lighten the affliction of a mind oppressed by bereavements; and he also informs us that the profits of it are to go to the Hull Penitentiary. It is simple in its structure and execution. The versification reminds us of Cowper, in his smaller poems. The following stanza may be taken as a specimen of the general style :

And as the early primrose peers

From out its bower of green,
To grace the border when it grows,
And light with joy the same,
So did she o'er her rural home

A moral beauty throw;
Breath forth sweetness like the flowers
Whose chaplet graced her brow, &c.

An Account of Carlisle during the Rebellion of 1745; to which is added a Speech (supposed to have been) delivered by Thomas Cappoch, "the Rebel-Bishop," at his Execution at Carlisle, for High Treason and Rebellion, Oct. 18, 1746. 8vo. pp. xvi. 22.-Cappoch was an adventurer of loose conduct and bad reputation, whose character appears to have been seized upon as a means of reflecting disgrace upon the party to which he had attached himself. He was actually executed for High Treason; but his "Speech" was admitted, even at the time, to be at best merely founded on facts, or upon the rumours of his career. His claim to the title of Bishop of Carlisle is thought to be little more than a soubriquet given him by the regiment of the Rebels which he accompanied from Manchester; for it is scarcely thought that Prince Charles Edward could have seriously encouraged his aspirations for preferment. The pamphlet is a curious addition to Mr. Jefferson's series of Carlisle historical pamphlets, though less valuable than some of its predecessors. The introductory matter is selected from former publications. It was perhaps unnecessary to supply the names indicated by initials, as they are generally sufficiently obvious; but the Editor should have ascertained and told who that person was to whom the Prince promised the Bishopric of Chester and Wardenship of Manchester, and is consequently particularly laid open to ridicule as having played a like part with the degraded Cappoch.

The Virgin Martyr. By Philip Massinger. With six Designs, by F. R. Pickersgill, Esq.-The Virgin Martyr of Massinger is a drama recommended by the dignity of its subject, and by a purity of diction by which our old dramatists are too seldom characterised. It is therefore well deserving of the elegant attire in which Mr. Burns has here arrayed it. The volume is a small quarto, a size very suitable

to long-lined poetry. The margins are ornamented with engraved borders. Mr. Pickersgill's designs have the merit of simple elegance in the sculptorial style, without any attempt at costume. Though wanting the interest and coherence which Retsch excites by his costume and other accessories, they are good of their kind, enough so to make us wish they were more in number.

Lays and Ballads from English History, &c. By S. M.-These poems, written by a parent for his (or her) children, are composed with a simplicity suited to that object, but at the same time with much elegance and poetic fancy. The inculcation of some moral or honourable sentiment is always kept in view, though perhaps too much merit is assigned to the martial virtues of the olden time. Some poetic licence may be granted when history is transfused into the romantic ballad; and such must be the author's apology when delineating Richard the Second as the "good King Richard" and his youthful Queen Isabella as a pattern of conjugal affection; as well as in some other instances. The author's chief guides have been Miss Strickland's "Queens of England," and Mr. James's historical works. The first part of the volume consists of seventeen pieces relating to English History, from the Conquest to the reign of Richard II; the second Part, of twelve pieces relating to Scotish and foreign history. As a short specimen we will quote a few lines from "The Tournament.'

Now shout ye for the victor!

The warrior to whose sword Lady, and prince, and herald

The prize of Fame award!
Doubt not his heart is thrilling

Thus on the turf to kneel,
While lovely hands unloose the bands
That clasp his helm of steel!
While every lip is busy

With the honour of his name,
And with glowing cheeks each good knight
The glory of his fame!
[speaks
Dear are thy gifts, O glory;

Dear is thy crown unstain'd, When the true heart bears witness That it was nobly gain'd!

The Gospel Narrative of the Holy Week. By Rev. H. Williams.-In this volume we find the different Gospel accounts of the transactions of the Holy Week are harmonised, and such reflections added as the events, or the language of the Scripture narratives, were calculated to inspire; while numerous quotations from the fathers are introduced as explanations of those passages which

needed illustration; or when the facts appeared to contain some spiritual allusions not altogether obvious. Those who do not agree altogether in the spirit of the entire work may yet be interested by it, for it exhibits much scriptural knowledge, and theological reading, with that profoundly reverential tone and manner which may be said to distinguish the writings of Mr. Williams and those connected with him in their scriptural views and theological systems.

Piety and Intellect relatively Estimated. By H. Edwards, Ph. D. 2nd Ed.-That this work has been popular its success shews; it is very rich in quotation and illustration and examples, and thus its moral precepts, and religious instruction, are as it were painted before the eye, and embodied with a brightness of effect that seems to make the impression permanent. It is a work that will be found equally instructive and interesting.

History of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. By S. Wilberforce, A.M.-This will be found a very useful and well arranged history of the Church of England, as transplanted to America, from the time of Queen Elizabeth to the present; it gives a lucid statement of the various changes it met with during that time, prosperous and adverse, with some account of the pious and eminent persons who have devoted themselves to its stability and increase, and it ends with the satisfactory statement that it has of late years gained on the rapidly increasing population of the United States, for, between 1814 and 1838, whilst the population of the Union has little more than doubled, it has quadrupled itself. Should its increase continue at this rate, it would in fifty years outnumber the Mother Church, and before the end of a century would embrace a majority of all the people in the West.

Sermons. By S. Wilberforce, A.M.— These sermons will recommend themselves not only by their sound divinity and wellconducted arguments, but by a spirit and elegance in the style and language that from the pulpit would produce a due effect on the audience. We were much pleased with S. VI. Personality an awful Gift; S. XI.The Presence of Christ with his Disciples after the Resurrection; and SS. XIII. and XVII. They appear to have been all preached before the Queen at Windsor or Claremont; in style they are such as would be adapted for enlightened congregations, and yet not above the comprehension of one lower in rank and education.

Diary of a March through Scinde and Afghanistan, &c. By Rev. J. N. Allen.Mr. Allen occupied that portion of the army that was under the command of General Sir William Nott in their homeward march from Kandahar to the Indus as chaplain to the field force, and he has given a clear compendious narrative of the events which fell under his eye, so that to the future historian of these memorable campaigns his volume will afford its proper share of authentic materials.

The Sequential System of Musical Notation. By Arthur Wallbridge.-The ready reading of music is of such difficult acquirement that it can hardly be desirable to have two methods of writing it, and therefore one would not willingly receive an entirely new one, such as is Mr. Wallbridge's, unless it had such advantages over the old one that it would make amends for the first inconveniences of its abolishment, and soon take place of it every where; and we cannot see that Mr. Wallbridge's method has such advantages. It seems to us better adapted to vocal than instrumental music; for, as he says that "the note immediately below the staff always represents the dominance-quality" (or key note) "whatever that may be," his system must break the now almost constant correspondence, with players of many instruments, of the written notes and the fingers by which their tones are produced. The mind of a violin player, for example, habitually gives the execution of a note in the third space to the second finger on the second string, while a note on Mr. Wallbridge's middle line would be played in different sequences by different fingers on different strings; and, when we recollect that to a young musician knowing only Mr. Wallbridge's system all music of the existing notation would be illegible, and all our organs and pianofortes would want “a new description of key-board," we could hardly take his notation as a substitute for the older unless it were superior to it in all respects.

The Sabbath Question Illustrated. By a Roadside Inquirer. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 207.— Those who are in favour of a Sabbath legislative protection ought to read this volume, to have their principles confirmed; those who are opposed to such a measure should read it that they may give the subject a fuller consideration. The author takes his inquirer among railwaymen and boatmen, where the evil of Sabbath perversion appears in its worst forms, as well as other scenes. The dialogues which are interspersed are very fair specimens of ar. gument in a good cause.

Difficulties of a Young Clergyman in Times of Division. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 285.We have one objection to make at the onset to the title of this volume, namely, that every generation, from the age of the Apostles inclusive, has been a time of division; and, however earnestly we may wish, we can hardly expect that succeeding ages will be more favoured. The subject of division to which this volume refers is Tractarianism. The story is well told, and the characters are ably drawn; and,

what is of no little importance, they are characters, and not caricatures, as Hogarth

uses the terms.

A Few Plain Words suggested by some recent proceedings in the Diocese of Exeter, addressed to Members of the Church of England. By the Rev. William Bentinck Hawkins, M.A. F.R.S. of Exeter College, Oxford, Chaplain to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge. The author of this pamphlet has considered the late proceedings at Exeter in the proper point of view, and one under which we are rather surprised they have not as yet been noticed. He has placed the whole question on its right and legitimate foundation, and has asserted the just authority of the Clergy with regard to the observance of the ritual against lay interference with remarkable strength, force, and clearness of reasoning; and with an eloquence of expression not often found in controversial tracts. We strongly recommend this little work to the notice of all churchmen.

Feb. 13. A Convocation, which was very numerously attended, was held in order to consider a proposition made for the degradation from the degrees of B.A. and M.A. of the Rev. William George Ward, in consequence of certain passages in his book, entitled "The Ideal of a Christian Church considered," which had been marked out for condemnation by the Hebdomadal Board, and which are to be found at pp. 45 (note), 473, 68, 100 (note), 479, 565, and 567. Mr. Ward, having been specially permitted to address the Convocation in English, did so, at considerable length, in very temperate

language, but maintaining the correctness of his published opinions. After the house had been addressed in Latin by Dr. Grant of New College, Mr. Denison of Oriel, and Mr. Bode of Christchurch, the question was put to the vote, and the members were declared to be, For the condemnation 777; against it, 386. Again, for the degradation of Mr. Ward, 569; against it, 511. A third question was then proposed, for the condemnation of the Tract for the Times, No. XC. when the Senior Proctor arrested further proceedings, by rising and saying "Nobis Procuratoribus non placet.'

OXFORD ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

Feb. 12. Among the presents were received, a set of drawings of God's House, Southampton, from the Rev. W. Grey, Magdalen hall; two drawings of Hugh Sexey's hospital, (temp. James I.) at Bruton, Somerset, from the Rev. E. Hobhouse, Merton college; a drawing of Leicester's Hospital, Warwick, from the Rev. E. Hobhouse, GENT. MAG. VOL. XXIII.

Merton college; an engraving of a rich Norman Font in Ingleton church, Yorkshire, from the Rev. Dr. Bliss; a collection of rubbings of brasses from churches in Suffolk, from the Rev. Dr. White, Magdalen college; an engraving of St. John's church, Marchwood, in the early-English style, from the architect, Mr. Derick; two drawings of St. Mary's church, Leicester, 2 P

from Mr. Freeman; a drawing of the west window of the nave at Mersham, Kent, from Joseph Clarke, esq. architect; and a drawing of a door at Staplehurst, Kent, with the iron-work wrought in very elabo rate patterns, representing, among other things, birds and fishes, from J. S. Lumsdaine, esq. B.A. Oriel college.

Aletter was read from the Dean of Wells, descriptive of a pastoral staff, found near that cathedral, of which he presented a drawing.

Another letter was read from Joseph Clarke, esq. architect, addressed to Mr. Parker, giving a description of the embroidery on an ancient cope remaining in East Langdon church, Kent.

A splendid brass from Seville, presented by the Rev. H. S. Burr, M.A. was exhibited to the Society: it was removed from one of the lately desecrated conventual churches in that city to the University chapel. Its subject is Don Perafan de Ribara, duke of Alcala, and viceroy of Naples, who died in 1571, represented in complete armour. Mr. Burr presented a pedigree of the duke, traced up to Alphonso the Good, King of Castile, through his second natural son by Leonora de Guzman, Don Fadrique or Frederick, Master of St. Jago, who was murdered by his halfbrother, King Pedro the Cruel, in 1358. See Lockhart's Spanish Ballads, "The Murder of the Master."

Several drawings of the projected school at Magdalen college, together with designs for several new churches, lent by Mr. Derick, were handed round the room.

A paper was read by Mr. Patterson on "The Application of Colour to the Internal Decorations of Ecclesiastical Buildings." He observed that there were evidences of some use of gilding and colour even in the earliest ages. After mentioning examples in Constantinople, Rome, and Venice, he observed that he might name a majority of the churches of Italy, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, as affording specimens of internal coloured decoration by means of mosaic. He proceeded to notice the early introduction of painting to the same end, in Italy, Germany, and France; and then went on to mention some facts regarding the history of polychrome in England. By a canon of the Second Council of Calcuith, held in 816, every bishop was enjoined to paint the saints to whom a church is dedicated, either on the wall, on a board, or on the altar, before consecrating it. Gervasius (de Vit. St. Dunst.) describes St. Dunstan as a skilful painter; and the same writer, in his Chronica, mentions the "coelum Egregiè depictum " of the old cathedral built

by Lanfranc, at Canterbury. Mr. P. then read an extract from Mr. Dawson Turner's work on the topography of Norfolk, in which the author throws out a hint that the position of that county may have given rise to the decided resemblance to the elder Dutch school which characterises many of these works. He proceeded to enumerate various frescoes from several churches figured in Carter's Ancient Sculpture and Painting in England. As an instance of the ancient practice of colouring monumental brasses, he pointed out a remarkably fine one in Elsing Church, Norfolk, given in Carter, and noticed the traces of colour remaining on the lectern in Eton college chapel. He also noticed the use of tapestry in decorating churches, adopted in most countries to this day. In conclusion, Mr. Patterson coincided with a remark which fell from Mr. Freeman at the last meeting of the Society, that Overbeck, Cornelius, and the Munich school should be our models, as affording, to his own mind, a combination of the best characteristics of the later ecclesiastical style, with those of the great secularizers, Raffaele and his successors; he would go so far as to deprecate any but a sparing use of halftints, and even of chiaro-oscuro, in any attempts to restore polychrome to its legi. timate position in this country.

Mr. Freeman presented some drawings of St. Mary's, Leicester, giving an account of the church, which is a highly interesting one, originally of Romanesque character, of which style the old chancel, with its magnificent sedilia, a rare feature at that date, (engraved in our Magazine, for Feb. 1843, p. 155,) is a valuable specimen. In the nave, early-English arches have been cut through the Romanesque walls, and a very large aisle added to the south. He called the attention of the Society to the church at the present time, on account of some restorations being in progress, which he could not approve, although he would attribute their deficiencies rather to the want of skill and funds, than to any lack of good spirit on the part of those concerned. Among other errors, he more particularly alluded to the patching the noble oak roofs with deal, and to the intention of setting up a fine parclose screen. (already taken down,) as a rere-dos to the altar, which is about to be moved from its present position in the great south aisle to its correct place in the chancel. He implored all members who had any influence in Leicester or its neighbourhood to use it without delay in endeavouring to rescue a venerable and already much abused building from further disfigurement.