160 PROCEEDINGS OP SOCIETIES. 



Le Bijou Litteraire ; ou Anecdotes Hisloriques, et Extraits Moraux 

 des meilleurs prosateurs et poetes Francais; par C. Victor Martin; 

 8vo. a Londres, 1837: pp. xvi, 300. 



The author of this elegant little work, M. Martin, is already 

 well known to us by his admirable Treatise on the French verbs, 

 we were therefore predisposed in favour of le Bijou Litteraire, 

 having in the " Treatise" had ample proof of the talent of the 

 author. 



This work of M. Martin, we can most warmly recommend, not 

 only to the student in the French tongue, to whom it will offer a 

 variety of subject and style not to be found in any other elementary 

 work of its kind, but even to the proficient in the French language, 

 le Bijou Litteraire presents much that is interesting and profitable. 

 The subjects, though varied, are remarkable for their elegance, and 

 display an admirable choice in their selection. Some of the latter 

 pieces cannot be excelled, they are full of noble and sublime truths. 



The Poetical Extracts are from the first French writers, both an- 

 cient and modern. We hope that every one will procure the Bijou 

 Litteraire, as nothing tends to humanize the mind and break down 

 national prejudices so much as the study of those enlarged ideas and 

 sentiments of goodness and beauty for which the writings of great 

 men in every nation are celebrated. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



BIRMINGHAM LITERARY AND PLILOSOPHICAL INSTI- 

 TUTION. 



The present session of this Institution, commenced in November 

 last, with a lecture by Mr. Corrie on Knowledge in connection with 

 Civilization, a subject possessing great interest. Some valuable com- 

 munications were made relative to Meteorolites, to the phenomena of 

 the Aurora Borealis ; and to Saurian remains, by Dn O. Ward. Dr. 

 Blakiston delivered a lee cure on the Diffusion of Scientific Knowledge 

 in large towns, which we are happy in being enabled to present to our 

 readers, in the present number. The same gentleman is now engaged 

 in giving a course of ten lectures on Chemistry, an abstract of which 

 will probably appear in our journal. Mr. Ick the able and talented 

 Curator of the Institution, intends resuming his illustrations of Bo- 

 tany in the spring. 



Such Philosophical Institutions as this at Birmingham, merit the 

 greatest encouragement ; for, at the same time that they develope 



