completed the last volume of his "History of the Reformation in Germany and Switzerland." The immense popularity with which it was received in this country, and in England, gives assurance that this new History will be hailed with joy by an unusually large number of readers. Dr. Merle proposes now to trace still further the progress and effects of that great religious movement, whose rise in Germany formed the subject of his great work. He has selected the " times of Calvin" as his theme, which are full of interest; and, in their effects upon the world, perhaps no less important than the times of Luther. Two volumes have been completed, and are before the public. They serve to introduce the reader to the state of affairs in France and Geneva, in the early part of the sixteenth century, and show how the way was prepared both in Paris, and on the shores of Lake Leman, for a reform in religion. But of all this, we have not room for the briefest outline. It is perhaps enough to say that the story of the fierce struggle of the patriots of Geneva, which resulted in a political revolution, and the overthrow of their bishop-prince, and the regaining their old independence, will add, if it is possible, even fresh interest to every spot in and around that beautiful city. The history of all that pertains to the planting of the seeds of the Reformation in France, in the reign of Francis I., is better known. But Dr. Merle has not only succeeded in investing the whole story with a new charm, but in his analysis of the causes that occasioned the apparently vacillating conduct of that king towards the new religion, he has done good service for all who seek to understand the history of those times. We shall await with eagerness the appearance of the succeeding volumes.

COLONIAL SCHEMES OF POPHAM AND GORGES.*-In August of last year the Maine Historical Society, in the belief that "the first colony on the shores of New England,"-though it proved unsuccessful-"was founded" at Fort Popham in Maine, Aug. 19th, O. S. 1607, placed publicly a monumental stone, with what they doubtless considered an appropriate inscription, in the fort which bears the name of the founder of the colony. At the celebration John Wingate Thornton, Esq., of Boston, by invitation,

* Colonial Schemes of Popham and Gorges. Speech of JOHN WINGATE THORNTON, Esq., at the Fort Popham Celebration, Aug. 29th, 1862, under the auspices of the Maine Historical Society. Boston. 1863. 8vo. pp. 20.

made a speech, which, as it seems, had much better have been made to the gentlemen of the Historical Society before they proceeded so far in their arrangements! Mr. Thornton's speech is now published, and his decidedly mistimed statements are abundantly sustained by copious notes. He proves very conclusively that the Fort Popham colony was not the first colony in New England; and that both the adventurers and their leaders were men of whom the sons of Maine may consider their shores to have been well rid of when they returned to their homes across the

water.

MEMORIAL OF SERGEANT JOHN HANSON THOMPSON.*-It cannot be that a fitting Memorial shall be prepared for all the young and the brave who in the spirit of the truest patriotism have given up life for their country's defense, against the hands of traitors. We therefore welcome this little volume as a representative book; and commend it as such, with all sympathy, to the thousands and tens of thousands who are never to see again the young soldiers that have gone out to the battle field from their own homes of culture and Christian principle. It is well that one who has known by experience the keenness of the anguish that comes with the loss of his "first born," should give such fitting expression, as we find here, in words of hope, and honest pride, and patriotic exultation, to the feelings which are shared by tens of thousands of other fathers, who mourn in common with him for their own lost ones; yet find in the story of their lives-yes! and in their deaths, abundant reason to rejoice and to be thankful to God, that He has given them sons, deserving of their pride, and worthy to die for their country. In a letter of the young Sergeant, whose Memorial is before us, addressed early in the war to his college classmates, at Yale, we find these words: "Remember me to the class, and at your next Delta Kappa meeting, as one who thinks it his duty, and the duty of every man, to go and fight in this time of need. And more particularly the duty of such as you are, who have good habits formed, and are ready and quick to learn ;-that intelligence and refinement may prevail in our army, and that it

*The Sergeant's Memorial. By his father, Rev. JOSEPH P. THOMPSON, D. D. 18mo. pp. 242. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph. [Price 60 cts. For sale by F. T. Jarman.]

may not be left to the scum and scourings of the land to win the battles and claim the laurels. Every one of us ought to say in future years, I used that gun in '62, '63,-or better, that sword! I know we want education; but where is the good of education without your country? And where is your country without your men to fight and make it?" How truly this young soldier gives utterance to feelings which are enthusiastically shared by the whole body of young men in America, the nation well knows; and knowing, can never, and will never feel doubt or anxiety about the future.

PRAYING AND WORKING.*-The object of the author of this book is to encourage working Christians to pray. Ora et labora is the motto he would hold up. His idea is that fervent prayer will beget honest, manly, unshrinking work; and that such work, commenced in obedience to the will of God, will throw the Christian back upon prayer. As examples of what may be accomplished by joining prayer with work, Mr. Stevenson has brought together in this volume biographical sketches of five remarkable men, whose lives have testified that they practically recognized prayer as a force by means of which they were the better able to deal wisely and successfully with the work which they had commenced in God's name. These men are John Falk, Immanuel Wichern, Theodore Fliedner, John Evangelist Gossner, and Louis Harmes, whose names are probably familiar to most of our readers, as connected with the originating of some of the most important and interesting modern reformatory efforts in Germany. Of these men, perhaps the most widely known in this country are Dr. Wichern, of the "Rough House," on the Elbe, the founder of the " Inner Mission," in Germany, and Dr. Fliedner, of the establishment for "deaconesses" at Kaiserswerth, on the Rhine, from which have gone out hundreds of educated "parish visitors" and "nurses for the sick" to all parts of the world. Of the others, the most interesting man is Pastor Harmes, of Hermannsburg, in Hanover, through whose labors that agricultural village has become un

*Praying and Working; being some account of what men can do when in earnest. By the Rev. WILLIAM FLEMING STEVENSON, Dublin. New York: Carter & Brothers, 1863. 12mo. pp. 411. [For sale by F. T. Jarman. Price $1.00.]

doubtedly the most remarkable Christian parish in the world. It is said that there is not a house in the village where there is not regular family worship morning and evening. Through the agency of Pastor Harmes, the parish have established with their own resources, and out of their own numbers, a mission among the Zulus in East Africa, and settled among them an agricultural colony composed of missionary men and women, with all the trades necessary to its existence. This mission they have kept up for years, and to it they are sending constant reinforcements. The details of the wonderful success of this mission of the villagers of Hermannsburg should be brought out in every meeting of the "Monthly Concert" in our land. It is thus, by the story of what these five men have accomplished, by joining prayer with their work, that Mr. Stevenson would encourage all Christians to make full trial of the efficacy of prayer.

MEMOIRS OF REV. N. MURRAY, D. D.*-The events connected with the early life of Rev. Dr. Murray, and the contrast presented in his life between the poor Irish Roman Catholic boy, freshly landed on the wharf of New York, with ten dollars in his pocket, and the widely known and respected Presbyterian divine of New Jersey, make these Memoirs more than ordinarily attractive. The mother of Nicholas Murray was so bitterly opposed to his leaving Ireland for America that she had him "crused from the altar;" and in after years, when he became a Protestant, "she had masses said for the repose of his soul, and regarded him as dead." "She died without," so far as he knew, "breathing a word of forgiveness or regard" for him. Young Nicholas found employment in the printing office of the Messrs. Harper, and as an apprentice boarded and lodged under their roof, where he was brought under influences which finally resulted in his conversion. But it is not alone the incidents of his early life that give interest to this Memoir. Dr. Murray became so identified with all the affairs of the region in which he lived, he was so long on terms of intimacy and friendship with so many prominent clergymen, and he was withal so genial a man himself in all the relations of life, that Dr. Prime has found it an easy matter to throw a charm around the history of his whole career.

* Memoirs of the Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D. (Kirwan.) By SAMUEL IRENEUS PRIME. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1862. 12mo. pp. 488.

MR. LIVERMORE'S HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON THE OPINIONS OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE REPUBLIC.*-It is with pleasure that we are able to announce that the admirable historical paper which was read by Mr. Livermore, about a year ago, before the Massachusetts Historical Society, on the Opinions of the Founders of the Republic, "on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers," has been reprinted in a form and style adapted for general circulation. The immense mass of proof which this accomplished student of history collected, and so satisfactorily exhibited in this monograph, left not a shadow of doubt that at the time of the adoption of the Constitution it was the general conviction and understanding that slavery would and ought soon to come to an end; and with regard to the employment of negroes in the armies of the United States, it was shown that, as a matter of fact, they had been so employed from the beginning; and both in the Revolution, and in the war of 1812, had ever done good service. The change which we now see in the public mind on the subject is perhaps owing in no small degree to this volume, in which Mr. Livermore so handsomely and so conclusively exhibited his proofs. As originally published, at the expense of the author, the volume was unexcelled in its typography by anything that has come from the American press. The edition now published appears in very respectable style, and we hope will have very wide circulation.

MISCELLANY.

THE RACES OF THE OLD WORLD.t-Ethnology, beyond most other sciences, has received in these late years, and is still receiv ing, a rapid development and progress. Geographical exploration in all parts of the world is bringing to light the peculiarities of tribes hitherto unknown. Collections of statistics are indicating the laws by which the physical condition and appearance of men

*An Historical Research respecting the Opinions of the Founders of the Republic, on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers. Read before the Massachusetts Historical Society, August 14, 1862. By GEO. LIVERMORE. Bos ton. 1862. Octavo. pp. 215.

The Races of the Old World: a Manual of Ethnology. By CHARLES L. BRACE, author of "Hungary in 1851," "Home Life in Germany," "Norse-Folk," etc. New York: Charles Scribner, 124 Grand Street. 1863. [For sale by Judd & Clark. Price $2.]