1815.] Smithson Tennant, Esq. 87 
with the narrow and illiberal cast of most of their books of popular 
instruction. This, which he justly considered as a serious evil, he 
attributed in a great degree to a sort of party spirit in the Catholic 
clergy, which arises from the unfortunate alienation subsisting be- 
tween them and the Government. He observed, that if proper 
means were taken to conciliate this body, they would gradually 
relax from their strictness, and become better informed and more 
enlightened; and that thus, without the formality of conversion, 
the great mass of their followers might perhaps, by little and little, 
imbibe a portion of the spirit of protestantism, and he brought to 
partake of the knowledge and improvements of the age. 
In one of the journies to Ireland, which ‘has given occasion to 
these remarks, Mr, Tennant was accompanied by Mr. Browne, 
the celebrated African traveller, with whom he had lived for 
some time in habits of great intimacy. As Mr. Browne, although 
not much personally known, was remarkable on several accounts, 
and a man of considerable merit, it may not be improper to de- 
scribe shortly the nature and origin of this connection; which will 
also afford an opportunity of throwing a new light upon Mr. Ten- 
nant’s character, and placing it in a particular point of view, in 
which it has not yet been considered. 
Mr. Tennant was one of the most determined advocates of eivil- 
ized life, in opposition to those sentimental theories, which extol 
simplicity, and undervalue the advantages of a refined and cultivated 
age. ‘The decided superiority of the latter was one of his favourite 
topics of conversation; and he would often dwell with particular 
pleasure upon the spirit of improvement displayed in our own times, 
and the energy and intelligent activity of modern Europe, which he 
was fond of contrasting with the apathy and torpor of the East. Yet 
by one of those inconsistencies, from which no human understand - 
ing is entirely exempt, he took a singular interest and-delight in all 
accounts of Oriental nations, and in the peculiarities and details of 
their characters,, habits, and institutions. The historical recollec- 
tions and images of ancient renown which are associated with those 
remote countries, the entire difference of manners and religions, 
and the dignified gravity and imposing exterior of the present inha- 
bitants, amused and gratified his imagination. He was a consider- 
able purchaser and collector of books and engravings relative to the 
East ; and had perused with great eagerness and curiosity all the 
numerous publications respecting ‘Turkey, Egypt, and Persia, which 
have appeared during the last twenty years. He was also familiarly 
acquainted with the principal Eastern travellers of former times ; 
among whom Chardin, Norden, Russell, and Shaw, were those 
whom he particularly valued. His knowledge of the countries de- 
scribed by these writers was remarkably accurate and minute, and 
extended in many cases even to geographical details. 
With the tastes and feelings resulting from this turn of mind, it 
may easily be conceived that Mr. Tennant had a peculiar gratifica- 
