and pernicious, we commend the treatise to our clerical readers as a repository of facts and arguments on the whole subject.

(13.) "A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of things Familiar, by Rev. Dr. BREWER," (New-York: C. S. Francis & Co. 18mo., pp. 426,) is a catechism of useful questions and answers on the phenomena of every-day life, adapted to the instruction of children. An inquisitive child often " vexes " those around it, who ought to know better, by asking why leaves are green, why an old kettle boils water quicker than a new one, &c. Two thousand such questions are here asked and answered. A more useful and entertaining book for a child ten years old-or for children of a larger growth who have learned nothing of natural science-can hardly be found.

(14.) "Responses from the Sacred Oracles, by RICHARD W. DICKINSON, D. D.,” (New-York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1851. 12mo., pp. 430,) is a series of Lectures or Essays on Scriptural Characters, with applications to the needs and duties of our common life, at once mirroring the present in the past, and gathering, from the past, lessons for the present.

The

(15.) A WORK, the need of which has long been felt in classical schools, has just been furnished in "A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology, and Geography, by WILLIAM SMITH, LL. D.: revised, with numerous corrections and additions, by CHARLES ANTHON, LL. D.” (New-York: Harper and Brothers. 8vo., pp. 1039.) Dr. Anthon's larger Dictionary, which is so eminently adapted to the wants of more advanced students, was too costly and too copious to be put into the hands of boys; while Lempriere's had no merit whatever to recommend it but cheapness. present work is, to a great extent, an abridgment of those noble works, the "Dictionaries of Mythology and Biography," edited by Dr. Smith, of London, to which we have several times called the attention of our readers. While the work is designed chiefly to elucidate the Greek and Roman writers usually read in schools, it includes nearly all the proper names connected with classical antiquity which a liberally-educated man ought to know. We regret, however, that the department of Antiquities finds no place in it. The very idea of the book is incomplete without it.

The labour of the American editor has made the present edition far more valuable than the English abridgment. Much additional matter has been given precisely where the school-boy most wants it; e. g., with regard to the writers most read in schools-such as Herodotus, Xenophon, Cæsar, Cicero, &c. Indeed, the American editor's additions amount to more than 1400 independent articles; "while the additions to articles already in the work-but either too briefly or incorrectly stated, or omitting some important matter, are not a few." A list of errors corrected, given in the preface, is as amusing as it is astonishing. The work will find its way into the hands of every school-boy who has

money to purchase it and a teacher with sense enough to tell his pupils what books are indispensable to them.

(16.) THE name of JOHN ANGELL JAMES is praised in all the Churches, and his practical writings have found their way far beyond the limits of his own denomination. His" Christian Professor Addressed in a Series of Counsels and Cautions," (New-York: R. Carter and Brothers. 12mo., pp. 400,) contains the substance of a course of sermons preached to his people on Sundays when the Lord's Supper was administered. It contemplates the believer rather as a "professor of religion than as a Christian-or, at least, rather as a Christian in his relation to the Church and the world, than in his individual capacity or in his retirements. The danger of self-deception, the folly of low aims in religion, and the duties of the several relations that grow out of a profession of religion, are set forth with Mr. James's usual clearness, earnestness, and force.

(17.) An excellent sign of the times is the demand for works of practical religion. Among the most valuable works of this class recently published, whether in England or America, is "The Soldier of the Cross: a Practical Exposition of Ephesians vi, 10-18. By Rev. JOHN LEYBURN, D. D." The Christian's Foes, the Conflict, and the Armour, are the topics of the passage: and often as they have been treated, we know of no better and more practical treatise on the topics than the one before us, unless we except Gurnall's golden treatise, which, at the same time, is less adapted to present wants. The theological basis of Dr. Leyburn's work is not precisely that which we should lay; but this difference need not prevent us from commending his book as a pungent and faithful appeal in favour of practical holiness which deserves good heed from the Churches.

(18.) MISS STRICKLAND's "Lives of the Queens of England," are well known as prolix, yet attractive sketches-tinged throughout with a kindly feeling towards popery. She has now commenced a new series: "Lives of the Queens of Scotland and English Princesses connected with the Regal Succession of Great Britain." (Vol. I: New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1851. 12mo. pp. 374.) This volume contains biographies of the weak and fickle Margaret Tudor, wife of James IV., of Magdalene of France, and of Mary of Lorraine. It is, like most royal biographies, a narrative of vice, treachery, crime, and suffering; and, as a lesson on the woes that monarchy brings in its train, it may not be without its value to republican readers.

(19.) TEXT-BOOKS in Mathematics have been multiplied greatly of late years. Yet we think, if the testimony of all the college professors in the land could be taken, it would be found that they have never been satisfied with their text-books in Analytical Geometry and the Calculus,-especially the latter. Too much matter is generally crowded into these books; more, certainly, than

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can be gone over in the limited time commonly allotted to the subject in a college course, and so the teacher is compelled to select propositions, here and there,—a process as annoying to the pupil as it is unsatisfactory to the instructor. As to the Calculus, especially, a still more striking fault is a want of clearness in the explanation of the fundamental proposition; in fact, many students have to work the Calculus by rule, without ever obtaining a glimmer of understanding as to its basis.

The wants of teachers, in these important respects, will, we think, be fully met by "Elements of Analytical Geometry and of the Differential and Integral Calculus, by ELIAS LOOMIS, A. M. (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1851. 8vo.) The Analytical Geometry is treated, amply enough for elementary instruction, in the short compass of 112 pages-so that nothing need be omitted, and the student can master his text-book as a whole. The Calculus is treated, in like manner, in 167 pages:-and the opening chapter makes the nature of the art as clear as it possibly can be made. We recommend this work, without reserve or limitation, as the best text-book on the subject we have yet seen.

(20.) WE have repeatedly made mention of the excellence and cheapness of the several “Libraries" published by Mr. Bohn, of London, and kept on sale by Messrs. Bangs, Brother, and Co., New-York. Among the volumes recently laid before us are Wade's Junius, Vol. II.; Vasari's Lives of the Painters, Vol. I.; Aristotle's Ethics, translated by Browne; and the third volume of Plato's works, translated by Burges. There is no better-certainly no cheaper-way of securing a good miscellaneous library, than by purchasing the series published by Mr. Bohn.

(21.) DR. KITTO's name is well known to all Biblical students, from his longcontinued labours in the illustration of the Scriptures. It will probably become as familiar to the general Christian public from his "Daily Bible Illustrations, designed especially for the Family Circle," of which three volumes have been issued by Messrs. Carter & Brothers, New-York. Another volume will complete the work, which will then contain original readings for a whole year, on subjects from Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities, and Theology. The first volume embraces subjects from the Antediluvian and Patriarchal history; the second, from the history of Moses and the Judges; and the third, from the Kings. The subjects of the fourth volume will be taken from the Gospels and Acts. The chief peculiarity that distinguishes this from other collections for daily reading is, that it brings a large amount of interesting and curious matter, from the domain of Biblical literature, before the minds of ordinary readers, in an easy and agreeable shape, free from all learned discussions. No man is better prepared to do justice to such a plan than Dr. Kitto

(22.) “The Island World of the Pacific, by Rev. HENRY T. CHEEVER." (NewYork: Harper & Brothers, 1851. 12mo. pp. 406.) We thank Mr. Cheever

for this valuable contribution to our knowledge of Polynesia-a region full of interest in the fields of romance, religion, and commerce. The book contains the results of Mr. Cheever's personal observation in travels chiefly among the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands; but it contains, alsó, a good deal of valuable, information with regard to other islands. The writer succeeds well in narration and description; but if he writes another book, we beg him to forget that he ever read any poetry-his mania for quotation is wonderful. This is a minor blemish, however: the book is a good book, full of useful matter, and written in a thoroughly religious spirit.

(23.) "An Appeal in Behalf of Family Worship, with Prayers and Hymns, for Family Use, by CHARLES F. DEEMS." (New-York: M. W. Dodd, 1851. 12mo. pp. 281.) It was the remark of Tillotson, that "no family neglecting family worship can in reason be esteemed a family of Christians, or, indeed, to have any religion at all." Yet nothing can be more certain than that, in many nominally Christian households, there is no altar of prayer. The neglect is commonly excused by the plea of incapacity-a plea which is fully met and set aside by Mr. Deems' very beautiful and timely book. The Appeal is an earnest and affectionate reproof and warning to all who neglect family worship; and the forms of prayer make the duty possible to those who cannot conduct the devotions of the household by extemporaneous prayer. Every excuse, in fact, that can be trumped up, is here anticipated and parried. The prayers are simple, scriptural, and fervent. There is a form for every Sunday of the month, and for every day of the week. We wish the work a wide circulation.

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(24.) “ Two Years in Upper India. By JOHN C. LOWRIE, one of the Secretaries of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church." (NewYork: Robert Carter & Brothers. 12mo., pp. 276.) Mr. Lowrie sailed for India as a missionary in 1833, and, after a short term of laborious service, his health failed, and he returned in 1836. This volume gives a brief account of his work, with the results of his observations during a journey extending to Lahore, the capital of the late kingdom of the Sikhs. Besides these personal matters, the book contains a large amount of valuable information on the condition of India, and on the history of missions there. Its profits (we hope they will be large) are devoted to the support of these missions.

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(25.) “The Fathers of the Desert, by HENRY RUFFNER, late President of Washington College, Virginia," (New-York: Baker & Scribner. 2 vols., 12mo.,) gives an account of the origin and practice of Monkery among heathen nations, and its passage into the Church; together with the most wonderful stories of the Fathers concerning the primitive monks, hermits, &c. The analogy between the asceticism of the Hindoos, Budhists, Mohammedans, &c., and that of the early Christian Church, is very curiously traced. The narratives sufficiently illustrate the aptitude of human nature to pervert religion, and show FOURTH SERIES, VOL. III.-21.

that this aptitude is not confined to one sect, country, or religion. Dr. Ruffner might have omitted a few of his details with advantage to the sensibilities of his readers: but perhaps his aim is to disgust them, once for all, with monachism and all its abettors. The book can hardly fail to do that.

(26.) "Letters and Papers of the late Theodosia Viscountess Powerscourt, edited by the Bishop of Cashel." (New-York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1851. 12mo., pp. 273.) This work, which has passed through five editions in England, is remarkable, chiefly, because the true religious spirit which animated Lady Powerscourt is so uncommon among people of her rank of life in Great

Britain.

(27.) THE "Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey," is now complete, and published in a single handsome volume, by Messrs. Harper & Brothers, New-York. (8vo., pp. 579.) No one can read this book without admitting the truth of Peel's compliment to Southey, that his name was not only "eminent in literature, but had claims to respect and honour which literature alone can never confer." The abundant correspondence furnished in this volume makes us familiar with Southey in every relation of life and in every mood of feeling : he reveals himself—his thoughts, his whims, and crotchets even, with a frankness and simplicity that charms us, while it wins our respect and confidence. One can pardon his excessive egotism, for the childlike simplicity with which it is uttered. But we cannot allow ourselves to run into a long notice: an extended review is in preparation for a future number.

(28.) MESSRS. CARTER & BROTHERS have reprinted from the fourth English edition, the "Memoirs of the Rev. Alexander Waugh, D. D., with Selections from his Correspondence. By Rev. J. HAY, D. D., and H. BELFRAGE, D. D.” (12mo., pp. 430.) Dr. Waugh's eminent services to the cause of missions in the early days of that great enterprise in Great Britain, together with his laborious activity in every department of his Master's service, are fully set forth in this volume. From his ordination, in 1780, to his death, in 1827, he preached seven thousand seven hundred and six sermons, averaging three discourses on every Sabbath during that long period. The work is full of interest; but it might have been advantageously condensed for use in this country,

(29.) WE regret to pass such a work as "The Foot-Prints of the Creator, by HUGH MILLER," (Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 12mo., pp. 337,) with a brief notice; but we can afford no more at present. The characteristic excellences of this writer are well-known-his admirable command of language, his power of graphic and distinct description, his even poetic imagination, and the substantial basis of scientific knowledge on which all his qualities rest, as on a sure foundation; and all these qualities are abundantly illustrated in the work