modern times, because we think that many who have been disposed to question the usefulness and desirableness of Greek learning may find themselves, in the reading of these volumes, led to a more just appreciation of it. The object of education is not simply to qualify a man for success in a particular profession or employment. It is not merely to make him useful in some practical way to his fellow-men. It is to develop the man himself in his inner life, and so to give him knowledge of many kinds and open his vision to all that is beautiful as to make him, as far as possible, a full and perfect man. And the present growing opposition to the study of the ancient classics among our people is largely owing to a false idea on the whole subject—as if a lawyer needed to know nothing but law, or a merchant nothing but the prices of goods or the state of the market-as if a man had no work in the world beyond that of a common operative in a manufactory, who is limiting all his efforts and thoughts to sharpening a pin or filing a piece of steel. The utilitarian spirit of the age is a good thing, if guided by a reasonable judgment, and the principle of division of labor is essential to the greatest advancement of the world. But when we measure all things by their immediate or apparent usefulness, or make a man a mere portion of a great machine, we lose sight of that which is highest and noblest in himself, and sacrifice the growth of his own soul for the material growth of society. We believe this is a mistaken view of the subject, even with reference to society-a shutting out from our thoughts all that is not on the surface and manifest to the most inconsiderate observer-for who can estimate the blessing to any community of the presence within it even of a single individual, who is a widely, and, in the truest sense, a liberally educated man ;—and how, in the presence of such a man, does the mere tradesman or workman in any profession sink into insignificance in his capacity for doing good. The study of the classics, it is said, is not practically useful, and a man can gain influence over the masses of the people better without any knowledge of them than with it. But is it so certain, after all, that his influence is as elevating an influence, or that this knowledge is not helpful, in the highest degree, toward the development of the intellectual life, and thus more useful than anything else outside of the moral and religious field? This is not the place, however, for the discussion of this great question. We only wish to say, that we are glad President Felton's book has been given to the public, because we think every such book

-written with all the enthusiasm of a classical scholar, and showing the refining influence of such studies-must, in itself, speak to every candid mind of the value of a classical education.

The Lectures on Modern Greece are so largely devoted to a review of the long period of decline and downfall, that but little space is left for the most recent times. We think this is to be regretted, and we could wish that the author had given from the results of his own observation and journeying a more complete account of the country as it now appears. But, as it is, there is very much to recall the old recollections of those who have seen what he describes, and to excite the interest of those who have not. Of the government of Otho we think Mr. Felton has too favorable a judgment. As it seems to us, nothing was done by the late king, in comparison with what might and ought to have been done, for the development and growth of the country. It is a disgrace and beyond all excuse-that, after a reign of more than twenty-five years, no liberal system had been adopted in regard to the revenues and the material products of the country, and only four roads which were practicable for carriages had been opened in the whole kingdom. Those who traveled in Greece a few years ago will remember how thoroughly disgusted the people were with the Bavarians, and how gladly they saw them take their final departure from the country; and we cannot wonder that the king himself was obliged to abandon his throne at last. Surely the Greek people are worthy of no little regard and sympathy from all liberal and free nations. The reader of these lectures-as he traces out their history through the centuries of oppression and slavery of the worst sort, and sees the love of liberty still surviving and waiting its long-deferred opportunity; as he follows the course of their revolution forty years ago, and hears the story of the meanness and neglect of the other European powers even to the end;-as he surveys their really wonderful progress in education and civilization since their independence was established, and recalls to mind how, at every step, the royal government has failed to do its whole duty-cannot help feeling that they are, with all their faults, a noble people, and that the responsibility for their debasement and weakness lies mainly with their oppressors. No people in Europe have more of that peculiar intelligence in their faces which belongs to the English and Americans; and, as it seems to us, no people show more clearly than they do, how the being down-trodden for ages may degrade but cannot destroy the powers of the soul. The centuries of

bondage do not lose their influence in a moment, but the soul rises into new life, with the gift of freedom, and in the progress of time will reach out, once more, toward the fullness and glory of the golden age of the past.

President Felton's volumes are somewhat remarkable, as we remember that they were written largely in the brief intervals between the lectures. Few men in the country could have produced such a work from the mere fullness and overflow, as it were, of their knowledge. The style-excepting the cases of colloquial expressions and of small witticisms, which seem unworthy of the subject-is an easy, flowing, rich style, perfectly adapted to the popular lecture, and admirably fitted to bear the reader pleasantly on from page to page. The story of the ancient life and customs is charming and instructive-exhibiting a rare power of re-presenting a former age. The essays and criticisms on the orators and political constitutions of Greece, and those on its language and poetry, are carefully and thoroughly written, and give an interesting survey of the subjects of which they treat. The views presented respecting the Homeric poems and the station and education of their author will receive the attention of those who have investigated this disputed question. And of the whole bookas especially of the part relating to Modern Greece-we can heartily say that we wish it were longer. We cannot doubt that the volumes will add to the high reputation of their author, and will deepen the general regret that a scholar of so much enthusiasm and so much learning should have passed away while yet in the vigor of his life and powers.

THE SOLITUDES OF NATURE." Overdoing," said Richard Baxter, who was a tolerably "Liberal Christian" for his time, "is the devil's way of undoing." If this is true, then this book, in many respects able and interesting, is very thoroughly undone. It is overdone in style, as any reader will see who essays to read the first sentence. It is overdone in its conceptions and illustrations. It is overdone in its portraitures of solitary men, many of which would be exceedingly felicitous, were it not for the excessive intensity and exaggeration which characterize them. It is overdone in its liberalism,-corruptio optimi pessima-as may be seen in the extremely, not to say the outrageously, bad taste which led

*The Solitudes of Nature and of Man; or, The Loneliness of Human Life, By WILLIAM ROUNSEVILLE ALGER, Boston: Roberts Brothers. 1867.

the author to introduce the character of Jesus into his group of the lovers of solitude, and to turn a professed portraiture of his peculiar personality as a man into an elaborate exposition of the author's "private interpretation" of his nature and work.

There was a time when the orthodox were reproached by their fastidious critics of the liberal school with committing a serious offense against propriety by taking every occasion to display "their theological flag." The indecorum is no longer peculiar to them. Liberal Christians, like Mr. Alger, not only hang out their flag on all occasions, but not infrequently flaunt it unpleasantly in the eyes of those who choose to carry another.

JOHANN KARL PASSAVANT.*—This biography from the fertile pen and the many-sided mind of Prof. Adolf Helferich, of Berlin, is scarcely less interesting than the Life of Perthes, so much read and greatly admired in England and this country. Passavant was an esteemed physician, who spent the most of his life in Frankforton-the-Maine, which was the place of his birth. He was not only eminent as a physician, and greatly beloved for his humanity and usefulness, but was prominent as a writer in several branches of science. He devoted himself with great zeal to the investigation of the phenomena of animal magnetism, making many personal observations and experiments on the cases which came to his knowledge as a physician, and availing himself of its aid for the cure of diseases. The work which he published on this subject is esteemed one of the ablest and most discriminating that has ever been published, and in all his studies and inquiries he had the countenance and sympathy of some of the ablest men of his time, e. g., Schelling and Schleiermacher. His interest in theology and philosophy was ever active. He hesitated long whether he should not select one or both of them for his career in life. Though born and educated a Protestant of the Reformed Communion, yet his religious life was formed under the fostering influence of an eminently pious and evangelical prelate of the Romish Church, with whom he maintained, till the death of this spiritual father and guide, the most intimate, friendly, and Christian intercouse. One of the most valued and chosen friends of his youth, and of his life, was Diepenbrock, who through the influence of the Bavarian gov

*Johann Karl Passavant. Em christliches Characterbild. Frankfurt, Christian Winter. 1867. 8vo., pp. 422.

vernment was made Cardinal, but who never lost his reputation for humble piety, nor his hold upon Passavant's Christian heart. Passavant remained a Protestant till death, with the full consent and under the direction of his truly evangelical advisers, who, like many other German Catholics, lay and clerical, knew how to reconcile their personal preference for their own communion with the complete recognition of the Christian and ecclesiastical rights of their Protestant brethren. The Paulist society in our country might do well to follow more closely in the path of Sailer and his school than they seem yet prepared to do. The glory of Dr. Passavant was, however, the "troops of friends" who held him in the highest esteem, and upon his singularly gentle and loving nature, attracted strongly to himself. The history of his friendships, and the record of his correspondence form the principal charm of this most attractive volume, which we commend to our readers as worthy, for interest and instructiveness, to be placed by the side of the memoirs of Niebuhr and Perthes.

CHARLES WESLEY'S POEMS.*-The editor of this volume claims, in his preface, that the reputation of Charles Wesley as a poet has suffered injustice from the one-sided character of the selections which have usually been made from his poems. As originally published, they "occupy three thousand closely printed pages; and of this mass hardly more than one-fifth (and that in an altered and fragmentary shape) is before the world, chiefly in the Methodist hymn books of England and America." In the preparation of this new volume, therefore, the editor informs us, he has sought to bring together such pieces as have most merit from the whole range of his poetry; though, other things being equal, he has given preference to those that are little known, or not at all. He has also taken pains to give each piece as it was originally printed, "unaltered and unabridged." The design of the work is a good one, and it has been creditably carried out, so that the volume is a valuable addition to our collections of religious poetry; but we can hardly agree with the editor in his views respecting the value of the new matter. Although much of it is good, and some of it is of a high order of poetic merit, we do not think it will add

Charles Wesley, seen in his Finer and Less Familiar Poems. New York: Hurd & Houghton. 1866. 16mo. pp. 398. New Haven: Judd & White,