of a better system than Paley's, is Bishop Butler. This eminent writer has indeed constructed no system of morals, but he has discussed the fundamental principle of the subject, in his sermons upon Human Nature, Compassion, Resentment, Love of our Neighbor and Love of God. Prof. Whewell announces his intention to publish the sermons of Butler in a convenient form, arranged so that the different parts could be easily referred to, and provided with a few illus trations of Butler's representation of the principle of human action collected from ancient and modern authors.

The four sermons of Whewell in the present volume are mainly employed in maintaining that conscience is an original and independent power in the human constitution, and in discussing various questions relating to our moral nature. We have been highly gratified with the author's views and with his manner of stating them.

The additional Discourses in this volume by Dr. Henry are on Moral Integrity, The Moral Argument for the Being of God, Moral Requisites for the Knowledge of Divine Things, and The Nature of Moral Obligation. Under the first head, the following principle is illustrated, He who lives in the deliberate and habitual violation of one known command of the Divine law, practically sets at nought the sacred authority which proclaimed the whole, and thereby proves himself to be wanting in the essential principle of true obedience to the whole. The object of the second essay is to show, that to deny the existence of God is to treat all the implanted sentiments and irrepressible aspirations of the heart, and all the dictates of the conscience as a delusion. Thus while the existence of God accounts for all that we behold around us in nature, it harmonizes with all that we feel within us in the sentiments, the dictations and the wants of our essential constitution. The third essay comprehends an earnest and valuable illustration of the words of our Saviour," If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." A practical trial of Christianity is indispensable to all satisfying insight of its nature. In the last treatise, Prof. Henry discusses the essential and immutable distinction between the idea of right and wrong. These terms express the qualities of actions, and not merely the causes of certain agreeable or disagreeable emotions in our minds. These qualities do not depend on any arbitrary relation between our constitution and certain objects. The mind has the faculty, under certain conditions, of forming necessary and universal conceptions, perceiving absolute truths, and passing absolute judgments. Supply the conditions, and the faculty enters into exercise, forms the conceptions, perceives the truth, passes the judgments. At the close of the discussion, Dr. Henry urges various objections against the theory which makes the will of God the ultimate ground of moral obligation, and also against that which places it in an enlightened self-interest.

From this brief abstract, the highly interesting nature of the subjects discussed will be seen. No one can read the volume without profit. Dr. Henry's contributions form an excellent supplement to the sermons of Whewell. The thoughts are clearly expressed and not seldom beautifully illustrated. We commend them to all our readers as worthy of diligent study. They are among the promising indications that a better day in moral science is about to dawn on the English world. Paley no longer reigns in undisputed supremacy.

3.-The Christian Philanthropist; or Harbinger of the Millennium. By William Cogswell, D. D. Secretary of the American Education Society. With an Introductory Essay by James Matheson, D. D. of Wolverhampton, England. Second Edition. Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1839. pp. 394.

Besides the Essay of Dr. Matheson and an Appendix by Dr. Cogswell, there are seventeen Dissertations in this volume, on the follow. ing topics: Distribution of the Scriptures, Distribution of Tracts, Foreign Missions, Conversion of the Jews, Home Missions, Supply of Ministers, Sabbath Schools, Promotion of Temperance, Involuntary Servitude, Religious Improvement of Seamen, Reformation of Prisoners, Promotion of Peace, Charitable Contributions, Benevolent Agencies, Qualifications of Public Agents, Revivals of Religion, Millennium. These various topics are discussed with sound judgment and in a scriptural and impressive manner. Nothing will be found in them, which savors of an uncharitable spirit or of partizan views. The various societies are made to appear what they are in reality, fraternal associations, all aiming at one object, the alleviation of human woe, and the universal diffusion of the gospel. The appendix is not the least valuable part of the volume. About sixty pages are employed in giving details in relation to the various associations. The facts are well condensed and are brought down to the present time with much labor. Dr. Matheson's Essay is a good introduction to the volume. The thoughts are important, and are presented in a judicious and earnest manner.

4.-Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature, by George Ripley. Boston Hilliard, Gray & Co.

Four volumes of this very interesting series are now published. The first two were translated by the editor from the French of Victor Cousin, Theodore Jouffroy and Benjamin Constant. The style in which these translations are executed is worthy of all praise. While the meaning of the original is clearly given, the language is well-chosen and graceful. Every page bears marks of an accomplished scholar.

The illustrative and other notes will be read with

deep interest. We have been highly gratified with some of the disquisitions of Jouffroy in particular. Many of his thoughts are sagacious and deeply studied. The views which he takes of the present condition of humanity are comprehensive and just. He is not so much known among us as Cousin, but he strikes us as in no wise inferior.

The third volume of the Specimens is composed of some of the miscellaneous poems of Goethe and Schiller. The translator is the Rev. John S. Dwight of Boston, assisted by several of his literary friends. In this selection, we recognize some of our old favorites. In order to relish these poems fully, the reader must place himself in the position of the gifted authors. A mere American taste will be sure to misinterpret or scorn them. The fourth volume of the series, translated by S. M. Fuller, is from the Recollections of Goethe by Eckermann. The fifth and sixth volumes, which, we believe, are in the press, will comprise Menzel on German Literature, by Prof. Felton of Cambridge. Judging by the extracts from this author which we have seen in the foreign reviews, we shall expect a rich treat.

5.-The Life of William Wilberforce, by his sons, Robert Isaac Wilberforce, M. A. and Samuel Wilberforce, M. A. Abridg

ed from the London edition by Caspar Morris, M. D. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins, 1839. pp. 544.

This volume is a treasure. No one can read ten pages in it without the conviction that religion is a reality, and that it alone can truly fit man to bear the ills and perform the duties of life, whether that life is spent in the retirement of the study, or in the bustle of courts and forums. Nobly, with the grace of God, did Wilberforce accomplish his errand of mercy. His name will be one of the brightest on the page of history. He sought not for an earthly immortality, but it shall be most surely awarded him. His governing motive was not the praise of man, but praises shall cluster around his head till time shall be no longer.

The reviewers seem to regret that Wilberforce was not a party man. They say, that he was undecided, vacillating, that no one could depend upon him in an extremity. He ought to have been either a whig or a tory. But we rejoice that he was not a mere politician. He was a statesman, in the noblest sense of that term. Wits and changelings might have laughed at his simplicity or his method. ism. But these men at the same time feared and respected him.

We have only to add that this memoir is fraught with the deepest interest. An abridgement of the English edition was needed, and Dr. Morris has accomplished his task with fidelity and sound judg

ment.

6.-Anthon's Series of Classical Works for Schools and Colleges. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1839.

Ir is with pleasure that we call the attention of our readers to these uniform editions of Latin and Greek Classics. The Editor, Dr. Charles Anthon, is Professor of the Greek and Latin Languages in Columbia College, New York, and brings to the work which he has undertaken an established and high reputation as a scholar, and much experience as an Instructor. The plan proposed is to give editions of all the authors usually read in our schools and colleges, together with such elementary and subsidiary works as may be needed by the classical student, either at the commencement, or at particular stages of his career. The advantages promised in the announcement of this plan are, the latest and best texts; accurate commentaries, putting the student and the instructor in possession of the opinions of the best philologists, together with all such subsidiary information as may serve, not only to throw light upon the meaning of the author, but also to give rise in the young student to habits of correct thinking, and the foundation of a correct taste.

Six volumes of the series are already published, and have met with so much favor in this country, and some of them in England-as to encourage both the editor and the publishers to proceed with their plan. The works already published are Select Orations of Cicero, Sallust, and Caesar. These are classics properly so called. The remaining volumes are a Grammar of the Greek Language-a Prosody of the same,—and a Grammar with Lessous and a primary Lexicon.

We may not claim for these books the highest possible perfection, and not having been ourselves engaged, for many years, in the work of classical instruction, we shall leave it to some more competent hand to furnish such criticisms of these productions of the learned editor as the interests of classical literature may require. It may however be proper to remark that, in the opinion of some of our best scholars, Prof. Anthon has not kept pace, in his Grammar, with the advancements recently made in the knowledge of Greek. In this department of his work, there is doubtless room for some important improvement.

It has also been objected by some teachers that so copious an array of English notes as are contained in these editions of Cicero, Caesar, etc. is in danger of bribing the student into habits of intellectual sloth. To this it is replied, on behalf of the plan of the editor, that the part of the series which contains the text-books for schools must, in order to be at all useful, have a more extensive supply of annotations than the volumes intended for College Lectures; and that when these last shall make their appearance, the system of commenting adopted in them will not fail to meet the approbation of

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all. We think there is good sense in this remark, and that the practical wisdom of the editor is favorably exhibited in thus adapting the different portions of the series to the different stages of advancement of the students for whom each is intended.

As a whole this series of school-classics may be regarded as superior to any similar works before published, and as a most needed and valuable contribution to the cause of classical education; and we cheerfully concur in the following remarks of the Rev. Dr. Humphrey, which we quote from a long catalogue of commendatory notices from Presidents and Professors of Colleges and others, appended by the publishers to one of their volumes. -" Professor Anthon deserves and will receive the thanks of the public for the labor which he has so judiciously and successfully bestowed upon Sallust, Caesar and Cicero. The explanatory notes or commentaries are more copious and comprehensive than those of any other edition I have seen, and much better adapted to the wants of young students. Among the most valuable of these notes are those which direct attention to the beautiful uses of the moods and tenses, and explain the delicate shades of meaning and the peculiar beauties that depend upon them, which our language often expresses imperfectly, and with difficulty, and which young learners rarely regard. The explanations of the force and meaning of the particles are also very useful. The historical, geographical, and other indexes are highly valua ble, furnishing the student with felicitous illustrations of the text, and much general information."

We may add that the typographical execution of these volumes is excellent, which is a merit by no means to be disregarded or lightly esteemed in books designed for classical instruction.

7.-Sermons by the late Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D. D. to which is prefixed a Memoir of his Life. By William B. Sprague, D. D. Minister of the Second Presbyterian Congregation in Albany. New York: John S. Taylor, 1839. Vols. I. and II. 8vo. pp. 597, 596.

These volumes are beautifully executed by the publisher. We open them with lively recollections of the splendid subject of the Memoir which they contain. It was our privilege in youth to enjoy his friendship and counsel, and occasionally to listen to the strains of his peculiar eloquence. He stands conspicuous among the early objects of our admiration, and we cannot divest ourselves of the impressions of his greatness. But, with him, though we trust it was "the whole of death to die," yet even in regard to this world, it was not "the whole of life to live." Dr. Griffin has left upon the age and the generation which he served living impressions of his intellect, his eloquence and his piety, which would have remained and been