good in verse; the author of Paul and Virginia; of Telemaque; of Corinne. If poetry was only what the dictionary of the Aca demy calls it, l'art de faire des ouvrages en vers, or, according to Johnson's definition, metrical composition; then, indeed, these writers were no poets. But they were eminently so, if poetry is the art of exciting the imagination, either by a representation of material ob jects, or by an imitation of the language of our passions and affections, and in doing this with the truth of nature, in a manner that all may feel who are capable of feeling.

A work of genius often fixes the attention of the reader less than one that is merely good, and not more than a bad one, although from a very different cause. The mind is carried away from the ideas and sentiments expressed in the first, by those it suggests, it slumbers over the last, and gives its full and undivided attention to the second.

The poetry of almost all foreign nations is different from the French; and those who are acquainted with the latter only, can scarcely form an idea of what is meant by poetry. That wondrous art of awakening the mind to strong emotions, by happy expressions, and words of magic import, arranged in measured and har monious lines; of fixing as they pass, some of those fleeting nameless thoughts that swell the heart, and dim the eyes; and, as the crowd of strange forms, creatures of another world, and deeds of hands unseen, rush on the mind like a mighty torrent, of snatching a few drops from the hurrying stream, and giving a color and a name to the invisible creation.

Our author visits Mr. Southey, of whose works he appears competent to judge; and then we find him again at Edinburgh, attending the high court of justiciary, of which the proceedings supply the subject of a learned note. We are then led to the "plaisant paths of poesy," by his introduction to Mr. Walter Scott, of whom he does not say much, although he gives a description of his features and complexion. Some of the by-play in our author's performance is very good: he says of Boswell's Life of Johnson

It is more amusing than the best novel, and more useful than the best history. As a portrait from nature of the manners, customs, and ways of thinking of his own time, delineated with a simplicity, and a candour of vanity, which set criticism and ridicule at defiance; you find yourself in the best society the country could afford; the most learned, the cleverest, and the most witty. It is conversation, all substance and spirit, never languid, weak or insignificant; enjoy. ed without the painful effort of bearing a part in it, or the fidgetty consciousness of your own dullness and silence.

The second volume opens with a geological exposé of the Wernerian and Huttonian theories: to that succeeds a critique

on the Edinburgh Review, after which we find a good deal of interesting writing under the following heads. Dunbar-Alnwick-Newcastle-Lancastrian School-Leeds-Castleton

Peak's-hole-Chatsworth-Matlock-Dove-dale-Litchfield

Birmingham-The

Leasowes-Hagley-Blenheim-OxfordThe King-Windsor-Pictures, and at length, after an absence of nine months, we find our ingenious wanderer once more in London. He makes several agreeable jaunts to Chiswick, Twickenham, &c. and attends service in Westminster Abbey, We are afraid that the tone of his enthusiasm must have been considerably lowered by his abode in England and Scotland, since instead of being paragoned with the empyrean psalmody, the chanting is simply said to be "very fine." This nice observer is very severe upon the officiating clergyman, whom he calls a purple-faced, short-necked man, forcing his hollow, vulgar, insincere voice through a fat narrow passage." Daily experience unhappily convinces us, that the voice may be the organ of insincere sentiments, but an insincere voice is an expression new to us. Our tourist seems scarcely to have recovered from the disgust excited by this poor gentleman's apoplectic complection and defective intonation, before he goes to see Mr. West's picture of Christ healing the sick. The grand question of -the education of the poor is liberally discussed; and, like the grand duchess of Oldenburgh, Monsieur goes to see the great breweries, and makes very rational observations upon them. His inquiries embrace a wide circle-the liberty of the press; British empire in India; vaccination; the Prince Regent's fête.

We are waiting, he says, only for a change of wind to go on board the ship which is to carry us away, for ever perhaps, from a country where we have been received with kindness, and where we leave a few friends. If I was asked at this moment, for a summary opinion of what I have seen in England, I might probably say, that its political institutions present a detail of corrupt practices, of profusion, and of personal ambition under the mask of public spirit, very carelessly put on, more disgusting than I should have expect ed: the workings of the selfish passions are exhibited in all their nakedness and deformity. On the other hand, I should admit very readily, that I have found the great mass of the people richer, happier, and more respectable than any other with which I am acquainted. I have seen prevailing among all ranks of people that emulation of industry and independence, which characterizes a state of advancing civilization, properly directed. The manners, and the whole deportment of superiors to inferiors, are marked with that just regard and circumspection, which announce the presence of laws equal for all. By such signs I know this to be the best government that ever existed. I sincerely admire it in its results,

but I cannot say I particularly like the means. What I dislike here, I might be told, belongs to human nature in general; to the world, rather than to England particularly. It may be so, and I shall not undertake the panegyric of either the one or the other.

With some candid reflections on the British character, and a brief narration of some of the phenomena, which interest the observant passenger during a voyage, the book closes.

ART. IX. A Compendious System of Modern Geography. By Thomas Myers, A. M. 8vo. pp. 520. 18 Maps. 12s. boards. Concluded from page 37. No. I.

THE omission of the present part of this article in our first

number arose from an accidental occurrence, which it is unnecessary for us to explain; and as we consider the extract from the author's preface, given in our preceding number, as a brief, but accurate description of the whole work, our principal business will be to justify this opinion by a few extracts, and to point out some particulars in which this system differs from others. A short analysis of the first two or three chapters, will not only effect this, but afford a pretty correct idea of the whole book, as nearly the same topics occur in the consideration of each of the countries of which it treats. The first chapter, on the rise and progress of geography, treats of the origin of geography, its primitive state among the Egyptians, Hebrews, Chinese, Persians, Parthians, and Phenicians. The invention of the gnomon, the improvements of Thales, Tresmegistus, Anaxinander, Aristagoras, Pytheas, and Eratosthenes. The ancient measures of the earth, the improvements of Hipparchus, and the Roman survey. The improvements introduced into the science by Ptolemy, and the corrections of his latitudes. The geography of the Arabs, the discovery of Iceland, and the invention of the mariner's compass. The discovery of America, and of the passage round the Cape of Good Hope. The utility of time-pieces, refraction, Jupiter's satellites, and learned societies in promoting the science of geography. The discoveries of circumnavigators, and the modern measures of the earth conclude the sketch.

Thus in the space of about 26 pages, the learner is furnished with a distinct view of the principal features in the history of this interesting science; which is a valuable and distinguishing part of Mr. Myers's work, nothing like which is to be found in any other of the same extent. The information it contains is various, and the author has employed much industry and inves tigation to render it correct. The following short extract will

show the style in which it is written; but the whole deserves to be read by every student of geography.

The Phenicians, an Egyptian colony, soon perceived, from the sterility of their situation, that their only prospect of either obtaining opulence or rising into power, must be drawn from foreign sources. This induced them to apply the astronomical and geographical knowledge they had brought from the parent state, to the purposes of navigation; and by this means they became masters of the sea, and of nearly all the commerce of the world. About the time of David and Solomon, or 1000 years before the Christian era, they frequented the ports of the Mediterranean, visited the west of Europe, and Africa, and collected the spices of the East, the perfumes of Arabia, and the gold of Ophir. Herodotus likewise informs us, that some Phenician ships, by order of Necho, king of Egypt, sailed down the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf, and, after coasting round the south part of Africa, entered the straits of Gibraltar, and arrived at Egypt in the third year after their departure, This was about the year before Christ 650; and the first time that Africa was proved to be peninsular. The Phenicians also drew sketches, and composed descriptions of the places they visited, as guides to future adventurers of their own nation, as well as planted colonies for protecting and extending their commerce; and thus became practical improvers of geography. They were the only people who had traversed the Mediterranean and penetrated into the ocean; and they concealed with the greatest care, their adventures, their discoveries, and their colonies; and employed every means to prevent other nations from following their steps. p. 4.

The second chapter contains the usual definitions and preliminary observations, stated in a kind of inductive manner, which we think. preferable to the common method. This mode is lustrated by the following brief extract.

The regular succession of day and night is produced by the revoArtion of the earth about an imaginary line passing through its centre, and always directed towards the north and south points of the heavens. This line is termed the axis, and its extremities the poles of the earth; that which is directed north-ward is the north pole, and the other the south pole. If we conceive a circle to be described about the earth, having every part equally distant from cach of the poles, it will be the equator. This circle divides the surface of the globe into two equal parts or hemispheres. The northern hemisphere comprehends the space between the equator and the north pole, and the southern hemisphere contains the opposite half of the globe. If other circles be conceived to intersect each other in the poles, they will cut the equator at right angles, and have the sun over them respectively, when it is mid-day at the places through which they pass; from which circumstance they have abtained the name of meridians. These circles, like the equator,

divide the globe into two equal parts, and separate the eastern and western hemispheres, with respect to each paricular meridian.

The third chapter contains a general view of the earth's surface, embracing such objects, chiefly relating to the physical branch of the subject, as could not well be comprehended in the description of any particular portion of the globe. These are the population of the earth, and the extent of its surface. The difference in man. The inequality of the land, and the division of terrestrial bodies. The difference of temperature, and density of the atmosphere. Terms of congelation. Division of the land. Mountains and rivers. Encroachments of the sea. Division of the ocean. The atmosphere and winds.

The following quotation shows the author's ideas relative to the utility of mountains.

Nor is there less inequality in the surface, than irregularity in the outlines, of the land; a circumstance which may present to the mind of the superficial observer the idea of an immense ruin. But when the effects of these inequalities are carefully examined, they are found to exhibit manifest proofs of creative goodness, and benevolent design. They possess every variety, from the narrow valley to the widely extended plain; from the gentle and verdant elevation to those stupendous masses of rock, the barren summits of which ascend above the clouds. The whole is adorned and en. riched with those diversities of color and soil which not only contribute to the comfort, but also administer to the delight, of rational creatures. The height and position of mountains have great influ ence on the climate in their vicinity; and much of the cold that generally prevails in different countries of the same latitude, must be ascribed to this cause. In warm climates, however, they are highly conducive to a favourable state of the atmosphere: they give rise to cooling springs, brooks, and rivers; while breezes and fruitful showers proceed from them, which greatly refresh the adjacent parts. Many regions, now celebrated for their luxuriant fertility, deprived of mountains would be a comparative desert; and even the South of France, Spain, and Italy, without their mitigating influence, would lose that mild temperature of climate which they now enjoy. Mountains are most numerous and elevated in the torrid, and adjoining parts of the temperate zones; and gradually decrease in height towards the poles. p. 44.

Mr. Myers also subjoins the following interesting note containing the perpendicular heights of the principal mountains on the globe, the altitudes of which have been determined mathematically. These must have cost him much trouble to collect and reduce to English yards and miles; as many of them were only to be ob tained from foreign sources. We therefore give this list a place