will do more the Maitland Club, the promising younger brother of the Bannatyne!—and the spirited association of gentlemen for encouraging art. There is a sound and healthy spirit awake in Glasgow. Let the citizens look to it that they cherish it. There is a tendency in genius and refinement of every kind to concentrate towards the capital-and it is the duty of us provincials to beware that we do not remain sluggish and inert after the abstraction. No nation can prosper where the metropolis engrosses all the intellectual energy. There must be a soul in every department of the body politic. We have been led to indulge in these remarks by having our attention casually attracted to the number of Glasgow publications which are this week upon our table. It has occurred to us, that by bringing them collectively under the reader's notice, we may give a more just notion of the literary activity of that city, than by scattering them among the other books which are at present waiting for judgment. It is not necessary for establishing the character of their birthplace, that any one of these works should be of first-rate eminence in its department. In an age like ours, when every thing is published, it is sufficient that we see the spirit busy. The fate of by far the major number of publications is necessarily to pass away and be forgotten. They have done important service, if, during their brief existence, they have set one mind a-thinking. It is only the giants of literature who can stem that sweeping torrent which bears down so much, both of good and bad, to oblivion. Having brought our long preamble to a close, we proceed to examine the works enumerated at the commencement of this paper. THE LIFE OF THOMAS MUIR.-This is a book which we cannot read without blushing. The date of Muir's trial is the year 1793—not forty years back; and yet the proceedings would have disgraced the times of Cardinal Beaton. Thomas Muir, a man of the strictest probity and deep religious feelings,—a man of good family and highly educated-was tried for sedition before the Court of Justiciary. He and his witnesses were browbeat by the judges in a manner as inhuman as it was illegal. Gentlemen were allowed to sit upon the jury, who were members of an association for the prosecution of all persons guilty of such practices as he was accused of. The counsel for the crown, contrary to the law of Scotland, led evidence to establish criminal acts not included in the indictment, and evidence which is not held admissible in our courts. It appeared on the trial, that attempts had been made to suborn witnesses. And yet the only fact proved against Mr Muir was, that he had advocated at public meetings a constitutional reform, less sweeping than that now submitted to Parliament by the ministers of the crown, in terms as moderate as are used by many who oppose that measure. This is not recognised as a crime by any law of this country; yet for this was Muir sentenced to fourteen years' transportation to Botany Bay. He was conveyed to the scene of punishment, manacled, and in company with felons of the lowest class. He was enabled, by the assistance of some American gentlemen, to make his escape; but was shipwrecked near Nootka Sound. He remained a few weeks among the Indians, then travelled alone to the Spanish colonies, was there thrown into prison, and finally sent to Europe. The vessel which carried him was attacked by a British frigate; he was wounded incurably, and died not long afterwards at Paris. We offer no comments upon these simple facts. They furnish a fearful picture of what atrocities party spirit and political bigotry can impel men to perpetrate. At a moment of excitement like the present, we should have hesitated to revive the recollection of them, but for their dreadful warning. Muir was an innocent and murdered man, and for the wealth of worlds would we not incur the responsibility of his persecutors. "In the hour of death and the day of judgment, God will remember them." Mr Mackenzie's work evinces generous feeling and careful research—but the style is juvenile, and too ambitious. A VISION OF HELL.-There is bad taste in the title. It is meant to be striking, and is only puerile. The poem consists of two parts:-Tartarus in nine, and Elysium in seven cantos. It is composed in blank verse, which is never very musical, and is sometimes very lame. Tartarus is extremely insipid. Elysium is better; but all that can be said for it is, that it contains reminiscences of classical literature, elegantly, but rather tamely, expressed. The author is a scholar and a man of taste, but we rather fear he is no poet. NECROPOLIS GLASGUENSIS.-This is an elegant and pleasing work. We heartily approve of the sentiments expressed by the author, and the end which he seeks to promote. It appears to us, however, that he indulges occasionally in some notions which are, to say the least, a little fantastic, and occasionally in an unnecessary parade of his extensive reading. His object is to get the piece of enclosed ground within which Knox's mo nument is erected, the declivity of the Mollendinar glen, in short, opposite to the Cathedral, converted into a public cemetery, and laid out with some attention to ornament. We heartily concur in his remarks upon the general beastly state of our Scotch burial-grounds. The Maclarties are in the process of being driven from the abodes of the living, but they still reign lords paramount of the mansions of the dead. We concur also in the opinions he expresses regarding the beneficial tendency of habituating a people to feel a pride and pleasure in ornamenting the graves of their lost ones; with this restriction, that it be not carried to the finical and maudlin excess of his and Lady Morgan's favourite cemetery of Père la Chasse. That is tainted with the very coquetry of sentiment. It is a fit │rendezvous for dames of Ephesus. How much more touching the unstudied elegance of a Swiss grave-yard! We know one place of sepulture, even in Scotland, which seems specially consecrated to the spirit of beauty. It is that of the little parish of Senwick, in Galloway, now merged with two others into one larger cure. The church is no longer used, and has been allowed to go to ruin. The burying-ground is bounded by two gentle ascents—that to the north is wooded-which commencing their rise from its walls, effectually shut it out from the view even of the nearest dwelling-houses. The third side runs along the summit of a precipice which sinks down abruptly to the waters of a secluded bay, formed by the embouchure of the Dee. The graves, the ruins of the church, the debris which lie in strange confusion, or shoot up in tall obelisks at the foot of the precipice, are mantled with ivy. The quiet nook is almost overgrown with wild briers and the stunted hawthorn, which seems to shoot up spontaneously over the whole south of Scotland. The vegetation is plentiful, but, owing to the shallowness of the soil, not unduly luxuriant. The last time we visited the spot, was on one of those still grey autumnal days so frequent in our climate. The foliage was rich with all the varied dyes of the season. From the scarlet haw, and the still richer scarlet leaf of the crane-bill, (geranium pusillum,) to the funereal green of the ivy, there was a continuous chain of connecting tints, beautifully and variously mingled. All was silence save for the occasional cawing of a stray rook. Man and his doings were only to be seen far away over the motionless water, which glimmered dimly through the thick atmosphere. There were traces of humanity around, but they were consecrated to death; and moreover, Dying insensibly away From human thoughts and purposes, And blend with the surrounding trees. True ornament must be based on nature and necessity. It is no fabled bird of paradise floating for ever on the department of the community, have attracted the eulogies of all whose commendation is desirable. But while such is the general sentiment in regard to this body in its present state, there is reason to fear, that prejudices still exist in the minds of not a few as to some of its founders. They are spoken of as good men, but as turbulent and fanatical; their zeal is considered as by far too vehement for its object; and their aim, notwithstanding their high professions of entire devotedness to the glory of God, is asserted to have been the attainment of popular influence, or the gratification of party feeling. Nothing can be better adapted to remove these prejudices, as far as they regard Ebenezer Erskine, whose character has been principally affected by them, than the volume before us, which is a well-written performance, and remarkable for its calm, judicious, and charitable spirit. We here see him acting under the strongest convictions of duty, atmosphere, at each new flight it must spring again from some resting-place. Let the author of the book, which has suggested these remarks, qualify his enthusiasm with this recollection, and persevere in his good task. There are only three means of attaining his end. The first is, Agitation; the second, Agitation; the third, Agitation. SWAN'S SELECT VIEWS OF THE LAKES OF SCOTLAND.We have for some time had our eye upon Mr Swan, as one of the most accurate and elegant, if not indeed the most accurate and elegant engraver of botanical drawings in Scotland. We have also traced with sincere pleasure his gradual rise in a higher department of his art-landscape engraving. We can trace his progressive improvement even in the work before us, the third part of which is immeasurably superior to its predecessors. The other two were more than respectable, but this is elegant. Messrs Fleming and Swan have now presented us with views of the interminable Loch Lomond, in all its vary-happiest in the tranquil scenes of the pastoral functions, ing aspects. They have penetrated into Perthshire, and led us through the wild magnificence of Loch Katrine; round the lonely shores of Loch Auchray, which, in its surpassing gentleness, lies girdled round by stern, stony mountains, like some feudal beauty, guarded by the rude forms and faces, but faithful hearts of her father's retainers; up to Loch Venachoir, fair to the eye, but beneath whose specious surface dwells the dread Water-Horse. Mr Swan's style of engraving is still, if any thing, rather too timid and anxious—his lights and shadows are apt to want breadth, and do not fade into each other with sufficient softness. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, (for which we suspect the painter is in part to blame,) Mr Swan already stands high as an engraver, and may stand still higher if he do himself justice. SKETCH OF THE LITERARY AND COMMERCIAL SOCIETY OF GLASGOW.-We notice this brochure by our indefatigable and talented friend Atkinson, merely as an excuse for adverting to the existence of a society which has held the noiseless tenor of its way in Glasgow since 1806, and yet has witnessed the developement of more talent than many which make a noise in the world. It has been graced with the co-operation of a Campbell and a Mylne. It was to it that Dr Chalmers first expressed his views of the Cause and Cure of Pauperism. Mr Owen, too— although this be more a matter of curiosity than importance-first expounded his system within its walls. Many others might be mentioned. We have now gone over our last importations from Glasgow, and when we add that they are merely a fair average specimen of its literary labours, we are sure that the reader will agree with us that there is a good spirit at work in that great community, which cannot fail to bring forth good fruit. Life and Diary of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, Father of the Secession Church. By the Rev. Donald Fraser. 12mo. Pp. 543. Edinburgh. William Oliphant. 1831. THE liberal feeling of the present day is one of its many gratifying characters; the fury of contending parties in the church of God has passed away; a wise and good man is now respected as he deserves, whatever is the denomination he bears; and he who should apply to any individual, or assembly, the terms of abuse once common in disputes, would be laughed at as the dupe of antiquated prejudice, or abhorred as the slave of a rancorous bigotry. These remarks are especially applicable to the change in public feeling towards the Secession. The number, general intelligence, and pious habits of its adherents, and the prominent place which they have taken in all measures of holy utility, have raised them to a due place in public estimation: while the education and talents, the diligence and fidelity of their pastors, and their influence in maintaining near and order in a large and walking humbly with God in the sequestered spot where a great part of his life was spent. A Diary, written by himself in a peculiar kind of short hand, has been deciphered with great labour, and has contributed to enrich the work. In it we see, not the zealot, but the man of God; not envy working, nor revenge plotting; but contrition weeping in secret places, faith embracing the promises, and love and joy delighting themselves in God. Many affecting incidents in his family and neighbourhood are here alluded to, and the workings of his mind. respecting them are depicted with every symptom of sincerity. To the adherents to the Secession this work will be peculiarly interesting; but the good of other parties will read it with pleasure, as a book which shows the influence of Christian principle to support and invigorate the mind, and the power of devotion working in sorrow and reproach, in suffering and death. It contains, besides the incidents connected with the rise of the Secession, many interesting particulars on the state of the Church of Scotland in the beginning of the last century; the, rebellion in 1715 and 1745; and striking anecdotes respecting individuals. Of the latter, we present our, readers with one as a specimen, in which Mr Erskine is a chief actor, and we are sorry our limits will not permit us to give more. "At one time, after travelling, towards the end of the week, from Portmoak to the banks of the Forth, on his. way to Edinburgh, he, with several others, was prevented by a storm from crossing that frith. Thus obliged to remain in Fife during the Sabbath, he was employed to preach, it is believed, in Kinghorn. Conformably to his usual practice, he prayed earnestly in the morning for the divine countenance and aid in the work of the day; but suddenly missing his note-book, he knew not what to do. His thoughts, however, were directed to that command, Thou shalt not kill;' and having studied the subject with as much care as the time would permit, he delivered a short returned to his lodging, he gave strict injunctions to the sermon on it in the forenoon after the lecture. Having servant that no one should be allowed to see him during the interval of worship. A stranger, however, who was also one of the persons detained by the state of the weather, expressed an earnest desire to see the minister; and having with difficulty obtained admittance, appeared much agita ted, and asked him, with great eagerness, whether he knew him, or had ever seen or heard of him. On receiving assuracter, and history, the gentleman proceeded to state that rance that he was totally unacquainted with his face, cha-' his sermon on the sixth command had reached his conscience; that he was a murderer; that, being the second. son of a Highland laird, he had some time before, from base. and selfish motives, cruelly suffocated his elder brother, who slept in the same bed with him; and that now he had no peace of mind, and wished to surrender himself to justice, to suffer the punishment due to his horrid and unnatural crime. Mr Erskine asked him if any other person knew His answer was, that, so far as he any thing of his guilt. was aware, not a single individual had the least suspicion of it; on which the good man exhorted him to be deeply affected with a sense of his atrocious sin, to make an imme diate application to the blood of sprinkling, and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance; but, at the same time, since, in Providence, his crime had hitherto remained a secret, not to disclose it, or give himself up to public justice. The unhappy gentleman embraced this well-intended counsel in all its parts, became truly pious, and maintained a friendly correspondence with this servant of the Most High God' in future life. It is added, that after he withdrew, the minister had the happiness to recover the manuscript formerly missing; and, in consequence, preached in the afternoon on the topic he had originally in view." It may be thought by some that the advice was too lenient, and that such a monster should not have been suffered to live to enjoy the fruits of his villainy; but if he was a sincere penitent, his crime would be ever before him in the deepest anguish; and if this was only a temporary awakening of terror and remorse, Providence would, in some other way, make his sin to find him out. The extracts from the Diary will be pleasing to pious readers. It shows the delight which Mr Erskine felt in prayer, and how he was tried with that bitterness of heart under which true Christians often groan. We must own, however, that there are some passages in it which strike us as too familiar for the public eye; and as likely to strengthen the objections of many against the publication of such writings. Mr Erskine's writing it in short hand, and his discontinuing it during the most important and busy period of his life, seem to intimate that he had lost those impressions of the utility of the practice which he once had. It is plain, from its whole strain, that the idea of its being published never once entered his mind. It is said, that to the pure all things are pure; but what is published is laid open to the inspection of all; and it is easy to judge what unhappy effects, on some classes, the indiscreet disclosure of the secret confessions, and fears, and struggles of good men may have. It will make many attach the idea of sullenness to men they were accustomed to venerate; and of gloom and terror to a religious course, whose ways they have been told are ways of pleasantness. We wish the editor had woven the most interesting passages of this Diary into the narrative, as illustrations of particular scenes or virtues. Thus the feeling of dullness and sameness, which is apt to be excited by frequently recurring extracts, would have been avoided; and thus Mr Erskine would have been presented to us in a way more vivid, and what he did to men would have been shown in connexion with his purposes before God. Upon the whole, we consider this book as a respectable piece of biography. The style is clear and correct, the reflections are judicious and appropriate, and the good sense and candour of the writer are everywhere apparent. consist are before us. Wilson, like Audubon, is identified with his writings. At present we can only remark, that the birds described in this work have been classified by the learned editor, according to the most approved system of arrangement. The bulk of the notes has been reserved for the concluding volume. It is enough to say that they are to be furnished by him who first created the study of natural history in Edinburgh. But we have been farther given to understand, that it is Professor Jameson's intention to add an appendix of the arctic birds of America, the materials for which have been chiefly furnished by the enterprising discoverer, and distinguished naturalist, Dr Richardson. As a matter of course, the professor will avail himself of the valuable contributions of the Prince of Musignano to the Italian journals, as far as they bear upon his subject. We present our readers with a few extracts, which are submitted to them simply as specimens of Wilson's style. The first leaves a favourable impression of his powers of describing natural scenery. "Though generally dissuaded from venturing by myself on so long a voyage down the Ohio in an open skiff, I considered this mode, with all its inconveniences, as the most favourable to my researches, and the most suitable to my funds; and I determined accordingly. Two days before my departure, the Alleghany river was one wide torrent of broken ice, and I calculated on experiencing considerable difficulties on this score. My stock of provisions consisted of some biscuit and cheese, and a bottle of cordial, presented me by a gentleman of Pittsburg; my gun, trunk, and great coat, occupied one end of the boat; I had a small tin, occasionally to bale her, and to take my beverage from the Ohio with; and, bidding adieu to the smoky confines of Pitt, I launched into the stream, and soon winded away among the hills that everywhere enclose this noble river. The weather was warm and serene, and the river, like a mirror, except where floating masses of ice spotted its surface, and which required some care to steer clear of; but these, to my surprise, in less than a day's sailing, totally disappeared. Far from being concerned at my new situation, I felt my heart expand with joy at the novelties which surrounded me; I listened with pleasure to the whistling of the red bird on the banks as I passed, and contemplated the forest scenery, as it receded, with increasing delight. The smoke of the numerous sugar camps, rising lazily among the mountains, gave great effect to the varying landscape; and the grotesque log cabins, that here and there opened from the woods, were diminished into mere doghouses by the sublimity of the impending mountains. If you suppose to yourself two parallel ranges of forest-covered hills, whose irregular summits are seldom more than three or four miles apart, winding through an immense extent of country, and enclosing a river half a mile wide, which alternately washes the steep declivity on one side, and leaves a rich forest-clad bottom on the other, of a mile or so in breadth, you will have a pretty correct idea of the appearance of the Ohio. The banks of these rich flats are from twenty to sixty and eighty feet high; and even these last were within a few feet of being overflowed in December, 1808." were American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of the Birds of the United States. By Alexander Wilson and Charles Lucian Bonaparte. Edited by Robert Jameson, Professor of Natural History in the Univer- There is great beauty in his description of a species of sity of Edinburgh. In four Volumes. Vol. I. (Con-owl-particularly where he speaks of its manner of flight. stable's Miscellany, Vol. LXVIII.) Edinburgh. 1831. WE last week introduced to the British public the Ornithological Biography of the enthusiastic Audubon. And, thanks to the oldest and best beloved of our miscellanies, we have now an opportunity of drawing attention to his master—the first who devoted his life to the illustration of American ornithology. Much has been added to our knowledge in that department since Wilson's death, but no one individual has yet furnished the tithe of the amount of his contributions. And for accuracy of observation, and lively sense of the poetry of nature, we question if even Audubon equals him. merit of the Prince of Musignano consists in his enlightened love and liberal patronage of science. The great We postpone all detailed criticism of Hetherington's elegant and interesting biography of Wilson, and also of his writings, until the four volumes of which this work is to "The bird which I am about to describe was taken in this situation, and presented to me by a friend. I kept it in the room beside me for some time, during which its usual position was such as I have given it. Its eyelids we either half shut, or slowly and alternately opening and shutting, as it suffering from the glare of day; but no sooner was the sun set, than its whole appearance became lively and animated; its full and globular eyes shone like those of a cat; and it often lowered its head, in the manner of a cock when preparing to fight, moving it from side to side, and also vertically, as if reconnoitring you with great sharpness, In flying through the room, it shifted from place to place with the silence of a spirit, (if I may be allowed the expression,) the plumage of its wings being so extremely fine and soft as to occasion little or no friction with the air,—a wise provision of nature, bestowed on the whole genus, to enable them, without giving alarm, to seize their prey in the night. For an hour or two in the evening, and about break of day, it flew about with great activity. When angry, it snapped its bill repeatedly with violence, and so loud as to be heard in the adjoining room, swelling out its eyes to their full dimensions, and lowering its head as before described. It swallowed its food hastily, in large mouthfuls; and never was observed to drink." The following passage is lively and amusing: the "Crows have been employed to catch crows by the following stratagem: A live crow is pinned by the wings down to the ground on his back, by means of two sharp, forked sticks. Thus situated, his cries are loud and incessant, particularly if any other crows are within view; These, sweeping down about him, ave instantly grappled by the prostrate prisoner, by the same instinctive impulse that urges a drowning person to grasp at every thing within his reach. Having disengaged the game from his clutches, the trap is again ready for another experiment; and by pinning down each captive, successively, as soon as taken, in a short time you will probably have a large flock screaming above you, in concert with the outrageous prisoners below. Many farmers, however, are content with hanging up skins, or dead carcasses, of crows in their corn fields, in terrorem; others depend altogether on the gun, keeping one of their people supplied with ammunition, and constantly on the look-out. In hard winters, the crows suffer severely; so that they have been observed to fall down in the fields, and on the roads, exhausted with cold and hunger. In one of these winters, and during a long-continued deep snow, more than six hundred crows were shot on the carcass of a dead horse, which was placed at a proper distance from the stable, from a hole of which the discharges were made. The premiums awarded for these, with the price paid for the quills, produced nearly as much as the original value of the horse, besides, as the man himself assured me, saving feathers sufficient for filling a bed. thus rendered independent of illustrations, by the opportunities afforded of consulting stuffed specimens. Memoir relative to Itinerating Libraries. By the Rev. FOURTEEN years ago, a scheme was commenced by Mr Samuel Brown of Haddington, for supplying the county of East Lothian with as many libraries as might suffice for the whole population: sixty libraries, it was reckoned, would complete the object, and when properly distributed, leave no individual more remote than one mile and a half. Each library was to consist of 50 volumes; and though" the primary object was to promote the interests of religion, and a large proportion of the books was accordingly of a religious character, yet there has also been a considerable proportion of history, biography, travels, and popular works on the arts and sciences." Mr Brown has since proceeded in this benevolent design steadily and with unceasing success. We are told in this Memoir by his brother, that forty of the libraries have now been established,-only twenty being wanted for the comThe expense of each, incluplement to East Lothian. ding book-case, catalogue, and issuing-books, appears to have been betwixt L. 10 and L. 12; and the whole amount has been raised by subscription. Can it be doubted that this is a precious gift to a peasantry naturally thoughtful, prepared for knowledge by this, and eager to turn it to account by achieving such a portion of worldly comforts as may somewhat correspond to the desires that are inseparable from intelligence? Can it be doubted that here is a philanthropist of the true stamp? His path is one of novelty; but invention implies heat; and here it can be no other than the heat of benevolence. There are two features in the scheme that distin "The crow is easily raised and domesticated; and it is only when thus rendered unsuspicious of, and placed on terms of familiarity with, man, that the true traits of his genius and native disposition fully develope themselves. In this state he soon learns to distinguish all the members of the family; flies towards the gate, screaming, at the ap-guish it from one merely employed in the raising of chaproach of a stranger; learns to open the door by alighting ritable funds, and the conversion of money into books, on the latch; attends regularly at the stated hours of din- and a plan of library issues. First, the libraries are to ner and breakfast, which he appears punctually to recollect; itinerate; each remains at one station for a period of two is extremely noisy and loquacious; imitates the sound of various words pretty distinctly; is a great thief and hoarder years; and then gives place to another from a neighbouring district. Some contrivance of the kind is obviously of curiosities, hiding in holes, corners, and crevices, every loose article he can carry off, particularly small pieces of requisite against the satiety incident to a small collection metal, corn, bread, and food of all kinds; is fond of the of fifty volumes; but it will require an unremitting susociety of his master, and will know him even after a long perintendence. Next, the libraries have a principle of absence, of which the following is a remarkable instance, self-production, which is thus described in the Memoir : and may be relied on as a fact: A very worthy gentleman," It is proposed to issue the books the first year that a now [1811] living in the Gennesee country, but who, at division is to take place, at the rate of a penny a-volume; the time alluded to, resided on the Delaware, a few miles below Easton, had raised a crow, with whose tricks and but as a subscription, however small, might essentially This crow impede the success of the scheme, and as it is of immense society he used frequently to amuse himself. lived long in the family; but at length disappeared, having, consequence to bring the books within the reach of the as was then supposed, been shot by some vagrant gunner, or whole population, particularly the young, they will be destroyed by accident. About eleven months after this, as issued gratuitously the second year. By such a system, the gentleman, one morning, in company with several combined with the plan of lending out the books when others, was standing on the river shore, a number of crows new to subscribers of 5s., each division may on an avehappening to pass by, one of them left the flock, and flying directly towards the company, alighted on the gentleman's rage be expected to produce 25s. a-year, which, as the shoulder, and began to gabble away with great volubility, number of libraries increases, will prove the fruitful as one long absent friend naturally enough does on meeting parent of new libraries." Some illustrations of this with another. On recovering from his surprise, the gen-principle are added in the Memoir: a capital of L.5000 tleman instantly recognised his old acquaintance, and en- a-year, with a return of 25s. yearly on each library, deavoured, by several civil but sly manœuvres, to lay hold would in 50 years supply 990,152 libraries, in place of of him; but the crow, not altogether relishing quite so much familiarity, having now had a taste of the sweets of liberty, cautiously eluded all his attempts; and suddenly glancing his eye on his distant companions, mounted in the air after them, soon overtook and mingled with them, and was never afterwards seen to return." The whole of Wilson's and Bonaparte's text, together with the notes and additions of the editor, are comprised in four volumes of the Miscellany. This is a bargain. The illustrations of the work are publishing (an entirely independent speculation) in a neat form, and at a cheap rate, by Captain Brown. But we trust that some arrangements are soon to be made, by which our College Museum shall be opened to the public at large, at least to all who matriculate; and residenters in Edinburgh be. And in reference to coun25,000 without the return. ties, L.50 a-year would in 25 years give 702 libraries, or one division of books to every 400 individuals, in a population of 280,000. The Memoir is written not to extol the author's brother, but to recommend the adoption of the plan in other counties. But the first requisite is to excite the zeal of an individual; and such a one, we fear, is not to be found in all counties as in East Lothian. The itinerating libraries are yet a solitary experiment in one county;-like that of the parallelograms in Lanark ;— though unlike the latter, they are unassailable by any reasonable objection. The American Mechanic's Magazine and Journal of 1830. Reid. sulted the original authorities, and availed himself of the The American Annals of Education and Instruction. to see it reach a third, edition. The American Monthly Magazine. No. IX. Decem- THE first of these scarcely falls under our notice, yet deserves the attention of every one the least interested in mechanical improvement; the present number is in a great measure filled with communications and tables concerning rail-roads, canals, &c., from which may be gleaned much important information regarding the success of rail-roads on the other side of the Atlantic. The History of the Reformation and Church in Scotland, till the General Assembly of Glasgow. By T. Stephen. 12mo. Pp. 259. Edinburgh. John Boyd. 1831. of day, we can scarcely, with all our liberality, conceive AN ingenious piece of special pleading. At this time a mind so constituted as seriously to entertain the views propounded in this work. MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE. MILITARY MEMORANDA. By an Amateur. BREAKING THE LINE. We scarcely imagined that the Americans were making such extensive exertions in the cause of education, until we read this number of the American annals of education. The attention which the subject seems to meet with both from the legislature and the country at large, will not fail of producing most important results in the rising ge- SOME time ago a mighty fuss and hubbub was made on neration. The work before us is entirely filled with the subject of breaking the line, as it is called; and a great essays, papers, and letters, on education. The second gun of the press, charged to the very muzzle, with all article is a review of the system of Frederick Thiersch, as manner of quibbling and sophistry, was let off in defence sanctioned by the King of Bavaria, and gives a tolerable of the claims of the late Mr Clerk, of Eldin, as the good analysis of both the work and the system. The third alleged discoverer of this celebrated manœuvre. We have article is on the philosophy of language, in which we have no intention to revive the discussion as to the pretensions language traced not only to its first roots, but even to the of Mr Clerk, and the probability or improbability of his cause of these roots, in a manner that could be understood having communicated, or caused to be communicated, to by a child of ten years of age. The fourth article is a Lord Rodney the idea of breaking the line, and thus. review of Hall's Lectures on Schoolkeeping, which demon- cutting off a portion of the enemy's force; firstly, because strates very clearly, how absurd it is that, when an ap- the principle of this operation was familiarly known prenticeship is required for all other trades and profes-long before either Mr Clerk or his pretensions were heard sions, that none whatever is required for a schoolmaster. of; secondly, because it has not been unfolded with scienIn America this idea is exploded, and we are told of one tific precision, and with the necessary limitations, in that school (for teachers) that manufactures fifty dominies gentleman's treatise on naval tactics; thirdly, because per annum. The article is very well written, and we there never has been a decisive battle fought, either on wish to see it, as well as the lectures of Hall, in the land or on water, where the general principle on which hands of every Scottish schoolmaster. In the seventh this manoeuvre is founded, was not more or less reduced article, we have an interesting account of the progress of to practice. To satisfy ourselves that the principle was deaf and dumb institutions in that country, a place where, familiarly known, we have only to read the annals of until lately, the idea of teaching "deaf mutes" was reck- war, and, not to go very far back, to turn, in a particular oned almost as Quixotical as sailing in a balloon. The manner, to the history of the campaigns of Frederick. The tenth article, on the progress of female education, is wor- whole secret of this great monarch's success, consisted in thy the notice of all who are opposed to the practice of operating, with the greatest mass of his force, a combined giving females an extensive and varied education; in fact, effort on the decisive point. This is the fundamental we cannot do better than quote the words of the Western principle, by the application of which all military operaReview." If this world is ever to become a happier and tions are good, and without which they are vicious;—this is better place, woman, well educated, disciplined, and prin- the principle, by the application of which Frederick gained cipled, sensible of her influence, and wise and benevolent the decisive victories of Leuthen and Rosbach, and Daun to exert it aright, must be the original mover in the great defeated the Prussian monarch himself at Hobenkirch; -this is the principle, by the application of which, at a later period, Bonaparte destroyed three successive armies of Austrians, with a force numerically inferior to any one of the three;-this is the principle, by the application of which, in a greater or less degree, all decisive victories have been gained, in ancient as well as modern times ;-and this is the principle which, applied to the tactical combinations of fleets, has rendered naval victories in recent times so much more decisive than they ever were at any former period. It is, in fact, of universal application. Jomini, speaking of the battle off Cape St Vincent, says, “Les Anglais remportèrent cette victoire, comme celle d'Ouessant, pour avoir percé la ligne ennemie; car, nous le répétons, le premier talent d'un général est de paralyser une partie des forces de son adversaire, pour tomber, avec toutes les siennes, sur le point qui lui offre de plus grandes chances de succès. Jervis triompha par l'application du principe qui guida Bonaparte à Montenotte et à Castiglione; sur mer comme sur terre, les memes resultats sont produits par les memes causes. (Hist. Critiq, et Milit. des Guerres de la Révol, tom, x. p. 198.) work." Regarding the third of these Transatlantic magazines, we think the style exceedingly flippant and vague; there is not a good paper in it, if we except the review of Galt's Life of Byron. The first article in the number is " The Wife's Appeal," and we will give it entire the first time we have room for it, as being the best piece of fugitive American poetry that we have lately seen. Historical Memoirs of John Knox; containing a Sketch of Scottish History from the Earliest Times to the Period of his Death; with an Account of the Reformation in Scotland. 1831. Second Edition. Leith. James Burnet. THIS is an excellent little book, of modest pretensions. It professes no more than to make the history of our great Reformer more patent than could be hoped for if it were confined to publications so expensive as that of Dr M'Crie. The author has thought for himself, con |