with the friends of those who die, and by explaining to them how important it is to the art of healing, that examination should take place after death, they may usually be brought to consent to the bodies of their friends being examined. Hence it is argued, that in involving the subject of dissection in mystery, as has hitherto been the case, the public have been treated injudiciously; that with proper precautions, and the light of public discussion to guide them, they may be made to perceive the importance of the study generally, and the reasonableness of the particular measure now contemplated; and that when they come to regard it as the means of suppressing exhumation, they will receive it with favour, and finally acquiesce in it.

The legislative measure which most of the witnesses are desirous of, in order to enable them to carry the plan into effect, is the repeal of an existing law, which would subject to penalties those who might be concerned in carrying the proposed plan into execution: they wish for au enactment, permissive and not mandatory, declaring that it shall not be deemed illegal for the governors of workhouses, &c., and for anatomists, the former to dispose of, the latter to receive and to dissect, the bodies of those dying in such workhouses, &c., such bodies not having been claimed, within a time to be specified, by any immediate relations, and due provision being made for the invariable performance of funeral rites.

Amongst the measures that have been suggested for lessening the dislike of the public to dissection, is that of repealing the clause of the Act of Geo. II. which directs that the bodies of murderers shall be given up to be anatomized. As it is manifest that the clause in question must create a strong and mischievous prejudice against the practice of anatomy, the Committee think themselves justified in concluding, that more evil than good results from its continuance.

The conclusion of the report is very forcible :

"The Committee consider that they would imperfectly discharge their duties, if they did not state their conviction of the importance to the public interests of the subject of their inquiries. As the members of the profession are well educated, so is their ability increased to remove or alleviate human suffering. As the science of anatomy has improved, many operations formerly thought necessary have been altogether dispensed with; most of those retained have been rendered more simple, and many new ones have been performed, to the saving of the lives of patients, which were formerly thought impossible. To neglect the practice of dissection, would lead to the greatest aggravation of human misery; since anatomy, if not learned by that practice, must be learned by mangling the living. Though all classes are deeply interested in affording protection to the study of anatomy, yet the poor and middle classes are the most so; they will be the most benefited by promoting it, and the principal sufferers by discouraging it. The rich, when they require professional assistance, can afford to employ those who have acquired the reputation of practising successfully. It is on the poor that the inexperienced commence their practice, and it is to the poor that the practice of the lower order of practitioners is confined. It is, therefore, for the interest of the poor especially, that professional education should be rendered cheap and of

easy attainment; that the lowest order of practitioners (which is the most numerous,) and the students on their first entry into practice, may be found well instructed in the duties of their profession."

Our limits would not allow us, if we were so inclined, to discuss the plan recommended by the Committee; but we may probably reserve its consideration for a future Number.

THE EDITOR'S ROOM.-No. VI.

THE number of new books is so exceedingly small, that we should offer but a meagre entertainment if we attempted a notice of them. We have on our tables some octavos on surgery and geometry-duodecimos on grammar and arithmetic-and pretty pocket manuals of geography and geology. We have also a poem or two-and one romance from the German. Out of these materials we somewhat despair of making an agreeable dozen pages; and, therefore, we shall turn our backs, for one month, upon the literature of our own country, and cross the Atlantic in search of instruction and amusement.

There are three Quarterly Reviews now published in the United States; one at Boston, one at Philadelphia, and one at Charleston. They are each exceedingly creditable specimens of the talents and attainments of our brethren of the New World; and we, whatever others may think, feel a real satisfaction, somewhat approaching to pride, in beholding the English language cultivated with such success, and made the instrument of diffusing so much valuable information through countries where the rude dialect of the Indian savage was, a century ago, the only medium of communicating the commonest thoughts and desires of the wild huntsman's life. The spread of our native tongue over the widest and fairest portions of the globe is a remarkable example of the influence of a great commercial nation in the civilization of mankind; and it is more than probable that, in a very few years, the use of the English will as far exceed that of all other languages, as did the Spanish within a century after the discovery of the passage of the Cape.

The North American Review, published at Boston, is now in its 60th number. This work is well known in England, and is distinguished, if not for its brilliancy, for its calm good sense, and its general freedom from national prejudices.

The first article of the number before us (July, 1828) is a sort of historical view of the relations of Great Britain with her North American colonies. The writer is contented to place facts before us, rather than opinions; and these facts warrant us in believing that it is the duty of our government to quiet the irritation which has been observed between the principal delegate of the executive power, and the second branch of the legislative body of Lower Canada. The reviewer thinks that "probably before long, the British government will come to some decisive measure, either to satisfy or to silence the pretences of its Canadian population." He further states that incessant attention is paid to the fortifications of Quebec, and that we are constantly en

deavouring" to give them a strength, which may in time make of the capital of Lower Canada, a rival of the impregnable fortresses of Europe." Let us satisfy, rather than silence, "pretensions" if they are at all reasonable. "Impregnable fortresses" are weak barriers against a contented population.

A review of Compagnoni's "Storia dell' America," a popular history of the New World, printed at Milan, affords us the following interesting explanation of the source from which this great portion of the globe derived its name:

⚫ Our author yields assent, we perceive, to the old hypothesis of the disingenuous conduct of Americus in giving his name to the continent, in derogation of the just claims of its discoverer. We accordingly feel justified in the renewed assertion of the facts published in our journal some years ago, tending to vindicate the reputation of the Florentine. It is well known that all writers, contemporary with the discovery of America, distinguished it by the appellation of the New World; by which name, or that of the Indies, it is called to this day in Spain. All the Portuguese historians of Brazil, and many of the old writers on the subject of that country among other nations, alike concur in stating that Brazil was originally denominated America, in honour of Vespucci. The application of the name to the whole of the New World was a later thing, and happened in the following manner:-For fifty years after the discovery of this Continent, most (we may perhaps very safely say all) of the maps published in Europe treated the New World as if it were a group of islands, few portions of it having been thoroughly explored, and it being some time before the true geography even of those portions was universally understood. Thus Florida, Cuba, Hispaniola, Venezuela, and Brazil, under the name of America, were depicted in the maps as islands. It gradually became known that the land stretched uninterruptedly far south along the region called America, and this supposed island was therefore gradually increased in size on the maps, until, by the time that the actual state of the facts became well established, the island of America had extended itself on either hand so far as to occupy substantially the very space upon the globe, which belongs to the southern continent. Meantime, the tracts of land that were really islands retained their primitive names, while the name of America having spread with the growing expansion of the region to which it was originally affixed, was left in the possession of the new meaning it thus accidentally acquired. All this happened, not merely without any contrivance on the part of Vespucci, or any scheme to injure the reputation, or appropriate to himself the fame of Columbus, with whom he remained on terms of the most cordial and confidential intimacy to the day of his death, but so far was Vespucci from contributing to bring about the result, that no acts of his could possibly have produced the series of mistakes by which it was occasioned. It is due to justice, that all these facts should be borne in mind, whenever the mere good luck of the name of America should afford argument for questioning the integrity of Vespucci.

A Monsieur Droz has published a little book, "Sur l'Art d'être Heureux" in which, according to the Reviewer, he describes the independence of idleness as the summum bonum. Idleness, we admit, is a good thing in its way; but, like most other good things, requires to be taken in moderation. The Reviewer talks very sensibly on these

matters:

'The common sense of the world is against M. Droz on the main point, and in favour of the pursuit of some honest employment, as one of the most

u

efficacious means for attaining happiness. All the principa DOOR agreed in this. What says Voltaire, for example, a high autoor." our author? Le travail éloigne de nous trois grands maux, 1- TI soin, et l'ennui. 'Labour secures us against three great evi vE. and ennui. What says Dr. Franklin, the pride of the new was.. magnus Apollo of Mr. Droz ? If our author would know E Poor Richard, Le Bonhomme Richard, as the French translate 1.. wher: I will find but slender encouragement to be idle. We canno. nuer. 2. press our wonder, that a writer, whose chief purpose seems L. cate the advantages of idleness, should have selected the author of to Wealth,' as his guide, philosopher, and friend. Finar Bible? For we take it for granted, that Mr. Dorez is a goo mu will acknowledge the authority of the precepts of the was many The Epicurean practice of lying in bed an hour or two order to ruminate upon the pleasure of having noting day, is alluded to by Solomon in no very flattering term. turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful man i Droz conceive, that the happiness of a wise and goo. m. sa tating the mechanical action of a door turning upon ALD ARE: thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy war: Are poverty and want the chief elements of happiness sex are exhorted to be up betimes and doing. Lau while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her househo the ways of her household, and eateth not the brea Gi surger it seems, is no sinecure; but what reward has que n children rise up and call her blessed; her ubilai song her.' Approved by her husband, honoured i love of all around her, our busy, little houseW off. Can Mr. Droz promise his fair disciples ang reward for being idle? We apprehend not.

According to our belief, the common seas we have already remarked, against Mr. Les the diligent pursuit of some regular occup happiness. It is true that we hear at far niente, or the delight of having quarter, there are not wanting respecial ent system. The Marquess of Spines, his military exploits in the war of the passed the latter part of his life as. and of course in the full fruition of ju those persons without occupation, Mar self (as usually happens, even this description) rather ill at ease of the death of one of his angles captain perhaps, or possibly a of his disease, was answered della malattia di non len Marquis, with a strong ---asher of the war, busia a general

.11

the

side erica, Detween better than a tribute of principles and

Philadelphia, and ars to us well adapted valuable information, anted to the wants of a he formed. The subjects, *more elementary than in the ups, rather more distinguished least allied to fanaticism, but of the articles with great pleasure nature they are rather unfertile in per on "the Indian Language and marks, which show the honest spirit of own country:—

e, and their apparent rapid decline, have oration of the humane, and called forth the The voice of the people of the United States, peace to these long harassed tribes. Public ngly in favour of efforts for the amelioration to them the lights of civilization, and the The attention of the national legislature has ject. Laws have been enacted, multiplied,

the burden of a holiday. See him hanging at his mother's side, and begging her, with tears in his eyes, to give him something to do; while she, poor woman, aware that the evil is irremediable, can only console him, by holding out the prospect of a return to school the next day. Observe the tradesman who has made his fortune (as the phrase is), and retired from business, or the opulent proprietor enjoying his dignified leisure. How he toils at the task of doing nothing; as a ship without ballast at sea, when it falls calm after a heavy blow, labours more without stirring an inch, than in going ten knots an hour with a good breeze. How he groans and sweats, as Shakspeare has it, under a happy life! How he cons over at night, for the third time, the newspaper which he read through twice, from beginning to end, immediately after breakfast! A wealthy capitalist, reduced by good fortune to this forlorn condition, has assured us, that he often begs the domestics, who are putting his room in order, to prolong the operation as much as possible, that he may enjoy again, for a little while, the lost delight of superintending and witnessing the performance of useful

labour.

'But this is not the worst. No sooner does he find himself in the state of unoccupied blessedness, than a host of unwished for visitants (doubtless the same with those who took possession of the swept and garnished lodgings of him in Scripture) enter on his premises, and declare his body good prize. Dyspepsia (a new name of horror) plucks from his lips the untasted morsel and the brimming bowl, bedims his eyes with unnatural blindness, and powders his locks with premature old age. Hypochondria (the accursed blues of the fathers) ploughs his cheeks with furrows, and heaps a perpetual cloud upon his brow. Hepatitis (like the vulture of Prometheus) gnaws at his liver. Rheumatism racks his joints; Gout grapples him by the great toe; so that what with black spirits and white, blue spirits and gray," the poor man suffers martyrdom in every nerve and fibre, until Palsy or Apoplexy, after all the kindness of the tribe, gives him the coup de grace, and releases him from his misery. His Elysium is much like that of the departed Grecian heroes in the Odyssey, who frankly avowed to Ulysses, that they would rather be the meanest day-labourers above ground, than reign supreme over all the shades below.'

This is very lively, and quite true; and it is a consolation to know, that what is almost inevitable in London, is by no means of rare occurrence at Boston. We that must work have our compensations.

A notice of the Remains of Nathaniel Appleton Haven, a member of the legal profession in the United States, who distinguished himself by his blameless and benevolent life, is introduced by the following general remarks, in which we most thoroughly agree; and we cannot read them without thinking of one man, at least, who has turned aside from the highest ambition to work with the humblest of us, in the great cause of human improvement:

We venture to hope that the time will come, when usefulness, if it is not the measure of greatness, will at least be sure of the applause of men. The world has been singularly inattentive to its rights and welfare; it has invariably misapplied that applause, which must be the inspiration and guide of common ambition. When it is once known that usefulness will secure its favour, it will be like the discovery of a new compass, for guiding a thousand adventurers to an innocent and enviable fame. Men of higher principle, too, will be animated by the conviction that the world is on their side. We think, that whether we consider the difficulties encountered and sacrifices made, or the spirit and energy required to meet them, nothing is more noble and reviving than examples of men, who, with prospects of wealth that lead