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to be susceptible of no alteration or improvement. I believe great discoveries (!!) remain to be made of Bible truth, and I trust in God I shall ever hold myself open to conviction of the truth, from whatever quarter it may come, and whether or not it may accord with my former or present sentiments."

After reading this avowal, well may we be inclined to doubt how far it is safe to consider our author even yet as upon "terra firma" in his faith, such confession sounding, to our ears, much more like the restlessness of one who has no foothold. But to the root of the error. This is soon told- THE SELF-EDUCATED RELIGIONIST. Faith to be worked out and moulded by the individual mind, instead of being nurtured and catechised into it by a church teaching it authoritatively; behold, we say, the sum and substance of the error, its fountain-head; and that not only of the "Universalism," "Unitarianism," and " Scepticism," through whose cheerless regions our author's “ Tour" was taken, but also of that vague, uncertain, "improvable" Christianity in which he for the present finds a resting place. All comes from this root. Now from this many-headed monster, there is no cure by decapitation of its mortal heads; as, with its prototype the Lernæan hydra, new ones spring out to replace the lost, two in the place of one. It is the Church's grasp that alone can extinguish its life, and that is, neglecting its mortal by strangling its one immortal head gance of the self-teacher and chooser." How strongly this error stands developed in our author, whether by temperament or false education, we will take but a single example as a specimen of this spiritual arrogance. "Accordingly, one morning," says he, "I shut myself up in my room, DETERMINED not to go out of it again till the great point was settled, and I had declared either for God or against him."-p. 197. The specific result of the sinner thus cornering God's grace is not given, and what we more regret, no recognition of its impious folly. But we trust humbler thoughts are now at least no strangers to his bosom, for his personal course has surely been one to teach them, and among the practical lessons he in conclusion most earnestly enforces are the correlative duties of parental rule and filial obedience.

"the arro

Of literary merit the work has not much to boast; easy, but gossiping, (for it is evidently a true narrative,) it is the language of one more accustomed to talk than think. As a sound philosophical, or safe theological exposition, therefore, of the problem taken up, the workings of spiritual error, we esteem it but lightly, and shall be glad hereafter to welcome a deeper and truer solution of it, from some one of that numerous class of religionists in our country who, having gone the rounds of infidelity and sounded out its shallows, have at length, under God's grace, worked out an humble-minded faith from out of the bitter fruits which the arrogant self-teaching process had poured into their bosoms. We would, therefore, that some safe, though shipwrecked master mariner on this infidel coast, would thus, with ancient piety, consecrate in the temple, in memory

of his deliverance, such " votive tablet." It were a boon not only to the many thousands among us thus actually perilled amid rocks and quicksands, but in truth to the whole of a democratic people, who are too apt to transfer to God and his teaching the little regard they pay to man and human institutions, and above all were such a most needful gift to the parents and children of our land, as demonstrating wherein lies the root of the error, and showing how, from contemptuous disregard of parental instruction, proceeds forth that toward all other teaching, whether the school, the college, the minister, the Church, or the word and sacraments of God.

9. Lectures on Modern History, from the Irruption of the Northern Nations to the Close of the American Revolution. By WILLIAM SMYTH. With a Preface, etc., by JARED SPARKS; LL.D. First American, from the second London edition. Cambridge: 1841. J. Owen. 2 vols. 8vo.

THIS is a valuable work, and one which has long been needed to guide the student of modern history in his researches, and to smooth those difficulties in the pursuit of that branch of human knowledge which have arisen out of the multiplicity of historical books. Professor Smyth has done much to lessen the labor of all who feel an interest in past events, and who seek to discover the origin, and trace the gradual development and improvement of those forms of social polity which now exist in the civilized world. He has, in the syllabus he offers, pointed out those works, and portions of works, the study of which is best adapted to furnish a general knowledge of modern history; and (what is quite as necessary) by a correct and methodical arrangement of the works selected, he has shown how this knowledge may be obtained at the least possible expense of time.

"Art is long, and life short," and it was doubtless a regard to this principle that led Professor Smyth to bring the number of works recommended to the general reader within its narrowest limits, confining the list to those which are absolutely necessary to give a correct idea of the progress of human society from the fall of the Roman empire to the revolution which separated England from her western colonies. For the benefit, however, of individuals who, having greater curiosity, or more time to gratify it than others less favored, wish to obtain a minuter acquaintance with past events, and their consequences, he has in his notes shown in what manner the historical bill of fare may be so enlarged as to suit the craving of any appetite.

The limits to which we are restricted prevent us from examining

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as minutely as they deserve, either the plan adopted by Mr. Smyth in his lectures, or the manner in which he has executed it. Were it in our power we would gladly make, from that part of his work which relates to American history, such extracts as could not fail to impress the reader with the highest respect for the freedom from prejudice, power of analysis, and philosophic spirit which Mr. Smyth has brought to the investigation of the causes and effects of the war of the revolution.

At the beginning of the present edition will be found a well written preface by Mr. Sparks, in which, however, we find an error that we cannot pass unnoticed. "The soldiers," [of the revolution,] says Mr. Sparks, "who had fought the battles, and secured the freedom of the country, were dismissed and sent home without even a promise that they should be paid." Not so; when the soldiers had arms in their hands the promise of payment was made; when the army, as a body, had ceased to exist, that promise was violated without shame or compunction.

The manner in which this work has been got up is highly creditable to the publisher, Mr. Owen. It has all the requisites for a valuable book which it is his part to give; good paper, neat and distinct type, and correct printing, needing no list of errata.

10. Conjectures and Researches concerning the Love, Madness and Imprisonment of Torquato Tasso. By RICHARD HENRY WILDE. New York: 1842. A. V. Blake. 2 vols. 12mo.

HAD we not in our last number in some manner anticipated the discussion which the appearance of Mr. Wilde's long and anxiouslyexpected work on the "Love, Madness and Imprisonment of Tasso," would naturally call forth, we should have made it the subject of an elaborate article in the present, but having done so, it cannot now receive from us that attention to which it is so justly entitled, as we must restrict our remarks upon it to the narrow limits of a critical notice.

To have expended so much time and labor upon a matter apparently so unimportant as the caprices and extravagances of a lovesick poet, may seem to some, perhaps, a misuse of talents which might delight the listening multitude; but for our part we rejoice to know that we have one man among our great men who can prefer the quiet studies of the library even to the plaudits of the senatehouse, and that the charms of elegant literature do now and then allure a solitary devotee from the political shrine at which alone American ambition is wont to worship. Nor do we acknowledge that the questions which Mr. Wilde has so ably and so faithfully investigated,

are in fact matters of minor importance, for how can any thing be unimportant which relates to the life of one whose age is an epoch in human history, and whose song will never be forgotten as long as human genius is cherished and honored. There is scarcely an incident to be named, in all that history has recorded or imagination invented, of a more deeply pathetic interest than the cruel imprisonment of this great poet, and the circumstances which led to the barbarous act; and in our view Mr. Wilde has rendered a most important service to the cause of letters by his learned researches into the facts connected with this extraordinary event, and the new light he has thrown upon them. The fine feeling which must have prompted him to undertake such a labor, speaks no less for the kindness of his heart than does the style in which he has accomplished it for his talents and learning. By the plan which he has pursued he has doubled the interest in a subject intrinsically most interesting; making use of the sonnets of the poet as the main historical evidence in the case, he brings him before us as a minstrel to sing his own sorrows, and adds even a new beauty to the original by the finished versions in which he presents them for the benefit of the mere English reader. But agreeable and amusing as he has made these volumes, this was evidently not his principal aim; had it been so it might have been effected at a vastly less cost of labor than,must have been bestowed upon the learned work with which he has favored the public; the higher purpose which he must have had in view the settling of a curious and important point in literary history-is here executed in a manner that does great credit to him as an Italian scholar and a poet, and great honor to American literature, As a work of critical research it is beyond all praise, nothing could be more faithful, or more scrupulously exact; and in this respect it deserves to be held up as a model to our historical and biographical writers, who have not always the requisite patience in investigating facts. But we have not room for a more minute comment upon its merits; we can only say, in general terms, that we have found it a very delightful book, and we warmly commend it to the attention of all who are interested in the life and fate of the unfortunate poet to whom it is devoted.

11. Essays on Property and Labor, as connected with Natural Law and the Constitution of Society. By FRANCIS LIEBER. New York: 1841. Harper and Brothers. 12mo. pp. 225.

THIS little volume constitutes number one hundred and sixty-two of the "School Library" of the enterprising house from which that work issues. We begin with this fact of its destination, as explana

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tory of our views touching both its merits and demerits. What such work should be, thus to become embodied into the common school system of half a million of children, it is easy to premise clear, plain, progressive — fitted, in short, to instruct, (instruere,) to build up, step by step, as it were, the youthful mind in whatsoever truths of science it brings before it. Now, this, though but a question of form, we hold to be the primary requisite in every didactic work for the young, and the one, therefore, to which the critical judgment of the person or persons who sit" behind the throne" of the Harpers to give their "imprimatur" to these works, should first look, after the moral question is settled, in the selection of volumes to constitute the series of" The School Library." Be such judges who they may, responsible or irresponsible, it is yet, we say, an abuse of public trust in them, if, through their neglect, works unsuited, whether in matter or manner, to their destined end, be included in this influential list. No money is there to be wasted, and no volume, therefore, should be inserted but with specific merit in the view of its specific destination. Now, such we think Dr. Lieber's Essays not to possess; with all their merits, they have not that one here most needed, suitableness to their peculiar circle of readers; they want the requisite simplicity to attract the attention of the young, the requisite clearness to enlighten their apprehensions, and the requisite progressiveness to build up their minds in the great and wide truths which still we deny not that their author most conscientiously teaches. If we said that Dr. Lieber's mind is too "German" for such drudgery of detail, we were not perhaps far wrong, but we are rather inclined to charge the defect on lower ground, and think we can see in the work itself sufficient internal proof that the body of it was not originally prepared for that juvenile class of readers, since not only is his page occasionally garnished with Greek, an unknown tongue in our common schools, and with continual reference of his readers (or perhaps hearers, originally) to his former speculations, but whenever, as in his "concluding remarks," he writes definitely for the object before him, his reasoniug, we find, can be practical, and his style perspicuous. But to pass from this invidious view of the labors of one whose name both carries authority and deserves respect.

The great pillars of society which Dr. Lieber here labors to strengthen, are the rights of property, its origin and necessity, together with the right of controlling it by bequest, in opposition to all those false theories of equality, and fatal schemes of levelling, that in every age and country, but never more rifely than in our own, have vexed the minds or threatened the peace and good order of the community. To place these on the immutable foundations of natural right, instead of arbitrary law, is indeed a high problem in political philosophy, and one, of which the true and clear solution in language and reasoning level to the apprehension of the young and ignorant, who are the victims of this false philosophy, could hardly