shoulder-the other leg hanging down, and the child all the while hanging fast with its other hand, as represented in figure 2. "In winter, they carried them in their match coats or cloaks, at their back, leaving nothing but the child's head out as in figure 1." We are greatly indebted to the Rev. J. Garwood, A.B., of Wheler-chapel, for a faithful, simple, and instructive "Account of the Death of Thomas Pickard, late a Scholar in Wheler Chapel Sunday-school," a second edition of which has fallen into our hands. We know of but few twopenny books more likely to be useful. Uninfluenced by an improper regard for the feelings of survivors, Mr. G. has plainly shown the tendency of improper indulgence, and the awful danger of Sabbath-breaking. Parents and children may both read the book to advantage. It was scarcely to be expected that the awful system of colonial slavery would pass away without attempts being made to preserve the affecting history of its character, and to direct the public mind in the exercise of right feelings. Three of these memorials have fallen into our hands, which we notice in the order of their publication. "Timpson's Negro's Jubilee," is a little volume in 32mo., published by Ward and Co. It is a complete history of slavery, of its abolition, so far as Great Britain and its colonies are concerned, and of the present state of the system in the world. Mr. T. has shown his accustomed industry in the collection of facts, and correct feeling. A neat engraving on wood accompanies the volume. The Rev. John Jefferson's "Grateful Commemoration of British Colonial Justice," by the same publishers, was originally a pulpit address, which, we are informed, produced a great impression in its delivery. It is, of course, more condensed in its historical view, than the preceding work, but its facts are ably presented, and are connected with excellent instructions as to the extent of the blessings conferred, and the practical use which should follow the event. This is the cheapest work published on the subject. Dr. Morison's "Day Star of the World's Freedom," published by the Sunday School Union, is also the substance of a public address, which we were privileged to hear, and in the request for the publication of which we cordially united. It displays the good doctor's usual talent, his love of liberty, his firm and independent tone of thinking, and devotional character of feeling. Mr. Edmund Fry has just favoured the British public with an American work, which we can warmly recommend to our readers. It was written by Theodore Dwight, jun., and is entitled "The Father's Book; or Suggestions for the Government and Instruction of Young Children, on Christian Principles." Its spirit, modes of illustration, and sound views of education, will remind our readers of the works of the Messrs. Abbott, while it will be found more free from debateable matter. We earnestly hope it may meet, both in England and America, with a very extensive circulation. Among the several modes of celebrating the abolition of slavery, none perhaps will be more lasting than the efforts of the masters of music. Mr. Montgomery has written a most beautiful hymn called "The Negro's Vigil," which has been admirably set to music by Mr. John Valentine, and dedicated to Mrs. Johnstone, the eldest daughter of Mr. Buxton, on the occasion of her marriage, which took place on the memorable first of August. We are informed that this beautiful piece of music was sung at Freemasons' Hall, at the commemoration dinner, where it afforded great satisfaction. It is sold by Purday, Holborn, who devotes a very large portion of the profits to missionary purposes. If by any means our friends have neglected hitherto to put into the hands of their children "The Youth's Book on Natural Theology," written by the Rev. T. H. Gallaudet, an eminent American minister, and the author of "The Child's Book on the Soul," we hope they will lose no time in supplying the deficiency. It is a very excellent book, beautifully got up, and adapted to afford much scientific and profitable instruction, leading the juvenile mind to desire a knowledge of Christian as well as natural theology. It is published by Edmund Fry. We are glad to see that our ponderous volumes of Christian and ministerial biography are somewhat going out of fashion, and that we are now getting the lives of good men in a size that may stand a chance of being read, and at a price that even the poor may purchase them. We have before us a copy of "Brief Memoirs of the late Rev. John Griffin, of Portsea," and have read it with great interest and pleasure. In this shilling pamphlet a multitude of important facts are related in a condensed form, while a spirit of ardent piety accompanies the highly respectable talent which the work developes. The Religious Tract Society have just published a new and very neat edition of "Payson's Remains," which at once illustrate the excellencies which distinguished the heart of that excellent minister, and direct Christians in the indulgence of holy feelings, and right conduct. "Spiritual Vegetation," and "The Two Talents," the former an illustration of the religion of the heart, and the latter a memoir of a pious servant, are two small, but highly instructive publications, by the Rev. John Adey, of Ramsgate, which we recommend to our readers with great confidence. No revolution of late years has been greater than that which has developed itself in engraving. The use of steel in this art has constituted a new era. One re sult has been the increased beauty displayed; a second has been greater cheapness; and a third has been, what is greatly favourable to the welfare of the country, a vastly increased demand. We have lying before us the three first parts of "The Gallery of Modern British Artists,' ," in which we have for a shilling three beautifully executed views, in quarto, with four pages of descriptive letter-press. We hope that they will enter many thousands of families. Surely cheapness itself will never go beyond this! LITERARY NOTICES. Just Published. "Memoirs of the Life, Ministry, and Writings of the Rev. Rowland Hill, M. A.," by WILLIAM JONES, M. A., author of the History of the Waldenses, &c. &c. Fifteen Sermons" by the Rev. Rowland Hill, preached by him in the 89th and last year of his life; with a Funeral Sermon, occasioned by his death. By the Rev. WILLIAM RICHARDS. "Original Gospel Hymns and Poems," by JOHN KENT; 7th edition, with additional Hymns and Portrait. "The Ministry of Reconciliation." A Discourse delivered in Broadmead Meeting House, Bristol, before the Bristol Education Society. By EDWARD STEANE. "Lays from the West:" Poems by Mrs. Sigourney. Sketches, by the same author. IN THE PRESS. "The Christian Family's Assistant." A new edition, greatly enlarged, being the Fifth. By the Rev. H. L. POPPE WELL. "The Architectural Director;" with a Glossary. Second edition, to be illustrated by nearly 100 plates and tables. By JOHN BILLINGTON, Architect. "The Family Almanack;" to be published by Messrs. Ward and Co. A new and enlarged edition of "The Shepherd and his Flock," with a beautiful Frontispiece. PERHAPS no female of modern times has excited more interest, or accomplished more good, than the subject of the present memoir. Raised up by the good providence of God, at a period when the cause of religion in the higher classes of society was at a very low ebb, and when Christian benevolence made but few efforts for the good of mankind, the strength of her intellect, the substantial piety of her heart, and the correct beauty of her style, attracted attention, and produced a wide and deep impression. Her works, which extend to nineteen volumes, develope sound scriptural knowledge, ardent fidelity, and an affectionate spirit; she wrote for the rich and the poor, and was equally understood and admired by each. She was seldom backward in the reproof of vice, and always ready to commend the Gospel of Jesus. Iniquity, even in high places, was often compelled to quail under the power of her pen, or to retire from her "sound speech which could not be condemned." It was not to be expected that such a lady, who had served the public by her pen and example for sixty years, could be permitted to retire from the world without a literary monument being erected to her memory. We had hoped for a complete edition of her works in the popular form and price; but, disappointed hitherto of this pleasure, we are glad to receive Memoirs of her Life and Correspondence, by William Roberts, Esq., just published by Seeley and Son, in four volumes, post 8vo., a work which, though it contains a few things. which appear to us somewhat trifling, will be read with intense interest by all classes of society. The talents of the editor have long been known, and his judgment and piety will suffer nothing in the public esteem by this addition to his publications. He has proved that great judgment was manifested when the papers of this eminent female were placed in his hands for publication. We are free to confess, however, that much as we like these volumes, and anxious as we are for their circulation in all the families where we have influence, we mean before we dismiss them to glean for the benefit F of our readers who cannot purchase these volumes, and to whet the appetites of those who can, a few of their facts and beauties. Hannah More was a native of Stapleton, in the county of Gloucester, in the year 1745. Her parents were members of the Established Church, but many of her ancestors were nonconformists, and eminently zealous in the support of religion. Between the age of three and four, the mother of Hannah found that she had learnt to read without her aid; and before she had attained her fourth year, she repeated her catechism in the church, in a way that called forth the admiration of the clergyman. As she grew up, the disposition to acquire knowledge, even in its highest branches, greatly strengthened, and was gratified. In her very childhood she discovered the taste which prevailed through life; she would make a carriage of a chair, and "call her sisters to ride with her to London to see bishops and booksellers;" while "the greatest wish her imagination could frame, when her scraps of paper were exhausted, was, that she might one day be rich enough to have a whole quire for herself. And when, by her mother's indulgence, the prize was obtained, it was soon filled with supposititious letters to depraved characters to reclaim them from their errors, and letters in return expressive of contrition, and resolutions of amendment." But as it is impossible within our limits to follow our author over his wide field of information, we shall merely mention that the love of knowledge, and the power of mind, soon brought Hannah More into connexion with persons of considerable eminence for literature and wealth; and when she was only in her seventeenth year, she published her Search after Happiness. This, and other works, which followed in rapid succession, opened channels for usefulness, and increased her fame beyond that of any preceding female writer. The letters which have been collected, that passed between her and the most eminent of the literati, are of the most interesting description, and cannot fail to produce good impressions wherever they are read. A very few facts and pearls, from some of her own letters, will form the principal portion of the remaining part of this article. Here then is a word on head-dress. Writing from London, where she visited in 1775, to one of her sisters, she says, "I am going, to-day, to a great dinner; nothing can be conceived so absurd, extravagant, and fantastical, as the present mode of dressing the head. Simplicity and modesty are so much exploded, that the very names are no longer remembered. I am just escaped from one of the most fashionable disfigurers; and though I charged him to dress me with the greatest simplicity, and to have only a very distant eye upon the fashion, just enough to avoid the pride of singularity, without running into ridiculous excess; yet, in spite of all these sage didactics, I absolutely blush at myself, and turn to the glass with as much caution as a vain beauty, just risen from the small-pox, which cannot be a more disfiguring disease than the present mode of dressing. Of the one, the calamity may be greater in its consequences, but of the other it is more corrupt in its cause.' Here is an awful picture of society in high life, in 1776: A relation of the Duchess of Chandos died at the duchess's a few days ago, at the card-table; she was dressed most sumptuously; they stripped off her diamonds, stuck her upright in a coach, put in two gentlemen with her, and sent her home two hours after she was dead;" so at least the story goes. "Baron Burland died as suddenly; after having been at the House of Lords, he dined heartily, and was standing by the fire, talking politics to a gentleman. So you see even London has its warnings, if it would but listen to them. These are two signal ones in one week; but the infatuation of the people is beyond any thing that can be conceived." "A most magnificent hotel, in St. James's-street, was opened last night for the first time, by the name of the Savoir Vivre;' none but people of the very first rank were there, so you may conclude the diversion was cards; and, in one night, the very first time the rooms were ever used, the enormous sum of sixty thousand pounds was lost. Heaven reform us!" The following passage, from a letter to Mr. Walpole, in 1790, will be read with great interest, under the greatly altered circumstances of the present day : "I cannot forbear telling you, that at my city of Bristol, during church time, the congregations were surprised last Sunday, with the bell of the public crier in the streets. It was so unusual a sound on that day, that the people were alarmed in the churches. They found that the bellman was crying a reward of a guinea to any body who would produce a poor negro girl who had run away, because she would not return to one of those trafficking islands whither her master was resolved to send her. To my great grief and indignation, the poor trembling wretch was dragged out from a hole in the top of a house, where she had hid herself, and forced on board ship. Alas! I did not know it till too late, or I would have run the risk of buying her, and made you, and the rest of my humane, I had almost said human friends, help me out, if the cost had been considerable." |