Family Prayers. By the Author of "The Explanatory Comments on the New Testament." Dublin: W. Curry, Jun. 1835. 12mo. pp. 276. THE author holds that extempore prayer is, by far, the most valuable in private and social worship, and intends this volume for the use of those who are not able to pray either in whole or in part extempore. To those who agree with him, the best recommendation of the book will be, that it is as like extempore prayer as possible. The reviewer does not mean it as a recommendation to any one else.

Twelve Sermons on Doctrine and Practice. By the Rev. Thomas Therstall Haverfield, B.D. London: W. Straker, West Strand. 1835.

WITHOUT particular novelty in his subjects or texts, Mr. Haverfield has published a volume gracefully, and sometimes powerfully, written. His Sermons (III. and IV.) "On Recognition in a Future State," especially, whatever may be the difference of men's opinions on the subject, will amply repay perusal. They put the arguments for one view of the question with consider

able force.

Daily Readings: Passages from Scripture, selected for social Reading, with Applications. By the Author of "The Listener." 12mo. London:

Hatchards. 1835.

HERE are about 130 short passages of Scripture, with a short poetical application for each, something in the way of Mr. Girdlestone, except that the author keeps to one point (or rather tries to do so) in each. There is great difference in them; some are very true and just, some very far from deserving that praise. A judicious person who reads to his family might make useful selections from the volume.

A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. By Alphonse de la Martine. In 3 vols. foolscap 8vo. London: Bentley. 1835.

THIS is altogether one of the most characteristic books which has been published for a long time. He who wishes to know what a French poet, full of nationality and full of poetry (with no mean opinion of his own) is, should really read it, and cannot fail to be amused with the exhibition of character. M. de la Martine is composing, and apostrophizing, and personifying, and representing without end, and with an intensity which must wear any one but a Frenchman fairly out. He, the while, thrives on it, and represents on. But on far higher grounds must this book be mentioned. M. de la Martine is unquestionably a man of genius, and his description of men and things is really so graphic, breathes so much the spirit of a painter as well as a poet, that one cannot read much of the book without lively pleasure. Take his visit to the Emir of the Druses as an example, his account of the palace as it came in view, and of his interview, and his sketch of the Arabian horses. (Vol. i. pp. 187-251.) Nothing can be more lively or spirited. So, too, his account of Constantinople and its beauty, in vol. iii. His preceding interview with Lady Esther Stanhope is somewhat absurd; at least, their conversation is so. M. de la Martine's own ideas (p. 223) are, in fact, St. Simonianism, (and so in vol. ii. p. 81,) and his reasons for being a Christian anything but just or right. Still, an eminent, and popular, and enthusiastic French poet, who openly professes a love for Christianity, is a phenomenon worthy both of respect and gratitude, though it may be feared that the Christianity is rather of the philosophic cast. M. de la Martine's philosophy is the poorest part of him; it is French,-clashing, superficial, tawdry, and foolish. He should keep to his poetry.

The translation is most excellent; and, to the reviewer's taste, the English verses are better than the French original. The translator is capable of no small things in poetry.

A Narrative of the Visit to the American Churches by the Deputation from the Congregational Union of England and Wales. By A. Reed, D.D., and J. Matheson, D.D. London: Jackson and Walford. 2 Vols. 8vo. 1835. Ir is not very pleasant to review this book, because anything which is said will be ascribed to party. If it had been written by an ordinary clergyman of the church of England, travelling for his amusement, one would have said that it was very common-place in matter, and rather vulgar in style and taste. The information as to America itself is inferior to that in almost any tour of late days; but there is undoubtedly some curious matters as to the working and workings of the American sects. Episcopacy (as apart from establishments) is honoured with the deputation's particular hatred and censure, which it can bear with some composure; while towards all other forms there seems an indifferent affection. There are some things practised in American sects which we have not yet arrived at. The anxious seat at meetings, i.e. a seat to which, when preachers have tried all they can to excite what by some would be called fanatical feeling, persons advance to declare their feelings, sins, &c., is, to the reviewer at least, quite a novelty. There is a long paper on Revivals, from which one can really make out nothing. Dr. Reed deprecates the imprudent management of revivals; but thinks that all the best Christians are converted in wise revivals. How revivals, which shall, on the one hand, differ from the continual call of the true pastor to his flock for a revival, and, on the other, never go into fanaticism, are to be managed, he does not explain, and it is not easy to conceive. The fear evidently felt by Dr. Reed of imprudence at the camp-meetings, and yet his joining in them, with his very long account of the enormous effect produced by his own sermon-greater than had ever been known before, with the weeping and falling down that followed--are worth reading. And the statistics of American religion are well worth reading also. Of course there is a long discussion of the voluntary system; but it is not either able or novel.

Journal of a Residence in China and the Neighbouring Countries from 1830 to 1833. By David Abeel, an American Missionary. 12mo. London: Nisbet. 1835.

REALLY being a missionary seems, for some men, a very pleasant way of seeing the world. This Residence in China amounted to a voyage to Canton, and a short stay there, and then Mr. Abeel took another long tour among the islands and continental kingdoms of S. E. Asia, in order to ascertain good posts for missions, &c., and to get information for the Christian world! Valuable information, indeed, must be given by one who never staid at any one place long enough to learn the language, nor visited any place, except in passing, where there were not missions already. At Siam, he staid too short a time, as he says, to form any opinion as to the progress of the mission or the plan pursued! Such religious voyages for the traveller's amusement deserve to be reprobated.

Congregational Reform. By the Rev. Peter Hall.

Ir seems necessary to notice this volume, for if it were passed over in silence, the reason for that silence might be mistaken. Let it be said then distinctly that if any one wishes to see all sorts of abuse of the "British Magazine,' repeated in every form, personal and impersonal, he had better read Mr. Hall's

book. It is only to be regretted that want of space prevents a transcript of all this abuse here. Nothing else does. It is better to leave the public to judge of the merit and the temper of Mr. Hall's work than to keep up the unfortunate irritation in his mind by remarks on it. This only shall be said, that if, indeed, his views of the gospel are so much superior to those of the many persons whom he denounces as carnal, &c., &c., he is much more likely to convert and reclaim them by exhibiting the best of all proofs of it, in a kind and Christian temper. If he really wishes to do good, let him be assured that he must speak after another manner, and in another tone, than those which prevail through this volume, which may repel many from his views and from the gospel altogether, but can win none. Mr. Hall will not believe this on the faith of the "British Magazine." Let him ask his own friends.

Heath's Gallery of British Engravings. (In Numbers.) London: Longman and Co.

ALL lovers of British art ought to support this work. The extreme beauty of the engravings in the Annuals has been observed by every one, and now a German house is employing English engravers of an inferior kind to copy (for circulation, at a low price,) the best plates in some of the most remarkable of them. The proprietor, therefore, has resolved to meet them on their own ground, and to offer for sale the original plates at a less sum than they can sell their cheap and inferior copies. Three plates are given for a shilling, and very beautiful they are.

Illustrations of the Bible. By Martin and Westall. London: Churton. 1835.

THEY who have admired Mr. Martin's extraordinary painting called Belshazzar's feast will find an excellent wood-cut of it in this Number.

Wanderings through North Wales.

By T. Roscoe, Esq. With Engravings
London: Tilt; and

from Cox, Cattermole, and Creswick. (In Numbers.) Simpkin and Marshall.

It is impossible not to feel interest in the success of works like this, which, by aid of no common powers of art, presents, at a very cheap price, some of the most beautiful scenes in nature.

The Course of Christian Obedience. By the Rev. E. C. Kemp, M.A., Rector of Whissonsett, Norfolk. London: Hatchards, and Rivingtons. 1834. THIS is a valuable book, well thought out and clearly written. Mr. Kemp's notions of a state of conversion, and of the assurance which a Christian may gain, appear sound and scriptural.

Letters on the Nature and Duration of Future Punishment. London: Longman and Co.

THESE letters contain the ordinary views, difficulties, and objections, on this momentous subject-objections which principally arise from the way in which the declarations of scripture are regarded. They who look at them with the Unitarian feeling (and the present writer declares that he cannot receive the doctrine of the Trinity), of course, bend scripture to suit what they call the dictates of reason.

It is not worthy of the present writer, who can write like a gentleman, to abuse hierarchies and creeds, and still less to bring forward the fearful expressions to be found in many writers as to the pleasure with which the torments

of the evil will be regarded by the just, as a fair exposition of the feelings of right-minded Christians who accept the doctrine of the eternity of punishment.

London in May. By the Author of " Alan Gilbert's last Birth-day." London : T. Ward and Co. 1835.

THIS is an account of all the London societies for religious purposes—not all, to be sure, inasmuch as it comes from a dissenter, who very naturally omits most of the chief church societies. He gives his account in the shape of a dialogue between an uncle and his nephews; and the uncle, like Uncle Philip, very naturally describes what is to be seen much as if he was describing strange animals. As a specimen of his propensities, he describes, at one meeting, the fat rosy clergyman succeeded by the pale thin dissenter ! Now, undoubtedly the pictorial sketches of dissenting divines, in the Evangelical and other dissenting magazines, give, by their broad sleek countenances, more honour and glory to dissenting hospitality than this written portrait. Having given an account of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, he proposes to mention their publications, and proceeds to read the titles of certain Portuguese, Dutch, and Welsh tracts, omitting all notice of the many hundred English ones. This is probably meant for wit.

Narrative of a Residence in South Africa. By Thomas Pringle. London: E. Moxon. 1835. 12mo.

THIS volume appeared before, with a good deal of verse intermixed, as African Sketches. Mr. Pringle, before his death, revised it for a second edition, leaving out the poetry, which was, however, pleasing and creditable. It is to be wished that he had cut out the politics too. Lord C. Somerset, and other people, may be all that Mr. P. makes them, but personal quarrels are not interesting, and political virulent expressions are not Christian. The volume itself contains a good deal of curious and interesting information about the Cape Colonies.

Sketches of the Holy Land and other Places mentioned in Scripture. By the Rev. R. Spence Hardy. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1835. 12mo. MR. HARDY is a Wesleyan Missionary, who returned from India by the Red Sea, Egypt, and Syria. He is an intelligent, sensible, and right thinking man, who describes very fairly what he has seen. His reflexions on Jerusalem are particularly good and natural.

On the Endowments of the Parish Churches in England. THIS little tract traces more clearly than in any other work of the same compass the history of parish endowments. The points established in it are— 1. That before Christianity became the religion of any state, individual churches had endowments, which arose from the piety of individual Christians. 2. That the payment of tithes, which were always the oblations of private individuals, was early confirmed by Anglo-Saxon laws.

3. That before the Norman Conquest, England was divided into parishes, and the clergy were as yet uncorrupted by the peculiar doctrines of popery. 4. That the progress of popery under the Normans led to the enriching the monasteries by robbing the parochial clergy. And,

Lastly, That as far as the revenues of the parish churches were concerned, the effect of the Reformation was only to give to laymen that which had before been taken from them by the monasteries, and leave them far poorer than in Saxon times.

These points are fully brought out in these well written pages; and, as the price of the tract is only one penny, the public can have no excuse for ignorance which can be remedied at so cheap a rate of time and money.

702

MISCELLANEA.

MILNER'S CHURCH HISTORY.

Ir will be in the recollection of the public, that a sentence or two in a public lecture, uttered without the slightest notion that it would give offence to any living person, and written under the full belief that it was competent to the writer to speak of Milner's work as he would of that of any other historian, Mosheim, or Weismann, or Jortin, or Robertson, called forth not merely replies, but heavy accusations against the writer, as a defamer of the dead, &c., and the strongest expressions of perfect confidence in Milner's work, and of its extraordinary excellence and unspeakable value to the Christian world.

The personal controversy was one of no kind of consequence or of interest; and if it was a matter of satisfaction to any particular journals to call hardnames and make personal attacks, it was very easy to allow them to enjoy their little pleasures quite unmolested. But the question as to Milner was a very different matter. If he was to be held forth to the public in such a high strain of eulogy, as the only Christian historian of the Church, and everything was to be said that could be said to impress young men with the notion that he was trustworthy and accurate, and profound as well as pious; it became a positive duty in those who had formed a very different opinion of his work to state their grounds. Accordingly, Mr. Maitland, who had already published a most strict and searching examination of a part of Milner's work, republished it in a more accessible form, and the whole edition of his pamphlet has been sold and a second called for and published, without one word of answer to his specific charges from those who were so loud in Milner's praise. But this is not all. Mr. Maitland published likewise a second pamphlet, going through a whole volume of Milner's work, and shewing, by a laborious examination of the whole, that Milner did not in most cases examine any original documents, and that his work is in many parts a mere abridgement and alteration of second-hand authorities, while the reader is led to suppose that he has the benefit of Milner's examination of the original, and, consequently, that it is full, as every work so written must be, of inaccuracies of statement, and of opinions and views totally unsupported by the truth; that it is, in short, not to be trusted, and, as a history, is therefore without value, whatever it may be as a book of pious reflections on states of things which never existed, for those who coincide in the views and the tone of the writer's mind. Under this second attack on Milner, if that may be called attack which consists of a quiet examination of his references, page by page, and an exposure of his inaccuracies, his eulogists have likewise remained totally silent. They have neither answered Mr. Maitland, nor admitted the justice of his complaint. But this really cannot be allowed. The laws which regulate men's opinions about other books, and other transactions, will determine them about Milner and about this. If Mr. Maitland is wrong; if Milner did study original writers ; if he is accurate, and if he is trustworthy, his eulogists are bound by every consideration to support his character, and to answer Mr. Maitland. They are here called on to do so, and they will be called on again. As Mr. Maitland's pamphlets have not a word of party feeling in them, and consist merely in an actual examination of passages and references, no excuse can be made for the silence of Milner's panegyrists on that head. They who have held him forth to the young as a safe and worthy guide are called on to come forward and prove that he is so. They shall have the benefit, it is repeated, of several such calls. Surely persons so respectable as Mr. Raikes and Mr. Bridges, as well as many others, who have taken the serious step of recommending Milner to young men, will feel themselves bound either to defend Milner or to admit