Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

of imprisoned objects should seck to take advantage of | their liberty?"

Misery of a nocturnal visit to an American city :

"It was midnight before we reached our place of destination. To find accommodation at such an unscasonable hour is a thing I have been taught by woful experience never to expect in America. Upon this occasion, I had to enjoy the benefit of a nocturnal drive through the streets of Philadelphia, from house to house, without a chance of success-alone, and unacquainted with the place-till daylight at length began to dawn upon me. An honest watchman (to the credit of the profession be it mentioned), at last took compassion on me, and indicated a house where I could at least, as he observed, get shelter for the night. But rest was out of the question. A creaking bed, a broken pane of glass, with a pair of inexpressibles filling the gap, and a confined atmosphere, formed the sum total of my comforts. Add to this, the size of the room, more suited for a dwarf than a fullgrown person; and it is, after all, but an imperfect picture of my lonely lodging. By way of a substitute for a candle, a dismal lamp was handed to me, from which issued a smell so obnoxious to the spiders and rats, (cooccupants with me of this cage), that these little animals were actually taken ill with it, and kept in constant motion till the sun at length broke in upon them. To lie down in such a place, when exhausted by fatigue, is easily done; but the waking in the morning inspires reflections of a serious stamp. A glance at the scattered objects around is enough to banish the inmate. I lost no time, as may be supposed, in taking leave of my comfortless quarters, and removed to Head's Hotel, the best, without exception, in the United States."

WASHINGTON.

Delectabilities of travelling in the southern

states:

"On arriving at Fredericksburg, I lost no time in taking advantage of the stage on the point of starting for Richmond. Here I was soon reminded of another cir cumstance, namely, my entrance into the southern states, by the execrable condition of the public roads. The traveller has to choose between two alternatives-to be shaken to pieces, or be engulphed in deep mud-holes. The roads are made of trees laid crosswise, emphatically called corduroy roads. It would, in many places, be quite impossible to effect a passage, if this precaution were not adopted, the soil being so soft, that the least rain is sufficient to make them impassable: the clay is often three feet deep, the wheels stick fast in it, and the carriage is consequently upset.

"If the timber, thus laid across the roads, had been cut, and so placed as to fit, it would answer the purpose of a well-constructed bridge; but, in so young a country as America, this cannot be expected. The trees are laid on the ground in their rough state, with the branches only cut off: in a thousand places the inhabitants had not even given themselves time, or perhaps voluntarily neglected, to take off the small boughs, so that it not unfrequently happened that, owing to these leafy branches becoming entangled with the wheels, the trees on the road were displaced. The question then naturally arose, which was the stronger-the wheel or the branches: but never did the driver attempt to check the speed of the horses, from apprehension that the coach would go to pieces. This idea seldom enters the mind of an American coachinan; nevertheless, there is no country on earth where this precaution would be more advisable than in the southern parts of the United States, still so thinly peopled, that you may travel miles and miles through forests, without discovering a human habitation where assistance could be procured in case of necessity.

The

habitation."

We have not yet reached the end of the first volume of this work; but we must pause,

"The cause of this indifference to horses and coaches "It was on a rainy, disagreeable, and uncomfortable November day, that I arrived at Washington. The first is, that all stages carry mail-bags, which, according to object which struck me at a distance was the capitol, the contract with the post-office department, must arrive at wonder of America, where the members of congress astheir destination at a given time, otherwise the consemble. The situation of this edifice is on an eminence tractor is liable to a considerable fine. To evade this reat one end of the city, facing the president's house at the sult, he gives the drivers strong injunctions to make all other extremity: both are connected by a long and wide possible haste, let the consequence be what it may; they avenue, a mile in length, the only regular and close built therefore proceed with the utmost celerity, regardless of street in the city. The stage moved slowly and cautiously the danger of breaking down coaches or killing horses. over an infinity of rubbish, stones, and deep holes, as consequence is, that accidents too often occur; and, the avenue was then undergoing repair. on such occasions, if a carriage or team cannot be found Few people were to be seen, and those consisted chiefly of slaves. in the neighbourhood, the driver takes the mail-bags, Not a living being could I observe: there was none of throws them upon a cart, and thus continues his jourthe noise, confusion, and bustle, characteristic of a capi.ney, leaving the unfortunate passengers in the middle of tal. Hardly a coach could be perceived: if one did ap- the road, in a bog, or in a forest, many miles from any pear, it was empty, or the driver was indulging in a comfortable nap on the box. In the streets, or rather roads, traversing the avenue which I entered, solitary houses were here and there observed, distant several hundred yards from each other. I could scarcely believe my eyes I fancied myself in a village. Is this Washing ton, said I to myself, the capital of another hemisphere? My features must have expressed what passed inwardly, for an American, who happened to be in the same coach, asked me, half smiling, whether, with my European notions of a metropolis, I was not rather disappointed in Neither poetry nor romance can add to the my expectations? He concluded these enquities by add- beautiful features with which nature has embeling, in a serious tone: Simplicity is the motto of a lished this lovely cluster of enchanted islands, republic. What you see is a true illustration of it."where all, save the spirit of man, is divine;" What can be more grand than that a country, so exten- and we are happy to see the public attention atsive as the continent of North America, should not require a larger spot than this for a capital?' I made no tracted, through the medium of this well-written answer to this remark, just recollecting one of Washing-volume, to a scene in which the social system ton Irving's expressions- Washington, this immense metropolis, which makes so glorious an appearance on paper.'"

A Description of the Azores, or Western Islands.
By Captain Boid, late of H. M. F. Majesty's
Navy. Svo. Churton. 1835.

calls so loudly for improvement. The present state of Portuguese politics is peculiarly auspicious to the advance of reform, and, perhaps, in

no part of the youthful queen's dominions is it so | loudly called for as in these misgoverned islands, where religion has degenerated into bigotry, and the progress of industry and of civilisation has been checked by the prejudices and the imbecility of the government. Captain Boid, more anxious to portray the actual state of society in the Azores, and the evils resulting from the narrow policy hitherto pursued, than to display a passion for the picturesque, does not deal very largely in descriptions of the scenery of these beautiful islands. The omission is, however, supplied by several lithographic sketches, from the pencil of Admiral Sartorious; and, by the following extract, it will be seen that the author was not indifferent to the charms of the landscape:

"We trotted off towards the heights that surround the Val das sete Cidades, which we soon reached, being only between two or three miles distant-though in parts up a steep acclivity. On attaining the summit, a little more than 2000 feet above the level of the sea, we

enjoyed at once the comprehensive view of the whole tract constituting the celebrated valley, besides an exterior prospect, similar to that described from the summit of Maffra. The valley is a basin surrounded by moun tains nearly fifteen miles in circumference, and forming the lips of a stupendous crater, whose interior sides are composed of pumice, and slope down at an angle of 45 degrees to the bottom-where is formed a rich valley nine miles in circumference, with (in the centre) two beautiful unruffled lakes, occupying one third of the whole superficies, and separated only by a narrow isthmus; the one is called Lagoa grande, the other Lagoa azul--close to which, and delightfully situated on the borders, are the few white cottages called the Seven Cities. The reader will naturally ask the origin of this appellation. I know not; no one in the island knew, nor is it any where recorded.

"The interior sides of this crater are deeply furrowed by rocky ravines, from the summit to the lakes, many of them presenting picturesque cascades and most romantic scenery. The higher portions of the slopes are covered with luxuriant ferns and underwood, together with patches of wild myrtle, box, arbutus, and other evergreens-below which the descent is clothed with groves of orange and lemon trees; and at the bottom, round the borders of the lakes, lics a cultivated plain that produces the most fertile crops of grain, pulse and grapes, with excellent hemp and flax."

From the London Athenæum.

LIFE.

BY THE LATE REV. C. C. COLTON.

[The following poem has been kindly transmitted to us by a gen

tleman to whom the writer was well known. "Circumstances,' he observes," add much to its interest;--having been written but

The drug, the cord, the steel, the flood, the flame,
Turmoil of action, tedium of rest,

And lust of change, though for the worst, proclaim
How dull life's banquet is-how ill at ease the guest.
Known were the bill of fare before we taste,

Who would not spurn the banquet and the boardPrefer th' eternal, but oblivious fast,

To life's frail-fretted thread, and death's suspended sword?

He that the topmost stone of Babel plann'd,
And he that braved the crater's boiling bed-

Did these a clearer, closer view command

Of heaven or hell, we ask, than the blind herd they led?

Or he that in Valdarno did prolong

The Night, her rich star-studded page to readCould he point out, 'midst all that brilliant throng, His fixed and final home, from fleshy thraldom freed? Minds that have scann'd Creation's vast domain, And secrets solved, till then to sages seal'd,

Whilst Nature own'd their intellectual reign

Extinct, have nothing known or nothing have revealed.

Devouring grave! we might the less deplore

Th' extinguish'd lights that in thy darkness dwell, Wouldst thou, from that last zodiac, one restore, That might th' enigma solve, and doubt, man's tyrant, quell.

To live in darkness--in despair to die

Is this indeed the boon to mortals given?
Is there no port-no rock of refuge nigh?
There is to those who fix their anchor-hope in
heaven.

Turn then, O man! and cast all else aside:
Direct thy wandering thoughts to things above-
Low at the cross bow down-in that confide,
Till doubt be lost in faith, and bliss secured in love.

From the Durham Advertiser.

THE DEEPEST MINE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

The bot

The shaft at present sinking at Monkwearmouth Colliery, near Sunderland, has attained a considerably greater depth than any mine in Great Britain (or, estimating its depth from the level of the sea, than any mine in the world). Pearce's shaft, at the consolidated mines in Cornwall, was, till lately, the deepest in the island-being about 1470 feet in perpendicular depth, of which 1150 feet are below the surface of the sea. tom of Woolf's shaft (also at the consolidated mines) is 1230 feet below the sea; but its total depth is less than that of Pearce's shaft. The bottom of the Monkwearmouth shaft is already upwards of 1500 feet below high water mark, and 1600 feet below the surface of the ground. It was commenced in May, 1826. The upper part of the shaft passes through the lower magnesian limestone strata, which overlap the south-eastern district of the geat Newcastle Coal-field, and which, including a stratum of "freestone sand" at the bottom of the limestone, extended, at Monk wearour-mouth, to the thickness of 330 feet, and discharged

a short time previous to his death, and while labouring under that strong excitement of mind occasioned by the decision of his medical advisers that he must undergo an operation; rather than submit to which, it is generally believed that he committed suicide."] How long shall man's imprisoned spirit groan

"Twixt doubt of heaven and deep disgust of earth?
Where all worth knowing never can be known,
And all that can be known, alas! is nothing worth.
Untaught by saint, by cynic, or by sage,

And all the spoils of time that load their shelves,
We do not quit, but change our joys in age-
Joys framed to stifle thought, and lead us from
selves.

towards the bottom of the strata the prodigious

coal dust) rose to 71. A small pool of water was standing at the end of the drift. Tempe rature of this water at 11 o'clock, 70; 3 hours later 694. A register thermometer was buried 18 inches deep below the floor, and about 10 yards from the entrance of the drift; 40 minutes afterwards its maximum temperature was 67. Another register thermometer was similarly buried near the end of the drift; and after a similar period indicated a maximum temperature of 70. It was then placed in a deeper hole and covered with small coal;some water oozed out of the side of this hole to the depth of 6 or 8 inches above the thermometer, which, upon being examined after a sufficient interval of time, indicated a temperature of 71. A stream of gas bubbles (igniting with the flame of a candle) issued through the water collected in this hole; the bulbs of two very sensible thermometers were immersed under water in this stream of gas, and indicated a temperature constantly varying between 71.5 and 72.6. A thermometer was lowered to the bottom of a hole drilled to the depth of 25 feet into the floor of another of the workings, and the atmospheric air excluded from it by a tight stopping of clay; this thermometer being raised after the lapse of 48 hours, stood at 71.2. Other experiments, in the prosecution of these enquiries, are contemplated.

EUGENE BEAUHARNAIS.

quantity of 3000 gallons of water per minute, for the raising of which into an off-take drift, a double-acting steam-engine, working with a power of from 180 to 200 horses, was found necessary. The first unequivocal stratum of the coal formation, viz: a bed of coal one and a half inches thick, was not reached till August, 1831, (being about 344 feet below the surface,) after which the tremendous influx of water which had so long impeded the sinking operations, was "stopped back" by cylindrical "metal tubbing" or casing, fitted (in a series of small portions) to the shaft, and extending from below the above bed of coal to within 26 yards of the surface. The sinking now proceeded with spirit-still no valuable bed of coal was reached, although the shaft had passed considerably above 600 feet into the coal measures, and much deeper than had hitherto been found requisite for reaching some of the known seams. It became evident that the miners were in unknown ground. A new "feeder of water" was encountered at the great depth of 1000 feet, requiring fresh pumps and a fresh outlay of money. The prospects of the owners became unpromising in the eyes of most men, and were denounced as hopeless by many of the coal-viewers! still the Messrs. Pemberton (the enterprising owners of this colliery) continued, and, in October last, reached a seam of considerable value and thickness, at the depth of 1578 feet below the surface; and presuming that this newly discovered seam was identified with the Bensham seam of the The father of the young sovereign matrimonial Tyne, (or Maudlin seam of the Wear,) they are of Portugal, Prince Eugene de Beauharnais, was rapidly deepening their shaft, in anticipation of descended from a noble family in the province of reaching the Hutton, or most valuable seam, at Berry; he was Viceroy of Italy, Prince of Venice, no distant period, but which, (if their anticipa- and Hereditary Grand Duke of Frankfort, and tions are well founded,) will be found at a depth married the Princess Auguste, daughter of Maxiapproaching 300 fathoms from the surface! In milian Joseph, King of Bavaria. By the 8th_arthe mean time, however, workings have very re-ticle of the Treaty of Paris, in 1814, Prince Eucently commenced in the supposed Bensham seam.gene, as Viceroy of Italy, was promised a suitable A party of scientific gentlemen descended into establishment out of France; which was confirmed these workings on Saturday last, and, aided by by the treaty between Austria and Bavaria, 23d every facility and assistance which could be af- April, 1815, signed by the plenipotentiaries of forded to them by the Messrs. Pemberton, made Russia and Prussia, with the consent of England. several barometric and thermometric observations, The King of Bavaria assigned him for residence the detail of which will be deeply interesting to the chateau of Bayreuth, with all its appurte many of our readers. A barometer at the top of nances. In May, 1816, Prince Eugene concluded the shaft (87 feet above high water mark) stood with the pope a treaty, by which he purchased at 30.518, its attached thermometer (Fahrenheit) fiefs in the Roman state for 150,000 scudi. In being 53. On being carried down to the new 1817, he was created Duc de Leuchtenberg and workings (1584 feet below the top) it stood at Prince d'Eichstadt, with the title of Royal HighThe ducal house of Leuchtenberg is the 32.280, and, in all probability higher than ever ness. before seen by human eye! the attached thermo- first principality of Bavaria, and the family ranks meter being 58. Four workings or drifts had been immediately after the princes and the princesses. commenced in the coal; the longest of them being The Leuchtenbergs possess, under the sovereignty that "to the dip," 22 yards in length and nearly of Bavaria, a principality of 24,000 inhabitants 2 in breadth-to the end of which the current of and a revenue of 110,000 florins. The late Prince fresh air for ventilating the mine was diverted-Eugene also purchased the territory of Eichstadal (and from which the pitmen employed in its ex- and several forests, fisheries, mines, and estates He died 21st February, 1834, at cavation had just departed,) was selected for the at Allersdorf. following thermometric observations. (Tempe- Munich. rature of the current of air near the entrance of His highness Duke Augustus is colonel comthe drift, 62 Fahrenheit; near the end of the drift, mandant of the 6th regiment of the Bavarian Ca63; close to the face or extremity of the drift, and valry; and his only brother, Prince Maximilian, beyond the current of air, 68.) A piece of coal is a subaltern in the 4th regiment of cavalry in was hewn from the face; and two thermome- the same service. His highness's aunt is Hor ters placed in the spot just before occupied by tense Duchess de St. Leu, wife of Louis Bonathe coal (their bulbs being instantly covered with parte,

Critical Notices.

Allan Cunningham's edition of the Works of Burns is now completed, by the publication of the eighth volume. It contains Burns's remarks on Scotish song, the memoranda of three tours, made at the time for the purpose of being expanded into a complete narrative; and some fragments from the poet's commonplace-book, including the rough materials from which he composed the journal, unfortunately lost to the world, through the perfidy of a rascal-acquaintance of the bard's, who stole it. A very copious glossary (with illustrative quotations from Scotish authors), an index, and a selection from the poetical tributes to the memory of Burns, are appended. Among the tributes, the latest, and the most spontaneous in feeling and characteristic in style, is Allan's own, in which he takes leave of his pleasant task. The artist, D. O. Hill, has continued improving with every volume. The vignettes of Ayr and the Pier of Leith are more successfully emulative of Stanfield than some former views were of Turner. They are very clever works of art, and beautifully engraved. We subjoin the editor's leavetaking, entire.

[blocks in formation]

Ye laugh'd, and muttering, "Learning! d-n her!"
Stood bauldly up, but start or stammer
Wi' Nature's fire for lore and grammar,
And classic rules,

Crush'd them as Thor's triumphant hammer
Smash'd paddock-stools.

And thou wert right and they were wrang-
The sculptor's toil, the poet's sang,
In Greece and Rome frae nature sprang,
And bauld and free,

In sentiment and language strang,
They spake like thee.

Thy muse came like a giggling taupie,
Dancing her lane: her sangs sae sappy,
Cheer'd men like drink's inspiring drappie,
Then, grave and stern,

High moral truths sublime and happy
She made them learn.

Auld gray-beard Lear, wi' college lantern,
O'er rules of Horace stoitering, venturin'
At song glides to oblivion saunterin'

And starless night;
Whilst thou, up cleft Parnassus canterin',
Lives on in light.

In light thou livest. While birds lo'e simmer,
Wild bees the blossom, buds the timmer,
And man lo'es woman-rosic limmer!
I'll prophecie

Thy glorious halo nought the dimmer
Will ever be.

For me, though both sprung from ae mother,
I'm but a weakly young half-brother,
Sae, O forgive my musing swither,
Mid toils benighted,

'Twas lang a wish that nought could smother To see thee righted.

Frae Kyle, wi' music in her bowers,
Frae faery glens, where wild Doon pours,
Frae hills, bedropp'd wi' sunny showers,
On Solway strand,

I've gather'd, Burns, thy scatter'd flowers
Wi' filial hand.

And O, bright and immortal spirit!
If ought that lessons thy rare merit
I've utter'd, like a god thou'lt bear it:
Thou canst but know
Thy stature few or none can peer it
Now born below.

"Oriental Memoirs, by James Forbes, Esq., 2nd edit. revised by his daughter the Countess de Montalembert. 2 vols. 8vo.'--It is assigned as an apology for the repub. lication of these rather antiquated Memoirs, that India has not changed since their first appearance; but, fortunately, our knowledge of India has been more progressive, and topics on which the author has only given imperfect hints, have been since fully investigated and explained. The Hindú and Mahomedan creeds, of which Mr. Forbes had only some vague general notions, have, within the last few years, been thoroughly examined by persons who had more leisure and better opportunities for enquiry; and no one would now dream of consulting the rambling accounts of an unscientific observer for information respecting the Natural History of Hindustan. It is said, however, that the author has described certain customs of the East, which elucidate passages of Scripture that were previously open to infidel objections. On this subject the present editor does not seem to be the best of judges, for, in the biographical memoir prefixed to the first volume, we read, "He had more of that Christian charity recommended by St. Peter, which suffereth long, and is kind," &c. This is robbing Paul to pay Peter, for the passage alluded to occurs in the epistle to the Corinthians. There are, no doubt, customs described in these volumes which will recall to the memory similar customs mentioned in the Bible; but any thing like elucidation of difficulties, or refutation of infidel objections, we have been unable to discover. The best that can be said of these volumes, is, that they are written in a light gossiping style, and that they bear the marks of amiable temper and kindly feeling; those who wish to obtain a general notion of India may consult the work with advantage: those who seek accurate information must go elsewhere.

"Tales of Woman's Trials, by Mrs. S. C. Hall.”— There are few writers who keep their places on the pages of our annuals more gracefully or pleasantly than Mrs. Hall-there is always a freshness, and oftentimes an invention, displayed in her stories, which more parsimonious contrivers of fiction would spin out into the mystic three volumes. Having acknowledged this, we must add our conviction that her short tales read better singly than in conjunction with each other, and that we doubt the policy of thus collecting them into a volume. Many, too, have appeared before, and this, we think, should have been stated. "Grace Huntley" is the best of the series, though there are power and feeling in all of them, and an earnest and affectionate pleading of the cause of womankind, against the heartlessness and oppression of the stronger

sex, which is much more to our taste than the vigorous (and sometimes rather noisy) assertion of their rights, to which some lady-champions have treated us. There is also sound religious feeling manifest throughout the volume, and it will be (what we imagine it was intended to be) a welcome present to the young.

Gell's Topography of Rome and its Vicinity. These elegant volumes are indispensable to the complete scholar and the classical traveller. No one can thoroughly study the history of the earlier ages of Rome, or understand the more familiar allusions of her writers, without possessing this work. The happier classic who is able to follow out his studies upon the spot, cannot prudently or even cheaply do without it: it will serve at once as a guide and an instructor, telling him whither and by what direction to pursue his researches, and indirectly teaching him the means by which he may engraft the antiquary upon the scholar, and confirm, correct, or get beyond his teacher.

[ocr errors]

continued until a late period of the republic; when a constant communication with Greece took place, after which the Roman tongue rapidly advanced to its perfect condition. The philologist may not, perhaps, yield implicit confidence to all that Sir William advances; but he will find the paper learned, curious, and valuable. The essay on the History of Ancient Italy is intended to prove the truth of the Pelasgian migrations into that country. The subject matter, it may be said, consists of darkness visible; and it would be difficult to prove satisfactorily the various premises which the learned author uses so freely, and with such mastery, to establish his case. Upon this paper, and upon several articles in the Topography itself, the general reader and the loss enthusiastic scholar will be driven to wonder, that circumstances and persons whose existence he has always dreamed were fabulous, doubtful, or at best obscure, should be quoted and used in argument as undeniable facts. After his examination of Sir William Gell's labours is finished, he may also say to himself—“ Behold the last of the Anglo-Romans: the product of another Taking Rome as his central point, Sir William Gell age, more learned, more laborious, more accomplished, has extended his surveys in all directions, noticing every but less useful than ours. The magnitude and number celebrated spot, whether primitive, classical, modern, or of our revolutions and migrations-the weight of the compounds of each and all, and taking them in alpha-æs alienum per omnis terras ingens'-and the pressure betical order. The work is not, and indeed from its na- of population, on which, less lucky than the ancient Peture could not have been, a hasty production. Years of lasgi, we have no oracle to direct us, have diverted our labours of love have been devoted to the unconscious ac- thoughts from the past to the present-from speculation cumulation of materials; the previous publications of the to practice." author had rendered him skilful in the immediate practice of classical antiquarianism; the study of a whole life Sketches of Corfu, Foreign and Domestic, is a little had imbued him with the requisite knowledge and feel-work which aims at giving the interest of life to descriping for the task. When the composition was finally de- tions of manners, and scenery, by interweaving with termined on, he made, in addition to personal examina- them allusions to the personal feelings of the pilgrimtions, a trigonometrical survey of the district, applying narrator, and the traditions, legends, and historiettes modern science to bear upon ancient remains. The re- connected with the island. The idea is not bad, and the sult of this particular labour accompanies the volume in scene well adapted to the idea. Corfu is little known; the shape of the completest map of "Rome and its En- its scenery is romantic; its clime, beauty itself; the virons" we ever saw, or which indeed can ever have been manners of the people, Greek, with a Venitian cross; published. within the memory of living man, they have had a We have spoken of the work as addressed to the scho- variety of rulers, and it is now a colony or dependency lar; and so of course it is; but there is nothing dry in of Great Britain. In the execution, the utmost is not its execution to frighten the general reader, nor is its made of the advantages of the subject, although an interest altogether limited to one class. The thorough agreeable volume is produced. The descriptions of knowledge of the author renders his ideas distinct, whe-scenery are picture-like; the tales pretty and interestther they be true or whether they be doubtful. His ac-ing, though without much of historical vraisemblance; quaintance with the present aspect of things enables him and the sketches of manners lively and amusing, but to throw the life of existing nature into his descriptions. with an air of being coloured for effect. The introducHis style is easy, clear, and academic: and his mode of tion of the fair author's personal character rather intreating the subjects is learnedly gossip-like. Various jures than improves the work. She wishes to appear associations are also called up in turning over its leaves. as a sort of respectable female "Childe," who has gone Many ages seem dimly to pass in review before us. to Corfu without any conceivable object unless to talk of catch some obscure glimpses of the lost nations which being separated from all objects of affection." But the flourished before the period of authentic history. We dramatic part is, luckily, not sustained: saving in this see Rome in her early struggles, and are taken over the affectation, there is neither gloom nor misanthropy in very fields on which (pinning our faith to Sir William) the book. they took place. She is again presented to us in her high and palmy state; melancholy memorials of her decline constantly come up before us; monuments of the insecurity, anarchy, and romance of the middle ages, are frequently seen; but her present degradation and decay is the constant and all-pervading feeling.

We

The Topography, it may be supposed, is not well adapted for quotation; nor will isolated passages convey any other notion of the work than its form.

There is an appendix on the History and Language of Ancient Italy. One object of the paper on Language is to show, that the Umbrian or Etruscan tongue-the root of the Latin-was in its origin a mixture of Gaulish and of the ancient barbarous Greek spoken by the Italian Pelasgi; some of the words being Gaulish or Celtic; others, with the structure and characters of the language, being old Greek. Another and a more useful object, is to prove the barbarous state in which the Latin language

The translation of Dr. Bechstein's Cage Birds is a The author was a very delightful book of its kind. German physician, who gave his leisure hours to birdfancying, and in time made his relaxation a study. As he appears to have been eminent in relation to his hobby, he was solicited to write a treatise on the subject, and, many years ago, complied with the "request of friends." The task was fulfilled in such a manner as might have been expected from a scientific enthusiast; the method is clear and orderly; the manner earnest; The the style pleasant, from its German simplicity. author first takes a general view of "Housebirds," in their songs (where they have any), their habitations, food, breeding, disorders, the probable duration of their lives, and the best mode of catching them. He then arranges his subjects in classes, and describes each

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »