community a truly valuable book. He takes up the Life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and follows it from its beginning to its close, according to the best harmony of the Evangelists, setting forth in a pleasant and instructive way the lessons of his conduct and his teaching,-the most needful and useful of all lessons for man.

The volume embodies the results of wide reading, sound thinking, and of careful study of profound and critical writers on the New Testament; though it avoids (judiciously, we think,) giving the processes and minute details of criticism. The author does not evade the difficult questions which have been raised by either the friends or foes of the Bible, but meets them fairly and successfully; though not much space is occupied by the discussion of such questions, and could not be 'consistently with the object of the book, which is chiefly practical. He is ingenious, pertinent, and judicious in drawing out from the sacred narrative, and applying lessons suited to the times. The style of the writer is lucid, lively, chaste, and often forcible. We think him, however, liable occasionally to criticism for an endeavor to avoid trite words which goes too far. We do not like such phrases as "the nether shadows," and should prefer entrance to "entree," and root to "radix."

The Christian community, and particularly Christian ministers and teachers, are learning more and more to place a preëminent value on books which give us in a thorough, plain and practical form, the meaning of the inspired Scriptures, and especially of that part of them which treats of the life and discourses of the Divine Redeemer. To this department of Christian literature Mr. Tucker has made a handsome contribution.

Literary and Historical Miscellanies. By GEORGE BANCROFT. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1855. New Haven: E. Downes.

The literary reputation of Mr. Bancroft commends this volume to general favor. It affords abundant evidence of extensive learning, and of a high order of talent. If any have ever doubted his ability for other than historical composition, all doubts will here be dissipated. In these Miscellanies he appears an eminent scholar, a profound and original thinker, a graceful and elegant writer and rhetorician. Whatever reason any one may find to disagree with the writer's opinions on some subjects, all must accord to him intellectual qualities of the highest order, and recognize the volume as a permanently valuable addition to our literature.

The first Essays of the volume relate to "The Doctrine of Temperaments,' "Ennui," and "The Ruling Passion in Death."

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Then follow "Studies in German Literature." These are critical and historical representations of the general Characteristics of Literature in Germany,-of the distinguished men of science and learning and of the age of Schiller and Goethe. There are also about forty pages of translations, principally from the poetry of Schiller and Goethe. Another division of the volume, entitled, "Studies in History," embraces "Economy of Athens,' from which our Rulers and Law-makers might find some instruction respecting the pay of public servants, by which the office-seeking mania might be cured, if salaries were reduced to the classical standard; "Decline of the Roman People ;""Russia ;" and "The Wars of Russia and Turkey." These last papers have a present interest which will attract many readers. Several occasional addresses, including the oration before the New York Historical Society last year, constitute the closing division of the volume.

In the oration on "The Office of the People in Art, Government, and Religion," we are inclined to think that his pen was sometimes guided by singular democratic theories, we do not say tendencies. Particularly when he ascribes the perfection of Art in Athens to the influence of " the fierce democracie;" and the art-inspiration of Giotto, and Perugino, and Raphael to "an infinite sympathy with the crowd."

We are gratified to find in this book a just estimate, so far as it goes, of the merits of Calvin; which we commend to those who have been accustomed to regard him as chiefly distinguished by his supposed responsibility for the condemnation and death of Servetus. Of the distinguished theologian, Mr. Bancroft says, "We boast of our common schools; Calvin was the father of popular education, the inventor of the system of free schools. We are proud of the free States that fringe the Atlantic. The Pilgrims of Plymouth were Calvinists, the best influence in South Carolina came from the Calvinists of France. William Penn was the disciple of the Huguenots; the ships of Holland that first brought colonists to Manhattan were filled with Calvinists. He that will not honor the memory, and respect the influence of Calvin, knows but little of the origin of American liberty."

The Poets and Poetry of Europe. With Introductions and Biographical Notices. By H. W. LONGFELLOW. New York: C. S. Francis & Co. 1855. 779. New Haven: Thomas H. Pease.

8vo. PP.

By those who are not familiar with the languages of Europe, this volume will be gladly welcomed. It is a book of transla tions, presenting specimens of poetry from more than three hun

dred and fifty authors, originally in ten different languages; viz: the six Gothic languages of the north of Europe,-AngloSaxon, Icelandic, Danish, Sweedish, German and Dutch; and the four Latin languages of the south of Europe,-French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The plan of the work somewhat resembles Chambers' Encyclopedia of English Literature. Much valuable information is given, in the introductions, concerning the language and literature of the different nations of Continental Europe. The materials are arranged in successive periods, so as to give some degree of completeness to the literary history of the various countries represented. The selections from many authors are introduced by brief biographical sketches.

The compilation of such a work could not have been entrusted to one better qualified for it by scholarly tastes and habits, than Professor Longfellow. In the collection and arrangement of so much material, and the more important work of occasional translation, the capacity and discretion of a true poet are requisite. Prof. Longfellow has given full proof of his attainment in this art. He "can create and arrange, and compose and polish, and scan and measure feet, and pauses, and rhymes, and syllables, and accents, by dextrous art, by varied and by novel arrangement of words.'

Prose Writers of Germany. By FREDERIC H. HEDGE. Illustrated with Portraits. Third Edition. 8vo. pp. 567. New York: C. S. Francis & Co. 1855. New Haven: Thos. H. Pease.

This large volume is filled with generous selections from some, of the most distinguished of the multitude of prose writers of Germany. The translations from the works of those here presented, are introduced by brief but spirited notices of the leading incidents of their lives. Representations of the German mind, and varying modes of thought, are given in these selections from Luther, who of right occupies the foremost place, and from later authors, to the first quarter of the present century, including but one or two living writers. Luther, Jacob Boehme, Kant, Lessing, Lavater, Herder, Goethe, Richter and Hegel are those who occupy the largest space in these pages.

An Introduction to Practical Astronomy, with a Collection of Astronomical Tables. By ELIAS LOOMIS, LL. D., Professor of Natural Philosophy in N. Y. University, &c. Harper & Brothers. pp. 500. New Haven: E. Downes.

The appearance of an elaborate treatise on Practical Astronomy affords a new indication of the extent to which that most ancient and attractive of the sciences has come to be cultivated in this country, within a comparatively short period.

It is to meet the wants of Students, Amateurs, and Practical Astronomers generally, that Prof. Loomis has prepared the work before us-really the first treatise on Practical Astronomy, worthy to be so called, issued in America. It describes the instruments of an observatory, tells how to adjust and use them, how to make and reduce observations, how to perform the various calculations of the astronomer, find the time, compute eclipses and occultations, determine latitudes and longitudes, and, in fine, unfolds to the learner the secret of those nice measurements and subtle calculations by which the human intellect has been able to gauge the distances of the stars, and predict for all time the phenomena of the spheres. Indeed, a catalogue of 1,500 stars is given in the book, possessing all the authority, for precision, that the most perfect observations have been able to give, and pinning down these twinkling points of light to their places in the heavens, within the narrowest minin of space or time. Nor is it a book of mere blind rules. Lucid demonstrations, accompanying the mathematical_formulae, give it especial value as a text-book for students. Prof. Loomis is in high repute for discrimination and accuracy, and the tables contained in the volume are not only judiciously chosen, but appear to have had great pains taken to free them from error. Both as a class-book and a manual for observers and computers, it is quite in advance of any other work of the kind, at least in the English language.

Catholic and Protestant Nations Compared, in their threefold Relations to Wealth, Knowledge and Morality. By Rev. NAPOLEON ROUSSELL, of Paris. With an Introduction by Hon. and Rev. BAPTISTE NOEL, of London. J. P. Jewett & Co., Boston, 1855. Thos. H. Pease, New Haven.

Rev. Mr. Roussell is well qualified by his talents and education, his profession and manner of life, to comprehend the nature and workings and results of Roman Catholicism. He has had a life-long cognizance of the inefficiency of the system in its reforming influence; of the power which it derives from the ignorance fostered by it in those who are under its rule; and of the poverty which necessarily accompanies the errors and superstitions which it assiduously inculcates. The author has illustrated these truths by abundant evidence drawn from well authenticated sources. His method of doing it is instructive and impressive. He compares contiguous nations, Protestant and Catholic; North and South America; Prussia and Austria; Holland and Belgium; Scotland and Ireland; the Protestant and Catholic Cantons of Switzerland; the effects of Protestant and Catholic missions are also contrasted. He clearly establishes the vast superiority of Protestantism over

Catholicism, giving to nations under the influence of the former knowledge, morality, and wealth; and to Catholic nations a far greater degree of ignorance, poverty, and immorality. The volume is a repository of useful knowledge and of undeniable facts respecting the peculiarities of Romanism.

Tricolored Sketches in Paris during the years 1851-2-3. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1855. New Haven: E. Downes.

"Paris," says Balzac, "is a city which shows itself halfnaked at any hour you like." The times of such display seem to have been occupied by the author of "Tricolored Sketches," in observation and preparation for the book which he has given us. It is full of short chapters, and each one has something graphic, amusing or instructive; happily presenting some peculiarities of Parisian life and manners. Let no one, however, read the book with the expectation of finding in it a just and full estimate of the French people. The writer does not indeed pretend to give a complete delineation of their character and manners. While he claims substantial truth for what he does say, bating the badinage in which he sometimes indulges, yet many things are necessary to complete the portrait of the French nation. Though they are gay and versatile, and immensely mundane, yet "in science France leads the world; in many arts she excels all others; and in those especially which refine and embellish life, she is everywhere the acknowledged lawgiver." A full and interesting narration of the strange events which transpired when the new empire was inaugurated, constitutes a valuable part of this volume.

Louis Fourteenth, and the Writers of his Age. By Rev. J. F. ASTIE. Introduction and Translation by Rev. E. N. KIRK. Boston: J. P. Jewett & Co., 1855. New Haven: T. H. Pease.

This volume consists of Lectures delivered in French to a select audience in New York, by Mr. Astie, while he was minister to a congregation of his countrymen in that city. There are nine Lectures on the Age of Louis XIV, Pascal's Provincial Letters, Corneille, Fenelon, La Fontaine, Boileau, Racine, Moliere, and Pascal's Thoughts. These Lectures have found a faithful and accomplished translator in Rev. Mr. Kirk. They give a partial view of the literary history and character of a most polished nation, in what has been called "The Augustan Age of France."

Postscript to the "South side View of Slavery."

It seems that this volume has reached a second edition, to which a postcript has been added for the purpose of reviewing