Mr. Norton, its author, has made a bold attack on the genuineness and authenticity of the books of the Old Testament. It was time, then, for some able critic to take up the subject and enter upon a critical history and defence of the Canon. This, Prof. Stuart has done, we think, with a master's hand, and with great effect.

His object, especially, is to show that the Jewish Canon, as received by the Jews, in the days of Christ and the Apostles, was declared by them to be of Divine origin and authority, and so treated. This, we think, he does show; and, being shown, it follows that it has received the sanction of one from whose decision there is no appeal; and that they, who admit the Divine origin and authority of the Christian religion as developed by Christ and his Apostles in the New Testament, must be very inconsistent, if they reject the authority of the Old Testament Scriptures.

The man who can stand up boldly before this critical defence of the Old Testament Canon, and declare himself an unbeliever as to its Divine origin and authority, may as well yield the genuineness of the New Testament, and place himself in the ranks of universal skeptics.

3.-The Preacher and Pastor. By FENELON, HERBERT, BAXTER,

and CAMPBELL. Edited and accompanied with an Introductory Essay by Edwards A. Park, Bartlet Professor in Andover Theological Seminary. Andover: Allen, Morrill & Wardwell. NewYork: M. H. Newman. 1845. pp. 468, 12mo.

New works we have, to some extent, on the duties of the ministry of reconciliation, but they cannot, nor should they, supersede the old standard volumes, which have enlightened and refreshed so many of God's under-shepherds in days gone by. And although we need a very few new things adapted to the age, yet Fenelon, Herbert, Baxter, and Campbell, contain all the essential points, and speak with an emphasis and authority, which no living author can possess.

As Lamb said, "books that are books," so we say that ministers who are ministers, will find in this volume incitement, instruction, and consolation. Let them hold communion with these holy men, in respect to their duties and encouragements, and they will find their hearts burn within them, as they turn over the pages of this volume, or when, having laid it down, they pursue their pastoral labors.

We like this reproduction of the old standards, and hope to see more issuing from the same useful press. 4.-The True Grandeur of Nations. An Oration delivered before the Authorities of the City of Boston, July 4th, 1845. By CHARLES SUMNER. Boston: Wm. D. Ticknor & Co.

For a Fourth of July, this is certainly a rare and unique performance. Quitting all the topics of war, military glory, and martial patriTHIRD SERIES, VOL. 1. NO. IV.

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otism, so hacknied on that occasion, Mr. Sumner launches forth at once on the broad theme of Peace as the chief want and glory of the times, and begins with the startling proposition, “in our age there can be no peace that is not honorable, and no war that is not dishonorable." The whole oration is in the same strain of bold, sweeping denunciations against war, as incompatible with Christianity, disgraceful to mankind, and immensely injurious to their highest interests, the legacy of a bygone barbarism, and a foul libel on the civilization of the age.

It is a treatise, rather than an oration, and fills more than a hundred pages, and no inconsiderable part of them with small and dense type. It discusses first, the character of war, next the evils it occasions, then its insufficiency as an instrument of justice, and finally the causes or influences which still conspire to perpetuate the war-system. On the last point, Mr. Sumner puts forth his greatest strength, and comes out boldly against preparations for war as not only expensive beyond endurance, but unnecessary, and likely to produce the very evils they are designed to prevent.

We cannot follow Mr. Sumner through his long and elaborate discourse; but, while its perusal must, as its delivery did, occasion diversity of opinion respecting the correctness of some few positions which he takes, no fair mind can refuse its admiration of the talent and learning, the eloquence, taste, and manly spirit evinced through the whole performance. It is a splendid production, and would do credit to any mind. We do not assent to every one of his positions, nor deem his logic always correct, or his rhetoric entirely faultless ; but the oration breathes throughout an excellent spirit, corruscates with beauties of style, and contains a vast amount of truth that well deserves to be pondered by every friend of God and man.

We feel little disposition to carp at such a noble contribution to the cause of Christian philanthropy; but, were we to criticise Mr. Sumner's oration, we should say, it attempts far too much for the occasion; its style is too diffuse, ambitious, and ornate; its logic too often takes to itself the wings of a declamatory rhetoric; it is sometimes deficient in metaphysical and moral discrimination, and is quite overloaded with the lumber of a pertinent but superfluous learning. There certainly was no need of quoting more than a hundred authors, in half-a-dozen languages or more, of disfiguring the foot of almost every page with learned references, and adding to the whole an ap pendix of some twenty dense pages in minion. We may admire the scholarship that could do all this, but must protest against the wisdom of such a tax on the patience of modern readers.

We should be glad to make a few pregnant extracts on some points of great interest, such as are found on pp. 47-50, 51-53, etc.

The chief heresy of our author, however, "the head and front of his offending," will be found on pp. 58-64. Read and ponder!

5.-Journal of the Texian Expedition against Mier; subsequent imprisonment of the author; his sufferings and final escape from the Castle of Perote, with Reflections on the present political and probable future relations of Texas, Mexico and the United States. By Gen. THOMAS I. GREEN. Illustrated by drawings, taken from life, by Charles M'Laughlin, a fellow prisoner. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 487, 8vo.

To those who take an interest in wars and rumors of wars, as most people unfortunately do, this will be a volume adapted to their tastes. It tells of blood-stained fields, of wholesale murders, of thrilling incidents of warfare, of hair-breadth escapes, etc. At the present time, Gen. Green's narration of his and others' sufferings and imprisonment, will excite especial interest, as having a bearing on the present relations of Texas, Mexico and the United States. Those who desire it will here find a full demand for the annexation of Texas, and the extension of our authority over Mexico, California, and the whole of North America. Verily, we shall be large enough then, if we are not smaller than now, ere that time arrive. The style of the book is worthy of one of our first publishing houses.

6.-The Elements of Morality, including Polity. By WILLIAM WHEWELL, D. D., Author of the History and Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. 2 vols. 12mo.

These are the first fruits of "Harper's New Miscellany," and they certainly promise a rich harvest. May our hopes not be disappointed. We trust they read rightly the taste of the times, and that there is a growing demand for the more solid and valuable parts of literature and science. The volumes of this "New Miscellany" are to be uniformly printed, and bound in stamped muslin gilt, and sold at fifty cents each. They will embrace works on philosophy, history, biography, voyages, travels, etc., etc.

Prof. Whewell's work on Morality and Polity we can safely recommend as decidedly one of the best treatises on those subjects; presenting the principles of moral and political science in a methodical manner and in a lucid and interesting style.

7.-Essays. By JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M. D., F. R. G. E. From the 19th Edinburgh edition. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 295, 18mo.

Dr. Abercrombie's works on Intellectual and Moral Philosophy are deservedly so popular with us, that a ready sale may be expected for his Essays. The 19th edition in Scotland is, in itself, a high commendation of the value of these Essays, which will be found to contain much matured thought, worthy the consideration of all.

8.-The Duty of American Women to their Country. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 164, 18mo.

This little volume is, at once, intended to awaken interest in the cause of education in the West, and to be a contribution toward the execution of a plan for the accomplishment of that desirable end. The plan is, to select judiciously, and to sustain in the wilder portions of the Great Valley, a corps of well-educated young women as teachers of schools, especially for the destitute. Why can it not be done? why should it not? All our aid should not be extended to colleges: let us not forget that the "Excelsior" is often ultimately reached by beginning with the Humilior. This book describes the condition of the West briefly, and unfolds a plan for its salvation: and then a portion of the profits of sale is to be appropriated to the furtherance of the cause.

9.-Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus, and to Philemon. By ALBERT BARNES. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 355, 12mo.

This is another volume of Mr. Barnes's useful commentaries, marked by the same excellences which have characterized his Notes on the Gospels, and rendered them so acceptable to private Christians and teachers in Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes. The commentary on that part of Philemon which relates to Onesimus is worthy of consideration, and will probably correct mistakes which have possession of many minds.

10.—A Grammar of the Latin Language, on the basis of the Grammar of Dr. Alexander Adam, of Edinburgh. By C. D. CLEVELAND. Third edition. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. 1845. pp. 320, 12mo.

The Grammar of Dr. Adam has long been in use both in this country and Great Britain, and was, when it first appeared, a great improvement on most of its predecessors. In the advanced state of philological inquiries, itself needed additions and changes, to make it a suitable book for our schools. These improvements it has been the design of Prof. Cleveland to introduce in the present edition: and we think he has succeeded so far as to make it decidedly the best edition of Adam's Latin Grammar yet published. We do not think it the very best Grammar of the Latin language, but among the best; and when Adam's is used, we decidedly recommend the introduction of Prof. Cleveland's third edition.

11.-Second Latin Book-the First Part of Jacob's and Döring's Elementarbuch, or Latin Reader, with an enlarged and critical Vocabulary, and notes adapted to the author's Latin Grammar. By C. D. CLEVELAND. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. 1845. Pp. 299, 12mo.

This is one of a series of Latin Books designed by Prof. Cleveland. The style of execution will commend it to teachers and scholars. Its chief excellence consists, we think, in its correct and extensive vocabulary. These are generally meagre and worthless. We are no friends of mere vocabularies at the end of a book. Let the student use a large dictionary at once. But if they must be used, then let them, by all means, be full, and founded on a radical knowledge of the significations of words.

12.-A Practical Manual of Elocution: embracing Voice and Gesture. Designed for Schools, Academies, and Colleges, as well as for private learners. By MERRITT CALDWELL, A. M., Professor of Metaphysics and Political Economy, and Teacher of Elocution, in Dickinson College. Philadelphia: Sorin & Ball. New-York: Huntington & Savage. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 1845. pp. 331, 12mo.

We confess ourselves greatly pleased with this manual. It is well digested and comprehensive, embracing rules both for the regulation of the voice, and the cultivation of gesticulation. Dr. Rush's philosophical work on the voice, and Austin's Chironomia, are the basis of Prof. Caldwell's system; but he certainly is entitled to the merit of combining the two departments of elocution, and exhibiting them lucidly, and with sufficient extension for all practical purposes.

A text book of this description, in order to be useful in accomplishing the end for which it was written, must be thoroughly and practically studied. Thus used, we think its introduction into schools and colleges would tend, at least, to give a facility and appropriateness of articulation and expression, which else would not be attained. 13.-Practical Christianity, in a Series of Essays. By JOHN BOWDLER, Jr., Esq., of Lincoln's Inn. First American from the Edinburgh edition. Boston: Benjamin Perkins & Co. 1845. P. 285, 18mo.

Books on Practical Christianity ought to be ever welcome; for with these corrupt natures of ours, we need all the helps we can obtain, to cherish our piety; and it is particularly grateful to find those who are barristers devoting their leisure hours to the composition of essays on the practical matters of Christianity-such as Submission to God, Trust in God, Love of God, Thankfulness, Prayer, Humility, etc., etc.

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