Images de page
PDF
ePub

NOV. 2, 1863.

of Abolition Rule in Washington," by Rose Green- | be sold to "the trade" at the Leipsic Fair, which ochow. This is the lady, once confined in prison at curs at Easter and Michaelmas. No novel was pubWashington as a secessionist, who, on dit, has been lished in Edinburgh, in time for its being rapidly sent to London to take the place of Mr. Mason, the translated into German for the Easter Fair of Leipsic. Southern Commissioner, recalled by Mr. Jefferson But the book vendors there knew that Scott was writDavis. ing "Tales of the Crusaders," and some of the printed sheets of the first story, called "The Betrothed," had been purloined from Ballantyne's printing office, sold to an agent for a German publisher, and handed to some ready German scribe, who made of them a fabricated novel, called "Walladmor," scene also in Wales, which was sold at Leipsic as Sir Walter Scott's "new novel," and, though a poor imitation, was much admired in Germany. A translation of this, published in London, showed it to be very poor indeed. At present, when there is abundance of novelists who write in English, the Leipsic "trade" have no occasion to employ a literary hack to commit the forgery of an entire book. There is enough, and more than enough, for them to appropriate by translation.

WHITE OF SELBORNE.-One of the most delightful English books is Gilbert White's "Natural History of Selborne," where he was born and where he lived and died, and officiated there for some time as curate. Though a clergyman, he declined all church preferment, and lived on his income as a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. The only sermon that he left behind him, written in 1748, at the age of twenty-eight, and preached for the last time in 1792, eight months before he died, has just been printed, in London, in the "Journal of Sacred Literature," to which it was communicated by his grandnephew, the Rev. F. Gilbert White, of Barngill House, Whitehaven, who, if we may judge from his photograph, as, glass in hand, he examines a flower, is a worthy descendant, in temper and pursuits, of his ancestor of Selborne. The text is 1 John iv. 20, | "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Surely, a fitting subject for him to preach on who, by his sunny nature and loving notes, has taught so many that

He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man, and bird, and beast;
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things, both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us
He made and loveth all.

BISHOP BURNET.-"The History of the Reformation in England" is the most important of the numerous works written by Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury during the reigns of William III. aud Anne. This work, which extends to seven octavo volumes, has been printed exclusively at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, and its latest editors were Dr. E. Nares in 1829, and Dr. Routh in 1852. Neither of them would appear to have compared the printed with the written text; for Mr. Pocock, who is re-editing the work, verifying the documents given by Burnet, by careful collation with the originals, whenever they are known to exist, has been able to correct several thousand errors which have been perpetuated from the original publication to the present time. As an instance, one letter of Bullinger, as given by Burnet, is found to contain no less than 400 divergences from the original-many only changes of punctuation and the like, but others very important. The text of the history will appear exactly as the author left it; errors of date, which are numerous, will be corrected in the margin, and a large body of references to printed books and MSS. from which Burnet, without special acknowledgment, probably drew his information, will be added. Altogether, it is hoped that this edition will be a not inconsiderable addition to the accurate knowledge of this important period of English history.

WENDELL PHILLIPS.-The speeches, lectures, and letters of Wendell Phillip have been republished in England, where their racy style, intense earnestness, and bold eloquence are attracting much attention and winning general admiration.

GERMANIZED ENGLISH NOVELS.-Specially translated, for sale at the Leipsic Fair, at the close of September, were Charles Lever's "Davenport Dunn," Miss Yonge's "Hopes and Fears; or, Scenes from the Life of an Old Maid," and three volumes of Mr. Spurgeon's Sermons. When the Waverley Novels were in their career of rapid creation and great popularity, it was usual to have them translated to

BRAZIL.-Mons. Charles Expilly, author of "Le Brésil tel qu'il est," was to publish in Paris, on the 3d of October "Les Femmes et les Mœurs de Brésil." How far he is qualified to discuss Brazilian women and their manners or morals (for "les mœurs" signifies either or both) we are unable to say.

ANOTHER EDITION OF SHAKSPEARE.-A provincial publisher in England has issued a prospectus of a "Memorial Edition of Shakspeare," to be called the "Reference Shakspeare," a "self-interpretative" edition, on the plan of the "Reference Bible." The editor is Mr. John B. Marsh, the author of "Sayings from Shakspeare."

GERMAN-AMERICAN NOVEL.-Julius Bacher, a German novelist, announces a new tale to be called "Ein Urtheilspruch Washingtons," and founded on an incident in the War of Independence.

DIANITZKA. This German writer's new romance is "Rahel; or, Thirty Years of a Woman's Noble Life," of which Rahel Levin, the wife of Varnhagen von Ense, is the heroine, and which is to introduce Staël, &c., to the reader. the Schlegels, Goethe, Richter, Bettina, Madame de

THE BOURSE AND ITS SPECULATORS.-Dr. Kingsley writes an article under this title in "The Reader" as a general review of two recent French books; one by Eugène de Mirecourt, the other by A. Crampon. These give a history of the French stock Exchange and those who operate or gamble in it. We learn that the agents de change, equivalent to our brokers, purchase their office, and none can be admitted to the Bourse unless he be accepted by synodical chamber and the Minister of Finance. The price paid for the office of agent de change has varied from $60,000 to $500,000 (the price in 1856), and is now. $320,000. Speculation is so rife in France that a cargo of cotton has been sold fifty or sixty times before the vessel in which it was freighted was seen on the offing of Havre.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

CURRENT NOTES ON LIBRARIES AND LITERATURE.It would be a truly curious study to trace the influence which the attempts at suppression of books have had upon their circulation. Literature, both ancient and modern, is full of illustrations of the beneficial effects of persecution upon the spread of ideas. "To know what books are best worth reading, look in the Index Expurgatorius," became at one time the "proverbial philosophy" of the scholars of Europe. Whatever was original in speculation, liberal in spirit, philanthropic and humane in purpose, was pretty sure to be gibbeted in those relent

NOV. 2, 1863.

How many books have ever been printed? is a question which has frequently exercised the thoughts of the curious in literary statistics. The following estimate of the number of printed books which exist, in all languages, is given in Peignot's "Manuel de Bibliophile," vol. i. pp. 3, 4, note. (Published 1823.)

Number of works issued from the invention of
printing (say 1450) to 1536,
Number printed in the second century from inven-
tion of printing-1536-1636,

Number printed in the third century from inven-
tion of printing-1636-1736,
Number printed in the fourth century from inven-
tion of printing-1736-1822,

42,000

575,000

less columns. When the United Provinces of Hol- is not great, but the value to literature of such land became the common refuge of the exiles from works is very considerable. The world famous letreligious persecution, it was the means of gathering ters of Sévigné, Walpole, Gray, and Cowper, are together such a community of scholars and sages, among these productions, as are also some of the that it gave rise to the remark, that "the excom- best works of Bacon, Milton, Hooker, and Cudworth. municated part of Europe seemed to be the most Some discussion has arisen among the grammarians enlightened." as to the true etymology of this word " posthumous." Some derive it from postumus (the last), but this fails to account for the h, while the most numerous authorities get the word from post, after, and humus, the ground, or humatus, buried. A very funny, very apocryphal story is told of an Irish schoolmaster, who was instructing some urchins in the rudiments of "polite learning," and coming to the word "posthumous," demanded the definition from a small boy at the foot of the class. The definition was not forthcoming at the customary preliminary headscratching, and the master, growing impatient, ex1,225,000 claimed, "Och, ye spalpeen, don't you know that the 1,839,960 posthumous works of a man are the books he writes afther he's dead?" However absurd the Hibernicism 3,681,960 may seem, one can hardly help wishing that the The first century was obtained by diligent com- power of posthumous utterance did exist, in the putation from Maittaire, Panzer, and the other cata-case of many great writers whose fate it has been logues of early printed books, and publications of to die in the midst of their labors. The "lost the fifteenth century. Passing then to the last books" of Livy leave us scarcely more to regret century, and availing himself of all the literary than the unfinished ones of Macaulay. If the laand bibliographical journals, catalogues of book-borious bibliographer, David Clément, could reach sellers and of libraries, etc., he arrives at the figures us down from the "undiscovered country" the requoted, viz., 1,839,960. Using these two results as maining volumes of his "Bibliothèque Curieuse!" a basis for computation of the two intermediate cen- Even Bacon's "Instauratio Magna" is but a splenturies, of which no more approximative estimate did fragment, and who will ever attempt to finish could be made, from defect of data to proceed upon, the "History of Civilization" of Henry Thomas he calculates the product of each quarter century Buckle? But no authentic "letters from the dead in progressive ratio, and obtains the result above to the living" have found a publisher-no voices recorded. Estimating each of these printed works from beyond the gates of the grave have been at an average of three volumes, the total product heard. Spite of all the pseudo-revelations of moof the printed literature of the globe, up to the year dern spiritualism, from Moses down to Dr. Chan1822, is about eleven millions of volumes of distinct ning, the books that men write "after they are works or editions. Our literary cipherer next cal- dead" will remain "sealed books" to the living. culates that the impression of each edition may have averaged 300 copies, which would give, as the total of volumes issued from all the presses of the world, about 3,313,764,000. But it is further reckoned that two-thirds, at least, of this enormous mass have been destroyed by daily use, fire, accident, or the merciless knife of the grocer or the trunkmaker, which, like the sword of Herod, daily devotes to indiscriminate massacre so many innocents. There remain, then, for the occupation of our leisure hours, in all the public and private libraries of the world, only 1,104,588,000 volumes.

These statistics, like so many other manipulations of figures which "cannot lie," may be set down as more curious than valuable. Peignot, who simply records the figures, without endorsing them, considers the estimate exaggerated, the facts vague, and their verification impossible. Nevertheless, when we consider some of the more striking examples of literary fecundity on record, the figures, however enormous at first sight, do not seem too startling. The Germans already reckon up over 3,000 distinct works relating to Goethe alone, who died within thirty years. Peignot himself declares that more than 80,000 separate works on the history of France had appeared up to his day. How many legions of volumes does the reader imagine will appear on the subject of the American civil war, during its progress, and after its conclusion? And hear the Evangelist "there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."

[blocks in formation]

OBITUARY.

S.

ARCHBISHOP WHATELY.-The death of Richard Whately, D.D., is announced. An Englishman by birth, he received his education at Oxford, and was a distinguished member of that University, and had arrived at middle age with apparently no future before him, except being head of a college. He was an excellent scholar, it is true, and especially noted for his knowledge of the exact sciences, but he was a liberal in politics, and so latitudinarian (or tolerant) in his religious views as to boast himself the bosom friend of the Rev. Blanco White, after he had finally settled down into Unitarianism, having commenced as a Catholic priest in Spain. Thirty to thirty-five years ago, when the ultra-Tories were in power in England, a clergyman with liberal politics had very scanty chance of church preferment. It is true that Lord Lyndhurst, when Chancellor, removed Sidney Smith from his Yorkshire living to a much better benefice in Somersetshire, but this was because he was on very friendly terms with the eccentric divine. After having been many long years out of office, the Whigs came into power late in 1830, and the death of Dr. Magee, Archbishop of Dublin, and author of a very noble work on the Atonement, soon placed in the hands of Earl Gray, the liberal Premier, one of the best pieces of Church patronage. At the recommendation of Lord Brougham, it is said, Dr. Whately was selected to fill this vacancy. He retained the office for thirty-two years, and was a much more popular prelate than his immediate predecessor, who was so haughty that even his own clergymen disliked the man, while they could not help admiring his eminent talents

NOV. 2, 1863.

Harpers' Magazine. November.

and great learning. Archbishop Whately, an avowed | seeking widow. The great popularity of this story liberal, was very tolerant, carefully avoiding any induced Mrs. Trollope to continue it, taking the chance of quarrelling with clergymen of other heroine into Australia, and also into the United creeds. He took much interest in the Irish Na- States, but, as usually happens, the continuation tional Education system, which, indeed, he largely was a failure. Mrs. Trollope has resided in Italy helped to establish. In Parliament, where he was during the last ten or twelve years, and had accu"a Spiritual Lord," on alternate years with the mulated a handsome fortune by her writings. Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Whately rarely spoke, but his votes were always for liberal measures. As PERIODICALS. a man of letters, he will not be largely recognized by posterity-his best works being a "Treatise on Logic," and "An Essay to prove that no such person as Napoleon Bonaparte could ever have lived." If this last had been original, it would have given undying reputation to its author; but Horace Walpole's "Historic Doubts on the Existence of Richard III.," had already communicated the idea. Dr. Whately founded the chair of Political Economy in the Irish University, more properly known as Trinity College, Dublin. Some of his personal mannerisms have been caricatured in Charles Lever's "Charles O'Malley," but the Archbishop had the good sense to be amused with the satire, which, truth to say, was not very severe. Of late years, Archbishop Whately went very little into society, his health having long been enfeebled.

Pictures of the Japanese (A. H. Guernsey).Scenes in the War of 1812 (B. J. Lossing).—Josephine Herbert (J. T. Trowbridge).—Off-Hand Speaking (Samuel Osgood).-Cap and Bells (J. M. Legaré).-Commencement Week at Yale (Julius H. Ward).-The Small House at Allington, continued. Moral Utility of Children (Henry Giles).-In the Ranks at Stone River (Eben Hannaford).-—A Woman's Waiting (Louise Chandler Moulton).-The Religious Life of the Negro Slave, continued (Charles A. Raymond).-Half Way (Caroline Chesebro').— Maximilian of Austria (F. L. Sarmiento).-Tried and True (Anna M. Shirley).-My Friend Crackthorpe (Chas. D. Gardett), etc. etc. New York: Harpers.

The November number completes the TwentySeventh Volume of this most excellent magazine. For the promise of the succeeding volume we quote the words of the publishers, who say "they have made ample arrangements to make it in no way inferior to those which have been issued. Mr. Anthony Trollope's novel, 'The Small House at Allington,' is approaching its close. It will be succeeded by a serial tale from a distinguished author. Mr. Lossing will continue his papers upon the war of 1812. They will embody a complete history of our second war for independence. The Monthly Record of Current Events' will furnish a resumé of the leading events in our present war for the Union. Mr. J. Ross Browne will shortly commence his papers upon our new mineral regions. A classified index of all the articles and illustrations in the twenty seven volumes, giving the names of the authors, will soon be issued." Atlantic Monthly. November.

MRS. TROLLOPE.-A writer who founded her reputation by writing a very satirical work on "American Manners and Society," has departed, at a very advanced age. Mrs. Trollope is no more. Her maiden name was Milton, her father was an English clergyman, her husband an English barrister, and son of an English baronet. She has left two sons-one, Anthony Trollope, who holds a high office in the English Post Office, is a distinguished novelist, and has also written some books of travel, among which the last and most important describes his tour in the United States, since the commencement of the Civil War. The other son, Mr. J. Adolphus Trollope, is also a novelist, but of less note than his brother. Their father died in 1835. Mrs. Trollope was wholly unknown, not only to fame but to the world, until one fine morning, nearly thirty years ago, when the opening article in the "Quarterly Review" was a notice, with coThe Spaniard and the Heretic.-Weariness; Popious extracts and a running commentary of edito- etry.-Mrs. Lewis, continued (Mrs. Thomas Hoprial satire, upon a forthcoming book which she had kinson).-The Formation of Glaciers (Professor written on "Manners and Society in America." She had visited that country some time before, and Agassiz).-Two Scenes from the Life of Blondel; having fixed on the then rising city of Cincinnati The Brothers. The Sam. Adams Regiment, conPoetry.-Night and Moonlight.-Andante; Poetry. as a dwelling-place, expended a good deal of money cluded (Richard Frothingham).-Wet Weather on erecting and stocking a building which she called Work (Donald G. Mitchell).-The French Struggle "The Bazaar." Unfortunately customers did not for Naval and Colonial Power.-Something Left Uncome in, and the lady returned to England in dis- done; Poetry.-The Great Instrument. The King's gust at her loss of time and capital, and proceeded Wine; Poetry.-Monograph from an Old Note-Book. to replenish her purse by writing a couple of vol- Reviews, Literary Notices, etc. Boston: Ticknor umes of trenchant abuse of the country and the people who had failed to appreciate her. The book was cleverly and sharply written. It contained much that was exaggerated, many things that were false, and many truths, however harshly or unkindly put. At first, Americans winced under the attack of their feminine foe, but this was only a temporary feeling, and very soon they gave her credit for at least as much ability as ill-nature. Thus, after the age of fifty, Frances Trollope became author. During the following twenty years, her pen had little rest. She wrote novels, some books of travel, and even a volume of indifferent poetry. Her novels are readable, for the most part. "The Vicar of Wrexhill," an attack on the "Evangelical" clergy of the Anglican Church, created great excitement. Her best work, after her first, was a novel called "The Widow Barnaby," in which were told the adventures of a fortune-hunting and husband

& Fields.

Christian Review. October.

(Rev. Irah Chase, D. D.).—Law in Relation to MiraDr. Bushnell's Arguments for Infant Baptism cles (James M. Hoyt).-The Miltonic Deity (J. W. Stearns).-Devotional Theology for Christian Pastors (Rev. Alvah Hovey, D. D.). Rochester: Benton

& Andrews.

Church Monthly. October.

The Historic Association of the Book of Common Prayer (Rev. Wm. S. Perry).-The Benevolence of Christ's Divinity (Rev. Geo. M. Randall, D. D.).— Unitarian Tendencies in Great Britain.-To the Bells that Rung out our Victory; Poetry (Rev. N. H. Chamberlain).-The Rev. Charles Chauncy, concluded (Rev. N. Hoppin, D. D.).—Charity for our Times.-Summer among the Sand-Hills (Rev. B. F. De Costa).-Mrs. Sigourney's Later Poems (Mrs. A.

NOV. 2, 1863.

L. Phelps).-St. Augustine's Antidote; Poetry; | Commentaries (Howard Crosby, D. D.).—Mark ii. Latin and English.-The Necessity of the Church 23, as compared with Matthew xii. 1, and Luke vi. (Rev. S. P. Parker, D. D.).-Conformity to the 1 (Rev. C. C. Starbuck).-Draper's Intellectual World (Isaac F. Redfield, LL.D.).-Literary Notices, etc. Boston: E. P. Dutton & Co. Continental Monthly. November.

The Defence and Evacuation of Winchester (Hon. F. P. Stanton).-The Two Southern Mothers; Poetry (Isabella MacFarlane).-Diary of Frances Kralinska.-November; Poetry.-The Assizes of Jerusalem (Prof. Andrew Ten Brook).-Letters to Prof. S. F. B. Morse (Rev. Dr. Henry).-Buckle, Draper, and the Law of Human Development (Edward D. Freeland).-Treasure Trove; Poetry.-Matter and Spirit, by Lieut. E. Phelps; with Reply of Hon. F. P. Stanton.-Extraterritoriality in China (Dr. Macgowan).-Reason, Rhyme, and Rhythm (Mrs. Martha W. Cook).-The Lions of Scotland (W. Francis Williams).We Two; Poetry (Clarence Butler).Patriotism and Provincialism (H. Clay Preuss).Literary Notices.-Editor's Table. New York: John F. Trow.

Methodist Quarterly Review. October.

The Neo Christianity and its Lessons (Rev. F. H. Newhall).-Alexandria and the Overland Route (Rev. G. M. Steele).-The Impending Revolution in Anglo-Saxon Theology; Second Article (Rev. W. F. Warren). The Author of Genesis (Rev. Enoch Pond, D. D.).—Simon Episcopius (from the Latin of Stephen Curcellæus).-Martyrdom of Bewley (Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D.).-Object Teaching, as Applied to Primary Education (Virginia C. Phoebus). -The Moral Element in Man in its Bearing upon Natural Theology (Henry M. Harman).-Foreign Religious and Literary Intelligence, etc. etc. York: Carlton & Porter.

New

Development of Europe (Prof. Henry B. Smith, D. D.). The Chinese Classics (Prof. Russell D. Hitchcock, D. D.).-Roger Bacon in the Light of New Documents (Prof. Emile Saisset).-Theological and Literary Intelligence.-Criticisms on Books. New York: J. M. Sherwood.

Monthly Religious Magazine. October.

Summer Recreations (Rev. Rufus Ellis).-Rome in Hexameters (Rev. N. L. Frothingham).—Were the Puritan Fathers Bigots and Fanatics? (Rev. H. F. Harrington).-Conversations of the Soul with the Lord (Francis Theremin).-A Memorial; Poetry (C. A. Mason).-The Requirement of the Lord (Rev. Thomas T. Stone).-The Temple of God Within: Poetry.-Heaven (C. A. Mason).-Editor's Random Readings.-Notices of Books. Boston: L. C. Bowles. New Englander. October.

Cemeteries (Rev. A. D. Gridley).—The Sanction of all Law, Divine (Hon. Edwin Wright).-Review of Tennyson's "Two Voices" (Mrs. C. K. Corson).— Ecumenical Councils (Rev. Philip Schaff).—Armenian History (Rev. Wm. Clark).-Herbert Spencer on Ultimate Religious Ideas (Rev. J. E. Barnes).The Monroe Doctrine (Rev. Joshua Leavitt).—Edward Irving (Rev. W. W. Andrews).-Notices of New Books. New Haven: Wm. L. Kingsley. American Quarterly Church Review. October.

Stanley's Lectures and the Oriental Churches.The Doctrine and Rationale of Sacraments.-Responsibility of Belief.-The Anglican Church and Italian Reform.-Papal Intermeddling.-The Rt. Rev. Jas. Hervey Otey, D. D., LL. D.-Notices of Books.Ecclesiastical Register. New York: N. S. Richard

American Presbyterian and Theological Review. Oc- son. tober.

Presbyterianism: Its Affinities (Reverend Albert Barnes). The Sources of Crime (E. C. Wines, D.D.). False Tendency and Radical Defect in Education (Rev. J. R. Herrick).-American New Testament

Brownson's Quarterly Review. October.

Catholics and the Anti-Draft Riots.-New England Brahmanism.-Visions and Revelation.-Return of the Rebellious States.-Literary Notices and Criticisms. New York: Sadlier & Co.

POLITICAL SCIENCE.

BOOK NOTICES.

Principles of Political Economy, with their Applications to Social Philosophy. By John Stuart Mill. From the fifth London Edition. New York: D. Appleton & Co. pp. 616 and 601.

The author of "Rough Notes of the English Book Trade," which appeared in our last number, adverted to the rather singular fact, that while the tendency in England now is to produce books in an inferior style, the direction on this side of the Atlantic is to an improvement in mechanical excellence. His statement that the study of many of our publishers has been to improve the quality of the paper, the excellence of the type and presswork, and the general neatness of the externals, is recalled to our mind and illustrated by the work before us. Here are two handsome volumes which leave but little, if anything, to be desired in the way of an appropriate getting-up. The paper is of good weight, the typography is admirable, and the general appearance of the page is such that it requires a very critical examination to determine that the sheets are not English. It is a pleasure to us to chronicle the appearance of such a highly creditable work, and we point to it as an instance of the nanner in which publications, belonging to our standard literature, should be produced. We are

satisfied, not only that every book-buyer of taste will appreciate the publishers' efforts to present him with a handsome edition, but that the pecuniary result to the publishers will far exceed what would have been derived from trashiness and flimsiness.

In

As respects the merit of the work itself, it is almost superfluous to say that Mr. Mill is regarded as one of the foremost thinkers of the time. some respects he is an exception to the ordinary method in which the leading minds of England have been trained. He is not a University man. He was educated at home under the eye of his father, who had some fondness for historical studies, and who was disciplined to habits of system and order in the India House. Mr. Mill in early life showed remarkable strength and aptitude in intellectual pursuits. In 1835, when about twenty-nine years of age, he became an editor of the Westminster Review," having previously edited "Bentham's Rationale of Judicial Evidence," and contributed several valuable papers to literary journals. His "System of Logic" appeared in 1843. In the following year he published his "Essays on some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy," and in 1848 gave to the world his "Principles of Political Economy." Of this work there have been numerous reprints

NOV. 2, 1863.

and editions, the last edition, the fifth, having been | The Last Shilling; or, The Selfish Child. A story issued in 1862. An American republication of the first edition appeared in Boston in 1848. The present republication is from the English edition of last year, which received from the author a thorough revision with additional arguments and illustrations, bringing the facts down to date.

Whatever differences of opinion there may be touching some of the views of Mr. Mill, he is on all hands regarded as a writer of exceeding power. No student of political economy will venture to overlook his writings upon that subject. Indeed, he is in that department, probably, the most eminent living English author. His style is remarkably perspicuous, his ideas clear and distinct, and his mode of dealing with the subject thoroughly indicative of a

mastery of its extremest philosophical bearings and of its minutest practical details. In his transparency of thought and diction, the singleness with which he presents his successive propositions, the pertinency of his illustrations, and the idiomatic simplicity of his language, he reminds us of Blackstone and Paley. His investigations, where they necessarily assume a controversial aspect, are marked by love of truth, candor, and fairness to those who differ from him. The political economists are quite as famous as the theologians for disputatiousness, but that is no reason why the odium theologicum should find its counterpart in an odium economic. As a partial illustration of what we have said, we may mention that while Mr. J. R. McCulloch, in his article on Political Economy in the last edition of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," discussing some views expressed by our townsman, Dr. Henry C. Carey, speaks of him as "an American, the author of a great many crude and indigested economical works," Mr. Mill, on the other hand, in these volumes, though expressing a dissent from some of Dr. Carey's opinions, nevertheless frankly compliments him as a political economist of reputation." But it is unnecessary to dwell further on the characteristics of a writer so well known. We trust the reception of this work may be sufficiently encouraging to induce the publishers to give us in the same style, as companion volumes to these, the "Logic," by the same author, of which, we believe, there has been no American republication since 1846, although more recent editions of that work appeared in England in 1850 and 1856.

RELIGIOUS.

founded on fact. By the Rev. Philip Bennett Power, M. A., author of the "I Wills of the Psalms," the "I Wills of Christ," "The Three Cripples," "The Two Brothers," &c. 16mo. pp. 240. In which is included the story of the "Oiled Feather." New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. Carter's Fireside Library, of which valuable series this volume is one, embraces a choice collection of well-selected religious literature.

The Safe Compass, and How it Points. By the Rev. Richard Newton, D. D., author of "Rills from the Fountain of Life," "The Best Things," "Giants, and how to Fight them," &c. 12mo. pp. 318. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. setting out on the great journey of life to make a The design of this book is to "aid those who are right use of the compass God has given us." It is an excellent work, and should be placed in all the Sunday-school libraries in the land.

We have received the following works from the American Tract Society, Boston :The Temperance Tales. With a prefatory sketch of their origin and history. By Lucius M. Sargent. A new edition. Vol. II. 16mo. pp. 285.

The stories of this volume, like those of the preceding one, present all the horrors attendant on the indulgence in intemperate habits.

The Fanfan Stories. By Mrs. F. J. Burge Smith. 16mo. pp. 320. With illustrations.

Ten stories intended for the instruction and en

tertainment of children between the ages of ten and

fourteen.

The following works were received from the Presbyterian Board of Publication, Philadelphia:Comfort for Afflicted Youth, in Letters from a Father to his Children. 16mo. pp. 36.

Little Annie's First Bible Lessons. By Nellie Graham, author of "The Telescope," &c. 16mo. pp. 175.

This work is one of the admirable "Series for Youth," published by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, Philadelphia. These books are beautifully gotten up, with good paper and tasteful binding.

The following juvenile works are from the press of Messrs. Carlton & Porter, New York. Ernest Richmond and his Little Mother. By Mary Grace Halpine. Five illustrations. 16mo. pp. 296.

trations. 16mo. pp. 153.

Seed Thoughts: A Hand-Book of Doctrine and Devotion. Designed for class-leaders, Bible-class and Sabbath-school teachers, for young preachers, and for private devotion. By George C. Robinson. Walter and the Prize; and other Stories. Two illus12mo. pp. 172. New York: Carlton & Porter. The object of this book, as its title implies, is to serve as a hand-book to class-leaders, and also to be used in the Bible-class and in Sunday-schools. This work comprises Scripture precepts, Scripture examples, hymns and tunes, together with selections from ancient and modern religious literature. The whole is alphabetically arranged under the leading topics of Doctrine and Experience.

Man's Gift to God: A Discourse. By Rev. Adolphe Monod. Translated from the French by a Lady. 16mo. pp. 43. Paper. New York: Carlton & Porter.

This little work is deserving of an extended circulation among all classes of Christians.

The Christian's Pocket Companion. Being one hundred select portions of Scripture, with suitable hymns; to which is added directions for self-examination. 32mo. pp. 68. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

The Little Brown Jug; or, The Power of Prayer. By Mrs. C. M. Edwards. Four illustrations. 16mo. pp. 216.

Fanny Floyd: or, One Day at School. By Rena Ray.
Three illustrations. 16mo. pp. 134.
The Children at Old Parke, and their Neighbors: A
Story for all Seasons. Four illustrations. 16mo.
pp. 150.

Rumford Rosey: or, What it cost to Disobey a Mother.
By Rena Ray. Three illustrations. 16mo. pp. 134.
Notes on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Gala-
tians and Ephesians. By Joseph Longking, late
Sunday-school superintendent. 16mo. pp. 284.
With index. New York: Carlton & Porter.
The design of this work, which seems to be well
carried out, is to aid the Sunday-school teacher in
the study of that portion of the Sacred Text of which
this volume treats.

« PrécédentContinuer »