Imatges de pàgina
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Instinct Displayed.

our author agrees with Dr. Smith in calling stem, leaves, and stipulæ, though it cannot be denied that the whole is homogeneous, and, like a proper frond, decays at the same time.

We strongly object to the long specific differences which Mr. Hooker uses. Linnæus, we think with great propriety, limited himself, except in extraordinary cases, to twelve words; and though he has left some plants indeterminate by confining himself so rigidly to his rule, yet if such sesquipedalian descriptions are tolerated as are found here, and in Mr. Brown's Prodomus Flora Nova Hollandia, the very intent of synoptic specific differences will be done away. We hope the author will hereafter give us an arrangement of the species, with as close a regard to their natural affinities as our present imperfect knowledge will enable him.

Art. XX. A Vocabulary in the English, Latin, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese Languages. By I. Boardman. 12mo. Longman and Co. 1812.

THIS little work contains a useful collection of the more usual terms of of common life in these languages. They are placed in parallel columns, classed under different heads, and, the English being placed first, are arranged in alphabetical order. The greater part are of course substantives; in general, as far as we can form an opinion, judiciously chosen, and correctly spelt. We must, however, except the Germanamong which many printing faults occur, and several provincial and obsolete words are introduced; as Sammstag for Sonnabend, (Saturday) Kuhe for Kuh, (Cow); Mahne for Maehne, (Mane); Zeppel-tuch for Halsband, (Necklace); Sackuhr, for Taschenuhr, (Watch); Kaum for Kamm (Comb); Eudte for Endte, (Duck); Eig for Ey, (Egg); Ganze for Gans, (Goose); Halcion for Eisvogel, (Halcyon); &c. A number of verbs are added, but the other parts of speech, as unessential, omitted. It would be needless to say, that travellers, and others who require a degree of knowledge of the languages, in question, without having time to study them critically, will find this volume of considerable value; or that, in the hands of a judicious teacher, it may be rendered considerably subservient to his pupils, though hardly in so extensive a degree, as the author seems to imagine.

Art. XXI. Instinct displayed, in a Collection of well-authenticated Facts, exemplifying the extraordinary sagacity of various species of the animal creation. By Priscilla Wakefield. 8vo. pp. 320. price 5s. in boards. Darton and Harvey. 1811.

THIS is a respectable collection of anecdotes, injudiciously blended with

the insipid details of a slightly constructed story; in the course of which the instances of instinct are related by different personages as occur. ring within their own experience or that of their friends. The tale is per petually and most awkwardly interrupted by the marginal references to the unexceptionable authorities quoted in attestation of the extraordinary facts which are the proper subject of the work. There are several anecdotes in this little volume which have not been much "blown upon;" and among these, perhaps, we may specify the following.

Mr. Hervey is often at the Lodge: he takes pleasure in entertaining us with an account of the productions of India, and, as natural history is his favourite study, the instincts or sagacity of the animals, are frequent topics of our conversation. He agrees with you, in thinking, that many individuals of the inferior classes of creation, exhibit virtuous propensities, that render them strikingly amiable. In support of this theory he told us, that as he was one day shooting, under the cubbeer-burr, a species of grove I will describe hereafter, he chanced to kill a female monkey, and carried it to his tent, which, in a short time, was surrounded by forty or fifty monkeys, who made a great noise, and in a menacing posture, advanced towards the door. He took up his fowling-piece and presented, upon which they retreated a little, and appeared irresolute; but one, who, from his age and tituation in the van, seemed the head of the troop, stood his ground, chatsering and menacing in a furious manner; nor could any efforts with the gun drive him off. He at length came close to the tent door, and finding that his threatenings were of no avail, he began a lamentable moaning, and by every token of grief and supplication, seemed to beg the body of the deceased. After viewing his distress for some time, it was given to him. He received it with a tender sorrow, and taking it up in his arms, embraced it with conjugal affection, and carried it off to his expecting comrades. The artless behaviour of this poor animal, so powerfully wrought on Mr. Hervey and his companions, that they resolved, in future, never more to level a gun at a monkey.*' pp. 224, 225.

• James Sullivan was a native of the county of Cork, and an awkward, ignorant rustic, of the lowest class, generally known by the appellation of the Whisperer, and his profession was horse-breaking. The credulity of the vulgar betowed that epithet upon him, from an opinion that he communicated his wishes to the animal by means of a whisper; and the singularity of his method gave some colour to this superstitious belief. As far as the sphere of his control extended, the boast of veni, vidi, vici, was more justly claimed by James Sullivan than by Cæsar, or even Bonaparte himself. How his art was acquired, or in what it consisted, is likely to remain for ever unknown, as he has lately left the world without divulging it. His son, who follows the same occupation, possesses but a small portion of the art, having either never learned its true secret, or being incapable of putting it in practice. The wonder of his skill consisted in the short time requisite to accomplish his design, which was performed in private, and without any apparent means of coercion. Every description of horse or even mule, whether previously broke or unhandled, whatever their peculiar vices or ill habits might have been, submitted, without show of resistance, to the magical influence of his art, and, in the short space of half an hour, became gentle and tractable. The effect, though instantaneously produced, was generally durable. Though more submissive to him than to others, yet they seemed to have acquired a docility unknown before. When sent for to tame a vicious beast, he directed the stable, in which he and the object of the experiment were placed, to be shut, with orders not to open the door until a signal given. After a tête à tête between him and the horse, for about half an hour, during which, little or no bustle was heard, the signal * On the authority of James Forbes, Esq.

was made, and, upon opening the door, the horse was seen lying down, and the man by his side, playing familiarly with him, like a child with a puppy-dog From that time he was found perfectly willing to submit to any discipline, however repugnant to his nature before. I once saw his skill tried on a horse, which could never before be brought to stand for a smith to shoe him. The day after Sullivan's half-hour lecture, I went, not without some incredulity, to the smith's shop, with many other curious spectators, where we were eye-witnesses of the complete success of his art. This, too, had been a troop horse: and it was supposed, not without reason, that, after regimental discipline had failed, no other would be found availing. I observed that the animal seemed afraid whenever Sullivan either spoke or looked at him: how that extraordinary ascendency could have been obtained, it is difficult to conjecture. In common cases, this mysterious preparation was unnecessary. He seemed to possess an instinctive power of inspiring awe, the result, perhaps, of a natural intrepidity, in which, I believe, a great part of his art consisted; though the circumstance of the tête à tête shows that, upon particular occasions, something must have been added to it. A faculty like this would, in other hands, have made a fortune, and great offers have been made to him for the exercise of his art abroad; but hunting, and attachment to his native soil, were his ruling passions. He lived at home, in the style most agreeable to his disposition, and nothing could induce him to quit Duhallow and the fox

hounds*.'

Art. XXII. A poetical Introduction to the Study of Botany. By Frances Arabella Rowden. Second edition. Embellished with seven copperplate engravings. 12mo. pp. 260. Price 10s. 6d. Longman and Co.

1812.

EHEU! Another introduction to the study of botany!-but by a lady. We will therefore endeavour to be as civil as we can.

The first course contains the crambe recocta, the sourcrout, which is generally the principal dish, in this kind of entertainment: garnished with half a dozen plates of the old subjects, with little alterationand less improvement. The desert consists of poetical descriptions of some of the more remarkable plants in the different classes, couched in lame allegories, but in very fluent verse, and interspersed occasionally with a valuable and pleasing sentiment. The Darwinian flavour which pervades the whole, so entirely disagrees with our palate, that we cannot but regret that so much industry, ability, and good sense, should have been so unhappily employed. The author diplays an elegant, cultivated mind; and might, we are persuaded, had she followed the dictates of her better judgement, furnished her readers with a much more satisfactory repast.

* Rev. Horatio's Townsend's Survey of the County of Cork. This gentleman remarks, that though the above facts appear almost incredible, they are nevertheless indubitably true, and he was an eye-witness of their truth. P. 438.'

Art. XXIII. The Orator, or Elegant Extracts in Prose and Poetry; for the use of Schools and Academies. To which is prefixed a Dissertation on Oratorical Delivery; with an Appendix By James Chapman, Tea cher of Elocution. 2 vols. 12mo. price 6s. Vernor, and Co.

1811.

WE

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E have examined these volumes sufficiently, to be able to commend them to public notice. The selections are made with considerable judgement and taste, and present a pleasing variety. Several pieces have been inserted, which ought certainly to be excluded, as neither elegant nor interesting. Other dictates than those of correct taste or refined feeling, admitted amongst Poetry' such a pitiful article as the one presumptuously styled an "Eulogium on Sir John Moore." It is a tissue of bombastic, unintelligible nonsense. Mr. Chapman's introductory Dis sertation' proves his intimate knowledge of his subject, and cannot fail to be useful to the youthful reader. He commonly expresses himself well, but should avoid giving to his sentences so marked a rhetorical structure. The appended outlines' are amusing enough, and merit inspection.

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Art. XXIV. Agnes, the Indian Captive. A Poem in four cantos. With other Poems. By the Rev. John Mitford, A. B. 12mo. pp. 200, Longman and Co. 1811.

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As far as mere versification is concerned, this poem is a tolerably successful imitation of Messrs. Scott and Southey. This is not a very laudatory character; but in the present instance it is the highest we are able to afford, though, at the same time, we have no doubt Mr. Mitford is capable of better doings, and on this account regret that he has so servilely trodden in the footsteps of others instead of aspiring to the credit of original composition. With respect to the tale which forms the body of the volume, it is exceedingly inartificial and uninteresting; told with a vexatious indistinctness, and communicating scarcely the slightest degree of pathos by its melancholy catastrophe. The smaller poems at the end, consisting of two odes and ten sonnets, are considerably better. We give the following as an example.

• There came a beauteous image to my mind,

That absent never since that hour has been;
Nor have I from that blessed moment seen
Aught else, to nature's works of glory blind.
Mild was the look to me it wore, and kind
The thoughts that from those eyes of lustre fell;
Here then, as in a temple, it shall dwell

In sanctity, and far from human kind.
All other thoughts I now have put away,

All that my years of youth were wont to cheer;
The labour that I loved; the mind's free play;
And toil that seemed half sportive, half
These shall farewell for ever, so I may

severe;

Hold that within my heart so loved and dear.'

Art. XXV. The first Rudiments of English Grammar, applicable to all Languages; comprised in Twelve Elementary Lessons. Particularly calculated for the Instruction of Children, and adapted to the Abbé Gaultier's Method of Teaching. With Analytical Tables. By D. St. Quintin, M. A. 12mo. Longman and Co. 1812.

WE are well convinced, that royal roads to learning will be sought in vain; and class the professors who offer to teach the languages, arts and sciences, in twelve lessons, in the same rank with the manufacturers of "solar tinctures " and " infallible remedies;" perfectly assured that such as consult the former to cure their ignorance, will meet with as much relief as those who expect the restoration of bodily health, from a use of the pills and potions of the latter. Yet, while we discredit these quackeries in the art of teaching, and obstinately maintain that, in order to know the whole, every part must be learnt, we would by no means be understood to imply, that it is not possible, by judicious or injudicious method, to render the acquisition of elementary knowledge easy or difficult, agreeable or disgusting. As with the turnpike roads of our country, so with the roads to science: our forefathers, preserving the vertical plane, proceeded, over rocks and hills, along what they esteemed the shortest course; their successors wind round the bases of the eminences, and attain the aim in view, though by a circuitous route, in less time.

The little volume, before us points out an agreeable footpath to the of grammar, which may spare the young beginner much fatigue. To leave our figure: The plan of this little work pleases us; if well арplied, it must prove a very useful preparation for the usual school routine of grammar, which, for want of a proper explanation of terms (owing either to the indolence or ignorance of the teacher), often becomes as useless a series of parrot lessons, as the dynasties of the Chams of Tartary. It will, by slow degrees, such as children can surmount, accustom them to think; and though it may not lead them far, will lead them well. More, after all, depends upon the mother, governess, or teacher, possessing a sufficient degree of sense for her situation, than on the manner or arrangement of the elementary books of instruction. A sabre may be able, in the hand of one person, to decapitate an ox at a blow, while, wielded by another, it can hardly serve to cut a cabbage.

FORFIGN LITERATURE.

Art. XXVI. Australia, &c. Australia, or the Austral Lands considered, with regard to their Soil, Population and Productions, &c. By A. G. de Zimmerman. Vol. I. large 8vo. With a Map of the South Sea. Hamburgh.

AUSTRALIA is the name givem to that almost innumerable collection

of Islands, which have been discovered in the Great Pacific Ocean or

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