open to the free current of commerce. Restriction and oppression have too often converted their shores to scenes of rapine and violence; but an opposite policy and more enlightened principles may, ere long, subdue and remove the evil. In the spirit of personal independence which distinguishes these people, their high sense of honour, and the habits of reasoning and reflection to which they are accustomed from their infancy, are to be found the rudiments of improvement, and the basis on which a better order of society may be established. Such were the opinions entertained by Leyden, previous to the conquest of Java; and the peculiar interest which these people excite, cannot, perhaps, be better illustrated than by the general feeling which exists towards them, on the part of every Englishman who has since been among them, and become more intimately acquainted with their character: notwithstanding their piracies, and the vices usually attributed to them in their present state, there is something in the Malayan character which is congenial to British minds, and which leaves an impression, very opposite to that which a much longer intercourse has given of the more subdued and cultivated natives of Hindostan. Retaining much of that boldness which marks the Tartar stock, from whence they are supposed to have sprung, they have acquired a softness, not less remarkable in their manners, than in their language. Few people attend more to the courtesies of society. Among many of them, traces of a higher state of civilization are obvious; and where opportunity has been afforded, even in our own times, they have been found capable of receiving a high state of intellectual improvement.' Having given this extract from the introduction, we have exhausted the most valuable portion of the volume: for the Malay Annals themselves, on which Dr. Leyden expended so many laborious vigils, will probably be considered as much heavier than the worst nonsense that has ever issued from the press. To prove our assertion, and to shew that we do not deal in gratuitous criticism on subjects with which we profess ourselves to be somewhat acquainted, we will finish our article by a few specimens from the commencement of these documents: It happened on a time that Raja Secander, the son of Raja Darab of Rum, of the race of Makaduniah, the name of whose empire was Zulkarneini, wished to see the rising of the sun; and with this view he reached the confines of the land of Hind. There was a raja in Hindostan, named Raja Kida Hindi, who was very powerful, and whose empire extended over the half of Hindostan, and immediately on the approach of Raja Secander, he sent his prime minister to collect his forces, and marched out to meet him. The armies engaged, and a fine battle ensued, as is recorded fully in the history of Raja Secander. In fine, Raja Kida Hindi was defeated and taken prisoner, and embraced the true faith, according to the law of the prophet Ibrahim, the friend of God; after which he was sent back to his own country. This Raja Kida Hindi had a daughter extremely beautiful and handsome, whose face glittered and shone like the sun, and whose understanding and qualities were equally remarkable, and she was named Shaher-ul Beriah. After sending his head minister, Perdana Mantri, to consult with the prophet Khizei, who was the minister of Raja Secander, he married his daughter to Raja Secander, who agreed to pay as her dowry 300,000 denars of gold, and carried her with him on his visit to the rising sun, after tarrying ten days in honour of the ceremony. On his return, however, her father requested her to remain some time with him, to which Raja Secander agreed, and took his departure. 'It is stated by the relater of this story, that the Princess Shaherul Beriah, the daughter of Raja Kida Hindi, became pregnant by Raja Secander, but Raja Secander was unacquainted with this circumstance, nor was the princess acquainted with it herself, till a month after her return to her father. She at last informed her father that a cessation of her courses had taken place for two months, at which he was greatly delighted, considering that her pregnancy was by Raja Secander, and therefore treated her with all requisite attention. At the expiration of the months, the princess was safely delivered of a son, whom Raja Kida Hindi named Araston Shah, and who in every respect was the perfect picture of his father Raja Secander Zulkarneini. Raja Araston Shah married the daughter of the raja of Turkestan, by whom he had a son named Raja Aftas. "After the space of forty-five years, Raja Secander returned to Makedonia, and Raja Kida Hindi died, and left as his successor on the throne Raja Araston Shah, who reigned 350 years, and then died. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Raja Aftas, who reigned 120 years, and then died. He was succeeded by Ascayinat, who reigned three years, and died. He was succeeded by Casidas, who reigned twelve years, and died. He was succeeded by Amatubusu, who reigned thirteen years. He was succeeded by Raja Zamzeyus, who reigned seven years, and died. He was succeeded by Kharus Cainat, who reigned thirty years, and died. He was succeeded by Raja Arhat Sacayinat. After his death, he was succeeded by Raja Čudarzuguhan the son of Raja Amatubusu. After him reigned Raja Nicabus, who reigned forty years, and died. After him reigned Raja Ardasir Migan, who married the daughter of Raja Nashirwan Adel, sovereign of the east and west, by whom he had a son, named Raja Derma Unus. After him succeeded on the throne his grandson Tarsi Bardaras, the son of Raja Zamrut, who was the son of Shah Tarsi Narsi, who was the son of Raja Derma Unus, who was the son of Ardasir Babegan, who was the son of Raja Cuduri Gudurz Zuguhan, who was the son of Raja Amatubusu, who was the son of Raja Sabur, who was the son of Raja Aftas, who was the son of Raja Araston Shah, who was the son of Secander Zulkarneini. 6 Raja Narsi Barderas married the daughter of Raja Salan, the raja of Amdan Nayara, who, it is asserted by some, was the grandson of Raja Nashirwan Adel, the son of Raja Kobad Shah Shah riar, who was raja of the east and west. This Raja Sulan was the mightiest prince of the lands of Hind and Sind, and of all the rajas under the wind (i. e. towards the west, the wind being supposed to rise with the sun). By the princess his daughter, Raja Narsi had three sons; 1. Raja Heiran, who reigned in the country of Hindostan. 2. Raja Suran, whom Raja Sulan took and installed in his own place. 3. Raja Panden, who reigned in Turkestan. After a short time Raja Sulan died, and his grandson Raja Suran reigned in his place in Amdan Nagara, with still greater authority than his predecessor, and all the rajas of the east and west acknowledged his allegiance, excepting the land of China, which was not subject to him. Then Raja Suran Padshah formed the design of subjugating China, and for this purpose his men at arms, and the rajas dependent on him, assembled from every quarter with their hosts, to the number of one thousand and two lacs. With this prodigious host, he advanced against China, and in his course, the forests were converted into open plains; the earth shook, and the hills moved; the lofty grounds became level, and the rocks flew off in shivers, and the large rivers were dried up to the mud. Two months they marched on without delay, and the darkest night was illuminated by the light of their armour like the lustre of the full moon; and the noise of the thunder could not be heard for the loud noise of the champions, and warriors, mixed with the cries of horses and elephants. Every country which Raja Suran approached, he subdued and reduced under his subjection, till at last he approached the country of Gangga Nagara, the raja of which was named Ganggi Shah Juana, which city is situated on a hill of very steep approach in front, but of easy access in the rear. Its fort was situated on the banks of the river Dinding, in the vicinity of Perak. When Raja Ganggi Shah Juana heard of the approach of Raja Suran, he summoned all his vassals, and ordered the gates of his fortresses to be shut, and stationed his guards for their protection. He also directed his moats to be filled with water. The host of Raja Suran quickly surrounded his fortresses, and attacked them sharply, but were vigorously repulsed. On this, Raja Suran mounted his huge elephant, and approached the gate of the fortress, notwithstanding the showers of spears and arrows with which he was assailed; he smote the gate with his chacra, and it immediately tumbled down, while the raja entered the fort with all his champions. When Raja Ganggi Shah Juana saw Raja Suran, he seized his bow and smote the elephant of Raja Suran on the forehead, which instantly fell down. Raja Suran quickly sprung up and drew his sword, and smote off the head of Raja Ganggi Shah Juana. After the death of the raja, all his subjects submitted to Raja Suran, who married Putri Gangga, the beautiful sister of Raja Ganggi Shah Juana. From Gangga Nagara, Raja Suran advanced to the country of Glang Kiu, which in former times was a great country, possessing a fort of black stone up the river Johor. In the Siamese language, this word (signifies the place of the emerald (Khlang Khiaw) but by persons ignorant of this language, it is usually R 4 termed termed Glang Kiu. The name of the raja of this country was Raja Chulan, who was superior to all the rajas of the countries lying under the wind.' No account of Dr. Leyden accompanies this volume, but the public had been already put in possession of his memoirs by Mr. Morton. (See M. R. vol. xci. p. 61.) ART. III. Oliver Cromwell and his Times, by Thomas Cromwell. 8vo. pp. 483. 14s. Boards. Warren. 1821. THE late Mr. Oliver Cromwell, of Cheshunt, Herts, was the last of the male lineal descendants of the Protector, being great-grandson of Henry Cromwell, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He had a son named Oliver, who, together with another, died in childhood; and a daughter, Elizabeth Olivera, married to a gentleman of the name of Russel, and now living at Cheshunt. On the decease of his two sons, Mr. C. was naturally anxious that the name of his great progenitor should not expire with him; and for that purpose-according to information communicated to the writer of the volume before us he made applicatiou in the usual quarter for permission that his son-in-law should bear the sirname of Cromwell: but, to his astonishment, the permission was refused, though it is well-known that similar requests are commonly granted as matters of course, on payment of the customary fees. "Zounds!" said Jack Falstaff, who always seasoned his valor with discretion, "Zounds, I am afraid of this gun-powder Percy, though he be dead; how if he should counterfeit too, and rise? I am afraid he would prove the better counterfeit."What degree of consanguinity (if any) the present writer bears to the Protector, we do not know: but it is something for a biographer to possess an affinity, though it be merely patronymic, with the subject of his memoir; and particularly when the name is so formidable that even its unreal shadow, the bare nominis umbra, sufficed to make " the firm nerves tremble" of a cabinet of official councillors, and so alarmed them, as it seems, "That beads of sweat have stood upon their brow, I If we say that the volume before us was not wanted, we must be understood as not speaking disrespectfully of its execution. We accord generally in the views which the author takes on constitutional and political questions, and differ from him less as to the general character of the Protector than we did from Mr. Oliver Cromwell, whose work we examined at considerable length not many months ago. (See M. R. vol. xcv. p. 199, &c.) That publication did not contain so much new matter as we hoped to find, probably because less new matter is in existence: but we must confess, likewise, that it is cumbrous and ill-arranged. Still it contains a mass of facts, collected with so much industry and care that the gleanings left are very scanty. The title of the present work is Cromwell and his Times :' but the times of Cromwell are confessedly regarded only as they were calculated to call forth and employ his powers; or to excite reflections naturally, simply, and without intention to make them prominent, arising out of constitutional views of his political character. Cromwell himself in his moral and domestic, equally with his political relations, this volume is principally designed to display: the scenes in which he most particularly figured have been depicted, yet are always treated subordinately. The late Mr. Cromwell's book was an avowed apology for the Protector, or, more correctly speaking, a defence of him; for Mr. C. disdained to apologize for that course of conduct which he deemed himself capable of defending, per fas et nefas. The present writer certainly does not allow himself to be hurried away by so chivalrous a spirit, and can examine the darks spots in the Protector's character, undazzled by its bright portions. 'By turns, sincere and a hyprocrite; a religionist and a zealous worldling; a man of gravity and almost a buffoon; a preacher and a punster, a clown and a gentleman; stately and familiar; slovenly and precise; an orator and without words to express himself; cautious and yet enterprising; ardent and yet methodical; ready and yet invariably politic; his very defects were made to turn to his account, almost equally with his admirable qualities; and by literally becoming "all things to all men" he contrived to elevate himself above all his competitors.' A more extended character of him is given in another place (p. 68.); where it is said, He could be gentle almost to effeminacy, or rude almost to brutality: the protector of an insect, or a savage presiding at a human massacre.' The author here seems to have been content to sacrifice his hero's reputation to an antithesis; and indeed the entire character is drawn up with an evident intention to dazzle by the juxta-position of opposite qualities: strong colours being brought together not to be blended, but contrasted. The writer's style is generally very bald, but he has here made a great effort at decoration: "Nitor smaragdi collo præfulget suo, 6 Pictisque plumis gemmeam caudam explicat." PHÆÐ. Why |