lessly. I looked back into the room as I was preparing to let myself down; the candle was just expiring in the socket; it gave one last faint flicker, shot up brightly for an instant, and all was dark. There sat the woman, a silent watcher in the hall below, fulfilling her mission of love and mercy, while Job and I hurried along the deserted streets, upon our errand of gloom and death. NOTES ON BOOKS. MR FRANCIS PULSZKY has produced a volume of great value and interest under the above title. He seems to have taken the work of Dr Wagner as the principal source whence he might draw his information, but he has not confined himself to this author. From various sources he has derived the materials, out of which he has managed to construct a work of more than ordinary importance and attractiveness. The plan of the author has led him to give the narrative in the language of those from whom he quotes, thus giving to it a directness and freshness which it could not otherwise have had. To this we have no objection; only we should have liked to know when he passed from one author to another-when we were indebted to Dr Wagner, and when to those other sources to which he refers in the general. Passing from this point, we assure our readers that in this, the third volume of 'Nelson's Library of Foreign Works,' they will find a full, fair, and lively account of the Regency of Algeria. The work is divided into three parts:-1st, Description of the Regency of Algeria,' under which we have a full and graphic description of the city, city-life, the neighbourhood of the city, the coast on either side, and the province of Constantine; 2dly, 'the Native Races of the Regency of Algiers,' which are stated to be seven in number-viz., Arabs, Kabyles, Moors, Turks, Jews, Negroes, and Mozabites. This part of the book displays deep research, and furnishes a great deal of valuable historical information relative to the different races, in small compass, and couched in easy and flowing periods. 3dly, 'History of the Regency;' under which designation we have a graphic and stirring account of the French campaign, conquest, and administration. As a specimen of the volume, we give Dr Wagner's account of the Moorish coffee-houses:-' No place is more favourable for the acquirement of the Arabic language. Even if not much talk is going on, still the Moors are here less taciturn than anywhere else. The long rows of different guests, sitting with crossed legs, offer a most interesting opportunity for the study of physiognomies. At the side of the immovable calm Moor or Kurugli, in gaudy Turkish garb, we behold a sable negro, in the same style of attire, but mostly of dirty yellow material. Next to him is a fine tall Arab, with sunburnt face, his mighty frame clad in white garments, and a rope of camel's hair twisted round his head. Then, again, we notice a short grown Kabyle, ragged, wild, with piercing glance, or a Mozabite of the Sahara, and a Biskari from the Belad-el-Jerid, and among them, again, a Frenchman in regimentals, or clad according to Paris fashion, adapting himself to every society, and everywhere happy by his merry turn of mind. The finest Moorish coffee-house was formerly situated in the Rue de la Marine, not far from the large mosque. It had a hall partitioned into several galleries, and supported by columns, which could accommodate hundreds of people. Another coffee-house of the same style, though not so spacious, I saw, as late as the close of 1836, in the street Bab-aZun. Now, however, both have disappeared. The present ones are lengthy vaults, without marble columns, furnished only with two rows of benches, which are covered with mats braided with palm leaves. On these the guests sit in the well-known oriental way. The kitchen, a small smoky corner, is in a niche at the outside of the vault. The coffee is served in small China cups, resting on tin stands, and mixed for the French with moist sugar; it is pretty strong, and of pleasant flavour; the sediment fills almost half the cup. It is offered, together with a red earthenware pipe, on a long tube, filled with excellent tobacco. The whole costs one sou (one halfpenny), and it is hardly possible to fancy a cheaper treat. The proprietor of a large coffee-house usually little troubles himself with his business; but, sitting at the entrance with calm gravity, he greets his European guest with, "Good evening, sir," and his own co-religionists with the warmer welcome, "Peace be upon thee;" and then shouts to the servants, "Bring coffee; bring a pipe." The cook is usually a negro; the waiters Moorish lads, with milk-white and rosy faces, who, instead of the turban, wear a red skull-cap on their completely shorn heads. The larger coffee-houses have regularly music in the evening. The instruments of these African artists are most usually a three-corded violin, several pipes and guitars, and a peculiar kind of drum, which, however, is oftener heard in the streets; the brass instruments, also, which deafen us at the celebration of the Bairam, and at nuptials, are excluded from the coffee-houses. Here one seeks repose; and a soft, monotonous, lulling music, which is well adapted to the idle enjoyments of this assembly, does not disturb vague contemplation, or scare away the misty dreams in which the fertile imagination of these effeminate Moors delights.' The Song of the Spheres. By Miss E. This is a volume of which we really don't know what to say, except that it is full of faults, errors, blunders, bad lines, mutilated figures; and that, to counterbalance all this, it has some exquisitely beautiful and intensely poetical lines. Oh, if our friend Apollodorus would but forsake for a season his labours in old poetry and theology, and do for this fine young spirit what he has done for Bigg and Smith, he might find rare pickings in this delicious little 'Song of the Spheres.' We shall do our brief endeavour. Opening at page 9, we find this fine expres sion 'Like naphtha meeting Persian air.' In page 12 the line occurs 'God thought on radiance, and yon sun was born.' A new and admirable translation, we fancy, of the words, 'Be light, and there was light.' Hear this, oh England! One little isle doth live; blanch'd are her cliffs, That point, like Hope's white fingers, up to God. Or this, thou rainbow, so often besung'Thou art the princely autograph of Heaven! Divine caligraphy of God, e'en given To earthly dust: thou fair emblazonry Of Him who poised the sun in yonder sky, Thou art the sign, the seat of vanish'd wrath Thou tell'st that he remembereth his oath.' We cull a few other gems, and string them at random:— 'A bright ray of glory had escaped Th' empyrean, and had lighted on my head.' 'I long'd to turn the iron of the heart Of man into an anchor, thus to cast Him, pride-despoil'd, into the Bay of Truth.' I love to sit beneath a mountain ash, And look unto the distant hills, that rise Like arbiters between the vale and sky.' A dream follows, for which we have not room, but it is very beautiful. The following is fine: 'I left my home, and sought the sunny south, Where nature hath beguiled the sky into We add but one stanza-a right noble To desolate that Eastern paradise! Miss H. is a very young lady; she has published too soon, but she has real genius, which only needs culture and time to make her one of our FIRST lady poets. Rome's Red Footprints in the Alps; or, the A clever book, if not a book of high poetry, full of lively, forcible, and readable narrative, mingled with some striking descriptions; altogether, a very tolerable objective poem. It is, at least during these dog-days, not a little refreshing to turn from the sultry, although splendid, heats of 'Balder' and Smith, and to bathe in this little volume as in a cool Alpine basin. The construction of the story is not, however, very artful; and there are too many weak lines in proportion to the size of the volume. A Book for the Sorrowful; or, Divine Truth in its Relation to Human Suffering. By EDMUND HEYWOOD. London: Grattan, Amen Corner. This is one of the most useful, interesting, and tastefully written little books we have read for years. Unpretending as it is, it displays, on the part of the author, fine powers, high accomplishments, and genuine piety. We cannot compliment it more highly than by saying, that it reminds us much of Dr John Macfarlane's pleasing and practical treatises on affliction. Like Dr Macfarlane, Mr Heywood does not speak from hearsay, but from personal experience. His own heart has bled over into this precious little reservoir of love and sanctified grief. We cordially commend it to all our readers, especially to Christian mourners. God's Bottle for Believers' Tears. Edinburgh: Oliphant. We may say much the same of this as of the former. If less elegant than Mr Heywood's, it is still richer in its unction. A useful, delightful little work. Congratulatory Address to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. By WILLIAM ORME HANDY. Parsonstown: Shields. William Orme Handy, whatever else he may be, is no Irish rebel, but the most loyal subject the Queen has in broad Milesia. He sojourns in Parsonstown, and has no doubt often gazed at the stars through the giant eye of Lord Rosse's telescope. What effect this has had upon his poetic vein, may be gathered from the following magniloquent lines:'Hail, gracious monarch! auspicious lady, hail! Accept the homage of our duteous feal, (!) As to thy sacred person we draw nigh, And raise the lash of our devoted eye; Till, dazzled in the lustre of the blaze, The less'ning pupil can no longer gaze; Drown'd in a cataract of royal light, The dizzy senses tremble at the sight,' &c. Bravo! Mr Handy Dandy! Burke's picture of the Queen of France was nothing to this! The Emerald Isle for This volume soars considerably higher than some we have seen of late, although it is not quite up to our standard. It has much beauty, and many brave words; but exhibits, as a whole, less power and originality than we desiderate in high poetry. Mr Macfarlane is, we fear, too often thinking about his townsman, Alexander Smith. We are far, however, from wishing to discourage him. He has very considerable powers; has written many lines worthy of Smith, or of any other poet; and we believe that his poetry, as well as his cha racter, are both much esteemed in his native city. Christianity viewed in some of its Leading Aspects. By Rev A. L. R. FOOTE. Edinburgh: Edmonstone & Douglas. The chief fault we have to this volume is one which reviewers seldom require to include in their categories of complaints it is too brief. The profound thought contained in the work could have sustained a fabric double the size. Taking into account the author's plan and object, and finding no fault with these, we say, with all sincerity, that his work is most admirably adapted, both in substance and spirit, to meet and mitigate certain grave errors that abound at the present time, relative to the principles, objects, and ends of Christianity. The headings of the six sections into which the work is divided, are the following:Christianity a Life, a Work, a Reward, a Culture, a Discipline, a Fellowship. There is a purpose and earnestness pervading the book, that contribute greatly to usefulness, albeit good taste is not always observed. The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler. Vol. II. Edinburgh: James Nichol. Some two months ago, we called the attention of our readers to the first volume of Butler's Works, with Life, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes, by the Rev. George Gilfillan. That volume was occupied with the first two parts of 'Hudibras,' preceded by a Life of the author. The present volume contains the third part of that famous poem, and the genuine Remains of the poet. This last is a most interesting feature in Mr Nichol's edition, and greatly enhances its value. Whittlings from the West. By ABEL LOG. Edinburgh: James Hogg. The readers of this Journal do not need to have the ceremony of introduction, &c., attended to, when the party to be introduced is Mr Log. They have been long acquainted with him; and many a tedious hour his writings have beguiled, and many a hearty laugh they have drawn forth, and withal many a precious grain of truth have they carried into minds ready to receive a lesson of warning or instruction, from one whose fun and drollery so obviously point to a sound moral. We need only say, that our publishers have just issued the 'Whittlings' in one handsome volume, which, we doubt not, will be as popular, as it is lively and amusing. Essays on the Characteristics of a Superior Popular Literature. By WILLIAM BATHGATE. London: Ward & Co. The subject of these essays is one in which, it may be presumed, we feel a peculiar interest. From Mr Bathgate's published works, we were led to expect that he would come to the discussion of the theme well furnished, and prepared to do his work right heartily. Nor were we disappointed in our examination of the essays. In order that the reader may have some idea of the nature of the volume, we shall enumerate the titles of the eight essays. The first treats of the Influence and Destiny of a superior Popular Literature-and then the Entertaining, the Instructive, the Suggestive, the Christian, the Progressive elements are discussed in the order in which they are here placed. The last two treat respectively of the union of all these elements, and the obstacles which retard the circulation and increase of a superior popular literature. The book is full of masculine thought; and though the language is not always refined, yet it is rarely inappropriate. It is such a work as should be in the hands of thinking young men. The Three Sisters; or, Past, Present, and Future. By the late JOHN ROBY. Edinburgh: James Hogg. When this story appeared some years ago in the pages of the INSTRUCTOR, it created considerable interest. It is well to bring it out in this cheap and neat form; and many have but to know, to hail its appearance. The author was a writer of considerable power, and was favourably known both for his prose and poetic compositions. The story itself is very well constructed, contains a great variety of character, a good deal of spirited action, and breathes a fine moral. Done up in the railway form, it is a cheap eighteenpence worth. Modern Household Cookery. By A LADY. London and Edinburgh: T. Nelson & Sons. In addition to the ordinary contents of a book on cookery, this new work, brought out in connection with 'Nelson's Household Library,' contains a great variety of valuable receipts; directions for the preparation of food for children and invalids. It is accompanied by a number of plates, that introduce the inexperienced into the mysteries of carving, &c. Altogether, we have been very favourably im A wonderful pennyworth, and shouk be at everybody's elbow for reference in matters referring to population. The Great Wine Press, popularly called Armageddon; being an intellectual batt of opinions-the Turco-Russian War-fears of it may be banished, &c. London: W. Strange. We have no sympathy with the class of publications of which this may be considered a specimen. They are generally marked by ingenuity; but they are mor generally characterised by a spirit of dogmatism and mutual contradiction. We should like to see the same talents ergaged on something more practical. The Art of Good and Cheap Cookery, for the Working Classes. By the Editors of the 'Family Economist." London: Groombridge & Sons. It first Both the style and price of this little book fit it admirably to the circumstances of the families of working men. gives directions how to choose economically the food required; then how best to cook it; and then gives some judicious directions relative to observances at meals. A Letter to the Archbishops and Bishops of the United Church of England and Ireland, on the Order for Morning Prayer. By the Rev. J. W. LESTER, B.A. London: Seeleys. It is not our province, as journalists, to pronounce on a question like this; but of this letter we may safely say, that it merits the calm consideration, not only of the dignitaries, but also of the clergy and laity connected with the Church of England. The Advanced Prose and Poetical Reader. By ALEX. BUCHAN. Glasgow: Hamilton. This is one of the best selections we have seen, since our old friend 'Hartley's Oratorical Class-book' a book which beguiled many a weary hour of our boyhood among the Perthshire Highlands, when with us books were as precious as they were few. Mr B., too, has made a very judicious selection, and has enriched his volume, besides, by carefully-arranged questions, and a vocabulary. We cordially and warmly commend this unassuming little volume. PAUPERISM AND POOR-LAWS. BEGGING,' said Defoe, in his own strong simple style, is a shame to any country. If the party is deserving, it is a shame that he should be compelled to beg. If he is not deserving, it is a shame that he should be allowed to beg.' To the principle embodied in the latter part of Defoe's deliverance, we believe, we are indebted for a Scottish Poor-law (it is only to the Poor-law, as existing in Scotland, that we direct attention in this paper); one of its leading aims at starting evidently being to compel idlers of all descriptions strang beggars and vagabonds,' to quote the words of the earliest Scottish statute on the subject, wandering and misordering themselves'-to live, to a certain extent, at least, by their own labour. As society developed itself, and year by year grew less simple in its mechanism, the original principle was extended in its operation, so as to care not only for the voluntarily idle, but also for those 'quilkes of necessitie mon live bee almes. Without the Pocr-law embracing both these classes of persons within its statutory powers, neither property nor life I could have been safe: the able-bodied vagrants, if not looked after, would levy black-mail upon the community; the impotent poor, without public support, would die in such circumstances as would engender disease and other retributive calamities. The Poor-law may therefore be regarded, looking at it in a broad and comprehensive view, as a species of property and life insurance, which the wealthy and industrious classes are willing to keep up, even on the principle of obtaining personal security. Such is really the present aspect of a Poor-law, wherever it obtains, in our day. There are, however, objectors upon principle to a compulsory mode of supporting the poor. Among the most zealous of these, as, we feel assured, he is one of the most honest and disinterested, is Sir George Sinclair of Ulbster, whose letters on the subject, originally addressed to the editor of the 'Caledonian Mercury,' are well worthy of a careful perusal. Sir George, if we understand him aright, contends for the abrogation of the right of any pauper, however helpless, to demand relief. Few, however, will feel inclined to occupy such a position. It is too startling, when deVOL. III. DECEMBER, 1854. liberately considered, to hold that any human being, unconvicted of crime, lives not by right, but by the sufferance merely of his fellow-mortals. In fact, as we have already indicated, the support and supervision of the poor are very much withdrawn from the domain of charity, and placed upon a footing quite the opposite; people pay their poor-rate as they pay any other necessary tax, upon a principle of selfishness. That the influence of such a mode of supporting the poor is healthy, we will not take it upon us to affirm; and if the question lay between the comparative merits of a voluntary or compulsory support of a given number of frail old people, there could scarcely be two opinions on an abstract consideration of the matter. The suffrages of the right-hearted unequivocally go for the former. It is natural; the latter is artificial. unfortunately the state of society is artificial too; and to treat pauperism in its simple and elementary condition, while everything else remains crusted over with conventionalism, would be neither more nor less than to leave the poor to die. But We believe, moreover, that there is a mistake at the outset, in supposing, as many do, that a poor-rate, or, in other words, a regularly organised system of legal support for the poor, is to blame for the growth of pauperism, and its numerous pernicious consequences. The canker lies much deeper than that; it is to be found not in anything so adventitious as a poor-rate, but in the diseased state of society, which renders such pauper relief necessary. We deeply lament the deterioration of character among numbers of our poorer brethren. It is painful to think that sons and daughters, who ought to reckon it among their greatest privileges to support an aged father or a widowed mother, should heartlessly cast them upon the scanty pittance of the parish; and it is a sore trial upon one's patience, when men and women, who ought to be selfsupporting, become a burden upon the community, through sheer vice and improvidence. One would labour anxiously, and sacrifice much, to bring back to Scotland the ancient habitude of self-dependence among her peasantry; but we entirely fail to see that there is any connection between the lack of this desirable 2 a " |