promontory, was large and long, the body showed like a great continent long and thick, the isthmus neck was at once short and slender, the arms reached nearly to the knees, and the thighs and legs were appallingly stout and muscular. An elevation and protuberance of his right shoulder gave to what nature meant for its fellow, the air of a very distant correspondence, and caused him when in action to proceed with that movement best defined by the military phrase en échelon. The only good parts were the well turned ancles and the diminutive and prettily formed feet, and they were surmounted by a pair of calves, whose Herculean dimensions seemed to threaten on the least exertion to burst their searments, that is to say, the seams of the old darned silk stockings, whose natural white was blended with the yellow leaf of time, and the powder blue of the washerwoman. The face was of a peculiar nåture. It was not actually ugly, but particularly droll. The forehead slanted back directly from the eye-brows, the nose advanced beyond the utmost verge of the aquiline. The eyes, of light blue, followed the nose with dreadful strainings, and stood far out of their sockets; white eyebrows, and lids unlashed, offered no relief to this unnatural projection; and the small mouth and chin sloping inwards, precisely in the same ratio with the forehead, gave a grey-hound sort of look to the whole physiognomy. The hair, naturally flaxen, was short and curled, and filled with powder and pomatum; the cheeks were ruddy, and covered in part with an amber-coloured down, that formed a perfect caricature of whiskers on each.

A reverential regard for the antiquity of family relics, and a natural love of finery, made M. Hippolite not only preserve those which remained to him, but carry them on his person on all occasions. He wore rings, and brooches, and buckles, in enormous profusion, and he had through all the changes of his latter life contrived to keep one dress suit formed out of the remains of his ancient wardrobe. On the present occasion, he had all his treasures on his back and other appropriate parts. His one last pair of silk stockings have been already mentioned. The garments next in order, formed of what once looked nankeen, now wore the semblance of very ill-washed white calico, and his waistcoat was silk that had been originally a bright violet, but was now washed into the hue of the outer edge of an expiring rainbow; and, saying nothing of the cravat or frill, and less than nothing of the mysterious garment to which they formed appendages, I may notice the ancient rose-coloured coat, which had long since been dyed, first a brilliant purple, and afterwards the most sombre shade of black. Monsieur Hippolite's former profession of dancing master had had a much more bracing effect on the muscular expansion of his preposterous calves, than on the nervous system of his thread-bare coat. It was reduced to the very shadow of a shade; and the many hues imprinted upon it during its various changes, gave to it a chameleon-coloured mixture that had a most extraordinary effect, as its flimsy texture was sported with by the various accidents of light and shade.

17

A Year in Europe; comprising a Journal of Observations in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, the North of Italy, and Holland. In 1818 and 1819. By JOHN GRISCOM, Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the New York Institution, Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, &c. New York. 1824. Second edition. 2 vols. 12mo.

Or the many Americans, who have within a few years made the "tour of Europe," few have published the result of their observations, either for the amusement or the instruction of their less favoured countrymen. We are not disposed to complain too loudly of this; for some of the few books of this description, that have been offered to the public, had better never extended beyond the circle of the private friends of the author. But, on the other hand, we believe there have been some who have visited Europe, whose modesty has persuaded them to withhold more than was meet from the public eye.

A fairer specimen of the "multum in parvo," than is exhibited in the volumes before us, we have seldom seen. In the short space of one year, Professor Griscom visited, as stated on the title-page of his work, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, the North of Italy, and Holland; and he has given us much valuable information from them all. His attention in all these countries was directed to the useful, often to the neglect of what might be merely agreeable; hence, in preference to other objects, we find him visiting schools and hospitals, and literary, scientific, and benevolent institutions, wherever they were to be found; and he has collected a mass of information on all these subjects, which may be, and in some instances has already been applied to the improvement of similar institutions in our country. In grace and elegance of style, our author has been surpassed by some writers, whose labours in practical utility fall far short of his. We have even noticed some inaccuracies in expression, and in the construction of his sentences; but these are so far atoned for by the intrinsic excellencies of the work, that we refrain from any more than this passing notice of their existence. We have heard this called a dull book. But we consider the remark an unfortunate one, rather impeaching the judgment of those who made it, than bringing discredit on the book which was the subject of it. He, who as a traveller

would depend for his amusement principally upon visiting operas and masquerades, might be expected, as a reader, to find fault with a book like the one before us; but he who can make the performance of his duty contribute to his highest pleasure, and whose heart expands with feelings of benevolence toward his fellow-creatures, will not find these volumes tedious or uninteresting.

There is another point of view, in which the writings of such travellers as Professor Griscom may be eminently useful to their countrymen. By introducing to their notice much that is excellent and praiseworthy in the character and institutions of the nations of Europe, they remove asperity of feeling, and do away those national jealousies and antipathies, in which too many among us are prone to indulge. The more an intercourse of this kind is encouraged the more we become acquainted with one another through the interposition of those who are disposed to look around them with a friendly eye, the more will those barriers which separate and make enemies of nations, be broken down; and those kindlier feelings, which have been too long restricted within the narrow limits of a single nation, will assume the character of that enlarged philanthropy, which can hold fellowship even with those who speak an unknown language and inhabit a distant. land. Had the Europeans who have travelled in this country and published their accounts of us afterwards, been influenced by that desire to produce a mutual good understanding, which appears to have had such place in the mind of Professor Griscom,-had they been desirous that their countrymen should think more justly of us than they had thought before, much more might have been done than yet has been done, for the accomplishment of an object so desirable. Nor need it be feared, that in thus inculcating feelings of respect and good will toward the people of other nations, we shall weaken the attachment which binds us to our own; for we cannot doubt, that when all that is excellent in the institutions of Europe, and in the character of her people, shall be rightly appreciated, there will still be found enough to cheer and encourage us in the prospect at home, and make us cling closely to the land of our nativity. Neither do we suppose, though willing to acknowledge the superiority of many of the institutions of Europe over our own of a similar character, that the advantages of improvement are to be all on our side. For, apart from the advances we have made in the science of government and

from the excellence of our political institutions, there must surely be some of our establishments for purposes more purely benevolent, our hospitals and penitentiaries, for instance,―in which we have something to impart, and not every thing to learn.

In saying that the subjects to which our traveller's attention was mainly directed, were such as most travellers might have neglected, it is not to be inferred, that his pages are exclusively devoted to these topics. Many descriptions of towns, public buildings, and occasionally of some curious phenomenon of nature, contribute their measure to enhance the interest of the work. Entertaining, as we do, these favourable sentiments of the work, it is with much satisfaction we find, that a second edition has been demanded at the hands of the author. It speaks well for the good sense of the community; it shows a prevailing disposition not merely to be amused, but to be instructed-a willingness to cherish the feelings, which are here strongly inculcated, of respect and good will for the intelligent and the worthy, though they dwell among a strange people and in a foreign land.

Much as we are disposed to commend the disposition, which our traveller has so uniformly manifested, to devote his time to subjects of practical utility, we should have found it difficult to repress our curiosity so far, when within seven miles of Stonehenge, as to pass on without visiting it. The excellent description of it, given by Professor Silliman, to which our author refers, instead of satisfying, would have excited curiosity the more. But it is not on the reader's account, that we complain of this omission, for as long as we must remain content with knowing it from description only, that of the author referred to, leaves us nothing further to require.

No part of these volumes has afforded us more satisfaction than the description of the respective schools of Fellenberg and of Pestalozzi in Switzerland. For the account of Fellenberg's institution at Hofwyl, occupying thirteen closely printed pages of this edition, we must refer our readers to the work itself, as the article is too long to be extracted entire, and too interesting to be mutilated. The description of the school of Pestalozzi at Yverdun occupies a much smaller space, but we can give only a part of that. We select that part which relates particularly to his principles of government and in

struction.

The two great instruments with which he works are faith and love. He discards the motives of ambition and emulation, as unnecessary, and as tending to counteract the sentiment of good will toward others. He thinks there is enough in the intuitive understanding of every child to accomplish the complete growth and maturity of its faculties, if its reason be properly trained and nourished, and not warped by injudicious treatment. The common plans of education he regards as too artificial, too wide a departure from nature. Too much stress is laid upon the memory, while the imagination is too much neglected. If the native feelings of the heart are allowed to operate, under the dominion of the native powers of the mind, drawn out and expanded by faith and love, the child is competent of itself to arrive gradually at the most correct and important conclusions in religion and science. There is a native and inherent life, which only requires to be cherished by genial treatment, to bring it into the full attainment of truth, and to the utmost perfection of its being. He therefore insists upon the greatest pains being taken to draw out this native life and to preserve it in full vigour. There is a constant danger of urging the child forward beyond its natural strength, of anticipating its conclusions, and thus weakening its confidence in its own powers. In the plans he adopts nothing is to be got by heart. The understanding is to be thoroughly reached, and then the memory will take care of itself.

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Very few books are used, as it is expected the children can read well before they come there. But to describe the modes of teaching, so as to render them clearly intelligible, would require much more time and space than I can possibly allot to it, were I ever so competent to make it known. We saw the exercises of arithmetic, writing, drawing, mathematics, lessons in music and gymnastics, something of geography, French, Latin, and German. To teach a school, in the way practised here, without book, and almost entirely by verbal instruction, is extremely laborious. The teacher must be constantly with the child, always talking, questioning, explaining, and repeating. The pupils, however, by this process, are brought into very close intimacy with the instructer. Their capacities, all their faculties and propensities, become laid open to his observation. This gives him an advantage, which cannot possibly be gained in the ordinary way in which schools are generally taught. The children look well, appear very contented, and apparently live in great harmony one with another; which, considering the diversity of national character and temper here collected, can be attributed only to the spirit of love and affection which sways the breast of the principal of the institution, and extends its benign influence throughout all the departments.

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The success of this mode of instruction greatly depends on the personal qualifications of those who undertake to conduct it. There is nothing of mechanism in it, as in the Lancasterian plan; no laying down of precise rules for managing classes, &c. It is all mind and feeling. Its arrangements must always depend on the ages, talents, and tempers of the scholars, and require, on the part of the teachers, the most diligent and faithful attention. Above all, it requires that the teacher should consider himself as the father and bosom friend of his pupils, and to be animated with the most affectionate desires for their good. Pestalozzi himself is all this. His heart glows with such a spirit, that the good old