At a meeting of the Philosophical Society (the Rev. Dr. Turton, the President, being in the chair), Mr. Rothman, of Trinity College, read a notice of an observation of the winter solstice at Alexandria, which is recorded in Strabo, and which has hitherto not been understood, from its being spoken of by the author as an observation of an equinox. Professor Whewell continued the reading of his paper "on the Causes and Characters of Pointed Architecture;" and explained the influence of the pointed arch upon the other members of buildings, through which influence the Romanesque style was at last superseded by the very opposite forms of the

We beg him again.

Of

Gothic. It was stated also that the trans-
ition from one of these styles to the other,
which took place in England by means of
the Early English style, was made in Ger-
many by means of a very different one,
which may be termed Early German.
this style the characters were given in
some detail, and it was remarked that,
among these, the invention of the flying
buttress was of as much importance to the
complete developement of the Gothic style,
as that of the pointed arch. Observations
were also communicated by Mr. Millar, of
St. John's College, on the forms aud angles
of the crystals of boracic-acid, indigo, and
borate and bicarbonate of ammonia.-After
the meeting, Professor Sedgwick gave an
account of the geological structure of the
Austrian Alps, illustrated by the repre-
sentation of a section traversing their chain,
and passing from the plains of Bavaria to
the Gulf of Venice.

At a meeting of the Philosophical Society (the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, one of the Vice-Presidents, being in the chair), a paper was read by Professor Airy, on the mathematical conditions which are requisite for a continued motion, such as the vibration of the tongue of a musical reed. A paper was also communicated by the Rev. C. P. Neale Wilson, "on the Geology of the Shore of the Severn, in the Parish of Awre, in Glocestershire."-After the meeting, the Rev. Leonard Jenyns gave an account of the observations which have been made with respect to the migration of birds, and the circumstances connected with this part of natural history.

The pupils of Joshua King, Esq. M. A. Tutor of Queen's College, have subscribed three hundred guineas for a whole length portrait of that gentleman, and Sir William Beechey is now engaged in painting this honourable tribute of esteem, friendship, and gratitude.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Melancthon" to accept our thanks. It will give us pleasure to hear from

The hint of "Johannes" shall be attended to.

"S. P. B." and "B. C." upon the same subject, have been received; as also "Clericus." "A Churchman"-" A Son of the Church"-" W. M."—" G. D."-" A Lay Subscriber to S. P. C. K. and S. P. G."-" C. H. T." and "U. Y's" observations on Mr. Terrot, are not forgotten.

"G. B." if possible, shall be replied to in our next; and "G. K." must have a little more practice.

We will thank "M." our correspondent in September last, to favour us with his direction. The questions of another correspondent, whose signature is also "M." shall be answered in our next.

Press of matter compels us to defer the Index of Texts for Vol. XI. until our next number.

CHRISTIAN

REMEMBRANCER.

FEBRUARY, 1830.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ART. I.-Letters on the Church. By AN EPISCOPALIAN, London Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 8vo. pp. 192.

con

THE United Church, betrayed by her natural ally, deserted by a portion of her prelates, and openly assailed by the confederate arms of Popery, infidelity, and misguided zeal, is now an object of more interest to the remaining faithful, than she was, when, under the auspices of our late pious, consistent, and conscientious monarch, she edified her affectionate children "in all godly quietness." Those times of "peace on earth" are now no longer to be expected: ciliation and liberality" have let in idolatry and atheism, and the voice seems to have sounded from the sanctuary, μɛraßaivwμev EVTEVOEV. England appears about to receive her most righteous recompense for the abuse and disregard of the most signal deliverances, the most exalted blessings, and the most conspicuous favours; and for the wanton abandonment of those securities with which a merciful and watchful providence had surrounded her. Her hedge is broken down, and all they that go by pluck off her grapes: the boar out of the wood doth waste her, and the wild beast of the field doth devour her. Such being the existing condition of the Church, though it is impossible to read all the books which the press pours constantly forth on this fearfully interesting subject, yet nothing can be read with indifference; for all find readers somewhere, and all make some impressions; nor do the extent and import of these impressions at all depend on the value of the argument, or the sense of the reader. Arguments almost beneath contempt, and men altogether so, have been instrumental in the work of ruin.

*

As we are not, however, able to notice all that has been written on this topic, we naturally prefer the examination of such works as are most eminent for their talent or ingenuity; such especially being most likely to have influence in the class wherein we aspire for: auditors. Now the present work is undoubtedly one of some ability,

and for this reason we notice it. The reasoning is ingenious but highly paradoxical; and, as we think we shall shew, fundamentally unsound.

The author's argument is, that religious establishments, in connexion with Government, are contrary to Christianity; that the State has no business with the concerns of the Church; and that there should be no religious provision made by Government. In this opinion, we cannot coincide. We are churchmen, not only in our religious creed, but by attachment to our ecclesiastical constitution, which, were its theory diligently observed, would be as perfect as any thing human; equal to that beautiful political fabric lately "broken in upon; a construction which Solon sought, and of which Tacitus almost despaired.* But we are very ready to acknowledge that a pretended establishment is worse than none. An establishment where fidelity is to be all on one side;an establishment which affords the state the power to oppress and betray, while it resigns the strength necessary and sufficient to parry a hostile aggression; an establishment which, instead of being upheld by its ally, is discountenanced, or even repulsed; an establishment which may become a convenient sacrifice whenever modern liberality (never very lavish of its own) requires; an establishment which the court and the administration regard as a pliant tool for secular intrigue: such an establishment, we. hesitate not to say, is worse than none; worse every way; worse for itself both spiritually and temporally; and worse for the Government, which, if profligate, is less shamelessly and disgustingly so, when it clothes not its nefarious proceedings in the garb of religion. When such becomes the condition of the Church, her only chance of existence is independence. Like a vessel lashed to a fire-ship, she has no choice save that of cutting adrift the too adhesive enemy.

10

.

But our author's fallacy appears to be that this must necessarily be, the situation of every established church; that the temptation is too great for any legislature or for any statesman; and that Church and State, like Æsop's two pitchers, can never form an alliance without the ruin of the weaker. It is true that legislators. and politicians are men, and that ambition and cupidity are human passions; but it is by no means necessary that a Church, by its own constitution, should not be protected from oppression or indignity on the part of the State with which it is associated. Such at least is the theory of our Church, that she is not exposed to such dangers; with her convocation, her

* Plutarch, in Solone, cap. xix. The words of the Roman historian are remarkable: "Cunctas nationes et urbes populus, aut primores, aut singuli regunt; delecta ex his et consociata reipublicæ forma laudari facilius quam evenire, vel, si evenit, haud diuturna esse potest." Tác. Ann. iv. 33. The concluding observation of the philosophical historian is worthy the solemn reflection of those who believe the year 1688 the first of our constitution

natural and legitimate strength, she might safely bid defiance to insult and spoliation. The attacks of her parliamentary and popular foes would rebound harmless from this strong and polished shield, wherewith she would be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. She is endangered, not because she is established, but because her establishment itself is shaken to its foundation.

We know it is very common to adduce as an argument of the Church's political advocacy and influence, that her Bishops retain their seats in the House of Lords. We will hear what our author has to say to this point. He is recommending what he is pleased to call an emancipation of the Church; namely, its disjunction from the State.

It is evident, that for Bishops to have, as such, and by virtue of their office, a seat in the House of Lords, is inconsistent with the principles which I have been pointing out; and this, which many would reckon among the sacrifices called for by the adoption of the system I would recommend, I should reckon among its advantages; since, besides its intrinsic unlawfulness, as making Christ's kingdom a secular one, it answers no purpose so effectually as that of giving a sanction to that state-interference which it is insufficient effectually to control. Something might be said, perhaps, on views of worldly expediency, if the Bishops had a veto on all questions affecting the Church; but as it is, their power is, in furthering the interests of the Church, inconsiderable in giving a colour to any encroachments on it, but too great. Indeed, the situation of most of those, both temporal and spiritual officers, who have spiritual control over your Church under the existing system of alliance, frequently reminds me of Lord Bacon's remark on witches, in respect of their supposed compact with evil spirits,—that it gives them abundant power to do mischief, but none at all to do good. Many a man who has it in his power to connive at, and support, and increase abuses, if he attempts to remedy them, finds his hands tied: to hold up the doctrines, and discipline, and authority of your Church to contempt, is in the power of many; but who is able, if disposed, effectually to support them?-Pp. 176, 177.

There is something worth considering in this, though we are far from allowing some of the reasoning, or the expediency, in the just and christian sense of the word, of depriving our Bishops of the only privilege which marks them as ministers of an establishment. It might seem a consistent, though it would not be a very honourable feature of these liberal days, to follow up the admission to Parliament of popish laymen, by the expulsion of Protestant prelates: but such a measure would at once be proclaiming a formal war between the allies; it would be a public degradation of the Church; and as such, tend not only to a rupture of the alliance, but to weaken the spiritual more than the political influence of Church principles. To overthrow these was the object nearest the heart of the Long Parliament; and the removal of the Bishops from the upper house was the first measure they took to effect it. A similar attempt in these days would have an ill aspect. These are not the times when the Church can afford to lose even her outward ornaments and honours. Yet it is right that these ornaments should not be mistaken for part of her