the word soft for apt, and thus, as he says, dispensing with "the superfluous and tautologous line interpolated here?”

In reply to such twaddle we can only say—

"Oh! hateful Error, Melancholy's child! Why do'st thou shew to the apt thoughts of men The things that are not ?"

We had expected better things from Mr. Singer; but unhappily,

"Folly in fools bears not so strong a note,

As Foolery in the wise, when Wit doth dote." Mr. Dyce scarcely deserves to be included in the same category. He enters into the contest in a better spirit, and with higher qualifications for the task. At the same time his reasoning is more logical, and his deductions consequently sounder. Still he asserts much, to which we cannot yield assent; and the reading public will, we think, but in few instances be convinced by the arguments he adduces.

Laura Temple. A Tale for the Young: 12mo. London: Routledge & Co. 1853. A TALE for the old also-a lesson how they should treat the young; though age, case-hardened by prejudice and habit, is too often equally monitoribus asper. "Laura Temple" is a good book for the young lady-the lady less by birth than by wealth and courtesy, reared in pride and luxury, whose study is to render herself attractive, and who is growing up plausible but selfish; for she will find how frail is the foundation of commercial wealth, when panics and failing speculations, of which she understands nothing, ruin the parent upon whom she is dependent, while there are but two resources for her-governess-ship or companionship, both hateful to the selfish. A tone of earnest piety pervades the book. Piety without a taint of bigotry is no unimportant matter in our day.

Travels of Rolando; or, a Tour round the World. Second Series. By ANNE BOWMAN, Author of "Laura Temple." Small 8vo. London: G. Routledge & Co. 1853. READERS now, who were readers in their youth some thirty summers ago, may remember their relish for the then Travels of Rolando, with all their marvels and adventures. The book was originally a translation from Jauffret, by Miss Austin; and this new work is described as a Second Series, retaining the former names and personages. The lands now described are Mesopotamia, Persia, Siberia, Kamschatka, China, and Thibet. There is a freshness about this book, and a variety, surpassing that of Miss Austin's publication. Two short extracts will shew the style of the present Travels of Rolando.

ANCIENT NAPHTHA SPRINGS.

"This part of Babylonia," observed Doloni," was ever famous for its naphtha springs. Tibullus, in his Elegies, alludes to the inflammable waters of Erec, one of the cities founded by Nimrod on the Tigris. It is probable that Medea caused the girdle of the woman of whom she was jealous to be anointed with this naphtha; for we are told, that when she approached the sacred fire, this anointed girdle ignited, and she was consumed. And when Alexander reached this place, pursuing the Persian monarch, he greatly admired the mode in which the people illuminated the city to do honour to him: this was by laying trains of this combustible, and setting it on fire."

THE RUSSIANS IN PEKIN.-TEA BRICKS.

Tea Brick, as it is called, is the money unit, or standard of value, in which the price of every article is expressed. These bricks really exist: they are cakes composed of a mixture of inferior or spoiled leaves or genus, which is first steeped in lambs' blood. This stalks of tea, with the leaves of a plant of the saxifrage mass is kneaded, formed into brick-shaped cakes, and dried in an oven. The consumption of this article among the nomade tribes is enormous: they dissolve the cakes in boiling water, mixed with meal, fat, and salt.

Aubrey Conyers: or, The Lordship of Allerdale. By Miss E. M. STEWART. London: Ingram, Cooke, and Co. 1853.

THIS novel belongs to the "blue light and trapdoor" school of romance, but is by no means a bad specimen of its class. If the authoress wrote it simply to amuse, her object will doubtless be gained; for people are addicted to the marvellous and the tragic, and in this work we have both accessories, contributed with no niggard hand. If proof of this were wanting, the title of the wood engravings would indicate

the nature of the materials out of which Miss

Stewart has erected her edifice; in the same way that a glance at the particular adjustment of twigs, or mud, or straw, or feathers, tells us to what species of bird the nest belongs, without its being at all necessary to inspect visionally the occupant. Thus, à la Harrison Ainsworth, we have such descriptions of the engravings as, “AUDLEY AT THE LONE INN DOOR," "THE DEATH STRUGGLE ON THE ROCKY-LEDGE," "AUBREY'S DISCOVERY OF THE DEAD BODY," "BENEDICT AND THE MANIAC IN THE MINE," and others equally demonstrating, that haunted towers, sliding pannels, and mysterious visitations, form the staple commodities of the tale.

For the sort of work, the plot is a good one, and the style of composition by no means devoid of merit; but, if estimated by a higher standard than a mere story-book to read on a summer's day, it must be condemned, since not the faintest echo responds to the natural inquiry-cui bono? unless, indeed, the fair nymph in Irish accents answers the inquiry by exclaiming-cui malo? But there is evil in these sort of productions, and the greater the amount of talent squandered

upon them, the greater is the cause for regret, since it is impossible to distil one particle of instruction or satisfactory result from a whole hecatomb of works appealing, as these do, to the lower faculties of the mind. It is said they may be made the media of instruction, and that moral lessons are conveyed through trap-doors, and great truths illumined by roman candles; and certainly it is quite possible that a modicum of good may lie, like a grain of gold, in a hundred weight of ore; but what a system of crushing is involved in its extraction! Love, murder, suicide, abduction, and duels, form the farming-stock of romance writers; and if to these ingredients the reader will add, in the present case, the legal embroglio arising from a disputed peerage case, there will be no necessity to present him with a detailed account of the plot or personages. In the same way that we are growing, or have grown, utterly nauseated with melodrama on the stage, so we are becoming, thanks to the improved condition of literary taste, equally wearied with that particular class of romance to which "Aubrey Conyers' belongs.

The book is wonderfully low-priced, full of excellent wood-cuts, and, as we before said, is eminently calculated to wing an idle hour, without conferring the slightest benefit upon the literature of fiction.

Hints on Early Education, addressed to Mothers. By a Mother. Masters. WITHIN a very small compass, there is here put forth much matter for reflection on the most important of subjects, the training of the infant and youthful mind. Every point and every consideration, that can be brought to bear upon it are treated in a gentle yet earnest spirit, evidently the result, not of the indulgence of mere theory, but of faithful and intelligent practice. Mothers, to whom this little work is specially addressed, cannot do better than study it, and profit by it.

Mazzini, judged by himself and by his countrymen. By JULES DE BRÉVAL. Vizetelly & Co., 134 Fleet Street. 1853. THIS is one of the series of contemporary French works which the enterprising publishers are now bringing out. The author commences by investigating the claims of M. Mazzini to be ranked as a political, religious, and social reformer: he then draws a line to cast up the total, which he declares to amount to-"£0. 0. 0., and nothing more." He then proceeds to consider M. Mazzini as a man of combination and action, and states that he has had at least twenty enterprises ruined under him. M. de Bréval then proves, entirely to his own satisfaction, that Mazzini is a coward.

"At the end," he continues, "of various revolutionary movements, many unfortunate persons, led away and pushed forward by M. Mazzini, have suffered the punishment of death; others have been thrown into prison; but amidst all these consequences, the great visionary has always taken care to save his own precious person, having constantly directed the armed expeditions in Italy from Boileau towards the soldiers of Louis XIV-that is, conLondon, Paris, Geneva, or Lausanne; acting the part of tenting himself with encouraging them by voice and gesture at a distance. Bianchi-Giovini, his countryman, thus tersely sums up the man's whole character: In those places, where the only question is to use set phrases, and to provoke disorders, you will always meet Mazzini; but on the spot of danger, never!"

The book is well translated, neatly got up, and only costs half-a-crown. It is evidently the work of some hireling of Austria.

The Temple of Education; being results of the strivings of a Teacher after the true idea and practice of Education. By T. E. POYNTING. THIS is a curious book, displaying much thought Robert Theobald, 26 Paternoster Row. 1853. and research, at the same time containing much that we cannot help regarding as visionary. Its nature is best indicated by its title, from which it will be seen, that it is principally addressed to those whose important mission it is to provide instruction for the young.

The Learned Societies and Printing Clubs of the United Kingdom. By the Rev. A. HUME, LL.D., F.S.A.; with a Supplement by A. J. EVANS. Willis, Great Piazza, Covent Garden. 1853.

A WORK that has been long and urgently needed. Great care and attention have been bestowed on its compilation. We propose, in our next Number, to enter more fully into the interesting details which it brings compendiously under our consideration, and which we might look for in vain elsewhere.

Vestiges of the Natural History of CreationTenth Edition, with extensive additions and emendations, and illustrated by numerous Engravings on Wood. London: John Churchill, Prince's Street, Soho. 1853. WE regret that this work did not reach us until the greater part of the present Number had passed through the press; for, although it is not our practice to notice renewed editions, the importance of the "Vestiges," together with the extraordinary interest they have evoked, would have induced us to have departed from our ordinary rule in this respect. As it is, our notice must necessarily be limited.

It was in 1844 that the author first advanced his theory of "Progressive Development," as a hypothetic history of organic creation. The doctrine gave rise, as is well known, to much discussion, and no inconsiderable amount of

animadversion. He complains, however, that not one of his opponents has taken up a correct view of the aim of the work, has shewn a power of reasoning logically upon it, or has appeared capable of taking a candid view of the data upon which it rests. In the present issue, we find that the treatise has been subjected to considerable emendation, alteration, and revision. Many corroborative facts, in support of the author's views, have been introduced; and, although we are still far, very far, from expressing our concurrence with those views, we think that the arguments adduced are ingenuously stated, and that, if not altogether philosophical, they at least carry with them an air of considerable plausibility.

An important feature is the appendix of proofs now annexed, containing illustrations, authorities, and answers to many of the objections, that have been constantly urged from many quarters.

Among the instances of ascertained develop ment, in the animal and vegetable kingdom, we may instance a few, certainly not generally known, which are extremely curious, and afford ground for serious reflection.

"Perhaps," says the author," with the bulk of men, even those devoted to science, the great difficulty is, after all, in conceiving the particulars of such a process, as would be required to advance a fish into a reptile. And yet no difficulty could well be less substantial, seeing that the metamorphosis of the tadpole into the frog is, in part at least, as thorough a transmutation, as the supposable change of sauroid fishes into Saurian reptiles could ever be." He then proceeds to instance a very remarkable occurrence, connected with the batrachian order of reptiles, namely, that when the young are enclosed in a dark box sunk into the river, with holes through which the water may flow, the animals increase in size, becoming gigantic tadpoles, but are never developed into frogs; adding, that no one will deny that that which we see nature undo, she is able to do, and might be seen doing, were the proper occasion to occur, and the requisite precedent conditions realized. Granted. But what we take to be the defect in this kind of reasoning, is the assumption, that what nature is seen to do in some instances, she does in all. As well might we assert that, because we observe any of the winged moths successively emerging from an egg, and passing through the stages of catterpilar and grub, THEREFORE the condor, after emerging from his egg, becomes a boa constrictor, spins himself a Titanic cocoon, and dreams away a portion of his life as a torpid grub. A thousand instances of similarity will not prove identity.

Again :

were always regarded as distinct species, are now found to be produceable from one set of seeds, under various conditions they are radically one plant. So also the clove, pink, and carnation are only varieties of a flower growing among the ruins of some of our old castles, the Dianthus caryophyllus. The artichoke of the garden and the carheld as distinct species in all botanical works; yet the doon (a kind of thistle) of the South-American wild, are artichoke, in neglect, degenerates into the cardoon. The ranunculus aquatilis and the ranunculus hederaceus are, in like manner, set down as distinct species; but behold the secret of their difference! While the former plant remains in the water, its leaves are all finely cut, and have their divisions hairy; but, when the stems reach the surface, the leaves developed in the atmosphere are widened, rounded, and simply lobed. Should the seeds of this water-plant fall upon a soil merely moist, without being sumed distinct species-with short stalks, and none of the leaves divided into hairy cut work! To come to a more familiar instance. The various bread-forming grains, wheat, barley, oats, rye, are found to be resolvable into one. If wheat be sown in June, and mown down, so as not to be allowed to come to ear till the next season, the product will be found to consist partly of rye, or some other of the cereals. Oats have, in like manner, been transformed

inundated, the result is the ranunculus hederaceus-the

pre

into rye, barley, and even wheat. Till a recent period, this phenomenon was doubted; but it has been tested by experiment, and reported on by so many credible persons, that it can no longer be rejected.

We may add that the great care, bestowed upon this edition, is manifest in its marked superiority over its predecessors. It is now unquestionably one of the most interesting publications, that have seen the light for many years, and it is decidedly one that all should read and study with care.

Nothing can be more utterly absurd, than the ridiculous objection, at one time made to the book, on the ground of its irreligious tendency. Such a charge against its author, as is thereby implied, is as unjust as it is ridiculous.

Notes and Narratives of a Six Years' Mission among the Dens of London. By R. W. VANDERKISTE (Late London City Missionary). Nisbet and Co., Berners Street. 1853. THE author has, it seems, for many years devoted himself to the noble task of elevating the moral condition of his fellow-men, and we are glad to find, that, in numerous instances, marked success has attended his efforts. The field, alas! was ample enough; the courage, the mental and physical powers, requisite for the arduous undertaking, were such as we rarely see combined in one individual; but Mr. Vanderkiste seems to have possessed an ample share of all. As he says, "The work of the Mission is a blessed work. Its success has been very great. It has much to do-perhaps more than is thought by many."

That our readers, "who sit at home at ease," may form some notion of the perils, encountered by those who devote their lives to this truly Christian work, we transcribe the following graphic account of one horrible abode

A HELL ON EARTH.

This den of imfamy was situated in WHC, T Street. It consisted of one small room on the ground floor, and parties might well be excused for remaining dubious, as to whether so small an area could have been so replete with pestiferous moral influence to the neighbourhood, as this place has unequivocally proved.

On commencing my labours upon the district, I found the place becoming worse and worse. Additional bad women and thieves were resorting to it, and it was much connected with other thieveries.

I was in the habit of visiting this place, morning, noon, and night, accompanied, when I could obtain his company, by an aged friend; bursting in upon them in the midst of their criminality; at other times visiting them whilst labouring under the depressing effects of their previous night's debauch. It may be inquired, perhaps, how it happened such a course was practicable. The fact is, I appeared to have a great influence, given me over the proprietor of this wretched place and others, in consequence, perhaps, of attentions I had paid to one of their companions, who died in a very dreadful manner. They appeared to retain so grateful a sense of these attentions, that they could not insult me. It constituted one of the strangest sights in the wide world, to see me enter this place at night, sometimes alone on one occasion my companion was ordered away: it was said to him, "You go, else perhaps you'll have a knife put into you; he (me) may stop"-disturbing all kinds of wickedness, and merely saying, "I've come to read to you;"-standing in the midst of ferocious and horrible characters, reading the Scriptures, and explaining portions concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, heaven and hell;-and a prostitute holding the candle to me. This young woman has since abandoned her evil course of life. Then would follow some discussion. One would say, "I don't believe there's no hell-it's in your heart, mister." Then some prostitute would burst out into indecent profanity, who would be sworn at, until she was quiet. Then I would go down on my knees in the midst of them, and pray, waiting to see if the Spirit of God would act (and the Spirit of God did act). On one occasion, whilst so engaged, with my hand over my face, I left a small space between my fingers for the purpose of making an observation, and perceived small articles (stolen, I suppose) being passed from one to another. They had no idea I was observing them.

Two of the bad women who resided here were at last

so much affected by religious instruction, as to be pre

vailed upon to enter penitentiaries.

The proprietor of the place, who was a common thief, and the prostitute with whom he lived, next became affected. M- related to me a conversation which took place between himself and G, a housebreaker, whilst detailing to me his mental feelings. G., who goes by the name of "Snob," has related to me particulars of several burglaries in which he has been engaged.

"

G. said, "Come, M., let's go out and look for something." M. paused, and said, "I don't know, Bill, I don't think I shall go. "Why not?" said G., "you can't starve." "I tell you what, Bill," said the other thief, "I find out God Almighty can pay debts without money." "Oh!" said the other, "you're becoming religious, then, are you? you're no good;" and he then went out by himself to attempt plunder.

From this time an alteration took place in M. He was also much impressed about this time by being taken into custody under the following circumstances. walking along," said he," and a policeman come up to me; he know'd nothing on me, nor I on him; says he, and he lays hold on me, says he, You must come with me.'

What for? says I; and in course I says, I'm a 'spectable

6

young man. That's no odds,' says he, you must come on suspicion.' So he took me to the Mansion House, and I was locked up till Monday morning. Well, then he

took me up afore the Lord Mayor. He said he took me up on suspicion. The Lord Mayor asked if anybody know'd I was a thief. Nobody know'd me there, so they let me go directly. In course," said he, "he'd no business to take me, as he know'd nothing agin me." "But were you abroad for a dishonest purpose," said I. "Yes," said he, "but he couldn't know that, as I was walking on quietly;" and he expressed his opinion that there was "a mark on him by God Almighty."

Few, perhaps, would imagine that thousands of such dens are said to exist in the heart of a Christian land. Of a truth, Missions are more needed among the denizens of such places than amongst the Ashantees, the Damaras, or the Carriboos.

The Return to my Native Village, and other Poems, chiefly on sacred subjects. By a LADY. Oxford and London: John Henry Parker. 1835.

A MODEST, unpretending little volume, of which we could, by no possibility, bring ourselves to speak harshly. Its aim is so pure, and the feeling that pervades its pages so laudable, that they more than atone for the absence of high poetic power.

Although the ideas in the subjoined extract, are not novel, they are prettily and touchingly expressed.

EPITAPH ON AN INFANT.

Art thou so soon, sweet infant, laid to sleep
In the cold lap of death, to wake no more?-
'Tis for ourselves, not thee, that we must weep;
For thee the world no sorrow has in store,
No care;-nor wilt thou ever feel again
The bitter lot of sickness or of pain.

And oh how blest! Ere sin thy soul could harm
Thou wast borne hence, where faith may thee behold
Encircled by thy gracious Saviour's arm,
One of the flock within His peaceful fold.
He leads them all, but in His bosom bears
The tender lambs; such blessedness is theirs.

The Philosophy of Atheism, examined and compared with Christianity. By the Rev. G. GODWIN, D.D. Hall, Virtue, and Co., 25, Paternoster Row. 1853.

A VERY admirable course of lectures; delivered at the Mechanics' Institute, Bradford, during the past winter. Of the impression, produced upon the auditory by these discourses, an estimate may be formed, when we state, that, immediately after their publication, 1500 copies were, in a few hours, bought up by working men!

We trust that a proportionable diffusion may take place in other populous neighbourhoods, and among those classes, who of late years have begun to evince a livelier sense of the paramount importance of spiritual subjects.

The arguments adduced by the author are powerful; the language is clear and intelligible to all; the tendency of the book is the highest to which any work can aspire.

Of the works recently issued from the French press, those which will be most interesting to the English reader are the two volumes of illustrated travels in India, by the Prince Alexis Soltykoff.*

A Russian in India is an idea somewhat startling;-and there can be small doubt that a Russian, of the prince's station and fortune, did not pass the greater portion of six years (1841 to 1847) in India, without some better reason than a mere desire to collect tiger skins, and dine within hearing of the jackall's howl. A glance at the map, accompanying the work, shews that the prince left no corner of the peninsula unexplored. He tracked the Indus and the Ganges twice to their sources; he was present twice at Delhi; he interlaced the Carnatic as a sportsman interlaces a field of turnips; he journeyed by land from Bombay to Calcutta, crossing the lands of the Nizam and skirting the coast of Coromandel. From the southernmost point of Ceylon up to the highest peaks of the Himalaya mountains, there is no city, town, or district which this Russian prince cannot furnish a very accurate report to his master.

upon

Nothing political or statistical, however, appears in this published account. It is simply the correspondence of a tourist. What little he does say, upon the condition of the Hindús under the Company's rule, is carefully set down as information received from the Company's servants. The interest of the work lies in the fact, that we have here a picture of India, as it appears to a travelling foreigner, who takes rather a sentimental view of Eastern matters, sighs for the fading glories of Eastern romance, and is not quite satisfied that the ancient rite of suttee should vanish from the land. From the Anglo-Indians, the prince appears to have received every hospitality, yet he cannot quite restrain a very considerable contempt for them. "I am writing to you," he says, "while my

"Voyage dans L'Inde," par le Prince A Soltykoff, illustré de magnifiques lithographies, a deux teintes, d'aprés les dessins originaux de l'auteur. 2 vols. roy. 8vo. Paris. 1853. A cheaper edition, in one volume 8vo., and without the llustrations, has been published by Lecou.

fellow-voyagers are below at their lunch, or second breakfast, consisting of biscuits, sherry, and brandy. These English, even in India, never change any thing of their own detestable regime. It is always the ham, the goose and stuffing, the red-herring, the Cayenne pepper, the plum-pudding, the Cheshire cheese, and the brandy. Besides this, they do nothing but physic themselves, each out of his own medicine chest, with calomel and Epsom salts. captain, a young man of five and twenty, after filling himself with hard ham and fat bacon, invariably swallows soda powders with his wine."

The

But the English are incapable of appreciating the beauty of India

Entirely occupied by their material interests, these English never enjoy the peculiar beauties of India. All that is to me so exquisite is to them trivial or common. In general they contemn every thing that differs from their own home customs. Vainly does nature spread herself before their eyes in graceful simplicity or in savage grandeur. In matter of scenery, they appreciate and tolerate nothing but their own parks. Their first care, in laying out a garden or a park, is to cut down the palm trees, to grub up every plant which has an Indian character, and to plant in their stead poplar trees, and lay down turf. The unbought grace of the indigenous people is unknown to these men. Yet in reality what can be more deplorable than the grotesque costumes that disfigure our women, when compared with the admirable draperies of those primitive robes of the Indian women-robes whose folds are made, not by milliners, but by nature. The English, by way of being polite to me, shewed me their docks, and their mint, and their steam-engines, and their schools, and they did not even spare me the fortress. Fancy the sort of pleasure I had in all this!

Further on, he bitterly complains of the misery he feels, at being not only deprived of music, but even of the society of beings who comprehend it. "Sous ce rapport," he says,

Itout un monde de sensations est fermé aux Anglais." The governor of Bombay had, indeed, military music at his dinners;-but, alas! what a mockery!

All this pretension to sentiment, and delicate appreciation of art, is, we suppose, the affectation of a northern barbarian; who has a lurking suspicion that he must make out his title to be considered a civilised man by the French, and