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Leader (1850-1860), 20th November 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1254, Untitled Article

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      out ef which we would gladly , had we room to do so , extract some very interesting matter ; but , as it is , we must here close pur remarks , by assuring those who feel interested in the statistics of Mexico that this book is well worth their perusal and attention . It is true that it is wanting in romantic adventure and highly coloured scenes of central American life . It does not , like the pages of the French author ( edited by Captain Marryat ) in the

      fanciful volume Called Monsieur Violet , draw such vivid scenes of enchantment that the reader desires instantly to visit Monte Rey , nor such fearfully graphic accounts of conflagrations and stampados that the startled peruser shudders as he almost fancies he shares in the dangers of the writer . But as a correct picture of the country and the people , well got up , unaffectedly written , and superbly illustrated , we can conscientiously introduce Mr . Sartorius ' s work to every person interested in Mexico and the Mexicans .

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      NATURE AND HUMAN NATURE . Nature and Human Nature . By the Author of " Sam Slick , the Clockmaker . " Hurst and Blackett . An old favourite with a new face appears as the first volume of Messrs . Hrirst and Blackett ' s Standard Library of Cheap Editions of Popular Modern Works , each comprising a complete work . If we are to judge from the handy form , nice binding , and elegant typography of Nature and Human , Nature , the publishers intend to do every justice , in this reissueto the well-established authors whose works

      , they are intending still farther to popularise , and to the high reputation of their firm . They have been rather unfortunate in their selection of an engraver for the frontispiece of their first volume , which hardly does justice to Mi ' . Leech ' s spirited drawing of Mr . Slick ,. and makes out a hevy of this artist ' s regulation young ladies even more insipid than usual . But be that as it may , the learned author ' s rich fund of humour and acumen so richly furnish a five-shilling volume , that , after all , a frontispiece is an utter superfluity .

      The prospect of a fusion of our North American colonies with the United States has begun to assume , so much more important dimensions than is generally known by the public , or is even within the knowledge of those who have mere Government intelligence to trust to , that the political chapters of theClockmaker ' s lucubrations are more attractive than ever to those better informed persons who cannot look without some degree of apprehension to the severance of those colonies from the

      mothercountry . We have not the same low opinion of the present Colonial . Secretary as has been bred in us by long familiarity with one or two of his Whig predecessors , and we venture to say that as a literary man he ia not unacquainted with the following passage in The Bundle of Sticks , and may possibly turn it over in his mind when her Majesty ' s Servants of the Cabinet attend in the green-room of the political theatre , to hear the . next reform farce read : —

      " Doctor , " said I , " things won't remain long as they are , England has throe things among which to choose for her North American colonies—first , incorporation with herself , and representation in Parliament ; secondly , independence ; thirdly , annexation with the States . " We have not room for the sage remarks that follow } but they arc worth reading and inwardly digesting . We are quite of the Clockmaker ' s way pi thinking , that the oundlo of sticks wants binding

      and the hoops of tho colonial tub tightening . we could say much more upon this head were it consistent with our immediate function , but hero perforce we must now stop , not without a hope thnt we may meet the chatty Cloojcmaker again . "Wo would hear from him about tho Now El Dorado , the North-West passes , and the interoccanic communications , which promise soon to be so interesting and so important both to the colonies and tho empire . .

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      BOOKS RECEIVED . Fulcher ' s Ladies' Memorandum Book . 12 mo . Longman and Co . The Comprehensive History of India . Tsos . 7 , 8 , 9 , and 10 . . 4 vols . 4 : o . Blackie and Son . The Conipre / iensive History ofEngland . 2 vols . 4 to . Iilackie and Son . Jonicce . A Toem . 12 mo . Smith and Elder . Poems . By Ada Treomton . 12 mo . Smith and Elder . Poems . By 11 . Cecil . 12 mo . Smith and Elder . Pleasure . A Poem . By Nicholas Michel ] .. 12 mo .

      W . Tegg and Co . Tales from Blacbieood . 12 mo . ISlackwootl and Sons . Eric ; or , Little by Little . By F . W . 1 ' razer . Svo Edinburgh ; A . and € . Black . Black ' s Map of the Atlantic Ocean . Edinburgh A . and C . Black . Black ' s Map of North America , ¦ $ c . Edinburgh A . and C . Black . Curiosities of Science . By John Timbs , T . S . A . 12 mo W . Kent and Co . GutcJi's Literary and Scientific Register and Almanack

      In cose . W . Kent and Co . The Runaways . A Tale . 12 mo . Koutledge and Co . The Law of Wills , $ c . By W . A . Huldsworth . 12 mo . Routledge and Co . „ , _ Hints on Agriculture . By Cecil . 12 mo . T . C . Newl . y Un Debut sur Vlnde an Parhment Anyhus . 1 ar lc Comtc do Montalembert . 8 vo . Jena . William I . iman and other Poems . Tweed io . Vegetable Physiology , tfc . By W . B . Carpenter . Small 8 vo . II . G . Bonn . Q „ Anecdotes of Dogs . By Edward Jesse , Esq . &mnll

      8 vo . H . G . Bonn . ,, . T n . History of Christian Dogmas . By Dr . A . Lcander . Small Svo . Hi G . Bohn . , A Handy Book on Criminal Law . By AY . L . bicigo , Esq . 12 mo . Koutlcdge and Co . The Irish Quarterly Review . No . 31 . Simp kiu and Marshall . _ , . „ , _ nia Radmarsh Rectory . A Talc . By Nona Boliurs . 3 vols . 8 VO . 0 . J . Skcet . TTnmll Stories about Birds . By Mrs . FairficUl . K » mo . H « m « ton , Adams , and Co . .. , VprgB The Odes of Horace . Translated into k"ff » "V" ? by Lord liavensworth . Imp . « vo . Un liain niul TheH ' ill in the Valley . A Talc of German Rural Lift . By tho Author of " Moravian Lift In tho Hint * Porcst . " 12 mo . A . Hall , Virtue , ami Co . Tha Illustrated News of the World , l ' nrt 10 . lllus trated News of tho World " Office . _ The Works of Christopher Marlowe . Vy «»« ' " ' Alexander Dyco . Imp . 8 vo . Edward Moxon aud Lo . MUSIC . Davidson ' s Musioal Miracles . 4 to . Davidson . Hark / hark ! what news tho angels bring . Davidson . . , a / , n II » rft t the herald angels sing . Music . Davidson .

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      Royai , Gicologkjai , Mcbicum . — Tlio opening <• ' » of the session to working men was delivered on Won •»/ i In tho thoatro of tho Museum , by Profoitsor H" «¦ •' F . K . S ., whoso cUsoourao was listened to by an obhiv / of some 000 poraona , who had previously im ' nomos and addresijos of tho flrma by whom WO employed .

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      investigations into vital statistics , which he has recently made in nine parishes situate in Middlesex and Surrey . These may be regarded as a fair standard of the value of human life in England and Wales . There have been added such other details in connexion with local and personal history as it is believed will render the work of much interest to the ordinary as well as professional reader . The following will give a fair idea of the stvle of the work : — ' It is now proposed to gather the results of our observations in vital statistics embraced in the rural districts , which contain the parishes of Acton , Chiswick , Ealing , Hammersmith , and Fulham , in the county of Middlesex ; and those of Barnes , Kew , Mortlake , and rutuey , in the county of Surrey—the whole of them ( except as separated by the river Thames ) lying locally together . 19361 and

      The area of the nine parishes covers , acres , , in 1852 , embraced a population of about 65 , 000 persons , and is probably now increased to 70 , 000 . The soil of the district ia partly clay and gravel , the former being not so stiff as the red and heavy clay to be found in the midland and western counties . The Life Table , which has been compiled from the returns of the 63 S 0 persons ( including 3205 males and 3175 females ) , shows that at the age of 46 ( when , according to the combined population on the English Life Table , one-half of them would be dead ) , the result of the Rural Mortality ( here developed ) gives 19 i > 2 males and 2004 females ( in all 3996 persons ) aliye at that age ; being 806 in excess of the general expectation of lives over the entire population of England , or , about one-eighth part of the persons so registered in the Rural Table . Two-thirds of the whole number ( 6380 ) were living at 42 , one-half at 56 , one-third at 67 , and one-sixth at 76 . The same proportions in the English Life Table , just referred to , will be ' found only at the ages of 21 , 46 , G 4 , and 75 ; and at the latter ages , the Rural and English Life Tables begin to approximate . The Rural Table , from 70 to 101 years of age ( taking the aggregate of persons living at those ages ) , shows that there survived no less than 729 males and 1066 females : whilst 1 male and 1 female completed respectively their 113 th and 114 th year ; making a total of 1797 persons , or approaching to 30 per cent , of the whole number born and recorded . Adverting to the relative position and degrees of longevity enjoyed by the inhabitants of the nine parishes , we may remark , first , that Chiswick , Fulham , and Hammersmith , on the Middlesex side , lie low , and abut on the river Thames . The same applies to Barnes , Fnlham , and Kew , on the Surrey side ; whilst Acton and Ealing ( but to the north and north-west of the four first-named parishes ) are on sloping and high ground . Ealing , especially , forms high table-land , overlooking the other localities , and commanding a prospect of Surrey and its hills . Ealing is said to be on a level with St . Paul ' s Cathedral ; but Hammersmith is in a vale between Acton and Xotting-hill , and about 80 or 90 feet below the latter eminence . The prevalent opinion that good health more attaches to elevated localities is here at fault ; for , tho higher range of longevity is . found in the parishes of the most depressed area ; but some qualification may be necessary , inasmuch as Acton and Ealing bear to a more northern and a colder aspect . The relative results of the different parishes have , upon the whole population , as regards longevity , been found , according to Table I ., to stand thus : •—AVEKAGK DURATION . Yrs . Mths . Days . 1 . Kew 54 2 0 2 . Putney 52 0 9 8 . Chiswick 52 0 8 4 . Fulham 51 C 20 5 . Acton 51 0 6 C . Mortlaka 61 0 < t 7 . Hammersmith 60 8 7 8 . Ealing 49 1 9 9 . Barnes 49 0 0 It is possible , an regards Kew , that returns of mortality , more numerous and approaching to that of tho adjoining parishes , might not place it above Putney , Chiswick . and Fulham .

      DURATION OF LIFE IN RUEAL DISTRICTS . An Enquiry as to the Duration < j / " Life" in Rural Districts . By J . H . Jamea , Barrlster ,-at-Law , F . S . S ., &o . Simpkin , Marshall , and Co * This is a very ingenious and , more strange to say , a very amusing book , for the author has illustrated his scientific researohos by topographical , biographical , wad heraldio notices , and with several entertaining apecdptes of tho eolobrated characters who are buried in tho ' environs of London . To use his own words , ho has collected and analysod'tho results of

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      stated his general principle , the author gives illustrative cases , which prove that it is frequently owing to local and topical causes that the patient is afflicted ; and -we sincerely recommend the perusal of the sensible brochure to those at all suffering from diseases of the nerves and depression of mind . The Loyal Heart ; ory the Trapjpers . By Gustav Aimard . Translated by W . Robson . ( Koutled ge and Co . )—All the breathless incidents of a trapper ' s hazard ious calling are here vividly portrayed , and among them s cleverly woven a romantic tale , which gives life and colour to the stirring scenes , hair-breadth escapes and deeds of personal prowesa which st ud th e story ' from beginning to end .

      The Irish Quarterly Review . —We have received the new number of thi 3 review , which is of more than average interest . The opening paper is a continuation of the " Odd Phases in Literature , " which have already appeared in former numbers , and -which display the resources of a well-stored common-place book , compiled with judgment and showing great research . " Fat and Lean " is the title of an essay , the writer of which has taken forhis text the works of the wittj ' and philosophical whose

      Brillat Savarin , Physiologie du Goiit is well kno wn as a work of European celebrity . A long and interesting account of the life and writings of Mme . Girardin ( Delphine Gayj is , however , the most attractive article —made so by the numerous specimens which the essayist has given us of the wit and pathos of that gifted woman . " The Good People" tells us all that can possibly be necessary to be known about the fairies Irish and forei gn , and kindred superstition .. Several other papers of value appear , especially one on prison discipline , which contains a mass of important statistics . A few extracts appear elsewhere in our colutuns .

      On Nervous Disorders and Nervousness , lapsing into Melancholy and Iilsaniti / . By J . Tathum Banks . M . D ., &c . ( J . Churchill . ) ' -- 'Tliis little book contains much matter , and is tho result of long practice and judicious observation . Tho learned author points out tho evil of considering what ; are termed nervous disorders , or ,, moro , commonly by tho Ignorant , nervousness , as merely ideal and Imaginary complaints . There is another ovil which also attends this o )« ss of disorders , that is , thoir boing tho especial object of empirics , who arQ known to victimise the unfortunato patients who apply to them to an often ruinous extent . Dr . ijnuks urges , and citos admirable roasona for so doing , tho treatment of nervousness ns a diseased state , and it seoms incontrovertible thnt it is genorally , under tho control of rogular treatment , greatly assuagod , if not entirely removed . Having

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      ¦¦ . ' ' ' . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ ¦ • ¦ 2254 THE Jj- 'B A D EB . [ No . 452 , November 20 , 1858 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1858, page 1254, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2269/page/14/