Memoir of the Rev. Henry Mowes, late Pastor of Altenhausen and Ivenrode, Prussia, &c., &c., with an Introduction by the Rev. J. DAVIES, B.D., Rector of Gateshead, Durham. London: Hatchards. 1840.

THE life of Mowes was one of less stirring interest than those of Neff or Oberlin: but the man was of the same order. No one can attentively read it without being improved, and the practical tendency of the volume, the applicability of its remarks to the wants and feelings of good men, at all times and in all countries, makes it well worthy of a niche in the Christian's library.

1840.

The Prelate. A Novel. 2 vols. London: Boone. THIS novel is advertised as "by the Rev. S. Smith." The public are expected to believe that S. stands for Sidney. Now, though Sidney Smith is a Whig, more's the pity; he is a man of undoubted ability, of genuine humour, and strong, though sometimes sophistical, argumentation. The Rev. S. Smith, on the other hand, though a Whig, also has no further resemblance to his distinguished namesake. In thus speaking, we do not mean to deny that there is considerable talent displayed in the novel before us; there undoubtedly is, and not a few sketches which would be worthy of Sidney Smith himself, albeit the latter has pointedly denied, in a letter to the Editor of the Times, that HE has had anything to do with it. What we disapprove is, the unchristian spirit, the dishonest representations abounding throughout, the sneers at the higher orders among the clergy -nay, at all orders among them-the bitter Whig-Radicalism that, from time to time, breaks out. Is it likely that the ViceChancellor of Cambridge would refuse permission to a poor devil of a sizar," to go to see a sick mother, or rusticate him if he did so without leave? Does the author of "The Prelate" know no better than to suppose Professors and Masters of Colleges to talk like over-heated fanatical Dissenters? or than to concede the title " Catholic" to the Romanist exclusively? The author is not devoid of ability, though he ought to be heartily ashamed of his present production.

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Sorrow and Consolation; or, The Gospel preached under the Cross. By J. H. GRANDPIERRE, D.D. Translated from the French by a Lady. London: Nisbet. 1840.

THESE Sermons are very good and very evangelical; they are, moreover, well translated, which is not a matter of so much facility as is sometimes supposed.

Party Politics and Political Prospects. A Letter to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P. London: Painter. 1840. PAMPHLETS on political subjects are usually ephemeral in their character; they take a glance, more or less correct, of the general position of affairs, and set in a more or less vivid light the faults or the excellencies of existing arrangements, or of the governing ministry. When those arrangements are superseded, or that ministry out of office, the day of the brochure is past, and its fate is usually known best to the grocer and trunkmaker. In this pamphlet, however, a different line is followed: a very able retrospect is taken, not of Lord Melbourne's ministry only-but of the Whigs, from the time of Queen Anne, downwards; not only of our present opposition-but of Conservatives from the same period. Lord Bolingbroke furnishes a text, whereby Whigs of all ages are proved to be alike actuated by the same paltry motives, and following the same factious polity. It is a slight but masterly sketch of the History of Faction; and those who wish to understand the present position of parties, will do well to read the series of sketches given in these highly interesting pages.

:

Ingliston a Tale. By GRACE WEBSTER. Edinburgh: Tait. 1840 MISS Webster, in the tale before us, has walked in no untrodden field; for, though she has neither followed the steps of Scott and James, in describing the days gone by; nor those of Mrs. Gore and Lady Stepney, in depicting the fashionable manners of our own time, still her work has its predecessors in the beautiful romances of John Wilson.

"Non fumum ex fulgore sed e fumo dare lucem,"

is a good motto, and one which Miss Webster has practised; the commencement of the tale is ill managed, and we had little expectation to find either so interesting a narrative, or so much of a truly Christian spirit in the subsequent pages. The picture of Margaret Inglis, worn out with many sorrows, and at last reduced to abject want, yet ever supported by the high and holy consolations of religion, is touching, and very beautifully drawn; and, alas! for the professing world, too just, also, is the portraiture of Mr. Bland. We shall content ourselves with recommending it as one of the best of its class.

The Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches. London: Burns. 1840.

A very neat edition, and one which we should be glad to see used, that is sung, in every Church, and by every member of the congregation.

Nautical Sketches. By HAMILTON MOORE, Jun. London: Painter. As a book of mere amusement, without any admixture of mischievous matter, we have no hesitation in recommending these sketches. There is a vivid distinctness about them, which brings us at once to the cock-pit and the quarter-deck, which familiarizes us with the light hearts and warm feelings of our best and bravest defenders. It is, we think, a good sign of the times, that our navy attracts so much attention-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Captains Sir Nesbit Willoughby, Marryat, and Basil Hall, have done much to effect this. Naval history, naval sketches, naval novels, naval essays, sermons to seamen, hospitals for seamen-all have become popular since the commencement of the last reign. The personal character of William IV., so frank and thoroughly honest, so benevolent and so truly British, made him beloved by all classes and conditions of men, and a portion of that love reflected on the naval service, has, we rejoice to think, been steadily increasing. Would that it would show itself in making some spiritual provision for our sailors! But we are forgetting Hamilton Moore, Jun., whose pleasant volume has elicited these thoughts, and to whom we cordially wish success, both in literature and in his profession.

The Alphabet explained; or the Science of Articulate Sounds. By the Rev. JAMES BRODIE, A.M. Edinburgh: Johnstone. 1840. Mr. Brodie has, in this unpretending, but learned volume, given us an excellent theory of pronunciation; the facts which he adduces, and the conclusions at which he arrives, are alike creditable to his research and his judgment-the book is one which may be read with great pleasure, and will be full of interest to the student who wishes to investigate the antiquities of the English language; or, indeed, those of the Greek and Roman tongues. While noticing the proofs afforded, that the pronunciation of the Roman v resembled that of the English w, we wonder that the word "went" did not suggest its derivation from "venit;" a derivation the more remarkable, as the signification is derived from another verb. Many interesting papers might be written on this able work, but our limits will forbid our further enlarging.

The Universal Tendency to Association in Mankind Analyzed and Illustrated. By JOHN DUNLOP, Esq. London: Houlston and Stoneman. 1840.

MR. DUNLOP has, we rejoice to find, forsaken the path of fictitious narrative, and betaken himself to his old field of statistics; here we are always glad to meet him, and cordially approve this present volume.

On the Nobility of the British Gentry; or the Political Ranks and Dignities of the British Empire. By Sir JAMES LAWRENCE, Knight of Malta. London: Fraser. 1840.

SOME years ago, certain "English gentlemen," who gloried in the title, and refused to assume any other, were introduced at the Court of St. Petersburgh; at a dinner given by a Russian nobleman, these gentlemen had demanded of them their ranks; they replied "English gentlemen!" whereupon they were very coolly thrust to the bottom of the table by Counts, Barons, and Marquises, innumerable. To remedy such inconveniences and to explain fully the style which an English gentleman has a right to assume, Sir James Lawrence has given us a little book, in which we find as much information as could be desired and in a very small compass. He proves, satisfactorily, that every person entitled to arms, is noble; that every person whose great grandfather was entitled to arms, is a gentleman; and thus that the title gentleman is superior to that of nobleman. A prince may make one, but he cannot make the other; and Seldon, in his " Table Talk," profanely remarks, that a gentleman is the only thing which God Almighty cannot make. The nurse of James I., who had followed him from Edinburgh to London, entreated him to make her son a gentleman. "My good woman," said the King, "a gentleman I could never make him, though I could make him a lord." We can, with great pleasure, recommend this book to our untitled gentry, fully assured that it will give them satisfaction.

Jephthah; or the Maid of Gilead. Edinburgh: Johnstone. 1840. THE author has done well in sending forth this production anonymously. He may bye and bye write something respectable; and we are inclined to think, with a celebrated critic, that if he will but be pleased entirely to change his manner of writing and thinking, we may perhaps be well satisfied with his works. The present specimen is written in particularly inflated prose, and much reminds us of a "Poem" which we once happened to see, called the "Death of Cain," and wherein, by way of exemplifying the very affectionate disposition of that renowned patriarch, we found this exquisite sentence-" Nor was Cain remiss in forming a periphery of his arms around the waist of his gentle spouse." The "Maid of Jephthah" is not quite so learned as the "Death of Cain," but it is as poetical.

every whit

1. Aid to Devotion. London: Dalton.

1840.

2. Christian Consolations taught from Five Heads in Religion. By JOHN HACKET, D.D., Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. London: Burns, 1840.

3. Pictures of Religion and Religious Truth. From the Works of Taylor, Leighton, &c. London: Burns. 1840.

THE above are all reprints, and are, therefore, already well known. The first is less meritorious than the other two. Mr. Burns is doing great service to the Church, and we wish him success in these selections and reprints.

PAMPHLETS, TRACTS, AND SINGLE SERMONS.

1. On the Principles of Common or Inaptive Discipline; the Eighth of a Series of Letters to a Brother Curate, on Professional Topics of various interest and importance. By a SUPERNUMERARY. London: Cadell. 1840.

2. Transubstantiation and the Romish Sacrifice of the Mass: a Sermon preached in St. Leonard's Church, Bilston, on Tuesday evening, March 10, 1840. By the Rev. J. W. WHITTAKER, D.D., Vicar of Blackburn. Wolverhampton: Simpson. 1840.

1840.

3. Popery; Practical, Past, Present, and Prospective: a Tract for all Times. By the Rev. FRED. A. GLOVER, M.A., Rector of Charlton in Dover. London : Roake and Varty. 4. The Anglo-Catholic Use of Two Lights upon the Altar, for the signification that Christ is the very True Light of the World, stated and defended. By GEO. AYLIFFE POOLE, M.A., Incumbent of St. James's Church, Leeds. London: Burns. 1840.

5. Essay on the Utility, Origin, and Progress of Writing. By F. BOLINBROKE RIBBANS, F.S.A., C. C. C., Camb. London: Longman. 1840.

6. The Dignity and Claims of the Christian Poor. Two Sermons; the latter preached in aid of the Middlesex Hospital. By FRED. OAKELEY, M.A., &c., &c., &c. London: Burns. 1840.

7. Tracts on Christian Doctrine and Practice. London: Burns. 1840. 8. The City of God. A Sermon preached in St. Peter's Church, Walworth. By JOHN FULLER RUSSELL, B.C.L. Published by request. London: Burns.

1840.

9. The Observance of Lent. A Letter to the Right Hon. the Earl of Uxbridge. By JAMES SKINNER, B.A., University College, Durham. London: Burns. 1840.

10. Come out of Rome. A Sermon preached on the behalf of the Protestant Association, in the Parish Church of St. Clement Danes, Strand. By the Rev. E. BICKERSTETH, M. A., Rector of Watton, Herts. London: Seely. 1840.

11. The Church and the Chapters. A Letter to the Representatives of the University of Cambridge. London. Ollivier. 1840.

12. Narratives and Tracts. 18mo. London: Burns. 1840. Nos. 1 to 6.