Page images
PDF
EPUB

sued it with any obvious system; characters the most heterogeneous being placed in juxtaposition. Claudius Buchanan, Edward Irving, Bishop Turner, Francis Jeffrey, John Sterling, are some of the names whose religious history is given.

illustrating the peculiar docM. W. Dodd. 1853.

The Society of Friends: a domestic narrative trines held by the disciples of George Fox. There are about twenty thousand Quakers. They are a class of professing Christians whose reputation, as citizens, is unimpeachable. They are wealthy and intelligent, and yet, as this work shows, hold, on the authority of Fox, doctrines of the most unscriptural character. Many of them are pious, and all are exemplary, but their creed is an astonishing crudity, if our author be correct. The information given is rare and curious.

Putnam's Semi-monthly Library.

1. Life on the Isthmus.

2. A fortnight in Ireland.

These are fascinating little companions, for our less occupied moments. The reputation of the library is well established, and these do not, by any means, forfeit it. Ireland is by Sir F. Head, Bart.

History of Europe from the fall of Napoleon, 1815, to the accession of Louis Napoleon, 1852. By Sir Archibald Allison, Bart. Part I. New Series. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1853.

No one can doubt either the diffuseness or the prejudices of Allison, as a historian. Yet there are an elegance and a general fidelity which make his volumes an important addition to history. For ourselves, we rejoice in the resumption of his pen on European affairs, for a period which, though it has been unusually pacific, and therefore less stirring, is nevertheless fuller of progress than any other. We have seen severe criticisms upon this part, but we cannot altogether coincide with them.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac Hays, M. D. Philadelphia: Blanchard & Lea. January 1853.

This is a quarterly of 280 pages, filled with a great variety of profound medical information. Its reputation is deservedly high. The best professional talent furnishes it with all the discoveries in the science and with all the improvements in the art of healing. The number before us, evinces the greatest diligence on the part of the learned editor, and the highly advanced state of the faculty. One article, in this number, cannot fail to interest every intelligent American, and will be read, by all who have the opportunity, viz: "An account of the last illness of the late honorable Daniel Webster, Secretary of State; with a description of the post mortem appearances, &c. By John Jeffries, M. D." Literary men, as well as medical practitioners, will find a vast amount of curious and useful matter in this journal.

The Successful Merchant. Sketches of the Life of Mr. Samuel Budgett, late of Kingswood Hill. By William Arthur, A. M. New York: Lane & Scott. 1852.

Two things stamp an indelible character upon Mr. Arthur's book; the narrative of an extraordinary merchant, and the development of a great principle. Viewed merely as a man of business, the life of Mr. Budgett may well take rank with the marvels of the mercantile vocation. His early talent for trade, his perfect integrity, his vast operations, and his boundless benevolence, render him a prodigy of his kind. But we attach a much higher value to the principle of which the biography is a magnificent illustration; the principle is, the practicability of subordinating the most extensive and complicated system of worldly business to the precepts of the Bible, and yet realizing the most splendid success. If there be any issue which appears problematical, it is the consistency between the perpetual details of merchandize and the profession of Christianity. And beyond a doubt, the test is severe. Yet the gospel is equal to it. A man may preserve his fidelity unsoiled amidst all the contact and contagion in which he may be placed. It is because so few are firm to their duty, that the walks of business present such rare instances of those who are as illustrious for their piety as for their skill. Mr. Budgett's case is a demonstration beyond the power of contradiction. It warms one's heart with admiration to witness so noble a triumph of religion over the low and grovelling methods which have become almost inseparable from trade. The very acme, as a general rule, to which it aspires, is that frail and fictitious thing called honor. But that the purity and the power of godliness should commingle in the arena of bales and bargains and profits, seemed preposterous in the highest degree, because it was deemed impracticable. To the evidence of its successful application, the facts of Mr. Arthur add the brightest proofs. No book is more needful amongst business men, and we hope it will perform its mission with reforming power in this wide, busy, clashing world upon which it enters.

Heart Blossoms for my Little Daughters. By Mrs. Jane T. H. Cross.

It is a subject of sincere regret that our publishing operations are not sufficiently extensive to enable us to gather up the materials for usefulness which lie in rich profusion over the extent of Southern Methodism. In every department of Christian literature we can be as productive as the North; and it is time that our exigences had aroused our means and our talents into the required activity. This passing reflection has been suggested by the earnest which we have in Mrs. Cross's little tribute to the Sabbath school cause. It evinces a fertile aptness in illustration, mixed with a pathetic tenderness of soul which abides as a fragrant unction upon her beautiful offering. There are a winning solicitude and a tasteful luxu riance which fit her for the pleasing task of teaching" the young idea how to shoot." Her book is prophetic of a hopeful future. Both of the above

can be had at the Methodist Book Concern in this city, or at the Deposi

tory in Louisville, Ky.

A Digest of the Laws, and Modern Nations. of William & Mary.

Customs, Manners and Institutions of the Ancient
By Thomas Dew, late President of the College
New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1853.

We have just received this work from the publishers, as we are going to press; too late to do it justice. It is an octavo of 662 pages, closely, but distinctly printed on very fair paper. It contains the course of lectures on history in William & Mary College, by the late distinguished president. It is, as it professes to be, "a digest;" a systematized and frequently copious outline of this department of his chair. He was dissatisfied with every manual on the subject, he had seen, and with great labor prepared this text. It evinces marked ability and sound views, and so far as we can now judge, will be a valuable aid to professors and students in history. President Dew's reputation will certainly direct attention to it.

By M. J. 1853.

The Lofty and the Lowly; or, good in all and none all-good. McIntosh. In two volumes. New York: D. Appleton & Co. This is an interesting narrative, designed to remove the prejudices so generally entertained between different classes of society and sections of our country, by illustrating the mixture of good and evil which a candid observer will find in all of them. It is a fine reproof to those who are accustomed to indulge in indiscriminate abuse of the rich or the poor, of the North or the South. The author has written several works which inculcate important moral and religious lessons, and compare well in literary merit with most works of the same class.

English Items; or, Microscopic Views of England and Englishmen. By Matt. F. Ward. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1853.

Mr. Ward's indignation has been inflamed by the unjust treatment which our country has so frequently received from English writers, and he repays them by equally harsh strictures on England and Englishmen. The book is amusing, but unfair. It is rather coarse and indiscriminate in its retaliation, yet it is, in most instances, deserved.

The Experience of Life. Ey E. M. Sewell. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1853.

An entertaining and pious representation in the shape of an autobiography.

Light and Shade; or, The Young Artist. A Tale. By Anna Harriet Drury. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1853.

A well written tale, showing that virtue and talent will ultimately meet their reward, though they may be forced to contend with many difficulties and misfortunes.

ART X.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

FOREIGN.

The Dutch Government has recently come into the possession of a large and valuable collection of books, pictures, and Greek and Roman sculptures; also a collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Oriental coins, all bequeathed to the state by the celebrated bibliopolist, Baron Wertreenen Van Tillandt. Of the books, 1233, it is said, bear date in the fifteenth century. There is also a collection of 385 MSS., all anterior to the fourteenth century. This collection is about to be formed into a separate museum to be called Wertreenen.

A Chinese novel, in twenty-one volumes, and estimated to contain from one-sixth to one-fourth more characters than Dr. Morrison's version of the Bible, is sold in the shops for 60 cents. Mr. Williams sees no reason why the Bible, in Chinese, should not be afforded for half a dollar.

An edition of 5000 copies of the Gospels and Acts, in Chinese, in large type, has been, several months, in circulation; copies of which have been forwarded to Shanghai, Amoy, Canton, California, London and Loo Choo.

Editions of the revised Chinese New Testament have been printed by the missionaries of the London missionary society, at Hong Kong and Shanghai.

There have been forwarded to China, from England, 200 copies of the Manchoo New Testament, and also 100 Bibles and 200 New Testaments in the Mongolian.

Upon the application of the committee of the Wesleyan missionary society, 10,000 copies of the Tongese New Testament have been ordered to be printed by the British and Foreign bible society, and also an edition of 5000 copies of the New Testament in Feejee.

The missionaries in connection with the Bâsle missionary society, on the English gold coast, intimate their intention of preparing a translation of the Scriptures into the Gå or Accra language, which embraces a trading people, on the coast, numbering from 60,000 to 80,000, and into the Otsi, which (with Fanti and Asanti) embraces about 5,000,000 or 6,000,000.

At the request of the London missionary society, 3000 copies of the Malagasy Scriptures have been forwarded to Mauritius, to be there in readiness for any openings that may present themselves, for their distribution in the island of Madagascar.

The Archbishop of Cologne has ordered a museum of religious antiquities, and especially of art, to be formed from the possessions of the different churches in his diocese.

The London religious tract society have voted £50 to assist in the publication of 3000 copies, in Italian, of "Lucilla," showing the duty of reading the Scriptures; a work well adapted for Italy. The proceeds of this book have enabled the society's funds to print large editions in Italian of Dr. Mahan's tracts, "The Eldest Son" and "The True Cross." They have likewise printed 1500 copies of Dr. Keith's work "On the Evidence of Prophecy."

It is said that Professor Peterman, is at present engaged, at Damascus, in copying, with the aid of other learned men, a Syriac New Testament, of the 6th century, which, it is believed, was itself translated, verbally, from one of the earliest and most anthentic Greek MSS.

The medal of the Prussian order of merit, disposable by the death of Thomas Moore, is to be conferred on Colonel Rawlinson, the distinguished oriental scholar and traveller.

Professor Tholuck has produced a work recently, which is highly estimated. It seems that he has long been collecting materials for a history of Rationalism, and as preparatory to that, he now gives us "The spirit of the Lutheran Theologians of Wittenberg in the course of the 17th century." The completion of his design will be looked for with interest.

A new volume of Ritter's "History of Philosophy" has appeared. It is the 11th volume of the whole work, 7th of "Christian Philosophy," and 3d of "Modern Philosophy," and contains in Book V. “the Rationalism of Descartes and the Cartesian School." Book VI. treats of "the beginning of English Philosophy in Sensualism and Rationalism." The last and concluding volume is promised in a year.

The second volume of Chrysostom on the Acts, and the second on John, have been published, in Oxford, in continuation of the "Library of the Fathers." We regard this as a very valuable publication. We have, for a number of years, watched its progress with great interest, and studied some of its volumes with pleasure and profit. A selection from it, say the whole, or a portion of the work of Chrysostom, might be republished in this country, with advantage.

Dr. Davidson has just published his valuable "Treatise on Biblical Critcism." This is not a re-issue of his "Lectures" on the same subject, as they first appeared. The original work has been entirely re-written, enlarged, and improved in accordance with the present advanced state of science. Dr. Davidson laid every available source of information under contribution for his important work. It is comprised in 2 vols.

The second volume of a work, which will be hailed with pleasure by the Biblical student, has recently appeared from the English press. This is "The Greek Testament, with a Critical and Exegetical Commentary. For the use of theological students and ministers. By Henry Alford, B. D. Vol. II., containing the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians."

« PreviousContinue »