aspirant for its honors. The author of the work before us, has taste and judgment; he has read much, and digested well what he has read. His frequent classical allusions, and quotations of standard English poets and prose writers, prove much for his industry. We have only to regret, a deficiency of imagination, whose highly colored and life giving touches, must always confer upon works of this kind, their chief merit.

The scenes are laid in the wild West, at the time when that desperate spirit of speculation, was abroad in the land; when towns and villages rose up as by enchantment, figuring larger full often upon maps than upon terra firma; when millions were squandered upon acres, which at no distant period, were to be worth their surfaces in gold. To exhibit the workings of this mad spirit, in the new formed communities of the West, and the consequent deterioration of morals and manners, is a great aim with the writer. In this, he has not failed. The pictures appear to have been drawn upon the spot, with the eye of an accurate observer. The character of "Goldborough," is the highest wrought—his cool and calculating villanies-his genius-his profound dissimulation. The progress of "Woodville" through all the stages of the speculator,-the gambler-the suicide, is strongly marked. "Belmont" does not always please, and "Ellen" will inspire more of admiration than of love. "Morgan" is a desperate villain. "Mrs. Thompson," we vote a nuisance, as our hero and heroine doubtless did a thousand times over; and as for Messrs. "Clodpole" and "Pleadit," their names are quite sufficient. We wish we had more space to allot to the work.

3.—Medicines; their Uses and Mode of Administration; including a complete Conspectus of the British Pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an Appendix of Formula, by J. Moore Nelligan, M. D., Physician to Jervais-street Hospital, and Lecturer on Materia Medica and Theraputics in the Dublin School of Medicine. With Notes and Additions, conforming it to the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, and including all that is new or important in recent improvements. By DAVID MEREDITH REESE, A. M., M. D., late Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and Surgery in the Washington University Baltimore, &c. NewYork: Published by Harper and Brothers, No. 82 Cliff-street. 1844.

THE above is a new and valuable work, just presented to the Medical profession and to the public, through the enterprise of the Harpers. Its unassuming title, seems to be indicative of the modest merit of its author. The work of Professor Dunglison on "New Remedies,” which was a great desideratum to the practitioner of Medicine at the time it appeared, and which has passed through several editions, seems to be

in a great measure superseded by this, in as much, as it embraces the substance of that excellent work, in a much more condensed form. The Conspectus of Dr. Thompson too, upon a similar plan, will be probably superseded by it; and it will, no doubt, come somewhat in competition with the work of our distinguished countryman, Professor Payne, of the University of New-York.

The work of Dr. Neligan, has the merit of being somewhat original in its plan and general arrangement. It embraces within a small compass, perhaps, a greater amount of matter, than any similar work of equal size in the English language. And so judicious and complete is the process of condensation, that almost at a single glance, and generally in less than the compass of a page, the reader may be put in possession of all, that is necessary to be known in respect to any article of the Materia Medica. And in this, he is very much aided by the peculiar marks and typographic arrangement. This work embraces not merely "medicines and their uses," but as much Botany, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Toxicology, Pathology and Theraputics, as it is expedient or necessary to incorporate in a work on Materia Medica. In respect to the peculiar arrangement and order of description, that the reader may have a just apprehension of the subject, we will quote from the author's preface :— "In describing each medicinal substance the following plan is adopted:

1st. The officinal appellation and English name of each article is given; and in the case of a vegetable substance, the native country and botanical classification of the plant from which it is obtained. For the advantage of the student, the most important characters of each medicinal plant are also concisely described.

2d. The physical properties.

3d. The chemical properties.

4th. The mode of preparation. Under this head, the processes of the three British Pharmacopoeias are given in full.

5th. The adulterations, and the manner in which they may be detected.

6th. The therapeutic effects, and the uses of the substance in the treatment of disease.

7th. The dose and mode of administration. Under this head, all the officinal preparations of the British Pharmacopoeias, as well as many of those ordered by the Continental and American Colleges, are introduced.

8. The incompatibles.

9th. In the case of poisons, the antidotes and mode of treatment. The author has added an Appendix of Formulæ, which are principally confined to the new remedies described in the work, and also an extended Pasological Table."

Dr. Neligan has attempted a Physiological arrangement of the Materia Medica, which all must admit is desirable; and if he has not been perfectly successful, there has been at least an approximation to it, and the effort is certainly commendable. He has furnished us with a copious table of contents, exhibiting his classification in alphabetical order;

and has divided the Materia Medica into 22 divisions or chapters, which are as follows, viz. :—Antacids, Anthelmintics, Antispasmodics, Astringents, Cathartics, Caustics, Diaphoretics, Diuretics, Emetics, Emmenagogues, Emmollients, Epispastics, Enherites, Expectorants, Narcotics, Refringerants, Sedatives or Contrastimulants, Sialogogues, General Stimulants, Special Stimulants, Tonics and Supplementary agents.

Some fault, it is true, has been found with this classification as being imperfect; but for practical purposes, we see not why it may not be regarded, at least, equal to any other. If it is not as "philosophical" as that of Professor Payne, it certainly has the merit of being more practical. For the sake of arranging all the articles of the Materia Medica, under a few specific heads, may not the work of Professor Payne be subject to the charge of too much generalization. And may not that of Dr. Neligan, on the other hand, be commended for its greater number of divisions according to the well-known action of the different articles of the Materia Medica, and the modus operandi of medicines in general, as better subserving the practical purposes of the physician?

In its pharmaceutical details, this volume furnishes the enquirer with a complete conspectus of the three British Pharmacopoeias, which is an improvement of no inconsiderable importance to the practitioner.

The editor, Dr. Reese, has performed a valuable service in presenting this new work to the American public-in changing, in some measure, its transatlantic dress, and adapting its nomenclature to the Pharmacopoeia of the United States,-in the number and character of the notes and additions, which, (through the aid of his friends, Messrs. Milhau and Dupuy,) he has made, and which are every where dispersed in loco through the volume, making them available to the reader, without the usual trouble of reference,-and in a suitable preface and appropriate preliminary observations.

We recommend the work to general attention with pleasure, and regard it as a valuable book of reference for the practitioner, and an outline of Materia Medica for the student. J. B. W.

4.-Bible Episcopacy: A Bible Constituency of the Church, and Bible Church Ordinances Exhibited. Eight Lectures delivered during the Spring of 1844. By THOMAS CURTIS, D. D., Bishop of the Wentworth-st. Baptist Church. Charleston: Burges & James. 1844.

WHETHER Dr. Curtis is or is not Bishop of the Wentworth-st. Baptist Church, is a question, of course, with which, as reviewers, we can have little concern. As men, we may and do regard with deep interest this controversy, as well as every other movement in the religious world. The nature of our work precludes these discussions. We aim to establish a literary journal, and wherever the interests of literature are

concerned, there must we be found, ready armed for the contest. literary undertaking, only, we dare notice the book before us. far may we go.

As a

Thus

Dr. Curtis, it will be seen by his title-page, has entered the lists in the warfare which has been waging for and against English Episcopacy. The arms of that warfare have of late been burnished up, and the most vigorous and powerful strokes been levelled from every quarter. The ablest controversial works have appeared,—the noblest accessions to our libraries. The parties have kept their tempers, are calm and apparently in search of truth. Society cannot but be benefited by their efforts. Dr. Smyth, of our city, whose work we some time ago noticed, opened the field here. With singular ability does Dr. Curtis maintain the ground, and according to those more knowing than ourselves, with singular success. He even takes a higher position. "He has found no one to occupy the ground which he has ventured; or so strictly congregational,"-p. vi. This is his apology for the work. In another place, "Men of candor will not require an explanation of the use of the term 'bishop' on the title-page. The author can honestly disclaim the silly vanity of assuming it as a mere title, or as a claim to honor above any the humblest minister of the Gospel,"―p. v. Dr. Curtis is one of the first order of our theologians. With a mind trained to analysis and deduction, an intellect vigorous and highly cultivated,—a command of resources almost inexhaustible,-none can be better qualified than him. self for the work he has assumed,-none can advance and maintain positions with greater clearness, logical precision and force. The work is only defective in style,-in argument the Doctor is at home.

5.-The Charleston Book, a Miscellany in Prose and Verse. Charleston: Published by S. Hart, Sen., King-st. 1845.

THIS is an experiment, and we hope has proved a successful one. It remains to be seen whether "Charleston Book" will not look as well and sound as well and be as well all over as "Boston," "Philadelphia," or any other book of like genus. Writers we have, among us, with every essential element of excellence. Not so much writers by profession, as amateurs. They have cultivated the graces of style, language, sentiment, and have thrown around their fugitive efforts some of the softest tints of beauty. Hearts they have, and these pour out their passion and their tenderness in warmest strains; fancy they have, and this touches its pictures with the richest colouring; intelligence they have, how chaste and perfect some of its creations. Why should these fugitive efforts be doomed to pass away with the moments that gave them birth? To gather up these pearls wherever they are strewn,—to arrange and preserve them,—to present them where they must have an inapprecia

---

ble value, is the object of the present undertaking. Whether it shall be repeated, must depend upon the popular encouragement. We have looked into the collection. We find names with which we are all familiar, those who have distinguished themselves in every department, from the tender youth touching his harp to love and song, to the erudite scholar discoursing of Greek and Roman of olden time. The magic influence of the softer sex is acknowledged too.

There are some things to which we could object. Names left out which should have had a place; productions selected not always the author's happiest; binding not the most suitable for a parlor annual; execution in New-York, which makes it to this extent a New-York and not a Charleston Book. But let these pass. We wish the work no worse success than to find it on every table. There let it lie.

6.-Americanism in Literature. An Oration, before the Phi Kappa and Demosthenian Societies of the University of Georgia, at Athens, August 8, 1844. By ALEXANDER B. MEEK, of Ala. Charleston: Burges & James.

“Ir is quite a matter of course that the influence of America upon the mind, (to borrow a convenient though somewhat pedantic phrase,) should become first and chiefly, if not exclusively, perceptible in the department of politics and law." It is Mr. Legare that says this. Our author, the Hon. A. B. Meek, finds this influence every where; and he has so warmed us up with his subject, and his beautiful method of treating it, that we really have no heart to dissent. From the soil, the climate, the grand physical developments, the constitution and the laws, the republicanism,-from all of these emanate, converge and concentrate the rays of American literature. On every hand he determines the action of America. It moves onward to perfection the great moral and religious worlds. It strikes out higher paths for literatures, philosophies and laws. Poetry must burn with softer lustre here,-higher, purer, more etherial; Metaphysics receive the finishing touches; History commence its true mission, to hold up, strengthen, establish the immutability of popular rights; Arts, Sciences, all must share in the grand progression. Thus the Oration. These are truths, not entirely new, perhaps, but truths; and they have, in this instance, all the novelty of a glowing style, which seems to burn as it goes along,—a high-reaching, aspiring fancy, touching with light and colour every object in its path. There is boldness, nerve, originality, passion,-too much, perhaps, for cold criticism to tolerate. A warm temperament will err,-err in the strained, the confused, the mixed metaphor, and there are instances of the error in the Oration. An instance on the tenth page,-"Radically wrong in their whole philosophies of man and life, they led upward to no gloVOL. VII.NO. 13.

17