journal undertook to vilify America. Next, out of of the talents put into his hands. sense of the jeopardy in which he will stand, Let it not be thought that we rate too REVIEW OF THE COURSE OF STUDY requir ED FOR ADMISSION TO OUR COLLEGES. THIS new world is usually regarded as the land of experiment and innovation. There is foundation for this remark, as to political institutions and many of the useful arts of life. Our country, however, has furnished one instance of adherence to the good old way, in which we can be blamed for want neither of closeness nor pertinacity. I refer to our courses of study, both elementary and more advanced. Most of our colleges have from time immemorial required for admission, an examination in Virgil's Works, Cicero's Orations, and in the Greek Testament. Some, of late years, have added Sallust and Collectanea Minora. Now, sir, the question arises, Will way, without dispute the best way? Were I not in a land of free institutions, and of bold and unrestrained habits of thinking, some apology perhaps might be necessary for attempting to disturb long established prejudices. As it is, I shall make no apology. Your readers are assured, that the opinions are the opinions of one, who is deeply convinced of the importance of the early impressions, and of the early habits, intellectual and moral, of the young; and who, in reference to the long contests waged in our schools with Latin and Greek, can look back, and, both as an instructer and pupil, say, Quorum pars magna fui. and to exasperate into wrath and bitterness, not an ry corner of the land. They will go, too, this course admit of no reform? Is the old individual, but a mighty empire, an empire peopled from his own native land, and in the language of a writer in this very number of the Quarterly Review, which, of all that history records, has employed the shortest time to rise to the greatest power and freedom.' there be. The article in the North American Review, must be regarded only as an open and manly avowal of a determination in the Editor of that work, to meet at once, and resist by all means which are both efficient and honourable, not only the Quarterly Review, but such other periodicals as may be disposed to follow its example, if any such This is precisely the course which the North American Review ought at this moment to take. This work is, beyond all question, at the head of the periodical literature in this country; whatever good may be derived from this supremacy, belongs of right to the work, but the Editor must remember that the responsibilities which attach to it, lie upon him. Among these responsibilities, who can regret that he includes that of protecting our national reputation? In this article, he may be considered as joining battle with one man; but this man, from his vast official influence, is a host, for he governs a host. Gifford's rancorous and inveterate hatred of this country, is as well known as his authority over the Quarterly Review, or the powerful and extended influence which that journal exerts. It is well that he is met, front to front, by the North American,-and if common fame tells truth, we may be glad that its Editor is aided in this good work, by one abundantly able to make the better and the stronger side appear so. We cannot but think this article will be useful. It must convince Mr Gifford that he is not to pursue his reckless course of calumny with impunity. It must also teach him that the resistance he will meet, will be such as he cannot despise nor pretend to despise. He will learn, not only from its tone of eloquent indignation, what feelings his boundless abuse excites here, and from its thorough exposition of his falsehoods, what measures of forbearance he may expect; but from the full and forcible array of facts, which the writer quotes, and shows himself prepared to quote, from standard English works, he may be brought to a across the ocean. There will be nothing the times, the occasions, and the men; and we We regret that the writer of this article Perhaps the propriety of commencing with Latin in preference to Greek, might well be questioned. This plan is confessedly against the order of derivation of the two languages, and the reason, which formerly led to its adoption, has now in a great meas ure ceased to exist. I refer to the use of the Latin language as the common medium of communication among literary men. Besides, there is in the formation of a large proportion of the words in Greek, a regularity and simplicity, and, so to speak, reasonableness, which must wonderfully assist the youthful memory in its acquisition. Neither, it is thought, is the construction of its sentences so difficult and involved as in Latin. I might also mention the increased interest, which is excited in the Greek language from the present state of modern Greece; but as in the introduction of my remarks I intimated, that I should give you the fruit of experience, I shall say nothing further of a plan, that I have never seen executed. On the subject of grammars, I shall say but little. Buttmann's Grammar is considered a valuable addition to the Greek grammars before in use. The view given of the formation of the Greek verb is philosophical and satisfactory, and the syntax more clear and full, than the systems found in our other Grammars. It is suggested, however, that a Latin or Greek Grammar, constructed on the plan of Wanostrocht's French Grammar, would be an improvement on those now in use. It is allowed by instructers, that the best method, which can be adopted for the acquisition of the Grammar of a language, is The necessity of remark upon the remaining Greek book, Collectanea Minora, is superseded by what has already been said on this subject in your review of Jacobs' Greek Reader. I have always considered the poetical parts of Minora, as injudiciously selected, constituting as it does, a part of the preparatory course of study. I agree with you also in the opinion, that the selections in Jacobs' Reader are wisely made-well suited by their arrangement, both to aid the feeble steps of the learner and to allure him to the fields of Grecian literature. Let me here, Mr Editor, express the satisfaction, which is felt in the view of every attempt to render our elementary course of study more thorough and adequate. A feeling of gratitude is also excited towards those, who, instead uf regaling themselves with the fruits of learning, are willing to labour for the benefit of others. This remark is equally true, whether our literary husbandmen be employed in rearing plants of native origin, or whether, selecting those of other lands, which are congenial to our climate and suited to our wants, they transplant them with due care and attention. to direct the attention to the application of Thomson or Milton upon their learning with the translation 4. The associations, of its principles and rules, as they are ex- the primer or spelling book. A boy has unfavourable in a religious view, connectemplified in the text book. With this ob- much to learn, even of his native tongue, ed with its being used as a school book. ject in view, it has been thought desirable before he can read the works of a poet 5. It may be read at a later period with to confine the attention to particular parts with pleasure or advantage. It is true, more advantage, when a knowledge of the of Grammar in succession, during several that with the help of an ordo and notes language will enable the scholar to judge weeks or days. A text book, therefore, and a clavis and occasional assistance, a as to the accuracy of the translation in constructed with a view to aid this plan, scholar may work his way through Virgil, common use. On this subject, I shall not has been a desideratum. I am happy to and at the end, may find, that his knowl- enlarge. state, that in Greek this desideratum has edge of the Latin language has increasbeen furnished by the publication of Ja- ed. But some other book would have ancobs' Greek Reader. Of this excellent el-swered this purpose better, and sure the ementary work, I shall take occasion to re- Mantuan Bard should yield other fruit than mark hereafter. this. Besides, I have often heard the reLet me here, Mr Editor, remark briefly mark made, that the impressions and assoon the pronunciation of the Latin and ciations, which are made by the reading of Greek Languages. It is generally allow- Virgil in the manner which I have described, that our scholars are deficient in this ed, are such as to produce an indifference particular, and very much so, compared to his works ever after. It is as if the lawith the scholars of Europe. And what is bour and fatigue, attendant on the attempts worse, many feel and say, that it is a sub- of the young artist to give form and project of but little consequence. Here, it is portion to the rough material, should bebelieved, is the difficulty. Now to such come associated with the symmetry and persons I would repeat the old maxim, That beauty, which are found in the finished which is worth doing, is worth doing well. productions of his art. As to the Bucolics, I would remind them, that the habit of ac- commentators cannot agree respecting the curacy of careful and minute attention, meaning or design of many of them. The is an advantage to be aimed at in the Georgics are allowed to be difficult in constudy of the dead languages; and that this struction; and the Eneid, so far as art is habit may be much strengthened by ob- concerned, is considered the most highly serving the rules of pronunciation. Fur-wrought epic poem in existence. And is ther, we sometimes wish to give authority it in the study of these productions, that to a sentiment, or point to an expression, the scholar is to learn the rudiments of the by the quotation of a Latin or Greek sen- Latin Language? tence or phrase. How awkward to be ig- Experienced instructers will, I believe, norant of its correct pronunciation. Per-join with me in deciding also against the haps it may be said, that these advantages use of Cicero's orations, as a part of the will not compensate for the labour which preparatory course of study. But lest this must be undergone. I answer, that ac- article should be too long, I will concisely I will only add, that there is much room cording to the standard, which most of our and definitely state my objections to this for improvement in our preparatory course, Literary Institutions profess to follow, the book. 1. The construction of the senten- as to the study of Geography, Book-keeptask is by no means difficult. Auxiliary to ces is too involved and difficult for a learning, &c. But these are subjects of comthis subject, I would here suggest an im- er. This difficulty seems intimately con- mon remark. provement in the mode of printing ele- nected with the oratorical style of the mentary books in Latin and Greek. It is Latin Language. 2. The minds of the known by those who have attended to this young are not sufficiently matured to unsubject, that the correct pronunciation of derstand his reasoning. This arises, partly a Latin or Greek word, depends principal- from the subtilty of the argument itself, ly upon a knowledge of the quantity of and partly from the necessity of having the penult. If long, it bears the accent; at once in the mind a comprehensive view if short, the antepenult is accented. In of the whole subject, which youthful minds all cases, therefore, in which the rules of prosody do not determine the length of the penult, let the usual long or short mark be placed over the syllable. Thus our scholars before reading the poets, might with little difficulty acquire habits of correct pronunciation. I remember well, Mr. Editor, that when a boy, I went from the study of Biglow's Latin Primer to the reading of Virgil's Bucolics, and that, with hard study and much help, I learnt ten lines for my first exercise. As to beauties of thought or expression, Virgil was in my view on a level with the Primer. In some of our schools, this plan has been improved upon, and several elementary works are read before Virgil is attempted. Still, sir, it is my opinion, that Virgil is read too early in our course of classical study. In learning our children to read their native language, we do not put into their hands the works find it difficult to acquire. 3. My third Sallust is the remaining Latin author. The objection to the use of the New Testament as a text book in Greek, have been frequently stated. They may be summed up, as follows: 1. The Greek is not pure and classical. 2. In the Epistles particularly, the construction in many passages is difficult. 3. Our familiarity As objections have been made to several books now in use, before concluding my remarks, I will propose substitutes. Instead of Virgil and Cicero's Orations, I would require Cesar's Commentaries and the five books of Livy now used in our Colleges, making Virgil and Cicero a part of the College course of study. I would omit the study of the Greek Testament and of Minora, and substitute Jacobs' Greek Reader, with the hope, that in a second edition of this work, when the long promised Greek and English Lexicon shall have been given us, the Clavis now found in Jacobs may be removed, and its place filled with more copious extracts from Greek authors. Till then, I would propose the reading of Xenophon's Anabasis or Cyropædia. Perhaps the course of study here proposed by way of substitute, may not be the best that can be suggested. The object of of this communication will be answered, should the attention of literary men be directed to the subject. I am persuaded, Mr. Editor, that improvements in our Academical institutions, have not advanced with the progress of society in science and literature. B. C. POETRY. AN INDIAN AT THE BURYING-PLACE OF HIS FATHERS. It is the spot I came to seek, My fathers' ancient burial-place, Ere from these vales, ashamed and weak, It is the spot,-I know it well- For here the upland bank sends out A ridge toward the river side; I know the shaggy hills about, The meadow smooth and wide; The plains, that, toward the southern sky, Fenced east and west by mountains lie. A white man, gazing on the scene, Would say a lovely spot was here, And praise the lawns so fresh and green Between the hills so sheer. I like it not-I would the plain The sheep are on the slopes around, And prancing steeds, in trappings gay, Methinks it were a nobler sight To see these vales in woods arrayed, Their summits in the golden light, Their trunks in grateful shade, And herds of deer, that bounding go O'er rills and prostrate trees below. And then to mark the lord of all, The forest hero, trained to wars, Quivered and plumed, and lithe and tall, And seamed with glorious scars, Walk forth, amid his reign, to dare The wolf, and grapple with the bear. This bank, in which the dead were laid, Was sacred when its soil was ours; Hither the artless Indian maid Brought wreaths of beads and flowers, And the gray chief and gifted seer Worshipped the God of thunders here. But now the wheat is green and high On clods that hid the warrior's breast, And scattered in the furrows lie The weapons of his rest, And there, in the loose sand, is thrown Of his large arm the mouldering bone. Ah little thought the strong and brave Who bore their lifeless chieftain forth, Or the young wife, that weeping gave Her first-born to the earth, That the pale race, who waste us now, They waste us-aye-like April snow Towards the setting day,- But I behold a fearful sign, To which the white men's eyes are blind; Their race may vanish hence, like mine, And leave no trace behind, Save ruins o'er the region spread, And the white stones above the dead. Before these fields were shorn and tilled, Full to the brim our rivers flowed; The melody of waters filled The fresh and boundless wood; Those grateful sounds are heard no more, REBECCA TO ROWENA. "Lady, I've looked upon thy face; Lady, I love thee, for thou art Of him who is to thee so dear; To whom I owe my honour, life; The mortal strife of Templestowe, As if she were of man the foe. B. My blessing on him-fare thee well; My face no more; I go away That the poor Jewess lives a slave! Yet though the darkly-rolling wave The scorn which all have freely given As if it were my birth-right here, Are nought-my humble, fervent prayer The God of Israel shall hear ;-we meet in Heaven. H. A TRADITION OF THE LAKE OF COMO. And loudly dashed the billows white And down upon the roaring waves There bloomed no rose upon her cheek, And sadly, when the storm was o'er, "He comes not! and he will not come! She weeps; but lo! a soft sweet note! 125 And through the deepened shades of night And one tall form she dimly sees, With snowy plume and mantle dark. "Be swift!"-'tis Carlo's well known voice? Red, brief, and sudden came a flash Full well she knew her sire's true aim, Then comes a brief, an awful pause, Is it a whiter wreath of foam, THE ROSE D'AMOUR. 'O not the rose d'Amour for me,' Pg. A FAREWELL TO A FAVOURITE SPOT. Ye fair domains which nature loves to kiss, Where my whole soul by magic spells was bound, Wrapped in a short reality of bliss, While fancy flung her golden dreams around! Flushed with the flowery pride of Summer sheen, Your laughing verdure cheered my frequent view; Brown Autumn's breath now sears the withering scene, Tinged with each bright but melancholy hue. Joy of my life! I will not see thee droop; Nor count thy charms, decaying leaf by leaf;Thy groves a desolate and dreary group, Thrilled by the moanings of thy wintry grief. But back I haste to crowds and hurried life; Back to the town and all its tasteless joys; Where rude Ambition stalks, with ruthless strife, And silken Pleasure smileth and destroys. There must I act the cringing courtier's part, 126 ON BEING ASKED BY A LADY TO WRITE Know'st thou a calm sequestered vale, There by the rushy brink thy bard,* But now each fragrant flower is fled- Alarm not then the poet's fire, Nor break his gloomy slumbers; Or in the whirlwind's harrowing breath, T**. foreign countries, without permission of not parallel with the true bow, but in an NEW FRENCH POEM. Great expectations have been excited with regard to a Poem called "Philippe Auguste," about to be published by M. Parseval Grandmaison, one of the members of the French Academy. The enlightened judges whom the author has consulted respecting his work, have been much struck with its poetical beauties, and predict that it will be singularly successful. NEW SCOTTISH NOVEL. bows similar in appearance were seen in Roxbury, on the morning of the 18th inst. South Boston, July 28. W. INFLUENCE OF SOUNDS ON DIFFERENT In the human ear the fibres of the circular tympanum radiate from its centre to its circumference, and are of equal length; but Sir Edward Home has found that in the Elephant, where the tympanum is oval, they are of different lengths, like the radii that the human ear is adapted for sounds by from the focus of an ellipse. He considers the equality of the radii, and he is of opinon that the long fibres in the tympanum of the Elephant enable it to hear very minute sounds, which it is known to do. A pianoforte having been sent on purpose to Exeter Change (a repository for wild beasts), the higher notes hardly attracted the EleThe next publication of the Great Un-phant's notice, but the lower ones roused known is said to be founded on the adven- his attention. The effect of the higher tures of certain adherents of the Pretender, notes of the instrument upon the great about fifteen years after the rebellion. Lion in Exeter Change, was only to excite his attention, which was very great. He remained silent and motionless. But no sooner were the flat notes sounded, than he sprang up, attempted to break loose, lashed his tail, and seemed so furious and enraged, as to frighten the female spectators. This was attended with the deepest yells, which ceased with the music. Sir E. Home has found this inequality of the fibres in neat cattle, the Horse, the Deer, the Hare, and the Cat. PYROXYLIC SPIRIT. AURORA BOREALIS. A few years ago, Mr Warburton, of London, sent to the late Dr Marcet of Geneva, a certain quantity of a particular fluid arising from the rectification of the acetic acid of wood. Messrs Macaire and Marcet, jr, members of the Society of Physics and Natural History at Geneva, having examined this fluid, read in the meeting of the Society, held on the 16th of last October, a memoir on the subject. These two chemists have given to the fluid in question the name of Pyroxylic Spirit, which recalls Dr T. L. Thienemann, who spent the its origin. Their observations lead them winter of 1820 and 1821 in Iceland, made to conclude, first, that there exist at least numerous observations on the polar lights. two vegetable fluids, simple, and distinct He states the following as some of the genfrom alcohol, but possessing like that liquid, eral results of his observations: 1. The the property of forming with acids, partic-polar lights are situated in the lightest and ular etherial spirits; secondly, that these highest clouds of our atmosphere. 2. They two fluids, which they distinguish by the are not confined to the winter season or to names, Pyroacetic spirit and Pyroxylic spir- the night, but are present in favourable it, are different from each other both in their circumstances, at all times, but are only properties and in their composition. distinctly visible during the absence of the solar rays. 3. The polar lights have no PECULIARITY IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE determinate connexion with the earth. 4. He never heard any noise proceed from them. 5. Their common form, in Iceland, is the arched, and in a direction from N. E. and W. S. W. 6. Their motions are various, but always within the limits of clouds containing them. RAINBOW. The following notice of a peculiarity in the appearance of the Rainbow, was published in the Boston Centinel. A rainbow was seen at South Boston, yesterday morning, six o'clock, a little to the south of west, which appeared to militate in its principles with the commonly received theory. The true bow was a well defined arch, the chord of which was one eighth of a great circle, and had nothing peculiar attached to it. The false bow was CUMMINGS, HILLIARD, & Co. HAVE just received from France and Germany, seventeen cases of BOOKS, most of them very valuable and rare, and the price low. Among them are the following Waltoni (Briani) Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, (Hebr. Samar. Græc. Syriac. Chald. Æthiop. Persic. et Vulg. Lat.) Lond. 1657. 6 vols. fol. Well bound and in excellent order. [This is the most valuable of the Polyglotts, and has never yet been superseded.] Castelli (Edmundi) Lexicon Heptaglotton, Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, Ethiopicum, Arabicum et Persicum. Cui accessit Grammatica Linguarum earundem. Lond. 1669. 2 vols. fol. [This Lexicon should accompany the Polyglott.] Price of the Polyglott Bible and Lexicon, $85,00. Kennicott (Benj.) Vetus Testamentum Hebraicum, cum variis Lectionibus. Oxon. 1776-80. 2 tom. fol. in boards. $42,00. ised Western Flora of Mr Nuttall, will Buxtorf's (the elder) Hebrew Bible, with a Rabbinical Commentary, including his This work will be completed in 8 or 10 Tiberias sive Commentarius Masorethicus. numbers, each containing about 150 pages, Basil, 1620. 2 vols. fol. in boards. $30,00. and accompanied with one or more plates. Critici Sacri sive Annotata Doctissimo- A number will be published, as nearly rum Virorum in Vet. et Nov. Testamentum. as circumstances will permit, every two Quibus accedunt Tractatus varii Theologi- months. Price $1,25, payable on delivery. co-philologici. Amstel. 1698. 8 vols. in 9. The first and second numbers of this valhandsomely bound in vellum. $45,00. [This uable work are already published, and may edition contains more than the London edi- be seen at CUMMINGS, HILLIARD, & Co's. tion of 1660.] Calvini (Johannis) Opera. Amstel. 1667 -71. 9 vols. in 5. in vellum. Bibliotheca Fratrum Polonorum. Irenop. 1656 and 1692. 10 vols. in 7. fol. in boards, viz. 1 tom. A JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN ITALY, Socini (Fausti) Opera. 2 tom. "The design which has been kept in view Crellii (Joannis) Opera. 4 tom. in 2. in preparing this Journal for the press, is to Slichtingii de Bukowiec (Jona) Commen-give a faithful picture of objects which came taria Posthuma in plerosque N. T. Libros. under the author's observation, and to bring them up in such a manner that they may strike the reader's mind as they at first struck his own; for this reason the descriptions have been made diffuse, in order to embrace such circumstances as he deemed necessary to his plan. It may be considered a fault to enlarge so much on trifles; but Wolzogenii (J. L.) Opera. 2 vols. in 1. etc. 1 tom. Clerici (Joannis) Commentarius in Vet. et Nov. Testam. Amstel. et Francof. 1710-31. 7 vols. in 3. Hammond's (Henry) Paraphrase and Annotations on the New Testament. Lond. 1671. fol. Lampe (Fr. Adolphi) Commentarius Analytico-exegeticus Evangelii secundum Joannem. Amstel. 1723. 3 tom. 4to. neatly bound in vellum. $7,87. Wolfii (J. Christ.) Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ in N. T. Hamb. 1737-41. 5 vols. 4to. $7,25. In Psalmos. 66 66 Rosenmuelleri (E. F. C.) Scholia in Vetus Testamentum. Lips. 8vo. viz. In Pentateuchum. Vol. I. (Gen.) 1821. Vol. II. (Exod.) 1822. Vol. I. (Ps. i.-xx.) 1821. Vol. II. (Ps. xxi.—liv.) 1822. In Jesaiam. 3 vols. 1810-20. In Ezechiel. 2 vols. 1808-10. In Prophetas Minores. 4 vols. 1812-16. [These are the latest editions of this valuable commentary.] Schulzi (J. C. F.) Scholia in Vetus Testamentum. Continuata (inde a vol. iv.) a G. perhaps it may be received in palliation, if his For sale by CUMMINGS, HILLIARD, & Co. NEW BOOKS. PRIVATE Correspondence of William Memoirs of John Aiken, M. D. By Lu- Smellie's Philosophy of Natural History, CUMMINGS, HILLIARD, & Co. 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