Zend. One adventurous doctor has a "Privatissime" on Arabic, Rabbinical Hebrew, Syriac, and Ethiopic; while another has the same on the Polish, Bohemian, Russian, and Servian tongues. The Coptic is, of course, not neglected; and even Turkish and Chinese have their devotees. Not only does Dr. Boetticher describe the Athenian Acropolis at the period of its glory, but his companion in arms is equally learned on the "geography of Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs."

But if some of this erudition is calculated to excite a smile, there is much which awakens a deep interest, and a longing that similar branches might be established among us. Thus, lectures on the " History of Philosophy," so numerous here, do not exist in our colleges, important and interesting as the subject is. In fact, the whole historical spirit here is something we ought to import as soon as possible. The idea, started by the modern German philosophy, of viewing history as a development, which, too, has happily dawned on some minds in our own land, has given a new spirit to all branches of learning. It has extended not only to political and moral history, but to the history of art, of languages, and of manners. It has awakened a deep interest in these subjects, and breathed a new life into the method of treating them; and, consequently, we find that almost every subject is treated by some one historically. Thus there are lectures on the history of art, of modern and ancient literature, and Professor Ritter reads on the history of geography. It is unnecessary to remark, that to rightly understand a subject, we must view it in its connexions; and if it be so, how important is this historical training? There are other lectures more closely related to these historical ones, which are of the greatest service: I refer to those on Encyclopedia. These are the first lectures which a student takes in his department, and they are intended to give him a general view of the province he is entering. Thus there are lectures on Theological Encyclopedia, Philosophical Encyclopedia, &c., &c., in which the departments are mapped out before the student into their appropriate divisions and subdivisions, and the best books in each department mentioned and criticised. In fact, no word is more common among German students than "orientiren." It is owing to this systematic training as much as to any other one thing, that the German scholars are enabled to accomplish so much. When a young man commences to make investigations for himself, he knows what has already been accomplished in his department, and so he can start from the point which has been attained, and may make use of previous labours instead of groping in the dark, uncertain as to what has been done, and, consequently as to what needs doing. C. C. T.

ART. X.-SHORT REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Ir is of greatest concernment in the Church and Commonwealth to have a vigilant eye how books demean themselves as well as men, and thereafter to confine, imprison, and do sharpest justice on them as malefactors; for books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are.-MILTON.

(1.) "The Testimony of an Escaped Novice from the Sisterhood of St. Joseph, by JOSEPHINE M. BUNKLEY." (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1855; 12mo., pp. 338.) This book, unlike many of similar character, carries conviction of its truth along with it to the mind of the reader. It gives a fair account of the convent at Emmetsburgh, of its discipline, and of the results of the system upon the physical and moral health of the inmates of the institution. The instruments of Rome are the same, in substance, everywhere-appeals to the senses and to the imagination, to the fears and the desires of our poor human nature; and Miss Bunkley shows that these means are used with as much strictness and severity in American convents now, as in European cloisters centuries ago, making allowance for the differences of time and country.

(2.) "Modern Pilgrims: showing the Improvements in Travel and the newest Methods of reaching the Celestial City, by GEORGE WOOD." (Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co., 1855; 2 vols. 12mo.) The title reveals in this book an imitation of Bunyan; but, after all possible allowance on the score of the difference of times and of topics, it is a very poor imitation. There are thrusts at every form of Christianity now extant among men; not the sharp sabre-cuts of genuine wit, but rough, butchering blows, which often do execution, but in a very rude way. The author seems to favour the Baptists more than any other modern sect; the rest, especially the Methodists, are generally caricatured.

(3.) MESSRS. CARLTON & PHILLIPS have reprinted "The Preacher's Manual : including Clarke's Clavis Biblica, and Letter to a Preacher, with Coke's Four Discourses on the Duties of a Minister of the Gospel." (New-York: 1855; 12mo., pp. 235.) The separate treatises contained in this volume have had a long career of usefulness; and, in their collected form, they are worthy to become a "manual" for candidates for the ministry.

(4.) MESSRS. HARPER & BROTHERS have republished "The Works of Charles Lamb, with a Sketch of his Life, by T. N. TALFOURD." New-York: 1855; 2 vols. 12mo.) The editing of Lamb's letters and the preparation of his biography could have fallen into no more worthy hands than those of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, himself so soon (alas!) to need the same kind services, and not likely to find so apt and so genial a biographer. In the present reprint the life, the letters, and the "Final Memorials" of Lamb occupy the first volume; the second contains the essays, tales, and poems of " the frolic and the gentle" Elia.

(5.) "The Lives of the British Historians, by EUGENE LAWRENCE." (NewYork: C. Scribner, 1855; 2 vols. 12mo.) This book contains biographies of many men whose only bond of connexion is the common fact of their writing history. Yet this one bond is enough to afford ample opportunity for useful comparison and discrimination on the part of a capable writer. Mr. Lawrence has conceived the plan of his book well, and has executed it, on the whole, in a very satisfactory manner. The sketches of Burnet and Gibbon strike us as particularly well done.

(6.) "An Outline of the General Principles of Grammar, edited by the Rev. J. G. BARTON." (New-York: Harper and Brothers, 1855; 18mo., pp. 155.) This is a reprint of a very excellent little English treatise on Grammar, and is of far more value than most of the larger books of the kind now in the hands of school-boys. The American editor has added a set of questions, adapting the book more perfectly to use in the class-room.

(7.) "Napoleon at St. Helena; or, interesting Anecdotes and remarkable Conversations of the Emperor during the five and a half years of his Captivity, collected by JOHN S. C. ABBOTT." (New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1855; Svo., pp. 662.) We regard this book as a far more truthful and useful onc than Mr. Abbott's recent "Life of Napoleon." Mr. Abbott has here compiled, with much skill and judgment, the most interesting and characteristic portions of the St. Helena memorials of Las Casas, O'Meara, Montholon, and others, and arranged the whole under the form of a daily journal. The book thus affords a record of the concluding portion of Napoleon's life, which approximates Boswell's Johnson in minuteness of detail. As the books of which the present work is made up are mostly out of print, it will be very acceptable to a large class of readers.

(8.) MESSRS. HARPER & BROTHERS have issued a new and revised edition of "The English Language in its Elements and Forms, by W. L. FOWLER, late Professor of Rhetoric in Amherst College." (New-York: 1855; 8vo., pp. 754.) In this revised edition there is a large amount of new matter, and exercises in Analysis and Synthesis are given, which adapt the book still better for use in teaching. In its present shape the book contains a larger amount of valuable information with regard to the origin and structure of the English language than any single book now accessible to American students.

(9.) JACOB ABBOTT's popularity with the children of this generation is unlimited. Accordingly, there is no doubt of the success of a republication of his "Rollo Books," of which series we have received "Rollo in Scotland." Boston: W. J. Reynolds & Co., 1856; 12mo., pp. 218.) Additional volumes are preparing in continuation of "Rollo's Tour in Europe."

(10.) We have received the ninth volume of "The Works of Shakspeare, edited by the Rev. H. N. HUDSON, A. M." (Boston: James Munroe & Co., 1856; 12mo., pp. 579.) Two more volumes will complete the issue of this best and most convenient edition of Shakspeare yet published in this country.

(11.) "A Child's History of the United States, by JOHN BONNER," (NewYork: Harper & Brothers, 1855; 2 vols. 18mo.,) is not unworthy to be compared, in some respect, with Dickens's "Child's History of England." We should recommend it more cordially but for its free-trade doctrines, and its low tone on the subject of slavery extension.

(12.) "The World's Jubilee, by ANNA SILLIMAN,” (New-York: M. W. Dodd, 1856; 12mo., pp. 343,) belongs to a class of books (on the Advent) that we have given over reading. We have only glanced at the book sufficiently to see that its main object appears to be to show that the earth will be the future abode of the glorified saints.

(13.) “A new Flower for Children," by L. MARIA CHILD," (New-York: C. S. Francis & Co., 1856; 18mo., pp. 311,) contains a series of very beautiful and instructive stories. Mrs. Child has a peculiar gift in this line of writing; and this little book is one of her best.

(14.) "Carroll Ashton; or, the Reward of Truthfulness," (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society,) is an excellent little story, showing how a good boy, who suffered for a long time on a false imputation of theft, was finally and completely vindicated. It may be put without fear into the

hands of children.

(15.) The publication of "Harper's Classical Library" has gone on, since ourlast, with rapidity and promptitude. "Thucydides, translated by the Rev. HENRY DALE, M. A., (12mo., pp. 594,) is from the text of Arnold, collated with Bekker and others. The version is more literal than readable. "Sophocles" (12mo., pp. 339) is given in the standard Oxford translation, revised by Mr. Buckley. Herodotus, edited by HENRY Cary, M. A.,” (12mo., pp. 613,) is a literal version from the text of Baehr, and is furnished with geographical and general Index.

(16.) "The Wonderful Phials, and other Stories," (New-York: M. W. Dodd; 18mo., pp. 323,) is a collection of beautiful tales from the French. Some of them are tender and touching to a rare degree.

(17.) “The Skeptical Era in Modern History, by T. M. POST." (New-York: C. Scribner, 1856; 12mo., pp. 264.) The author of this book is, we believe, a Congregationalist minister at St. Louis. In the present treatise he aims, first, to show the nature and extent of the "defection of faith that marked the eighteenth century;" and, secondly, to consider its causes. The result of his investigation is, that the fons et origo malorum-the cause of causes for modern infidelity is to be found in despotism, secular and spiritual, but especially the latter. His exposition of the subject is throughout clear and comprehensive; and the argument, or rather cumulation of arguments, by which he presses all the enormous evils of the eclipse of faith back upon the Church of Rome, is

powerful, as well from its method as from its truthfulness. The work affords a much-needed rebuke to the absurd Romanist charge-in which many silly Protestants have acquiesced—that the freedom of thought brought in by the Reformation has given rise to modern scepticism. Mr. Post writes with uncommon vigour and force; and his present work is an admirable contribution to the culture of the young men of this generation.

(18.) "One Word more: an Appeal to the reasoning and thoughtful among Unbelievers, by JOHN NEAL." (New-York: M. W. Dodd, 1856; 12mo., pp. 220.) The peculiar characteristics of John Neal's mind are displayed here in a new field-the enforcement of practical religious truth. The book consists of brief essays argumentative, didactic, and hortatory-upon Miracles, Faith, Prayer, Conversion, and other topics. The most striking papers in the collection are those on "Faith" and on 66 Universalism;" and in this last, the author, who was himself a Universalist, shows how his views came to be rectified, and points out a line of conduct and of argument in dealing with Universalists which orthodox teachers would do well to adopt.

(19.) "Essays, Educational and Religious, by E. THOMPSON, LL. D., President of Ohio Wesleyan University." (Cincinnati: Methodist Book Concern, 1855; 12mo., pp. 392.) This series of essays forms the first volume of a collection of Dr. Thompson's "Works," made by the Rev. E. D. Roe, M. D., with the author's consent. The "Educational Essays" include topics in the various branches of training-mental, moral, and physical—all of which are treated with the acute discrimination that marks Dr. Thompson's thinking, and with the clearness and method which are characteristic of his writings. The "Religious Essays" contain several discourses of great merit-especially two on "Missions," which we should be glad to see published as tracts and widely scattered. We shall await, with great interest, the additional volumes promised by Dr. Roe.

(20.) "Systematic Beneficence: three prize Essays." (New-York: Carlton & Phillips, 1856; 18mo.) Some time since the Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church offered a prize of six hundred dollars, to be given, "at the discretion of the adjudicators, in one sum, or, should three essays be selected, in sums of three hundred, two hundred, and one hundred dollars respectively." The present volume contains the essays to which the prizes have been awarded. The first is entitled "The Great Reform, by ABEL STEVENS." (18mo., pp. 126.) The title very well indicates the point of view from which Mr. Stevens regards the subject. He divides his essay into four parts: I. The importance of the subject; II. The present standard of beneficence in the Church; III. The true standard of Christian beneficence; IV. The results that would follow the adoption of the true standard. Each of these heads is well wrought out; but we consider the third as by far the most important and valuable. Its points are, (1) that Christian beneficence is a duty, and should be a habit; (2) that the Scriptures set forth the duty, its limits and its methods; and (3) FOURTH SERIES, VOL. VIII.—20