16: Speaking of the death of the King of Babylon, he eloquently says, "Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols; the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.* I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of clouds. I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

Again, "For they are all delivered unto death to the nether parts of the earth in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. They also went down into hell with him, unto them that be slain with the sword." Ezek. xxxi. 14-17. Though they dig into hell, thence shall my hand take them; though they climb up into heaven, thence will I bring them down." Amos ix. 2. "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell." Matt xi. 23. This is the same word (hades) in the original which is translated, 1 Cor. xv. 55, "O grave, where is thy victory?" It should be in both places the same word.

There is a curious illustration of the ideas of the Hebrews in regard to the place of the deceased, in the Book of Jasher, as published by M. M. Noah, in 1840. A son throws himself on the grave of his mother, and calls aloud to her in his distress; to his surprise, she answers him from below, giving him comforting advice. We quote from memory only.

The descent of Christ into hell must not be understood of gehenna, but of hades. Still, the misapprehensions caused by indiscriminate translation, have fixed the meaning of hell now-a-days as a place of torment so strongly, that the use of the word in this connection causes scandal to some minds. The Episcopal Church, therefore, allows the substitution in the Creed of" He went to the place of departed spirits," in place of " He descended into hell"-(descendit ad inferos.)

The meaning attached to this article of the Creed at the time it was introduced (and by implication the meaning of the word hell in Scripture) is clearly manifest in the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus attributed to the third century. The Canonical Gospels relate, that at the crucifixion "many bodies of the saints arose, and came out of their graves after his resurrection, and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many." In the Gospel of Nicodemus, two of these persons, Charinus and Lenthius, sons of Simeon, are found on their knees in the street, brought to the synagogue, privately sworn by God Adonai and the God of Israel, and induced to relate the mysteries of their resurrection in writing as follows: "When we were placed with our fathers in the depth of hell, in the blackness of darkness, on a sudden there appeared the color of the sun like gold, and a substantial purple-colored light enlightening the place. Presently upon this, Adam, the father of all mankind, with all the patri

* These stars being "set in the firmament."

archs and prophets, rejoiced and said, That light is the author of everlast ing light." Simeon arrives, and announces the coming of Christ. Adam causes Seth to relate what he heard from Michael, the archangel, when he sent him to Paradise to entreat God to anoint his head in his sickness. There is a quarrel between Satan and the Prince of Hell, concerning the expected arrival of Christ in hell. Christ arrives at hell's gates-great confusion ensues. "The mighty Lord appeared in the form of a man, and enlightened those places which had ever before been in darkness." Death and her officers are in great horror at Christ's coming. He tramples on Death, seizes the Prince of Hell, and deprives him of all his power. Beelzebub, Prince of Hell, vehemently upbraids Satan for persecuting Christ, and bringing him to hell. Christ gives Beelzebub dominion over Satan for ever, as a recompense for taking away Adam and his sons. Christ takes Adam by the hand, the rest of the saints join hands, and they all ascend with him to Paradise. Christ delivers Adam to Michael the archangel. They meet Enoch and Elijah in heaven, and also the penitent thief, who relates how he came to Paradise. Charinus and Lenthius being only allowed three days to remain on earth, deliver in their narratives, which miraculously correspond. They vanish, and Pilate records these transactions.*

The above synopsis shows pretty clearly the meaning attached to the word hades in ancient times. It would be interesting to examine the doctrine of future punishment (an entirely different thing) by the light of Scripture; but this, to do it justice, would require an article to itself, and we have no desire to trench upon theology proper. Our object is simply an argumentum ad hominem against Mr. Lord and any others who believe in Astronomy, and revile Geology as unscriptural. If Scripture teaches one science infallibly, it teaches all sciences infallibly. Geology is only a stripling, and some people think a child fair game; but he has a big brother, Astronomy, who will not see him imposed upon, without retaliating. Dr. Dickinson thinks he does not at all "betray a state of mind in unison with such prejudices as were arrayed against Galileo." But if he does not, he ought to; for "the ignorant, bigoted and persecuting priests of a dark age" had far, far stronger scriptural authority for asserting that the earth stands still and the sun moves, than the highly enlightened pastors of our own day have for saying that the universe was created only 6000 years ago in six literal days, on the seventh of which God Almighty rested. If the Divine authority of the Sabbath, which seems to be the most important thing in danger from the heresies of Geology, is to be sustained on such grounds, the solid firmament of the welkin is indispensable to bear the load.

We have spoken plainly; but is there not a cause? Really, when these bibliolaters, as Coleridge calls them, try their puny efforts to stop the car of science by interposing the verbal inspiration of Scripture, it is high time they should be told plainly and distinctly the absurdities into which they plunge themselves.

A. L.

* Apocryphal New Testament. London, 1821. Pp. 59, &c.

† See, however, the admirable and impartial dissertation on this interesting subject

in Dr. Barrow's Sermons and Fragments. London, 1834. P. 202, &c.

POLITICAL PORTRAITS WITH PEN AND PENCIL.

HORATIO SEYMOUR, OF NEW-YORK.

IN introducing the subject of this sketch, a man upon whom, as one of the rising pillars of the state, the hopeful eye of the Democracy of NewYork is intently fixed, it is believed that an interest attaches to him, not confined to the state of his birth and residence, and the scene of his entire immediate connection with political life. The powerful influence which the state of politics in New-York, from the very necessity of the case, exerts upon the welfare of the Democratic party of the Union, and the remarkable and anomalous position of parties in the state of late years, naturally gives an importance, as well as interest, to the career of one who has been prominently identified as a leader with the political movements, which have been looked upon by the country at large with so much solicitude, and which have been attended with such momentous consequences. As Mr. Seymour's connection with public life is wholly embraced within the period occupied by these movements, the writer will of course be called upon, cursorily of necessity, to notice some of the peculiar features of these bitter and very unfortunate controversies. Before entering upon this part of the subject, however, it is proper to give a brief sketch of his more immediately personal biography.

HORATIO SEYMOUR was born in the year 1811, in the town of Pompey county of Onondaga, in the state of New-York, and is now of course just forty years of age. He may be said with truth to be descended from distinguished democratic stock, his ancestors and numerous connections in this and other states having been, as far as the writer is aware, always attached to the Democratic party. The larger portion of the family in its various branches resides in the state of Connecticut. They are all the descendants of RICHARD SEYMOUR, one of the original settlers of Hartford, in that state, where he and the two or three subsequent generations lived and died. Major MOSES SEYMOUR, of the fourth generation, served with distinction in the war of the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He represented, with great credit, and most acceptably to his constituents, the town of Litchfield in the legislature of Connecticut for seventeen years. He also held many important and responsible stations in the town church. He had five sons, of whom HENRY SEYMOUR, the father of Horatio, was one. He was born in 1780, and on arriving at man's estate, he removed to Onondaga County, in the state of New-York, whence, shortly after the birth of Horatio, he removed to Utica, where, after serving the state with great ability in the legislature, and as one of the earliest Canal Commissioners for many years, he died, leaving a large fortune and a distinguished reputation. A brother of Henry, whose name does not occur to the writer, was a member of the United States Senate, from Vermont, for about twelve years. The Hon. ORIGEN S. SEYMOUR, member of Congress elect from the Litchfield district, Connecticut, is a son of another brother named Ozias. The Hon. DAVID L. SEYMOUR, member

of Congress elect from the Rensselaer district, New-York, and the present Governor Seymour, of Connecticut, are also, the writer believes, sons of others of these brothers. The father of Governor Seymour was, we believe, a soldier in the Revolution. The family have always been distinguished for their ability, and renowned for their patriotism.*

Horatio Seymour, having received a liberal education, directed his attention towards the study of law, was admitted early in life to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession in the city of Utica. The cares of a large, and widely extended estate, however, devolving upon him on the death of his father, together with that of which he came into possession in the right of his wife, a daughter of the late John R. Bleecker, Esq., one of the wealthiest citizens of Albany, requiring all his time and attention, and taxing to the utmost his exertions for a number of years, he was obliged to relinquish the practice of a profession of which he had every prospect of becoming a successful and eminent member. In his duties as a citizen, and in all other relations in life, he has always been an active and influential member of the community, and his personal popularity was signally manifested, when he came before the people for their suffrages, by his election to the mayoralty, in the spring after his first election to the legislature, being then only thirty years of age, by a handsome majority, in a city where the whigs were, at the time, largely in the ascendant. Mr. Seymour had, from his youth, been strongly attached to the Democratic party, and performed his duty in the ranks with an ability and effect, which soon rendered him conspicuously useful. In 1841, having in previous years declined the same honor, he accepted a nomination for the legislature from the county of Oneida, and was elected by one of those large majorities so fashionable in that stronghold of the Democratic party. At this period, just ten years ago, commenced the public career of Mr. Seymour.

The history of the Democratic party of the state of New-York, since that period, has been a subject of curiosity and perplexity throughout the Union. The democracy of the whole nation have felt and realized the unfortunate results growing out of the divisions and dissensions which have prostrated the power of the party in this state, so long looked upon as the citadel, on whose preservation against the assaults of federalism, depended the triumph of the Democratic party in the Union; but they have regarded the causes which have led to these results, as too intricate a subject to be easily unravelled. That the conflicting statements of parties, more immediately connected with these dissensions, are calculated to embarrass the minds of those who depend upon the representations of others, rather than an examination of their own, for the formation of their opinions, is very true; yet, this is a subject so important, in the magnitude of its results, that it challenges the fair and candid investigation and consideration of every intelligent democrat in the country. The suicidal and pusillanimous policy adopted by the last National Democratic Convention, in not recogniz ing its responsibilities, and refusing to pass upon the question of organi

* In the brief space of time allowed the writer to prepare this sketch, he has not had the opportunity of that communication with Mr. Seymour or his connections, which was desirable; and it is therefore not improbable that these personal details in regard to his family relations, as well as himself, are incomplete, and possibly not netirely accurate.

zation, growing out of the division in New-York, which was brought before that body, as the sole tribunal competent to dispose of it, was, in a degree, the result of this disposition on the part of many members to avoid the difficulty of examining and deciding for themselves. This difficulty has been unnecessarily magnified and exaggerated. A candid consideration of the facts obviously presented, with the exercise of that ordinary discrimination or common sense which is the attribute of all intelligent minds, could, at any time, and with the greatest ease, demolish any difficulty that appeared to lie in the way. In political, as well as physical optics, when objects are thrown upon the retina in an inverted position, the brain, if allowed to perform its natural and friendly function, will very kindly set them on their legs. It is to be hoped that the next national convention may not be called upon to pass upon this much vexed question; but, if it should be, (and it is not at all impossible that it may be,) it is equally desirable that it should be met in a candid and discriminating spirit, and with a just and fearless determination to settle it on its merits. To repeat the error of the last convention will result in the perpetuation of the disorganization, and the permanent demoralization of the Democratic party of New-York.

The propriety of these incidental remarks, in connection with the present biographical sketch, should not be questioned, as the political career of Mr. Seymour has been so prominently identified and intimately connected with all the movements which have accompanied the controversy from its commencement, that the brief and hurried notice which the limits of the Review will allow, will necessarily touch upon some of the principal points involved in it. The continuous and earnest efforts made by Mr. Seymour to remove the causes of dissension, and to bring the masses of the party together on the broad platform of its ancient faith, from which a portion of them have unfortunately strayed, have been so conspicuous, that a cursory notice of the rise and progress of the division is conducive, if not necessary to a proper appreciation of his motives and conduct. It is not the design of the writer to discuss the merits of the subjects in controversy, but merely to let the circumstances attending Mr. Seymour's public course and action, point the moral deducible from the political movements in the State of New-York, embraced within the period alluded to. It is a lamentable, and not very creditable fact, that the history of the Democratic party of New-York during that period, is little else than a history of internal feud and discord-a history of " a house divided against itself." It is of course, as a necessary coincident, that this, for a great part of that period, is a history of disaster and defeat. It should not be inferred, however, that Mr. Seymour is to be regarded as an agitator in these divisions. He has always been the apostle of peace. In all the excitement of debate, and at every period of this heated controversy, he has constantly extended the olive-branch. Indeed, his efforts in behalf of conciliation have been so urgent, that their expediency has sometimes been questioned by many of his more ardent and irritated associates of the Old Line Democracy. It is not to be wondered at, that there should be a difference of opinion among the soundest democrats in regard to the true course for bringing back to the Democratic party the sheep that have strayed from the fold. Mr. Seymour's spirit is exceedingly liberal and generous, and these efforts of his in behalf of conciliation are the necessary manifestations of his natural disposition. In all his political course -in the legislature and in the party movements, in which he has partici