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ART. XVI. The Stanley Tales, original and select. Vol v. Part 1. 12mo. pp. 180. 2s. 6d. London: Morgan. 1827.

We have watched with some interest the progress of this little publication, which being printed in monthly parts, has now arrived at the commencement of a fifth volume. The object of the work is to present the public with a series of short tales, original and select, which though not of the highest order of fabulous composition, are still calculated to strike the imagination, and to furnish it with amusement. The three first volumes fully answer the intention of the publisher in this respect. The tales of which they are composed betray indeed their German origin for the most part, but they are selected with judgment, written in a simple and picturesque style, and much more frequently captivate than fatigue the

attention.

It is obvious that where such a number of stories is collected, as we have in this work, some inequality in their merit must be expected. Besides some feeble specimens which may be found in the volumes already mentioned: the fourth volume is particularly liable to the change of dulness. It seemed as if the editor had reserved all his worst materials for that unfortunate number. We are glad, however, to observe that the part now before us affords sufficient evidence that his stock of a better kind is not yet exhausted. He must at the same time take care how far he admits stories written in that inflated style which marks 'The Rose of the Valley'. It has been objected to this publication, that the editor often omits to acknowledge the sources whence his materials are derived, and thus seeks to pass off as original, compositions which have even recently appeared in some of the periodical journals of the day. If this charge be well founded, the editor ought to make the amende as soon as possible, and avoid furnishing grounds for such an unworthy accusation in future.

We must not fail to notice the clear and beautiful manner in which these Tales are printed, by Bradbury & Co. The engravings also, of which there is one to each volume, are prettily executed.

ART. XVII. Rural Pictures and Miscellaneous Pieces. By J. M. Slat-
ter. 12 mo. pp. 138. 3s. 6d. London: Holdsworth. 1826.
A CONSIDERABLE degree of poetic sensibility is evinced in the pieces
which fill this little volume. Their principal faults arise from a want of
taste in the diction, and from too strong a propensity in the author to
borrow, not only the ideas, but also occasionally the phraseology, of other
writers. Thus, the Elegy written in Magdalen Water-Walks' is, through-
out, a mere parody of Gray's well known composition. Mr. Slatter, how-
ever, evinces an unfeigned admiration for the charms of nature, one of
the most essential requisites for a poet. His verses are, besides, by no
means destitute of harmony. We select a portion of The Village School-
mistress,' as the best specimen of his powers which the volume contains.

• Oft have I loved from this dear height, unseen,
As slow she glided o'er the village green,
To mark the widow, who, with easy rule,
Discharged the duties of her sabbath school:

Neat was her person, while so sweetly meek
Devotion pictured on her furrow'd cheek,
Through all the day, to hope and virtue given,
Proclaimed the secret of her soul in heaven;
While, hand in hand, a smiling rural throng
Close by her side in order stole along;
With eyes that shone with innocence and truth,
And all the sweet intelligence of youth:
I knew her well, within that straggling lane,
Grazed by a few strayed sheep from yonder plain,
She dwelt, in humble poverty obscure,

Nor ever murmured that her lot was poor;

There, from the world, content, the cottage guest,
Her morning hours and evening slumbers blest;
While unaffected piety inspired

Immortal hopes; and when the day retired,
And at her narrow casement, darkly hung
With foliage thick, the evening redbreast sung,
And the bright sun, from ocean's bosom blue,
On the dim pane his setting radiance threw,
The holy book, her chief support, supplied
Such consolation as the day denied:
Thus passed, almost unconscious of decay,
From earth's dull climate unperceived away,
A life of peace, with virtue's joys imprest,
To the calm haven of eternal rest.
So glides the wizard stream unnamed along,
Waveless and clear, the flowry vales among.
To ocean's shores, in lovelier beauty drest,

With heaven reflected on its placid breast.'-pp. 4—6.

ART. XVIII. A First Book in Arithmetic. By the author of " Lessons for Young Persons in humble life." 12mo. 9d. Longman and Co. 1827. THIS is another of Miss Frank's valuable contributions to the education of youth. Although the arithmetical exercises contained in it are, with some few variations, taken from one of her former works, yet this little book is printed in so convenient a form, and accompanied by an instrument at once so ingenious and simple in its construction for the illustration of the elemental rules of arithmetic, that it is entitled to a separate notice. The instrument, or rather the toy, to which we allude, is a small mahogany frame, enclosing ten bars; on each of which are placed ten moveable balls or beads.

'It is, adds the author, as portable as a small slate or book: indeed, in its dimensions, it does not much exceed this little volume. It may be used by children, at a very early age, before they are sufficiently advanced in reading and writing to employ a slate and pencil to advantage. It will consequently, with the exercises adapted to it, form the first gradation in a course of progressive improvement; and will afford employment for the youngest class of infant learners, at a period when employment, suited to their age and capacity, is most needed. By means of a slight operation,

which, with a little assistance from the teacher, at first, they will soon learn to perform with ease and accuracy, it represents to their eye and mind, the regular succession, and the principal properties, of numbers. The moving and arranging of the balls, and the varying appearance of the toy, are calculated to please the natural vivacity of children, and to engage their attention.'-p. 4.

Thus, the first combinations of arithmetic may be rendered familiar to the pupil in a way calculated not only to amuse him, but to impress indelibly on his memory the earliest lessons which he receives in this most essential branch of education. Miss Frank adds several rules, explaining the manner in which the toy may be used, and which will enable the parent or teacher at once to comprehend its great practical utility. She does not claim any originality for the invention, as similar instruments have been used in several public schools; but those were upon so large a scale that they were confined to the hands of the teacher, whereas the improvement which she has made furnishes each pupil with a toy, that will at the same time occupy his attention, and instruct his mind. The price (3s. 6d.) is rather high. Could not the instrument be constructed upon more economical terms? In large public schools, this is a consideration not to be overlooked.

ART. XIX. Liesli; a Swiss tale: translated from the German of Clauren. By J. D. Haas. 12mo. pp. 144. 6s. London: Whittaker. 1826. MR. CLAUREN is one of the German breed of nobility, and like his fellow labourers, La Fontaine, La Motte Fouquè, Laun, &c., &c., is tolerably prolific. He has however the good sense, or the good inclination (whichever it may be), not often to venture on the regular three volume novel, to which, as far as our slender reading in that way enables us to decide, -(not pretending to vie with a late critic, who professes to have devoured two thousand volumes of that species), we deem no German to be adequate; they resembling, in that particular, a certain popular author of our own country, who will execute a single volume "main well," but who makes sad work of three or two.

Mr. Clauren then generally keeps to tales, which are things a German can do, and of these he has done a goodly number, ex gr., his Scherz und Ernst (Jest and Earnest), a collection in 8 vols. 8vo.; besides several others, among the rest the present one, which, coupled with another Swiss story, was published a few years ago.

The scene is laid amidst the Glaciers, the lakes, and woods of the Alps, and catches the fancy at once by its romantic character. The story is that of a young German gentleman, who is on a tour in Switzerland, and there encounters, in a churchyard (not such as our's though), a beautiful Madonna-like girl, 2. e. Liesli, the heroine. No one knows previously who she is; but there is a gruff old hermit, who is a sort of guardian to her. There is sad crossing of love, as might be expected. The hermit carries off Liesli, Dieu sait ou, the young man is recalled home by his family, who, with the absurd policy of this world, that thinks nothing so good as a good income, make the youth abandon the unsubstantial realms of the Hominum divumque voluptas, to enter on the substantial enjoyments of a

good place. He is sent off on a mission to Russia, and there, when he least looked for it, amid the crowd at a coronation, he meets Liesli. She turns out to be the daughter of a young man of family, a Russian officer, who met and married her mother in Switzerland, at the time Suwarrow was there. He was killed; and his father, after some time, sent to look after his grand-daughter, found her and acknowledged her, and she is now a princess and a great lady; but she does not forget love among the Alps, and they are married, and afterwards happy.

The story is pretty enough, and will probably please readers of a romantic cast; and we are happy to be able to add, that the translation is executed with fidelity, ease, and some elegance.

ART. XX. A View of the World, from the Creation to the present Time: with an Art of Memory, on an entirely new System. 12mo. pp. 310. London: Goodluck. 1826.

NUMEROUS and ingenious as have been the inventions for the purpose of aiding the memory, we fear that still there is great room for the skill of new adventurers in this branch of education. Most of the schemes which have fallen within our notice, appeared to us calculated rather to embarrass than to assist that faculty. They require of the mind to retain the recollection of empty sounds, or of signs with which artificial associations are remotely connected, in order that it may be able to remember the facts or ideas which are the ultimate objects of its exertions. Thus the memory must contain, as it were, two things, the emblem and the idea which it is made to represent; whereas, if the faculty were exercised sufficiently upon the idea alone, it would at least be less burthened, and much more usefully employed. For instance, can any scheme be more absurd than that of Dr. Grey's hexameters, by the aid of which he endeavoured to teach his pupils the history of the world? Hear two of these lines:

Creppaz Delpetsau Demasus Abmezki Apepni,

Expidet Exmelat Tempipze Temmene Cymuntosk.

The first syllable is meant for the epoch, as Cre the creation, Del the deluge, &c.; and the rest gives the date. But if there were even only a dozen of these lines, and if the system of association adopted by the doctor were the most effectual that could be imagined, who is the person of so fortunate a memory as to be able to retain such a barbarous jargon?

The author of the little work before us has fallen upon another plan, not quite so ridiculous as that of Dr. Grey, though perhaps not likely to be much more effectual. Its principal purpose is to fix dates in the mind, and as figures from giving no image are difficult to be remembered, he contrives to represent them by the letters of the alphabet. These letters he then connects in a short sentence, which sentence is itself connected with the epoch, or the event to be remembered. The reader will perhaps more clearly understand the scheme from the author's explanation of it.

To each of the ten figures I have attached two letters, either of which may be employed at pleasure; they are as follows:

'To 1. A and I.

The learner will easily remember that A stands for ONE, as it has the

first place in every alphabet: it is also the first letter in the name of Adam, the first man: and of Apollo, whom the Pythagoreans call unity. I, is a designation of the first person, and in shape exactly resembles the figure 1.

To 2. T and S.

• Moses brought down from the Mount, Two Tables of Stone. Two is also called the number of Thought, and Science, and Society: and there are two Testaments, and two kinds of Spirits.

• To 3. G and J.

• Three is the number of the Graces: Jonas was three days in the body of a fish.

'To 4. E and Q.

There are four Evangelists, four great ancient Empires, four Elements, and four Qualities in the Elements, four Quarters of the Earth.

'To 5. F and H.

'Five Fingers on the Hand,

'To 6. B and L.

The number of the Beast is entirely made up of the figure 6, viz. 666; and on the Sixth day man began to BE, being created on the Sixth day. Six is also the number of Labour, as labour is to be done Six days; Six years the earth is to be sown; Six years the Hebrew servant was to serve his master, according to the law given to Moses.

To 7. D and W.

'There are Seven Days in the Week.

'To 8. C and P.

The Eighth was the day of Circumcision, and, among the primitive Christians, the day of Christening. Eight was the number of our Parents who were Chosen, and Preserved, in the ark. David, the Eighth son of Jesse, was Preferred to be Prince over the Chosen People. Eight is called the number of Conservation,-I suppose on account of these events. 'To 9. N and M.

'Nine is the Number of the Muses.

To 0. R and O.

A Cypher is circular, like a Ring: and the letter O resembles the figure of a cypher as nearly as possible.

"The learner, having carefully studied the preceding table, will know the letters which belong to the ten figures, viz:

'A little practice in turning figures into letters, and letters into figures, will enable the student to call to mind, in a moment, the dates fixed by this Art of Memory.

The plan I have adopted in applying words as the means of fixing