days in water, and open it gently, and take the kernal out of it (!) and write something within the shell with an iron graver, what you please, yet not too deep, then wrap it in paper and set it; whatever you write in the shell you shall find written in the fruit." Such shrewd things mingled with the more ordinary knowledge of our ancestors upon affairs of gardening.

A degree of fatness in hens equal to this will | lous, in the annals of gardening, is the renever be communicated by our degenerate ceipt for getting peach-trees that bear fruit modern agriculturists. For the hair-dyes, covered with inscriptions: "When you have favored by our forefathers, we cannot, how-eaten the peach, steep the stone two or three ever, say much, for we must differ in taste very decidedly. Recipes are given for obtaining, not only black, but white hair, yellow hair, red hair, and “To make your hair seem GREEN. Nobody in these days will use a course of the distilled water of capers to make his hair look like a meadow; and even, if any body among us, too fastidious as we now are, wanted yellow hair, we do not think that he would consent to rub into his head It will be seen that for many of these for that purpose honey and the yolk of eggs."facts" there was a "reason" close at hand. There are also in this part of the work some ungallant recommendations of substances, which a man may chew in order that, presently breathing near a lady's cheek, he may discolor it, and so detect her artifice, if she should happen to be painted. Among "secrets for beautifying the body," we cannot but think this also indicative of an odd taste; "If you would change the color of children's eyes, you shall do it thus; with the ashes of the small nut-shells, with oil you must anoint the forepart of their head; it will make the whites of children's eyes black; DO IT OFTEN!"

Concerning wine, it is worth knowing, that to cure a man of drunkenness, you should put eels into his wine. Delightful dreams will visit the couch of him who has eaten moderately, for supper, of a horse's tongue, and taken balm for salad. This is "A means to make a man sleep sweetly," which we recommend to the attention of all restless people, who have proper faith in their forefathers. As we have passed over a good many pages, and come to the "secrets of asses," we may put down, à propos to nothing, that "If an ass have a stone bound to his tail he cannot bray."

Our forefathers were wise enough to know that every thing required properly accounting for: Thus, for example, in "the secrets of metals:" "Some report that a candle lighted of man's fat, and brought to the place where the treasures are hid, will discover them with the noise; and when it is near them it will go out. If this be true, it ariseth from sympathy; for fat is made of blood, and blood is the seat of the soul and spirits, and both these are held by the desire of silver and gold, so long as a man lives; and therefore they trouble the blood; so here is sympathy."

If a man would prevent hail from coming down, he is to walk about his garden, with a crocodile-stuffed, of course-and hang it up in the middle. Pieces of the skin of a hippopotamus, wherever they are buried, keep off storms.

A thunder-storm also can be put to rout by firing cannons at it; "for by the force of the sound moving the air, the exhalations are driven upward." (In the same way, the plague was said to yield before a cannonade.) "Some who observe hail coming on, bring a huge looking-glass, and observe the largeness of the cloud, and by that remedy,-whether objected against, or despised by it, or it is displeased with it; or The following may be tried in a few months whether, being doubled, it gives way to the by ladies in the country, who rise early on a other" (in some way or other one must find fine spring morning; they may thus earn the out a reason), "they suddenly turn it off and delight of exhibiting to their friends one of remove it." "An owl stuck up in the fields, the prettiest balloon ascents that any body with its wings spread, served also as a scarecan conceive: "In May, fill an egg-shell with crow to the tempests. As lightning conducMay-dew, and set it in the hot sun at noon-tor on a roof, it was thought wise to put an day, and the sun will draw it up."

of glass windows "in winter when the stove is hot." Our ancestors were far too wise to be surpised at any thing.

egg-shell, out of which a chicken had been The secrets of gardening, known to our hatched on Ascension-day. Thunderbolt forefathers, annihilate all claim in Sir Joseph stones were said to sweat during a storm, Paxton to the commonest consideration. which was not thought a more wonderful They taught how to get the blue roses by" fact" than the perspirations streaming out manuring with indigo, or green roses by digging verdigris about the roots. They taught the whole art of perfuming fruit, by steeping the seeds of the future tree in oil of spike, or rose-water and musk. If, say our ancestors, you would have peaches, plums, or cherries without any stone, you have only, when the tree is a twig, to pick out all the pith before you set it. To get your filbert-trees to bear you fruit all kernel, you have only to crack a nut, and sow the kernel only, covered with a little wool. And very much more marvel

Secrets of alchemy, magic, and astrology are, of course, very profound; we pass over these and many more; among secrets of cookery we pause, shuddering. Whipping young pigs to death, to make them tender eating, used to be quite bad enough; and some of our own hidden devices in the meat trade are, even now, equally revolting; but here we meet with a device of the wise an

cestors, which may, perhaps, stand at the head of all culinary horrors. Remembering that these cooks were also apt at roasting men, we will inflict this illustration on our readers: "To roast a Goose alive. Let it be a duck or goose, or some such lively creature; but a goose is best of all for this purpose; leaving his neck, pull off all the feathers from his body, then make a fire round about him, not too wide, for that will not roast him; within the place set here and there small pots full of water, with salt and honey mixed therewith, and let there be dishes set full of roasted apples, and cut in pieces in the dish, and let the goose be basted with butter all over, and larded to make him better meat, and he may roast the better; put fire to it; do not make too much haste, when he begins to roast, walking about, and striving to fly away; the fire stops him in, and he will fall to drink water to quench his thirst; this will cool his heart, and the other parts of his body, and, by this medicament, he looseneth his belly and grows empty. And when he roasteth and consumes inwardly, always wet his head and heart with a wet sponge; but when you see him run madding and stumble, his heart wants moisture, take him away, set him before your guests, and he will cry as you cut off any part from him, and will be almost eaten up before he be dead; it is very pleasant to behold."

Degenerate moderns would most certainly be unable to enjoy such hospitality, and would be cured as thoroughly of any appetite as if their host had employed another of the secrets of our ancestors. "That guests may not eat at table, do this: You must have a

needle that dead people are often sewed up in their winding-sheet; and at beginning of supper secretly stick this under the table; this will hinder the guests from eating, that they will rather be weary to sit, than desirous to eat; take it away when you have laughed at them awhile."

Take it away, we must say now to the old book. As we have said, our specimens, drawn from an immense mass of the same kind, do not represent the sole character of the volume. It states, also, a very large number of facts, confirmed and explained in the present day, being a fair transcript of the average standard of opinion among learned doctors upon a great number of things. Have we not made a little progress since those good old times, and would it be a pleasant thing to get them back again? To come home to every man's breakfast-table, we may ask the public to decide between the coffee now made, and the coffee of the good old times. In a somewhat expensive book, addressed only to wealthy readers, Drs. Read and Weckir disclose this secret of good coffee, for the ladies and gentlemen of 1660:-"Take the berry, put it in a tin pudding-pan, and when bread hath been in the oven about half-anhour, put in your coffee; there let it stand till you draw your bread; then beat it and sift it; mix it thus: first boyl your water about half-an-hour; to every quart of water put in a spoonful of the pouder of coffee; then let it boyl one-third away; clear it off from the setlings; and the next day put fresh water; and so add every day fresh water, so long as any setlings remain. Often Tryed."

Authors and Books.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER, of Berlin, has re- charlatans they have carried their wares to cently published Parerga und Paralipomena, market, and as candidates and teachers of or little Philosophical Writings, in which, philosophy generally spring up from the same according to a Leipsic reviewer, "the author effort, there resulted an alliance of charlatans asserts that his philosophy is not merely the whose object it was on the one side to raise only advance in that department since the themselves to heaven, and on the other to days of Kant, but that his system bears the suppress all true thinking, so that the public same relation to all earlier philosophy, that might be prevented, by a just consideration the New Testament bears to the Old. In of their own worthlessness." "Such accusaaddition to this, he attempts to solve the tions as those," continues our reviewer, problem, how can it be possible that he has "awaken an unfavorable impression, which ever been as unknown to the literary and is not in the least diminished by continued scientific world as the Man in the Moon, boasting and grandiloquence, and a clumsy while the absurdest and most ridiculous theo- roughness of style, which not unfrequently ries, such, for example, as those of Fichte, falls into downright burlesque. The work Schelling, and Hegel, have been so generally itself is an odd mixture of actual recollections accepted. But as he, in spite of the most and arbitrary fancies, of explanations and earnest endeavors, can find no internal ground superstitions, which force us to regret that for this unaccountable blindness of the pub- many really admirable thoughts which occalic, he seeks it in another direction. These sionally surprise the reader in an assembly of impudent sophists, it seems, have had no trivialities and paradoxes, must inevitably be other ground than simply that of making lost. Those philosophers certainly provoke money! With the hocus-pocus of common sharp criticism when we separate their truly

| Wolsey, and Ximenes-a description of his personal appearance and an explanation of the exertions of power brought to bear against him, with the final judgment that those truly to blame were the grand dukes and not Khlesl, and that the Cardinal, if not entirely devoid of blame, was still a great character, and one of the most illustrious statesmen of Austria. Another new historical work is the Laben des Herzogs von Sachsen-Gotha und Altenburg, Freiderich II. Ein Bei trazzur Geschichte Gotha's beim Wechsel d. 17, und 18, Jahrh. Herausgegeben nach dessen Tode von Dr. AD. MORITZ SCHULZE, Director d. Burgerschule zu Gotha (or Life of the Duke of Saxe Gotha and Altenburg, Frederic the II. A contribution to the history of Gotha during the changes of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Published after the death of the author by Dr. Ad. Moritz Schulze, director of the Citizen School of Gotha, this work appears to be well and warmly, though impartially written.

scientific contents from their visions and dispositions, and it would perhaps be more in accordance with the spirit of the age to return more earnestly to Kant than most of the more recent philosophers are accustomed to do. Still nothing is in the least gained for the negative aim of criticisın, when the critic makes it such an easy matter to cast away, without further consideration, all of the latest advances in philosophy, because he believes that he has detected errors in their pretended fundamental thoughts, without first ascertaining whether these fundamental thoughts are really the leading principle of the system, and when he on his own side falls into suppositions which have certainly received long since a satisfactory refutation from the later philosophy; as, for example, in the Kantean opposition of things in themselves, and their appearances. The positive, with which Herr Schopenhauer believes that he has enriched science, the derivation of united spiritual functions from the will, and the correction of the course of the world, by the idea that the true aim of life is to scorn it, might with greater propriety be classed in the sphere of visions and dispositions,' which he so fiercely attacks, than in that of science. The discussions which fill these two volumes, and are spread out over every imaginable subject, even to ghosts, the possibility of whose ex-ceive that the important fifteenth chapter of istence is admitted, have naturally a very varied character, and can only, by a continued polemic, and a fragmentary system of examination harmonizing therewith, be brought into unity."

IN theology, we observe the pablication, by ALBERT WESSEL VON HENGEL, of Commen tarius Perpetuus in Prioris Pauli ad Corinthios Epistola Caput Quintum Decimum cum Epistola ad Winerum, Theol. Lips. Haag. (Baedeker in Rotterdam). In this book we per

the Letter to the Corinthians is philologically treated with true Dutch thoroughness and remarkable erudition, but that the results to which he comes are often untenable, and that a satisfactory decision as to the proposed dogmatic questions, such as advanced theological THE second part of WACHSMUTH's Allgem- science requires, is not given. The peculiar eine Culturgeschichte (History of Civilization, views of the author as to the aim or object of for so we venture to translate the word Cul- the chapter have also had an effect on the extur), which indicates more strictly all refer-planation of many passages. It is asserted, ring to those social influences which refine, for instance, a la Bush, that Paul does not form, and educate society, has recently ap- speak of the resurrection of the body, but peared. The volume referred to contains The that he means by this resurrection the return Middle Ages, and is highly spoken of for the of all men into life, or immortality; and reskilful manner in which the author has treat-garding this, has in view only those who aded the influence exerted by the Byzantine mit Christ, and their future happiness; and and Mohammedan races. Another historical that even verse forty-nine contains only a work of importance is the fourth and con- comparison of the moral condition of Chriscluding volume containing the tenth and tians in this and a better life. Yet notwithtwelfth books of HAMMER PURGSTALL's Life standing this he finds himself compelled to of Cardinal Khlesl, compiled from contempo- admit, by the fifty-second verse, that the rary documents. In it we have the last di- same bodies which we have here on earth, plomatic acts of the Cardinal, of the intrigues will again return to life. By the Tapova of the Grand Dukes Ferdinand and Maximi- Christ (v. 23) he understands earthly life, lian relative to him, and of his consequent and by οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ, arrest and abduction. The eleventh book de- those Christians who already believed on him tails his imprisonment in Innspruck and in while yet on earth, and by the reλos, not the the Abbey St. Georgenberg, the negotiations end of the world with its universal resurrec with the Pope relative to him, and his deliv- tion and judgment, but the resurrection of ery to the latter on the 24th October, 1622. the later Christians. The oft-repeated oneIn the twelfth we have the details of his resi-pera (v. 43) he translates by it is begotten dence in Rome, of the part he took in insti- or generated, and understands it as referring tuting the Propaganda, his return home after to an entry into earthly life, and that the an absence of ten years, his subsequent cleri-xoïkòs of the forty-seventh verse refers to the cal exertions, and his testament. The con- earthly disposition or inclination, and the clusion gives a parallel drawn between Khlesl, oùprov and érovρávios to that of the heavenly.

of

AMONG recent books of travel we have A Journey to Persia and the country of the Koords, and the preceding sketch, Souvenirs of the Danube and Bosphorus, by MORITZ WAGNER. The Journey to Persia contains much curious information and observation of a country but little known to the outer world, while in the Souvenirs we have bitter complaints and merciless revelations relative to the Metternich policy in the East, and the conduct and character of the Austrian diplomatic representative by the Porte. Many curious facts are also given relative to the present condition of Turkey, the personal appearance of the Sultan and divers Constantinopolitan dignitaries and foreign ambassadors. The commendatory characteristic of this work appears to consist in the fact, that the author, unlike the great majority of those who are elevated to constant familiarity with men of high standing and influence, is remarkably independent and unselfish in his views, and invariably speaks bold plain truth, even of individuals in whose power it actually lies to do him very decided injury. No person desirous of being au courant as to the great political world of the present day, should be ignorant of this work.

Ar Berlin, the Scientific Society (Winenschaftlicher Vereins) have been giving a course of lectures to a large and aristocratic audience, invited by members of the society. Their success has brought out the Evangelical Society, in another course of a more theological and religious nature. In the first-named society, Professor Brandes lately lectured upon the Mormons; but it seems that the majority of the elegant gentlemen and ladies, did not fully appreciate his efforts for their instruction, for want of the necessary. elementary knowledge. When the doctor rose and announced his subject, the question was at once whispered in all parts of the hall, "Who are the Mormons ?" The ladies in the most brilliant costume were generally the most eager in this inquiry. But unfortunately they got no satisfaction; the common reply of the gentleman appealed to being, "I am sorry to say I have forgotten." Some, more learned than others, however, assured their lovely companions that the Mormons were an Indian tribe of America, closely connected with, if not directly descended from, the Hurons, so frequently mentioned in Cooper's novels. Another amusing misunderstanding recently occurred in the same course. The lectures are not generally announced before-hand, but one day the newspapers got hold of the sub

Diterici would read a lecture upon Pera and the desert festivals. A great crowd of ladies was the consequence, all agog to hear about the picturesque costumes and strange ways of Pera, the national festivals of the Bedouins, and, perhaps, to have a glimpse at the mysteries of the seraglio. How great was the disappointment of the fashionable auditory when the learned doctor rose and began his discourse upon Petra, the Fastness of the Desert. That evening the ladies went home in very ill humor.

A WORK has recently been published at Ratisbon, entitled, Die Katholischon Mission-ject, and informed all the world that Professor en, Geschildert aus der Neuzeit, Miteinem Anhange, Zwei Missionen in dem Jahr 1716 und 1718 (Catholic Missions, Sketched from recent times, with a supplement: Two Missions in the years 1716 and 1718). Of this performance a German review remarks, that it was once believed that the power of the Jesuits was for ever broken, but lo! they again lift their heads in power. "Missions are one of the means by which they act upon the people-a number of Jesuits repair to a certain place, and day after day its inhabitants are preached to, taught, confessions heard, and mass read festally. The book is A WORK which political students and legisa eulogium of Catholicism, and especially of lators may read with advantage, is the Wethe Jesuits, as its truest representatives, with sen und Verfassung der Laadgemeinde (Naoccasional passes at democracy, the unbe- ture and Constitution of the Country Towns, lievers, the administration, and bureaucracy. and of the tenure of Real Estate in Lower It praises Catholicism as the only means Saxony and Westphalia, with special regard whereby the revolution can be restrained; it to the Kingdom of Hanover.) It is by Mr. tells of devotions to the heart of the Virgin STUVE, recently the Prime Minister of HanoMary and her medals, and of the plenary re-ver, and is interesting, especially as exhibitmission which the missions bring. It exalts the obedience of the Jesuits to their superiors, and praises the principle that they, without any will of their own, should be perinde ac cadaver-like a corpse. According to this book, the consequences of these missions are incalculable, and the love bestowed upon them by the Jesuits truly affecting. It wellnigh appears the same as if one were reading Chateaubriand's praises of the Patres. Only that history, for the past three hundred years, has given a somewhat strong contrast to this ideal. The best parts of the book are sketches of life in the Bagnos of Toulon and Brest.

ing the extent to which the principle of local self-government obtains in Germany, and the probabilities and methods of its extension. For its historical view of the organization of the commune or township in Germany, it is very valuable.

THE second part of the System of Ethics, by IMANUEL HERMANN (not Johann Gottlieb) FICHTE, has recently appeared. The anticipations awakened by the first historico-critical part of the work do not appear to be satisfactorily realized by this second dogmatic division.

A RECENT book of travels published at Munich is not utterly devoid of interest, though it appears to be far inferior to what we should GUTZKOW's Ritter vom Geiste has just aphave expected from the subject. We refer to peared in a second edition in Germany-no the Errimerungen an Italien, Sicilian und trifling success for a romance in nine stout Griechenland aus den Jahren, 1826-1844 (Re- volumes; another German litterateur has collections of Greece, Italy, and Sicily, in the also dramatized a part of it. Gutzkow is, be Years 1826-1844), by HEINRICH FARMBACHER. yond dispute, one of the foremost among the liv In company with the king of Bavaria, and ing writers of Germany. His collected works, as his secretary, Herr Farmbacher travelled published some years since, in twelve volumes, twice to Sicily, once to Greece, and frequent- | have lately been increased by a thirteenth, ly through Italy. The descriptions of scenes containing several fugitive stories, and one and events appear in no instance to rise above or two plays that he has brought out at varimediocrity, nor do we find any of that artis-ous times.