160 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
enumerated. Nor is Mr. Roby silent respecting Zoology and Geology, where 
opportunity serves. We should he glad to see such details more frequent in 
hooks and tours, since it would betoken an increased “ popularity” of Natural 
Science. Still more cheerfully should we welcome the results of those who had 
travelled in foreign parts with the express view of informing themselves and the 
world regarding the animal, vegetable, and mineral productions of distant climes. 
The nature of Mr. Roby’s tour, and of The Naturalist, scarcely sanction an 
extended review, hut a few comments may be admissible. At p. 12 our author 
alludes to “ the dull daily realities of this stupid, monotonous, disgusting world.” 
Now we do not consider this sentiment either very cheering or very poetical; and 
we cannot but suspect that those who use such language are either not in earnest, 
or else that they are little gifted with intellectual power. Those whose minds 
are the most perfectly developed never complain that their Almighty God of 
Love has created a “ dull, stupid, monotonous, disgusting world.” Place an 
illiterate boor in a magnificent library, give him the range of a splendid picture- 
gallery, or introduce him to the sublime harmony of a cathedral or Catholic 
chapel, and the chances are in favour of his exclaiming against the infliction. 
Even so it is in the wide world. Outward Nature is lovely, and each individual 
object, animate or inanimate, is replete with interest, where the mind is capable 
of perceiving “ good in every thing.” 
At Ostend our tourist was kept awake in early morning by the cocks, these 
46 pestilent brutes” (p. 47) having maliciously determined on crowing in a minor 
key. We have frequently heard this minor cadenza in England, but such 
circumstances are scarce worth noticing in our own country. 
The principal streets in Ghent are stated (p. 74) to be paved with blocks of 
Granite, which our author believes to be obtained from Aberdeen ; but probably 
Mr. Roby was too deeply smitten with the dullness, stupidity, monotony, &c. 
&c., of this “ vale of tears” to condescend to favour us with so cold and common¬ 
place an article as a reason for his opinion. 
At p. 79 Mr. Roby proves his ignorance of Phrenology by supposing that the 
association of bales of merchandise with a fine place can “ rouse the bump 
of Ideality into actionand the day has at length dawned when a wilful 
ignorance of the true science of mind will no longer prove a recommendation, or 
be considered a mark of superior discrimination. 
The lofty spire of Antwerp cathedral “ is not like a thing of earth, but a 
creation!—a shape, not of gross and palpable matter, made up of stone piled 
upon stone, by incessant and long-continued labour; but struck forth, called into 
existence, by some superior intelligence, some genii gifted with powers and 
faculties far above what are possessed by these plodding, wriggling atoms that 
from its summit are like the insects that swarm in the sun, or the motes in his 
