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alone can give-let the friends of Christianity, we say, do this-whieh they can do, and ought to do, and will be inexcusably criminal if they neglect to do-and the lowering clouds of atheism and licentiousness, which now overshadow and portend desolation and ruin to our country, will vanish as rapidly as the dark mists of our summer mornings before the beams of the rising

sun.

We have intimated that libraries are an important part of the apparatus of the Sabbath school-It is scarcely too much to say, that they are an essential part. They serve to create a taste for general reading, to enlighten and enlarge the youthful mind, to give force and practical effect to biblical truth, and the admonitions of the teachers; and what is of as much consequence, perhaps, as all the rest, they attach the pupils, by strong affection, to the schools themselves-to the whole institution from which they derive all these advantages. Experience abundantly confirms this statement. Since libraries have been connected with Sabbath schools, we have seen the attachment of the pupils to them—especially of pupils who are a little advanced-greatly increased. The pleasure derived from reading the books is such, that it even furnishes a new and excellent source of discipline. An of fence is punished by depriving the offender, for a week or two, of the privilege of taking a volume from the library; and this is found to operate as a powerful motive to avoid every thing that may produce so serious a privation. It was, therefore, with much gratification that we heard it announced by the general agent of the Sabbath School Union, at the late meeting of the members of the General Assembly with the citizens of Philadelphia, that it was the determination of the Union, that no school should thenceforth be established without a library.

It is however of great moment,

not only that there should be libraries, but that they should contain the right kind of books. We know that this is a subject of much solicitude with the directors of the institution, who have very properly appointed a committee to revise every work proposed for publication, and to reject, or give their sanction to each. We cannot enter far into this subject, but we must not forbear to say explicitly, that while we would not exclude works of fiction or imagination altogether, we would by no means multiply them greatly-we would not have a large part of the publications of the Union, or of any particular library, to consist of fictitious narrative, or dialogue, however well conducted. We are persuaded that this would be calculated to produce a bad taste-to create an appetite for the indiscriminate reading of novels and plays, to weaken the love of truth, and to destroy contentment with the realities of human life.

The works announced at the head of this article, are such as all must allow to be not only proper, but in the highest degree important. In our judgment, they are indispensable-to any thing like an adequate Sabbath school library. We believe they have long been considered as a great desideratum, by the directors of the Union; and we think they have been fortunate, in having them at length prepared, by hands so well fitted for the work. We are more than half disposed to envy the father and the sons, who have united their labours, to give these highly useful publications to the Sabbath schools of our country. There have been, among the great ones of this world, family compacts for the acquisition of empire and fame; but the day will assuredly come when all these will appear to have been worthless and base, in comparison with one which had for its blessed aim, to furnish effectual aid to myriads of humble teachers and learners of

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The first article announced, is exactly what it purports to be, and what was exceedingly wanted, "A Pocket Dictionary of the Holy Bible"-It could not have been this, if the book had been much larger, and without making it larger, it was indispensable that the articles should in general be short, and not unduly multiplied. To select and

We

Bible a work, which, from the very na

"In presenting to the students of the

ture of the subject, can lay no claim to originality, it is but just that the sources should be mentioned from which information has been drawn. The Sacred Geography of Wells, as published in the supplementary volume to Calmet's Dictiona ry, has been consulted, as well as more recent works upon this branch of sacred antiquities. The Scripture Gazetteer of Mansford, published in England during the present year, reached this country about the time when our labours were drawing to a close. On many important points, however, we have obtained new light from that valuable compend. The discoveries of recent travellers, the opinions of judicious commentators, and the various systems of modern geography, have not been neglected; while we have placed most reliance upon a sedulous examination of the Holy Scriptures themselves.

"We have had constantly before us the elaborate work of Rosenmuller, in the geographical part of which, this subject is treated in detail-and owe so much to his labours, both as to matter and arrangement, that to withhold this distinct nothe denial of a debt. tice of our obligation, would amount to

to condense, was the labour which
Dr. Alexander had to perform, and
he has performed it well. The work
is chiefly, but not wholly, a compi-
lation-some new matter has been
introduced. It is mostly a compend
of Brown's Dictionary of the Bible,
in two large octavo volumes.
have compared a number of the ar-
ticles with those in Brown, and in
Calmet, from whom Brown borrow-
ed very largely. And though we
are not quite prepared to say with
Dr. A. in his preface, that " in every
instance the expunged matter has
been [by us] deemed. superfluous,
irrelevant, or erroneous," yet we do
say, that we know not how he could
have introduced more that is excel-
lent, without exceeding the limits
to which he was necessarily con-
fined; and that "the additions will
be found more accordant with the
present improved state of geogra-pilation
phical, philosophical, and chemical
phical, philosophical, and chemical
knowledge than what was contain-
ed in the original book." The arti-
cles are, as they ought to be, of very
different lengths, according to their
nature and importance-in some
instances extending through several
pages, and in others not exceeding
two or three sentences. We did
intend to give a few extracts, but
our want of space forbids it.

Of the second article under re-
view, "The Geography of the Bi-
ble," we cannot give our readers a
better view, than by quoting a part
of the authors' preface, and insert-
ing the table of contents.
the preface we extract as fol-
lows

VOL. VIII. Ch. Adv.

From

"The work now offered to the publick, is intended to be a manual for teachers in Sunday schools. It is believed that the only method by which correct ideas upon the geography of the Bible can be communicated to the pupils, is by leading the instructors to an intimate acquaintance with the subject. With this conviction, we have been unwilling to limit ourselves to such a sketch as might be suitable merely for children; while this compupil in a Sunday school, who is in any pilation may be read with profit by any proper measure familiar with common geography.

"It is highly important that every text of Scripture to which reference is made, should be carefully examined. Without attention to this, the great design of this book, as an aid in the study of the Bible, will be frustrated."

The following is the table of
CONTENTS.

EDEN.

DIVISIONS OF THE EARTH AMONG THE SONS

OF NOAH,

The Descendants of Japheth.

46

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Ham,

66 Shem.

COUNTRIES OF JAPHETH'S DESCENDANTS.

Armenia.

Media.

Elam.

2 Ꮓ

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ETHIOPIA PROPER,

NORTH AFRICA.

one of the Land of Canaan, the other of Assyria and Asia Minor, are included in the volume, which give it double the value that it would otherwise have-We ought to make known, that the authors state, that they have "not even mentioned the names of many places which occur in the sacred writings; for the simple reason," they say, "that after some research, we have been unable to arrive at any thing more concerning them than bare conjecture." An excellent Index is added to the work, by the use of which the reader, without difficulty, may immediately turn to the page in which he will find the description of the place of which he seeks for information. In concluding our notice of these

COUNTRIES DENOMINATED IN THE BIBLE, small volumes, we feel that we

THE WEST.

Islands of the Egean Sea.

Greece.

Italy. Spain. INDIA. PALESTINE.

Boundaries and extent. Face of the country. Mountains. Caves. Plains and Valleys. Deserts and Forests. Lakes. Rivers and Brooks. Springs, Wells, and Cisterns. Fertility. Origi

nal inhabitants. Division of the land among the twelve tribes. Division of the land under the Kings of Judah and Israel. Divisions of Palestine under the Romans. Peraea. Galilee. Samaria.

Judea.

Land of the Philistines. PHENICIA.

We have not read the whole of this manual; but we have perused enough of it to be entirely satisfied, that great care and pains have been employed, and employed successfully, in preparing it for the publick. Two well executed maps, the

should omit a service which we think due to our readers, if we did not apprize them that these are books the usefulness of which may extend much farther than to Sabbath, schools. bath, schools. They ought to be in every Christian family that can obtain them; for they furnish the means of acquiring with ease a better knowledge of the Bible, than, without some such aid, can ever be obtained. We even think that our young clergy, and especially our missionaries, should all possess a copy. These books of reference may be carried in the pocket, and furnish information that may be found desirable and important on a variety of occasions. The price of them we have not ascertained, but we know it must be so small, that even the poor may pay it without much difficulty.

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, etc.

Splendid Copy of the Pentateuch.-On Saturday, the 26th of March, 1830, was exhibited at the New Synagogue, in Leadenhall street, London, the Five Books of Moses, beautifully written on parchment, and which are commonly deposited

in the Ark. This specimen of the art, with all its appendages, is allowed to be unequalled, and the attempt to describe it will fall far short of its beauty and magnificence. For taste, chasteness of workmanship, and brilliancy of display, and the

tout ensemble, it may be 'truly said there does not exist its equal in the universe.

This beautiful relick is written upon vellum prepared for the purpose, and which is sewn on rollers at each end; these rollers are of solid gold, (old standard) the caps are about four inches wide, the edges beautifully chased, and when rolled together, are bound by a broad silk band, edged with gold, and tied with gold cord and tassels. The whole is covered with a purple velvet mantle or pall, elegantly and richly embroidered in flowers of gold raised upon the velvet, representing the rose, shamrock, and thistle, with festoons, the top of the mantle representing a diadem; the edge is surrounded with large gold bullion fringe; on the tops of the rollers are two pivots, about four inches in length, which receive what are called the bells, made of fine gold, which stand erect; the sockets fixing on the pivots represent the two tables of Moses, with the ten commandments. The body of these bells is a coronet, beautifully work. ed; the border is studded with brilliants, emeralds, rubies, and other precious

stones; above the coronet is a mitre, sup

ported by angels, on the top of which (chased in Hebrew characters, "Holiness to the Lord,") rest the cushion, Bible, and crown, surmounted by a pine apple, richly chased and worked curiously in gold-the whole is surrounded by a number of small gold bells, which continually tinkle as moved. On the front is suspended, by a massive gold chain, the ephod or breast plate, curiously worked in frieze, and relieved in bright gold; in the centre are twelve precious stones, of immense value, (which represent the twelve tribes of Israel;) the plate is surmounted by a large crown, on the top of which is the mound, exquisitely ornamented with emeralds and rubies of beautiful colour. The crown is also strewed with jewels of great value and brilliancy; the front stone is a fine water brilliant of large size and great value. There is also suspended by a gold chain the pointer with which the law is read. This jewel is about twelve inches long, and is of the finest gold; at one end is a globe richly worked, and the other represents a hand, with the fore finger in a pointing direction, and round the finger is a brilliant ring; the whole length of this jewel is entwined by the rose, shamrock, and thistle, chased, and beautifully executed.

Jewish Preacher in Poland.-Mr. Levin, a Jewish proselyte, who studied divinity under Professor Tholuck, at Halle, has lately been appointed Lutheran minister at Brzezyn in Poland, where he has a flock of six hundred Protestant families, to whom he is said to preach the gospel

powerfully. The people know that he is of the Jewish nation; but, so far from despising him, they seem to have a particular affection for him on that account. When he delivered his first sermon, the aisle of the church was crowded with Polish Jews. He is deeply interested about his own nation; to whom he has now a most favourable opportunity of testifying of Christ.

Sir Humphry Davy's Theory of the Soul. -Sir Humphry Davy argues from analogy, in his "Consolations of Travel,” that the human soul will have no reminiscences of earthly scenes in a future state. There runs, he says, throughout the works of the Creator, a principle that only those organs, habits, and instincts are reserved to a liv. ing being after a transformation, which are necessary to its new state of existence. The butterfly, he considers, knows nothing of its larvæ, or aurelia state; its faculties and enjoyments being wholly conformed to its new condition. From this analogy Sir Humphry concludes, that noof knowledge, will survive the dissolution thing but intellectual power, or the love of soul and body. He speaks as a philosopher; but speaking as Christians, we should say, without, however, admitting the truth of the alleged analogy, that the surviving faculties of the soul will be spiritual, rather than intellectual. Newton could not take the Principia to heaven; but the humblest Christian will take his regenerate nature, made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Cape of Good Hope.-By the U. S. ship Vincennes, the editor of the New York Commercial Advertiser received papers from the Cape of Good Hope to April 17, from which it appears that dissentions prevailed in the Academick Senate of the South African College-a very promising institution-to such an extent, as to threaten injury to its usefulness. The subject of contention was the question, whether religious instruction should be given within the walls of the College, or within the vestries of the different churches to which the students belong. There are many denominations of Christians in Cape Town. The Dutch Reformed, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Scotch Presbyterians, Roman Catholicks, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. There are besides, Unitarians, and other denominations who have yet no church. At a publick meeting held on the subject, it was resolved that the youths could be best instructed in religion, in the places where they were accustomed to receive it, and that the pa rents were not prepared to pay for an additional Chair in the College, to accommodate one particular sect.

The German silver, which is now coming into vogue, has been introduced, as its name denotes, by the Germans into Europe, but is nothing more than the white copper long known in China. The Goldsmith's Compairy of London have thought it proper to warn the publick, by advertisements in all the newspapers, that it does not contain a single particle of real silver. This is true, for it is only an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc; but it would have done no discredit to their candour to add, that it is, on account of its perfect unalterability, superior for many pur poses (such as musical instruments, touchholes of guns, &c.) to either silver or gold. Although now coming into known use in England, it has been no stranger to the manufactories of Birmingham for at least thirty years and more..

At a recent meeting of the Paris Royal Academy of Sciences, an animated discussion took place on Caillie's Travels in Africa, the credibility of which was questioned by the London Quarterly Review, so far as relates to the traveller's having seen Timbuctoo. The veracity of Caillie's narrative was vehemently defended. London University. The permanent annual expense of the university is estimated at £5500. To support the establishment, without encroaching annually on the capital, it is computed that 885 students will be required. The number of students who attend the university at present is 577; the council have, in consequence, been compelled to reduce, in several instances, the salaries of the professors.

Mr. Fordham, of the London Royal Institution, recently exhibited a model of a Pneumatic Locomotive Engine. The machinery for communicating and regulating

motion is the same with that of the steam engine. There is, however, no boiler nor fire place, but light vessels of wrought iron called recipients are appended to the carriages. These recipients are to be filled with air, in a state of density thirty or forty times greater than the external atmosphere. These recipients are charged by forcing pumps worked by water, steam, or wind, at various places along the road, and when exhausted are to be replaced by others. The carriage is to have very high wheels, and the recipients are suspended under the axles. A ten horse engine will condense, with one bushel of coals, 1750 cubick feet, which is sufficient to propel the carriage 10 miles, at the rate of 12 miles the hour.

Paper is now manufactured very extensively by machinery, in all its stages; and thus, instead of a single sheet being made

by hand, a stream of paper is poured out, which would form a roll large enough to extend round the globe, if such a length were desirable. The inventors of this machinery, Messrs. Fourdrinier, it is said, spent the enormous sum of £40,000 in vain attempts to render the machine capable of determining with precision the width of the roll; and, at last,, accomplished their object, at the suggestion of a by-stander, by a strap revolving upon an axis, at a cost of 3s. 6d.

Hot Air for Blast Furnaces.-The blast furnaces at the Clyde Iron Works, are supplied with hot air, the saving caused by which is stated to be very great. The air is heated rather beyond the point of boiling water; but a higher temperature, it is thought, might be employed with advantage.

Sheathing Paper.-Messrs. E. F. and Thomas Blank have discovered the process of manufacturing a species of paper from leather shavings, which it is believed will answer admirably for the sheathing of vessels, and much better than the sheathing paper in common use. In addition to the properties of the ordinary sheathing paper, it is believed by good judges that the leather-paper will prevent be about the same. the ravages of worms. The price will

Philadelphian Hall.-The publick building for the meetings of religious and charitable societies in London, now erecting near the former site of Exeter Change, will be completed in a few months. It has received the appropriate appellation of Philadelphian Hall, in allusion to Heb. xiii. 1, "Let brotherly love continue;" where the words translated "brotherly love," as our less-learned readers should be informed, are expressed in Greek by the word "Philadelphia."

Scientifick Tracts.-Messrs. Carter and Hendee have sent us the first number of a series of scientifick tracts, which they propose to publish, conducted by Josiah Holbrook and others. They will publish not less than 24 numbers a year at $1.50.

The first number contains 24 pages, and is a familiar essay on the nature and properties of the atmosphere. The writer puts aside all technicalities and laboured verbiage, and brings the subject down to the comprehension of all classes of the community. These efforts to bring out science from the cloisters of learning, and down from the affected elevation of pedantry, are deserving of the notice and support of the great mass of the people whom they are designed to benefit.-Lowell Journal.

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