The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-25 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society
f England. Volume the eighteenth. Part 11.,
No. XL. ' John Murray.
This work, wh,ch is of a ver y superior character
and entirely devoted to the theory and practice of
scientific agriculture, "maintains its reputation and
is calculated to disseminate much useful and inter-
esting knowledge among its readere. it opens with
three brief tables of statistics of meteorology, public
health, and prices of provisions during the half-
year. It then proceei!s with a series of articles,
combining, according to its motto, " pracrice and
science. Thus we meet in sequence a paper on
"Horse-shoeing," and an a- alysis of the "Manurial
Properties of Cliy," a brief account of the best
method of " Road Mending," followed byan essay on
" Agricultural Chemistry. One of the most interest-
ing papers in the work, and the one best suited to
Vie general reader, is that entitled, "An Elementary
Introduction to the subject of Vegetable Physio-
logy," written by one well acquainted with his
subject ; as he is not only a member of several
scientific societies, but also fills the honourable post
of Professor of Botany to College,; London.
It is the second part of this valuable essay, and
affords most interesting and curious information
respecting a division of the great sphere of nature,
whose wonders are not always properly appreciated.
The stem of a cabbage leaf, and a single gi ain of the
linseed, are shown td contain marvels not lees sur-
prising than admirable. Those who regard only
au insignificant exterior have much to learn of
strut ure and adaptation to 'necessities. One
thing we would suggest to Mr. Arthur Henfrey,
the accomplished author. The selection of simple
phraseology, and perspicuity in style render
a scientific essay far more accessible to the gene-
rality of readers, while In no way derogating from
its intrinsic value. The princip!es of science are
in themselves so beautifully simple, that the bar-
riers and impediments which the learned place in
the way of the learner are the more to be lamented,
as quite unnecessary, as well as hinderng his pro
gress. Many readers would be delighted with the
inforination afforded them in Mr. Henfrey's essay,
who might be extremely puzzled by the words
" parenchymatous" and monocotyledonous,"
though they c•arld readily comprehend the mean-
ing of " spongy" and " having one seed-lobe." To
say nothing of such scien'ific terms, which if they
are introduced in a general essay should at least
have their explanation given, we meet repeatedly
such words as " morphological," "specialization,"
" proto-plasmic," " end rn sotic," &c., which would
present serious difficul- res to most readers, who
might yet desire to extend their knowledge of this
interesting science. Indeed, we question if they
invoked their dictionaries to. their assistance
whe, her they would be much wiser. Mr. Heufrey
is not alone in this ; it is the almest universal
lament of scientific students. But, surely, writers
of such ability ai,d experience can find some means
of expressing themselves in simple language. The
half-yearly reports, balaucs sheets, &c., will be
found in the Appendix, as usual, and we can eom-
mend this useful and able publication to all prac-
tical and scientific agriculturists.

•
Address to Discharged Prisoners. By the 80.
F. S. Batchelor.
An earnest little pamphlet, entitled " A NOW
Year's Address to Prisoners Discharged," has re-
cently come into our hands : written by the zealous
arid excellent Assistant-Chaplain of her Majesty's
Convict Prison at Chatham—and publishes (for
distribution among the particular class for whose
peruwal it is intended) with the ready sanction, or
we are much mistaken, of the Inspectors who pre—
side over this deeply-interesting and important de-
partment of her Majesty's Government. We have
read the address throughout with the attention 0
eminently well deserves, and we hesitate not' to
pronounce it to be in every way calculated to do
practical good to the released convicts who listen
to its admonitions, and read it again, and yet again)
as its warm-hearted writer recommends. Pitr•
Batchelor speaks with authority—the authoriti
arising from experience. And his is not an experk
enee restricted simply to the convict prisons of the
United Kingdom—his labours of love and of Chriis"
tian charity among the poor prisoners extending
across the ocean, to our very antipodes, to our
remote penal settlements, as they were very r.°-
cently, in the magnificent colony of Australia'
The wholesome words of advice here addressed t°
"Prisoners Discharged " can hardly prove other'
wise than persuasive to good, and dissuasive frol
evil, among all those who read them with theirt
spirits chastened to humility, by their - reeS,
and perhaps their protracted incarceratl°n.
though
t
have written a little book like this, brief
it be—extending over no more than a score O.IP
We
pag, s—and panned wisely, from first to las'u
in the simpl- st language, is something of which "
are almost disposed to envy Mr. Batchelor the re'collection of the accomplishment. It is
like one
of the " corporal works 44 mercy," capable of bolo?,
indefinitely multiplied in its application. May 1-
have many of those lowly readers whom its re•
verend author would himself most desiderate.

The Handbook of the Court, the Peerage, and the
Bowe of Commons. P. King, Bridge-street..
This is the eighth year of the issue of this useful
little volume, woich contain 4 a summary of su
ci apppointmenl 8, and the antecedents et
ttecesAary information n-sp,-cting the Royal Family&
the offial
the members of both branches of the Legislatures
The families of the Peera e the constituencies °
the g
CounnonF, and all requisite details are
,in a concise acid practical manner. It is extr e glve
raell
useful as. a work of reference, and no doubt Wee'.
the public encouragement it deserves.