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productions, and certainly not finished enough for insertion or criticism. "The Convict," by H. J., is respectable prose, but not good poetry, inasmuch as no attention is paid to the measure. A man who writes, might as well study the art of poetry, and do what he attempts well, as negligently, and obtain credit rather than

censure.

"The Storm," by J. J. R., is a good descriptive piece, but too prosy-and there is too much of it. In a poem, there should be no waste of words; it should be the finished work of labour, not the hasty product of pastime.

"A Visit to my Birthplace," by J. L., is an improvement upon former contributions; is full of affectionate feeling, but not suffi ciently comprehensive in thought to merit unconditional approval. Gray's "Elegy" is a model which J. L. might study with advantage. F. G.

The Inquirer.

QUESTIONS TO WHICH ANSWERS ARE

SOLICITED.

81. Which is the best edition of Shakespeare's complete works, by whom published, and price?-MARCUS.

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82. Which is the better work-the Encyclopædia Metropolitana," or the Encyclopædia Britannica?" of how many volumes do they each consist? what are the prices of complete sets? by whom are they published?-MARCUS.

83. What are the principal works published in this country on Japan, its people, manners, history? Can I procure a grammar and a dictionary of the Japanese language-if so, where and at what price?-MARCUS.

84. In the latter part of vol. ii., British Controversialist, present series, there occurs a query concerning French serials which has not been answered. May I again ask for a solution of it? -MARCUS.

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85. Who among modern travellers first discovered the ruins of a fortress, the fall of which extinguished the last hope of the Jews, and completely subjugated Judea to the Roman empire? -P.

86. What is the popular fallacy amongst gardeners with regard to the

influence of the "red moon," and show that although the opinion is right as to the effect, it is wrong as to the cause? -P.

87. What are the books on the English language, in its various phases, best calculated to make the study of it pleasant, interesting, and, at the same time, complete? Any person, who is kind enough to give a list, is requested to furnish the price of each work.LLANRWST.

88. As I find questions answered in your capital periodical, it will oblige me to have answers to the following: -The Bampton Lecture for the last ten years, including the subject, preacher, his residence, the sum he receives for preaching; and the principle of selection? My object in asking this is twofold:-1. To ascertain the subjects treated of, thinking they might be useful to many; 2. As being worthy of imitation, as a powerful means of doing good among theologians.-AD

MIRER.

89. Being an apprentice of the Chester Goldsmiths' Company, I should be greatly obliged to any one who will answer the following query through the very valuable columns of the "Inquirer."

What was the origin of goldsmiths' halls, and for what purpose they were originally intended? The London, Chester, Dublin, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield, and York goldsmiths' halls are the only ones now in existence. Are they the remnants of the ancient mints?G. B. L.

90. I have been told that the present British military law requires, without exception, obedience to all orders of superior officers, even in cases when obedience will involve the breach of moral and religious duty, and that the military oath is interpreted with this latitude of meaning. Will any correspondent inform me if this is true, and, if true, favour me with the proof?— ZETA.

91. Can any of your correspondents inform me how to make an alarum to strike at any hour it is set for?-MIST.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

67. A Mathematical Curiosity."An Asymptote" laboured hard to throw ridicule on the query I proposed for solution in the January number of the Controversialist, but I may perhaps be allowed to say that I cannot see much reason in this.

I don't profess to be an accomplished mathematician; but, in reading astronomical and other scientific works, I have several times met with the statement under discussion, and I resolved at length to solicit information on the subject through these columns.

I am almost certain it occurs in one or more of the late estimable Dr. Dick's popular treatises, but I am not able to lay my hand on it at present. However, one thing is certain, viz., that "An Asymptote " will find it verbatim as I have expressed it in "Matter and Motion; a Philosophic Dissertation, by James Balfour, Esq., of Pilrig," p. 18, eden., 1782.

I cannot but say that I think "An Asymptote's" advice respecting the use of quotation marks" quite uncalled for.-ECLECTIC.

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68. Meteorology.-If your correspondent wishes to become acquainted with the elements of meteorology, I would recommend him to read Mr. Belville's small books upon the barometer and Mr. thermometer, price 1s. each. Glaisher's "Meteorology;" in Hughes's lesson-book; Dr. Drew's "Practical Meteorology," price 7s., and Kæmtz's

Meteorology," translated by C. V. Walker, price 12s. 6d. From these works he will obtain a large amount of knowledge of the present condition of this science, preparatory to taking a further step. If a more extended knowledge is required, the following works should be read:-Daniel's "Elements of Meteorology," "Admiralty Manual of Scientific Enquiry;" Professor Forbes's Reports, in the Report of the British Association; W. R. Burt's Papers on Atmospheric Waves, in ditto; Sir W. Reid on the Law of Storms; Piddington and Redfield's Papers on ditto, papers read before the British Meteorological Society, also the Meteorological Society of Scotland; the article 'Meteorology," in the "Encyclopædia Britannica," by Sir J. F. W. Herschel, Bart.

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If he has any intention of taking the subject up as a study, he will readily obtain information and advice from any member of the British Meteorological Society, and especially from our indefatigable secretary, James Glaisher, Esq., F.R.S., &c.-G. V. V.

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79. A Grammatical Difficulty.2+5=8 is plainly a mathematical impossibility. According to the principles of English grammar, it is equally an impossibility for "they" to represent "he" and "she," separated by the disjunctive conjunction or." "They," being a plural personal pronoun, represents only a plural noun. Hence the difficulty of which "A Person" seeks solution at once disappears. They," as used in the latter clauses of the sentence, requires a plural noun in the common gender" he or she." Such a noun as scholar. Thus: "When sabbath school scholars attain the age of 15 or

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16 years, and leave the Sunday school thinking themselves to be too old to continue scholars, they become liable to many temptations," &c. In this sentence there is no offensive repetition, and the

meaning is as clearly given, with the advantage of grammatical consistency. In composition and public speaking, nothing is much more odious than the constant use of "he or she."-E. W. S.

LITERARY NOTES.

THIERS'S "History of the Consulate and the Empire," Vol. XVII., is now in the press, as is also GUIZOT's "Memoirs," Vol. III.

A handy book on Marriage Law, by Lord St. Leonards, is announced.

Humboldt's correspondence with Varnhagen von Ense, is in process of publication. Vol. I. is now issued by Decker, Berlin; and an English edition is announced.

A large quantity of historical letters, Mr. Eden's "Notes on the French Revolution," &c., have recently been brought to light at Eden Lodge, the property of the Auckland family.

Shakesperian criticism is ceaseless. Collier's folio is again undergoing the ordeal. He defends himself well.

Bulwer's rhymed rhetoric, "St. Stephen's" has been republished from Blackwood.

£1,640 have been expended in aids to authors by the Literary Fund, during the past year, to forty-nine applicants. The offered library, understood to be Mr. Forster's, was unconditionally rejected.

THOMAS AIRD is preparing a new edition of Delta's "Poems."

It is proposed to erect a memorial window to Mrs. HEMANS in St. Anne's, Dublin, where she lies buried.

A memorial for HALLAM is projected. Longmans propose to issue the early poems, essays, &c., of Macaulay; but hold out no hope of an early publication of the fragment of the "History."

A memoir of Ary Scheffer, by Mrs. GROTE, wife of the historian of Greece, will shortly be published.

BAMFORD, author of "Passages in the Life of a Radical," is said to be in great distress.

"Vanity Fair" is announced as the name of an American imitation of the Fleet Street jester, Punch.

The works of Robert Greene and George Peele are being edited by DYCE. THACKERAY is said to meditate wooing Clio, as the historian of "The Reign of Queen Anne.”

A novel by Anthony Trollope, and a biography by T. A. Trollope, are promised early, by Messrs. Chapman and Hall.

"Danesbury House," by Mrs. Henry Wood, which gained the £100 prize offered by the Scottish Temperance League, is published.

MACAULAY'S " Essays," translated by E. Lisse and P. Petrez, with a biographical sketch, have been published at Paris, by Didot.

The Rev. JOHN DUNS, Free Church clergyman at Torphichen, Linlithgowshire, North Britain, is now editor of the North British Review.

Reputed "JUNIUS" discoveries, and implied "SHAKSPEARE" forgeries, formed the staple of literary discourse during the past month.

HUGH MACDONALD, a Scottish descriptive writer, and a poet of considerable merit, attached to the newspaper press, died of fever in Glasgow, on the 15th ult.

Mrs. JAMESON, authoress of many valuable works, e. g., "Female Characters of Shakespeare," "Sisters of Charity," "Legends of Sacred Art," &c., died on the 17th ult.

Alexander Russell, editor of the Scotsman, received a presentation of £1,600, several silver articles, and a timepiece, last month.

Messrs. Harper Brothers announce SMILES'S "Life of James Watt."

European Philosophy.

THE SOPHISTS.

PROTAGORAS-GORGIAS-PRODICUS.

SOPHOCLES, Euripides, Thucydides, Phidias, and Socrates, adorned and have immortalized the age of Pericles.

A drama-unequalled for grandeur of conception, simplicity and pathos, power and interest-not only amused and excited but taught the people; a history-vivid, intense, picturesque, and noble -told the story of the withered virtue of Greece; sculpture, painting, and architecture-rich, passionate, glowing, artistic, and grand -gave embodiment to luxury, pomp, and conceptive genius; and a philosophy-singularly moral, pure, and embracing a wide range of duty-offered itself for acceptance and discipleship: but the energetic enthusiasm which ennobled the fresh and blooming youthhood of the Hellenic nations-the genius, the prowess, the mighty graspings and aspirings of the earlier times-had waned, become paralyzed and powerless, were wasted. The freedom and glory which might have been immortal, were hastening to decay-corruption festered in and round the gigantic bole of Greek nobleness and heroism. Riches and success had led to luxury, and stirred up unhallowed ambitions. These had shaken institutions, as well as depraved men. Athens, ceasing to be a republic, became a tyranny; and domestic wars and intrigues wasted, while they engaged, the best energies of statesmen. The conquerors of Persia, no longer exposed to a common danger, began a contest for ascendancy and supremacy, and the general welfare and interest of Greece was narrowed to a pitiful anxiety for the advancement of the schemes, policy, and power, of each statesman's own territorial division of the peninsula. Jealousies, suspicions, ferocities, selfishness, began to abound, and a disreputable diplomacy took the place of that magnanimous earnestness which formerly ennobled the birthplace of philosophy, the cradle of the arts, and the fastness of freedom. The policy of Pericles changed the allies of Athens into her subjects, and made them tributary to her greatness and dominance; but the reaction which resulted in the Peloponnesian wars, and led to the decline of Greece, proves that there were other politics and schemes than his, and that the ambition to rule was much more active than the desire to "live and let live."

In these circumstances, the practical means of attaining power and station were more in request than the true mode of effecting

VOL. III.

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the ends and purposes of government. Oratory became an instru ment, study a means, and cleverness or tact a qualification for the acquisition of success; and philosophy itself came to be regarded only as the surest and readiest agency for captivating, seducing, and influencing the minds of men. At this time, those teachers in whose hands philosophy lost its essential characteristic, and was degraded, from being the love of wisdom, to becoming the steppingstone to power, spread themselves over the country, and industriously ministered to the gratification of the popular desires.

The authors from whose works we can get the nearest and best view of the Sophists are, undoubtedly, Aristophanes, Isocrates, Xenophon, Plato, and Aristotle-men of very differing tempers and talents, whom, if we find agreeing with each other on any essential points, we may readily believe. Their credibility, respectability, and power, are equally unable to be impugned, and we shall not very far or much insist on those matters regarding which their impartiality may be open to question.

The author of "The Clouds" holds a peculiar relation to our subject. Aristophanes was the earliest writer who branded the word Sophist with its evil connotation-a sham wise man. In that comedy it is first used with a reproachful implication; and the adoption of the subject, as well as the popularity of the play, may be regarded as evidence of the accord of that signification with the one attached to it by the people in general. But in it-it is sometimes argued Socrates is held up to calumnious ridicule as the representative and exemplar of the Sophists. This seems to us a shallow interpretation of the implication of the satire. Only go a little more probingly into the inner life of the play, and a new reading will readily emerge. The Aristophanic humour consists almost entirely of shrewd caricature, expressed sparklingly, broadly, mordantly, and spiritedly. The whole gist and zest of the comedy is essenced in this contra-characterization-in this representation of the life-long antagonist of the Sophists as one of themselves; for, could an Athenian fail to remark that the language employed is studiously sophistic, and such, therefore, as Socrates never used; or could he fail to perceive that in this trick there was a constant suggestion of what the real Socrates would have said in opposition to the quirks and quillets put in his mouth, and hence an intensification of the fun? And can any one who remembers how Socrates himself pointed the moral by attending the representation, and showing himself to the house to heighten the contrast by his own presence, doubt that the true reading of the play is quite irreconcilable with the supposition that any attack on Socrates was intended by his friend and fellow-reformer? This interpretation disposes of the charge of obliquity of moral insight sometimes brought against the Fielding of Greece, throws the onus and the odium of the Sophistic character off the shoulders of Socrates, and replaces them, with all their weight, upon the backs of the ostentatious wisdom-mongers whose pedantry and chicanery it was meant

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