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Review.-Studies of Natural History.

contrived to enliven its pages with something new. The province indeed through which it ranges though apparently confined, is in reality very extended, encircling in its wide embrace all the events which have occurred from creation to the current year.

Each

Commencing with January, and terminating with December, no incident could have happened, no discovery could have been made, no birth or death of any remarkable personage could have taken place, without associating itself with some day or other within these ulterior extremes. month therefore produces its successive quota of biography, history, incidents for which given days have been rendered remarkable, celestial phænomena, and the diary of the naturalist. Proceeding thus, all such days as are thickly studded with occurrences, will leave many in reserve, to supply the demands of future years, and thus furnish the Telescope of Time with an almost exhaustless variety of curious and interesting matter.

On a superficial notice of remarkable days, as they appear distinguished in the columns of our Almanacks, we seem to think that one volume would swallow up the whole. A little reflection will, however, inform us, that the calendar can furnish room for a small portion only of the saints which superstition has canonized, of the circumstances which have given birth to traditions, and of the sources to which many of our legends may be traced. These deficiencies Time's Telescope gradually supplies. In each successive volume we perceive the veil withdrawn from some common adage, some vulgar prejudice, or some strange custom, to which, by long established usage, we yield either a national or a provincial conformity. On the origin of these, and on others of a kindred character, much light has been already thrown, and the volumes at present before the world furnish an unquestionable presage, that in due time the clouds will be dispersed which have so long hovered over the origin of our general and local peculiarities. Already, on topics such as these, Time's Telescope has become a book of reference, and every year augments its reputation, and adds weight to its authority.

Many appropriate wood engravings are scattered throughout the volume, displaying either some production of nature, some monument of art, or recalling to the recollection of the reader, some celebrated individual, or some illustrious event, on which the mind delights to dwell with wonder, reverence, or satisfaction. In what light soever, within the sphere of its operation,

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The volume now under inspection advances no new theory, nor does its author attempt to amuse his readers with the profundity of philosophical research. He gives a pleasing statement of visible phenomena, and assigns the reasons on which those inferences are founded, that would impart probable certainty to realities but indistinctly known. Commencing with inanimate matter, he proceeds through its elementary varieties, and thence advances to the diversified families of vegetable, animal, and intellectual life, noticing the laws by which the inert and irrational tribes are governed, and the numerous peculiarities which they display under the influence of climate, temperature, cultivation, habit, and association. To man, when either compared or contrasted with the other inhabitants of the globe, he assigns a decided superiority, and from hence the inference is obvious, that he was born for higher destinies, which are lodged in the regions of immortality.

In each department of its researches, this book is enlivened by incidents, which facts, under various circumstances, have supplied. These can hardly fail to make deep and lasting impressions on the mind; and it is highly, probable, that the effect produced will be rendered more vivid and permanent by the medium through which it has been communicated to the understanding, than if the same truths had been inculcated by formal dissertation and logical perspicuity.

Popular as the style of this work is, and obvious as the investigations are, all its statements concur in furnishing convincing evidence, that an intelligent and

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Review.-Lutton's Poems.

all-powerful Being dictates the laws of nature which move and regulate the visible machine. To this the author has alluded in his preface, and if while detailing the subjects of inquiry, he had more frequently called the reader's attention to the primary agent which exerts his energies in all the furniture and family of creation, his book would have derived an additional value from the fearless and open avowal of the fact.

In the last paragraph of his preface, Mr. Rhind has given a character of his volume, to the justness and impartiality of which we readily subscribe.

"The following pages are not intended by any means to embrace a full, or even connected view of the economy of nature. A few of her most striking scenes and singular operations are proposed to be investigated, and in such a way as rather to excite the mind to further investigation, and lead it to a train of pleasant speculation, than to dive deep into abstruse points, or speculate on unexplored subjects."

The engravings are decently executed, and exhibit to the eye a faithful representation of the objects to which they refer. In few words, this volume may be characterized as natural history made easy.

REVIEW.-Poems an Moral and Religious Subjects; by Anne Lutton. 8vo. pp. 208. Mason. London. 1829. THIS volume presents an imposing appearance; though the fair authoress states, in her preface, that all the effusions included in it are avowedly imperfect, and, compared with the importance of sacred subjects, inadequate. The book is printed in octavo, with a prodigal breadth of margin; and the subjects comprise translations from the Greek, Latin, Italian, and German, together with many original poems. A few observations on these varied attempts of the muse must suffice.

"Cleanthes' Hymn to Jupiter," is not greatly deficient in spirit and elegance, yet, it must certainly be deemed only a cousingerman to the Greek; indeed, the translation appears to have come through a Latin imitation, done into English. If this surmise is incorrect, the lady will pardon the ignorance of the censor.

The imitations of Horace are insipid, with the exception of the third Ode of the second Book, in the translation of which, some indications of Horatian fire are discernible. For example:

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"It matters not from whom thy birthA prince, a pauper, lord, or slave;

Nor what thou art thyself on earth

The common portion is-the grave."―p. 53.

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This will bear comparison with the Latin :

"Divesne prisco natus ab Inacho,

Nil interest, an pauper, et intima
De gente sub dio moreris
Victima nil miserantis Orci."

Among the translations from the German, the best is "Man;" but Rhenish poetry is usually too vague and mystical in the original, to please greatly in another language. Horrible demons and gigantic monstrosities are themes on which a German writes to most advantage; and, supposing these productions to lose nothing in translation, they must be insipid.

The original poems are, generally speaking, superior to any of the imitations; though, whilst perusing them, we frequently experienced the truth of the fair writer's remark:

"There is a something in poetic strains,
Which lines prosaic never can convey-."

p. 154.

The following extract, selected as a fair specimen of the volume, evinces correctness of sentiment and delicacy of expression; and does not bear unfavourable testimony to Miss Lutton's poetical abilities.

"TO A WITHERED LEAF.

"Stop-little fugitive! and say,
Whither so fast-

Flitting so lightsome on my way--
Before the blast?

"Is it a kindred leaf to meet,
Wither'd and sear,

Sporting around the traveller's feet
Oft wandering here?

"With it to climb the mountain's side, To brush the plains,

To spread the tidings far and wide,
That winter reigns?

"Or to review thy parent tree,

Of stately stem;

And whilst thy fellows sigh o'er thee,
To sigh for them?

"Stop-little fugitive! 'tis vain-
Winter's abroad!

Bare is the mountain-waste the plainSterile the clod!

"And couldst thou reach thy parent tree, Of stately stem;

How vain thy fellows' sighs o'er thee,
And thine for them!

"Oh! stay thee on my path awhile,

Thou withered leaf!

Thou hast a language might beguile
The tear from grief-

"It tells, 'tis true, of joys departed;
Hope, withering fled-

Of friends---some living broken-hearted--Some, long since dead!

"But, to my mind, it speaks of heaven, In clearer tone:

There--bliss is ne'er by tempests driven-.. Sorrow's unknown.

"There---friends, eternal union prove;
Grief is forgot,

And on the tree of life and love,
Leaves wither not !"--- p. 191.

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Review.-Olive Branch-Christian Nobility.

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Whatever may be the blemishes which | merits, it will bear the most rigorous exadeface this volume, it bears the stamp of mination; but experience has long since genius; and promises better things from decided, that a work of this description, the pen of the poetess, when she has in order to be successful, must please as learned that translation, and more espe- well as profit; and should the editor in cially imitation, are very equivocal proofs his next volume be so happy in securing of excellence. the former, as in this he has been in compassing the latter, by combining both together, "The Olive Branch" will be in little danger of languishing through the want of public support.

REVIEW.-The Olive Branch. 32mo. pp. 317. Baynes. Edinburgh. 1830. OF "the Olive Branch," this is the first appearance, but we are informed in the preface, that it is designed to be continued annually, in case the patronage it receives shall justify the measure. Small in size,

REVIEW.-Christian Nobility; a Story. By the Author of "Mary and Julia." 12mo. pp. 246. Nisbet. London. 1829. and also in price, it aims at nothing higher "A STORY," "A Tale," "A Narrative," or than to hold a rank among the second "An interesting Event," portrayed in the class of these delicate and splendid pub-title-page of a book, rarely fails to produce lications. It is neatly covered with purple silk, and the edges of its leaves are embellished with gold. Internally it is ornamented with an excellent engraving of Dr. Robert Gordon, and a beautiful titlepage exhibiting a dove with an olivebranch in its mouth.

The subjects are decidedly of a religious character, having a fair proportion of prose and verse. Many of the articles are original in each department; and among those from whom the supplies in general have been drawn, we find the names of authors whose writings are an honour to their country. Of these various contributions the primary excellence is, the purity of the sentiments which they convey, and the religious lessons they inculcate. The manner, however, is not sufficiently enlivened with sprightliness, to captivate the vivacity of youth, and among juvenile readers these annuals must expect to find their principal customers. The truths communicated should assume a garb correspondent with that in which "the Olive Branch" appears. The dove never looks more lovely than when the emblem of peace adorns its bill.

In works of this description the young reader generally expects to find moral truth wearing the garments of allegory, narrative, story, incident, anecdote, or fragment; and whenever this is the case, the jewel is remembered for the sake of the casket, and the cargo is valued by many who only intended to admire the vessel. If the truths of the "Pilgrim's Progress" had been delivered without the dream, few comparatively would now have known that such a work existed.

This want of vivacity can, however, deduct nothing from the moral worth of this annual. Estimated by its own intrinsic

a strong excitement in the reader's mind; but unfortunately his expectations, thus excited, have been so frequently rewarded with disappointment, that these captivating terms have more than half lost their power to charm. The temptation, however, which such volumes present to the eye, generally induces in him a wish to learn the catastrophe of the tale; and, if this be interesting, to look back on the intermediate occurrences which led to the final result. Such were precisely the feelings with which we took up this volume, and such was the inverted order by which a knowledge of its contents was acquired.

The story, which runs through this book, is exclusively of a religious character, and all its subordinate branches assume the same garb, and manifest the same spirit. The leading features of the whole are, that neither wealth, nor titles, nor honours, nor splendour, nor earthly possessions, in any of their enchanting forms, can confer genuine felicity. The highest pinnacle of earthly glory exposes its inhabitant to the shafts of envy, and, amidst the luxuriant fertility of the glowing landscape, there is too frequently a worm at the root of the gourd, through which it languishes, and over which its possessor sighs. The frown of Omnipotence can defeat the best concerted schemes, and blast in a moment the most sanguine expectations of man.

The truth of the preceding observations, the story before us tends fully to illustrate. From first to last, through all its branches, we perceive that happiness, without alloy, can only be found in the favour and enjoyment of God. In the empire of nature he may either smile or frown, and in his moral government of the world, all events are under his control. With his blessing even adversity may throw aside her sackcloth;

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Reviews.-Voice of Devotion-Phrenology of the Hindoos, &c. 90

and without it, prosperity must put on the garments of sorrow. A perusal of "Christian Nobility" will teach, by example, how this can be performed.

With the intrinsic character and uniform tendency of this volume we feel perfectly satisfied, but incidents more numerous and diversified, might easily have been drawn from moral phenomena, without violating the dictates of truth, or passing the boundaries of probability. In its present state, however, it will be read with much interest, particularly by youth under religious impressions, and for such as these it is chiefly adapted, and perhaps designed. To others, who will condescend to examine the narrative, it may also teach the important lesson, that though “riches should not make to themselves wings and flee away," wormwood may grow in coffers of gold, and incurable anguish lodge beneath the sparkling of a diamond.

REVIEW.-The Voice of Devotion, or a
Course of Prayers for the private use of
Christians, 32mo. pp. 340. Oliphant,
Edinburgh, 1829.

SOME few of these prayers are original, but
by far the greater numbers are selected
from the writings of Divines, well known
to the theological public.

This neat little volume contains a morning and evening prayer for every day, during six weeks, in addition to which there are nearly thirty occasional prayers, which the reader will be able to accommodate either to his own case, or to existing cir

cumstances.

So far as we have had time to peruse them attentively, they breathe a devotional spirit, and no doubt can be entertained, that if read with the same feelings of humility, reverence, and confidence, with which they appear to have been written, their use will be accompanied with the divine blessing.

In their composition they contain a great variety of matter, and being selected from numerous authors, no room for any suspicion of sameness is suffered to remain. The language is simple and perspicuous, suited to the solemnity of the occasion, and adapted to the common capacities of family individuals. They uniformly express an earnest desire for experimental and practical religion, and supplications for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom throughout the world. In no one instance have we discovered any spirit of illiberality. Of sect and party, they appear to know no distinctions. The welfare of the church

universal, and of the cause of God in all its branches, next to the individual who prays, seems generally uppermost; and impartiality compels us to admit, that this pervading principle of benevolence appears to emanate from the devotional feelings of the heart.

We are informed in the title, that these prayers are "for the private use of Christians," but we perceive no reason why they should be thus restricted. Let the singular pronoun give place to the plural, and they will be, with some few exceptions, as well adapted for the parlour as for the study, and for the family as for the individual.

REVIEW.-An Essay on the Phrenology of the Hindoos and Negroes, by James Montgomery: with Strictures thereon by Corden Thompson, M. D. pp. 62. Lloyd. London. 1829.

It is much easier to laugh at phrenology than to refute its doctrines. If ridicule were the infallible test of truth, many great hypotheses in science, which were subsequently established by a multitude of facts, would have been discarded, ere they were well understood. Physiognomy has been carried by some authors to an immoderate length, yet, when it is soberly viewed, we have little reason to scoff at the science; since mankind, generally, refer to the countenance as an index of the mind, and, with the exception perhaps of one case in a hundred, the rule will apply. If then, the strong natural passions of the mind are expressed in the countenance, may not the "multiform organization" of the brain, the mind's peculiar instrument, produce a corresponding modification in the external shape of the cranium? Or, may not phrenology and physiognomy have one common principle, and form separate departments only in the same science?

In some of his citations from history, relative to the Hindoos, Mr. Montgomery has been peculiarly unfortunate, as his opponent very clearly demonstrates. But when the former contends, that cerebral developments involve no fatality in their issues, or, in other words, that circumstances may so operate on an individual or nation at large, as to cause a partial disagreement between the natural signs and the real character, he takes his stand on more advantageous ground.

This point Dr. Thompson virtually concedes. For, while he opposes Mr. Montgomery's arguments in general, he candidly allows, that circumstances may so operate on the master passion, as to produce

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Review. A Comprehensive Grammar.

effects very different, or diametrically opposite, to those indicated by the features of the cranium. For instance, the Hindoos are cruel and careless of their own lives, from a principle of fear, which fear, it is allowed, is excited by the anger of their gods. Phrenology therefore does not uniformly deny that the passions most strongly developed, may be affected by adventitious circumstances, and, as a natnral consequence, this proposition of Mr. M. is fairly admitted.

In prosecuting their researches, the advocates of phrenology, have always been unfortunate when they have attempted to enter the region of cause and effect. On this ground they rarely fail to render themselves vulnerable to their assailants. Had they merely contended, that certain organic developments indicated visible phenomena, their fortress would perhaps have been impregnable. But leaving the light of observation, stimulated by an anxious desire to make more ample discoveries, they wander in the empire of darkness, and eventually bring disgrace upon the cause they endeavour to support.

REVIEW.-A comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, with Exercises, &c. for the use of Schools, and for private Tuition, by Mr. Pinnock, 12mo. pp. 318; Poole and Edwards, Ave Maria Lane, London, 1830.

THE antiquated dogma that the English Language has no proper grammar of its own, and can be studied through the medium of another language only, is now universally exploded, or at least, confined to those ancient classical seminaries, which seem to pride themselves in the perpetuity of a vulgar error. Harris's Hermes, Horne Tooke's Diversions of Purley, and the writings of Lowth and of the industrious Murray have clearly demonstrated that the English tongue has its own proper rules; and, moreover, that its structure can never be thoroughly understood from the most perfect acquaintance with the Latin or any other grammar. The idiom of the language is peculiar and distinct, and does not, in many instances, assimilate in the least to the regimen of other tongues.

English articles differ widely from those of the Greek, Latin, or French. The cases of its nouns are singularly formed. Its adjectives possess characteristic license in the formation of their degrees of comparison; and are not subject to close agreement with their substantives, like the adjectives of the Latin, &c. The pronouns

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The inflections of

are equally distinct.
verbs in the classic and other languages, can
afford no clue for the conjugation of an Eng-
lish verb.

The present Grammar differs from others which have gone before it in various points, some of which are these:-the use of the auxiliaries shall and will is more clearly elucidated than it has hitherto been, the nature of the subjunctive mood is explained by a variety of cases admitting its application; and the divisions of mood and tense are rendered as clear and comprehensive in all their bearings, as can reasonably be desired. The author contrasts the methods of conjugating English, French, and Latin verbs; and by this means demonstrates the great advantage our native tongue possesses over others. The exercises which exemplify the rules of syntax are selected with much judgment, and are sufficiently numerous to acquaint the student with their varied applications.

The work commences with observations on language, and its numerous diversities. Then follows an enumeration of modern languages, and brief notices of their derivation. Letters, syllables, words, sentences, and the sounds of letters, when used in composition, are treated in a novel and felicitous manner. Prosody, as it relates to the proper accent and length of syllables, and the right pronunciation of words, and general information relative to punctuation and the use of capitals, precede the orthography. The etymological branch of the work is conducted with great ability, and exhibits the several parts of speech under all their varieties of character and circumstance.

Figures of grammar, and figures of rhetoric, are briefly explained, and distinguished from each other. The composition and derivation of words are very clearly elucidated; and an historical sketch of the origin, progress, and present state of the English language will disclose to the pupil the successive gradations through which his native tongue has passed to its present refinement. The syntax, it has been remarked, is rendered exceedingly complete. In what may be properly termed an appendix, are included philosophical observations on language, and on the composition of sentences; and useful information on the subjects of logic, rhetoric, elocution, and the construction of syllogisms.

Although it cannot be conceded to Mr. Pinnock, that his grammar is free from all obscurity and imperfection, we readily admit, that it appears, on the whole, to

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