the right consecration; our endeavours the right aim; our destiny the right light; and our obligations the right fervour. His name 'is as ointment poured forth.' His name is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe. Through His name the devil is driven out, the serpent wounded, and the sick healed. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The name of Jesus is God's Amen. Well, then, our new year begins in the name of Jesus. If it brings suffering and sorrow, He will comfort and help us; we shall overcome through Him. If temptations await us, He will let nothing separate us from His love; His strength will be 'perfected in our weakness.' If the king of terrors threatens us, He is our life, and death will be gain. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? His name alone lights up time and eternity, therefore in it we will be glad."

The close of the year brings with it its pleasant accompaniment of Christmas Literature. Two volumes lie before us which deserve especial notice, not less for the beauty of their typography and binding, than for their contents. These are

1. Quarles' Emblems, illustrated by Charles Bennett, and W. H. Rogers. Nisbet and Co.-For two hundred years and more these emblems have afforded that serious entertainment which of all things, as many a parent feels, it is most difficult to find for sound and cultivated minds; something which shall at once refresh and edify; a book not too grave for the bounding spirits of youth, nor too light for thoughtful age when it seeks for relaxation.

2. Lyra Germanica. Hymns for the Sundays and Chief Festivals of the Christian Year, with Illustrations, &c. Longman & Co.-The Hymns are translated by Catherine Winkworth, and many of them appear to be of great beauty, and at the same time to express scriptural truth and evangelical sentiments. In both volumes the pictorial embellishments are, of couse, of a superior kind; those of Francis Quarles quaint as his own emblems. We noticed with satisfaction some beautiful editions of Bunyan, designed, like these volumes, for Christmas-tide; and we must repeat the satisfaction with which we view the great improvement which is taking place in this kind of literature. It surely indicates a much higher standard of morality and religion in our domestic circles throughout the land.

The Sea and its Living Wonders. Longman and Co.-Though not, like the preceding, a highly decorated volume, it mingles instruction with entertainment; and whether read with the feet upon the fender, or by the sea beach in August, cannot fail to interest both young and old. The writer, Dr. Hartwig, makes us feel that we have all, both in prose and poetry, been very ungrateful to that old ocean, whom he says, "I have learned to love as the Swiss mountaineer loves his native Alps, or the Highlander the heath-covered hills of Caledonia. From time immemorial she has been the "barren ocean," the "restless deep," the "waste of waters." Our author grudges these hard names. Vol. 60.-No. 277.

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"Bounteous mother," "alma parens," was the name given by the grateful ancients to the corn-and-grass-producing, herd-feeding earth; but how much more deserving of that endearing appellation is the sea, that, without being ploughed or manured, dispenses her gifts with such inexhaustible profusion!" He calculates that at least one-fiftieth part of the human race live upon the produce of the seas. Of the various inhabitants of the vast world of waters, and of what will interest young readers much more, their mode of capture, many entertaining stories are told, while science shares the page with mere amusement. As in duty bound, Dr. Hartwig refuses to believe that the watery object of his affections cherishes in her bosom anything so vile as the great sea serpent; at least till he has seen the skeleton in some museum, or found it in some limestone rocks, which we venture to think will not happen for some time to come.

This is the publishing season, and several works of value have just issued from the press, but these require consideration, and more than a superficial acquaintance with their contents; some of them we hope shortly to review.

RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR 1860.

The

THE retrospect of the past year, in its political aspects, is not a cheerful one, though the prospect brightens towards the close. It opened with evil tidings and vexatious contre-temps, and it concludes amidst great uncertainties, and with many subjects of anxiety still unremoved. The first short days of January found the nation smarting under the recent defeat of our troops in China on the Peiho, and anxious for their safety. The arrogant misconduct of an American general had occasioned the San Juan difficulty. The dispute grew loud and angry, and seemed likely to lead to a serious collision. affairs of Italy wore a gloomy aspect;-an exasperated people, writhing long under a barbarous and heartless tyranny, were collecting their strength, evidently resolved to free themselves, if possible, from their galling bondage; but the most sagacious did not venture even to conjecture what might be the issue of the struggle. A congress of the European powers was proposed, to control, if it could not crush, the infant revolution. On the 24th of January the queen came down to open parliament. The conclusion of a commercial treaty with France was announced. The question of Italian independence was cautiously referred to. A reform bill was again promised, but the project was received with great indifference. The last embers of disturbance in India had, we were graciously assured, been extinguished, and the nation was at peace with Europe. In co-operation with the French, an expedition was forthwith to be despatched to China, to enforce the terms of our treaty, and, if possible, to retrieve the reverses we had suffered. The international arrangements for the opening of our trade with France would lead, it was hoped, to a better understanding between the two countries, giving to each of them an interest in the welfare of the other. But the terms of the treaty at first gave but

little satisfaction. Mr. Cobden's hitherto untried skill in diplomacy began to be doubted. It was suspected that, in negociating the terms of the treaty, France had overreached him; and when the tariff was published, the advantages seemed altogether on the side of France. People complained that what was in name a treaty, was in effect a capitulation. It is too soon to boast; but Mr. Gladstone and his friends begin already to proclaim the success which has attended their treaty of commerce, and to augur from it the happiest results. One of the last acts of the French emperor has been to anticipate the coneessions which he had bound himself to make at a future date, and so to give full play to the principles of the treaty with the least possible delay. His conduct on this point, as well as in exempting English travellers from all the annoyances of the odious passport system, shows at least his anxiety at this moment to stand well with England, and deserves a courteous acknowledgment.

The designs of France with regard to Italy were still ambiguous. Rumours of a secret understanding with Sardinia were whispered about, and uneasiness soon grew into open distrust. It was not for an "idea" that France had made war with Austria; it was not to set Italy free from the Carpathian mountains to the Alps; it was the old base motive of conquest. The suspicion was met with indignant denials by the organs of the French government, and by Count Cavour on the part of the king of Sardinia. The course, however, which France would take in Italian affairs was doubtful, and such misgivings added to the perplexities of Europe. They had almost died away, when, in the early part of February, Lord Normanby re-opened the question by a formal inquiry in the House of Lords. He wished to know whether a project was on foot for the annexation of Savoy and Nice, or any parts of Italy, to France. The English government, relying on the assurances of France, declared that the only contingencies which could render such a cession of territory possible, had not occurred and, consequently that no such project need be feared. A few weeks, however, exposed the simplicity of our diplomatists, or rather the duplicity of the French cabinet. The illusion was dispelled, and amidst the execration of Europe, Savoy and Nice became a part of France; the indignation of the country was divided between the unprincipled rapacity of Napoleon, and the treachery or cowardice of Cavour and his royal master. The ministry, which had so lately talked of confidence now began to think of defence; the land rang with the note of preparation; fortifications at an enormous cost were voted for our coast and arsenals; Armstrong guns were forged, iron-clad ships were built, and a body of Rifle Volunteers, numbering at this time about 150,000 men, started into existence. Our unanimity and promptitude have had a good effect; we have no panics at home, we have at present a peaceable neighbour across the channel, and for this we would render devout acknowledgments to Him who maketh men to be of one mind in a house.

The conduct of Napoleon towards the Pope was still, however, ambiguous. He complained that the Pope rejected his advice, and allowed himself to be controlled by Austrian counsels; and he took the opportunity of showing his regard for the sovereign pontiff, by, in the same breath, promising his protection and yet refusing his sup

port. He would not withdraw his troops from Rome, for his holiness would not be safe an hour among his own loving subjects he would not allow French troops to put down the insurrection which threatened to alienate the papal territory. Thus he retained a footing at Rome, from whence he might take advantage of whatever might arise in the still uncertain future. This thin disguise is still sustained. The emperor exercises his absolute authority in the most inconsistent manner. He pats and fondles his victim at one time, and gives it a fierce gripe at another. Whether the ecclesiastical mouse is to be released, or caged for his own special use and entertainment, is the question; the motives of Napoleon III. are more inscrutable than ever. But we anticipate the thread of our annals for the year. A tangled thread it has been, and still remains, which time only can unravel.

Early in the spring Garibaldi re-appeared. On the night of the 6th of May, he embarked at Genoa with 1800 men, in two steamers, which had been seized for the purpose. After a few hours' sail, he and his followers safely effected a landing in Sicily, though under the fire of a Neapolitan fortress and two ships of war. France and Piedmont affected to blame this audacious enterprise, but not without giving some suspicion of eonnivance, if not of substantial encouragement, on the part of both. On the 27th of May, Garibaldi entered Palermo in triumph, and so began that career of victories which has already united the kingdom of the two Sicilies to the great Italian kingdom, with Victor Emmanuel as its sovereign. Garibaldi has retired for the winter to his simple home on the rock of Caprera, and the ex-king of Naples lingers in the fortress of Gaëta, if indeed he is not by this time expelled from this the last spot in which he can exercise the shadow of his kingship. The forces of Victor Emmanuel a few days ago were bombarding the city, and an assault has by this time taken place. With unaccountable perversity the emperor Napoleon, who quietly looked on when he was dispossessed of his capital, now prɔtects Gaëta by the sea with two ships of war, and forbids the complete investment of the place by sea as well as by land; thus enacting the same double part with the king of Naples which he has all along been playing with the pope. What his motives may be, conjecture has wearied itself in attempting to divine. He may be very cunning; a plotter of deep-laid schemes of policy waiting for the chances of prolonged confusion, till the opportunity arrives for making them subservient to his own ambition; or he may be no more than one of those obstinate, though irresolute, men who, without a policy, baffle the speculations of the most observant, simply by following each impulse with a contemptuous disregard either of the happiness of others or of their own reputation. We believe that we do him no wrong when we suggest that his policy, such as it is, rests on no better foundation than an hereditary reliance on fate or destiny, and an unscrupulous ambition, ready to take advantage of the misfortunes of others, wherever a victim may be found too helpless to avenge the wrong.

The session of parliament was chiefly occupied from this period in matters of domestic interest; a long and tedious session was wasted in abortive measures. A reform bill was, for the third time within the

last few years, rejected. And it will be a relief to sensible men of all parties if it be finally abandoned. Some changes might be made with advantage. No sweeping measure is required; the common sense of England has delivered in this verdict, and in the present generation is not likely to be reversed.

A wet, cold summer brought an indifferent harvest. It proves to be worse than was expected. Each market-day for some weeks the average price of wheat has risen, while that of this year's produce has as steadily declined: a great part of it being scarcely fit for use. Providentially the imports are enormous; for the skies, unpropitious in England, were bright in America and northern Europe. Thus the wants of mankind are made to bind the nations of the earth in one great brotherhood. Woe to the man who lightly puts asunder those whom God has thus joined together. A winter of unusual severity has now set in, and while we sit in peace around our Christmas hearth, the sharp frost and the ringing atmosphere seem to repeat the apostolic precept, to remember the poor. Thousands of our countrymen are unemployed at Coventry. Some blame their own misconduct; others, the French treaty; but whether their own strike, which tended so much to divert and even to destroy the ribbon-trade, or the French tariff, be to blame, it is not now the time for charity to ask. Our countrymen are perishing for want of food.

Out of many subjects of considerable interest at home, our space permits us to refer to but a few. We wished to have said something on the foul murder of the little child in its cot in the nursery at Road, chiefly with a view to the coroner's inquest. We can only say in general, that coroners' inquests, as now held, are too often a disgrace to the country. The institution itself is probably, without exception, the most ancient we possess. It is a proof of the high state of civilization at which our forefathers had arrived a thousand years ago— a state which no continental nation has yet attained to. Such was their love of justice, that these Anglo-Saxons, whom we are accustomed to regard as a half-savage race, could be trusted with the election of their own judges by the hundred or county; and the choice of their own jury, to whose verdict the guilt or innocence of the man suspected of murder was confided. It will be our endless disgrace if such an institution should fall into decay; and yet at present not one of our public tribunals is held, and not unjustly held, in such slight repute. We know there are exceptions, but as a rule the coroner is elected with very little regard to his fitness for the office. It is not unusual to find the coroner ignorant of the first principles of English law; he can neither examine a witness nor instruct a jury; and the jury are more ignorant than the coroner. They are selected from the lowest class of housekeepers, to whom a few shillings, the fee for their attendance, is an important object. Thus their verdict, if the case presents any difficulty, often sets common sense at nought, hushes up crime, and effectually thwarts the prosecution of the criminal. The brutal pugilistic combat in the summer has produced a rank crop of petty pugilists. We have counted up at least half-a-dozen cases in which death has been the consequence,-accidental death, of course.