authors made a mistake in devoting more than three fourths of the book to picturesque Mexico and less than one fourth to its political affairs and institutions. It is readable, but a different arrangement would increase its value.

Henry the Fifth. By the Rev. A. J. CHURCH. 16mo, pp. 155. London and New York: Macmillan & Co. Price, cloth, 60 cents.

David Livingstone. 16mo, pp. 208. London and New York: Macmillan & Co. Price, cloth, 60 cents.

Henry the Fifth takes us back five hundred years; David Livingstone is one of the great heroes of the present century. Reading these two books at one time we are able to compare the social and political differences of the two periods, to discover the influence of environment on character, and to learn the peculiar individual force of the two men here presented. Of many English men of action which Macmillan & Co. are bringing before their readers, the career of none is more interesting than that of Henry V., and the history of none is more providential and pathetic than that of David Livingstone.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Annual Report of the Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Issued January, 1889. Pp. 95. New York.

The reports of the connectional societies of the Methodist Episcopal Church are historical, statistical, biographical, and prophetical: historical in that they relate the origin and achievements of the societies: statistical in that a careful summary of receipts and expenditures from the beginning until now is given; biographical in that the chief instruments and agencies of progress have fitting recognition in their pages; and prophetical in that from their history and the adoption of improved plans of work larger results may be anticipated in the coming years; and thus these documents are inspiring and helpful to those who are interested in the benevolent enterprises of the Church. We cannot particularize in our allusions to these publications, as they are numerous, and space is limited; but we can say that, commencing with the Missionary Society, the Methodist should read every page of its report if he would have an adequate idea of our missionary operations, and of the stupendous responsibilities resting upon the secretaries; nor can he omit in this connection the remarkable achievements of the sisterhood of the Church in foreign lands and in this country, as detailed in their respective pamphlets; he should then study our work in the South, among the whites and the freedmen, as furnished in the carefully prepared report of the Freedmen's Aid Society; he should take another opportunity to acquaint himself with the work of the Sunday School-Union as given in its Yearbook; and, lastly, he will learn of the origin and meaning of "Children's Day," and of the work and scope of the Board of Education, if he will peruse its annual report now in circulation.

Sickness as a Profession. By HOMER H. MOORE. nati: Cranston & Stowe.

How Practiced by an Expert, and why Abandoned. 12mo, pp. 291. New York: Hunt & Eaton. CincinPrice, cloth, $1.

Dr. Moore, the sturdy thinker, has discovered the secret of much of the sickness that afflicts the human family, and offers in this work a prescription which, taken at any stage of the disease, in many cases, we are confident, will result in a cure. While all mankind are prone to infirmity and are doomed to die, there is an illness which is illusory of which multitudes are the victims, but of which few speedily perish, and for which, not a physician, nor medicine of any kind, is needed, but a common-sense belief in one's health, with suitable exercise and an abundance of nourishing food. The professional sick imagine themselves to be suffering when not a trace of pain is visible in feature or action, to be on the verge of dissolution when they have every prospect of outliving their neighbors, and are a source of trouble and expense to their friends that should not be imposed upon them. They must be treated, not as they desire, but according to the facts. Emerson's maxim, "Never name sickness," should be immediately taught them. The reader of this book will learn how a lady suffered all the experiences of an illusory sickness and by what means she was restored, and he may also learn "by her experience to avoid her example." We commend it as the best prescription-book for imaginative infirmities issued for many a day.

Simon Jasper. By MARK GUY PEARSE, Author of Daniel Quorm, Mister Horn and his Friends, etc. 12mo, pp. 251. New York: Hunt & Eaton. Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe. Price, cloth, 90 cents.

A Damsel of the Eighteenth Century; or, Cicely's Choice. By MARY HARRIOTT NORRIS. 12mo, pp. 275. New York: Hunt & Eaton. Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe. Price, cloth, $1.

Simon Jasper is not one of the least of Mr. Pearse's works. A Damsel of the Eighteenth Century sets forth not only the characteristics of early English Methodism, but also the fashionable spirit and social usages of the period of the Wesleys.

Seventieth Annual Report of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For the Year 1888. Pp. 470. New York.

Nineteenth Annual Report of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For the Year 1888. Pp. 144. Boston.

Seventh Annual Report of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For the Year 1887-1888. Pp. 176.

Twenty-first Annual Report of the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For Year ending July 1, 1888. Pp. 96. Cincinnati.

Year-Book of the Sunday-School Union and of the Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For 1888. Pp. 137. New York.