Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

one.

tion between our periodicals is so active that extraordinary exertions must be put forth, to make known the claims of any given We hold it to be perfectly decorous and lawful, for a bookseller to extend far and wide, as he has opportunity, a knowledge of the works which issue from his press. Unless he, or some one interested does so, all other men will surely neglect it. No great reliance can be placed upon the intrinsic merit of the object, or the cause which is advocated, in itself alone. Other men are, or imagine that they are, concerned in undertakings which are equally important. The principal cause, however, of the want of an efficient patronage, is the catholic ground which Mr. Woodbridge has taken. He does not rally around him a party or sect. He does not interfere with theological or denominational distinctions. He takes his stand on the Bible, and pleads with great earnestness and eloquence for scriptural education, but keeps aloof from the peculiarities of any religious party. We think he has acted wisely in so doing. Nevertheless, such a course has brought around him many lukewarm friends, while another course would have secured a smaller number of determined and zealous supporters.

We hope the community will look at this matter as they ought, and lend a prompt and efficient co-operation in sustaining and extending the influence of the work. Of the great ability of Mr. W. there can be no doubt. No enlightened man will call in question the soundness of the general principles which guide his course. Of the incalculable importance of an educational journal, like the one under consideration, no one can be skeptical. Immediate action in relation to this work, on the part of every friend of education, may confer an eminent service on the whole country.

14.-The American Quarterly Temperance Magazine, published

by the Executive Committee of the New York State Temperance Society. Four numbers. Albany. 1833. pp. 96, 196, 96, 56.

THE principal articles in this periodical, are a history of the rise and progress of American temperance societies, causes which oppose the temperance reform, physical effects of the habitual use of ardent spirits, extent of the temperance reform, manufacture and sale of ardent spirit, early history of temperance societies, the temperance pledge, deficiencies of temperance societies, proceedings of a meeting at Washington, notices of seventeen addresses, report of the New York State Temperance Society, time's doings, claims of foreigners on the people of the United States, cold water, the obligations of Christians to abstain from making or vending ardent spirits, delirium tremens, influence of temperance, appeal to innkeepers, effect of ardent spirits,

on the human constitution in health and disease, review of the annual reports of the Maine and Pennsylvania temperance societies, progress of the reformation, Dr. Harden on the physical effects of stimulants, temperance pledge, ultimate success of the effort, temperance in churches, Gerrit Smith on the reformation of thirty-eight intemperate persons, &c. These articles contain a great variety of important statements and of conclusive reasoning. Such a publication was evidently needed as a depository of facts respecting one of the greatest moral revolutions recorded in the history of our race.

15.-Lecture on the Cultivation of Spiritual Habits and Progress in Study; delivered at the opening of the academical year, Nov. 1831. By Ebenezer Porter, D. D. President of the Theological Seminary. Andover Flagg, Gould &

*

Newman. 1833. pp. 23.

THIS is a valuable directory for the class of individuals to whom it was addressed, and indeed for all scholars. The advice is sound and well-balanced. The various arguments are stated and illustrated with Dr. Porter's usual discrimination and precision.

16.-The History and Geography of the Valley of the Missis

sippi; to which is appended a condensed physical geography of the Atlantic United States, and the whole American continent. Third edition, in two volumes. By Timothy Flint. Cincinnati, Ohio: E. H. Flint. 1833. pp. 469, 310.

THIS work has received the sanction of the literary community for several years. A great amount of valuable information is condensed in a small space, and it is presented in a lively and attractive form. We regret that the author did not take more pains to make his book entirely accurate. The value of a geography or gazetteer depends of. course on the strict accordance of its statements to the truth. Mistakes in a third edition are more censurable than in a first or second, and if 1833 is on the title page, the details in the volume should correspond therewith. Volume II. p. 9, "The Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics, probably rank in point of numbers in the order in which they are here mentioned." The Baptists are, and have been for several years a more numerous denomination than either of the others here referred to. The number of communicants is 409,658, of Congregationalists about 130,000, of Presbyterians 217,348. p. 18. Augusta is the capital of Maine, not Portland, as there stated. On the next page it is said that a theological seminary is established in Waterville,

and lyceums at Hallowell and Gardiner. No theological seminary was ever established at Waterville. Lyceums exist in many other towns similar to the one in Hallowell. The lyceum in Gardiner here referred to, has been for some time discontinued. p. 27. Massachusetts is said to be bounded on the east by the Atlantic ocean, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. What the southern boundary is, we are left to conjecture. On page 28 is the following respecting the instructors of the common schools in Massachusetts. "Great attention is paid to the character and capability of the instructors, among whom a high and noble spirit of emulation exists, descending in double measure to the pupils.” We wish this were true, but our readers in Massachusetts are Iwell aware that it is not. On the same page, the university library at Harvard is stated to contain about 30,000 volumes. It has more than 40,000. On the 29th page we find the following. "William's college and Amherst college in the interior of the State, are both important institutions, called for by the rapid improvement of the western part of the State." Neither of these colleges are in the interior of the State. Williams, not William's, is in the northwestern extremity of the commonwealth. On the 30th page, the Tremont house in Boston, is said to be built of Chelmsford granite, whereas it is built of Quincy granite. On p. 41, the school of the Messrs. Dwights in New Haven, is said to "have much reputation." The school was discontinued two years since. One of its founders is dead, and the other is president of Hamilton college. A great number of names are misspelled. Such as Lime, Philip's academy, Milbury, Gilmantown, M. Peers, instead of B. O. Peers, William Bryant, instead of William C. Bryant. There is a repetition on almost every page of such epithets as handsome, charming, opulent, &c. The style is far too flippant and lively, for a professed geography. Witness the following. The inhabitants of Vermont are a determined, adventurous, wandering people, little afflicted with the malady of bashfulness, and are found in all the other States as immigrants." We hope to see a future edition freed from the errors and omissions which impair the value of the present

edition.

[ocr errors]

17.-The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge, for the year 1834. Boston: Charles Bowen. pp. 336.

THIS is the fifth volume of this invaluable series. The first part is devoted to the calendar and celestial phenomena for 1834, prepared with great care by Mr. Robert Treat Paine. The second part, among other things, gives a list of the members of the first colonial congress, members of congress from 1774 to 1778, list of the members of the convention that formed the con

stitution, senators and representatives in congress from 1789 to 1833, a view of education and of literary institutions in all the States, a copious obituary and notices of persons who died in 1832. The most entire confidence can be placed in the accuracy of the statements in this volume. We make this assertion after a close examination. Some changes in various institutions have occurred since the work was compiled, but not sufficient to affect its value. The sixth volume will give a view of the financial institutions of the country, and also of the periodical literature, including newspapers.

18.-The Spirit of Hebrew Poetry, by J. G. Herder, translated from the German. By James Marsh, in two volumes.

Vol. I. Burlington, Vt.: Edward Smith. 1833. pp. 293.

"THE work of bishop Lowth," remarks the translator in his preface, "is the only one of much distinction, whose influence is felt either in England or in this country, in cultivating in the minds of students a general love for the spirit of Hebrew antiquity. What that is, as compared with the work of Herder, is readily seen, by any one, who is acquainted with both, and capable of appreciating the difference between them. Valuable and indeed indispensable as Lowth's work is to the student of the Bible, from the richness of its thoughts and the nice discrimination exhibited in its learned criticism, it differs essentially from that of Herder in the point of view from which it contemplates the subject of which it treats. It seeks to illustrate and make intelligible the beauties and sublimities of Hebrew poetry, by comparing it, in all its varieties, with the productions of Grecian and Roman art, and has done, perhaps, all that can be desired in following out that mode of critical comparison." "Herder," says Schlegel, "has that energy of fancy by which he is enabled to transport himself into the spirit and poetry of every age and people. It is this very perception and feeling of the poetical, in the character of natural legends, which forms the most distinguishing feature in the genius of Herder. The poetry of the Hebrews, was that which most delighted him. He may be called the mythologist of German literature, on account of this gift, this universal feeling of the spirit of antiquity. His power of entering into all the shapes and manifestations of fancy, implies in himself a very high degree of imagination. His mind seems to have been cast in so universal a mould, that he might have attained to equal eminence, either as a poet or a philosopher."

Our readers will find the perusal of such books as this a "continual feast." It is not with the facts, and definitions, and principles of Hebrew poetry that it is concerned. It penetrates within and catches the living spirit there. The pure light which

it generally throws on the interpretation of the Bible, is not one of its least recommendations. We hope the translator will find the full reward of his labors. It is no easy matter to translate such an author as Herder from such language as the German. We should have liked the appearance of the pages of the translation somewhat better if the k had been banished from such words as 'public.'

19.-The Shade of the Past, for the Celebration of the close of the Second Century since the establishment of the Thursday Lecture. By N. L. Frothingham, pastor of the first church. Boston: Russell, Odiorne & Metcalf. 1833. pp. 16.

THIS is quite an amusing lecture, which will be more renowned in future time, we presume, for its wit than for its divinity. It is written, so far as the selection of apt and beautiful words is concerned, in fine taste. We copy the most eloquent passage in the discourse.

"We may well pause, after such an instance of deterioration, and unwilling to pursue any further the course of neglect, take refuge in a great public event, which sixty years afterwards shook the whole land, and ended in throwing over our withered Lecture a momentary glory;-as the frost paints the dying leaves of the woods with more magnificent colors than when they flourished the freshest. During the siege of Boston, it was for a few melancholy months suspended; and the deliverance of the town renewed it in the midst of universal acclamations. Individuals may be yet alive who beheld its crowded assembly that day ;-a day that was suited to remind men of the foundation of the colony, while celebrating its redemp; tion and freedom,-that saw one great era looking back to another, and battle and victory stretching out their mailed hands to greet all the ancient memories of peril and destitution and 'small' but unconquerable things.' The officers of the army of Congress gave their attendance, throwing a military splendor over the house of prayer; and there was Washington himself, that Captain of the Lord's host' for a continent and for mankind."

20.-Twenty-fourth Annual Report of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, September, 1833. Boston Crocker & Brewster. pp. 152.

A WELL prepared and interesting document. It contains a great variety of geographical and other information, which will be valuable to the general reader. We notice a few slight errorsthe name of Sir John Malcolm on page 21, is misspelled; page 47, Justin Perkins is twice printed Jonas Perkins. The names of Mr. William C. Sampson and his wife, mentioned on the 52d page are not included in the list on the 31st page. Rev. William Thomson, page 41, is spelled differently on page 31. On page 53, Indo-Britains should be Indo-Britons. Plural and singular

« VorigeDoorgaan »