MPNTHLY UEVlliW OF LITERATURE. 691 



that we have, we are ashamed to say, forgotten them, and cannot, therefore, 

 ascertain by comparison the degree of praise to which the " Infant Annual " is 

 entitled. We have, however, handed it over to our youngest child, who 

 has not yet sent in his report. Judging from the intense solemnity of his small 

 visage, we should infer that much interest has been excited in his mind by its 

 perusal. 



~tdj fli I)97ln3 9TS T (9rij jfilfj llllR .'"^fa jj 



THE POETIC NEGLIGEE. BY CALEB. LONDON : 1832. 



ROSE coloured paper elegant print beautiful silk blinding " I'll have it," 

 says the respectable powder-haired father of a family, intending to surprize 

 his daughters by an annual present. Fling it in the fire, my old friend or 

 send it, with an apology for the insult, to the common hangman. 



We like to be plain in these matters ; the fellow who could put together this 

 bundle of filth must be utterly destitute even of the remote remembrance of com- 

 mon decency. 



Whenever we see an anxious exhibition of ultra-amativeness studiously con- 

 veyed in a shape most likely to meet the eyes of women, we divine the cause of 

 such an exposure instantly. The author, without doubt, wishes to obtain credit 

 for that, of which suspicion has already denied him the possession. But his 

 literary endeavours must be rendered impotent and ineffective. 



The Author has neither shame nor honesty. The vilest publications are not 

 palmed off upon us by a trick. 



* Y*^ _-P319VIl9b "^llBVfiU .<"!' ,. A 



EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY. BARON HUMBOLDT'S TRAVELS, &c, 



THE name of Humboldt, so justly celebrated no less in other countries than 

 in his own, is always sure to excite the curiosity and reward the attention of the 

 public. One of the most serious obstacles to a general acquaintance with his 

 works, in point of number aud extent, is here attempted to be removed by the 

 universal rule already indiscriminately applied to all classes and branches of lite- 

 rature. Cheapness aud abridgement, now the reigning order of the day, are 

 made to embrace the details of science as well as the lighter topics of the age ; 

 and once admitted, we do not see how they can be more pleasingly, if not judi- 

 ciously, employed than in desseminating some knowledge of the writings of so 

 enlightened and intreped a traveller as Baron Humboldt. The selector and 

 translator, Mr. Macgillivray, has performed this task in a manner that reflects 

 credit both upon his talent and his judgment ; while giving us a satisfactory 

 sketch of the scientific portion of the Baron's labours, he does not forget the 

 more popular tracts of his original in the easy unaffected style, the amusing inci- 

 dent, interesting observation, and well placed reflections. In little more than 

 the space of 400 pages, Mr. M. comprehends a condensed account of the Baron's 

 travels and researches, following him in his journeys through the equinoctial re- 

 gions of America and in Asiatic Russia, accompanied also with brief analyses of 

 his more important investigation. The chief material have been derived from 

 the various works already given to the world ; and what adds to the value of 

 such an abridgment, we are informed " that when additional particulars were 

 wanted, application was made to M. de Humboldt himself, who kindly pointed 

 out the sources whence the desired information might be obtained. The life of 

 a man of letters, he justly observed, should be sought for in his books ; and for 

 this reason little has been said respecting his occupations during the intervals of 

 repose which have succeeded his perilous journeys." Some idea may be formed 

 of the character of this most adventurous of travellers, when it is mentioned 

 that having crossed the Atlantic, he traversed the ridges and plains of Venezula, 

 ascended the Oronoco to its junction with the Amazon ; sailed down the former 

 river to the capital of Guiana, and, after examining the island of Cuba mounted 

 by the valley of the Magdalena to the elevated platforms of the Andes, explored 

 the majestic solitudes of the great Cordellera's of Quito ; investigated the margin 

 of the Pacific ocean, and wandered over the extensive and interesting provinces 

 of New Spain, whence he made his way back, by the United States to Europe. 



