The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-04-29 00:00:00

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The Mother's Practical Guide in the Early Training of her
Children. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.; Marbles and Co.,
Liverpool.
In these days of excitement, when education is such an all-
absorbing subject, it is truly gratifying to see such practical
essays as those now before us. The authoress is Mrs. Bakewell,
wje of the Rev. J. Bakewell, minister of Zion Chapel in this
town; and we,conceive that we are conferring an obligation on
all mothers by directing their attention to the above interesting
publication, where directions for the physical, intellectual, and
moral education of children are blended with such a truly devo-
tional spirit that we cannot but augur well for its success. It is
truly pleasing to perceive the wife of a minister of religion thus
zealously seconding her husband's ministerial endeavours; and
we are sure that an attentive perusal of the ‘• Mother's Practical
Guide" will convince every one that the task has fallen into
hands fully competent to such an interesting and even yet ill-
, understood subject.

The Patriarchal Religion .of Britain; or a Complete Manual of
Ancient British Druidism. By the .Hev. D. James, Curate
of A.lmonbury, in the county of York.—Whitaker and Co..
On few subjects connected with the history of our own coun-
try have we been left in such a state of uncertainty as on that
of the druids. Almost every writer has represented, them as
dark and malevolent beings, shrouded in mysticism, and stained
with the blood of human sacrifices ;-priests whose object was
simply that of perpetuating ignorance that they might wallow
in cruelty. Our talented author, however, with a zeal and re-
search only exceeded by his ability, lifts up the curtain which
has so long shrouded this subject in gloom, and rescues the'cha-
meters of the British druids from the reproach that,has so long
and so unjustly been cast cast upon them. He shows the true
origin, the primitive character, the peculiar tenets, the ode of
instruction, the privileges and influence of the drilids; mode
and dis-
plays some beautiful specimens of their compoSitions in triads
and triplets. lie traces the connexion between the religion" of
the druids and that of the Jewish patriarchs, and most clearly
proveS that, amidst the general departure of mankind from the
worship of the true God, it was
.preserved in a nook of this island
in primitive simplicity and sincerity dining many
,centuries.
Liberty and universal peace bad in the druids their firmest
protectors. In speaking of their influence, Mr. James observes—
'. There never was a class of men more favourable to the prosperity
of the nation and liberties of the people than the primitive druids of
Great Britain. Liberty animated their every thought and breathed in
every sentence that fell from their lips. Let the laws of Dyvnwal
Moelmud; Which were framed and drawn up by them, be read, and it
will he perceived that they breathe a spirit of freedom which would
not disgrace the polish of the nineteenth century."
The following is an instance of the mode they adopted to con-
vey moral instruction at a. period when no schoolmaster was
abroad. As the passage suffers materially by translation, we
shall first give" it in the original as a means of gratification to
our Welsh friends, who will better appreciate its beauties.
" Eiry mynydd, gwyn pob ty
Cynnefus bran a chanu,—
Ni ddaw da o dra chysgu.
Eiry mvnydd, gwyn frig gwrysg
Gochwiban gwynt yn nherfysg
Trech fydd anian nag addyag.
Eiry mynydd, gwynt a'i tawl
Llydan lloergawl glas tafawl
Odyd dyn diriaid dihawl.
Eiry mynydd, glas gwyddfyd
Naturiatli, pawb a'i dilyd
Ni bydd doetli yn hir mewn Bid."
TItANSL.tTION.
Snow a robe o'er hamlets flings;
In the wood the raven sings;
Too much sleep no profit brings.
See the forest white with snows;
Hark, the storm of winter blows ;
Nature beyond learning goes.
Fair the moon's resplendent bow
Shining o'er the mountain snow ;
Peace the wicked never know.
'Mid the snow green woodbines rise;
All are bound by Nature's ties ;
Anger dwells not with the wise.
We have been led to notice this-interesting, work from having
had it accidentally placed in our hands. It would be a most
admirable school book, and serve to remove many of those pre-
judices with which the minds of all are imbued in regard to the
calumniated men, whose integrity was the means of keeping
alive the camp of true religion during the dark ages.
We are happy to learn that the highly-talented author has
been appointed minister of the new church at Kirkdale, which
is nearly completed; and we trust that the spirit of research
which he has shown so successfully in the volume before us will
not be found incompatible with his more enlarged sphere of
ministerial duties. We promise all readers a rich treat in the
perusal of the work.