1823.] 



Lilerari) and Critical Pro'emium. 



63 



delight the leader by the originality of anr.e. It is our duty, however, to add, 

 his sulyects, and liis pleasant manner of that the piofessional information and ad 



treatnig them, whilst, in others, he will 

 absohitely disgust, by their revoltini^ inde- 

 licacy, and sometimes by their lidicnlons 

 pnerihty. 



Some interesting accounts of a tract of 

 coinitry but liitle tiequeutcd or described 

 by English travelh'rs, are given in a series 

 of Letters from niecldciiliiirg and Holstcin, 

 by George Downes, a.b. late of Trinity 

 College, Dublin. _ Tlicy were written in 

 the summer of l!;t'0, during a short resi- 

 dence in the north of Germany, and com- 

 prise an accoiuit of the free cities of Ham- 

 burg and Lubcck. Of the latter town a 

 very striking anil picturesque description 

 is. given by the tourist. Its general ap- 

 pearance is represented as gloomy in the 

 extreme. The doors of its ancient fabrics 

 are curiously sculptured ; and, in the por- 

 tals, carved figures of armed warriors 

 frown from their niches. With these ob- 

 jects around him, the imagination of the 

 stranger is easily transported centuries 

 back ; and, tlie stern and feudal aspect of 

 the city, is described as commanding an in- 

 tense interest. With the Baltic provinces 

 of Germany our acquaintance is so slight, 

 that Mr. Downes's pages aboimd in novel 

 hiforniation. His account of the district 

 of Freetz is highly curious. The inhabi- 

 tants of this province form a distinct tribe, 

 descended, it is supposed, from the Van- 

 dals, and have maintained, in their little 

 territory, an exclusive policy, to be paral- 

 leled perhaps only by that of the Chinese. 

 The slightest intercourse with strangers 

 was prohibited, and the observance of the 

 national usages strictly enforced. Within 

 the last forty years, however, these dis- 

 tinctions have begun to wear away, and 

 are now fast on the decline. Several 

 well- executed plates accompany the text, 

 amongst which we find a representation of 

 the monument and oak of Charles Theo- 

 dore Koerner, celebrated for the enthusi- 

 astic vehemence and the poetical talent 

 with which he assisted the patriotic exer- 

 tions of his countrymen in 1813. Mr. 

 Downes appears to possess an intimate 

 knowledge of the German language, iind is 

 by no means deficient in the qualities ne- 

 cessary to give life and interest to his nar- 

 rative, which he has succeeded in render- 

 ing at once agreeable and instructive. 



The Nursery Guide, containing Informa- 

 tion nicely to he iisiful to those who may 

 shortly take upon themselces the Duties of a 

 Mother; by Henry Thompson, surgeoti. 

 Thiswork is a compound of excellent sense 

 and good advice, with wretched poetry 

 and bad taste iu the compilaiion. The 

 idea of a dedication to the lute Princess 

 Charlotte, unliuishcd on account of her 

 death interrupting tlic writer, is perfectly 

 iiulicrous, and the sell-sly led poitry is of 

 aucii a quality as to set criticism at dcti- 



vice contained in this little book, make it 

 a most desirable requisite to that class of 

 persons for whom it is intended ; and, we 

 regret, that Mr. Thomson has chosen so 

 unfortunate a mode of connnunicating his 

 sentiments on a subject which he seems to 

 understand so well, and on which his pre- 

 cepts, in another sliape, might prove so ex- 

 tensively useful. 



A Treatise on the Sabbath, by the Rev. 

 John Glen, possesses a just claim to our 

 encomiums. The manner in which the 

 sacred subject is treated in this excellent 

 work, gives it the strongest title to our re- 

 commendation. The author begins by 

 considering the original institution of this 

 holy oidinance. He next passes on to its. 

 obligations, to the reason for its change 

 from the last to the first day of the week, 

 to the manner in wliich it should be ob- 

 served j and, lastly, to the advantages 

 which accrue from tlie due observance of 

 it. liven in this age of scepticism, and 

 neglect of Sabbatli duties, we may expect 

 that some attention will be bestowed upon 

 this book, and we may hope much from the 

 result. To this good object we willingly 

 contribute all we can, by fervently recom- 

 mending it to general pernsal, with the 

 conviction, that its value will not be un- 

 duly appreciated by all who seriously give 

 their attention to it. 



The approaching meeting of parliament 

 has been ushered in by a kind of manifesto 

 on the part of ministers, in the shape of a. 

 pamphlet, aflf'ecting, with what truth we 

 are not well assured, a demi-official air, 

 and purporting to give an account of the 

 Administration of the Affairs of Great 

 Britain, Ireland, aiid their Dependencies, at 

 the cnmmencemcjit of the Yeur ISsiS. The 

 palpable object of the work is to efTect a 

 favourable impression 'on the public mind> 

 and particularly on the irritated nerves of 

 the country gentlemen, previous to the 

 meeting of the houses. 'I'he learned gen- 

 tleman, to whom these pages are ascribed, 

 of counsel for his majesty's ministers on 

 this occasion, has laboured to bring forward 

 every fact which can be construed to de- 

 note a prosperous condition of the country, 

 while he has as studiously kept out of sight 

 those grievances and distresses, which, 

 however he may endeavour to divert from 

 them the public attention, will command, 

 in the coming session, a full and serious 

 hearing. Witiiout disputing the facts 

 stated by the author, the learned gentle- 

 man will be prepared, by the experience 

 of his own proftssion, to excuse his readers, 

 if they are cautious in forming their opi- 

 nions from an ex parte statement like this. 

 To any one who has attended to the 

 course of public afi'airs, it will be at once 

 evident, thai the ministers deserve as little 

 credit for the patience, industry, and 

 firniucss, 



