MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



is, that they are not accompanied with any plan for the improvement of the 

 prisoner, who almost invariably comes out of confinement more hardened 

 than when he went into it. To remedy this defect, some excellent regula- 

 tions are proposed by the Committee of the House of Commons, and others 

 equally judicious, by the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, 

 and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders. The object of this excellent 

 association cannot be too liberally promoted; and we lament that they 

 should be even in temporary want of funds to carry into effect their humane 

 and patriotic designs. 



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THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF A RIGHT MORAL TO A RIGHT ECONOMICAL 

 STATE OF THE COMMUNITY. BY THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. GLASGOW, 

 COLLINS; AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, AND WHITTAKER AND Co., 

 LONDON. 



IN this pamphlet, Dr. Chalmers reiterates his argument in his " Political 

 Economy," in consonance with the Malthusian .doctrine ; and he does so 

 with equal temper, candour, and ability. His grand remedy for over-popu- 

 lation is moral improvement and religious education ; which, he says, would 

 produce sufficient discretion in the poorer classes, to prevent early or impro- 

 vident marriages, " Poor-houses," he says, " are not to be regulated ; they 

 must be destroyed ; or, in other words, the cause of poverty, viz. over popu- 

 lation must be prevented, not by any system of political economy, but by a 

 moral resolution in the physical agent, leading to the establishment of self- 

 eontroul." This is nothing more nor less than to affirm, that education will 

 hold the passions in subjection to the reason. We so far coincide with Dr. 

 Chalmers' view of the state of the poorer classes, that, until their physical 

 comforts are secured, no moral reformation can be effected. 

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GOLDEN LEGENDS : CONTAINING THE BRACELET, THE SIGNET RING, AND 

 THE LOCKET. 3 VOLS. SAUNDERS AND OTLEY. LONDON, 1833. 



IN the first of these tales, " the Bracelet," there are some animated 

 scenes. Murder and mystery form prominent features in each : no moral is 

 discoverable at the end of either of the volumes, though each chaper has its 

 quantum of morality and sentiment. " The fact is," seems an uncommonly 

 favourite phrase with our author, who, however mysterious the personages 

 of his novels may be, manifests great anxiety to be clear upon all points 

 himself. What ' the fact is" he certainly has taken great pains to let his 

 reader know. He says, in one of his tales, " We have before described in 

 different places the fine and piercing eyes of Mongatz and the Englishman." 



The tales are not devoid of interest, arid might be read with pleasure but 

 for the length to which they are unnecessarily protracted. 



PETIT TABLEAU LITERAIRE DE LA FRANCE CONTENANT UN ESSAI SUR LA 

 LlTTERATURE FRANCAISE, &C. P. F. MfiRLKT. A' LoNDRES : EFFING- 

 HAM WILSON, AND TAYLOR, GOWER-STREET. 



WE cannot too strongly recommend, both to the learned and the learning, 

 this excellent work. The reader, in a short space of time, may here make 

 himself acquainted with the style, and no inconsiderable portion of the 

 writings, of a great number of celebrated French authors. The Essay pre- 

 fixed we particularly recommend. We were much amused by Nodier's des- 

 cription of a journey from London to Brighton ; he could not have been in 

 greater raptures in describing the vale of Cashmere. He speaks of the road 

 as being adorned with elegant gardens and charming pavillions covered with 

 roses from top to toe, " et preceded de cours ou de terrasses toutes couvertes 



