we entreat him for his own sake to weed his volume of these ignorant and calumnious remarks, and to adhere to his intention of not entering into theological discussion. He does not understand the subject, or he would see the impiety of raising objections against the performance of the most positive command of the Author of our Faith, the last he gave on earth, and that by means precisely similar to those whereby our forefathers in this land were rescued from the same darkness and degradation that now cover the millions of India. To profess and call ourselves followers of Christ and not to keep his commandments, Captain Seely must admit, is rank hypocrisy, if any thing deserves that name. As he would shrink, therefore, from such an imputation above all others, we earnestly recommend him to direct his attention, in the evening of his days, to the study of that volume from which he may learn more of the will of Christ and derive the only consolation which will serve him when heart and flesh fail. One word 'more,' as our Author says. Where is the distinction between the Brahman of Elora worshipping the representative 'form of God in stone, and the Catholic worshipping the saint ' on canvas? None,' adds our Author, that I can perceive.' We are happy on this point pretty nearly to agree with him. There is little-often no essential difference, except that the Brahman's god is a fouler, baser, bloodier idol. But, "God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Art. VI. 1. Harry and Lucy concluded: being the last Part of Early Lessons. By Maria Edgeworth. In four volumes, 12mo. London. 1825. 2. Rosamond: a Sequel to Early Lessons. By Maria Edgeworth. 2 vols. 18mo. 3. Frank; a Sequel to Frank in early Lessons. By Maria Edgeworth. 3 vols. 18mo. 4. A Legacy for Young Ladies, consisting of Miscellaneous Pieces, in Prose and Verse, by the late Mrs. Barbauld. 12mo. pp. 266. Price 7s. 6d. London. 1826. 5. English Stories, Third Series: illustrating the Progress of the Reformation, under the Tudor Princes. By Maria Hack. 12mo. Price 7s. 1825. 6. Grecian Stories. By Maria Hack. 18mo. Price 3s. 1824. 7. Chronology of the Kings of England, in easy Rhyme, for Young People. By the late Rev. Edmund Butcher, of Sidmouth. 24mo. Price 2s. London. 1825. F we have not many juvenile readers, we mav presume upon attracting the attention of parents, and all who are con cerned in the education of youth, by the list of works prefixed to this article. It has often excited serious compunction within us, to find ourselves so much like Lord Eldon in point of our delay in giving judgements in that interesting class of causes-books for young people. We own that we are deeply in arrears, and the attractive pile of duodecimos of this description now before us, it would require the long vacation to peruse and decide on. At the risk of being charged with partiality, we have selected these few for a hearing. We are rejoiced once more to meet with our valued friend, the Parent's Assistant. There was a lady named Maria Edgeworth, who published, a few years ago, a volume of (so called) Comic Dramas, and three dull volumes entitled Hara rington and Ormond. The public imagined at first, that they proceeded from the Author of Castle Rackrent and the Modern Griselda; but the perusal so far undeceived them, that those books were soon by general consent forgotten, and it seemed that Miss Edgeworth was no more. Her re-appear. ance, therefore, in the present volumes, will be hailed as a species of literary resurrection. Here she is quite herself again, and the three sets of domestic histories which are now given to the public, complete a series of works which, as illustrations of some important principles of practical education, are invaluable. * Harry and Lucy' was begun by Mr. Edgeworth upwards of fifty years ago, for the use of his own family, and was 'pub• lished at a time, remarks his Daughter, when no one of any • literary character, excepting Dr. Watts and Mrs. Barbauld, had ever condescended to write for children.' • That little book was, I believe, the very first attempt to give any correct elementary knowledge or taste for science in a narrative suited to the comprehension of children, and calculated to amuse and interest as well as to instruct.' It is due to the memory of Mr. Edgeworth, and to the living claims of one who has been a still greater favourite with the public, to point out the lasting obligations which they have laid society under by contributing to set the fashion of writing for children. The difference in this respect between the present day and fifty years ago, is most striking. A long list might now be furnished of those who have done themselves the highest credit by similar publications, among whom the Taylor family, Mrs. Sherwood, Mrs. Marcet, and Mrs. Hack claim the most honourable mention. Were we reviewing a work of Miss Edgeworth's for the first time, it would be our duty to advert to that systematic exclusion of all religious a reference by which they are notoriously characterized,-a peculiarity which would fatally vitiate their usefulness, were they to be considered as the only books that were to be put into the hands of a child. Of the system of practical education which they are designed to illustrate, theological instruction forms no part. Still, as the omission is to be supplied by other works, the practical usefulness of these, as far as they go, is not seriously affected by the radical error in the Author's theory,—any more than the value of an introduction to arithmetic, music, or geography is taken away by its not including religious information. A child religiously educated would take it for granted, that Harry and Lucy, Frank and Rosamond, observed the duty of prayer, read the Bible, kept holy the Lord's day, and talked sometimes about heaven,-although the book does not tell us so. It would never occur to them, that such good children could be so good, and yet be brought up in impiety. And such a conclusion on the part of a child would be both reasonable and just. Miss Edgeworth's works abound with admirable lessons; but, to use her own illustration, borrowed from Dr. Johnson, Sir, any body can bring a • horse to the water, but who can make him drink ? In the knowledge, the practical wisdom, the useful remark, and amiable example which these works exhibit to the minds of young persons, we have prepared the means of most valuable instruction ;-but to form Harrys and Franks, Rosamonds and Lucys,-to obtain such results in fact, we must call in the aid of principles, sentiments, and motives, apart from which all theories of education are worse than Utopian, are empirical and delusive. But we are not now discussing Miss Edgeworth's theory of education. Her books are admirable, and, though not religious, may be considered as an invaluable standing supplement to the catalogue of religious publications. Let them be considered as relating chiefly to physical education, rather than to sentimental education, and they will not appear to lie open to serious objection. For our owo parts, we as parents cannot do without Miss Edgeworth; and as she appeals, in her preface, from parents to children, we must frankly state, that the judgement of all reviewers under fourteen is decidedly in her favour. We are not sure whether, of the works now before us, we do not prefer the smaller ones. The character of Frank is admirably developed. But, as these volumes have been published for some time, and are perhaps in the hands of many of our young friends, we shall take our extracts from the later work; premising that 'Frank' is designed for the perusal of boys from eight to twelve; Rosamond for girls between ten and fourteen; and Harry and Lucy for young people from the age of ten to fourteen. Harry, it must be observed, is quite of a mechanical turn, not remarkably quick or brilliant, but patient, persevering, and ingenious. His second attempt at bridge-building may afford a fair specimen. "Mamma desires you, Harry, to come in." "Does she indeed?" said Harry, much disappointed; but recollecting what had happened the last time he had neglected to obey a summons of this sort, he immediately turned his back on his bridge, and followed Lucy. She was desired not to tell him who the visitors were, and he did not care, he said, he did not want to know their names; they must be strangers, and of strangers, one name was to him the same as another. He could have wished to know how many people there were, but Lucy seemed to consider it her duty not to answer this question, and Harry forbore to repeat it. Though he had conquered his original habits of bashfulness, sufficiently to be able to face strangers without much visible repugnance, yet still he felt an inward reluctance. Nevertheless, courageously he turned the lock of the door, and entered the sitting-room. To his relief, for it must be confessed that, notwithstanding his intrepid entrance, it was a relief to him, he found that there was not what he dreaded, a formal circle. There were only two people; an elderly gentleman whose countenauce was benevolent and sensible, and a lady, seemingly some years younger, of an engaging appearance. Harry liked his first look at both, and Lucy liked their first look at him. He studied them, as he stood beside his mother's chair. He perceived that she and his father liked them that they certainly were not new acquaintances, more like old friends. Aiding his remarks on physiognomy by listening to the conversation, he presently discovered, that Rupert's cottage and all that it contained, of furniture, at least, belonged to them; that they were the persons who had promised the use of their library; and that the performance of this promise had been delayed by their absence from home, and by a housekeeper's mistake about a key. At last, the lady's name came out, Lady Digby and the gentleman's, Sir Rupert Digby. Now," thought Lucy," I know why this is called Rupert's Cottage." Something was said about the pleasure of a former meeting last summer, and Lucy then whispered to Harry, "These are the nice shipwreck people, I do believe." "Nice shipwrecked people! Where were they shipwrecked?" said Harry," on this coast " "No, no, not that I know of; I only mean, they were the morning visitors the day of the puddle and pump, who told the story of the shipwreck," said Lucy. Harry understood by this time what she meant, and much did they both wish that something would turn the conversation to shipwrecks; but though they got to the sea, it was only for sea-bathing, VOL. XXV. N.S. G never further than to a bathing-house. Then Sir Rupert and their father began to talk of public affairs; no chance of shipwrecks! Unexpectedly Sir Rupert turned to Harry, and in his mild manner, said, "I am sure you must wish us away." ry, "No, Sir, I do not," said Harry. "I did when I first heard the sound of your carriage," said Har“but not since I have seen you." And I know why you wished us away, when you heard the sound of our wheels," said Sir Rupert. "I heard something of a little bridge, which your mother was going out to see, just as we came in. Why should not we all go to look at it? Pray take us with you: 1 am interested about it for our own sake, you know. If it should stand through the winter, as I hope it will, next summer, when we come to this cottage for sea-bathing, Lady Digby and I may profit by the mother's bridge; you see I know its name already." Lady Digby rose immediately to second Sir Rupert's proposal. While Lucy went for her mother's bonnet and shawl, Harry ran on before, to set up a red flag, which she had made for him, in its destined place, on the right hand side of the bridge. Knowing what her Brother was going to do, and anxious that he should have time to accomplish his purpose, she rejoiced at every little delay that occurred on their walk. She was glad when her mother stood still to look at the flapping flight of a startled sea-bird; glad when Lady Digby stopped to admire the growth of her favourite myrtle; glad when Sir Rupert slackened his pace to tell the history of a weeping birch tree, which he had planted when he was a boy. But by the time this was ended, she began to think Harry must be ready for them, and grew impatient to get on to that turn in the walk, where she expected the first sight of the flag of triumph; but no red banner streaming to the wind appeared. She saw several men standing near the bridge, and she ran on to see what they were doing, and what delayed the hoisting of the flag. When she came nearer to the spot, she saw that the people had gathered round the ass-cart. The ass had taken an obstinate fit, to which report said that he was subject, and no power could now get him over the bridge, though he had crossed it once with his empty cart. His leader, a good-natured boy, who was very fond of him, prayed that he might not be beaten, and undertook to get him on by fair means in time; but the ploughman had become angry, it being now near his dinner-time, and had begun to belabour the animal with his oaken stick. Harry stopped his fury, and declared that he would rather the cart never went over his bridge, than that the ass should be so ill used. The ass stood trembling all over, the boy patting him, and cheering him, and engaging for him; and the ploughman, resting upon his stick, sulkily muttering that while the world stood, he would never get the obstinate beast over again without a good cudgel. It was just at this time that Lucy came up, and Harry put into her hands the flag of triumph, telling her that they had been obliged to take it down, because they thought it frightened the ass. All manner of coaxing words and ways were tried on donkey by his little owner and |