5. 1. Kate and Lizzie, or Six Months out of School. By ANNE W. ABBOT, Author of " Willie Rogers," &c. New York C. S. Francis & Co. 1845. 2. The Tamed and the Untamed, and other Stories. By the Author of "Willie Rogers." Boston: Samuel G. Simpkins. 1845. NEARLY a year ago, we noticed with high praise a story for the amusement of children, from the pen of this graceful and pleasing writer. Though very humble in its pretensions, the scenes and incidents in it were so naturally conceived and described, and the sentiment expressed was so pure and true, being debased neither by cant nor sentimentalism, that it deserved to be drawn out of the heap of trash which is published every year under the much abused title of "Books for Children." The public of little men and women, to whom it was addressed, apparently agreed with us in opinion, and they are rewarded. this year by the appearance of two or three other stories from the same source. We notice in them the same peculiarities which obtained so much favor for "Willie Rogers." The characters are sketched with great spirit, and the scenes are so lifelike, or rather so home-like, that the reader almost fancies that they were copied from his own fireside experiences. The shrewdness and humor with which the queer fancies, little failings, and generous impulses of children are represented, preserving the very trick of their manner and talk, are inimitable. They are not portrayed as tame angels, uttering words of inspiration and teaching the wise, after the affected fashion which is now too much in vogue. Neither are they stiff patterns of propriety and all moral and religious excellence, such as some very worthy persons like to draw in stories "calculated to do good," and are very much astonished that nobody recognizes the likeness. They are only romping, but good, children, doing mischief half of the time, and gravely fitting themselves for the cares and tasks of manhood or womanhood during the other half, Among the writers of established reputation, only Miss Edgeworth and Miss Mitford appear to have hit upon and accurately expressed this conception of a child's character. Of the two books before us, "Kate and Lizzie" is much the better. Some of the older characters are admirably drawn, and the general views of life and duty which are presented in it, though never obtrusively, nor in a sermonizing strain, are eminently sound and healthful. Miss Marcia is a capital portrait, and one which many persons of excellent intentions, who have a drop or No. 126. VOL. LIX. 22 two of acid in their temper and manners, will do well to contemplate. The mode in which this rather sharp and ungracious goodness is rebuked by the spontaneous charity and mildness of the children is a fine lesson, delicately conceived and impressively taught. We hope the writer of these charming stories will be induced to continue her good work. Considering the interest she is able to create, and the purity of the instruction which she gives, we can hardly conceive of any wider and more effectual means of doing good. 6. A Discourse of the Baconian Philosophy. By SAMUEL TYLER, of the Maryland Bar. Frederick City, Md. : Printed by Ezekiel Hughes. 1844. 12mo. pp. 178. We have read this unpretending little volume-unpretending in every respect, perhaps, except the title - with much pleasure, and with great respect for the learning, sound judgment, and general ability with which the writer has explained and defended important truths. He is an ardent but judicious admirer of the Baconian system, and the views which he expresses of its scope and leading characteristics are sound and discriminating, and calculated to place the learner upon the right track. We would mention with particular praise the remarks upon analogy considered as a species of inductive evidence, upon the distinction between logical and rhetorical analogies, and upon natural theology when viewed as a branch of the inductive philosophy. The examination of Lord Brougham's "Discourse on Natural Theology," and of Hume's essay on a special Providence and a future state, though not carried far enough to bring out all the difficulties of the subject, is a good specimen of criticism, and shows a clear comprehension of the great questions at issue. These are topics well worth the attention of every reflecting mind, and they are here discussed with remarkable good sense, and an earnestness which manifests the depth of the writer's conviction. Mr. Tyler writes in an easy and well sustained style, which never sinks into meagreness, nor offends by rhetorical display. His chief fault is diffuseness both of thought and expression; if his diction was more compact and sinewy, and his ideas pressed into smaller bulk, he might sustain a comparison to advantage with most American writers of the present day. Speculations on such a theme as he has chosen cannot be widely popular; but to the few who take an interest in them we can cordially commend this little volume as containing valuable hints, and food for profitable reflection. NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. An Analysis of Kant's Critic of Pure Reason. By the Translator of that Work. London: William Pickering. 1844. 8vo. pp. 215. Chronological Introduction to the History of the Church, being a new Inquiry into the true Dates of the Birth and Death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and containing an original Harmony of the Four Gospels, now first arranged in the Order of Time. By the Rev. Samuel Farmer Jarvis, D. D., L. L. D., Historiographer to the Church. London: W. J. Cleaver. 1844. 8vo. pp. 618. Notes on Northern Africa, the Sahara and Soudan. By William B. Hodgson. New York: Wiley & Putnam. 1844. 8vo. pp. 107. Proceedings of the Naval Court-Martial in the Case of Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, a Commander in the Navy of the United States; to which is added an elaborate Review, by James Fenimore Cooper. New York: Henry G. Langley. 1844. 8vo. pp. 344. An Address before the Literary Societies of Hamilton College, July 23, 1844. By Horace Greeley. Published by Request. New York: William H. Graham. 1844. 8vo. pp. 40. Fitz Clarence: a Poem. By B. B. French. Washington: Printed by Blair & Rives. 1844. 8vo. pp. 31. Revue Française des Familles et des Pensionnats, paraissant le premier de chaque mois. Vol. I. No. 1. New York: F. G. Berteau, Editeur. 1844. 8vo. A Defence of the Protestant Bible, as published by the Bible Societies, against the Charge raised against it by the Rev. Dr. Ryder, that it does not contain the whole of the Sacred Scriptures by 139 Chapters. By Akroatees. New York: Leavitt, Trow, & Co. 1844. 8vo. pp. 68. An Oration delivered at Cambridge, before the Phi Beta Kappa Society in Harvard University, August 29, 1844. By George Putnam. Boston: Little & Brown. 1844. 8vo. pp. 36. The Dangers of the Scholar: an Address delivered before the Gamma Sigma Society of Dartmouth College, July 25, 1844. By the Rev. John K. Lord, of Hartford, Vt. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1844. 8vo. pp. 32. Droppings from the Heart, or Occasional Poems. By Thomas Mackellar. Philadelphia: Sorin & Ball. 1844. 18mo. pp. 144. An Essay on the Philosophy of Medical Science. By Elisha Bartlett, M. D., Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the University of Maryland. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard. 1844. 8vo. pp. 310. Miscellanies. By Stephen Collins, M. D. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. 12mo. pp. 308. The Distant Hills, an Allegory. By the Rev. W. Adams, M. A. From the London Edition, with Engravings from original Designs, by Chapman. New York: General Prot. Episcopal S. S. Union. 1844. 18mo. pp. 104. The Shadow of the Cross, an Allegory. By the Rev. W. Adams, M. A. From the London Edition, with Engravings from original Designs, by Chapman. New York: General Prot. Episcopal S. S. Union. 1844. 18mo. pp. 96. An Address to the Essex Agricultural Society, September 25, 1844. By John W. Proctor. Published by Order of the Society. Salem. 1845. 8vo. pp. 46. Dr. Busby and his Neighbours. By the author of " Willie Rogers." Salem: W. & S. B. Ives. 1845. An Appeal to the People of Massachusetts on the Texas Question. Boston: Little & Brown. 1844. 8vo. pp. 20. History of the Law of Nations in Europe and America, from the Earliest Times to the Treaty of Washington, 1842. By Henry Wheaton, LL. D. New York: Gould, Banks, & Co. 1845. 8vo. pp. 797. Address delivered before the Rhode Island Historical Society, Nov. 20, 1844. By William Gammell, Professor of Rhetoric in Brown University. Providence: B. Cranston & Co. 8vo. pp. 30. History of the Revolt of the British Colonies of America. By George Chalmers. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1845. 2 vols. 8vo. Scenes in my Native Land. By Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1845. 16mo. Lays of the Gospels. By S. G. Bulfinch. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1845. NOTE TO ARTICLE IX. On page 244, our language seems to imply a doubt, whether the practice of whipping girls actually exists in the Boston public schools. We have since learned from undoubted authority, that the thing is not only allowed, but is practised to a great extent, in these institutions. It is also due to Mr. Mann to state, that in the part of the "Reply" here referred to, and in several other portions of the pamphlet, he wrote with the intention not merely to answer the arguments of the Teachers, but to expose certain defects and abuses in the Boston schools. We looked only at what appeared in print, and our strictures would have been modified considerably, if we had known the facts to which Mr. Mann had reference. The severity of his language, as we have since understood, was often designed rather for the practices of the Boston teachers in school, than for their positions and arguments as they appeared in the "Remarks." 1. Lettres écrites à un Provincial, par BLAISE PASCAL. Précédées d'un Eloge de Pascal, par M. BORDAS DEMOULIN. 2. Pensées de Pascal, précédées de sa Vie, par MADAME PERIER, sa Sœur. II. WHEATON'S HISTORY OF THE LAW OF NATIONS PAGE 257 301 . . 329 1. The Jewish Chronicle. Published under the Direction of the American Society for meliorating the Condition of the Jews. 2. A Course of Lectures on the Jews. By Ministers of the Established Church in Glasgow. 3. Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews, from the Church of Scotland, in 1839. 4. Lecture on the Restoration of the Jews. M. M. NOAH. By IV. CHALMERS'S HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES 368 An Introduction to the History of the Revolt of the American Colonies; being a Comprehensive View of its Origin, derived from the State Papers contained in the Public Offices of Great Britain. By GEORGE CHALMERS. V. HILDRETH'S THEORY OF MORALS Theory of Morals: an Inquiry concerning the DRETH. 393 |