of nearly double the strength of the experimental line laid down between England and France last year in a strong sea and running tide. The proposition was, first to extend it to Ireland, thence to the south-west coast, the nearest point for the American continent, and where the bold rocky coast offers depths that secure its safety from anchors-and thence to the nearest point on the American coast :- considerably under 2,000 miles. Choosing the months of summer, and an experienced American and English captain accustomed to the track, such a line, it was averred, might with very simple machinery be paid out night and day with perfect safety, at

the ordinary speed of the steamer. The vast importance of such an object is not to be weighed against a sum of £100,000; which, we are assured, would more than accomplish it if a single wire only were employed. The successful completion of one line would of course be speedily followed by that of others. This once accomplished, the extension of the line across the American continent to the Pacific would follow certainly; and we should have the astounding fact of a communication from the shores of the Pacific, crossing America and the Atlantic, and touching our shores in an instant of time!— The Athenæum.

A DEFENCE OF IGNORANCE. By the author of "How to make Home Unhealthy."(Chapman and Hall.)-This is a sensible, witty, and clever little book, to which "sharp and sententious, pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, audacious without impudency, learned without opinion, and strange without heresy"-Shakspere's beau ideal of conversation might be fairly and unflatteringly applied. Its author, as in the case of his former work, has brought irony to bear upon his subject; and, undertaking "The Defence of Ignorance," has proved himself its unflinching antagonist. Not only does he attack indifference to the subject of education, but even ventures to expose and condemn the system of our present educators in schools and universities. Indeed, it is at the ignorance which assumes the right to teach that his hardest blows are dealt. Practically, as well as theoretically, acquainted with his subject, he deals broadside after broadside upon the weatherbeaten hull, which has floated up from the dark ages of monastic supremacy into the troubled waters of enlightened and light-seeking days, but which seems at last about to make way for a trimmer and more sea-worthy substitute. "The dust on antique time" seems little likely to "lie long unswept," while wits like this our author are at hand to purge it. "The Select Committee, which appointed itself to inquire into the State of Education in this country, and into any measures which may be required for "The Defence of Ignorance,' publishes its report in the pages of this little volume. The first division of the subject is devoted to the Ignorance of the Middle Classes; and in it we have a con trast between the author's ideal of a school for children and the present almost universal reality. The following passage is pregnant with suggestion:

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That impotence of anger is, in my mind, the great object of the flogging. Mere physical pain now and then does a child good, and is soon forgotten: it will propagate no ignorance. What I like is to see a storm of anger raised in a child's heart against his teacher, all its winds tied up in a bag within him, without any hope of getting vent, except among his companions, in spiteful nick

names and caricatures. Ignorance suffers when a child is taught through its affections.

We should like to quote a clever passage on Tolerance and Self-respect, as resulting from education, which immediately follows this; but we must pass on. Our next extract describes the gates of the Castle of Ignorance, kept at a white heat by the furnace of religious zeal.

How I enjoy this heat! O that I could wriggle myself like a Salamander through the glowing coals, and nestle in the hottest corner of the furnace! It is so beautiful to think that Christians should have settled from the beginning, that love to God and man, faith, hope, and charity, are the mere superfluity and fat of their religion-that which gives roundness and beauty to the outline, while the flesh and bone consist in a scientific knowledge of the nature and attributes of God. How very bony, too, fat to hamper us, and be a clog on our extreme acsome of us are; all bone and fibre, with but little

*

Delicious is the fire of theo

tivity. logic zeal, which wants the latitude and longitude of heaven, takes the measurement of Satan's tail, sets brothers quarrelling about a pinch of mint, and, not unmindful of the sermon on the Mount, endeavours to make all men blessed, by taking care that they shall all be reviled and persecuted, and have all manner of evil said against them falsely for the sake of the religion which their hearts adopt. O, Methodist, revile the Church! O, Church, revile the Methodist! O, Catholic, revile them both! O, both of ye, revile the Catholic! So keep this furnace hot, and let no mortal hand push at this gate. Ignorance of the poor! be thou a barrier for ever. ***** As for the Pope's coals, our enemies, the Educationists, would like to have a pair of long tongs, wherewith quietly to take them off again before they throw out heat but it is the custom in this country, I rejoice to say, in all such cases to employ the poker! We have stirred the coals in, and got up a rousing blaze. * * * * *

The machinations of the Pope are ship-worms, eating into your heart of oak. These screw their way into the vessel of the church whenever it is submerged in the stormy waters of debate. The lower timbers of that vessel are not, and must not on any account be, sheathed with the base copper of a human education.

O, all ye good Christians, disagree and split among yourselves! O, Churchmen, let me not ask what else besides a right opinion on the surplice

question, Christian views of the wax-candle difficulty, a holy reverence for wood as the material for altars-what else but a right understanding of discussions upon wood and stone, and wax and calico, can be intended by the narrow way to heaven? Ask of your intellect. Can there be anything more nar

row?"

The author then traces the steps taken for the education of the poor, abroad and at home, from 1798 to the present day. Tempting as this portion of the work is from its interesting statistics and keen satire, we must pass on to the next division, "Ignorance at the Universities," in which we find some smart hits and highly interesting information.

At the University of Oxford, as is well known, nothing is taught but theology and antiquities. Of theology only a part, and of antiquities only the languages of Greece and Rome, with so much Greek and Roman history as illustrates the author's studies. Whatever knowledge is required of mathematics is less than any schoolboy carries home with him, who has been reasonably taught. What ever lectures are delivered upon sciences are few in number, and are the rags confided almost literally to dead walls. The disciple of Oxford, who has taken the highest honours of the university, unless he should get himself corrupted with knowledge from some other source, might be the warden of your House of Ignorance, and keep you all in safety. He is useless upon earth, would be mere ballast in a balloon, and one too many in a diving-bell. He becomes, according to his opportunities, perhaps a legislator, and his training has unfitted him for grappling with great public questions. He applauds his brother, who quotes Virgil in a speech, and can say Hear, hear" like a gentleman. Or he becomes a scholar, reads much Greek and Latin, and abstains from operating on his fellow-creatures, as a surgeon conscious of his inability to use the knife. Or he becomes a ; well, I don't know anything else that he is fit to be. He becomes a clergyman, for which office his training has not been the best. Or he becomes a schoolmaster, and teaches others to nurse one idea. Or, having wealth sufficient, he ubsides into a country gentleman, for which he is extremely fit.

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After touching on the misappropriation of their funds by colleges and grammar-schools, our author passes on to the subject of Female Education, from which portion of the volume we select a passage worth pondering. The author is also very severe on the subject of ornamental work, so much so, as to render his study, we suspect, destitute for ever of those little ladies' gifts which young gentlemen are usually so fond of obtaining.

Ladies learn drawing as they learn crochet-to give mechanical employment to their fingers which shall not engage their brains. If they sketch from nature, it is very well; for gentlemen can hold their pencils, while they receive, without awkwardness, the flattery for which of course all women were created. *** It is not intended that the eye shall

perceive more than the lines and colours to be imitated; and the landscape is worked upon paper, with different tools, indeed, but with the same feeling as if it were a watch-pocket or a kettle-holder. Paintings from nature, however, are in less request than large chalk heads and little album drawings,

famous for the careful delicacy of the finger-work, and the complete absence of thought."

Lastly, as an amende for this, an eulogy of the natural female character :

Brisk or steady, young or old, and whether in a state of natural simplicity, ignorant, or sophisticated, there is something in every woman at which no true man can laugh. In the sweet honied flow not lost, although time and careless keeping should of youth, there is a charm, some part of which is induce acetous fermentation, as they often do. In the most vinegary woman there is still a flavour of the warm sun on the fruit. The man who blames our friends upstairs as frivolous, acknowledges that every one of them has that within her which can make her stronger than a strong man in the spirit of endurance and self-sacrifice.***・ A bit of pure air sticks about a woman, let her go where she may, and be she who she may: the girl most deeply sunk in misery and vice retains it, and can rise by it A little creature when opportunity shall come. lives far out at sea upon the gulf-weed-Litiopa is its name-often there comes a wave that sweeps it from its hold, and forces it into the deep. It carries down with it an air-bubble, and glues to this a thread, which, as the bubble rises to the surface, it extends. The little bit of air, before it breaks out of its film, floats on the water, and is soon attracted by the gulf-weed, towards which it runs and fastens alongside; up comes the Litiopa by her thread then, and regains the seat for which she was created.

A bit of pure air sticks like this about all women, from the Queen on her throne, down to the world-abandoned creature on the pavement."

With this exquisite passage we take our leave of this delightful volume, hoping that our extracts may have the effect of sending many of our readers to the work itself.

C. H. H.

POEMS. By W. C. Bennett. (Chapman and Hall.)-Some months ago a brief notice of these poems appeared in our pages-a casual mention, interwoven with other matters; and though even now our space is too limited to do justice to the theme, something like a more positive recognition and recommendation of them seems due to our readers. For the last five or six years Mr. Bennett has been steadily rising in the estimation of those who can distinguish poetry from mere rhymes, and who have observed his productions in some of our most popular periodicals; and the appearance of his volume last winter at once established his right to be classed among the best of our rising poets. Whatever rank he may ultimately take, he has already formed for himself his own particular niche, he being as little an imitator as any one can be who is not ignorant of his country's literature. He is one of the poets in whom we can perceive the influence of Keats, Shelley, and Tennyson, although his manner is entirely his own. Like all true genius, his is many sided;" some of his songs, The Cry of the Lawful Lanterns," and "Why leave the World," for instance, are strains of patriotism belonging essentially to England and the nineteenth century; while others remind one of the antique statues, so successfully does the author throw his thoughts into a classical mould;

others again glitter with quaint conceits, like | those of the most polished bards of the seventeenth century; others beat with the pulse of stirring London life, rythmically shown forth; and others all the exquisite domestic poems in fact-steal into our hearts from their deep truth and that understanding of woman's nature which has been a gift often denied to what the world calls greater poets. Were we to enumerate our favourites we should present a long catalogue of names; we would rather refer our readers to the volume itself, assuring them that it is one to be read and prized, and reperused and referred to; not placed on the book-shelf and forgotten. Our extract must be short, but it shall be complete in itself:

THE CAVALIER'S WHISPER.

'Tis a cloudless noon of sultry June,
And pleasant it is to win

The cool thick shade by the chestnut made
In front of the way-side inn;
And a pleasant sight with his feather white
Is the mounted Cavalier,

Who stoops for the cup that the maid gives up,
With a word none else can hear.

A moment more, from that shady door
That horseman rides away;

And little, I guess, he thinks-and less
Of the word he bent to say.
But many a noon of many a June

Must pass, with many a year,

Ere the maiden who heard that whispered word Forgets that Cavalier.

Of course, exquisite of its kind as this little gem is, it can give but an imperfect idea of the power and scope of Mr. Bennett's longer poems, which, however, it would be very unfair to present in fragments. We ought to add that lovers of the true sonnet will find in the present volume some half dozen very beautiful ones.

THE BRITISH SOLDIER. Edited by Lieutenant Colonel Hort. No. 1, October. (Kent and Richards.) — This periodical — a monthly magazine-is of course one addressed to a class; but as the wives, sisters, and daughters of military and naval officers are no doubt many among our readers, we are glad of the opportunity of mentioning a work which doubtless will have an especial interest for them, if like the rest of their sex they concern themselves with the pursuits of their relatives. "The British Soldier" is a journal devoted to the interests of the United Services, and bids fair to supply a want long felt in the literary world. Not only does it appear to chronicle passing events, but the present number contains several well-written original articles, and a military

novel (from the practised pen of the editor we suspect) commences most spiritedly. Professional knowledge and literary ability seem to point out Colonel Hort as peculiarly qualified to conduct such a magazine.

MARIAN WITHERS. By Geraldine E. Jewsbury, author of "Zoe," "The Half Sisters," &c. 3 vols. (Colburn and Co.)-This book, read in the right spirit, will be found to convey more healthful stimulus to wise womanly doing than ninety-nine out of a hundred of professedly moral essays. The scene is laid chiefly in the neighbourhood of Manchester, among millowners and "county people," including the vulgar rich, the honest, high-minded trader, fine ladies and fine gentlemen; the strong interest of the story gathering round certain individuals scarcely to be classed in the above category, but life-like English men and women, not deified impossible heroes, but genuine humanity. The grand features of this novel, however, are the subtle knowledge of character it evinces, and the bold manner in which the rocks, on which most commonly woman's happiness is wrecked, are laid bare. Miss Jewsbury calls things by their right names, and shows into what an abyss of misery a virtuous woman must plunge, when she links herself for life to a man of lax principles. Women do not know the wrong they do to themselves when they tolerate in their drawing-rooms men of depraved characters, because they are wealthy or brilliant, or because it has been the custom of "the world" not to take count of their evildoings; and do not feel, what surely is the truth, that by this tacit countenance of the roue, they largely share that guilt which yet they visit so mercilessly in the case of a fallen sister. It is long since we have seen any work of fiction which we feel it so strong a duty earnestly to recommend to our readers, who must not, however, from our account, consider it simply didactic. On the contrary, the story is intensely interesting, while the work is thickly studded with gems of truth and wisdom like the following:

been cast, and do the duties appointed to us, we shall "If we keep ourselves quiet where our lot has find that things seek us in a wonderful manner: it is when we go out of our way to seek them that we miss what we would most desire to find, or, finding the letter of our hopes, we miss the spirit."

1

NEW AND RARE PLANT.

ARISTOLOCHIA MACRADENIA (Hook).-Aristolochiaceæ.-An interesting and very desirable climbing plant, suitable for growing in an intermediate house. It is somewhat shrubby in habit, and has long, slender stems; alternate, cordate leaves, four or five inches long. The flowers issue from the axils of the leaves singly, and are about three inches and a half in length, and having all the peculiarity of form so prevalent in the order to which the species belongs. The corolla is monopelalous, more or less tubular; the lower portion (a) much inflated, being almost quite ovoid; beyond this part the contracted tubular form is again assumed. So far the colour is greenish. But now the corolla suddenly expands in the form of a large ovate lip (b), with revolute sides, and the upper surface of which is of a rich brown colour, and having yellow reticulated veins, besides being studded with numerous-stalked globose glands, by which it has some resemblance to a pincushion. From Mexico. Introduced in 1847. This being of moderate-sized growth, it is well-suited for growing in a pot, to be supported by a wire trellis.

[All information concerning Dress or Fashion has either been directly communicated by MADAME DEVY, 73, Grosvenor-street, London, or appears under her sanction.]

Early as it is in the season, a great variety of mantelles, echarpés-mantelets, shawls, and mantles, have already appeared. They will all be worn according as the weather permits. As the cold increases, the lighter envelopes will give place to mantles and furs. Velvet and cloth are chiefly in request for mantelets and mantes. It may be observed, that cloth will not be so fashionable for them as the former material; but I have seen some pretty mantes composed of light grey cloth, and made with capuchons; the garniture is a deep effilé, in two colours-that of the cloth, and dark blue silk: it is headed with an embroidery in the latter of a wreath of foliage. The effect is very striking; the garniture of the capuchon corresponds. Cloth mantelets are very much trimmed: some with galons only; others with embroidery and galons; and several with passementerie and embroidery-these two last are also employed for velvet mantelets. I may cite, among the prettiest, those of garnet-coloured velvet, embroidered in a running pattern with silk of the same colour, and edged with a rich fringe to correspond. Still more elegant are those of black or violet velvet, trimmed with two rows of black lace, each headed with a natte formed of petits rouleaux of satin platted together; each natte is headed with two rows of very narrow black lace. Echarpes-mantilles are composed of velvet only, and principally of black velvet; they are rounded at the back, and descend

NOVEMBER.

in a square form in front. The garniture is double row of very broad black lace. Another row collar of the shawl form, and is fixed at the bottom of lace of the same width encircles a small falling of the waist by a knot of ribbon, or an ornament of passementerie. Our readers will find, in our first plate, one of the most elegant mantelets of a rich but quiet kind that has yet appeared.

One of the new forms of mantelets that I have reason to think will be very fashionable is a medium between the mantelet-visite and the paletôt; at present it is made in velvet only. It is a half-length at the back; the fronts are square: it is always wadded, lined with silk, and has short sleeves, of moderate width. It is bordered with passementerie, half black and half the colour of the robe. The garniture is completed by one or two rows of broad black lace at the bottom of the mantelet.

French Cashmeres retain their vogue; the most novel of these shawls are very large and square, embroidered in silks of all colours. They appear to great advantage on black or grey taffeta robes, trimmed with very deep flounces richly embroidered in silk.

One of the new creations for the public promenade and half-dress is the basquine moldo Valaque. In truth, there is nothing novel in this basquine but its name; for it is closely copied from the Amazones of Louis Quinze time, or the just-au-corps à la Fronsac, with the exception of the sleeves, which are of the pagoda form. Five rows of very small boutons à la Grecque, put close to each other, add to its Oriental style. The first goes down the front, and serves to close the basquine from top to bottom, if desired; two others cover the two pockets on the hips. The two last rows have a space between them