elicited by zinc with zinc. It is now time, however, that we give our author leave to speak for himself, which he will do, as a judge summing up the evidence on both sides, rather than as one laying down the law.

If there be a mode of training by which, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, more useful and applicable knowledge might have been obtained, I believe it is not too much to say, that it is yet untried and unknown in practice, and has never even been explained to the public. I shall suppose the destination of the youth, whom we have now brought to his fifteenth year, to be a merchant's counting-house. If he is to become a student in either of the universities, there can be no question about his previous training. There remain two good years on the lowest calculation, before it will be generally thought expedient to plant him at the desk. This time may be well employed, not only in adding to his stock of classical learning, but in the careful and critical reading (which will not now be impracticable) of several of the best English authors. Should it be apprehended that, by acquirements so much above the business of the counting-house, he should be unfitted for its practice, let it be recollected, that he will take with him habits of application, industry, and reflection, that will much more than turn the balance in his favor; and thus the man of business will be also the man of taste and liberality.

If for these reasons a classical education should be thought the best for boys, who are not destined to the liberal professions, I know of nothing that should make the reasons inapplicable to children of the other sex.-Habits of attention and accuracy, a correct taste in literature, and all the useful and ornamental knowledge which is incidentally acquired in the study of the languages and best writers of antiquity, must tend to refine and raise the mind both of man and woman. And the female, who is thus endowed, must, in the judgment of every man of sense and education, be estimated more highly for the possession, in every social relation, as companion, friend, wife, and mother: nor is it likely that the substitution of thought for levity, and of sound learning for sentimental romance, should prove a disqualification for the discharge of domestic duties.

With the above quotation ends Dr. Morell's Tract, and we wish that here also may end all disquisition on one branch of the subject. More than forty years ago, the Sage of Litchfield said, "The business of education is now as well understood as ever it can be." Would that this precious aphorism were always in the view of those who sit down to teach others how to teach!

We much fear that the power of intense thought is not incompatible with levity of conduct. We will not name (lest we excite their aches or their blushes) a numerous band of females whose learning has proved no security against sentimental romance; and we suspect that many a fair grammarian has found, in the theory of language, no words to speak comfort to a wounded heart.

We cannot take leave of Dr. Morell without observing, that his little book is written in a clear and correct style, with becoming candor and temper; and that it may be read with advantage by those who have yet to make up their minds upon the subject of which it treats.

ART. VII. A Compendious System of Modern Geography, Historical, Physical, Political, and Descriptive: By Thomas Myers, A. M. of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. 8vo. pp. 520. Wilkie and Robinson, London, 1812.

GEOGRAPHY must ever owe its improvement to enterprise and observation, more than to abstract research. For it is not here as in poetry and other liberal arts, where the combination of imagination and taste, with happy powers of description, can both enlarge and beget excellence: in this branch of knowledge, invention is hardly at all admissible, and taste, though it may lend a beauty, cannot confer any essential utility.

There are two classes of persons on whom the improvement of geography necessarily depends-the traveller, who can narrate candidly and accurately what he has seen, and the writer who knows how to represent faithfully with both his pencil, and his pen, whatever is worthy to be known as being either curious or impor tant. The last twenty years have been productive of eminent persons of both classes; and of the latter we know none who possesses claims to general approbation superior to those of the author of the work before us. His maps are not merely as correct as any of those attached to similar works; they are also the simplest, and on that account, the most intelligible and readily applicable to use. And as for the descriptive part of his book, it is remarkable for clearness as to both the arrangement of its parts, and the perspicuous expressive language employed in it. We consider ourselves indeed fully justified, on a view of the whole performance, in pronouncing it a very considerable acquisition to readers in general; but to those who, from any motive whatever, are studying geography, we think it an acquisition of the highest value. We would accordingly embrace this opportunity of recommending it particularly to public notice and patronage, did we not know that it has already attracted both.

The introductory chapters are very well written, and abound with solid interesting information. From Mr. Myers, indeed, we had a right to expect, in a work on such a subject, something strongly marked by sagacity and discrimination. With his plan,

and his general object we shall make the reader acquainted by the following quotation :

The author of this treatise has been induced to attempt a more free and animated manner of delineation, and to present his readers with the most interesting results of arduous researches, rather than perplex them with tedious details. With this view, he has not hesitated to make use of such materials as appeared best adapted to his purpose; equally guarding against prolixity on the one hand, and brevity on the other; so that, while the work is circumscribed within moderate limits, it is far from being reduced to an insignificant nomenclature.

The first chapter contains a concise history of the rise and progress of geography; briefly enumerating the principal links in that grand chain of events which connects the primeval with the present state of the science. In this, great care has been taken, not only to procure the most authentic documents, but also to exhibit them in that light which is best calculated to improve the understanding and assist the memory. The second chapter consists of the necessary definitions and preliminary observations. The third is occupied with a brief physical view of the earth's surface, and its surrounding atmosphere. This is succeeded, in the fourth chapter, by a similar sketch of the European continent; chiefly embracing those features which are not peculiar to any country. Fourteen chapters are then employed in describing the natural appearance and specifying the internal economy of the European states; in shewing the power of these nations, as constituted by their territory, population, and commerce; in sketching their characters, as formed by their genius, religion, government and laws; and in exhibiting their warlike strength in the combination of their military and naval establishments. Similar views are also taken of Asia, Africa, and America; while Australasia and Polynesia are separately treated of at the conclusion. The latitudes and longitudes of the principal places mentioned in the work, are then given in an Appendix, in which both the countries and the places in each are alphabetically arranged. Much valuable and interesting matter, that could not be interwoven with the text without destroying its uniformity, is also inserted in notes; and the whole illustrated with eighteen maps; in the construction of which, great attention has been paid to simplicity, perspicuity, and correctness; and it is presumed that these qualities, so essential in every elementary publication, will be found to prevail, in a very considerable degree, throughout the work.

Having given this brief analysis of the contents, it only remains to be observed, that the author's inducement to the undertaking, and his guide in its accomplishment, has been utility; which he has endeavoured to attain, by condensing the most valuable matter of more extensive systems into a moderate compass. Much that is new cannot be expected; since the business of a geographer is not to create, but to compile and examine; to digest and elucidate; yet any ostentatious display of the numerous works that have been consulted, would not be less inimical to the author's feelings, than contrary to his plan. Elegance

Playfair's Outlines of Natural Philosophy. 37

of composition, and beauties of style, have not been attempted, as the anthor's attention has been occupied in attaining less brilliant, but more useful qualities; he has been anxious in the pursuit of authenticity, and desirous that his delineations should be simple and perspicuous. His object has been to present to the rising generation a compendium of geography, suited to the ardour of their youthful curiosity, without surpassing the expansion of their mental faculties; one that, while it enlarges the understanding, and informs the judgment, should not contain any thing inimical to the best interests of society.

With these views, the subsequent sheets are committed to the deci sion of the public, whose sentence, like that of the ancient Areopagites, has ever been renowned for its justice.

(To be continued.)

ART. VIII. Outlines of Natural Philosophy, being Heads of Lectures delivered in the University of Edinburgh, by JOHN PLAYFAIR, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edin burgh, F. R.S. Lond. and Edin. &c. 2 Vol. 8vo. pp. 310 and 341.-Constable and Co., Edinburgh; Longman and Co., and Cadell and Davies, London. 1812 and 1814.

Ox opening a new work on the subject of Natural Philosophy, the mind naturally takes a retrospect of that dreary period in which the dogmas of antiquity had an absolute sway over the literary and scientific world, and derives a peculiar pleasure from perceiving their fetters loosened, and philosophy, freed from restraint, rising to that point, whence the whole material creation appears in its proper light, and exhibits" striking proofs of the beneficence, the wisdom, and the power of the Creator." During the long period alluded to, the opinions of Aristotle usurped the throne of reason, and his dictates were regarded as the oracles of truth. So long and profoundly did the human mind bow before the shrine of antiquity, that whoever dared to refuse his implicit homage to this deity, was equally exposed to the anathemas of power and the insolence of its bigoted votaries; while the only asylum that awaited him was a dungeon.

The universe itself is the subject of investigation; but such a scene, presented to the mind of man at an early stage of its progress, was as much calculated to overwhelm his perceptive powers by its magnitude, as to raise his admiration by its grandeur. It ought not, therefore, to be matter of surprise that he should be found either shrinking from the contemplation of such a stupen dous object, or struggling beneath its weight, and inventing hy potheses to relieve himself from the fatigue of investigation, and

to explain what he could not otherwise comprehend. Nor should it create astonishment that those who were endowed with sufficient strength of mind to cultivate an acquaintance with the mechanism of the universe, should over-rate their own powers, and grasp at final causes instead of confining themselves to the discovery of general laws. Thus did the early inquirers after truth not only mistake the true objects of their pursuit, but they also erred in the methods of attaining them, by attempting to explain every thing upon hypothetical principles, instead of searching nature, carefully examining her various phenomena, and ascending from particular effects to the general laws by which they are regulated. Hence the ultimate scope of the human powers was transgressed by men who vainly imagined themselves capable of comprehending the eternal reasons and primary causes of things, and who were ambitious of presenting to mankind none but complete systems of philosophy; by which means they retarded rather than promoted the true knowledge of nature.

To this cause also the irregularity of the progress of phiTosophy may be attributed. While other sciences were progressive in their improvement, this appears to have been sometimes advancing, sometimes stationary, and at others retrograde. For as hypothesis alone was the foundation of each system, the labors of one age or sect frequently destroyed those of the preceding. The numbers and harmony of the Pythagoreans, the ideas of Plato, and the matter and form of Aristotle successively prevailed. The Epicureans embraced one extreme and the Sceptics the other. In later times, amongst a variety of other crude notions, appeared the vortices of Des Cartes, the metaphysical speculations of Leibnitz, and the extravagances of Spinoza. Each of those, however, while pushing his scheme to the utmost of his power, and vainly hoping to render it complete, more effectually contributed towards showing its absurdity, and consequently undermined the foundations of that Babel which he had himself been erecting. Many, therefore, who were pleased with the fabled system of Des Cartes were checked by the impieties of Spinoza. Many who were delighted with the absolute necessity of Leibnitz demurred at his monads and pre-established harmony; while others who easily enough relinquished the reality of matter, could not give up the existence of mind also.

The various opinions and perpetual disputes among ancient philosophers, induced many persons, in all ages, to conclude that it was in vain to expect certainty in natural knowledge; and to ascribe the cause to a defect not in the method of proceeding, but in the principles of science themselves. Modern discoveries, however, have proved the fallacy of such a co nclusion, andpointed out the true methods of investigating the laws by which natural