both to man and boy. But this is a minute fault, and the compiler follows the orthodox authorities. We heartily recommend his very

useful work.

The Bachelor's Holydays, with some Thoughts of a Theoretical Philanthropist. London: Houlston.

THE author is not only a theoretical but a practical philanthropist, as is evidenced by the publication of this volume. It has an unquestionable tendency to do good; and the narratives of which it is composed, although lacking some of the strong and spirit-stirring qualities which are requisite for fictions to make an impression on the public mind, have yet a tone of simplicity, truth, and gentleness, which beautifully harmonizes with the purpose of the writer and the objects contemplated. Sound sense, religious and moral principle, beneficent purpose, and a prevailing judiciousness of manner in the execution, are characteristics that ought to win the favourable regard of a numerous class of readers, and induce them to place this unpretending volume on their family book. shelves.

A Lecture on Education. Delivered by Jonathan Duncan, Esq., at the Guernsey Mechanics' Institution, on the 6th of April, 1835. EVERY indication that there is a growing sense of the importance of educating the people at large, must be hailed with satisfaction. The present lecture evinces abundant zeal in the good cause. It contains also some valuable remarks on the necessity of clearness in language, and a plan of teaching grammar with a view to obtaining that clearness which is ingenious, and might possibly prove efficacious.

As an inciter to the work of education, therefore, Mr. Duncan deserves all praise. He is not so successful when he attempts to direct the process of instruction. He conceives that the succession of the mental powers is the only sure basis on which any sound and copious system of education can be founded,' and here we most cordially agree with him. But this succession, according to him, is, 'perception first, memory second, judgment third, reasoning fourth. It is rather difficult to perceive what kind of judgment that is which would come before reasoning. His idea of imagination, too, is, that it is the antagonist of judgment, and exercises itself in a manner directly the reverse;' that blending together into one confused mass ideas essentially distinct, it compounds what is simple and aims at complexity, which is the characteristic of falsehood and sophistry.' He also declares that nothing can be done by a teacher to improve the faculty of perception.' The truth seems to be, on the contrary, that there is no faculty which may not be improved by culture; and this view of the matter is by no means inconsistent with the vast diversity of original power, and individual organization. M.

The Comic Almanack for 1836. Tilt.

As full of fun as last year; and the graphic wit of George Cruikshank, well supported by the gentleman who does the prognostications and

remarkable occurrences. This ephemeris in jest and earnest,' moreover, contains all things fitting for such a work,' as an almanack, and is a capital Annual of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge.

The Visionary. Adapted from the Seventh Book of Crabbe's Tales of the Hall.' Being No. I. of Prose Tales. Adapted from the Poets of the Nineteenth Century, by Stephen and Horatio Hunt. We can bear to see Crabbe cooked up in this way: but on reading further we find the names of Coleridge, Wordsworth, Charles Lamb, Shelley, Keats and Tennyson, among various others who are destined to undergo the same process. We also find that the editors confidently expect such success as to induce them to 'prose the narrative poems of the last century;' and possibly to speculate in a third series, which shall include the whole of British poetical narrative from the earliest period.' This success they expect to obtain, by taking from the tales they publish the great cause of objection to them-their poetry.' They expect that prose will be read where poetry is looked upon as an abomination. Such they conceive to be the state of the public taste. But as another generation is coming, who may think differently, we recommend them, when they have achieved their present undertaking, to turn all the prose narratives of the language into verse, as a companion work. It will be a much less exceptionable transformation.

The Forget-me-not.

THIS first of the Annuals, and which has always been amongst the best, professes, on the present occasion, only to aim at sustaining the character it had already acquired. To do that is much, considering the beauty of former numbers, but the attempt is certainly successful. Amongst the literary contributions, those of Mary Howitt, L. E. L., and H. F. Chorley will most attract notice; the Dying Sister,' by the first-named writer, is quite in her own delicate and pathetic manner, and is beautifully accompanied by the engraving in the pictorial embellishments, of which the Young Enchanter,' the Playing Cupid,' and the 'Peasants' Dance,' also merit laudatory mention.

A Collection of Moral and Religious Poetry for the Use of Families and Schools. Whittaker, London; Willmer and Smith, Liverpool. THE Hymns of Dr. Watts and Mrs. Steele, the Saturday Magazine,' Sacred Offering,' and the devotional poems of Mrs. Hemans and Bishop Heber, are the chief sources from which this compilation has been made. Much taste and pious feeling are displayed in the choice; and, perhaps, considering for whom it is intended, the familiarity of some of the compositions, and the (acknowledged) editorial alterations occasionally made, are not so objectionable as they might otherwise have been.

The General Highway Act, with Notes, Index, &c. By J. Bateman, Esq.

It is gratifying to see any approach towards codification;' and we may hope that by one consolidated Act after another much may be done, in

the most approved practical manner, towards reducing the number, simplifying the style, and harmonizing the provisions, of the laws under which we live. Mr. Bateman is a very useful interpreter between the legislature and the public; and his publication may interest us about mending our ways in more senses than one.

The Englishman's Political Legacy.

He

THE writer is one of those Reformers who prunes with a hatchet. sees corruption on all sides, and lays about him vigorously in every direction, not sparing his tongue meanwhile. Truly, if he have overdone it a little, there was strong temptation. We should rather have taken him for the executor of a will, than the bequeather of a legacy.

The Squib Annual, 1836.

HUMOROUS Verse, with a strong infusion of caustic satire, forms the staple of this amusing publication. The illustrations are by Seymour, a man who has neither superiors nor rivals in his art, that we know of, with the exception of H. B. and George Cruikshank. The vision of Captain Ross at the North Pole shows (in the figure of the Frost Fiend) how the grotesque may ascend into poetical sublimity.

The Battle of the Annuals.

A FEW verses spoken extempore by some incorrigible punster, after dinner, over his wine and walnuts, and interrupted by the summons

to tea.

Schlegel's Philosophy of History. Translated from the German; with a Memoir of the Author. By J. B. Robertson, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. In these lectures there are, as every one acquainted with the writings and reputation of Frederick Schlegel would anticipate, many passages rich in profound and beautiful thought, and in pure and philanthropic feeling. Many, however, will not be prepared for the strength and extent of influence which the Catholic Theology exercised over the writer's mind. His notions of human nature, and its degraded condition, appear to us to have put him wrong at the very outset; to have invalidated the principles on which he bases his Philosophy of History, and perverted some of his views of its facts: yet these great deductions leave much which will be read with interest and instruction.

The work is rather somehow done into English than translated. The mechanism of the sentences is frequently most clumsy, compli cated, and barbarous.

"The Paris Literary Gazette' should have acknowledged its quotations from our pages.

'Songs of the Bees,' by Ebenezer Elliott, next month.

'W. A.' shall be considered. We should be glad of the writer's address.