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Life of the Rev. T. Charles-The Domestic Chaplain.

Into the important subjects mentioned in the title-page, the author fully enters, and his manner of investigating them evinces that he is a workman who needs not be ashamed. They may be said to embody the essence of Christianity, uniting experimental and practical godliness by indissoluble ties, and demonstrating that without both, no one can enter heaven, or be qualified to enjoy its felicities. The discussion of these momentous and interesting topics places them before us in a variety of lights, from each of which may be drawn some highly valuable conclusions; and the spirit of piety which pervades the whole, can hardly fail to communicate its influence to every reader.

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upon Christ for salvation, which breathes in every section.

We find, in looking through the pages of this book, that in general Mr. Charles has been his own biographer, having kept a diary of passing events, and of God's dealings with his soul, for many years. To this diary Mr. Morgan has had access, and the paragraphs are inserted in the same language, and chiefly in the same connexions, in which they were found. To these he has added numerous letters, which had been written by the deceased. These, according to their respective dates and occasions, are interspersed throughout the diary, and, in conjunction with it, they assist in elucidating a character, of which, sober sense, piety, and zeal are the distin

On Mr. Morgan has devolved the task of arranging the materials thus prepared to his hand, and of introducing them with a few preliminary remarks, and accompanying them with suitable reflections and observations, which are carried to a greater or less extent, as choice dictated, or cir. cumstances required. In these respects he has acquitted himself in a reputable manner, having taken care to leave no chasms in the narrative, and to suffer no event of moment to remain involved in obscurity.

The Introductory Essay is both vigorous and appropriate. The mantle of Dr. Dod-guishing features. dridge seems to have been caught by Dr. Wardlaw, whose composition breathes the same spirit, and beats with the same nervous pulsations of pious animation. With many of Dr. Wardlaw's associations, and discriminating remarks, we have been much delighted. He enters fully into the views of his author, and, travelling in the same path, prepares the way for the reader to approach him. In this one point both authors concur, namely, that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of of God." Against the efficacy of water baptism to effect spiritual regeneration, they both enter their solemn protest, and the arguments which they deduce from the authority of scripture, as well as from the nature of the change to be effected, no legitimate reasonings can gainsay. This volume now takes its stand among the series of "Select Christian Authors," and is every way worthy of the family into which it is adopted.

REVIEW. A Brief History of the Life and Labours of the Rev. T. Charles, A.B., late of Bala, Merionethshire. By the Rev. Thomas Morgan. 12mo. pp. 397. Hamilton. London. 1828.

THE preface to this volume has evidently been written with the hand of friendship; but we have no right to charge it with a deviation from truth, in the general facts which it records. We can easily conceive that the Rev. T. Charles was a great and good man, and that his ministry was rendered a blessing to the people among whom he dispensed the words of eternal life. This, indeed, is evinced throughout all the subsequent parts, by the spirit of self-abasement, and of humble reliance

The diary of Mr. Charles contains scarcely any remarkable incident; but his letters have frequently a solemnity of expression, which will render them welcome to every pious reader, who knows how to distinguish between serious rationality and monastic gloom. It is, however, within the sphere of his labours, and the range of his acquaintance, that this memoir will be chiefly circulated. Where the individual was known and esteemed, his memory will be cherished, from being combined with endearing associations. Beyond these confines, the work must force its way into public notice, by its own intrinsic merits; and, lamentable as the fact may appear, it is one which we must all acknowledge, that where unvarnished piety is the principal recommendation, its advance will be slow, and almost imperceptible.

REVIEW.-The Domestic Chaplain; being fifty-two short Lectures on the most Interesting Subjects; with appropriate Hymns and Prayers for every Lord's day in the year. By John Stanford, A. M. 8vo. pp. 620. Bennett. London. 1828. THESE lectures were originally published in America, where the author is said to be an eminent and popular preacher, parti

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Review.-Scripture References.

cularly in advocating the cause of Christianity against the attacks of infidelity. His work having obtained an extensive circulation in that country, a copy was brought across the Atlantic, and, in the British metropolis, a new edition speedily issued from the press.

In these lectures we find but little of a controversial character. A passage of scripture is prefixed to each, which, however, is rather a motto than a text, and, from its obvious import, some doctrine is elucidated, some precept is enforced, or some practical inference is drawn. Each lecture is followed by an appropriate hymn, and this is succeeded by a suitable prayer, the whole occupying about twelve or fourteen pages. Proceeding thus, we have a lecture, hymn, and prayer for each Sabbath throughout the year, without any specific appropriation of either to a particular day. This selection and adjustment must be made by the reader, who, from the variety before him, will be able to accommodate the lecture to the events and circumstances which rise, and float before him on the stream of time.

Of these lectures, the leading ideas are always suggested by the scriptures prefixed, on which account no want of variety could be anticipated; but respecting the prayers, some ground for apprehending sameness might be entertained. We find, however, that for these apprehensions no just occasion exists. They are commendably diversified both in thought and expression; but we regret to add, that they partake more of mechanical phraseology than of conscious susceptibility, and are better calculated to display the language of systematic arrangement, than to develop the genuine feelings of the heart. To those, however, who are accustomed to deal in hyperbole, and to whom such artificial modes of speech are familiar, this affected humility, and black delineation of halfunfelt depravity, will be a recommendation. They will rally round it as a standard, and learn from the author some new modes of manufacturing exaggeration.

But leaving these blemishes in their native soil, and looking on the fairer side, we can find much to approve, and much to commend. Many important truths of scripture are placed before us in a perspicuous light, and in their elucidation we find numerous things advanced, in the issues of which, all are deeply interested. To such as can receive these lectures in this light, they will be found usefully instructive, and it is only under these restrictions that we can recommend them.

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REVIEW. Scripture Balances; or, a Collection of the Promises, Precepts, and Threatenings of the Holy Scriptures, systematically arranged in four parts. By the Rev. John Young. 12mo. pp. 214. Holdsworth. London. 1829. THIS Volume consists of scripture language exclusively, and each passage is accompanied with the chapter and verse in the sacred writings, whence it has been taken.

In the arrangements which the author has made, each page is divided into two columns; in the first he inserts the promise, and in the second the threatening, thus placing before the reader in one view, from the unerring word of truth, what both the righteous and unrighteous, the upright and the hypocrite, may expect at the hand of God.

The four parts relate more to classification than to any other cause of variation. The first refers to temporal events, and comprises such promises and threatenings as are connected with the affairs of the present life. The second brings before us things that are spiritual, in which justification is contrasted with condemnation, adoption with rejection, sanctification with impurity, and faith with unbelief. The third part passes the bounds of time, and presents to our view the ineffable glories and awful miseries of an eternal state. The fourth part is devoted to the precepts enjoined by the word of God, and to the threatenings denounced against those who are disobedient.

Under these four parts, taken in the aggregate, are arranged what may be called one hundred and two sections, each bearing a distinct and an appropriate title, suggested by the subjects that are brought into contrast; such as, "general promises to the pious, general threatenings to the wicked;" "temporal support promised, temporal want threatened;"""long life promised, early death threatened." Consonant to these principles and examples, Mr. Y. ranges through the numerous topics to which his sections refer, and, within a narrow compass, embodies nearly all that is essential for man to know in relation to his duty to God and his neighbour, thus extracting the essence of the Bible, and applying it to time and eternity.

A copious index will direct the reader to nearly every preceptive, promisory, experimental, and practical subject, on which he can be desirous to know the will of God. Hence, being directed to a given page, he will find the scriptures already arranged and adjusted, with life and death placed

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in his view. In these balances he will weigh himself, and fairly estimate how much he is found wanting.

Not merely to private readers, but even to ministers of the gospel, this book will be found exceedingly serviceable. When preparing their discourses for the pulpit, and arming themselves with a "Thus saith the Lord;" they will find here, already collected together in a focus, all that the Concordance and Bible can supply. We consider it to be an excellent work, and one that will continue to live when the author shall be unable to write any more.

Winter's Wreath for 1830.

WE have been favoured with a copy of the illustrations designed to enrich the "Winter's Wreath for 1830," and feel much pleasure in being able to speak of them with the warmest approbation. They are eleven in number, and include as much variety as their limits would admit. As specimens of the graphic art, they deserve, and will obtain, a place far beyond the regions of mediocrity; and if the literary portion of the volume correspond with these illustrations, commendations of the critic will not be wanted, to secure for this annual a favourable reception.

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We have not space to enumerate all the engravings. The following are those which struck our attention most forcibly. "Blind Howard and his Grand-children," in which the countenance of the girl speaks more than words can tell; "The Mandoline," a fancy portrait, the character very fine; "The Parting from the Bridal of Fontenaye," has considerable richness of detail; "View of Dordt from the Harbour," a very sweet engraving; "View near Derwentwater Lodore," an exceedingly rich subject; but the "Vale of Arcady" associates so closely with classical reminiscences, as to claim a decided preference.

BRIEF SURVEY OF BOOKS.

1. An Oration delivered before the Medico - Botanical Society of London, October 28th, 1828, by John Frost, F.R.S. &c. Director of the Society, (Wilson, London,) is dedicated by permission to his majesty, in a becoming manner. The Oration has an immediate bearing on the institution, and the end for which it was established, namely, to cultivate botany with an eye to medicine, and, in this view, to connect it with chemistry. The communications held by this

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society with various parts of the world, concentrate within its range all the discoveries that are made in the vegetable kingdom. On this extensive correspon dence, Mr. Frost briefly touches in his oration, and notices the advantages which result from the intercourse. His observations are judicious, appropriate, and luminous, without being extended to an immoderate length.

2. Noon-day and Sun-set. A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Everett, by J. P. Dobson, (Holdsworth, London,) is a funeral discourse, chiefly addressed to young persons. It marks the uncertainty of life, and the necessity of being always prepared for death. These admonitions the occasion powerfully suggests, Mrs. Everett dying in the twenty-first year of her age. Her life, however, evinces that she was not unprepared for the solemn event, which Mr. Dobson has improved with commendable earnestness, and suitable ability.

3. The Apocrypha of the Book of Daniel, (including several books of the Apocryphal writings,) by Luke Howard, F.R.S. (Longman, London,) is an attempt to bring into repute, as portions of the Holy Scriptures, those books which have been excluded from the authorized version, and against which the Bible Society has lately set its face. We cannot enter into the great question of their authenticity, in favour of which the present translator furnishes no evidence. He gives the text, subjoins notes of elucidation, and inserts in the margin references to many passages from the acknowledged scriptures, as applicable to the same subjects. Mr. Dobson thinks that they merit more respect than they have of late obtained, and seems to express his fears, that in time this spirit of innovation will deprive us altogether of the sacred writings. His zeal is to be commended, but many will probably think that it has been exercised at the expense of his judgment.

4. The Nature and Duration of the Apostacy, a Discourse delivered at Peckham, by Robert Vaughan, (Holdsworth, London,) proves, by unquestionable evidence, derived from comparing facts with scripture, that the papal church is in an awful state of apostacy from God. Its degeneracy appears in many respects; but how long this apostacy is to continue, the author has by no means made apparent. On this point, his reasonings are founded on equivocal data, and his conclusions leave us in a state of uncertainty. This is a slough, in which most writers on the prophecies founder.

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ASTRONOMICAL OCCURRENCES FOR

OCTOBER, 1829.

THE Sun enters Scorpio on the 23d at 29 minutes past four in the afternoon. His declination on the 1st is 3 degrees, 11 minutes south, and on the 31st 14 degrees, 8 minutes. His semi-diameter on the 1st is 16 minutes, 1 second, and 1 tenth, and on the 25th, 16 minutes, 7 seconds, and 6 tenths. The time that his semi-diameter occupies in passing the meridian on the 1st is 1 minute, 4 seconds, and 1 tenth; and on the 25th, 1 minute, 5 seconds, and 9 tenths his hourly motion in space on the 1st is 2 minutes, 27 seconds, and 7 tenths, and on the 25th, 2 minutes, 29 seconds, and 8 tenths.

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The Moon enters her first quarter on the 5th, at 49 minutes past eleven in the evening, in the 12th degree of Capricorn: she is full on the 12th at 39 minutes past three in the afternoon, in the 19th degree of Aries on the 19th, at 30 minutes past two in the afternoon, she enters her last quarter in the 25th degree of Cancer: her change takes place on the 27th at 44 minutes past seven in the evening, in the 3d degree of Scorpio. She passes Venus on the 1st at 45 minutes past six in the morning, Jupiter on the 3rd at one in the afternoon, Saturn on the 21st at 30 minutes past seven in the morning, Mars on the 23d at one in the morning, Mercury on the 28th at 15 minutes past one in the morning, Jupiter again on the 31st at 15 minutes past four in the morning, and Venus again on the same morning at 45 minutes past nine. She is in perigee on the 11th, and in apogee on the 24th.

The planet Mercury may probably be detected by the attentive observer in the former part of the month, as he arrives at his greatest elongation on the 5th; he is stationary on the 17th, passes the Sun at his inferior conjunction on the 28th, and crosses the ecliptic in his ascending node on the 30th. Venus may be noticed at the commencement of the month a little to the east of Mercury; she is in aphelio on the 23rd, and on the following day she has 9 digits illuminated on her western limb, her apparent diameter being 14 seconds. Mars may be noticed very near, and to the west of ẞ Virginis on the morning of the 1st. He passes this star on the 3rd, and directs his course to n of this constellation, which he passes very near to, on the 14th. His course then lies under the third of the Virgin, which he passes on the 23d; he is then noticed to recede from this star, and to approach Virginis. Jupiter is now in a very unfavourable position for observation.

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There is one eclipse of his first satellite visible, which takes place on the 5th at 23 minutes 5 seconds past seven in the evening, and which the expert observer may probably obtain a view of. Saturn is observed in a barren space between the Crab and Lion, slowly approaching Regulus. He rises on the 1st at 8 minutes past one in the morning, and on the 25th at 46 minutes past eleven in the evening. On the evening of the 15th, the Moon is observed to approach the bright star in the Bull's Eye, named Aldebaran, until 24 minutes 59 seconds past nine, when the Moon's limb will be in contact with the star, which will continue hid until 3 minutes 36 seconds past 10, when it emerges from behind the western limb.

THE LAST OF THE RACE.

This

DIED, at St. John's, Newfoundland, on the 26th of June, 1829, in the twentyninth year of her age, Shawnadithit, supposed to be the last of the Red Indians, or Bæothicks. This interesting female lived six years a captive among the English, and, when taken notice of latterly, exhibited extraordinarily strong natural talents. She was a niece to Mary March's husband, a chief of the tribe, who was killed in 1819, at the Red Indian's Lake, in the interior, while endeavouring to rescue his wife from the party of English who took her, the view being to open a friendly intercourse with his tribe. tribe, the aborigines of Newfoundland, presents an anomaly in the history of man. Excepting a few families of them soon after the discovery of America, they never held intercourse with the Europeans, by whom they have been ever since surrounded, nor with the other tribes of Indians, since the introduction of fire-arms among them. The Chinese have secluded themselves from the interference of all other nations, their motives being understood only to themselves, and the moral peculiarities of that people are slowly developed to others but in Newfoundland, nearly as far from China as the antipodes, there has been a primitive nation, once claiming rank as a portion of the human race, who have lived, flourished, and become extinct, in their own orbit. They have been dislodged, and have disappeared from the earth in their native independence, in 1829, in as primitive a condition as they were before the discovery of the New World, and that, too, on the nearest point of America to England, in one of our oldest and most important colonies.

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Pandemonium.-Gleanings.

PANDEMONIUM.

HAVING lately visited the Panorama in Leicester-square, to witness the terrible creations of Milton, embodied on the canvass, we were equally struck with astonishment and disappointment ;-with wonder to behold the colossal powers of the artistwith regret to perceive that "the force of nature could no further go."

The pencil will, in some instances, give effect where the effusions of poetic fancy are languid and unimpressive; whilst, in many others, the painter's resources are insufficient adequately to portray the lofty imaginings, the sublime imagery, of immortal verse. The latter part of this remark is fully illustrated, by the present attempt to transfer to the canvass the Pandæmonium of Milton. The artist has done all that could be done: the infernal city coincides in its vast dimensions with the ambition of him, "who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms," but the terrible character which revelation gives this dark abode, is indistinctly (and it could not be otherwise than indistinctly) shewn, while the gathering of the countless legions at the command of their leader, is most wonderfully represented. But in order to give a proper idea of magnitude to the buildings, the artist has been obliged to introduce his figures on a scale which borders on insignificance. Satan, when after much search you have discovered him, appears to retain some of his "original brightness" and to be hardly "less than archangel ruined;" but he is too distant and indistinct to excite the interest which ought to attach to the leading figure.

GLEANINGS.

Polar Red Snow.-According to the chemical examination of the red snow brought from the north by Captain Franklin, MM. Macaire, Princep, and Marcet are inclined to think it may be of animal production, and not vegetable; i. e. to consist of animals or animalcules. The analogy of this substance to a red matter, taken from the Lake of Morat, was one amongst other reasons for this opinion; and also the circumstance that gelatine (containing azote) has not as yet been found in the vegetable creation, whereas it is in this red snow.-Bib. Universelle, xxxíx. 290.

Prosecutions.-The total of the sums paid to prosecutors and witnesses, last year, out of the Middlesex County Rate, amounted to the enormous sum of 97187. 6s. 2d.; being, probably, much more than the value of all the property the persons were prosecuted for stealing.

Singular Instance of Sagacity in a Cat.-An elderly lady, who frequently amused herself by placing ears of corn on a parapet wall near her bed-room window, for the birds to feed upon, had a favourite cat, which not only watched this action of her mistress, but profited by it, by sometimes lying in ambush in a neighbouring gutter, and pouncing upon the feathered prey while they were engaged with the corn. The lady died, leaving a quantity of corn in her room, which enabled puss to employ herself for several weeks, in carrying out an ear every morning, and placing it upon the wall, while she concealed herself in the old situation, and hourly thinned the family of sparrows, which could not resist the fatal delicacy thus offered to their view.

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Interesting Discoveries.-In the month of December 1827, a planter discovered, in a field at a short distance from Monte Video, a sort of tomb-stone, upon which, strange, and to him unknown, signs were engraven. He caused this stone, which covered a small excavation formed with masonry, to be raised, in which be found two exceedingly ancient swords, a helmet, and shield, which had suffered much from rust, and earthen amphora, of large capacity. The planter caused these objects, together with the tombstone, to be removed to Monte Video, where, in spite of the ravages of time, and the little care taken of the stone, fragments of Greek words could be easily made out, read, and supplied, which, when translated, are to the following purpose:-" During the dominion of Alexander, the son of Philip, King of Macedon, in the 63d Olympiad, Ptolemaios"-It was impossible to decipher the rest. On the handle of one of the swords was the portrait of a man, supposed to be Alexander; on the helmet there is sculptured work that must have been executed by the most exquisite skill, representing Achilles dragging the corpse of Hector round the walls of Troy (like the Fabula Hiaca, the bas-relief of stucco found in the ruins of the Via Appia at Fratocchio, belonging to the Princes of Colonna, which describes all the principal scenes in the Iliad and Odyssey.) It is quite clear, from the discovery of this kind of monumental altar, that a contemporary of Aristotle has dug up the soil of Brazil and La Plata. It is conjectured that this Ptolemaios was the Commander of Alexander's fleet; which is supposed to have been overtaken by a storm in the great ocean, as the ancients called it, and driven on the coast of Brazil, where it erected the above-mentioned monument, to preserve the memory of the voyage to so distant a country. At all events, this discovery furnishes a fact deserving the attention of antiquarians.From the Journal des Voyages et Archives Geogra phiques.

Sympathy-The following remarkable anecdote is extracted from An Essay on the Science of Acting:In the town of North Walsham, Norfolk, in 1788, the Fair Penitent was performed. In the last act, where Calista lays her hand on the skull, a Mrs. Barry, who played the part, was seized with an involuntary shuddering, and fell on the stage; during the night her illness continued, but the following day, when sufficiently recovered to converse, she sent for the stage

keeper, and anxiously inquired whence he procured

the skull; he replied, "From the sexton, who informed him it was the skull of one Norris, a player, who,

twelve years before, was buried in the churchyard."

That same Norris was her first husband: she never recovered the shock, and died in six weeks.

Excuses for not Attending Public Worship.-
Overslept myself and could not dress in time.
Too cold-too hot-too windy-too dusty.
Too wet-too damp-too sunny-too cloudy.
Don't feel disposed-no other time to myself.
Look over my drawers-put my clothes to rights.
Letters to write to my friends.

I mean to walk a mile for air and exercise.
Can't breathe in a Church-always so full.
Feel a little feverish-a little chilly-feel lazy.
Expect company-friends to dine with me.

Hurt my foot-got a great head-ache.
Caught cold last night-pain in my side.
Must watch the servants-can't leave them.

Servants up to every mischief when I go to Church. Intend nursing myself to-day-my bonnet not come home.

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Chain of my retecule lost.

Tore my dress coming down stairs.

Got a new novel-must be returned on Monday morning.

Don't like the Liturgy-always praying for the same thing.

Don't like extempore prayer-don't know what is coming.

Don't like an organ-it's too noisy.

Don't like singing without music-makes me nervous. Can't sit in a draft of air.

Windows or doors open-always get ill.

Can't bear an extempore sermon-too prosing.

Stove too hot-gives me a head-ache.

Can't always listen to the same preacher.
Don't like strangers, or charity sermons.

Can't keep awake at Church-snored last time I was there-sha'nt risk it again.

Tired to death, standing to pray.
Hate to kneel-makes my knees stiff.

Mean to inquire of some sensible person about the propriety of going to so public a place as a Church, Curious Statistics.-A French doctor, Falret, has recently received a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences for a statistical table of suicides, &c. in the French capital. The doctor states, that among men the greatest number of suicides is between the ages of 35 and 45; and among women, between 25 and 35; but that there are twice as many suicides among young girls under 15 years of age as among boys of

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