thor then proceeds to an examination of pictures supposed to be drawn according to the rules of linear perspective; and makes deductions, from the propositions of the preceding section, applicable to an examination of pictures diawn upon a vertical plane. He next investigates the appearance of pictures seen from a point which is not their proper point of view; explains several of the more common phænomena of pictures; and concludes with developing the principles of the delineation of shadows with examples. On the pleasant and fruitful subject of ecclesiastical architecture we have received various productions, and several of them highly entitled to attention. We may particularly notice, "A Treatise on the Ecclesiastical Architecture of England during the middle ages: with ten illustrative plates. By the Rev. John Milner, D.D. F.S.A. &c. &vo." "An Historical Survey of the Ecclesiastical Antiquities of France, with a view to illustrate the rise and progress of Gothic Architecture in England. By the late Rev. G. D. Whittington, 2d edition." "Observations on the Varieties of Architecture used in the structure of Parish churches. To which is added, a description of the characteristics of the Saxon, Norman, and Pointedarch styles; list of churches new remaining built by the Saxons; an account of bishops and others who were architects; and the contemporary architecture of the various periods, 8vo." The last is perhaps the most useful book of the whole, as containing a compendium of various opinions on the deeply-contested subject of the origin and merits of the Gothic or pointed style, together with a variety of valuable remarks made by actual survey. In regard to depth of study, and origi nal matter, however, it must yield to both the preceding, in which the two authors take very different grounds of reasoning, exhibit very different views, and consequently arrive at very different conclusions. Dr. Milner is enthusiastically attached to the style of architecture before us, which in consequence he has endeavoured to separate from the degrading title of Gothic, and to distinguish by what, in truth, forms its leading character, the pointed centre of the arch; while he will not allow that the Gothic nations had any thing to do with its invention, which he ascribes chiefly, if not altogether, to the Norman prelates who rebuilt the different cathedrals of England during the latter part of the eleventh century, and the beginning of the twelfth; and consequently conceives that our own country is fairly entitled to the merit of having perfected, if not originated it. He asserts it indeed to have been founded in some degree upon the Saxon, so denominated merely because it prevailed during the Saxon dynasty, but which in fact is the Grecian or Roman style, having the essential character of that style, though, in consequence of the general decline of the arts, most rudely executed. "The Norman windows and portals were much larger and better proportioned than those which preceded them, and were generally supported by columns at the sides; their mouldings also and other carvings, though not essentially different from those of the Saxons, were far better designed and executed. In short, next to the effect of sublimity, what these ingenious and indefatigable arcbitects chiefly aimed at in their religious structures, was beauty. An equal attention to these two effects 1 did, by degrees, produce a perfectly new style in architecture, properly called the pointed style, being one of the greatest efforts of human genius, that has been witnessed in the course of ages." Mr. Whittington's talents we have formerly had occasion to notice: he disputes the present theory, and endeavours, though vainly in our estimation, to trace the style from the eastern countries, believing it to have been brought thence by the crusaders. He is also nearly as little disposed to compliment it, when put in comparison with the Grecian orders, as Mr. Barry. In its interior we think it excels in both beauty and sublimity, but perhaps yields in regularity and harmony in its exterior the Greek style has a decisive advantage in every respect. "An Elementary Investigation of the Theory of Numbers, with its application to the indeterminate and diophantine analysis, the analytical and geometrical division of the circle, and several other curious algebraical and arithmetical Problems. By Peter Barlow, of the Royal Military Academy, 8vo." We have by no means space to analyse this work. Let it suffice to say, that the author has successfully studied in the school of Euler; and that to much valuable matter from Legendre and Gauss, he has added no small quantity of his own. "A Treatise on the Resolution of the higher Equations in Algebra. By W. Lea, 4to. pp 48.". Upon this work also we can report favourably: Mr. Lea has well studied Mr. Woodhouse, and in the tract before us has simplified various methods, and reduced them to one common and easy principle. "A new System of Arithmetic : including specimens of a method by which most Arithmetical operations may be performed without a knowledge of the rule of three; and followed by Strictures on the nature of the Elementary instruction contained in English Treatises on that science. By Thomas Clark, 8vo." We see no just reason offered in the work before us for deviating from the common mode of instruction; and, upon a tolerable examination of this boasting volume with the treatises it so arrogantly impugns, have no hesitation in saying, that the vanity of the latter makes it uprise and kick the beam. . CHAP. CHAPTER III. LITERATURE AND POLITE ARTS. Containing the Transactions of Literary Societies, Biography, Palcology, Philology, Classics, Poetry, Drama, Novels, Tales, and Romances. WE E commence as usual with the "Transactions of the Royal Society, and shall give a list of the articles contained in the volume for the current year, with such observations upon several of them as their superior importance or interest may seem to demand. I. "On the grounds of the method which Laplace has given in the second chapter of his Mechanique Céleste for computing the attractions of spheroids of every description. By James Ivory A. M. communicated by Henry Brougham, Esq. F. R. S. M. P." This is a valuable paper but cannot be abridged II. "On the attractions of an extensive class of spheroids." By the same: communicated as above. A useful accompaniment to the preceding. III." An account of some peculiar ities in the structure of the organ of hearing in the Balæna Mysticetus of Linnéus. By Everard Home Esq. F. R. S." According to Mr. Home's observations the whalebone whale, the animal here referred to, can only hear by the blow-hole or nostril, since it is into the canal leading into this organ that the eustachian tube or internal duct opens, and since, also, it is only by this duct that the whale has any communication with the external air as a medium of sound. article is illustrated by two plates. IV. "Chemical researches on the and some other animal fluids. lliam Thomas Brande, Esq. The F. R. S." These researches appear to have been accurately conducted, and their results are highly curious, as being at variance with many of the most popular opinions upon the subject. According to the experimental analyses before us the serum of the blood contains no gelatin whatever; and the serosity or fluid which oozes from it, when coagu lated by heat, consists of albumen in combination with alkali; the author also supposes that the gelatin, so common to every part, is an actual product of every part, in consequence of local secre tion, notwithstanding that gelatin is found in the mass of the blood, though not in its serum. Iron he asserts to be found in only very small quantities in any of the animal fluids, and nearly as much in one fluid as in another; certainly not more in the colouring matter of the blood than in any other part of it.. He conjectures that the red hue is connected with the removal of a portion of carbon and hydrogen from the blood; and that its various tints depend upon modifications of animal matter, and not, as conceived by the French chemists, on an oxydizement of iron. V. "Observations of a comet, with remarks on the construction of its different parts. By Wm. Herschel, LL. D. F. R. S." XII. "Observations of a second Comet, with remarks on its construction. By the same." These papers are minutely minutely descriptive of the comet "On the primitive crystals of car- ribs. By Everard Home, Esq. F.R.S." "On the different strue- Whilst we are upon the subject of the Royal Society, we shal step somewhat forward to notice the "History of the Royal Society from its Institution to the end of the eighteenth century:" By Thomas Thomson, M. D. F. R. S. L. & E. 410. reconcile the above extraordinary assertion of Dr. Thomson, that references have been made to the Philosophical Transactions rather than to the abridgment, because it was the object of the author to make it independent of the abridge that "the following work was projected by the proprietors of the new abridgment, and was intended to consist partly of biographical sketches of some of the most eminent Fellows of the Royal Society, and partly of an arranged view of the whole contents of the Philosophical Transactions from the com. mencement of the work in 1665 down to the end of the year 1800, when the abridgment terminated, The plan being laid before the author some years ago, he readily agreed to undertake the execution of it." With the abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions, the present volume, commenced at the suggestion of its proprietors, is in perfect parallel; it begins and terminates with it, and so far forms a whole; but it forms no whole with the Philosophical Transactions in the original, for though it begins with the work it breaks off while it is continuing, and in the very middie of its career. 4to. Our readers are well aware, that a very excellent abridgment of the Transactions of the Royal So-"throughout the whole work the ciety, from its formation in 1665, to the close of the year 1800, has lately been executed by the joint labour of Dr. Hutton, Dr. Pearson, and Dr. Shaw. The volume before us is intended to be an accompaniment," with his opening assertion, ment to this excellent compilation, and has, indeed, been drawn up by Dr. Thomson at the express suggestion of the learned authors of the abridgment. The original plan, however, seems to have been considerably departed from; and the work before us has become rather an arranged summary of the materials of the transactions at length, than a history of the society adapted to the recent abridgment. "Throughout the whole work," observes the writer," the references have been made to the Philosophi cal Transactions rather than to the abridgment, because it was the object of the author to make it independent of the abridgment. These references, however," he continues, "will serve equally well for the possessors of either work; because in each page of the abridgment are printed the date and number of the volume where the corresponding paper is found in the original; and the page of the original, where the paper commences, is affixed to the title of each paper in the abridgement." All which, however, should, in our humble opinion, have rather been an additional reason for our author's adhering to what certainly must have been the original inten tion, and making his references correspond with the Transactions in their abridged form, from the facility with which any person can pass from the abridged to the primary volumes from which they have been epitomized; nor is it very easy to We are ready, however, to admit the great pains and labour which the indefatigable author has given himself in the perusal of so voluminous a journal as the original work. "The first," says he," and not the least fatiguing part of the task, was to peruse the whole of the Philosophical Transactions, and to arrange all the papers under disti c. heads, according to the sciences to which they respectively belonged." Even here, however, he might have saved himself a world of labour by con |