things are to be had there, as a table, spread with a clean damask cloth, and silver spoons,' with a dish of smoking trout, opposed to a venison pie, of Catalina's manufacture, and flanked by amber and purple flasks of a generous vintage, we fancy that it will afford a faint idea of Elysium. The story of Rivers, too, the man of imagination,' adds to the sweet associations of the scene. It is told in a gay, eloquent, abrupt, masterly style-it is the sketch of a Corregio.

But we dare say, the gentle reader is now very much inclined to ask what has become of the Lady Constance all this time? Dead? or married? or in love? or out of love? in her house in town? or at the castle? Poor Constance! After reigning a season in London, as the very gem of fashion, the Cynosure of all eyes; after being teazed by Cleveland, and worried by her father to listen to his suit, she retires to the country disgusted with all mankind, save that father, and-De Vere. Lord Mowbray dies, and she succeeds to all his estates. An incident somewhat melo-dramatic, places Cleveland in possession of a document, which enables him to dispute her possession of some ten thousand a-year of her property; and in vain he attempts to use it as an argument in favour of his proposals. The matter is put into Chancery; and after going through a course, somewhat more expeditious than probability can reconcile with the late constitution' of that tribunal, it appears, that the disputed estates really belong to De Vere. This occurrence, which, one would naturally think, consummated the hopes of that 'independent' gentleman at once, particularly when he has good reason to know, that Constance is true to her first impressions in his favour, goes nearly to blow up the whole train prematurely, and to set all the parties by the ears. De Vere recoils from

the possession of the property; and, good man! looks upon himself as the robber of the lady! Her good sense, and her contempt for the whole subject, recover matters; and all obstacles being removed, after a great deal of stupid and unnecessary endeavours on the part of the hero to exhibit a superhuman purity of 'independence,' the pair are made happy.

ART. X. 1. Constable's Miscellany. Vols. 2, 3, 4, and 5. 12mo. 3s. 6s. each. Edinburgh: Constable & Co. 1827.

2. The Library of Useful Knowledge, published under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Three Parts. 8vo. Stitched. 6d. each. London: Baldwin, Cradock, & Joy. 1827.

3. The Library of the People. Four Parts. 8vo. 6d. each. London: Knight & Lacey. 1827.

IN a former number* we noticed in a detailed manner, the first volume of Constable's Miscellany, when we took occasion to com

* See M. R., vol. i., p. 126.

mend the liberal and useful motives which dictated the design of that publication, and bestowed our praises on the manner in which its plan, so far as it was developed, had been carried into execution. This very excellent undertaking received a temporary check from the effects of the late commercial failures, to which the affairs of Messrs. Constable, in common with those of many other very deserving persons, were exposed, and which it is lamentable to think, fell upon them with a severity proportioned to their liberal and enterprising projects. We are glad, however, to see the Miscellany resumed, and to hear that it is eminently successful.

Since our first notice, four additional volumes have issued from the press. In volumes 2 and 3, Captain Hall's interesting voyages are continued. The 4th volume is occupied with narratives of various Adventures in the Southern Ocean by British Seamen, the attraction of which cannot be overrated. The Memoirs of the Marchioness De la Roche-Jaqueline form the 5th volume. With respect to this last publication, we own we were not prepared for its early, and as we think, referring to the list of the General Miscellany, premature appearance. However, the story, independently of its inherent beauty and interest, comes before us with the strong recommendation of a preface, from the graceful and spirited pen of Sir Walter Scott. All the various productions, which we have just indicated, are so universally and justly popular, that we are exempted from any other duty than that of simply recording their titles.

Whilst such very laudable and successful efforts are in progress, to open a source of literary entertainment for those who are obliged to the use of economy, in the attainment of even the most solid recreation, a very powerful means of dispersing useful instruction amongst the same class has been put in motion. A society has just been instituted for the "Diffusion of Useful Knowledge." The object of this body is very accurately stated in its name. The practical means which it has prescribed to itself for carrying that object into effect, appear to us to be admirably suited to their end. The society proposes to issue periodical treatises on the various branches of human knowledge not connected with Controversial Divinity-it will model its instruction in such a manner, as that it shall be accessible, not merely to the pockets, but to the comprehension of almost all persons. The indispensable necessity of perspicuity in those treatises cannot be too much insisted on. It is of little avail, that the production is placed within reasonable reach of the mechanic, if he is afterwards unable to understand its contents. One wonders at the systematic neglect with which this great accessary to the diffusion of knowledge is treated, not merely in our places of education, but in those voluntary efforts of the press, which profess to be correctives of the defects of teachers. Let it be a rule, never absent from the minds of the literary officers in the employment of this Society, to take it for granted, that their

readers know nothing whatever of the subject on which they are writing. In an opposite description of practice will be found at once a key to explain, why it is that in this country so small a quantum of the education of its inhabitants can be obtained from the unassisted perusal of books.

Of the practical operations of the Society we are enabled to form the happiest anticipations. We see amongst its subscribers, and its executive committee, men, whose names are scarcely ever brought before the public view, except it is to presage some work of great and general utility to their species. We have also in our possession, three specimens of their productions, which they intend shall form part of the Library of Useful Knowledge. The first is a preliminary tract, on the Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science-the second on Hydrostatics, and the last on Hydraulics. Fame ascribes at least the first of these performances to the pen of Mr. Brougham. The strongest circumstantial evidence is in favour of the report. No man, almost, but the learned gentleman himself, was master of such a various collection of intellectual treasure as this treatise exhibits; and there was no second man in the kingdom who could have, with such admirable art, analysed as it were his wealth, and sent it forth in a form at once the simplest, the most convenient, the most ready of access, that it was possible to contrive for the use of the uninformed. The mysterious beauties of the exact sciences are unfolded-the attractive curiosities of natural philosophy are there laid open to view, and the application of that science to the animal and vegetable kingdoms, is enforced in a manner calculated to impose upon the most careless mind, the necessity of engaging itself farther in the pursuit of knowledge. Mr. Brougham feels it no longer necessary to argue, in general, in favour of the advantages of education; his own labours in the House of Commons, and his published writings, have rendered what was once a keenly disputed proposition, a selfevident maxim, that is no longer opposed except by a feeble and disconcerted band of adversaries. But in dwelling, as he does, on the advantages and pleasures of science, it is impossible not to be struck with the overwhelming reasons which he furnishes for the adoption of a general and concurrent exertion of the more wealthy portion of society, for the purpose of imparting knowledge to those, whose less fortunate situation disables them from procuring it for themselves. The first use of learning science, he shews, is to make men more skilful, more expert and useful in the particular kinds of work by which they are to earn their bread, and by which they are to make it go far and taste well, when earned.

But another use of such knowledge to handicraftsmen and common labourers is equally obvious: it gives every man a chance, according to his natural talents, of becoming an improver of the art he works at, and even a discoverer in the sciences connected with it. He is daily handling the tools and materials with which new experiments are to be made; and

This

daily witnessing the operations of nature, whether in the motions and pressures of bodies, or in their chemical actions on each other. All opportunities of making experiments must be unimproved, all appearances must pass unobserved, if he has no knowledge of the principles; but with this knowledge he is more likely than another person to strike out something new which may be useful in art, or curious or interesting in science. Very few great discoveries have been made by chance, and by ignorant persons-much fewer than is generally supposed. It is commonly told of the steam-engine, that an idle boy being employed to stop and open a valve, saw that he could save himself the trouble of attending and watching it, by fixing a plug upon a part of the machine which came to the place at the proper times, in consequence of the general movement. is possible, no doubt; though nothing very certain is known respecting the origin of the story; but improvements of any value are very seldom indeed so easily found out, and hardly another instance can be named of important discoveries so purely accidental. They are generally made by persons of competent knowledge, and who are in search of them. The improvements of the steam-engine by Watt resulted from the most learned investigation of mathematical, mechanical, and chemical truths. Arkwright devoted many years, five at the least, to his invention of spinning jennies, and he was a man perfectly conversant in every thing that relates to the construction of machinery: he had minutely examined it, and knew the effects of each part, though he had not received any thing like a scientific education. If he had, we should in all probability have been indebted to him for scientific discoveries as well as practical improvements, The most beautiful and useful invention of late times, the Safety-lamp, was the reward of a series of philosophical experiments, made by one thoroughly skilled in every branch of chemical science. The new process

of Refining sugar, by which more money has been made in a shorter time, and with less risk and trouble, than was ever perhaps gained from an invention, was discovered by a most accomplished chemist, and was the fruit of a long course of experiments, in the progress of which, known philosophical principles were constantly applied, and one or two new principles ascertained. But in so far as chance has any thing to do with discovery, surely it is worth the while of those who are constantly working in particular employments to obtain the knowledge required, because their chances are greater than other people's of so applying that knowledge as to hit upon new and useful ideas: they are always in the way of perceiving what is wanting, or what is aniss in the old methods; and they have a better chance of making the improvements. In a word, to use a common expression, they are in the way of good luck; and if they possess the requisite information, they can take advantage of it when it comes to them. This, then, is the second great use of learning the sciences: it enables men to make improvements in the arts, and discoveries in philosophy, which may directly benefit themselves and mankind.'-pp. 41, 42.

Such are the practical advantages which knowledge is capable of conferring on its possessor. The writer having bestowed a proper share of attention upon those benefits, proceeds to consider the pleasure which is derived from science.

* Edward Howard, brother of the Duke of Norfolk.

It is surely a satisfaction, for instance, to know that the same thing, or motion, or whatever it is, which causes the sensation of heat, causes also fluidity, and expands bodies in all directions; that electricity, the light which is seen on the back of a cat when slightly rubbed on a frosty evening, is the very same matter with the lightning of the clouds;-that plants breathe like ourselves, but differently by day and by night;-that the air which burns in our lamps enables a balloon to mount, and causes the globules of the dust of plants to rise, float through the air, and continue their race;-in a word, is the immediate cause of vegetation. Nothing can at first view appear less like, or less likely to be caused by the same thing, than the processes of burning and of breathing, the rust of metals and burning,—an acid and rust,—the influence of a plant on the air it grows in by night, and of an animal on the same air at any time, nay, and of a body burning in that air; and yet all these are the same operation. It is an undeniable fact, that the very same thing which makes the fire burn, makes metals rust, forms acids, and causes plants and animals to breathe; that these operations, so unlike to common eyes, when examined by the light of science, are the same,-the rusting of metals, the formation of acids, the burning of inflammable bodies,-the breathing of animals, and the growth of plants by night. To know this is a positive gratification. Is it not pleasing to find the same substance in various situations extremely unlike each other;-to meet with fixed air as the produce of burning,of breathing,-and of vegetation;-to find that it is the choak-damp of mines,-the bad air in the grotto at Naples, the cause of death in neglected brewers' vats,-and of the brisk and acid flavour of Seltzer and other mineral springs? Nothing can be less like than the working of a vast steam engine, and the crawling of a fly upon the window. We find that these two operations are performed by the same means, the weight of the atmosphere; and that a sea-horse climbs the ice-hills by no other power. Can any thing be more strange to contemplate? Is there in all the fairy tales that ever were fancied any thing more calculated to arrest the attention, and to occupy and to gratify the mind, than this most unexpected resemblance between things so unlike to the eyes of ordinary beholders? What more pleasing occupation, than to see uncovered and bared before our eyes the very instrument and the process by which nature works? Then we raise our views to the structure of the heavens; and are again gratified with tracing accurate but most unexpected resemblances. Is it not in the highest degree interesting to find, that the power which keeps this earth in its shape, and in its path, wheeling round the sun, extends over all the other worlds that compose the universe, and gives to each its proper place and motion; that this same power keeps the moon in her path round our earth, and our earth in its path round the sun, and each planet in its path; that the same power causes the tides upon our earth, and the peculiar form of the earth itself; and that, after all, it is the same power which makes a stone fall to the ground? To learn these things, and to reflect upon them, fills the mind, and produces certain as well as pure gratification.'-pp. 44, 45.

The beautiful order which is observed in this little treatise—the simplicity and intelligible principles which reign through the whole -the attractive way in which its matter is set off by happy turns of thought and expression, contribute to render this produc