of great moment-the conversation with Lafayette in 1789, in chapter ten, relative to the then approaching revolution-that at Mr. Jefferson's table with Mr. Giles, in chapter eleven, on the Christian religion, and the account of Jay's treaty in chapter sixteen.

6. Lectures on Spiritual Christianity. York: 1841. D. Appleton and Co.

By ISAAC TAYLOR. New 12mo. pp. 244.

THIS is a handsome, well-printed volume, got up with the usual good taste of the publishing house, to whom the religious public is already so largely indebted. Thus much is due to the external character of the work. Its internal demands more space than our present limits of brief notice admit. The merits and defects of the works, mind, and religious system of Isaac Taylor, is an inquiry deep as well as broad, and also much needed, and at some future time may be independently entered on by us. At present we confine ourselves to the leading outlines of the work before us.

The volume contains "four lectures," (further enlarged, and with notes,) as delivered at the instance of the "London City Mission," and may be considered in its substance, as a popular chapter appended to the "Ancient Christianity" of the same author, and in its object, as a covert attack upon the "Oxford Tracts." This is, in truth, its eventual, and, perhaps, most studied aspect, though one not always openly displayed. The under-current of thought, however, it is easy to perceive is always setting that way. The subjects of the four lectures are as follows: "The exterior characteristics of spiritual Christianity"-" The truths peculiar to spiritual Christianity"" The ethical characteristics of spiritual Christianity"“Spiritual Christianity the hope of the world at the present moment." These are all treated by him with that peculiar force of thought, but, at the same time, peculiar vagueness of conclusion, characteristic of this well known writer-like an artist bold in outline, but timid in detail, and, therefore, failing to convey individual impressions. In this singular feature of Taylor's mind and style, lies, we think, both his power and his weakness-his power in appealing to the broad lines of humanity, the universal religious sympathies of our nature, so that no reader but recognizes in them the truth and force of his individual impressions; they come home to him as identical with his own thoughts. This is his power, as a writer, and he has used it boldly and skilfully; so boldly, indeed, as almost to constitute an abuse of power-an abuse, we say-because, as his correspondent weakness unfits him for that which he constantly aspires at being-a religious teacher--practical error is the result. This weakness ever is a want of definiteness—a want of

that which, in the religious teacher, is (after truth) the primary element that constitutes him a safe teacher, or, in other words, a practical guide. Whether it arise from nature or education-whether an intellectual or a moral defect-certain it is that it exists, and that Isaac Taylor is, therefore, in his writings, no practical guide to the inquirer in religious truth. He pulls down the visible teacher of truth, and substitutes nothing but a vague ideal in his stead, and could he make others all that he states himself to be, it would amount only to being a Christian after his own fashion. "I have never been used," says he, "to speak the language of any one section of the religious commonwealth." Now, in these few words, we read not only his condemnation as a teacher, but the secret, too, of his theological prejudices. How can he be a teacher at all, we ask, who rejects all specific truth? Would he have his hearers follow him, or not, in his opinions? If not, then he teaches them not; or, if aye, then do they at least speak the language of "some one section" (small though it may be) "of the religious commonwealth, and, therefore, not follow his example." But in this boast our author much over-boasts. He does speak the language and that of no small section, at least in modern days, of the religious world; and that is, of ALL those who deem themselves wiser in religious matters than all ages that have gone before them, and who prefer, therefore, the light of their own individual judgment to that which Christ established for his disciples, as "the pillar and ground of the truth," the voice of the church catholic. We may well note, too, Taylor's levelling term here used as partaking of the same leaven-" the religious commonwealth." "Commonwealth," forsooth-“ kingdom" Christ had termed his church on earth, but this gospel term is contrary, it seems, to that "equality" of teacher and taught which is demanded as the cornerstone of modern independency. In short, if all were such as Taylor boasts himself to be, "of no church," where, we ask, would be the unity of Christ's body? where the church" of one mind?" or where the meaning of the innumerable passages of scripture that pre-suppose or declare it? Surely there must be some error in a theological system that militates with so much of the word of God as that necessarily does which puts out of sight the Teacher of that word, the visible church of Christ, an apostolic ministry, and authoritative sacraments. This the theological teaching of Isaac Taylor does, and, therefore, however deep, eloquent, or just, (and we acknowledge him to be all.) he may be in his wide views of spiritual Christianity, we yet hold him to be an inadequate teacher, and, therefore, an unsafe guide to whoever is asking for the specific way of salvation in which he should walk.

7. Incidents of a Whaling Voyage. To which are added Observations on the Manners and Customs, and Missionary Stations of the Sandwich and Society Islands. By FRANCIS ALLYN OLMNew York: 1841. D. Appleton and Co.

STED.

Ir we are right in our estimate of the merits of the "Incidents of a Whaling Voyage," its author has mistaken his talent; it bespeaks for him no promise of success as a narrator of the adventures and perils of the sea. This is a department of literature that has been chosen as the field of labor of some of the most popular writers of the day, and it has now become a favorite one with the public, but it is one in which it is no easy matter to succeed. Mr. Cooper, in his romances of the sea, and Mr. Dana, in his real narrative of " Two Years before the Mast," have established a very high standard for works of this character. If Mr. Olmsted compares his book with the last mentioned, he will be satisfied that a sailor is never made by getting in at the cabin-windows, and satisfied, also, that in such narratives the " part of which I was," is vastly more interesting than the "all that I saw." We could not more precisely mark the difference in the character of the two books, than by saying that the author of the one talks like a passenger, of

the other like a sailor.

The latter half of Mr. Olmsted's volume is devoted to the description of the Sandwich Islands, from which a great deal of valuable information may be gathered concerning the character and condition of the inhabitants of this mid-ocean group. It exhibits, in a most favorable light, the civilizing influence of Christianity, and of the missionary exertions generally; we cannot, however, say much for their improvements in architecture, judging from the drawings of their churches contained in this work. A more barnlike looking fabric than that designated as "the new native church," was never seen; we trust that it is not emblematical of like deformities in the Christian faith and worship which these messengers of the cross are planting amid the isles.

8. Address delivered at Jefferson College, St. James's Parish, Louisiana, June 20th, 1841, on assuming the Functions of President of that Institution. By ALEXANDER H. EVERETT.

BEFORE saying anything of this address, we must express our congratulations to the friends of thorough education and sound learning in the southwest, upon their good fortune in having a scholar like Mr. Everett, placed at the head of one of their principal literary institu

tions. We anticipate the happiest results from the labors of the learned and accomplished gentleman, in his new sphere of useful

ness.

This address of Mr. Everett, on assuming the duties of his office, is in fine taste, and might be taken as a model for addresses on like occasions; its object is to give a general survey of the progress of knowledge and its influence on human happiness, which naturally leads him to speak of the various institutions devised for advancing it. It is marked throughout by beauty of diction and soundness of views, and if it can lay no claim to brilliancy, it certainly can to the higher merit of original and independent thought. We would not call up the subject of party polities in speaking of Mr. Everett in his present office, which necessarily divests him of the feelings of the partizan, but we may without impropriety speak of him in relation to great principles, and how he now thinks upon some leading ones, we may judge from the following passage in a note to his address.

"It is singular that so great an admirer of the British Constitution as Macaulay, should maintain that the study of moral science has produced nothing but mere words. The British Constitution, which has never existed in the form of mere words, is, or, at least, has been-for its present condition is rather uncertain—a pretty substantial thing: having exercised directly, and indirectly, a more extensive and beneficial influence upon the fortunes of the race, than any other one thing that has ever existed, excepting the Christian Religion. Whether this form of religion be also, in the view of Macaulay, nothing but empty words, he has not yet distinctly told us: though I am afraid that such, if he were to express it, would prove to be his opinion. At least, his views of practical morality, as developed in his article on Machiavelli, to which I allude in another part of the text, are far from agreeing with those of the New Testament.”

9. An Oration delivered at Charlestown, Massachusetts, June 17, 1841, in commemoration of the Battle of Bunker Hill. By GEORGE E. ELLIS.

THE battle of Bunker Hill is an oft-told tale, but no where, to our knowledge, is it better told than in the oration delivered by Mr. Ellis at a late anniversary commemoration of the event. We have room but for a few words of comment upon this production, and a few will suffice to express our opinion of its merits-it is a fine chapter of recited history-a careful statement of facts in beautiful language, with enough of rhetorical ornament to give it the spirit and interest of a public address. It is glowing with patriotism, but its patriotism is Christian, not Punic; it earnestly enjoins upon us to love our country, but it requires of us no oath of eternal hatred to any other.

The Deerslayer, or the

10. Leather-Stocking Tales-Volume I. First Wdr-Path. By the Author of the " Last of the Mohicans," the Pathfinder," the "Pioneers," and the "Prairie." Philadelphia: 1841. Lea and Blanchard.

THESE Volumes complete the life-picture of " Leather-Stocking," a character equalled only by "Long-Tom Coffin" in the throng of Mr. Cooper's brilliant creations, and we cannot forbear to express our conviction that these two personages, which place him beside the highest masters of romance, would have alone sufficed for his glory, and, at the same time, our regret, for his sake and for the cause of letters, that any thing should have occurred to disturb the harmony of his relations with a press too often the exponent of personal jealousy and animosity-too seldom the monitor, or even the interpreter of public opinion.

The difficulties of Mr. Cooper's task in striving to depict the early life of so striking an individual as Natty Bumpo, in such a manner as to preserve the truth and harmony, as well as the peculiarities of so universal a favorite, must be evident to any one who is at all conversant with the mechanism of literary production. To take a being of fancy in his childhood, and as the author numbers fresh years and experience, to carry him through the phases of manhood, and the storms and trials in which its true lustre is revealed, is an undertaking congenial to human nature. The imagination has its affections, and will cherish its offspring with parental solicitude. But it is indeed a bold attempt for an author to sketch, in the maturity of age and experience, the boyhood of one whom he conceived and presented to us as a man, while he himself was comparatively young; and it is with sincere pleasure that we congratulate him upon his success in the present instance.

We think the style of Deerslayer more polished, and the descriptions of natural scenery traced with greater grace of outline, and freshness, and transparency of coloring, than in any of Mr. Cooper's previous works; while the incidents follow each other with the close connection, the graphic power, and the effective brevity of a drama. The scene is hardly varied, and the narrative occupies but five days. Indeed, all the characters and dialogue might be transferred to the stage with very few material alterations. On the waters of one of our loveliest inland lakes, long before civilization had reached western New York, Deerslayer, and his friend Uncas, become the protectors of two lonely women from the savages who lurk around its borders. Our hero is already the cool and unerring marksman whose feats subsequently delight us in Hawkeye. But he is more than this. He unconsciously possesses that undaunted bravery, and that purity and truthfulness of nature, which are the elements of all true greatness, and for which he is so eminent throughout the five acts of the drama that bears his name. A sincerity, childlike, yet stern, en

NO. XVIII.-VOL. IX.

68