mans; which, from a want of accuracy in the description given of it by Latin writers, is involved in some degree of obscurity. This game appears to be a descendant of the Greek NETTEIα; and Dr. Hyde has endeavoured to shew that it nearly resembles our game of draughts. He then proceeds to consider the Roman Alveus, another game, allied to the Ludus Latrunculorum, and played with dice in the manner of backgammon. There seems to be this difference between the Alveus and former games, that this had its central line denoted by the cross, instead of iεpa ypaμμn; and the author subjoins the following remark: This cross, however, upon the Alveus, may be considered as the first Christian moralization upon any game; and from an endeavour to make the relaxations of men subservient to religion, the custom of drawing moral reflections from the game of Chess became afterwards common with the monks of the middle ages.'

The next chapter contains remarks on the game of the ma Bov; which resembled the former, and was played with dice. It was constructed by the Orientals upon the foundation of the TETTE, which, from the moves in playing it being directed by the cast of the die, resembled rather the wagers of shepherds, than the stratagems of war; notwithstanding which, the object in playing the game, and even (as may appear upon minute investigation,) the very construction of the board, and disposition of the pieces, shew it to have been but a perversion of the military TT, whilst the terms respecting it were purely pastoral. To illustrate his remarks on this subject, the author quotes, from the Greek anthology, part of one of the epigrams of Agathias, in which king Zeno is described as forming a party at the game; and in which the point turns, with a simplicity peculiar to the Greek epigram, on the illsuccess of the king. Whether our readers will take the hint, and avoid entering the lists, since even a king could not escape a defeat,' we cannot foretell.

Passing on to the consideration of the terms used in the antient games, and the nature of the ispa vpxuun or vallum, the writer proceeds to trace the resemblance between the Chinese game of chess and the antient wƐTTEIX. For a particular ac

count of the Chinese mode of playing, the reader is referred to the treatise of Dr. Hyde; and some remarks are added on the origin of the king and other pieces of chess, which the author very ingeniously considers as a personification of the ispa ypauun.-In confirmation of these conjectures, he ob serves that the game is termed by the Chinese "Siang Ki," or the game of Elephants; whence he forms a probable conjec ture that it is derived from the Indo-Persian, and ori

ginally

This supposition is founded
elevation of pebbles as the

πεττεια.

ginally from the Greek TETTE.
on an hypothesis respecting the
boundary mark, which are now denominated, King, Queen,
Bishop, Knight, and Rook.

Some farther remarks are offered, in the two following chapters, respecting the Indian game of Chess, and the Hindu claim to the original invention; and the author concludes his annotations with the following candid and modest declaration :

I have now endeavoured to clear up the difficulties in which the classic games of skill have been involved, and to display the several coincidences which connect them together; and especially those leading points, which may have furnished materials for the construction of the game of Chess. Since much of what I have adduced as proof upon this last head may be thought to amount to little more than probabilities, I leave the first question-whether Chess was invented by the first intention, or passed through various stages of improvement, to the judgment of the candid and unprejudiced

reader.'

As it has been asserted by Julius Pollux that the nov was a game permitted in the temple of Minerva Skiras at Athens, the author has subjoined an Appendix, in two parts, designed to investigate the nature of the ceremonies in the interesting Athenian festival called the Skirophoria, i. e. the solstitial feast of the umbrella, or bough: but we must refer the learned reader to the book itself for information on these points; and we readily assure him that he will find his time and attention well repaid by the gratification and amusement which it will afford him. The volume is elegantly printed, and the vignettes and other engravings are executed with taste and judg

ment.

If some of our readers should remark that the writer has bestowed more attention on this work than the nature of the subject deserved, let them consider whether, if Montaigne's observation be true that Chess is too serious for a game, it may not be admitted as sufficiently serious for critical inquiry and remark. We would, however, advise those who are not at present greatly interested in this game, to read, as a prelude to the entertainment contained in the volume before us, the celebrated poem of Vida intitled Sacchia Ludus ;" or an imitation of that composition, under the title of "Caïssa," to be found in the fourth volume of the valuable works of the late Sir William Jones.

Man...g. 1st Art.

REV. JULY, 1802.

S

ART.

!

ART. V. Mural Nights; or, Elements of Civil Knowledge, Vol. I.
By Henry Redhead Yorke, Esq. 8vo. pp. 340. 98. Boards.
Clement.

WHATEVER may have been a man's indiscretions or crimes,
he makes some atonement to the public, and becomes in-
titled to some respect, when he devotes the hours of punish-
ment to earnest study, and consecrates his prisou-meditations
to the improvement both of himself and of his fellow-creatures.
The political ground of the present author's confinement in
York Castle, in the years 1794 and 1795, it would be as un-
generous in us at this distance of time to discuss, as it would
be impertinent in us to decide between him and that part of
the community, which is here accused of having first flattered
and then deserted him':-it will be sufficient for us to observe
that he sustained his imprisonment with philosophical tran-
quillity and that, so far from suffering his lamp "at midnight
hour" to burn to waste in "the lonely tower," he employed
his Mural Nights' in projecting, amid other literary pursuits,
a sytem of instruction for the young and rising generation.
In this seclusion, Mr. Yorke appears to have not unsuccessfully
reviewed his own conduct and sentiments, as well as to have
examined the general state of civil society: for he very ingenu.
ously confesses, in a pamphlet which will be the subject of the
next article, that the advantages which he acquired took, about
seven years ago, a wrong direction.' This acknowlegement will
not be lost on a liberal public; and we esteem it to be our duty
to mention such an avowal, in order that former prejudices
may no longer operate, nor obstruct the due examination of
those important remarks of which we are now required to give

an account.

We term the observations of Mr. Yorke important, in reference to the nature of the subject, and because they are the production of a strong and well stored mind. The system which he recommends may in some respects be Utopian: but the discussions which are intended to explain and enforce it are so replete with judicious hints, applying to education in general, that parents who wish their children to possess cultivated and virtuous minds;-tutors who are desirous of doing justice to those who are intrusted to their care;-and statesmen who are solicitous for the instruction of the great mass of mankind, under a persuasion that this improvement is essentially connected with the order, peace, and happiness of society;-should not be inattentive to the contents of this volume. Its headtitle, Mural Nights, no more indicates the nature of the work, than the Diversions of Purley explained the object of Mr. Horne

Tooke's

Tooke's philological elaborate production. Had it not been for the second title, we should have supposed, on opening the book, that Mr. Yorke's Prison-Thoughts were of a sombre cast: but they have no relation to his personal and temporary situation, being designed to embrace the amelioration and happiness of mankind in general. He discusses the importance of early instruction, endeavours to ascertain the best mode of education for the superior and the middling classes of the community, and gives a plan for a public elementary school, and for an under-academy.

After all that has been advanced on the subject of Education, the world is far from being decided respecting the best possible system. Perhaps it is necessary to fix certain fundamental principles, on which a general theory of education may be erected. If the slavish maxim be admitted that men are more docile and submissive in proportion as they are kept in ignorance, and if the mischievous assertion be allowed that philosophy is a stimulus to rebellion against lawful governors, we cannot expect that the rulers of kingdoms will encourage the general diffusion of knowlege: but it is the interest of virtue and humanity to reprobate such fallacious and such odious doctrines.

We daily observe, (says Mr. Y.,) that in proportion as the sciences make their progress in countries, they transform the inhabitants into new creatures; and by inspiring them with gentler inclinations and manners, and supplying them with better forms of government and more humane laws; they raise them from the obscurity wherein they had languished before, and engage them to throw off their former roughness. Thus, they prove evidently, that the minds of men are very near the same in all parts of the world; that all honorable distinction in regard to them is owing to the sciences; and that according as these are cultivated or neglected, nations rise or fall, emerge out of darkness, or sink again into it; and that their fate in a manner depends upon them.

The advantages of education and learning are more lasting and extensive than those of arms. The courage of a soldier does little service to his country after his death, the benefit of it being usually confined to one age; whereas, public provisions for society are framed, and the constitution adjusted to the temper and convenience of the people; of the happy effects of which, remote posterity is often sensible. And as the consequences of valor seldom reach heyond the death of him who shewed it, so there are few the better for it, except those for whom a man engages; and they are commonly none but his countrymen. But learning, by inventing and improving the arts and sciences, scatters its favors in a much larger compass; becomes an universal benefactor, and obliges mankind in its most com prehensive latitude of place and time. The successes of learning are naturally of a very innocent tendency, and under good management, prejudicial

S 2

prejudicial to none. The conquests of arts are not like those of arms, gained by slaughter, and attended with ruin and desolation. No; here is nothing routed but ignorance and error; nothing destroyed but obstinate humor and savage disposition. Emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros.'

Persuaded of the high consequence of education, Mr. Yorke recommends the commencement of its beneficial effects in good

time:

At our entrance into the world, we are helpless and ignorant ; and the mind, like blank paper, is capable of receiving any impressions which may be made upon it. This, then, is the point where we ought to begin, nor should we desist until the mind is competent to form its judgments without the direction of the parent or tutor. As education is merely the instrument of facilitating our attainment of this capacity, it should be laid aside as soon as the object is attained.'—

If, instead of dangerous opinions and delusive enchantments, a child hear nothing but the voice of truth, honesty, and right reason, pointing out to him the errors that prevail in the behaviour and conversations of mankind; and if the rules by which they are to be discerned be laid before him, there is almost a moral certainty that he will escape the dangers of intemperance, and be preserved from the contagion of vice. Youth is the season of curiosity and impetuous desires. It will require, therefore, a skilful and masterly hand to direct the former to proper objects, and the latter to honorable attainments. Nature seems to have given us, during our infancy, an inquisitive spirit and a ductile temper, for the express purpose of fa cilitating our acquisition of the rudiments of knowledge. We ought, however, to remember, that notwithstanding this favorable disposition, we are not at liberty to use compulsion, threats, or angry expressions, as instruments for the communication of truth. If pos. sible, every acquirement of a child should be a matter of choice; for reason is the enemy of all violence and of all force, and conquers only by gentleness, persuasion, and truth. That species of mental torture, that outrage of all feeling, which would stretch and weary the active genius of infancy, cannot be too much reprobated and discountenanced. The talents with which infancy is endowed, are to be treated and cultivated in a different manner. Every temptation should be held out to the child, that he may demand information voluntarily. It should be disguised under the most agreeable forms and names, and should steal unobserved into his mind by every avenue. But, let it not be imagined, that I would insinuate by the above observation that truth itself should be disguised. It is the mode only of displaying it, not the truth that is here alluded to. This divine progeny of heaven, ought to be contemplated in every light and in every situation, that, like the sun in a cloudless heaven, it may illumine and refresh every object which it pierces with its rays.'

Mr. Yorke's great object is to abridge the means employed for the acquisition of knowlege. He reprobates the notion. that, in order to avoid losing time, we must hasten to cram

the