We have noticed two or three matters which may deserve the attention of the writer in preparing another edition. At page 5 it would be more correct to say, the savage watched the vapour, and not the steam; at page 186, Syria should be Assyria; and the Geological statements at page 254 will perhaps require reconsideration in the face of recent discoveries.

These are trifles, but we shall be glad to see so excellent a book free from any blemish.

SUNDAY EVENINGS. A Second Series of Short Addresses on Passages of Holy Scripture. By a Lady. London: William Macintosh. pp. vi. 243. In our number for February last, page 109, we noticed, with approbation, a work entitled "Saturday Afternoons, or Short Addresses to a Class of Young Women." The present volume is by the same lady, and of a similar character, but a different title has been adopted, "as it has been thought that this collection of short Addresses may be useful for Family and Cottage Lectures in places where there is no public church service on the evening of the Lord's Day."

We have read the addresses generally with pleasure, and believe they may be profitably used for the purposes intended. There is, however, much in them which will necessarily limit them to members of the Church of England, such as the reference in page 47 to the signing with the cross in baptism; to the sins of the Devil you have promised to resist at baptism, and to confirmation, page 63. If we rightly understand the address on the passage "I am the Vine," the writer maintains the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, for she speaks of " baptized Christians," page 16, and adds, "at your baptism you were made 'members of Christ,' branches of the true Vine"; nor do we any where meet with any statement of any further change of nature being required.

Practical duties are not kept out of sight. Take the following very excellent advice addressed to the young women who, as will be seen by reference to our notice of "Saturday Afternoons," are the daughters of yeomen and farmers :

Try

"Perhaps you will have servants of your own in future days. If so, how much good you may do by training them properly! Poor girls may come to you very young and ignorant, whom you may, by God's blessing, guide and instruct, and take care of, till you see them become creditable young women. I feel very anxious to speak to you about farm servants, and to beg you to consider how much good you may do, if spared to have servants of your own. And I speak also to such of my young women, who may marry respectable tradesmen. to remember always that you have a Master in heaven.' To Him you will be responsible for your servants. True, you cannot convert them, or make them religious; but, with God's blessing upon your efforts, you may be the instruments of lasting good to them. If I gave you a few rules to act upon, they would be much as follows:-Be particular as to the characters, both of your men and women servants, when you engage them. Make reasonable and proper rules, and see that your orders are obeyed. Know what company your servants keep. Provide them with suitable books for winter evenings, and be kind to them, though firm with them. Encourage them to read their Bibles and good books, especially on the Lord's Day. Have regular family prayer, of which I have been speaking, and see that all your people attend it. Give great care so to arrange, that you, and all in your house, may be regular at Church on Sunday, at least once in the day."-p. 113.

THE HOLY LAND. Published under the Direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education, appointed by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and the The National Society. By the Rev. Samuel Clark, M.A., F.R.G.S., Principal of the National Society's Training College, Battersea.

WE have seen many maps of the Holy Land, but no one which equals this for its size, beauty, and extent of information. It measures 5 feet by 4; and is beautifully printed. The Old and New Testament divisions are both marked: the modern names are given as well as the ancient. The topography of Jerusalem and its neighbourhood, a map of the Sinaitic peninsula, and an enlarged plan of Sinai itself are also inserted. Much incidental information is afforded, and all the geographical knowledge which can be required in connection with the Holy Land, and which is necessary for the elucidation of the Scripture narrative, appears to be supplied. A more appropriate article of furniture for Senior Class Rooms cannot be imagined, nor a more acceptable present to the teachers of such classes.

THREE IN HEAVEN. By John Angell James. London: Nisbet & Co. pp. 8. PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS. By Henrietta M. Lutwidge. London: Wertheim & Co. pp. 16.

EARLY PIETY AND EARLY SUFFERING. By F. Streeter. Hastings: Ransom. pp. 23.

THE first in order of these three was (as a note prefixed to it informs us,) "the last little book written by the late Rev. John Angell James;" it sets forth, "the duty of Christians to invite others to the house of God," and is marked by the earnest, practical, and forcible style, so characteristic of the author.

The second contains several prayers suitable for children, and likely to be useful in aiding the devotions of those for whom they are intended.

The third very briefly records the conversion of two little sisters, and the development of pious principles in the life of a young woman, whose existence was marked by much suffering. We join with the writer in hoping, that the narratives will be " a stimulus to early piety in the case of those young people into whose hands this little work may be put."

By

BURDEN BEARING; a few words to the Weary and Heavy Laden. G. W. Mylne. London: William Macintosh. pp. 32. Price Threepence. THE author says that his object “is not to invent imaginary burdens, or wantonly to increase the pressure of any burden that really exists, but simply to point out some of the true burdens that weigh consciously, or unconsciously, on every member of the human race." He adverts to the burden of unpardoned sin-an evil conscience-the unassured believer-self— care-poverty-riches-rank and station-influence and general consistency-responsibility-the body; and his effort is to induce those who feel the pressure of any of these burdens, to cast them upon Jesus. This tract will prove a word of direction and comfort to many a weary soul.

REASON AND REVELATION. Two Charges delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex, at the Visitations held at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, in 1861 and 1863. By the Venerable John Sinclair, M.A., F.R.G.S., Archdeacon of Middlesex, &e. London: William Macintosh. THESE Charges appear to have been called forth by the publication of the volume of Essays and Reviews, in which sentiments were advanced designed to overthrow the authority of Scripture, and to abolish all belief in the supernatural. The Archdeacon in his first charge makes some remarks on the creative, preservative, and moral agency of God, and then adds some cautions to the clergy he was addressing, and which he considered appropriate to the extraordinary position of their church.

Two of those cautions are of great importance.

"Beware of taking up hastily and unadvisedly, as matters of mere curiosity and speculation, or of no vital importance, the unsound and dangerous views to which I have been adverting. They are unspeakably important. To adopt them implies the rejection of that great sacrifice which forms our only hope of salvation."-p. 23.

"If you once begin to tamper with the authority of the Bible, you have no ground to stand upon. Your feet are already gone. Your treadings have already slipped. To give up miracles and prophecy, and all that is supernatural in Christianity, and attempt, notwithstanding, to retain what is natural, is impracticable and preposterous. The natural portion falls at once to the ground if the supernatural be removed."-p. 24.

The second charge is occupied with the proofs of the necessity of a Divine revelation, afforded by the ignorance on spiritual subjects of the most enlightened men of the heathen world, followed by some observations as to the province of human reason in the discovery of religious truths. The Archdeacon states, that the great security against the perversion of human reason to the purposes of rationalism and infidelity, on which his Church relies, is the respect we ought to feel for the creeds and liturgies of antiquity."--p. 46. This might seem appropriate language in the mouth of a minister of the Church of Rome, but as Protestants, we have a higher and surer standard-the Word of God itself. While we would not undervalue the assistance afforded to the understanding of the Word of God by the labours of good and wise men in all ages, we are very jealous of placing the best of them in a position of authority in religious matters; and with reference to this matter, we feel inclined to repeat the solemn caution of the Archdeacon, which has been just quoted, If you once begin to tamper with the authority of the Bible, you have no ground to stand upon."

We have no doubt the clergy of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex, who were present at the delivery of these charges, were much benefited by them, and we are glad that their publication will extend their influence and usefulness.

THE BRITISH CONTROVERSIALIST, and Literary Magazine. London: Houlston & Wright. pp. IV. 476.

THE first volume for the present year of this monthly periodical lies before us, and we cheerfully notice it in order to invite the attention of our young men to a publication so well adapted to enlarge and strengthen their mental capabilities.

HINTS ON CLASSICAL TUITION; being a reprint of Hints to Tutors, published in 1846. By Dr. Thomas Cox. London: Wertheim, Macintosh, & Hunt. pp. 28. Price One Shilling.

THESE hints are intended to urge the teaching Latin to boys at an early age, and to render the learning it more a matter of the intellect than of the memory. The author thinks their progress will be facilitated, and their knowledge of the language be more complete. We are not sure that this will be the result. The memory of children of such an age as the author contemplates can be employed as a means of storing up knowledge, which will become valuable when their increasing years and extending information enable them to use it to advantage. Then the plans suggested can no doubt be used with great advantage. The tract however will be of great value to all persons engaged in classical tuition.

ROSE BRYANT: Passages in her Maiden and Married Life. By Emma Marshall. London: Jarrold and Sons. pp. 100.

HOW TO NURSE THE SICK. London: Jarrold and Sons. pp. 32. Price Twopence.

THESE two works have the same object in view-to urge the importance and necessity of ventilation and personal and domestic cleanliness as the means of preventing or abating sickness. Our readers are led into many sick rooms, and these amusing but interesting fictions will afford them useful hints by which they may be enabled to promote the comfort of those in whose welfare they feel interested. They have reminded us of Mrs. Hamilton's "Cottagers of Glenburnie," written very many years ago for a similar purpose. We have never forgotten her lively description of the horror evinced by the attendants on a sick woman, by her breaking a pane in the immovable window, and lighting a fire in the grate on a summer's day, so as to get ventilation for the patient who had been so long breathing a poisoned atmosphere.

Rose Bryant is a Devonshire lass of sixteen-and-a-half years, who has been brought up to love cold water, pure air, and wholesome food, and who is sent to London to comfort an aunt living in Islington, whose habits are precisely opposite. The first half of the book is taken up with particulars of Rose's efforts to reform the household, and of a visit of the aunt to Rose's parents with two sickly children, one of whom dies there; the death of whom, as well as of three previously, seems fairly attributable to the neglect of the means of preventing disease.

"Rose saw them (her aunt, baby, and little servant) depart, hopefully that aunt Ellen did at least really see how much lies in our own power towards promoting the health of our own children. God blesses means we know, and, dear mothers! pure water and fresh air, and personal and household cleanliness are His means for the preservation of our bodily health. Seek not to be learned about what will cure disease, but seek to be wise as to what will prevent it. And when sickness is sent, be rational in your mode of meeting it; and do not confine your little patient in a hot close room, which is of itself enough to cause an illness, and very unlikely to help its cure.

"Little Charlie, and many a delicate child like him, have sunk from the want

of the very things which, comparatively speaking, are easiest to obtain. Mrs. Sparkford's doctor's bill for Charlie, that winter, was heavy, and she did not grudge a penny of it; but what use was medicine while the child's skin was never refreshed, or very seldom, with pure water; while he slept in a room where the window was rarely ever opened, and where, beneath his little bed, was an accumulation of dust and fluff,' enough to fill his lungs with impure matter? Of what avail could be medicine when his diet was unwholesome, and cooked and prepared with little regard to cleanliness?" pp. 60, 61.

Five years later Rose became the wife of a young tradesman at Bristol, and had to carry out her sanitary regulations under all the disadvantages of a city residence. Her difficulties were increased by having, for inmates, her husband's mother and sister, whose views on these subjects did not accord with her own. The second part of the book relates how successfully she conducted herself in this new position.

The tract-" How to Nurse the Sick," contains an account of Mrs. Pearson's experience as a nurse. It informs us how she came to be a nurse -the means by which she was led to adopt improved methods of nursing— the difficulties she found in carrying them out, and her ultimate success. It will be seen that these little works are more intended for instruction than amusement, and they both accomplish their object of giving most important advice in a very pleasing and attractive manner.

MRS. RUFFLE. Worry, worry from Morning till Night; or The Blind Boy his Mother's Comfort. By the author of "Old Peter Pious." London: William Macintosh. pp. 32. Price Twopence.

OUR readers will understand Mrs. Ruffle's character from the title to this tract, and will be glad to learn that although she thought she had so much reason to complain of the conduct of her children generally, yet that her blind boy, Moses, proved an exception, and exercised a beneficial influence on his mother's complaining disposition. The object of the tract is good, but there is nothing in the manner of presenting it but may be found in many similar publications.

or Elizabeth, the happy Sunday Scholar. London: Price Threepence.

THE IRISH DAISY
John Snow. pp. 48.
ELIZABETH was the

school held in B

child of pious parents, and attended the Sunday at intervals, for the last few years. The pastor, by whom this account is written, presents it merely as a record of the peaceful death of a well-nurtured and well-disposed child." There is a total absence of incident. Religion seemed to be the element in which she lived during the fifteen years of her existence on earth, and the writer says that his motive in presenting this narrative, is

"Because it records an experience which is thought the reverse of tragic emotion and startling incident. It is most remarkable for the absence of all these, and yet I can no more doubt that Elizabeth, the Sunday scholar, was a pupil in the school of Christ, than I can doubt the conversion of Lydia, which seems to have partaken of the same quiet character." pp. 33, 34.