to emphasis and punctuation; and glaringly notorious in many churchthus of lessening the almost profa- es. nation of public worship, which is so ART. VI. Domestic Recreations or Dialogues illustrative of Natural and Scientific Subjects. By PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD. 2 vols. WE do rejoice when sensible women, and such Mrs. W. is, of correct moral principles, employ the pen in the service of the young; and we hope they will always find us as mild as we are aged: -We cannot put the books of this author on a footing with the minor productions of Miss Edgeworth, as to talent and composstion; but we suppose that they are more generally satisfactory to the public; and we can always give them the praise of utility. We put them into the hands of our young friends with the security that they will find good sense, unexception able morality, and useful information, conveyed in a pleasing, if not in a fascinating, manner, and affording sufficient sources of gratification to those whose minds are not made sickly by the novels of childhood. We should have rejoiced to have met with these volumes in our younger days; and we hope that they will have an extensive circulation. The second volume contains some outlines of anatomical knowledge. This we are much pleased with; and only wish they had been fuller, and accompanied with neat plates. ART. VII. Lessons for Young Persons in Humble Life, calculated to promote their Improvement in the Art of Reading; in Virtue and Piety; and, particularly, in the Knowledge of the Duties peculiar to their Stations. 12mo. pp. 336. WE are truly and greatly delighted with this little collection,and consider the editor, whoever has the merit of the compilation, as having rendered a very important service to the lower classes of society. We do not however wish to limit its utility to them; it will answer very valuable purposes if introduced among children in the higher stations of life. We shall make no selections from it; for we are persuaded that few families in which the culture of religious morality is an object, and which can bear on the one hand an occasional admixture of controverted tenets, or on the other a want of greater particularity and frequency in the introduction of them, will hesitate in the purchase of this cheap book. The sentiments of the compiler seem to be those of moderate orthodoxy; but they are not thrust in without reason, and his (or her) object obviously is, the inculcation of practiANN. REV. VOL. VII. cal Christianity, and not the dissemination of any peculiarities of belief. As gain, if an object at all, can only be a very subordinate one, we beg leave to suggest to the compiler, the desirableness of printing a large proportion of the pieces in the form of little tracts, like the cheap repository tracts. They would thus be more read among the poor, and consequently be more extensively useful. We have spoken of the compiler, but it ought to be observed, that considerable part of the pieces in prose have no author's name affixed to them, and are we presume chiefly original. And it would be almost injustice not to add that these ori ginal pieces have great merit; and though not in all places unexceptionable, are admirably calculated to answer the benevolent purposes of the writer. E e "The book is not written, or pub lished to promote the views of any sect, or party. It is designed for the main body of young people in this country. It is meant, in an especial manner, to recommend industry and frugality; honesty, sobriety, and contentment; fidelity in service; the religious observance of the sabbath; and the study of the Holy Scriptures, as the great rule of life." On reverting to the very judicious preface, we found a paragraph which so justly details the advantages which may be expected to arise from the perusal of this book by young persons in higher stations, that we feel desirous of presenting it to our readers, lest the title should unfortunately prevent the lessons from finding their way finding their way among many to whom they might be eminently useful. " out hurting their morals, enlarge their knowledge of human affairs. impress upon their minds, sentiments of It may virtue and piety, which are suitable for Christians in shewing them how many instances of every condition of life. By exemplary goodness, have been exhibited by persons under very trying and discouraging circumstances, it may incite them to emulation; and to consider whether they have made the return of praise and love to thegreatDispenser of all things, which the manifold favours they have received, require from them. It may excite in their minds, respect for wish, if not a firm resolution, to serve their poorer brethren; and an earnest and befriend them, especially, (in that best of ways,) by setting them an example of steady application to business, of diligent and reverent attendance on divine worship, and of strict attention to the laws of our country, and to the precepts of our holy religion. And it may excite a fervent desire, that the rich may no longer despise the poor, nor the poor envy the rich; but that all may live together in love and charity, striving to promote each other's happiness, comfort, and credit, and the glory of HIM, “whò maketh poor, and maketh rich." tion,for any part to be tolerably well done. The best portion of the volume is that containing the history of the Jews, which ocupies, with the account of their writers, about twenty pages. "Though this book is particularly designed, as the title expresses, for young persons in humble life, yet the compiler trusts that the perusal of it, may not be unpleasing, or unedifying, to young persons in higher life, who have consider able leisure for reading. It may, withART. VIII. Youth's Historical Guide, together with Evidences of the Christian Religion; comprehending an Introduction to History in General, History of the Jews, Historical Heads of Greece, Home, and England, &c. A Genealogical History of the Sovereigns of Europe, Lives of the Kings of England, a Chronological Table, Method of Studying History, &c. By JOHN SABINE, 12mo. pp. 299. Mr. SABINE defines history to be a true relation of facts and events." We wish he had been guided by this definition in the compilation of another work which has already been noticed (see p. 392) The little volume before us commences with an account of the nature of the first governments, the origin of laws, the earliest methods of authenticating contracts, of recording historical facts, &c. &c. These subjects, which are of considerable importance, are mentioned much too briefly to answer the end designed by the author. This is a fault which runs through the whole work too much is promised in the title, and attempted in the execu contained in the historical part are The paragraphs such as we find at the heads of chapters in other works, or perhaps we should be more accurate if we said they resemble the head pieces of such chapters abridged: we will quote what is said on the commonwealth of England as an example: Scots and Irish. Military operations of "CHARLES 11. proclaimed by the the Marquis of Montrose; he is put to death by the Covenanters. Charles be takes himself to Scotland. Cromwel subdues the royalists in Ireland; marches into Scotland, defeats the Scots at Dunbar. Charles marches into England. The royal army defeated at Worcester. Charles escapes into France. A scheme of coalition between the republics of Holland and England; rejected by the Dutch. The English declare war against them. Navigation act. The parliament resolves to reduce the army. Cromwel by force dissolves the parliament: He is absolute master of the government. Barebone's parliament.-Cromwel no minated Lord Protector of the three kingdoms. His vigorous but arbitrary administration. The war with Holland gloriously terminated. Vote of parliament for investing Cromwel with the regal dignity; declines that offer. The parliament confers on him a perpetual revenue, and the right of appointing his successor; he names a House of Peers; the Commons begin to oppose his measures; he dissolves the parliament. Death of Cromwel, 1658. Richard Cromwel Lord Protector; his weakness and incapacity; he dissolves his parliament, and resigns the government. H. Cromwel, Lord Protector of Ireland, follows his brother's example. The rump parliament. Disorder and anarchy of the nation. A new civil war apprehend. ed. Monk marches his army into England; procures the summoning of a free parliament. A declaration from Charles of indemnity and liberty of conscience, is presented to the House. It is received, and Charles II. proclaimed king, 1660." How such accounts, and we could not have fixed upon any one more advantageous to the author, can be denominated a "youth's historical guide," it would be difficult to conjecture: they may remind a person of what he has read before, but it seems a round about way of obtaining knowledge to seek from one book an index to the contents of another. The characters of the kings of England are taken in general from Smollet, an historian whose judgment is not always, or, indeed, generally, to be depended upon; and we object to giving a child the summary of a person's character, without letting him read the facts from which that summary is drawn. Smollet has done injustice to many whose characters he has attempted to appreciate, among these we mention William III., who does not merit the treatment that he receives from the pen of the historian, and which is given here without any qualification. Mr. Sabine's" method of studying history," is taken entirely from Dr. Priestley's lectures on history, and is in general abridged even in the doctor's own words: it is desireable that this should be stated, because Dr. Priestley was one of the Presbyterian body whom Mr. Sabine in another place modestly denominates "literary corpses.' To him, however, and such kind of writers, Mr. Sabine and his friends are indebted for almost every thing they present to the world in their own name, that merits the public notice, and hence may be assigned the reason why their readers, and hearers (where preachers are concerned) are exorted never to look into the works of heretics, from which they borrow so much themselves that they dread to be detected. ART. IX. The History of Rome, from the Foundation of the City to the Fall of the Eastern Empire, related in Familiar Conversation, &c. By ELIZABETH HELME, 12mo. 4 vols. THE abridgement, by Goldsmith of the Roman history is executed in a manner so very much superior to this, that we cannot recommend it to be superseded in favour of it. Whether children are better amused with a history given in the form of conversation than they are with an unbroken narrative of events, is a question which our inexperience forbids us to decide on. The advantage which Mrs. Helme seems to have considered as belonging, in a greater degree, to the former mode, is the facility with which "moral and instructive remarks, and observations on the most leading and interesting subjects" may be interspersed. We are not disposed to rate her remarks very highly. Among her favourite emperors, Alexander Severus is complimented upon the simplicity of his dress. "He wore no jewels, nor would permit any in his palace, saying that it was a great folly that a thing so small in quantity should be so large in price.' I am so far of the opinion of Alexander, said Mrs. Wilmot, that I never see a profusion of jewels or vessels of gold and silver, without a sentiment of concern. I consider that these glittering baubles reduced to mo. ney might raise a fund to supply the necessities of hundreds; might feed the hungry, clothe the naked, relieve the prisoner, comfort the sick, bury the dead, in short, lay the foundation of everlasting happiness." As a specimen of the moral and instructive remarks to be found in these columns, we apprehend these precious reflections are amply sufficient. So, Mrs. Wilmot never sees a profusion of jewels or golden vessels without a sentiment of concern! The good creature really thinks that by some revival of the ancient alchemy "jewels may be converted into money! and of course that as the number of the one diminishes, the quantity of the other will increase! But the best of it is, that she fancies money will clothe people and feed them that they can eat and drink money as they can bread and cheese and porter; and that by the skill of the gold beater, the precious metal may be hammered into a warm, comfortable, and regal tunic! If Mrs. Wilmot reads the history of Spain from the discovery of America and its gold mines, down to the present time, she will learn that a people may abound in money without being particularly well-fed or wellclothed: at least that their money neither contributed to the quantity of their food nor to the warmth of their clothing. She may then perhaps bring her mind to behold vessels of gold and a profusion of jewels without any "sentiment of concern" whatever. The style in which this work is composed is very inelegant and unattractive. ART. X. British [rather English] Chronology; or a Catalogue of Monarchs, from the Invasion of Julius Cæsar, to the Conquest of William, Duke of Normandy: to which are added Chronological Tables of English History, from the Conquest to the present Reign: calculated to afford Assistance to Young Students of either Sex, whe are desirous of attaining a Knowledge of the Annals of their Country. By the Rev. GEORGE WHITAKER, A. M. THE author has said enough in his title page to render an abstract of the contents of his book unnecessary. Though he speaks highly of the excellence of the plan, we think the execution of it the more satisfactory. We can perceive no end to be answered by teaching the younger class of the readers of English history, lists of the mo narchs in the Heptarchy, and the dates of their reigns: nor do we perceive why their memories should be stored with the unconnected names of "eminent persons," in each reign. The good sense displayed in various parts of the work leads us to hope that the author will accept of, and employ, a few hints for the improvement of his next edi tion and we then venture to pro mise that it will form a very valuable school book. In the mean time we may recommend it as a useful guide; and leave it to the teacher to omit those parts which he may think with us to be useless. we approve, in general, of the account of the kings; but we should recommend to teachers to omit it with pupils who have read nothing of English history in detail. The "remarkable events," we should sometimes abridge, sometimes extend; but we should always prefix the date; and we should introduce among them remarkable facts, or noted monarchs, from contemporary foreign history. The list of sparingly abridge. Those really of great note, we would retain, with two or three words as to the cause of their celebrity. The introduction we should retain. Of the thirty five kings before the Heptarchy we would reject a large proportion; or at least mark those whose names it is useless to learn. We should give in connection" eminent persons" we should unan account of the kingdoms of the Heptarchy; subjoining a selection of those monarchs who were noted for their power, or some other circumstance, and omitting all the rest. The latter is, in part, done by the author, in his list of "predominant monarchs;" but we remark considerable variation between the chronology of this and the preceding lists: The list of Saxon and Danish kings we should retain as it is. As to the "chronological tables,” Our readers may perhaps think we have occupied too much room with this little work: but good elementary books are of such incalculable importance in education, that we wish, as opportunity serves, to give hints to those who engage in the compilation of them. ART. XI. The Adventures of Ulysses. By CHARLES LAMB. 12mo. THE Odyssey is here converted into a story-book for children, a purpose for which we think that it is much less adapted than the tales of Shakespeare, lately published by the same author. "By avoiding the prolixity," observes Mr. Lamb, "which marks the speeches and the descriptions in Homer, I have gained a rapidity to the narration, which I hope will make it more attractive, and give it more the air of a romance to young readers, though I am sensible that by the curtailment I have sacrificed in many places the manners to the passion, the subordinate characteristics to the essential interest of the story." The manners, however, appear to us to be the chief characteristics of that delightful poem, and the chief source of the interest which it creates. Mr. Lamb states his obligation to the version of Chapman. The consequence, we fear, has been to produce an unpleasing inconsistency of style, by ingrafting antique phrases on modern diction. ART. XII. Juvenile Dramas, in Three Volumes. By the Author of Summer Rambles. THESE three little volumes contain a number of interesting and instructive stories, and may be put into the hands of children from the age of nine to fifteen with advantage. |