Scientific Reviews. 279 
duced by pieces of poetry, as the meetings of the Parisian Academy 
of Beaux Arts are preceded by the harmonious sounds of music. 
The work is, by these means, equally adapted for the companion- 
ship of a fair florist, or the analytical eye of the more earnest 
student. " 
The Library of Entertaining Knonledge. Vol. IIT. Part I.— 
The Purswt of Knowledge under Difficulties—August 1829. 
Lond. Charles Knight. 
WE speak not now of the general character of this work. The 
important subject of which this Part treats, claims our first atten- 
tion. On the influence which the productions of the Society of 
Useful Knowledge must exercise over this country, we may after- 
wards be inclined to give our opinion. 
Next to stimulating in a people a desire for emancipation from 
the slavery of ignorance, and putting within their reach the means 
by which it may be effected, no object is more calculated to favour 
their progress in improvement than that of supplying them with in- 
stances of perseverance and success. or the mind needs constant 
support under the trials which always attend its direction in a par- 
ticular path, and the spirit of emulation will often lead men to 
overcome diihculties which would have appeared insuperable, but 
for the previous examples of their fellow men. 
The impulse of genius is unfortunately but too vacillating, throb- 
bing with victorious energy during the consciousness of power, but 
sunk to despair in unfavourable circumstances. The contemplation 
of a standard then, though it be of mere plodding talent, where no 
unpropitious fortune could cast down the mind, will often rouse to 
activity the disappointed and weary student. Let the pride of supe- 
riority be excited, and the same organization which can produce 
that sentiment, will also give the qualifications which shall lead 
their possessor to success. Determination is half the deed. 
This little book illustrates, by anecdotes, the strength of that 
passion for knowledge which animated Archimedes, Leibnitz, and 
the persecuted Galileo; the little effect a humble station and ob- 
scure origin had on Epictetus, Hatiy, Winckleman, Duval, or Me- 
tastasio, Linnzus, Ben Jonson, or J. Hunter; the late periods of 
life at which Cromwell, Cato Censor, Alfred, and Moliere began to 
learn ; the early age and short lives of Newton, Gregory, Torri- 
celli, Pascal, Mozart, Raphael, Correggio; and the discovery of 
those immortal truths which have been displayed by a host of self- 
educated men. Of self education the author writes thus practical- 
ly, (pp. 16, 17.) 
* Every thing that is actually known has been found out and learned by some 
person or other, without the aid of an instructor. This is the first consideration 
for all those who aspire, in the present day, to be their own instructors in any 
