90 REVIEWS. 



The subjects discussed in this volume present great variety. We have 

 an excellent article from Mr. Hughes's pen on physical geography, a sub- 

 ject on which he is so well qualified to write. The form of the globe on 

 which we live, its dimensions, the mode of ascertaining these, the relative 

 amount of land and water, their distribution, &c., all these questions, so 

 capable of being laid before the minds of boys in a simple and entertaining 

 form, are treated in a manner worthy of the author's former reputation. 

 These lessons, with their excellent wood-cut illustrations, and interesting 

 facts, form a most pleasing feature of the book. 



Mr. Edward Purcell his able coadjutor, we understand, in the Lower 

 Naval School has contributed two articles ; one on practical mechanics, 

 of which it is not our intention to speak, the other on mental culture ; on 

 this subject, notwithstanding its rather metaphysical aspect, it does come 

 within the proper province of this review to speak. " How to get Know- 

 ledge," and " How to Observe," two of the questions discussed, are, and 

 must always be, of prime importance to every student of nature. These 

 lessons are written in a pleasing, familiar style ; the suggestions which are 

 intended to guide us in our search after truth are, in the main, judicious, 

 and such as have evidently proceeded from a thoughtful man, himself 

 accustomed to follow the thread in Nature's labyrinth. If we were to 

 venture on criticism, might we not say that matter of this kind is, perhaps, 

 one grade too high for boys ? On this, however, we shall not insist, as 

 in the class-room there are often found, even at an age which we may think 

 unfavourable to reflection, individuals of a thoughtful cast, who may, 

 perhaps, derive nutriment and growth from such mental food. 



The next lesson, or lessons, to which we shall advert are by Mr. J. B. 

 Jukes, on a subject of quite another character geology. Here we have 

 an opportunity of laying facts facts, too, of the most interesting nature 

 before the youthful mind. What boy is there who will not be glad to 

 learn something more about the earth, which, with Mr. Hughes, he has 

 already circumnavigated and measured ? Of what stuff it is made how 

 this stuff comes to be where we find it whether laid down by water or 

 protruded upwards by the agency of unruly subterranean fire. Not only 

 how these layers and mountains of stuff differ in material, but how they 

 may be proved, by the interesting remains of animal and vegetable life, to 

 belong to different ages of the world, suited by atmospheric and other 

 conditions to different stages of organic existence. On casting our eye 

 over Mr. Jukes's production we confess we felt somewhat disappointed ; 

 three out of his four lessons seemed to be taken up with a description of 

 minerals, their composition, form, colour, degrees of hardness, &c. a sub- 



