MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 107 



title being more modest, more correctly indicated the nature and 

 quality of its contents. The conchologist will hardly identify him- 

 self with the publication, for it neither gives a history of the science, 

 nor a digest of its elements and laws; he cannot refer to it himself 

 for knowledge, or quote from it as an authority ; but he may, not- 

 withstanding, recommend it to those, who though ignorant of the 

 subject, yet desire to learn something more of a shell than meets the 

 eye, and would discover whether an object so beautiful in appearance 

 may not have other and even more striking properties to interest, 

 and also to instruct the mind. From this it appears that the book is 

 not a Companion for Conchologists, but for those who may wish to 

 become acquainted with Conchology. The author has written a 

 series of letters on different species of shells, and given a general 

 account of various specimens, not a classified description of all. The 

 information thus communicated, is taken from standard works ; it is 

 not ill- written, and no reader can refuse the author great praise for 

 the laudable anxiety she evinces almost at every page, to impress 

 upon the mind, those great and touching feelings of piety which the 

 evidences of nature will always excite in a well-disposed bosom. 

 Several wood-cuts of shells illustrate the volume they are fairly 

 executed ; but should all have been coloured. 



THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN'S BOOK. 12mo. BALDWIN AND CRADOCK, 



1833. 



A SEASONABLE volume this, the contents of which fully realize 

 the promise of the title-page. A variety of information, which as 

 the pet phrase now goes, is both useful and entertaining, is arranged 

 under distinct heads, and forms a thick well ordered volume of the 

 essence of many authors, in arts, science, literature, &c. At a period 

 of the year when gifts, whether as the proof of affection or the 

 reward of study, are so common, we know of few presents which 

 could be better chosen for the object indicated, than the " YOU.NG 

 GENTLEMAN'S BOOK." 



THE PHILOSOPHICAL RAMBLER, 8vo. SIMKIN AND MARSHALL. 



THE author of this volume does not seem to be aware, that all 

 labours of supererogation to be felicitous require great tact and judg- 

 ment. When a man, as he has done, chooses to advertize himself in 

 particular terms, it behoves him to name himself most accurately. 

 True it is that no one would sell for small beer, if he were to be 

 bought at his own price : we all know this and settle our accounts 

 with humanity accordingly ; but when in addition to the common 

 stock of self-sufficiency, natural to all men and so far excusable in 

 each, we find an individual vainly clothing himself with new and 

 extraordinary pretensions, we arraign him straight at the bar of severe 

 criticism, and if guilty, award the peine forte et dure. Thus tried, 

 the author before us we verily believe must be pronounced guilty 

 without a recommendation to mercy. He dubs himself philosophi- 

 cal ; but wherein lies his philosophy ? his book shows not rather the 

 reverse. Does he fancy he is a philosopher, because after having 



