6. Introductory Lessons on Mind. By the author of "Lessons on Reasoning," "Lessons on Morals," &c. 12mo., pp. 240. Boston: James Munroe & Co. These lessons are intended as a sequel to those on "Reasoning," and also those on "Morals," by the same author, published some time ago. The design of the work is to notice some well established facts which tew or none would deny, but which are not always sufficiently attended to; and to draw some conclusions from these, which though very evident when stated, are often overlooked. As a textbook to be put into hands of classes in our academies and public schools of a higher grade, this little work will be found very useful, while, as a book to be read and even studied by the teacher or the professional man in hours of leisure, it will also be highly valued. 7.--The War in Nicaragua. By General WILLIAM WALKER, with a colored Map of Nicaragua. 12mo., pp. 431. New York: S. H. Goetzel. In this we have a spirited rehearsal of the doings of Walker's filibuster bands in Nicaragua during those troublesome years 1854-5 and '6, purporting to be written by the general himself. To all appearances it is a fair statement of the rise and causes of the war, the manner in which it was waged, and the unsuccessful attempt on the part of General Walker to establish a provisional government in that country, and will be highly prized by the admirers of that partisan. 8.—New Miscellanies. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Ticknor & Fields. 12mo., pp. 375. Boston: This volume consists of miscellanies and fragments taken principally from Fraser's Magazine, and the North British Review, such as the " Agricultural Crisis," "Great Cities and their Influence for Good and Evil," the " Natural History," "Pilgrim's Progress Illustrated," etc., etc., making a very interesting volume. Study of 9.-Stories from Famous Ballads. For Children. By GRACE GREenwood. With illustrations by Billings. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. Among the many books published this season for children, we have seen none more enticing than this by Grace Greenwood. The author of this beautiful little volume has succeeded to a charm in bringing out that which is attractive to little folks, at the same time that it is unobjectionable in a moral point of view. 10.--The Adopted Heir. By JULIA PARDOE. 12mo., pp. 350. Philadelphia : T. B. Peterson & Co. This is a story of English life, and fully up to the mark of any of Miss Pardoe's writings, and we opine will earn for her additional popularity. STRAW PAPER PERFECTED AT LAST. It is stated in a late English journal that Dr. COLLYER has succeeded in manufacturing a paper from straw which is in every respect equal to rag paper-many reams having already been finished. By his mode of treating the straw he splits it and separates the silica and gluten without in any way injuring the fiber. Baron LIEBIG has pronounced a very favorable opinion of the invention, and of the manufactured article, and we understand that in a few days the necessary arrangements will be complete for showing the entire process necessary for converting two tons of straw into a ton of first-class printing paper. HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE. Established July, 1839, by Freeman Hunt. CONTENTS OF NO. V., VOL. XLII. ARTICLES. PAGE L. REVIEW, HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL, OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY; OR, INTRODUCTION TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM. Part VI. Christianity considered in respect to its Sociological bearingsReligion as a Sociological Force-The specific idea inculcated by Christianity regarded as a scheme of Social Philosophy-The great superiority of the Christian System to all other Systems of Morals or Religion-Its Past and Present Influence on Human Society-Modern Society compared with Ancient-American Slavery Considered in its Relations to Christianity and the Spirit of the Present Ago resulting from the Influence of Christian Ideas.. II. PACIFIC RAILROAD............................... ... III. VALUATION OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES. Number II. By PROF. C. F. McCAY, V. MR. LOWELL vs. MR. HOOPER ON BANKING AND CURRENCY. By CHARLES 531 558 563 575 VI. A DECADE OF THE GOLD PLETHORA. By DAVID M. BALFOUR, Esq., of Mass.... 585 JOURNAL OF MERCANTILE LAW. Action to Recover Excess of Duties........... COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW. 589 590 State of Business-Cheapness of Money-Bank Loans-Imports and Loans-Increase over JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY, AND FINANCE. The Precious Metals..... City Weekly Bank Returns-Banks of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Pittsburg, St. Louis, Providence Savings Deposits of New York.. The Taxable Property of Indiana.-Finances of Michigan..... Boston Bank Dividends.. ........... ... STATISTICS OF TRADE AND COMMERCE. St. Louis and Toledo The Shoe Trade of Boston.. Annual Statement of the Whale Fishery for 1859.. California Trade for 1859.... Import of Hides into New York.-Shoes Exported from Boston.. Fur Trade of St. Louis-Great West.-Trade of Charleston, S. C...... Lumber Trade of St. John's, N. B.-Mackerel in Massachusetts, 1859. JOURNAL OF INSURANCE. Marine Disasters and Losses on the Lakes for 1859... Cost of Fire Insurance in Massachusetts and Elsewhere....... COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. PAGE The Stade Dues-Convention between Belgium and Hanover.-Drawback on Manilla Cordage. 625 Cuban Commercial Regulations..... NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. Vessels Employed in the Whale Fishery, January 1, 1860.. The Shipping of the British Empire.-Rule for Measuring Ships.... 626 627 628 New Light at Jupiter Inlet, Coast of Florida.-Fixed Light on Isla Pancha, Coast of Spain..... 629 POSTAL DEPARTMENT. Cheap Postage for Newspapers.. RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS. Railroads of the West.. Southern Railroads.-New York and Erie Railroad.. ...... JOURNAL OF MINING, MANUFACTURES, AND ART. The Coal Beds of the World-Will they last?-The Diamond Mines of India.. STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c. 630 631 632 683 634 635 636 637 638 STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c. Population and Resources of Russia.-Slavery in 1715.... Census of Kansas.-American Seamen Registered.-California Population. MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES. Clerks' Aid Society for New York..... Independent Tartary... Crowns Why some Succeed and others Fail in Business.. Commerce and Extent of the Lakes.-Five per Cent... Industry.-Mourning Wealth A Large Brewery.-Correct Sentiment.-Value of Time...... 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 631 652 658 654 THE BOOK TRADE. Notices of new Books or new Editions... 655-65 HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW. MAY, 1860. Art. I.-REVIEW, HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL, OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY:* OR, INTRODUCTION TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM. PART VI. CHRISTIANITY CONSIDERED IN RESPECT TO ITS SOCIOLOGICAL BEARINGS-RELIGION AS A SOCIOLOGICAL FORCE-THE SPECIFIC IDEA INCULCATED BY CHRISTIANITY REGARDED AS A SCHEME OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY - THE GREAT SUPERIORITY OF THE CHRISTIAN SYSTEM TO ALL OTHER SYSTEMS OF MORALS OR RELIGION-ITS PAST AND PRESENT INFLUENCE ON HUMAN SOCIETY-MODERN SOCIETY COMPARED WITH ANCIENT-AMERICAN SLAVERY CONSIDERED IN ITS RELATIONS TO CHRISTIANITY AND THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT AGE RESULTING FROM THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN IDEAS.t THE age of ancient Philosophy may be divided into three different and well defined epochs-the Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman. These epochs may be regarded as corresponding with the three successive periods which, according to the historian Polybius, nature has assigned to every body, to every government, and every action-those of growth, perfection, and decay. The Egyptian was evidently the period of growth, the Grecian of perfection, or highest development, and the Roman of decay. These three periods may also be regarded as the morning, noon, and evening of the first day of human Philosophy. In the latter part of this protracted day, of nineteen or twenty centuries, appeared a character, whose life and doctrines have exerted an incalculably important influence on human affairs, and on the cause of Social Philosophy in particular. So much divided have been mankind ever since, as to the true nature of this character, that one may well be Entered according to an act of Congress, in the year 1859, by GEO. W. & JNO. A. Wood, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the southern district of New York. + In recognizing the principle of full and free discussion, we at all times admit articles upon all subjects within the scope of our work without comment, it being understood that the writer is responsible for the sentiments therein expressed, and that our pages are open to reply.-Ed. Mer. Mag. sometimes at a loss how to designate him. Yet in an inquiry like the present, which relates essentially only to the material interests of mankind, and regards alike principles and persons only in their humanitarian aspects, we may be excused for designating this justly-revered character simply as JESUS OF NAZARETH or Jesus the CHRIST-a character or personage whom certainly, of all those who have ever been regarded as partaking of the Divine as well as human nature, one may be excused, even in this age of intense scepticism and gross utilitarianism, for considering far more entitled to be so regarded than any other. The teachings of Christ, apart from their bearings on the most momentous of all questions to mankind, the future destiny of man, are undoubtedly of the highest importance. They are more excellent in wisdom and practical utility, as well as in beauty and simplicity, than those of Socrates or Plato, or any other philosopher with whose teachings mankind are acquainted. Christ taught a philosophy more comprehensive than any other teacher ever inculcated, concerning the conduct of life, its aims and its duties-a philosophy which penetrated more deeply into the mysteries of the human soul, and sent it bounding with higher hopes into the realms of an exalted spirituality. And although the doctrines of this divine philosophy soon experienced the fate of all truth, when it comes in contact with the atmosphere of human passions-although they were speedily usurped, perverted, and misapplied by a professional priesthood, (an organized ecclesiasticism,*) who, in their deplorable ignorance and presumption, have brought it into great disrepute, by repeatedly opposing it to the cause of science and human improvement, and against whose baneful influence on the cause of science and true religion the efforts of genuine philosophy have not yet been able to rescue pure and simple doctrines, yet those doctrines have sunk deeply into the heart of the world, and have worked, and are still working, incalculably momentous influences on the condition and destiny of mankind. its The utility of Christianity as a system of philosophy bearing on the social condition of mankind, is dependent on these two circumstancesfirst, that it superadds to other motives the powerful sanctions of religion for the cultivation of those moral qualities which are the real foundations of social prosperity, alike in States and individuals; and, second, that it inculcates a far more comprehensive and excellent system of morality than any other. In considering the first of these circumstances, we are led to the consideration of religion as a sociological element; and this we shall find to be one of the most important and fundamental, though not the most fundamental. "It is well said in every sense," says Carlyle, "that a man's religion is the chief fact with him ;" and the observation may as well be made of a society or nation. "The thing a man does practically lay to heart," says the same writer in the same connection, "and know for certain, concerning his vital relations to this mysterious universe, and his duty and destiny here, that is in all cases the primary thing for him, and creatively determines all the rest. That is his religion, or it may be his In the present great poverty of the English language as to scientific words, the author takes the liberty here of coining another, not as yet to be found in any of the dictionaries, so far as he is aware. That there may be no doubt as to the meaning which he intends by the word "Ecclesiasticism," it may be as well to state that he means to express the idea which to some minds would be rendered more clearly by the word-churchcraft. + See Heroes and Hero Worship, lecture i., p. 2. |