THE UNITED STATES LITERARY GAZETTE. Published on the first and fifteenth day of every month, by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co. No. 1 Cornhill, Boston.Terms, $5 per annum, payable in July. VOL. I. REVIEWS. Letters on the Gospels. By Miss Hannah Adams. Boston. 1824. 18mo. pp. 216. IT has been objected to Christianity, that it is not sufficiently simple for the mass of men; that its doctrines are obscure, and not always reconcilable with one another. It is said, more time is required of men to learn the rule of duty than their condition and occupations allow. It has mysteries, it is added, which are too deep for comprehension; and, nevertheless, these are articles of faith, and unless they are believed, the main pillars of Christianity are wanting,-our faith is vain. These and other objections are urged against christianity, by individuals of various conditions and different ages. They derive some of their claims to consideration from the classes who bring them; and there is one class, which, while it furnishes most instances, has still other claims on our regard. It is the class of the young, who are coming into life; who are making their way in the world; who have good dispositions, and whose characters are to be much formed by things without and around them. The religious character to these is of great value. They are within the reach of many and various influences. There is a joyousness in their natures, which is occupied with every thing they see and hear. Their natures go before them in the pursuit of happy things; and they are never wearied, for variety is always before them. It is of great consequence to such a state of mind, that the object which most interests it, should be of the least questionable character. It must be obvious and simple, while it is lovely. It should be lasting in its nature, to correspond with the natural freshness which every day will bring to it. It should be animating in its interest, that the tone of the mind be not weakened. It should be of perpetual and increasing interest, because the mind enlarges with its objects, and when these are exhausted, it will swell over and beyond them. Now Christianity is, of all others, the subject itself about which such a state of mind may be most safely and usefully employed. Much that distinguishes it from all others, fits it especially for the susceptibility of our natures when young. It brings distinctly into view a character as lovely as it is elevated; one who was particularly attracted by the beauty and simplicity of our nature, as exhibited in the young, and who even made children the illustrators of his sublimest doctrines. A work by such an author must be fitted for such an age, and it may be, that he who objects to it its diffi BOSTON, JANUARY 1, 1825. culties, has learned little of its precepts, and No. 18. a deep feeling of reverence and dependence. Early associations, as well domestic as political and religious, were unreluctantly given up by his followers, wherever they interfered at all with the service he required of them. It was on their part the unheard of service of self-devotion to God, and to man, with the strange condition and early experience, of contempt, hatred, hardship, and suffering. Still it was undertaken and performed. If imperfectly, this was not on account of any reservation in favour of former practice or belief. It was the reservation of nature, and belonged to that infirmity which was essential to their human condition. Still a vast change was made, a great effect was produced. A new standard of excellence was given to men, and they were made better by it. There are two circumstances in its history, about which we shall make a passing remark, not because of any obscurity, but because they are parts of its evidence, and because they have a connexion with the remarks we are about to offer on the work named at the head of this article. One of these is the character, the life, and doctrines of the This effect was produced by the character author of the religion, when contrasted with and instructions of Jesus Christ. We have the times in which he lived. The other is already spoken of the first. It remains to the effect produced by all these on his fol- speak more fully of the last. The prevailing lowers. Jesus Christ spoke as no man had character of the Gospels, which contain these ever spoken before, and lived as no man had instructions, is naturalness. They were inever lived. He is alone amidst his own age, deed accompanied and enforced by miracles. and all the preceding. We have no difficulty But these, however wonderful and appalling in finding him; and learn nothing of his his- when they were wrought, never occupy the tory in that of any portion of our race. He front ground. They are subservient and is without prejudice, where it was most ex-secondary every where to the instructions, clusive; a disinterested and wide lover of man, where selfishness was a tolerated principle both of religion and philosophy. Claiming and demonstrating a direct communication with heaven, he is poor and houseless on the earth. the doctrines themselves. Jesus Christ did not come to our earth to astonish its inhabitants by his wonderful works. His sole purpose was to exalt and purify the moral nature, and to fit it for the eternity which was its destiny. Men were not to be forced into Now this is wholly unlike all that had virtue any more than they had been before. been known of man before. Human expe- No overwhelming influence is exerted any rience had never met with its likeness. In where in his history. He is said to have all the preceding times men retained some- taught as one having authority; but it was thing of the earlier ages, and were fair pro- the authority of knowledge. He knew the ducts of their own. Times indeed have their whole extent of moral infirmity, and while livery, but the latest is always some modi-he mourned over the ruin, he loved it; and fication of the preceding. Human infirmity has descended in an unbroken succession. It is the strongest feature in the moral creation. A moral naturalist would find in it one of the strong characters by which to determine and describe the species. Jesus Christ has not this character of human identity, and in this simple fact, he comes to us with an hitherto unknown claim, not merely to distinction, but to belief. The miracle of his own character had its effect on the followers of Jesus Christ. It run counter to all their expectations, and disappointed their strongest hopes. But it was in beautiful harmony with all they were taught, and with all the preternatural they witnessed. It thus became and continued a part, and a most important part, of the evidence on which the claims of Jesus Christ rested. With the belief was closely allied was bent on its restoration (the object of his coming), let the sacrifice to him personally be what it might. He knew what it would be, and its whole effect on the human race. With such knowledge, and with such a purpose, the authority of his instructions was felt and acknowledged by strangers and by friends. His instructions belong, if we may use the expression, to the mind itself. They reach its wants in their utmost extent and variety. They belong to it, because their effect is to give to it its highest dignity; and thus to fit it for the eternity which they every where declare to be its portion. They bring out, and keep in operation the whole powers of the mind; for their direct effect is to give it an interest, and the strongest interest too, in topics wholly intellectual, such as its own nature and purposes; the being and attributes of God; the means of moral ture state. purity; and the relation of this to the fuThis character of the Gospels deserves special notice, when taken in connexion with the prevailing opinions and doctrines of the times in which their author lived. It does so in the next view we shall take of it. The instructions of Jesus Christ were not given for the use of a particular set of men, or for a limited period of time. They are designed for all ages, and for all men. It is in their leading, their sole object, that this unlimited purpose must be looked for; and it is in the fact, that this object cannot be wholly attained on earth, but may be approached more and more nearly, that they present a perpetual motive for the highest efforts. The great object of these instructions being thus to act upon the mind and heart, the direct effect upon the individual is to preserve in him the consciousness of his being an intellectual being. Now we value fairly what we have, just so far as we know its nature and its uses. And we value ourselves too in an exact proportion to our direct influence upon others, by means we understand, as well as can command. A man who feels he has a mind, and knows so much about it as to be conscious of its operations, and has found his dignity and his pleasure too in these, has a real and lasting possession in himself. The mind is no longer the mere instrument of circumstances, and adapted to these by accident, as the eye and the ear are to the distances of different objects of sight or sound. It is felt to be a power of vast and strange attributes, planning all, and doing all. The Gospels have this power every where in view. Their purpose with it is its indefinite progress towards the good and the great. They distinctly call upon men to recognize this power in all they do, and in the perfection of its operations with us, it reveals to us some of the mysteries of a spiritual being. We have been led to these reflections by the design of the author, in the "Letters on the Gospels," as stated in the Preface. They are written for the young, to enable "them to read the New Testament with more pleasure and advantage, and that they may be induced to make the sacred Scriptures the object of their daily study, the rule of their life, and their guide to everlasting happiness." The difficulties which it is in part the object of these Letters to explain, may seem to contradict the views offered above. The Gospels were said to be perfect in their character, and of perpetual and universal application. They allude, however, to much that was purely local and temporary, and of course of limited and accidental experience. But the propriety and wisdom of this can be shown by a moment's consideration; and so far from diminishing the force of our argument, it will give it new confirmation. The doctrines of Jesus Christ were entirely new, and his authority to teach them was shown by miracles. But they were addressed to men, using their own minds; who were to be taught, as other men are; who understood language as it is ordinarily understood; who would be more struck, Our blessed Lord continues his discourse, by inculcating heavenlymindedness, and the practice of virtues, to which the Jewish teachers were generally strangers. He warns his hearers against covettice of the Pharisees, who were very avaricious, ousness; and reprehends, in particular, the pracand very much devoted to the world. They resorted to any measures just or unjust, to obtain riches. Our Saviour exhorted his hearers not to lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust steal. In the Eastern countries, where the fashion do corrupt, and where thieves break through and of clothes did not alter, as with us, the treasures of the rich consisted not only of gold and silver, but of costly habits, and finely wrought vessels, liable to be destroyed in the manner here mentioned. Our their treasure be on earth, there would their hearts divine Instructer assured his hearers, that, should be also. Ye cannot,' says he' serve two masters; ye cannot serve God and Mammon.' Mammon was a Syrian word, signifying riches, which are here represented under the figure of a person who has been deified or rather been raised to universal dominion by the folly of mankind. and more readily convinced by a material has afforded us to find that even literary representation, than by an unadorned doc-conflicts may leave the moral dignity untrine; and would see the truth in an illustra-hurt, and to find that this latest work of a tion, where the simple annunciation of the life devoted to letters, should have so truly same truth would be either not received or the spirit of the subject to which it is denot applied. This was not true of the first voted. We close with a single extract, and Christians merely. It is true of all men, with an unhesitating recommendation of the and of all ages. Jesus Christ availed him- volume to our readers. self of these facts in our moral history, and at the same time availed himself of every circumstance, however local or however temporary, which might give attractiveness or power to his instructions. He used the intellectual and the physical language of the times. His doctrines were new, but they were for the mind as he found it, and for the mind as it always would be. His illustrations are borrowed from the serene sky over his head, and from the beautiful flowers in his path The high mountain, and the deep valley; the vast ocean, and the narrow river; the fowl of heaven, and the wild beast of the desert, the whole material creation, are all made means of instruction. The same is true of habits and manners; and even etiquette, perhaps the most evanescent of them all, contributes its share in unfolding the deepest mysteries, and discovering the most sublime and Our Lord proceeds to caution his hearers against awful truths. If there be an apparent in- extreme anxiety respecting our earthly subsistence, consistency in this, its reason and its motive and gives a striking exhortation to trust in the are deep seated in ourselves. In this late day, providential care of our heavenly Father. It addis not the providence of God as frequently ed a peculiar force to our Saviour's words, that rocognized and acknowledged in the protec-beauties of nature. He could point to the fowls of they were delivered in view of the surrounding tion it affords to the sparrow or the lily, as the air, and the flowers of the field, and show his in its daily care for us? and are not the auditors, that the whole creation attested the truth storms of the unconscious elements more of his instructions. 'Behold the fowls of the air: eloquent and powerful with us, than the in- for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather telligent nature, the strong power of coninto barns, and yet your heavenly father feedeth science, the noble intellect, with which God them; are ye not much better than they? The ravens, in particular, are mentioned in Luke's Goshas endowed us? pel, and our Lord, in directing his disciples to trust in God for their subsistence, bids them consider the ravens. It may appear to some surprising, that so abject a creature should be so frequently recognised Preserver of all things. When the Most High in Scripture, as an object of care to the Maker and challenged Job out of the whirlwind, he demanded, Who provided for the raven his food? When his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of The Psalmist uses it as an argument for praising God. "The Lord giveth food to the young ravens which cry.' The ravens are sometimes driven rather prematurely from their nest, before they are all able to subsist by their own industry. In this case, pinched with hunger, and abandoned by their parents, they fill the air with their cries; destitute and helpless condition. Nor do they cry as it were complaining to God concerning their in vain, the Almighty Benefactor supplies all their wants. But the care of Providence is not confined This clothing of his instructions with the times and places in which they were given, is a cause of obscurity to us, with whom times are so altered, and places so wholly unlike. But the scholar of the bible reads it with its history; and the obscurity van ishes. Our author has done it for those who have not time or inclination for a col-meat. lateral history, and thus has made the Gospels accessible to the young. This little volume is written with great simplicity. The language is perfectly fitted to the author's great object. She writes as one always may, who has habitually, and for a long time, thought seriously about, and studied her subject. It seems the ordinary occupation of her mind, that she has carIt extends also to their parents ried to her book; not the result of its oc- (who 'neither sow nor reap, have neither storecasional direction, and after long intervals. house nor barn'), and provides food for them from his inexhaustible stores. Even the meanness of It is hence all equally well done, and the the character of this bird may serve the more interest which is excited to read it, keeps strongly, in a considerate mind, to excite and estab up till the whole is read. We have been lish a firm reliance on the wise and bountiful arhighly gratified with this work. We ex-rangements of Providence. The argument of our press ourselves freely and fully about it, Lord is exceedingly strong and pointed. If the because we would pay our tribute, however Almighty hear not in vain the croaking of a young raven, he surely will not turn a deaf ear to the supsmall it may be, to one who has been so plications of his people. long known among us in the high ranks of the most dignified and useful literature. It has not been a career without its troubles, that the author has so honourably pursued. We would not have alluded to them, but for an opportunity to express the pleasure it to the young. Our divine Instructer again turns our attention to the beauties of nature, to demonstrate the providential care of our heavenly Father. Consider,' says he, the lilies of the field, how they grow; the toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.' 'It is,' says Sir J. E. Smith, 'natural to presume that our Saviour, according to his usual custom, called the attention of his hearers to some object at hand; and as the fields of the Levant were overrun with the Amaryllis Lutea, whose golden liliaceous flowers, in autumn, afford one of the most brilliant and gorgeous objects in nature, the expression of, Solomon in all his glory, arrayed like one of these, is peculiarly appropriate. A description of probably the same species of flower is given by Mr Salt, in his voyage to Abyssinia. At a few miles from Adowa,' says he, we discovered a new and beautiful species of Amaryllis, which bore from ten to twelve spikes of bloom on each stem, springing from the common receptacle. The general colour of the corolla was white, and every petal was marked with a single streak of bright purple in the middle. The flower was sweet scented; and its smell, though much more powerful, resembled the lily of the valley.' Our Saviour's words, Consider the lilies, &c. acquire additional force aud beauty, when we call to mind, that they were suggested by the sight of the splendid species of Lily which abounds in Palestine. We may imagine our Lord, when delivering his divine Sermon on the Mount, pointing to those superb flowers, which decked the surrounding plain, and deducing from their beauty lessons of contentment, and reliance on the bounty of our heavenly Father. Evenings in New England. Intended for Juvenile Amusement and Instruction. By an American Lady. Boston. 1824. 18mo. pp. 181. But we doubt not scientific, and philosophical subjects; and danger lest this should be the case; and we THIS work is another added to the many faults, which we doubt not that the author of these "Evenings" will avoid. As to Miss Edgeworth's code of morals, we rather incline to think she favours that philosophy which identifies the most perfect morality with the most sagacious selfishness. Be this as it may, she certainly, so far as she is an author, habitually and systematically exempts the heart and the mind from the control of the highest, most operative, and most universal motives; and thinks processes and means of improvement may be devised which will be sufficiently pure and powerful without having any regard to these motives. We are certain that the principles and the system of our author will be very different. If she regards it as her vocation, to provide food for the childish or youthful mind, let her acquaint herself with the wants and character of the understanding, in that stage of its growth for which she must suit the aliment she offers; let her acquire accurately the knowledge she would communicate; and let her labour in her employment, and bow her mind to it in good earnest, and she will surely succeed. It is obvious, that her intellect has strength and brightness enough, and needs only culture and discipline; whether it be peculiarly adapted to this kind of work, yet remains to be fully proved. For ourselves, we think this is a good book, well adapted to its purposes, and likely to do good to many; and we will now proceed to describe its contents somewhat more particularly, and make such extracts as shall give a just notion of its character. All the pieces are short, and most of them We have not prefaced our notice of the are in the form of dialogues between an "Evenings in New England" with these re- aunt and her nephew and niece. The submarks, because they are peculiarly applica-jects are various, and for the most part are well chosen and well treated. The following may serve as a specimen. Lucy. Aunt, I am tired to death of reading History. I have been two or three months studying Rollin; but now I have come to live with you, I trust you will suffer me to employ myself about something more amusing. Aunt. Why, my dear Lucy, you have now almost ceased to be a child, and I trust you are aware of how much importance a knowledge of historical events will prove, when you come forward in society. It is one of those things which are so common that nobody can be tempted to be proud of them, and yet so necessary that one ought certainly to blush for any deficiency. Lucy. So my mother always told me; but I must acknowledge I am weary of such kind of reading. All I can remember is a jumble of battles and revolutions, of kings murdered and princes poisoned. There are ever-so-many Dukes of Buckingham, and and how can I possibly recollect to distinguish be tween them? Aunt. All this confusion originates in a want of judgment in your course of study. You should read, in course, those books which nearly relate to the same period. If you wish to attain a knowledge of the sixteenth century, for instance,-there are Charles V, Leo X, and the Life of Luther, which are very proper to be read together; and perhaps a few years hence, you might with advantage add Villiers on the Reformation. For the present winter, however, I will tell you a plan which will make History delightful as well as instructive. Lucy. Pray what is it? Aunt. After you have read the reign of any particular king, I will read some novel or play immediately connected with it. By this means you will no longer feel as if you had only heard of the characters, but as if you had actually seen and talked with them. Lucy. But, Aunt, I have heard people say, it was wicked to read novels and plays. Aunt. It is, no doubt, wrong to read such books very frequently, and very unprofitable to read them at all, without much discrimination; but every thing is valuable according to its use; and when the lighter kinds of reading serve to impress something more valuable upon our minds, they answer an exceedingly good purpose. Lucy. It seems to me there are not many novels of this description. Aunt. You probably have seen a multitude of foolish, romantic, worthless stories; and I am hear are there none to assist other countries, besides Aunt. There probably are, though I know of but Aunt. Undoubtedly. However, I know of but centuries ago, when the world was more ignorant than it now is, these marvellous things were more generally and more firmly believed. The Grecian priests well knew that there was nothing about which mankind were so anxious as concerning what would happen to them in time to come. Accordingly, they made them believe that the gods spoke to men through certain images, fountains, &c.; and that if any one wished to know whether he should be successful in any undertaking he was about to commenee, he had only to offer a rich sacrifice to the god in order to ascertain. People flocked from all parts of Greece, bringing gold, precious stones, and every thing that was costly, as an offering to these oracles. The designing priests returned what answers they chose, and appropriated the gifts to their own use. Lucy. But how could they always answer rightly? Alexander did conquer the world as they foretold. Lucy. How delightful it will be to read all these things. Do let us begin Hume to-night. Aunt. There are very numerous instances where Aunt. To-morrow we will commence. But there their predictions were wrong. As for Alexander, is another part to my project. You must write they saw that he was a bold, resolute, ambitious down all that you remember of any reign, and the man, who was resolved to conquer the world, and thoughts which the subject naturally suggests. This so they ventured to predict that he would; and no must be done as if you were talking to a companion, doubt some nations gave up to him because they not as if you were writing a book. The more you believed it impossible to resist the fate which the improve in this task, the more willing I shall be to oracle had decreed. The priests were generally devote an evening to the recreations I have men- very cautious in their answers. Sometimes when tioned; because I shall be convinced that you do a great personage inquired concerning an important not hurry through your history for the sake of read-expedition, they would return no answer at all; and ing novels, plays, and poems, but that you love still oftener, they would return one that might be novels, &c. on account of the useful information taken two different ways. Thus, when Croesus inthey afford, as well as for their interesting stories quired whether he should be fortunate if he crossed and poetic language. After all, you must remem- the Halys, the oracle replied, 'If Crœsus pass over ber that there are many things necessary for you to the Halys, he shall destroy a great empire.' He to learn, which cannot be obtained except by hard passed the river, and destroyed his own great emstudy. It is, no doubt, pleasant to find instruction pire. When Nero applied to the famous oracle at in the train of amusement; but she is not always Delphi, the answer was, 'Seventy-three may prove there-and she is so valuable, that we must be will- fatal to Nero.' From this, the emperor concluded ing to follow her through long and tedious roads, that his life was safe from accident, or disease, until now and then turning aside to rest on a little spot he was seventy-three years of age; but he was soon covered with grass and wild flowers. afterwards deserted by his people, and Galba, who in his stead. He was then willing to believe that was seventy-three years old, was proclaimed king the oracle referred to that event. When Pyrrhus intended to go to war with the Romans, he inquired whether he should prove victorious. The answer was, Aio te, acida, Romanos vincere posse ;' which signifies, 'I declare, son of Eacus, you the able omen; but it must have proved a true oracle in either case,—for it may mean, 'You shall conquer the Romans,' or 'The Romans shall conquer you.' Divers persons of our acquaintance might consider and remember these remarks upon novels, with great advantage. The dialogue on Oracles, beginning on page 46, is one of the best in the book, and with this we must tily glad that you do not like them. But if you will close our extracts. Besides these dialogues, Romans shall conquer.' This he supposed a favour read only such ones as are pointed out by judicious friends, and, even then, read them sparingly, you might find some of real advantage to you With regard to the plan I proposed, I cannot furnish you with either a novel or a play for every reign in the English history; but I can for very many. Shakspeare provides a large fund for us on this occasion; and, luckily for our purpose, there is a Family Shakspeare published, in which most of the uninteresting and useless parts are omitted. The evenings are now perceptibly lengthening, and if you will follow my plan, I think you will acknowledge that they have passed away pleasantly, as well as profitably. Lucy. Do, dear Aunt, let us hear the whole of your plan; and what books you think you shall read. Aunt. You shall read Hume's History aloud, and whenever I think of any thing connected with the subject, we will obtain it at the library, and spend a few evenings in becoming acquainted with the characters, to whom Mr Hume has slightly introduced us. After we have finished the reigns of Richard I, and his successor, we will read Ivanhoe and Shakspeare's King John. Shakspeare will likewise serve to fix the events connected with Henry IV, V, VI, and VIII, and likewise of the Second and Third Richard. Kenilworth and Miss Aikin's Court of Queen Elizabeth will give you a correct idea of that queen, and the persons who were most conspicuous during her reign. The Fortunes of Nigel, and Miss Aikin's Court of King James, faithfully - portray the character of her successor; and Peveril of the Peak makes you well acquainted with Charles II, and his gay favourite, the Duke of Buckingham. Lucy. Why indeed, Aunt, I did not think there had been so many as you have mentioned; but there are short sketches and stories of the Lucy. I learned a lesson in Grecian History to- Aunt. Oracles may probably be classed among other superstitions by which mankind are to this day willingly deceived. I suppose you have heard a great many signs and forerunners, which the ignorant consider as infallible? Lucy. Yes, indeed. I know an old lady who will never begin any thing on Friday, because it is an unlucky day. When the tallow falls over in a peculiar form in the candle, she is frightened because it resembles a winding-sheet. And she says she never knew a dog to howl under the window, without some death happened in the family soon after. Lucy. Was the Delphian oracle the only one? Aunt. They were very numerous. The most remarkable were those of Delphi, Delos, Dodona, and Trophonius. The Delphian oracle was near Mount Parnassus, the fabled resort of the Muses. A splendid temple of Apollo was erected there, in the midst of which was a cavity, from whence issued the most unhealthy and noxious vapour. Out of this the oracle was supposed to proceed. It is said to have been discovered in the following manner. A number of goats, that were feeding on Mount Parnassus, came to a place which was deeply per forated, from which issued a steam that seemed to inspire them. They played and frisked about in such an extraordinary manner that the goatherd was tempted to lean over the hole, and see what mysteries the place contained. He was immedi ately seized with a fit of enthusiasm, and his wild and extravagant expressions were taken by the ignorant people for prophecies. Lucy. Was it not very strange that he should be affected in that manner? Aunt. Not at all strange, my dear, The vapour probably contained some gas, which had a powerfal Aunt. That must be unfortunate for the inhabi- effect on the human frame. You recollect cousin tants of a city, who may chance to hear the bowling William said he behaved like a crazy man when be of dogs every night in the week. The truth is, if a inhaled the exhilarating gas. Probably this had a person chances to die soon after such a noise has similar effect on the brain. Whatever it was, i been heard, the circumstance is recollected and re-gained great credit with the people. A temple was peated; but if nothing extraordinary happens, it is erected over the spot, and dedicated to Apollo. A all forgotten, or, at most it is only remembered that priestess, who was called Pythia, or Pythoness, was some poor dog had lost his master, and was straying ordained to receive the oracles and deliver them t round, mourning his loss. In this way, people are inquirers. A lofty tripod, decorated with lau always willing to deceive themselves; and many was placed over the hole whence the vapour issuto, and after the priestess had bathed in the renowned Castalian spring, she ascended the tripod, and exactly, what it should be. The author thus | Questions and Answers. The Interrogative System' of teaching has now become very general breathed in the noxious air from beneath. When in almost every branch of school education. Its she inhaled unusual quantities, she was often seized 'Tis education forms the common mind, introduction may be traced to the Scholar's Arithwith violent paroxysms; and once her symptoms 'Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclin'd.' metic,' in 1801. Some improvement in this system were so terrible, that the affrighted priests ran out The above couplet has been frequently quoted, has been attempted by the Author in the Reading of the temple, and left her alone, as they supposed and if the sentiment it inculcates be admitted as part of his School Geography, which is introduced to expire. When she was in these fits, she uttered true, we need never expect the agricultural to be here, where, instead of printing the question at strange and incoherent speeches, which the priests come a reading community, particularly as it re-length, which necessarily swells the book, a characpretended to interpret, and which the people were spects subjects relating to their occupation, until the ter (q) is introduced, intimating both to the Teacher credulous enough to believe proceeded from the god study of agriculture, in some shape or form, shall and the Pupil, that a question is required, and this himself. All who came to consult the oracle, brought be introduced into our common schools, and the character invariably placed BEFORE the word rich presents. In process of time, the wealth of the minds of youth shall there first be inclin'd' to or words intended to ask the question, and to which priests was immense, the temple magnificent be- agricultural inquiries and pursuits. And, indeed, the answer, FOUND BY READING THE SENyond description. It was crowded with marble and why should not this be done? There is time enough TENCE, is to be a direct reply. For example, brazen statues, paintings, gold, and precious stones. for it in every school; for as youth must be allowed take the first sentence; the character is placed beSo numerous were the images, that when Nero re-time and provided with books for learning to read, fore the words 'first employment;' the question moved five hundred statues of brass, the loss was by making these inquiries the subjects of their read then is, What was the first employment of the eartoo small to be noticed. There are still some re- ing lessons, the two operations of learning to read, liest inhabitants of the world? The answer, from mains of this celebrated place. The steps by which and learning to think on these subjects, may be reading the sentence, is evident-The cultivation the priestess descended to the Castalian fountain, prosecuted and go on together, without any addi- of the earth.' are still distinctly visible. Dodona is principally tional expense, either of TIME OF MONEY. famous for being the most ancient oracle. It was consecrated to Jupiter; and, according to the fables of those times, it was founded by a dove. Two black doves took their flight from Thebes in Egypt; one of which flew to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, and the other to the temple of Jupiter at Dodona, in Thessaly or Epirus. In a human voice, they informed the inhabitants that Jupiter had consecrated the ground, and would from thenceforth utter oracles there. These oracles were sometimes supposed to proceed from the doves, and sometimes from the oaks and statues in the neighbourhood; but in all probability it was the artifice of the priests, who concealed themselves behind the trees, and thus deceived the superstitious multitude. Another famous oracle was at the cave of Trophonius. Noises and voices were said to be heard in this cave; and those who entered to ascertain their fortune, always came out pale, frightened, and melancholy. This effect was likewise probably produced by some powerful vapour in the cave, unwholesome for the human lungs. Lucy. Have oracles ceased in all parts of the world? Aunt. I believe they are now entirely extinct. Many impositions of the priests were discovered, credulity. Nations which are enlightened by Chris tianity, not only perceive the impossibility of discovering future events in this manner, but they are likewise convinced how very useless such knowledge would prove; since our Merciful Father provides for nations and men in a way that must tend to the eventual good of both. and the Greeks at last became ashamed of their Such is the plan here contemplated. The Agricultural Reader' is designed to be used as a reading book. Copious explanations of terms, fundamental principles of agriculture, examples of good and bad husbandry, domestic economy, industry, neatness, order, temperance and frugality, are subjects embraced within its pages-subjects, which, in one way or another, come home to every man's business and bosom,' and in which it cannot be a matter of indifference, that youth should be well instructed, before entering on the theatre of active life, whatever may be the parts there assigned them respectively to act. Much of the matter and the manner are such as is believed will engage their attention, affording at the same time many fine exercises for reading as respects cadence, emphasis, modulation, and inflections of the voice. Every thing otherwise pertinent to the subject is studiously avoided, which would be improper to be read by either sex in school. Where the construction of the sentence suggests no particular form in which to put the question, it may be, What is said of, &c.; as for instance in the fourth paragraph, when the character is placed before the words 'commerce and manufactures,' the question may be, What is said of commerce and manufactures? Let the class be directed to meditate answers to the questions to be asked on those subjects or words before which the character is placed. After reading, let those questions and the words also to be defined, be put by the Teacher, and answered by the class, in rotation. These exercises, it is believed, will be found both profitable and entertaining. to improvements. The work would be more We have only one suggestion to make as useful and interesting, if it contained more of the natural history of animals and vegetables. When the present edition has been sold, the reputation of the work will doubtless make it safe to increase its size considerably, by adding the most interesting facts respecting the uses, to which the various animals and vegetables referred to, are applied in different countries. warded. The book commences with explanations of agricultural terms, which are designed to be thoroughly learned. These will make our scholars in the country familiar with the common technical language in works of science relative to most subjects connected with their occupation. Every thing This work will doubtless be followed by which will tend to render intercourse easy and some others, according to the same a Mechanic's Reader, a Merchant's Reader, between the literary and scientific, and the labouring class of the community, is of principle. We shall be glad to see them, very great value; and we think it too plain and we hope our bookmakers will suffer no to need proof or explanation, that the plan delay in producing them. The public mind of Dr Adams will tend to that object. The is prepared for such improvements, and the author is true to the new principle, that labour of making them will be well rescholars should be made to understand every thing thoroughly as they proceed. To effect this, he has a method of interrogating, of which we believe he is the inventor. We were not aware that the interrogative system originated with him, nor that it had been in use only twenty-three years; and we want more evidence of the fact. We will not search for many examples of works constructed on this principle previous to that period, but mention the one that we first think of-the Assembly's Catechism. Others, in the baser sciences, might be mentioned. To explain Dr Adams' method, which we think very good, we copy the fol The Agricultural Reader, designed for the ciently disinterested to sustain cheerfully The definition of words is an exercise too much Reader. We have not much to say about this book, except that it appears to be nearly, if not neglected in our schools. To render this exercise An Easy Introduction to the Study of Geog- WE think this book too small; it is well to |