Chap.III. contains an account of the mode of pleading in civil and criminal cases, courts, orations, method of trial, &c.-The invaluable trial by jury was to them unknown, though we are informed that the mode of judging in criminal cases seems to have nearly approached it. ans, and slaves: and contains an" to form an idea of which, we must account of the mode of choosing cen- imagine a basin filled with water, sors, tribunes, &c.-the account our which was emptied in 12 hours, by author gives is sufficiently clear, but means of a small hole in the bottom, brief, to which we must refer our into another vessel of equal capacity, readers. in which the water rose by degrees around a column, on which the hours were marked perpendicularly." He then notices the division of the day, year, the Julian year, new style, intercalary months, &c. into which we cannot enter; and concludes his chapter by noticing the soothsayers, &c. who exercised so great power over the minds of the people, that nothing or other citizens of high consideration, were of any importance was undertaken annually chosen by the prætor, to act as his without their first being consulted.assessors; and of these, some, but how many "Their religion consisted in unbounddoes not appear, were appointed to sit in judged polytheism; every virtue, every ment along with him. They decided by a majority of voices, and returned their verdict vice, every real property of the mateeither guilty, not guilty, or uncertain; in which rial, and every fancied quality of the latter instance the cause was deferred; but if imaginary world, every faculty of the the votes for acquittal and condemnation were mind, and power of the body, was preequal, the culprit was discharged; or, accord-sided over by its peculiar deity,”ing to some authors, his fate was then decided by the prætor." "A certain number of senators and knights, till, after a lapse of more than a thousand years from the foundation of the city, Christianity was established as the religion of the state." In a note in chap. IV. we have an account of Herculaneum and Pompeii. -Our readers are aware of the cause We must, however unwillingly, of the destruction of these towns-the draw our notice of this work to a eruption of Mount Vesuvius:-They close. There are twenty chapters in were buried in the ashes and lava, the volume, containing information on and accidentally discovered by a pea- nearly every subject that can be enusant digging at 70 feet from the sur-merated, and well fulfilling the title face of the earth, in the year 1689. Domestic Manners and Institutions:" Both towns are in the vicinity of Na- amusements houses libraries ples.-This chapter is on the buildings baths-dress-marriage ceremonies, in Rome; it was a complete mass of &c. &c. (a list not easily enumerated,) thatched cottages, before its destruc- which are noticed in an intelligible and tion by the Gauls, in the 364th year agreeable manner. after its foundation; but it was not until the reign of Augustus that it could boast any splendid edifices. The conflagration, in the time of that odious tyrant, Nero, reduced it again to ashes, when it was rebuilt in a regular form; and from that time may be dated the taste for decoration and vastness of design, which has continued to excite the wonder and admiration of succeeding ages. Chap. V. is devoted to a description of gardens, seats, &c. and we have a long account of the celebrated gardens and villa of Pliny, the naturalist. In chap. VI. we are informed that "Rome had existed 460 years before its inhabitants distinguished any other divisions of the day than morning, noon, and night:" when solar dials were invented, and then water clocks, The work closes with an account of the funeral rites-tombs-monumental inscriptions, &c.-a very proper subject we would say.-as it reminds us of our own mortality. The period of mourning for friends or relatives was short,-widows were bound to mourn for one year; during this time they laid aside every ornament, and appeared only in black. In closing this review, a variety of ideas rush in upon our minds :---the stream of time has swept generation after generation from the face of the earth; and it may be our lot next:some future ages may be as interested in the perusal of the history of our times; as we are now in that of the Romans; let us then do all in our power to leave a good name bebind us, that they may say of us, as we could not help exclaiming in the REVIEW.-Travels in South Africa, undertaken at the request of the London Missionary Society, &c. &c. By the Rev. John Campbell, in two vols. Svo. pp. 321-384. London: Westley, Stationer's - Court, LudgateStreet, 1822. IN the thirty-second number of the Imperial Magazine, we gave a portrait of this indefatigable and courageous traveller, with whose former journal the public have already been both entertained and gratified. The present is an entire new work, which has only just issued from the press. It has fallen into our hands only a few hours since, so that we have not had time to examine the multifarious subjects of which it treats. We have, however, made ourselves sufficiently acquainted with the outline of its contents, to assure ourselves, that these volumes will prove highly interesting, and, we have no doubt, will command an extensive sale. freshness in the delineations, which no artifice could contrive, which every which too many modern tours, jourreader wishes to perceive, but of nals, and voyages, are miserably destitute. With the manners and customs which prevail in the interior of Africa, we have only a partial acquaintance; every work, therefore, which, founded upon actual observation, treats of these subjects, by developing new features in the human character, merit and insure the attention of mankind. From this work we shall now proceed to select some specimens, which, though they have no immediate connection with one another, will set the author and the production of his pen in a favourable and commanding light. To these anecdotes and incidents we shall take the liberty of giving such titles as their leading ideas seem to demand. Affection and Humanity." He (Mr. Baird) had a Bush girl aboat eight, and a boy about ten years of age, who were very interesting children. A field-cornet higher up the country procured them from their parents, to be trained up as servants. After they had been at the field-cornet's a few days, they ran off unperceived, and two days afterwards they were found half-starved in the wilderness, fast locked in each other's arms. Although the boy had been but a short time in his service, he waited at table, and acted his part very well. A late exploit of the lad is worth recording. "Mr. Storkenstrome, Landdrost of Graaf Reynet, and Mr. Baird, were travelling in horse waggons, when the rivers were swollen by the rains. On coming to the ford of a certain river, a slave assured them it was not deep, on which Mr. Baird's waggon proceeded; one of the fore horses fell, but the driver continued lashing the other horses till they dragged over both the fallen horse and the waggon. Those behind, observing this success, attempted to cross likewise, but five of carried down the stream. Those in the waggon with difficulty got out of it, and succeeded in reaching the shore. Noticing that Mr. drosts made haste to save him. About a mile Baird's Bush boy was missing, the two Landand a half lower down, they observed him mounted on the roof of the waggon, and holding up a little dog to prevent its being drowned. At length the waggon struck against a small island in the middle of the stream which immediately threw out the dog, and jumped was not yet covered by the water, when he upon the shore himself. They instantly sent for reams, or skin ropes used about the waggons, which they tied to each other till they had made a line long enough to reach the it round his body, they threw it over; which island. After showing the boy how to fasten happily reaching the island, he seized and tied it round him as directed. Then at their T Mr. Campbell has not filled his pages with a detail of abstract philosophi-the horses were drowned, and the waggon cal speculations,but with an account of facts and incidents, which, during his arduous journeys among the savages of Africa, fell under his own personal observations. His volumes bear evidence, that he has watched the manners of this untutored race with a careful eye, and that he has registered the various singularities which fell under bis notice with an impartial hand, without losing sight of the important object for which his journey was undertaken; namely, the practicability of sending among these heathens the gospel of the Son of God. In these volumes, there is a certain desire, advancing as far as he could into the powerful stream, they dragged him over as fast as possible. The fate of the little dog I do not recollect." vol. 1, p. 21. Notions of Creation and of a Future State."Mr. Smit, from a child, has had much intercourse with Bushmen, and can speak their language as well as any native. He said that they did not believe in a God, or the great Father of men, but in the devil, who, they affirm, made every thing with his left hand; that they believe they shall rise again from the dead; for, when they bury the dead, they lay the body on the ground, with an assagais, or spear, covering both with bushes and stones. They put the assagais by his side, that when he arises he may have something to defend himself with, and procure a living; but, if they hate the dead person, they deposit no assagais, that when he arises he may either be murdered or starved. They suppose, that some time after they arise they shall go to a land where there will be abundance of excellent food." p. 29. Honour and Honesty." One peculiarity in the conduct of the Bushmen is deserving of notice: Mr. Smit had always found, if he committed any thing to their care, that they were faithful to the trust; but whatever was locked up, and not committed to their charge, they would steal if they could." p. 30. Excessive Heat.-"So great was the effect of the heat, that our sugar was as hard as a brick; the ink was dried up in the inkstand; the board I used in the waggon for a writingtable was split; the water in all our vessels was as hot as tea is generally drank in Britain, and I could not touch without pain any part of the waggon that had been exposed to the sun. Therm. in shade at noon 96.' p. 40. Surgical and Medical Knowledge.--" One of them had a long, wide incision across his back, which was not healed. It was made to cure a pain in his loins. Some had plasters of cowdung covering the whole forehead as an ornament; others had the forehead painted with red ochre. What a capricious thing is taste?" p. 47. Mutilation. The greater part of the Corannas had a joint taken from their little finger, which is done with a sharp stone. This operation is performed merely for the purpose of bleeding, in order to remove some pain. The inconvenience through life, arising from such a dismemberment, perhaps never occurred to this ignorant people." p. 48. Appearance." A Bushman family, coming for water, remained at the waggons. It consisted of the husband and his wife, a younger brother, two daughters, eleven and twelve years of age, and a child of about eighteen months, which the mother continued to suckle. The man had a bow, and a quiver full of poisoned arrows. They had part of the entrails of a zebra filled with water, from which they frequently drank, and then filled five ostrich shells with water to carry home. We gave the man a piece of tobacco, for which he nodded and uttered some words in a low tone, expressive of thanks; but on giving him the skin of a sheep killed in the morning, he added to his former expressions of gratitude, by knocking with his elbows against his sides. Inquiring how long it was since he had washed his skin, which was extremely dirty, after considering a little, he said he could not tell, but that it must be a long time. His wife laughed heartily on hearing the question. One of the daughters, after grinding the tobacco between two stones into snuff, mixed it with the white ashes of the fire; the mother then took a large pinch of the composition, putting the remainder into a piece of goats skin among the hair, and folded it up for future use." pp. 61, 62. (To be continued.) REVIEW-Remarks on Unitarianism, addressed to the Inhabitants of the Staffordshire Potteries. p. 21. Tomkinson, Stoke upon Trent. 1822. THE author of this pamphlet, who, whether through pride or diffidence, has concealed his name, had no occasion to be ashamed of his performance. So far as the limits of his pages would allow, he has entered fully into the merits of the questions on which he has employed his pen; and those against whom he argues will find him to be no contemptible antagonist. The sources of argument which he has explored, are both numerous and diversified; and he has furnished evidence, that had he been so disposed, he might have extended his pamphlet _to an almost indefinite length. This, however, would in a great measure have defeated his design, which was, to present to his neighbours, in a condensed form, and at a low price, his reasons for rejecting the "Unitarian's Appeal." In this he has happily succeeded; comprising his remarks within twenty-one pages, and selling his pamphlet for sixpence. For a production so short we cannot allow room for any quotations; but we feel no hesitation in avowing that few publications have appeared on this controversy, in which so much solid argument has been imbodied within so narrow a compass. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. THE forty-third anniversary of this benevolent institution was held in the King's Concert-Room, Haymarket. Lord Gambier in the chair, on May 8th, 1821. The report, which was afterwards printed and circulated, has lately fallen into our hands, and we have examined its contents with much pleasure. It must always be gratifying to a pious mind, to find, in the more exalted ranks of society, an harmonious co-operation to distribute among the brave defenders of their country, that book, which, through divine grace, is calculated to make them wise unto salvation; but it is still much more satisfactory to learn, that the exertions of benevolence have not been made in vain. During the year, which terminated with this anniversary, it appears that 10,142 Bibles and Testaments had been distributed among the soldiers and sailors of our army and navy, the amount of which, although the institution has been liberally supported, exceeds the means of meeting the expenditure. In this report, extracts from twentyfour letters are inserted, the whole of which tend to enforce the necessity and utility of furnishing our ships and regiments with the word of life. One of these extracts, from an officer commanding one of his majesty's ships lately paid off, and dated March, 1821, is as follows: "I wish all success to your approaching Meeting at as an important branch of an admirable Institution, productive, I believe, of much religious, moral, and professional benefit. In the Ship I last commanded, we were fully supplied with Bibles and Testaments, from the Naval and Military Bible Society; all of which were distributed grataitously to the men, according to their messes, on our being first manned; and they were certainly duly appreciated: as subsequent requests for individual donations of books were frequently made during the whole time the Ship remained in commission (nearly three years and a half,) and on paying off, the Crew, as well as the Officers, were disposed to subscribe a larger sum to the Naval and Military Bible Society than I thought it right to take from them. "I think the effects, as far as they could be traced, were very favourable to the interests of morality, and the good of the service. Before we separated, desertion had quite ceased, as had the necessity for flogging: the habits of drunkenness, and other vicious indulgences, had quite disappeared on board; and the obedience and activity of the crew were highly satisfactory, and had been very favourably noticed. They all volunteered to re-enter in the Ship, if she were continued in commission; and I bave heard from an excellent officer, who carried a great part of them with him into another Ship, to which he was appointed, that he still observes in them the same good conduct." It was to produce effects similar to these, which the preceding extract records, that this noble institution was established; and in proportion as these become general, a moral refermation in our army and navy will be accomplished. An undertaking so benignant in its principle, and so salutary in its results, has an imperious claim to support, and that man must be as destitute of humanity as of religion, who would not give a Bible to a sailor, if only to preserve him from drunkenness and a cat-o'-nine-tails. Natural History.-Humboldt says, that naturalists already know 56,000 species of cryptogamous and phenerogamous plants, 44,000 insects, 2,500 fishes, 700 reptiles, 4,000 birds, and 500 mammiferæ. there exists nearly 80 mammiferæ, In Europe alone 400 birds, and 30 reptiles. are under this temperate boreal zone There 5 times as many species of birds as mammiferæ; 5 times as many compositæ as amentaceous and coniferous plants; 5 times as many leguminous as there are orchideous and euphorbiaceous. Lithographic Paper.-M. Senefelder, the celebrated promoter of the lithographic art, has lately invented a kind of paper or card, as a substitute for the magnesian limestone usually employed. This card is covered on one or both faces with an argillocalcareous mixture, which has the property of receiving the ink, or the crayon, in the same way that the stone does, and of undergoing the ordinary preparation, and furnishing impressions as neat and perfect as those obtained from designs traced on stone. Count Lasteyrie has examined and used this paper, and given a favourable report upon it. Use of Larch Bark in Tanning. Mr. E. Smith, from repeated trials made by himself and friends, strongly recommends the use of larch bark in tanning, not only for light calf, deer, or sheep skins, but for stout hides; and states, that sole-leather, tanned with it, and worn against other leather tanned with vallonia, resisted the wear better, and did not imbibe so much water. He then asks, whether there is any further occasion for the importation of Dutch or German bark? Encroachment of the Sea on the East Coast of America.-On the East coast of America, the sea appears to encroach upon the land more and more from North to South. At Cape Mary, where the Delaware falls into the Atlantic ocean, a house is built, on the wall of which are inscribed the following important observations: without legs; and is of the figure and form of the whale; the position and structure of its mouth enables it to browse upon the fuci and submarine algae, like a cow in a meadow, and the whole structure of the masticating and digestive organs shows it to be truly herbivorous. It never visits land, or fresh water, but lives in shallow inlets, where the water is two or three fathoms deep. Their usual length is eight or nine feet. But a curious, and to some, perhaps, the most interesting part of the detail of the history of this animal, is, that the flesh resembles young beef, being very delicate and juicy. Method of Illuminating the Dials of Public Clocks with Gas.-Messrs. John and Robert Hart, of Glasgow, who have been long known to the public for their scientific acquirements, as well as their practical ingenuity, have erected a very ingenious apparatus for illuminating with gas the dials of the Tron Church and Post-office steeple, in Glasgow. "The apparatus consists of a No. 1 Argand burner, placed a few feet out from the top of the dial, and enclosed in a nearly hemispherical lantern, the front of which is glazed; the back forms a parabolic reflector; the dial receives not only the direct, but a conical stream of reflected rays, and is thus so brilliantly illuminated, that the hours and hands can be seen with nearly the same distinctness at a distance as through the day. To mask the obtuse appearance of the lantern, its back has been made to assume the form of a spread eagle, above which is placed the city arms, the whole handsomely executed and guilt. The gas-pipe and lantern move on an air-tight joint, so that the lantern may be brought close to the steeple for cleaning when necessary. The gas is first ignited by means of a train or flash-pipe, so perforated, that when the gas issuing from the holes at the one end is lighted, the holes along the pipe become so, and thus the gas inside the lantern is kindled, as if by a train of dry gunpowder: in this way the light might be first communicated either from the street or from the steeple. The effect of the lighted dial is at once cheerful, pleasant, and useful. By a simple contrivance, the clock disengages a small detent, something similar to the larum in wooden clocks. This shuts |