ner.

He gave to each guest animals of the same species with those he served them up to eat. He insisted upon their carrying away all the vases or cups of gold, silver, and precious stones, out of which they had drank; and it is remarkable, that he supplied each with new ones every time they asked to drink. He placed on the head of each a crown interwoven with foliage of gold, and gave them each a superbly-ornamented and well-yoked car to return home with. He never eat fish but when he was near the sea; and when he was at a distance from it, he had them served up to him in sea water.'-pp. 263–265.

Can our readers explain the bull in the last two lines?

ART. XV.-The Edipus Rex of Sophocles, chiefly according to the Text of Brunck; with Critical, Philological, and Explanatory Notes, &c. By the Rev. John Brasse, D.D., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

DOCTOR Brasse has proceeded on a plan, in his edition of one of the most splendid of the Greek dramas, which deserves attention. In a day when literal and other translations are becoming so much the fashion, it is very right that an effort should be made to discover whether some modification of the old method of teaching the classics might not be far preferable to the more fashionable systems lately introduced. The very useful illustrations which Doctor Brasse has given of all the difficult passages in the Edipus Rex, are well adapted to remove many of the obstacles which usually stand in the way of a young Greek scholar. For the most part, we believe it is not so much the construction, as the sense, of the passage which puzzles the pupil; and that, when the difficulty thus presented by the latter is removed, a young mind, of ordinary strength, may be fairly left to compete with the obscurity of the former. We trust the learned and ingenious editor will be induced, by the success of his present experiment, to carry it on through others of the Greek plays.

ART. XVI.-The Extractor; or, Universal Repertorium of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Vol. I. London: printed for the Proprietor.

1829.

It is impossible to deny that this volume is compiled with proper attention to the value of its several parts; but it is formed on a principle which deserves to be severely reprobated and discouraged. The publishers of periodicals usually pay a considerable sum annually for the matter of which their works are composed; and it is, therefore, a practice which must be considered neither honest nor honourable to make a weekly selection from this purchased property of other persons, and offer it at a less price than that for which it could be otherwise fairly sold. The preface to the volume now on our table intimates, however, that the articles have been extracted with the permission of the publishers of the respective works from which they are selected, which, if correct, entirely removes the objection we have made, and leaves us free to say, that the editor has shown great skill and tact in the execution of his difficult task.

ART. XVII.-Leigh's New Pocket Road-Book of Scotland; being an Account of all the Direct and Cross Roads; together with a Description of every Remarkable Place, &c. &c. London: Leigh. 1829. We have seen many more elaborate works than this convenient publication, possessing a far less quantity of useful information. The traveller new find the present undertaking of Mr. Leigh's well adapted to his purpose, and as useful a guide, upon his journey through Scotland, as he can wish. Every object of interest on the road is pointed out with care, and the particulars respecting it given in a concise and unaffected manner. The summer tourist will also find, at the end of the volume, plans of excursions, which are calculated to save him much time in his search after the picturesque.

ART. XVIII.-The Art of Latin Poetry. Founded on the work of M. G. D. Jani, by a Master of Arts, and Fellow of a College in Cambridge. Cambridge: Grant. London: Simpkin and Marshall. 1828.

THE practice of making Latin verses, considered as a means of insuring a solid improvement in the language, is to be defended on the surest principles of reason and experience. In all the small half-classical seminaries where Latin is taught without attention to this useful exercise, little or no progress is ever made, and the pupils are generally totally unacquainted with the beauties or niceties of the language. The work before us is one of the very best published on the subject, and should be admitted into the library of every teacher of the classics. After giving several useful instructions on the mere mechanical construction of verses, it leads the pupil to the gradual exercise of his inventive powers. The manner in which the latter object is effected, is at once ingenious and practical. Take, for example, the following hints for a subject, which we find under the head of

satire.

There are few subjects fit for boys to deal with that suit Juvenal's style; it requires depth of meaning, cutting remark, bitter irony, and strength of language, to which it is neither to be expected or wished that boys should attain. We will give one specimen: "Blando caudam jactare popello," Borough election. Description of the scene--obsequiousness of the candidates-insolence of the voters-bribery-the hustings. Speech of the first candidate, a thin, yellow, eloquent radical, notá jam callidus arte, who bawls for equal rights, annual parliaments, no taxes, execrates the nobles, talks of Ireland and America and the French war, praises the people and himself. The next, a sleek good-humoured fellow, "Cujus erat mores qualis facundia, mite ingenium, pleased always with the present state of things, and with whoever is in power, always on the side that has something to give, and thinks more of his dinner than his country. He shakes his empty head, praises Sejanus; tells the people they are the most glorious and happy nation in the world; that circumstances are flowing in the most favourable side, and exhorts them to elect himself in order to preserve so blessed a state. Then comes a young patrician, making his first appearance in public; his pride having been

much hurt during the day at being obliged prensare manus multa fuligine. nigras, and at being treated with so little respect by the "vulgus pars ultima nostri:" speaks little and blushes much. The whole concludes with a fight among the parties, distinguished by vitte versi colores. It will be evident from this instance, that severe satire is not the kind of poetry for young people. The playful style may occasionally be allowed, but as it tends to produce a laxity in the construction of the hexameter verse, the practice of it should not be encouraged.'

LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Transactions of Literary and Scientific Societies.

Royal Society, April 2.-A Paper was read, on the Physiology of the Human System. Dr. John Fabes was admitted, and took his seat as a Fellow. W. Cavendish, Esq. was proposed. April 9.-Dr. Philips' Paper was concluded; Lord de Dunstanville was proposed, and immediately elected a Fellow; W. Pole, Esq. and D. Pollock, Esq. were also elected.

Royal Society of Literature, April 8.-At a meeting of the Council, his Majesty's two Gold Medals were adjudged to Baron Silvestre de Sacy, and to Mr. Roscoe, both deservedly celebrated for their genius and attainments.

Linnean Society.-At a late meeting, the Rev. Dr. Lardner and six other gentlemen were elected Fellows. A Paper was read, entitled, "An Account of the different Species of the Genus Ficus, or Fig-tree, found wild in Jamaica:" by James Macfadyen, Esq. Colonial Botanist. There was also read, the continuation of an interesting Paper, by the Secretary, entitled, “Remarks on the Flora of Great Britain, in connection with Geography and Geology." The head and horns of a remarkable species of the buffalo (Bos Arni) from India, and also a variety of the fallow-deer (Cervus dama), were presented to the Society's Museum. The meeting then adjourned for a month.

Society of Antiquaries.-On Thursday, St. George's Day, the annual election of Officers, &c. of this Society took place, and the following was the result of the ballot: George, Earl of Aberdeen, President; Thomas Amyot, Esq., Treasurer; John Gage, Esq., Director, in the room of Mr. Markland (resigned); Nicholas Carlisle, Esq., and Henry Ellis, Esq., B. C. L., Secretaries. On the Council remained-Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Amyot, Mr. Nicholas Carlisle, Mr. Dance, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Gage, Mr. Hudson Gurney, Mr. Hallam, Mr. W. Rich Hamilton, Mr. Markland, and Mr. C. W. William's Wynn; and Mr. Bland, Mr. Britton, Mr. Dibdin, Mr. Ellis, Lord Farnborough, the Bishop of Llandaff, Mr. Lodge, Sir G. Ouseley, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Utterson, were elected in the room of Mr. Caley, the Bishop of Carlisle, Mr. Davies Gilbert, Mr. E. Hawkins, Mr. G. Hibbert, Dr. Meyrick, Mr. Palgrave, Mr. Petrie, Captain Sabine, and Earl Spencer, who went out by rotation.

Society of Arts.-The Annual General election took place on the 15th. The following changes were made in the list of officers:-Lord Stanhope, Honorary Vice President, in the room of the late Lord Liverpool. Acting Vice Presidents, R. Wilson, and W. R. Douglas, Esqrs. in the place of

J. Hume and W. Tooke, Esqrs. In the Committees, the Chairmen elected were-Correspondence, G. Moore, Esq. for Dr. Bostock; Chemistry, Dr. Bostock, for W. Farraday, Esq.; Manufactures, H. Wilkinson, Esq. for T. Winkworth, Esq.; Mechanics, B. Donkin, Esq. for J. Bramah, Esq.; Colonies and Trade, R. Twining, Esq. for J. Twining, Esq. The other Officers are the same as last year.

Miscellaneous.

The Anniversary of the Literary Fund Society, which will take place on the thirteenth of the present month, is expected to bring together a very numerous assemblage of the most distinguished men in the kingdom. Busy preparations have been commenced, in order to insure the proper celebration of the birth-day of this excellent institution, and, from the appearance of the list of Vice-Presidents and Stewards, little doubt can be felt respecting the results of their attention.

A Juvenile publication is, we understand, about to appear this month, under the title of The Juvenile Literary Journal, and from the names which have been mentioned to us, there is every reason to expect it will surpass any thing of the kind which has yet appeared. The instruction and entertainment which such a work may provide for the youth of this country, renders the design deserving of the attention of all cerned in education, or in catering for the amusement of the young.

persons con

Electricity.-A very curious paper was lately read to the French Academy by M. Becquerel, being the result of experiments continued for two years on the electrical effect resulting from the action of acids, or other liquids or metals, with a view to account for the variety in the formation and quality of minerals.

Lithotrity. A second letter on lithotrity has been published at Paris, by Dr. Civiale, who is at least allowed to be one of its most skilful practitioners, if he be not entitled to the praise of being its inventor. In this letter he describes forty-five cases in which he had applied his instruments for the purpose of breaking the stone in the bladder. Of those cases very

few indeed were not successful.

Dr. Gall.-A subscription is on foot for a monument to the memory of the late Dr. Gall, in the burial-ground of Père la Chaise; the statuary to be executed by M. Foyatier, and the architecture by M. Visconti.

Stepney Papers.-The papers of Mr. Stepney, who was British Minister in Germany in the time of Queen Anne, have been deposited in the British Museum. There are a number of letters of Addison among them, and many other interesting documents.

Works preparing for Publication.

A Catalogue of privately printed Books by Mr. John Martin :-Tales of Field and Flood, with Sketches of Life at Home, by John Malcolm.— Biographical Sketches, and authentic Anecdotes of Dogs, by Captain T. Brown. An Epitome of the Game of Whist, by E. M. Arnaud.—A Course of Lectures on Hieroglyphics, delivered at the Royal Institution, and in Cambridge, by the Marquess Spineto.-The Family Chaplain, or an Analysis of St. Mark's Gospel, by the Rev. S. Hinds, M.A.-Tales of a Chelsea Pensioner, by the Subaltern.-The History and Antiquities of Beverley, by Mr. Oliver.-The Life of Archbishop Cranmer, by the Rev. Mr. Todd. Another Memoir of the Prelate, by Mrs. Sargant.

MONTHLY LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.