Art. X: A Practical German Grammar; for the Use of Schools and Private Students. By John Robotham. 12mo. pp. x. 347. Price 6s. 6d. London, 1824.

WE

E hail with great pleasure every appearance of an in creasing attention to the language and literature of Germany. The affinity of that language to our own, its richness and energy, its utility in philological investigations, and the immense stores of information in all departments of knowledge which it contains, are considerations weighty enough to determine a sedulous attention to it, and to excite some wonder that it is not universally studied by English scholars and men of taste. Many of the least valuable, and even pernicious productions of the German press, have been translated into English, and have undoubtedly given a serious disgust to many. But an inference to the disadvantage of German literature generally, would be unjust. Christian divines should make themselves acquainted with the writings of the Antisupernatural school of Germany, and with those of their respondents and opponents, some of whom are very able. An opinion of its being an extremely harsh and difficult language has long prevailed among us: but this prejudice could have originated only with persons who were totally ignorant of the matter. An Englishman who has learned enough of German to understand the systematic involucra, if we may so speak, of the language, sees plainly underneath them the primitives of his own. If he be acquainted with the provincial dialects and the obsolete phrases of his native tongue, especially those still subsisting in our northern counties, he will recognize a striking conformity. The difficulty which arises from the collocation of the words in sentences, especially the long and concatenated periods in which German prose-writers delight to indulge, is indeed a serious matter to a mere English student: but to a classical scholar, who is accustomed to the very same character of construction in Cicero or Plato, it becomes rather a means of pleasure than of embarrassment.

Probably one cause of the neglect of the German language has lain in the want of a Grammar completely suited to its purpose. That of the late Dr. Nöhden is very excellent, and well deserving of the pre-eminence which has been generally given to it. But, in some parts, it is needlessly diffuse; and in others, where enlargement would be a signal benefit to the learner, it is brief even to sullenness. We may particularly instance, as examples of such deficiency, the parts on the impersonal verbs, the adverbs and adverbial phrases, and the conformities and differences of idiom in the English and Ger

man languages, which might have been represented in a tabular form. Indeed, it is not probable, nor scarcely possible, that a foreigner should be so well aware as an Englishman may be, of the points on which English minds stand in most need of information, provided that he have a philosophical head and the tact of practical application.

We have perused this Grammar by Mr. Robotham, with much satisfaction. It goes upon two excellent principles; to express the rules as briefly as is consistent with perspicuity, but to have the examples numerous and adapted to elucidate a large variety of the modifications of thought. Practical lessons to be construed, and exercises to be translated into German, are annexed to the chapters and sections. These are judiciously devised, and they confer a signal advantage, we believe we might say unrivalled, upon this work. We hesitate to acquiesce in Mr R.'s distribution of the nouns into five declensions. If he saw fit to depart from Dr. Nöhden's plan of four, which we believe is very generally received, we think that he would have done best by adopting Adelung's system of eight, which has the merit of clearing away nearly all the exceptions. The Syntax is very clear and satisfactory. We have not a doubt but that the work will be of great benefit to learners of any age, as it reflects much honour upon the accuracy and judgement of the Author. It has also the advantages of a clear type, and exemplary correctness in the printing, and of moderation in the price.

Art. XI. The Geography of the Globe; containing a Description of its several Divisions of Land and Water: to which are added, Problems on the Terrestrial and Celestial Globes, and a Series of Questions for Examination: designed for the Use of Schools and Private Families. By John Olding Butler, Teacher of Writing, Arithmetic, and Geography. 12mo. pp. 356. London, 1826.

W HAT with the political changes occasioned by Napoleon in one hemisphere, and by the emancipation of the Spanish Colonies in the other, together with the astonishing progress of geographical discovery in all quarters, an old book of Geography is reduced nearly to a par with an old Almanack. The work before us has attracted our attention as being the newest we have seen, and as it appears to have been compiled with great care and an examination of the latest authorities, we can safely recommend it to our readers.

In common with almost every book of the kind, we have seen, it contains too much, rather than too little for its proper

object. In our opinion, a book of geography is not at all improved by the insertion of much miscellaneous matter. Some of Mr. Butler's etymological and historical notes are curious and useful, and may very properly be retained; but among some which have no business, we may specify those which occur at pp. 23, 62, 76, 91, 125, 126, 136, and 234. The last of these will only excite a smile. Statues are not erected, in general, because of' any such good reason.

Attempts at delineating national character (as at pp. 53 and 86) are always out of place in such a work, as they must be defective and partial, if not erroneous. The biographical notices should be very select: Philips and Kyrl have surely no claim to mention. The account of Germany is imperfect: the whole of the thirty-eight states ought to have been at least enumerated. The following are among the few and immaterial inaccuracies that we have detected, and which we hope to see corrected in a new edition. Valladolid is not in Leon, but in Old Castile. Merida should be mentioned, as it was the ancient capital of Lusitania. La Mancha is a separate province. Granada is a province of Andalusia, Seville, Cordova, and Jaen being the other three. The geography of Arabia requires correction. Yemen and Tehama are not the same; and a considerable part of the interior is not included in the six provinces enumerated. Mr. Butler has been misled by Malte Brun. The account of the Hindoo and Birman religion is both defective and erroneous. Budha is not generally called Fo, though Fo is one of the names of Budha. Oxacaca should be Oaxaca. The account of Colombia is far from being correct or adequate. The article Colombia in the Encyclopedia Metropolitana, and the volume of the Modern Traveller descriptive of Colombia, will enable Mr. Butler to extend and rectify it. Paraguay does not yet form one of the united provinces of S. America. The account of Brazil is very defective. Amazonia is no proper geographical division. But these and similar errors are common to almost every geographical work we have seen; and upon the whole, we can recommend this as an excellent school book.

Art. XII. Psalms and Hymns, principally for Public Worship. Se lected from Dr. Watts and other Authors, by Henry Forster Burder, M.A. 18mo. Price 4s. London, 1826.

EARLY six years ago, in noticing Mr. Russell's Appendix to Dr. Watts, we suggested the expediency of a Selection on the plan of the present work, that should include all the

psalms and hymns adapted for public worship in Dr. Watts's invaluable volume, together with the best that could be found in the publications of later writers. We are very glad at length to see realised something very much like our idea of what has so long been a desideratum. If Mr. Burder's selection is not every thing that we could wish, (which arises indeed from his having in some measure compromised his judgement in deference to existing prejudices,) we do not scruple to pronounce it altogether the best collection we have yet seen for public worship; and we trust that it will have the effect of promoting in no small degree an object which we have much at heart, the reformation of our Psalmody. Mr. Burder's views on the subject will be best learned from the Preface.

It appears to be the prevailing opinion in our churches, that, in addition to the excellent Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts, it is desirable to avail ourselves of some of the devotional compositions of later and of living Poets. With this view, numerous selections of Hymns, in the form of a Supplement or Appendix, have been presented to the Public, and introduced into social worship. The necessity, however, thus imposed upon a congregation, of obtaining and having in use more than one Hymn-book, occasions considerable inconveniences, especially to the poor. In reflecting on the practicability of obviating these evils, it occurred frequently and forcibly to my mind, that, by the omission of such of Dr. Watts's Psalins and Hymns as we are not usually accustomed to sing, there might be introduced a sufficient number from the best Authors to answer every valuable purpose, without the necessity of an additional volume. On suggesting these views to several judicious friends, I had the satisfaction to ascertain, not only that they cordially approved of the plan, but that more than one had long entertained the same ideas, and had fully intended to carry the principle into effect. Encouraged by these representations, as well as by the wishes expressed by not a few in the circle of my pastoral engagements, I have endeavoured to accomplish the object desired..........

It was at first my intention to select only such hymns as are unquestionably adapted to public worship. In making this attempt, however, I found it far more difficult than I had anticipated, to draw with accuracy the line of demarcation between such as are adapted to the public and social worship of believers in Christ, and such as may be employed with more advantage for the purposes of private devotion. The prosecution of the attempt would also have rendered necessary the exclusion of many of Dr. Watts's Hymns, which most Christians would deem it desirable to retain. It is to be remembered also, that the most careful discrimination in collecting and arranging hymns for public worship, can by no means supersede the exercise of a sound judgement in selecting the hymns which may be on any occasion, whether public or private, the most appropriate. It may be expedient here to intimate, that under the head of "the Christian Life," will be chiefly found such hymns as may not be deemed

eligible for indiscriminate adoption. Among the Morning and Evening Hymns at the close of the volume, and in a few other instances also, will be found some chiefly applicable to personal and retired devotion.'

Of the 600 hymns contained in this collection,-a more than ample variety,-313 are by Dr. Watts, 38 by Charles Wesley, 39 from Wesley's Collection, 37 by Dr. Doddridge, 15 by Mr. Newton, 10 by Mr. Kelly, 9 by Cowper, 9 by Toplady, and the remaining 130 from miscellaneous sources. The proportion taken from Dr. Watts, though not by any means too great, will probably be deemed no small recommendation of the volume; and it is to the credit of the Editor, that an exemplary impartiality and freedom from party bias have guided him in the selection. This is particularly shewn in the large proportion taken from Mr. Wesley's Hymn-book and the compositions of Charles Wesley. Highly as we admire the genius and seraphic piety of the Poet of Methodism,' we cannot, however, say that we deem his compositions for the most part suitable for congregational worship; and Mr. Burder has admitted several which we should certainly on this ground have excluded. Indeed, we think that Mr. Burder has erred on the side of comprehension, rather than on that of omission. In departing from his first intention, he may have yielded to expediency; and we are quite aware that the acceptableness and popularity of his volume would have suffered, in the first instance, had he rigidly adhered to the plan of inserting such hymns only as are fit for congregational singing. Such a selection, in proportion as it was well executed, would be very slow in making its way. A vitiated taste has been so widely diffused, and the proprieties which should regulate the choice of hymns for public worship are so little understood or observed, that it must be a long time before an unexceptionable Hymn-book would obtain a general adoption. Mr. Burder refers to two valuable hymn-books compiled on principles similar to those which have guided his own attempt. These we have not seen, but, according to his description, one of them errs still more on the side of excess, containing nearly double the number of hymns that are contained in this collection. Now, even on the supposition, which strikes us as a most improbable one, that from a thousand to twelve hundred hymns could be found in the English language, that should be adapted for congregational worship, including good, bad, and indifferent in point of literary merit, still, we should strongly object to the introduction of so great a variety, both on the ground of the bulk and cost of the book, and the additional difficulties which it would