You see that mountain there, that presses on, And guides him onward with a beauteous staff; And throws a light that dazzles all too much : Fear. Vapoury torches, lamps, and tapers, Hence, away, unhallowed laughers! Here a friend a foe becometh, Willingly in each direction, Yet from yonder threats destruction, Hope. Hail! all hail! beloved sisters! Now alone, and now attended, Free through beauteous lands to wander, Rest and act as wills our pleasure; And in life, by cares unruffled, Ne'er to fail, and still strive onward: That which best is, we may surely, Prudence. Two the worst of man's opponents, Keep I from the thronging people: Room there, room! You're saved from danger! Look, ye, how this live colossus, Round she casts a light and glory Zoilo-Thersites.* Bah! bah! I'm just in time arrived. Yet what I chose out for my goal With that white pair of wings of her's And crooked is straight, and straight is crooked, So will I all things here on earth. Herald. So then may this good staff's hard blow (To be continued in our next). From Zoilus and Thersites, the well-known Homeric character. Zoilus being the name of a snarling critic. Vide "Lempriere's Bibliotheca Classica." 110 OUR MONTHLY CRYPT. A CRYPT is a sacred or secret place for the careful deposit of whatever should be hidden from the eye of the profane. The Cryptic is the hidden, the secret, the occult; and a Cryptographer is one who writes in secret characters. There is also a secret or enigmatical language of discourse which is called Cryptology. The term Apocrypha is from the same root, and according to some writers, it characterised such books as were not deposited in, but removed aπò τŷe̟ кρúπτηs, from the Crypt, ark, chest, or other receptable in which the sacred books were kept, though others derive the word from àπõкоνøŋ, implying that the said books were concealed from the general body of readers, as not of recognized authority. We shall use the word Crypt for that part of our magazine, which is devoted to the communications of correspondents, on all subjects, and particularly to such as shall propose philosophic or scientific questions for solution; or contain literary or other information with which our readers ought to be made acquainted. For the Hebrew Crypt or Ark, or whatever term may be proper to name the receptacle of the sacred books, contained only, notwithstanding its implied secresy, the writings which were authoritatively circulated. The secret and the public were the same in the endand this department of our Magazine, though sacred in a great measure to private and personal correspondence, will be open to the world and for the world's benefit! The Cryptographer of course understands secret characters, since he writes in them, and we shall doubtless be called upon to explain many an enigma, and it may be, shall, if only for amusement, deal a little, occasionally, in the Cryptological ourselves. We shall also beg to reserve for this series, the notices of such books as we cannot conveniently review in our Library Colloquies, and the register of such miscellaneous varieties as may deserve attention. To this humbler purpose we devote the remain der of this present paper. SCIENCE. "The London Flora" containing a concise description of the phonogamous British plants, which grow spontaneously in the vicinity of the metropolis, with their localities; arranged in conformity to the natural system: also, a Linnæan arrangement of all the indigenous British species, to which is prefixed a comprehensive Introduction to the natural method, an account of Classification, and a sketch of Botanical Geography.-By ALEXANDER IRVINE, of Marischal College, Aberdeen, LondonSMITH, ELDER & Co. One of the senses in which the word Crypt is used refers us to subterranean cells or caves, especially under a church, for the interment of persons. It is sometimes used to describe a subterranean chapel or oratory and the grave of a martyr. All this is redolent of death and mortality-in Botany we have the word used in connection with birth and floral life. The Cryptogam is a plant whose stamen and pistils are not distinctly visible, and which is therefore so called as implicative of concealed marriage. Of this class are ferns, mosses, seaweeds, mushrooms, &c. We much value the work before us, for the assistance which it renders to the student in reducing the specific knowledge to method. At first the study of plants was confined to nomenclature, and so it long continued. Many ages, indeed, elapsed before it began to be considered in a philosophical view. Mr. IRVINE presents us with his own system, for which we only wish that we had room. II. OPTICS.-The Microscope. "Microscopic Illustrations of Living Objects, &c. &c." By Andrew PRITCHARD, 1838. 8vo. with Plates; 248pp. The Microscope is to be ranked high among the scientific achievements of an age abounding in mechanical, in mental, and sublime discoveries. It is the very railway into and through, external nature's arcana; and its thoughtful employment brings man's mental powers into a closer connection with the primary law, and consequently to a truer preception and enunciation of it. In Mr. Pritchard's hands the Microscope becomes an instrument for loosening another seal from Nature's book, and enables man to read at least a few lines deeper than he can by any other scientific instrumentality. The Optician leaves far behind him the mere mechanical manipulative Chemist, the Geologist, the Pneumatist, and most other investigating divisional scientific students. In what externally appears to be the pettiness of his science, lies hidden the very fact of his approximation to universality. As by the pen, the smallest of scientific instruments, man is enabled to express himself more or less successfully on all subjects, without rending or destroying them in themselves, however erroneous his own particular views may be ; so the Optician, with his improved Microscope, is able to converse with nature, without violence to her most tender fabrics. While the mechanical philosopher operates with his material masses in solid, fluid, or gaseous form, and strikes the mind's eye with awe, by his conjunctive operations with nature, on a grand scale externally,-while the Chemist by his clever tests, his heat, and his cold, must, even in his most careful experiments, ravish all natural productions to fit them to his cups and his retorts,-the Microscopic observer is employed in watching not only the external results, but those all but primary motions of the living law which are hidden from vulgar eyes. To catch a glimpse of nature's vibrations, emanations, or circulatory motions in a manner which leaves these words no longer unmeaning parrot-like expressions, is truly to elevate the mind towards the central position whence ultimately we apprehend all science must be contemplated. Optical laws, even in their present state, without any such conscious intention on the operator's part, do in fact bring us to a less exoteric state than sciences which are more popular and vulgate. Connected with the grand LightLaw, which as a study is yet in its infancy, Optics have to develope large progressive strides reflecting powerfully on both intellectual and physical phenomena. By the junction of the two departments of colour on the one hand, and motion on the other, the investigator has before him a vast untrodden field, and ampliation of encouraging effort and of rewarded labor. Mr. Pritchard in his "Introductory Remarks" forcibly yet modestly says: "Whilst the mind dwells with the highest admiration on the advances which are daily and hourly being made in the pursuits of science, we are recalled almost naturally to what is perhaps one of the most important considerations connected with this deeply interesting subject, namely how it is, that we are thus enabled to make discovery after discovery into the inexhaustible treasures of Nature, and by the help of what machinery it is that we are making this astonishing progress. "To investigate the genius and faculties of the human mind, the primum mobile in devising all that is great and all that is valuable, would fall within the province of the profound metaphysician, rather than that of the practical man of science; but to elucidate the methods by which genius is aided in its high researches after truth, and in conducting those researches to their desired proficiency, although an occupation of a much humbler grade than the other, is one, nevertheless, that is by no means insignificant, or devoid of interest." Certainly not; and we look confidently to a development of the Optical Law, physically, in concurrence with the Menti-optical Law, as at once the latter's result and its outward emblem. It is as impossible that mental light can be lawfully or consciously developed without evolving a truer theory for the physical phenomena, as that observations on the latter can be multiplied without a primary effect upon the mind. Though the greater power is by scientific men usually attributed to their works, a very moderate consideration will nevertheless show, as our author admits that the higher and antecedent science and work is purely mental. In accordance with this view we anticipate a more general taste for such pursuits as have a charm for Mr. Pritchard and his fellow-students, which is inappreciable as well by the ordinary scientific as by the sensuous man. Then shall the extracts which follow these remarks have a higher claim with the public at large, than the gratification of curiosity or the filling an idle hour, as already they have with our readers. On the straw-coloured Gnat, an aquatic insect not perceptible by the unassisted eye in consequence of its transparency and small size, the author observes (p. 54.) "The transformation of this animal from the larva to the pupa is one of the most singular and wonderful changes that can be conceived; and, under the microscope, presents to the admirer of nature a most curious and interesting spectacle. Although the whole operation be under the immediate inspection of the observer, yet so com plete is the change, that its former organisation can scarcely be recognised in its new state of existence. If we now compare the different parts of the larva with the pupa, we remark a very striking change in the tail, which, in the previous state of being, was composed of twenty-two beautiful plumed branches; while, in the latter, it is converted into two fine membraneous tissues, ramified with numerous vessels. This change appears the more remarkable, as not the slightest resemblance can be discovered between them, nor are the vestiges of the former tail readily found in the water. The partial disappearance of the shell-like or reniform bodies is another curious circumstance. The lower two, it may be conjectured, go to form the new tail; for, if the number of joints be counted from the head, the new tail will be found appended to that joint which was nearest to them in the larva state. The two small horns which form the white plumed antennæ of this species of Gnat, when in its perfect state, are discernible in the larva, folded up under the skin near the head. The alimentary canal appears nearly to vanish in the pupa, as in that state there is no necessity for it, the insect then entirely abstaining from food; while, near this canal, the two intertwined vessels, seen in the larva, have now become more distinct, and are supplied with several anastomosing branches. "At a later stage, the rudiments of the leg of the perfect insect are folded within the part which appears to be the head of the pupa. It may be necessary to observe, that the head of the pupa floats just under the surface of the water; and the insect, in this state, is nearly upright in that fluid; while the larva swims with its body in a horizontal position, or rests on its belly or sides, at the bottom of the pond or vessel in which it is kept; the fringed tail being downwards. "The circuitous manner in which the Creator appears to produce this species of Gnat, and many other of His smaller creatures, is truly wonderful. Other beings are produced directly, either from the egg or the maternal womb; as, however, the Deity does nothing in vain, it may be presumed that He must have had in view some important object in the preliminary steps through which these beings have to passfrom the egg to the larva, chrysalis, and perfect insect; and however low these minutiæ of nature may be held in the estimation of the unthinking part of mankind, his most elaborate proceeding renders it not improbable that they may be deemed by Him choice and exquisite productions. These mysterious operations of nature, as detected and unravelled by microscopes, are surely grand and capital subjects for observation. I should pity the man who scorned to be amused by inspecting these MARVELLOUS METAMORPHOSES, and disdained to be informed of the manner in which they are effected." III. MECHANIC INVENTION.-The Soniferon. Samuel Wesley, the celebrated musician and organist, was as deaf as a post. Loss of hearing is a very serious calamity to any one; but it must be particularly so in the case of an organist who has to attend to the musical service of a Church. Had Wesley known before his death, of the existence of the Soniferon, he would not only have made it his perpetual companion in the organ loft, but most undoubtedly have placed the invention upon a level with the immortal fugues of Sebastian Bach, which were to him the Alpha and Omega of existence. The Soniferon, as an instrument for the assistance of the deaf, is the most valuable result which mechanical skill and scientific observation have yet produced, In its construction, the inventor has judiciously imitated the actual formation of the human ear, by introducing a convoluted pipe in the body of the instrument, through the spiral passages of which the sounds rush as through a shell. These are finally concentrated into a tapered tube which conducts them to the ear, by which means the "tympanum" and auditory nerve are forcibly acted upon, and hearing is produced. The Soniferon is constructed upon acknowledged acoustic principles, and is a capital specimen of what may be done towards remedying or alleviating a defect of nature by copying nature herself. Upon a pillar such as is used for table lamps, a hollow metal cone is horizontally placed, on which it revolves for the convenience of turning the open part towards the person of the speaker. The smaller end of this cone or drum is closed, the larger end being covered with a perforated plate, through which the sound enters; and the interior is fitted up something after the manner of a shell of the Nautilus, with spiral chambers, from which the concentrated sound is propelled into the before mentioned tapered tube, which finally conducts it to the ear. The effects produced by the Soniferon are astonishing. Persons who had |