cities, his pictures are necessarily more of things, than of men ; but we have a few spirited sketches of some distinguished political and literary characters, in high coloring, but not beyond truth; of strong natural red, but not rouged; in speaking of such men, no praise is flattery. He is, however, not always entirely just and discriminating; he sometimes confers laurels not gathered upon Parnassus, and condemns upon evidence not admissible in a fair court of criticism; we refer to his extravagant praise of a "little volume of poems," in a note, and his partial statement of the case of the predecessor of the present editor of the North American Review. Our traveller visits and describes the various objects of art and nature in and around Boston. He presents the reader with faithful accounts of many of its noble institutions for the advancement of learning, the relief of suffering, and the improvement of morals; he takes him to the top of the capitol, and spreads out to his view the peculiar and delightful position of the peninsula on which the metropolis is built; he carries him out upon the bosom of its beautiful bay, through its multitude of isles, to inhale the breeze of the ocean, and stop for a while at the sea-shore resorts of beauty and fashion, or be whirled along the magnificent beaches, roiled smoother by the wave than any road which art ever formed. He then varies the scene, by an inland excursion upon the encircling hills, where he finds fine roads, overshadowed with lofty trees, and bordered with natural hedges, neat populous villages, tasteful villas, gardens, and pleasure grounds, rich woods, silvery lakes, and winding streams, all combining to give to these environs an unequalled variety and beauty. The multiplicity of roads and lakes, is one of the striking features of the neighborhood of Boston. Through a whole summer one may find a different drive for every day, within a circuit of ten miles, each time surveying the ocean, the city, and the fields, from a different summit; and a single morning's drive, within the same compass, under skilful guidance, will take one past a dozen of as pretty little lakes as can be seen any where out of Switzerland, Upper Austria, Italy, and the West of England. But the whole interest is not exhausted, when all this beautiful scenery has been beheld: the patriot will not neglect Bunker-hill, nor the scholar Cambridge, nor the moralist Mount Auburn; nor were any of them neglected by our traveller-he saw and noted them all with great fidelity. Still, inquisitive and close-searching as he was, he appears to have missed seeing one class of objects, the sight of which would well repay the toils and perils of an Atlantic voyage. Strange, that when he was on his way to see that bijou of a private library, which proves that the union of refined taste is not incompatible with assiduous manual labor, and makes real the story of the golden fleece, he should not have espied by the road-side a certain odd tabernacle-like looking building, with a single window that lets in the light of heaven upon an artist, who

dips his pencil in heaven's own colors. Of this artist, our author says nothing. Could he have been in Boston a month without seeing his Rosalie, or Beatrice, or Roman lady, or Rebekah, or Jeremiah, or his exquisitely beautiful landscapes, unsurpassed by any painter, born since the Pilgrims landed on the rock of Plymouth? In our estimate, they are more worthy of the traveller's notice, than all other objects of art in the country; and a man of taste should sooner go to Egypt and not see the Pyramids, or to Rome and not see St. Peters, and we would almost say to Naples, and not see Pompeii, than to Boston, and not see ALLSTON's paintings.

We have not thought it worth while to point out an occasional error in our author, for there are none of much magnitude, unless there is error in the statement we are about to notice. During his visit, a highly distinguished Unitarian clergyman, who had been long absent in Europe, is to impart to his people the results of his observations on the moral and religious condition of foreign nations. In listening to him, Mr. Wines hears, or supposes he hears him declare, that, "between the Roman Catholic faith and the Protestant faith, as it appears beyond the pale of Unitarianism, he would not hesitate a moment to choose. His preference would be given to the former." Again, the same gentleman "declared in round terms, and I think without qualification, that he had no respect for the established church of England. He not only expressed his utter want of respect for the English church; he declared also that he had heard preaching on various occasions, both in England and Scotland, which almost made him sigh for the instruction of heathenism." The gentleman here referred to is the Rev. E. S. Gannett, for whom we have ever entertained a high respect, considering fairness of mind to be a distinguishing feature of his character; we must therefore hope that his language would have a very different import, in the connexion in which it was used, from that which it wears in the detached passages quoted by our author; and we trust it may be so explained, as to justify our supposition.

The length of our notice of this volume has not been measured by its literary merit; on that score it has not high claims; the author we think would have done more justice to his own good reputation as a writer, had he allowed his letters to remain as communications for the columns of a newspaper; they have not that depth of thought, nor importance, nor beauty of language, that would entitle them to take a more permanent form.

9. How shall I govern my School? Addressed to young Teachers, and also adapted to assist Parents in Family Government. By E. C. WINES, author of "Two Years and a Half in the Navy,' and "Hints on a System of Popular Education." Philadelphia: W. Marshall & Co. 1838. 12mo. pp. 309.

WERE the proper and full purpose of school government effected, when outward obedience is secured, the work would require little more than a mathematical computation of resistance and power: such, however, is not Mr. Wines estimate of the duty, nor such his plan of accomplishing it. He bears in mind that every exercise of authority should carry with it an inculcation of moral principle, on the part of the teacher; and every surrender of, will be a recognition, on the part of the pupil, of the force of moral truth. Herein is contained the substance of his answer to the difficult question, which forms the title of his book. It will readily be seen, that however excellent such a book may be, it can have little chance of becoming a popular manual, or of being extensively introduced into the manufactories of patent school masters. Still we hope it will be read by all to whom the training of children is intrusted, whether in the family or school; for although it furnishes no summary process for eradicating natural perverseness, and gives no recipe for a morning dose all round of sulphur and treacle to purify the moral blood, it is full of sound philosophy, and what is more, it is entirely free from nonsense. It points out the difficulties and trials of the profession of teaching, and fairly warns all who are not willing to encounter and surmount them, against engaging in it. There is nothing new in the system which it presents; it is simply the government of a well regulated family, more fully carried out. It requires good sense, principle, exemplary virtue, genuine piety, and kindly affections in teachers, and implicit obedience from pupils. Its whole reliance is on the moral power of the former, derived from his character, conduct, and habit of self-control, and his deportment toward those whom he is to govern. It will disappoint those who seek, in such a work, for rules of government reduced to formulas; and those who would hope to find in it codes of school laws, as it especially eschews such things: it will also disappoint and dissatisfy your commonwealth-men, who would constitute a juvenile republic, or Hazlewood paidocracy in every school, inasmuch as it insists upon an "invariable, unconditional, unhesitating submission" to the will of the master. It says nothing of emulation, and little of reward in any form, except to recommend the bestowment of praise, as an absolute, not a relative desert; nor is it much fuller on the subject of punishments-its doctrine is, that they are not to be spared, but used sparingly—the rod as a last resort. Were this portion of our journal appropriated to

discussions, we should have something to offer on this topic; as it is not, we must wait another occasion. The concluding chapter is devoted to a subject, justly considered by the author as one of great moment, that of the influence of the public opinion of the school. The force of public opinion in such communities is no less, than in kingdoms and states: if it cannot dethrone, it can paralyze power; it must be under the control of the head of the school, and on the side of "law, order and virtue," or authority becomes odious, vexatious annoyances nullify discipline, and incessant irritations banish the spirit of obedience. It is more just and generous, than the public favor of men; its price is not like that, the sacrifice of principle; it is rarely withheld when deserved, and there is no surer way of deserving it, than to govern upon Mr. Wines's system, and be, as he recommends, affectionate, reasonable, firm, uniform, and impartial. We must again commend this volume for its spirit, its ability, and the soundness of its views. We have rarely seen a work on any subject connected with education, which deserves more unqualified praise.

10. Principles of General Grammar, adapted to the capacity of Youth, and proper to serve as an Introduction to the study of Langua ges. By A. J. SYLVESTRE DE SACY, Member of the Royal Council of Public Instruction, etc., etc. Translated and fitted for American use, by D. FOSDICK, JR. Second American, from the fifth French Edition. Andover and New-York: Gould & Newman. 1837. 12mo. pp. 156.

WE intended, before now, to express our gratification at the appearance of a second edition of this work. The reputation of its author, the celebrated philologist, Baron De Sacy, whose recent death is so great a loss to the cause of good letters, would be enough to call attention to the work. It has been well "fitted for American use" by Mr. Fosdick, and we are persuaded of its usefulness, not so much, however, as an "introduction to the study of languages," in the strict sense of the terms, as after a little progress has been made, not only in the study of the mother tongue, but also in the grammatical study of one or two other languages. We think some development and culture of the reflecting faculties, and some little store of acquisition of particular facts in two or three languages, requisite to the most profitable study of this work. The youth may then fall back and ground himself the easier and better of the principles of this work; and he will then be able to possess himself truly of his past acquisitions, in particular grammar, and to proceed with more firm, intelligent, and successful steps, in his future study of the languages. For this use, there is, we think, no work to be compared with this.

11. Human Fhysiology; for the use of Elementary Schools. By CHARLES A. LEE, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica in the University of the City of New-York. Published by the American Common School Union. 1838. pp. 224.

PROFESSOR Lee has given, in this little volume, the substance of what is useful, and of all that is known respecting human physiology. Dr. Francis, on whose judgment we place great reliance, has given the author his opinion of the work in the following terms: "It recommends itself, as a clear and lucid exposition of elementary information on an important branch of natural science, for those for whom it is especially intended; remarkably free from all ambiguities of thought or language, and unnecessary digression. It is well adapted to the capacities of youthful learners." With this judg

ment, our own examination of the work leads us to coincide. We add, also—and it is an eminent merit of Dr. Lee's book, in our eyes that there is no materializing tendency in it; the general spirit and tone of the work are not only unexceptionable, but pure and religious.

12. Treatise on French Poetry; or Explanation of the Rulesof French Prosody with numerous examples, extracted from standard authors in that language; followed by selections from the best poets of modern times. By FRANÇOIS TURNER, Bachelier-ès-Lettres, et Licencié en droit de l'Universités de France, Instructor of the French Language in Yale University, etc., etc. New Haven: A. H. Maltby. 1838. 12mo. pp. 364.

We have not room for a detailed account of this work, and we have noticed it, rather to introduce it to the acquaintance, and to commend it to the attention, of those who are desirous of familiarizing themselves with the peculiarities of French versification. The work is intended as a text-book for students, and seems well adapted for that purpose. The subjects treated of, are: The construction of poetical lines, the nature and different kinds of rhyme, and the manner of arranging and combining the lines. We are sorry the author has said nothing of quantity, properly so called, for although it is not indispensable, it is yet important, even in an elementary treatise of this kind.