in their hands, may employ them with vigor, with discrimination, and with perseverance."

It is greatly to be desired that similar inquiries should be made, in the same spirit, about our own villages, and their results published. They would do more to give a knowledge of our true condition, and furnish us with better data to improve it, than all the books of travels that have been printed about us, since we existed as a nation.

5. An Historical and Descriptive Account of British America, etc., etc. By HUGH MURRAY, F. R. S. E. In Two Volumes. New York: Harper and Brothers. pp. 312, 290.

THESE neatly printed volumes, form Nos. 101 to 102 of the Family Library, which has for some years past been issuing from the press of the enterprising publishers, whose names are annexed. The present publication consists of not a mere reprint of Murray's work, but one to which the labor of an American editor has been given, so condensing the work "as to retain," says the preface, "all that was valuable, and at the same time to disencumber it of those parts which were of inferior importance, and which would have rendered it, as a whole, less interesting, without being more useful to the general reader." In this object we think they have succeeded, and can therefore cordially recommend the work, as one both carefully prepared and skilfully revised, and as containing matter alike of interest and instruction. The early narratives of discoverers and settlers, with their romantic adventures, are also happily introduced to diversify and enliven graver matters, and to make the work as taking to the young, as it will be found instructive to its older readers.

To us, as Americans of the United States, the subject of this work is little (if at all) less interesting than to the British public. Whatever be the political condition of these countries, they can never cease to be our neighbors, and that on a frontier of near four thousand miles, a greater frontier than any empire since the Roman fell, and greater, by far, than any two nations in the history of the world ever had for a common border between them. What British America is, therefore, and what it will be, are questions that can never be uninteresting to us. It is clear, too, that they are advancing rapidly into strength, "pari passu" with ourselves, and must grow up eventually into a great empire. This, at least, is easy to foresee. The extent of territory of British America, including that only which may be considered productive, is nearly three times as great as that of Great Britain and Ireland united; while the portion of it which may now be considered as under even im

perfect cultivation, does not exceed one fiftieth of its surface. Its population already exceeds a million and a half, though of this number probably one third are of French descent; namely, the Habitans of Lower Canada, and the Acadiens of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Its exports, notwithstanding the large proportion of unproductive consumers its population contains, arising from the numbers of the military and its recent emigrants, already exceed £2,700,000; while its imports, with that disparity which has always been found to belong to colonies and new countries, goes far beyond what the country would seem to pay for, and reaches the amount of £3,320,000.

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Upon all disputed questions, whether local or national, Mr. Murray's tone is that of prudence and conciliation. The time, indeed, is for past, other any for the government of colonies by a mother country against their will, of all, at least, with AngloSaxon blood in their veins, as the Canadas have- and if England is to retain her American colonies in obedience, it can only be by retaining them first in attachment to her.

It is a high speculation, although one that in ardent minds might lead to dangerous conclusions, to look into the future condition of these now British Provinces, after that they shall have peacefully (as we both trust and believe) terminated their political dependence upon Europe. In what relation will they then stand to the United States? friendly or hostile? Apart from us, or united with us! It is a grave inquiry, and although lying in the dark womb of futurity, yet still is it we think not without some light from both the past and passing experience of both the old and new world, in analogous cases. We may ourselves be in error, or over sanguine, and yet we cannot but think that the coming age is verging to a great discovery, or rather improvement, in government; and that is, the possibility of an indefinite extension, within the limits of the same race or family of men, of national sovereignty, so far as the external questions of peace, and war, and commerce, are concerned, combined with local sovereignties, which shall be left complete for all the purposes of internal government. To apply the principleall of Saxon race in northern America, all who speak the language of Shakspeare and Bacon, and have grown up on the common law of England, may thus constitute, so far as their relations to the old world are concerned, a REPUBLIC OF AMERICAN STATES, ONE AND UNDIVided. The discussion of the question is, however, not in place here, and we conclude with again recommending these unpretending volumes to all who desire much knowledge in little bulk, and that upon matters which to us, as Americans, are full both of interest and instruction.

6. Bacchus-An Essay on the Nature, Causes, Effects, and Cure of Intemperance. By RALPH BARNES GRINDROD. First American, from the third English edition, by CHARLES C. LEE, A. M., M. D. New York: 1840. J. and H. G. Langley. 12mo. pp. 512.

THIS essay gained the prize of the British and Foreign Temperance Society in 1838, against twenty or more competitors, and since its publication, the award has been confirmed by the universal sentiments of approbation with which it has been received.

The subject is here treated with great ability, and the most diligent research, shown by the vast amount of curious facts brought together to illustrate it; but our present purpose will allow us to give only a general notice of the plan of the work.

After a consideration of the nature and characteristics of intemperance, with which it commences, nearly seventy pages are devoted to its history, beginning with the earliest recorded instances of intoxication mentioned in the Old Testament; tracing it among the Thracians, Scythians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Parthians, Carthaginians, etc.; and following the examination through the civilized nations and savage tribes of modern times. Not the least interesting of this part of the essay, is the union of intemperance with religious ceremonies, into which, among the heathens, it largely entered; and the connexion of some popular modes of celebrating certain christian festivals with those ancient rites. For the great number of historical facts, we must refer to the book itself, and richly will it repay the perusal.

Intemperance, considered in a national point of view, follows next, and is succeeded by an inquiry into its effects on the moral and intellectual powers. The pages of ancient and modern history contribute each their portion, to fill up this truly pitiable and disgusting picture of self-induced degradation. This is followed by the examination of the moral and physical causes of intemperance. The elaborate history of intoxicating liquors, and the nature and combination of alcohol, give occasion to speak of the ingenuity of mankind, in all ages and countries, in forming inebriating compounds. It appears to us, however, that the basis on which the whole argument against the use of intoxicating drinks rests, is too firm to need the additional support of the doubtful fact, that as the process of vinous fermentation is the first step of vegetable decomposition, wine must not therefore be regarded as a good creature of God." Dr. Lee, in a note, (p. 241,) seems almost to rest his cause on this fact, averring that wine is a creature of art, and needs great skill in its manufacture. That this is not always so, we have proof in the fact that the juice of the rich Catawba grape, indigenous to our Southern states, will undergo spontaneous fermentation in the fruit, and acquire all the flavor and exhilirating qualities of Madeira

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wine, with no other interference than the separation of the fruit from the vine.

A detailed account of the physical effects of the vice of inebriation—a sad sum of human suffering-occupies a large portion of the work, but of which it is in vain for us to attempt the analysis.

The fallacy of popular objections, and the means employed to remove the habits of intemperance, follow next. The concluding part of the work is devoted to the examination of temperance among the Hebrews and primitive Christians; the means employed in various ages and countries to remove intemperance; and closes with the consideration of the subject in a legal point of view.

A highly interesting and valuable appendix is added by the Ame rican editor, containing the "History of Intoxicating Liquors in the United States," and embracing a number of other topics connected with the subject, which renders the work more valuable to the American reader, while it makes the essay more complete on the subject of intemperance than any that has yet appeared. An excellent letter from Professor J. W. Francis, on the morbid anatomy of drunkenness, supplies also a deficiency in the body of the work, remarkable both for its graphic description and accuracy of detail. The work is well printed, and adds another to the several recent proofs which these enterprising publishers have shown of good taste

in the art.

7. Revue Nationale de Belgique. Bruxelles: 1839. Vol. 1. Svo.

BELGIUM, which is rising fast into a consequence, predicted alike by men so opposite as Bonaparte and Niebuhr, and which is becoming daily more important to the United States by its commerce, is yet so little known among us, that we have read with much interest and surprise many facts contained in the numbers thus far published of the truly national Review, whose title is placed at the head of this article. Its editor, we understand, is Mr. Devaux, one of the deputies to the Belgian chamber of representatives, and one of the most valuable and distinguished men of his country. The articles it contains, especially its admirable introduction, and whatever relates properly and strictly to Belgium, are written with much ability. We would instance among them the discussion of the revolution in Belgium, in the sixteenth century, under Philip II.; that on the Barrier treaty, which above a century ago transferred Belgium from Spain to Austria; and those on the present politics of the country, especially one on the catholics and the liberals-all of which are acute and powerful. Those on the manufacture of linens, just undergoing a revolution from the introduction of machinery into England, and on the manufacture of cotton, in which our

own country is always involved, may be read with profit on this side of the Atlantic. Indeed, we commend the Review to all who wish to know any thing about the present condition or the future prospects of the rich and important country to whose great interests it is devoted, with a patriotic zeal that is truly respectable.

8. Two Years before the Mast; a Personal Narrative of Life at Sea. New York: 1840. Harper and Brothers. 12mo. pp. 483.

TRUTH-plain, honest, unvarnished truth, is the stamp upon every page of this most attractive volume, and gives to it such a charm, that the every-day incidents of a sea life, and a common trading voyage up and down the coast of California, which it narrates, excite an interest in the reader, far beyond that of most tales of fiction. It is a picture drawn wholly from nature-from beginning to end, there is not a touch, or a trait, or a color, of the ideal, and this evidently, not because the author wanted imagination, but because he had imposed upon himself the severe law of restraining it, and adhering scrupulously to facts. We never read a book of more singleness of purpose-its professed design of presenting "the life of a common sailor as it really is," is carried out with the most unvarying fidelity, and at the same time with masterly spirit. The author, had he aimed at effect, might have wrought upon the feelings of his reader at the outset, by an account of his previous position in society, the refinements to which he had been accustomed, and the superior education he had received; but he employs no such artifices; nothing could be more direct and unpretending than the manner in which the story begins-the past is introduced only as far as is requisite to exhibit the transformation he is now undergoing, and the new scene, and new characters, are at once brought on with the vividness of reality. We feel sure that no one can read the first page of this narrative, and lay it aside until it is finished; and as we wish to do both our readers and the author a service, we here extract it:

"The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim, on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the western coast of North America. As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in full sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three years' voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure.

"The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap, and kid gloves, of an undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked shirt, and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive