that ignorantly support whatever may be the order of things of that period in which chance has cast their existence. When the question of meliorating the condition of the slaves was first agitated in the British legislature, the Creoles declared the condition of the negroes to be enviable, the blacks were perfectly satisfied with their masters, it was impossible to improve their lot, and any interference on the part of the English Parliament would produce rebellion and the massacre of all the white inhabitants. But the British legislature successively interfered in behalf of the unhappy negroes, and at each period of interference precisely the same cry was renewed by the Creole slave owners." You have now," added they, "done all that can be done in favour of the negroes; if you proceed further, you will dissatisfy their minds, they will be rising in rebellion, our estates will be wrested from us, and our lives will be sacrificed." But in spite of this senseless yell, our government has continued to pass laws for the protection and improvement of the blacks; the greatest of all questions, the Abolition Law, has been carried; and that has been succeeded by a measure almost as important, the Registry Bill; and yet no rebellion has taken place amongst the negroes, neither the lives nor the estates of the planters have been sacrificed, but the slave population has been relieved from a frightful load of misery, and the improvement of their condition has been reflected upon the manners and habits of their owners. How senseless then would it be in our parliament to suffer their progress, in the total abolition of slavery, to be retarded by prophecies which have been repeated a hundred times and which have always proved totally fallacious. Other states have, at a tangent, totally abolished slavery, and have immediately formed whole regiments of their emancipated negroes, and this without the slightest danger to the personal safety or to the security of the property of the whites. How silly is it then in our Creoles to dread, or pretend to dread, insurrection and massacre from those prudent and gradual measures of negro emancipation, which our parliament is pur

suing with the decided approbation of the whole country.

Finally, we must observe, that the West India Islands have been prematurely brought into cultivation. They consist of inferior soils, and are destitute of any easy means of irrigation; their produce, therefore, cannot compete in the market with that which, ere long, will be furnished by the richer soils and better situated lands of those immense countries on the continent of America, which have been lately opened to the industry and talents that are the offsprings of freedom. The very existence of the agriculture and com merce of these islands must therefore either cease, or be supported by sys-tems of commercial monopolies and restrictions, which are already held in disesteem by all intelligent men, and which are not only in themselves ruinous to any state, but which are dangerous in their tendency to create national bickerings and frequent wars.

The whole system of the West India planting and trade is an artificial system, a system already contrary to the condition of mankind, and which must become more so every day, and continue to be so for centuries; at least until population presses on the supply which all the rich lands accessible to industry can> produce, and consequently renders it advantageous to capitalists to invest their money in poorer soils. The altered relations of mankind have already converted into deserts many districts of the earth that were once populous and cultivated; and, in the nature of things, the West India Islands must, ere another cen-tury pass, afford one more example of the endless fluctuation of human affairs. The only possible means of preventing or of retarding this mutation is to relieve from all restraints of slavery that species of our fellow creatures, whose physical and animal qualities have evidently been adapted by the Deity to the nature of tropical climates.

Transactions of the Phrenological Society of Edinburgh. Octavo. Edinburgh. 1823.

WITHOUT making the merits of the Phrenological system of Drs. Gall

and Spurzheim a question for discussion at present, it may still be advanced, that neither the reasons which would lead to its entire rejection, nor the manifold titles it has to serious consideration, are suffičiently known or understood. The only mode, which would have enabled the public to elicit an opinion on the subject, has either been overlooked altogether, or has been pursued so negligently, as, from the very nature of things, to be incapable of leading to any satisfactory result. Hence it is we meet with so few who have examined for themselves the doctrines of Phrenology, and who have by so doing qualified themselves to pronounce definitively on their truth or falsity. We must not, therefore, be astonished at the very erroneous views entertained of the nature and tendencies of Phrenology, nor even at the opposition and examination into its principles it has encountered ever since its promulgation.

Dr. Spurzheim is the gentleman to whose exertions we are mainly indebted for the knowledge we possess of Phrenology in this country. He was most assiduous in teaching, and of his work the physiognomical system is the foundation, if it have not really furnished the materials of all the other books that have been

published as expositions of the peculiar doctrines he professed. His hearers he never failed to caution against taking any thing he advanced for granted, as well as against objecting merely because others had done so before, "I may err," said he," and others may err, but nature is ever true and constant; look to her, therefore, and judge for yourselves." Now we confess we are somewhat at a loss to conceive any reason, why a man who made such a proposition should have been deemed worthy of much laboured abuse, and his opinions have come to be regarded as the offspring of fancy or of some sinister motive; particularly when we see, that none of his opponents has even hinted, much less asserted, that he had gone to the page of nature, equally open to him as to Dr. Spurzheim, as to an authority or for proofs of what he had to advance. Madame de Staël, in her work on Germany, observes of

its inhabitants, that "they are, as it were, the guides or enlighteners of the human mind, they essay new paths, they attempt unknown methods." The world has already acknowledged itself debtor for much, which has emanated from the storehouses of intelligence so profusely scattered over Germany. Faust is the regenerator of the people of Europe, and Luther kindled the spark which will ultimately strip off the

shackles of the most odious thraldom that ever oppressed free-minded man. Had not the disastrous period of nearly thirty years war intervened, and cut off England from all communication with the Continent, it is probable we should, ere this, have expressed our thanks for another important addition made to our stock of knowledge by our neighbours the Germans, in a system of philosophy of the mind, founded on the physiology of the brain. The same admirable writer, we have quo ed above, remarks of the people of England, that "although possessed of so much originality of character, they nevertheless seem very generally to shrink from every thing that bears the aspect of a new system." This opinion is completely borne out by the reception Phrenology has met with amongst us. At the first it was most violently opposed, but a short period sufficed to allay the ferment, and a few years have enabled the spirit of enquiry and innate impartiality with which we are blessed to resume their sway, and Phrenology is now assiduously cultivated, and highly prized by learned and eminent individuals in most parts of the kingdom.

The inhospitable manner in which the inhabitants of the northern metropolis received the disciple, as well as his system, is sufficiently and generally known; and whilst the friends of fair enquiry regretted the too successful attack made upon both by the most popular periodical publication of the day, the admirers of equity and of propriety of feeling will rejoice to see the Science of Phrenology again emerging, under the guidance of a few enlightened individuals, from the unmerited obscurity to which it was consigned a very few years ago. Le doute eat la mere de la certitude, said a dis

tinguished philosopher, and we subscribe assent; a wholesome degree of scepticism is ever beneficial where natural truths are the subjects of discussion, and we would not care to listen to any thing a man had to say whose belief did not spring out of examination. Justice, in her absence, only makes men the more sensible of the blessings she bestows when possessed, and as speculation without foundation, and false philosophy however arrayed and however attractive to the eye, will not satisfy the appetite for positive information to supply the deficiency, Phrenology is again presented to our attention; and as all may look in the mirror she holds up to nature, so all, who will, are freely invited to the feast she has prepared.

It is not, perhaps, generally known that Edinburgh boasts a numerous society of gentlemen of various professions, which has existed during several years, and whose object is the cultivation of Phrenology. The volume before us will, however, we trust, diffuse this information widely,

as we are sure the fame of the society will be extended by the excellency of the matter contained in the pages of its transactions. The facts and data, from which the Science of Phrenology has arisen, will now be rendered more tangible; and as certain organic conditions which exist in nature, and which may be recognised by all, are the only supports of the system, the superiority of the mode of philosophising it teaches will now be more clearly appreciable than heretofore. We regret that our limits will not at present permit us to give more than a list of the papers of this interesting volume. "Preliminary dissertation on the progress of Phrenology.-Outlines of Phre

nology.-View of Dr. Spurzheim's Course of Lectures delivered in Edinburgh.-On the Functions of the Organs of Combativeness, Destructiveness, and Secreteveness. On the Effects of Injuries of the Brain on the Manifestations of the Mind. -Cases of Deficiency in the power of perceiving and distinguishing Colours.-On the Cerebral development of King Robert Bruce, compared with his Character as appearing in History.-Report upon the Cast of Miss Clara Fisher.-Case of J. G.-On inferring Dispositions and Talents from Development of Brain. -On the Cerebral Development of Executed Criminals. - Phrenological Analysis of some of Rochefaucault's Maxims.-Case of a man who forgot spoken and written Language.-Observations on Dr. Barclay's objections to Phrenology.On the Phrenology of Hindostan."

Besides the benefit the Phrenological Society of Edinburgh thus confer upon the world by making public its transactions, it farther af fords every facility of gaining information of its object, by throwing open its doors and permitting the public to examine its numerous collection of crania, busts, and masks. Although the people of Edinburgh have got the start of us in London, yet we know that there is an infant society here, which proposes to itself the same objects as have been so successfully prosecuted by the Society at Edinburgh; its collection is not public, only because its hall is not sufficiently commodious to receive it; a counterpart is, however, kindly shewn to the curious, by Mr. de Ville, of the Strand. We intend shortly to give reviews of

some of the articles whose titles we have given above.

GERMANY.

THE table of the thirty-nine States composing the German Confederation, drawn up according to the latest data, taken from the archives of the Diet, makes the population to be 30,178,811 souls; the revenue, 219,933,627 florins; the number of votes in the Diet 70; of which Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony, and Wurtemberg, have four each; Baden, Hesse Cassel, Hesse Damstadt, Holstein, and Luxemburg, three each; Brunswick, Nassau, and Mecklenburgh Schwerm, two each; and the other twenty-five states one vote each.

It may be added, that the total popuTation of the Confederation is divided nearly into 17,000,000 of Catholics, 13,000,000 of Protestants, and 200,000 Jews, inhabiting a country of 11,869 German square miles, which forms 1,13th of the territory of Europe. The army of the Confederation is, in time of peace, 301,780 men, and in time of war, 452,670. In the above statement of the population only those countries are included, which actually form a part of the Confederation, and not the other dominions which some of the members possess—such as Hungary and the Italian states of Austria, the kingdom of the Netherlands, whose Sovereign is a member as Grand Duke of Luxemburg only, &c.

Halle. We have received the following intelligence relative to the two Chinese whom the King of Prussia has ordered to be educated at Halle, with a view of facilitating scientific commu nications with China. One of these is named As-Sing, and is about thirty years of age. He was born at Heong-San, near Canton. His father was a priest and an astrologer, but dying when his son was only five years old, As-Sing was carefully educated by his uncle, an officer of the Customs at Canton. As-Sing understood English, and, having made a voyage to St. Helena, was employed for three years as a cook in the kitchen of the Emperor Napoleon at Longwood. After the death of the Emperor, he was employed in the English navy as an interpreter; As-Sing at length repaired to London, where he met a countryman and a friend, Ha-Ho, a person of about twenty-five years of age, and who was the son of a silkmerchant. These persons at length

consented to sign an agreement with a Dutchman, who wished to exhibit them on the Continent as curiosities; and from this low condition they have been removed to Halle with a view of receiving instruction, and of affording assistance to the students of Oriental Literature in that University.

Leipsic.-The catalogue of books, offered for sale at the Fair of Easter 1823, contained the names of 2957 works, published since the fair of September 1822. Of this number 190 were romances, 484 theological works, 136 upon laws, 155 upon medicine, 398 upon education, 184 upon belles-lettres, 150 upon history, 137 relating to the natural sciences, 378 poetical and literary works, 215 upon politics, 159 periodical works, 30 upon philosophy, and 30 upon military subjects; of these 95 were French, 62 Danish, and 56 Polish. It is astonishing that so many as 215 political works could be published within so short a space of time in Germany, where the Censorship of the press suppresses both variety and freedom of discussion. Of the 2957 works, 214 have been written by princes and noblemen, and 24 are from the pen of females. Added to this catalogue are 489 new editions of former works, and yet the catalogue of the fair of 1822 exceeded that of 1823 by 160 original works.

Munich-In Germany, the most popular species of work is what is called their Almanacs. The booksellers are generally concerned in such specula. tions, and there is scarce a toilette on which one or several of them are not to be found. Such works contain the coups d'essai of swarms of maiden authors, and with the ephemeral and lighter pieces of writers whose reputation is established. Some of these Almanacs are of a more serious and useful character, and the whole of them are generally bound with taste and fancy, and are ornamented with elegant engravings. Of these works the principal are The Minerva, a duodecimo work established at Leipsic about fifteen years, and to which a great number of the German poets contribute; Mons. Rauberg is the editor. The Cornelia, a lady's Almanac, published at Heidelberg, and commenced eight years ago. The principal con. tributors to this work are De Neuffer,

the German translator of the Eneid, De la Motte Fouqué, one of the first of German novelists, and Louisa Brachmaon, whose tragical fate has been so recent. The third is entitled Penelope, and is conducted by Theodore Hell. The work has now been established twelve years, it is not destitute of merit, but its engravings are of little value. Its contributors are principally Mesdames Helmina de Chezy, and Agnes Franz, with the younger Schilling, and a few others. The same person, Mons. Theodore Hell, also publishes the Dramatic Almanac of Weimar. Messrs. Castelli, de Houwald, Holbein, Kind, Geyer, and others, contribute to this latter publication. The Genealogical Calendar of Gotha, independent of its genealogy, gives the biography of many distinguished per sons; it has been established sixty years. The Balsam is a new work. published at Vienna. The Almanac of the Rhine was brought out last year, and has contained some very interesting articles." Homage to the Fair Sex," under this title Mons. Castelli has just brought out an Almanac not unworthy of attention, L'Eidora is a work of this sort just published at Sleswick, by M.Gardthausen, who devotes the profits to the Institute of the Deaf and Dumb. The Lady's Almanac, the celebrated Almanac des Dames, commenced nine years ago at Nuremberg, under the direction of M. Ruckert, assisted by Mesdames Helmina de Chezy, Fanny Tarnow, Krug de Nidda, and a few others. Two Almanacs of Social Plea sure are published at Leipsic, and each contains much of interest both in poetry and prose. The Roses of the Alps is published both at Berne and at Leipsic. The Annals of the Edification of the Heart and of Domestic Devotion was first published at Gotha about five years ago. The Almanac of the Refor mation is published at Erfurt: three numbers have appeared since 1817, or namented by portraits of those who most distinguished themselves in the Reformation; its contributions are of great merit. The Almanac entitled, Annual Communications, published in Svo. at Leipsic; the third volume, now out, contains an excellent Life of the celebrated theologian Spener, born in Alsace, The Professor Justi, of Marbourg, so celebrated for his excellent writings, publishes many of his pieces in this work. Die Vorzeit, or Past Times, an Historical Almanac, containing very useful enquiries, and now established four years. The Astrological

Almanac of M. Pfaff is useful only to the learned, and containing astronomical, geological, historical, and other such enquiries. The new Almanac of Nuremberg is in its second year, and is highly deserving of praise; it has many contributors of high talents, and among them is the justly celebrated Professor Mannest. The Almanac upon the History of One's Country, published for four years at Vienna, by the Barons de Hormayr and De Mechnyansky, contains very valuable dissertations upon points of Austrian and Hungarian history, as well as upon the legislation of the two countries. The Urania has been circulated at Leipsic for three years, and is devoted to historical and archeological subjects, and to the Fine Arts. It is embellished with engravings of subjects from Shakspeare. The Continent is well acquainted with the articles entitled Sabina, or the Toilette of a Roman Lady, which have appeared in the above-mentioned work, The Almanac of Grecian History and of general tracts, now beginuing to be published at Heidelberg, and ornamented with portraits and with landscapes; the articles in this work are of a lighter description. The Almanac of Instruction and of Amusement, intended as a manual for mothers and daughters; a collection which frequently contains interesting articles.

SPAIN.

The Spanish flocks of Merino sheep have been the whole summer in Estremadura, it not having been practicable to send them to the Pyrenees according to custom, in consequence of the entrance of foreign troops into Spain. But Estremadura has furnished them with sufficient pasturage, and water has not been wanted. This circumstance has given a new direction to the trade in wool, for, instead of being sold at Bilboa and Santander, it has been sent to Lisbon and Oporto, on account of the English merchants.

FRANCE.

Bourdeaux.-The general wish of the inhabitants has been gratified by the opening of two schools for the teaching of swimming. The instructions in one of them are given on a floating raft 120 feet long by 60 broad, and two evenings of each week are reserved for females. The other school is upon a very enlarged scale, and is situated on one of the very magnificent basins of Mons. de la Fitte, 1200 feet long, enclosed on two sides by walls, and ca pable of being filled or emptied at pleasure. There are 60 dressing-rooms,