NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER: WITH AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL PROËMIUM. Authors or Publishers, desirous of seeing an early notice of their Works, are requested to transmit copies before the 18th of the Month. MONGST the various pleasures afforded PARTINGTON, is, however, well calculated A a country residence, is certainly The subject is not one that possesses the permanency and increasing interest afforded by the superintendence and management of gardens and pleasure-grounds. The taste for this species of occupation has, of late years, been spreading itself rapidly over the country, as the Horticultural and other societies sufficiently evince. Those, who once passed the time they were doomed by fashion to spend in the country, in a continued round of dullness and ennui, will find, in the culti vation of this taste, a never-failing source of pleasure and interest. But a great difficulty is experienced by all, on beginning to lay out their gardens, or ornament and improve their pleasure-grounds, from the want of proper directions for their operations. None of our present works on horticulture at all accomplish in themselves this purpose, treating exclusively either on picturesque or on practical gardening. The first work, including all that can be desired to be known on this subject, has lately been presented to us, and is as able in its execution as it is comprehensive in its system. It is entitled, An Encyclopædia of Gardening, comprising the theory and practice of Horticulture, Arboriculture, and Landscape Burdening, by J. C. LOUDON, F.L.S. H.S. &c. This treatise opens with a learned research into the state of gardening in ancient times, and brings down the history of the art, in various countries, particularly in Britain, to the present time. It then treats upon the science in all its branches, in'cluding the most modern improvements, and furnishes many valuable suggestions for its future progress in the British Isles. The text is interspersed with nearly six hundred wood-engravings by Branston. The immense importance of steam as a prime-mover in mechanics will insure a favourable reception to any work upon so interesting a subject. It is indeed astonishing, that the description of a discovery, which has exerted so prodigious an influence on the agriculture, commerce, and the happiness of mankind, should have been left altogether to Encyclopedias and works of a general nature. Till the appearance of Mr. Partington's Treatise, we do not know a single work which can satisfy the curiosity of the ingenious reader. every other work (we do not even except Dr. Brewster's excellent edition,-Robison,) some point or other is either wholly omitted, or carelessly and erroneously stated. The Historical and Descriptive Account of the Steam Engine, by CHAS. FRED. In interesting, the practical knowledge extensive, the language elegant, and the arrangement philosophical. The illustrations, from parliamentary and other documents, exhibit the most indefatigable research, and shew that Mr. Partington has spared neither labour nor expence to render his work deserving of the public patronage. The historical account of its discovery and improvements is very entertaining, and the description of the engine as little technical and as intelligible as possible. But it is the chapter on steam-navigation with which we have been most pleased. It is, indeed, the most satisfactory account we have ever seen; and, had our Supplement not been already made up, we should certainly have done ourselves the pleasure of extracting it. As this, however, may not be, we have only to add, that the graphic illustrations by Clement and Gladwin are executed in the first style of art, and that such persons as are desirous of further information on the subject, cannot do better than consult this work. The name of Mr. Bowles as a poet, has been almost forgotten in the crowd of celebrated men who have followed him; and, indeed, he seemed to have forsaken the lyre of the poet for the pen of the critic. Moderate, however, as the reputation is, which his muse enjoys, we think he may more securely rest his claims to attention on his poetical than his critical labours. His controversy with Lord Byron, as he tells us in his preface, drew his attention to a poem written some time ago, and The Grave of the last Saxon, and the Legend of the Curfew, has consequently seen the light. It cannot be denied that there is an occasional elegance about Mr. Bowles's poetry, which in some degree compensates for the want of higher qualities; but, at the same time, we must say that we think his sonnets partook more of this characteristic than the poem before us, which is, on the whole, exceedingly heavy for so short a performance. Perhaps some of the descriptions of natural scenery are the most pleasing parts of it. So entirely do we wish to divest our pages of all theological controversy, that we should have undoubtedly passed over, in silence, A Respectful Letter to the Earl of Liverpool, occasioned by the speech imputed to his Lordship at the Isle of Thanet Bible Society Meeting, October 27, 1821; by the REV. H. H. NORRIS, M.A. &c. had not a passage in the very first page caught our attention. attention. Most of our readers must know, that there exists a schism between the Bible Society, formed for the purpose of translating and disseminating the Bible, free from comment, in all languages, and the Bartlett-buildings Society, professing the like purpose, only accompanying the bible with a prayer-book in the same language. The former body, or some of their advocates, induced no doubt by the liberality of sentiment which distinguishes this speech, printed an extract from it in the shape of a hand-bill, and distributed it amongst their friends. About a year ago they established an Auxiliary Society at Warwick; and, on that circumstance, is introduced the passage above alluded to, which is to the purport following. "This speech was printed by the Dissenters at Warwick, and left in the shape of a handbill at every house in the town, preparatory to an attempt to bring that county under the Bible Society's Auxiliary System, in defiance of the well-known disapproval of the great body of its inhabitants, both clergy and laity, and of the public protest of the vicar of Warwick." Now, by mere accident, for we belong to neither society, we were present at this meeting; and from our own immediate knowledge and observation, can contradict almost every fact stated in the above sentence. In the first place, we doubt the assertion that the Dissenters printed the hand-bill alluded to; and, we feel ourselves bound to say, that the attempt, as the author is pleased to call it, though it most fully succeeded, to establish that society, was not in defiance of the disapproval of a great, or indeed any, body of the inhabitants of the town. The only opposition made was by the vicar of one parish, and a more feeble or ill-advised speech we certainly never heard on any public occasion. The minister of the other parish, supported by all those of the dissenting interest, and one member for the county, brought the matter forward, nor was there more than that one dissentient hand and voice against it. Surprised by the falsity of this first statement, we read the work, in hopes of finding some, at least, plausible argument in support of the opinions it maintains, but not one could we meet with. Surely, if the doctrines of the church are the doctrines of the Bible, they will not require a prayer-book to accompany it in order to propagate them. An article in our last number informed our readers of the enormous wealth, and consequently influence, possessed by the clergy; and their principal intention, in the institution of the Bartlett-buildings Society; seems to be to extend that power, and to separate themselves as much as possible from their conscientious dissenting brethren, instead of softening down the distinction existing between them, which we should, at least, have thought the part of ministers of a gospel of peace. We must also condemn the attempted virulent sarcastic strain in which these pages are written, as by no means the language in which a member, who proudly designates himself a minister of an humble religion of charity and peace, should address another, and, for aught we know, or he can know, a worthier member of the same church, and one who reposes his faith in the same divine writings. We notice, with much pleasure, the republication of the excellent pamphlet of the celebrated Lord Somers, entitled, The Security of Englishmen's Lives or the Trust, Power, and Duty, of the Grand Juries of England explained; with prefatory observations by the editor, illustrative of the character of modern grand juries, which contain some important information, and many pointed and well-timed animadversions. We consider it highly expedient, at this period, when a kind of corporate attorney-generalship has been assumed by the notorious Bridge-street Association, that grand juries should be fully alive to the very important nature of their functions, and be put upon their guard against the insidious attempts of personal interest or party rancour. From any bias arising from political feeling, a body of men like the grand jury, assembled for the purposes of even-handed justice, cannot be kept too free; and we think that, in this view, the jealousy which the editor avows of the disproportionate number of justices of the peace on the grand-jury lists, is well founded. This objection, and others, may be easily obviated if the sheriff will fairly perform his duty. Instead of a partial selection, a full list ought to be returned of all persons liable to serve as grand jurors, and a regular rotation observed in summoning them. We should then look in vain for grand jurors setting themselves forth as political partizans, and uttering intemperate denunciations against offences, which are about to come under their own judicial cognizance. The whole pamphlet is full of instructive matter, and we recommend it to the serious perusal and consideration of our readers. We do not know whether the administration of "truth severe, by fairy fiction drest," is not carried beyond the proper point, when the pages of a novel are made the vehicle of the most serious and abstruse doctrines of the church. No Enthusiasm, or a Tale of the present Times, is a work of this description, in which no inconsiderable talent and power of observation are devoted to the inculcation of the religious principles of the evangelical party in our church establishment. To every fair way of propagating these tenets, and to the present plan amongst the rest, we are not disposed to object; and, perhaps, to those persons whose scruples forbid them to touch touch an unsanctified work of fancy, it fur. nishes a convenient mode of reconciling amusement and conscience. But then we must insist that other religious sects be treated with tolerable candour; which, we are sorry to say, is by no means the case in the volumes before us. The Catholics are described as implacable enemies to the establishment of the country; their tenets are said to neutralize the best principles of Christianity, and their civil emancipation is reprobated in the strongest terms. The subtleties of Unitarianism, a faith which is rather distinguished by its rejection of subtleties, are spoken of with a kind of horror, and no opportunity is omitted of depreciating every sect but that which, having had the good fortune to number the learned author (for we take it for granted he is a lawyer,) amongst its proselytes, has thus become, at once, the standard of spiritual truth. Nor are his political opinions at all more moderate. The visionary schemes of reform are rejected with contempt, as being either the masks of the designing or the dreams of the imbecile. In one of his views alone do we cordially coincide with the author, and this is in the diffusion of universal education, for which, strange to say, he is a strenuous advocate. Thus it is that the advancing spirit of the age urges on even the bigotted and the prejudiced to the adoption of beneficial measures, by which the web woven with so much care will be finally unravelled. Universal education is the only engine we ask, to effect the most generous and wholesome schemes of civil and ecclesiastical reformation. In other respects, we have derived considerable amusement from the perusal of the work, which is written in a pleasing and correct style, and is not without interest in its fable. We would willingly hope that the time is not far distant, when the government, taking advantage of the present interval of peace, will turn its serious attention to the subject of impressment, on which the opinion of professional men, we are happy to observe, begins to be very unequivocally expressed. As lovers of the constitution, and as philanthropists, we have nothing to say against the prevailing system. To arguments advanced against it by us in those characters, and as landsmen into the bargain, it would be very cogently replied, that we are mere innovating theorists, who have never made a voyage, and wish to pave the way for reform. We very willingly, therefore, turn over the controversy to post-captains and lieutenants, who have been more conversant with hard blows than with subtle speculation; whose reforms will not be suspected of extending beyond the body politic of a man-of-war; but whose good sense and good feeling strongly point out to them the absurdity, the wickedness, and the disadvantages of our abominable system of impressment, A valuable pamphlet, by CAPTAIN LAYMAN, of the navy, entitled, The Pioneer, or Strictures on Maritime Strength and Economy, embraces some just remarks and useful suggestions on this topic; to which we may add two other recent publications of considerable merit, under the titles of Cursory Suggestions on Naval Subjects, with a Plan for raising Seamen by Ballot, and Reasons for abolishing Impressment; by LIEUT. R. S. HALY, R.N. The object of the scheme, developed at some length, in the Cursory Suggestions, is to limit the period of service in the navy, and to establish an universal ballot, enforced by embargo, on the breaking out of a war; which the author is of opinion would supply a considerably greater number of able seamen than can possibly be raised by the impress. The Reasons are given in a very plain, honest, and earnest manner, and are, to our apprehension, unanswerable. We fervently unite with the writer in his warm expostulations: "In the name of God, of common sense, of humanity, of mercy, let this vile practice be abandoned; let at least some attempt be made to do without it." It is to be hoped that these prayers will not be given to the winds; that these solid arguments will not be disregarded; that corruption and abuse are not altogether unassailable and impregnable; and that, in this quarter at least, they will shortly yield to the united arguments and authority of so many gallant members of the profession. An interesting volume of American Biography has lately appeared, entitled, Memoirs of Charles Brockden Brown, the American Novelist, Author of Wieland, Ormond, Arthur Mervyn, &c. with Selections from his Original Letters and Miscellaneous Writings, by WM. DUNLAP. Mr. Brown's works have been long known to the English public, one of them, Arthur Mervyn, having been reprinted in this country nearly twenty years ago; and they appear to have obtained fully as much celebrity as they merit. The life of the novelist has afforded but little matter for the pen of his biographers, and exhibits nothing more than a sketch of those literary occupations to which Mr. Brown's life was devoted, He was originally destined to the profession of the law, but a morbid temper of mind, from which he was never free, induced him to relinquish his legal views; and he seems to have had recourse to literary pursuits rather as a means of filling up his time, than from any desire of distinction or love of gain. In his epistolary style he is not successful; he betrays too much sententiousness and formality, and affects something of the stateliness of Johnson's style. The miscellanies at the end of the volume are not of much importance. To an American these Memoirs may be valuable; but, on this side of the Atlantic, Atlantic, they will not, probably, excite much attention. The question as to the injurious or bene ficial effects of machinery has been of late contested with some warmth, in consequence of the depressed state of agriculture, and the attempts which have been made in some parts of the country to deter the farmer from the use of the threshing machines. In Norfolk and Suffolk many of these machines have been riotously destroyed, and we observe that many gentlemen have recommended to their tenants to desist from using them. This measure originates, no doubt, in a very benevolent motive; but we confess it seems to us absurd to compel the farmer, in the midst of his distress, to thresh his corn in a more tedious and expensive way than before. This is not the way to relieve him, nor, in the end, to serve the labourer, who cannot thrive on the ruin of the farmer. It is not the threshing machine which has thrown agricultural labourers out of employ, but a financial machine of a very different structure. Let the farmer get, what he cannot get under the present system, a permanent remunerating price for his crops, and we should soon see the labouring classes in full employ, in spite of machines for threshing, or for any other purpose. We have been led into these remarks by a little tract, entitled, An Address to Manufacturers, Far mers, &c. proving the use of machinery to be destructive to the morals and happiness of the nation,—a position in which we cannot at all concur with the author, whose work, however well meant, is calculated to spread very mistaken and mischievous notions. Of the general good effect of machinery, in supplying an article of necessity or comfort in greater abundance, and at a diminished price, there cannot be a doubt. Nor do we consider its particular effect on the labourer to be more questionable. Every diminution in price acts as a bounty on consumption; and the increase of consumption will create a demand for additional labour. No one will pretend to say that, without the aid of ingenious machinery, our cotton and woollen manufactories would have employed more than a small proportion of their present hands. The low prices and extensive markets created by machinery have been found, by experience, to call more labour into action than can be required by the limited demand for the slower and more expensive operations of the hand. To conclude with an example: the invention of the press threw a number of scribes out of employ, but we think it must be allowed that this machine has found occupation for an incalculably greater number of la bourers than would ever have earned a livelihood by the pen. The relatives of the late Rev. CALEB EVANS have acted with sound discretion in publishing his Sermons, which are cha racterised by much good sense and very excellent principles, both moral and religious. When regarded as the productions of a young man, who was cut off, at the early age of twenty-one, from the society of which he promised to become a distinguished ornament, they may be regarded as singular indications of mature excellence. A short but interesting memoir is prefixed to the sermons, from the pen of the editor, Dr. T. Southwood Smith, who has recorded the talents and virtues of his deceased young friend in terms of warm, and apparently well-founded, affection and esteem. An amusing journal of a tour, under the title of "A Week's Ramble into the Western Highlands," is subjoined, which is interesting, as another relic of the young author; and the volume concludes with an excellent Sermon on Resignation, by the Rev. John Evans, the father of the deceased, being the first preached after the death of his son, and written for that occasion. The sudden and afflicting catastrophe, which terminated the career of one of the most original and imaginative of our poets, has excited general sympathy and regret; and the admirers of his brilliant and eccentric genius will not be slow to lament his fate, and commemorate his high endowments. We notice a short, but elegant and feeling tribute to his memory, in an Elegy on the Death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, by ARTHUR BROOKE, whose compositions we have heretofore had opportunities of mentioning with deserved approbation. There is much pathos and poetical spirit in Mr. Brooke's stanzas; and it is an affecting consideration, that the generous poet, who so lately gave "the meed of his melodious tear" to the grave of the young and unfortunate Keats, to whom he was personally unknown, should so soon claim the same melancholy offices, and receive them, as in this instance, from stranger hands. It is not fit that he should "float upon his watery bier umwept," who has "built the lofty rhyme" so often and so well, and from whom, in the maturity of his extraordinary powers, so much more might have been expected. Nor will the effusion under our notice, though extremely pleasing and creditable to the sentiments and talents of its author, supersede the exertion of the high and acknowledged genius of some of Mr. Shelley's personal friends, on whom the task of raising an honourable and lasting monument to his fame seems naturally to devolve. AGRICULTURE. Vol. V. Part I. of the Transactions of the Agricultural Society of London. 4to. 11. 118. 6d. ANTIQUITIES. The Visitation of Middlesex, begun in 1663, by William Ryley, esq. Lancaster, and Henry Dethick, Ronge-Croix, Marshals and Deputies to Sir E. Bysshe, Clarencieux King of Arms. folio, 1l. 11s. 6d. Delineations of the Costumes of the Spaniards. 4to. 2l. 12s. 6d. GEOGRAPHY. A new Geographical, Historical, and Religious Chart; shewing at one view the principal places in the known world; the religion, government, civilization, and population; with the Missionary Stations in each country; by the Rev. T. Clark. Atlas of Scotland, No. VI. containing Lanarkshire, on two sheets. 10s. 6d. Maritime Geography and Statistics, or a Description of the Ocean and its Coasts, Maritime Commerce, Navigation, &c.; by J. K. Tuckey. 8vo. 2l. 16s. 6d. GEOLOGY. Part I. of the Outlines of the Geology of England and Wales, with an introductory compendium of the general principles of that science, illustrated by a coloured map and sections, &c. ; by the Rev. W.D. Conybeare, F.R.S. M.G.S. &c. and William Phillips, F.L.S. M.G.S. &c. Small 8vo. 16s. or demy 8vo. 11. HISTORY. An Historical Account, Part I. of his Majesty's Visit to Scotland: consisting of a variety of curious information relative to former royal visits; an account of the preparations in Edinburgh, Leith, Dalkeith, and other places, for his Majesty's reception; the Poems composed, and Medals struck, &c.: enriched by several historical notes. 8vo. 2s. 6d. HORTICULTURE. A concise and practical Treatise on the growth and culture of the Carnation, &c.; by Thomas Hogg. 12mo. 8s. LAW. A Treatise on the Law of Landlord and Tenant: compiled in part from the Notes of the late Sir Wm. D. Evans; by C. H. Chambers, esq. Practical Exposition of the Law relative to the Office and Duties of a Justice of the Peace; by Wm. Dickenson, esq. MATHEMATICS. Tables of Logarithms of all Numbers, from 1 to 101000, and of the Sines and Tangents to every Second of the Quadrant; by Michael Taylor: with a Preface and Precepts for the explanation and use of the same, by Nevil Maskelyne, F.R.S. Astronomer Royal. 4to. 31. Tables to be used with the Nautical Almanack, for finding the Latitude and Longitude at Sea; by the Rev. W. Lax, M.A. F.R.S. 8vo. 10s. MEDICINE. Analytic Physiology; by S. Hood, M.D. 8vo. 10s. 6d. A Treatise on the Utility of Sangui-Suction, or Leech Bleeding: including the Opinions |