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Without preface, devoid of editorial explanation, a volume of sermons by Henry Ward Beecher, printed and published in London,* is offered to the reading world. Reprinted as these discourses are from Mr. Beecher's newspaper, it might not have been amiss had their source been acknowledged; but come they how they may, right heartily do we welcome them. Mr. Beecher's shortcomings as a theologian are not unknown to us; but these we forget afresh whenever one of his sermons falls into our hands. Here we are sure to find honest expression of individual thought; words of a man, not of a mere functionary; words straightforward and sincere. Here will be a broad, robust, hearty manliness, and here, also, the outpourings of a tender, loving heart. Here will be, what are above all things precious, doctrines never divorced from that which is nobly ethical. And how goodly is the result, when the preacher knows how in rich and wisely-culled speech to set forth in a thousand delightful ways the grand Christian truth that fell from the inspired pen of that Son of Thunder, who was the most loving of the Apostles, 'He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous;' and again, He that saith, "I know Him," and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.' At Henry Ward Beecher's discourses no one can look without being rewarded with shrewd thought and happy imagery well and consistently struck out; and, above all, with treasures of Christian experience set forth right beautifully. Sure always to meet with much to quicken both brain and heart, with joyous expectation we plunge the paper-knife into the volume. And at the outset, we are glad to have also set before us, as it is here--a well

*J.Heaton and Son, 42, Paternoster Row, E.C.

executed portrait of the preacher. How self-reliant the attitude; the arms crossed with a frank firmness on the broad chest; the head held well up, and in every outline of the face a manifestation of-shall we not say?—a genial sauciness, a blithe confidence of power. What if the locks are somewhat longer than the insular Anglo-Saxon chooses to wear his own,-a Yankee crinose cataract upon the shirt collar; what if the cheek is smooth, the lip unfringed by masculine growth;-nature's manly ornament, as we fear, ungratefully declined and shaven? We see all the more of the face for that, and it is a face worth looking at. The brow high and broad, the eyes full and rich in language, the eyelid oddly half-drooping over one of them, in true testimony of the shrewd spirit within. The nose well pronounced, but somewhat too short to prevent the upper lip from being almost unhandsomely protracted. Massive and well set the chin; and how suggestive that nowise scanty, and, for the most part, finely cut mouth! Made evidently two-tenths for eating and eight-tenths for talking, it stands like a gate with a whole troop of thoughts behind it, ready to leap forth upon you. Apt seem those lips for speech, ready at all points and longing to begin. Thanks, Messrs. Publishers, for this portrait; it adds even to the value of this volume.

The sermons here reprinted are twenty-four in number; and we are glad to see that the book being marked

Vol. I.,' promises to be the head of what we hope will prove to be a long

series.

Stoke Newington. Collect all the anecdotes of dogs, cats, horses, and donkeys that demonstrate the intelligence and the utility of those creatures, weave them into a narrative under the form of conversations of a father with his children, illustrate them profusely by excellent engravings, give to the whole really good and nicely toned paper, capital pressmanship, and beautiful type, then bind the volume elegantly in cloth, and let a painted and enamelled vignette amidst gilding adorn the cover, and the result will be the very thing that we have now upon the desk. The author's notion is that his book will supply a want often felt, of a volume that shall present to young persons, in simple and attractive form, the doctrine of the justice due to animals, and the blessings which accompany the right treatment of them. He very suitably suggests that the work may be used in primary, secondary, and other schools, and be offered as a reward to boys and girls distinguished for their gentleness towards animals. The book is admirably adapted for such a purpose, and it would, indeed, be highly acceptable anywhere where there are children. We can give it, as a gift-book, most unreserved commendation.

The power of thin paper, small type, and condensation, in conjunction with most conscientious editorial care, can no further go, we should think, than in The Gospel Treasury; or, Treasury Harmony of the Four Evangelists, compiled by Robert Mimpriss, and now published ina single volume.* The same work, in similar type, but in two volumes and on stout paper, has long been on our book-shelves. Mr. Mimpriss's compilation bears strong testimony to his most laborious patience, and, we must add, to the excellence not only of his powers as a compiler, but also of his eyes.

Its characteristics are too well and widely known to require description from our pen. The harmony, we will say briefly, is according to Gresswell's arrangement; it is in the words of the authorized version, and has abundant Scripture illustrations, expository notes, practical reflections, geographical notices, and last, not least, a copious index;-this feature constituting this edition a marked improvement over the earlier one with which we are familiar. Mr. Mimpriss's mode

*London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster

Row.

of treating Scripture is occasionally too external for our taste, and we need go no further than the title-page in order to find illustration of this criticism. The solemn words, These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth,' quoted as one of the mottoes of the book, cannot possibly intend those who merely trace the Lord's footsteps on the map of Palestine, or who cut to pieces and dovetail the four sacred memoirs of the Evangelists. Its meaning is altogether deeper and higher. Nevertheless, the world of Sundayschools owes a debt of thanks to Mr. Mimpriss for his labours, and for the marvellously cheap rate at which his volumes are sold; and, good sight being always taken for granted (the type, though beautifully clear, is very small), -the popular student having the two volumes in one very handy, volume of about a thousand pages, may justly congratulate himself on possessing a

treasure.

The words 'Sixth Thousand' on the title-page, testify to the popularity of Julian Meall; a Brief Memoir of a Little Boy, who Died in the Ninth Year of His Age. We do not regard accounts of the death-beds of pious children as altogether wholesome reading for a child; but there are many of more advanced age who may be affected in a salutary manner by the perusal. As a rule, How to Live,' is the most serviceable lesson, whether for a child or for an adult, and those books are the best that teach this.

A little girl whom we have just consulted pronounces Marie and the Seven Children, by Mrs. T. Geldart,* to be a very nice little book indeed, a delicious little book,' and by this dictum we are prepared to stand. The tale is of a little girl left, at a tender age, to be a mother to seven little ones; of her trials and troubles; of the strength she found where the true Christian always finds strength; of her success; and of a happy settlement crowning all. We have seen several books of Mrs. Geldart's, but this is the best.

The lady who wrote The Crosses of Childhood; or, Alice and her Friends,* should not let her pen lie idle, for it possesses the happy art of enfolding excellent moral and religious lessons in an engaging narrative form.

*London: 8. W. Partridge, 9, Paternoster Row. We

We know not the author, but her book we are glad to know, and can recommend it with emphasis as a really beautiful little gift-book for a girl. It contains twelve chapters; and in this case it will be doing something to indicate the character of the contents if we append the titles. These are: "A Mother's Lesson; or, The Readings of Scripture; Little Alice's Cross; or, The Lost Darlings;' A Day at the Parsonage;' Alice and Margaret;' Mr. Rutherford's Children;' Tom Willis and his Broken Leg;' 'School Hours; or, The Sewing Lesson;' The Two Sisters;' 'The Fever in the Village; The Fever Brought Home;'

The First Sufferer;' and Light Through the Cloud.' Any readers of our own whom these titles attract, will, we are confident, be very much charmed with the little volume when they get it, which we decidedly recommend them to do, if in search of a gift-book for a child of from eight to fifteen years of

age.

The first number of a volume, which is to be completed in twelve parts promises to supply a valuable common-place book to those who desire to possess illustrations of theology and morals, selected from great divines, and systematically arranged. Starting from Bacon's analysis of theology into Sacred History, Parable or Divine Poesy, and Holy Doctrine,' Mr. R. A. Bertram adopts the second division, Parable or Divine Poesy' as the title of his compilation; and selects passages coming under this denomination from a list of authors of considerable breadth, including the Fathers of the early Church and the old Divines of the English Establishment, and not excluding the most modern preachers of widely various schools, such as Trench, Guthrie, Arnot, Beecher, and Parker. The passages are placed under appropriate headings; each article thus formed is subdivided; and each subdivision is arranged chronologically, so as to indicate the progress of thought on the fundamental articles of the Christian faith in the several ages of the Church. It has been Mr. Bertram's design to make the divisions and subdivisions of each article constitute outlines of sermons; so that, in addition to several thousand illustrations, the work will contain nearly five hundred

ILondon: F. Pitman, 20, Paternoster Row, E.C.

387

While unsec

homiletic skeletons. tarian,' he says, 'the work is not latitudinarian, but catholic.' To preachers of all denominations a volume, such as this promises to be, must be of great service.

A Policeman-Poet is an unusual phenomenon; we can introduce our readers to one, if they desire it, and if they will not be too fastidious as to the quality of the poetry. Dedicated to Francis Mayall Mallalieu, Esq., as originator and promoter of Bible and other educational classes amongst the metropolitan police, a little volume, the result of the leisure hours of one of the force,' has reached a second edition, under the title of The Wreck of the Royal Charter, and other Poems. By John Harries.* We are pleased to find one of the force' occupying the silent hours in self-improvement, and in the endeavour to diffuse right sentiment by his pen.

Under the dark title Egypt some autobiographical chapters, from the pen of a lady, form a small pamphlet, which has been forwarded to us for review. The writer has a lively pen, and uses it vigorously in behalf of hydropathy and the Turkish bath, which she loudly lauds as the true source of creature comfort and physical well-being.' Cleverly does she harp upon this string; the bath has evidently been to her a deliverer, not only from Mr. Banting's original malady, which in her case was becoming serious, but from ill-health of a much graver character; and her gratitude has no bounds. With an exuberance of style, which seems to betoken a present enjoyment of the most robust health, she rattles on from grave to gay, from lively to severe;' and puts her topic before her reader in a variety of lights, as if she loved and were proud of it--as indeed she is. This is a capital book for teetotallers, and still more capital for those who are not yet such; for surely it will tend to make them what in that respect they ought to be. The whole pamphlet is eminently quotable; full of entertaining passages, of which we would gladly present our readers with samples, did not the tooclosely filled space forbid.

Ladies, who care to take advice of 'Meliora,' will do well to make themselves acquainted with The Alexandra Magazine and Englishwoman's Journal.†

* London: W. Tweedie, 337, Strand.

† London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder. A

A monthly publication devoted to the treatment of business and other matters of special interest to their sex. A word to the wise is enough. The tales signed B. R. P.' are always excellent; and they are by no means the only ones that are so, in this highly commendable serial.

There is a delightful, old-fashioned simplicity of style in all that issues from the pen of the Rev. John Pulsford. His quaint, earnest tract, To Every Creature, and his little book on Jesus Revealing the Heart of God,t are just now especially in our mind's eye. Deep underlying and far-reaching meanings in the words both of Scripture and of nature, Mr. Pulsford is skilful as well to discern and to draw forth for the recognition of others; yet simple as a child's speech his is, and his heart is sensitive

as a woman's.

Trampled deep into the mud, and to all appearance defaced and befouled beyond all recovery, is the fame of Thos. Hopley. But whilst all the world's heels are stamping him down, this singular man does not give in, but still cries out for justice. A Cry to the Leading Nation of the World for Justice, and for the Souls of My Wife and Children, is the title of his latest pamphlet; a somewhat hysteric title, no doubt, but who, in his extraordinary position, without being dead, could be quite calm? We had thought of letting Mr. Hopley's very remarkable Cry' come before the readers of Meliora,' with some comments of our own; but already this chapter is thrusting hard against its necessary boundaries. Only saying,

then, that she believes that, after all, Mr. Hopley is a man deeply injured through being entirely misunderstood by superficial students of humanity,

Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row. London: T. Hopley 147, Fleet-street.

'Meliora' advises those whom this judg ment surprises to obtain a copy of the pamphlet, and form an opinion for themselves.

*

We must despatch in a single paragraph three sixpenny books which come next to our hands: Joseph Selden, the Cripple; or, An Angel in Our Home, by the author of The Dalrymples' teaches pleasantly some very important truths for grown-up people; and Philip Markham's Two Lessons,* does the like for youths. A Christian spirit pervades both. We do not like quite so well The Rod and Its Uses, by the author of The Sabbath-Breakers.'* The treatment is somewhat sectarian.

The Church of England Temperance Magazine for 1864,§ bound in one volume, as we see it now on our desk, forms a whole at once handsome and valuable. Its clear type and the really beautiful illustrations which atorn it, give it a very pleasing aspect at first sight; and the pleasure grows into a higher feeling as we weigh the value of its contents. The movement in the Church of England, of which this volume is an expression, is a very important one; the good doing and to be done by it is quite incalculable. May it go on and prosper.

The author of Buy Your Own Cherries, Mr. J. W. Kirton, has achieved popularity by more than one of his tales of every-day life; and, for aught we can see to the contrary, his Temperance Lifeboat Crew* deserves and is likely to be as popular as the best of them. Mr. Kirton, in his narrative, attends a meeting of a 'Life-boat Crew,' and reports the speeches seriatim; the result is a tract admirable for distribution, and pretty certain to be useful wheresoever it may go