set them before our readers. They justify at once the jealousy of the Welsh, in reference to strangers; but not their honest confidence in those who address them in their native language.

Any officer, who wishes to acquire the necessary qualifications for reconnoitring, should exercise himself in writing and speaking the languages of the countries where he may be employed for that purpose, as such knowledge will be particuTarly useful to him with respect to Descriptive Memoirs. If he do not possess it, he will derive great advantages from being sufficiently acquainted with Latin, to converse in this language with the ecclesiastics, monks, and learned men of the country, and, in some states, with the peasants, as they speak it in a manner more or less perfect. Indeed, this means has proved most beneficial to some officers, but he who employs it should accustom himself to imitate the pronunciation of the inhabitants, so as to be understood by them, and himself comprehend such words as a difference in this respect may at first render strange to his ear.

Next to the language of the country, nothing brings an officer so much into favour with the inhabitants as his knowledge of the religion, laws, customs, and manners, there observed, and the respect which he testifies for them: information relative to

The Student's Journal: arranged, printed, and ruled, for receiving, an Account of every day's Employment, for the space of One Year: with an Index and Appendix. Price 7s. Taylor and Hessey, London. 1815.

The English are described by their Continental neighbours as a thinking people; aud it is probable that as considerable a portion of our population does think, as of any nation, whatever. Nevertheless, we have seen more studied Apparatus for apportioning time, and recording in what manner it has been spent, in use among Continental literati, than among ourselves. A greater extent of admission, more attention to minutia, certainly were meditated in those documents; but whether they really led to more solid learning, to more impressive reflection, than a simple register like this before us, is doubtful. The disposition of the mind, the occurrence of fortunate opportunity, the countercurrent of circumstances, the sins of negligence and ignorance, noted down by a student, himself, may make a lasting impression on him, much to his advantage.

We therefore recommend this Journal the government and public administration to Students; cautioning them, at the same of the state, and to the civil and political time, that it is not the number of books situation of it, utterly removes from him the appearance of being a stranger; he is they have devoured, that increases the able to collect, and, therefore, to insert in stores of their minds; but, that of vahis Memoir notes relative to the dispositions luable works on valuable subjects, which of the inhabitants; and to point out, in case they have read and considered. Their of agitation among them, the means which superior information on subjects deservshould be employed in order to pacifying to be recorded, is a greater proof of them, or to keep them down. He has it their progress in real learning, than any particularly in his power to explain the most simple method of using to advantage, supposeable number of Authors, in the with as few alterations as possible, the perusal of whose volumes they have lameasures successfully adopted by the ad- boured. ministration of the country, for the mainBut, to those whose duty calls them to tenance of public tranquillity; as well as inspect that infinite mass of productions those which will cause the contributions which keep alive the British press, we in money or otherwise to be equitably di- doubt whether such a Journal, strictly vided, and for this reason levied with kept, would not, at the years end, give greater facility: finally, he is enabled to occasion to many a sigh, and many a indicate in what manner the product of deep regret, at the recollection of time these contributions, the means of convey and labour, not wasted, yet not imance, and the required workmen for sieges and military works in general, may be proved; necessarily occupied in sepaforwarded to the army without confusion rating the trash from the valuable, for from all parts of the country. the advantage of the Public, but with little advantage to the party himself, "although his pages may shew a numeroas list, and witness his discharge of hia duty with integrity, and candour.

* In almost all countries, the inhabitants do not so much consider as strangers prople who speak the language of the place, and they are more sociable with them..

Observations and Instructions for the
use of Chief Officers of Country Ships,
and others concerned in the preservation
of the health of Lascars. By a Coun-
try Captain, 12mo. pp 50.
London, 1815.

Conder,

An Introduction to the Natural History and Classification of Insects, in a Series of Familiar Letters. By Priscilla Wakefield. 12mo. Price 5s. Darton and Co. London. 1815.

This is a very difficult subject to comprize in Familiar Letters: the multipli city of insects, their foreign parentage, the difficult nomenclature under which

WE sincerely respect the benevolent intentions of the author of this pamphlet, which enters at length into a subject, so interesting to humanity. He describes the persons who usually they are known to us, with the impor compose the crew of a country ship tance of their colours, which are not to the diseases to which they are subject-be shewn in a plain engraving, are so their causes, so far as the ship is con- many impediments to the succinct and cerned their proper diet-clothing-easy treatment of their history. The employments-management, and medical treatment of this heterogeneous assemblage.

The number of ships fitted out by private persons that now trade between England and India, gives an importance to this pamphlet. A great proportion of their crews must be composed of such persons, natives of India, as are usually denominated Lascars; and these, when arrived in a colder climate, are often objects of pity; partly from their own ignorance and mismanagement, partly from a disposition in their employers to rank them too fur below European sailors, This epitome of cautions will contribute to their greater comfort in smaller things, and, we doubt not, the vigilant superintendence of Parliament, as lately stated by us, at length, will effect the same, in articles of superior importance. The state of a man who changes his climate and country so entirely, as an Englishman who makes a voyage to India, or an Indian who makes a voyage to England, demands much precaution, and equal commisseration: that such should be returned, also, to their own country as safely, and as speedily, as possible, is a part of the implied contract. We are sorry to see, by the public prints, that these people when here have little regard to honesty, and that they have lately practised their knaveries to an incalculable amount, with success. This should not abate our benevolence towards them; but it shews the necessity of mingling caution, not to say suspicion, when those of whom we know nothing, are too forward, too pretending, or too clamourous.

mere repetition of their distinctions gives an air of constraint to letters ;— which therefore, do not appear to be written from the heart but from the study. Under these disadvantages which are at present insurmountable, it is no sinall praise to say Mrs. Wakefield has succeeded, in part; and she would have succeeded effectually, had she limited her subjects to the insects of her own country, and digressed, only on extraordinary occasions to foreign species.

The manners of the classes of insects, which are native among us, are in some degree known to young persons from observation; they may be verified at the proper season of the year, without trouble; and the idea of their forms and properties is more fixed and distinct, than that of arbitrary arrangement, and forms unknown to the eye, can be. Popular prejudices run very strong against some insects which are harmless; while cau tion is necessary to guard against others, which though attractive by their beauty, are not without formidable weapons of offence. Simple remedies for injuries received from such, would diversify the subject, and might occasionally prove useful, in after life. The moralist need not fear of finding abundant materials to support her inferences, in concerns never to be overlooked. By this we mean no derogation from this branch of knowledge, which unquestionably affords much pleasure, and is highly entertaining and interesting; nothing can display greater elegance, variety of beauty of patterns, though not of shape, some of which are sufficiently strange to a Eu ropean eye.

Picture of Italy; being a Guide to the vided the Traveller can command his The plan of the route is good, proAntiquities of that classical and interest-time: and the descriptions of the princi

ing Country, &c. by Henry Coxe, Esq. 12mo price 14s. Sherwood and Co. London. 1815.

pal sights, are spirited. What regulations with regard to strangers may be instituted, cannot yet be known. The Italians, by means of their police, to French have put into the hands of the which they were impelled by self-preservation, an inestimable advantage; and vigour. We are not so prejudiced as to we hope that it will be maintained with deny, or to grudge at, works of real util

an enemy; and to shew that we are not, of one of the greatest works of modern we give a place to this writer's account days; we mean the road of the Simplon:-the canal of the Simplon, not noticed by Mr. Coxe, we have had occasion to insert. It was constructed by order of Buonaparte, under the direction tal honour. It occupied the labour of of M. Ceard, on whom it confers immor30,000 men during several years.

This is one of the most complete specimens of the kind of work it professes to be that we have seen. The addition of Madanie de Genlis's "Familiar Phrases," such as may occur, and indeed do occur, in travelling, is valuable; nor can it be too highly estimated by those of our unity or greatness, because performed by thinking countrymen, who trust their comforts if not their constitutions, to the prevalence of their own language abroad; or, perhaps, to a smattering of scarcely intelligible French. Whoever has travelled, knows that the French of Flanders, of Germany, of Italy, is almost another language from that of Paris, by its pronunciation; while the Italian taught in English schools, is at best useless in many parts of Italy. For, it should be recollected, that a traveller's intercourse is not confined to the higher ranks of life, and to persons of education, who will endeavour to understand him; but includes the lower classes also, whose patois must, to a certain degree, be allow-ber work from the rain. As we continue to ed to govern the discourse. We have known some of our countrymen reduced to the necessity of making their wants known by signs to the servants of an inn; and the motions made to ask for a night cap, or other night accoutrements, were beyond endurance laughable, impassionate, and unintelligible: to the immortal honour of John Bull, and his country.

We confide in Mr. Coxe's declaration, that he has availed himself of the latest authorities. French authorities have been preferred by him; and his work bears signs of having been prepared for the press, before the final overthrow of Buonaparte had rendered him no longer the haut ton. Many articles he mentions as being at Paris, are now restored: but many are still wanting; nor will they ever be recovered. After a while, however, their places will be supplied; and a few years will produce a new generation of descriptions, equally "good reading,' in our books of travels, with the former.

Vol. III. LIT. PAN. No. 16. N. S. JAN. 1.

and the first remarkable work is the bridge, We now begin to ascend the Simplon, of a single arch, made of the wood of the larch (pinus larir) which is more durable than fir; it is covered to preserve the tim

ascend, there is a chapel on our left, placed on the side of a mountain, and many little oratories built on the road which leads to it. palaces, theatres, and buildings, and to see We now begin to take leave of the world, its in their place mountains, rocks, and trees in the contemplation of Nature's most grand and awful works, the mind is at were lifted from earth to heaven, or as Petrarch has most beautifully expressed the same ideas :

:

Qui non palazzi non teatro o loggia, Ma'n loro vece un'abete, un faggio, un pino Tra l'erba verde e'l bel monte vicino Levan di terra al ciel nostr' intelletto. road, the constructors of this work were com To preserve the gradual inclination of the pelled to follow all the sinuosities of the mountain, and hence the bridge of Ganter is found at the bottom of a valley. A few paces before we arrive at this bridge, we pass the first gallery; it is one of the least, and is cut in a part of the mountain, where clayey earth, which after inuch rain becomes fragments of rock are held together by a slippery, and large stones fall down, and render the passage dangerous. It seems as if this road were constructed to brave the fury of the tempests, and resist the influenc Y

That part of the road between the gallery of Schalbet and the glacier gallery is exposed to violent gusts of wind; and the galleries are often blocked up with snow: but the passage is seldom entirely closed; and the diligence goes very regularly from Milan to Geneva. Labourers are continually employed to remove every obstacle.

The glacier gallery is situated at a little distance from the most elevated point in this route, where the convent and inn (hospice) is placed; it is three stories high, and is inhabited by fifteen persons. Here, as at St. Bernard, and St. Gothard, all travellers are entertained gratis; but those who can afford it are expected to make some trifling pre

It is in this spot that the old road joins the new one, and five or six miles may be saved by following the latter on inules. This gal lery, 130 feet in length, is cut through the solid ice, and although the most beautiful appearances are represented at every step, the cold is so intense, in the middle of sum

Naples affords instances of the reform-few days of rainy weather, are cold as ation we have alluded to: says our author," the mummery of the Boy-bishop has been entirely discontinued since the French Revolution:"-" the popular prejudice in favour of the miracle of St. Januarius's blood, and of other mira-gular or valuable breed, is a temptation cles, was considerably weakened under the French." But, these particulars we must leave. The work will be found useful by travellers, and not the less for containing a Map of Italy, and another of Rome.