chasm in the list of books adapted for a juvenile Christian library. As it is, however, with a slight degree of discrimination, we think it may be of con siderable use to those persons who wish, at a small expense, to make themselves acquainted with the earlier part of ecclesiastical history under the Christian dispensation. The work is very neatly printed, and contains a great deal of reading for the price at which it is sold.

A COMPENDIOUS INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. By Thomas Hartwell Horne, M. A. Illustrated with Maps and other Engravings. Being an Analysis of “An Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures," in four volumes, by the same Author. London: Cadell. 12mo.. 1827. 9s.—We hope to be able, in our next Number, to notice this work in connexion with Mr. Carpenter's Popular Introduction to the Scriptures. In the mean time, we cannot but regret to observe the respectable authors of the two books engaging in a quarrel, which we think ought, if possible, to have been avoided.

SPECIMENS OF SACRED AND SERIOUS POETRY, from Chaucer to the present day; including Grahame's Sabbath and other Poems, and Blair's Grave. With Biographical Notices, and Critical Remarks By John Johnstone. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. London: Whittaker. 24mo. 1827. 5s. 6d. This is a neatly printed and well arranged little volume. The selection is very judiciously made. The Sabbath, by Grahame, has long been one of our favourite poems, and must now be well known to all the lovers of sacred poetry on both sides the Tweed. Its moral as well as poetical beauties are very great. The other pieces, though not all so decidedly religious, are yet grave in their character and tendency. The biographical notices are short, but generally correct. We cordially recommend the little volume to our readers.

OUTLINES OF SERMONS, or the Lay Preacher's Companion. Adapted also for Family Reading, or Village Congregations. By R. Kemp, Staplehurst, Kent. Canterbury. 12mo. 1826. 5s.-The sentiments contained in these discourses, as far as we have observed, are evangelical. We are not partial to skeletons and plans of sermons for the assistance of others. We think those who cannot

And

preach without this species of assistance, had better not preach at all. whether the world would have sustained any great loss had there been less lay preaching, is a question worthy of a graver and more extended consideration than we can now give to it. We wish also that writers of sermons would use either prose or poetry in their productions, that we might know what kind of criticism to apply to them. The perpetual interlarding of hymns and poetical scraps, of all kinds and dimensions, in discourses, whether from the pulpit or the press, is a sin both against good taste and Christian simplicity. A few appropriate lines, well and sparingly introduced, have a good effect. the perpetual occurrence of poetry in preaching, and especially village preaching, is very nauseous and unsuitable. We hope Mr. Kemp's next production will contain more of his own prose, and less of his neighbours' poetry.

But

A CATALOGUE OF ENGLISH THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY:

including many scarce and uncommon works, with a very extensive Collection of Sermons. By Howell and Stewart, 285, Holborn. London: 8vo. 1827 - Booksellers' Catalogues are now frequently very interesting volumes. They illustrate the progress of the public mind, and the state of public taste. They often bring into view some of the rare, and forgotten, and almost unknown productions of former ages. They illustrate the various departments of bibliography, biography, and history, and thus assist the researches and inquries of all descriptions of the reading and literary community. "The Oriental and Biblical Catalogue," for 1826, of Messrs. Howell and Stewart, and the one now before us, are peculiarly deserving of the attention of our readers. They are exceedingly well arranged, and contain many very valuable articles, as well as some interesting notices of the books introduced.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF FACTS attending the Conversion of his Highness. the Prince of Salm-Salm from the Roman Catholic Religion to the Christian Evangelical Worship of the Confession of Augsbourg, on May 7, 1826. With an Appendir, containing the motives. which induced that change of Communion. Translated from the Original by the Rev. W.A. Evanson, A.M. London: Seeley, 1827. 8vo. 2s. 6d.-Most of our readers must have heard something of the con

version of the Prince of Salm-Salm, through the medium of the newspapers. We are glad to obtain an authentic account of it, drawn up under the direction of the illustrious personage himself. The document is deficient in explicitness on the doctrinal sentiments of the Prince, and we fear that they are not quite distinct: still there is so much discussion and perseverance about him, and so little appearance of being influenced by secular motives, that we are encouraged to hope the best. He is evidently very little indebted to his wife, or the Protestant clergy, for the step which he has taken; and his being ordered to leave the French territory, on the fact of his conversion being reported, speaks volumes for the state of toleration in that country. We trust this fact, with many others that are now occurring, will continue to promote an unslumbering attention to the principles and spirit of pery. We are much obliged to Mr. Evanson for furnishing the English translation of this pamphlet, which would not otherwise have been much known in this country.

po

THE CHRISTIAN AND CIVIC EcoNOMY OF LARGE TOWNS. By Thomas Chalmers, D.D. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews. London: Whittaker. Vol. III. 1826. 8vo. 9s.

PAROCHIAL SERMONS. By the Rev. Charles Bradley, Vicar of Glasbury, Brecknockshire. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. 1827. 8vo. 10s 6d.Mr. Bradley is well known as the author of several very acceptable and useful volumes of sermons. We are disposed to think the present volume will not diminish, but increase his celebrity in this important department. His former productions may have displayed more depth of argument, and greater elaborateness of discussion; but the simplicity of gospel statement, and fidelity of ministerial address displayed in the present discourses, will bear a comparison either with his own, or the sermons of any modern divine. The discourses are twenty-two in number, and embrace a considerable variety of very important subjects. On a few topics, we should have preferred a somewhat different mode of placing them before the reader's mind; but there is, on the whole, so much to gratify and benefit, and so little that is objectionable, that we should

be sorry to make a single remark that might appear invidious or censorious.

PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION. "Death on the Pale Horse," by the Rev. John Bruce, will be ready for publication on the 1st of March. The Author regrets that it should have been delayed by an unforeseen occurence. The engravings and plate which were duly forwarded by the Edinburgh mail, never reached the publishers, and they have been obliged to wait the execution of a new plate.-The author of "London in the Olden Time" Tales, illustrative of the manuers, habits, is engaged on a second volume, comprising and superstitions of its inhabitants from the 12th to the 16th century; in which the form and proceedings of taking sanctuary, and the superstitions relating to talismans and astrology will be exhibited ;_together with sketches of Sir Johau Froissart, Geoffry Chaucer, Dame Juliana Berner, and others: the work will appear early in the spring. The Rev. David M'Nicoll is preparing for publication, "An Argument for the Bible, drawn from the Character and Harmony of its subjects." It may be expected early in February: to form a duodecimo volume.-Theology; of the whole Counsel of God. With a or an Attempt towards a consistent View Preliminary Essay on the Practicability and Importance of this Attainment. By the Rev. J. H. Hinton, A.M. of Reading. --A Reply to the Accusations of Piracy and Plagiarisin exhibited against Author, in the January Number of the Christian Remembrancer, in a Review of "Horne and Carpenter's Introductions to the Study of the Holy Scriptures." This pamphlet will contain some curious information on the art and mystery of book. making, as exemplified in the Rev. T. H. Horne's Critical Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures. By William Carpenter. The author regrets that it should be found disingenuous attacks of Mr. Horne, by the necessary to defend himself against the adoption of such a course as the one now proposed, but a regard to his moral, as well as his literary character, renders it imperative upon him to do so.--A new and revised edition, in monthly parts, price 6s. or in weekly numbers at Is. each, of Taylor's Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible. 4to.-A Poem on Idolatry, in four cantos, by the Rev. Wm. Swan, Missionary, and Author of the Memoir of Mrs. Patterson.--A new Poem, from the pen of Bernard Barton, to be entitled "The Widows Tale," and founded on the

the

melancholy loss of the five Wesleyan Missionaries, in the mail boat, off the island of Antigua, will shortly be published.

IRISH EDUCATION INQUIRY.

Ireland; and, what has struck us as rather singular, that in the province of Ulster, where the bulk of the protestant and dis

In the second Report, the Commissioners proceed to lay before the King an abstract of the returns obtained in 1824, from the Protestant and Roman Catholic Clergy in Ireland, of the State of Education in their respective parishes.

They observe, at the commencement, that although the information was derived from independent sources, yet in the returns to their circular formulary, fewer disagreements have occurred than might reasonably be expected. It will be remembered, as the Commissioners remark, that these returns were verified on oath. The returns from the Presbyterian Ministers are incomplete, the Presbyterian Congregations not being determined by parochial boundaries.

The total number of Schools in Ireland they estimate at 11,823, viz.:-

Teachers are greater than the Protestants by nearly 400, and than the Dissenters by more than 500.

The total number of children in the Schools, taken on an average_of_three months, was, according to the Protestant Return in Autumn 1824, 560,549, viz.:-Ulster 141,882 Leinster Munster Connaught

.

. 158,740 . 188,206

71,721

The Children educated were--
Of the Established Church-
according to the Protestant
Report - in all Ireland were 93,452
Presbyterians

Other Dissenters
Religions not stated
Catholics

45,304

3,411

10,096

.408,285

560,548

It is here to be observed, that according to this Return, the number of the Protestant Children of all denominations was to Catholic Children as 1 to 3 nearly.

By the Catholic Returns, the proportion relatively is not much affected.

The Schools connected with the Association for discountenancing Vice, are 167 -educating, according to the Protestant Return, 9,246 Children--according to the Catholic, 9,008.

Schools connected with this, and at the same time with other Societies, 59-containing, according to the Catholic Returns, 3,528 scholars-according to the Protestant, 3,615.

Making in the whole 226 Schoolscontaining, according to the Protestant Returns, 12,769-according to the Catholic, 12,623.

The next Section contains a Return of the Schools connected with the Board of Erasmus Smith's Trustces-the greatest job in Ireland. The Schools are 100according to the Catholic Returns, edu

cating 7,619 Scholars--according to the Protestant, 7,824.

The other Schools connected with Erasmus Smith are 13-containing, according to the Protestant Returns, 1,268-according to the Catholic, 1,187.

Making in the whole 113 Schools-educating, according to the Catholics, 8,882 to the Protestant Return, 9,011.

The third Section contains a Return of the Schools connected with the Kildare Street Association. The Schools are stated to be 583--containing, according to the Catholic Returns, 36,762-according to the Protestant, 37,146 Scholars.

Of other Schools connected with the Kildare Place Society there are 336-containing, according to the Catholic Returns, 20,367 Pupils according to the Protestant, 21,059--making a grand total of Schools connected with the Kildare Street and other Societies, of 919 Schools; and by the Protestant Return, 58,205 Scholars --by the Catholic, 57,129

Here follow three or four minute returns concerning the distribution of these Schools and the Scholars, which we do not think necessary to abridge. We must here, in justice to the Commissioners, observe, that nothing appears to be fairer than the mode they have adopted in their estimate. They set out, in every case, both returns, and check one by the other. It is necessary, however, to observe, as the Commissioners remark, that by far the greater part of the Returns above extracted, were made in Autumn 1824; and there is, as they say, reason to believe, that in consequence of the exertions of the Roman Catholic Clergy, these Schools, when the enumeration was made, were not so fully attended as at a previous part of the year. Dublin Evening Post.

REPORT OF THE
PUTIES OF THE
TERS TO THE GENERAL MEETING,
DECEMBER 15, 1826.

COMMITTEE OF DE-
PROTESTANT DISSEN-

At the close of another year, your Committee have the satisfaction to repeat, with additional confidence, the opinion given in their last report, of the increasing liberality of the age ;--exemplified in the cheering fact, that, during this period, not a single case of disturbance of worship, or other intolerant violence, calling for legal animadversion, has been laid before them and they cannot but flatter themselves, and their disseuting brethren, that the spirit of religious animosity in this country is in so progressive a state of decay, as to afford a rational hope, that, ere long, more just principles will so generally prevail, as to admit of the abolition of those restrictive laws by which they have been so long oppressed, without exciting any ferment or alarm, even among the most timid, or the most prejudiced.

It is farther highly gratifying to be able

to state, that several of the most respectable Members of Parliament of the Esta. blished Church, have professed their readiness to take up your cause whenever it shall be thought expedient to bring on the discussion; and it seems probable that such an opportunity may occur in the course of the approaching session, unless the peculiar circumstances of the affairs of the country, both foreign and domestic, should be found too exclusively to occupy the public mind.

Your Committee, with the valuable assistance of a Deputation from the Ministers of the Three Denominations, have deliberately considered the subject of the Dissenting Registers, with the opinions of Messrs. Shadwell, Bickersteth, and Tindal, which have been obtained thereon. The resolutious which they have in consequence adopted, are subjoined to this report; and they trust will have a beneficial effect, in allaying the apprehensions which had begun to prevail, respecting the utility of your register, and will tend to make it more known, and more generally advantageous, till an impartial examination of the present parochial practice, shall have produced a conviction of its imperfection, and have thereby led to the introduction of a more complete, and better organized system, equally applicable to every description of persons in society.

Before concluding this Report, your Committee feel themselves strongly impelled to call your attention to another subject, which, though new to the Deputies as a body, has probably attracted the notice of many individuals among its members; and which, to your Committee, appears so intimately connected with the general interests, and even the réputation of the Dissenting body, as to have the fairest pretensions to their encouragement and support. The hardship which the English Universities impose on all nonconformists, by their present practice of requiring subscription to the Articles of the Church of England, has long been complained of, as unreasonably narrowing the entrance to those seats of learning, and excluding numbers from the literary advantages there afforded. A plan is now before the public, and in great forwardness, for establishing a new Institution, to be called," THE UNIVERSITY of LonDON," having for its object the improvement of education, and the diffusion of solid and useful information, with such facilities arising from local situation and diminished expense, as shall bring these inestimable advantages within the reach of the middle classes of society, and especially of the multitudes usually resident in the metropolis and its environs ; and the more the scheme is examined, the more your Committee apprehend it will be found adapted to the peculiar situation of Dissenters. There is not, indeed, any

idea of confining it to Dissenters, nor can they desire such limitation. Exclusion is no article of their creed; their whole wishes on this head are met by that universal admission which alone is contemplated by its founders. But while a comprehensive range of instruction will be provided for, the intended moderation of expense will well suit the general medioerity of rank in life among Dissenters; and its vicinity to London will embrace a very large number of their societies, which are perhaps, more thickly sown within that circle, than in most other parts of the kingdom. From these considerations, -and from a feeling that there is scarcely any species of civil proscription for opinion's sake more galling, and more important for an Institution like your's, to protest against and remedy,--and that there is perhaps at this moment, hardly any object at once so peculiarly within your province, and your ability;-considering the slightness of the recent calls upon your funds, your Committee are induced unanimously to recommend to the general body, to authorize the investment in the Stock of the University of London, such a portion of the funds at your disposal, as may be sufficient for the purchase of ten shares, which may be held in the names of persons as Trustees, to be chosen from among yourselves, for that purpose. Your Committee were doubtful whether this step was within the bounds of their delegated authority; and at all events they were desirous to make the resolution more acceptable, as coming from the general feeling of the collected body. If their view of the subject be correct ;--if the objects of the proposed Institution are not only closely interwoven with the interests of learning, religion, and morality, but have a direct bearing on the situation which Dissenters occupy among their fellow-countrymen, -they cannot entertain a doubt that the general body of Deputies, chosen for the express purpose of watching over, maintaining, and improving their civil rights, must be fully competent to direct the appropriation of a portion of the present fands of the Society, towards the promotion and encouragement of a purpose so entirely congenial with the objects of their appointment,

The Resolutions referred to in the foregoing Report.

At a Meeting of the Sub-Committee of Deputies and Ministers appointed "to take into consideration the proper measures to be adopted relative to Dissenters' Registers," held at the London CoffeeHouse, Ludgate Hill, December 1, 1826; William Smith, Esq. M. P. in the Chair; the Secretary having produced and read a case, with the opinions of Mr. Shadwell, N. S. No. 26.

Mr. Bickersteth, and Mr. Tindal, relative to the register of births kept at Dr. Williams's library;

"Resolved,-That it appears to this Meeting, that the present system of certificates and registry at Dr. Williams's Library, is of a highly important and valuable character. That it is admirably adapted to the great majority of purposes for which it is likely to be resorted to, and that it is as useful for legal purposes, (both as a clue to the best evidence, and as containing within itself as much of that evidence as can be obtained from any record not sanctioned by Act of Parliament,) as it is at all likely under the present system of the law, that such an Institution can be made to be.

"Resolved,--That this Meeting therefore earnestly recommends to the body of Dissenters, the use of the present registry, and would exceedingly regret that any difficulty or defect in possible cases, which no voluntary Institutions can avoid, should diminish its universality, and consequently its usefulness

"Resolved,--That the whole scheme of registration of births, marriages, and deaths in this country, appears to this Meeting to be radically defective; not only as being identified with the establishment, within whose circle a great portion of the community are not comprised, and by whose Institutions, therefore, their civil exigencies cannot be provided for; but also, as being in its details defective in many important particulars, even for the limited purposes which it is calculated to

serve.

P