bulk of its contents such as shall be new to nearly all readers; that is, other things being equal, to give preference to such poems as are little known, or not at all.

"In lieu of the sameness which is found in any large quantity of this writer's familiar hymns, to make him take larger scope, and discuss a range of differing subjects. For this the works of no other hymnist, and of but few poets, afford such opportunity.

"To attain a good degree of historic and biographic interest. This was not difficult to do; for Charles Wesley was perpetually putting himself into his verses, and much of the matter included here will be found to form a rhyming commentary on his character, opinions, fortunes, labors.

"While the book is characteristic, and shows the man as he was, to make it comparatively pure, to restrain as far as possible those extravagances of expression, and that wildness of emotion, in which it was his nature and his habit not seldom to indulge.

We should take the Methodist poet, as it is attempted to present him here: fairly, yet at his best; with appreciation, but discriminating; not allowing sympathy and admiration to run into blind worship, nor difference of creed to hide from us his merits and his uses. There does not exist in America or England that Christian Church, sect, or man, that can afford to forget his obligations to Charles Wesley; and we can acknowledge those obligations best by increasing them, as this book

aims to do."

POEMS. By Amanda T. Jones. 16mo. Pp. 203. $2. New York: Hurd & Houghton, Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.-The name of Amanda T. Jones will be recognized by many of our readers as a contributor of poetry to the Repository, and some of her contributions are reissued in this neat little volume. A poem of four cantos, occupying sixty-three pages, introduces the reader at once to the poetic talent and ability of the authoress. Its title is Atlantis, and it is a vigorous rendering of the classic story of the contests between Neptune and Jupiter and the citizens of the "mid-sea island, Atlantis," and the Athenians under their queen Athena. Patriotic poems poured out during our great national contest, and sixteen miscellaneous poems complete the volume. The book is issued in very beautiful style.

SANCTIFICATION PRACTICAL: A Book for the Times. By Rev. J. Boynton. With an Introduction and an Appendix by Mrs. Palmer. 16mo. Pp. 142. New York: Foster & Palmer.-The author of this little volume yields to the importunity of ministers and laymen" to publish some plain, practical thoughts on sanctification. He discusses in excellent style and spirit the following questions: What is Sanctification or Christian Perfection? How is the Blessing of Perfect Love to be Obtained? What are the Evidences that we are Sanctified? How is the Blessing of Sanctification to be Retained? Mrs. Palmer, in her introduction, pronounces it "eminently practical, concise, simple, and cogent, and just such a book as is needed by the sincere inquirer after truth, whose single aim is to secure the pearl of full salvation irrespective of cost." SCRIPTURE BAPTISM DEFENDED, and Anabaptist Notions proved to be Anti-Scriptural Novelties. By

Rev. John Levington. 12mo. Pp. 242. Published for the Author by Poe & Hitchcock, Chicago.-We have not had time to give a full perusal to this volume, but from glancing over its pages we think we have here a plain, easy, racy, and at the same time courteous treatment of the vexed questions as to the mode and subjects of Christian baptism. The discussion is adapted to ordinary capacities, the style is popular, and the book will not be found to be a dull one. The author is a member of the Detroit Annual Conference.

THE FRENCH MANUAL: Including a Dictionary of over Ten Thousand Words. By M. Alfred Havet. 12mo. Pp. 300. $1.75. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-This is "a new, simple, concise, and easy method of acquiring a conversational knowledge of the French language." It is "entirely revised and corrected from the last English edition, with a new system of pronunciation." The work has achieved great popularity in England, and is, judging by so much examination as we have been able to give it, decidedly the best of the kind yet pub. lished in this country. "A conversational knowledge of the French language" is what many are wishing to have. They will find this book a most efficient help to that end.

THE AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE-BOOK: Embracing a Full Description of the Causes and Nature of Several Diseases peculiar to the American Horse, together with Original, Simple, and Effective modes of Treatment, including those of some Diseases heretofore considered incurable; and, also, an Extended Treatise on Stock Raising and Stock Management. The whole especially adapted to the Use of the Farmer. By Robert Stewart, M. D., V. S. 8vo. Pp. 600. $4.50. Cincinnati: C. F. Vent & Co.-The observations given in this work are the results of twenty years' original investigation and veterinary practice, principally in the great stockraising regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The ample title which we have given above describes its character, and we believe it will be found to be one of the best American works on the diseases of the horse extant. It is very complete in the number of diseases treated, full and plain in the modes of treatment, and amply illustrated by well-executed wood

cuts.

MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LECTURES. By Douglas Jerrold, with Illustrations by Charles Keene. 16mo. Pp. 195. $1.50. New York: Hurd & Houghton. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.-What need we say of the famous Mrs. Caudle and her lectures? Nothing, except that here are the lectures issued in Hurd & Houghton's beautiful style, with characteristic illustrations by Charles Keene.

THE POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF THE PICKWICK CLUB. By Charles Dickens. With Original Illustrations by S. Eytinge, jr. Diamond Edition. Pp. 464. $1.50. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-The Pickwick Papers need no more notice than the Caudle Lectures. Every body knows every thing about them. But this edition does claim the attention of every body who desires to possess the works of Dickens in a neat, convenient, and cheap form. It is the first volume of the proposed issue of the complete

works of Dickens in an "elegant, compact, and cheap form," and a handsome volume it is. The type is small, but very clear and legible, printed in double columns, on fine paper, capitally illustrated, and bound in green morocco cloth. The complete works will comprise twelve or thirteen similar volumes. The enterprise will be a success.

JOSEPH II, AND HIS COURT. An Historical Novel. By L. Mühlbach. Translated from the German by Adelaide De V. Chaudron. 8vo. Pp. 343. Cloth, $2. BERLIN AND SANS-SOUCI; or, Frederick the Great and his Friends. By L. Mühlbach. Translated from the German by Mrs. Chapman Coleman and her Daughters. 12mo. Pp. 391. $2. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-We have already noticed several of the works of this prolific and successful writer of historical romances. We say successful, because each of her rapidly-succeeding volumes finds a large number of readers, and because, whatever we may think of the "historical romance" in itself, Mrs. Mühlbach is, we believe, the most pleasing and powerful writer of it since the days of Sir Walter Scott. Indeed, she carries the idea of the historical romance farther than even Scott did, aiming more than he to trace out the secret causes, and to depict the social influences and court intrigues, which found outward expression in the public events of which only history takes notice. Her books are true to history, the romance being found in the social and heart-life of the times as conceived by the writer.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL SCRAP-BOOK. Edited by Rev. D. Wise, D. D., and Rev. J. H. Vincent. 16mo. Pp. 118. Paper. New York: Carlton & Porter." Here," say the editors, "we propose to publish all manner of wholesome and profitable suggestions, practical hints, illustrative incidents and quotations, model lessons, home helps, institute exercises, etc., for the use of pastors, Sunday school superintendents, officers, teachers, pupils of the normal classes, parents, and all others interested in the great work of sacred education.

"Should this work receive any thing like the cordial welcome from those for whom it is prepared, that we have hoped, it shall in due time be followed by another, and still another, that earnest Sunday school laborers may be supplied with the tools and the materials they need, and that thus the cause we so ardently love may be abundantly prospered."

THE PHILOSOPHY OF METHODISM: A Centenary Dis course, Delivered before the Genesee Annual Conference, By Rev. J. B. Wentworth, D. D.-This is one of the ablest discourses that our Centenary has called forth. It is not merely a sermon, but, as its title imports, a "philosophy of Methodism."

THE CLAVERINGS. By Anthony Trollope. With Illustrations. No. 286 of Harper's Library of Select Novels. Paper, $1. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. MUSIC. "Pray, 0, Pray for Me!" Duet for two Sopranos. Words by Hon. Will Cumback. Music by Mrs. Sallie M. Parker. Indianapolis: J. A. Butterfield & Co.

etrospect of

RELIGION AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.-A Congressional prayer meeting has been kept up for some sessions of our National Legislature, at which a number of Senators and Representatives have been in the habit of attending, and invoking the blessings of God upon their labors and their country. But not till the last session of Congress was the sale of intoxicating drinks prohibited upon the Capitol premises. Speaker Colfax deserves the thanks of all good men for his cleaning out these Augean stables of drunkenness, and for removing the shop-keepers and hucksters that disgraced the American nation. With but few exceptions, the members of the last and the present Congress have been remarkable for their dignified and upright conduct, and their freedom from the bluster and domineering spirit that so distinguished the slave oligocracy. And now we record the formation of a temperance society in Congress. Senator Wilson was elected President; Senator Willey, Vice-President; and Messrs. Yates, Pomeroy, Colfax, Perham, and Price, Executive Committee. Meetings have been held, and some who were addicted to ardent spirits have taken the pledge of abstinence. We are especially pleased with the remarks of Senator Yates, of Illinois, at the first public meeting. He said the great Commonwealth of Illinois had for twenty-five years honored him in

all public positions, and he had now promised that State, and all who loved him, Katy and the children, that he would never more touch, taste, or handle the unclean thing. He intended to fight it out on that line to the last hour of his existence. He would tonight as soon think of drinking fire as whisky, for the latter was "hell and damnation." He was as proud of having taken the pledge as he was of his wife and children, and that was the strongest expres sion he could make as to his sincerity.

THE WEEK OF PRAYER IN ITALY.-The week of prayer at the beginning of the year was observed in Florence, Italy, a daily meeting being held in rotation in the various Protestant churches. The American, the Scotch, the Waldensian, the Swiss, and the Free Italian congregations participated. One of the members of the Italian Parliament, then in session, took an active part, speaking and praying with great earnestness. The Waldensians and Free Italians have been alienated for some time, but now they came together and rejoiced in the spirit of unity and love.

OPERATIONS OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.The American Bible Society was organized in 1816, and has received, since its formation, by sales and for donations, $10,847,854. It has issued 22,118,475 copies

of the Holy Scriptures in about fifty different languages, at home and abroad, such as English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, Esthonian, Hungarian, Finnish, Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew-Spanish, Armeno-Turkish, Arabo-Turkish, Mpongwe, Zulu, Arrawack, Grebo, Benga, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Ojibwa, Dakota, Mohawk, Delaware, Creolese, Hawaiian, Micronesian in several dialects, Chinese in several dialects, Siamese, Hindi, and Urdu.

It has seventeen power-presses, and about four hundred persons employed in printing and binding the Holy Scriptures in the Bible House. It has over 5,000 auxiliary and branch societies, and about 2,000 life directors, and 25,000 life members. The issues of the five years during the war were 6,555,231 volumes. The Bible House was built by special contributions, and without drawing a dollar from the money given to print and circulate the Holy Scriptures. It is entirely free from debt.

The Society is now electrotyping the Arabic Bible, and the Slavic and Bulgarian Testaments, at the Bible House.

THE TURK ISH NEW TESTAMENT.-American missionary enter prise has never been more wisely nor more faithfully employed than in the translation of the New Testament into the language of the millions of the Turkish Empire. Vast difficulties have been encountered in this work, for in this language a dozen or a score of terms exist for the same thing or the same idea, and the verbal system admits of the greatest variety of shapes in which an idea can be put, and the greatest variety of relations in which the subordinate parts of a phrase or a paragraph can be put in relation to each other. But all these difficulties have been overcome by the eminent Dr. Schaffluer; and the extreme care, and caution, and faithfulness of the work further appears in the fact, that the first edition was revised by the eminent Dr. Kieffer in Paris; the next by a distinguished Turkish scholar, Turabi Effendi; the next by an English scholar under the direction of the British and Foreign Bible Society. It was then carefully collated with the Arabic and Persian versions, and it was then revised by a learned Turk in the service of the Sublime Porte. At last it comes

fairly before the Turkish nation as perfect, we believe, as human learning, and talent, and care can make it. And being printed on better paper than any other Turkish book, and in the most clear and beautiful type that the world can furnish, it is now presented to the Turkish people one of the most delightful expressions of Christian benevolence ever made by man to his fellow, and one of the noblest gifts American missionary enterprise ever made to any people. All honor to our countrymen whose talents, and learning, and piety are making donations of such boundless value to the unenlightened nations of the earth!

BAPTISTS.-There are nine different sects or divisions of the Baptist Church in this country; namely, Regu lar Baptists, Disciples or Campbellites, Freewill Baptists, Seventh-Day Baptists, Six - Principle Baptists, Winnebrenarians, Anti - Mission Baptists, Christian, (Unitarians,) Dunkers-making a total of 1,544,167

members, there being of the first of these, the Regular Baptists, 1,040,303, and of the second, or Campbellites, 300,000.

REFORM IN INDIA.-It is said that 21,000 Ben

galees, belonging to all classes, have signed a petition relieve the female sex from all the debasement and praying the government to abolish polygamy, and to A writer in cruelty growing out of that practice. Calcutta remarks that inquirers from the higher ranks in society are decidedly increasing.

MICHIGAN METHODISM.-A writer in a Unitarian Journal gives a glowing statement of the progress of Methodism in the Peninsular State: "The Methodists are the only denomination in Michigan whose increase is very marked and rapid. The Presbyterians rather lose than gain ground. The Baptists barely hold their own. The Congregationalists do not grow so fast as the population. The Episcopal Church is suffering just now from an unfortunate quarrel in its largest congregation, in which the bishop is implicated, and which makes ridiculous the boasted unity of that peaceful communion. But the Methodists are zealous, united, hopeful, and prosperous, to a degree which amazes even their own preachers and leaders. They rival, even surpass, the Episcopal body in the size and cost of their churches, in the richness of their decorations, and in the completeness of their appoint. ments. In a short time they will have, in all the cities of Michigan, not only the largest number of worshipers, but the finest show in worship, and perhaps the most real influence. Church extension, more than church discipline, is their care in this Centenary year. And it is a great help to their cause that one of their preachers is at the head of the University."

DISCOVERIES IN SYRIA.-Lovers of Biblical antiquities will rejoice to hear that the excavations now being made in Syria have resulted in the discovery at Nadir Sarape, of a Hebrew house dating from about the second century before Christ. Some of the rooms, with their contents, are in perfect preservation, among the latter being a number of Hebrew books, showing that the house belonged to a literary man. Besides the books of Moses and the Psalms of David, there is a collection of Hebrew poems, absolutely unknown to the Orientals of our day. These interesting remains, many of which bear traces of Egyptian origin, have been sent to the Asiatic Society of London.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.-The Episcopal Methodist, speaking of the change of name and lay representation, says: "All the Conferences have acted upon these measures except the Baltimore. Threefourths of all the votes cast are required to secure their adoption. If the Baltimore Conference should cast every vote in favor of change of name, she could not save the measure, and it would require that every member of that body should be present and vote for lay representation to overcome the vote thus far cast against it-a thing not likely, by any means, to occur. So that both measures may be regarded as lost for the present. Of the 1,467 votes cast on the change of name, only 418 were given against it; and of the 1,461 votes given on lay representation, only 400 votes were cast against it, and yet both are lost."