466 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 



have borne in mind that useful knowledge intended for diffusion need not 

 necessarily be diffused over a quarto volume. To speak plainly, we 

 scarcely remember at any time to have seen a process of compression so 

 satisfactorily and successfully achieved as in " The History of British Cos- 

 tume." In ordinary hands, a volume of this size would have merely com- 

 prised a dry and tedious reference to authorities ; whereas, Mr. Planche has 

 made them subservient to his purpose; and has given the public a book, 

 which it will be delighted to read. It is valuable, as a popular history for 

 general perusal, and invaluable to the artist, the poet, and the novelist, as a 

 book at once of authority and of reference. 



Not very deep in these matters ourselves, we must confess that we were 

 rather surprised at the omission, amongst the list of the authorities quoted 

 by Mr. Planche, of Pepys's name that quaint old secretary to the admi- 

 ralty in the reign of Charles II. A remarkable feature in the diary of that 

 pleasant worthy is, (and Pepys was the son of a tailor,) that he is perpetu- 

 ally informing us of the dress in which he went forth ; and every variation 

 in the fashion at court is noted down by him with the most praiseworthy 

 scrupulosity. 



Can we, for a moment, suppose that Mr. Planche overlooked this great 

 authority ; as, sometimes, when a man is counting on his fingers the list of 

 his acquaintance, he omits the name of his intimate friend. 



THE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSIOLOGY APPLIED TO THE PRESERVATION 

 OF HEALTH. BY ANDREW COMBE, M. D. 8vo. EDINBURGH, 

 1834. 



We should have been contented to have left the merits of this volume to 

 the decision of journals, whose more immediate province it is to discuss 

 such matters ; but, upon looking over the book, we have found so much to 

 interest us, and so much that it is of importance to 'our readers to know, 

 that we feel we should have neglected a duty, had we omitted strongly to 

 recommend it to the public. 



The object of Dr. Combe has been to lay before the public a plain and 

 intelligible description of the structure and uses of some of the more im- 

 portant organs of the human body; and to show how information of this 

 kind may be needfully applied both to the preservation of health, and to the 

 improvement of physical and mental education. " In selecting the functions 

 to be treated of," says our author, " I have preferred to examine those 

 which are at once most influential in their operation on the general system, 

 and at the same time least generally known." 



In a word, Dr. Combe has successfully attempted to convince his readers 

 that their general health is very much in their own keeping; and that, by 

 following the excellent rules he has laid down, they may avert a vast cata- 

 logue of disease, and very much alleviate such maladies as are hereditary 

 or constitutional. There is too much reason to fear that, in all the affairs 

 of life, what is sometimes considered unavoidable, might have been easily 

 avoided ; and if there be any blessing in this world worth perserving, and 

 worth taking pains to preserve, surely health is the most invaluable. 



THE DEITY. A POEM ; IN TWELVE BOOKS. BY THOMAS RAGG. 

 LONDON, 1834. 



We took occasion about a year ago, when we noticed the tenth book of 

 this poem, which was published separately nnder the title of " The Incar- 

 nation," to tender some friendly advice to the author. 



Mr. Ragg is a working mechanic; and, although we are aware of no 

 reason why a working mechanic, supposing him to have attained a sufficient 



