food less injurious, and unfortunately, St. Leon of Mr. Godwin. It exhibits much more prevalent. The fourth let- many characteristics of the school ter is devoted to air and exercise. Res- whence it proceeds; and occasionally pecting the best method of treating puts forth indications of talent; but we children, different opinions have been have been very much disappointed in entertained, some contending that the the perusal of it, from our expectations hardening plan is to be preferred, and having been raised too high beforehand consequently advise thin clothing, and by injudicious praises; and it exhibits exposure to the weather; but this sys- a strong tendency towards materialism. tem has of late years fallen into pretty general discredit. Many, in endeavouring to avoid this extreme, have as egregiously erred on the other side of the question. We fully agree with our author, that if infants and children are suffered constantly to live in rooms heated above the natural temperature of the body, and are clothed so as to keep them incessantly in a hot bath of perspirable matter, the duration of life would be shortened; but from the admission, that by so doing the growth would be accelerated, we as cordially dissent. Analagous to the preceding subject, and next in point of order, succeeds a letter on dress. The great errors of the present day are said to consist in keep ing the head too warm, and the lower extremities, i.e. the legs and feet, too cold; besides which, the circulation is often impeded, and the natural growth of parts prevented by tight clothing. The remarks on bathing, and the directions in employing it, deserve particular attention. In the seventh and last letter | the author gives a rapid and animated epitome of the diseases of children, and offers some convincing arguments against quack medicines. The main idea on which the story of Frankenstein rests, undoubtedly affords scope for the display of imagination and fancy, as well as knowledge of the human heart; and the anonymous author has not wholly neglected the opportunities which it presented to him: but the work seems to have been written in great haste, and on a very crude and illdigested plan; and the detail is, in consequence, frequently filled with the most gross and obvious inconsistencies. shall hereafter point out a few of those to which we allude. We The story begins at the end. Walton, an enthusiastic traveller, bound on a voyage of discovery in the north seas, after having been for some time surrounded with ice, is astonished by the appearance of a human being of apparently savage character who passes the vessel at a distance, in a sledge drawn by dogs. The day after this extraordinary adventure the ice breaks up; but previously to the vessel sailing away from it, they encounter another human being, nearly exhausted with fatigue and privation. This last, who is taken into the vessel, proves to be Frankenstein, the hero of the tale; who at the time In closing this interesting little work, he had been nearly destroyed by the we thank the author for the information breaking up of the ice, was in purhe has given us there certainly exist suit of the being that had passed the more inaccuracies than we were led to vessel on the preceding day. After expect, after being told that the treatise a time Frankenstein contracts a friendhad been the production of "some ship with Walton, the Captain of the years;" but these are minor defects, vessel, and relates to him his supernawhere there is much otherwise to praise.tural story.-In his youth he had been We do not hesitate to say, that this is the best, if not the only book, that can be advantageously consulted by the class of readers to whom it is addressed. led by accident to study chemistry; and becoming deeply interested by the results of his experiments, he at length conceived the idea of its being possible to discover the principle of vital exisFrankenstein; or, the modern Prome-tence. Taking this possibility as the theus. 3 vols. Lackington and Co. 1818. leading point of his studies, he pursues them with such effect as at last actually to gain the power of endowing inanimate matter with life!!! He instantly This novel is a feeble imitation of one that was very popular in its day,-the dred or a thousand human beings, it would no more have been able to walk without having previously acquied the habit of doing so, than it would he to talk, or to reason, or to judge. He does not pretend that he could endow it with it is about a year old we find it reading Werter, and Plutarch and Volney! The whole detail of the developement of the creature's mind and faculties is full of these monstrous inconsistencies. After the creature leaves Frankenstein, on the night of its birth, it wanders for sometime in the woods, and then takes up its residence in a kind of shed adjoining to a cottage, where it remains for many months without the knowledge of the inhabitants; and learns to talk and read thro' a chink in the wall! "Quod mihi ostendit," &c determines to put his newly acquired | creature with the vital principle of a hunpower into practice; and for this purpose collects the materials with which to form a living human being. From the difficulty of arranging some of the parts, arising from their minuteness, he determines to chuse them of more than ordinary size. In short, after in-faculties as well as life: and yet when credible pains and perseverance, he at length succeeded in producing a living human being, eight feet high, and of proportionate powers. From this moment Frankenstein commences a life of unmixed and unceasing misery. The being which he has formed becomes his torment, and that of every one connected with him. He causes one by one the death of all Fraukenstein's dearest connections; his brother, his friend, and lastly his wife-whom he murders on their wedding night. The hend then quits the country where he has committed these horrors; and Frankenstein, in despair, determines to pursue him until he shall either destroy him, or die by his hand. The story ends shortly after what we have related in the beginning. Frankenstein dies on board the vessel of Walton; and the fiend may, for any thing we know to the contrary, be wandering about upon the ice in the neighbourhood of the North Pole to this day; and may, in that case, be among the wonderful discoveries to be made by the expedition which is destined there. We have mentioned that there are gross inconsistencies in the minor details of the story. They are such, for example, as the following: the moment Frankenstein has endowed with life the previously inanimate form of the being which he has made, he is so horrorstruck with the hideousness of the form and features, when they are put in motion, that he remains fixed to the spot, while the gigantic monster runs from the horizontal posture in which he lay, and walks away; and Frankenstein never hears any more of him for nearly two years. The author supposes that his hero has the power of communicating life to dead matter: but what has the vital principle to do with habits, and actions which are dependent on the moral will? If Frankenstein could have endowed his We have heard that this work is written by Mr. Shelley; but should be disposed to attribute it to even a less experienced writer than he is. In fact we have some idea that it is the production of a daughter of a celebrated living novelist. An Authentic Account of the examination of Pupils, instructed in the New System of Musical Education, before certain Members of the Philharmonic Society and others. By J. B. Logier, Inventor of the System, 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hunter; London, 1818. This is an ex parte statement of a dispute between Mr. Logier and the Philharmonic Society; on which, from the evidence before us, it is impossible for us to pronounce a definitive judg ment. But, from the correspondence here printed, we conceive ourselves authorized to say that Mr. L. has had hard measure' dealt out to him. One advantage, however, has resulted from the publication of this pamphlet. It has led us to institute enquiries relative to the degree of estimation in which his system of musical tuition is actually held in Ireland; and we have much pleasure in stating that the results of those inquiries are so highly to the credit of Mr. Logier, (who is a total stranger to us) as O'er all the mournful plain. to convince us that his accounts of its | No reapers there will ever haste superiority are in no respect exagge- To crop the golden grain, rated. Whatever is calculated to faci- Black ruin may be widely traced litate the acquisition of knowledge, in education, has a claim to public patron-Yet age; and we shall be gratified if this brief notice of Mr. L.'s system shall tend to promote its general adoption. Childe Harolde's Pilgrimage to the Dead Sea: Death on the Pale Horse, and other Poems, 8vo. Baldwin and Co. London, 1818. The style and manner of Lord Byron (we apprehend it is scarcely necessary to say that this poem is not the production of his Lordship's Muse,) are imitated with tolerable success in "Childe Harolde's Pilgrimage;" which might be more appropriately termed his 'Soliloquy' at the Red Sea. The "Childe' is introduced uttering his musings on the desolate shores of the Dead Sea, and takes a rapid glance of his peregrinations through Greece, as well as of his domestic troubles. At length, as he is about to precipitate himself into the abyss, he is arrested by the address of an unseen person, with which the poem abruptly concludes. "Death on a Pale Horse," is a vision, which exhibits strong poetical colouring. The ravages of the universal conqueror are strikingly pourtrayed. The two remaining pieces in this volume, are a fragment of the Poem on the Battle of Waterloo, written in the year 1815, and some English Sapphic Verses addressed to the Brave who died on the field of victory. We transcribe the fragment on the field of Waterloo. Now fresh the summer gale is blowing, In bright and silent majesty, To cheer the sons of toil and mirth, But oh there is a sullen scene Where Mowers nor blush, nor corn is green, VOL. VIII. No, 45. Lit. Pan. N, S. June 1 there hath been harvest, and reapers too, For the field of their ravage now lies bare. The lurid light of slaughter is no more, Cold senseless are ye now-all, all things, but forgot. Thou field of silence, and of death, Where warriors with their battle blades Ye spirits of the dead arise, They come they come-my coward heart, And let me view the carnival of blood! The Mosaic History of the Creation of the world, illustrated by discoveries and experiments, derived from the present enlightened state of science. To which is prefixed the cosmogony of the Antients. By Thomas Wood. 8vo. 12s. Butterworth and Son. Lon 'oe. 1818. Many years since, when perusing Mr. Ray's well known treatise on "The Q. nent reference, from the number of curious and important facts which he has here collected. All classes of readers may peruse it both with advantage and with edification; but it is peculiarly adapted to lead the minds of youth to Wisdom of God in the Creation," and | Creation, Mr. Wood's treatise deserves Mr. Derham's celebrated works intitled to be considered as a book of perma"Physico-Theology," and "AstroTheology," in which the wisdom of the Deity are displayed in a very pleasing manner, we were led to wish for a popular work, in which the numerous and progressive important discoveries in science should be brought together Look through nature up to Nature's God. on a similar plan. Such a work, but Nor do we know of any similar work, much more copious, we now have the which can be more appropriately intropleasure to introduce to our readers.duced into schools for this purpose, or The first chapter, which treats on the be more beneficially distributed as a recosmogony of the antients, exhibits very ward-book. considerable research. It details the various and in many instances absurd notions entertained by the Heathens, relative to the origin of the universe; and is well calculated to shew the necessity of divine revelation. The second treats on the Creator: this awful topic is discussed with becoming reverence, and the doctrine of the Trinity is supported by the indisputable testimonies of Scripture. Chapter III. treats on chaos, fire, day and night; Chapter IV. discusses the atmosphere; and in Chapter V. the sea, the earth, and minerals are described; Chapter VI. is appropriated to the sun, moon, seasons, planets, and fixed stars, and to angels; Chapter VII. to the fishes and fowls; Chapter VIII. to quadrupeds and reptiles, and to Man, of whose physical structure, and spiritual or mental powers we have a singularly well drawn account. The last chapter is devoted to the consideration of the Sab bath. The Philosophy of Elocution; elucidated and exemplified by Readings of the Liturgy of the Church, for the Use of young Clergymen and Students who are preparing for Holy Orders. By James Wright, of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and Lecturer on the Science and Practice of Elocution. 8vo. 12s. Law and Whittaker; London, 1818. Mr. Wright is advantageously known School Orator," a valuable compilation to the public as the "Editor of the for exercising youth in elocution. In that work, relative to the reading of the consequence of some hints offered in Liturgy of the Anglican Church, Mr. W. has been requested to undertake a work on the plan of that now under consideration. Our Author is an enthusiast in the science he professes to teach, but his enthusiasm does not betray him into From the preceding brief view of the bigotry towards those, who may entermultifarious contents of this large and tain a different opinion concerning the handsomely printed volume, it will be Liturgy: and he has rendered ample jusseen that it embraces every topic that tice to the labours of Johnson, Sheridan, can interest, or claim the attention of Walker, and others, who have so esthe inquiring mind. Not a single im-sentially contributed to fix the pronunportant discovery has been omitted; so that the work may confidently be re- The work consists of two parts, the sorted to, as a valuable digest of infor- Theory, or Philosophy of Elocution, and mation concerning astronomical and its Practical Application. The former chemical science, as well as natural his- is stated with much precision, though tory. The moral religious improve- the rules do not admit of abridgement; ments are both natural and scriptural, and the mode of pronouncing the vowels and cannot fail to be read without pro- is illustrated by several neatly engraved ducing corresponding sentiments of de- diagrams. To assist students in the vout gratitude blended with admiration. modulation of the voice, and the proIndependently of its value, as an illus-nunciation of syllables in all their vatration of the Mosaic History of the rieties, Mr. Wright has given a series ciation of the English language. usefulness, by associating in the minds of youth, with the names of the places where an Alfred, a Shakspeare, and a Newton were born, or a Washington and a Kosciusko expired, the talents and virtues which have rendered these illus In two of well-selected passages from the moral writings of Addison and Johnson; and after discoursing upon these, he has pointed out the practical rules, which are to be observed in pronouncing each of them. The precepts thus developed and elucidated, are applied to the read-trious men the admiration of their coning of the Liturgy, the most material temporaries and of posterity. One adparts of which are printed, the em- vantage attending the use of the Geographatic words and pauses being duly phical Questions is, that they require no marked, with references to the various expensive books to be consulted. We rules. Beneath the text is placed the recommend them as an agreeable addiParaphrase of Dr. Nicholls, (whose work tion to our present stock of valuable eleon the Common Prayer is now become mentary School Books. scarce) avowedly for the use of such students as may not be able to consult that work. In this portion of his volume, Mr. Wright has minutely pointed out the general faults prevalent in the present day. We have compared this part with the" Strictures on reading the Liturgy," published by Mr. Falconer, in 1789, who selected them from Sheridan's Art of Reading, and which, we believe, have been lately re-printed: and we have no hesitation in giving the preference 10 Mr. Wright's Instructions, both for perspicuity and for effect. Although Mr. W.'s publication is confessedly designed for those who are preparing for the sacred office, it may be advantageously studied by every one who is desirous of acquiring a correct and elegant mode of utterance. Geographical Questions and Exercises, blended with Historical and Biographical information. By Richard Chambers, 18mo. Is. 6d. Sherwood and Co. Lon don, 1818. Mr. Chambers is advantageously known to the public as the author of a Compendious Introduction to Arithmetic, in which he has contrived to introduce a great variety of curious and useful information. Pursuing the same plan with regard to Geography, he has succeeded in imparting, in his unassuming little volume, more information than is usually given in a geographical work, by introducing a considerable number of questions relative to history and biography. This method is admirably calculated not only to render geography more interesting, but at the same to time extend its A Modern French Grammar. When so many elementary treatises |