The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

SONG OF LIFE.

_
Ctosz, old companions, round my hearth—
This little harbour of the sea,
That beats around us from our birth—
And let us muse o'er destiny ;
If strong, we dash the waves aside,
And breast the currents, brave the blast;
If weak, we float along the tide,
And, like the strongest, sink at last :
Onward thus, a charmed star,
Floats our soul through life away,
As the world whose dust we are
Drifts through waves of night and day.

Great nature measured forth the hours,
While dim we lay in breathless trance,
And cast our pre-appointed powers
To shape themselves by circumstance:
Yet gives she still, through day and dark,
Some joy to cheer, some dream to bless:—
Alan's true vocation's in the work
That yields the largest happiness.
Gauge well your spirits' strength, and note
The space that suits it prosperously ;
Then launch your war-bark, or your boat,
On shallow stream or soundless sea.
A peaceful heart, in summer's breath
Float toward your rest, with pinions furled ;
A daring soul, in love with death,'
Storm through the waters of the world.

The spirit of the expanse around
Shapes all conditions to our weal ;
None miss the truths they cannot sound,
Or sigh for joys they cannot feel ;
Still moon-bright memory sways the years
That roll from life's declining shore,
And sorrow wings to purer spheres
The heart that earth consoles no more.
Come ! let us make our heaven of earth,
By living for bright truth alone;
Old books will crown cur simple hearth
With pleasures purer than a throne.
Love, peace, and hope at least are ours,
While yet our bosoms breathe the day ;
And from the grave the guardian powers
Will light our souls, and lead the way.
—University Magazine for December.

REVIEWS OF BOOKS.

Blackwood's Magazine. Edinburgh :
Blackwoods.
The number for December opens with a well-
written review on the report of the Parliamentary
Commission on the National Gallery. Much
difference of opinion has been expressed as to this
costly collection of pictures, and recommendations
have widely varied ; but all appear to agree in con-
demnation not only of the very inefficient accom-
modation of the present building, which occupies
what has been called the finest site in Europe, but
also of its management. "A Letter from the
Boulevards" gives some interesting particulars of
what is doing in Paris in politics, in literature, in
town improvements, theatres, &c. The third part
of " The Narcotics we indulge in" continues the
description of these extraordinary substances, and
their effects upon the human frame, taking for
illustration those that are less known and used
than those previously described. " A few more
words on University Reform" concludes this
subject, which was commenced in a previous
number. The conclusions arrived at by the writer
are—that the regular college tuition is inefficient—
that the period required for the first degree is too
long—that to obtain admission into a desirable
college requires either private influence or applica-
tion made some years previously, or both—and
that the cost of a college education is exorbitant.
For these practical remedies are suggested, with
due regard to the especial object of the univer-
sities, which is " the due supply of fit persons in
Church and State." " Rapping the Question : a
Tale of Modern Magic," is a humorous story, the
intention of which is obvious by its title. This is
followed by an article on " Real and Ideal Beauty,"
comprising a review of several works on the
subject, two of which are by Mr. D. R. Hay, who
has made some valuable contributions to the study
of the beautiful in " The natural principles of
beauty as developed in the human figure," and
" The orthographic beauty of the Parthenon." A
new story is commenced under the title of " The
Quiet Heart," of which Part I. is given. The
scene is in Scotland, and the style is evidently that
of the author of " Katie Stewart," a recommenda-
tion which will ensure it many readers. The
magazine concludes with a few more remarks on
Russia and Turkey, with some particulars of their
comparative forces. --
Outlinest of
•'-. Universal History. By Henry
Whit, 1"x• Vilinbur,), •
The text-books in the various branches of elemen-
tary education which have, from time to time, for
a very long series of years, issued from the press of
Messrs. Oliver and Boyd, of Edinburgh, have
attained a high and well-deserved reputation.
They have been characterised by carefulness of
compilation and practical knowledge of the various
subjects the principles of which it was intended
in their pages to elucidate ; and the cheapness and
beauty with which they have been furnished to the
public have formed frequent and gratifying topics
of remark. In the very useful though necessarily
brief compendium before us, the commendable
points of which we have spoken will be found judi-
ciously combined. The author, Mr. White, is a
practical teacher of great experience and much
ingenuity. He is the author of numerous works
on various branches of elementary history ; and has
proved himself to be happy in condensing the less
important branches of his subject, while elimi-
nating its important features with perspicuity.
These outlines of universal history will prove
eminently useful as a class manual, and they will
afford no mean degree of aid to those more advanced
in life, whose time for study is limited.

Jacob Abbott's Histories--Mfred the Great and
Pyrrhus. London : Nathaniel Cooke.
The object of these histories—which, the author
tells us in his preface, are to consist of twenty-four
volumes—is topresent to the reader a succinct account
of the principal transactions which took place, and
of the chief events which, occurring in each reign,
became, as it were, marking features of the period.
It is part of the intention that twelve of the
volumes shall be devoted to ancient Kings, and
twelve to English Sovereigns—the two named at
the head of this notice occupying the first volume in
each of the series. Every reader possessed of the
slightest scholarly pretension is familiar with the
delightful biographical narratives contained in
Plutarch's Lives, and most of them have desired,
with earnest sincerity, that some modern Plutarch
would arise and do for the sages and heroes of the
latter time, what has been so faithfully and well
performed for their predecessors. The series now
under consideration attempts, in some degree, to
supply us with a substitute for that work, as well
as to continue, in an unbroken chain, our knowledge
of those who have flourished since Plutarch lived
and wrote. We could almost wish that Mr. Abbott,
contenting himself to let well alone, had confined
his operations to the newer ground. We desire not
to institute comparisons between his achievements
and those of his great predecessor ; but, feeling
assured the ground was well occupied by the Greek
narrator, we could have spared additional labour in
that field, at all events till the harvest of the newer
one had been more fully reaped.
The reign and history of Alfred form a subject of
just pride and honest exultation to every English-
man ; for it was at that time and under his spirited
and enlightened rule, that many of our most re-
vered and cherished institutions, eitherdirectly took
their rise, or had the ground prepared and the seed
sown, Which subsequently germinated and grew, and
have been worked into the foundations and bulwarks
of the British Constitution. The personalprowess, sa-
Faeity, and perseverance of Alfred, are still in Eng:-
usb minds associated with the beau ideal of kingly
virtue ; and thousands are taught to lisp in adoring
rains the catalogue of his virtues, who never in
maturer years have the opportunity of knowing
the basis of his fame and popularity. This want
will by be sufficiently supplied for general purposes
the volume before us ; indeed, the information
contained in it will be found adequate to the wants
of all, except those whose ample leisure, or peculiar
taste, may lead them to a more minute study of
refs :enticing theme. The narrative of Alfred's
reign is necessarily much occupied with details of
rude warfare of the time ; but it is also agree-
°l.diversified by the delineation of more peaceful
incident Irk the following brief lines we have, in
411 Probability, a description of
THE ORIGIN OP THE BRITISH NAVAL POWER.
thi"iung the other measures to which Alfred resorted in
emerge
ItPou their nv Was the attempt to encounter the Danes
of own element, by building and equipping a fleet
and attar
v.th which to proceed to sea, in order to meet
who „Z: oPon the water certain new bodies of invaders,
U coIn•-e Way to join the Danes already on the
,I;atteurn+Lii_c,,aB rumour said, along the southern shore.
11_,n1._y v 7315.8,3 build up a naval power the greatest
d shitiff to provide seamen its much easier
fleet, Alfred 1.1,,,,uatt to train sailors. To man his little
Could be f u r enlist such half-savage foreigners as
whom h °.-n- in thert4,
pay, and such Di
c such and even pirates, as was said,
unarmnter his service promising them
Then attempts tp:„ts they could take from the enemy.
J•ixe(l to build and man a fleet are

considered the first rude beginnings from which the pre-
sent vast edifice of British naval power :took its origin.
When the fleet was ready to put to sea, the people thronged
the shores, watching its movements with the utmost
curiosity and interest, earnestly hoping -that it might be
successful in its contests with the more tried and experi-
enced armaments with which it would have to contend.

How interesting the simple picture here pro-
duced ! The people watching With curiosity and
interest the untutored and uncertain movements
of that tiny squadron, which, ..typically, shadowed
forth the trackless march of the mightiest power
which ever swept the oceaft:s waste. Out of so
small a beginning arose the 'maritime might of
England, and thus
" Out of the nettle danger
We have pluck'd the flower safety."

The narrative is simple and •nnostentatious. The
facts are stated with clearness and precision, and
as a text-book for youth it is admirable.
Similar remarks as to conciseness and perspi-
cuity are equally applicable to the history of
Pyrrhus. The series promises to be a valuable
addendum to our list of school-books. It is hand-
somely printed and liberally embellished by illus-
trative engravings.
Memoirs of Convicted Prisoners. With Remarks
on the Causes and Prevention of Crime. By

Rev. H. S. Joseph. London. : Wertheim and Co.
This volume is written by one who, in his official
capacity of chaplain at Chester Castle, is necessarily
much acquainted with criminals, and deeply
interested in understanding the causes, remote and
proximate, which lead to crime. Like most others
who have reflected on or inquired into the subject,
he finds the chief sources of criminal outbreak in
ignorance and drunkenness, two causes which act
and re-act on each other with a fearfully-increasing
power and influence. He finds no difficulty in
tracing in the criminal of to-day the drunkard of
the previous year, whom again he readily recognises
as the uneducated stripling of a few years back.
Thus it is ever found—ignorance is the parent of
moral depravity, the fruitful offspring of which are
sensuality and crime. From such premises it is
reasonable to presume that our author, in the first
place, proposes to lay the axe -to the root of the
tree, and, by dispelling ignorance and disseminating
knowledge, pave the way for a wider extent of
moral sway—for the more perfect operation of
religious influences. By education, however, he
does not mean exclusively the inculcation of secular
knowledge, but an indoctrinating with the prin-
ciples of Christianity. On this subject let us hear
what he says relative to the system pursued in many