ness: above, below, between, and round about the stars, in the dark ness and in the light, dwelleth the true and very Universe, the sum and fountain of all that is. But thy spirit can bear only earthly images of the unearthly now then I cleanse thy sight with euphrasy; look forth, and behold the images." Immediately my eyes were opened; and I looked, and I saw as it were an interminable sea of light-sea` immeasurable, sea unfathomable, sea without a shore. All spaces between all heavens were filled with happiest light: and there was a thundering of floods: and there were seas above the seas, and seas below the seas: and I saw all the trackless regions that we had voyaged over: and my eye comprehended the farthest and the nearest and darkness had become light, and the light darkness: for the desarts and wastes of the creation were now filled with the sea of light, and in this sea the suns floated like ash-gray blossoms, and the planets like black grains of seed. Then my heart comprehended that immortality dwelled in the spaces between the worlds, and death only amongst the worlds. Upon all the suns there walked upright shadows in the form of men: but they were glorified when they quitted these perishable worlds, and when they sank into the sea of light: and the murky planets, I perceived, were but cradles for the infant spirits of the universe of light. In the Zaarahs of the creation I saw I heard-I felt-the glittering the echoing-the breathing of life and creative power. The suns were but as spinningwheels, the planets no more than weavers' shuttles, in relation to the infinite web which composes the veil of Isis;* which veil is hung over

the whole creation, and lengthens as any finite being attempts to raise it. And in sight of this immeasurability of life, no sadness could endure; but only joy that knew no limit, and happy prayers.

But in the midst of this great vision of the Universe the Form that lightened eternally had become invisible, or had vanished to its home in the unseen world of spirits: I was left alone in the centre of a universe of life, and I yearned after some sympathising being. Suddenly from the starry deeps there came floating through the ocean of light a planetary body; and upon it there stood a woman whose face was as the face of a Madonna; and by her side there stood a child, whose countenance varied not-neither was it magnified as he drew nearer. This child was a King, for I saw that he had a crown upon his head: but the crown was a crown of thorns. Then also I perceived that the planetary body was our unhappy earth: and, as the earth drew near, this child who had come forth from the starry deeps to comfort me threw upon me a look of gentlest pity and of unutterable loveso that in my heart I had a sudden rapture of joy such as passes all understanding; and I awoke in the tumult of my happiness.

I awoke: but my happiness survived my dream: and I exclaimedOh! how beautiful is death, seeing that we die into a world of life and of creation without end! and I blessed God for my life upon earth, but much more for the life in those unseen depths of the universe which are emptied of all but the Supreme Reality, and where no earthly life nor perishable hope can enter.

X. Y. Z.

TIME was, when a philosopher would have deliberated for one or two years, whether he should undertake to write a quarto volume, and his printer for at least half a dozen, before he would have ventured to publish it. The world has grown bolder, however, if not wiser; authors and printers have at length happily got rid of their foolish terrors, and the only question now is, whether the former shall write quartos, or the latter publish them, with the least consideration. Readers, too, have begun to regard these "terrible big books" in a light not altogether so appalling: like Fabricius and the elephant, the simplest of us all can now look a quartoauthor straight in the face, without trembling or taking to his heels at the sight of so prodigious a creature. In fact, the prejudice is now beginning to set the other way; six or seven pounds' weight of solid paper, enclosed between two royal squares of paste-board, and printed in telegraph letter, are prima facie presumptions that it is either a book of poetry, a tour, or a "sketch," which encumbers our table: and, for our own part, upon being introduced to the author of a quarto which we have not read, we instinctively look under his cape for a glimpse of the long ears, and expect almost to hear him bray, when he first opens his mouth, so great are our suspicions. Sicily and its islands came before us under' all these disadvantages of imposing shape, fine print, and elegant paper; nor was the unfavourable impression completely removed till we got to the appendix of the volume. This, as a nautical document, conveying important information, and being moreover intended to accompany the Atlas of Sicily, previously published, ought to appear on a scale worthy of the subject

and the British empire; we like to see a national work brought out, like this, in a style befitting the national grandeur. But with respect to the body of the work, the "Memoir" itself, an humble octavo with moderate type and margin, would be fully sufficient to the display of its merits. Nay, we have often collected from a slight duodecimo (fairly printed too) as much information as is here expanded over three hundred pages. The importance of the matter contained in this part of the book is by no means commensurate with the magnificence in which it is arrayed; we undertake to say, that the really useful portion of it, in a pretty sizeable type, might be impressed with the utmost ease on the margin alone. This much it was our duty to premise, in order that the public should not think, when they buy fifty shillings' worth of paper and printing, that they also buy fifty shillings' worth of genius and knowledge. We will now proceed to a brief analysis of the work.

The author is evidently a man of education; and the scientific part of his work appears to us clear, precise, and satisfactory. His first chapter discusses what may be generally denominated the superficial character of the island: ex. gr.

GEOLOGY. From many peculiarities observable in the stratification and direction of its mountains, it has been inferred that Sicily was once joined to the continent, and that it was separated by some dreadful convulsion of nature, beyond the reach of history or tradition: and, as some suppose, before the craters of Stromboli, Ætna, Ve suvius, and Lipari, gave vent to the subterraneous fires. The whole of Sicily, its adjacent islands, and the south of Italy, tive earthquakes, and other volcanic phebeing still subject to frequent and destrucnomena, adds much to the probability of the supposed ancient connexion between the Apennine and Neptunian ranges.

MARCH, 1824.

R

Next to Etna, the principal mountains of Sicily are the Madonia and Pelorean or Neptunian ranges, forming the north and north-eastern coasts, and from thence gradually shelving down to the south-west part of the island, with inferior chains diverging in various ramifications. These are of a primitive formation, more or less covered with a calcareous stratum, intermixed with pyrites, schistus, talc, and marine deposits, and abounding with mineral riches and organic remains. The soil affords great variety, being loamy, argillaceous, aluminous, siliceous, or calcareous; and of considerable depth. By the genial influence of the climate, vegetation is rendered quick and abundant, and the country is altogether one of the most productive spots on earth. This fecundity may be owing, in part, to a volcanic influence, for lava, scoriæ, and ashes, are not confined to the neighbourhood of Etna, but extend from that mountain to Cape Passaro. Masses of pozzolana occur at Leutini, Vizzini, Palazzolo, and Palica; and various substances, that have evidently undergone the action of fire, are observable in several parts of the interior, where the superincumbent strata have been riven by torrents. The central divisions of the island contain large tracts of bitumen, and though sulphur is rather a cause than a product of volcanos, it may be noticed, that it is found in immense quantities at Mussumeli, Cattolica, Girgenti, Naro, Mazzarino, and

Alicata.

The general aspect of Sicily is mountainous and varied :

The appearance of the coast of the is land is romantic, and formed by nature into strong positions of defence; while the interior presents a combination of mountains, ravines, and valleys, the latter of which, in many parts, branch out into extensive plains, presenting a pleasing assemblage of rural scenes, possessing a soil exuberantly fertile, and animated by numerous flocks and herds scattered around. The hilly regions presenting, alternately, undulating slopes, bold crags, and rugged elevations, with woody declivities abounding with elms, chesnuts, pines, oaks, ash, and other timber, complete the prospect.

Travelling, as may be supposed, over such a country is difficult as well as delightful; and the danger is considerably increased, in the winter season, by those heavy rains which are peculiar to sultry climates:

The violent rains that deluge the island at this season swell the rivers, damage the roads, and set the Fiumare running; these are torrents, occasioned by the waters descending from the mountains into deep

ravines, through which they rush with impetuosity to the sea, carrying every thing before them. Their strength, however, soon exhausts itself; and when dry, their channels become tolerable roads to the distance of three or four miles inland, exhibiting peculiar picturesque beauties. The boisterous force of the Fiumare while flowing, the badness of the roads, and the want of bridges, render travelling in the winter dangerous, and at times wholly impracticable.

Travelling in Sicily is by no means an easy undertaking at any season; the mode of proceeding being either on mules, or on horseback, but more generally in a lettiga (a corruption of lectica), a kind of narrow chaise, with room for two persons to sit opposite to each other, mounted on two long poles, and carried by mules at the average rate of three miles and a half an hour.

little different from a double-sedan, The lettiga thus appears to be except that it is borne by mules instead of men. If the reputed obstinacy of the former animal adhere to him in Sicily, a traveller might often find himself in curious predicaments, whilst he thus lies at the mercy of his forefooted chairmen, perhaps on the summit of a precipice, or in the middle of a fumare.

of method and scholastic learning There is a considerable display throughout this volume. In a geographical treatise especially, the system of regular classification is not only useful, but almost indispensable; it may nevertheless be carried further than is necessary or agreeable. Besides, it is not infrequently productive of the confusion which it is introduced to dispel. Thus, for instance, the first portion of this work is subdivided with logical precision into the several departments of geology, mineralogy, climate, aspect, produce, and resources; yet we may be permitted to question what light the latter part of the division throws upon the subject. There may, we acknowledge, be some doubt whether "tunnies" (which are classed under resources) can be properly said to grow upon the shores of the island whence they derive their sustenance, but there can be none, we apprehend, whatever, that wheat, grapes, olives, and other vegetable products enumerated, form a principal resource of the kingdom. We cite this venial error, merely because we

think the practice of making "distinctions without differences" is too prevalent amongst our modern travellers, who would fain give an appearance of magnitude and importance to that which is really insignificant.

The beauty of continuity is likewise sacrificed, by the system of dividing and decomposing a voyage or a tour, a memoir or an itinerary, into separate, independent articles. The mind does not flow over the page, but has, every now and then, to stop and prepare itself for a new course of reflection. In the popular part of the work before us, where the rigour of philosophical arrangement might, without any disadvantage, be exchanged for the ease and grace of a looser narrative, our author still proceeds with inflexible gravity, to dispatch-NOBLES, MECHANICS, LAWYERS, PEASANTS, NUNS, AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, under these specific heads and designations. The eye stumbles upon a heap of large Roman capitals at the beginning of every third or fourth paragraph, and the second Chapter, instead of exhibiting the Sicilian community as it exists, and as the spectator must have beheld it, presents us with an elaborate draught of each independent particular, leaving it to us to combine, as we may, the heterogeneous mass into an harmonious picture. Separate essays upon diet, dwellings, burials, births, marriages, &c. &c. &c. each subject being carefully set apart and labelled for distinct perusal, gives the volume, in our opinion, less the appearance of a "Memoir," than of a Treatise on Physic, or a Book of Cookery. It must however be recollected, that Captain Smyth is a Fellow of the Astronomical Society, and was sent out by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for the express purpose of drawing up a complete Survey of Sicily; the habits of the severer sciences may have unfitted his mind for the discursive familiarity of narration, and he may have thought that their Lordships would be better pleased with an accurate than an elegant display of his acquired information. We must therefore balance the loss of ease and freedom with the profit of exactness and perspicuity.

COMMUNITY.-The Sicilians are of a middle stature, and well made, with dark eyes, and coarse black hair; they have betmaturity, and begin to decline, earlier than ter features than complexions, and attain the inhabitants of more northern regions. In conversation they are cheerful, inquisitive and fanciful, with a redundance of unmeaning compliments, showing themselves not so deficie.. in natural talents, as in the due cultivation of them. Their delivery is vehement, rapid, full of action, and their gesticulation violent; the latter is so significant as almost to possess the powers of speech, and animates them with a peculiar vivacity, bordering, however, rather on conceits than wit, on farce than humour. But the principal those of easy circumstances, which they characteristic is an effeminate laziness among attempt to excuse, by alleging the intense heat of the climate, without taking example from the warmer regions of Egypt and India, or the energy of the British colonists in the torrid zone; in fact, they have a practical illustration close to them, in the hardy labor and patient industry of the peasants, calessiers, and porters, of Malta.

Are they so ignorant of their own annals, as not to know that their Island was once the granary of Italy, and that it was the labour of the Sicilian husbandman which formerly supplied the physical energies of the Roman legions?

Notwithstanding our author's propensity to classification, division, and mathematical exactness, there is a good deal of what Lady Macbeth would call, admirable disorder, in his method of arranging his subjects. One would naturally suppose that the disposition of the people should be next spoken of, after their outward form and manners had been described; yet more than a dozen different lots of dissertation occur between COMMUNITY and DISPOSITION, the latter being found above twenty pages onwards, where we least expected it, most preposterously interposed between AMUSEMENTS and FESTIVALS-two kindred discussions. Such a very unceremonious diversification of matter would be, perhaps, excusable in an easy journal or memoir, but the lucidus ordo should not be attempted in a work of this kind, unless it could be in some measure attained. We are sorry to perceive that the scale in which we had deposited our author's "exactness and perspicuity," as some com