som of every reader the important duty it discusses; and next, because it describes, and sets before the public the existence of a charitable institution, to which every christian should contribute, to whom the political burdens of the times allow the necessary means. Foreigners of all kinds, of whatever Country or religion, are the acknowledged objects of this benevolent establishment when in distress, provided they are neither licentious in their lives, nor impostors in their pretensions. Germans, Dutch, Swedes, French, Swiss, Italians, Norwegians, Danes, Russians, Spaniards, and Poles, not only are equally objects of the institution, but have actually been relieved by it in the course of the year before us. Here indeed we trace one of the noblest features of "one catholic apostolic church;" and we ardently wish it the success to which it is so amply entitled. "Les Martyts; ou le Triomphe de la Religion Chrétienne." "The Martyrs: or the Triumph of the Christian Religion: by F. A. de Chateaubriand," &c. 3 vols. 8vo. This is a very extraordinary production, and has acquired in France a popularity which has been almost fatal to the celebrated writer of it. There are certain spirited passages, which, whether so intended or not, have been construed by the French government to be so many sarcastic reflections on Bonaparté: in consequence of which the author has been banished, and is at this moment on the point of seeking an asylum in our own country; while a nephew of M. Chateaubriand's, who delayed to accompany his uncle, has sustained the whole weight of Bonaparte's vengeance, and . has been shot upon some frivolous pretence. As to the work itself, however, we can by no means approve of it. We have some acquaintance with M. Chateaubriand as the author of "Le Genie du Christianisme," of "Atala," and of "Panorama;" and we have occasionally had to admire the force of his imagination, the delicacy of his taste, and the accuracy and amenity of his descriptions; yet there is but little upon which we can find it possible to compliment him in the compo sition before us. It is a kind of religious rhapsody, or poem in prose, intended to depict and compare the two characters of paganism and christianity, and to give the palm to the latter. For this purpose, the epoch selected is the reign of Dioclesian, before Christianity had yet become the religion of the state, when its altars were first erected near the altars of the pagan idols, and the professors of christianity had their faith severely put to the test by a variety of persecutions, with the tenth of which, or that which took place A. D. 303, the work commences, the infernal spirits being feigned to have obtained permission to excite it. The work has many excellencies, but it is borne down by its defects: nor is the least of these that which is perpetually putting into a contrast, and equally embodying the fabulous divinities of Greece and Rome, with the "glorious hierarchy of heaven" of the christian religion. Something of this kind will be perceived even in the invocation, in which, desirous of securing the favour of two rival patronesses, the author thus supplicates with a double address, the Muse of Truth with the Muse of Falsehood: "Celestial Muse! thou who didst inspire the poet of Sorrentun, and the blind man of Britain: thou who didst place thy solitary throne on Tabor; thou who who delightest in solemn thoughts, in grave and sublime meditations thy assistance I now implore! On the harp of David teach me the songs I am about to recite; give, especially, to my eyes, some of those tears shed by Jeremiah over the misfortunes of Sion. I am about to rehearse the sufferings of the persecuted church :-and thou, virgin of Pindus, sprightly daughter of Greece! descend also, in thy turn, from the brow of Helicon. Oh! animated Goddess of Fable! thou whom misfortunes and even death itself cannot sadden, I will not disdain the flowery garlands with which thou overspreadest the tombs! Come! Muse of Falsehoods! Come, struggle with the Muse of Truth. Formerly she suffered cruelty under thy name; now, by thy defeat, grace her triumph, and confess her superior pretensions to reign over the lyre!" "Irenèe Bonfils, sur la Religion, de ses Peres et de nos Peres." 8vo. Ireneus Bonfils, on the Religion of his Fathers and our Fathers." Nothing can be worse than the tendency of this book, which is written for the express purpose of equalizing all religions, and is grounded upon a text of scripture forcibly perverted in its application, for the express purpose of adapting it to the present occasion, in which we are commanded to "follow the religion of our fathers." "Sur la Poesie Sacrée," &c. "On Sacred Poetry by M. Parseval." In this treatise the writer appears to have a proper sense of the boldness and beauties of the poetry of the Old Testament, and has selected a variety of the most sublime and striking passages, with a view of putting them into French verse. For the most part, however, we prefer his taste to his poetry, and easily perceive that M. Parseval, like many writers whom we could mention of our country, has elegance enough to admire what he has not genius enough to imitate. He clearly evinces, moreover, that he only knows the scriptures from the cominon versions; and hence, when these versions have erred, he has not attempted to amend them. We now particularly allude to his translation of the sublime address of the Deity to the patriarch Job. The American press is certainly rising into, reputation: we have seen many works well printed, and of some literary estimation. But on the subject of theology the Americans seem rather disposed to reprint the long established labours of the more eminent divines and theologians of the parent state, than to indulge in novelties of their own and it is one of the best marks of a sound and sober judgment. In reality, there is but little that we have met with from America of original attempt in the course of the period to which we are now limited, that is in any degree worthy of notice. From this general charge, however, we must except a posthumous volume of "Sermons on important Subjects: by the late Rev. David Tappan, D. D. Hollis-Professor of Divinity in the University at Cambridge (New England). To which are prefixed a Biographical Sketch of the Author, and a Sermon preached at his Funeral by Dr. Holmes, Boston." D. T. was inaugurated to the professorship of divinity in Harvard University, December 26, 1792: he died Aug. 27, 1803, aged 51. His discourses combine a fluent style, a train of clear and natural argument, and various interspersions terspersions of warm and glowing eloquence. The following passage, extracted from Dr. Holmes's Biographical Sketch, displays not only the deep loss his countrymen have sustained by his decease, but the general bent of those who boast of having freed themselves from the shackles of fanaticism. "When he was first introduced into the professor's chair, the religious state of the university was very alarming. For some time the students had received no regular instruction in divinity. Books containing the poison of deism were eagerly read, and the minds of many were corrupted. Immorality and disorder, in various shapes, had become prevalent, and mocked the power of persuasion, AND THE ARM OF AUTHORITY. The great object of his public and private lectures was to defend the principles of natural and revealed religion, and to lead the students to a knowledge of their maker and redeemer. A more hideous state of anarchy it is impossible to conceive; and we may in vain ransack the history of pagan nations for a parallel. A divinity chair without divinity lectures: divinity students without regular instruction; disorderly, immoral, deistical; equally mocking the precepts of a teacher who was at length appointed to instruct them, and the arm of the law: a professor of divinity in a university calling itself christian, instead of confirming the students in the common belief of the country, compelled to defend that belief against their infidel objections, and to lead them to the first principles of a knowledge of their maker, as well as of their redeemer. Of late years we have heard much of the violent and vindictive spirit of the inhabitants of the United States; of their political and moral irregula rities. Is it possible that it can be otherwise, when we behold their very schools of public instruction thus tainted with moral pestilence and destruction? We read with pleasure, however, that the labours of Dr. Tappan were followed with a beneficial effect. CHAP. 2 CHAPTER II. PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL. Comprising a Sketch of the chief Productions of Germany, Sweden, France, ANDBUCH der Pathologischen Anatomie, von Dr. F. G. Voigtel, mit zusätzen, von P. F. Mechel." 3 Bander, 8vo. "Manual of Anatomical Pathology, by Dr. F. G. Voigtel, with Additions, by P. F. Mechel, 3 vols. 8vo. Halle." This work is singularly comprehensive in its plan, and bears marks of great pains having been bestowed on its execution. Dr. Voigtel's arrangement is that of hard and soft parts, solids, and fluids, in the usual order described in systematic treatises on anatomy. He begins with an account of all the morbid affections to which the integuments and bones are liable; and in notes added to every chapter, he gives a list of authorities for every fact, and for every circumstance mentioned in the text. Some histories of cases are related, and many important facts are stated on the authority of morbid preparations, still preserved in the museums of Mechel and Loder at Halle. It becomes us to state, however, that the authority quoted is not always of the purest and most select character; and, that the author is often tediously minute and prolix. Nevertheless, though in perspicuity and scrupulous caution, inferior to the Morbid Anatomy of Dr. Bailey; and in elegance and chastity of style, to the Anatomie Medicale of Portal, this work has considerable merit, and has no oc casion to blush at being placed on the same shelf. 66 Fragmenta de viribus Medicamentorum, &c." "Fragments on the positive Effects of Medicines, or those observed in the Human System: by Samuel Hahnemen, M. D." 2 vols. 8vo, Leipsic. The articles here treated of are aconitum napellus, acris tinctura, (a tincture of caustic potash saturated with a tincture of vinegar,) arnica montana, atropa belladonna laurus camphora, lytta vesicatoria, capsicum, annuum, matricaria chamomilla, cinchona officinalis, menispermum coculus, copaifera balsamum, cuprum vitriolatum, digitalis purpurea, drosera rotundifolia, hyosciamus niger, ignatia amara, ipecacuanha, ledum palustre, helliboras niger, daphne mezereon, strychnos nux vomica, opium, anemone pratensis, rheum, statura stramonia, valeriana officinalis, and veratrum album. This work enjoys a high reputation in its native country, and undoubtedly discovers much assiduity on the part of the writer: but it is greatly deficient in judgment, and in the most extraordinary manner jumbles together things of no consequence with points of high importance. "Charakterische zuge zur Geschichte der Verirrungen des Menschlicher Geistes. Leipsic, 1809." "Characteristic Outlines for a History of the Derangement of the Mind." This collection contains and Norway: by Hugo H. Bücher, some of the most extraordinary occurrences of hallucination and mental deception that we have ever met with. Among others we may particularly allude to that of a cobbler at Venice of a temperament highly fanatic; who, after having, like Origen, castrated himself, out of love for chastity, conceived shortly afterwards that the next most acceptable service he could render to his maker, would be that of crucifying himself precisely after the manner of our Saviour. With this view he was long engaged in selecting what he thought would be the most appropriate wood for the cross having determined upon this, he made the cross with his own hands; fixed it against the front of his house; manufactured a crown of thorns which he thrust so forcibly on his head as to make the blood pour down over his face then thrust four long nails through his legs and arms; next forced a spear very deeply into his side; and lastly, by means of ropes and a pulley with which he had provided himself, drew himself out of the window of his citamber and elevated himself upon the cross. The astonished populace, immediately on seeing him, interposed, and in spite of his resistance, took him down to the Santo Servolo, a lunatic hospital at Venice, where, notwithstanding the wounds he bad inflicted on himself, he survived for ten months. This man's name was Matthew Lovati: the fact occurred as late as 1805, and the case has been duly certified by Doctor Cesar Ruggieri, professor of surgery at Venice, who attended him. "Account of the Pseudo Syphilitic cutaneous Disease, Radesyge, prevalent in some Part of Sweden M. D. Upsal." This disease, called also in some parts of Sweden Saltflus, was till of late supposed to be a degenerated form of the true syphilis, originating from the morbid action of a scrophulous habit: it is now pretty well ascertained, however, to be a distinct disease, equally different from each: the characteristic marks of which are ill-conditioned sores, with excavated uneven bottoms and hard edges, arising either from reddish spots, or from copper-coloured humours on various parts of the skin, without any previous venereal infection ar primary symptom; accompanied, during the progress, by swelling of the bones, sometimes by caries; and, unless checked by proper remedies, ending with destruction of various parts, and total loss of health and life. Mercury, with or without an admixture of hemlock, is the only medicine which can certainly be depended upon. "Tableau Methodique d'un Cours d'Histoire Naturelle Medicale, &c." "Synopsis of a Course of Medical Natural History, in which are united and classified the chief Mineral Waters of the Repub lic, the Places pointed out where they spring, their Temperature, the Substances they contain, their Virtues, Uses, Degrees of Value, of Celebrity, &c. by Bernard Peyrilhe, Professor of Medical Natural History at the Parisian school of Medicine." 8vo. The title is sufficient to explain the nature of the work: it is, in reality, nothing more or les than a free translation of Linnéus's Materia Medica, with such additions and improvements as M. Peyrilhe has thought necessary to accommodate it as a text-book for his lectures. These are pointed out in a preface possessed of more modsty |