almost every considerable point of prison discipline, indicates that the end and aim of punishment and the means of effectuating its purposes, whatever they may be, are at present but imperfectly understood. The discussions, however, which have taken place, and which continue to arise, on this very serious topic, will be serviceable at least in showing how much is yet unknown, how much room is left in many instances for considerate and judicious experiments, and how far something may be hoped from the diffidence which a system of severity, long pursued with little efficacy, ought to inspire as to a perseverance in the same system.-[Ibid.

A Midsummer-Day's Dream: a Poem. By Edwin Atherstone, Author of "The Last Days of Herculaneum," and "Abradates and Panthea." 12mo. pp. 173.

LIKE the former effusions of Mr. Atherstone's muse, this poem is distinguished by a highly fanciful and imaginative character, which often reaches a degree of extravagance and absurdity; though accompanied by decided manifestations of poetic power. It is written in the extreme taste of our more wild and daring geniuses of the age, of the late poet Shelley, John Wilson, and other less. celebrated names belonging to the same school; and these, we must admit, the author has very successfully emulated, especially in the dark pictures in which their fancy so much delights to abound. For this reason it would be no very easy task to describe the scope and object of the present poem: which, however, corresponds very exactly with its title, for it is nothing but a strange yet poetical" Day-Dream," full of the most opposite and incoherent scenes, pleasing and melancholy descriptions, reveries, and sights of pleasure and of woe.

"A court of cobblers and a mob of kings."

However richly such a species of composition may be embued with fine and fanciful passages, bright and bold imagery, and attempts to reach the more daring beauties of the art, we conceive it to be our duty to enter our decided protest against the indulgence of a similar taste, at the expense of all that is correct and classical, and of all those studied graces which were so much prized by most of our older writers.-Instances of this species of license are too frequent throughout the present work; though at the same time, perhaps, it has enabled the author to manifest some occasional beauties which he might not otherwise have ventured to attempt. These, however, will hardly compensate for the loss of that chaster pleasure which we derive from a perusal of more tasteful and classical compositions; which, if they do not so often transport us with daring and romantic flights, afford a more rational and sustained interest, calculated to inform the judgment and to gratify the taste. Still we grant that much latitude may be claimed by a poet whose subject is a "Midsummer-Day's Dream;" and passages of a beau

tiful romantic kind are not wanting to justify such a claim. The following sample is of this character, and breathes the spirit of true poetry:

'Methought that, as I lay,

A shape of dazzling light stood over me;

His stature more than man's, but full of grace
And indescribable beauty. Gold-tinged locks,
That shone like sunbeams, round his temples curl'd,
And cluster'd in his neck; his ample brow
Was pure and open as the cloudless heaven;
His eye gazed on me with a bright, soft fire,
Like the first sun-tints on some mountain's peak
Seen from the vales below, ere day hath risen.
He seem'd not flesh like man, nor yet mere air;
But like some glorious thing of light create,
Rosy with morn's first blush. High majesty
He had; but therewith blended a divine
Softness, benignity, and gracefulness:

And, where he stood, I mark'd the slender grass,
That would have bent beneath an insect's weight,
Standing unbow'd and freely vibrating

To every sighing breeze.

He spake at length:-
The tones were tender as the lightest pulse
Of that sweet harp touch'd by the delicate fingers
Of spirits of the air, yet had a power

Upon my soul like low-discoursing thunder
Heard in the still night: with that power a charm
Like woman's voice, when in the deep repose
Of summer's twilight she first owns her love.
I could not fear, for 'twas not terrible;
I could not love, for it was too majestic;
But I could deeply, fervently admire,
And bow my spirit down as when I gaze
At midnight on the unfathomable deep
Of ether, spangled with its myriad fires.
Thus the melodious-voiced one spake; and the air
Took fragrance from his rosy-tinted lips.

"Thou art a son of earth, and earthly eyes
See nought but what is earthly. The fine shapes
Ethereal that people this fair world

And the vast universe, ye cannot see:
Ye can behold the rich vermilion clouds
Of morning and of eve, but cannot view
The beautiful spirits that therein reside,

And make them beautiful. Ye can see the flowers,
Their shapes and colours, and your other sense
Perceives their odorous exhalations; but

The forms from your thick sight are hid, that mould
Their elegant fabric, paint their various hues,

And breathe into them perfume. When the wind
Wails through the gloomy forest, ye see not
The solemn spirit on the lonely hill

Making that mournful music. Ye can hear

The voice of thunders, thronging waves, and groans
Of earthquakes; but ye never could behold,

And live, the terrible and mighty powers

That work them.

"All the earth, the sea, the sky,

Have many such; your fellow-planets too
That roll like yours round yon magnificent sun :--
He also hath ethereal ministers

"To us, whose purer elements
Are all unfetter'd by gross matter, time

And space are nought, or almost nought; for we
Are not ethereal quite. That highest Spirit

Whom we name not, but, thinking of, bow down,--
That Highest One alone is spirit pure.

Yet farthest space by us is quicker spann'd

Than by man's quickest thought. Pass in your mind
Around the globe,-o'er seas and continents
Speed with a glance,-yet our fleet essences
Shall reach the goal before you," ' &c. &c.—[Ibid.

Select Proverbs of all Nations: illustrated with Notes and Comments. To which is added, A Summary of Ancient Pastimes, Holidays, and Customs. With an Analysis of the Wisdom of the Ancients, and of the Fathers of the Church. The whole arranged on a new Plan. By Thomas Fielding. Pocket 12mo. pp. 216. Longman and Co. 1824.

We have looked into the little volume now before us, and can recommend it, without hesitation, to those who have a taste for what may be termed the popular philosophy of old times, in this and other countries.-The advertisement which introduces it will explain the nature and plan of its contents better than we can.

"In making the present Selection of Proverbs, the first object has been to glean the wisest and best in the sayings of all nations; collecting not merely their ethical maxims, but whatever is characteristic of national manners, humour, and intelligence.

"With respect to arrangement, I have not exactly followed the plan of any of my predecessors, but have endeavoured to combine the double advantages of alphabetic order, with facility for referring to any particular description of proverbs, according to its subject.

The authors to whom I have chiefly resorted, are Ray's English Proverbs, Kelly's Scottish Proverbs, Mackintosh's Gaëlic Proverbs, the French and Italian Proverbs of Dubois and Veneroni, Collins's Spanish Proverbs, the Glossary of Archdeacon Nares, Grose's Provincial Glossary, D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, Todd's Johnson; with several minor works, too numerous to mention.

"It is necessary to bear in mind, ours is only a Selection: to have given the entire proverbs of any people would have far exceeded the limits of the present plan, and consequently I have only gleaned from each nation what seemed worthy of modern taste and refinement. Where a proverb appeared curious or important, the original or parallel proverb in other languages has been retained: this can be attended with little inconvenience to

the English reader, and may be interesting to the scholar, and those who wish to be accurately acquainted with the spirit and origin of the old sayings. Besides, there are persons so fastidious as to refrain from quoting a proverb in plain English, who would not scruple to use it in the Latin, Italian, French, or Spanish languages.

"To each proverb is added the name of the country to which it belongs,, when that could be ascertained; and when no name is affixed, the proverb may generally be concluded to be English. But there is nothing so uncertain as the derivation of proverbs, the same proverb being often found in all nations, and it is impossible to assign its paternity. For this, two reasons may be given. Proverbs are founded on nature; and as nature and man are generally uniform, it is no wonder that different people, under similar circumstances, have come to similar conclusions. Another reason is, their short and portable form, which adapted them for communication from one nation to another.

"The exposition of 'ANCIENT PASTIMES, CUSTOMS,' &c. which forms the second part, was necessary to elucidate the proverbs: one exhibits the mind; the other, the living manners of the period. In this portion of the work, I chiefly relied on Strutt's Sports and Pastimes of the People, Brand's Observations on Popular Antiquities, and the voluminous works of Grose.

"VULGAR ERRORS' form the third subject, and complete the picture of the olden time: these I chiefly collected from Sir Thomas Browne's Inquiry into Common and Vulgar Errors, Fovargue's Catalogue of Vulgar Errors, and Barrington's Observations on the Ancient Statutes.

"At the conclusion is placed, under a different arrangement, an 'Analysis of the Wisdom of the Ancients, and of the Fathers of the Church:' we have thus the wisdom of the people derived from experience, to contrast with the wisdom of the schools, of poets, philosophers, and the founders of the Christian faith. The intention is, to form a supplemental volume on the Wisdom of the Moderns,' including the beauties, ranged aphoristically, of the most celebrated writers, from the period of the revival of learning to the present time.

"The work will then be complete, condensing, in a small compass, the essence of universal knowledge, natural and acquired."

[Ibid.

The Footman's Directory and Butler's Remembrancer; or, the Advice of Onesimus to his young Friends: comprising Hints on the Arrangement and Performance of their Work; Rules for setting out Tables and Sideboards; the Art of waiting at Table, and conducting large and small Parties; Directions for cleaning Plate, Glass, Furniture, Clothes, and all other things

which come within the Care of a Man-Servant; and Advice respecting Behaviour to Superiors, Trades-people, and FellowServants. With an Appendix, comprising various useful Receipts and Tables. By Thomas Cosnett. By Thomas Cosnett. New Edition, with considerable Additions and Improvements. 12mo. 4s. 6d. Boards. Simpkin and Co.

HERE is no Dean Swift come among us again, with his dangerously ironical Rules for Servants, but a sober and serious writer, who gives really useful directions for that class of persons, and who apparently must have belonged to it himself, as he professes. In that case, however, we must say, without undue compliment to him or unjust disparagement of others, that we have never met with any who could be compared to him for good sense, good conduct, and complete mastery of his business: nor can we expect to find such, unless they be formed by a diligent study of his book. This, however, is the very thing of which we should despair, with regard to the work itself: for it is so comprehensive, calls on a servant to acquire so much knowledge, and in short would make him something so like perfection, that we fear it will inspire those who consult it with hopelessness rather than with courage to follow its dictates. Yet it is said to be a new edition, and must consequently have received encouragement in the sale of a first impression. We are very glad if we may entertain this idea, and should be happy to hear of its farther success: to which we would willingly contribute by our recommendation of it.-[Ib.

SELECTED FOR THE MUSEUM.

GYMNASTICS.

THE people of this land of roast beef and plum-pudding have not the slightest idea that, in common with other nations, they labour under the sore reproach of doing nothing, absolutely nothing, for their bodies. But the fact is stated in a Prospectus of Gymnastic Exercises now before us, and, after a moment's reflection, we cannot gainsay it. We certainly use our bodies ill, we give them foul names, call them clay, &c.; and then, as vile earthenware vessels, we apply them chiefly to kitchen uses, and do little more with them than pot meats in them; or else we live in our bodies as men live in tenements, which they have on short leases, and never think of improving the premises, or of adding to their means of accommodating us. "I shall not live here long," is the thriftless reply to every suggestion of wisdom; and then, when the tabernacle yields to time, and becomes uncomfortable and disagreeable to inhabit, we thrust any vile doctor's stuff into the breaches, just as though we were botching an Irish cabin, and, like tinkers, generally make two holes in mending one. Even in their best days men used their bodies in this rackrent way, merely because their time was