478 .Monthly Revietv of Literature. ([APRIL, 



your heart pood, and your health good, for that is Bannookburn ! Poets may 

 write nonsense about the inspirations of the muses, and ok' this or that sacred 

 stream, but foul fa' the Scotch heart to which Bannockburn is not a true source 

 of inspiration ! It has been thought illiberal of late years to feel or express exul- 

 tation over the triumphs of our forefathers, and men, thinking themselves very 

 wise, very superior, and very genteel, treat with cold scorn the honest pride we 

 feel about battles arid victories which took place five hundred years ago. But 

 that is the false philosophy and vain deceit, which bewilders men of a certain ca- 

 libre of intellect, who thinking themselves wise, become fools." 



A GEOLOGICAL MANUAL. BY HENRY T. DE LA BECHE, F.R.S., &c. &c. 



THE science of Geology is still in its infancy, though every day affords fresh 

 materials to give greater certainty to its positions. Many have been the theo- 

 ries on this subject ; though, with some splendid exceptions, few but seem to 

 have been guided rather by fancy than reason. It is, therefore, very useful to 

 the student to have some book by which he may commence his studies, without 

 being bewildered by the numerous and strange hypotheses with which this 

 science, perhaps more than any other, is encumbered. For this purpose Mr. 

 Beche's manual will prove extremely useful ; although we think it by no means 

 unworthy the attentive perusal of those advanced in the science. The author 

 says in his preface, that he " has endeavoured to address himself less to the 

 accomplished geologist than to the student, though it is hoped that the former 

 may also find matter interesting to him. He has been particularly anxious to 

 point out his various sources of information, even when he has himself visited 

 the same countries, that, independently of the fundamental principle, suum cuique, 

 the student should be enabled more fully to avail himself of the labours of the 

 various authors cited, by referring to their published works for greater detail 

 than could be admitted into a volume of this description." 



This renders the work very instructive ; and, as Mr. Beche always refers to 

 authors of acknowledged reputation, its excellence in this respect will be easily 

 appreciated. We had intended to give a longer account of the work than we 

 can now find space for ; therefore we will condense our remarks into one pithy 

 observation, that it is decidedly the most useful treatise on the subject with 

 which we have ever met. It is printed in a most beautiful manner, and the 

 woodcuts are very well executed ; in fact, the beauty of its illustrations, the 

 solidity of its hypotheses, and the accuracy manifested throughout its pages, 

 well entitle it to the perusal of every lover of geology. There are some of the 

 author's positions which, as speculators in this mart of science, we might pos- 

 sibly be inclined to doubt ; but since it is much easier to raise objections than 

 to suggest improvements, we shall be performing a more pleasant duty to 

 congratulate the author upon having produced a work which cannot fail of 



being eminently useful. 



A NUMISMATIC MANUAL ; OR, GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF GREEK, ROMAN, 

 AND ENGLISH COINS. BY JOHN Y. AKERMAN. 



MANY persons imagine that the study of coins is dry and uninteresting, and 

 in fact, of very little use. But Mr. Akerman well observes, " To the historian 

 a knowledge of the coins of the ancients must be of infinite value ; they will 

 present the admirer of classical literature with many illustrations, which exist 

 in no other shape ; and the artist will discover in them much to instruct him 

 in his historical compositions." These assertions are perfectly true ; and we may 

 also add, that the study of coins imparts great amusement, besides conveying 

 considerable instruction. The present volume is of a small, unassuming form ; 

 but is likely to be of great utility. It contains an account of the origin and 

 progress of coinage among the Greeks, Romans, and English, together with a 

 list of the coins of those nations, arranged in a clear and compendious manner. 

 To those who are desirous of studying the subject we can cordially recommend 

 this manual, as a work which will give the tyro every requisite information, 

 without wading through those long and elaborate dissertations with which 

 works of this nature are too commonly full, and which serve to perplex, rather 

 than instruct, the student, 



