a pleasant valley. It numbers about six thousand inhabitants, almost all of the poorest class, and the contrast between the houses which form the sides of the village square, and the front of the church is painful and saddening. It is not uncommon among the country people here to boast of,

and to pretend to some superiority from the pomp of the religious festival of their villages. Their neighbours of Nashar long crowed over the Mustese, by descanting the merits of their Madonna, and the grand fireworks on the night of her festival; but a conversation was overheard between a Mustese and a Nasherine, which shows that the former has more reason to glory. The latter boasted of his festa: "Tana festa. Tana Madonna." "Ours is only a Feast. Ours a Madonna." The former, coolly shrugging up his shoulders, answered: "Meskin, raitiesh i knesia tana." "Poor fellow, have you seen our church?"

I think I have somewhere in my possession, a couple of drawings of that magnificent edifice; you shall get a copy of it as soon as I lay my hands on them.

I will conclude this epistle to your Ladyship, by a brief account of the Protestant church at Malta. The peculiar circumstances under which it was built, you are doubtless acquainted with. The Protestants of Malta owe a debt of gratitude to the Queen Dowager of Great Britain, which neither they nor their children ought ever to forget. The church is a chaste structure, capable of accommodating no less than fifteen hundred, and to the credit of the Protestant population be it recorded, that on Sundays the church is very much appreciated, and consequently well filled, by them. The Bishop of Gibraltar has a sort of throne in it, opposite to the pulpit, from which he pronounces the Apostolic benediction, when he is there, after the sermon, and sometimes reads the prayers. The following feeble description, may, perhaps, give you an idea of the exterior of the building. The front, facing northeast is adorned with a portico, supported by four Ionic pillars; and surmounted by a bas-relief design, illustrative of St. Paul's casting the viper off his hand in

the fire immediately after his shipwreck.* Each wing of the front is ornamented with a statue of the two great Apostles of the Christian Church, St. Peter and St. Paul.

cross.

The tower or steeple is one hundred and thirty feet high, terminating with the simple emblem of Christianity—the The peal of bells, from that church, announces to the stranger that it is an English church, and has nothing in common with the Church of Rome. And the harmonious sounds of the bells furnish an agreeable contrast to the hum-drum monotonous noise which the bells of the Romish churches make. It is beginning to get late, and a fresh breeze, which has just risen, tosses my pen to and fro; and makes me feel chilly all over, for I have been writing on deck; I must, therefore, abruptly say farewell for the present. I shall forward this epistle, incoherent as it is, by the very first opportunity, from Tunis.

Here I am in wild Barbary. My mind is literally oppressed, by reason of the abundance of new notions and ideas which I acquired since I came to this place, which is but a short time. It took me some time before I could

* Acts XXVIII. 3.

make up my mind to give vent to my pen, as the debate wherewith to commence, lasted for some time with me. But opportunities for communicating with one's friends are rather rare in this part of the world, and as I have one at present, I must make prompt use of it.

The same day the Scotia' brought me hither from Malta, the English steam-frigate, 'Antelope,' arrived at the Goletta from Southampton, bringing a sumptuous present from our beloved Queen, to the much disliked Bey of Tunis. The 'Antelope' leaves to-morrow for Malta; on board of which is an embryo Irish barrister, Mr. Ireland by name, who kindly offered to post my letters from that island to whatever place their destination might be. I must lose no time, therefore, but write what come uppermost in my thoughts.

Luckily for me that I am a clergyman, and stand, therefore, a chance of remaining neutral amongst the Europeans who reside here; and trust to be able, as much as in me lieth, to "live peaceably with all men," during my residence in Tunis. Had I been a laic, I should have been obliged, at once, to make up my mind with whom to live on friendly terms, and with whom, and from whom, to keep at a distance. I cannot give you any idea of the height of party spirit which reigns amongst the European settlers here. Each European Consul, and his satellites, labour under the impression that upon their respective consulate depends the prosperity of the nation they represent. They conceive the idea that the various kingdoms of the European world must stand or fall, according to the issue of their squabbles. As soon as a stranger arrives, his bias is formed by the society he first associates with; he keeps aloof from the rest of the European inhabitants; upon whom the latter, in return, look with suspicion, and keep him at arm's length. When this flying visitor

leaves the place, he carries with him only a partial statement of the affairs of this regency, and hence the contradictory accounts. All these I have learned in the few days I have been here; but as my visit to this country is not to be a flying one, and as my sacred office enjoins upon me to "follow peace with all men," I think I shall escape partiality. I have determined to fortify myself against all sorts of bias, but intend to judge of things according to information of my own senses.

Poor Tunis is in a wretched state. The Bey, led astray by his advisers, reduced his territory to extreme poverty; many of the peasants, therefore, are compelled to become highway-robbers. The Bey entertained the idea that he must sport an army, and accordingly raised one by conscription. This army consists now of thirty thousand troops. Poor miserable creatures the soldiers look! Whenever I see a band of these warriors, Isaiah xxx. 17, always occurs to my mind. I almost believe that one thousand would flee at the rebuke of one English soldier, and at the rebuke of five, the Tunisian warriors would flee till they be left as a beacon on the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill. Mr. Davis and myself, returning yesterday from a ride in the country, met one of those soldiers exceedingly drunk-though an Islamite; Mr. D. asked him how he could so brutally degrade himself; the poor fellow had sense enough to give the right cause of his degradation. He was dragged from his comfortable home to become a soldier, in which service he was almost starved; he thought, therefore, the best way was to drown his sorrows in spirits. I must not, at present, dilate much longer on the subject, as I have but little time given me for the execution of this brief epistle.

The Bey went yesterday to inspect his presents, which consist of a splendid carriage, and some magnificent car