Go cheerly search for herbs the wood or waste The mention of orchards on the Grampians struck us as a poetical licence, till we found that they yield only haws, hazelnuts, and whortle-berries: There cull the billberry of lustre blue, And spreading cranberry of crimson hue, But be aware how much of those you take. We believe that Mr. Campbell has read Virgil's Georgics, Goldsmith's Deserted Village, and other excellent models: but he has not copied from them with much grace and felicity. In the following prosaic lines, we can trace some semblance of the ghost of Maro: If near the sea thy grange and pastures are, Those rural labours, various to ensure Respecting store farms, clear in every clause, The rights and pivileges well defin'd, Of rural industry of every kind.' Our poet's lyre, however, sometimes sounds a louder and a loftier strain, bordering on the Homeric : As when in ire, contentious kites and crows, High pois'd on wing, from chattering come to blows, 'Tis horrid uproar all! while crow meets kite, Lo! how they tug and thwack, and peck and smite.' The appearance of the herrings is also announced with a degree of animation and bustle peculiarly suited to the subject: They come ! they come! the scaly hordes appear! Lo there!-See yonder! now behold them here!' Some Sometimes, we perceive a noble disdain of the vulgar rules of syntax; as, To all belong the produce of our lands,' • Where luscious herbage in succession rise.' The cheerless vale.' The subsequent lines are, perhaps, the most tolerable in the whole performance : Or should the man of thought, revolving deep, The notes, which are extensive, and in plain prose, display an intimate acquaintance with Highland customs and manners. At page 171, the author gives an affecting relation of the distresses of a poor family, who had quitted their native mountains, without any fixed plan of settlement: but the pas sage is too long for insertion.-The reasons alleged for rearing the native sheep, in preference to other races, are sensible, and, we think, conclusive.-Some curious notices will also be found (p. 262.) respecting the different sorts of dances peculiar to the Highlands, and the music of the bagpipe. To this work is annexed the prospectus of a new agricultural insitution, or fund of aid for the cultivators of waste land. In submitting his thoughts on this important subject to the consideration of the public, we doubt not that the author is influenced by the most pure and honourable motives; and we trust that his exertions may contribute to the welfare of his country, though we cannot flatter him with the assurance that he has applied with energy, judgment, and taste, the rules of the art of poetry." MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOG U E, For SEPTEMBER, 1805. GEOGRAPHY. Art. 19. A General and Classical Atlas: accompanied with a concise Treatise on the Principles of Geography, and with a few practical Remarks on the Application of Maps to the Purpose of Instruction. By the Rev. Edward Patteson, M A. of Richmond, Surrey. 4to. 31. 138. 6d. ; inferior Edition 2l. 28. Kivingtons, &c. 1804. OF the present collection, the special object is the instruction of young Students; and, on this account, every map is accompanied with a blank map, or containing only the principal ircles, outlines of countries, &c. Notwithstanding the explanations of the author, we confess that we do not perceive the utility of these blank maps Mr Patteson has also prefixed what he calls Principles of Geography; in which, in a style not the most unambitious and unadorned, he writes emphatically, by writing almost every fifth word in Italics. This custom does not please us; and in spite of it, during the perusal of the Principles of Geography, in which some brief and uninstructive history is introduced, lethargy more than once stole on us unbidden. The first part only is now before us, containing all the letter-press, and about half of the maps; viz. sixteen in number. AGRICULTURF, &c. Art. 20. Two Tracts, first, Thoughts concerning the Uses of Clay Marl as Manure; second, Thought: or Queries concerning the Uses of Agricultural Salts, in the Manufacture of Manures; and also concerning the proper Modes of decomposing Pit-Coal, Wood, Peat, Sods, and Weeds, to increase the future Means of making Manure. Also an Appendix, containing, first, Thoughts concerning puncturing Wood for its Preservation; and, secondly, concerning the Erection of Kilns at New Malton, in Yorkshire, to extract Tar from it-Coal, and use the Coke in the Calcination of Lime-stone. By the Hon. and Rev. James Cochrane, Vicar of Mansfield, York, &c. 8vo. 28. Mawman. Much is here promised, but little is executed to the sstisfaction of the reader. Mr. Cochrane's manner is rambling and desultory; and, as he professes himself to be no chemist, he does not seem justified in giving a chemical lecture to the agriculturist. The use of marl as manure is no novelty, though the directions here given to boil peat for that purpose are perfectly new but we apprehend that farmers will require some evidence of the utility of Mr C's lations, before they will erect buildings and furnaces on peat-bogs, for the purpose of peat-baking and boiling. The specimen of thoughts in the two Tracts will justify us in passing over the Appendix in silence. specu EDUCATION. Art. 21. EDUCATION. Recueil d'Historiettes, &c. A Collection of amusing little Stories and Conversations: with an easy and progressive Method of construing French into English for the Use of young Persons learning the French Language. By A. Cizos. 12mo. z Vols. Boards. Printed at Liverpool. The opinion of a teacher, who can speak from experience, is the most desirable on books of instruction in any language: but, as far as we can judge, the method pursued in these volumes is not likely to prove beneficial to the pupil. We observe that the English construction and the parting are not founded on any just principles of grammar, and must continually give erroneous notions of the force of the language, and the real meaning of the words. For instance'est ce queis it because' This gives the sense, it is true: but not the strict grammatical sense: for the expression is in reality elliptical, and que is the accusative singular of qui governed by a verb understood. To render it therefore literally, it should be-Is this (the cause) which (follows) namely, &c. Again, in the parsing index, to call the expression à l'egard de,' a preposition, is to deceive a child. It consists of the two propositions (a and de,) the article (le) and the noun (é a d). These things ought to be taught to children simply and truly as they are. Art. 22. Instruction for Youth, in a Series of Lectures on moral and religious Sul jects. Intended for the Use of Schools and Families. Vols. I. and II. By Richard Wright. 12mo. 75. Boards. Vidler, &c. Persons above the class of youth may derive pleasure and improve. ment from these lectures, which treat of most important subjects in a very methodical and lucid manner. Animated with the commendable desire of establishing the religion of the rising generation on the firmest basis, of preventing the seeds of infidelity from taking root in early life, and of suggesting those view of the Gospel which are not less amiable than just, Mr. Wright prepared and delivered to a number of young persons a series of Lectures on the Being, Perfections, and Providence of God, and on the Evidenccs, Nature and Design of Christianity. In the first volume, he endeavours to demonstrate the great principles of natural, and in the second those of revealed religion. Throughout the whole series, the Lecturer neatly arranges his ideas, expresses himself with perspicuity, and does not tire by prolixity. His continual endeavour is to afford to his young friends clear apprehensions of religion, to make faith the result of inquiry, and the profession of Christianity to spring from a heart-felt conviction of its truth, and an admiration of its divine contents. This is the proper method of conducting religious education. We should first lay the broad foundation on general principles, before we proceed to discuss the discriminating doctrines of particular sects; and if this course were adopted, it is very probable that the church would have fewer enemies without and fewer bigots within. By persevering in that system of religious education which teaches words without ideas, young persons acquire by degrees a kind of farrot-devotion; and, as Mr. Mr. Wright observes, a man who uses words without ideas is little better than a speaking statue.' In the repetition of certain catechisms, children can be considered as nothing better than speaking statues; and parents are not sufficiently aware of the consequences of giving their children a habit of using the tongue unconnected with the mind. We recommend these lectures as calculated to make men religious on principle, to cause faith and knowlege to go hand in hand. Mr. Wright does not descend to discuss the controverted articles of faith; and so far his observations are adapted to Christians in general: but it must not be concealed that his rational and liberal views of the Gospel will not be alike acceptable to all parties. The first volume contains eight lectures, including a preliminary address. on the Existence of God-on what can be known of God, on his Government and Providence--and answers to the principal objections which have been made to his existence and government. Volume the second includes an equal number of lectures, on the temper of mind in which religious inquiries ought to be pursued→ on the necessity of revelation on the historic proofs and credibility of the Gospel-on the effects of the Gospel-on its nature or distinguishing properties-on its design and purpose-and on the objections which have been urged against it. 3. To The design of Christianity is exhibited in eight particulars. 1. To enlighten the world. 2. To destroy superstition, and to establish the doctrine and worship of one God, throughout the earth. assure all men of, and to prepare them for, a future state. 4. To make all men righteous. 5. To produce universal peace. 6. To unite all mankind together as one family. 7. To produce universal liberty. 8. To make all mankind happy. Such being the design of the religion of Jesus, what virtuous man. can be its foe? or who can help praying for its universal empire? The plan of instruction, which Mr. Wright has contemplated, does not appear to be complete; he will probably, therefore, if he meets with encouragement, proceed to a course of moral lectures; which, if executed with judgment and conciseness, will form a valuable addition to the present work. Art. 23. An Introduction to the Use of the Globes, for Youth of both Sexes; particularly designed for Schools and private Teachers. By John Greig, 12mo. 2s. 6d. bound. Crosby and Co. 1805. This small work will be an useful assistant to young people. Some geometrical definitions and constructions are properly prefixed to the geographical part, but several of what the author calls his astronomical paradoxes might, in our opinion, have been advantageously omitted. Art. 24. A new Introduction to Arithmetic. By John Greig. 12mo. 2s. bound. Crosby and Co. More concise, but not, as far as we are able to discover, more exact or more perspicuous than the generality of books of the same de scription. Art. |