" ANCIENT MODE OF REDEEMING. 'RUTH iv. 7.-Now this was the manner in former time in Israel, concerning redeeming, and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. The manner and ceremony of conveying over a title and estate amongst the ancient Israelites was this: the person who sold or conveyed over his title pulled off one of his shoes, and in open court delivered it to the purchaser, thereby signifying that he had full right to walk, enter into, or tread upon the land, &c. as his own proper and entire possession. Castell mentions that the Emperor of the Abyssinians used the casting of a shoe as a sign of dominion. Thus, in Psalm lx. 8, we read, "Over Edom will I cast my shoe." The Targum, instead of shoe, hath right hand glove; it being then the custom perhaps to give that in room of the shoe in later times the Jews delivered a handkerchief for the same purpose. So R. Solomon Jarchi says, we acquire, or buy, now by a handkerchief or veil instead of a shoe. The giving of a glove was, in the middle ages, a ceremony of investiture in bestowing lands and dignities. In A.D. 1002, two bishops were put in possession of their sees, each by receiving a glove. So in England, in the reign of Edward the Second, the deprivation of gloves was a ceremony of degradation. We learn from Burckhardt, that among the Arabs, a man has an exclusive right to the hand of his cousin: he is not obliged to marry her, but she cannot, without his consent, become the wife of any other person. He usually says, "She was my slipper; I have cast her off." In this they seem to follow the ancient custom of the Jews; for it is to be observed that Boaz, before he took Ruth to wife, applied to one who was more nearly related to her than himself, to know whether he would make use of his right of redemption; and did not marry her till this man had refused to do it. "Then," said Boaz, "what day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself: so he drew off his shoe." 'HIGH-RAISED SEATS PLACES OF HONOUR. '1 SAM. iv. 18.--And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died. It appears that Eli, the judge and high-priest of Israel, sat on a high seat when the fatal news of the defeat of his people was brought to him; and that, falling from it, he brake his neck and died. These seats were used in other parts of the East besides Judea; for St. James ii. 3, says, "And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool." St. Matthew, speaking of the Pharisees, says, " And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues." Now, the chief seats in the synagogues were so placed, that those who occupied them had their faces to the people. The Pharisees, therefore, coveted them, that they might be in full view of all who were present. The Great Mogul sits daily in the durbar, to entertain strangers, and to receive petitions and presents, and give out orders. The king sits in a little gallery over head; ambassadors, great men, and strangers of quality within the inmost rail under him, on seats raised from the ground, covered with canopies of velvet and silk, and with good carpets under foot. The next degree are within the first rail, and the common people without in a low court. In the halls of great men's houses in the kingdom of Tonquin, are several alcoves, where they sit crosslegged upon seats, according to their rank; the higher the more honourable; and these seats are all covered with mats, corresponding in fineness to their stations, except in time of mourning, when they are obliged to use coarse ones. In reference to the 9th verse of the first chapter of Samuel, "Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord," Bishop Patrick and Dr. Wells informs us that, upon a seat by u post, signifies upon a throne; meaning a seat raised to some height, so that he might see and be seen by all that came to the tabernacle ; and that by his presence and eye overlooking them, he might the more easily preserve order and regularity; for which purpose his throne was placed by "a post," at the entrance of the tabernacle, or "temple,” as it is here called.' pp. 179–182. Art. VIII. 1. Visible History. England. By Charles Williams, Author of "Art in Nature," &c. 12mo. pp. 156. London, 1835. 2. Visible Geography. England. By Charles Williams, Author of "Visible History of England". 12mo. pp. 225. London, 1835. OUR young readers are already indebted to the Author of these volumes for some very pleasing and instructive additions to the juvenile library. The Visible History and Visible Geography, are designed to ' relieve the toils and increase the pleasure of both the teacher and the 'pupil,' by engaging the eye, and exercising the principle of association, so that the information conveyed in this double form being acquired with more interest, shall be more easily retained. There is nothing new in the plan of teaching history and geography by illustrative prints; but, in these volumes, the objects selected serve as a sort of pictorial short-hand, being so grouped as to aid the general recollection of period, or portion of country, described, as well as to convey a distinct idea of the particular object. This plan renders the prints a sort of Memoria Technica. For instance, the engraving descriptive of the period occupied by the Plantagenets represents, in the centre compartment, a conflict between the Crusaders and the Saracens; and round it, are costumes of different ranks,-the game of quintaintelescopes, the compass, and reading glasses-John signing Magna Charta a coal-mine-a tournament-helmets, spears, and other ard VOL. XV.-N.S. M mour and weapons. In the Visible Geography, the engraving illustrative of the Midland Counties, presents the following groupe : China, for Derbyshire, (Marble would have been more appropriate). Stockings and lace, for Nottinghamshire. Porcelain and crockery, for Staffordshire. Dray-horses and large sheep for Leicestershire. Canal for Rutland. China, for Worcestershire. Iron works, for Warwickshire. A gentleman's seat, for Northamptonshire. Mineral springs, for Gloucestershire. View of Oxford, for Oxfordshire. Straw hats and bonnets, for Bedfordshire. Lace-making, for Bucks. Also, Windsor Castle, Berks; the Peak Cavern; and High Street, Oxford. A series of questions for examination is attached to each chapter, referring to these characteristic scenes and objects. Of course, this Visible Geography is not meant to supersede the early use of the map, which might be rendered almost as entertaining as a picture. It is, however, found very difficult to impress geography on the memory; and hence it is apt to be forgotten almost as soon as learned, for want of pegs in the mind' from which to suspend the information. These volumes originated in domestic instruction. They are therefore the more likely to meet the wants of other parents and teachers; and being very nicely got up, and comprising much useful knowledge in a compendious shape, we doubt not that they will prove very acceptable to the little public, and to those who are engaged in what the Poet (who was, however, no schoolmaster,) terms the 'delightful task of teaching the young idea how to shoot.' Art. IX. 1. Fisher's Juvenile Scrap Book. By Bernard Barton. 1836. 2. The Juvenile Forget-me-not. 3. The New Year's Gift. Edited by Mrs. Alaric Watts. We must very briefly dismiss the Juvenile Annuals, though they are really deserving of an extended notice. Both Mrs. Watts's New Year's Gift and Mrs. Hall's Juvenile Forget-me-not, well sustain their character; and it would be hard to determine which deserves the preference. Fisher's Drawing-room Scrap-Book, edited by Bernard Barton, is also a delightful book, which we very cordially recommend to all our juvenile readers. There were no such books when we were young, we can assure them. Here is a specimen or two.— 'BY CHARLES SWAIN. Thy birthday—and the first, sweet boy!-oh shall it not awake 6 The brightness and the bloom of days all redolent of Spring- The inward living light of mind that, ray by ray, appears— 'And seasons oft shall glow and fade, and leave their gifts with thee, While thoughts on thoughts in power increase like rivers tow'rds the sea; But never, Alfred, canst thou know one half the care thou art, 'Next Nature in her glorious garb shall call thee to her side And lead thee through her flowery fields, green vales, and woodlands wide; Bid bank, and brook, and hawthorn-bower, their treasures round thee fling, Unfold the wonders of the woods, the miracles of Spring! Thou'lt mourn, perchance, to watch those hues, so beautiful, decay- Which seasons cannot change, my love, nor gathering ages dim, The glory of those flowers of mind-those radiant types of Him Who wrapped the starry heavens around the earth He loved so well! And gave-oh! all His gifts to man, not angels' tongues may tell! Then take me, Alfred, wheresoe'er thy little foot hath trod, And there from Nature's shrine, sweet boy, we'll mount the shrine of God! I have a vow within my heart, on His own altar made, To lead thee to his heavenly light, 'midst flowers that never fade! ' And should I live, 'twill be my hope to bid thy soul arise To all that poetry of thought which lifts man to the skies: To wake thy spiritual eye to things thou shouldst adore! If not, my voice shall here-when I shall be no more. May it instruct thee when the dust shall darken o'er my grave— Say, Thus my godfather had taught to love the gifts he gave; To ope sweet Nature's book and read the language of the flowers, That language of eternity which sometime shall be ours. And oh! my boy, remember well, thy spirit came from Him Nor all the world's seductive snares induce thee to resign Then come what may of life's mischance, of earth's embittering thrall, Farewell, dear boy! If I might weave thy web of future fate, 'ON GAINSBOROUGH'S PEASANT CHILDREN. THE BROKEN PITCHER. • THOU hadst an English eye and heart, Hath made their loveliness renown'd; Thy landscapes have a living grace Beauties our daily walks supply, To thee our hedge-rows growing wild, Our cloudy skies-had power to please: With Nature, thy unerring guide, For he well plays a patriot's part, His country's worth, as thou hast done; |