Domestic and Foreion. 



1826.] 



hull is plunged docpcr into the resisting fluid. 

 Some of llic naval instructions on this 

 point arc disgiaceful to science and com- 

 mon sense. We must now close our 

 remarks on this important and interesting 

 vohnne, witli a hojjc that cvci-y naval man, 

 and every merchant master mariner will 

 study it and the sequent numhers, if they 

 •evince equal ahility and ciindour. 



The Misses M'ilmshurst's Tabular System 

 of Instruction in the grammatical jmrts of 

 iliF, English, lialiun, and French Tongues. — 

 Children, for centuries, have suffered such 

 wrongs in the mode of instructing them, 

 that we look with pleasure on every attempt 

 to facilitiite their attaining initiatory know- 

 ledge. Those complex curses, the Eton, 

 Westminster, and Winchester grammars, 

 arc still obstinately and unrelentingly re- 

 tained in use, as if they were means of 

 giving power to the preceptor to Hagellate 

 the unhappy victims destined to go through 

 the purgatorial course. Of this we arc 

 certain, that more men have been disgusted 

 by the ruggedncss of the paths by which 

 they have been led to the fields of learning, 

 than have endeavoured to reap a harvest 

 after the toilsome and cruel culture so 

 barbarously forced on them. 



The mode of instruction proposed by 

 these ladies must be well understood by the 

 teaclicrs, then no doubt can be entertained 

 of its facilitating the progress of the learner. 

 The rules for ascertaining the genders of 

 French substantives are clearly and briefly 

 drawn up, and constitute the best portion 

 of their system. We trust that they will 

 in their future labours, study to avoid 

 complexity and numerous references to 

 other works. The grammar, exercises, &c. 

 of Duvergcr may be consulted by them 

 with advantage. We trust that success 

 will attend their meritorious endeavours to 

 save the young from much toil, unjust 

 punishment, and misery. 



November Niyltls. — This is e\idently the 

 production of a young aspirant in the re- 

 public of belles-lettres. Any old forlorn 

 bachelor who feels himself lonely during 

 these long winter evenings, and longs for a 

 blooming lovely young bride to cheer him 

 and to keep him warm during the night, 

 has only to read the tale on that subject in 

 this volume, and thank his stars that he 

 is not sueh a Benedict. Tiiis young author, 

 liaving ability, must study more, polish liis 

 compositions more carefully, and aim at 

 higher game, and then, we think, that he 

 will produce a work which will gain him 

 more permanent credit than this not un- 

 successful attempt. 



My Tliought Booh. J. P. Thomas. — 

 This is, without doubt, the work of a 

 man whose mind is vigorous and capa- 

 cious, and who has improved his na- 

 .tural faculties by study and reflection. 

 The leading characteristics of the book 

 are clearness of conception, a terse and 



187 



well-formed style, ncitlier loaded with or- 

 nament nor inelegantly bold, an unflinching 

 expression of opinions, which a less pow- 

 erful understanding would have concealed, 

 and an evident determination to put the 

 stamp of liberality on all his sentiments. 



We do not think that all of them bear 

 that mark, particularly those on the diffu- 

 sion of information among the lower orders. 

 The paracniph is too long for quotiition, 

 but the amount of it is the maxim of the 

 French philosopher, " travailler sans rai- 

 soinier." In reply to this, we will sunply 

 ask, " who can prove vicious conduct to 

 be a consequence of knowledge?" 



If scientific knowledge and general infor- 

 mation !\re duly accompanied with religious 

 instruction, who will dare to prognosticate 

 an age of discontent, insubordination, and 

 the levelling of distinctions ? Knowledge 

 is a tremendous weapon, and may be 

 abused; then let our spiritual guides be 

 more active, and teach those committed to 

 their charge to use not abuse the great— the 

 powerful gift of knowledge. If evil ensues 

 from what is now so rai)idly advancing, re- 

 tribution would be justly dealt out to their. 



On the subject of tythes our author is 

 not so philosophical and moderate as be- 

 comes a reasoner. What right has he to call 

 that institution commandeil by God to his 

 servant Moses, the " offspring of Anti- 

 christ" ? There are many excellent obser- 

 vations mingled with his opinions, and 

 some which, though not new, deserve 

 consideration, particularly the plan of 

 making tythes redeemable. If he had con- 

 sidered that originally the proprietor of an 

 estate left the ])ropcrty to another, who 

 perhaps had no claim to it, with the pro- 

 viso that one-tenth should be paid to any 

 set of men, no matter who, he mui?t have 

 said — the receiver of this estate 'has no 

 right to grumble because he has not the 

 whole. The tenants who ci.ltivate the soil 

 pay a less rent if the land is subject to this 

 tax, and so they have no right to be dis- 

 contented. The purchaser jiays a ]>ropor- 

 tionally less price for the estate subject to 

 tj-thes, and so he has no right to complain. 

 The fact is this, the faAners are, seven out 

 of ten, fond of money, and without consi- 

 dering what is just, grumble at paying to a 

 man who has no ob\nous right to what he 

 has virtually contracted to pay, and for 

 which he is indemnified by a lower rental. 

 Since the feeling is general and the evil 

 great, the system should be altered ; but 

 it is a momentous question, and must not 

 be handled by the hotheaded or the igno- 

 rant. To render them redeemable by an 

 exchange of land, made under sworn sur- 

 veyors and men with regular salaries, might 

 in time effect this desirable end. 



We must indulge oiu-selves in a few 

 quotations. 



" It was the opinion of Spinoza, that thexmiverse 

 is God. How can tlie object of a will be the will of 

 itself? How can an accomplishment be the power 



2 B 2 



