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from them, or sold by them before they reach their destination. (Ev. 827.) When the new-comer arrives among his brother convicts, he takes a fresh lesson of roguery; for (as Mr Walker says, Q. 913) the colony has a curious effect upon the most practised thieves in this country; one of the most experienced thieves in London has something to learn when he comes out here; probably he would be robbed the first night he came into his hut." "

The picture is completed by the following description :

"One of the results, not, we apprehend, originally contemplated, is, that these wicked condemned men,' have planted for themselves several volunteer-colonies; escaping in small craft, either to the South Sea Islands, (in many of which, for a good while past, each native chief has for a prime minister some choice graduate of the university of Newgate), or more frequently, to some part of the coast of New Holland, or some of the small islands at a little distance from the main, particularly one called Kangaroo Island; where they settle, and subsist chiefly on wild animals; especially seals, whose skins and oil form a profitable article of traffic with the small traders from the mother-colony. Several more of these lawless settlements are supposed to exist besides those generally known; as it is clearly the interest of the above mentioned traders, when they discover such a one, to keep the knowledge to themselves, for the sake of monopolizing the commerce. A most profitable trade they of course find it; as their customers are not only willing to pay an enormous price in oil for the luxuries of rum and tobacco, but, when once intoxicated, are easily stripped of all. Another article, it seems, has been found more profitable in this trade than even rum, viz. women; who, if kidnapped at Botany Bay, and carried off to one of these settlements, will sell for a whole ocean of seal oil! This infernal traffic was betrayed by the wreck of a vessel, from which, in consequence, two women, who had been thus carried off from Sydney, made their escape, and it is to be hoped put others on their guard against the detestable fate designed for them. These volunteer settlers, however, it seems, resort to another expedient to supply themselves with wives; viz. seizing on the native black women, after, we presume, knocking on the head the males of the tribe.

"So that we may hope, in time, to have the coast of New South Wales, surrounded by a fringe, as it were, of colonies of half-castes, consisting of a mixture of the blood of the most debased of savages, with that of the more refined and intelligent scoundrels of civilized society; and exhibiting we may anticipate, a curious specimen of the worst possible form of human

nature.

Here, then, we have a view of the nature of the secondary

punishments of Britain; of their effects on the community at large in deterring from crime; and on the colony of New South Wales; and a more lamentable picture of failure and mischievous consequences probably was never exhibited to human contemplation. In our next publication we shall advert to the remedies suggested in the work before us; and, as they are devised by an author of the highest talents and attainments, who, however, writes without taking any assistance from Phrenology, we shall contrast them with the views thrown out by Dr Caldwell, whose admirable remarks are professedly founded on this science, and are already in the hands of our readers in Nos. 31 and 32 of this Journal, vol. vii. p. 386 and p. 493.

ARTICLE III.

THE CYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL MEDICINE. Part VI. Article, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, by Dr BARLOW, Physician to the Bath United Hospital and Infirmary. London, June 1832.

DR BARLOW sets out with shewing the necessity of including a system of physical as well as moral and intellectual training under the term education, a principle which the phrenologists have long and earnestly advocated, and which is, in fact, of fundamental importance, since the mind and body are so intimately connected, that even moral and intellectual cultivation can be successfully prosecuted only when conducted in accordance with the organic laws which regulate the bodily functions.

"However difficult it may be," says Dr Barlow, "to correct the manifold errors by which, in early life, health and happiness are sacrificed, it must at least be right to point out to those who wish to learn, what are the principles by which the first of earthly blessings, a sound mind in a sound body, can be best ensured. With bodily health," he continues, "mental is here associated, for the connexion is intimate; if the body languishes, the mental powers, which act only through bodily organization, must fall short of that energy and activity of which they would otherwise be capable; while the irritability of mind to which weakness and ill health are prone, is sure to act unfavourably on all the moral feelings." The peevishness of ill health is unfortunately too common and well known to be doubted, and it serves to demonstrate, were farther proof required, that even as concerns the moral improvement of man, we must build on sand, if we neglect the physical constitution in our attempts at education.

Various as are the constitutions of men, and differing as these

do at different periods of life, and in different circumstances of health and disease, it is obviously impossible to lay down positive and specific rules which will suit them all. Dr Barlow is therefore most judicious when he states, that his "design is to lay down principles rather than rules; for the latter never can be so framed as to admit of universal application, and when indiscriminately used, they either, through necessary variableness of effect fail to inspire confidence, and in time fall into disuse, or the good which they do accomplish is sure to be balanced by a portion also of evil. To lay down principles is the safer and better course, for though physiological truths are what few, even among the most intellectual classes of society, are prepared to comprehend, their education unhappily leaving them utterly unacquainted with the structure and functions of their own frames, still the dissemination of these truths, especially in connexion with a subject of such deep and universal interest, may not be wholly unavailing, but may rather prove the means of exciting inquiry, and of thus dispelling that ignorance to which so much of the ill health of every period of life may be distinctly traced." We concur heartily in these remarks, and are glad to find in Dr Barlow a fellow-labourer in this useful field of knowledge. The first article of our present number is intended to dissipate part of the ignorance so justly lamented.

In entering upon his immediate subject, Dr Barlow points out the distinction, already familiar to our readers, between the physical, the organic, and the moral laws, the influence and proper sphere of each, and their relation to the various objects of the external world. The principles by which food, air, clothing, and mental and bodily exercise, are to be regulated in infancy, childhood, adolescence, and puberty, are clearly and simply expounded, and much valuable instruction communicated in a pleasing and agreeable manner. His remarks are always cha

racterised by sound sense and a practical aim. Some of his observations on the diet of children may serve as a specimen, for this is a subject on which many fond parents, led astray by igno rance and fancies, are apt to err. "On the feeding of children their health is much dependent; and in this respect injury is often done from regulating their diet according to some preconceived system founded on partial experience or imperfect observation. Children, to support their natural growth, require ample sustenance, and this admitted truth is with many a sufficient reason for over-loading their stomachs, and with food of too nutritious a kind. Others again, from having seen healthy children reared on a low diet, and also from having occasionally witnessed disease brought on by excess of animal food, unaware, too, of the hazard of generalizing from insufficient facts, hastily conclude that low diet is wholesome, and animal food prejudi

cial. No exclusive system can in this respect be right, nor can any precise rule of diet be possibly laid down, as this requires to be adapted in every case to the particular constitution concerned. It has been already shewn that a mixed diet of animal and vegetable food is that which nature has designed for human beings, their organization being fitted for its use. The period, too, when animal food may begin to be used seems also indicated by nature, and some portion of it seems fairly admissible as soon as teeth appear sufficient to masticate it. These, however, are but general truths, which require to be continually modified in their application by special circumstances. The constitution of the child, and the effects of particular diets, will in general sufficiently indicate how it may be best sustained. If of a sound constitution, free from fever or evidence of plethora, with healthy bowels, a cool skin and clear tongue, the diet may be liberal, and some animal food may be conjoined. It is not wise to stint the growth of children by too low a diet; for, however it may for a while appear to agree, it induces a state of body deficient in vigour and unfit for maintaining full health. Children so reared are prone to scrofula, and to several other diseases marked by impaired energy of frame. Yet neither should children be pampered; for this leads to evils no less formidable, though of a different character. Large meals oppress the stomach, cause indigestion, and by overloading the bowels, obstruct one of the most important excretions. Too much animal food supplies blood in excess, begetting a proneness to fever and inflammation; and every one is aware how large a proportion of the diseases of children is thus characterised. So long as the general health is unimpaired, the body and mind are active, and no evidence is present to mark excess of nutriment, that food may be allowed which natural appetite calls for, and which appears to yield adequate nutrition; and in such case a mixed diet of animal and vegetable food will be found the best for this purpose But if languor at any time ensues, and febrile indications become manifested,—if the pulse become frequent, the skin hotter than natural, the tongue white and furred, the bowels irregular, then, though these several symptoms should be only in slight degree, and unattended with any specific derangement amounting to what is considered disease, not only should the diet be lowered, and its animal part for a while withdrawn, but measures should be taken to correct the state of repletion which has been suffered to arise. For some time after its removal, too, care should be taken to keep the diet under that which occasioned the constitutional disturbance." P. 691.

Some valuable observations afterwards occur on the origin of spine diseases from deficient exercise, and on "those horrible ravages on female health that result from the visceral lesions

which the tyranny of fashion occasions." Dr Barlow is feelingly alive also to the pernicious errors of the present system of mental as well as bodily training. "Instead," says he, "of the cultivation of those intellectual powers and moral feelings which conduce to utility, happiness, and virtue, the best years of life are wasted on vain accomplishments, which, even when attained, are too dearly purchased, yielding but a very inadequate recompence for the time and toil bestowed on them, and which, in a large proportion of instances, from being forced against nature, and without the talents that would justify such assiduous cultivation, are never acquired to the extent of answering a single good purpose, being sure to be abandoned as soon as the parties become free agents, and released from the control of their unrelenting taskmasters." "To any one impressed with the reality and extent of the evils here deprecated, it is difficult to think or write on them with perfect calmness."

On the condition of young ladies in the English boardingschools, Dr Barlow makes some just though severe animadversions. "Of these establishments the systems and habits require much revision, and until some effective reformation takes place, of which there is yet but little prospect, they will not fail to excite our sympathy and regret for the blanched aspects, shadowy forms, and sickly constitutions, so continually presented, and which it is so painful to witness. Such beings are as little fitted for encountering the toils, or fulfilling the duties of life, as are plants of a hothouse for being transferred to the open borders."

Dr Forbes, one of the editors of the Cyclopædia, has added a long note on this subject, which, as it contains much authentic and interesting detail, and forcibly illustrates the necessity of diffusing among the public a knowledge of the corporeal and intellectual constitution of man, we shall make no apology for quoting without abridgment.

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"The amount of exercise," says Dr Forbes, or rather the extent to which the want of exercise is carried in many boarding-schools, will appear incredible to those who have not personally investigated the subject. The following is the carte of a young lady's boarding-school, drawn up on the spot, a few years since, from the report of several of its inmates :

At 6 in the morning the girls are called, and rise. From 6 to 8, learning or saying lessons in school. 8 to 8, at breakfast. 8 to 9,

9 to 1,

1 to 1,

preparing lessons out of school (some of the girls permitted to do so in the garden).

at various tasks, in school.

out of school, but must not go out of doors; reading or working, and preparing for din

ner.