briefly instance: There has been no reproach so frequently or strongly urged against the Irish University, as that of its members having hitherto taken but little share in advancing, by personal exertions, the literature of the day. "Silent Sister" is a common appellative, and one which, in the mouths of cavillers, is ever supposed sufficient to counter-balance the evident merits of our College, or even efface them altogether. Now the simple and undeniable facts of the necessary difficulties and disad vantages of publication in Ireland, and that many of the leading works, which emanate from the English press, are often either conducted by, or altogether the production of the foster children of Alma Mater, will remove the imputation at once from those who but, sojourn for a while within her walls and throw it altogether upon the residents, who have a fixed connection in the establishment.

Let then any unprejudiced person, having carefully examined this reasonable view of the subject, which will certainly lead to its adoption, apply to the Dublin University Calendar for the nature and duties of a fellowship, and then say, dispassionately, whether a junior Fellow has time to give his attention to literature unconnected with his profession, averaging, as we do, the number of students at eighteen hundred, and his own pupils at one-eighteenth of that aggregate: or if it be reasonable to expect that a Senior Fellow, himself fulfilling duties of importance, being occupied continually with the arduous task of arranging and regulating the academic government, could possibly make the brief leisure he enjoys available for the purposes so unfairly required.

Again let any one examine the similar records of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, so boasted of for their literary renown by these cavillers at our own, and he will find that the number of dignitaries in either, at any time, will exceed the entire number of those in ours since its foundation. We find by reference to the Calendar, that since the foundation of the Dublin University, a period of nearly three hundred years, there have been only four hundred and sixty Fellows. Now, the number of Fellows and ex-Fellows, in connexion with the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, are almost as many at present as the whole number

in our College since its original foundation, and that there is literally not one amongst them whose greatest compulsory occupations will equal those of ours, whose hands are the emptiest.

We would fearlessly appeal to the issue of such an investigation of this subject, or rather proudly anticipate the awardment of praise and admiration, that so many high and renowned names are to be fouud in the long list of our dignitaries, as will appear in the pages of the University Calendar. A letter of the famous Archbishop Usher to Dr. Challoner, quoted by Mr. Todd, (p. 39-40,) will prove that the view we have taken of this subject was even in his early time thrown into a powerful light; nor will the fact of six being about the number of Fellows at that period, although they now amount to twenty-six, at all invalidate our argument, when we remember the far more than proportionable increase of the number of students to the present day, and the duties attendant thereon.

In conclusion, we think the Dublin University, in which he holds such a distinguished rank, much indebted to Mr. Todd for the vindication and apology he has best offered for her in the unvarnished detail of the facts of her Institution and history, while we are pleased to discover that he is not the only person connected with Trinity College, who, in common with ourselves, is just now canvassing the approbation of the public in print.

The University Calendar, we feel, we may safely recommend to the Antiquarian for its research-to the Historian for its accuracy-to the Student for its discipline, and a faithful record of all prizes and honors-the latest examination for the most important of the latter, being fully and accurately detailed-and to all, generally, who feel an interest in the scene of youthful competition and instruction, and of their own early probation and ambition.

We most warmly recommend this work to all who seek for information on a subject connected with the best interests of society, and feel highly gratified at such an authentic document issuing from the press at the present period-by appealing to which the cavils of the ignorant declaimer may at once be decidedly refuted, and the friends of the establishment supplied with conclusive arguments to defend the interests of the Dublin University.

darted at a dog lying on the threshold, but, missing him, ran toward the river. When the spot where the bench stood was examined, the dried mud was found turned up to a considerable depth, where the alligator had lain in its state of torpidity or summer sleep. The hut being situated on the edge of a pool, and inundated during part of the year, the animal had no doubt entered at that period, and concealed itself in the mire. The Indians often find enormous boas, or water-serpents, in the same lethargic state."

"Humboldt relates that, at the time of his stay at Angostura, an Indian from the island of Margarita having gone to anchor his canoe in a cove where there were not three feet of water, a very fierce crocodile that frequented the spot seized him by the leg and carried him off. With astonishing courage he searched for a knife in his pocket, but not finding it, thrust his fingers into the animal's eyes. The monster, however, did not let go his hold, but plunged to the bottom of the river, and, after drowning his victim, came to the surface and dragged the body to an island.

"The number of individuals who perish annually in this manner is very great, especially in villages where the neighbouring grounds are inundated. The same crocodiles remain long in the same places, and become more daring from year to year, especially as the Indians assert, if they have once tasted human flesh. They are not easily killed, as their skin is impenetrable, the throat and the space beneath the shoulder being the only parts where a ball or spear can enter. The natives catch them with large iron hooks baited with meat, and attached to a chain fastened to a tree. After the animal has struggled for a considerable time, they attack it with lances." p. 286.

The above extracts will give our readers some notion of the nature of this most interesting book, which we recommend most warmly to their no

tice.

ALPHABET OF BOTANY FOR THE USE
OF BEGINNERS. By James Rennie,
M.A. London; William Orr, Pater-
noster-row, 1833.

A CONSPECTUS OF BUTTERFLIES AND
MOTHS found in Britain, do. do.
We have no hesitation in asserting
that Mr. Rennie has most ably supplied

by his Scientific Alphabets, the wants so long felt by the student, of a series of popular and clearly intelligible analyses of the subjects whose names are stated in his catalogue.— Judging from the two little volumes which have already appeared, we may speak with confidence of a similar success being deservedly ensured to those which are soon to follow, and which, from the ingenuity and tact which Mr. Rennie has already evinced in his combination of simplicity with accuracy, and amusement with instruction, cannot fail to be equally attractive as the former, even to those whose inclinations or pursuits will not admit of a deeper, or more extended research in these most interesting and delightful branches of natural knowledge.

In his plan of the publication prefixed to the Alphabet of Botany, Mr. Rennie makes a most excellent observation upon a defect, but too palpable, in the treatises which formed part of the Library of Useful Knowledge :— They are positively unintelligible to ordinary readers, owing to a mistake but too apt to prevail among those who, being themselves complete masters of a subject, forget to supply the data, or the first principles of their theories, without which it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a beginner to attempt making any progress. This is, by no means, the case with Mr. Rennie, who, by the very conciseness and completeness of his arrangement, has given sufficient proof of his own ability, without confounding or disheartening the efforts of the tyro. In his preface to the Conspectus' there are some very entertaining remarks upon the ridiculous obscurity of what have been hitherto miscalled 'scientific' appellatives, and which, as Mr. Rennie aptly observes, are a uniform tissue of pedantic barbarisms, not for the diffusion, but the concealment of knowledge;" for example, fluvous and luteous for yellow, griseous for grey, ochraceous fuscous, meaning, as Mr. Rennie conjectures, a dusky buff, &c. After an attentive perusal of the Alphabet' and Conspectus,' we feel that we should be guilty of an injustice both to the public and the author, if we were not to express ourselves highly gratified; there being, so far as we are competent to decide, no possible objection to the style and classification of the contents,

6

with which the neat and convenient size of these useful manuals are in perfect conformity. We trust most sin cerely that the general opinion shall be found to coincide with our own, and that Mr. Rennie may receive in his progress, the ample encouragement to which his efforts are unquestionably entitled.

FAMILY LIBRARY, No. 36. SIX MONTHS IN THE WEST INDIES, IN 1825, by Henry Nelson Coleridge, M.A. late Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. Third Edition with additions. London, J. Murray. 1832. EVERY number of the Family Library, as it appears, confirms us in the expectations which we had formed, from the very outset of the work, of its inevitable success. To render the literature of the day attainable by those whose means were not proportioned to their thirst for knowledge, in its very design was praiseworthy, and, we are happy to be enabled to add, has won unlimited applause in the course of its execution. The subject of our present notice is the third edition of No. 36, to which we may address somewhat commonplace, but in this instance, at least, most justly applicable compliment, that it is fully equal to any of its predecessors. It is written in a very happy, and rather light and humorous style, containing but few pages which are not enlightened and enlivened by some sparkling effusions of a ready and agreeable wit. We regret that our limits prevent our giving any extracts from this most entertaining volume, should our readers, however, desire a single specimen, whereby they may be enabled to judge at once of the book, and of the propriety of our remarks we would refer them to the Crossing the Tropic,' page 31.

REPUBLIC OF LETTERS. Edited by H. Whitelaw, Editor of the Casquet. Glasgow; Blackie and Son, 1833. These elegant volumes, of which the fourth and concluding one has been just published, contain a selection of the most popular fugitive pieces, which have appeared from time to time in the leading periodicals, and to which a more permanent and enduring fame is given by their being embodied in a work which should form part of the library of every lover of the lighter tales of fiction. We are proud to see among the

articles selected as worthy a permanent place in the literature of the country, several originally published in that defunct and much to-be-lamented (as the E. M. P. would say,) periodical, the Dublin Literary Gazette, and among these, some by the talented author of "Traits and Stories."

We sincerely recommend these volumes to the attention of all the lovers of the light literature of the day, and feel assured that the attractive nature of their contents, conjoined with their moderate price, will obtain for them an extensive sale and a favoured position in the book-case or on the table of every one who seeks to pass a vacant hour in the most delightful of all occupations.

ESSAY ON MINERAL AND THERMAL SPRINGS. By Dr. Gardiner.

For the present we can merely notice this book as a learned and ingenious essay on a subject most interesting to the Chemist and Geologist, as we intend to devote a separate article to this subject in a future number, when we will be able to enter more fully into this able essay on a topic of great importance, as it is intimately connected with the great problems of the Geognostic Structure and Physical constitution of the Globe. We most strongly recommend it to the notice of our scientific friends.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, No. 9, IRELAND; a Tale by Hariet Martineau. London, C. Fox, 1832.

HARIET MARTINEAU has again appeared before the public, in a ninth number of Illustrations of Political Economy. It was our original purpose to enter fully into the details of this and some other of Miss Martineau's tracts, but a press of more important matter obliges us for the present, to content ourselves with a brief sketch of the work before us. At some future period-perhaps on the appearance of her promised "Investigation of the long subsisting causes of Irish distress""-we may make some atonement for our present neglect. Having discussed the injuries inflicted on Ireland by a gradation of landlords, and partnership transactions, Miss Martineau favours us with her views on the introduction of Poor Laws into this country, and on the effects of absen

teeism. Her reasonings are so ingenious, that we could, with Dr. Johnson, almost wish them conclusive. The last subject treated of, is that of tithes; and in this place we have the common-place objections,-viz., the hardships of the peasantry supporting a heterodox clergy, and contributing to the maintenance of a church from which they receive no advantage in return.

We cannot forbear quoting one or two sentences of the book itself on this head: "The incumbent of the parish is induced even to give up his tithes, retrench his expenses, and, along with his family, live with the utmost frugality." The construction put upon such generosity we thus become acquainted with: "When reminded that the remission was an act of free grace on Mr. Orme's part, they replied, Thank him for nothing; he would never have got another pound of tithe in this parish, as he probably knows. He gives up only what he could not touch."

Without entering into the merits of her reasoning, we will be excused for

remarking that the agitation of such a subject, more particularly at the present juncture, is strangely at variance with the professed object of a person who wishes to ameliorate the condition of the country, by reconciling the conflicting parties, whose divisions now distract it.

The hero of the story, whose achievements form the premises from whence the above conclusions have been deduced, is an humble labourer, who, on being ejected from his holding, becomes a Whiteboy; commits, in company with his fellow maurauders, crimes most unheard of; hangs out false lights to seaward on tempestuous nights, &c.; whose wife is transported for writing threatening notices, and who escapes justice himself, for the purpose, we suppose, of adorning Miss Martineau's next work on the improvement of Ireland. Her concluding words are"Dan shall henceforth be heard of, not seen, by the victims of his virulence. He who was once the pride, is now the scourge of the Glen of Echoes."