No. XXXIII.

LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. Addressed to Sir WALTER SCOTT. By Sir DAVID BREWSTER, K.G.H. A New Edition, Woodcuts.

absurd as it is erroneous. The Letters of Sir David Brewster will disabuse both classes. To the first, he furnishes philosophical data for explaining many hitherto puzzling appearances-to the last, he supplies the means of escape from absurdities calculated to retain them in mental slavery.

Illustrated with upwards of 80 The author of this volume passes under review" the principal phenomena of nature and the leading constructions of art which bear the impress of a supernatural character,' and more especially those singular illusions of sense by which the most perfect organs either fail to perform their functions or perform them faithlessly, and where the efforts and the creations of the mind predominate over the direct perceptions of external nature." These are themes full of interest to all, and worthy of the labour bestowed upon them by the phi losophic author. It is lamentable to think how many minds, not altogether uncultivated, rest contented with the most unphilosophical apology for ignorance of the great laws of nature and art, by designating the acts they do not examine, wonders or mysteries,-while to the mass of men around us, such acts are altogether inexplicable, except on some theory of superhuman agency, as "This is a charming little work, a present from philosophy to idleness-a lure thrown in the way of idleness in order to attract it to the paths of knowledge. A volume like this addresses itself to every age and sex."-Monthly Review.

The eye and the ear are of course the great organs of deception, and accordingly optical illusions occupy a considerable portion of the volume. The illusions depending on the ear succeed, and after these have been described and accounted for, we are treated to amusing descriptions of feats of strength, of mechanical automata, and of some of the more popular wonders of chemistry. Under each of these divisions, anecdotes of the most interesting kind illustrate the author's explanations, and no subject, in itself grave and important, was ever on the whole treated in a more amusing manner.

"An aggregate of more curious facts, of information in a higher degree calculated to exalt our estimate of the vast conquest of human science has perhaps never been given to the world, than Sir David Brewster's Letters to Sir Walter Scott."-Asiatic Journal.

Trick of the Automaton Chess Player explained.-See page 280.

The Family Library.

No. XXXI.

15

THE TRIALS OF CHARLES THE FIRST AND OF SOME OF THE REGICIDES. With Biographies of BRADSHAW, IRETON, HARRISON, &c., and Illustrative Notes, Legal and Historical. Portrait, Views, &c.

THE LIFE OF PETER THE GREAT. By JOHN BARROW, Esq. F.R.S., Author of the Eventful History of the Mutiny of the Bounty.' With Portrait.

the first glance of a small cock-boat, at the distance of five hundred miles from the nearest sea, he became an expert ship-builder, created a powerful fleet, partly constructed with his own hands, made himself an active and expert sailor, a skilful pilot, a great captain: in short, he changed the manners, the habits, the laws of the people, and the very face of the country.

The Author of this Biographical Memoir has brought together and arranged the scattered fragments of Histories, Lives, Anecdotes, and Notices, in manuscript or in print, of one of the most extraordinary characters that ever appeared on the great theatre of the world, in any age or country;-a being full of contradictions, yet consistent in all that he did; a promoter of literature, arts, and sciences, yet without education himself; the civilizer of his people, he gave a polish,' says Voltaire, to his nation, and was himself a savage;' he taught his people the art of war, of which he was himself ignorant; from This is an excellent compendium of the life of that most extraordinary character-the founder not of a dynasty, but of an empire. It is well drawn up; every source of information has been consulted; the style is easy and unpretending; in short, the author is master of his subject.'-Spectator.

A modern French writer has given a catalogue of no less than ninety-five authors who have treated of Peter theGreat, and concludes it with three &c.'s. About one-fourth of that number may have been consulted on the present occasion.

SIX MONTHS IN THE WEST INDIES. By HENRY NELSON COLERIDGE, M.A.

The present moment, when the West Indies and Slavery are topics of such momentous interest, is considered a fit opportunity for the republication of this little work, which has already received from public approbation the stamp of acknowledged merit. An extended circu

lation of the little volume in its present cheap form cannot fail of adding to its reputation. It is calculated to amuse in no ordinary degree, for the descriptions of scenery are vivid, the pictures of society extremely graphic, and the adventures and anecdotes interesting and varied. "This lively and judicious sketch of the state of our West India colonies, is here reprinted for the third time. The work deserves its popularity, and its issue in this cheap and agreeable form will, we have no doubt, be rewarded by extensive circulation. Mr. Coleridge's view of the question of slavery is extremely creditable to his discernment."-Atlas.