74 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



On the Mental Illumination and Moral Improvement of Mankind, &c. 

 By Thomas Dick, LL.D., Author of the " Christian Philosopher." 

 Glasgow : William Collins. 1835. 



This is another aud a still more valuable work of the learned and devoutly-minded 

 autiior. In this age of menial (and we religiously hope moral) improvement, we 

 do not know of any work more seasonably calculated to inform, improve, and 

 enlighten the human understanding. The very title will convey to the reader llie 

 character of the admirable matter which this utilitarian work contains: and we 

 take leave to direct the early attention of our readers to the " paper" entitled the 

 History of Education, and others of permanent interest. 



Lardner's Cyclopedia, Vol. 73. — History of Rome. Longman and Co. 



This highly talented work becomes more and more entertaining, both to the scholar 

 as well as the general reader. The present volume commences the History of 

 Rome ; and we do think it in the very best style of modern writing. 



The Poetical Works of Samuel Rogers, Illustrated hy 128 Vignettes, 

 by Stothard and Turner. Part 10. 



This, we apprehend, is the concluding number of a very cliarming and elegant 

 work. Praise is out of tune. As a whole, it is above praise. Mr. Roijers's fame 

 "is irrevocable. 



The Angler's Souvenir. 1836. Charles Tilt, Fleet Street. Splendidly 

 appointed, in every respect. 



We never regretted the absence of a knowledge, such as good fishermen possess ; 

 and such as poor, dear old Izaac justly boasted, during the noiseless tenor of our 

 single blessedness. It is not unwoitUy of remark, that, notwithstanding the mani- 

 fest advance of art and science of every kind, during the last tiiirty years, llie art 

 of angling seems almost if not altogether neglected ; or, if not neglected, suffered 

 to remain in the precise same state as it was when our venerable father, Mister 

 Izaac Walton, gent., &c. &c. left this fly-fishing world, for another and a less pre- 

 carious one. Men, generally, — those, we mean, who have no tasle for " fly-fishing, i 

 — are wont to ridicule those who are wedded to the flinging of the " fly" upon 

 the smooth surface of the gliding streamlet in solitary silence, and so on ; for our 

 part, we, in turn, could ftmg back their gratuitous ridicule, and, in the true sjjirit 

 of a Fisherman, say " taste and try." There is a charm — a pleasure — to be 

 derived from angling that anglers (fishermen) only know, — and those wlio do 

 not, cannot appreciate. Away, then, widi "ridicule:" and learn, sir, to venerate 

 not only the memory, but the profession of King Fislierman Walton. 



Mr. Fisher (what a name for the author of the Angler's Animal !) has made the 

 very best use of his time and talents in applying them to the production of this 

 remarkable work, which, notwithstanding what has been said respecting the annuals, 

 generally, we declare to be unusually interesting. The subject of " Ant;liug," in 

 all its branches, is treated of in a way we lilile expected ; in short, inttlkctually ! 

 so much so, indeed, that the " mind" of the author should seem to have been 

 designed for the express purpose of demonstrating that books are to be found in 

 the purling streams and murmuring brooks of musical solitude, where the aiiL;Ier, 

 as he skilfully throws the lly that lures the trout, can, at the same time, enjoy (lie 

 delights of sober-minded contemplation : can look from nature up to Nature's 

 God. 



