tied to unsuitable verses, and the advanta- "1 Far from the world we now retire, 2 Author of all the countless worlds, 3 Under those eves, which never close, 4 Soon as the sun with new-born rays, Source of all light-Beam on our sight, And bless our waking eyes." Let the same experiment be made with the following, designed for the tune of Blendon. We are sure that the exact mutual adaptation of music to metre will be felt to give a new beauty to the tune, and added expression to the verse. "1 Infinite God-thy glorious name Let earth and heaven-with joy proclaim; 2 Great is the Lord-whose sovereign sway- 3 Wisdom belongs to him alone, To whom our every thought is known; These examples may prove that one great cause of the ill adaptation of tunes, is to be found in the careless manner in which the hymns have been constructed. Mr Willard's hymns are composed for certain tunes; but most poetry of this sort has been written without any regard to tunes. Poets have forgotten that they were writing for music; and not only for music, but for that of a very peculiar character. Now it certainly is absurd, to keep out of view the express object for which the composition is designed. That object ought, in all reason, to determine the character of the composition; the form of expression should be accommodated to this, just as much as to the rhyme. Various licenses may be given to him who writes what is to be read, which cannot be claimed by him who writes what shall be sung. When he writes for a tune, he subjects himself to further restrictions, he agrees to conform to the paces of its movements; he puts on, as it were, another chain, and if he cannot walk so gracefully in these additional fetters, let him cease to write for singers, and be content to have only readers. To all that we have heard alleged, or which might be alleged, respecting the restraints thus imposed, and the difficulties and impossibilities thus created, there is this sufficient reply; that they are submitted to To form their minds rightly, they should have descriptions of such things as actually exist, and not learned discussions, nor abstract speculations, nor imperfect rudiments of sciences, which cannot yet be learned. Whoever considers how limited their knowledge is, will easily believe that they are incapable even of increasing it by many, if not most, of the lessons which compose their books for reading. by the writers of songs, and therefore can- none. We think Mr Willard has done a great good service in calling attention to this subject, and are glad of the opportunity to make known his labours, and, as far as we can, second his efforts. How far the deep-rooted evil may be made to be felt and removed, it is difficult to conjecture. But we are very sure that common psalmody will continue to be infinitely below all other music in interest and effect, until the principles laid down in this little book are understood and acted upon. For the The selection of topics in this work, is, general, judicious; the style has but few faults, and those are inconsiderable. In such descriptions it is impossible to avoid the use of many names and terms which cannot be found in a dictionary. The author generally explains them, but he has given the scholar no means for determining their proper pronunciation. ishes its value as a school book; but it will still be highly interesting and instructive as a book for domestic reading. This dimin There is a still more formidable objection to its use in schools. Conversations between a teacher and a pupil are not suitable for study. Children very soon become unwilling to read simple questions, or remarks that are made merely for the sake of obtaining replies. It is awkward for one scholar to read the whole, and if two are engaged, they do not converse as equals, and are not satisfied. After the first perusal of the book, nearly all children will regard the questions as tedious; and even at first, most readers who are not absolutely infantile, would prefer simple descriptions, in which the subjects were regularly announced by sections and chapters. Written discourse requires a kind of dignity which is inconsistent with many things that are allowed in the freedom and familiarity of conversation. No one wishes to read the common expressions of fondness, which pass between a mother and her daughter, nor the full detail of their conversations on Conversations on Common Things; or Guide any subject. But in this work the author 12mo. pp. 263. Ir is not easy to say of what this little Evening Entertainments, or Delineations of the Manners and Customs of Various Nations. By J. B. Depping. Third Edition. Philadelphia, 1821. 12mo. pp. 260. In our review of Worcester's Sketches, we took occasion to recommend works of this character, as highly deserving of more attention than they receive. We are gratified with finding another before the public, which, though less elaborate in its construction, and less classical, is well adopted to its purpose. It embraces that part of the information contained in the Sketches, which is peculiarly suited to children; but there are few persons who would not be entertained and instructed by reading it. The style is familiar and interest ing, the descriptions are comprehensive and just, and the morality is amiable and correct. It purports to be an English work; and it contains the following notice from the London Monthly Review. "We are told by a Mr Depping, that he proposes to unfold all the advantages with which the teaching of Geography is capable of furnishing parents and instructers of youth; and in pursuance of this plan, he has written a series of conversations, in which an intelligent father is supposed to describe to his children every thing remarkable which he has learned or observed in the course of his travels. The dialogues therefore impart so much general knowledge and amusing information, that we think the author has not only established his proposition, but has produced a very entertaining and valuable book for children." We fully concur in this commendation, and should think the work deserving of more critical attention, were it an American production, or one very recently published in our own country. MISCELLANY. LORD BACON AND THE NORTH AMERICAN In the last number of the North Ameri- But if the "It belongs to experience to furnish the princi- On which the reviewer makes these re- "It is curious to see how little the speculations of subsequent inquirers, up to the present day, have proceeded beyond the positions here taken. In the extracts from Aristotle we find the Baconian theo Mental Improvement; or the Beauties and been by the illustrious Chancellor himself, and we The article containing this, is in the main excellent,-very able and amusing,and reputed to be as it evidently is-from the pen of one of our finest and most fortunate scholars. But the above remarks of his may lead his readers into two or three mistakes,-and, unless we greatly deceive ourselves, they contain one error in particular, which is of no small consequence to the History of Philosophy, the noble theme on which he is writing. For this reason we wish to make a few comments upon them. If it can ever be our business to take notice of errors, it is when they are found in so good company as they are here. THIS is still another work, somewhat resem- We expressed in a previous number our opinion of the writings of Mrs Wakefield. The style of the work before us is not equal to "Instinct Displayed," but it has no great faults; and in every other respect, the work is excellent. The printing and paper of this edition are disgraceful. We repeat, that all works of this kind should be executed in a handsome style; and that parents need then never believe that their children will prefer the gossiping fooleries with which they are now so liberally supplied. the learned had used before, but which had wrought out so little for the benefit and improvement of man. It sounds strangely to our ears, that he was not justified in so calling it; for it appears to us not only without one single feature in common with that, to which its name contrasts it, but as containing more original views with reference to extended and elevated education, than all the previous writings on that subject put together. It is not however a new idea that Aristotle had anticipated the Chancellor, in setting forth the method and the uses of Induction. We have seen this repeatedly stated before; but Mr Stewart, in his last volume on the Mind, has refuted it so fully, the subject, that we are a little surprised without saying half he might have said on to see it again,— and from such a quarter. It is indeed matter of surprise to us, whence such an opinion could have arisen at first, and how it can hold ground for a moment with those, who know any thing about the writings of the two great masters before us. Bacon's Induction forms the whole body of his work. It is with him a science and a system. This single purpose is al ways before him throughout;-and we know no work among all the elementa ry aids of education out of mathematics, and hardly excepting these, where the leading object is pursued and taught so directly and exclusively, in such admirable order, and with so great a variety of principles entirely new, and of thoughts and designs entirely original,-to say nothing now of the bold yet unassuming style of its execution,- -as this most important art of finding out infallibly the great general laws of nature is, in the Novum Organum of Bacon. But, in running over all the pages of Aristotle, we have fallen on only one chapter,-which may be comprised in a score of lines like these, on the subject of Induction, and the perusal of this is enough for us. He turns Induction into a syllogism of course; and his object here is to explain its form, and show how it differs from other syllogisms, and that it is much less conclusive than these, though it may appear more plain and familiar to us at first. We had this done into English for the satisfaction of our readmust see at a glance its entirely new char- ers, but its technical phraseology would be acter. If Aristotle has indeed taught us unintelligible without too much explanathe art of reasoning,-Bacon has taught us tion, and we must therefore keep it back. an infinitely more useful art,-that of col- There is really not a single principle, nor lecting the materials for reasoning. If the even a trace of Bacon in it beyond its former has put together a profound philoso- name. It is true he borrowed this, and so phy of language, and traced out its various he did many other of his terms, from the applications, as an instrument of thought School logic;-but, as Mr Stewart has and study as well as of communication, and shown, he gave them very different meanthe etymology of its common title, logic, | ings,—and he frequently declares and exmay perhaps indicate this,-Bacon, on the plains this himself. Thus, for example, he other hand, pointed to the philosophy of often used the word " Forms"-subtle things things, and made man "the interpreter indeed in a Schoolman's mind,-for "the of nature,”—and taught him to analyze laws of nature,” and what is more to our and digest into a code that great body purpose, he says expressly of Induction, of her laws, which, since his time, it has that "it must be presented and studied been the business of the practical scholar under a new shape," and that "we have to administer and apply. He called his its name alone, but its power and use work a "New Engine," in opposition to have as yet been totally unnoticed." It is that intricate machine of words, which no small confirmation of these remarks, that the learned enthusiast, Dr Gillies, who has analyzed and translated the best part of Aristotle's works, and who seems disposed to find in them the seeds of every great modern discovery, has hinted at no such resemblance between his Organon and the Novum Organum of Bacon, though he frets and is very indignant at the Chancellor for not treating the Stagyrite with candour. to the workshop of the artificer, and tachment he may have for her, by taking If Aristotle had indeed" as clearly stated the Theory of Induction" as is said, it would have been more fully developed long Nor is a single doubt raised in our minds before it was. His authority must have by the extract from De Gerando. We made it popular at once. He had more have been unable to obtain his History, and sway in the republic of letters, if it could know not what he himself thinks on this be called so under his reign, than his royal subject, nor whether he offers any more in pupil had in Macedon. Never, indeed, did support of his reviewer's remarks. He may mere man rise to the rank of making his have taken some insulated passages from opinions so emphatically law, peremptory Aristotle, and mingled his own inferences and conclusive, as did the preceptor of with them, as we are very apt to do when we Alexander. If then he taught the right represent the opinions of another, and thus method so clearly, why did not his followmade him express ideas, that he never imag-ers adopt it? and why were not its effects ined nor dreamed of himself. If the above on science visible? Why did not natural extract, however, is all, it is absolutely philosophy and the useful arts then spring nothing; and, taking it for an exact trans-up and flourish? and now, while they date lation, it casts not the slightest shade upon their birth comparatively a few years since, our argument.* It refers at best to that they might have run back their genealogy "simple enumeration" which Bacon calls for ages, and brought us down an inherit"puerile and precarious," or that "mere ance rich indeed. Happy would it have naked observation," which he says is "like been for man, if it had been so. The accugroping by night." That experience is the mulated capital of science would now have safest guide;-that the scholar ought to been immense. Instead of groping about study nature;-that all our general conclu- in the dark on the stilts of syllogism for censions arise from summing up particular in- turies, among essences and powers and forms stances, are very good old maxims to be and visionary, unfathomable things altosure, probably familiar and trite enough gether, producing of course no good fruits long before the days of Aristotle, but no- to be known by, but, on the contrary as Babody ever thought of finding in them the con says, only "the thorns and thistles of scientific Induction of Bacon, nor the first wrangling and controversy" (disputationum origin and cause of our stable systems of et contentionum carduos et spinas), it would philosophy. Ancient philosophy was in- have been at work for man, ameliorating deed, for the most part, merely contempla- his condition and elevating his mind, tive. Aristotle knew nothing of the mod- furnishing him then with the most divine of ern mode of interrogating nature by ex- all human employments, and leaving us now periments. His rank and station, the feel- the full benefit of his example as well as of ings of the age, and the elevation of his his labours. We may be assured the Stagyown mind, raised him above them, as rite never saw or never pointed out this truthe historian tells us, and confined them ly "royal road" to learning, or it would have appeared more distinctly either in his writings or in its effects. There is one other minor error in the reviewer's remarks, which we had almost forgotten to notice. The title Organon was not given, as he supposed it was, by the Stagyrite himself, to the writings that bear that name, nor can we perhaps call it simply "his work on logic." It is written and recorded in the books of the critics, that this is made up of several distinct, independent treatises, that they never could have been the work of a single hand,-that there is some evidence of their having come down to us from an antiquity far beyond the days of Aristotle, and that if he were really their author, he had probably no intention of ever uniting them. His editors did this, and they, and not their mighty master, gave them the imposing title of Organon. The best edition of his works, however, has dropt it, and they now appear again in their original form. The fortunes and fate of this volume have been most singular, even within the period of true history, and indeed within the memWe have dwelt the longer on this point ory of man. There is none, which has so because another opinion has been given opposed to each other the opinions and by several very popular writers, and be- feelings of the learned. None has held cause we think it a question of some so high a rank among the books of educaconsequence in the history of philosophy. tion;-none, once admitted, has sunk so We ought to know that we have found a low. There was a time when the human new way, and are not not simply swifter mind was not thought rational in its proper racers than our forefathers were in an old sense, till its rational powers had been one,-that our sciences rest on a better drilled in the tactics of the schools. Now foundation than theirs did, and not that we we every day give them the epithets of jarare a little more enterprising in clearing gon,-subtilties,-imposing show of words, and rearing on theirs ;-and that the "illus--and scarcely allow them the meanest trious Chancellor," who is rightly so called in every sense, originally marked the If Smith stand so high as an original writer in ground, and sketched out slightly the magthe estimation of unquestionably the first judge now nificent proportions. This we thought before the public on that subject, how far beyond the just pride of the moderns, and decided the possibility of the reproach we repel, ought the in their favour, on one important point at same reflections to place Bacon? It is a hard case, if an author is to be stripped of his reputation, be- least, the great question of superiority because a few in advance of him have dropped some tween them and the ancients. Nor do we look loose, scattered hints upon a theme, which he has upon this coolly as a mere matter of histoenlarged into a science, and made the engine of the ablest discoveries and the most useful practical. The pride of the modern scholar is a results. Under such conditions, we feel safe in sort of national pride. He is the citizen of saying, that we know of no one, who can put in a new republic, and it is wrong to check claim for the merit of originality. the feelings of enthusiasm and patriotic at * After the printer had this article, we found in Say's Introduction to his "Political Economy" the following strictures upon those critics of a day, who accuse Smith of Plagiarism in his great work on the "Wealth of Nations." Que signifient de telles pretentions?-un homme de génie a des obligations à tout ce, qui l'a entouré, aux notions éparses qu'il a recueillies, aux erreurs, qu' il a détruites, aux ennemis mêmes, qui l'ont attaqué, parce que tout contribue à former ses idées ;-mais lorsque ensuite il se rend propres ses conceptions, qu'elles sont vastes, qu'elles sont utiles à ses contemporains, à la posterité,-il faut savoir convenir de ce, qu' on lui doit, et non lui reprocher ce, qu'il doit aux autres.' Smith is read," says the same author, " as he ought to be read, every body must see that political economy did not exist before his publication." "Wher a The place in that great course of intellectual We hope our readers will not accuse us of waking the long slumber of the Organon in order to show our knowledge of it. We do assure them, if they have not found it out already, that we know very little about it. We recurred to it for the purpose of removing some doubts from our own minds; and our only wish now is to correct the false impressions, which the extensive popularity of the review,-and the favourite writer of the article in question, might have fixed upon the minds of many, of whom it may be a compliment to say, that they had scarcely ever heard of the Organon before, and who have read Bacon's work principally in its prodigious effects on science and the arts. POETRY. AN INDIAN STORY. In the depths of the shaded dell, "I know where the young May violet grows, conflicting decisions; but we must say, preparing the way for the highest intellec- We really think that the Novum Organum ought to be made an essential branch of education. It needs but to be stripped of a few quaint technical terms, illustrated a little, and freely translated into the language of the present day, and it would make an invaluable elementary treatise in On the mossy bank, where the larch tree throws Far over the silent brook. "An that timid fawn starts not with fear To look on the lovely flower." To the hunting ground on the hills; He goes to the chase-but evil eyes Are at watch in the thicker shades; The boughs in the morning wind are stirred, And Maquon has promised his dark-haired maid, A good red deer from the forest shade, glade, At her cabin door shall lie. The hollow woods, in the setting sun, Ring shrill with the fire-bird's lay; He stops near his bower-his eye perceives At once, to the earth his burden he heaves, But the vines are torn on its walls that leant, And all from the young shrubs there And there hangs, on the sassafras broken and One tress of the well known hair. Ever watched his coming to see, It is not a time for idle grief, Nor a time for tears to flow, And he looks for the print of the ruffian's feet, 'Twas early Summer when Maquon's bride Was stolen away from his door; And the Indian girls, that pass that way, "Returned the maid that was borne away From Maquon the fond and brave.” MIDNIGHT HYMN AT SEA. By thy dusky mantle streaming, Weary wanderer, sadly roving THE BLIND MAN'S LAMENT. B. O where are the visions of extacy bright O where are the charms that the day can unfold Deep, deep in the silence of sorrow I mourn- They have told me of sweet purple hues of the west, Of the rich tints that sparkle on ocean's wide breast; high, When the night is careering along the vast sky; INTELLIGENCE. [The following translation of a letter lately reone of the veterans of German science, may perThey have told me of stars that are burning on ceived by a gentleman in this neighbourhood, from haps interest our readers. Its author, the celebrat ed Eichhorn, is well known as the most conspicuous of the Theologians of the modern school in that country, and as a writer of uncommon originality and learning. Though now passed the limit of three score years and ten, the following letter shows that he preserves his health, spirits, and literary activity, unabated.] But yet, to my lone gloomy couch there is given N. FROM THE ARABIC OF TAALBETA SHERRAN. Taalbeta Sherran wooed a girl of the family of the Absites; and she being desirous to marry him, appointed the wedding day. But when he came to her alone, she changed her mind and re jected him. Then said he, "What hath changed thee?" She answered, "By Allah, thy renown is very great, but my family says to me, What wilt thou do with a husband, who will be killed to-day or to-morrow, and leave thee a widow?" At this he turned away and spake these words: "Espouse not the chief who in danger rejoices," They called to the maiden I courted to wed; When his cry next is heard 'mid the war's loudest voices, The blade of the sword with his blood shall be fed." Distrust seized the maiden; she trembled with sorrow; She feared lest the bridegroom, who round him had young. In sleep his fierce anger but seldom he hushes; To contend against him strive the young nien, who The hope by their prowess in fight to be known, And ennoble their tribe; but beneath him they perish And increase not the fame, he already hath won. The caves of the beasts are his shelter till morning; They see the young chief, who delights not in chases, Nor loves at their kind his sharp weapons to bend; And could they but warm to affection's embraces, you "Göttingen, January, 18, 1824. 93 collected minerals, birds, natural produc- Of served a great variety of the fishes of Mexico and its coast, which are but little known; they are very singular in form and beautiful in colour, and he enumerates in his catalogue between two and three hundred species. While augmenting the stores of the vegetable and animal kingdoms, it would have been singular had he failed to visit the mineral world, in which Mexico is, perhaps, richer than all the universe besides. Her mines are more profuse and valuable, than rare or beautiful, but they form her distinguishing character, and will probably renew her wealth and importance as a nation, now that British and American skill and capital is about to be set to work upon them. Great contracts are now mak Messrs Barclay); it is said to have been one of the most productive mines in the world; if ancient accounts may be relied upon, the annual profits were at one time equal to a million and a half sterling. Undisturbed by his steps they still fearlessly graze.ditors. But of what am I talking? I wish- ing to work the disused and ruined mines. ed only to send you a hearty salutation, and The great mine of Valenciana is now Engbeg the continuance of your kind remem-lish property (we believe it belongs to the brance beyond the ocean, and have fallen into the old man's garrulity. I commit you, and all our friends in America, and all your undertakings, to the protection of an Eternal Providence, and assuring you affectionately of the continuance of my friendly recollection, till I pass to those EICHHORN." who die not, once again I commend you to God. Oft fierce from an ambush in fury he flashes, him A plague, ever seizing on herds not his own; Nor dare they pursue him, e'en when he's alone. While I live shall my feet to the battle field bear me; Its grass with my blood soon or late will be wet; For I know, though the sabre of death long should spare me, Its blade, brightly gleaming, must one day be met. We hope to publish in our next, a review of Mr Poinsett's Notes upon this interesting country. We have seen the first number of the CamWe learn from a late London Literary bridge Quarterly Review. If this work is to Gazette, the safe arrival of Mr Bullock be considered a fair specimen of the literary from Mexico, after a sojourn of six months. skill and talent of the University, one must The leading He visited the capital and many principal believe that the Muses are at least preparing cities, and with great zeal and assiduity to leave their ancient seats. climbed volcanoes and pyramids, drew article-a review of Southey's "Book of the landscapes and temples, exhumed ancient Church”—is quite good; that is to say, it is images, and unniched long established gods; exact, thorough, and elaborate, and evi |