formation which it has given you, lend it not, to one of those prudent folks who are in the habit of borrowing your new books, and so contrive to become wise at your expense, but do the author the favour to recommend all your friends to purchase it."

one of these will do, I can see better with my naked eye. Well! what an unfortunate creature I am, at my age, not to be able to see to read in spectacles!!'

we

Jesse consoled the good lady as well as he could, by observing, that many at her advanced age could hardly see Now this is only fair: and we are sure that it will at all; and that although she could not see to read-here be complied with, for there is no man who will not she interrupted him with sufficient vehemence, and, to his extreme astonishment, exclaimed, sir, you are strangely "derive amusement and instruction" from the perusal. mistaken, sir! I did not tell you that I could not see to The general remarks upon the choice of spectacles read, sir! I can see to read, sir, as well as ever I could, and reading-glasses, are very important, and will tend only complained that I could not see to read in spectato correct a great many little and dangerous prejudicesquaintance say how charmingly they can see with glasses, cles! I can see to read very well without!!! but my acwhich exist upon the subject. The injury done to the and surely, it is very hard that I cannot enjoy the same sight, by the unnecessary use of reading-glasses by advantage." young persons, is pointed out with great force.Together with many judicious counsels relating to "They suppose that spectacles are such unequivocal evi- the best mode of preserving and aiding the sight, the dence of age and infirmity, that they desire to dispense with Doctor gives us some useful information on the diffeexhibiting them as long as possible, therefore, they purchase rent sorts of lamps and lights which should be used in 'a reading glass,' and habitually put it up to one and the same eye, leaving the other involuntarily to wander;the night. Under the head of "Opera Glasses" after a few years, the sight of the idle eye becomes of a dif- have a very amusing chapter. The Doctor says, "they ferent focus to that which has been employed with the glass have been one of his favourite hobbies for the last -and is often irreparably impaired. When persons who have long patronized one eye, and slighted the other, take thirty years." We hope they may continue so for the to spectacles, they will (generally) require glasses of a dif- next thirty. This chapter is worth the perusal of all ferent focus for each eye. The eye least used, soon be- the young ladies and gentlemen about town, who pacomes weak, and in the course of a little time almost userade these flashy ornaments at the theatre as an ornaless. This fact is so little known, that I have frequently ment; and the sober study of those who resort to them heard persons who up to the age of forty have worked their right eye, and finding it begin to fail, say, they must begin as a useful aid to imperfect sight. One is surprized to to teach their left eye to see, however, as I told them, they meet with so much science and ingenuity on a subject apfound on trial, that the eye which had been idle, was much|parently so unimportant. After some curious statements more impaired than that which had been active. A single respecting the size of our metropolitan theatres as conglass, set in a smart ring, is often used by trinket-fanciers merely for fashion's sake, by folks who have not the least nected with the use of glasses, the volume concludes defect in their sight, and are not aware of the mischievous with an appendix of extracts from different authors consequences of such irritation: this pernicious plaything who have written upon the eye. will most assuredly, in a very few years, bring on an imperfect vision in one or both eyes."

Dr. Kitchiner has a great propensity to be jocose, and that, perhaps, is the reason why he writes so many good books. He deals very liberally in anecdotes, and we will quote two, which illustrate some of his more serious disquisitions.

"That ingenious optician, the late Mr. Jesse Ramsden, informed me, that he had ofttimes more trouble to make obstinate and ignorant persons understand that the art of optics could not be of any service to them, than he had to find glasses for correcting the most eccentric aberrations from good vision, and that he found the only plan of completely convincing such troublesome customers, was, after he thought that they had sufficiently amused themselves with trying a variety of glasses, and had tired him, to give them a pair of spectacles glassed with plain glass, when they would cry out with rapture, Aye, these will do, I can see charmingly in these-why, why didn't you give me these at first?!!!

"Mr. R. told me that he was once strangely puzzled, by a clever old gentlewoman of seventy-nine years of age, for whom he was requested to make a pair of spectacles. She had applied in vain, to several eminent opticians, and no glass could be found that improved her sight.

"With all that ambition to overcome difficulties, which was the ruling passion of Jesse Ramsden, he waited upon the lady, with several pairs of convex, and of concave spec- | tacles, making quite sure, that however others had failed, he should succeed, and enjoy one of those triumphs, which

constituted the zest of his existence, but after patiently

trying every one of them, she said with a sigh! no, not

It is clear, from this treatise, that the author possesses ledge he has conveyed to the world in a popular way; a scientific knowledge of his subject, and that knowthe only way perhaps in which it could be extensively useful. We hail the present publication with great pleasure, as likely to be of great service to all classes of the community.

The Periodical Press of Great Britain and Ireland; or, an Inquiry into the State of the Public Journals: chiefly as regards their moral and political influence. London: Hurst, Robinson, & Co. 1824.

THERE never was a period when this subject possessed a fairer claim to public attention than the present, because there never was a period when the press exercised over the public mind such a vast and abiding influence. Even its abuses-many and great as they are, furnish a rational ground of enquiry. But to be useful, it must be conducted in a different way, and by other and abler hands than those from which the volume before us emanated. It is too sketchy, too essayish and general, too destitute of facts, to be of any considerable service. The general principles about the power, utility, and extensive influence of the press, are all unexceptionable, but we want something more substantial than such "small-beer" dissertations. This

is an age of fact; rhetoric, speculation, and generality

therefore, upon the calculation will be but 20,6497. 16s. 54d. a trifle not worthy of consideration, when compared with the benefits which would arise from an unshackled and unmercenary press.

"Neither would the public revenue suffer from the lowering of the advertisement duty from 3s. 6d. to ls. The Times newspaper, according to the Stamp Office returns, published in 1821 about 86,000 advertisements; for which the proprietors paid for duty 14,5701. 2s. This is the greatest advertising vehicle in Britain. We do not say that a reduction in the duty would send either three or four times as many advertisements to that office; but we have not a doubt that the number of advertisements would increase throughout the kingdom three or fourfold. To effect this it is not necessary that the number of persons advertising, or articles advertised, should augment so many times; for it is plain that, if the price were reduced, the notices would appear more frequently in proportion to the reduction. Various notices, besides, would be sent to the public journals, that in the country are only confined to a printed label, and distributed on the streets and highways; or are made public by the more antiquated mode of proclamation at the church-doors on a Sunday, or exhibited in written characters on some contiguous post or pillar. All these notices would, for the first time, contribute a shilling to the state exchequer.”

have given way to matter of fact, tangible evidences, and minute detail. Cocker has superseded Blair: Mr. Hume is as great a man as Mr. Canning: the Mechanics' Institute will beat lectures on general literature out of the field. We wish the author, who appears to be connected with the daily press of the metropolis, had set himself diligently to work, and accumulated as many facts as possible, instead of filling so many pages with "wise saws ," which have been familiar to us for as many years as our memory serves us. We shall pass over the introductory chapters on the general character of the press. The opinions are liberal, and, except for their diffuseness, well enough expressed. The author devotes some pages to the Constitutional Association, and very properly censures it as a dangerous and useless institution. The chapter on " Government Stamps" is more novel and important. In Britain the stamp duty on each newspaper of one sheet, is threepence half-penny, discount deducted. When a penny-half-penny is added to this for paper, the bare sheet, before it is carried to the printing-office, costs no less a sum than fivepence. This must be printed and published for sixpence-half-penny or seven pence, subject to the commission of the newsagent who forwards it to the reader, and which upon the gross number published in London cannot be less than ten or fifteen per cent. This is a heavy imposition, and one which prevents the mere sale from returning any profit to the proprietors. The emolument derived from advertisements is considerable, but here also government comes in for a large share. On each advertisement there is a tax of three shillings and sixpence. The old established papers alone, are those which command advertisements, and are the only ones which are sufficiently prosperous to be perfectly independent. The author suggests the policy of reducing the stamp duty on advertisements to one shilling each, and on the papers to one penny per sheet. The argument in support of this proposi-state of the market, and the circumstances, so far as public tion is intelligible and satisfactory, and we will quote part of it.

"By the returns of the Stamp Office of the number of stamps issued in Great Britain, in 1821, and the amount of revenue arising therefrom, it appears that the number issued amounted to 24, 779,786, and the revenue to 412.9967. Ss. Sd. sterling. We propose to reduce the rates by which this sum is realized 75 per cent.; the consequence of which would be, that, at the present extent of circulation, the duty would amount to no more than 103,2491. 2s. 2d. sterling. But the calculation is, that the sale of papers would increase at least threefold. The returns would, therefore, stand thus: the number of stamps issued would be 74,339,358; and the gross revenue, at only one penny each sheet, would amount to 309,7477. 68. 6d. sterling; being short of the sum stated in the returns for 1821, only 103,2491. 28. 2d. But upon the principle of this calculation, the deficiency would not be so great. The returns for 1821 are stated inaccurately: they make the duty on each newspaper sheet amount to four-pence, when it is known that the Stamp Offices allow a discount off this of 20 per cent. Take 20 per cent. off 412,9967. 88. 8d., and the net revenue will amount to no more than 330,3971. 2s. 114d. The difference,

The increase of political journals in Great Britain and Ireland, since 1782, is enormnous. At that period they amounted to 79-they are now 284.

66

By this it appears that the total number of political journals in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the British Islands, has augmented three times in the short space of about forty years. The difference is not so great with respect to the English metropolis; for although in 1782 there were only eighteen papers published, nine of these were daily ones, and the remaining nine twice a-week ones, producing in all seventy-two weekly ones; whereas in 1821, the increase in daily newspapers was from nine to sixteen, the decrease in twice a-week from nine to eight, and the increase of weekly, of which none appear to have been published in 1782, was thirty-two: the difference, therefore, in the proportion of weekly newspapers between these periods, being only what seventy-two is to one hundred and forty-four, or exactly one half. This, to be sure, is not a fair criterion of their increase, as the number of copies sold in the last period must have doubled the number sold in the first period. It shews, however, the feeling was involved, under which the proprietors of these journals thought such speculations prudent. There are still thirteen daily papers published in London; seven thrice a-week, nine twice a-week, (six of which, however, can only be said to be second editions of the same papers,) and twenty-three weekly. It appears that these journals circulated in 1821, 16,254,534 copies; for the stamp-duty upon which, there was paid to the Stamp Office the sum of 270,9087. 188. sterling!"

The characters of the different newspapers of the metropolis is very rapidly and carelessly sketched. It is not for a moment to be compared to the able, though highly coloured and partial characters, contained in a late number of the Edinburgh Review.— One part of this volume will be quite new and interesting to the general reader. It is that which relates to the mechanical and intellectual getting-up of a daily newspaper. A few passages are all we can afford to extract.

"The work of reporting is admirable. It is matter of

not permitted; and if you whisper to your companion, except when some unlucky or rather unoratorical speaker is under the usual disgrace of being coughed down, you run a considerable chance of being shewn down stairs.

Some improvements are suggested with respect to the facilities given (or more correctly speaking, not given) to reporters, which we should be very glad to see put into practice, and which the wants and rights of the public require to have put into practice.

regret, that what the laws of this country deny. is connived at by the high court of Legislature, and by almost all the courts of the kingdom; and that what is an offence by statute, and by precedent. is rotoriously winked at and permitted, by virtue of some paltry evasion. The manner "And yet it is in this small, dark, mat-covered, and inof reporting the speeches in Parliament illustrates this convenient corner, called the Gallery of the British House point exactly. The privileges of the House of Commons of Commons, where the caterers of the newspaper Press forbid all liberties with the speeches therein delivered. steal the speeches of our modern Ciceros. The mode in Any attempt to publish them. or rather, the act of publish- which this is accomplished is as follows: The backmost seat ing them, without the consent of the member or members in the gallery is occupied by these persons, about ten or who spoke them, is a trespass punishable by imprisonment. twelve of them in all. The desks they employ are of naand the concomitant expense of an arrest by the Sergeant- tare's workmanship, the palms of their hands, or the suat-Arms. And yet a pitiful subterfuge uniformly sets at perior ligaments of their knee-joints. They more frequently defiance the consequences of a Parliamentry trespass. The use the pencil than pen and ink, although some of them use House recognises no such animal as a reporter. An in- the latter; and the usual mode of writing is more common dividual asking permission to take notes would be turned than stenography. During the debate each reporter eout of the passage as a confirmed simpleton, or an imperti- || nerally sits his hour; when he retires to extend his hasty nent intruder. And yet, for all this, not a word is said that notes for the printer, bis place being instantly filled by his is not reported and published, ere a few hours after it is successor in waiting. By this process, the longest debate uttered. There is not a table, or desk, or board, to write in Parliament is often published before the expiration of upon, in the gallery of the House of Commons. There are four hours from the adjournment of the House. While the seats, to be sure: but, as if too much accommodation for the honourable Members are asleep. dreaming of motions lost public would demonstrate a prodigal expenditure of the and won, the morning politicians of London are reading and public money, our statesmen have taken care that what the discussing their last night's, or perhaps the same mornone House is indulged with, shall serve for the other; anding's, effusions: for the newspapers almost regularly give that if people will sit in the Lower House, the alternative at six o'clock what was delivered, and cheered, and coughed is they must stand in the Upper one. Besides the want of a upon, at four in the morning." desk or board to write upon, or lean upon, in the gallery aforesaid, there is not even so much day or candle-light in it as is in the one-shilling gallery of Drury-lane Theatre. It is so placed that it appears to have been the intention of the architect who contrived it, to prevent strangers not only from seeing what takes place, but actually from hearing the debates. Right before you, when perched in this gallery, is the body of the House; the Speaker's chair in The chapters on the Irish-Scotch-and provincial the centre of the farther end; and in the fore-ground, the mace, and the table. upon which petition upon petition is presses, are all drawn up in a laudable spirit, but they often piled in vain. But though the chair is situated as we are not sufficiently statistic. We repeat it, facts, and have described it, and the Speaker in it, the right honoura- not descriptions, are wanted. The volunie, with all its ble gentleman is rarely seen by the stranger. A brass || deficiencies, is very readable, and though it does not conchandelier, planted with tallows of the largest size, hangstain all the necessary information, yet it may instigate blazing and smoking right in your face. If you are near the centre of the place, that luminary completely deprives the reader to set about procuring it for himself. At any you of any opportunity of seeing MANNERS there. If you rate, the spirit of the book is so moderate and candid, move nearer the bottom, a tremendous clock-case rises be- || that the author deserves the highest praise for having fore you like some giant of the Andes; and then the entire escaped" the besetting sin" of all his brethren of the of your perspective is the white-washed ceiling. If you sit to the right hand, then you only see the Tories, a few perquill. haps asleep on the back seats; the effects probably of some oblivious narcotic, or something that operates on their nerves equally powerful, such as the deep calculations of a philanthropic ale-brewer, or incensed friend of the people. If you budge towards the left, then the most conspicuous person in the group is Mr. Joseph Hume, chin-deep in parchment grievances, looking down upon his fellow-labourers in the van, Sir James Mackintosh and Mr. Henry Brougham. Go where you will, you see but a part, and hear but a part. The neutral or middle seats of the House are, like the place where Moses stood, sacred ground, which OUR notice of this volume, last week, ended with the the stranger never beholds. He may hear occasionally some author's description of the temples at Elora. We have feeble sounds proceed from them, and he may occasionally also hear something about slavery" and "blood-stained now to give some account of his return from that curiAfrica," and "maracles," and the "living slave be- ous and celebrated spot. His first visit was to Auruning chained to his dead brother," and many such ap-gabad, the former residence of the famous Aurungzebe. palling epithets; but the face of Mr. Wilberforce, or It has now fallen into decay.

that of any of his confederates, he is not permitted to

The Wonders of Elora: or the Narrative of a Journey to the Temples and Dwellings excavated out of a Mountain of Granite, and extending upwards of a mile and a quarter, at Elora, in the East Indies, by the route of Poona, &c. with some general Observations on the People and Country. By J. B. SEELY, Capt. &c. London :* G. and W. B. Whittaker, 1824.

girls.

gaze upon. If you stretch your neck in the vain en- Captain Seely was received by a friend with great deavour to catch a glimpse of these honourable Mem-hospitality, and treated with an exhibition of dancing bers, some person behind you, as anxious as yourself, will immediately let you know that you stand in his way. If you pull out a book or paper to refer to something that is going on, or previously reported, one of the guardians of the place will take means to convince you that reading is

"In the instrumental department of these entertainments, there is but little to please and nothing to admire. The vocalists and dancers have the accompaniments of

small noisy harsh drums, beaten with the fingers and a small piece of muslin over the middle; then carefully small hard stick: the drum is suspended from the neck, washed, and dried with a fine cloth, and rubbed with powand rests in the vest of the player. They have a kind of der and sandal-wood, camphor and myrrh, some of which guitar, played either with a bow or the fingers. To pro- had been burning in little brazen vessels at the head and duce soit sounds' in accordance with the step or whirl of feet of the corpse. The two great toes were tied together the dancing girl, the musicians distort their countenances by two narrow slips of muslin, and the body was then by the most bideous grimaces. The whole face and neck || stretched out. This being done, a large fine piece of musappear convulsed, the mouth wide open, and the player || lin, prepared for the occasion, was put into the hand of roaring out with might and main a symphony to his own Shah Safit, who having repeated a few sentences from the music. Their violent motions evince exertion, and the Koran, both in Arabic, Persian, and Hindoostance, gave utmost enthusiasm in gesture, torturing, as it were, some it to an attendant, who made slits in it for the head and dulcet sounds (as they think) from their rude and inharmo-hands of the deceased to be passed through. This being nious instruments. These performers are nervously alive done, the covering fitted close to the neck: the hands were to their calling, and so desirous of improving the dancing brought through the holes and laid out along the side. The and singing, that they get into a profuse sweat, and appear body was now completely covered. At the foot part two as if bewitched with the wish to please and the ravishing holes were made for the toes to be inserted, which kept it effects of their own noise, than which nothing can be more fast. A few sentences and solemn dirges were now chanted; discordant or frightful, equally devoid of sweetness in the when a number of persons, throwing off their shoes, reinstrument, and of taste in the performers. When you can quested they might convey the body to the grave. Their prevail on the girls to sing without the execrable accom- desire being complied with, the procession moved on, acpaniment of tam-tams, the guitar, and symbals, it is a great companied by a vast number of spectators, who all saluted treat. Their voices are often very mellifluous, their per-it with some pious exclamation or other, every one appearsons graceful, their countenances soft and expressive, their ing anxious to bear a part in carrying the body. Near the motions and attitudes classically elegant; but when these burying ground was raised a terrace, having a wall on one obstreperous sons of Orpheus step in, farewell to all har-side facing towards Mecca. At this Yeedgah, or place of mourning, the relatives and friends visit daily, to offer up prayers for the deceased."

mony.

The girls sing strains on the old subject,-love and war; and in relating the delights of the former, do not fail to suit the action to the word:' but they seldom overstep the modesty of nature,' except urged on by imprudent and volatile young men. This is very reprehensible in the young and gay; but is well known we cannot expect old heads on young shoulders.' Spenser sings,

Captain Seely's style is very much in the manner of Dame Quickly's in respect to the want of method. He mixes up all sorts of subjects without the slightest regard to coherence or connection. The description of an Indian dinner, and the character of Bonaparte, are mingled together in strange confusion. The opinions of the author on politics and religion, are extremely liberal and creditable to him. He is by no means a warm believer in the success of the missionaries.

• How great a toil to stem the raging flood, When beauty stirs the mass of youthful blood!' "Round the ankles of the girls are placed rows of very small silver bells; these they move in cadence quickly, or not, according to the step or figure they are engaged in. There are generally three or four performers at a time, who alternately take a part in the dancing or singing, as one or other recedes or gets exhausted. The quick movements of the smallest chance of success with the learned natives of "The generality of missionaries sent to India have not the loins and hips, the whirling motions they take (in which our figure-dancers are mere novices), and both hands play-India. With the Bible in his hand, and abundance of ing castanets, and flourishing them over the head, must be fatiguing. They often sing at the time of dancing, and the exhilarating air Tau-bu-Tazu' generally commences the melody. Buffoons and mimics occasionally lend their drolleries as an interlude. Such dancing and singing girls as Nickee, Begum, Jahn, Hingan, and others at Calcutta, will not go out under two or three hundred rupees each for a night: up the country, at the native court, as high as five hundred rupees, or 6. they will require for a very superior performer. Their fine tresses of hair are perfumed and adorned with fragrant flowers; their dress and ornaments are very showy, and often very expensive; and they wear full-bottomed petticoats, which fly out and expand as they take their whirling evolutions."

zeal, the missionary stalks forth into fields and villages, expecting that bis well-meaning exhortations, and the pious example he sets, is to convert the heathen. Nothing can be more fallacious. The success of the missionary cause I have at heart; and a respect to the clerical character will always induce me to view their endeavours in the best light; but at the same time, if in my power, it becomes me to and it is right to discuss these matters in a mild temper, for point out what I consider as defective in their proceedings; nothing is to be gained by anger or vituperation, which at. all times are only productive of discord and hostility.

"The idea of a missionary haranguing a mob in a village of teaching or converting that possibly could be adopted. or field to make proselytes, is about one of the worst modes The natives will collect and listen: so would they to any The residence of the author in this city enabled him stranger, on any other subject, for they possess great curioto collect a good many interesting observations on Hin-sity and good nature. They will receive tracts or pamphlets with thanks: so they would any other printed paper, doo manners and usages. The account of a burial of a' for they are polite and inquisitive. But is it to be inferred, Hakim is worth quoting. from listening to the one, or receiving the other, that they are an iota nearer to Christianity? They are great idlers, and would. for the sake of gossipping, of which they are immoderately fond, run after, visit, and listen to a missionary; but as to what they have heard, or what they may have received, it has as much effect upon their minds as the passing breeze. They are, as before observed, polite and decorous in their behaviour to strangers; they will make professions, for they are adepts at dissimulation, and perfect at flattery. I have seen a Hindoo most de

"The body was brought out of the apartment on a bier, and placed in front of a mosque. An attendant mourner then placed his own hands in two small bags, and commenced washing the head, bands, and particularly the fingers of the deceased. During this ceremony a party were waying fans over the body, to prevent flies or insects from fixing on it. The custom of washing being over, the nostrils were now cleansed, and a little roll of cotton put in each. The body was now stripped completely naked, excepting a