fact; to confess that the domain of literature is not one invariable homogeneous surface, but a richly and endlessly diversified mosaic -that it consists, not of one, but of many compartments, with their destinctive configurations and characteristic constituent elements. There is such a thing as occidental literature; there is a Greek and a Roman literature; there are also such things as English literature, German literature, French literature, Italian literature, with many more. To these let us freely and ungrudgingly add those other things, entities, or realities, known under the names of Arabic, Sanskrit, Tibetian, Chinese, Burmese, Singhalese or any other oriental literatures. All of these have their own distinguishing features— their own peculiar national idiosyncracies-their own distinctive merits and demerits. How far the merits or demerits of each may preponderate is not now the question. All that we plead for, is, that whatever merits may be truly alleged as belonging to any, we should, in fairness and in candour, freely concede to it the credit of possessing them. Amongst the different genera and species of literature, there may be a good, a better, and a best. But let no man who has devoted his time, talents and energies to the exclusive study of one, presume to declare that it is the only one worth studying, or venture to exalt it to a despot's throne. To Dr. Sprenger, we wish all possible success in exploring the caverns and labyrinths of Arabic literature; and would rejoice exceedingly to see him return to the light of day, laden with spoils worthy of such heroic devotedness. But, for the sake of his credit, and the success of his own cause, let him carefully abstain from a style of writing which is sure to produce a damaging reaction against both. Let him not claim for his favourite study a monopoly of excellence, which, until it is fairly seen, others will be apt to reckon as the spontaneous growth of his own fervent and fertile imagination. Let him not set up for it the yet unverified plea of possessing exclusive unrivalled prerogatives, which must be at once and disdainfully repudiated by ten thousand reclaiming voices from the wide and ever-extending republic of letters.

or a

The Anglo-Indian Passage; homeward and outward; or card for the overland Traveller from Southampton to Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, &c., by David Lester Richardson, Author of Literary Leaves, &c.

THIS is quite a gem among guide-books. Having seen various favourable notices of it, we were predisposed to think well of it. But, having now perused the work itself, we feel justified in saying that it has considerably surpassed our expectations. Not that we were not prepared for a superior production from the pen of an author who has so distinguished himself in the world of letters; but that we did not expect him to lavish much of his literary powers on such a work of mere utilitarianism. The present publication, however, only

adds another to the many proofs which go to shew, that, in the hands of a master, the most intractable and unpromising materials may be divested of their roughness and grossness, and made to exhibit symmetry of form and beauty of expression.

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The whole work is got up in a style of superior taste and elegance. The binding, the paper, the printing-all are excellent. The illustrations, numerous and well executed, embracing as they do most of the principal objects and views along the route, constitute one of the most charming features of the work. It contains all needful directions to travellers, conveyed in language, at once sprightly, chaste, and classical. Fuller delineations of remarkable persons, objects, and scenes, it very judiciously throws into a well stored Appendix, original and selected, And, what forms a new characteristic of such a work, the scenery of the ocean finds its due share of pencilling therein. This part of his task, from its novelty, the author deems it necessary to introduce with something like an apology. But we fain hope that no such apology is really needed; as it certainly cannot be by any reader of ordinary taste or intellectual accomplishment. The ocean sketches" constitute, in our judgment, a very precious accession to an already well replenished repository of valuable information. Facts, in their proper place, are of indispensable utility. But man is endowed with other faculties than those that meet with their full gratification in bare naked facts, which are but the dry bones of knowledge, with little or nothing of the glow and warmth that ever effloresce in the gorgeous forms of life and beauty. There are in the human mind susceptibilities of a nobler, more generous and etherial kind-susceptibilities of sentiment and emotion which, properly cultivated and directed, tend to honour and adorn humanity, while they cannot fail to elevate their happy possessor into regions of purest and serenest joy. Of this no one is more conscious than our author. When afloat on the main ocean, with nought around him but sky and water, he did not, like the idealess emotionless throng, fold his arms, and close his eyes, and sink down into a state of morbid, listless, unreflecting apathy. No; with eyes open, and mind awake, and sensibilities quickened, and imagination winged for flight, he "experienced an inexpressible delight in watching the ever-varying aspects of the wide round ocean and the shadowy dome of air-the vast and glorious canopy of that solitary world of which their little vessel seemed the centre." Hence the origin of the “ ocean sketches." And what gave such exquisite pleasure to his own mind he has wisely judged may give pleasure to others. Hence, again, the publication, of these "studies of sea and sky"—these "records of air and water."

No overland traveller should leave Calcutta, in any of our magnificent steamers, without first procuring a copy of this delightful volume; and no one, who has once got it, will ever have reason to regret or begrudge the very moderate price he has paid for it.

Observations on the Nosological arrangement of the Bengal Medical Returns, with a few cursory remarks on Medical Topography and Military Hygiene, by Fred. J. Mouat, M. D., &c. &c. Calcutta, 1845.

IF, as has been remarked, "there is no subject in the whole range of Medical Science and Literature, that is beset with so many difficulties, as the classification of diseases," there can be, at the same time, but few subjects of deeper interest or more vital importance to the medical practitioner. Dr. Mouat, therefore, has done well thus pointedly to direct general attention towards it. The pamphlet itself bears all the marks of that spirit of reflection and research and indefatigable industry for which the author is so distinguished. We can only afford space for one brief extract from his own explanatory preface :—

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"The first part of this brochure was written at the suggestion and request of the late Dr. Murray, Inspector-general of H. M. Hospitals in India. My present object in publishing detached remarks, which cannot lay claim to any originality or profoundness, is again to direct attention to subjects which have long occupied the very limited leisure at my disposal for professional or extra official pursuits.

"It is well known that orders have been received from England to report upon the existing system of returns adopted in the medical departments of the three presidencies, with a view to assimilate them, as nearly as practicable, to those adopted in the royal service.

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'Every medical officer who has the slightest regard for the interests of his profession and service, must hail this onward movement as the harbinger of much future benefit to both, if fully and fairly carried out; and is, therefore, bound to afford all the information in his possession however small it may be, to those who are engaged in the laborious and responsible task of remodelling the reports and returns from an army and country which present unrivalled opportunities for professional research, and of which the medical department now labours under the disgrace, of having during the greater part of a century, furnished no data sufficiently accurate for the compilation of the statistical records required by the War Office.

"That this is the fault of the system in use, and not of the men appointed to carry it out, it would be easy to prove.

"It is my apology for the present publication."

The pamphlet, though of a strictly professional character, contains, much that is fitted to interest and edify the non-professional reader. The concluding remarks, relative to the immense importance as well as the means of collecting topographical information, are especially valuable. Something in this respect has already been done by members of the Medical Service; and we hope that their meritorious example may suffice to stimulate others to tread still more successfully in their footsteps.

SANDERS AND CONES, TYPS., NO. 4, TANK-SQUARE, CALCUTTA,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

Miscellaneous Writings in Prose and Verse. comprising Dramatic

ERRATA.

The following should have appeared in our last Number :

In No. IV., Article "Sir P. Francis," page 569, for "Messrs. Vansittart, Grafton, and Forde," read "Messrs. Vansittart, Scrafton, and Forde."

At page 571, for "nineteen guns " read "seventeen guns."

In No. V., Article "The Sick Room in India "-p. 72, line 2, for "sad realities life," read "sad realities of life."

Same article, page 98, line 1, for "it is a great thing to commence with external nature," read "it is a great thing to commune with external nature.'

Same article, page 101, line 12, for "certainty-on what is nearly a certainty," read "certainty-or what is nearly a certainty.'

to gratify the taste, aug

up. The reason as well as the fancy were addressed; the floating good sense and peculiarities of the times were eagerly caught up and embodied; rational principles of reform, opposed to any thing like extensive and sudden innovation, were advocated; impartial, and as often virulent, strictures on public men and measures were made; class interests were defended and reprobated; the occupations of the field and water, which afford so much amusement to the thorough-going sportsman, were liberally canvassed: in short, every stimulant that could excite was resorted to but in vain. Readers admired, but did nothing more. There was no such thing as emulation, and a desire to co-operate and excel. The energy of the leaders of public taste, under the action of so much indifference and so little sympathy, gradually waxed fainter and feebler. It lapsed into listless inactivity. It died away; and thus the few shoots

* Dr John Grant, H. M. Parker, R. Rattray, H. Torrens, Captains Macnaghten and Richardson were the most strenuous supporters in the service of periodical litera

ture.

Observations on the Nosological arrangement of the Bengal Medical Returns, with a few cursory remarks on Medical Topography and Military Hygiene, by Fred. J. Mouat, M. D., &c. &c. Calcutta, 1845.

nation of the statistical records required by the War Office. That this is the fault of the system in use, and not of the men appointed to carry it out, it would be easy to prove.

"It is my apology for the present publication.”

The pamphlet, though of a strictly professional character, contains. much that is fitted to interest and edify the non-professional reader. The concluding remarks, relative to the immense importance as well as the means of collecting topographical information, are especially valuable. Something in this respect has already been done by members of the Medical Service; and we hope that their meritorious example may suffice to stimulate others to tread still more successfully in their

footsteps.

SANDERS AND CONES, TYPS., NO. 4, TANK-SQUARE, CALCUTTA.