ART. III. Raccolta di Lettere Istorico-Mitologiche e Morale. Da G. A. GRAGLIA. 8vo. pp. 200.

THE author shall declare his own object in this selection.

"In giving to the public these letters, it may appear to some too presumptuous an attempt to range myself in the copious number of eminent writers upon the same subject; and to others, to be a labour almost needless, considering the few who, (comparatively speaking) will read them. In the first place, I shall say, if the matter is rightly considered, every tongue, every way, and every method ought to be tried, if not to destroy (an attempt almost impossible) at least to diminish the evil, which the many depraved productions, under various colours and forms, disgrace the art of printing, with so much detriment to young people, thus undermining their good morals, in order to blow up, as it were, that education, which their friends had given them with so much zeal; they being conscious that the principal riches of a state, and the cause of the welfare of families, chiefly depend on the good education given to children; and is to the mind what agriculture is to the earth; and as we are by our corrupt nature more prone to evil than inclined to good; and, blindly, more lulled by present pleasures, than engaged by thoughts of future happiness; wherefore, if the fear of God should not come in aid of good advice, where should we not be led by those profane

writers! As it is so, I have selected in the letters, subjects, if not of the most sublia, kind, at least, the easiest to be put in practice, and the more adapted to the circumstarts of the times, and the most general, in order oppose the vices that are also most gener therefore, in them will be inculcated, tha: inind ought to be guided by reason; the to use provoking words, is often the cause great evils; that the passionate man hr, himself more than others; that virtue nese grows old nor loses strength; that those whe are habituated to afflictions bear them calmly; that before one makes any one hi friend, one ought to examine him carefr before trusting him with a secret; that r flatterer flies from the virtuous man, and staches himself to the presumptuous me but, to avoid prolixity, I shall only add, t too great a prosperity, as well as too prett adversity, are equally dangerous; and pe.cr in families, and subordination in subjects, ar the fruits of virtue alone, without which, ether a state nor a family can long prosper, b + it must of necessity decay and fall, as a tr with withered roots."

lection seems well adapted for the deWe have only to remark that the s signed purpose, and that the Signer's Italian is somewhat less confused than his English.

CHAPTER VIII.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOL BOOKS.

THERE is no department of Literature in which the inferiority of the last to the preceding year is so strongly marked as that which is treated of in the present chapter. Of the works relating to the science of Education there is not one whose very title will not be forgotten in the course of a twelvemonth; and the books intended for the use of young persons will probably share the same fate, with the exception perhaps of Messrs. Bruce's Introduction to Geography.

ART. I. Friendly Admonitions to Parents, and the Female Sex in general; with Reflections on Moral and Religious Subjects; intended for the Benefit of the rising Generation. By CHARLOTTE BADGER, late CHARLOTTE WAINWRIGHT. 8vo. pp. 162.

IN these unassuming pages will be found some sensible and useful reflecions on the present system of female ducation. The exclusion of domestic oncerns from the modern system of intruction is justly condemned, and the il consequences represented, which 1ose more particularly in inferior staons of life must experience from a culvation of exterior ornamental accom

plishments to the neglect of solid and essential duties. Among various topics which are touched upon, Mrs. Wainwright dwells on the palpable incompetency of a large proportion of those who assume the character of governesses, to the arduous and responsible task of tuition: her advice to parents on this subject is particularly worth attending to.

XT. II. Letters on the Importance of the Female Sex; with Observations on their Manners and Education. By Miss HATFIELD. 8vo. pp. 157.

THIS little rigmarole volume conBs one passage so truly original that will preserve it. It is an apology Eve, showing that she was right in ing the apple.

By the creation of woman, the great ign was accomplished-the universal syswas harmonised.-Happiness and innoce reigned together: but, unacquainted the nature or existence of evil-conscionly of good, and imagining that all of that essence around her-without frantages of the tradition of fore-fathers te, or of ancient records to hand down, was fatally and necessarily ignorant of hellious disobedience of the fallen anand of their invisible vigilance and anation to accomplish the destruction e new favourites of heaven.

In so momentous an event as that has ever been exclusively imputed to neither her virtue nor her prudence at to be suspected and there is little to doubt that, if the same temptations een offered to her husband, under the . REV. VOL. II.

same appearances, but he also would have acquiesced in the commission of this act of disobedience.

"Eve's attention was attracted by the manner in which the serpent first made his attack: he had the gift of speech, which she must have observed to be a faculty peculiar to themselves. This appeared an evidence of something supernatural. The wily tempter chose also the form of the serpent to assist his design, as not only in wisdom and sagacity that creature surpassed all others, but his figure was also erect and beautiful; for it was not until the offended justice of God denounced the curse, that the serpent's crest was humbled to the dust.

"During this extraordinary interview it is evident, that Eve felt a full impression of the divine command, which she repeated to the tempter at the time of his solicitations. She told him, they were not to eat of that trec. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden; God said, ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, G g

lest ye die. But the serpent opposed her arguments with sophistry and promises. He said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, but shall be as gods !'-What an idea to a mortal!-Such an image astonished her! It was not the gross impulses of greedy appetite that urged her, but a nobler motive that induced her to examine the conSequences of the act.-She was to be better and happier to exchange a mortal for an angelic nature. Her motive was great, virtuous, irresistible. Might she not have felt herself awed and inspired with a belief of a divine order?-Upon examination, she

ART. III. Letters of Advice from

AMONG the peculiar characteristics of the present age of literature is the propensity of our female writers to pub. lish sermons upon education, in the shape of letters, essays, and treatises; thinking that the only requisite stock in trade to set up with is pen, ink, paper, and plenty of words.

ART. IV. Anthropaideia; or, a Tractate on General Education. By ANDREW COWAN, M. D. 8vo. Two vols. pp. about 500.

IN these well-meant volumes there is much good sense. The author concludes with a brief retrospect of their contents, which will answer the purpose of a more laboured analysis.

"The necessity of accompanying instruction in all its departments with the emotion of pleasure, points out to us the propriety and utility of reforming all the different in struments which are employed to cultivate the human mind, since in their existing state pain is uniformly attendant upon their employment. We have formerly divided the principal artificial means to be used in education, into two great divisions, calculated to cultivate and improve the two principal faculties of the mind, imagination and judg ment. The first of these divisions eomprehends all the various departments of literature; the second includes all those which may be denominated scientific. The great object, then, of what is usually termed education, is properly to select all the useful parts, both of literature and of science, and to render their study as pleasing as possible to the mind. We have, in the first volume of this work, laid down what we conceived to be a comprehensive and just plan of a general education, enumerating the different departments of study, that properly belong to each division, with the order in which they should naturally succeed each other. We shall therefore, in this place, endeavour to point out the means by which the study of all these classes of knowledge may be rendered most pleasing, and, in consequence, nrost beneficial to the mind.

"To all those who are at all acquain with the principles of human nature, be superfluous to adduce proofs to de tion of acknowledged importance and i strate, that whatever knowledge or infor rest is acquired with ease, its study is acc panied universally with a degree of please In order to render the acquisition of k ledge pleasant, it must be made both a resting and easy of comprehension. Ke ing these two truths always in view, we ceive it practicable, and that even with much difficulty, to transform both se and literature, into pleasing and delig studies.

"We shall begin with the considers i of literature, which naturally first en our attention. With a view of making study of language agrecable and ple particularly to boys, it is necessary tha subject on which students are employ read, be interesting. The judicious teac can easily collect anthors, in almost e language, whose writings are calculated arrest and interest the mind at an early pet of life. In order, however, to render. study and comprehension of such easy, difficult passages should always tisfactorily explained in the student's cular tongue by notes, and they should beginners, be accompanied with literal lations.

"In the reformation of science thes general principles must always regulate conduct. Mathematics, the great and i pensable foundation of all scientific ledge, do not admit of that method of ment which is most fascinating. Each

Position must be concisely and closely demonstrated, without admitting those analogies which are best fitted to please the youthful mind. But if the propositions themselves require such rigorous abstraction, we are at full liberty to illustrate them, in any manner we imagine to be most pleasing. Corollaries therefore should always accompany mathematical propositions, and these should be calculated to engage the affections and please the mind. Experimental philosophy requires no additional ornaments, to render it delightful to the human heart.

"Whosoever keeps these principles constantly in view, and reforms in pursuance of them any department of literature or of science, may claim to himself the title of a benefactor to humanity. The author of this work intends to devote a large portion of his time to this truly momentous and interesting subject, directing his attention more especially to the abstract sciences. He shall however be glad to find himself anticipated by more able hands, whose powers may be better adapted for this undertaking. The highest object of his ambition is, to be enunerated as one among the first to assert the nights of human nature, and the last to reinquish them."

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We think the work might advantagevusly be compressed, for Dr. Cowan has oo often expended his time in proving what no reader would be disposed to leny or doubt. We would also recomnend to him more prudence: he speaks fall persons employed in tuition with a indiscriminating and illiberal aspeity, and the reasonable disgust which ach passages must excite, cannot fail to ccasion a general prejudice against the st of his treatise. His remarks on the actice of physic savour equally of youth d presumption. But the most extradinary part of the book is his scheme I public worship.

"I consider music to be the only rational as which can be used in public worship excite true devotion. Articulate language quite inadequate to produce this end. It to arrest the attention to the contemon of sounds degraded by vulgar use, & to those objects which are little calcu et to kindle in the breast the pure flame devotion. Music, when employed in se worship, possesses the important ad

vantage peculiar to itself, that all men, of whatever sect or denomination, may equally participate its influence. No particular creed which a person may happen to entertain can unfit him for enjoying this mode of worship, in case he entertains no particular prejudice against it. This species of public worship seems more conformable to the spirit of Christianity than any other which ever can be adopted. Christianity tends directly to level all religious distinctions among men, and to render true devotion the genuine offspring of the heart. Music excites all the finer and more noble feelings of the soul, and affords that enjoyment which cannot be augmented or diminished by the opinions or influence of men. For this reason it tends to allay the furious spirit of sectarianism, whose influence goes directly to pervert and destroy the heart, and unqualify her for the enjoyment of every refined and every heavenly emotion."

The exceeding oddity of this passage disarms all resentment for its absurdity. Dr. Cowan is for taking the people by the ears, supposing, we presume, that they have been too long led by the nose. Were our hierarchy to be reformed upon this truly original idea, Mrs. Billington would without dispute be made Archbishop of Canterbury, and Incledon appointed to the see of York. The other sees would be filled from the Operahouse, and this would afford a happy opening for a reconciliation, with the church of Rome, as no objection would be made on the part of the new bishops to the celibacy of the clergy. There would indeed be some difficulty in disposing of the present bench. It cannot be expected that any one of them should qualify himself for first fiddle, but some might appropriately beat the drum or sound the trumpet, others be furnished with tinkling cymbals, others again be employed as bellows-blowers, having been used to blow the coals, and beyond all doubt, all might very soon be taught to join readily in chorus. The admission of the bag-pipes would destroy presbyterianism, the children of Israel would be converted by the Jews-harp, and we might hope to see the church in har mony.

17. V. Improvements in Education, as it respects the industrious Classes of the Community. By JOSEPH LANCASTER. Svo. pp. 66.

JOSEPH Lancaster is the Count mford of schoolmasters; his main obts are to save time and expence in edung the children of the poor, and these

he seems successfully to have accom plished.

66

Supply twenty boys with slates and pencils, and pronounce any word for them to

write, suppose it is the word ab-so-lu-ti-on;' they are obliged to listen with attention, to catch the sound of every letter as it falls from their teacher's lips; again, they have to retrace the idea of every letter, and the pronunciation of the word, as they write it on the slates. If we examine ourselves, when we write letters, we shall find that writing is so much associated and connected with orthography, that we cannot write a word without spelling as we write, and involuntarily correcting any inaccuracy that may

Occur.

"Now these twenty boys, if they were at a common school, would each have a book, and, one at a time, would read or spell to their teacher, while the other nineteen were looking at their books, or about them, as they pleased; or, if their eyes are rivetted on their books, by terror and coercion, can we be sure that the attention of their minds is en

gaged as appearance seems to speak it is? On the contrary, when they have slates, the twentieth boy may read to the teacher, while the other nineteen are spelling words on the slate, instead of sitting idle. The class, by this means, will spell, write, and read at the same instant of time. In addition to this, the same trouble which teaches twenty will suffice to teach sixty or a hundred, by employing some of the senior boys to inspect the slates of the others, they not omitting to spell the word themselves, and on a signal given by them to the principal teacher, that the word is finished by all the boys they overlook, he is informed when to dictate another to the class. This experiment has been repeatedly practised by 112 and 128 boys at once; and judicious persons, good judges on the subject of education, who were present, were convinced, that the same trouble was

sufficient to teach 200 boys, or more, on the same plan.

But if the individual advantage derived from this method in tuition is great, what must the aggregate be? If 20 boys spell 200 words each, the same number spelt by to boys must produce a great increase of total. Each boy can spell 100 words in a moraing: if 100 scholars do this 200 morning yearly, the following will be the total of their efforts towards improvement: 100 words

200 mornings

20,000 words each boy per ann. 100 boys

2,000,000 Total words spelt by 1 boys per ann."

This financial aggregate is rather ledi crous, but the plan is not the less praise worthy. The younger boys, who have not yet learnt to write, are made to print the word in sand.

The mode of cyphering is similar; 23 the boys of a class write down a sm upon their slate as the monitor reads it to them, the whole process in words and figures.

Mr. Lancaster has 300 scholars, and expresses himself fully satisfied with the effects of this plan. We earnestly recommend his pamphlet to the attenti of all persons concerned in the educati of the poor. The Society for better the Condition of the Poor would do v in circulating his plan. It might fully stated in a hand-bill.

!

ART. VI. An Essay on the Beauties of the Universe: selected from the most eminent d' thors, illustrated with Notes, containing the choicest Thoughts of the best English P To which are added, suitable Reflections designed for the Amusement of Youth. 1 pp. 183.

THE attention of children cannot be too early or too, frequently directed to the beauties of the universe; these beauties, which open upon them every morning as they rise, are, from the very circumstance of their familiarity, too frequently unheeded. The object of these pages is to awaken the dormant

sensibilities of young persons, by minding them, that every insect wi crawls on the ground, every blad grass which grows, every shower every sun-beam, proclaim at once omnipotence and universal benevel.“ of God.

ART. VII. Holidays at Home; written for the Amusement of Young Person CHARLOTTE SAUNDERS. 12mo. pp. 309.

AMUSING stories, which may safely be put into the hands of children. The writings of Dr. Aikin, Mrs. Barbauld, Miss Edgeworth, and one or two others,

have made us somewhat fastidious; ' we must not expect to meet with rivale cellence every day.

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