mind and body when used for drink, as the apothecary is of the poisonous nature of arsenic when swallowed.

If the manufacturers and venders of ardent spirits, are not fully convinced in their own minds of the directly destructive results from the habitual drinking of ardent spirits,—we have no right to accuse their motives. If they are satisfied in their own minds of this effectually, we shall still refrain from making any charge. We leave the task of accusation to themselves.

THE BOOK OF NATURE.*

The Study of Natural History, is the study in a great measure of natural theology. By making us acquainted with the harmonies of created things, the wonderful adaptation of means to ends, of structure to function, it prepares us for a willing assent, a ready perception of the Divine wisdom, and of the provident and all guiding Creator. We gaze with delight on the variegated colours of the foliage and flowers of plants, and inhale with the intoxication of pleasure, the fragrance with which they fill the air. The animals of the field and the forest, in their varied garb, and form, and movements; birds with their brilliant plumage and melodious song; the finny tribe reflecting in their watery domain the colours of the rainbow ;-all add to the charm of external nature,-all minister to our innate love of novelty. We feel at first as if the prospect would never tire, and that to stroll through valley, grove and upland lawn, gazing on these different objects would be unfailing pastime. But soon we desire to know the cause of the differences which we see in the different tribes of animated nature, and for what purpose has this claws and pointed teeth; that hoofs and grinders :-by what apparatus some so slow of foot are such admirable climbers-wherein aquatic fowls differ from those that live entirely on land:-by what processes and successive stages, the seed germinates, and the embryo plant is converted into a lofty tree with its cortical coverings, its umbrageous foliage and luscious fruit. We would know by what mechanism the sap or nutritive juice of the plant is carried often to so great a height from the root in which it was first formed, by imbibing moisture from the earth. With these and hundreds of other curious points we desire to become acquainted. The desire creates fixedness of attention, followed by a separation and classification of the different objects in nature; and, almost before we are aware of it, we find ourselves studying natural history. By no other study is the mind nourished so innocently and usefully, and with such unceasing variety. To few indeed are ample scope and opportunity given for its full prosecution. We must all depend in a measure on the labours and observations of others--as described in books, and illustrated in museums and drawings. Happy, therefore, is it for us when in our power to avail of these means; and thus with little trouble and cost to hold communion with nature, and to have the privilege of prying into her arcana under the guidance of her chosen sons. But why descant on the pleasure and hold forth the flattering picture of its en

* Embracing a condensed survey of the Animal Kingdom, as well as scetches of Botany, Vegetable Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, &c. &c. &c. Embellished with numerous splendid engravings. Published monthly. Edited by an Association of Scientific Gentlemen of Philadelphia.

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Condemnation and Death of Alexis.

joyment, it may be asked, if the means of enjoyment are not within our reach. It is precisely because they are in nearly every person's reach that we now introduce the subject. The work, the title of which is prefixed to this artiarticle, will prove a good instructor and a pleasant companion, by first telling of the habits and peculiarities of the different classes of animals and plants, and then showing them to the eye in the form of finely executed engravings, which in number and variety would alone compensate for the price of the work.

We do not know who are the gentlemen on whom the proprietor has devolved the task of writing the letter press explanation of the plates, but we have been positively assured that they are every way competent to the discharge of the duties which they have assumed. We the more willingly give into this opinion, after a perusal of the introduction to the first number entitled "The Study of Natural History;" which is well written both in regard to the matter and manner. To the young of both sexes in schools, and to our collegiate youth, as well as to amateurs of natural history in general, the Book of Nature has especial attractions and claims for perusal. The intentions of the publisher are fully set forth in the following short preface.

"In presenting the public with an extensive work, which will embrace about two hundred and forty very elegant plates on Natural History, it may be necessary to remark at the outset, that the letter-press which accompanies them is entirely compiled from books of standard authority, and that the work is intended as an index, which, while it exhibits the objects portrayed in their natural form with their nomenclature, is principally designed to furnish good drawings, and ideas on Natural History. With the aid of the first, the learner will be enabled to pursue his studies without seeking for the living or stuffed specimen, while the letter-press will afford him the correct names of the animals, plants, birds, &c., and thus enable him to investigate their history, habits, &c., in the more voluminous treatises which contain them. One object with the publisher emphatically is, to place the plates within the reach of all at a rate so moderate that even the parlor scrap-book will lay it under contribution, and where no taste exists for the study of Natural History. This could not have been effected if the plates had been accompanied with an extended notice of each subject. The editor has therefore limited his manuscript to the prescribed space, in which, however, he has condensed such information as was thought to be most useful and intelligible. The plates are all prepared with reference to the Linnæan system, the improvements and modifications on which will be noticed in the letter-press."

We noticed, on its first appearance, Greenbank's Periodical Library. The second number begins the Life of Peter the Great, by Count Segur. Of this last work we can speak in terms of unmixed praise. The subject, and the reputation of the author, gave security in advance for its success. After this, was begun in the fourth number the Tour through France and Italy, by William Hazlit, which is continued in the fifth. It is written in a light and amusing style, and abounds in lively description. We must content ourselves on this occasion with an extract from the life of Peter the Great; it is part of an account of the trial and death of Alexis, by the Tzar, his own father, Peter the Great.

CONDEMNATION AND DEATH OF ALEXIS.

The grandees had heard the charge, and the confession of the criminal; he was the second personage of the empire, the individual

Condemnation and Death of Alexis.

309

of all others whose actions could be the most useful or the most injurious: he was one of its defenders; yet, notwithstanding this, it was in the midst of terrible war, when the country, exhausted by so many sacrifices, though on the point of reaping the fruits of them, saw Austria and the North of Europe combining, in order to snatch them from her: it was at such a critical moment, that, deceiving his father and his sovereign, he declared himself his enemy, by deserting his political and military post, to throw himself into the arms of one of those powers, which was already jealous of the rising glory of the Russians!

The culprit had, it is true, been since disinherited of the empire; but his judges were doubtful whether his crime did not deserve death, as well in the eyes of justice, which look only to the past and the present, as in those of policy, which look also to the future. And, in truth, at this epoch of Russian regeneration, was not the still cherishing a wish to destroy it, high treason against their country, no less than against their Tzar.

The accuser, the tone of the accusation, and all the attendant circumstances, gave sentence by anticipation. But, if they should dare to pronounce it, would Peter carry it into effect? They had no doubt of it. The civilization of his people was a work conscientiously undertaken: to that he had sacrificed sister, wife, a whole generation, and still more, and a thousand times, himself! Nor was it any longer a mere conception of his genius; it was already a living and perfect creation. They themselves made a part of the new nation, formed out of able foreigners, and the flower of the natives. And nevertheless there had existed among them, for twenty-nine years, a being by whom it was reprobated and abhorred; he even threatened to destroy it in the blood of those superior-minded men who had hastened from all quarters, relying on the word of the regenerator. The rebel, it is true, was heir to the empire was the son of their Tzar; but that Tzar was their creator; he was at least as much their father as he was of this obstinate being, whom, during eighteen years, he had fruitlessly laboured to reform.

The alternative was, indeeed, an embarrassing one! On the one side is a nation, his own work; on the other, was a son! Towards which had he the most imperative duty to perform? Whether ought the many children of his genius, or the child of his blood, to gain the upper hand! Of these two creations, whose co-existence was rendered incompatible by the fault of one of them, which ought to be sacrificed to the other?

In truth, the question here no longer turned on a renunciation, disinherison, or even compulsory vows. The confession of Alexis had demonstrated their insufficiency! the mortal enemy of civilization might rise again from that religious death! It was necessary to join it to a political death, a physical death; in a word, death of all kinds! and, that barbarism might irrevocably perish along with this devoted victim, it was equally necessary that the greater part of the grandees who were engaged in that work of civilization, should co-operate in this great sacrifice.

Such, no doubt, were the ideas of their master; thoseon which he had meditated for five months, and which he believed to be inspired by Heaven itself: for they knew that it was from the foot of the altar, where he had lain prostrate for several days, that he had come to put his son into their hands.

They were slaves—they were judges in their own cause; and the flight of Alexis seemed to give to a fatal decree, dictated by reasons of state, the sanction of rigorous justice: they pronounced it. Let history for a while suspend hers: attentive and immoveable, let her keep her eyes fixed on this inflexible and most persevering of all geniuses, in this giddy and rugged road.

Alexis was condemned on the sixth of July, 1718. On the seventh, a report was spread, that, on his sentence being read to him, he fell to the ground in the most alarming state of terror, and desired to see his father. The latter, followed by all the grandees of the state and of his court, went to receive his last farewell, and mingle his tears with those of his son. The rest is a mystery. The Tzar was seen to quit with a dejected countenance the apartment of the unfortunate Alexis, who expired some hours after having embraced his father.

Peter wept over the victim before he was immolated; he wept, too, over his coffin, which he himself accompanied. But the statesman remained inflexible in him. The ashes of his son were yet warm, they were still wet with his tears, when he loudly declared that his son, "the most insincere and ungrateful being that imagination could conceive, had been justly condemned!" He gloried in having made the sacrifice to the love of his people, as well as in having banished or put to death all his accomplices.

Four years after, fearing that, on his decease, the minority of the son of this victim might revive the hopes of his mother, and of the party of the ancient manners, he declared by a decree, (as Ivan III. had done in his letter to the Pskovians) "that the reigning sovereign was the absolute master to dispose of the throne to whomsoever he pleased."

In fact, it was not long before he crowned Catherine; doubtless, with the intention of preserving, when he should be no more, the great work of his life, by the reign of her who had been the companion of his toils, and by her being surrounded with grandees who were interested in civilization.

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Neither alarmists nor fatalists, we have on the one hand, in this Journal, refrained from working on the fears of our readers by exaggerated pictures of danger from cholera; and on the other have discouraged the idea, that the disease is a scourge from which there is little chance of escape, take what care we may. We have contended all along, that however we may admit the existence of a general deterioration or poison of the atmosphere, as the primary and predisposing cause of cholera, it is equally clear, that but for local and controllable causes and personal indiscretions, this kind of atmosphere would soon have its strength diluted and rendered comparatively harmless and inert. Cleanliness and ventilation of streets, yards and houses-cleanliness of person, regular hours of repose, temperance both in eating and drinking, suitable clothingand it is only suitable when adapted to changes and vicissitudes of weather--will prove to be means of nearly entire exemption from the disease. When we speak of temperance in food, we mean not only the moderate use of all that is eaten, but also entire abstinence from those articles which give no strength to the frame from not being converted into chyle and blood; but which heat, irritate or directly poison. Among these we include crude, that is pithy and fibrous and stringy vegetable substances, mixed and made dishes of animal matters and above all intoxicating drinks. Never was the voice of history more clear and distinct than when uttering the experience in all countries and climates-that the drunkard and the free drinker VOL. IV-2 o 311