dryness. From what, however, has been written and dilated upon this subject, we may be able to form a tolerably correct judgment, of the weighty influence which these Institutions will be found to have, upon the moral condition not only of villages and large towns, but of a whole people. The view which Dr. Chalmers presents of this part of the subject, ought to instruct every friend of improvement; and to his view of the subject, we now invite the attention of the reader. The objection urged against the present system in his work is, that "Sabbath schools do not concentrate their exertions upon one district or department of the city:" and also, "That the teachers are indiscriminately stationed in all parts, and the pupils are as indiscriminately drawn from all parts of the city." Now, what Dr. Chalmers maintains is this, that the effectiveness of each individual teacher would be greatly augmented, if, instead of thus labouring in a vague, indefinite, and changing sphere," a fixed and definite locality were assigned to him, and a fixed portion of the popula tion were placed in immediate and exclusive connexion with himself."

Upon a re-perusal of our compilation of facts in relation to Sabbath schools, we are of opinion, that the following practical conclusions may be drawn, without overcharging our account of their manifest excellence, and importance. First, that through this channel, the rudiments of education, may be conveyed to every individual in every class and condition. Secondly-They will stop the growing evil of pauperism, and destroy it, root and branch, by merely teaching the idle man to be industrious and this lesson can only be taught, we feel assured, by the general, unrestricted diffusion of education, Thirdly-The Legislator will, in a little while, perceive, that as Sabbath schools abound-and as their influence extends-in exactly the same proportion, will crime decrease. The Penitentiary hath been tried; the Prison House tried: No stone hath been left unturned in order to the correction of crime. The ingenuity of man hath been so often twisted and turned, that, at this day, it is almost worn out in pursuit of the object. Hereupon, what is to be done? Suppose the simple experiment be made, instead of exerting every effort to detect and to punish crime after it has grown, and expanded-we nip it in the bud. Let us displace the insect from the twig, before the worm get possession of the tree.

ART. IX.-Memoirs of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton. By Miss BENGER. 8vo. 2 vols. (2d edition.) London.

THIS is a foreign book, and though not exactly new, having been printed in 1818, is little known; not because it does not possess claims to attention, but because its costly form prevents its wide circulation. We know no individual of our time, who has lived and died, more respected and admired than Mrs. Hamilton. She has enjoyed the general suffrages of both sexes, and of all classes of minds, for excellence. Females have particularly honoured her, as her character and her writings, have eminently tended to illustrate and exait the sex: and that too in the most natural way possible :-by showing, that diligent selfcultivation is the basis of improvement, and enjoyment; that all well directed efforts with this object in view, are crowned with success in some degree; and that the female mind is not only capable of superior attainments in knowledge, but of a corresponding moral excellence and felicity. They truly show, that the sphere of duty is the path of pleasure; and that a good wife, a good mother, and a good friend, is a being of exalted. dignity and importance: that she lives, not only under the influence of ardent and tender affections; but that her relations place high motives before her; and that her duties not only require the exertion of many active and passive virtues, but of great intelligence, in order that the objects of her pursuit, and the means of attainment may be perfectly obvious and just, and that she may rightly appreciate the extent of her influence, and the power of her characteristic virtues.

The first philosophers of the age regarded Mrs. Hamilton with approbation, and honoured her with their friendship. She was their interpreter, their fellow labourer, in the same great work, and they could not but reverence, and set a high value upon so faithful and enlightened a coadjutor. All the subordinate grades regarded her as a benefactress, who made the fruits of her studies useful to them, who instructed them to look inward for the source of peace and virtue, and to ascertain their duties from a right investigation of the nature of God, and the nature of man.

In what manner such wisdom and benevolence were acquired, and how they became distinguished and efficient, is neither a frivolous nor uninteresting inquiry. It is somewhat singular that no American edition of these memoirs has been offered to

the public. It cannot be that we are not very fond of journals, letters, and authentic documents of private history, and particularly those of religious, moral, and literary ladies. There is hardly a newspaper that does not announce a new publication of this sort, or a new edition of an old one. This prevailing taste is so widely spread, and sometimes so rapidly excited, that we have known the demand for one work, the life of Mrs. Harriet Newell, to produce seventeen editions in three years from the first publication. We believe that this is not entirely an individual distinction, for the experience, med talions, and death-beds of multitudes, old and young, native and foreign, are continually exciting and gratifying popular curiosity, sympathy, and credulity. To this taste we will not object; though we wish that examples so much displayed and contemplated. were a little nearer to common experience, and common attainment. We hope that the remote virtues, and spiritual elevation, of the extraordinary persons alluded to, have no tendency to excite false apprehension, unjust self-reproach, mistaken diffidence, or carelessness of common virtues, in the admirers of such models. And, what is not less to be feared and guarded against, we hope they do not give false notions of the genuine fruits of piety; that they do not prevent the mind from seeking its proper aliment, and mislead the heart by perverting the judgment. This last effect is probable, and much to be lamented. It is quite natural to undervalue and despise what falls below, or differs, from what we greatly admire. The distinguishing qualities of the admired, and of the despised object, become more strongly marked, and more exaggerated, by the force of contrast; and the correspondent sentiments of preference and dislike gain strength as the mind determines. In this manner a partial opinion leads to an unjust feeling; and this feeling we learn to vindicate by the perversion of good principles; by our zeal for God and virtue, and our love of good men.

To none

does this perversion render us more unjust, than to those whose religious views differ from our own; who do not make the same professions, or exhibit the same forms of obedience. The fire of enthusiasm may dry up the fountain of charity, though it can no longer kindle the pile of the sacrificer, or the blaze of persecution.

Such consequences, as we have briefly suggested, may arise from the works in question. The pleasure derived from the peVOL. IV.

50

rusal of popular narratives may frequently be traced to the love of the marvellous, to the want felt by indolent minds of some strong excitement-a want that is to be prevented by a proper use of the understanding, by the habitual love and pursuit of truth, by the excitement of rational curiosity, and by the discipline of reflection.

Liable as this prevailing appetite for the marvellous, is to mislead the understanding, by inflaming imagination, corrupting taste, and limiting benevolence, the present popular direction of it might be more reprehensible. It is accompanied with less moral obliquity in these days, than it was a century ago. Then the favourite subjects of popular biography were such as would excite disgust and contempt, in this better age. It is now only known by a few obsolete volumes and broken sets, that women of the most scandalous morals found historians, or celebrated themselves by "vindications" and "appeals," which were read with avidity, and perhaps with complacency. Almost every name thus commemorated has perished; a few are still faintly traced in the records of general literature and manners, to show how much wiser, purer, and more refined, the public taste is at present, than it was so short a time ago. For though Mrs. Robinson, Lady Hamilton, and other females of the same stamp, give a volume to the world, now and then; yet these are the most transitory and obscure of human productions; and are only mentioned to show, that at the present day curiosity and sympathy, however misdirected, pursue objects of apparent, if not of real worth.

Literary taste modifies, and is probably always modified by law, religion, public amusements, education, and that diversity of influences which operate along with it in the formation of national charac ́er. The wonderful liability of the human mind to extremes, is as much illustrated by the fluctuations of literary taste, as by any other popular sentiment. From the fieldpreaching of Cromwell's time, to the drama of Charles's, was a translation, which the same individuals lived to observe and to feel; and we should not be surprised to see such a reaction of taste among ourselves, of the unlearned class, if our age had no other security than settled morality and enlightened faith. But as we have no great revolution to fear, we have no great corruption to anticipate: though we have many errors to correct, and better courses to recommend. Of errors, that of mistaking "reverse of wrong for right," is one of better cour

ses, to qualify the passion for praise, and find just reasons for approbation and esteem, is an amendment in the formation of opinion strongly to be urged. These, besides the actual pleasure afforded by perusal, are important uses of personal memoirs. We trust that the example of Mrs. Hamilton is well adapted to subserve the best purposes of private history. We hardly know any class of readers who will not be gratified by the exhibition of her character. She possessed piety to accord with the feelings, and to excite the veneration of the christian; literature and genius to win the approbation of the critic; domestic virtues to induce the imitation of the humble and retired; wit and humour to amuse the vivacious, and philanthropy and charity to gratify the candid and the generous. None but the malicious and the prejudiced can ascribe positive faults to her; and even they must possess the talent of invention, before they can form of her virtues an accusation.

To give to the world this fair image of practical virtue, elevated intellect, and superior felicity, was the office of a friend, for such we presume Miss Benger to have been, though she rather intimates, than declares the fact. Miss Benger has performed her duty in the spirit of love, but without the exaggeration of partial friendship. Her style is characterised by her heart, if we may be allowed to infer the latter from the former, and we have the authority of a great master, that 'style is the image of character.' Her book is correct, modest, and affectionate. We know few offices more endearing and grateful than that of giving a deserving object of ardent attachment to the view of society to command from the homage of the enlightened and the good, a tribute for one we have loved-to diffuse the light, which has shone upon our own mind-to extend the influence of talents and virtues, which have elevated and amended our own character. The tone of friendship often gives interest to a work, apart from the talent employed upon it; and we doubly enjoy such memoirs and collections, as are at once produced by discernment and taste, and are the result of long attachment and intimate observation. Mr. Gibbon's miscel laneous works, and the life of Sir William Jones, are more agreeable to us, as associated with Lord Sheffield and Lord Teignmouth; for these works unite the sentiment of cordial sympathy with that of warm admiration, and represent to us, that the union of talents and tenderness, the possession of great powers, and the enjoyment of common comforts, are perfectly