I looked close. It appears that fine ladies are in the habit when going to bed of softening their nails in warm water, and then winding them round their wrists to prevent their being injured. This phoenomonon is not so wonderful when you consider that five long nails are to be thus secured on each fair wrist.

Last of all take a sketch of the interior of a temple, and what is not less important, a testimony to the credit of the 55th:

One goddess, of huge proportions, has a small puppet in its arms. Indeed this group of half-painting and half-sculpture reminded me of the Madonna de la San Sisto at Dresden; not, however, from the beauty of its execution. The whole building had a Roman Catholic appearance. The gods and goddesses were much carved, and were inlaid as if all the colours of the rainbow had been taxed, and some more. The best statues were simply carved (out of wood, I suppose) and richly gilt. Some of these were really well done. We supposed they represented the sages of China. They had Chinese countenances, and many of them appeared to be expounding like orators. Of the gods, I can call to mind two monsters sitting; one with a lyre, and one with a huge drawn sword in his hand. Our friend of the lyre was anything but an Apollo in appearance; and though he smiled, it was in such sort as to disgust rather than please. The swordsman had huge round eyes, and looked very savage indeed.

In one of the court-yards in front of the temple, we ascended to look at a large bell. There are many larger in England; but this was very handsomely carved in the Chinese fashion.

We also saw at the joss-house a school of literati (apparently) sitting at a long table. Most of them were middle-aged men. They had a president, who beat time with a stick on a scarlet thing not very unlike the top of a huge skull, while the rest followed him in a monotonous sing-song perusal of some work, all having small pamphlets in their hands. They did not take much notice of my fellow-passengers and myself.

Though part of the 55th were quartered for nearly six weeks in this temple, we could not observe that any damage had been done even to the gilded sages above noticed; a fact greatly to the credit of British discipline.

NOTICES.

ART. XIII.-The Prophet of the Nineteenth Century. By the Rev. H. CASWALL, M.A.

"THE Prophet of the Nineteenth Century; or, the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints," our readers will observe, is the production of the same rev. gentleman, the Professor of Divinity in Kemper College, Missouri, whose "Three Days at Nauvoo" was made by us the subject of an article a few months back. The present

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work is on a larger scale, and the result of further inquiry, as well as of deeper reflection, forming a handsome volume; but what is of more importance, containing one of the most extraordinary stories that ever had amply ascertained facts for a subject, and exceeding anything which imagination could have concocted. The rise, progress, and present state of the Latter Day Saints, certainly furnish an example of truth being more wonderful than fiction. But what an appalling truth is it! and what an illustration of the monstrous credulity and gullibility of mankind! That upwards of one hundred thousand persons are at this moment, counting those in Great Britain as well as America, so far misled by an ignorant, uneducated, gross, and debauched blackguard, by name Joe Smith, as to believe him to be an inspired person, and to be favoured with daily direct communications with heaven, staggers one's mind, and must be regarded as only less miraculous than the fact would be if the gift of prophecy were really conferred in the nineteenth century on any of the human race. What are we to say to the statement, that in the course of last year about 5,000 persons set sail from Liverpool to lay themselves at the feet of this grovelling wretch, these emigrants being for the most part in comfortable circumstancs, and few of them, we may safely presume, unschooled? But there are other marvels connected with Mormonism; for, according to recent intelligence, Joe and his infatuated followers are threatening to resist the authorities of the State of Illinois, where they have founded their city. But we have not yet done with the wonders; for must it not be set down amongst the strangest instances of ignorance, that even in England, multitudes of intelligent people are still uninformed with regard to the existence of this rapidly-increasing sect, while another multitude of worthy people appear to treat the story with indifference? It is now to be hoped, however, that the public mind will be aroused to the frightful and perilous enormity, and that Mr. Caswall's narrative and representations will receive the grave attention that the subject, which he so earnestly and becomingly handles, merits. As a story, indeed, few books can yield anything more exciting, the hero of it being one of the expertest of swindlers, and offering such a variety of incidents, vicissitudes, and inventions, as sustain the interest, with the power of a skilfully constructed romance to the close of the volume, when the reader's mind necessarily falls back upon itself in profound cogitation, or looks forward with awe and fearful foreboding with regard to the social and moral results threatened by the "Latter-Day Saints."

Having laid before our readers, on the appearance of Mr. Caswall's former publication, an account of some of the more striking passages in the history of the "Prophet of the Nineteenth Century," it is not necessary that we go into the larger and more particular narrative now before us. We quote one passage belonging to the conduct of the early converts, which will convey some idea of the extravagance to which they carry their antics and delusions, there being an allusion also to deeds of darker hue than can properly come under the designation of antics, or anything that is only monstrously ridiculous.

"Many would fall upon the floor, where they would lie for a long time apparently lifeless. The fits usually came on during or after their prayer

meetings, which were held nearly every evening. Some, in imitation of the prophet, employed magic stones, through which they professed to see, and to describe not only the persons, but the dress and employment of people hundreds of miles distant. Their conduct grew more and more eccentric and absurd, till they resembled a party of Bacchanalians. Sometimes they imitated the wild modes of Indian warfare, such as knocking down, scalping, and tearing out the bowels of the victims. At the dead hour of night they ran through the fields and over the hills in pursuit of balls of fire, which they declared they beheld in the atmosphere. Sometimes they mounted on the stumps of trees, and while absorbed in visions, they plunged into the waters of baptism, or harangued the imaginary multitude by which they thought themselves surrounded. Others fell into a trance, and having continued apparently lifeless for a long time, awoke to relate what they had learned respecting the future glory of the saints, and the destruction of the unbelieving. Sometimes their faces, bodies, and limbs were violently distorted and convulsed, until they fell prostrate on the ground. Three of the young converts pretended to have received a commission to preach from the skies, after having first leaped in the air as high as they could. All these performances were believed to emanate from the spirit of God."

We have already alluded to the opposition which is threatened by the Mormons to the State in which they have founded, built, and fortified a city. Joe, as Lieutenant-General, had been entrusted by the authorities of Illinois with cannon, for the purpose of vindicating the laws. Now, these very engines he is preparing to turn against the givers; having in many and flagrant ways transgressed against all that is regular and necessary. He has even had the audacity to institute a secret band, whose office it was to murder whoever should become obnoxious to the leaders, in respect of conduct or doctrine. But to Mr. Caswall's volume we must direct all who desire to read of thousands of equally audacious and strangely successful methods and measures in the history of Mormonism; for nowhere can a more curious array of circumstances, or more astounding results be met with.

ART. XIV.-An Essay on Punctuation; with incidental remarks on Punctuation. By F. FRANCILLON, Solicitor.

THERE is originality in this Essay. It contains first a history of punctuation; after which we have this view elaborately urged,-that the period, colon, semicolon, and comma, are not stops, but parts of the sentence. They are of service, in that they enable the reader more readily to comprehend the meaning of a sentence; which, if properly constructed, would almost point itself; for, if otherwise, although the author's meaning may be gathered, and it may be clear what he intended to say, yet he should have reconstructed the composition, rather than havet rusted to the punctuation as the means of giving perspicuity to what he has written. This is a useful and suggestive view, and it is well developed and enforced by the author, who has brought a legal precision to the illustration of his principle.

ART. XVII.—The Autobiography of Henrich Stilling; late Aulic Counsellor to the Grand Duke of Baden, &c.

A CHEAP edition of a book that has been pronounced by competent judges, to be the most delightful one that can be named in the whole circle of German literature. It is said to have been written at the suggestion of Goethe, to whom the life had often been orally related by Stilling. While as a story it is as natural and powerful as anything John Bunyan has written, detailing extraordinary efforts and incidents in search oflearning, it presents a living and vivid picture of peasant-life and character as exhibited in Germany. It is remarkable that the work should have been so late in finding an English dress; but it is no doubt destined to appear in edition after edition, like the most popular books in our language, now that it has been brought out at a price so small as to invite every purchaser who has a trifle of pocketmoney to expend on literature of any class.

ART. XV.-Le Keux's Memorials of Cambridge.

THIS series of Views of "the Colleges, Halls, Churches, and other Public Buildings of the University and Town of Cambridge, engraved by J. Le Keux, from Original Drawings made expressly for the work; with Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Buildings, &c., by Thomas Wright, M.A., and the Rev. H. Longueville Jones, M.A.," is now completed. The views consist of seventy-six highly-finished steel engravings, and as many wood illustrations, besides letter-press matter; forming, when bound up, two handsome volumes, and either in an octavo or quarto size, as may suit the purchaser.

To thousands of persons it cannot be necessary to dilate on the merits of this elaborate work. The highest praise and in fewest words that can be given of it is to say, that the Memorials of Cambridge equal in every point those of Oxford; which alone would have established Mr. Le Keux's name as one of the most enterprising, pains-taking, and accomplished illustrators in this age of picture-books. We must speak particularly of the good faith which was maintained wtth the public by this work. Not only has it been issued with exemplary regularity, but the engravings and every feature of the book, whatever department can be mentioned, has been anxiously and honestly finished according to whatever promise or pretension the first part held out.

Cambridge, as a subject, does not yield in importance or interest to Oxford; nor canthe possessor of the memorials relating to the latter, consistently deny to his library those of the sister university. Unquestionably, Cambridge offers a rich and teeming field for the pencil as well as for the pen; its edifices, its adjacent scenery, and its recollections, combining to form themes of unsurpassed interest. With regard to the historical and descriptive part of the present publication, we can safely state that it is ample, elegantly written, and the result of skilfully-directed research. It is

not too much to say, that information is here to be met with, that was never before made public, and which seems not to have been previously accessible. The artistic illustrations cannot be too highly recommended. In fact, these have features which are rare, compared with the most esteemed engravings of the day. We must particularly notice the distinctness and reality, so to speak, of the plates. The eye rests on perfect forms, and instantly detects the exact characteristics of the buildings, with their precise and individual appendages; instead of being confounded by means of fanciful lights and shadows, or being bewildered amid imaginary trees and shrubs. Altogether it is a true as well as a beautiful work, and worthy of the celebrated and venerable objects which it professes to exhibit. We must not dismiss the publication without mentioning that the last part of all contains a plan of the University and Town of Cambridge, that has the merits which characterise the other portions, and which appears to us to be a model of minuteness and distinctness. In a word, this is a sterling book; one of much labour, and that must have cost Mr. Le Keux great anxiety and expense, although published at a low price; the proprietor, no doubt, confidently trusting to a continuous sale, and having laboured to be permanently useful, as well as to gratify the lovers of art::-a book to be studied and admired. It is appropriately dedicated to the Duke of Northumberland, Chancellor of the University.

ART. XVI.-Night and Day Thoughts.

A VOLUME of poems,-there being one in blank verse, called "Home and its Duties," a prosaic and familiar title, besides a lot of sonnets. We have spoken of the longer piece as being to a homely tune; and the author has thus far preserved consistency, that he has thrown a very considerable amount of readable prose into the regular shape of verse; but there is marvellously little poetry in this volume, whether spirit or choice of diction be regarded.

ART. XVII.-Day-Dreams By CH. KNOX.

CAPTAIN KNOx, the author of "Hardness," &c., has risen rapidly into repute, and seems determined to sustain his literary character by the variety as well as abundance of his efforts. All his works convey to us the character of having been written by one who has full confidence in himself; and who at the same time has delight in what he is doing. As a poet he does not seem to us to be so original or vigorous as in his novels. Still these are very musical effusions, and appear to have had their birth at the moments when the moods of mind which they affect to express were actually experienced. They are sweetly illustrated with twenty engravings by Mason, from drawings on wood by H. Warren. In respect of binding, type, &c. this volume vies with the most tasteful of the Annual tribe.