ART. XIII. Stories of Old Daniel: or Taies of Wonder and Delight. 12mo. pp. THESE tales are calculated to attract the attention of children, who may be suffered to read them, at least without any risk of moral injury from the perusal. "Father Giacomo" reminds us of one of the stories in Gil Blas: "The Man Hater" is perhaps rather above the apprehension of those for whom the ART. XIV. Introduction au Lecteur THIS little work is intended for the use of persons beginning to learn the French language. It is composed therefore of extracts from French writers, of reputation 196. tales are intended. Français, &c. par L. Murray. 12mo. ART. XV. A Circle of the Arts and Sciences for the Use of Schools and Young Persons, containing a Clear yet Brief Explanation of the Principles and Objects of the most important Branches of Human Knowledge, Illustrated with Engravings. By WILLIAM MAVOR, LL. D. for THIS is an alphabetical arrangement of the several arts and sciences beginning with agriculture and ending with zoology. The method adopted by Dr. Mavor is by question and answer, which, we think, is almost the very worst communicating knowledge. If the pupil is to commit the answer to memory, he will attend only to the words without considering the sense, or the object of the questions asked. In subjects of this kind the answers must necessarily be often long and involved, and for want of due at tention they are in the volume before us frequently much longer and more involved than they need be. We shall give an example, which will exhibit the manner in which the whole work is executed : Q. What is architecture? signifies the art of building, and in that "A. In its general acceptations, it sense is coeval with the time in which men first sought to defend themselves against the inclemency of the weather and the seasons; but a more extensive taste for convenience and elegance having given rise to rules for the decorations and use of houses, architecture is now considered as the art of constructing buildings, public as well as private, according to one of the five received or ders, or according to all the five orders, ments suitable to the grandeur, solidity. by observing the proportions and ornaand character of the different edifi ces." ART. XVI. Philosophy for Youth; or Scientific Tutor, being the Young Natural and Experimental Philosopher's useful Companion; comprising an Endeavour to render the First Principles of Mechanics, c. c. familiar to the youthful Mind, to which is prefixed Exercises in Elocution. By WILLIAM PERRY. THERE are divers ways of making a book, but we think, the easiest, if not the most honest, is that hit upon by Mr. Perry: for the first part of his book he has plundered most unmercifully Dr. Enfield's collections, Dr. Percival's Moral. by pretending to have compiled Tales, and other works that have from Emerson and other authors, long had an established reputation: which he probably never saw, or the second part on Mechanics, certainly could not understand, for Hydrostatics and Pneumatics is al- no one acquainted with Emerson's most a copy of what may be found on writings would think of going to those subjects in Joyce's "Scientific them for a remarkably easy introDialogues:" it is true he has taken duction to the first principles of the trouble to put them out of natural philosophy, and one, of the the form of dialogue: and he has two or three instances said to be slightly mentioned his obligations references to Emerson, later experi to that author in his preface; but ments by Robins, Hutton, &c. has no mention will justify such pillage shewn him to be inaccurate. as he has made upon that work. It is In general we like to give an extrue also he has referred to it in the body of his volume, with a view probably of deprecating the anger of the author, or of his publisher. "In a work of sterling merit called Scientific Dialogues' by the Rev. J. Joyce, of which we cannot speak too highly, may be seen an ingenious experiment, &c. &c." Mr. Perry's conduct is still worse, tract to shew an author's style, here it would be difficult to find six lines in any part of the volume that can be fairly attributed to William Perry. At the close of the book is “A vocabulary and expositor," as it is called; in more common language, it is an abridgment from Johnson's Dictionary. : ART. XVII. Plan, Rules, and Catalogue of a Library for Young Persons with Observations on some of the Principal Brunches of Science and Literature, and Occasional Remarks on the Books selected: Published with a View to assist in the Formation of similar Institutions, and to aid the Young in their Choice of Objects of Mental Pursuit. By LANT CARPENTER, LL. D. 12mo. pp. 70. THE object of this little book is sufficiently explained in the title. We find that it was at first intended to be confined to the members of a particular Institution; but the author remarks, "Though these circumstances have limited the selection of books, and probably the extent of the remarks, it is hoped that these pages may be found useful with respect to the objects spoken of in the foregoing title. If they should contribute to form a taste for useful reading, or rightly direct it when formed, the unprofitable labour bestowed upon them will be well repaid." The books are classed under the following heads. Voyages and Travels, and Geography; Natural History; History and Biography; Natural Philosophy; Religious, Moral, and Mental Science; and Miscellanies, including Belles Lettres and Poetry. The observations, and occasional remarks, arę most complete on the two classes preceding the Miscellanies: the author seeming to have extended his plan as he advanced. We are at a loss to find an extract which will give our readers some idea of the nature of the introductory observations, with justice to the author and to our own limits; but perhaps the following may suffice to shew the plan of the remarks, which however are usually less copious. Speaking of Mr. Joyce's Scientific Dialogues, &c. the author says, p. 45. "The preceding works will be found peculiarly well adapted to familiarize the reader with the leading facts of Natural Philosophy, and to excite that desire of information on the interesting subjects of which they treat, which will lead to fuller sources of instruction. To the attentive readers of Joyce, the companion will be found highly useful, by enabling them to examine themselves on what they read, and impressing on their minds the fundamental principles of the phy. sical sciences. The author sometimes quotes, we perceive, the decisions of the periodical critics; and among others we notice some of our own. These of course must be correct and valuable. CHAPTER IX. PHILOLOGY. ART. I. An Etimological Dictionary of the Scottish Language: Illustrating the Words in their different Significations, by Examples from Ancient and Modern Writers; shewing their Affinity to those of other Languages, and especially the Northern; Explaining many Terms which, though now obsolete in England, were formerly common to both Countries; Elucidating National Rites, Customs and Institutions in their Analogy to those of other Nations to which is prefixed a Dissertation on the Origin of the Scottish Language, by JoHN JAMIESON, D.D Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and of the Society of the Antiquaries of Scotland; in two Volumes, 4to. ACCUSTOMED as we have been, in the course of our critical labours, to pore over the pages of dulness, and wade through the confounding depths of etymological disquisition, we began to fear, at the sight of two thick quarto volumes, that we were again doomed to perform the same irksome task, and to travel again the same for bidding path. But after a little perusal of the work before us, we were unexpectedly, and pleasingly disappointed. As we proceeded the gloom dispersed, the prospects brightened, and the country became diversified with pleasing scenery. The utility of etymology, from its want of connection with other departments of learning, and the uncertainty usually attendant on its enquiries, has been denied by some; and by others the science has been deemed a puerile pursuit; and from the dry and detached manner in which the subject has been treated by most lexicographers, and the various and contradictory explanations given of the same terms, in different Dictionaries, and Glossaries; too much cause has been furnished for the censure but by no means tends to justify the conclusive inference. To despise the know the ledge derived from etimology, because of the uncertainty, which is sometimes attached to such researches, is a very unfair mode of decision; since many other branches of science, of acknowledged utility, are equally liable to this objection. And to refuse light afforded by such kind of investigation, on account of some occasional intervening darkness, is to be fastidiously nice; and to discard, with undue contumely, the wisdom of antiquity, Whether man at first obtained the gift of speech by inspiration, or by the exercise of those faculties which constituto him a rational creature, has been a theme of long, and ample discussion. In either case, all language, however divided into tongues, and diversely ramified, must be ideal and by the various links in the grand chain of expressed thought, vestiges of the primaval state may be traced in the propriety of names, even in modern times. It is therefore evident, that as words are the signs of ideas, and language the display of thought, the structure of it is one important part of that philosophy most nearly allied to the interests of man, the knowledge of his own mind. This, though less attended to than its importance suggests, or its consequences demand; and too frequently obscured, rather than elucidated, by system; still excites its influence among all ranks of people, and equally extends its powers to all nations. It is a mean of investigating the operations of our intellectual powers, records the various objects with which the senses become acquainted, illustrates the singular combinations and associations of our ideas; and, by a delineation of them, exhibits a faithful copy of the impressions made by the world without, on the mind within. An enquiry therefore into that department of science, so intimately connected with our selves, surely cannot be deemed a subject of idle speculation, or unprofitable enquiry. The striking analogies discoverable among the cognate dialects, evince a family connection; concatenate, as it were by a chain, the various individuals of the same species, and afford the strongest proof of an affinity among various nations; and by the universal diffusion of primitive terms, similar in formation, and of correlative import, demonstratively prove the common origin of mankind. The use of etymological researches, in the illustration of other sciences, Vossius, in his "Dissertatio de origine Latina Linguæ," has clearly demonstrated. And the influence of opinions on language, and language reciprocally upon opinions, has been ably shewn by M. C. Gebelin in his voluminous and laborious work "La Monde Primitif." In this view the science becomes peculiarly interesting, as tending to pourtray the primeval genius of man. By pursuing language up to its original source, thence tracing it through the many changes it has undergone during its growth and culture in the different periods of its progress; continual opportunities occur of discovering the origin of rites, important institutions, and customs, with the reasons of their denominations, which have been established in the religion, the occupations and amusements of rude uncultivated nature, as well as in those of more civilized, and refined æras. These researches have therefore laudably employed the learning and labour of many ingenious writers, in the various periods of literary history. But etymology, like other antiquarian sciences, has recently assumed a very different form to that which it exhibited in former ages; what once was a kind of elementary study, far removed from all the arts of elegance, is now associated with politer company, and become an attendant on the muses, and a powerful coadjutor to Poetry, History, and Philosophy. These and other parts of polished literature have been enlisted in its service; and reciprocally lent their aid to smooth the otherwise rugged path of abstract science; and continual allusions to obsolete customs, and ancient manners, have tended greatly to relieve the tedium of the journey. Thus far we have thought it right to premise, to rescue an important branch of learning, from the unjust ridicule with which it has been long treated by valgar prejudice; and to shew that, to the industrious curiosity and patient labours of those who confined their views of etymology within the narrow limits of a verbal science, the present age lies under much obligation for facilitating the acquisition of these materials, which are now in a fair train of being converted to their proper use: and how numerous are the advantages, which already have. been, and may yet be, derived to general knowledge, from the united influence of language, with other branches of science. |