THE SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA OF DOMESTIC LIFE, &c., &c. FOOTE GOWER, Esq. James Ridgway, Piccadilly. By CHARLES This is a very admirable little book whether regarded as a source of recreation or of information. Its author well remarks that "in these days of education and of the march of intellect, we commonly teach our children every art, every science and every accomplishment that the mind of man can suggest; but it is too often that we forget to teach them, that which would turn all these to good effect. We forget to teach them to think, to reason, to observe" For this purpose it is, that the present work has been written; it is to illustrate the great Book of Nature; for in its perusal the child who has been taught to reflect, will be furnished with an inexhaustible fund of amusement and instruction, and what to others is a blank, to such a youth will be replete with food for thought. Explanatory of those phenomena of domestic life as they are presented in the house, or in a walk in the fields, the book before us, comprises six chapters severally entitled; the bed room-the breakfast parlour-the morning walk-the kitchen-the study, and the summer's evening :—a summary of the contents of one of these divisions will satisfy our readers as to the copious diversity of the matters discussed by Mr. Gower. The second chapter, for example, treats of the following subjects: "the boiling kettle; steam: caloric or heat; currents of air; reasons for fires not drawing well; smell of soot in warm weather; land and sea breezes of tropical climates; circulation of air; bright tea-pots better than dull ones; woollen a bad conductor of heat; dissolving sugar in tea, useful hint deduced from it." We must also observe that the various phenomena are explained, and the first principles of science developed and elucidated in concise and intelligible language, that the author's style is attractive, and that altogether, we think the work is worthy to be a permanent and favorite manual for the rising generation. CESARIA. The Island of Jersey, its History, Constitution, &c., &c. Illustrated with Engravings. T. Baker, New North-street. Numberless works have been written on the small, but highly interesting, Island of Jersey, from the tall folio and broad quarto, to the narrow octavo, dwarfish duodecimo, and the petty puerile publication, known only in the island itself, but not one has hitherto appeared adapted to the use of the visitor, and, at the same time, containing so much of its history, antiquities, laws, peculiar privileges, commerce, and other statistics, as would claim a place for it above that of "A Guide." The writer of the present work, however, has aimed at supplying this deficiency, and owing to the extent of his own local knowledge, diligent investigation, and careful research, amongst the manuscript and published writings of others; has, we think, very successfully attained his object. The first section of the volume contains a succinctly written account of the early General, Military, and Ecclesiastical history of the island. We here read that the first mention of Jersey is in the sixth book of Cæsar's Commentaries, where it is stated that "one Ambiorix, having rebelled against the authority of Cæsar in Gaul, was quickly overcome, and his followers put to the sword, the chiet fled to the shore, and passed over to some islands; these islands are supposed to be Jersey and Guernsey, from the de scription that is given of their appearance from the land, which corresponds with their general appearance at the present time." Connected with this portion of the volume, we meet with the following mention of a very singular custom : About A.D. 837, during the reign of Ludovicus Pius, son of Charlemagne, the Normans began to carry on a piratical war, on the Western Coast of France. By degrees, their ravages became frequent and more extensive, and these islands were not exempt from their predatory visits; if they did not suffer in the same degree as their continental neighbours, it was more from the poverty of their inhabitants than from their means of resistance. In one of these descents, the Normans murdered St. Helier, a venerable anchoret, whose cell still remains on a rock near Elizabeth Castle. A Norman gentleman, who was present when the horrid act was committed, after the establishment of the Duchy of Normandy, being converted into Christianity, founded an Abbey in St. Helier, in order to atone for the crime. Their incursions continued nearly eighty years at length Charles the Fourth, surnamed the Simple, concluded a treaty with Rollo, the chieftain of that restless band, A.D. 912. By this agreement he married the king's daughter, and had Normandy, together with these islands, ceded to him, as a fief of the crown of France. The character of Rollo, as handed down by historians, and as seemingly corroborated by circumstances, does not accord with his being the leader of a banditti; he is said to have been remarkable for the strictness and impartiality with which he administered justice. Whether originating in his own appointment, or from a veneration for his name, is uncertain; but a singular custom prevailed, during his lifetime, of appealing to him, however distant he might be, in cases of oppression or encroachment. Ah! or Ha! is supposed to be the exclamation of a person suffering. Ro! is an abbreviation of Rollo; so that, on Ha-Ro being pronounced aloud by the aggrieved party, the oppressor was obliged, at his peril, to forbear in Jersey, the cry is Ha-Ro, à l'aide, mon prince! It is reported that the Clameur de Haro was employed at the funeral of William the Conqueror, at Caen, where he was buried. A Norman, who had not been compensated for a part of the ground on which the monastery stood in which William was to be buried, uttered the word as the royal corpse was brought into it: such was the regard paid to the appeal that the man was compensated ere it was interrod.*-p. 11. Ample and complete details of the general statistics of the island are successively given, together with several chapters referring to its present state and condition, the physical peculiarities of its inhabitants, &c., &c., and containing some useful suggestions for enjoying to the utmost, its beautiful and varied scenery. The subsequent pages of the volume relate to the Druidical and other antiquities of Jersey, and the concluding chapter furnishes copious biographical notices of such of its natives, who have distinguished themselves, whether in literature, or in the service of their country. tures; To all classes of readers this unassumingly and well written work, will, we think, be of infinite service. The merchant or trader will acquire at a glance accurate information respecting its commerce, banking and manufacthe farmer will be enlightened as to its agriculture, soil, fertility, and produce; whilst the general reader or tourist will find an agreeable condensation of every point of interest connected with its geology, mineralogy, peculiar customs, amusements, &c., &c. In a word, it is a very desirable volume, and liberally embellished too, with a map, and some well executed engravings. * This Clameur d'Haro still subsists in practice; but the complainant must make the appeal before two witnesses; and should it be made without a substantial reason, the appellant may be fined by the Court. POEMS. BY FRANCES ANNE BUTLER (late Fanny Kemble). Henry Washbourne, New Bridge-street. We have here a complete and authentic collection of Fanny Kemble's poems; the contents of the present volume having been reprinted from the authorised American edition, supervised and corrected by the authoress herself. On a very multifarious range of subjects, there are in all about one hundred poems and sonnets, many of them displaying much energy of thought and imaginative power, and all, perhaps, somewhat more of force than elegance of language. The writer's versification, although in an instance or so abrupt and rugged-the result, we imagine, of the temporary absence of due self-distrust and care-is, for the most part, musical and expressive. The following short poems we do not remember to have met with in former editions, and shall, therefore, do ourselves the pleasure of extracting them : A WISH. Oh! that I were a fairy sprite, to wander In forest paths, o'erarched with oak and beech; From the pale mountain bells, swayed by the wind. While one by one the evening stars shine forth INDIAN MELODIES. то Oh, turn those eyes away from me! Though sweet, yet fearful are their rays; And though they beam so tenderly I feel, I tremble 'neath their gaze. Oh, turn those eyes away! for though By the warm blood that mantles there. No. 1. Red is the Billow Spray. No. 2. Rose of this Enchanted Vale. No. 4. In the Woody Wilds we dwell. No. 8. In vain thou call'st. No. 9. Night is Falling. HORN; the Poetry by W. READER, Jun., Esq. J. Green, 33, Soho-square. No. 7. The Arab. Arranged by C. E. Without pretending to decide absolutely as to the authenticity of these melodies, we can affirm that-exhibiting as they most certainly do, many of the characteristics usually to be met with in Hindoo music-they possess much pleasing and graceful simplicity, and will infallibly greatly please in private amateur parties. Whilst the poetry, by Mr. Reader, is of high merit; Mr. Horn's accompaniments are appropriate and full of meaning, and, in many instances, have to boast of more than the ordinary share of originality. An extensive popularity may safely be assumed for this series of songs, which, by the way, formed the subject of Mr. Horn's late Lectures at the Polytechnic Institution, as independently of their intrinsic merit, their effective performance is quite within the reach of any tolerably accomplished singer or accompanist. A MAP OF THE NORTH COAST OF AFRICA, including Marocco and Algiers, 2nd Edition. James Wyld, Charing Cross, East. The recent aggressions of the French on the African Coast, having excited much public attention, Mr. Wyld, with his accustomed judgment and promptitude, has published the present map, which has already arrived at a second edition. The map, exhibiting the opposite coasts of France and Spain, with the French Settlements separately coloured, also describes in an abbreviated form the characteristic traits of the Maroccians, the heights of mountains, &c. Well lithographed and coloured; this map is surely an important addition to our store of geographical knowledge. KOHL'S TRAVELS IN SCOTLAND, Part. 1. Bruce and Wyld, Farringdon-street. This is the first part of what appears to us, after some careful examination, will prove a faithful transcript of Mr. Kohl's recent and interesting work on Scotland. It is well observed, that the value of the writings of a foreign traveller in our own country depends, among other things, on his bringing under our notice facts and circumstances which have escaped us by their very proximity. Familiar places and events, even, acquire, from his remarks, a fresh interest; and things which we have been in the habit of heedlessly disregarding, come before us with a startling significancy.-Now, Mr. Kohl's writings, to a very eminent degree, possess this merit-His remarks upon our institutions, our manners, our social condition, and modes of thinking and acting place all these before us in a light we have not been accustomed to regard them in. We behold our social features in another mirror. Defects and blemishes we were not aware of having, become apparent, and merits we have hitherto been unconscious of possessing, are made manifest. We perceive how matters on which we pride ourselves strike a stranger, and how social advantages, of which we may think lightly, call forth his admiration. The translator has, as far as we can judge, accomplished his task with much skill, and his interpretation of the original text is close and at the same time spirited and effective:-this first part too, is nicely and clearly printed, and of marvellous cheapness. -seventy-two octavo pages being supplied to us for sixpence. ! 109 INDIA AND CHINA NEWS. The Overland Mail, owing to an accident, which obliged the Bombay steamer to put back, did not reach London until the 11th September, when advices were brought from, On ar The most important item of intelligence relates to a mutiny of the 64th Bengal Native Infantry. This regiment, it will be recollected, had taken the lead in the late discontent occasioned by the question of batta, but on the disbanding of the 37th, the men expressed their repentance, and volunteered for Scinde. riving at Shikarpore, they were offered their pay, but refused it; drove General Hunter off the Ground; struck one of their officers on the head with a brick-bat, while another was kicked several times. The General immediately ordered the 69th from Sukkur, and drew them up, under arms, within point-blank distance of the mutineers, the artillery having their guns loaded with grape and cannister, and their matches lighted. The men were then harangued by the General, who se verely censured the officers; thirty-nine of the ringleaders were delivered up, but the rest, with the exception of three men (who were promoted on the spot), piled their arms, and demanded to be discharged. The mutineers were ordered to march back to Delhi, where it was expected they would be disbanded, and, in the meantime, the 69th took their place at Shikarpore. The recal of Lord Ellenborough having been the absorbing topic of discussion in India, since the despatch of the previous mail, we have extracted the views of the principal Indian papers. The following, from the Calcutta Christian Advocate, of June 22nd. will indicate the feelings entertained on the subject by the religious community, and especially the protestant Missionaries. It is not often that we turn aside from our course to refer to secular politics, but as those who desire the real welfare of India, we cannot allow the most stirring event which has happened for a long time in the history of British rule in India, the recall of the Governor-General by the Court of Directors, to pass without a word or two. There is a natural tendency in the human breast to feel sorry at least, for fallen greatness. even though in some things it may have erred—a tendency to fix upon the relieving features of character and conduct, and to cover with the mantle of charity those things which are least consonant with our better feelings to dwell upon. Thus it was with Napoleon, one of the greatest scourges ever permitted to afflict the earth; even for him when shorn of authority and deprived of the power to inflict additional wars on Europe, a feeling of pity sprung up in many a mind averse to war. It is a pity for the fallen fortunes and buried ambition of the man, and not approval of his measures. The news of his escape would have afflicted the mind touched with pity for his personal reverses. We have been induced to mention Napoleon, because the noble Lord, late ruler of India, has been charged with imitating, in his celebrated Somnath Gates proclamation and other documents, the style of the great Emperor. We institute no comparison where none can be maintained. we merely allude to the rumours of the day as to appearances; we refer neither to intention nor to imitative success. We feel sorry for Lord Ellenborough as a man, as one who has long been on this stage of public political life, and who has had a good reputation in Europe for possessing an extensive theoretical acquaintance with Indian affairs; we feel sorry for a man ambitious of stamping his rule with a warlike, and political aggrandizing character. For one who has been among the boldest in dethroning princes, absorbing kingdoms with as little ceremony as he would dismiss his servant, or purchase a horse, to be peremptorily dismissed by the employers he had ceased to fear, is humilating, and raises in the mind feelings of pity, if not of regret. Beyond this we cannot sorrow. We refer not to the merely secular politics of Lord Ellenborough, these we leave for those immediately interested to discuss: nor are we disposed to doubt that his Lordship is a man of considerable energy, tact and talent; but as Christians in this heathen land we are gratified that such a ruler |
