The World in Miniature [pp. 92-94]

THE LADIES' REPOSITORY.
remedy of which is pointed out in the three following para graphs:
" Every human being must be taught, in other words, made
to know, that in order to render this world habitable for civil ized man, labor must be performed, knowledge acquired, econ omy practiced, and parental forethought exercised.
"Every human being must be trained, in other words, made
to feel, so that in the whole of his conduct may be exempli fied a cheerful and zealous performance of the duties deducible from what he knows.
"In the whole of the arrangements and institutions of society, their tendency and fitness, severally and collectively, to
subserve and promote such states of understanding and feeling, should he steadily examined. Where they fall short in
these respects, omissions must be supplied-where they run
counter to what is required, they must be reformed."
4. The Iron Manufacture of South Wales is next set forth
statistically, historically, and even poetically, in an article of
great research, well written and happily illustrated, but abounding too much in facts to admit of a fair abstract of its contents
or results.
5. Entomology, the fifth article, is a review of two works
upon the subject, one by Edward Newman, the other by Maria
E. Catlow, and gives a clear and interesting view of the science,
together with a series of most remarkable illustrations. The
physiology of those little fellows, who inhabit the small cracks
and crannies of this great world, is a topic quite daring enough
for a being, whose prerogative it is to measure the depths of
space, to measure the orbits of the planets, and to weigh the
sun and moon in his balances; but when he begins to treat of
the psychology of an Aphis, whose very existence requires the
aid of a magnifying glass, we then call upon all the philosophers, from Plato to Emanuel Kant, to lift up their hands. We
call attention to this article as being well worthy the attention
of all persons interested in such a theme. Entomology is a
science well fitted, we think, not only by reason of its pleasantness and ease of prosecution, but on account of its practical bearing in household economy, to the female sex. A mi.
croscope and a sharp pin are the only instruments, and patience
in observation and preservation the only qualification, required
by this interesting science.
6. The Schleswig and Holstein Question comes next in
order, which is an examination of the law of descent, as established in that province, out of which the recent war there
has grown. The substance of the article can be obtained from
the author's words:
"If the Diet and the King of Prussia declared that there was
a part of the territory of Denmark in Schleswig, namely, the
port of Flensburg, which they were determined to attach to
the German empire, the avowal of an intent to commit so
gross an act of aggression would render all discussion needless.
This has not been simply avowed; but certain pretences have
been advanced, the flimsy character of which it has been our
object to explain. We have shown, 1. That Lauenburg was
granted in exchange for Pomerania, which had been granted
to the King of Denmark on resigning Norway; and that there
is no other sovereign except the person who does or shall enjoy
the crown of Denmark who is entitled to it. 2. That Schleswig was always a part of the dominions of the crown of Denmark, and consequently follows the succession of that crown.
3. That the sovereignty of Holstein fell to the crown of Denmark on the dissolution of the German empire, and that the
legislature, or sovereign authority of Denmark is entitled to
make any law regulating the succession to it. 4. That the
Diet of the German Confederation has no power to interfere
in the internal affairs of any of the states of the Confederation,
except so far as the Act of Federation authorizes it, and that,
in this case, such interference is not authorized by the terms of
that Act."
7. Irish Clearances and Improvement of Waste Lands. This
is a paper of immense practical interest at this time. It shows
plainly, that the recent disturbances in Ireland are the legitimate results of the clearance system, put in operation by the
English landholders owning the soil of Ireland to get rid of
their tenants; that the legal appeal of the Irish to the British
Parliament, as was believed by the late insurgents, will never
amount to much, as those very landlords are the men, who
constitute, either in person, or by their representatives, the
majority of the English legislature; and that the Irish, therefore, have but three alternatives-to starve at home, to emigrate to some othler country, or to resist this act of ejectment,
by which they are turned from their homes by thousands.
8. The French Republic, the title of the next paper, is rather
a motto, than an index to the real subject in discussion. The
article defends the Lamartine revolution, and the Provisional
Government, with enthusiasm. The writer thinks Lamartine
was compelled, against his own wishes, to declare a Republic,
which, the minister maintained, was for the thirty-five millions
of Frenchmen to do for themselves; that this was the first misstep of the Revolution; and that the rebellion of the barricades,
and all subsequent difficulties in settling the Constitution of
France, were the natural consequences of this error, forced
upon Lamartine by the clamors of an ignorant and infuriated
people. The reviewver, by a liberal extract, allows Louis Blanc
to defend himself from the charge of creating or abetting the
war of the barricades; and closes by a graphic description of
the scene in the Assembly, just prior to the above-named outbreak. We quote a single passage to shosv our own people,
that it is to the overgrown size of our own house of representatives, that we must attribute its annual failure of an adequate discharge of its public duty:
"We notice points which to some may appear of little importance, but which are really at the bottom of the whole theory of representation. There is no other reason than numbers
for a nation not transacting its own business; and if its socalled representatives be also too numerous for the object, a
nation must and will, sooner or later, get its work done without them. This question of numbers admits of a simple arithmetical solution. Assume three hundred days, and six hours
a day for the debates of a session; what share in the debates
does that allow each representative of the nine hundred members of the National Assembly? Twenty-four seconds of speaking in each day; two and a half minutes in each week; ten
minutes in each month; two hours for the whole year!"
Blackwood's Edinburg Jlagazine, for January, 1849, appears
with the following list of articles:
1. The Year of Revolutions, the leader, is a tart review of
the principles of the great movements of 1848, but should be
read carefully and extensively in this country.
2. French Conquerors and Colonists is devoted chiefly to a
criticism of the recent operations of the French in Algeria,
which, the writer thinks, are very reprehensible.
3. The Caxtons is Part Ninth of a story, which we have not
read from the beginning, and, consequently, cannot report.
4. The White Nile is the review of a German book of travels up the White branch of the Nile in Africa, and is very entertaining.
5. Art and Artists in Spain is rather laudatory of the genius
of the Peninsula-much more so than was to be expected of
an Englishman.
6. The Dodo and its Kindred is an interesting discussion
respecting this extinct species of bird, and will invite the attention of all naturalists.
7. The Sword of HIonor is a tale of 1787, well written and
interesting.
8. Memoirs of Kirkaldy of Grange is a review of the life of
that knight, in which we get a peep into some untold affairs of
Queen Mary and her Court.
We have not space to speak at large of this number of
Blackwood, but have undoubtedly said enough to create a desire in the reader to see it for himself. All of the above foreign magazines are now republished in this country by Leonard
Scott & Co., 79 Fulton-street, New York. As many of our
readers, after getting the occasional glimpses we shall give of
them, may become desirous of procuring one or more of them
for themselves, we will close this review of the reviews by
quoting the low prices at which they are produced. For any
one of the four reviews, $3.00; for any two, $5.00; for any
three, $7.00; for all four, $8.00; for Blackwood, (monthly,)
$3.00; for Blackwood, and the four reviews, $10.00.
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