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The Second Part of the Resources and Statistics of Nations concludes the first division of the work; which is devoted to the geographical position, natural resources, area and population, of the different countries of the world. The second division, which is to exhibit the political statistics of nations, is commenced, but has not proceeded far enough to enable us to proaouncs a decided judgment upon its merits. From the specimen, however, we sus- pect that we must qualify our former opinion, that Mr. MAC. GREGOR " had a distinct impression of the nature of his duty." In his general account of the different Governments of Europe, opinions are passed upon the modes in which they are exercised; his view of the British Constitution is in a measure historical; and though the statement that " the number of the Lords Tem- poral may be increased by the King," is a fact, yet the comment about " the wholesome exercise of the prerogative" is certainly an intrusion of the author's individual notions. Neither do we com- prehend what connexion Magna Charts, the Petition of Rights, and other Constitutional documents, even to " the substance of the Reform Bill," have to do with statistics. The opinions the com- piler advances may be very just ; copies of the successive charters of our liberties are very important, and their possession in a col- lected shape may be very useful; but statistical they most as- suredly are not.
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