"Master in Israel." He tells us early in the narrative that the eldest son of such a woman as his mother ought not to lack for courage, and his long and able career as a public man is certainly free from all deficiency on that score. He obviously considers himself to have come off "first best" in all his passages at arms; and we are not sure but he did.

The work, being taken up so largely with subjects which, at one time or another, have been battle grounds of sharp conflicts, has much more of a polemical than an experimentally devout air; yet there are parts of it which breathe a very tender spirit of Christian sympathy and devotion. In one respect, Dr. Spring has had a truly remarkable life. It is, that being settled in early years over his first parish in New York city, he should have retained it, with growing power, for more than half a century, amid that restless population. Judging from the many volumes which his pulpit has given to the press, we think that he offers an unusual example of what, with the Divine blessing, can be done, by diligence and good abilities, in holding an intelligent people under one's influence, through the medium of a strong, clear, bold manner of preaching, without any help from a high literary culture, or those more striking and winning qualities of mind which go toward making up what is called a genius.

15.- Winifred Bertram and the World She lives in. By the Author of "THE SCHONBERG COTTA FAMILY," etc. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1866. [Boston: A. Williams & Co.]

THIS popular and successful authoress shows herself in a totally new field. The parties and scenes are of our own times, and among the poor of London. The writer seems quite as much at home here as with the Great Reformer and his friends and times. The style is delightful, and the story, as it unfolds, engrossing; while lessons of practical piety are taught in a most earnest and impressive way. The doctrinal part of the Christianity of the volume is set forth by an intelligent Scotch woman, and of course it is of the most substantial kind. For the readers of romance we regard the work as an eminently useful one.

16.-The Song Without Words. Leaves from a very Old Book. Dedicated to Children. By the Author of "THE SCHONBERG COTTA FAMILY," etc. New York: M. W. Dodd. 1866. [Boston: A. Williams & Co.]

THIS is one of those dreamy, mystical, allegorical stories, that children so love to read, and, strange enough, catch the meaning of sooner than older readers. Where pebbles and shells, mosses,

grasses, flowers and sea-foam talk, in their watery nooks and caves, our little folk are all ears, and understanding. The whole is sweetly told by this charming writer.

17.-The Elements of Moral Science. By FRANCIS WAYLAND, D. D., LL. D. Revised and Improved Edition. 12mo. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1865.

DR. WAYLAND has a well earned reputation as a successful educator, and author of text-books. Without any unusual power of independent investigation, he had a practical sense of truth, and a popular ability to give it utterance, which impart to his works a high value. He pervades his writings with the purest Christian spirit, in which some of more philosophical genius than he, might well imitate him. This book on Moral Science is too well known to need much remark. The author has enlarged and improved it, making some changes in the previous subject matter. It was about the last literary labor which he performed, and contains the vitally important topics which it discusses. ethical authority, at least on some points, was sharply enough defined by its expulsion, several years ago, from the colleges and schools of the South. Perhaps it will be popular there yet, in the good time coming.

his ripest views on Its position, as an

18.-The Knightly Soldier: A Biography of Major Henry Ward Camp, Tenth Conn. Vols. By Chaplain H. CLAY TRUMBULL. Portrait and Plates. Boston: Nichols & Noyes. 1865.

THIS is one of those graphic, simple and tender memorials of the war, that a graceful writer has prepared of an intimate friend. College, camp, and prison life is sketched with vigor, and the noble qualities of the Knightly Soldier and practical Christian are well set forth for the imitation of the reader. We are constantly discovering how much real nobleness, scholarship, social grace and piety ennobled our army and sanctified the struggle. This is one of the brightest and best volumes of our already extensive library of the war. 19.-The Oil Regions of Pennsylvania: Showing where Petroleum is found; how it is obtained; and at what cost. With hints for whom it may concern. By WILLIAM WRIGHT. 12mo. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. [Boston: A. Williams & Co.]

THE new editions of the history of human gullibility will have some rich chapters to add to the South Sea and Morus Multicaulis sells, out of these oil-wells which have proved so slippery a speculation to not a few recent unfortunates. An honest man seems here to have

written an honest book about this last wonder in the market. He went on foot over this modern Greece, noted its topography, asked innumerable questions of the wise and foolish, compared his notes, cast up results, weighed and measured the whole, and gives it to whom it may concern in this very intelligible and matter of fact volume. If the Atlantic Cable deserves a historian, certainly Petrolia should have its scribe. We reach the conclusion that there is a good deal in this new opening for money-getting. Of course, some thousands of over hasty adventurers had to be ruined in the process of experimenting with this business. But when the fever shall be over which has obviously passed its climax, a mine of wealth will remain to be worked which will be a permanent source of revenue and untold value, like the coal measures of our Middle States. Mr. Wright's book is full of interest, scientific, economic and personal. He describes the country, the people, the young towns, the well-sinking and working processes, the triumphs, the failures, the modus operandi of the whole matter, with spirit and good sense, lubricating his narrative and statistics with the inevitable facetiousness of such pioneering life. The work is a valuable contribution to useful and entertaining knowledge.

20.-Descriptive Catalogue of the Presbyterian Board of Publication. Philadelphia. 821 Chestnut St. 1865.

In this 16mo volume of 432 pages, we have the titles of several thousand books, which have passed the inspection and received the sanction of this well known publishing establishment. They are of all sizes, from heavy octavos like Calvin's Institutes to the small Sabbath school book. While the wants of ministers have not been forgotten, the volumes adapted to family reading fill many pages of this Catalogue. Soundness of religious sentiments and a careful attention to all matters of taste have characterized the issues of this Board, so far as we have examined them. Yet this has not been arrived at by any sacrifice of literary vivacity. A vast amount of admirable reading has been presented thus to the public in neat style and at very reasonable prices. We think our Sabbath schools would find it to their advantage to consult this list of juvenile works in filling their shelves.

21.-MISCELLANEOUS.

Sabbath Psalter. A Selection of Psalms for Public and Family Worship. Compiled by Rev. HENRY I. Fox, A. M. New York: Carlton & Porter. 1865.

THIS work was prepared at the suggestion of ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, who wished to have the people partici

pate with the minister in some of the church services. The Psalms here selected are arranged for all the Sabbaths of the year, and so divided in printing as to assign a verse alternately to the minister and to the congregation. For such a purpose the selection and arrangement are admirable.

Little Joe Carter, The Cripple, or Learning to Forgive; Sophia Bleecker, or The Girl who was always in a Hurry; Country Sights and Sounds for Little Eyes and Ears; The Beginning and The End; Willie Elton, The Little Boy who loved Jesus; The Gulf Stream, or Harry Maynard's Bible; The Penitent Boy and Other Tales; Mysie's Work, and How She did it. Presbyterian Board of Publication, 821 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 1865.

These are volumes that will gladden the eyes of young readers, and improve their manners, and hearts too. We rejoice in the issues of this House, and cordially wish them a wide circulation.

22.-OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED. Fisher's Essays on the Supernatural Origin of Christianity. Scribner & Co. A valuable and timely work, to which we shall have occasion to return in our next number. Meanwhile, we will only notice here, that throughout the text, and in the general index, it gives the name of the Positivist Comte as Compte, contrary to the usage of the American Cyclopædia, Worcester and Webster, and all foreign and home authorities known to us. Is this an error or an innovation?

Bushnell's Christ and His Salvation; and Vicarious Sacrifice: Scribner & Co. :-To be reviewed.

Robertson's Life and Letters: Ticknor & Fields :-To be reviewed. Herman, or Young Knighthood. By E. FOXTON. 2 Vols. Lee & Shepard. A story of recent perils and deliverances, in our country, dedicated to the mothers of some of our dead heroes.

Massachusetts Ecclesiastical Law. By EDWARD BUCK. Gould & Lincoln. A book deserving more attention than we can now give it.

Hereward. The last of the English. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Ticknor & Fields. A graphic picture of the barbarism and budding manliness of our early ancestors.

War Lyrics, and other Poems. By HENRY HOWARd Brownell. Ticknor & Fields. The best poems produced by the war, though not of equal merit.

The Mediterranean Islands. Sketches and stories of their Scenery, History, Painters, etc. By M. G. SLEEPER. With illustrations. Gould & Lincoln. Much better for young people than fancy tales, albeit fancy has not a little to do with its making up.

ARTICLE XII.

THE ROUND TABLE.

OUR SIXTH VOLUME. Perhaps we have come to such years and proportions and standing as not to need an annual introduction to our readers.

We can not forbear, however, to make record of our satisfaction in having established such a Periodical, and in finding it on an independent basis as early as its sixth year. It was our misfortune to commence the work in the opening year of the Rebellion, when so many literary interests came to a close, and almost all contracted their limits. Yet through this trying era we have steadily increased, and open a new volume under more favorable auspices than ever before. These things assure us that we have entered on unoccupied ground, and have the favor of God in our beginning and progress. We hope we are doing a good work for a sanctified literature and the church of Christ; and our increasing patronage by eminent Christian scholars is fast changing that hope into belief.

While we lessen the number and increase the size of our issues, changing from a Bi-monthly to a Quarterly, we do not design any real change in the quality of the Boston Review. We do not feel, in making this change, that we are yielding ourselves up to a massive and heavy dignity. We trust we are not yet compelled to that. We hope we shall not become learnedly uninteresting. We purpose the same brevity in our articles; and if some of our contributors say true things in a droll way, or raise a smile midway in some scholastic thesis, or trim their thoughts to a style that is only their own, we shall not mar their manuscripts by making them write by pattern after some renowned authors, who gained their renown by not following any pattern. With something of theology, and religion, and literature, and broad topics of the day, we purpose to furnish a Review that many will read, all respect, and not a few delight in.

PIOUS GAMBLING. We find the following in the advertising columns of the Daily Evening Traveller, of Dec. 20, 1865:

"NOTICE TO UNITARIANS. Fairs are becoming unpopular. Why? Because they have features of questionable propriety. Among those are lotteries, raffles, grubs, and other sales by chance.

The East Boston Unitarians will hold a Bazaar at Horticultural Hall, Boston, commencing Dec. 18th, and lasting one week, without any of those obnoxious peculiarities. Gifts, presents, holiday articles, flowers, wreaths, refreshments and other articles for sale at reasonable prices."