sued by Mr. Crosse, by which it is alleged that he has discovered not only that the Galvanic agent or electricity is the vital principle, but that he has been potent enough to exhibit the operations and results of this principle, he being its director. No other meaning can be attached to this pretension than that he believes himself capable of creating organized beings; and if such power and skill be his that he can make the smallest animalcule, we do not see why the like manipulations might not by an extension or modification of the same means, to use Mr. Murray's ideas and words, form an elephant or rhinoceros, or even man. The consequences of all this must be an unqualified atheism; for it substitutes material means over which man has controul, for an eternal, invisible, omnipotent, and omniscient cause.

Similar vagaries and dreams have long occupied the minds of certain French and other continental speculators, and are even at this day openly promulgated. Nay, in our own country, theories and assumptions of a kindred nature have of late obtained ground to some extent, to the alarm of many. To all such we recommend a perusal of these " Considerations," assuring them, that whether they be scientific persons or otherwise, they will find themselves re-assured and built up in that faith which makes the good and the wise rejoice. Mr. Murray's pamphlet is really a pithy weapon in behalf of the most sacred truths, and deserves to be recognised as a permanent authority.

ART. XVI.-A Descriptive Account of the Palo de Vaca, or Cowtree of the Caraccas. With Chemical Analysis of the Milk and Bark. By JOHN MURRAY, F. S. A. &c. London: Wilson. 1837. AMONG the many wonderful vegetable substances which the Almighty has created for the sustenance and to delight the eyes of man, none is more worthy of admiration than the Cow-tree. Hear a part of what the author

of the present "Account" says and quotes concerning this extraordinary

production.

"Among the magnificent spectacles of tropical forests, and their glorious architecture, there is none, methinks, that so rivets to the hallowed spot our feelings and sympathies as the wonderful Cow Tree.' The excellences of the sublime and beautiful here mingle together; and there being not only what is beautiful to the eye but good for food,' the sentiment of gratitude mingles in the affections, and gives a new pulse to the 'genial current of the soul.' 'Abest invidia' I would wish to say, but I must needs confess that I envy the happy feelings of Baron de Humboldt and Sir R. K. Porter, at the sight of this magnificent tribute of creative good. Dr. Wallick in genuine enthusiasm, leaped for joy,' at the spectacle of the Amhertia nobilis, with its vermilion canopy of dazzling blossoms; Sir Stamford Raffles stood astonished when he contemplated the flower of Sumatra, that bears his name, and displays a disc of nine feet circumference; and the great and gifted Linnæus knelt down on first beholding Albion's beautifully blossomed furze !-but what a train of exalted associations are kindled by the peaceful grandeur and lofty majesty of the Palo de Vaca! Fountain trees, whistling trees, and cannon-ball trees, all must wane before the Palo de Vaca.'

Humboldt describes the Palo de Vaca,' or Cow Tree,' as growing on

the shores of the Cordilleras, and found most plentifully between Barbula and the lake of Maracaybo :- On the barren flank of a rock,' says this interestings writer, 'grows a tree with dry and leather-like leaves; its large woody roots can scarcely penetrate into the stony soil. For several months in the year not a single shower moistens its foliage. Its branches appear dead and dried; yet as soon as the trunk is pierced, there flows from it a sweet and nourishing milk. It is at sun-rise this vegetable fountain is most abundant. The natives are then to be seen hastening from all quarters, furnished with large bowls to receive the milk, which grows yellow and thickens at the surface. Some employ their bowls under the tree, while others carry home the juice for their children. This fine tree rises like the road lefted star apple. Its oblong and pointed leaves, tough and alternate, are marked by lateral ribs : some of them are ten inches long. We did not see the flower. The fruit is somewhat fleshy, and contains a nut-sometimes two. The milk, obtained by incisions made in the trunk, is glutinous, tolerably thick, free from all acrimony, and of an agreeable and balmy smell. It was offered to us in the shell of the tutuno or calabash tree. We drank a considerable quantity of it in the evening, before we went to bed, and very early in the morning, without experiencing the slightest injurious effects. The vicosity of the milk alone renders it somewhat disagreeable. The negroes and free labourers drink it, dipping into it their maize or cassava bread."

Mr. Murray has applied his chemical knowledge to the "Analysis," in a most interesting manner; and has found that this singular tree, which grows to a prodigious size, possesses extremely valuable properties in respect of the "feast it provides "in the wilderness."

"The Palo de Vaca,' whether considered in reference to its' MILK,' or rather cream, or its BARK, affords phenomena among the most remarkable of the wonders of vegetation. Both the milk' and bark contain the elements of nutritious and wholesome food for man, and BREAD formed of its bark would be almost equal to the cerealia, or that made from corn,—' the finest of the wheat; '-for the immediate or proximate parts of wheaten flour are found in the bark of the Cow Tree-so that the Palo de Vaca' yields both BREAD and MILK.

The "Descriptive Account" of this wonderful natural production presents to the reader in a narrow space a beautiful, eloquent, and deeplyimpressive specimen of scientific and popular knowledge; while the pious and adoring sentiments of the author must find a welcoming response in every well-regulated or cultivated mind.

ART. XVII. The Students' Cabinet Library of Useful Tracts. Nos. 23, 26, 27. Edinburgh: Clark.

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THE selection of treatises that have hitherto appeared seriatim under the above title, shows that the conductor of this remarkably neat and cheap publication is well acquainted with the numerous, and to ordinary students concealed, quarters where some of the tersest and most practically useful pieces may be found that have, under some happy impulse, been coined by the human mind in this or in foreign countries. The three numbers before us are in no respect unworthy of this high character. The first of them is

on extemporaneous preaching, by Henry Ware, jun., D. D., Professor of Pulpit Eloquence in Harvard College. The work has been well received in America, and ought to be carefully studied by every one who aims at the greatest pastoral usefulness; and it treats of a subject which happens not to have obtained the attention it deserves from writers on the ministerial office. We are happy to have it in our power to state, however, that the want has been ably and with great caution and clearness supplied by Dr. Ware. The advantages of the style of preaching recommended are not more plainly set forth, than are the dangers and abuses to which it is liable but if the student follow the suggestions offered by the author, the attempt to aequire the enviable talent described cannot possibly be made without bequeathing some most salutary results, moral and intellectual.

:

The second of the above tracts is a Discourse on the Importance to Practical Men of Scientific Knowledge, and on the Encouragements to its Pursuit, by Edward Everett; compiled from several addresses delivered in America by that gentleman. The manner in which he has illustrated and enforced his positions is highly creditable to his own mind, showing that it is deeply enlightened, while it is well calculated to awaken similar ardour in others to that which he must have experienced ere being able to acquit himself in discourse so excellently as he has here done.

Sir Joshua Reynold's Discourses to the Students of the Royal Academy, occupy the last number before us; and although we might cavil about the title tract being applied to these popular and elegant effusions, the cheapness and portable form of this edition of them should insure a very extensive sale.

ART. XVIII.-The Biblical Cabinet; or Hermeneutical, Exegetical, and Philological Library. Vol. XXI. Edinburgh: Clarke. 1837. THE present volume contains a translation of Dr. Gustav Billroth's Commentary on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians. The work exhibits great learning, as well as an unusual comprehension and depth of mind. We will not trust ourselves, however, to give any particular opinion of our own, respecting a commentary upon such subjects as those which are here handed, but will rather quote part of the translator's preface. "The work of Professor Billroth," says the translator, the Rev. W. Lindsay Alexander, "of which a translation is now presented to the theological public, is constructed upon the principle of applying the rules of a scientific hermeneutic to the one simple object of eliminating from the words of the apostle the sense he intended them to convey. Hence the author contents himself with discovering the meaning of Paul's sentences, elucidating the connexion of these with each other, and pointing out the general train of remark or reasoning which pervades the whole, without either stopping to argue in defence of the doctrine he may have brought out, or to endeavour to impress it upon the feelings or convictions of his readers. If there is thus less of that general observation and reflection which some are disposed to regard as the main charm of a commentary on Scripture, and more of what have been somewhat contemptuously styled the dry bones of criticism,' than are often presented by works of this nature, especially in this country, there will be found, at the same time, in the stedfastness and honesty of

purpose with which the author prosecutes his avowed design, what will be held as far more than a compensation for this, by every intelligent and principled student of the Bible."

Dr. Billroth was professor of philosophy in the University of Halle, and died, while but comparatively young, in 1836, after the highest expectations of him had been awakened by his early lectures and writings. The present volume, however, will remain a permanent monument of his abilities, which biblical scholars will ever regard with admiration.

ART. XIX.-The Authors of England. A Series of Medallion Por traits of Modern Literary Characters, engraved from the Works of British Artists. By ACHILLE COLLAS. With Illustrative Notices, by

H. F. CHORLEY. 4to. pp. 105. London: Tilt. HERE we have Mrs. Hemans, Sir Walter, Byron, Southey, the Countess of Blessington, Coleridge, Bulwer, Lady Morgan, Shelley, Moore, Lamb, Miss Mitford, Campbell, and Wordsworth, from engravings after models by Mr. Weeks and Mr. E. W. Wyon. These profile busts are according to the process of M. Collas, set in a rich arabesque work. We need not now enter into the merits of the medallion process exemplified in these portraits. The House of Commons was not long since engaged in hearing evidence for and against it, and to what was said and done in relation to the matter at that time we refer our readers. In our opinion the engravings are exquisite specimens of art, while the biographies, though flattering and complimentary, are written with animation and breathe a genial feeling.

Of the plates, it must be said that though they give us a new view of the personages figured, the likeness in every instance is not striking. This is the case in the portrait of Lady Blessington. Byron and Moore do not appear to advantage, while Scott and Wordsworth have all the distinctness and delicate contour which belong to their busts by Chantrey, from which their portraits have been modelled. Southey has a face that deserves a profile picture, although his nose appears unnecessarily romanized. The volume, however, is both valuable and splendid, and ought to rank among the foremost and most desirable of picture books. We shall now quote a few sentences from the letter-press. The extracts treat of Campbell, and his earlier days as a student and an author.

"He was sent, when thirteen, to Glasgow College. He remained there for six sessions, going successively through the classes of Latin, Greek, Logic, Natural and Moral Philosophy. He writes thus unaffectedly of his University achievements. In some of the classes,' says he, I was idle, and bore off no prize at all, and being obliged by my circumstances to give elementary instruction to students still younger than myself, my powers of attention were often exhausted in teaching when I ought to have been learning. Nevertheless, I was not undistinguished at collcge; when but thirteen, I gained a bursory after a hard and fair competitiou, before the whole faculty, in construing and writing Latin, where I was pitted against a student twice my age.""

After finishing his studies at the university, he spent about a twelvemonth in the Highlands, and pursued the study of the law. He afterwards maintained himself by private teaching. At intervals he produced

poetical pieces, and in 1799, the "Pleasures of Hope" appeared, which put money in his purse and enabled him to indulge his desire of seeing foreign parts.

"Crossing over from Leith to Hamburgh, he proceeded into the interior of Germany. The war between France and Austria was at that time raging; and he made two attempts to cross the district where it was carried on; once in his way towards Vienna being stopped at Landshut, from the walls of which town he witnessed an engagement between the French and Imperial armies; and retiring thence to Ratisbon, which narrowly escaped bombardment,-a second time only relinquishing his design of passing over into Italy, viz. the Tyrol, on finding it impossible to proceed. In the spring of 1801 he returned to Hamburgh, and was there thrown among some of the banished leaders of the Irish Rebellion, a chance which, joined with his fearless wanderings in the midst of encountering armies, being laid hold upon, by a spy, subjected him to some momentary suspicion on the part of the government authorities on his return to Scotland. But it was worth while to be suspected, for the sake of an association which had suggested a poem so exquisite as the Exile of Erin; ' and this was written at Hamburgh. Thirty years afterwards the poet was again suspected this second time not of disaffection, but of reaping where he had not sown: an impudent claim to the authorship of this song_ being advanced by the editor of an Irish newspaper on the part of one George Nugent, who had died many years before, and was known as having written poetry."

While at Hamburgh, the prospect of a Danish war produced "Ye Mariners of England." A few notices more, and we close this superb volume.

"After a sojourn of some weeks at Hamburgh, Mr. Campbell took his passage for Leith: but the vessel being chased by a Danish privateer, was driven into Yarmouth; and the poet, so near London, could not resist the temptations it held out. After a short stay in the metropolis, he returned to Edinburgh, where, during his subsequent residence of at welvemonth, he wrote Lochiel' and some other of his poems. But the attractions of London were so pleasantly remembered that he was again drawn thither in the year 1803, with the intention of making it his home. In the autumn of the same year he married his second cousin, Miss Matilda Sinclair, a lady endowed with every good gift save those of fortune. A series of vicissitudes on the part of Mr. Campbell's family, added to the usual responsibilities of a love-marriage, compelled him for some subsequent years to coin his talent as diligently as he could; to become a literary labourer for the market. We are told of a History of England (most probably a continuation to Hume and Smollett's work) executed by him during this period; and of a large variety of anonymous labours for the periodical and daily press.

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"In the year 1809, however, brighter days began to dawn. Mr. Campbell's health was re-established, he wrote his Battle of the Baltic. (perhaps the most spirited of his lyrics), ' Lord Ullin's Daughter,' and 'Gertrude of Wyoming.' They were published in the same year, with a success which has rather increased than diminished, many editions having been rapidly called for, to one of which a new interest was given by the addition of O'Connor's Child.' *

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