Vol. iii. includes, among much useful matter, some valuable experiments on Milk, and various information relative to the conduct of the Dairy. All who keep cows ought to peruse these dissertations. Some of the remarks, however, have already been published in the Bath Society Papers, -Our country readers will probably thank us for transcribing the general aphorisms :

First Aphorism.-Of the milk that is drawn from any cow at one time, that part which comes off at the first is always thinner, and of a much worse quality for the purpose of making butter, than that which comes afterward; and the richness goes on continually increasing to the very last drop that can be drawn from the udder at that time.'

Second Aphorism.-If milk be put into a dish, and allowed to stand till it throws up cream, that portion of cream which rises first to the surface is richer in quality, and greater in quantity, than what rises in a second equal portion of time; and the cream that rises in the second interval of time is greater in quantity, and richer in quality, than what rises in a third equal space of time; and that of the third than the fourth; and so on': the cream that rises decreases in quantity, and declines in quality continually, as long as any rises to the surface.'

Third Aphorism.-Thick milk always throws up a much smaller proportion of the cream that it actually contains, than milk that is thinner; but that cream is of a richer quality: and if water be added to that thick milk, it will afford a considerably greater quantity of cream, and consequently more butter, than it would have done if al lowed to remain pure; but its quality is at the same time greatly debased.'

Fourth Aphorism.-Milk which is put into a bucket, or other proper vessel, and carried in it to a considerable distance, so as to be much agitated, and in part cooled before it be put into the milk-pans to settle for cream, never throws up either so much or so rich cream, as if the same milk had been put into the milk-pans directly after it 'was milked.'

Dr. A.'s plan for the construction of a Milk-house proceeds on those scientific principles which must insure to it the appro bation of all men of discernment.

Among the papers in vol. iv. the author discusses an important question, on the comparative influence of agriculture and manufactures over the morals and happiness of a people, and on the improvement and stability of states. His view of this subject would encroach too much on space otherwise allotted, but it must not be altogether omitted:

There is one very striking difference that must occur to every one who views the same number of persons as employed in agriculture, or in manufactures, viz. the great fluctuation in the earnings of the people, in the last class, in comparison of those in the other. Manufactures are subjected to great variations in the demand at mar

ket.?

ket.No such changes can ever be experienced by men who follow* agriculture. Neither the encouragement, nor the discouragement, are nearly so great. So that this political malady, which is one of the severest that can affect a state, is never experienced.'

He endeavours to solve a difficulty which has much puzzled some of our legislators; viz. to reconcile the idea of the prosperous state of agriculture in this country, for some years past, with the facts which they discovered, that the actual produce in corn has been diminished during that period; by shewing that, as manufactures have raised the price of wages, this circumstance has induced the agriculturist to employ fewer hands, and in course to raise more animal and less human sustenance: or, in other words, to convert arable into grass länd, which he finds more profitable:

After this manner does an undue demand for manufactures peces sarily induce a kind of temporary prosperity which excites a spirit of wantonness that tends to sap the foundations of the stable prosperity, of a state. The first consequence of this extraordinary spirit is wealth to all. The next is the deterioration of the soil; for I call every thing a deterioration that diminishes the gross produce of the fields. A third consequence is the diminution of labour; for, when' men can earn much more than will furnish for their daily subsistence, they abandon their work at pleasure: a consequence of this is a want of hands, and an increase of wages in every case: A rise in the price of every article of necessary consumption is then unavoidable. Hence, at present, the rise in the price of grain, so severely felt in every part, of this country. These things may continue for a time to be felt, and complained of as a hardship; but so long as the demand for maAufactures continues brisk, these inconveniencies can be borne. But if ever a permanent slackening in that demand should take place, the consequences would be dreadful.-Men, who had been used to fare luxuriously, being turned out of employment, would find it a matter of the utmost difficulty to subsist in any other way;the farmer who found a slackening demand for the articles he used to rear, and on which he made his rent, would be compelled to reduce the price be, low what he could afford. The consequences might be traced miHutely; but it is an ungracious task. They are too obvious.

I conclude, that the prosperity that results from an extraordinary demand for manufactures is a political disease of the most dangerous tendency. It is a poison that produces a pleasing delirium, which, Like that from opium, must end in a miserable death. Sober minded persons, therefore, will look upon this general intoxication without participating in the phrenzy it produces; and will regret that circumstances should here so unfortunately concur to cherish it.'

Having already extended this article to some length, we must dismiss the remaining volumes with briefly observing that they contain equal evidences of Dr. A.'s fertility of mind; and that they contain, among other matter, (in vol. v.) a statement of

Dd4

the

the principles of the author's Patent Hot-house; and (in the 6th) a Dissertation on the Natural History of Fishes, including an account of their Food and Migrations, exemplified in those of the Salmon, Eel, and Herring.

On the whole, the public are obliged to this indefatigable philosopher for a rich fund of entertaining instruction. The papers here collected were originally published in periodical numbers; and they are embellished with various engravings on wood, inserted in the letter-press, illustrative of different subjects in Natural History and the Arts.

ART. XIII. Letters on Education. By Elizabeth Hamilton. 8vq. 2 Vols. 15s. Boards. Robinsons.

WE E are happy in having this new opportunity of introdu cing to our readers a fair author, who has already merited the public attention by her ingenious "Letters of a Hindoo Rajah," and her "Memoirs of Modern Philosophers :"-of which works we have given accounts in our 21st and 34th vols. The subject of the present performance is of a more serious and important nature. The education of youth, if it could be conducted so as to preclude all erroneous and vicious impressions on the tender mind, familiarizing it from infancy to maturity with trains of virtuous reflection and with just perceptions of truth, would produce a most desirable revolution in the state of the world, and cause a wonderful change in the knowlege, opinions, and habits of mankind. The difference, indeed, would be so great, that a future generation would probably look back on the ignorance, folly, and bigotry of their forefathers with surprize; and would scarcely be persuaded that so much prejudice and blindness could be succeeded, without the miracle of a new creation, by the unfettered exercise of reason and the free discernment of truth.

In the hope of facilitating our progression towards this great change, Miss Hamilton devotes the first series of these letters to the consideration of the infinite importance of watching over the early associations of good and evil;'—and the second part contains reflections on the cultivation of the understanding,

Writers in general, who have treated on the subject of edu cation, have made the practical part the chief object of their attention; and although it be true that theory is of no avail unless it can be reduced to practice, yet, before positive rules are laid down, it seems requisite to examine, and to establish on a solid foundation, the principles on which the rules are grounded

grounded. It is owing to the neglect of this caution, in Miss Hamilton's opinion, that the science of education has been so little advanced. Departing, therefore, from the systematic plan of former writers, who have laid down practical rules, (and those generally adapted, also, to the education of the higher classes,) Miss Hamilton's aim is to inculcate such principles, as may furnish parents with the means of regulating the passions and directing the affections of their children, in every rank and condition of society. Since, in the earliest and most important period of life, this task devolves more particularly on the maternal character, Miss H. chiefly addresses herself to the female parent, and in the first letter prefaces some excellent advice with this admonition; that the woman, who would educate her children with success, must begin by educating herself,'-The next point of inquiry is, what do we really propose to accomplish by education? Is it merely to make our children shine in circles of fashion, or is it to correct their passions and to mould their hearts? If the latter be, as it ought to be, the main purpose, we must take care what early associa tions children are suffered to form; lest, by fixing their attention, hopes, and fears, on false pleasures and unworthy desires, they learn to associate the idea of evil with good, and good with evil.

Such is the great object of the present work. It will readily be perceived that Miss Hamilton, in adopting the principle of association, has availed herself of Hartley's invaluable Observations on Man.

Letter 2d shews the permanent Effect of early Impressions on the Mind. Although it may be argued that the ideas which children imbibe are slight and transient, yet, Miss H. observes, the permanency of associations depends on the strength of the original impression; and, secondly, on the frequency of the repetition. This remark is well illustrated by the terrors of darkness; which sometimes continue through life, from an early association of ghosts and hobgoblins. In this case, the terrible idea is strongly impressed at first; and Miss H. might have added that every succeeding night impresses it deeper, by repeating the association. This and a variety of other instances sufficiently manifest the importance of watching over the early associations of children :-but we cannot repress our doubts that few female parents in the common walks of life, at least, are competent to such a task; and the voice of sound philosophy can hardly be expected to reach the ears of the multitude. In the mean time, however, we may hope that there are many who can receive it; and they that have cars," let them hear and apply the lesson.

Letter

Letter 3d, on Associations producing the Passion of Fear: The evil consequences resulting from the use of terror, employed to bring children to a quiet submission under the decrees of the nurse, have been ably explained in a late celebrated treatise *. Miss H. is justly of opinion that such a practice tends not only to hurt the temper, but to debilitate the mind, and to introduce malevolent and selfish affections; and she very judiciously controverts the opinion that timidity and an amiable weakness are graceful in the female character: instead of which she would implant humility and diffidence. She observes also that the timid seldom will be found sincere;' a remark which is exemplified in the character of St. Peter. The following passage deserves attention :

And here it may be worthy of consideration how far the moral as well as physical faculties may be injured by the common mode of nursery education. To allure or to frighten them into a compliance with our will, we equally employ a system of falshood, and then we expect them to speak the truth! If symptoms of a contrary disposi tion appear at an early period, we never advert to the thousand lies they have from the cradle heard us utter, many of which were too palpable to escape the detection of even infantine sagacity; we never consider the associations we have thus excited, but immediately lay all the blame upon poor human nature!"

We cannot so perfectly accord with Miss Hamilton's method of obviating the effects of terror on children, by allowing them, without warning of their danger, to try the experiment of a sharp knife, of fire, or of boiling water. It appears to us that it would be better, in these cases, to impress on their minds a sufficient though not exaggerated idea of danger, than to leave them the probable chance of associating a much stronger idea of horror, by painful and perhaps fatal experience, To tell them that a china cup will bite, or to excite fear where there is no cause for it, is surely wrong: but to warn them seriously and calmly of real danger is no more than to fulfill the obligations of parents to speak truth to their children; and those can scarcely be considered as proper guardians over them, who neglect it. Nor can we agree with Miss H. that the slavish fear of death' is the result of early association. From observation, we are inclined to think that children are seldom much afraid of death; and that this fear, though it may by accident be early impressed, is in general the result of a love of the world, and of religious notions acquired in maturer life. Letter 4th, on the Nature of Antipathies, on Aversion, and Prejudice. It is customary to consider certain antipathies and

See Edgeworth on Education. Rev. vols. xxx. and xxxii. N. S,

aversions