26 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



time we arrived at the first posting station. The 

 house was closed ; not a light was to be seen ; 

 the rain was pouring down heavily. Our sturdy 

 coachman bayed at the door, and presently roused 

 the postmaster, who growled and went to the 

 stables. 



After waiting about three-quarters of an hour, 

 we were favored with two inelegant specimens 

 of horseflesh, and a second postboy, and went 

 tumbling and rolling on our weary way once more. 

 Every half-hour we condoled with one another on 

 the prospect of forty-eight hours in this cramped 

 vehicle, on these terrible roads. Whether the 

 country, during the first two stages of our pro- 

 gress, was fine or tame, I cannot say, — a wall of 

 impenetrable darkness was all I saw beyond a 

 yard or two from the carriage windows. We ar- 

 rived at the second station about five in the 

 morning; this was Engelholm, a Swedish seaport, 

 situate in a bay of the Cattegat, chiefly noticeable, 

 I believe, for the obstinate defence it made to the 

 Danes in 1673. I believe also that it was chiefly 

 noticeable on this occasion to us as affording a 

 station, a rude wood-house, where we could unpack 

 ourselves for a short time, and ascertain that we 

 continued to possess legs and arms. Here our 

 coachman intimated that we had better remain 

 till the dawn of day. This proposal did not at all 

 meet our views ; and the Captain, in energetic if 

 not in elegant Swedish, intimated that we were 

 determined to proceed directly the horses had ar- 

 rived. Here I learnt my two first Swedish words — 

 Hastaer Straxl* These syllables have been im- 

 pressed upon my memory by the voice of the 

 Captain, in the depths of dark winter nights ! At 

 every station these words were shouted vehe- 

 mently from our carriage window ; in widely sepa- 

 rate parts of the Scandinavian peninsula, I have 

 awoke to these euphonious syllables on many a 

 night. I have aroused others with them myself. 

 I have a theory' that with these two words any 

 foreigner may, without inconvenience, travel even 

 from Stockholm to Malmo. 



There is a vast amount of useful infor- 

 mation scattered over the work ; and it will 

 hardly fail to become popular. 



Illustrations of Scripture from Botan- 

 ical Science. By David Gorrie. Pp. 

 160. Blackwood and Sons. 



The author of this book has evidently the 

 welfare of society deeply at heart, and he 

 labors kindly to win them to his views by 

 gentle argument. 



His avowed purpose is, to bring together 

 some of those illustrations of Scripture 

 emblems which Botanical Science is fitted to 

 afford, — thus forming, he says, a small contri- 

 bution towards the elucidation of a subject 

 which has already occupied the attention ot 

 many writers and commentators ; but which, 

 being in a manner inexhaustible, still affords 

 room for fresh remark. 



The book is both curious and valuable ; 

 and will be read with much delight by 



* Horses directly ! 



Christians of all denominations — for, on the 

 matters herein discussed, there ought not to 

 be two opinions. The author concludes 

 thus : — 



The study of plants belongs to the most interest- 

 ing department of the Natural Sciences. And 

 the remarks I have offered, brief and imperfect 

 though they be, may yet serve to illustrate and 

 enforce the truth, long neglected and still not 

 rightly prized, that a rich mine of knowledge 

 (and it may be of Christian edification) awaits 

 those who may set themselves to study Scriptural 

 allusions to the vegetable kingdom, in the light 

 derived from experience of the habits of plants 

 and from the researches of botanists. The instruc- 

 tion to be derived from this delightful study can 

 never be despised by any, who seek an increase 

 of knowledge and love at the Fountain from 

 whence both proceed. 



A number of beautiful illustrative engrav- 

 ings of trees, plants, and flowers, adorn the 

 volume ; and its external garb is every way 

 in keeping with its internal excellencies. 



The New Quarterly Review. No. IX. 

 Hookham and Sons. 



This honest servant of the public, despite 

 the hostilities shown towards it by " certain 

 houses," yet flourishes nobly. The number 

 for the New Year is even more vigorous than 

 ever ; and this is saying all we could say in 

 its favor. It is a true record of the doings 

 in the literary world, at home and abroad, 

 during the past quarter ; and will be found 

 a very useful and interesting guide to those 

 whose time is too fully occupied to admit of 

 extensive reading at the Libraries, &c. 



The article on " Authors and Publishers " 

 will be universally read. It throws a very 

 bright light on " a very dark subject." The 

 great " Book Merchants," as they are now 

 called, are said to be " mad." What sane 

 person can doubt it? One of the largest 

 has already stopped payment ; and his " con- 

 fessions " should cause " the hair on every 

 honest man's head to stand on end." 



We are indeed going a-head at a fearful 

 r.ite. And who pays for it at last ? — the 

 Public ! 



Part 



The Museum of Science and Art. 

 I. Walton and Maberly. 



Popular Science is now beginning to get 

 into fashion, and people are becoming 

 ashamed to plead ignorant of what they 

 ought to have known years ago. However, 

 it is never too late to learn ; and we are right 

 glad to see this move in a right direction. 



The Veteran, Dr. Lardner, is the editor 

 of the work ; and he opens with a very 

 popular subject, — viz. "The Planets; Are 

 they habitable worlds?" The inquiry is a 

 most interesting one, and is very skilfully 

 handled. 



