ment, and with a full knowledge of its difficultie has occupied no inconsiderable portion of the a profession in England, we are not aware that it any discussion, which, for general completeness with the present. Mr. Johnes's treatise on this of the most interesting works on law-reform whic and is written in a style which shows the scholar lawyer; but the view, which he has presented, th space, has not the thorough character of Mr. Cus 6.- An Introduction to the Latin Language WILLARD, A. A. S., Author of "The Fra "The Popular Reader," &c. Boston. & Co. 1835. 12mo. pp. 226. Ir gives us pleasure to recommend this Latin who are desirous of introducing their pupils to guage in a pleasant as well as a thorough ma pleasant, not because we believe in the magic gay toys by which learning and philosophy are into the young mind, almost without its being but because we do think it important, that the fi department of learning should not be the most di should certainly be taught that he cannot become without labor; but it is not necessary that he s ened at the outset, in order to his perception of truth. We tell him, when we conduct him to th it is "laborious indeed at the first ascent"; he m he cannot fold his arms, and be carried to the su riage, or a rail-way car; but he may thank those Willard, have cut steps in the green turf, here assist the young and the feeble. We think, the ments of a language or a science should be agreeable a manner as is consistent with a good of them. The love of the pursuit will by degrees the labor necessary to farther progress; but, unle some pleasure in the beginning of the race, th on vigorously; they must be enticed at first, as ney says savage nations must be, otherwise " g much knowledge will little persuade them that fruits of knowledge." Those of our readers, who, in their early days memory the Latin Grammar from beginning to e phy, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody," before ties. Though it ess, can compare e. By SAMUEL ranklin Primer," Hilliard, Gray, Grammar to all conscious of it; and there, to children find will not run Sir Philip Sid at promises of now not the Committed to ey began to number of these keys at a time, to apply by his own has learned the ready application of all. The last, w to the gradual process, in which the principles o geometry are taught and applied, will be found hope, in the following pages." - pp. 3, 4. The execution of this book is admirable. Tea the author for having used so clear and so simpl pression, as to make oral explanations almost un arrange and select the praxis upon each section, from it every word involving a principle not yet learner, and yet to present a series of neat senter then of elegant and interesting extracts from cla quired an amount of care and labor which can ciated by those who enjoy the benefit of them; nating mind and good taste are visible througho There are some faults in the mechanical book. For instance, the Latin words introduc sentences are not indicated by italics, nor in guished from their neighbours, the vernaculars this occasions less confusion and inconvenience ers, than we might at first suppose. A Latin w or a person unacquainted with the language, i English ones by its side, (though in the same typ tenance of a stranger is unlike the "old familia family; and though they may be "dressed all a crape over their faces," his eye has an instinctiv tinguishing the unknown from the familiar, an much puzzled and embarrassed as we might fear We cannot dismiss the work without mention suitableness for fireside instruction; as parents, long ceased to attend to the study of Latin, will this volume, find a pleasant refreshment of their and be sure of laying, in the minds of their ch foundation for farther attainments. 7. Annual Report of the Board of Trustee. chusetts General Hospital for the Year James Loring. 1838. 8vo. pp. 30. THIS Report presents a gratifying view of the usefulness of each department of the Hospital creditable, that gentlemen busily engaged, as a Trustees, in the active concerns of life, should b to devote their time and attention with so much f [April, uity, till he corresponds hmetic and ›lified, as I ; will thank node of exssary. To ¿to exclude ined to the authors, re- t we believe Ower of dis e is not so he MassaBoston. ition and is highly ost of the and willing and zeal to the care of a public institution. That they have done it als with ability and wisdom, is evinced by the prosperous condition of the charity. Much of this prosperity is doubtless owing t the unwearied assiduity of the successive Boards of Trustees The monthly meetings of the Board, with the weekly visits of committees, since they have never degenerated into matters o form, not only serve the purpose of transacting the necessar business, but are a constant incitement to every one connecte with the institution, to perform his duty with the like faithfulness The Massachusetts General Hospital embraces two depart ments, distinct from each other, but under the management o the same Board of Trustees, and supported by the same genera fund; the Hospital for the sick and wounded, in Boston, an the McLean Asylum for the Insane, in Charlestown. From th Report of the Superintendent of the Hospital it appears, that the whole number of patients admitted during the year 1837 wa 440; 213 of whom were free patients, and 25 more paid boar but a part of the time. To those who are regarded as pay pa tients, the institution may justly be considered as performing only in a somewhat lower degree, a work of charity, since independently of all the outlay of capital, the weekly charge fo board &c. to much the greater part, is much less than th weekly cost. The number discharged during the year was 453 358 of whom are reported as "well," ""much relieved," or re lieved"; only 32 died. The "Analysis of patients," exhibitin their several trades and employments, would furnish a topic fo some general reflections, but we must refrain from offering ther at present. as 66 The Asylum for the Insane admitted, during the year, 12 patients; and 105 were discharged. Of these, 72 are reporte "recovered," and 13 as "much improved," and "improved. It is worthy of observation, that the term "cured," which con monly appears conspicuously in similar reports, is not used i either of these. The medical officers in both institutions see to have modestly abstained from claiming the favorable termin tion of so many cases as the fruit of their labors, though it ca not be doubted that it might be so claimed with as much justic as in most similar instances. We like these terms better, an are glad to see them introduced by so high authority. T young practitioner may be excused for ascribing to his first pr scription the cure of the patient. But a little experience only sufficient to teach him, that other agencies besides his own ha much to do with the result; and he soon learns to regard it a much more consonant to his real share in the matter, to say th the man recovered, than that he was cured. The Report of Dr. Bell, physician and superintendent of the Asylum, is the first which he has had occasion to present, since his appointment to the office. "With respect to the general management, moral and medical," he modestly and pertinently remarks, he has attempted few innovations or experiments. He has rather attempted to carry out and perfect, eclectically and combinedly, the respective plans of moral and medical treatment of the eminent individuals who have preceded him, not rejecting the aids offered in the experience of other institutions." The Report shows, in a brief detail, what these plans are, as at present administered, and gives a very satisfactory view of the means which the establishment affords for promoting the safety, comfort, and restoration of patients. We commend the Report to all who would see with what liberality, humanity, and sound judgment the Trustees have provided for this unfortunate class of sufferers, and what confident anticipations of success may be cherished from the care and management of the able and devoted physician. 8. Reflections on the Present State of the Currency of the Further Reflections on the Currency of the United States. THE first of these pamphlets was published in February, 1837, and accordingly before the collapse of the currency; the latter, after the extra session of Congress. They are both able productions. The first deals with the causes of the pecuniary embarrassments of the country; the latter with the remedies. The causes of these troubles are traced to the excessive banking and the spirit of speculation. As to the latter cause, it is not a subject of regulation and control, any further than it can be indirectly checked by putting lenders on their guard. A man not under guardianship has a right, as far as the laws and institutions of the country are concerned, to ruin himself if he chooses. But it behooves the country to prevent any one from ruining others, as far as they can do this, by withholding facilities to his rashness or too sanguine enterprise. This office falls mostly upon the banks, through which a great part of the business of the country is conducted, as far as it rests upon personal credit, independently of property security by mortgage or otherwise. The check is to be given, not by any positive regulation, but by the interest of the stockholders of the banks to avoid losses and make the most of their capital. Their interest in one direction, |