LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

United States.

MOST of the colleges in the country, particularly in the northern States, are now in a very flourishing condition. The prospect of a large accession to the various freshman classes, is unusually encouraging. We ascribe this increase to the revivals of religion which prevailed in this country a few years since, and to the competitions among the colleges. The failure of several high schools may also be the means of augmenting the number of those, who resort to college.-Rev. Dr. Chaplin, president of Waterville college, has resigned his office.-A cause of great importance has been decided by Mr. Justice Story, in reference to Bowdoin college. It is important in its bearing on college corporations generally, though in some respects it merely affirms the previous decisions of the supreme court in the case of Dartmouth college. Some of the main points decided, are, that the act of the legislature of the State of Maine, of March 31, 1831, is unconstitutional and void, and president Allen to be still, de jure, in office as president of the college. The act of March 19, 1821, providing for the increase of the number of the two boards, is also unconstitutional and void. Of course thirteen persons go out of office as trustees, and twelve persons as overseers. The act of separation of Maine and Massachusetts, making the college wholly independent of the legislature, has never been altered by agreement of the two States. Consequently neither the legislature of Massachusetts nor of Maine, has any authority to alter any of the powers of the two boards of overseers and trustees. By the decision, the college is transferred to its position under the charter of 1794, except that Massachusetts has relinquished to the college its right of changing and annulling the powers of the boards. President Allen has in consequence resumed his duties as president of the college. Rev. John Wheeler of Windsor, Vt. has been appointed president of the university of Vermont, Dr. Marsh having resigned, preferring, as it is understood, the chair of mental and moral philosophy, which has just been erected. The university is now in a very flourishing state, between thirty and forty students have just been admitted to the two lower classes. Rev. George Bush, formerly of Indianapolis, Ia. and author of the Life of Mohammed, Notes on Genesis, &c. has been appointed Phillips professor of theology, at Dartmouth college.-An effort is making to raise a sum sufficient to erect another building for the use of Middlebury college; and also to establish, in connection with the college, a system of manual labor exercise. We learn that of the subscription of $50,000 which was raised in behalf of Amherst college, a sufficient portion has been collected to pay the debts of the institution. A new professor is soon to be appointed by the trustees.-Rev. Dr. Popkin has resigned his place as professor of

Greek in Harvard university. Simon Greenleaf, Esq. of Portland, is about entering upon his duties in the same institution as Royall professor of law.— Professor Peck of Brown university has resigned his office in that seminary. -Professor Caswell has declined his appointment as president of Waterville college. More than two thirds of the subscription of the $100,000, raised in behalf of Yale college, has been paid. A considerable proportion of the remainder has been well secured. From a portion of this fund, a professorship of law has been established, and chief justice Daggett appointed professor. The foundation is named the Kent professorship, in honor of James Kent, formerly chancellor of the State of New York, a distinguished jurist, and an alumnus of the college.-The foundation of the buildings for the university of New York, has been laid with appropriate ceremonies. The site is on one side of the Washington square, a location as eligible as could be found in the city. The prospects of the university in regard to students are promising.

Professor E. Robinson has resigned his office as professor extraordinary of sacred literature, and librarian of the Andover theological seminary. He will take up his residence in Boston. He will continue, as we understand, to edit the Biblical Repository, and the other works in which he is now engaged. It is intended to establish a new theological seminary in Connecticut. East Hartford has been mentioned as the locality. It is designed for the defence and inculcation of those religious doctrines which have been assailed, as it is supposed, at New Haven.-The Baptists in Connecticut are engaged in founding a school in Suffield, literary and theological, partaking also of the manual labor features.-The foundation of a new edifice, designed for a chapel for the theological seminary, has been laid in Princeton, N. J.-Mr. Stowe has entered upon his labors as professor of biblical literature in the Lane seminary, Ohio.-The evangelical Lutherans are commencing, a new theological institution in Lexington, S. C.

Christian Library.-The design of this work is to publish the most valuable religious and literary works which issue from the British press. Translations of works from the continental press, and occasionally original American productions will be inserted, also brief reviews of such works as do not come within the plan of the publication. The editor is pledged to act on those great principles in which all evangelical Christians agree. It is published in semimonthly numbers of forty-eight pages, making two volumes annually of 576 pages each. The selections for this work thus far meet with our unqualified approbation. We think the editor has manifested sound sense and Christian discernment in his labors. The following are the works published: Dr. Gregory's Memoir of Hall, with Mr. Foster's Observations; Smedley's History of the Reformed Religion in France, a work of absorbing interest; Taylor's Life of Cowper, noticed in this number of our work; Rev. Henry Fergus's Testimony of Nature and Revelation to the Being and Perfections of God, a work highly spoken of by good judges; Villers's Prize Essay on the Reformation, which Dr. Miller, in an introductory essay, says is an important work, ably executed; a History of the Civilization and Christianization of South

Africa; Ambrose Serle's Christian Remembrancer; and a Journal of Travels through Switzerland, Savoy, Germany, France, &c. by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Raffles, of Liverpool. In addition, there is a number of short notices of new publications.

New Society.-An institution has existed at Andover for two years, called the American school agent's society. Its object has been to extend the benefits of well conducted common schools over the whole country. It has attempted to perform this work by sending out qualified agents who have lectured extensively on this subject, and have, in various ways, excited the attention of the community to the defects in our common schools, and to the proper measures for supplying these defects. We understand that the seat of operations of this society will be removed soon to Boston, and that a new and more efficient organization will be effected. It is obvious to a person but slightly acquainted with the condition of our common schools, that they are susceptible of great improvement. At the same time a large proportion of the population, particularly in the States south and west of New York, are entirely destitute. It will probably be found that no system of efforts, by means of the press alone, will supply the deficiency. The living teacher or lecturer must awaken an interest, by calling public meetings, by conversing with intelligent men, by lecturing in school districts and elsewhere, by showing what can be done, and where the books and apparatus, and men are for doing the work. We know there are difficulties in a system of agencies, but they are not without a remedy.-A new volume of Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences has just been published, making the fifth volume. The society was established in 1789. N. Bowditch, LL. D., F. R. S., is president. It is reported that under his auspices, new life has been infused into the body. The contributors to the present volume are Messrs. J. E. Worcester, N. I. Bowditch, R. T. Paine, John Pickering, and others.-The library of the Massachusetts historical society has been removed into the new building in Tremont street, erected for the savings bank.

Commentaries.-The Messrs. Adams, and Lucius Boltwood, of Amherst, Ms., have in press, and will soon publish, Doddridge's Family Expositor, complete in one volume, at $3 75 a copy. Prof. Stuart will furnish an introduction to the commentary, and Prof. Fiske, of Amherst college, a biographical sketch of Dr. Doddridge. We have seen a sample of the work, now stereotyping at the Boston type and stereotype foundry, and can cordially recommend it as in every respect well executed. A finely engraved portrait of the author, on steel, will accompany each copy.-Rev. Dr. Jenks, assisted by several gentlemen, is proceeding with the Comprehensive Commentary. At what time the first volume will appear, we are not informed. Henry is made the basis, and a great variety of authors, English, Latin, French, and others, supply notes and illustrations.-Scott's Commentary is now sold for $7 50. Its original price in this country, was, we believe, $40 00. An edition is commenced in England, with engravings and various illustrations.

Lincoln, Edmands & Co., of Boston, will soon publish a memoir of Roger Williams, by Rev. James D. Knowles, of the Newton theological institution. It is supposed that this work will clearly illustrate the principles of religious freedom, of which Roger Williams is a well known assertor.-The same publishers have also in press, a biography of the Rev. Pres. Staughton, of the Columbian college, D. C., with a selection from his writings, by the Rev. Mr. Lynde, of Cincinnati.-Measures are in operation, to collect materials for publishing memoirs of Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D., Rev. Stephen Gano, M D., Rev. Richard Furman, D. D., and other Baptist divines. Two editions of Lowth's Isaiah are in press, one the 'variorum edition,' comprising the variations of Dodson and Stock, and perhaps those in the late edition of Mr. Noyes, noticed in this number of the Observer; the other edition, publishing by William Hilliard, is to contain simply the translation, dissertations, and notes, as left by bishop Lowth. Rosenmueller says, that Lowth understands and expresses the Hebrew poet better than any other writer. Of Dodson and Stock, we have no knowledge.-An excellent edition of Lowth's Lectures on Hebrew Poetry was published a few years since, by Prof. Stowe, of Cincinnati.-A new quarterly periodical publication is about to be commenced in New York city. It is to be partly literary, and partly theological. It will contain discussions on various points of controverted doctrine. We learn that an ample fund has been provided, for establishing the periodical on a sure foundation.-The Rev. Dr. Tyler, of Portland, will soon collect and publish, in a separate volume, with some additions, his articles on the New Haven controversy.-The first number of the Religious Magazine has just been issued, by William Peirce, of Boston. Messrs. Gorham D. and Jacob Abbott are to be jointly engaged in conducting it; the former to be the responsible editor. It is to be highly practical in its character, and familiar in its style, as it is designed to meet the wants of the great mass of society. It will embrace articles on the elementary principles of religion, unconnected with controversy; articles on the Bible, for Sabbath school scholars, teachers, and others; reviews of such religious books as are calculated to circulate widely through the community; essays on the practical duties and relations of life; narratives; occasional extracts; communications illustrating religious education; religious and literary enterprises of the day, &c. It will be published monthly, each number 48 pages, making an annual volume of 576 pages; the price $2 50 in advance. We see no reason why this publication may not become a very effective instrument in promoting the great cause of human happiness. One of the editors has just returned from Europe, where he has been engaged in making preparations for his labors.

Herder's Lectures on Hebrew Poetry, translated by professors Marsh and Torrey, of the university of Vermont, will soon appear.-George, Latimer & Co., of Philadelphia, have just published Hengstenberg's Christologie, a view of those prophecies and parts of the Old Testament which relate to the Messiah. The translator is Prof. Keith, of the theological institution at Alexandria, D. C. Hengstenberg is well known, as the editor of the Evangelical Church Journal, of Berlin.

Great Britain.

The British Association for the Advancement of Science commenced its third meeting at Cambridge, on the 24th of June last. Its first meeting was held at York, in 1831, and the second in Oxford, in 1832. The fourth is to be held at Edinburgh. This association was originally proposed by Sir David Brewster. Its objects are to "give a stronger impulse and more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science, in different parts of the British empire, with one another, and with foreign philosophers, and to obtain a greater degree of national attention to the objects of science, and a removal of any disadvan tages of a public nature which impede its progress." In the morning, meetings of the sections were held, composed of some of the most eminent members of the different branches of science, and general meetings of the society at 1 o'clock, and in the evening. The sections were, 1. mathematical and general physics, Mr. Brewster chairman; 2. chemistry, mineralogy, &c., Dr. Dalton chairman; 3. geology and geography, Mr. G. B. Greenough chairman; 4. natural history, Rev. W. L. P. Garnons chairman; 5. anatomy, &c., Dr. Haviland chairman. Some of the subjects discussed were the following: On the phenomena of aurora borealis; some account of isomorphism; on the pith of plants; shafts of mines; nervous system, &c. At the general meeting, Dr. Buckland, as president for the past year, addressed the assembly, in which he gave an account of the volume of reports just issued by the society. He then resigned his place to the Rev. Prof. Sedgwick, who also addressed the meeting. He was followed by the Rev. W. Whewell. When the meeting was opened on Monday, the number of members amounted to 688; before the close, it had reached 1,377. A great proportion of the men of science from Great Britain were present.

Iona Club.-A society has been projected in Edinburgh, by some enthusiastic admirers of Gaelic literature, to be called the Iona Club, in commemoration of the monastery of Iona, the ancient seat of Scottish learning. Its objects are to investigate and illustrate the history, antiquities, and early literature of the Highlands of Scotland. It will print a half-yearly miscellany, comprehending copies and abstracts of interesting historical documents, English, Latin, and Gaelic, and the transactions of the club. It offers medals. The number of members is 100.

A newly invented microscope, of great power, has lately been shown in London. A united stream of oxygen and hydrogen gas, directed against a piece of lime, produces a light of such vivid force, as effectually answers all the purposes of the strong solar illumination. With all the powers of the solar microscope, it can represent objects five hundred thousand times as large as they really are. The external integument of a fly's eye, filled with thousands of lenses, appears in the dimensions of a lady's veil.—In the United Kingdom, more than 700 temperance societies have been established; the members in England and Wales are 53,000; in Scotland, about the same number; and in Ireland, upwards of 15,000; these, added to the numbers who have associated in the British colonies, form a total of about 150,000 British subjects, who have associated to banish the ruinous use of