tion to suicide, which the utmost vigilance cannot always prevent. Sceing then how little is left in so important a concern to the operation of human institutions, have we not reason to be satisfied with the provisions of Nature, and with the Divine commands? Yet in the most serious of all hereditary peculiarities, the great susceptibility to madness, celibacy has been recommended as a duty. Before we venture to propose measures contrary to one of the strongest impulses of Nature, and to the first blessing which the Almighty Fiat bestowed on man, it becomes us seriously to weigh the consequences.

"Were this opinion universal, it would probably produce its effects only on the most amiable and best disposed, whilst the profligate and unprincipled would indulge themselves, regardless of posterity: It is scarcely necessary to hint at the result. To interdict marriages with the healthy individuals of such families, might do much towards extinguishing that enthusiasm, which, when well directed, proves the source of those achievements which aggrandize families, which increase the glory of nations, and improve the condition of mankind. Nor is this confined to heroes and statesmen, but extends to the effusions of genius and to the cultivation of the softer virtues. It is neither necessary, nor proper to introduce names, they will occur to every one who has lived long enough to become acquainted with the ramifications of families.▾

p. 36.

The system of the author is supported by a number of appropriate cases, which our limits do not permit us to lay before our readers. To his treatise he has subjoined various notes. The first contains a curious passage from Boethius' Historia Scotorum:

"Morbo comitiali, amentia, mania aut simili tabe, quæ facile in prolein transfunditur, laborantes, inter cos ingenti facta indagine invertos, ne genus fœda contagione ab iis qui ex illis prognati forent læderetur, castraverunt, mulieres hujusmodi morborum quavis tabe leprave infectas procul a virorum consortio ablegaverunt. Quod si harum aliqua concepisse inveniebatur, simul cum fetu nondum edito defodiebatur viva.--Voraces, manducones supra quam erat humanum, helluonesque et perpetuæ ebrietati indulgentes aut addictos, ne tam fœda monstra in patriæ dedecus superessent flumine mergentes, prius quantum libuit et cibi et potus vorare ac ingurgitare eis præbentes, miti supplicio exterminarunt."' p. 46.

The 21st note is principally occupied with the Elephantiasis, and it involves a few strictures on Dr. Bateman. The notes form an interesting part of the work, which we consider valuable to the profession, and very important to the public. The medical student will peruse with pleasure both the book and its appendages.

Scotorum Historiæ a prima Gentis Origine, cum aliarum et rerum et gentium illustratione non vulgari, Libri XIX. Hectore Boethio Deidonano Auctore. Parisiis, 1574, lib. i. p. 12.

480

ART. VIII. The Royal Wanderer, or the Exile of England: a Tale. By ALGERNON. In Three Volumes. London: J. Johnston, 1815.

THIS book belongs to a species of productions which it is impossible too severely to reprobate. They assume the form of a novel in order, with more safety, to circulate scandal respecting persons in elevated stations. By fictitious names and mysterious hints, they excite a greater degree of attention to the matters of which they treat; at the same time that they provide a disguise in which to escape, if any one should think them worth pursuing. This mode of insinuating falsehood-by publishing it as fiction, is admirably calculated to give it currency. It is just like communicating a report which one is particularly desirous of spreading, to two or three very respectable, antiquated, tea-drinking, chatty ladies, as a most important secret.

Under the disguise of a romance, the production before us professes to give its readers an account of the Journey of the Princess of Wales, with the motives which induced her to travel, and the reasons for her protracted absence. As to the travels of Her Royal Highness, we believe the writer knows just about as much as all the world do who read newspapersthe names of the places and of some of the personages she has visited. If he has enjoyed any other source of information, we presume it must have been a Gazetteer, or a book of roads. If we could credit his insinuations, he has lurked under the sofas at Carlton House, and been concealed in the seat of the Princess's carriage; he has been present at the interview of Maria Louisa and the Princess-been made the confident of all the maids of honor-and participated in the councils of the cidevant King of Naples. This writer seems an extraordinary sort of gentleman-with something singularly airy about himand possessed of the power of being at once at Milan and St. Giles's.

The newspapers presenting but slight foundation for a romance, the author fills up the interstices, between their various pieces of intelligence, with stories of the intrigues of the Princess's attendants, Her Royal Highness's private meditations, and sundry letters to her daughter-all bearing the same stamp of authenticity. Some of the principal characters in the country are represented in very odious coloring; and the motives of the Regent's council accurately measured according to the qualities of the writer's own mind.

A foreigner would be puzzled to conceive how such trash could be published here with any hope of ever being called for. But the truth is, the appetite for information respecting the follies of the great is particularly strong among us, and is one of the unjustifiable irregularities of that spirit which keeps the higher classes in a kind of moral subjection to the opinions of the middling orders of men, and restrains vice within narrow boundaries. We must submit to the evil, in order to preserve that which is a blessing: but we must always endeavour to prevent the increase of the former. And we have noticed the present work because it tends to heighten the disorders of the public mind, and to excite a hurtful curiosity which it has not the power to gratify. The author seems to have some skill in writing; and as it is, perhaps, the same to him whether he abuse or applaud individuals, he had better set about indulging in innocent fictions.

ART. IX. The Universal British Merchant; embracing, in a systematic manner, the Epistolary Style of Commercial Correspondence between Great Britain and the principal Trading Cities of Europe: the Mode of effecting Insurances, Drawing, Remitting, Importing, and Exporting their respective Commodities; and innumerable Mercantile Occurrences. Adapted to cultivate and familiarize the Student with the general and real transactions of the Counting House. Translated from the French of "Le Négociant Universel." To which is added an Appendix, giving an Outline of General Mercantile Knowledge. By W. KEEGAN, A. M. 12mo. pp. 407. Law and Whittaker.

THE title-page points out the object and the utility of this book, which the author has executed with commendable ability. It is well worthy of the notice and diligent perusal of all such British youth as are intended for business, and wish to acquire a mercantile style with accuracy and facility. Mr. Keegan asserts that these are "copious and unequalled models of commercial epistles, which he has translated into English, to qualify youth for holding a foreign correspondence:" and he adds, "They are not insignificant models that will lead to this attainment; they must be real." This collection of letters (amounting to two hundred and ten) is admirably adapted to its purpose; and, we believe, neither pains nor expense have been spared to render

it worthy the patronage of the public. The work is accompanied with an Appendix, replete with original and useful matter, and contains an Alphabetical Index, and an Explanation of the various Commercial Terms and Phrases used not only in the letters, but in general business. In short, the variety of instruction offered to the public in this volume, must be highly useful to young men, "whom it will habituate to think and write like experienced merchants."

ART. X. Religious and Moral Reflections, originally intended for the Use of his Parishioners. By SAMUEL HOPKINSON, S. T. B., formerly Fellow of Clare Hall, Rector of Etton, and Vicar of Morton cum Hacconby. 12mo. pp. 203. Second Edition. Harris.

THIS little volume should be the Vade-mecum of every early Christian, as it contains many pious observations and salutary admonitions. It includes Reflections for the aged, as well as for the young; and valuable treatises upon Time, Industry, Contentment, Forgiveness, Charity, Intemperance, the Employment of Time, Cruelty, Swearing, Lying, Extravagance, Revenge, &c. The duties of Christianity are fully explained, and the study of the Sacred Scriptures strongly recommended. To assist the unlearned, definitions of the most difficult words in the work, alphabetically arranged, are prefixed to it; and, at the end, notes are subjoined, illustrative of several of the more difficult passages.

ART. XI. The Tyro's Guide: a Series of Figures, arranged in a new and simple Method, as a sure and extensive Groundwork for the Study of the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic, as usually taught: adapted to Schools. By SARAM CORBETT. pp. 42.

ACCURACY is the chief merit of a work of this kind, to which the Compiler has so diligently attended, that this Series of Figures will prove a faithful guide to the beginner. The thing is further commendable for its typographical neatness. The arrangement seems to be more simple than new; but so much the better simplicity leads cheerfully to improvement. “Scholars will study these figures at home, practise them in classes at school, and apply them in working sums with facility and plea sure."

483

ART. XII. Ina, a Tragedy; in Five Acts. By Mrs. WILMOT. Third edition. London; Murray, 1815. pp. 68.

MANY of our readers will possibly bear in mind the great expectations which were excited by this tragedy; and which were reasonably grounded upon the celebrity of the poetical effusions of the authoress, among which the specimens we have seen evince a lively fancy chastened by a pure and correct taste. The performance of Ina, long delayed from various causes, was anticipated as the production of a lady of high consideration by half the nobles and half the wits of England, as the triumph of female genius over the salique prejudice, which, however ungraciously it sounds, is founded on experience, and would forbid the buskin to the female foot, while a Cowley, a Lee, and a Lefanu, have proved that the sock may be worn by ladies with equal decency and grace. Ina was impatiently expected, anxiously talked about, zealously talked for, and invidiously talked at, for more than a twelvemonth after the existence and acceptance by the managers of this new tragedy by Mrs. Wilmot," had been first intimated to the public through the official channels of dramatic information. At last, rehearsal succeeded to rehearsal, and no pains were spared to make what was pronounced perfection, still more perfect. The stage was crowded with savans and élegantes, and the unfortunate actors, unused to have the probationary trials of their talents judged by successive picked audiences in detail, and to be invaded upon their own ground, while preparing for a field day, by an army of accredited spies, had to push their way upon the boards and make "their exits and their entrances" through a crowd of "friends to the author," who, it is to be feared, by their embarrassing, premature criticisms upon the efforts of the performers, eventually proved themselves to have been no friends to the piece. The important evening, however, at length came, and we cannot conceal, however we deplore, the mortifying fact, that the sun of Ina rose in splendor amid clouds of incense, but it soon sunk to rise no more.

The friends of Mrs. Wilmot (and we are informed that all who are honored by the acquaintance of this amiable and ac complished lady are her friends,) have been too just to impute the blame of this failure to the actors. It must all therefore be charged to the blind, the tasteless, the cruel, the ungenerous public. Such ever have been, and ever will be, the expressions with which pitying friendship soothes the wounded ear of un