and felicity of expression in this philosophical novel strike the mind is indescribable-the lessons which it communicates are faultlessthe taste and skill with which the most interesting facts in botany are rendered subservient to theological argument, were never surpassed.

The Author of "Almack's Revisited," has again presented to the public an amusing novel that is full of stirring and diversified incidents, although he does not always attend to probability, nor always escape drawing caricatures. The work contains the story of an orphan, who is reared during his early years among the poor Devonshire fishermen. In the first volume we have his boyhood. He becomes the inhabitant of a workhouse. At school he endures a system of flogging that would please even the most experienced of the old-fashioned disciplinarians; which incidents seem to be introduced that the author may have unmerciful flings at Toryism in all its details, whether as exhibited by country-squires, overseers, or schoolmasters. The unlucky hero performs some gallant deeds, but somehow gets suspected of a theft, and is dismissed from the seminary to which he had been sent by an unknown friend. He now adopts the vagrant's life, and has a hand in many adventures, in low life. We at length find him, in the third volume, cutting a figure in London, where, before the story closes, fortune shines upon him.

It will from this very hasty and imperfect sketch be seen, that the plot affords ample opportunities for variety, and vividness of description. The pictures drawn are not always of the most elevated or graceful cast, even as concerns the spirit or manner in which they are concerned; nor is there always so much made of the incidents as they are capable of sustaining. But upon the whole, the novel is amusing, and not deficient in that knowledge of the world, which when communicated, as it is here, in an animated style, teaches useful lessons.

"The State Prisoner," is by a young lady, who will hereafter, we have no doubt, attain to the first rank among our numerous female writers of the present day. There are not a few happily conceived characters in the work, and one or two of them, Dumont, the State Prisoner, for example, and Mirabel de Bernay, that are admirable, and indeed quite original. We know not any part of our office, however, which is at all times more irksome, than the attempt to whip the cream off a powerfully and ingeniously constructed romance; and therefore, as we are this month much pressed for room, and as these volumes came to hand at too late an hour for us to do them justice by any lengthened or connected extracts, our readers must take our word for it, when we say, that Miss Boyle has here shown-whether her spirit, poetic imagery, or acquaintance with the human heart, be regarded-an extraordinary genius, especially

when her age isconsidered, and the limited knowledge of the world, which must be presumed in the case of one of her sex. One of the many gems that glitter in her pages, may be taken as a specimen of the beautiful resources which she can vary and apply at will.

Far, far more lovely becomes every memory that can be coupled with some fair page in nature's varied volume; far dearer to the wellconstructed mind each remembrance that is bound up with the inestimable gifts of the Creator. Such associations rendered transitory moments permanent, immortal. While by the side of one we love, to let the eye wander over the green bosom of the earth, or the wide expanse of heaven to mark together the exquisite colouring of the flowers, or the majestic proportions of the forest trees, has in it a spell to bind for ever recollection."

NOTICES.

ART. XII.-Proofs and Illustrations of the Attributes of God, from the Facts and Laws of the Physical Universe; being the Foundation of Natural and Revealed Religion. By JOHN MACCULLOCH, M.D. 3 vols. London: Duncan. 1837.

THESE three thick octavo volumes have been handed to us at so late a period of the month that it is impossible in our present number to do more than to acknowledge having received them, and to express our strong conviction, from a hasty perusal, that they are excellent ;-excellent not merely as containing an admirable condensation of what has been written by many eminent men in demonstration à posteriori of the Attributes of God, but as offering in many parts, both as to method and detail, original and most forcible arguments on this all-important subject. The gifted author's name and eminence have long been well known in connection with Natural Science; but it now appears that all his devotion to that and other departments of human knowledge has been made subservient to this his last and ablest work, which, we confidently predict, will hand down his celebrity to the latest times.

It is proper, even in this short notice, to state that, according to information contained in a prefixed memorandum, the work was completed in the spring of 1830, and was intended for publication in the following year; when its appearance was delayed by the announcement of the Bridgewater Treatises. It is now, however, presented to the world, in obedience to the last desire of its lamented author.

At present we shall only farther state that though many of the arguments here used must have been elucidated in the above-mentioned Treatises, Dr. Macculloch will not sustain any diminution to his fame, even in a comparison on these points; while, in as far as regards the consistency, the cogency, and the general ends contemplated by such publications, his will be felt as the most satisfactory. It may even be suspected that a work, extending to three volumes, each of these containing between five and six

hundred pages of letter-press,, must either be badly arranged or redundant when the evidences which it discusses are so palpable as those which may be adduced as proofs of the Creators contrivance, power, wisdom, and goodness. But the author has adopted and followed out this view of the case-viz., that it is not simply needful that the evidences should be satisfactory, but that they should be so varied and multiplied as to meet the great variety of information, talents, feelings, and affections, that must exist among readers.

There is one paragraph in the author's Preface, which, with pleasure, we quote, and which will be felt as a better recommendation of these volumes than any general praise that we can utter in this short notice. The paragraph, from all that we have read of the work, is a happy introduction to its merits.

"He who can imagine the universe fortuitous or self-created, is not a subject for argument, provided he has the power of thinking, or even the faculty of seeing. He who sees no design, cannot claim the character of a philosopher; for philosophy traces means and ends. He who traces no causes, must not assume to be a metaphysician; and if he does trace them, he must arrive at a First Cause. And he who perceives no final causes, is equally deficient in metaphysics and in natural philosophy; since, without this, he cannot generalize, can discover no plan, where there is no purpose. But if he who can see a creation, without seeing a Creator, has made small advances in knowledge, so he who can philosophize on it, and not feel the eternal presence of its Great Author, is little to be envied even as a mere philosopher; since he deprives the universe of all its grandeur, and himself of the pleasures springing from those exalted views which soar beyond the details of tangible forms and common events. And if with that Presence around him, he can be evil, he is an object of compassion, for he will be rejected by Him whom he opposes and rejects."

ART. XIII.-New Conversations, and Easy Dialogues, in the French, English, and German Languages. By W. A. BELLENDER, newly arranged, with Additions, by Francis Coghlan. London: Baily & Co. THIS Small volume will not only prove serviceable as a travelling companion, but will afford great facilities to the student for improving himself in more than one language at one time.

ART. XIV. Spain. By H. D. INGLIS. 2 Vols. Second Edition. London: Whittaker. 1837.

INGLIS'S Spain, when it first appeared, was considered to be one of the most impartial and satisfactory works that had been written concerning that part of the Peninsula, for a long time; nor are we aware of any that has since appeared which ought to supersede it. The call for a second edition is the best proof that can be adduced in its favour, and shows that it is regarded as a standard production relative to a country which has unfortunately divided of late years, not only those who wield the sword, but the tourists who brandish the pen. An introductory chapter has been written for the present edition, giving an outline of the proceedings in that distracted kingdom since the lamented author's decease, which will be found a suitable and worthy companion to the original perform

ance.

ART. XV.-The Bridal of Naworth: a Poem in three Cantos. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.

THIS poem is laid in Cumberland and during the dark ages. The author, though frequently dealing in exaggerations, has caught much of the era chosen, and has also succeeded in throwing into a dramatic shape, a great portion of his production, in which, too, no ordinary poetic genius is displayed. The work is not perfect, but it contains symptoms of high promise.

ART. XVI.-Marcus Manlius. A Tragedy, in Five Acts. By DAVID ELWIN COLOMBIN E. London: Bentley.

WE always cordially welcome an aspirant who attempts a flight into the highest and most difficult regions of poetic composition, as our author has done; especially when that attempt exhibits incontestible proofs of study, pains-taking, and considerable dramatic inspiration. We do not consider Marcus Manlius to be a production that will attain great celebrity either as a reading or an acting drama; but while it must be held as a hopeful test of the author's powers, and literary accomplishments, it ought also to take precedence of some dramatic pieces which have lately been loudly heralded, and, for a time, much applauded. It is gracefully dedicated, by permission, to the Princess Victoria.

ART. XVII.-Relvedder, Baron Kolff, and other Poems. By THOMAS EAGLES, Author of Mountain Melodies," &c. London: Whittaker. THE first is the principal poem in this volume, which contains a pleasantly told tale. The chief defects in these pieces are the want of dignity and power-the chief excellencies, sinooth versification, amiable feelings, and gentle fancies.

ART. XVIII.-Xeniola: Poems, including Translations from Schiller and De La Motte Fonqué. By JOHN ANSTER, L. L. D., Barrister-atLaw. London: Longman and Co.

In his translation of Goethe's Faustus, Dr. Anster at once placed himself upon the highest footing of poetic power; and though here we cannot expect to find the same sustained dignity of thought, or harmony and variety of verse as were there displayed-these poems being indeed for the most part, such fugitive pieces only as his fresh fancy has given forth, at starts, and many years ago-still, we have seen nothing equal to them of late, among the productions of the many new candidates that have arisen for poetic fame. The author has been inspired by the muse when she was in no maudlin frame, and he capable of retaining some of the most characteristic and happiest impressions of her genius.

ART. XIX.-Edinburgh New General Atlas. No. I. London: Whittaker.

THIS Atlas is to contain fifty-six Maps, Imperial sheet, furnishing a complete exhibition of the world in its various aspects, geographically, and VOL. I. (1837). No. IV.

politically, according to the latest discoveries-a Number to appear every two months. Of this first portion we can speak in the highest terms, and declare that besides the minutest accuracies of detail, the whole is so disposed and so judiciously as well as beautifully coloured, that we have never beheld greater clearness of plan or found it more easy to form a distinct idea of the parts outlined.

Wilson.

ART. XX.-Winkles's English Cathedrals. London: HERE We have the 26th., 27th., and 28th. Numbers of this remarkably cheap and beautiful publication. The Cathedrals of Ely and Peterborough are the subjects engraved and described; which, in a manner not less delightfully impress the eye and the imagination than any of the venerable and exquisite architectural monuments of the genius of our forefathers, that have appeared in this series. The publication however is so well known, that it is only necessary to compare the present numbers with their predecessors, and to say. that there seems to us to be even more skill and taste here displayed, both as respects perspective, the disposing of masses of light and shadow, and the delicacy of most minute tracery than we discovered in some of the earlier portions of the work.

ART. XXI.-The Life and Character of John Howe, M.A.: with an Analysis of his Writings. By HENRY ROGERS. London: Wm. Ball.

1836.

Howe was one of the most eminent divines, and one of the most excellent men that ever England produced; and though a nonconformist, was a person of such prudence and charitable feeling, that even his opponents real enemies he could not have-never had grounds to charge him with a sectarian spirit. In the work before us, Mr. Rogers has imitated this judicious and liberal example, being convinced that it would be as absurd to indulge in any sort of narrow or exclusive spirit in connection with such a subject, as it would be to write the life of Cromwell merely to show that he was an Independent, or that of Milton to prove that he was a Baptist."

Calamy's life of John Howe, we believe, is the only one that can lay claim to anything like particularity. But even to that memorial the present author says his researches have enabled him to add considerably. The materials for this life, however, are confessedly scanty; but the chief purpose of the volume before us being to give a minute analysis of Howe's character and writings, for which there are sufficient guides, the deficiency is the less felt, while the work assumes a peculiarly valuable character, in that it fills up a chasm, or, at least, greatly enriches a particular era in the history of mind and Christianity. There are a number of events and personages incidentally treated of by the author that are highly interesting and important. Of this our readers may very easily be persuaded, when they bear in mind that Howe was for a considerable time chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, and are informed that after the Protector's death he remained at Whitehall, till the deposition of the Protector's son. We