Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

Apparently, this tale was written with the laudable desire of inducing Irish absentees to reside in their native country: but, where the pen of Miss Edgeworth has proved not more than partially persuasive, that of an inferior writer can scarcely produce much effect. In the history of Lady Constantia, which is evidently borrowed from Madame de Stael's Corinne, we read (p. 124.) of the said Lady drinking into the poetical spirit of the country,' visiting the Collesium, (Colliseum?) &c. &c.; and all that was striking and attractive in the original becomes improbable and bombastic in the copy. The reiterated love-speeches are sufficient to weary even lovers themselves; and so little attention is paid to the probabilities and decorum of the characters, that in the third volume we find (p. 238.) a nobleman's daughter, only fifteen years old, making the following pretty speech: "Indeed, papa, you ought to worship my uncle-he has saved us both, I believe, but certainly Calista, from adding new beauties to the seraglio of the Dey of Algiers, or something still worse!" and a few pages farther on, the young lady repeats the same delicate witticism. The best part of the book is the delineation of the lower orders of Irish, their manners, and phraseology: but a young Irish lady, who had passed her life in France, is here introduced speaking the most extraordinary jargon that we ever encountered. Although we have on former occasions recommended a study of the French and the English grammars to this writer, the following passages may shew how much our advice was needed, and how totally it has been neglected. Vol. i. p. 68., que monstre' (quel); p. 106., la causerée' (causerie); p. 115., quelle betesse' (betise); p. 128., Cicesbei' (Cecisbei); p. 221., si vulgarre' (vulgaire); tout au fait canaille' (tout à fait); and p. 227. we hear of a young woman with cheveaux blond.- Vol. ii. p. 8., 'I am sorry you experienced any ill convenience; p. 98., your children I find quite eclartant;" p. 375., I wish Calista saw that expressive face just now; she would no more complain of the froiduer of your si grands yeux.' 'Nor shall she ever have cause to!' &c. &c. We may add that the name of Murat is here always susbtituted for that of Marat, the atrocious colleague of Robespierre.

[ocr errors]

6

EDUCATION.

Art. 26. Arithmetic for Children. The Teacher's Book. By the Author of "Lessons for Young Persons in Humble Life." 12mo. 4s. bound. Longman and Co.

Art. 27. Arithmetic for Children. The Scholar's Book. 12mo. 2s. bound. Longman and Co. 1822.

We have had occasion in several instances to notice the productions of this anonymous author, and in more than one we have felt great pleasure in bestowing on them our approbation: but we cannot in the present case perceive that his endeavors have been crowned with peculiar success. The subject appears to us too much labored, and extended to too great a length; that is, too many pages are occupied with minor detail, no attempt being made

to

to teach any rule beyond the first four in arithmetic. The Teacher's Book, for example, occupies 260 pages, and that of the Scholar 144 pages; and, after all, nothing is taught beyond Compound Division.

It will be understood that we do not object to the nature of the examples, but to the very great number of them; which has a tendency to tire a child. A sort of Chinese abacus, in a mahogany frame, accompanies these volumes, intended to illustrate the first principles of notation and numeration.

Art. 28. A complete Course of Arithmetic, Theoretical and Practical, in Three Parts, &c. &c., for the Use of public and private Schools. By W. H. White, Head-Master of the Commercial and Mathematical School, on the Foundation of Sir William Harpur, at Bedford. 12mo. 4s. bound. Longman and Co. 1822.

When either a new poem or a very different production, a new treatise of arithmetic, is sent to us for examination, we generally look first to the preface to see what apology the author has to make to the public for sending more goods to an already overstocked market; and, in five cases out of six, we find that he disclaims any original intention to publish, but that "the importunities of friends," and a disinterested regard for the welfare and instruction of the rising generation, had overcome the scruples of modesty, and had prompted to a measure the most distant from the author's intentions. Mr. White is placed exactly in this situation, for he says in the first paragraph of his preface:

There are already extant so many treatises on arithmetic, that I should not have augmented the number by Two more (the young Ladies' and Gentlemen's Arithmetic lately published, and the present work,) had not pressing invitations on the one hand, the duty of my station as a tutor, and the real want of a work containing the SCIENCE of Numbers, on the other, required it.'

The author being thus brought before the public, wholly against his own inclination and better judgment, we should have been glad to find some point in the work on which we could speak in terms of commendation: but, after a careful perusal, we have really not been able to select a single example; that is, we have not been able to find any rule or demonstration which we have not seen as well contrived in fifty other treatises of a similar kind. The multiplication-table is made to occupy five pages, being extended from two times two to twenty times twenty, which is in our opinion extremely injudicious; and we would much rather see it reduced to nine times nine, its natural limit, than prolonged to a greater length. The rule of simple Multiplication alone in this work occupies twenty-three pages, and Division fills seventeen; and so on in like proportion. To compensate for this prolixity, however, the names of certain other rules are altered, and their places exchanged; Reduction, by name, is altogether excluded; the theory of Decimals is comprized within the compass of ten pages; and what has usually been cailed Fellowship is now denominated Part.

nership.

nership. This last is one of the most important alterations in the volume, and we copy the following example out of the rule:

6

Partnership, Exam. 16. Gunpowder is composed of 76 parts of nitre, 14 of charcoal, and 10 of sulphur: how much of these respective ingredients will be sufficient to make a ton weight of powder?'

The partners here in course are Messrs. Nitre, Sulphur, and Charcoal.

Art. 29. Edwin and Henry; or, the Week's Holidays. By Robert Huish, Esq. F. A. S., Author of "The Peruvians," "A Treatise on Bees," &c. Small 12mo. 2s. half-bound. Mackay.

The address to parents in the beginning of this little book is not very intelligible, but they need not hesitate in presenting the work to their children, as the morality is good and the narrative diversified; though perhaps the style is too flowery.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 30. Memoranda illustrative of the Tombs and Sepulchral Decorations of the Egyptians; with a Key to the Egyptian Tomb exhibiting in Piccadilly. Also, Remarks on Mummies, and Observations on the Process of embalming. Svo. 4s. Boards. Boys. 1822.

We perfectly concur with the author of this tract, respecting the just debt of public gratitude which is due to the indefatigable labors and successful enterprize of M. Belzoni; and perhaps the rather because he has confined the elucidations of his discovery to those topics, which are the least controvertible or hypothetical, Yet every attempt to penetrate farther than the surface of so recondite an art as that of the Egyptians in embalming, to unfold the real meaning of the characters on their tombs, and to explain the forms of their symbols, must, in the comparatively slender amount of human knowlege concerning these subjects, be welcomed as a contribution towards the solution of this long hidden problem.

The newly discovered tomb of Psammis exhibits à numerous assemblage of the mystic forms and combinations so peculiar to the Egyptian mythology; and the coloring of these figures is a remarkable feature in this interesting relic, while the birds and other animals are well deserving of attention. The Ibis, which has furnished matter for long and learned disquisition, is here for the first time presented in its colored plumage; and the Taderna, or Sheldrake, appears in a variety of places. The sacred Bull, as if drawn from the description of Herodotus, is moreover one of the most conspicuous emblems in the sepulchral chambers which have lately been unveiled to the public eye. The writer before us professes not to offer explanations of the hieroglyphics: but, acknowleging that the power of demonstrating their true meaning is wanting, he submits his work only as an agreeable and probable companion to the exhibition,' and selects the most popular and generally used of those symbols for his exposition. From these, as a specimen

of

of this useful guide to M. Belzoni's exhibition, we extract a part of the notice of the Scarabæus, or Beetle, one of the most revered objects of worship among the

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The Scarabeus (Scarabæus) also claims our attention as connected with every stage of this sepulchral delineation. According to Plutarch, these insects casting the seed of generation into round balls of dung, as a genial nidus, and rolling them backward with their feet, while they themselves look directly forward, are considered solar emblems. As the sun appears to proceed through the heavens in a course contrary to the signs, thus these Scarabae (Scarabæi) turn their balls towards the west, while they themselves continue creeping towards the east; by the first of these motions exhibiting the diurnal, by the second, the annual motion of the earth and planets. Dr. Clarke noticed it on the sands in the neighbourhood of Rosetta (as it is sculptured on the tomb) impelling the ball of dung in which it deposits its eggs.' (P. 9.)

For ourselves, we are strongly inclined to agree with Cicero concerning the origin of the Egyptian consecration of animals; who thinks that they worshipped no animal but for some known useful property; and who instances the Ibis, the Ichneumon, &c. &c. in support of his theory. We expected that the author of this tract would have adverted to this probable hypothesis. (Vide Cic. de Nat. Deorum.)

1

The entrance of the tomb is next described. In truth, the whole book seems to be a compilation for the express purpose of expounding more in detail the descriptions of M. Belzoni himself; and a farther attempt is made to deduce, from the various allegorical paintings of this extraordinary monument, the fact of the belief of the Egyptians in a future state. We quote the recapitulation in the author's own words:

We enter the tomb with the great triad. We pass the threshold of the grave with the tutelary Ibis. Its bound is beautifully expressed by Time holding the mystic circle; as Time ended, Eternity began. The Scarabeus (Scarabæus), or subterranean Apollo, leads the mediating deities to the Hades or pit, where Osiris sits in judgment. The king adorned by eternal attributes is then conducted by Arueris to the throne of Osiris; and finally accepted by Isis, who by the touch of the charmed breast-plate of truth completes his initiation. The succeeding scenes mark his progress from glory to glory, until the magnificent display is finished in the splendid dome, the mystic type of the great universe.' (P. 35.)

The remarks on Mummies are a collection of the various notitia on this interesting subject which are to be found in Herodotus, Diodorus, Dr. Hunter, Denon, De Breves, Greaves, Pococke, &c, &c. &c. Although several interesting facts are assembled, the process and the materials of embalming still form a mystery which, after all that has been said of it, appears to be one of those

arcana

arcana which it is not probable that Time, though said to be the revealer of all things, will reveal to us.

From certain peculiarities of phraseology, as well as other manifestations, we are inclined to conjecture that M. Belzoni is himself the author of this work, or has had some share in it; and we therefore abstain from all critical animadversion on its style and language.

Art. 31. The Literary Character, illustrated by the History of Men of Genius, drawn from their own Feelings and Confessions. By I. D'Israeli. Third Edition, considerably enlarged and improved. 2 Vols. Crown 8vo. 16s. Boards. Murray. 1822. Of the original edition of this amusing work, we spoke in our xviiith volume, p. 380.; where, in doing justice to its vivacity, and to its richness in literary anecdote, we ventured to blame the peremptory tone of its criticism, and the frequent affectation of its style. In each subsequent edition, considerable emendations have been made; and the author was not contented with expunging blemishes, but has attentively inserted many additional materials. The entire dissertation is now become an agreeable parlour-table book, which arranges and compares the principal phænomena of literary character. We need not repeat the titles of the chapters, which are twenty-five in number, and which abound with curious biographical incidents, elegantly classed and briefly told. - The aspirants to fame may hence learn this consolation; that, under circumstances the most various, high powers of mind have been formed or exerted; and that the heaviest stones which fortune can hurl have seldom weight enough to prevent or crush the vegetative force of genius, since its action is incessant, and at length irresistible.

Mr. D'Israeli has lately published a new series of his Curiosities of Literature, which is now on our table, and to which we shall have pleasure in attending at an early opportunity.

Art. 32. The Remains of Henry Kirke White, of Nottingham, late of St. John's College, Cambridge; with an Account of his Life, by Robert Southey. Vol. III. 8vo. 9s. Boards. Longman and Co. 1822.

The appearance of the present volume has confirmed us in the opinion which, some years since, we expressed respecting the propriety of giving to the world the compositions of this unfortunate young scholar. The former volumes contained many pieces, both in prose and verse, which, though they uniformly displayed the sincerity and purity of the author's character, possessed very few other claims to public attention; and in the pages before us, we have a still more bald and meagre collection of juvenile poems and religious epistles. We object to this publication more especially from a regard to Mr. White's memory; for it is not fair that the world should be called to judge of his genius and capacity from such specimens as these. With the exception of one or two interesting letters, it may be called the caput mortuum of his MSS.; and we regret that the editor of his Remains has been persuaded, by the importunity of some partial friends, to print these "gleanings

« PreviousContinue »