MAUSOLEUM AND SHRINE OF IMAUM REZA, IN PERSIA. IMAUM REZA was a priest of the sect of Ali, in such high repute for sanctity throughout Persia, that his popularity occasioned considerable uneasiness to Mamoun-al-Raschid, son and successor of the celebrated Caliph Haroun-alRaschid. The Imaum, in consequence of his increasing political influence, seems to have experienced, by the contrivance of the caliph, a fate similar to that of our Thomas à Becket; although some Mohammedan historians aver that he died a natural death, in the year of the Hejira 203. About 300 years after his death, the odour of his sanctity still remained amongst the followers of Ali; and Sultan Sanjer, moved, it is pretended, by a well-authenticated report of a miracle performed upon the spot where the Imaum was interred, erected a superb mausoleum over his tomb, of the most durable materials; the cement (said to be composed of Armenian bole, jelly of grape-juice, and goats' hair) is of so hard a substance, that it is extremely difficult to break it. Successive princes added to the splendour of this edifice; especially Nadir Shah, who bestowed many costly gifts to adorn the mausoleum, and enriched the shrine with jewels and other expensive decorations. The city of Meshid, the present capital of Khorasan, was gradually built around it. This celebrated structure consists of a magnificent cluster of domes and minarets, situated in the centre of the city. A noble quadrangle, called the Sahn, about one hundred and sixty yards long by seventy-five broad, is the first object which attracts the eye. It is built in the form of a caravanserai, with two stories of apartments all round, opening into an arcaded gallery, In the centre of each side and end is a superb and lofty gateway, the whole completely incrusted with Mosaic work, composed of painted tiles in tasteful patterns. In the midst of the area stands a building called the Succah-khaneh, or waterhouse, which is gilt, and surrounded with small aqueducts for the purposes of ablution. The gateways exhibit exquisite specimens of Eastern ornamental architecture; the beauty of the style vying with the costliness of the materials, That on the south-west admits into the mausoleum; the corresponding gate is built merely for uniformity; though its ornaments are different. The dome of the mausoleum is covered with a coating of gilt tiles; and bands of azure, with Arabic inscriptions, surround the neck. Two minarets, of a beautiful model, are very striking objects; one springs from a part of the mausoleum, the other from behind the opposite gateway. The mausoleum itself is to the south-west of the square; the space it occupies is about equal to the area of the Sahn, but it is encompassed by wretched mud fabrics, which partly conceal it. The centre, or chief apartment, beneath the gilt cupola, is entered by a silver gate, the gift of Nadir Shah, which opens into the passage leading thereto. This apartment is of magnificent dimensions, rising into a dome, and branching, below, into the form of a cross; tiles of the richest colours, intermixed with azure and gold, are tastefully disposed into garlands and devices, mingled with texts from the Koran. A candlestick of solid silver hangs in the centre. The holy shrine, where are deposited the remains of Imaum Reza, and of the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid (the father of the prince alleged to have been the Imaum's murderer), occupies an octagonal room, as richly ornamented as the preceding, entered by a doorway in the arch to the north-west. Opposite to the shrine is a door covered with gold and jewels. From From the archway to the south-west, in the great central chamber, a broad passage leads through the mausoleum to the court of a mosque, which is des cribed as one of the most beautiful and magnificent in Persia. Both sides of the area are formed of buildings like those of the Sahn, having two stories of niches, or compartments; in the centre is a small tank to supply water for ablution. The whole court is adorned with mosaic work of coloured tiles. A door in one of the arched niches, on the north-eastern side of the Sahn, leads to the Madrissa (or college) of Meerza Jafficr. This building consists of an oblong quadrangle, about sixty yards long by forty wide, surrounded, like the Sahn, with a range of buildings, containing a succession of chambers in two stories, each opening into arcaded balconies, which look out upon the area and upon a little garden in the centre of it. This splendid collection of edifices continues to receive fresh augmentations : the present Shah of Persia is building another square, surrounded also with a two-storied range of apartments, on the south side of the Sahn. Mr. Fraser, in travelling through Khorasan, obtained admission, with great difficulty and risk, into the interior of this sacred place, and thus describes what he saw :* "We entered the magnificent gilded archway; and being admitted through Nadir's silver gate, where we left our slippers in charge of the porter, we proceeded to the lofty central apartment, than which I have seldom seen a more happy union of the beautiful and grand; it is difficult to say which was most to be admired, the great size and elegant proportions of this noble hall, or the richness and beauty of its ornaments, seen, as they were, by a mellow and uncertain light, which veiled every thing that might have been harsh or glaring. "After viewing this apartment for a while, 'we approached that which contains the shrine itself; 'pausing on its threshold, my guide, bowing himself until his head touched the ground, said a long prayer in Arabic, motioning me to follow him in action, as well as word, which I did implicitly, but, of course, without understanding one word. We then entered, and repeated forms of prayer at each of the four sides of the tomb, bowing every time very low; after which we examined the apartment, and went through the rest of the place. 66 Although the Meerza had assured me that this was the most private hour of the day, there was, nevertheless, no inconsiderable crowd about the tomb : a number of pilgrims were paying their devotions at the shrine, and performing, under the tuition of the khadums (officers or servants attached to the shrine), the same ceremonies I had myself gone through. Many were seated in corners in the ante-rooms reading the Koran, and a multitude of gowned and turbaned figures flitted about through the lofty mysterious rooms: all was silent and death-like, except the low hum of prayer, or the subdued and measured intonations of those who recited the Koran; sounds producing an effect even more striking than total silence. I should gladly have enjoyed for a longer time the impressive scene before me; but I could not forget that I was in a place where a Christian, if discovered, would assuredly meet a violent death. I was sensible of the intrusion which I had committed, and felt as if many of the eyes that were around were suspiciously glancing at me. It was fortunate that the uncertain light aided my disguise, as the awkwardness of my movements, * Journey into Khorasan, p. 447. I 2 ments, in performing the ceremonies of the place, and the uncommon gestures that accompany their religious observances, would unavoidably have betrayed me, had any attention been paid to our party. I saw that the khadum himself was uneasy, and hurried me rapidly from place to place; and I cannot but confess that I felt relieved when, after having seen every thing that is shewn of the place, and gone through all its ceremonies, we repassed the silver gate, crossed the Sahn, and retired from view into one of the cells of the Madrissa Meerza Jaffier." THE VISIONARY. WHILST wrapt in reverie I sate, A bird with vast expanded bill- A warrior's bust with laurel crown A scull-a waggon broken down : Restored to reason's sober sway, Whose varying forms our minds seduce With visions of as little use. We people airy vacancy; We brood on what will never be; And, as the fires of life decay, So pass our mouldering hopes away. E. R. VARIETIES; VARIETIES; PHILOSOPHICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND LITERARY. ASIATIC SOCIETY OF PARIS. Meeting of October 3d. The following persons were admitted members:-Mr. Henry Calthorpe, of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; M. Marcel, late director of the Royal Printing-Office; the Baron de Rayneval, ambassador from France to the Helvetic confederatiun. A translation of a letter in the Armenian language from M. Aslan Athabakian, Petersburgh, was communicated, which contained an offer of sending to the council a work, composed by the writer, in Armenian, relative to the Asiatic Inscriptions in Armenia, which he proposes to publish. This work, which is divided into 185 chapters, contains a selection of Armenian inscriptions from stone crosses, tombs, and ruins of monasteries in Eastern Armenia, as well as histories of Armenian princes and chronological documents extracted from ancient manuscripts, particularly those found in 1797 in a subterraneous chamber at the monastery of Sanahin. It likewise contains a considerable number of letters and official documents in the Armenian tongue, written by the sovereigns of Armenia, with an explanation of difficult terms, or such as belong to other languages, of which there is a great number. Full details are also given respecting the genealogy of the royal families of Armenia and Georgia, as well as concerning the history of the latter country. In order to ensure the accuracy of his researches, and the fidelity of the copies made by him from the ancient monuments, which he proposes to publish, the author undertook two journeys into Armenia, in 1808 and 1823. M. Saint Martin was commissioned to thank M. Athabakian for his communication, and to request him to allow M. Saint Martin to inspect the work, in order to enable him to furnish the Society with a more exact account of it, M. Amédée Jaubert communicated a letter from M. Desbassayns de Richemont, dated Tabriz, relating particularly to the state of instruction in the countries which he has visited, and also two letters, written in Persian, by Prince Abbas Mirza, one of which, addressed to Mr. Wolf, is as follows: "Since the very exalted, very learned, and very virtuous, the chosen of Christian scholars, Mr. Joseph Wolf, of England, has been admitted into our august presence, and has presented to us, in the name of the very noble lord, the model of the great ones of Christianity, the honourable Henry Drummond, a request tending to obtain the institution of a college in the royal residence of Tabriz, where English professors may fix their residence in order to instruct and give lessons to children: and whereas the moral dispositions of persons high in rank ought always to be favourable to what is good and useful; and whereas there exists between this power (Persia)—the duration of which may God prolong!-and that of England, no difference of views or interests, this request has been agreeable to us. We have, therefore, permitted the aforesaid person to establish the said school: we direct that a house be appropriated to this object, and this present has emanated to show our consent. "If it please God, the establishment, which is the object of this person's solicitude, shall attain all the perfection desired; and English scholars may devote themselves to the exercise of instruction, under the shadow of our favour and protection. Whatever is necessary to them shall be granted." M. Schulz has informed the council that the printing of his memoir on the Persian translation of the Mahabharata, which he had submitted to their notice, appearing to require more time than he could possibly pass in Paris at present, he was obliged to postpone it. M. Klaproth proposed to the council the printing of a Japanese dictionary. This proposition, which was seconded by M. Abel-Rémusat, was referred to the consideration of a committee composed of M. M. Klaproth, Abel-Rémusat, and Amédée Jaubert. M. Eugène Coquebert de Montbret communicated the conclusion of his extracts from Ibn Khaldoun. M. Abel-Rémusat read a biographical article on the Mongol General Souboutai. Amongst the donations were twenty volumes of the Holy Scriptures translated into various tongues, from the British and Foreign Bible Society. DEFINITION OF FO OR BUDDHA. "What is Fo?" said an Indian king to a disciple of a saint of Hindostan, named Tamo. This disciple, whose name was Poloti, replied: "Fo is nothing else than the perfect knowledge of nature-intelligent nature."-" Where is this nature to be found?" rejoined the king. "In the knowledge * Sce our last volume, p. 632. knowledge of Fo," answered the disciple; "that is, in the understanding which comprehends intelligent nature.' The king reiterated the question, "where does it reside, then ?" The disciple replied: "in use and knowledge.' "What is this use?" said the king, "for I do not comprehend it." Poloti replied: "in that you speak, you use this nature; but," added he, 66 you do not perceive it on account of your blindness."—" What," said the king, "does this nature reside in me?" The disciple replied: "if you knew how to make use of it, you would find it throughout you; since you do not use it, you cannot discern it." "-"But in how many places does it reveal itself to those who use it?" inquired the king. "In eight," replied the disciple, adding as follows: Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, speaking, and walking, are our corporeal faculties; but there is yet another faculty in us, and throughout us, which includes in itself the three worlds, and comprehends all things in the small space of our bodies. This faculty is called nature by wise men, and soul by fools."The king then became converted; and having sent for Tamo, by the advice of Poloti, embraced the religion of Fo, whose mysteries were fully explained to him by the saint. "A IMAGE OF GAUDAMA. Extract of a letter from Arracan :-" very remarkable image, of Phra Phra (a name of Gaudma, or Buddha), was discovered a few days ago in a sequestered part of the jungles, in the vicinity of this encamping ground, by Col. Smith, of the 49th N.I. Through the politeness of that gentleman, I had an opportunity of examining, yesterday, this idolatrous bauble, for such in part it is, consisting of a wooden figure, in the usual attitude which distinguishes the Burmah Gaudma, placed on a hollow pedestal, richly ornamented with coloured glass, and slips of lookingglasses arranged into the figures of snakes, and ferocious representations of their object of worship, apparently in the act of destroying their invaders. Similar images, cast in brass, were common amongst the Nepaulese during the Goorkah war, and, I have no doubt, the figure discovered by Col. Smith was made with the view of rendering a propitiatory offering to Phra Phra, invoking his assistance for the destruction of the British army. The whole has a tinsel gaudy effect; but the workmanship, although profusely decorated with gilding, is extremely coarse." THE STEAM-GUN. A trial of Mr. Perkins' steam-gun took place December 6, at his manufactory near the Regent's Park, in the presence of the Duke of Wellington (master-general of the ordnance) and his staff; the Marquess of Salisbury, Mr. Peel, Sir H. Hardinge, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, the Judge Advocate-General, and many military officers of the highest rank, together with a committee of engineer and artillery officers. The discharges of steam were almost incessant for two hours, during which, its force and rapidity in discharging balls excited amazement in all present. At first the balls were discharged at short intervals, in imitation of artillery firing, against an iron target, at the distance of thirty-five yards. Such was the force with which they were driven, that they were completely shattered to atoms. In the next experiment the balls were discharged at a frame of wood, and they passed through eleven one-inch planks of the hardest deal, placed at a distance of an inch from each other. Afterwards they were propelled against an iron plate one-fourth of an inch thick, and at the very first trial the ball passed through it. This was declared to be the utmost force that gunpowder could exert. This plate had been brought specially from Woolwich, for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative force of steam and gunpowder. The pressure of steam employed to effect this wonderful force did not at first exceed 65 atmospheres, or 900 lbs. to the square inch; and it was repeatedly stated by Mr. Perkins that the pressure might be carried even to 200 atmospheres with perfect safety. Mr. Perkins then proceeded to demonstrate the rapidity with which musket-balls might be projected by steam. To effect this he screwed on to the gun-barrel a tube filled with balls, which, falling down by projected, one by one, with such extraordi their own gravity into the barrel, were nary velocity as to demonstrate that, by balls, fixed in a wheel (a model of which means of a succession of tubes, filled with was exhibited), nearly one thousand balls per minute might be discharged. In subsequent discharges or volleys, the barrel, to which is attached a moveable joint, was given a lateral direction, and the balls perforated a plank nearly twelve feet in length. Thus, if opposed to a regiment in line, the steam-gun might be made to act from one of its extremities to the other. A similar plank was afterwards placed in a perpendicular position, and, in like manner, there was a stream of shot-holes from the top to the bottom. It is thus proved that the steam-gun has not only the force of gunpowder, but also admits of any direction being given to it. Most surprise was created by the effects of a volley of balls discharged against the brick wall by the side of the target. They absolutely dug a hole of considerable dimensions in the wall, and penetrated almost one |