1. The Management of Bees, with a Description of the Ladies’ Safety Hive: with Forty Illustrative Engravings. By Samuel Bagster, Jun., pp. 244. Bagster.
2. Spiritual Honey from Natural Hives; or Meditations and Observations on the Natural History and Habits of Bees: first introduced to public notice in 1657. By Samuel Purchase, M.A. pp. 176.—Bagster.
The worthy editor of these volumes has, we think, exercised a sound discretion in publishing them separately. To the initiated in apiarian research, “The Management of Bees” cannot fail to be highly interesting. For our own part, we must confess that, if certain minute descriptions which may possibly offend a refined moral sensibility, could have been omitted, we should have considered the work more valuable on that account. Perhaps our hint may prove available for a future edition. With this exception, we would most cordially recommend this production to the perusal of our readers generally; and to those who are engaged in the study of that part of natural history to which it refers, especially. The engravings are exceedingly creditable to the talent of the artist.
As to the “Meditations” contained in the other volume, they are altogether above our praise. They are eminently instructive and pious, admirably calculated to secure the attention even of the thoughtless, and to promote, in a very high degree, the pleasure and the profit of the considerate. In confirmation, we present our readers with the following specimen:
“If the bee lights upon a flower where there is no honey (being wasted or gathered before), she quickly gets off, and flies away to another that will furnish her. Let us not lose ourselves and forget our errand: our father, Adam, lost our happiness, and we are sent to seek it; seek it where it is, and go handsomely to work; say, I am not for riches, they are made for me; I am not for creatures, they are made for me, and I am their master; therefore these cannot make me happy: I am made for eternity, for everlasting life and happiness; therefore, let me study that; mind that end beyond inferior ends. Why do men seek wealth, but to be happy? Why pleasures, why honours, but because they would be happy? If these things cannot bless and enhappy me, why should I burn daylight? why should I not off them, as the bee gets off the plants that yield her no honey, and once, at last, see where my happiness lies, in pursuing happiness, and where my happiness lies, in God’s ways; the first step whereof is poverty of spirit?” p. 22.
We hope these valuable reflections will be often reprinted.
Poems on Sacred Subjects. By Maria Grace Saffery. Hamilton and Co.; Darton and Harvey.
These poems are from the pen of the widow of the late Rev. John Saffery, of Salisbury, whose name is still fragrant there, and in many other places; whose zealous labours of love in our Bengal Mission, and in the propagation of the gospel in Ireland, will long be remembered.