1834.] Madden on the Infirmities of Genius.

5

pupils and another for the females; and every week each one enjoys a warm bath -a means of health and comfort possessed by the poorest among the ancients, but coufined to a favored few, in these days of modern refinement. How few of our first schools furnish this best preventive of disease to their pupils, thus regularly! How many ever attend to the cleansing of the skin, during that half the year when increased clothing accumulates the secretions upon its surface.

Are

But for whom have these ample and costly provisions been made? For the one thousand blind of New England. there none who will do as much for the hundreds of thousands of its indigent youth who long for the light of science, and can learn nothing but the elements of knowledge? Are there none who will exercise equal liberality in providing teachers for the million of ignorant freemen, just emerging from childhood in our favored country?

REVIEW OF MADDEN ON THE INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS.'

The Infirmities of Genius illustrated, by referring the Anomalies of the Literary character to the Habits and Constitutional Peculiarities of Men of Genius. By R. D. Madden, Esq, author of Travels in Turkey, &c. Qui ratione corporis non habent, sed cogunt mortalem immortali, terrestrem ætheræ equalem prestare indsutriam.' - Plutarch de Sanit Tuend. In 2 volumes. Philadelphia: Cary, Lea & Blanchard, 1833. pp. 412. A WORK embracing a range of topics so wide, and views and principles so interesting as the Infirmities of Genius,' deserves a more comprehensive title. Had it been called Effects of a Studious and Sedentary Life,' it would have excited the attention of some, who we fear will now neglect some of the most valuable hints for a student, which we have seen. That the evils it describes are by no means peculiar to that mysterious, overrated power, called Genius,' our observation, as well as our own sad experience, fully satisfies us. It is not the amount of brain, but of mental action, and of bodily inaction, which gives rise to these evils; and the ceaseless plodding of a heavy intellect, or the incessant tension of an anxious heart, or over-excited feelings, whether pleasant or painful; nay, even the ordinary cares of life, and the duties of religion, - if proper attention is not paid to air and exercise will produce all the ills that 'flesh is heir to,' no less certainly than the mighty efforts of a Johnson, or the lofty flights of a Byron. By the testimony of this work itself, even these were not attended with evil, so long as the body received its due share of rest and at

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1834,

By W. C. WOODBRIDGE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts.

INDEX TO VOLUME IV.

American Institute of Instruction, 383, 434, College, Alleghany, 431-Bogota, 97