388 Miscellanies. ‘ 
hand, the faithful messengers of the mind—and to enrich the memory 
with the best combination of lines and contour. Then it may be said 
that we are best prepared to apply our graphic knowledge to many 
of the pursuits and occupations of life. The contrary effects would 
be produced by the selection of irregular forms. Such as in fore- 
ound, and distances in landscape, where thousands of forms being 
invisible to the eye, we can only attempt to sketch a few; as, for 
instance, the ever moving clouds, cracks and appearances in large 
masses of rocks, the variety of plants and foliage, the forms and 
number of trees, &c. This characteristic looseness of style in draw- 
ing forever prevents the eye and hand from being correct. Conse- 
quently the best schools of Europe have selected the Awman figure as 
the best model to perfect our graphic faculties, our taste and coup d’ceil. 
Michael Angelo in speaking of this last property, has said that “a 
good drafts-man always carries a pair of dividers in his eyes.” Fi- 
nally, in this country, having no large armies to support, all its citi- 
zens could be prepared, in time of peace, in the ‘ science of war.” 
~The character of modern warfare depends no longer for its success, 
as in former ages, on strength of body and personal courage; it is 
united with many scientific principles and applications ; as in the con- 
struction of arms, of redoubts and of fortreses, combined with sys 
tematical means of attack and defence. By the aid of a good drafts- 
‘man furnishing an exact configuration of the grounds on which forces 
are to act, a small army may be able sometimes to resist a‘power ul 
one. 
_ By cultivating, therefore, science and the arts, and maintaining the 
majesty of the laws, we shall, in this favored land, lay the surest foun- 
dation of national honor and glory. 
LITERARY NOTICES. 
1, American Translation of Cuvier’s Régne Animal. G.®& C.& 
H. Carvill: New York.—Dr. MeMurtrie is entitled to the thanks of 
the cultivators of Natural History, for his very faithful and able trans- 
lation of this most perfect system of zoology; in which the entire cir 
tion and 
- essential resemblances. The publication of the present work, we are 
confident, will form an era in this country, as respects the popularity 
of this départment of knowledge. ‘The American edition is hand- 
somely printed, in four large 8vo. volumes, of about five hundred pa 
