tisement: that rare and temperate as should be the infliction of such discipline, it may be found indispensable; and when the necessity occurs, may be resorted to with a more ready effect, and a far happier result both to the individual punished and to the institution, than can be secured in any other way. "I feel confident," says Mr. Curtis, "that this mode of punishment in the case of certain individuals, will in a very short time effect that, which days and weeks of solitude and starvation, and even chains, cannot accomplish; and this, too, without endangering the health of the sufferer, as is often done by solitude with its usual privations."

In confirmation of this opinion, he adduces an example of a prisoner, who for six years was under his official observation, and who for full half of that period feigned madness, in hope of obtaining a pardon from the government. Suspicions were early excited as to the reality of his insanity, and various methods, some of no small severity, were employed to ascertain the truth, — but all to no purpose. He continued to persevere in the same course, notwithstanding all the experiments tried upon him and the sufferings he endured, part of which were self-inflicted, to keep up the deception. At length, (we take the liberty of abridging the narrative,) such unequivocal marks of deception were detected as satisfied the warden that he was an impostor, and he then resolved to try the efficacy of corporal punishment. The convict was told, that if he made any more noise or disturbance during the day, he should receive at night ten stripes and in case he did not then submit, but continued to give trouble, he should receive the same punishment the next morning; and, as he was now known to be an impostor, the same course would be pursued with him night and morning, till he should return to duty. But he was also told, that if he would confess the imposition, he should be forgiven notwithstanding all that had passed.

As he continued refractory during the day, "he was taken from his cell at night, and the ten stripes were inflicted; and he was reminded of the punishment he was daily to expect, if he did not alter his conduct. The next morning came, and brought with it a report, that the night had been as the preceding day. He was again brought out, and preparation made for his punishment, when he was again exhorted to return to duty, and again assured, that if he did this, the past should be forgiven. At first there were no visible signs of relenting; and VOL. XXVII. - 3D s. VOL. IX. NO. III.

49

the person who was to inflict the stripes was about to proceed, when this wilful impostor could hold out no longer, and declared his willingness to submit and to return to duty. He was accordingly spared, and shortly after sent to the workshop to labor with others; and for a term of about three years continued to labor faithfully and industriously until his discharge from prison."

All the suspicions that had been awakened of his conduct were fully confirmed by the voluntary confession which he afterwards made. And with such an example of mingled obstinacy and cunning, and such a result as is here described, we cordially concur with Mr. Curtis in the wisdom of the course pursued. It was indispensable and it was kind. We are only left to wish, that the infliction of such discipline and the care of all prisons were in hands as skilful and humane as is the State Prison of this Commonwealth. From Mr. Dwight's reports, and from other sources, we find too much reason to fear, that, within some of the penitentiaries of this land, there exist abuses, cases of negligence and of cruelty, which call loudly for investigation, and which justice and humanity demand, should without delay be rectified or exemplarily punished.

F. P.

ART. VI.— The School Library. Published under the sanction of the Board of Education of the State of Massachusetts. Boston, 1839. Marsh, Capen, Lyon, & Webb. 1. Life of Columbus: by WASHINGTON IRVING. 12mo. 2. Paley's Natural Theology: newly arranged and edited by ELISHA BARTLETT, M. D. 2 vols. 12mo.

3. Lives of Eminent Individuals, celebrated in American History. 3 vols. 12mo.

4. Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons: by Rev. H. DUNCAN, D.D. Adapted to American Readers, by F. W. P. GREENWOOD, D. D. 4 vols. 12mo.

THE publishers of the School Library, of whose plan and promise we gave some account in a former notice, have just

issued the works named above, as the beginning of the larger series. Here are ten volumes; and so far as their faces are indexes of character, few that have come forth from the American press have better claims to acquaintance. In external and internal appearance they are verily a treat to the eye, and we shall be greatly surprised if they do not prove a treat to the mind. The plan is large and noble, and the execution thus far is worthy of the plan. It is to be sure but a beginning. The design, it will be remembered, is to send out these works in sets of five or ten volumes each, at intervals of several months, for the greater accommodation of those school districts whose funds are limited. The first set being now fairly before the public, there is an opportunity to judge of the whole scheme. We have looked through the volumes with great satisfaction; and though we cannot attempt anything like a formal review of each, which from the nature of the works is quite unnecessary, we wish to make known their general character, and to recognise the obligation of the community, particularly of the friends of education, to those who have embarked in this great enterprise.

The first volume contains the Life and Voyages of Columbus, by Irving, abridged by the author from his original work, and adapted to this series. Of its character we need say nothing. We are glad that the younger class of readers will have so easy an opportunity, and so pleasant an inducement, to become acquainted with the man and the events, which gave birth to this western world. It is more than time, that our young men, and our elder children, learned with some thoroughness and correctness the history of their own country. Heretofore, in our schools at least, they have learned every other history first and better. In fact, in our common schools, it would be hazardous to speak of their learning any history. With some opportunity of knowing the general character of these schools, we have seen almost nothing, in pupils or teachers even, that indicated a familiar acquaintance with American History. And one reason, no doubt, has been the want of interesting and suitable books for this study. The book before us is not, we know, designed to be used in schools. It is to be kept in mind, that this series, which the Board of Education are furnishing, is for use out of school, and not at all in the place of manuals. "The LIBRARY is to consist of reading, and not school, class, or text books; the design being to furnish youth with suitable

works for perusal during their leisure hours; works that will interest, as well as instruct them, and of such a character that they will turn to them with pleasure, when it is desirable to unbend from the studies of the school-room." But every one will see, that so far as the books are read, the effect will be the same or better than if they were used in school. It is precisely one of our great wants, to supply material for the profitable reading of the older children out of school. Text books abound, and super-abound. But proper books for leisure hours, having a bearing upon the studies of childhood and youth, or a permanent and wholesome influence upon the mind of the reader, have been extremely few. Some of the libraries that have been formed, where any have been, by school districts, or by scholars themselves out of their poor pittance, thrown into the teacher's hand, as we have seen in some instances, or, still worse, libraries gathered from the refuse matter which parents and friends chose to send in-have been enough to call for the turning of rivers from their bed to sweep off the offence. How much more agreeable, if it can be swept away by the deep and pure streams flowing from our noblest fountains of intellect, refreshing the scene, fertilizing the soil, bringing forth fruit an hundred fold. There is no aspect or token of the age, in which we more rejoice, than in the devotion of our greatest scholars and noblest men, to the work of common education, and the reform of the District School. It is a consistent part of this devotion, to bring in such writers as Irving, and such characters and lives as that of Columbus to aid it. With all the glow and attractiveness of fiction, this work has the sobriety of fact, and the truth of history, -fact and history, with which every American youth should feel himself specially concerned.

A small portion of this volume of Columbus is original, appearing for the first time in this edition. We refer to the "Author's Visit to Palos," the port in Andalusia where Columbus fitted out his ships, and whence he sailed on his great voyage of discovery. His account of his visit Irving first wrote from Seville, 1828, in a letter to a friend. It swelled under his ready hand, and in the power of the strong local interest, into a long and particular account, which was first published in some ephemeral form abroad, and is now given in this durable form to the American public. Though not of great value for anything new or striking which it contains, it is a pleasant reminiscence, and gives additional interest to the volume. The whole is con

cluded with a Glossary of hard words and uncommon phrases, and a copious Index. These are to accompany all the volumes of the School Library, to such extent as the nature of each may require; and we ask attention to them, as enhancing not a little the value of the works, though regarded only as new editions.

The first forty-eight pages of this first volume consist of an Introductory Essay, prepared by one of the Board of Education, as a preface to the whole series. It is written with ability, though we should have preferred more of original matter, and not so remarkable a proportion of borrowed pages accessible in other places. The views here drawn, however, from those who are engaged in similar schemes of education in other states, are very valuable, as exhibiting not only sound thoughts, but new and noble efforts in the cause. The following passage we offer from the Essay, showing the character of the proposed publications: --

"The SCHOOL LIBRARY will be rich in the departments of History, especially the history of our own country; in Biography, particularly of distinguished Americans; in Voyages and Travels; in those branches of Natural Philosophy and Natural History, which are most useful to the whole community, and which may most easily be moulded into a popular form; and in the theory and practice of Agricultural and Mechanical pursuits, to which last branches of knowledge too little attention has been paid, both by writers for the public, and readers generally."

The second and third volumes of the Library consist of "Paley's Natural Theology, with selections from the illustrative Note, and the Supplementary Dissertations of Sir Charles Bell and Lord Brougham; the whole newly arranged and edited by Elisha Bartlett, M. D." It is seen at once that we have not here a mere republication of a book in every one's possession or knowledge. It is essentially a new work. It is a decided improvement, we should say, upon the recent English Edition, which is used as the foundation. In that edition, the Notes and Dissertations were published as an Appendix to the entire work; and an appendix is not very attractive at best, and seldom thoroughly read. Dr. Bartlett has incorporated such of the Dissertations, as he thought best to retain, into the body of the work, bringing them into immediate connexion with those chapters of Paley, which they were designed to illustrate. This is far better as an arrangement, and its value is increased by the omission of all unnecessary explanation, as well as of