SHAKING HANDS On the origin of this custom of civilized life we can say nothing. We may rest assured that the mode of salutation is perfectly arbitrary, there being about as much reason for twinging each others' noses when we meet, as for shaking hands; the cause of the preference given to the latter being the simple fact that the hands first present themselves, and furnish an opportunity of quicker contact. Our readers may rest assured there is no mystery in the matter beyond what we have stated; we shake hands when we meet, because with them we are able soonest to consummate that personal union which friendship deems necessary. This rite of good-fellowship delights in variety, rather than uniformity of method, since people differ exceedingly in their manner of shaking hands. There is the hearty John Bull shake, which aims at ascertaining the muscular strength we possess, and leaving the longest impression of kindness. Let our fair readers be on their guard against these violent expressions of fondness. Then there is the supercilious shake, which is satisfied with the squeezing being confined to one party, leaving you in doubt, by the unbending character of the palm, whether a hand of cork is not presented to your embrace. This shake sacrifices to custom, not to friendship, and forbids any further approximation. When you meet with this salute be thankful that you have no favours to solicit, aud no kindness to propitiate, as it will most effectually repel your advances. A species of this shake is the presentation of one or two fingers instead of the whole hand, which, with a very few exceptions, is a sure token of contempt. Fops delight in this way of exhibiting their good breeding, and they should be met on their own terms. When you perceive before-hand, that you are about to be subjected to this kind of insult, just present your little finger in return; the ludicrousness of this conjunction will bring the gentleman to his senses, and make him more courteous for the future. T The cordial and expressive shake gives most satisfaction, since it conveys to the heart the emotions it is intended to communicate. An embrace like this makes us love mankind better than we did before; it restores our confidence, and makes us depend as we ought on the good-will of our fellows. Shaking hands is thus made to utter a deep-toned language more convincing than words can be. Those who have been at all conversant with the phenomena of affection, know well how much is delicately conveyed in this manner to those we love. The reiterated pressure significantly tells us that we must part, that we had rather be still united, that we will not allow separation to become forgetfulness, and that we hope to meet again. If the presence of a third party should make reserve necessary, it is easy to convey an idea of what we feel by shaking hands. Passing by, for the present, many other varieties of this manual salute, let us enquire whether shaking hands should not be considered as a sign of friendship. Mere recognition does not demand it; courtesy cannot claim it, since a touch of the hat, or a bow, will satisfy the demands of civil intercourse. Why, therefore, should the hypocritical shake be allowed and practised? We have known men in the very act of injuring us with one hand, offer the other as though their friendship was tried and undoubted. Knowing the insincerity of the proffer, are we obliged to receive it? By no means; a dignified reverse should be maintained towards such characters, and they should be made to feel that we are awake to their duplicity and guile. If insincerity is thus to be treated in the same manner as real kindness, the shadow of friendship will soon be substituted for the reality, and the outward signs of affection be driven from the world. Let not that which is capable of being the index of our best feelings be prostituted to the purposes of cunning. All such double dealers must be classed with those worthies who are thus spoken of in Holy Writ:“And JoAB said to AMASA, art thou in health my brother? and smote him in the fifth rib." "And he that betrayed him, came to Jesus and said, Hail, Master, and kissed him." REVIEW. The Condensed Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, containing the most valuable Criticisms of the best Biblical Writers, &c. By the REV. INGRAM COBBIN, M. A. London: Thomas Ward and Co. BEFORE the results of the human intellect can be brought to bear with effect on the general good, two classes of operations must combine their energies; the fertility of inventive genius must pour forth its stores of bright thoughts and original conceptions, and plodding industry must collect and arrange them. Genius throws all around the sparkling novelties which its own fancy has created, but takes no care for their preservation; industry conjoined with good sense follows in the rear, and arranges them for future use. It would be difficult on a broad and general scale to balance correctly the merits of the inventers and the classifiers of knowledge; but in the narrower space of Theological speculation and critical research, the task is extremely easy. For while there have been multitudes of original thinkers on Biblical subjects, it has unfortunately happened that many of them have been mere day-dreamers; others have dimmed the bright gold of their conceptions by bigotry and fanaticism; and a third class have expended immense energies on the construction of some peculiar and favourite system. It is a proof of the vast and commendable interest taken in the revelations of Holy Writ, that they have had so many expounders; but at the same time we cannot be expected to separate the precious from the vile in the case of all of them. We do not hesitate, on this account, to adjudge the prize of superior merit to the compilers rather than to the inventers of scriptural criticism, and give many thanks to those who will suck the honey for us from the various and scattered nectaries of the ancient fathers, the verbose continental expositors, and the British divines. Here then, is a man to our taste in the person of Mr. Cobbin, who has performed this Herculean labour, and digested a thousand ponderous volumes ready for us. Within a small compass he has brought together almost every important illustration of the Bible as originally furnished by men of opposite sentiments, and of different ages. The labours of philologists, of preachers, and of oriental travellers, have been taxed to build up this condensed Commentary, and a fair and goodly structure it is. As the author observes in the preface, "the plan of this work is very advantageous for elucidating Scripture; for one writer explains what another passes by, and one is more clear on a passage than another; one excels in philology, another in divinity, and another in antiquities. And though it must needs be that, out of such a multitude of commentators many excellent notes are overlooked, yet those which are selected are such as give the meaning and illustration of the passages far more forcibly and clearly than any single writer, or even several writers would be likely to do. Indeed, the Editor has often found critics evading the question, and been forced from one to another, till he has discovered something like a satisfactory solution of a difficult passage. And here he may remark that he has made it a rule to pass over nothing which appeared difficult throughout the whole of the sacred pages-an unique feature, he believes, of this work. Thus are the rays from many luminaries of the church here concentrated in one focus, tending to throw together a strong light on difficult passages." This Commentary is judiciously arranged, and admirably calculated to assist all classes in the study of the Scriptures. It will form a very acceptable present to young persons. The price is very low when the large mass of materials is considered. THE EVENING PRIMROSE. PALE gem upon the brow of night Thou shunn'st the noon-tide ray; Dost shut thine eye-lid on the light, And deck the close of day. While splendid flowers of every hue 'Tis eve's soft gleam has charms for you, And kindles on your cheek. The sparkling dew-drops, jewels fair, The stars of heaven, the balmy air, When contemplation walks alone, That now the giddy world is gone, Nor dost thou fondly hope in vain, Thus, pride, with gaudy mantle on, |