Mr. Cowper as the finest specimen of the epistolary style in our language; and these appear to me of a superior description to the former, possessing as much beauty, with more piety and pathos. To an air of inimitable ease and carelessness they unite a high degree of correctness, such as could result only from the clearest intellect, combined with the most finished taste. I have scarcely found a single word which is capable of being exchanged for a better. Literary errors I can discern none. The selection of words, and the construction of periods, are inimitable; they present as striking a contrast as can be well conceived to the turgid verbosity which passes at present for fine writing, and which bears a great resemblance to the degeneracy which marks the style of Ammianus Marcellinus, as compared to that of Cicero or of Livy. In my humble opinion, the study of Cowper's prose may on this account be as useful in forming the taste of young people as his poetry. That the letters will afford great delight to all persons of true taste, and that you will confer a most acceptable present on the reading world by publishing them, will not admit of a doubt."

This work is got up in a style of neatness most creditable to the publishers-it is a choice specime of the typographic art. The plates, by Finden, are beautifully graved, graved, and the subjects are chosen with the discrimination which taste and genius only can impart. We may truly affirm that the volumes are altogether as tasteful in appearance as they are precious in matter.

Provincial Sketches. By the Author of "The Usurer's Daughter," "The Puritan's Grave," &c. &c. London: Churton, Holles-street. This is anything but a dull and narcotic volume-in fact it is full of wit and humour, and evinces an intimate knowledge of real life in situations the most opposite to each other, and the most grotesque. It is thrown into distinct stories, the titles of which are-The Rival Farmers-The Country Newspapers-The Snug little Watering Place-Amateur Concerts-Itinerant Lecturers-Itinerant Artists-The Public LibraryGentility-Village Choristers-and Dame Deborah Boreham's Almshouses. They are all good of their kind, are replete with droll and whimsical incidents, and so faithful to nature, that the dullest soul must be struck with their aptitude and comicalness.

It unfortunately happens that we did not receive this exquisite morçeau before our pages for the present number were fully occupied; we must defer, therefore, all extracts to the ensuing month, when, if not too much pressed for room, we will advert to the subject again, and give such a specimen from the work itself as shall make it speak in its own commendation.

Wanderings through North Wales, by Thomas Roscoe, Esq. Author of "The Landscape Annual," embellished with highly finished engravings, by W. Radclyffe, from drawings made expressly for the work, by Cattermole, Cox, and Creswick. Part II. London: Simpkin and Marshall, and Charles Tilt.

This charmingly illustrated work, of which we had occasion to speak so warmly in our preceding number, has presented another adımirable specimen of the taste and skilfulness of its designs and execution. It contains three sweetly delineated views, by Cox, of Harlech Castle, Bridge over the Llugwy, and Snowdon, engraved in Radclyffe's best style. If we have spoken highly of the first number, we are bound with equal justice to speak as favourably of the present and we have considerable gratification in being enabled to state, from the most authentic source, that it has received all the encouragement which we predicted. Indeed, if works of this stamp are not liberally encouraged, how can it be expected that a taste for the fine arts can flourish-without the aid of liberal patronage, of what avail are the toils of the artist and the lifedestroying intensity of the lettered? Of the three plates in this number we scarcely know to which the preference is due, they are all so inimitably finished. The descriptive part of the work, too, we perceive, maintains its high reputation-and it is, altogether, one of the very rare productions on which the asperities of criticism cannot justly alight.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC.

WORCESTERSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

On Tuesday, the 31st of March, Mr. B. Maund, F. L. S., delivered a Lecture "On Geology corroborative of the Mosaic Writings," to a very crowded assemblage of the Members of this Society, at the Guildhall.

In reference to the relation between the modern science of geology and the Mosaic writings, the Lecturer observed "The subject has been embarrassed by the misconceptions, as well of the friends as of the opponents of Revelation. If sceptics have presumed to argue without a sufficient acquaintance with the facts of science, it is not less true that those of established religious principles have injured the cause of revealed religion by a similar defect of information. Some, too, may have done the same by an unphilosophical timidity in approaching the subject. Some well-meaning, but weak-minded persons are afraid of discussion on such subjects, lest something should be found in the page of nature subversive of their established faith. This, however, is paying a very poor compliment to Revelation. This weakness of mind (although it may be an amiable one) is inconsistent with a sincere and enlightened love of truth. Let Revelation and Science be brought fearlessly into opposition. Let facts supersede surmises, and Revelation will trample on Scepti

cism."

The Lecturer then explained in a very clear and lucid manner the rapidity with which the secondary strata are sometimes deposited; and remarked, "We have satisfactory evidence not only of the mutability of rocks, but also of the rapidity of their solidification. In a chalk formation in Ireland, where convulsions have rent the strata asunder, and protruded from beneath into the chasm, or dyke, a quantity of basalt in a state of fusion, its great heat combined with the superincumbent pressure, has, for several feet from the dyke, converted the chalk into granular marble. Arthur's Seat, near Edinburgh, has, in like manner, been divided, and the injection of greenstone, in a melted state, has converted the sandstone near it into a compact jasper-like rock. Red sandstone, under similar circumstances, has been converted into hornstone-slate clay into flinty slate-sandstone, of the Isle of Skye, into solid quartz; and in Anglesea an instance is noticed, by Professor Henslow, where common shale became highly indurated, and was found to contain garnets, the result of its change of character."

These and other evidences were adduced by the Lecturer to shew that rocks may be rapidly formed, and also solidified, and that the extravagant theories adopted by some geologists are not founded on that basis of inductive truth which should be the guide of all scientific inquiry. These arguments were not advanced to confine the geologist to a consideration of the present order of things belonging to our planet, for Mr. M., like most other geologists of the new school, admits that its surface may have undergone many successive changes, and have been inhabited by many races of living beings, each being adapted to the state of the globe during the period of its existence.

After some explanatory remarks and evidences of the Deluge, its effects, &c., the Lecturer thus concluded :

"These evidences have been summed up in so masterly a manner by Dr. Buckland, that I cannot do better than quote the words of that eminent geologist. "The proofs of an universal deluge are to be found in the following facts:

"1. The general shape and position of hills and valleys; the former having their sides and surface universally modified by the action of violent waters; and presenting often the same alternation of salient and retiring angles that mark the course of a common river. And the latter, in those cases which are called valleys of denudation, being attended with such phenomena as shew them to owe their existence entirely to excavation under the action of a retiring flood of waters.

""2. The almost universal confluence and successive inosculations of minor valleys with each other; and final termination of them all in some main trunk which conducts them to the sea; and the rare interruptions of their courses by transverse barriers, producing lakes.

"3. The occurrence of detached insulated masses of horizontal strata, called outliers, at considerable distances from the beds which they once evidently formed a continuous part, and from which they have at a recent period separated by deep and precipitous valleys of denudation.

""4. The immense deposits of gravel that occur occasionally on the summits of hills, and almost universally in valleys, over the whole world, in situations to which no torrents nor rivers, (such as are now in action) could have drifted there.

""5. The nature of this gravel, being in part composed of the wreck of neighbouring hills, and partly of fragments and blocks that have been transported from distant regions.

""6. The nature and condition of the organic remains deposited in this gravel ; many, though not all of them, identical with species that now exist; and very few having undergone the process of mineralization."

"Their condition resembles rather that of common grave bones than of those fossil bones which are found imbedded in the regular strata; being in so recent a state, and having undergone so little decay, that if the records of history and the circumstances that attend them, did not absolutely forbid such a supposition, we should be inclined to attribute them to a much later period than the Mosaic Deluge, and certainly there is, in my opinion, no single fact connected with them, that should lead us to date their origin from any more ancient era.

""7. The total impossibility of referring any one of these appearances to the action of ancient or modern rivers, or any other causes that are now, or appear ever to have been, in action since the last retreat of the diluvian waters.

""8. The analogous occurrence of similar phenomena in almost all regions of the world that have hitherto been scientifically investigated, presenting a series of facts that are uniformly consistent with the hypothesis of a contemporaneous and diluvian origin.

""9. The perfect harmony and consistency in the circumstances of those few changes that now go on; e. g. the formation of ravines and gravel; mountain torrents; the depth and continual growth of peat bogs; the formation of tufa, sandbanks, and deltas; and of the filling up of lakes, estuaries, and marshes. These changes are progressive, and have been so from the last great catastrophe of the earth, and their present state perfectly coincides with the hypothesis which dates the commencement of all such operations at a period not more ancient than the Mosaic deluge.

"All these, whether considered collectively or separately, present such a general conformity of facts tending to establish the universality of a recent deluge, as no difficulties or objections, that have hitherto arisen, are in any way sufficient to overrule."

ON THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VEGETABLE
ORGANIZATION.

On the evening of the 14th of April, a lecture "On the Progressive Development of the Vegetable Organization," was delivered before the Worcestershire Natural History Society, by Dr. Streeten. After stating that the subject formed a counterpart to the Development of the Animal Organization, so ably treated by Mr. Walsh upon a former occasion, the lecturer proceeded to describe a globular vesicle, as affording the most simple idea of a primary cell. The Lepraria viridis, or powdery green substance, so common on trees, old palings, and in damp situations, was instanced as apparently consisting of these simple vesicles, slightly agglomerated together, so as to form a loose continuous crust. Various of the algæ, or sea weeds, were then introduced, as illustrative of the different modes of union and progressive complication of these vesicles in the formation of the cellular structure, and the manner in which this complication took place by the gradual extension of the primary cells and successive development of secondary vesicles, under varying circumstances of pressure, was pointed out. After a brief allusion to the great division of plants into cellular and vascular, extended and interesting details of the diversities of the cellular and vascular structures, and the intermediate links connecting them, were brought forward. It was then shewn that notwithstanding the vast difference between the extremes of the vegetable kingdom, the gradation from one family of plants to its near allies, and from one individual species to others of the same family, was often so slight as to render the separation of allied plants and families a matter of considerable difficulty to the botanist. Returning to the consideration of the more simple plants, the lecturer successively alluded to the structure of the Lichens, Algæ, Hepatici, Mosses, &c. tracing the increasing complication of their forms, and their transition into and connection with each other; from these, proceeding to the monocotyledonous tribes, of which the grasses were especially noticed, and the more complex structures of the dicotyledonous plants. After showing that general similarity prevailed in the internal organization and external form throughout the whole, the development of the several parts of which these more perfect plants consist of the root, stem, and branches leaves, flowers, and fruit, concluding with the bulb and the bud, both of which were shewn to contain the rudiments of the future plant, was successively detailed. The lecture was concluded by an appeal to the audience upon the utility and dignity of these pursuits, and the good influence which they were calculated to exercise upon the public mind. We regret that we have not space for a more extended analysis, but we hope on a future occasion to be able to lay before our readers some of the curious particulars to which we have briefly alluded, in a different shape.

a

We cannot close this concise notice without bestowing our unqualified praise on the beautifully executed drawings exhibited on this occasion in illustration of the subject.

THE adjourned Quarterly Meeting of the Worcestershire Natural History Society took place on Tuesday, the 14th instant, at which Dr. Hastings presided. After some preliminary observations of a general nature, the following Donations and New Subscribers were officially announced :

Beautiful specimen of Fossilized Sponge, from Mr. Warde, of the Athenæum; "Newman's Grammar of Entomology,” with plates, from Mr. G. Newman, of Leominster, an Honorary Corresponding Member; various specimens from the Isle of Staffa, from Mrs. C. L. Perrott; a beautiful variety of the Mustela Erminea, (shot at Wolverton,) from Mr. H. Deighton, High-street; and L'Antiquité Expliquée et Representée en figures," 6 vols. 4to., from John Simpson, Esq., LL. D. Shrub's

Hill.

A donation of ten pounds each having been received from R. Berkeley, jun. Esq. Spetchley, and the Rev. T. H. Newport, of Thorneloe House, those gentlemen were

elected life members.

The new Annual Subscribers of one guinea each, elected Members of the Society, since the last Report, were-Mr. John Herbert, Powick; Mr. John Herbert, jun. Powick; Mr. W. Holden, Lark Hill; Mr. Rob. Allies, Hill House; Mrs. Wheeler, Foregate-street; Mr. Gossage, Rushford; Mr. Childe, High-street; Mr. Ledbroke, Surgeon, Worcester.

The Curator's Report was then read, (in every respect a satisfactory one) of which the following are the leading particulars :

"Since the last Report was presented to the Society, various donations have been received for the Museum, the most interesting of which is a collection of Australian Birds, from William and Hyla Holden, Esqrs. Of these, 60 specimens, many of the genus Psittacus have been set up, and a considerable number yet remain to be done. Numerous specimens in Geology have been likewise presented, which have been classified as far as the present limited space will allow; but another receptacle is much wanted for a more perfect elucidation of the series. Various Insects, Plants, and Miscellaneous Curiosities from different public-spirited individuals, have been also added to the collection. The following is a synopsis of the present contents of the Museum:-Mammalia, 36 specimens-Birds, upwards of 500 individualsChelonia and Sauria, 40-Ophidia, 159-Batrachia, 4-Fishes, 4-Shells of the Mollusca, 550-Insecta, 8 cases, chiefly of the Coleopterous, Lepidopterous, and Dipterous tribes-Radiata, 3-Zoophyta, 28-In Geology and Fossil Remains there are upwards of 2,000 specimens arranged in the order of the descending strata, 3 drawers devoted to Mineralogy, and a case dedicated to British Oology. - Besides these, there are various Miscellaneous Curiosities, as the horns of several extinct and existing Quadrupeds, Esquimaux Dresses, Snow Shoes, Weapons, Indian Belts, &c. -Among the more recent acquisitions to the Ornithological department, is a beautiful pair of the Bohemian Chatterer (Ampelis garrulus, Lin.), a rare and uncertain visitant, the male of which was shot at Radford, near Evesham, and the female at Claines, both during the past winter.

WORCESTER LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.

On Monday, the 6th of April, Mr. Sémonin delivered a lecture on the "Study of the French Language."

The lecturer commenced by a few observations on the utility of learning French, in the course of which he adverted to the way French works are generally translated in this country. This led him to instance a great many blunders committed by English translators: we shall subjoin a few for the amusement of our readers.

Those who have read Gil Blas, may recollect that part where Rolando takes Gil Blas through the different parts of the cavern. The original runs thus" Il me fit traverser plusieurs chambres: dans les unes il y avait des pièces de toile, dans les autres des étoffes de laine et de soie. Dans une autre de l'or et de l' argent et beaucoup de vaisselle à divertes armoiries." He made me pass through divers apartments, some of which contained bales of linen, others of silks and stuffs. In one I perceived gold and silver, and a great quantity of plate in different cupboards. Smollett renders the French word armoiries (coats of arms) by the English word cupboards.

In the Journal of Las Cases we find that about the time of the battle of Wagram, the son of a Protestant minister had laid a plan for the assassination of Napoléon, "en pleine parade," that is, in the middle of the parade; but, according to the English translator, Napoléon was to be assassinated with due parade.

The translator of Madame de Genlis's Memoirs committed some strange blunders. The word "rôtie au vin" (mulled wine), he translated by some roast meat prepared with wine. "Un livre d'heures" (a prayer-book) by a book of hours. Madame de Genlis, describing her apartments at the Palais royal, says in the original" Il était meublé magnifiquement, tapissé en damas bleu," &c. They were magnificently furnished, hung with blue damask, &c. The translator makes her say "My apartments at the Palais royal were magnificently furnished, carpeted with blue damask," &c. The following blunder is very ludicrous. We shall give the English translation only; it will be a kind of riddle for our readers. Madame de Genlis was residing in a convent. "When any one," says she, " wished to come in, he rang at the grate, and the nuns, pulling down their veils, went to open the door; besides this precaution we had a little tower built beside the grate, in which were laid our letters, our packets, and the dishes for our meals." What does this mean? Why, it means nothing at all. The translator had mistaken the word tour, a turn-about, a sort of turning box in a convent, for the word tour, a tower.

Another of Madame de Genlis's works, entitled "Nouveaux Contes Moraux," is translated in very nearly the same intelligent manner. In the original it is said" La Duchesse courut à une fenêtre et vit à travers la jalousie, le Baron et M. de Ferriolles descendre de voiture." The translation ought to have been"The Duchess ran to a window and beheld, through the blinds, the Baron and M. de Ferriolles alight." But the translator thought that the French word jalousie had no other meaning than jealousy, and translated the above passage thus "The