These misrepresentations of the conduct and sentiments of individuals and communities, may, we are aware, arise from inadvertence; and in that case they do not call for any other censure than what every one merits who undertakes a task to which he is incompetent. But were it the fact that these misrepresentations are the result not of inadvertence but of intention, the charge becomes evidently more serious, being nothing less than absolute calumny.

We cannot dismiss this article without expressing that we felt no slight degree of pain and grief during our perusal of this work, from the consideration that so contemptible a performance as this' Sketch,' so inaccurate in many of its statements, so devoid of all literary taste, so trifling in its reflections, and in its manner of introducing quotations, so lax in its notions of religious truth, should be really and bona fide, the composition of a man exceeding forty years of age, a Dissenting minister of no recent standing, and, as it appears from the title-page, a graduate of a learned university.

Art. VI. A French Dictionary, on a plan entirely new; wherein all the Words are so arranged and divided, as to render their Pronunciation both easy and accurate, &c. &c. By William Smith, A. M. 8vo. pp. 230. price 8s. 6d. Law, Rivingtons, &c. 1814. THIS volume is evidently the product of much labour and

industry, and may be used with great advantage in schools, but it appears especially adapted for private practice. Its plan is a classification of the words most necessary in the daily use of the French language, according to their affinities in sound, and advancing in just gradation from monosyllables to the longest words. The gender, &c. of each word is marked, and the most usual English signification is annexed. The designation of the respective elements and sounds is adjusted by descriptions and illustrations taken from similar or approximating sounds in our own language, and occasionally (with some degree of quaintness, and sometimes not intelligibly to an uninitiated Engishman,) from the peculiarities of the Scottish Lowland dialect. We may pretty safely surmise that the Author is a North Briton. It is, however, certainly the fact, that many Gallic pronunciations and forms of idiom have been incorporated into the vulgar language of Scotland; an effect, no doubt, of the ancient connexion between the two nations.

Without pretending to the nice discernment of Frenchmen in the pronunciation of this useful, and unfortunately almost necessary, language, we doubt whether Mr. S. has been uniformly correct in his classifications. For example, in p. 15, he puts puin, faim, vin, cinq, prince, and similar words, as having the

same vowel sound with the plural article les, and the pronouns ces, mes, tes, ses. Describing the final m and n, in p. 6, he observes that they have generally a nasal sound resembling ang or ong: a remark very likely to encourage a common English vice in pronouncing French, and to mislead a learner who may not happen to have cast his eye upon a note in p. 15, which quite incidentally mentions that the tongue does not touch the palate in the pronunciation of the nasal In mingled with these tables of words, occasionally ear with the title, No Class.' These anomalous collections, doetitute as they are of any elucidation, will not a lit the inquisitive pupil. It is, also, a serious defect thor has given no information on the phee of the French words of two or more syllables.

bar s

he Acent in

the accent

or stress of jest on which

thel the need of

in our common English sense of the term, the the voice on a particular syllable. This is a our countrymen, in learning French, pre some instruction, but on which few of the ordinary elementary books afford any.

Art. VII. Rules for pronouncing and reading the French Language. By the Rev. Israel Worsley. 12mo. pp. 66. price 2s. Longman and Co. 1814.

THIS little volume, with a title so unassuming, has the rare.

merit of performing more than it promises. Besides the Rules of Pronunciation and Accent, which are short, easy, and, in general, perspicuous, the Author has drawn up a List of Particles, comprising Articles, Pronouns, Adverbs, Conjunctions, and Prepositions; and these he has followed by a concise but, to a person acquainted with general grammar, sufficient display of the Verbs, Regular, Irregular, Impersonal, and Reflective.

The general fault of French grammars, is that they are swelled to a large bulk, with a variety of matter, which to a young person of previous good education, is unnecessary and even impertinent. Mr. W.'s book is not of this description. It is such an assistance as is needful for one who has made a tolerable progress in Latin, to enable him to acquire a speedy and accurate facility in reading French authors: and if he can obtain the lessons of a native for a few months, provided the pupil has voluble organs and is attentive, he will pronounce and speak, as well as silently read, the language in a respectable manner. With this view, we hope that this little work will meet what it deserves, extensive approbation and adoption. It is really lamentable to observe what a tedious and oppressive business the learning of French is commonly made; which, to

a boy who has passed decently through a classical school, is scarcely more than child's play. In a modest and sensible preface, Mr. W. gives this account of the origin of his work.

When engaged, during many years of my life, in teaching our own language to the natives of France, from observing the analogies and the discrepancies of the two languages, I was induced to draw up, for the use of my scholars, some observations on our pronunciation; which I found of essential use, in enabling them to obtain a very accurate pronunciation in a short time. On my return to my native country, I adopted a similar plan with my English scholars, who were to learn French; and, finding it answer my expectations, am induced to send the following pages to the press, as well for my own use in a populous neighbourhood, where they may be in request, as to offer them to the use of other persons, who may be disposed to adopt them, in their respective seminaries.' p. iv.

We have noticed a few errors of the printer, and some slight omissions; which the Author will probably correct and supply in another edition. We apprehend that the sound of yeu in yeux, is not justly represented by that of yu in the English word yule and we think that a description of the organic vocal formation of the vowel u and the nasal power of m and n, is capable of being intelligibly conveyed in words, and would materially assist an English pupil in acquiring a promptitude in the enunciation of those sounds.

Art, VIII. 1. The Arithmetical Preceptor, or a complete Treatise of Arithmetic, Theoretical and Practical. In six parts. Designed. not only for the use of Schools, but for those young persons, who not having the benefit of a Master, are yet desirous of becoming acquainted with such parts of Arithmetic as may enable them when commencing business to transact their Accounts. To which is added a Treatise on Magic Squares, containing several new Rules for their Construction, all of which are accurately demonstrated. By Joseph Youle, Master of the Boys' Charity School, Sheffield; and late Teacher of the Mathematics, Warsop, Notts. 12mo. pp. xxvi. 485. Price 8s. boards. London. Longman and Co

1813.

2. The Expeditious Arithmetician; or, Preceptor's Arithmetical Class Book: containing Six separate Sets of Original Questions, to exemplify and illustrate an Important Improvement in the Practice of teaching the first Five Rules of Arithmetic, Simple and Compound, by peculiar methods not in use, and by which accuracy and expedition are attained with unusual facility in a far greater degree than by any other hitherto invented. By B. Denby and J. Leng, Hull. 12mo. pp. xii. 179. Seven separate parts, price 7s. London. Crosby and Co. 1814.

EACH of these treatises may have its uses; the first, however,

is the most scientific and extensive. Mr. Youle treats first

of arithmetic in whole numbers; 2dly, of vulgar fractions; 3dly, of decimals and the extraction of roots; 4thly, of logarithms, with compound interest and annuities. This part also includes a table of logarithms extending to 10,000. The 5th part contains a copious series of practical questions; and the 6th exhibits the demonstration of the rules.

This treatise is methodically and judiciously arranged. The Author is precise and correct in his definitions, accurate, so far as we have had opportunity of examining, in the working of his examples, perspicuous in his directions, and often happy in his notes and illustrations. The demonstrations he has given, are, in the main, neat and satisfactory; and the supplementary treatise on magic squares and circles will doubtless both excite and gratify the curiosity of youths in the foremost arithmetical classes.

In the event of a new edition, however, we think Mr. Youle might introduce a few improvements. He might, for example, give the best approximating rules for the cube root, and for roots in general. He might also employ the period instead of the comma, to separate the integer from the decimal numbers. Instead of directing the pupil to convert circulating decimals to vulgar fractions previously to multiplying and dividing, he might lay before him the comprehensive general rules of Mr. James Lamb, of Sproatley, near Hull, published at page 56 of Whiting's Mathematical Delights;' a, work with which we conjecture, from the turn given to some of Mr. Youle's questions, he is acquainted. As it is, this gentleman's work indicates skill, judgement, and care; and we have no doubt that it will be advantageously introduced into many schools.

.

The Class-book of Messrs. Denby and Leng is of humbler pretensions, since it does not go beyond the rules of Reduction. The objects of the Authors are to furnish the preceptor with a great variety of examples (amounting, indeed, to more than 2000, divided into six methodised classes), and to communicate to him easy and expeditious methods of determining the answers to those questions, without having recourse to a Key.' In these methods the labour seldom exceeds that of adding together two lines comprised in the question the answer of which is required. The thought is certainly ingenious; and though not altogether new, deserves commendation and encouragement. The labour of preparing more than 2000 questions, such that their answers may be found by these simple expedients, must have been very great. We sincerely hope it will meet with an appropriate reward: and we are decidedly of opinion that in large schools the fundamental rules of arithmetic would be much more effectually, if not more expeditiously, taught, by the aid of these 'class-books,' than by the plans devised by

Bell and Lancaster. When we say this, we by no means intend to censure those excellent modes of instruction. We regard them as most powerful engines of intellectual and moral improvement; but cannot shut our eyes to the possibility of their being misemployed. We are not advocates for the grinding of corn in a powder mill; or the manufacturing of cordage in a silk-loom.

Art. IX. Discourses, for Domestic Use. By Henry Lacey. In two volumes, crown 8vo. pp. 302 and 318, price 10s. Southampton, Baker; Longman and Co. London, 1813.

ALMOST every minister seems to consider himself both qua

lified and compelled to print some of his Discourses. With the reservation, however, of those which have been delivered on extraordinary occasions, such as fast-days, and days of thanksgiving; or for national victories, or the death of illustrious or pious persons; there appears so little to recommend this species of composition to the attention of the public, that we have sometimes been led to suppose, that when a preacher has determined to become the author of a volume of sermons, he must be induced to hesitate in fixing his preference, bewildered amidst the varying claims of the many productions of this nature, which a Dissenter of any reputation must have prepared.

Every other literary labourer usually writes with a decided reference, in the first instance, to the ultimate publication of his works the historian, always; the poet, perhaps, in most instances; the biographer and the essayist, nearly without exception. But there are two departments of literature in which such a reference is fatal to the simplicity and appropriateness of the whole the writing of letters; and the study required for the pulpit. A correspondent who embodies his sentiments with the express design of exhibiting them to the public eye, is little fitted to enter into the private endearments of easy and familiar intercourse with his friend. A preacher, in the preparation of his ordinary but important instructions, should not suffer himself to indulge an appeal to any other tribunal than the Judgement Seat of Christ. He who has his eye fixed on a remote object, will but indistinctly perceive another that is near, as the perceptive power of that organ requires an adjustment adapted to each in regard to its distance. The minister who preserves a constant regard to public applause, or even to usefulness as a writer for the press, is not likely to keep, with all the clearness which the awful nature of the subject demands, his attention occupied with the necessities, the afflictions, or any other circumstances of his own flock, and of the present hour. We