ART. XIII. Switzerland. By WILLIAM BEATTIE, M. D. Illustrated, by W. H. BARTLETT, Esq. Part XXIII. London: G. Virtue. 1836. THIS splendidly illustrated Guide through the Swiss and Italian Cantons is now drawing near to a completion. It is unnecessary, however, to say much more of a work which is as popular as it is beautiful, and which has already established a name for the artists employed on it-the author of its literary portion, its publisher, and proprietors-that cannot fail of commanding the patronage of the public in behalf of any similar undertaking with which they may connect themselves; as their illustrated history of Scotland already proves, and as that of the Valdenses, or Protestant Valleys of Piedmont and Dauphiny, now about to appear, will, no doubt, equally support. Regarding this new undertaking, we cannot do better, in recommendation of the field which it is to occupy, than quote a few sentences from the prospectus which accompanies the present part of Switzerland. With respect to the scenery of these valleys, it is confidently hoped that the drawings, made expressly for the work, will more than confirm the reader's anticipations. They range in their subjects between the wild sublimity of the Alps, and the grace and beauty of Italian landscape; between the winter of Fressinière and Dormeilleuse, and the summer valleys of Lucerne and the Po." "But, were Nature even less auspicious to the painter-were the scenery less sublime or beautiful *than it is the very actions of which for so many centuries it has been the theatre, would stamp its bleakest rock with an interest far superior to all that mere beauty of landscape could inspire." Here the coincidence between natural scenes and historical records is peculiarly striking-so much so, that it would be difficult to fix on any single point of Valdensian landscape, which, in the almost incredible series of thirty years' wars, has not played its part in that fearful drama-as the vantage ground of religious freedom." Indeed, we should be glad to have such delightful guides as Mr. Bartlett's delicate but masterly pencil, and Dr. Beattie's poetic pen, to any region; but where the materials are so numerous and rich as those with which the valleys of Piedmont and Dauphiny abound, we are sure that they will produce a work in every respect a worthy companion to their Switzerland. AuT. XIV.-The Popular Encyclopedia: being a General Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature, &c. Part VII. Glasgow Blackie and Son. 1836. 66 THIS is a reprint, with corrections and additions, from the American edition of what the Edinburgh Review has termed, The World-renowned - Conversations Lexicon." It is a work which confers great honour upon the bibliopoles of Glasgow. Indeed, we have observed that the additions and corrections, in so far merely as Scotland is concerned, deserve the patronage of that country in an eminent degree. There is generally to be found in topographical works, for example, a most culpable system of copying or abridging, and that carelessly too, the mistakes, and leaving unsupplied the deficiencies of the old Gazetteers and Encyclopædias from which the pretended new articles are taken. We have tried the present VOL. II. (1836) No. III. G G work on this score, respecting certain localities with which we are well acquainted, and find that in these it is remarkably correct and carefully conducted. From this fact we fairly argue, that all the additions which have been made to the "Conversations Lexicon," are not unworthy of the companionship which they have sought. The present volume goes from Hunter to Ledyard inclusive; to which is prefixed a lengthened Dissertation on the Rise and Progress of the Fine Arts, by Allan Cunningham. This is a department with which the author is very familiar; and he has in the treatise before us, acquitted himself as was to be expected from such a quarter. In going over the volume, wet have been disappointed at not meeting with the name of Latreille, who, no inappropriately, can be spoken of in connexion with that of Cuvier.. AKT. XV.-Observations on Lord John Russell's Bill for Registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England, with an Outline for Kegistering the same in Great Britain and Ireland. By JAMES YATes, M.A. London: Hunter. 1836. THE provision for recording and ascertaining the births, marriages, and deaths of British subjects has almost universally been admitted to be exceedingly defective; and hence the avidity, our author thinks, on the part of the public, to seize the plans hitherto brought forward to remedy the evil, however imperfect these plans may be. He even looks upon the scheme proposed by the present administration as falling very far short of the proper and entire end which such a measure should contemplate, viz. "the provision of an easy, certain, and uniform method by which it may at any time and in any place be proved, when, where, and of whom any? British subject was born; when and to whom any was married; and, lastly, when and where any British subject died." He views the matter not as the redress of a particular grievance, such as that under which dissenters at present lay, but as a great question in legislation, which should have a certain and universal application, extending not to England alone, but to the whole of the British empire, and supplying everywhere the means of tracing genealogies and family connexions. In the discussions that have taken place upon this important subject, it has been taken for granted that instead of establishing new machinery for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages, it is necessary to attach the system to some of the existing institutions of the country. Mr. William Brougham proposed to combine his measure with the apparatus fors collecting the assessed taxes, and Lord John Russell names that for the alministration of the Poor Laws. But the machinery suggested by Mr. Yates is that which the post office establishment throughout the empire furnishes. It has appeared to us, from the hasty consideration which we have been enabled to bestow upon this scheme, that it is simple, compress hensive, and efficient, though embracing a much wider sphere than Enga land; and that even as respects England itself, it holds out superior advan- tages to those within the grasp of the previous proposals. The pamphlet before us, with its details, is certainly entitled to the careful consideration of the government and the members of the legislature; nor can we doubt of its receiving from them the attention due to its merits. ART. XVI. Memorials of Oxford. Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Colleges, Halls, Churches, and other Public Buildings. No. XLI. London: Tilt. 1836. THIS work is so well known that it is unnecessary for us now to say more than that it continues to maintain its former character in every particular. The present number contains views of Pembroke College-the plates by J. Le Keux, from drawings by F. Mackenzie; and clearer, softer, yet more faithful representations of architectural subjects we have never beheld. The editor, the Rev. James Ingram, D.D., President of Trinity College, deserves much credit for his descriptions, for their concise but perspicuous beauties. When complete, these Memorials will have few rivals in respect of chaste elegance, and historical accuracy. ART. XVII.-Illustrations of the Botany and other Branches of the Natural History of the Himalayan Mountains, and of the Flora of Cashmere. Part IX. By J. F. ROYLE, Esq. London: Wm. H. Alden and Co. 1836. THIS magnificent work, we believe is already well known to almost every botanist in this country, and many more, wherever science is courted. If there be any who are ignorant of the riches of description and illustra tion which it contains, we can assure them, that a treasure is in reserve, which is most covetable. Mr. Royle's deep and extensive research is not more apparent than the fertility of his suggestions, and the practical di lection of his knowledge. Altogether, this work leaves a grand impres sion upon the mind, of the command which natural science enjoys, and of the magnitude of the dominions over which one branch of her rule bears sway. ART. XVIII-A Dissertation on Philosophy and Theology, Politics and Religion, Private Opinion and Ecclesiastical Communion. By D. CHAPMAN. London: Hamilton and Co. 1836. ONE would not expect, from such a title to a book, that its contents should be remarkable for precision of language or closeness of argument. And in the present instance, such a presumption would not be found far wide of the truth. Mr. Chapman is a minister of the gospel, and, we doubt not, an excellent man, pious and orthodox; but he must forgive us for saying that he is not fitted for the task he has here undertaken, if his purpose be to throw new light on abstruse subjects, or increase the power and the pointedness of that which has been shed by others before him. Vapid declamation, strenuous averments, and tiresome strings of noisy interrogatories, in which not a single striking thought is to be discovered, are the prominent features of this Dissertation. We do not wonder that he should be ready to give to the world five or six volumes more of the same sort of matter, as he tells us, "if the public required." A volume per month, for any length of years, might be produced such as the present one, by any man who had a mouthful of words and a ready running pen. For example, eleven pages are devoted to the definition of the terms philosophy and theology. The harangue commences thus-" What is philosophy, what is that celebrated science which has been so extravagantly eulogized by some, so malignantly anathematized by others-extolled by its advocates as divine, degraded, detested by its opponents, as scarcely entitled to claim any other origin and epithet than infernal?" Mr. Chapman has not told us where he has heard all this, but thus he runs on, page after page, without communicating one useful idea; and of definition, he has not a single word more than the following most original expressions-philosophy is "the science of ethics and physics; the former deduced by enlightened reason, the latter by correct observation and real experiment." Theology, on the other hand is, "that system of faith, obedience, and devotion, which the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments inculcate, and which exhibits all the attributes and resources of Deity in a state of most wonderful and glorious, medatorially compassionate, and morally regenerative adapt tion to all the circumstances and existence of man, of fallen and depraved, guilty and condemned, penitent and believing, obedient and devoted man.” Let Mr. Chapman betake himself to some other calling than that of book-making, if he wishes to be serviceable to the community, in his day and generation. ART. XIX.-The Magazine of Health. Conducted by a Practising Physician. No. IV. May. London: Tilt. 1836. We begin to like this periodical better than at first; perhaps, because we have a fuller conception of its scope, plan, and the materials which the conductor of it has within his command. But we also think that there is an improvement in the manner with which these materials are put toge. ther. In the present number, it is gratifying to see, besides the usual 8bjects handled in former portions of the work, a department afforded to extracts from the older authors on the Elements of Health, Maynwaring's Tutela Sanitatis" being the first that is taken up. In every branch of literature and science, it is no doubt true that a great deal of trash, as well as that which is rendered obsolete by the advances since made, will be found in the older writers. But there is also golden grain among the chaff, which will repay winnowing. This is to be done in the Maga. zine of Health, to a certain extent, and will, we venture to say, be not the least entertaining and useful section of it. ART. XX.-The Rationale of Religious Enquiry; or the Question stated of Reason, the Bible, and the Church; in Six Lectures. By JAMES MARTINEAU. London: Whittaker. 1836. THE author thinks, that in English theological literature there is a great deficiency in such works as should bring philosophy and religion into cordial agreement. In this respect he is of opinion that we are behind the Germans; nor need we wonder at this opinion, seeing that he is an admirer of the system of theology which passes under the name of German rationalism. We are not going, however, into the thorny questions which he discusses, although we need not hesitate to affirm that he deals pretty largely in statements and assertions which must startle every one who believes that the Bible is an inspired look. We have, for example, such sentences as these, when speaking of the New Testament:-" Let me say, that, (excluding the Book of Revelations, which I do not pretend to understand) from the beginning to the end, I can find no claim put forth to inspired composition or sentiment for any one of its writings." When characterizing the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles he says, they have inconclusive appeals to the Old Testament; they have partial misconceptions of fact; they have evident misrepresentations of miracle; they have strong traces of the peculiarities of the minds from which they spring-the confused, yet technical order of Mathew-the exaggerations of Mark-the distinctness of Luke-the tenderness and Orientalism of John-the impetuosity of Paul, with thought at the bottom, and confusion and genius on the surface," &c. Yet the author professes faith in Christ, and endeavours to prove that his method of interpreting Scripture, and bringing philosophy and religion into friendly union, is necessary to a firm and enlightened view of Christianity. For ourselves, we confess that his reasoning is inconclusive, and if carried to its legitimate consequences, would be much more injurious to the cause he professes to prop, than favourable. We think also, that he is as crude and opinionative as he is erroneous; and that he has done anything but settle the enquiry, What is Christianity?" the logical preliminaries to which settlement he sets out with the design of unfolding, ART. XXI.—Ion; a Tragedy in Five Acts. By THOMAS N. TALFOURD. London: Moxon. 1836. AN age of refinement, when mankind are softened and smoothed down to a general uniformity of sentiment, manners, and action, is not likely to be one favourable to the cherishing of dramatic talent; nor can Serjeant Talfourd's "Ion" be quoted as an exception to the presumed 'rule. Per haps the utmost that can be said in its praise is, that it abounds with sweet and tender poetry, expressed most gracefully. But the plot is not cunningly or arrestingly devised; the characters are not strongly contrasted; nor does the dialogue strike the reader with those rapid turns and flashes of passion which instantly set the heart on fire, and unexpectedly arouse admiration and wonder. The following is a fair speci inen of the mind and style that pervades the tragedy. Ion, with an unsurpassed share of charity and humanity, endangers his life by frequently ministering comforts to the multitudes who are hourly dying of the pestilence in the city of Argos, and Clemanthe, his beloved, tenderly expresses her fear lest he may fall a victim to his benevolent, but fruitless efforts, saying 46 And thou, forsaking all within thy home, Wilt risk thy life with strangers, in whose aid ION. It is little: But in these sharp extremities of fortune, The blessings which the weak and poor can scatter, To give a cup of water; yet its draught |