654 Monthly Review of Literature. 



to say further than to ask how they dare deprecate a study, whose object is 

 to regenerate and restore to society the lost beings whom they will not con- 

 tribute a single sou to save. Active philanthropy, and such was emphati- 

 cally M. Duchatelet's, is to us a far more pleasing sight than false and formal 

 decorum ; and this work by developing the causes and pointing out the mise- 

 ries of that vice which is the curse of every capital in Europe, and seems to 

 be the great evil inherent to the highest state of civilization, has furnished 

 those who in every country apply themselves to the work of improving public 

 morals, with a vast body of information of a very various character, highly 

 serviceable in advancing the labours of benevolence. Every part of the work 

 should be read with attention, not from the mere motive of an idle or licen- 

 tious curiosity, but with the worthy intention of making its study the basis of 

 philanthropic exertions. As a medico-statistical writer, we may certainly 

 give M. Duchatelet rank by the side of Mr. Farr, who is certainly the most 

 talented and erudite that we have ever met with ; and, as respects those' parts 

 of the work which treat of female penitentiaries, we cannot do otherwise than 

 give them our highest meed of praise, and recommend the immediate transla- 

 tion of them into our own language with a view to their distribution among 

 the benevolent supporters of such institutions in this country. The whole 

 work, however, ought to be read by the managers of such establishments, and 

 by all persons connected more or less with the administration of justice and 

 the maintenance of public morals. 



Observations on the Topography, Climate, and Prevalent Diseases of 

 the Island of Jersey. By GEORGE S. HOOPER, M. D. pp. 199. 

 Whittaker. 



THIS is an unambitious but nevertheless a useful and interesting little volume 

 on the several subjects which it professes to illustrate. To carry his object 

 into effect, the author has distributed the materials of his Tract into six chap- 

 ters, of which the following are the several heads. Ch. i. General description 

 of the Island; ii. Climate of Jersey; iii. Description of the town of St. Helier ; 

 iv. Description of the town of St. Aubin ; v. Observations on diseases of the 

 Island ; vi. Remedial properties of its climate. To the above chapters are 

 added, in an appendix, some useful meteorological tables which indicate at 

 one glance the following facts. Table i. Shows the mean temperature of the 

 months, seasons, and whole year averaged on five consecutive years, viz. 1831, 

 32-33-34-35 ; Table ii. the mean ranges of temperature of the months in the 

 different seasons and the whole year, averaged as before ; Table iii. the mean 

 daily range of temperature of the months, seasons, and whole year, averaged as 

 before ; Table iv. the mean variation of temperature from day to day in the 

 different months, seasons, and whole year, averaged as in the preceding tables ; 

 Table v. the mean daily range of temperature of the same five years on the 

 different months, seasons, and whole year ; Table vi. the mean daily varia- 

 tions of temperature of five successive years in the different months, seasons, 

 and whole year ; Table vii. the particulars of five successive years in regard 

 to mean temperature, and Table viii. the degree of prevalence of each wind in 

 days and fractional parts of days for the different months and the whole year, 

 averaged on five successive years. 



In the general description of this most extensive and populous of the chan- 

 nel Islands, the author treats of its magnitude, figure, exposition, and relative 

 boundaries; of its geology, character; and fertility of its soil; of its general aspect 

 and scenery ; of its botany, as illustrative of the genial temperature of its cli- 

 mate ; of its springs and other waters ; of the population of the Island and 

 the national character of its inhabitants, together with their modes and means 

 of living, and other circumstances of considerable practical interest. 



In the second chapter he treats especially of the climate of Jersey. The 



