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the wonder-worker names them simply "works,"*-to him they were without effort. And in the Epistles what specimens have we not of almost every form of composition,-description, narrative, argument, oratory-bold invective and sudden apostrophe antithesis and climax-the brief words of anger-the sad regrets of disappointed hope-the soft breathings of affection-the vehement outburst of self-vindication-the long and effective argument, often ending in an anthem-logic swelling into lyrics-the terse deliverance of ethical maxims, and the cordial greeting and kind remembrance of former friends. No wonder that Longinus adds Paul of Tarsus to a list of names, "which were the crown of all eloquence and Grecian genius. There are some passages in the Epistles to the Corinthians which have all the vehement and thrilling penetration of Demosthenes, and other sections in the same books, which, in elevation, imagery, and music, have no parallel, even in the Platonic dialogues. We will not venture, in our limited space, upon the debated ground of the Apocalypse; not that we have not our own opinion pretty well fixed in opposition to extreme "praeterist," "futurist," and "continuist" interpreters. At all events, the great truth of this prose-poem is, that Christianity shall triumph over every antagonist, and gain, in spite of all opposition, an ultimate, glorious, and lasting victory. It is, in short, a pictorial sermon upon a very old text, the seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent. This truth is presented in the changing lights and aspects of a gorgeous panorama, and clothed in the drapery of the old Hebrew oracles. The imagery of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, is reproduced in new combinations, to symbolize and picture out the history, malignity, overthrow, and downfal of the enemies of the truth. Amidst the numerous expositions of this solemn and stirring prophecy, how few of them rest on a scientific basis, or take a comprehensive, consistent, and self-adjusting view of the vision as an organic whole. How many interpreters merely throw the shadow of their own times on the bright scenes and hieroglyphs of the mystic scroll. We cannot, however, refrain from saying, that much interesting matter will be found on this subject in Dr. Davidson's third volume, 120 pages of which are occupied with Apocalyptic discussions. The reader will find also no little information in the works of Luecke and Hengstenberg on this portion of Scripture. We only add, that Dr. Davidson's theory of the contents and structure of the Apocalypse, is more vulnerable on some points than he seems to imagine, and that he might perhaps have pro

John xiv. 11.

nounced upon other hypotheses with less dogmatic and resolute depreciation.

Our sketch of the Literature of the New Testament has necessarily omitted many points, which, in other circumstances, might have been discussed. Works like those of Dr. Davidson open up a wide field for inspection and review. It would have occupied too much space to have entered into the question of the dates of the different books, and at what probable periods they were collected so as to form the Canon. Nor could we glance at the resemblances or contrasts with one another which the various treatises occasionally present-the similarity of Jude to Second Peter being so marked, and the supposed antithesis of James to Paul being so notorious, and yet so easily harmonized. We think it might be made exceedingly probable, that so far from James having had the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith alone in his mind, he wrote his epistle at a date considerably earlier than that of the Epistle to Rome, or to the Churches in Galatia.

Every thing about Scripture as well as in it commends it to our intelligence and faith. Our hope and prayer is, that we may always have among us enlightenment without sceptical levity, learning without erudite perversion, and thorough research without its self-created difficulties and consequent aberrations. The Literature of the New Testament will then be subservient to its theology—the bright setting of the brighter jewel. If the life of Him depicted in these gospels were felt in vigorous pulsation among our Churches, and if they walked under the influence of the faith enforced-the truth illustrated, and the immortality portrayed in these Epistles, then would be the world's jubilee"days of heaven upon earth."

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Arctic Searching Expeditions.

445

ART. VI.-1. Arctic Searching Expedition: a Journal of a Boat Voyage through Rupert's Land and the Arctic Sea, in search of the Discovery Ships under command of Sir John Franklin. With an Appendix on the Physical Geography of North America. By SIR JOHN RICHARDSON, C.B., F.R.S., Inspector of Naval Hospitals and Fleets. 2 vols., with Plates and Charts, pp. 840. London, 1851.

2. Voyage of the Prince Albert in search of Sir John Franklin ; a Narrative of Every-day Life in the Arctic Seas. By W. PARKER SNOW. London, 1851. Pp. 416.

3. A Narrative of Arctic Discovery, from the earliest period to the present time, with the details of the measures adopted by Her Majesty's Government for the relief of the Expedition under Sir John Franklin. By JOHN J. SHILLINGLAW. London, 1850. 8vo. Pp. 348.

4. Sir John Franklin and the Arctic Regions, &c. By P. L. SIMMONDS. London, 1851. Pp. 376.

5. An Arctic Voyage to Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound in search of Friends with Sir John Franklin. By ROBERT ANSTRUTHER GOODSIR, late President of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh. London, 1850. Pp. 152.

6. A Series of Ten Coloured Views taken during the Arctic Expedition of Her Majesty's ships Enterprise and Investigator, under the command of CAPT. SIR JAMES C. Ross, Kt., F.R.S., in search of Capt. Sir John Franklin, Kt., K.C.H., drawn by LIEUT. W. H. BROWNE, R.N., late of H.M.S. Enterprise, with a Summary of the Arctic Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin. London, 1850.

7. Voyages of Discovery and Research within the Arctic Regions,
from the year 1818 to the present time. By SIR JOHN BAR-
ROW, Bart., F.R.S., An. æt. 82. London, 1846. Pp. 530.
8. Observations on a Work entitled "Voyages, &c., within the Arc-
tic Regions: by SIR JOHN BARROW, Bart., ætat. 82." Being
a Refutation of the Numerous Misrepresentations contained in
that volume. By SIR JOHN ROSS, C.B., &c., Capt., R.N. 1846.
9. The Franklin Expedition; or Considerations on Measures for
the Discovery and Relief of our Absent Adventurers in the
Arctic Regions. By the REV. W. SCORESBY, D.D., F.R.S.,
London and Edinburgh, &c., &c. London, 1850. Pp. 98.
10. Log-Book of the Felix Discovery Vessel, commanded by REAR-
ADMIRAL SIR JOHN ROSS, C.B., in MSS.

11. Report of the Committee of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, to inquire into, and report on, the recent Årctic
Expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin. London, 1851.
Fol. Pp. 200.

12. Additional Papers relative to the Arctic Expedition, under the orders of Capt. Austin and Mr. William Penny. London, 1851. Pp. 370. 13. Arctic Expedition; a Lecture delivered at the London Institution, Feb. 6, 1850. By CHARLES RICHARD WELD, Assistant Secretary to the Royal Society. London, 1850. Pp. 48. 14. Arctic Miscellanies, a Souvenir of the late Polar Search. By the Officers and Seamen of the Expedition. 1 vol., with numerous Illustrations. London, 1851. Pp. 348.

SIX years and seven months have elapsed since Sir John Franklin and his devoted band quitted their native shore to explore the almost forbidden regions of the Arctic Zone, and if an ever watchful Providence has preserved them from its dangers, the days of another long year must be numbered before they can be embraced by their friends and welcomed by their country. But whether they return, or not return-whether they remain in their prison of ice, from which there is no escape, or have perished amid the storms and rigours of a polar winter-whether they have reached a more genial climate where the remnant of life can be spent without pain, or are doomed to drag out a weary existence under the united pressure of hunger and coldever looking for deliverance and never finding it—whatever be their condition, their adventures, chronicled, as they may yet be, by themselves, or painted by others in the lights and shadows of fancy, will ever be a subject of romantic interest, and their fate a source of unmingled joy or of deep lamentation.

Nor will it be in England alone that this interest will be felt, and this sympathy awakened. Nations whom political differences have estranged, and parties who, on every other subject are at variance, have, with united hearts, striven to discover the adventurous exiles, and as hope languished and despair succeeded, the general anxiety for their safety and return increased in the same proportion. He who sacrifices his life for his country, has but his countrymen to mourn his loss. He who makes the sacrifice for science and philanthropy is lamented throughout a wider sphere. The tears of the Old World and the New are shed over his tomb, and universal humanity bewails the departed sage. The fate of the Arctic traveller has therefore excited an interest co-extensive with civilisation. Though the territory of ice and snow would have belonged to England, the problem of a north-west passage would have been solved for humanity; and though the glory of the deed would have illustrated but a British name, the mysteries of the polar regions would have been unveiled for the instruction of the world.

Influenced, doubtless by these views, the Government of Eng

Arctic Expeditions first Suggested by Capt. Scoresby. 447

land have nobly discharged their duty in fitting out Expeditions by sea and by land, in search of Sir John Franklin. Private wealth has been liberally embarked in the same enterprise; and the sovereigns of Europe and the States of America have generously contributed their aid. Along every accessible meridian the polar regions have been approached, and though but slight traces of the wanderers have rewarded the labours of the past, we yet look forward, in the brightness of hope, to their discovery and their return. But whatever be the result of these noble efforts, the history of the Searching Expeditions will form one of the most affecting chapters in the annals of our race, and will stand in bright contrast with the chapter of war and of conquest. The poet will appropriate its romantic details, and the epic which emblazons the deeds of the pilgrim traveller lost and found, will be read with tears of joy when the tragedy of bloodshed has ceased to excite and to interest us. The white sail, which carries the bread and wine of the State to the shipwrecked crew, will be followed by the blessing of the good and the wise, while the red flag of the war-ship, on its way to destroy, will be pursued by the curses of every country but its own.

Before we proceed to give our readers an account of the different Expeditions which have been sent out in search of Sir John Franklin, we must remind them of the steps which had been previously taken, during the present century, to explore the regions which surround the pole. After the voyage of Capt. Phipps, who, in 1773, approached within 9° 12' of the North Pole, the question of a north-west passage had ceased to interest the public, and it was not till the year 1817 that Capt. Scoresby, jun., (now the Rev. Dr. Scoresby), in a letter to Sir Joseph Banks, again attracted to it the attention which it deserved. This excellent and accomplished individual, to whom science owes many obligations, had observed, while navigating the Greenland seas in 1817, that about 18,000 square miles of the ice that covered them had disappeared within the two preceding years. The ice which had thus broken loose from the Greenland coast, floated round Iceland, filling the bays and creeks of the island, and drifting southward in icebergs and large floes till they reached the shores of Labrador and Newfoundland, and even found their way into the Atlantic. This letter was communicated by Sir Joseph Banks to his friends; and Sir John Barrow, whose name has been so honourably associated with Arctic discovery, took such an interest in the suggestion of Captain Scoresby, that he induced the Government to fit out an

*In 1806 Capt. Scoresby, sen., reached the latitude of 81° 30' within 8° 30′ of the Pole.

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