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Writing however, as we do, chiefly for our own sex, we must give a caution to ladies of very delicate nerves, who do not wish to come into contact with the horrible, that they had better skip over a space, from the 257th to the 268th page, where the massacre of the Mary Russell's defenceless passengers by the insane Captain, is given with appalling minuteness. The circumstance was detailed in the newspapers of 1828; but Mr. Scoresby has collected much interesting matter, by a subsequent personal acquaintance with the unhappy lunatic; who appears to have been indeed visited by converting and sanctifying grace, during his unlimited imprisonment, which necessarily follows the finding of a jury in such cases. No one can peruse this book without being constrained to love its benevolent and uncompromising author.

THE CHRISTIAN KEEPSAKE, and MISSIONARY ANNUAL. Edited by the Rev. Wm. Ellis. 1836. Fishers.

WE had the pleasure of recommending the preceding volume of this annual; we now hail its successor, as presenting a most marked improvement in every point of view. It is enlarged in size; its embellishments are decidedly superior to those of last year, and the literary contents still more so, both as to style and solid value. One of the prose pieces is truly delightful. "Recollections of the late William Wilberforce, Esq.," accompanied with a striking likeness of that inestimable man. There are also

portraits of Dr. Morrison, Mr. Fry, Mr. Buxton, Mirza Mohammed Beg, (with a pleasing piece of anto-biography) and her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria, together with several views. A much larger proportion of authentic narrative likewise distinguishes this volume; and the poetry is generally good. We have seen some proof impressions of the portraits, well suited for the walls of a literary boudoir.

AN ACCOUNT OF NEW ZEALAND; and of the Formation and Progress of the Church Missionary Society's Mission in the Northern Island. By the Rev. William Yate, Missionary of the Church Missionary Society. Seeley and Burnside.

MR. YATE commences his work very judiciously, by entering at once upon a style of description that brings the reader intimately acquainted with the beautiful country that he is invited to explore. We have first a geographical notice, then the general aspect of the country, including such a graphic display as bespeaks a hand guided by real taste, and impelled by no common mind. After this, and a due enumeration of its natural productions, vegetable and animal, we are introduced to the inhabitants, their customs, superstitions, prejudices, with a mass of that general information which renders the books of mere travelling observers so interesting. We then proceed to take a clear, unbroken view of the entrance and progress of gospel light in these most lovely but polluted regions: tracing its

blessed effects, in the contrast presented by the lives and deaths of converted natives, to what we had previously been led to mourn over in their dark state. Some touching obituary memorials conclude this portion of the work; and the Appendix affords the naturalist a catalogue of shells, collected by Mr. Yate on the east coast of New Zealand. A map and several plates illustrate the descriptions. A portrait of Mr. Marsden, the privileged founder, under God, of this blessed mission, forms the frontispiece: and we confidently expect to see the book, where it deserves to be-conspicuous on the shelves of all who desire to possess an authentic well-digested record of perhaps the most interesting among our foreign missions.

MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND CORRE-
SPONDENCE OF THE REV. CHRISTIAN
FREDERICK SWARTZ. To which is prefixed a
Sketch of the History of Christianity in India. By
Hugh Pearson, D. D. M. R. A. S. Dean of Salis-
bury.
Second Edition. Two Vols. Hatchards.

STILL on missionary ground! We had not seen the first edition of this important work; and we should really feel it quite presumptuous to assume the recommendatory style, when Dean Pearson is the author, and Christian Swartz the subject of a large book, did we not know that our humble pages sometimes announce valuable works, where even newspaper advertisements fail to communicate their appearance.

The lovely character of Swartz, the devoted missionary, is no doubt familiar to most of our readers. Dr. Pearson seems to have entered into it with the zest and discrimination of a kindred spirit, culling and grouping whatever was most beautiful and profitable, both in that and in his interesting missionary course, to present them in the most striking light to his readers. We will only say of this work, that as the Dean has selected a noble subject, so Swartz has found a biographer every way capable of doing justice to him and to the cause in which he laboured during fifty years of his useful and honoured life.

PRAYERS OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM HOWELS, as delivered before and after the sermon, at Long Acre Chapel. Taken in his own words, by one of the congregation. Hatchards.

We are not aware that any publication, purporting to be the verbatim copy of extempore prayers, has appeared, until this small volume came out. Faithful notes of unwritten sermons have, we know, been taken, and laid before the public, to the comfort and edification of many who could not share the privileges of the congregations to whom they were addressed. Warmly attached to the late lamented pastor of Long Acre, both as a personal friend, and as a member of his favoured flock, it has delighted us to notice, in turn, the relics of his ministry, preserved and published by Bowdler, Moore, and Bruce. With regard to these prayers, a feeling, not un

mixed with pain, pervades us. We do not question their exact fidelity, nor dissent from the panegyrical remarks prefixed to them; but in Christian honesty we feel ourselves called on, affectionately to intreat our friends to resist a temptation too common among the ardent admirers of popular ministers, and to refrain from taking up their tablets until the solemn service of united supplication is over, and their pastor has ceased from addressing the Most High God. We have witnessed, with unspeakable pain, several individuals who, while others bent the knee and bowed the head in the attitude of lowly adoration, to which all were solemnly called, placed their writing materials on their laps, and busied themselves in a task totally irreconcilable with the act of worship in which they professed to be engaged. One salutary effect was indeed produced on a person just then blown about with winds of doctrine, and cavilling at the preference of a liturgical form. This incident was overruled to the dissipation of those doubts; for, as the slight degree in which Mr. Howels indulged in these extemporaneous effusions, led to a custom so reprehensible in the eyes of many who most truly appreciated their value, the individual in question could not but reflect, that had the whole devotional part of the duty been similarly conducted, it would have proved a fearful snare, tempting some to honour the creature above the Creator, at least in appearance, throughout the service. We make these remarks with pain, and with a sincere desire to avoid giving offence: but we dread lest the announcement of one interesting little book should lead to the multiplication of what cannot be provided without a lamentable encroach

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