scendental evangelist. It is one of Mr. Sutton's fancies, that the world is soon to speak one common language, that English is to be the universal medium, and that it is needful that the English tongue should be "enriched" by new words and styles. His model is the author of "Sartor Resartus," and in every bad quality Mr. Sutton has succeeded in out-Carlyling Carlyle. We need not add, he has failed to emulate any of the qualities of his fine genius.

Beggars, Criminals, Fevers and Ragged Schools. Leeds-David Green. THE author, printer and publisher of this sensible and philanthropic little tract, Mr. David Green, solaced himself, during the weeks of recovery from the prevalent fever, by its composition. It tracks the course of the friendless and abandoned child, through beggary, to disease and crime. It should be read and pondered by those who, in a mistaken spirit of charity, give alms without inquiry to the youthful mendicant. Its interesting statements, founded on the experience of the Ragged-school system at Aberdeen, should inspire all benevolent men with a desire to extend these best moral sanatory institutions. The time has perhaps not yet come for the legislature to avail itself of this wonderful and successful experiment on human nature in its worst and most hopeless forms. Yet we cannot help indulging the hope that the Ragged-school will ere long supersede many of the functions of the workhouse and the gaol. The Ragged-school, by diverting the stream at its very source, saves the community from the effects of the polluting stream of pauperism and crime. As a matter of economy alone, it deserves the immediate attention of our rulers. The newspapers recently stated, that in a town in the North of England (Newcastle, we believe), the gaol cost £10,000, the workhouse £20,000, and the Ragged-school less than £100 a-year. Let the gaol fund pay £500, and the workhouse fund £500, in helping to establish throughout the town fifteen Ragged-schools, and, if Mr. Green's calculations are (as we believe) well founded, it will follow that in three years the sum-total of crime in Newcastle will have diminished 35 per cent., and in ten years the diminution will be not less than 50 per cent.

Orlandino. By Maria Edgeworth, Author of "Early Lessons." WILLIAM and ROBERT CHAMBERS, the philanthropic publishers, have just brought to a close their "Miscellany." Twenty volumes have they published in little more than three years, containing an admirable series of entertaining • and instructive tracts suited for every class and age. For a village, vestry or school library, we assert with confidence it would be impossible to lay out twenty shillings more advantageously than in the purchase of these volumes. And now the publishers are beginning a fresh course of usefulness by a series entitled "Chambers's Library for Young People;" and Miss Edgeworth pays them the deserved compliment of writing for them Orlandino. It is a story of self-denial, delightfully told, full of vivacity, and abounding in those exquisite delineations of Irish character and Irish wit in which Miss Edgeworth stands unrivalled. It needs no prophet's powers to foretel for this charming story a wide circulation. It should be in every family circle.

The Words of Christ from the New Testament. 12mo. Pp. 150. Boston. 1847.

In this well-printed volume we have the words of Jesus, as recorded in the four Gospels, arranged under seven divisions. The enumeration of the titles of the several chapters will indicate the reverent spirit in which the compiler has executed his task:-1. The Messiah. 2. The Teacher. 3. The Comforter. 4. The Sufferer--the Betrayed. 5. The Crucified. 6. The Risen. 7. The

Redeemer. If, as we believe, "the Words of Christ" contain Christianity in its essence, how enormous is the pile of wood, hay and stubble, with which fallible men have overlaid them! There are, we can imagine, some minds, brought up in the "orthodox" school, to whom this little volume would offer the best argument in behalf of a return to the simplicity that is in Christ.

PERIODICALS.

The North-American Review, No. CXXXVII.-An effort has been recently made, both in England and America, to depreciate the merits of this periodical. To us it appears sensible and instructive, but not brilliant. Some of its censurers are, we understand, likely to become rival reviewers. The current No. is characterized by more than average interest. It opens with a carefully-written sketch of the life and letters of John Huss. A brief paper follows, interesting if not convincing, on the 4th Eclogue of Virgil. The writer inclines to the hypothesis that this singular poem was inspired in Virgil's mind by his acquaintance with the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. The religious novels of Sewell are reviewed; also Prescott's last historical work. There follows an elaborate article on Coleridge, the tone of which will be deemed harsh by those who have received the prevalent and grossly exaggerated estimate of Coleridge's moral (to say nothing of his intellectual) qualities. So far from its being possible to uphold Coleridge in the elevated position in which some of his injudicious friends have endeavoured to place him before the public eye, it is almost difficult, now that the melancholy story is being more fully told, to avoid the conclusion that he was at times the victim of mental aberration. We will quote the passage containing the reviewer's ideas upon Coleridge's profession of Unitarianism.

"He had now no chance of obtaining a fellowship, and had moreover become a professed Unitarian, a change which would shut him out from all those advantages that might have lain open to him had he remained a member of the Established Church. His friends have tried to make it appear that Coleridge was never at heart a Unitarian. Mr. H. N. Coleridge says, 'His Unitarianism, such as it was, was not of the ordinary quality.' But, as Mr. Talfourd, in his Life of Lamb, has well remarked, 'There can be no doubt that Coleridge's Unitarianism was the result of strong conviction, so strong that, with all the ardour of a convert, he sought to win proselytes to his chosen creed, and proposed to spend his days in preaching it.' If Coleridge did all this under the name of Unitarianism, believing at the same time, as he afterwards said he did, that the Unitarian interpretations of the Scripture were intolerable upon any principles of sound criticism, we confess that it shews a state of mind such as we cannot readily understand. But we do not believe that this was the case; we think that we meet here with a peculiarity of Coleridge's mind which was afterwards shewn in numerous instances. It seems to us that Coleridge was accustomed to adopt opinions of the highest importance, rather from their coincidence with certain temporary theories of his own, than from such a thorough analysis and examination of their foundations, as every reflecting man is called upon to make for himself. Of course nothing was more likely than that, with advance in life, his theories should undergo a change, and consequently the opinions founded upon them, until by degrees, by a further process of self-deception, he persuaded himself that he had never actually held such opinions, but that there had always been in his mind some reserved clause, as it were, which had given a different character to the whole. This view will, we think, explain numerous inconsistencies in his character and writings, otherwise unintelligible, and afford some excuse for the manner in which he was accustomed to speak of Unitarianism in his later life."-Pp. 407, 408.

The number closes with an article bearing the title of "the Social Condition of England," but the article is chiefly occupied with Scotland and Ireland. A great mistake pervades the article in supposing that the condition of the country since the commencement of the potatoe famine is its normal state.

The portrait of England is no more just than that of an individual would be if the painter saw him only when distracted or wasted by pain.

The Monthly Religious Magazine (Boston), September, October and November.-There is much sweet and gentle and truly religious feeling in this American Magazine, which continues to be edited by Rev. F. D. Huntington, of Boston. From each of the Nos. named above, we desire to transfer a few passages to our pages. First let us direct attention to a very touching and graceful sermon, preached by Rev. Chandler Robbins, on the Sunday after the funeral of Mrs. Mehetabel Story, mother of the late Judge Story, and widow of Dr. Elisha Story. She died in August last, in her 90th year. The sermon is entitled, "The Mother's Law." With much tenderness and truth does Mr. Robbins tell "a mother's value" and describe "a mother's love." There is both wisdom and good feeling in the follog passage:

"But those have always seemed to me to ve privileged more highly than they can understand, whom God permits to keep their mother with them till her late old age; till her children themselves, or even her grandchildren, become parents; till she becomes the centre of the affections of a large circle of descendants of several generations, who gather around her from time to time, in smaller or larger groups, to pay her the respect and gratitude that are her due; who listen attentively to her tales of olden time; who bring to her intelligence of all that is passing in the world or affecting themselves that is likely to be interesting to her; who come to her still for counsel; who listen reverently to her sage precepts; who always find her at her own fire-side, quiet, dignified, yet with an unchilled heart, and a cheerful welcome for them all; who bring to her their infants for her blessing, while on every one of them she looks with feelings of pride and love. Such children and such mothers also-if free from the more distressing infirmities of age-enjoy one of this earth's most enviable lots."

The preacher's patriotism, as well as filial piety, was roused when he came to speak of "the New-England mothers of the last century:"

"Women they were of vigorous mind, strong will, quick and high sense of right, indefatigable industry, exemplary prudence, true dignity, austere virtue, indomitable love of freedom, deep, life-pervading religious principle."

The preacher illustrates by a single fact and an interesting precedent Judge Story's reverential affection for his mother:

"It is told to the honour of the great Lord Bacon, that he felt he could never repay his obligations to her, who had directed his studies as well as nourished his virtues; that he delighted to speak of her through life, and in his will left the injunction, 'Bury me in St. Michael's church, for there was my mother buried. Let it also be told of the great American Jurist, whose fame is as pure" (the preacher might have said more pure) "and will be as enduring as that of England's renowned Chancellor, that it was his request also, that the remains of his mother should be laid close to his own at Mount Auburn, that their dust might mingle in the grave, whose hearts had been so tenderly united on earth, and whose spirits should be as one in heaven."

In a very striking essay on "Priests and Ministers," the Rev. W. A. Whitwell stands forth as the advocate of his order. He closes a long catalogue of benefits done to society by the ministers of religion, by a calm declaration "that the present clergy of the New-England States are doing as much for the cause of Anti-slavery and for the general reformation of society as any body of men, of the same number, ever have done, since the days of Roger Williams."

One of the closing articles is a brief but reverential tribute to the memory of the Rev. J. Johns, of Liverpool, the chief portion of which we gladly transfer to our pages, as our efforts to procure an original memoir of this lamented man have failed of success.

"Sadly have the tidings been borne to us across the ocean of the death of the zealous missionary, Rev. J. Johns, of Liverpool,-of the loss of a good and useful

man.

How many of us go down to our graves without using our personal influence upon any beyond our immediate circle; but he of whom I speak laboured in an extensive field, and faithfully did he discharge the duties thereof. Long will the lone widow wait and listen for a footstep which had become music to her ear; wearily will the orphans look for his coming who brought joy and peace to their dwelling; and heavily will the anxious wife and mother sigh as she thinks of the kind voice which was wont to soothe and sustain her in her daily depressing cares and anxieties. And the strong man, he who has been saved by his kind hand and voice from perils of soul and body, will drop a scalding tear as he thinks he shall see his friend no more. Prayer and kindly intercourse with the poor are the safeguards of the spiritual life; they are more than food or raiment.' And so Mr. Johns felt it to be. It was not duty, but love, which drew him so constantly to the dwellings of the lowly; it was not his profession, but his noble, sympathizing heart, which led him from morning until night among the weary and heavy-laden-among the sinful and suffering. Of a highly-wrought poetical and susceptible temperament, his sensibilities were touched and his heart torn by the sufferings which he witnessed around him, and which he, with all his assiduity, could only partially alleviate. Untiring in his efforts for their relief, he seized upon every project, every plan in which he could benefit them. The loan societies, evening schools, improved dwellings,— in short, to every thing that could save, instruct or elevate them, he gave his time, his purse, his strength and his whole heart. In his letters his constant theme was the poor; what he was doing or striving to do for them; and the bright face of Hope always seemed to be beaming upon him. He had apparently reached what Dr. Arnold supposes the desirable feeling to entertain with regard to one's work,—always to expect to succeed, and never to think you have succeeded.' As I write, his image, as I saw him some years since, rises before me. His simple, child-like manner, his devoted being, his earnest, sincere tone as he discoursed to the poor men and women who composed his audience, are deeply impressed upon my memory. Oh! who can tell the void, can estimate the loss, of such an excellent man, such a Christian?”

The People's Dictionary of the Bible.-Part XXVIII. of this laborious and truly useful work is before us. It is peculiarly rich in important articles, letter M happening to include more than an average number of topics of leading scriptural interest. We have in this number, Mediator (very brief), Medicine, Melchizedek, Merchant, Mesopotamia, Moloch and others, all terse, clear and full of matter;— Moses, in which the legislator is contemplated, with true advantage to his claims, in his comprehensive relation to the world at large and its progressive ages;-Month, giving an excellent view of the Jewish Calendar and computation of time;-Money, Weights and Measures, conveniently brought together in one view;-and, chief in interest to the theologian, a judicious article on Messiah, tracing the progressive Jewish idea and expectation, and one on Miracles, which is written in an eminently fresh and undogmatical spirit, and will be read with interest by those who are weary of some of the older modes of viewing this important subject. Our limits forbid us to do more than heartily commend this article to our readers, with the number to which it belongs and the noble work at large. This is Part 28, out of 40 as the whole work.

The Truth-seeker in Literature, Philosophy and Religion; a Periodical for the People-December, 1847.-This No. contains a fourth article on the question, "Did the Synagogue ever teach a Trinity ?" The third was a reprint of the article on "the Jewish Church and the Holy Trinity" from our Magazine (Vol. III. 193-202). In this article, Dr. F. R. Lees gives a kind of summary of the controversy. If it were not apparent that W. Cooke's ignorance and presumption are enormous, we should think Dr. Lees' exposure and punishment of him unwarrantably severe. Dr. Lees thus speaks of a portion of our article:

"The candid critic, while admitting that we were as good as our word' in

49

the matter of our impeachments, very charitably supposed that W. C. might be more deceived than deceiving in the matter of the Targums, and concluded with pointing out to us ONE ERROR we had committed, occurring in a note of six lines, in an article of twenty-seven pages! Of course we readily made the requisite correction and apology, taking care to add, that our error in no way affected the evidences of Fraud and Forgery with which W. C. stood charged. With reference to the possibility of his being himself deceived, we shewed that he had put in a bar to such plea, by affirming that he had not borrowed the forgeries from ALLIX, but found them for himself in the Targums'! The conduct of the critic, however, was at once graceful and just; yet he received from W. C. a most graceless return, being designated for his pains as a critic of the Unitarian stamp. This is really a compliment, however; for since the days of Magee to Mr. Cooke, the Unitarians have, we must confess, enjoyed almost a monopoly of candour in controversy."

We regret to see that the continuance of "The Truth-seeker" is in peril. The fate of truth-seekers is in most ages alike:

"Unask'd their pains, ungrateful their advice;

Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price."

Though often differing from Dr. Lees' views, we cheerfully bear our humble testimony to his earnest and truth-loving spirit, and hope that free inquirers may yet come to the rescue of his Magazine in sufficient force to enable him to continue his disinterested labours.

Frazer's Magazine, December, 1847.-Mr. Carlyle has enriched this Magazine by "Thirty-five unpublished Letters of Oliver Cromwell." They are ushered in with a mysterious story of "a gentleman of honourable, frank aspect and manners, still in his best years, and of robust, manful qualities," the possessor till lately of these and other valuable papers illustrating the life and times of Oliver Cromwell. From a fear of reviving family disputes, his ancestors having fought on opposite sides in the great civil war, this mysterious gentleman, after having allowed Mr. Carlyle to hope for a sight of the unedited treasures, in a fit of desperation commits them all to the flames. He previously, however, copied the thirty-five letters of Cromwell now made public. Mr. Carlyle vouches for their authenticity. But for this, we should treat them as a clever and not unamusing forgery. Receiving them as authentic letters, they are well deserving of a careful reading.

As a specimen of the letters, we give No. IV., "To the Committee of Association at Cambridge."

"London, June, 1642. "Gentlemen,-I have sent you by Hobbes's wain, those you know of. You must get lead as you may;-the churches have enough and to spare in them! We shall see the Lord will supply us. Heed well your motions [learn well your drill exercise]; and laugh not at Rose's Dutch tongue; he is a zealous servant; and we may go further and get worse man to our hand than he is.

"I learn from R. you get offences from the Ballards (?) of Stamford. Let them heed well what they are about, or they may get a cake more than they bargain for for their penny. V. says that many come ill to the time fixed for muster; pray heed well their loss of time; for I assure you, if once we let time pass by, we shall seek in vain to recover it. The Lord helpeth those who heed His Commandments; and those who are not punctual in small matters, of what account are they when it shall please Him to call us forth, if we be not watchful and ready? Pray beat up those sluggards. I shall be over, if it please God, next Tuesday or Wednesday. I rest, till then,

"Your Friend and Well-wisher,

"O. C."

G

VOL. IV.