THIS is a volume which will be perused with much interest, by most readers, and with considerable advantage by such as have not an opportunity of examining larger works on the important subjects of which it treats. Within a narrow compass, it comprises every thing that can be deemed momentous in the history of Scotland, from the invasion of Agricola, in a. D. 80, down to the battle of Culloden, in 1745. It is not to be expected that within such narrow confines the history of Scotland can be given in detail. The author has, however, been happy in the selection of his materials, and in the judicious manner in which he has arranged them. He has discovered the difficult art of satisfying the demands of his readers, by leaving no source of information unexplored, and by extracting from each, whatever can be thought necessary to give the outline of Scottish history complete in all its parts.

In his preface, Mr. Stewart informs us, that this is neither an abridgment nor a compilation; that it is designed to imbue the youthful mind with principles of patriotism and virtue; that, for the accuracy of the facts related, the style of the narrative, and the reflections and observations hazarded throughout, he holds himself responsible; that his aim has been to blend simplicity, perspicuity, and conciseness, in such a manner, as to render the whole instructive to youth, and interesting to readers of more mature taste and judgment. In all the above respects, we think he has been eminently successful; and so impartial are his delineations, that he never forgets his character as judge, by becoming, in contending factions, the advocate of either party.

His work is divided into nineteen chapters, and at the end of each are subjoined numerous questions, founded on the incidents and facts that the chapter contains.

To each of these questions the pupil is expected to give an answer, after having attentively examined the topics_previously offered for his consideration. These exercises are calculated to fix the facts deeply in his memory, where they will be laid up in store for future use.

A more enlarged history of the eventful periods over which it ranges, will without doubt develop at large many incidents, which in this volume are but slightly touched; and the reader may be enabled by the perusal to explore the latent causes which operated to call them into birth. In the work before us, he will, however, find a chain of events linked together in regular order, and their brevity will increase their interest, without involving obscurity by leaving them enveloped in clouds, rendered impenetrable by their density.

For schools and private students this will be found to be a valuable book; and he who makes himself master of the historical narration which it contains, will feel himself indebted to the author for the interesting communications which his volume affords. The style is dignified, yet easy, in every respect corresponding with the subjects of which it treats. It is neither flippant nor flowery, but always expressive, and occasionally brilliant, without ever aiming at display. We can safely recommend it as containing all the essential portions of Scottish history within a narrow compass, comprising a fund of interesting amusement, and a dense mass of valuable information.

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REVIEW.-Modern Domestic Medicine or, a Popular Treatise, illustrating the Nature, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of all living Diseases; together with a Domestic Materia Medica, a copious Collection of approved Prescriptions, &c. &c. By T. J. Graham, M.D. &c. 8vo. pp. 572.

A SOUND mind in a sound body, is a short but full description of a happy state in this world. He that has these two, says Locke, has little more to wish for; and he that wants either of them, will be but little the better for any thing else. Every effort, therefore, made to assist in preserving health, and in restoring it when lost, merits the approbation of the public, and the encouragement of every individual.

The work here introduced to the notice of our readers, will be found a very valuable acquisition to the family library. The author has judiciously availed himself of the important improvements which have of late

years taken place in medical science; he has expressed himself in the most familiar and popular language, and has rendered the whole structure of his work simple and intelligible to all. Dr. Graham also states, that he has studiously avoided delivering any opinion not verified by personal experience, or sanctioned by the authority of distinguished professional men. We have no hesitation, therefore, in claiming for his treatise a degree of attention not inferior to that merited by any similar publication which has preceded it.

The work is divided into two parts.In the first part is contained a domestic materia medica-a copious collection of approved prescriptions—the medical management of children-treatment proper in case of poisoning, and all other casualties -ample rules of diet and regimen-table of doses, &c. &c.

The domestic materia medica embraces an interesting collection of facts relative to medicinal subjects, all treated of in alphabetical order. There is much perspicuity in the description of each substance, and as much valuable matter as may be, is pressed into each article. The observations on mineral waters are valuable, and to the purpose, and those upon diet and regimen

still more so.

The second part presents us with a faithful digest of the practice of medicine, embracing the nature, symptoms, causes, distinction, and improved treatment of every disease. Dr. Graham is more ample in his details under the heads of those diseases which are of the most frequent occurrence; and in particular, he treats of consumption, gout, and indigestion, con amore. To each of these interesting articles the attention of the reader is particularly directed. In short, this part of the work is a translation of the great Elements of Medical Practice, out of the professional into the vulgar tongue : and, as far as our judgment may be stated, we think that no medicine-chest, at home or abroad, ought to be considered complete, without the appendage of Dr. Graham's Medical Guide.

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of Pharisaism on the other, he is anxious to guard his readers, by proving that evangelical preaching, instead of making void the law through faith, tends to establish its purity, and to enforce its precepts. These important topics Mr. Graham discusses in their various branches in the discourses before us, and without entering into any profound disquisitions, his conclusions are at once so obvious and rational, as to command the assent of every sincere seeker after practical truth.

In considering the extensive dominion of the law, the author argues, that it requires truth in the inward parts; and contends, that all 'professions of reliance on Christ for salvation, and external acts of obedience without this, will be found delusive, and contrary to the design of the gospel dispensation.

But while Mr. G. thus urges the necessity of practical godliness arising from a renewal of the heart in righteousness, nothing can be further from his intention, and the tendency of his discourses, than to recommend justification by the deeds of the law. The ground of the sinner's acceptance is the merit of Christ, appropriated by a principle of living faith, leading to those fruits which are exemplified in the heart and life of every genuine Christian.

These sermons being on the ten commandments, the discharge of duty, and the observance of God's laws, form their more prominent characteristics. Hence, the author enters into an examination of the import and bearing of the precepts and prohibitions contained in the decalogue, and infers from the spirituality of the law, that the outward violation of its letter constitutes only a small portion of the manner in which it may be transgressed. But his own words on the subject of idolatry, will best express his meaning.

"It is not the Persian alone, who adores the sun; or the Indian, who falls down to the monstrous obscene idol, at Juggernaut, that is an idolater. The word of God declares, that he who pampers his appetites, makes a god of his belly,' and that the covetous man,' who loves his money more than his God, and feels more desirous to make his fortune than to save his soul, is an idolater. The sin of

idolatry, then, against this commandment, is very extensive indeed; and every living man, whose heart is not converted to God by faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, is an idolater, in the whole range of bis affections and principles."-p. 24.

In a manner analogous to the preceding extract, Mr. Graham proceeds through the other commandments, tracing them to their influence on the heart as well as life; thus

leaving the whole world guilty before God, and shewing the necessity of supernatural aid to renew the soul in that righteousness and true holiness which the gospel uniformly requires.-By those who wish to know the path of duty, these discourses will be read with much interest and advantage; and all besides will be better pleased with that speculative divinity, which amuses the fancy and administers to the pride of the understanding, than with any doctrines which can influence the heart and life.

REVIEW.-The Minstrel's Tale, and other Poems, by Geo. Moore. 12mo. pp. 141. London. Longman & Co. 1826.

"THE principal object of the leading poem is, to prove the impropriety of allowing morbid sensibility to tyrannize over manly sentiments, while robbing the heart of rest, and the mind of reason." p. vi. Such is our author's account of the first and main poem in the work under review. Its conception indeed is rather artificial, but its execution is by no means destitute of merit. There are many very bold and striking passages, and felicitous delineations of scenery -mingled with occasional instances of unusual feebleness and common-place. The following lines are a specimen of our author's best style:

:

O thoughts, how exquisite are ye
When fancy cheats fond memory!
It is as if the damn'd could see
Through hell's black concave into heaven,
And, fix'd in gaze, transported be,

Till all its bliss to them were given.-p. 15. that is, we suppose, till they fancied so.

The following, also, is very happy :As when some sweet benignant star Bursts the black clouds, and beams from far, Upon a tempest-shatter'd crew,

Their life-hope struggle to renew.-p. 8.

And yet, although this be poetical per sethe reader will smile, when we tell him that this is the stiff and artificial exordium of a midnight heart-broken wanderer, who, being requested to tell the cause of his woes, commences as above: both in poetry and prose, we like to see a due regard to character and consistency.—We object also to such passages as the following, as very paltry and prosaic

Now, though unsuitable it be

My own misfortunes to narrate, You still must grant, that surely he

Who felt their force can best relate.-p.10. We think the 'Minstrel's Tale' is the least deserving of any in the volume, Several of

the minor poems exhibit traces of a more vigorous mind, and stronger and more animated language. We would instance "Ocean," p. 67-73. "The Breakwater," p. 81-85. And "Plymouth Sound-a Moonlight Reverie," p. 116-119: the latter of which we extract :

PLYMOUTH SOUND.

A Moonlight Reverie.

ARE seraph wings more richly bright,
Though living with a liquid light;
More pearly and more chastely white,
Than that clear cloud on yonder beight?
While palely smiling, heaven's fair queen
Sheds modest glory round her throne,
Making e'en this rude world serene,

And Solitude itself less lone :--
I love to wander by this shore-
To muse on mystery, and adore-
To ruminate on days gone by--
To dream of bliss, and yet to sigh.
A ruleless liberty of thought,

Ecstatic still, and undefined,
With more than Hope's own visions fraught,
Bursts strangely o'er my restless mind-
When, on the water's glowing breast,

A golden shower of light descends,
And yon sweet mount's high fir-form'd crest
With moonlight clouds so brightly blends :-
When stars seem floating on the waves,
And, on the billow-beaten beach,
The playful ripple gently laves

Each polish'd pebble it can reach :-
When scarce a single sound awakes
The cavern'd echo to reply,
And earth of heaven's repose partakes,
And ocean seems another sky;
And, gleaming on the distant verge,
A silver'd sail appears to glide,
Like feathery foam upon the surge,
When sparkling radiance gilds the tide.
The stirless shadows on the shore,

The ice-like calmness of the sea,
The frequent plash of light-tipp'd oar,
The almost silent melody;
The beacon beaming from afar,
The mild effulgence of Love's star,
The rock-built fabric's slumbering length,
The frowning fortress' guardian strength,
The whiten'd tower, the fort-crown'd isle,
So cheerful in the calm cool light;
And that sweet tranquillizing smile,

Which all assumes on such a night.-
So fit to form poetic theme,

Are these commingling charms to me, And in their majesty they seem

The very home of Poesy.

When murmurs musically deep,
While hushing Nature's self to sleep,
At such a softly awful hour,
Speak to the soul with mellow power;
And prompt imaginings supply
O'erwhelming wonder with a voice
That whispers of Eternity,

And seems to say-rejoice, rejoice!-
It is prophetic of a beaven,

Which blissful quietude shall fill,

Where spirits, that with storms have striven, No more shall dread the warring will.

ENORMOUS FOSSIL VERTRBRA.

SIR,-Have lately seen your Magazine for February, in which is an account of a Vertebra, found near Bridport, which account is not quite correct; and as I am the owner, have taken the liberty of sending you a rough sketch of the bone itself, and a correct statement of the circumstances under which it was found. It fell from the cliff between Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury, in the county of Dorset, with a large quantity of the earth, (fox-mole,) during the

The

CAPTAIN Basil Hall, in his highly interesting "Voyages in the Eastern Seas," (which form the first portion of "Constable's Miscellany," now in the course of publication,) gives the following account of the detestable practice of preventing the growth of the feet of females :

"When at Canton, I made inquiries among the Chinese who had spoke English, respecting this preposterous custom. I learned from one intelligent man, that the age of four was the usual time for commencing the horrid ceremony of binding up the wretched children's feet; and he shewed me the manner in which it was done. The

toes are forcibly bent under the foot, in which position they are confined by a silk band, three inches wide and two or three yards long. My informant told me that he had four daughters, all of whom suffered so much on these occasions, that he could not bear to hear their cries; and being unable to relieve or console them, still less to exempt them from this vile mutilation, he was obliged to banish himself from home for more than a month, when the season for tormenting one of his children arrived. He bitterly deplored the total absence of any free will to depart from the established customs of the empire."

THE LATE DUKE OF YORK.

THE following affecting article respecting the Illness and Death of his late Royal Highness the Duke of York, is from the pen of his Royal Highness's private secretary and executor, Lieut.-Gen. Sir Herbert Taylor, G. C. H. which, with the Memoir and Portrait given in our February Imperial, will, we conceive, be read with intense interest. Journal of Occurrences which took place between the 9th of June, 1826, and the 5th of January, 1827. The interest excited by the situation of the late Duke of York, and by every circumstance connected with his long, painful, and lingering illness, from its commencement until the fatal hour which closed his valuable existence, has been so great, and the general feeling which it produced has caused so many particulars to be circulated, and received by the public as authentic, for which there either was no foundation, or at least very imperfect foundation, that I have, upon due consideration, been induced to draw up, from minutes taken during this distressing and trying period of my attendance upon his Royal Highness, a statement, not of the progress of the disease, or of the treatment pursued, but of such circumstances and facts as will shew the condition of his Royal HighBess's mind under this awful visitation of Providence, will do justice to the exemplary resolution and pious resignation with which he met, and submitted to it, and will satisfy his attached friends that his Royal Highness was, in every point of view, deserving of the respect and the affection which have so strongly marked their sentiments towards him, and of the deep grief and regret which his death has occasioned in their minds, and in those of the respectable and wellthinking individuals of every class in this country.

The state of his Royal Highness's health had, for some time, appeared far from satisfactory, and had occasioned more or less uneasiness to those about him; but the first indications of serious indisposition, such as to produce alarm, were upon his Royal Highness's return from Ascot to his residence in Audleysquare, on the 9th of June, 1826, and Mr. Macgregor, who then saw him, urged him immediately to send for Sir Henry Halford.

From that period, his Royal Highness continued more or less an invalid, and was occasionally confined to his house.

Upon the 24th of June, his Royal Highness removed for change of air to Brompton-park, the residence of Mr. Greenwood, who kindly lent it to him; and upon that day he sent for me, and told me that he had been unwell for some weeks, and that he did not think that he gained ground. That he did not feel alarmed, and that he had perfect confidence in the attention given to his case, and the skill of his medical advisers; but that he knew that they might entertain apprehensions, which they would consider it their professional duty not to communicate to their patients, and he might, therefore, remain ignorant of that which ought not to be concealed from him, and which he trusted he should learn without apprehension, although he did not deny that he should learn it with regret. That there were duties to be performed, and arrangements to be made, which ought not to be deferred to the last moment, and he felt that it was due to his character and station, to his comfort, and even to his feelings on this subject, that he should not be taken by surprise upon so serious an occasion. He considered it probable, that the physicians would be less reserved with me than with him, and he charged me, if I should learn from them directly, or should have reason to draw such inference from any expression that might drop from them, that his situation had become one of danger, not to withhold such knowledge from him. He appealed to me upon this occasion for an act of friendship, he would add, for the discharge of a duty, which he claimed from the person who had been with him, and enjoyed his confidence during so many years; he called upon me to promise, that I would perform it whenever the period should arrive to which he alluded, and he desired that I would bear in mind, that he wished me to deal by him as he was certain I should desire, under similar circumstances, to be dealt with.

I made the promise without hesitation, and it was received with a warm expression of thanks, and an affectionate pressure of the hand.

This was repeated, in allusion to what had passed at a later period of the day, when he got into his carriage to go to Brompton, and he then said that he felt relieved from great uneasiness by the promise I had given him.

His Royal Highness removed to Brighton on the 100.-VOL. IX.

14th of August, for the benefit of further change of air; and I learnt from Mr. Macgregor, on the 17th of that month, that a change had taken place in his general state, and that symptoms had appeared which

rendered his situation one of danger.

This distressing information was confirmed to me from other quarters, and I determined immediately to go to Brighton, and to discharge my duty, but to be guided in the character and extent of the disclosure by such further communication as might be made to me by his Royal Highness's medical attendants, of the nature and pressure of the danger. I pleaded business rendering personal communication necessary for my visit to his Royal Highness, and I went to Brighton on the 19th of August. Upon my arrival I learnt from Mr. Macgregor, that a favourable change had taken place, that his Royal Highness had gained strength, and that the most alarming symptoms had, in a great measure, subsided; that his Royal Highness's situation might, therefore, be considered far more encouraging than when he wrote to me, but that it was impossible to consider it free from danger, although that danger had ceased to be immediate, and although there was reason to hope that the cause of alarm might be removed. He added, that, from observations which his Royal Highness had made to himself, he was convinced I would find him prepared for any communication I might feel it my duty to make to him, and that, under all circumstances, I must exercise my discretion.

I then saw the Duke of York, who entered fully into his situation, and told me, that, although much better then, and he believed going on well, he had reason to think, from the manner and looks of his medical attendants, that they had been alarmed, and felt much greater uneasiness than they had expressed, or might feel at liberty to express, and he wished to know what I had learnt.

I did not disguise from him, that, bearing in mind the engagement I had contracted, I had determined to go to Brighton in consequence of the accounts I had received on the 17th, which had alarmed me, but that I was happy to find on my arrival, that his Royal Highness's state had since been improving, and that much of the uneasiness which then prevailed had been removed; at the same time, it was my duty to confirm the impression which he appeared himself to have received, that his complaint had assumed a more serious character, although great confidence appeared to be felt, that the extraordinary resources of his constitution, and the strength he had gained since his removal to Brighton, would enable him to struggle successfully with the disorder, "Then," said he, "I was not mistaken in my suspicions, and my case is not wholly free from danger; but I depend upon your honour, and you tell me there is more to hope than to fear."

assured him that such was decidedly the impression I had received from what Mr. Macgregor had said to me. He thanked me, and proceeded to look over and give directions upon some official papers with his usual attention and accuracy.

He saw Mr. Macgregor the same evening, and questioned him; and he told me on the following day, that Mr. Macgregor had answered him very fairly, and had confirmed what I had said to him, as did Sir Matthew Tierney later in the day. On that same day he told me that he felt stronger, that his mind was relieved by what had passed, as he knew he should not be deceived or left to form his own conjectures, and draw his own conclusions, from the looks and manner of his medical attendants and others about him; and that he had not for months slept so well as the pre. ceding night.

I repeated to him, that I had come to Brighton under considerable alarm, and that I should leave it very much relieved. His Royal Highness was cheerful; and I heard from Mr. Macgregor and others that he continued so during the following days. Indeed, he wrote to me himself in very good spirits, and assured me of the, comfort and relief he had derived from the proof afforded to him that he would be fairly dealt with.

His Royal Highness returned from Brighton on the afternoon of the 26th of August, to the Duke of Rutland's house, in Arlington Street, having come in five hours and a half. He did not seem much fatigued ; looked well in the countenance, and conversed cheerfully with Sir Henry Torrens and me, who were in waiting to receive him.

He afterwards told me that his strength, sleep, and appetite had improved, but that the medicines he had taken had ceased to have the desired effect in checking the progress of the main disorder, and that he had therefore returned to town earlier than had been intended, in order, as he understood, to try some change of treatment, which he apprehended might be tapping. This was an unpleasant hearing, though it did not alarm him. He was determined to keep up his spirits; he knew his situation was a serious one, but he had no doubt, please God, he should recover, though he feared his recovery would be a work of time.

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