LITEHARY NOTICES 109 



even great torrents of rain. He mistakes much if he thinks this proceeds 

 from evaporation ; for the heat of the sun, even in the hottest summer 

 months, could dissipate but little in so short a space of time : it is absorbed 

 by the thirsty nature of the soil ; and he may convince himself of the fact, 

 by remarking how permanently moist this is all the year round a few inches 

 under the surface. Heat and moisture, we all know, vivify and disengage 

 the fomites of disease ; no wonder, then, that these, acting on the debris of 

 animal and vegetable matter in a state of decomposition, buried for ages, and 

 daily gaining fresh accumulations, should generate pestilential effluvia, and 

 by contaminating the atmosphere of Rome during summer, produce fevers of 

 so fatal a type." 



This one extract we think may save us the trouble of further ex- 

 amination, and enable us to form a judgment of our author's preten- 

 sions to philosophy and science. This source of cause of malaria is 

 not a little perplexing, according to our Philosophical Rambler. 

 First it is a calcined mound, which, after having been repeatedly 

 dried by the sun in a knapsack, is more damp than when taken from 

 the hill. Then we have the roads formed of this said " damp 

 mound," so very dry after torrents of rain, that the most heedless ob- 

 server must witness it ; and lastly, as if to prevent all chance of our 

 escaping from the confusion of a rambler's science, we are assured 

 that the heat of the sun in the hottest summer could dissipate but 

 little of this wet, were it not absorbed by the thirsty nature of the 

 soil, the great property of which soil be it remembered is that it is 

 naturally so damp that the sun " cannot dry it even in a knapsack !" 

 After this clear and learned explanation, if the reader does not un- 

 derstand the " source of the malaria at Rome," we are very sorry ; 

 but to borrow a most unphilosophical phrase, there is, we suppose, 

 no help for misfortune. After all there is one hope in which we 

 would fairly indulge our authormay be a philosopher although we 

 have not had the wit to perceive it. For his sake we are anxious 

 that this may be the case. He has printed and published this 

 volume, we are pretty certain, at his own cost, and having thrown 

 away so much money, the least we can do is to invoke the stars that 

 he may have philosophy enough to bear his loss without cursing. 



LITERARY NOTICES. 



Mr. JAMES B. BERNARD, Fellow of King's College, has in state of forward- 

 ness for publication, "Theory of the Constitution, compared with its Prac- 

 tice in Ancient and Modern Times : with an Inquiry how far the late Reform 

 in Parliament is, or is not, consistent with the Principles of the Constitution, 

 either in Theory or Practice." 



Dr. LINDLEY is preparing "A Familiar or Popular Introduction to Botany," 

 on the Model of Rousseau's celebrated Letters ; illustrated by numerous 

 Plates, which he calls " Ladies' Botany." It may be expected early in 

 February. 



Mr. STEWART, Author of the " Epistle from Abelard to Eloise," will, 

 early in 1834, have a Volume, under the Title of " Napoleon's Dying So- 

 liloquy." 



The Military, Statistical, Moral, and Political State of Russia in 1833. 

 By an Officer late in the Russian Army. One Volume 8vo. with Map and 

 Plans, is in the Press. 



