ART. XV.-Egypt as it is in 1838. By TH. WAGHORN, Steam Agent in Egypt. London: Smith, Elder and Co. 1838. THIS pamphlet is addressed to Lord William Bentinck in these terms :Egypt in 1838' is most respectfully dedicated to your Lordship; and its object is to impose upon you the onerous task of convincing parliament that times and circumstances, as well as foreign intrigues, call upon England to will the independence of Egypt, as a powerful allie in promoting the stability of British interests, particularly in the East." This is not the only pamphlet by Mr. Waghorn concerning Egypt in which very summary cut and dry views are advocated. That the country in question is destined ere long to be not only virtually but nominally independent of Turkey is probable enough: but we must pause before acknowledging the present writer's numerous assertions to be arguments and proofs of the various doctrines maintained by him. In an Appendix there is some valuable and interesting information, which has been furnished to the author by the Egyptian Minister of public Instruction and public Works, and which affords striking evidence of the Pasha's energy as well as of the rising eminence of the nation he rules over. ART. XVI.-India, Great Britain, and Russia. 1838. London Baily. : We cannot do better than quote the greater part of the advertisement by the author of this clear and arousing pamphlet. He says, "The present brief view of the relative position of India, Great Britain, and Russia, is put forward in the hope of exciting in the minds of the British nation that due degree of alarm which the author believes the occasion calls for. The unparelleled aggressions of Russia in every direction must destroy all confidence in her pacific professions, and ought to satisfy every reasonable inquirer that the only limit of her conquests will be found in the limitation of her power. On the West, Poland has been reduced to the state of a vassal province. In the South, the Ottoman sovereign has been plundered of part of his possessions, and holds the rest subject to the convenience of his conqueror. The Black Sea cannot be navigated but by permission of the Muscovite. The flag of England, which was wont to wave proudly over all the waters of the world, is insulted, and the commercial enterprise of her merchants crippled and defeated. In the East, Russia is systematically pursuing the same course. Circassia is to be crushed-Persia to be made first a partizan, then a dependent province, finally an integral part of the Russian empire. Beyond Persia lies Afghanistan, a country prepared by many circumstances to furnish a ready path for the invader. The Indus crossed, what is to resist the flight of the Russian Eagle into the heart of British India? It is thither that the eyes of Russia are directed. Let England look to it." The present pamphlet is only one of a thousand signs to show how simultaneously the British mind has awakened to Russian aggression, and how resistless is the voice of a free and enlightened people in behalf of the rights of civilisation, the claims of justice, and liberty. The government of our country has a right to call for the support of public opinion in a great crisis like that which is referred to; and that expression is not withheld by any party in the state. "Let England look to it?" Let Lord Palmerston and the Cabinet be awake. VOL. III. (1838.) no. iv. SS ART. XVII. Scriptural Geology. By the REV. GEORGE YOUNG, D.D. London Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1838. THE full title of this work will sufficiently describe it to our readers. It is called an Essay on the High Antiquity ascribed to the Organic Remains imbedded in stratified Rocks. Communicated, in Abstract, to the Annual Meeting held in Newcastle. In two parts. Part I.-Proving that the Strata, instead of requiring myriads of ages for their formation, may have been deposited nearly about one period. Part II.-Shewing that the Deluge was the period, when all the Secondary and Tertiary Rocks were formed." In the Preface Dr. Young states, that while "The Doctrine of the Deluge," recently published by the Rev. L. Vernon Harcourt, is chiefly occupied with the historical evidences of the question, the present work takes up its geological evidences. We shall not add a word of our own on this occasion regarding this much vexed subject, where hitherto theory, of one kind or another, has on both sides taken the precedence of a satisfactory induction of facts. Dr. Young is an able writer, as several earlier publications of his have shown, especially a large and expensive" Geological survey of the Yorkshire Coast," which has reached a second edition; a circumstance which clearly intimates that the Reverend Gentleman is no novice in investigations of the kind here pursued. The Essay will add to his reputation. ART. XVIII-A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, in the Catechetical Form. By JOHN MORRISON, D.D. London: Ward. 1838. DR. Morrison, who is author of several pious and much approved works, as the numerous editions of some of them sufficiently testify, intends the present catechetical commentary for the "use of Families, Schools, and Bible Classes," having found the notes, the substance of which is here published, suited to "his Bible Classes." He acknowledges himself indebted to the writings of many eminent biblical scholars, and in an especial manner to Doddridge; and should the present sample prove acceptable to the public, he intends to follow it up with other specimens of a similar character. Some people have great objections to elementary works being thrown into a catechetical form, while, perhaps, to compose a commentary on any part of the Holy Scriptures in this shape, may be still more justly remarked upon with disapprobation; at least if intended for a popular exposition to readers. Dr. Morrison's experience, however, and the intention of the work for Families, Bible Classes, &c., ought to assert a good deal in behalf of the method adopted; while his education, profession, and cheracter must go far to recommend the performance to general acceptation, and to remove it from the sphere of doubt with which we are apt to regard any work of purely a religious and biblical description, to which a layman's name may be affixed. ART. XIX.-Rudiments of English Composition. By ALEXANDER REID, A.M. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. 1838. MR. Reid, who is Rector of the Circus-place school, Edinburgh, one of the most respectable and best conducted seminaries in the realm, is extensively known beyond his official sphere as the author of a number of elementary works, in all of which the results of much experience, as shown by the simplicity of his rules as well as by the concise and clear character of his arrangements, are most apparent, has in the present instance added to his list by these Rudiments, which constitute a Practical Introduction to the composition of the English Language. Part first is meant to guide to correctness in Spelling, Punctuation, the Use of Words, and the Structure and Arrangement of Sentences. Part second, to correctness and perspicuity in style, and to a tastefulness of ornament in writing; and Part third, to the practice of the preceding Rules and Exercises in various kinds of Original Composition. Many works contemplating the same end have been written or compiled; but none of them in a more perspicuous style, while none of them are so condensed or so well adapted to form a sequel to a very ordinary knowledge of school grammars. To self-instructors it will be serviceable if they set earnestly to learn its lessons, in teaching them how to speak and write with accuracy and taste; and, indeed, in preparing them for a full appreciation of the highest orders of elegant literature, and the study of the most learned grammars or treatises on fine writing. ART. XX.-Dionysius Longinus on the Sublime. By DR. B. D. HICKIE. London: Longman. 1838. THE text of this edition is chiefly from Weiske; the notes are in English, and evince sound judgment, extensive reading, and correct taste. There are three indexes, one of Greek, another of English, and a third of proper names. It is, we believe, the best edition we have for the higher classes in schools. The volume besides is neat in the extreme. ART. XXI.-Parallel Universal History. London: Whittaker. 1838. THE book is further called in the title, "an Outline of the History and Biography of the World, divided into Periods;" viz., those of Ancient History, Middle Ages, and Modern History. Then there are a number of subdivisions. By the guidance of such an arrangement, the inquirer may be promptly enabled to make his references good, or the tyro to obtain a general view of any particular period, and of the most distinguished characters belonging to it. The compiler has not aimed apparently at elegance of style, having chiefly attended to facts and the current authorities upon each individual subject. The facts of course are almost innumerable, and from that very cause sometimes require diligent research before they can be pounced upon. Whether the arrangement be always the most perspicuous, or the details duly opportioned, may admit of doubt. ART. XXII.—A Wreath of Wild Flowers from New England. By FRANCES SARGENT OSGOOD. London: Churton. 1838. SEVERAL of the multitude of poems introduced into this handsome volume have appeared, a preliminary notice informs us, in various Annuals and Magazines, both in this country and in America. The authoress who appears to be not more than out of her teens, cherishes amiable feelings and playful fancies; she also has a perception of the beautiful in nature and the sentimental in character. A favourable specimen of her productions may be taken from the Preface, where she deprecates stern criticism. We quote the verses, these being to the title-" To My Book," 帶 "Farewell! my fragile, flower-filled book! I would my wish might guide thee still, Who'd blight thy tender freight at will. og mere zuil The syren, Fame, in vain should sing, And only pause at friendly ports, Where partial eyes will look for thee. May scorn, for prize of richer cost, The smaller craft;-how soon wilt thouE ¿OLABORA Yet fare thee well! It was not Pride, That sheeted home thy fluttering sails, open our ULAS VE That launched thee on th' o'erburdened tide, And gave thy prow to wayward gales; A wreath of wild flowers all thy freight!-- Fate! with the plaything work thy will, 'Tis thine !-my simple book, farewell." There are, however, many pieces in the volume not half so good as the prefatory verses, whether subject or treatment be regarded. The fair writer should reflect more, compose less, and publish not above a tithe of that which she composes. By far the longest piece in the volume is a Play, a Tragedy, in Five Acts! Some friend should have prevented the appearance of this idle attempt, deficient and uninteresting, feeble and faulty as it is, in respect of plot, dialogue, poetry, and every dramatic quality. What can have possessed the young lady to mistake profanity for power, and the mouthing of awful words for sublimity. The production is called Elfrida, and here is one sample : Oswald. Yes! hell and fury! death! damnation !-I On, on, good Oswald! spare not hell nor fury, Be prodigal of death, and heap damnation On the poor wretch's head !"' Now we have to say this is not as it should be, and some one should have told Frances Sargent Osgood, the Rev. Hobart Caunter, B.D. for instance, to whom the volume is inscribed, that it is not good, thus to spare not. But there is promise about our authoress if she will keep to a humbler walk, and step carefully. ART. XXIII.—Observations on the Oriental Plague, and on Quarantine as a Means of arresting its Progress. By JOHN BOWRING. Edinburgh: Tait. 1838. DR. BOWRING was commissioned by Her Majesty's Government to inquire into the present state and probable future development of our commercial relations in the East; and in the course of his inquiries his attention was naturally called to those regulations which impede the free transit of merchants and merchandise. The conclusions to which he has come are, that not only is the pecuniary loss sustained by the present practice of trading nations enormous, but that the laws in question are no security against the dangers dreaded-nay, that they are positively pernicious. The result of the Doctor's researches relative to the Oriental Plague will be read with the deepest interest, and the prejudices existing on the same subject felt, after perusal, to be gross. These Observations were addressed to the Medical Section of the British Association at last meeting; and the following motion was unanimously carried- -"That it be recommended to the Committee of this Section, to suggest to the Committee of Recommendations of the British Association, to apply to the government for the appointment of a commission, empowered to take the necessary steps for entering upon and completing an inquiry |