“Bravo, cuckoo, call again! Loud and louder still! And the wood-topt hill ! Make the valley ring! But in vain, for spring! Garden, grove, and green ; Is there to be seen. Have observ'd their day- And herself away! 'Tis her muster-drum :- She will hear and come !" The reader will naturally be curious to cast one glance over lines that have been penned by no less a personage than Spring Rice. The following extract is a fair specimen of the noble chancellor's poetical abilities : “But though the sun his mid-day height has pass'd, Light yet remaineth while 'tis giv'n to work;- Wisdom heav'n taught, and virtue strong in faith.” What a discrepancy is there between the affected simplicity of Words and the sweet sterling poetry of Moore, every verse of which speaks to the feeling and appeals to the heart! But let the reader judge for himself. MUTE COURTSHIP. By T. MOORE, Esq. A voice that goes From heart to heart-whose mystic tone Love only knows. Kiss silently, I worship thee! Which, when imprest To this fond breast,- Of poet's art, In this hush'd heart?" We shall conclude this notice with a few stanzas from a poem by Mr. Milnes, in imitation of Reboul, the baker-poet of Nismes in France. Having described a Castle, and the infamous reputation attached to the name of its Lord, he proceeds to state how a beggar one evening knocked at the gate, and besought for repose and refuge in vain. The beggar then renews his petition. “ There is no path— I have no strength What can I do alone ? And perish on the stone ! Dare not to touch the door!” Home, wife, and children more?" The object of his ire, And arm’d his eyes with fire. “—That thou wilt know to-morrow.” “—And what thy title?"-"SORROW!” He cried, “ Thou canst not shun thy guest!” The beggar's prophecy was fulfilled. Sorrow did visit the proud and haughty Lord-his daughter eloped with a common domestic-his son was killed in a drunken riot—and he himself, with all his possessions, was swept away by the “raging Jacquerie.” EDUCATION, First Grammar of the Latin Language. By the Rev. W. Butler, M. A. 12mo. Longman. Any attempt to make an alliance between the old and radically bad plan of teaching the elements of language and the improved methods which modern inquiry has originated is injudicious and fruitless. We fear, that the little book before us is an attempt to make the old Eton grammar and the grammarschool plan of teaching a little more palatable ;-and as we wholly disapprove of the wretched system, that places an unintelligible grammar into a child's hands and makes it a lesson-book for a year or two to the exclusion of every other, we cannot speak favourably of this little work,—which, besides,-independently of the general objection-shews evident signs of having been writ. ten by one who has very little studied the capacities of young children. The author is, no doubt, a competent scholar ;-but as for a schoolmaster-c'est tout autre chose. Exercises on Orthography and Composition-on an entirely new plan. By Henry HOPKINS. 18mo. Simpkin and Marshall. The author's object—as declared in his preface—is to store the pupil's mind with facts and ideas instead of a jargon of words which are not understood and to explain which no effort is made,--and the plan pursued is to bring together all words having the same sound with a different orthography, and to compose a number of sentences containing these words in their different senses. Now, if any of our readers can discover how such a plan, which teaches words and not things—sounds and not sense, can promote the object above declared, they are more discerning than the writer of this notice. We have always thought that the cabalistic mysteries of a-be, ab, be-a, ba, see-a, ka, &c., might with great propriety be buried in the tomb of oblivion in order that a better system of teaching might take its place. Words and not letters should be taught, and the symbol should always be placed in juxtaposition with the thing meant or its pictorial likeness :-in fact, all reading lessons given to young children should partake of the nature of object-lessons. Teachers at present begin at the wrong end and employ the synthetical method, where they ought to use analysis. With respect to the difficulties of orthography, we suspect that they will be easily overcome by reading and dictation more than by any artificial plans whatever. Mr. Hopkins's book, however, has considerable merit in its way, and in the hands of a judicious teacher (who cares not for his trouble) cannot fail to be very useful. The author shows his good sense and liberality by recommending Parker's Exercises, which are by far the best works that have ever come under our notice. LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. Elements of Chemistry. By the late Dr. TURNER. A new edition much enlarged, by Wilton Turner and Dr. LIEBIG. 8vo. Part I. Inorganic Chemistry. Taylor and Walton. The name of Dr. Turner bears with it its own recommendation. “Though dead,-he yet speaketh” to the hearts of all who knew him either as a man of science or in private life. Few, very few ever_left behind them a larger number of mourning friends and admirers. Dr. Turner's work on chemistry is too well known to require that we should expatiate on its merits : our object is merely to notice the labours of Mr. Wilton Turner and his coadjutor. The former was educated in his brother's laboratory, and he has evinced a taste for and knowledge of his science that give him just claim to be well considered among the teachers of chemistry ;-Dr. Liebeg of Giessen in Hesse Darmstadt is the most celebrated analytical chemist in Germany,—and it was Dr. Turner's intention, even had he lived, to commit the latter part of the work to him exclusively. That portion of the work now before the public has been edited by Mr. W. Turner, and it is only just to remark that the amount and intrinsic value of Simpkin and Marshall. !--a poem beautifully illustrated in the work under notice by W. Harvey (artist) and J. Brain (engraver). It would be difficult to extract from a volume composed of extracts : our critical notice on the specimens of the writings of the poets whose names are mentioned in the “ Book of Gems” will therefore allude to the only one bad extract of the whole, and that is Leigh Hunt's “ Abou Ben Adhem and the Angel." TON. MISCELLANEOUS. One Vol. 8vo. pp. 208. Simpkin and Marshall. tended with essential benefits to that influential and respectable order to whom it should be particularly-indeed, solely addressed. We offer the following extract as a specimen of the author's style : “ Virtue, considered in reference to all the relative duties-and virtue, as understood in common parlance, is as the whole range of duty abstractedly merging in one given quality. The man of fashion smiles if virtue-or vir. tuous conduct be attributed to him; and the use of the word in the presence of a lady is considered an indelicate allusion :-yet, in that one word ' virtue,' is included-piety to God—justice to man, and chastity to ourselves,-together with the assemblance of all the cardinal virtues, briefly stated in Prudence-Fortitude-Temperance-and Justice. The man blushes as much at the imputation of its possession, as the woman does at its loss. Known in its proper and most comprehensive sense, virtue cannot exist in the breast of those who are in the habitual indulgence of any secret or cherished sin, or in the continued neglect of any duty; active sin and passive neglect being equally criminal. If you have a doubt on your mind as to the propriety of an action, it is sin if it be not withstood. Such is virtue; this divine attribute hath its content so absolute,' that the heart being free from self-accusation, it takes the edge from worldly misery, and adds a charm to its passing joys; then, as our career draws to a close, the prospect is cheered by that quiet monitor-by a well-placed hope in another and a better world.” Speaking of authors, page 127, we find the following proper remarks : “The manner in which authors disparage each other is not in good taste. In every other profession, calling, or trade, an honour or benefit conferred on one of its members is appreciated by the whole; but in the fraternity of scribes, you find envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness. In these improved and improving times, such things should be amended. Never let us endeavour to elevate ourselves by depressing another-lout au contraire : for my part-I only censure to amend.” In conclusion, we cannot too strongly recommend this excellent work to all families and schools, as one eminently calculated to instruct and edify young people. Heaven Entered; or, The Spirit in Glory Everlasting. By JOSEPH FREEMAN This unpretending little volume is the third of a series on the heavenly state. -"The doctrine of another and happier world being universally admitted by the good of every church and denomination,"—the Author's object is to give "something like a definite and consistent form to their meditations upon this delightful theme.” And although aware that, in the language of a modern writer, “ failure in such an attempt is more or less inevitable,” he yet hopes “it may be better to contemplate the great subject, and assist others to contemplate it, even thus imperfectly, that not at all.” In the course of the work, the Author has endeavoured to depict the feelings of the righteous man's spirit on the verge of its departure,—to trace its progress through the ethereal regions--and to describe its happy reception on the borders of the blessed. The benefit likely to result from a careful perusal of such works,—the direct tendency of which is, to familiarize the mind, amidst the absorbing cares of life, with those things which, though unseen, will shortly be realized, cannot be overrated. The Notes, inserted by way of appendix, will be found to contain many valuable extracts from eminent writers, corroborative of the Author's sentiments. We gladly recommend the whole series to the attention of the serious public. |