subject; their schools were more for young men than children; and in the philosophical schools of Athens, the scholar was as old as the teacher. Sparta was a garrison-school both for old men and boys. The Romans had Grecian slaves for their schoolmasters, without the children becoming either Greeks or slaves. In those times when the great and splendid achievements of christendom and of chivalry arose like stars in the dark horizon of Europe, the schools, which were scattered about, were only damp, small, gloomy hovels, or monkish cells.'

The above remarks occur in the harangue which the author delivers on the practical incompetence of education. This harangue is succeeded by another on the advantages of education, in which we find the following remarks;

No preceding period nor people since the invention of printing can be compared with this, for since that period there is no longer any state which is excluded from all communication with the rest, and consequently no state which can concentrate adAvantages of which the rest have no participation. Books establish an universal republic, an aggregate unity of nations, or a soeietas Jesu in a better sense, which constitute a second Europe that like London branches into several counties and jurisdictions.

We select the following passage from the chapter, ueber den geist der zeit,' on the spirit of the times:

'One religion after another sinks into oblivion, but the religious feeling which gave birth to them all cannot be extinguished in the human heart." "As long as the word GOD is retained in a language, it will elevate the mind of man to something above the earth." "The present times are indeed both criticising and critical, fluctuating between the wish and the incapacity to believe; a chaos of conflicting elements; but even a chaotic world must revolve on a centre, and be surrounded by an atmosphere. There is no such thing as pure unqualified disorder and strife, for each state supposes its opposite, if only to receive a beginning. The present religious wars, which are carried on on paper, and in the brain, are different from the preceding, which were storms mixed with flame, wind, and desolation; they are more like northern lights, storms in a higher and a colder region, full of tumultuous coruscations, of varied and capricious forms.' "It is a surpris ing but a constantly recurring phenomenon, that every age considers every new burst of light as a flame injurious to morality, though every age finds that it rises a step higher in the scale of knowledge, than the preceding without any detriment to the heart. As light travels more rapidly than heat, is the illumination of the head more readily performed than the amelioration of the heart? and does the sudden burst of intellectual light appear injurious to the heart, which is not previously prepared to receive it ?" "The

present age is characterized by exuberance and mutability of opinions, and at the same time by indifference to opinions. But the last symptom cannot proceed from the first, for throughout the whole space of corrupt Europe, there is no one who can be indifferent to truth, as truth; but individuals have been rendered cold and suspicious by the numerous teachers, and preachers of error in the garb of truth." "The present state of intellectual activity, promises any thing rather than a state of stagnant quiescence; but it is only this last which produces and eternizes evil; as storms and tempests break on the breathless air. But it is impossible to foresee in what manner a period of more luminous serenity, than the present will emerge from this cloudy ferment in which we are living. For every change in the times is only a new soil, for intellectual culture; but we know not what extraneous seed the winds may scatter over the ground.'

As religion is no longer a national, so much as a domestic divinity, the author thinks that we should take more pains to make the hearts of our children a house of prayer wherethey may reverence the INVISIBLE with folded hands and bended knees, if we believe in a religion, and separate it from morality.

But what is religion? The devout answers," belief in God," but if the question be asked, what do you ́mean by the word God, I will,' says the author, let an old German, Sebastian Frank answer for me,'" God is an inexpressible sigh, at the bottom of the

heart."

We have not space for further selections, and the book is hardly worth noticing a second time.

Digest of English Literature, for the last
four months.

HISTORY.

THE Chronicle of the Cid, of which the industry and the taste of Mr. Southey have presented us with an excellent translation from the Spanish, is an interesting performance. Though in this work historical facts may be blended with the embellishments of fiction, yet the whole forms a pleasing picture, of the state of chivalry in Spain during the eleventh century. The heroism of the Cid while it excites our admiration, interests our affections from the softer qualities to which it is attached, and the domestic virtues with which it is entwined. There

is a degree of pathos in some parts of the narrative which will make its way to every heart. For a proof of this we need only refer to the passage which describes the parting of the Cid from his wife Donna Ximena, and his daughters, which we quoted in p. 16 of this volume. The character of the Cid presents altogether one of the most pleasing pictures of chivalrous virtue, with which we are acquainted-The historical account of the Charter house, by Mr. Smythe, will probably be gratifying to Carthusians; but its value might have been increased if the author could have obtained permission to consult the original records of this excellent institution; and if it had at the same time been enriched with biographical notices of all the men of genius, of learning, and science, whom that seminary of education has produced.-The narrative which Dr. Vaughan of Oxford, has published, of the siege of Zaragoza, exhibits a simple and luminous detail of that ever me morable event. The instances of patriotic devotion, which it records, are sufficient to kindle emotions of enthusiasm in the coldest breast. This small performance is at this time, particularly valuable, because it shows that the genius of liberty can create resources in the most adverse circumstances, and that if the same spirit, which inspired the citizens of Zaragoza, "had been felt in the other towns in Spain, every Frenchman would long since have been put to the sword or expelled from the peninsula.-Mr. Chatfield's Review of the State of Hindostan is a highly judicious and erudite performance. It bears ample testimony to the learning, the discrimination, and the philanthropy of the author; and it exhibits an instructive and agreeable account of the politics, the commerce, and the manners of Hindostan from the earliest times.-The history of Cleveland in the north riding of the county of York, which has been written by Mr. Graves, contains no large portion either of instruction or amusement,

BIOGRAPHY.

Of the works which we have to notice in the biographical department-the first is Lord Woodhouselee's Life of Lord Kames. This ample work is a mine which contains a great deal of pure ore, though it is sometimes mixed with matter of a less valuable kind. It comprehends, in some measure, a literary history of Scotland during more than half a century. We have noticed a few of the defects in the copious account which we have given of the work itself, and we shall not enlarge on them here. We have always more pleasure in commending excellences, than in censuring defects; and the two well furnished volumes of Lord Woodhouselee contain much more that deserves eulogy than blame. The Memoirs of Robert "APP. Vol. 16.

Nn

Cary, earl of Monmouth written by himself, and the history of Queen Elizabeth's favourites, by Sir Robert Naunton, contain striking and characteristic pictures of the times.-Bancroft's life of General Washington contains few particulars which were not previously known, but it is perhaps not inferior in execution to any of the accounts of that truly great and amiable man which have hitherto appeared.

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.

The picture of Valentia, by Christian Augustus Fischer,is a lively description of this enchanting part of Spain.-M. Fischer is one of those travellers who seldom suffers the attention of his reader to become languid and inert; he makes him in general a spectator of the scene, and communicates a portion of the interest which he himself felt. His diction is rather too florid," and his colouring too warm; but these defects are perhaps more excusable in this than in most other species of composition. The rich views of nature, or the varied works of art, when the sensation of novelty is added to the interest, will cause the spectator when he endeavours to invest his ideas in. the drapery of words, to employ those which are perhapsmore gorgeous and resplendent than a correct taste would admit, or than the subject required.-Sir John Carr's Caledonian Sketches, of which we have given a copious account, contain a variety of amusing particulars which will render his book a pleasant lounge in an idle hour.-In Burgoing's Modern State of Spain, we find a large mass of information relative to a country which, till the recent revolution, excited but little interest, and was but little known in the rest of Europe.

POLITICS.

Comber's Enquiry into the State of national Subsistence,' is a sensible and useful work. It throws considerable light on some very intricate questions in political economy, and it proves in opposition to the anti-commercial theory that the supply of food is most defective and irregular in those countries which are purely agricultural. The letter which Sir Richard Phillips has addressed to the livery of London, contains much useful instruction to those who are destined to execute the important office of sheriff. The author has developed various abuses in the prisons of the metropolis, and has recommended some useful reforms, of which we hope to see the accomplishment for the honour of the country and for the alleviation of ..the sufferings of those, whose misery is usually most destitute of solace, and whose distress is always attended with circumstances of bitter aggravation.-In our number for March we

paid a good deal of attention to Mr. Wyvill's pamphlet on intolerance; and we embraced that opportunity of explaining the ecclesiastical reformation which was patronized by the court in the glorious reign of King William III. but of which the execution was frustrated by the bigotry, the selfishness and the malice of some narrow-minded priests Mr. Wyvill deserves no common praise for the constancy which he has exhibited amid numerous mortifications, violent opposition, and heart-rending disappointments, in defending the cause of that civil and ecclesiastical reform which would perpetuate the constitution both in church and state.

PHILOSOPHY, MORAL, PHYSICAL, AND META

PHYSICAL.

The Philosophical Transactions for 1808, Parts I. and II. will be found analyzed in this volume. Many of the papers are important, and do honour to that truly venerable society. We have given particular attention to those of Mr. Davy, because they contain facts which are the most important of any which modern chemistry has brought to light. They open new views in all the sciences connected with analytical researches; and they will assuredly confer immortality on the author, who is equally modest, industrious, and acute.

MEDICINE.

Dr. Reece's Medical Dictionary,' will be found a useful manual even by professional men for occasional reference and consultation; but it is more particularly adapted for the use of the clergy and other benevolent persons who reside in the country, and are anxious to acquire a sufficient knowledge of pharmacy to enable them to minister relief to their sick and suffering fellow-creatures. Dr Uwins's Modern Medicine," does not contain any novelty of information; but the author is an agreeable writer, and never provokes our contempt by his shallowness, though he does not excite our admiration by his profundity. In his remarks on diseases and particularly consumption, Dr. Woolcombe has brought together a good deal of important information. He has displayed much industry and research,and has evinced a degree of candour and a love of truth, which are creditable to his understanding and his integrity. Dr. Kentish deserves our praise for his Essay on warm and vapour Baths.

POETRY.

The author of 'Fowling,' has produced a very pleasing poem,