Par noun . Page Page 183 i Petra, the Discovery, of, by Burcinar 140 9 Pintea, t. ing lost Capital of 407 50 Pira! , !e. 367 148 286 264 109 Rencontre with a Boa Constrictor 95 334 Robert Burns and Lord Byron 172 41 205 Sabbath Thoughts 47 Scenes, &c. in Paris 363 Manuscript Journal in the 30 Boulevard St Denis, the 364 39 Faubourg St Denis, the 361 276 319 364 Church of St Bartholemy 315 Seine and its Bridges, the 365 Blind Woman, the 365 Bastile, the 365 British Society, Subdivisions 333 366 350 366 166 Plains of Vertus and St Denis 366 334 366 310+ 366 Bastile, Historical Anecdotes 286 382 234 397 398 Agent de Change, the Parisian Student, the 398 39 Clothing 133 French Bench and Bar, the 398 Flaneur, the, or Lounger 399 399 Epicier, the 63 266 415 Sheik and his Ass, the 250 St Jago, Description of Sudden Alterations of Atmo- 93 spheric Caloric and Mois- 222 ture 40 91 125 Thoughts on Spring 182 31 300 | English Dinner Parties 333 Unparalleled Chase Errors of the Press 86 Value of Affection, the Wellington's (Duke of) Opi- 41 334 nion of Military Matters 116 Worth of the Bible, the 174 Gipsies on the Lower Danube 108 40 INSTRUCTIVE AND ENTERTAINING FRAGMENTS. 160 320 09 187 | Anecdote of Frederick the Great 96 160 272 157 Bad Temper 191 Baths for the People 126 112 Men who are Diligent in Trifles 79 | Beauty 2510 16 336 77 Burns -127 159 Byron 127 219 Calumet, the, or Pipe of Peace. 223 176 221 224 304 Concluded 114 333 Coffee among the Arabs 143 160 ners . 416 . . . . ous, a . Page Page 96 Rustic Politeness 208 400 272 48 88 Sheridan and the Gamekeeper 96 144 336 304 240 160 Sir Walter Scott and the Irish 111 64 Small Motives 202 400 Sorrow for the Dead 32 176 207 | Taste for the Beautiful, a 272 80 Taste for the Beauties of Nature 336 32 | Tastes of Poets 368 176 Temerity and Timerity 96 256 Tendency of Atheism 320 140 320 368 Twenty Dissuasives from Des- 80 18 Types of the Resurrection 256 192 80 272 336 336 Vesuvius and Niagara 64 16 | Virtue Without Fear 272 64 | Watches 416 272 160 Way to be Happy in Old Age 32 304 Whitefield 160 256 Wisdom of Faith 416 64 384 384 | Woman's Love 127 160 112 208 143 250 . 48 No. 1. EDINBURGH, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1845. PRICE 13d. allusion to the Christian religion. We could name many THOUGHTS AT STARTING. able treatises on physical science, for example, many It has been smartly said by one of the ablest of our exquisite poems, many charming romances, which we moralists, that men seldom talk about themselves with reckon among the choicest of our intellectual treasures ; success; for, when they blame themselves, far more is and yet no reader could infer from these that any revelabelieved than is expressed, and when they praise them- tion from heaven had ever been imparted to man. There selves, much less. There are comparatively few who do are numberless works, worth far more than their weight not need to ponder this remark frequently, and who in gold, on whose pages you will look in vain for any would not make themselves greatly more agreeable to recognition of that system of truth to which we are inthose around them by acting on the advice it suggests. debted for our richest comforts and dearest hopes. We shall try to profit by the moralist's shrewd hint, and There is a place as well as a time for every thing. And make as sparing a use as possible of the first personal we would not have a word to say to any literary or scienpronoun in conducting the periodical which we now send tific journalist–far less would we cherish a hard thought into the world, with warm hopes that it shall soon occupy respecting him—although, in discussing a great many toa high place in public esteem, and which we beg, very pics, there should not be even the most distant allusion humbly, and very affectionately, to dedicate to all good to Christianity—its great motives, its pure precepts, its people everywhere. We shall endeavour not to forget sublime discoveries. There are some departments, howthe advice to talk little about ourselves; and so cordially ever, from which it cannot, without infinite hazard, be do we approve of it, that, even on this, our introductory shut out. There are certain provinces from which it page, we shall refrain from violating it. It is right, will not do to banish sacred truth. There are themes, however, that we speak definitely as to the motives which in unfolding which, if you be studiously silent about have induced us to come into the field—the richly clad the light from on high, you virtually scorn it. The field, we are happy to think, of cheap weekly literature; reader will get at our meaning best, should we advert and as to our plans, principles, and prospects. for a moment to the tactics of the class of writers we have We do not hesitate, then, to say, that Hogg's WEEKLY now in view, and who, we are willing to believe, are not INSTRUCTOR originated in a motive purer and better than fully aware of the amount of mischief they are doing. a thirst for distinction, or a desire to make money. None They do not assail Christianity; they say nothing against of these things ought to be despised; no right-thinking its Author, and that remedial scheme he came to our person will despise them; still, nameless contributions in world to execute. But search page after page of their a cheap weekly miscellany are not likely to gain for any writings, even when religion, as they employ that term, one that name which makes an epitaph ; and as for the happens to be their theme, and you will fail to discover more marketable commodity, we quite assent to the well-proof of its peculiar truths having been uttered in their known adage of Sir Walter Scott, that literature, though hearing. They descant on this and that scheme for reit may be a good staff, is a bad crutch. The INSTRUCTOR, generating our world, dispelling its ignorance, curing its though not strictly religious in its character, had its vices, diminishing its wretchedness, but not a whisper origin, we are not ashamed to confess, in religious feel all the while about that gospel which has done and is ings and motives. It can scarcely have escaped the no- still doing so much to elevate and bless mankind. They tice of any discerning person, that a very large propor- delineate characters of exquisite virtue; they describe tion of the periodical literature of the day is character- them in circumstances the most affecting and tryingin ized, if not by a decided enmity to the Christian faith, sorrow, in sickness, and even in the prospect of quitting at least by a cold and obstinate silence respecting it,-a the present scene—as acting with purity, dignity, and silence which, when maintained in contributions upon a grace—and all this without the slightest advertence to certain class of subjects, we cannot but regard as indicat- that faith which Christianity enjoins, and those hopes it ing a suspicion of the divinity of its claims—may we inspires. They do not rudely inveigh against the truths not say, a sullen contempt for them? We are anxious of Scripture; they quietly leave you to infer that they not to be misunderstood. We would fain give no uncer- are altogether unnecessary—that society and individuals tain sound. We wish to speak guardedly but firmly. may safely dispense with them. This is the scepticism It would say little for our candour, not to mention our -negative, it will be perceived, rather than positive taste, did we read without relish a discourse on a purely in its character—which, we apprehend, is doing sad literary or scientific subject, or call its writer an unbe- damage among us. It has not a few of the charms liever, merely because it should happen to contain no of literature, philosophy, and poetry, about it; and we dread it, we own, far more than the subtle sophistries ning's fiery wing.' There is Physiology, unfolding to us of Hume, or the bold thrusts of Voltaire. It is all very the structure of the inferior tribes, and the mechanism well to talk of the cross' as now redeemed from re- of our own frame, so 'fearfully and wonderfully made.' proach, as the ensign the nations love, as adorning the There is Metaphysics, with its keen and searching glance neck of beauty, emblazoned on the banners of battle, into the laws that regulate our thoughts and affections. and stuck on the sceptres and crowns of royalty ; with There are these and kindred themes, whose tendency is these outward tokens of respect and veneration there is to refine the taste, exalt the imagination, and, by prestill such a thing as being ashamed of it. And we deem senting us with proofs of the wisdom and love of the it no violation of charity to say, that those writers are Creator, deepen the piety of the spirit. To whatever exguilty in this respect, who, in discussing topics such as tent these shall be discussed in our pages, we trust we we have alluded to, treat Christianity as if it had yet to shall not forget that humility which so well becomes begin its career of triumphs in our world. The parties man when investigating the works of his Maker, which who are to take charge of the INSTRUCTOR wish it then to Newton so beautifully displayed when he compared himbe distinctly understood, that they have no sympathy with self to a boy picking up shells by the great ocean Truin;those who thus keep the Christian revelation studiously in or when—more touching still perhaps-speaking of a giftthe back ground, or rather coldly beckon it to the door. ed cotemporary, who had gone to an early grave, he reThey feel that its claims to the respect and gratitude of marked : “If that young man had lived we should have mankind are too strong, that its influence is too great, and kpown something.' its sacred character too well attested, to admit of its being Literature has charms more inviting to many minds treated as a nonentity. They believe it propounds obliga- than science. It is wrong to exalt the former at the extions to virtuous conduct, higher and more lasting than pense of the latter. We concur in the observation of a mere temporal convenience or worldly respectability; and great poet, lately gone to his rest, that none but maniacs to these they shall never be ashamed to appeal. In a word, would propose to tear down any of the branches of the without encroaching upon the ground already occupied by tree of knowledge, though they may not bear fruit to strictly religious publications, and making theirs a vehicle their taste or garlands to their honour. 'Scaliger,' he for theological discussion--a thing nerer contemplated— adds, ‘has incurred only the contempt of posterity by his they intend that there shall be such a recognition of absurd diatribe against the usefulness of mathematics; Christianity—its precepts, its hopes, its motives, and dis- and neither Swift nor Johnson have much raised themcoveries—as will show that they regard it as the only safe selves in the estimation of wise men by having underand perfect rule of belief and action. This deference to valued the natural sciences. For it is clear that those men the 'true Light,' they venture to predict, will not make were misled by overweening vanity in their own pursuits, their pages, in any respect whatever, less attractive. and by shallowness in those pursuits which they decried, Having spoken thus freely, and we hope intelligibly, thus bringing into monstrous conjunction the pride of respecting the principles upon which this new candidate | learning with the envy of ignorance.' We sincerely refor public favour is to be conducted, we may, in a few spect both tastes—that for physical science and that for sentences, indicate the general character of its contents. literature also : we would earnestly persuade our readIt were easy to draw up a showy bill of fare, and to pro- ers to cultivate both; we shall do what we can to gratify mise a great variety of sumptuous dishes, even though both. In attempting this, attention will be paid to anthe means of producing them should not be at hand; cient as well as modern literature; to the productions of but we will not mock our friends in this way. We shall the most eminent authors in other lands as well as to take care not to promise more than we think we shall those of our own countrymen. Their peculiarities of be able to perform, but shall endeavour rather to let our thought and style; the influence their writings have exdeeds surpass our words. erted, especially in retarding or accelerating the improveAs may be inferred from the nature of the work, we do ment of mankind; their tendency, whether vicious or not intend to treat our readers to lengthened and elabo- virtuous; these and similar topics will pass in review rate dissertations on scientific subjects. We would fain before us, and prove, we hope, both agreeable and inhave our papers of such length, and of such a character, structive to our readers. It may be proper to add, that that while the busy shall find sufficient tine to read we contemplate a series of sketches, of some extent, rethem, the idle may muster patience. Extended treatises sembling that of Thomas Babington Macaulay in the upon any topic, but especially one demanding severe thought present number. That series shall embrace exclusively and patient inquiry, would, it is obvious, frustrate this those whose writings have influenced to a considerable design completely. Still, a short chapter will be devoted degree the sentiments and tastes either of their cotemnow and then to some particular branch of science—some poraries or of posterity. We are not unaware of the of its interesting facts or latest discoveries, which our difficulty of this undertaking; of the fact that there is readers, we are sure, will find not only instructive but scarcely anything in the wide range of literature harder entertaining. Here, we need scarcely tell them, the field to execute, at least in a style that will please the inis both beautiful and boundless. There is Astronomy, telligent and tasteful. May we venture to hope that with its far off worlds. There is Geology, every day in this matter we have counted the cost, and that to bringing up fresh wonders from the depths of the mine our Portrait Gallery, as picture after picture is proor the caves of the deep. There is Chemistry, acquaint- duced, our kind friends will eagerly repair, in the confiing us with the various elements and properties of ma- dence of finding something fresh and graphic? We terial bodies. There is Botany, with its wild flowers and flatter ourselves there are among our enlisted contriits gardens of beauty and bloom. There is Electricity, butors some one or two who can handle the brush in this showing us how, with Franklin, we may.grasp the light-line with no ordinary power ; whose pictures have already |