Ow, men write reviews, and th book-making is forgotten. day, and doubtless the wits will regard it, to use mous English minister,-as Cimmerian darkness. But the dent of the three respectable of knowledge. Where the quantity of judice and bigotry; then it forms a particu- | writing. The brightest gen knowledge is small, the matter of disagree- larobnoxious character of the opposite party, the Atlantic are engaged i ment is small. In every country where which it associates with every individual be- labour. Besides the many there is any degree of freedom, where con- longing to it, and invents odious epithets all scientific or literary jour science is not fettered, where the lips are which it applies indiscriminately to all its ticles upon books, and all n not sealed, and where the press is not opponents; this often leads to rash and un- a due regard to respectabili shackled, there will parties, both political reasonable decisions, and to determinations a column or two occasionall and religious, always be found. founded only on presumptions. Party spir- species of composition. The The wants and limits of human life are it, when it thus degenerates, operates even in this prolific age, is a such, that it is impossible any individual mostly upon the leaders of the parties and ed as a sore evil by all writ should examine for himself the truth of all their most ignorant followers, "men of rary journals, and that sad the opinions and doctrines advanced by such poor, narrow souls, that they are not when reviews can no longer others. Men, who have neither opportuni- capable of thinking upon any thing, but ty nor capacity to do this. are biassed to with an eye to whig or tory.' The more one party or another by some prepossession enlightened,-whose eyes are not blinded or accidental motive; they then attach a by the mists of prejudice, whose judgments certain degree of reverence to the leader are not warped by the prepossessions of of their party, which causes them to regard bigotry,-discern clearly and decide rahis opinions as correct, and consequently tionally. to adopt them with unreserved confidence. Power, among parties, constantly chang-ginning to turn one upʊn It is in this way that the mass of mankind es from one to another. If the predomibecome party men. The enlightened few nant party, in the exultation of triumph, examine for themselves, and decide differ- become uncharitable and rancorous, their ently according to the depth of their inves- very malignity produces a reaction, and tigation and the perfection of their powers. experience soon teaches the wisdom and In the dominions of ignorance and despo- advantages of sobriety and tolerance. By tism, party spirit is never found,-for igno- the alternations of party spirit from indiffe. rance removes all cause of difference. Even rence to excitement, from excitement to the votaries of learning and science will indifference, the tone of society and govappear harmonious, if deprived of freedom ernment is kept up, and upon the whole, of speech and liberty of the press, for they approximates to a higher standard; "old want a medium to convey their opinions. things pass away, and new ones take their Such is the attraction of party, that al-place-" opportunities are given for aban-lowing article, in which I ha doning antiquated principles and exploded the beau ideal of a modern doctrines, for substituting new measures, and adopting more philosophical maxims. Party spirit is a visible demonstration of the power of the people-it stimulates the great and good to deeds of patriotism-and if it sometimes ignorantly raises the unworthy to influence and power, it as certainly hurls them down again from their illgained elevation, to rise no more. Party spirit, then, is the quickening energy, the very vivida vis of free governments;-it is the angel which troubles the waters of liberty to preserve and increase their healing and salutary influence. ry, most every man ranges himself on one side, or the other, in religion and politics; and there is hardly a science whose devotees have not, at times, been divided into parties-so perfectly natural is it for men to disagree. This division of men into parties produces, in every case, beneficial results. It awakens the attention, it calls forth genius and talent, it arouses the spirit of inquiit leads to deep and thorough investigation, it brings the truth to light, and spreads it with more celerity, with greater effect, and throughout a wider range than it would otherwise have been diffused. In religion, knowledge has led to a difference of opinion, difference of opinion to variety of sects, and variety of sects to the discovery and propagation of truth, and to the confusion and overthrow of error and superstition. In politics, we march by similar steps from slavery and degradation to freedom and independence. And both in religion and politics, party spirit preserves what it as sisted to gain. The good effects of party spirit are great and lasting. The evils which it produces are confined and temporary; they are misrepresentation, falsehood, libel, and calumny. There may, at first view, seem to be a contradiction between the evil and good of party spirit; but it may be reconciled by considering that the evil effects are experienced by a few individuals in their character and reputation; the good effects are more confined to the mind, though they affect both measures and men; the ill effects are limited almost exclusively to the existing generation, the good extend to posterity. Whilst the spirit of liberty retains its activity,-whiist diversity of intellect produces variety of opinion,-whilst there is a "pride in debate, and a joy in victory,"party spirit will exist, and, with few evils, confer many blessings on mankind. They who never consider remote and latent effects, but confine their views solely to what is present and obvious, will regard it with detestation, and endeavour to procure for it the ignominious shroud of public opprobrium :whilst the patriot and philosopher will bless its existence, and pray for its continuance, since "without parties, cemented by the union of sound principles, evil men and evil principles cannot be successfully resisted." Cambridge, Jan. 1825. W. It seems to me, Mr Editor, that no stronger proof can be offered of the remarkable intellectual illumination of the present age, than that which may be drawn from the universal recognition of the ed a good living by stealing a comfortable hope, that th rather reciprocally, supply sufficient for the subsistence events, whatever be the end it will last my day, young th sciousness of genius burns me to high endeavours; th have tried ;-and with wh judge, as modesty forbids my upon that point. I offer to y I REVIEW Mother Goose's Melodi can edition, from the edition. Boston. 1824 AMONGST the literary quity, none have been mired, none have enjo permanent, as those m poetry, the Iliad, Ody Their fame is certaini were sacrilege to questi be ashamed to own our the excellencies that and proudly profess to of the splendid machiner tion, the fire and sublin well as of the elegance, derness of Virgil. But the award to the classic age refrain from censuring tion for antiquity, which lent of late years, and se bly attended with a gr against modern productio These remarks were perusal of the valuable title is prefixed to this as many of our readers work, but a recent editio the opportunity of giving count of its very inte Perhaps we cannot pres tial and satisfactory vie ter, than by selecting a length some poem whic specimen of the whole. affords such a literary banquet as is seldom Little Jack Horner sat in a corner He put in his thumb, and pulled out a plum, Little Jack Horner Vitiated indeed must be the taste, and corrupt the judgment, that can be insensible to the beauties exhibited in the introduction of this personage. John Horner's origin was probably obscure, and consequently attended with circumstances that could be neither important nor interesting. Moreover, a celestial or fictitious descent for a modern hero, are equally out of the question. Nothing, therefore, could be more happy than the sententious brevity and artful reserve of the authoress in this exordium. A rigid investigation of pedigree might have degraded the lofty opinion which Mr Horner's capital exploit is so well calculated to inspire, and to support which ought to have been the writer's principal aim. After this graceful introduction to the chief character, we are promptly and happily conducted to the scene of his heroic achievements. Little Jack Horner sat in a corner. With regard to chronology, the precise period, at which the events of the plot took place, is not directly specified;- -a most ingenious artifice of the writer to secure that freedom and license which others enjoy amidst the impenetrable fog of antiquity. The time occupied by the action itself, was doubtless short; for it is obvious that the hero would have suffered no consideration to retard him in the prosecution of a design which must have engrossed all his faculties. But this is unimportant. With regard to place, however, the case is different, topographical minuteness be He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum! What a noble lesson does Mrs Goose ing essential to Epic unity. In this respect | The scene now opens a little wider, and Little Jack Horner sat in a corner word "Christmas." It seems to us that there are few even plausible arguments in favour of such a change, and we have retained the text reading for the following, among other powerful reasons, which we cannot now enumerate. In the first place, the word Thanksgiving is highly injurious to the metre, as the smooth and rapid flow of the dactylic rhythm is not suited to the dig. nity of the subject. Secondly, Christmas is an occasion vastly more important than the former, and far more consistent with that sober solemnity which prevails throughout the poem. We trust that we have been influenced to prefer the present reading, principally by these considerations. Still it is but fair to acknowledge that our decision may have been partially biassed, by religious prejudices; for we are staunch churchmen. The question, however, is a complicated one, and every reader, it is presumed, will exercise his own judgment. But we haste to the execution of our task. A rapid review of the excellencies combined in this inimitable poem, may serve to render our estimate of its merits more comprehensive and correct. The subject is important, highly instructive, and justifies the magnificence of its apparel. The incidents are happy; the characters and description remarkably fine. These, how His It is necessary to remark, that, with re-ever, are secondary virtues, when comparspect to this passage, there exists an im-ed with the plot, which unites in perfection those indispensable requisites, unity and portant difference of opinion; it is not cerA becoming dignity is pretain that the line was written as it is print- greatness. ed, and many annotators insist upon the served throughout, and Mrs Goose seems insertion of "Thanksgiving" in lieu of the to have been well aware that the Epic "abhors the ludicrous." With regard to the principal personage, he is made to display that happy medium of character, the bounds of probability. His passions which reduces all his achievements within are lofty, and at times incontrollable. He is not exempt from the common frailties of human nature; and thus we behold him yielding to the irresistible temptation offered by the Christmas pye, from whose durance vile he was soon to rescue, by force of thumb, an innocent and sweet being. This temporary transgression is perfectly natural, and very judiciously precedes his final exploit, the merit of which is incalculably augmented by the contrast. failings, compared with his good qualities, of the picture is relieved by some of the are as drops in the bucket. The dark side noblest virtues that can adorn the human mind. "The magnanimous man," says Aristotle, "is one, whose character, being of great worth, is estimated by himself at its full value." Let us see how the philosopher's definition will apply to our hero. After a laborious and successful exertion of his physical powers; after an exploit that The plot thickens. We already feel al- might well be regarded as the embryo of most distressing solicitude on account of "universal emancipation," Mr Horner is our hero, who is gradually involving him- represented as retiring from notice, with self, unconscious of danger, in a dark and that modest confidence in his own worth intricate adventure. The greatness of the which forms the most prominent characteremergency rejects all digression or ampli-istic of genuine magnanimity. Such is the fying, and calls for the utmost rapidity of concluding sentiment; and this truly great narration and thought. Here, then, we man retires from the stage, content with are left to conjecture that the hero soon exclaiming "What a good boy am I!" becomes aware of his responsible situation; and the critical moment has arrived that is to develope the energies of his soul and body. He espies a beautiful and innocent being, suffering under the thraldom of a callous pye-crust. The incidents have been gradually concentrating to the proper focus. Every circumstance has contributed to heighten the intensity of the interest produced, and our expectations are now wrought up to the highest pitch. They are fully and immediately gratified by the unity and greatness of the catastrophe. Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, C. LETTERS FROM A TRAVELLER. MY DEAR FRIENDS, I have now been, for nearly a month comfortably situated in my winter establishment, waiting, or, as the Scotch say, wearying for the commencement of the session, and filling up the intervals of more 316 serious pursuits by making bread-seals and good hexameter or pentameter verses. But the Calton and Costorphine hills, all command the most charming prospects, and Doctors of all kinds abound here, Doc- there is a mixture of wildness and cultitors of Divinity and Physic, Horse Doctors, vation, which is altogether different from and Cow Doctors; I observed a sign the any thing I have ever met with. A walk other day, which informed the public that of very few minutes round Arthur's seat the proprietor was a "sooty man and smoke brings one into the most perfect solitude; In this particular the "gude and there are several places, to which, if Doctor." town" equals a certain village in the neigh-a man were conducted blindfold he would bourhood of Boston, where I once heard a no more imagine himself in the immediate little Miss ask a lady with great naïveté, neighbourhood of a great city, than if he There is beif "there were any men in C, as she were in Juan Fernandes. had seen only doctors." Every calling is tween Salisbury and St Leonard's crags here subdivided, "Jacks of all trades" a dell of this description, where at noonday one rarely sees any thing living, except a seem to be unknown. One man sells neeIf you ask a few sheep; and from whence you may walk dles, and another thread. Bookseller for paper, he will send you to a in less than ten minutes into the CanonStationer, and you must get your pens of a gate, where you will be jostled, at every step, by men, women, and children gentle quill-cutter. and simple, exquisites and blackguards, bareheaded varlets and barebottomed Highlanders. I have made hardly a single acquaintance as yet in this place, having delivered but one introductory letter; and when I called for this purpose, and asked the servant girl if her master was at home, she replied, "Yes, sir, he's at home, but he's no in, he has not yet come from the country;" which mode of expression may be Scottish for aught I know, although it savoured strongly of the other side of the In the mean I think the most sociable affairs, that have fallen under my observation in EdinThe accounts we have of the height of burgh, are the funerals. Soon after I some of the houses are very little exag- arrived here, I observed a troop of peogerated; it is a consequence of the ine-ple passing my window, with black crape quality of their foundations. For you can pendants to their hats, and white cuffs, They easily imagine that if the roofs of the such as the ladies wear with us. buildings in Somerset street, for instance; were marching along in a crowd, talking were all nearly on the same level, as they and smiling; without tolling of bell, or usually are here, those at the bottom of the any resemblance to a regular procession. street would have twelve or thirteen stories. And if I had not, after some amazed scruYou must not suppose however that such an tiny, discovered a coffin, which some of them Each supported upon two poles or handspikes, I edifice is but one house, in our sense. story is a separate domicil, to which you should have been utterly at a loss to ac-Irish Channel. Tomorrow the session begins, when I exenter from a winding stair, which is public, count for this unusual posse. Since then, I and in point of fact, is a street or lane, set have noticed several of the same character. pect the scene will be changed, and I hope, up on end. Such houses as we inhabit are The nonchalance of the mourners is inimita among other pleasures, to see B's homeble; their dress is uniform, and I shouldly face-not homely in our base sense, here called self contained. The shops in Edinburgh look very suppose that some of them were hired for a fico for the phrase"—but homely, as the beautifully in the evening, being illumin- the occasion, but that they would probably kindly Scotch dialect has it. ated by gas lights, disposed in a va- look more lugubrious, if they were paid for time I have lived the life of an anchorite in respect to company, and in the midst of riety of fantastic forms. Near the town it. We were wont to laugh at Boston notions a metropolis am in danger of forgetting are large manufactories of this gas, which is conveyed through it, by means of pipes and the eagerness, with which our fellow- the sound of my own voice-since, like running beneath the pavement, and from citizens run after every "strange bish" that Triangle of facetious memory, with the exwhich proceed smaller copper tubes lead-claims their attention, but to judge from the ception of my landlady, I converse with The liberal tax upon ing to individual shops or houses. The public prints, motley is a very good wear in none but the dead. stream, thus obtained, is suffered to jet out this island. I observed the other day a no- light and air forbids my apartment to have through holes, about large enough to admit tice of a man, who, a few years since, col- but one window; fortunately it is a large a large pin, and arranged, according to the lected an enormous assemblage of people, one and looks towards the west, at which I fancy of the occupant, in circles, fleurs de in the very capital of one of the most cul-am as well pleased as a good mussulman is lis, &c. Some of the stree's are also lighted tivated nations of the world, to see him sail to have his house face towards Mecca-his in a similar manner, and the difference be- down a river in a tub drawn by four geese, orisons (that is, if he lives on the Barbary tween the effects of this method and the and ride back in a car drawn by as many shore) By over the great desert of sand, Head of Confucius! and mine over the great expanse of waters "darkness visible" of oil lamps is prodigious. white tom-cats! Edinburgh abounds now, as well as in the "Mais c'est un sage peuple, s'amuse bien." Farewell. I saw to-day a very beautiful display of days of Monkbarns, with bookstalls. At a mean looking establishment of this kind archery, as I was walking through a public I picked up the other day Barclay's Argenis, promenade, called the meadows and resema book, which you may have seen, but prob- bling our mall. The archers were dressed This copy was in a handsome plaid uniform. I was much ably have never read. printed at Oxford in 1534, is perfectly entire, surprised at the distance at which they and stoutly bound. It has afforded me much shoot, and was told that the American Inamusement, as one of the great storehouses dians, who were here some years since, and from which the incidents and tricks of later who shot with great precision at short disWhen the tances, were confounded, when, on being novels have been borrowed. heroine's eyes are red with weeping, she re-invited by the Archers' company to shoot moves the colour by a little cold water, with them, they beheld the distance at "admota gelida," and hides her blushes under a violent cough, "violentam tussim." Mistakes, disguises, subterraneans, and all the machinery of modern romance writers abound, and, like Mrs Radcliffe's, the dramatis person now and then spout poetry, in which the target was placed. There are probably more pleasant walks in the vicinity of this city than in that of any other whatsoever. In almost every direction, one meets with some new and romantic scenery. Arthur's seat, the Pentland's, POETRY. WOODS IN WINTER. O'er the bare upland, and away Through the long reach of desert woods, Where, twisted round the barren oak, Where from their frozen urns mute springs Shrilly the skater's iron rings, And voices fill the woodland side. Alas!-how changed from the fair scene, But still wild music is abroad, Pale, desert woods! within your crowd And gathered winds, in hoarse accord, Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud. Chill airs, and wintry winds! my ear I listen, and it cheers me long. H. W. L. THE LAKE OF A THOUSAND ISLANDS. But not so fair as thou hast been; How art thou faded! still and deep Bright o'er thy breast a thousand isles When parting twilight sunk to rest, Thy trembling vesper hymn. Yes, thou art fallen-thy temples, shrines, Dread silence o'er thy ruined aisles No more the peasant by thee kneels, His crimes are pardoned there. Thy thousand isles are fading now; Thy star hath set! Oh never more Where slumbers now thy echoing war *This lake is situated near Rome, and is the same where was formerly a temple to Faunus, and whither king Latinus is represented by Virgil, as betaking himself to ask advice of the god concerning the marriage of his daughter Lavinia with Tarnus. Tour in Italy. By an American. about the twelfth century before the Christian era. He promises to continue the work, and to translate other episodes of the same poem, from manuscripts which he has copied at Paris and at London; especially from a complete manuscript copy of the Mahabharata, which Mr Hamilton kindly communicated to him. The present volume contains, first, the voyage of Arjouna into the air; secondly, the defeat of the giant Chidinebah, killed by Bhima, Arjouna's brother; thirdly, the misfortunes and lamentations of a poor brahmin, in consequence of the cruel commands of the giant Baka, who was also vanquished and killed by the same Bhima; lastly, the history of Sanda and Oufa Sanda, two brothers, warmly attached to each other, until their love for the same female bred the most deadly hatred between them. COAL FORMATION WITHIN THE UNITED Professor J. Griscom, who is extensively and advantageously known by his "Year in Europe," has recently published an interesting account of the coal formation in this country, and particularly of the anthracite coal of Pennsylvania, which is now commonly known as the Lehigh coal. He be Thy footsteps stray to where this form is laid-gins with remarking upon the important Then think of her whose fond heart thou 'st be- advantages which Great Britain has derived trayed; Give me one tear! INTELLIGENCE. SANSCRIT LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. from her coal mines, and certainly does not overrate the important benefits which we might expect from an adequate and cheap supply of this invaluable fuel. "The absolute importance of a plentiful supply of fuel, not only to health and domestic comfort, but to the successful prosecuWhile England is doing little or nothing tion of almost every branch of manufacturing to promote the study of the Sanscrit lan- industry, needs not the formality of demonguage and literature, which, from her poli- stration. The extraordinary competition tical and commercial relations, ought to which the British nation maintains with all excite the strongest interest; and while the rest of the world, is inseparably conFrance makes the learned of Europe wait nected with the abundant supplies of coal too long for the communications which they which her mines afford; and when the pehave a right to expect from a country, which, riod arrives (which doubtless is still very besides the treasures of its libraries, pos- distant) in which this supply shall approxisesses so many learned men, versed in ori-mate to its termination, her vast internal ental literature; we see in Germany works in Sanscrit, and upon the Sanscrit, rapidly succeed each other, equally distinguished by the merit of the execution, and by the important aid which they afford towards the study of this new branch of oriental literature. It is owing to the enlightened and munificent protection of his majesty the king of Prussia, and the labours of M. A. W. Schlegel and Mr Boff, that Germany has for many years taken the lead of all the other continental nations in the study of the Sanscrit. The latter gentleman has just published a comparative analysis of the Sanscrit, and the languages connected with it; he has also published a volume from the Sanscrit, translated into German verse, containing several of the episodes of the Mahabharata, the most extensive poem known; being a kind of mythological, poetical, historical, and philosophical encyclopedia, comprehending narratives relative to the history of Hindostan, from the creation of the world to the reign of Youdhishtirah, who was living at the incarnation of Vishnou, resources, the commercial elevation, and the dense population of that country, must experience a reduction, and be finally brought down to the standard which her newly planted forests may be able to sustain. But how striking is the fact that with her mines of coal, that island, at the distance of three thousand miles, is able to supply the city of New York with an article so essential as the fuel of its hearths-to supplant the wood of our interior-a material so abundant, within less than one hundred miles, as to be a nuisance to the labourer, which it costs him much labour and expense to destroy. The dearness of fuel, at the present time, is a serious obstacle to the prosperity of manufactories in various parts of our seaboard, and a heavy tax to the inhabitants of our principal cities. Every scheme, therefore, which shall open new resources, at a reasonable expense, for an article so indispensable, cannot fail, it is presumed, to become of high importance to the public welfare, and lucrative to those who shall embark in it." He asserts, that, although the measure or the location of the mineral wealth of the United States is not precisely ascertained, yet it is known, that the coal formation within our limits is more abundant than that of any other country. Bituminous coal exists in numerous basins scattered over the whole of a vast region, extending from the sources of the Ohio on the north, to the head waters of the Tombigbee on the south, the valley of the Susquehannah on the east, and the alluvium of the Mississippi on the west. The supply of this coal may be considered quite inexhaustible; and the eastern part of the formation is not inaccessible to the principal cities of the northern and middle states. But the learned Professor considers this coal as altogether inferior in value to the harder or anthracite coal. In this he is certainly correct, and if he is equally so in his estimate of the quantity of this coal, many ages must pass, before we are driven to use the somewhat similar, but inferior, coal, which is found in this vicinity. "On the eastern side of this bituminous region exists another coal formation of far greater importance than the former, to the immediate prosperity of the more popular sections of the union. This is the region of anthracite coal, occupying an extensive valley, through a considerable portion of which flows the river Susquehannah and its tributary stream the Lackawannock. This variety of coal is here found in great abundance, and of a finer quality, it is believed, than in any part of the world yet explored. The length of this remarkable coal field may be taken at more than one hundred miles, commencing at a point near Harrisburg, on the Susquehannah, and running northeasterly almost in a straight line to the head waters of the Lackawannock, not far from the borders of Broome county, in the state of New York, and comprehend ing in its range the highlands at the head of the rivers Schuylkill, Lehigh, and Lackawaxen, which empty into the Delaware. Its breadth may be safely taken, it is presumed, at an average of three miles, making a surface of three hundred square miles, or nearly one thousand millions of square yards. The thickness of the contiguous beds in several places where the coal has been wrought, exceeds thirty feet, or ten yards; and it is well known, from examination of a section of the whole formation, in places where, by a disruption of the waters, the various beds are exposed, that the thickness of the several workable strata exceeds forty-five feet, or fifteen yards; but assuming ten yards as the medium thickness, the whole number of cubic yards within the district above specified, would be ten thousand millions. "It is easily proved by calculation, that a cubic yard of this coal weighs rather more than two thousand two hundred gross weight creased, as it can the York and Boston a than at present. Son be interested by Mr respecting the emplo furnaces. ridges of high land, in which it is not known "The greatest objections to it as a domes- We can bear testimony to the correct | BURNING A HOLE TI If the following had a sanction as that of F should certainly be among those stateme strange than credible be permitted to doubt cumstances are told, or are related with exact from a No. of Profess of Science and the Ar "Colonel Evasin, di of Metz, in a letter t the following experime I placed a bar of sixteen millemetres in of an inch) into a comm coal, and when it was w and applied to its surfa six tenths of an inch in teen seconds the sulphu through the iron, perfec bar of iron, two inches fifteen seconds. The form of the sticks of whether cylindrical or were, however, more r which the sulphur came which it was applied. Steel bars, formed of gether, were pierced iron, and presented the Cast iron, heated ne point, underwent no al plication of sulphur to it pour did not even leave |