ART. VI.-NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. I. German University Education; or, the Professors and Students of Germany. By Walter C. Perry, Phil. Dr. of the University of Göttingen. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans. 1845. pp. 175. This is an useful and seasonable little work, for the appearance of which, as we learn from the preface, we are indebted to the zeal and liberality of Mr. James Heywood, who honourably closing his own Academic career with an act of conscientious self-sacrifice, has ever since exerted himself to diffuse information among his countrymen on the important subject of University education, and so preface the way for enlightened University Reform. Since the peace, the intercourse of England with the Continent has been continually increasing; and many of our youth, shut out from the highest seats of learning at home, or attracted by superior advantages abroad, have been for some years past in the habit of resorting to the Universities of Germany. The As is usually the case, when questions of interest arise in England, parties appear on opposite sides, who carry their respective notions to an extreme. If the admiration of some for the German Universities has been too vague and unqualified, others, trying them by an unfair standard, have been as unreasonable in their condemnation. author of the work before us, has given a very fair and candid view of the subject, fully appreciating the excellences of the German Universities, yet not concealing some undeniable evils in the position of their professors and the manners of their students. Receiving a part of his own education at Göttingen, previous to its humiliation and decline, and living in close connexion with the University of Bonn, he has had an opportunity of drawing from the best sources precisely that information about the higher educational institutions of Germany, which people are con stantly in quest of, and yet know not how to obtain. We can recommend his work as a very convenient Manual or Guide-book to those who wish to understand the difference between our own and the German Universities, or who look to the latter for the means of completing the Academic career of youth. The author briefly traces the origin and growth of the German Universities, explains their internal constitution, and the nature of their relation to the state, exhibits the minute subdivision of labour-essential to all thorough and effective teaching in the present state of knowledge-which their course of instruction embraces, and concludes with an useful summary of their statistics. Adherence to a strictly scientific method would perhaps have excluded some episodes, which he has wrought into his general narration, such as the account of the departure of the exiled professors from Göttingen; but the details are in themselves interesting, and may render the book more attractive to most readers. The following extract will furnish a specimen of the style in which the work is executed. "In both these respects" (the enjoyment of great wealth and the maintenance of an exclusive ecclesiastical system) the German Universities differ from our own. The stimulus to exertion among their professors could not well be greater than it is; and the advantages and emoluments which they have to bestow, are freely offered to all who desire them, without distinction of creed or nation. Yet we should be wrong in ascribing the pre-eminence of German learning solely to these causes. To understand the intense activity which prevails in the Universities of Germany, we must remember that the national mind, debarred from playing a part in the noble and exciting game of politics, and of necessity less occupied by the splendid prospects which Commerce holds out to the skill and enterprise of the Englishman, is almost wholly turned into literary channels. The path of Knowledge is to the German the path of ambition too. The distinguished Professor holds a dignified position among his fellow citizens, and is not excluded, as is too much the case in our own country, from the notice and favour of his Sovereign: but shares them with the Noble, the Politician and the Soldier, who in England are almost the exclusive recipients of the Monarch's smiles. Wherever superior abilities and attainments manifest themselves to the everwatchful eyes of the German Governments, they are sure to be brought into connexion with the Universities, and to have a pro per sphere appointed them for their development. And hence it is, that almost every man of note among the Germans is connected with their great Schools of learning, not as a Sinecurist, but as an active Coadjutor in the work of education."-P. 10. II. The Unity of God, the distinguishing feature of the Jewish Faith: A Sermon. By the Rev. Morris J. Raphall, M.A., Ph. D., Preacher of the Synagogue, Birmingham. Yarmouth. W. Alexander. 1845. This discourse is remarkable as having been composed at the request of a Unitarian Minister who wished to obtain, from an authoritative source, 66 an authentic Jewish statement of the doctrine of the Divine Unity." It does not add any thing either of novelty or strength to the Argument either of reason or of Scripture, but it is interesting and valuable for the express assurance it contains that the Jews regard their Scriptures as the standing pretexts of Revelation against the popular doctrines of orthodox Christianity. ، When men, unable to account for the origin of evil, asserted that the government of the world was contested by two independent principles, the one of light and good, the other of darkness and evil, the sacred records of our faith vindicated the absolute UNITY of the first great cause, and declared in the name of the LORD, (Isaiah xlv. 1,) I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil. I, the Lord, do all these things.' When in after ages the doctrine was propounded that divine justice required a vicarious sacrifice, a divine redeemer, who should redeem mankind by taking upon himself, and removing, their sins, these sacred records rejected the doctrine by declaring, (Isaiah xliii. 25,) I, even I, am He who blotteth out thy transgression because of Me, and thy sins I will not remember.' And when the doctrine was propounded that the Deity is a plurality of persons, proceeding one from another, those sacred records met the assertion by the solemn declaration, ، Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts :-I am the first and I am the last, and besides Me there is no God.' (Isaiah xliv. 6.)" III. The Coming of the Mammoth, the Funeral of Time, and other Poems. By Henry B. Hirst. Boston. 1845. There is a great deal of Poetry, which, perhaps, ought to be written because it strengthens the thought and purifies the spirit of the writer, but which certainly ought not to be published. A man may ennoble his own mind, quicken and exert his highest faculties by forming and embodying conceptions, to the perusal of which the critic cannot honestly or wisely exhort the public to devote time that might be given to the study of the Great Masters. The mind which originates this poetry may be well employed, because a creative effort will do more to develope power than any amount of passive reception;-but whether the public is well employed in studying such exercises is quite another question. With the exception of that lyric poetry of the affections, which often touches and softens the heart even when not of the highest order, we would forbid the reading of all second rate poetry. Poetry should be to the intellect what worship is to the heart, and to converse with spirits short of the loftiest is to lose our own chance of inspiration. We make these remarks with the less scruple, that the author has informed us in his preface that he has a literary capital, which he has not invested in this venture. IV.-Legends of the Isles and other Poems. By Charles Mackay, Author of the "Salamandrine," "The Hope of the World," &c. Edinburgh and London. 1845. Mr. Mackay is a very pleasing writer. His muse is tender and graceful; but often his heart bleeds for the people with whom he has a true fellowship, and then his grace is, perhaps, well exchanged for honest vigour. Two short extracts will make good what we have said :— ON MR. BAILY'S STATUE OF EVE LISTENING TO THE VOICE.' Appear to whisper as we gaze;- As if thou wert a breathing creature; "Bewitching stone! were envy dead, Pygmalion's self might kneel before thee— Yet no, thou'rt pure as man's first mother;- Thy beauties vie with one another, We turn away the ravish'd sight, THE COMING TIME. "What shall I do to be for ever known, And make the age to come mine own."-CoWLEY. V. Essays on Natural History. By Charles Waterton, Esq. Second Series. With a continuation of the Autobiography of the Author. Second Edition. London: Longman. Two or three inveterate prejudices of no practical mischievousness, not wearisomely protruded, but always sup |