Reviews.

Louvain , in an exploration tour through the picturesque valley of Chaleux , on the river Lesse , Avhich takes its rise near the village of Paliseul , in the province of Luxembourg . Its Avaters surround the rocks of limestone ancl schist Avhich rjrevail in the valley , and . of Avhich those termed the " Needles of Chaleux " are the most

prominent . I his mass of rock , Avhich consists of layers of rnagiiesian limestone and schist , contains upwards of tAventy caverns of various dimensions , originally formed by the Avater IIOAV so much beloAv the low-est of the apertures , but formed when the valle } ' v \ 'as much higher than it

now is , ancl before a convulsion of nature raised the rocks from beneath the leA'el of the Avater , and thereby depressed the valley . The tops of these rocks must have beeu at one time cpiite submerged—a pre-historic time , when human beings

existed not . a period termed by geologists the Metamorphic or Hypozoio strata . Ages passed away , and gigantic animals , as the mammoth , the elk , and others , roamed the earth , and for a time Avere its lords . Lastly came man . and like the inferior

animals , found his first shelter in the rocks Avhich the waters had penetrated ancl disintegrated for him into capacious caverns , and to the formation of Avhich fire had also lent its agency , and converted into crystalline spar much of the magnesian

limestone , giving in later ages a charming effect of colour in the grey and Avhite mingled or laminated rooks . " On removing an immense quantity of the debris Avhich obstructed the entrance

to the principal cavern of the rocks , yet unintended upon by man since its last occupant had departed or died , Avhat a scene presented itself ! Here Avere displayed all the domestic life of pre-historic mantheir customs , their employments , ancl their mode of sepulture .

" There Avere traces of fire ; large blocks of stone split from the rock Avhich once had served for seats Avere in places piled one on the other . In one corner lay a heap of perforated shells , once perhaps strung together by the integuments of

animals , ancl scattered about were bone needles ; in another place thousands of flint chips , a number of articles made of AVOOC ! ancl of the horn of the reindeer ; also a number of bones of horses and other

animals Avhich had served the dwellers for food , among them bones of the mammoth , the polar bear , the elan or elk , the reindeer , ancl other animals noAV inhabiting the northern regions . It is therefore certain that the dwellers in these caves belonged

to the age Avhen the fauna peculiar to col d regions was found in the centre of Europe . "The results of these discoveries shoAv IIOAV early was man ' s knoAvledge of fire , though how or when is not Avorth

conjecture , when it is certain that at his first adA ^ ent into the Avorld volcanic agency must have been present in places where it is no mare seen , hut Avhere it has left inde structible marks of its OAVU activity . Theignition from friction by the wind of

decayed but standing trees Avould haA'e taught him IIOAV to produce fire from a similar process . Man in the age in Avhich he then lived kneAv how to turn the

Avood , the bone , and the flints to account ; the hides of the animals which he trapped or killed clothed him , the bones and integuments served his purposes , but of metals he had not an idea . It ivas the

saA'age life of man Avhich the rocks of Chaleux sheltered . He used Avhat he saAV ; of what was beneath him , of the metals in the rocks , or in the stones of the earth , he Avas ignorant . The cave chvellers Avere nourished by the flesh of the bear , the horse , the wild boar , the fox , ancl the Avater-rat . " Further researches exhibited one of

the caverns as a place of burial , in Avhich a number of the skeletons , principally of women , Avere discovered p laced one upon another in a deep cavern or pit , and covered with large flagstones , easily procured from the schist ancl laminated rock . Round these stones were deposited what

appeared to be remains of food , indicating that the earliest of mankind had some idea of a future and spiritual life . " We have said enough , we feel sure , to commend the " Ladies' Treasury" to our many readers , and Ave may add that the

coloured illustrations of the last French fashions are most effective , while the directions IIOAV to profit by them are very explicit . We Avish our contemporary sincerely all success , as it is most useful in * design , and seems worthy of general persual and patronage . W- *'• - "