er's disciples, and all his usefulness as an extension of Beecher's wide-reaching influence for the gospel and kingdom of Christ. Dr. Babcock has not recorded the anecdote, but we believe it to be a true one, when the Litchfield pastor saw, after one or two conversations, that the untaught but zealous young inquirer from South Farms could not be set right in regard to the necessity of immersion and the relation of children to the Church, he said to him, "Peck, I see you are bent on being a Baptist preacher; go and do all the good you can."

MEMOIR OF ALICE B. HAVEN.*-Those who have never read, and never expect to read, as we confess is the case with ourselves, a line of the writings of the subject of this memoir, will still find, in the story of her life, much to attract, instruct, and encourage, and much to call out warm sympathy and respect. Mrs. Haven must have been conspicuous, in the numerous different circles in which she moved, for her many natural and acquired graces of mind and heart. At a very early age she had tested her powers, and found that she wielded the pen of a popular writer; and her biographer claims for her the honor of having, as a matter of religious principle, devoted the talents with which she found herself gifted, to the high purpose, not of simply amusing or interesting the public, but of inculcating important lessons in life and morals. The subjects which she undertook to illustrate were those connected with the economies and charities of domestic life. The field is one in which no conspicuous laurels are to be won; yet the number of authors is few who affect more directly, or more sensibly, the character, the modes of thought, and the happiness of the people, than one who, like Mrs. Haven, gains a welcome admittance into tens of thousands of families, by means of an attractive story, and there inculcates lessons of truth, of honor, and of religion; while exposing the hollowness of a life of fashion, the danger and folly of neglecting known duties, and the evil of all narrow and selfish modes of living. Mrs. Haven was born in 1827 and died in August, 1863.

* Cousin Alice: a Memoir of Alice B. Haven. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1865. 16mo. pp. 392. Price $2.00.

MISCELLANEOUS.

KNOW THE TRUTH.*—The advance sheets of a vigorously written little volume, with the title given below, have been placed in our hands, and we have had time simply to glance at their contents. The author is evidently fond of metaphysical studies, and has given earnest attention to the writings of the authors named upon his title page. That the error which they all teach in common deserves earnest criticism we are ready to believe, and that the author has exposed that error with at least partial success, we have as little doubt. The lovers of philosophical discussion will read his pages with interest and profit.

EGYPT'S PRINCES.t-Some one seems to have done his best to prevent the circulation of this exceedingly interesting book, by allowing it to go out to the world with a very unmeaning and uninviting title. The book, in fact, gives the story of an admirably planned and executed missionary tour up the Nile in the winter of 1860-61, by an American missionary-the Rev. Gulian Lansingof the United Presbyterian Church in Egypt. He went in a boat that was purchased by the Mission for the special object of prosecuting this particular work. He gained a great deal of informa tion respecting the actual condition, at the present time, of the Koptic Church, and, in fact, of all the people living in the valley of the Nile; and tested, by actual experiment, the feasibility of missionary labor among them. In his book Mr. Lansing has studiously avoided all reference to the Egypt of the past; and even makes it almost too conspicuous that his concern is only for the Egypt of to-day. Yet the reader will be satisfied; as information of the kind here given, so rich and so varied, is nowhere else to be found.

We have been interested in what Mr. Lansing says of the in

* Know the Truth: A Critique on the Hamiltonian Theory of Limitation, including some strictures upon the theories of Rev. Henry L. Mansel and Mr. Herbert Spencer. By JESSE H. JONES. New York: Published for the author by Hurd & Houghton, and Crosby & Noyes. 1865. 12mo. pp. 117.

Egypt's Princes. A Narrative of Missionary Labor in the Valley of the Nile. By Rev. GULIAN LANSING, Missionary of the United Presbyterian Church in Egypt. New York. Carter and Brothers. 1865. 16mo. pp. 426. [New Haven. F. T. Jarman. Price $1.50.]

creased attention which is paid, just at this time, in Egypt, to the raising of cotton. One of the results of the slaveholders' rebellion has been to stimulate its production along the banks of the Nile, to an extent altogether unexpected. But there is a great want of labor, and, in consequence, there has been a new stimulus given to the introduction of slaves. Slavery, to be sure, has been for years "against the law of the land," yet, as a matter of fact, slaves have been all along introduced, in greater or less numbers, from Nubia and the South, every year. But the condition of these slaves is vastly superior to that of those who were formerly in bondage in our Southern States. In the first place there is no prejudice against them on account of color. Then, the yoke is a lighter one in every respect. And, most important of all, there is no fugitive slave law. So, if a slave is ill treated, he runs away, and his master can far better afford to buy a new one than be at the expense of looking him up. A few years ago the price of a slave was about $40; now it is $100.

Mr. Lansing says of what travelers love to call "the eternal cry of bak-sheesh," "Were I called upon to act as umpire in this controversy, I would decide that each decipherer of hieroglyphics, and admirer of ancient temples, should pay to the poor people who disinterred them a bak-sheesh proportionate to his admiration of them when uncovered."

On pp. 139-155, is a satisfactory refutation of an opinion, quite commonly expressed in some quarters, that it is necessary to introduce our Western civilization among the Mohammedan, nominally Christian, and heathen nations, of the East, before seeking to win them to such a spiritual religion as ours. Mr. Lansing proves that the gospel must go first; and that it is everywhere the most efficient instrument of an enduring civilization.

ZULU-LAND.*-This book is devoted to the illustration of missionary life and labor among the people of another portion of the African continent. Z southeastern coast, and the mission among the Zulu-Kafirs has always been one of

* Zulu-Land; or Life among the Zulu-Kafirs of Natal and Zulu-Land, South Africa. With Map, and illustrations, largely from original photographs. By LEWIS GROUT, for fifteen years missionary of the American Board in South Africa. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Publication Committee. 12mo. pp. 351,

special interest to American Christians. The missionaries, both male and female, who have devoted their lives to labor among these ignorant and degraded tribes have manifested an enthusiasm in their work, and made an, exhibition of constancy and self-denial, which has not been surpassed in any other missionary field. Rev. Lewis Grout, the author of this book, will long be remembered for the good service he did some years ago in his able controversy with Dr. Colenso, "Bishop of Natal," with regard to the course to be pursued with polygamists who become Christian converts. Mr. Grout contended, in behalf of the American missionaries, that a polygamous convert "should put away all his wives but one, on the profession of Christianity." In other words, he would "refuse to baptize a polygamist, or give him the right hand of Christian recognition and fellowship, till he shall have reformed his domestic arrangements." Bishop Colenso contended, on the other hand, it will be remembered, that such a rule as had been adopted by our missionaries was "unwarranted by Scripture, opposed to the practice of the Apostles, condemned by common reason, and altogether unjustifiable." The whole controversy was afterwards reviewed at length in this Quarterly in 1858, Vol. XVI., pp. 407-433; also in 1856, Vol. XIV., pp. 518-622. Mr. Grout was for fifteen years in the service of the American Board among the Zulus. Two or three years ago, on account of his health, and that of his family, he was obliged to return to the United States; and he is now settled as a Congregational clergyman in Massachusetts. We think it is

very fortunate that he has been able to find time to prepare so thorough and comprehensive, so interesting and instructive a work. There is no one point that occurs to us which is not amply discussed and illustrated. He has given us, in the following order; the first experience of a missionary in Africa;—the early history of "Terra Natalis," or Christmas-Land;-the geographical features of Natal;-the seasons, and climate; the history of the first European settlement at the Cape, and the migration of the Dutch farmers to Natal;-the origin and relationship of the Zulu-Kafirs, and other Zingian tribes;-the history of the people, and their rulers;-the customs, habits, views, practices of the Zulus; their language and literature;-and the history of American and European missions among them. And, in addition, there are chapters on the geographical features of Natal, its botanical productions, its beasts, its reptiles, its insects and birds. The

book is furnished with a good map, and is illustrated with numerous wood cuts. We have had the testimony of one who has been a resident in Natal that the book in its descriptions has the accuracy of a photograph. We know of no more complete and satisfactory work of the kind that has been published by any one of our missionaries. As might be expected in a book prepared by one so long absent from his own country there are occasionally faults of style, as there are in "Egypt's Princes," by Rev. Mr. Lansing, but as the latter says in the preface to his book, "missionaries who are faithful to their work must be content to forego the distinction of becoming literati in their mother language. * If the critics wish to break a shaft with me, it must be on Arab steeds and in the field of Arabic literature." So however we may be disposed to criticise some things in Mr. Grout's English style, which after all are of no great importance, it should not be forgotten by the reader that in the language of the Zulus he is of the very first authority. We have before us now a "Grammar of the Zulu Language," prepared by him, that long ago gained for him a high reputation as a scholar.

*

REV. DR. RAY PALMER'S HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES.t-Dr. Palmer has collected in this volume his various poetical effusions, some of which are well known to the public, and some published for the first time. We wonder he has so long delayed such a collection, asked for, as it has been, so frequently and urgently, both in this country and abroad, but we congratulate the lovers of sacred poetry, that he has at last yielded to their requests. The book contains Hymns, Sacred Pieces, and Sonnets, to which some miscellaneous poems ate added. They make a volume remarkable for pure and elevated thought, expressed in numbers singularly harmonious, and breathing throughout the inspirations of a true poet. The hymns are thirty-two in number, and are led by that most beautiful, and already classic lyric, "My Faith looks up to Thee;" and although we confess to a high admiration of this hymn, and are disposed to regard it as well nigh faultless, we

The Isizulu.-A Grammar of the Zulu language; accompanied with a historical introduction, also with an appendix. By LEWIS GROUT. Natal: 1864. 8vo. pp. 432.

Hymns and Sacred Pieces, with Miscellaneous Poems. By RAY PAlmer. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph.