men, educated for controversy in a narrow range, but with no scholarship, and no general education. Coming from the lowest ranks generally, and never leaving Ireland, they retain every early prejudice in its full violence. It was the great object of the agitators, who found the Roman-catholic aristocracy and clergy, while educated abroad, too mild in their feelings to protestants, and averse from democratic agitation, to have a system of home education, which might produce fit tools for their purposes. Maynooth has fully answered. The reviewer was told the other day, by a person once a Romanist, that he had himself heard Father O'Leary deplore the establishment of Maynooth, and prophesy that it would be a school of democracy. This pamphlet is well worth reading and keeping.

Athens and Attica. By the Rev. C. Wordsworth, &c. &c. London: Murray. 1836. 8vo.

CRITICAL Scholarship, and all regard for it, are going so utterly out of fashion, that it is a matter of high satisfaction to find a gentleman placed in the distinguished station to which Mr. Wordsworth has been appointed, retaining a decided value for it. Long may our public schools resist, as far as they can resist, the morbid appetite for teaching boys scraps of a thousand things at a time when the mind requires, more than at any other, to have its powers educed and strengthened by being concentrated and steadily fixed on a few. The beauty of the typographical execution of this volume, (and especially of the inscriptions,) and the extreme interest of the places treated of—(Athens and Attica,—what can be added to such names?)—will attract the general reader to the work, as much as the learning displayed will interest the scholar.

The Young Divine; or, an Easy Introduction to the Scriptures. By the Rev. W. Fletcher. London: Hailes. 1836. 12mo.

A GOOD useful introduction for children, as to the geography, customs, &c., of the Jews.

A New Version of the Psalms. By E. Farr. London: Fellowes. 1836. 18mo.

MR. FARR has divided the Psalins, where they are too long to be sung at once, into several parts. His preface is written in so pleasing and modest a tone, that the reviewer really wishes it were just to speak in high terms of his version.

The Gipsies; their Origin, &c. By Samuel Roberts. London: Longman and Co. 1836. 12mo.

MR. ROBERTS Conceives that the gipsies are the descendants of the ancient people of Egypt, and that their present condition is distinctly

foretold in Ezekiel, xxix., xxx., xxxii., Isaiah, xix., and parts of Jeremiah. The words which he cites appear to the reviewer scarcely susceptible of the very definite interpretation which he gives to them. His Supplement sums up the peculiarities of the gipsies extremely well ; and no one can deny that their history is a most remarkable one, and remains to be accounted for. There is a partial vocabulary of the gipsy tongue, gained by Mr. Roberts and family from a young female gipsy.

Ireland; its Evils traced to their Source. By the Rev. J. R. Page, A.B. London: Seeley and Burnside. 1836.

WITHOUT at all entering into the question of Mr. Page's opinions, it is quite certain that this little book contains a large quantity of very curious facts, some of them supported by public documents, some of them drawn from Mr. Page's own personal observation, respecting the Romish priests in Ireland, their power, and the way in which some of them exert it, which deserve most serious consideration. Mr. Page is doubtless prepared, should any of the facts be questioned which rest on his own statements now, to give proof of them.

Female Improvement. By Mrs. John Sandford. London: Longman and Co. 2 vols. 12mo.

THE reviewer does not very much admire Mrs. Sandford's theology. In the other parts of the work there is a great deal of good and useful remark; and a judicious parent might read to daughters many of the chapters with good effect.

Notes of a Ramble through France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and Belgium. By a Lover of the Picturesque. London: Hamilton, Adams and Co. 1836. 8vo.

THIS is the note-book of a good-humoured, sensible, ordinary traveller, who went wherever his valet de place took him, saw things in the common way, and gives exactly the common account of them all. It is good for a guide book, and tells people exactly what they will hear from those who exhibit all the churches, pictures, &c. &c.

Covetousness. By Esther Copley. London: Jackson and Walford. THIS is another of the fruits of Dr. Conquest's prize. Though Mrs. Copley did not obtain it, her essay seems to be about as good as that which did.

IT is only just to notice with the approbation it deserves a Scotch Episcopal Magazine, published by Mr. Stephens, an episcopalian bookseller (at Edinburgh) of high principles and real zeal for the cause, as well as extensive knowledge of it. It has now gone through forty-five or forty-six numbers.

The Magazine of Health, by a Practising Physician (Tilt, Fleetstreet) is a sensible, useful publication.

The fifth volume of Messrs. Baldwin and Cradock's edition of Cowper's Works, under the care of Mr. Southey, has just appeared.

Mr. Hatchard has just begun, in his Sacred Classics, Bishop Horne on the Psalms, prefixing to it, very judiciously, Jones of Nayland's Life of the Bishop. Mr. Montgomery's prefatory essay is not quite in the right temper.

Among the Sermons lately published, are to be noticed one by the Rev. J. Warter, of Tarring, On the occasion of the Eclipse, (Rivingtons,) and one by the Rev. R. Henney, of Harvey, The Christian entitled to legal Protection on the Lord's Day, and two excellent Sermons by the Rev. Thos. Thorp, of Trinity College, Cambridge, (one on the Commemoration day, Dec. 16, 1835, and the other before the Trinity House last month).

A Sermon by the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, at the opening of a new chapel in his parish in Sussex, (Rivingtons,) is deserving (as is all which comes from his pen) of attentive consideration, not only for its real piety, and the sound and Christian view of the blessings of parochial ministrations which it contains, but for the opinions, frankly and strongly delivered, on the present proposals for altering the church establishment.

Attention should be here called to the republication, at a very low price, of an excellent pamphlet (originally published many years ago) by the Rev. R. Morres, prebendary of Salisbury, (Rivingtons), on the Duty of Communion with the Established Church.

Mr. Tilt has commenced A Series of Views of the Ports and Harbours of Great Britain, engraved by W. Finden, a name which carries its recommendation with it. The first number contains-Tynemouth (two views), Shields, Cullercoats, and Berwick. The publication is one of great interest to every Englishman, and in many cases (as Tynemouth and Berwick in this first number,) to every lover of the picturesque. It is admirably executed, and very cheap.

The Memorials of Oxford has arrived at its forty-third number, which contains a very interesting general view of that beautiful city, and a particular view of New Inn Hall.

The third number of Mr. Murray's Graphic Illustrations of Dr. Johnson's Life contains excellent portraits of R. O. Cambridge, Mr. Beauclerc, and T. Warton, with views of Mrs. Clive's and Mr. Davies's residences, autographs, &c. The whole will be comprised in four parts.

The second volume of Winkles's English Cathedrals (Tilt, Fleetstreet) opens with the gorgeous beauty of Lincoln. The Foreign Cathedrals, No. VII. contains Beauvais, a cathedral of great beauty and interest. Both works keep up their character fully.

A History of the English Episcopacy, from the period of the Long Parliament to the Act of Conformity; with Notices of the Religious Parties of the Time, and a Review of the Ecclesiastical Affairs in England from the Reformation.' By the Rev. Thomas Lathbury, M. A.

THE portion of history embraced by this volume is beyond all comparison the most important in the annals of the church of England. A good deal has, in consequence, been written about it at various times, and by various authors, yet it is not certain that the tale has been told so well as by Mr. Lathbury. With great care, and most commendable industry, he has collected and perused not only all the works of more modern writers, but the numberless tracts and pamphlets which appeared at the time; and he has succeeded, by such means, in placing the memorable events of which he is the chronicler, if not in a light which is absolutely new, at all events, in one which is exceedingly attractive. Mr. Lathbury avoids, as much as possible, the beaten path of civil history. His theme is, the church; its struggle into existence, as a pure national establishment; its sufferings during an age of fanaticism and violence; its re-establishment under Charles II.; and finally, the proceedings of its rulers and ministers, at a season when to force the conscience was not only not condemned, but was, by all sects and parties, practised. And it is an act of mere justice to add, that his mode of treating it has done him honour.

Space will not permit any outline of Mr. Lathbury's tale to be given, nor yet the discussion of one or two points in which he seems to be mistaken. It may be observed, indeed, in passing, that he thinks much more highly than his reviewer does of the puritans; and that Laud scarcely receives from him all the justice which he deserves. Not that he is either the panegyrist of the former, nor the calumniator of the latter; but he has forgotten to explain that much of Laud's attention to forms must be attributed to the laxity of his predecessor; under whom, indeed, there had well nigh ceased to be anything like uniformity in the church. In like manner, he assumes what he cannot justify, when he asserts, that the episcopate was never regarded as a separate order in the church of England, till Bishop Hall set up the claim. During the times of confusion, necessarily attendant on the Reformation, some irregularities may have been connived at; but if no formal assertion of the apostolic succession was then made, it was for this obvious reason, that the point had never been disputed. Still, Mr. Lathbury's principles are clearly those of a right-minded son of the church; and his very errors will, perhaps, obtain for his work a more extended circulation in some quarters.

The reviewer recommends to his readers both the opening sketch of the reformation, and the concluding chapters, in which the church is vindicated from the charges that have been so long brought against her, on the score of persecution. Mr. Lathbury has distinctly shewn, that of the persons who suffered ejectment under the act of uniformity, a countless majority were merely removed from benefices which they were neither entitled by law to hold, nor qualified to use aright. Neale and his followers have spoken of two thousand godly ministers as deprived, by that act, of their livings. The number is greatly exaggerated; and the defender of puritanism forgot to add. that two-thirds consisted of soldiers and mechanics, unlettered, unordained, and otherwise totally disqualified for the office which they had assumed. There is little room for quotation; but it is right, that on this head the author should speak positively. The question under discussion is the comparative tolerance of the episcopal and presbyterian hierarchy; and the author of these makes his appeal, with great candour, to the most celebrated writers of the day.

The Editor is very happy to give this review of Mr. Lathbury, sent to him by a friend of great talents and high character.

Let Hooker's polity, and Bishop Hall's controversial works, be contrasted with the celebrated production entitled, "Smectymnus." These were considered, at the time, the chief works on both sides. With regard to Hooker, even his enemies must admit, that it breathes throughout a spirit of conciliation and kindness; it abounds not in rash and uncharitable assertions; there are no harsh epithets applied to opponents. He establishes these propositions, that sacred Scripture is not a rule for discipline; that many things indifferent may be practised, though not enjoined in Scripture; and that the church may appoint ceremonies within the limit of Scripture. These propositions are stated and defended with the greatest amenity of manners towards his opponents, and in a truly Christian spirit. Nothing is advanced respecting the divine right of any form of church government. How different is the spirit running through the works of Cartwright, Travers, and others on the same side, at this early period of the controversy!

The most cursory perusal of Hall's writings will prove that he wrote in a most amiable spirit. Nothing of asperity or bitterness appears in his pages. However strongly he may have defended episcopacy as an apostolical institution, there is nothing uncharitable, or unchristian, in the tendency of his controversial writings. The enemies of the church may search in vain, in the writings of Hall, for any passages, or sentences, militating against Christian charity. On the other side is the publication already mentioned-the joint production of five eminent presbyterian divines, Stephen Marshall, Edward Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, and William Spurtsoe. The title of the work is made up of the initials of their names. The work contains all their arguments. It was constantly appealed to, as furnishing the most powerful weapon against their adversaries, and the best reply to their arguments. The Christian spirit of Hall is sought in vain in this celebrated work. Its unrelenting, reviling, and intolerant spirit may be discovered from some extracts. Their tirade against bishops is thus concluded :-" What the practices of the prelates have been ever since, from the beginning of Queen Elizabeth to the present day, would fill a volume, like Ezekiel's roll, with lamentations, mourning, and woe, to record. For it hath been their great design to hinder all farther reformation; to bring in doctrines of popery, Arminianism, and libertinism; to maintain, propagate, and much increase the burthen of human ceremonies; to keep out, and beat down, the preaching of the word; to silence the faithful ministers of it; to oppose and persecute the most zealous professors; and to turn all religion to a pompous outside; and to tread down the power of godliness; insomuch, that it is come to an ordinary proverb, that when anything is spoiled, we use to say, 'the bishop's foot hath been in it.'"

The writer quite agrees with the author, that the falsehoods, coarseness, and bigotry of this sentence cannot be equalled by anything in the writings of Hall and his brethren. And he takes his leave of this volume with the assurance, that it has made a very valuable addition to the ecclesiastical literature of the day, and church historians.

MISCELLANEA.

ROMAN CATHOLIC MEDITATIONS.

Is a former paper I have given a curious specimen of Roman-catholic devotions. The Irish "Catholic Magazine"* will furnish abundance of proof of the practical effects of Romanism.

The Irish "Catholic Magazine of Entertaining Christian Knowledge," Dublin,

in weekly numbers, price ld.

1.

VOL. X.-August, 1836.

2 B