6. Far from taking any part in the political transactions of the world, he restrained his curiosity even from any inquiry concerning them; and seemed to view the busy scene he had abandoned with an elevation and indifference of mind which arose from his thorough experience of its vanity, as well as from the pleasing reflection of having disengaged himself from its cares and temptations.

7. Here he enjoyed more complete contentment than all his grandeur had ever yielded him; as a full proof of which he left this short but comprehensive testimony; "I have tasted more satisfaction in my solitude in one day, than in all the triumphs of my former reign. The sincere study, profession, and practice of the Christian religion, have in them such joys and sweetness, as are seldom found in courts and grandeur."

MAHOMET.

1. O'ER fair Arabia's spicy plains,
By foul Mahomet's flag unfurl'd,
Despotic superstition reigns,

Clanking aloft her mental chains;
Affrighting, blinding, half the abject eastern world.

2. As spreads the mountain torrent wide,
With dreadful desolating course;

So, bursting forth on every side,
Urg'd by ambition, lust, and pride,
The bloody prophet strides with overwhelming force.

3. So was the beauteous East despoil'd
Of nature's gifts; of arts renown'd:
Her shady groves, her mountains wild ;
Her fanes o'erthrown, in ruins pil'd;

Or clear'd, to let his mosque profane the hallow'd ground.

4. Aloft the gilded crescent now

(Where once the cross) triumphant rears, Blind ignorance bids her votaries bow,

Repeat the Koran, breathe the vow,

Or vainly pray to one who neither sees nor hears.

5.

The Turk's own mind example gives,

Of what such superstition breeds;
Debas'd, luxurious, proud, he lives;
Despises knowledge, and believes
His sword, his haram, all he now or ever needs.

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.

1. The inhabitants of the north of Europe and Asia, who issued in great multitudes from their native forests, during the fourth and fifth centuries of the Christian æra, and who overturned the Roman empire, introduced a new species of government into the conquered countries, which is known by the name of the Feudal System. It is very remarkable, that although the barbarians who framed it, settled in their newly acquired territories at various times, were commanded by different leaders, and spoke different languages, yet the system was established, with little variation, in every country in Europe. This great uniformity is peculiarly striking, and has furnished some writers with an argument, that all these people sprang originally from the same stock. But the fact may perhaps with more probability be attributed to the similar state of their manners, and the similar situation in which they all found themselves, on taking possession of their new domain.

2. The plan of the feudal constitution was this:-Every freeman, or soldier, for the terms were at that period synonymous, upon receiving an allotment of conquered lands, bound himself to appear in arms against the common enemy, whenever he should be called upon by his commander. This military service was the condition upon which every one received, and the tenure by which he continued to possess, his lands; and this obligation was esteemed both easy and honorable. The same service which a soldier owed to his officer, was due from an officer to his king. The king obliged those among whom he distributed the conquered lands, to repair to his standard, with a number of followers, in proportion to

Who instituted the Feudal System of government?-What was the plan of this system?

the extent of their respective estates, and to assist him in all his expeditions. Thus a feudal kingdom conveys rather the idea of a military than a civil establishment. The victorious army, taking their posts in different districts of a country, continued to be arranged under its proper officers, and to be subject to martial law.

3. The principle of policy upon which this singular establishment was founded, was self-defence. The new settlers in a country wished to protect themselves, not only against the attacks of the inhabitants, whom they had expelled from their possessions, but against the more formidable inroads of fresh invaders. But, unfortunately for the happiness of mankind, and the tranquillity of society, it was replete with many evils. The powerful vassals of the crown soon acquired that land as unalienable property, which was originally a grant during pleasure, and appropriated to themselves titles of honour, as well as places of trust. In process of time, they obtained the power of sovereign jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, within their own domains; and they exercised the privilege of coining money, and of carrying on wars against their own private enemies.

4. Barons possessed of such enormous power disdained to consider themselves as subjects; and the consequence was, that a kingdom was broken into as many separate prin-, cipalities as it contained powerful nobles. Innumerable causes of jealousy and discord subsisted between them, and gave rise to constant wars. Every country in Europe, either wasted or kept in continual alarm during these feuds, was filled with castles and places of strength erected for the security of the despotic chieftain, not against foreign invasion, but domestic hostilities. In the reign of Stephen of England, when the feudal system was in its height, not less than a thousand castles, with their dependent territories, are said to have covered the southern part of the island of Great Britain. Among fierce and haughty chieftains, the laws enacted by princes and magistrates commanded no degree of re spect; and the right of retaliation and revenge was considered as an inherent privilege of their order.

5. In fine, the estate of every baron was an independent

What was the principle of policy upon which the Feudal System was founded?-Was it attended with evils-What were some of these evils?

territory; his castle was a strong and well garrisoned fortress, and he always considered himself as living in a state of war. When provoked by injury, he met his adversary at the head of his vassals in hostile array, and trusted to his sword for the decision of the contest. Every man was the avenger of his own wrongs, and sought the redress of his grievances in single combat, the regulation and ceremonies of which were formed into a system of jurisprudence. The common people, the most numerous and most useful part of the community, were reduced to the miseries of slavery. The peasant was considered as the mere produce of the soil, and was transferred from one lord to another, with the utensils and cattle of his farm. The king, stripped of almost every prerogative, and possessing little more than the empty title of sovereign, had neither power to protect the innocent, nor to punish the guilty. Indeed, a general anarchy, destructive of all the comforts which men expect to derive from a state of society, prevailed.

6. To complete and confirm these evils, the progress of time gradually fixed and rendered venerable an establishment which originated in violence, and was continued with every species of despotism and injustice; a system which was as hostile to the intellectual as to the moral improvement of the mind; which banished science and the arts, sunk mankind into gross ignorance, obscured the sacred light of Christianity in the thickest darkness of superstition, and was favorable only to the growth of those stern virtues which are characteristic of uncivilized nations. The rigor of tyranny hardened the minds of the nobles, the yoke of vassalage debased the spirit of the people, the generous sentiments inspired by a sense of equality were extinguished, and there was no check to ferocity and violence. Accord. ingly a greater number of those atrocious actions, which fill the mind with astonishment and horror, occur in the history of the feudal times than in that of any period of the same extent in the annals of Europe.

7. Such was the deplorable state of society from the se venth to the eleventh century. From that æra may be dated the return of government, laws, and manners, in a contrary

What was the continuance of the deplorable state of society occa sioned by the Feudal System?

direction. We shall hereafter notice the favorable effects of the Crusades and chivalry upon the feudal system. In succeeding times, a variety of causes began to operate, which checked the licentiousness of the barons, softened the ferocity of their manners, and finally put a period to their domination. The establishment of standing armies, in the fifteenth century, gave more effectual authority to kings; and from that time they no longer regarded the nobles as their equals, or found it necessary to have recourse to timid counsels, or feeble efforts, to control their power. They began, not only to wield the sceptre, but to brandish the sword; and either checked the designs of their barons by intimidation, or punished their rebellion by force.

8. Charles the Seventh of France, urged by his desire of expelling the English from France in the year 1445, was the first who adopted this measure; but as it was so repugnant to the genius of the feudal system, and required the greatest boldness to carry it into execution, he retained a large body of forces in his service, and appointed funds for their regular payment. The principal nobility soon resorted to his standard, and looked up to him as the judge and the rewarder of merit. The feudal militia, composed of men of rank and military talents, who were only occasionally called out, were in time regarded with contempt, by soldiers accustomed to the operations of regular service.

9. The above example of breaking the independent power of the barons was followed by the politic Henry VII. of England. He undermined that edifice, which it was not prudent to attack with open force. By judicious laws he permitted his nobles to break the entail upon their estates, and to expose them to sale. He prohibited them from keeping numerous bands of retainers, which had rendered them formidable to his predecessors. By encouraging agriculture and commerce, and all the arts of peace during a long reign, and by enforcing a vigorous and impartial execution of the laws, he not only removed many immediate evils resulting from the feudal system, but provided against their future reThe influence of his salutary plans was gradually felt,

turn.

What establishment restored to kings their proper authority?—At what time were standing armies introduced? What king of France adopted this method to destroy the Feudal System?-What king of England followed his example in this particular?