impliedly renounces the notion of "the eternity of hell;" and the author once more puts forth a Universalist view of destiny, though in a very novel, and, we predict, unpalatable form. Still accepting Swedenborgian principles, Mr. Fernald now turns those principles against the Seer's own conclusions, and makes them the ground of assurances for the final restoration of the wicked. This restoration is, however, through recreation — for our author expressly rejects the notion of salvation by culture— and is predicated of a hidden principle of good which evil never destroys. In the process of recreation, however, the personal identity of the individual seems to be lost. The book, as a whole, will amply repay the reading. It is expressive throughout of that intellectual force which never deserts the author. We think it gives evidence of a nearer approach to mental rest than anything heretofore put forth by him. We think it will fail to make converts to its distinctive theory, but it will prove an incitement to thought. We find much in the book which we can cordially commend as meeting deep spiritual wants.

2. The Ancient Church: its History, Doctrine, Worship, and Constitution, traced for the First Three Hundred Years. By W. D. Killen, D.D. New York: Charles Scribner. 1860. 8vo. pp. 656.

Though this work goes over ground in some respects already occupied by Neander, Mosheim, Schaff and others, it is by no means a repetition of what is embodied in the works of these authors, but is distinctively a history of the early Christian community, as seen from a new position, and as judged in the light of discoveries made in the last quarter of a century. During this period "various questions relating to the Ancient Church, which we almost ignored in existing histories, have been earnestly discussed; whilst several documents, lately discovered, have thrown fresh light on its transactions. There are, besides, points of view, disclosing unexplored fields of thought, from which the ecclesiastical landscape has never yet been contemplated." Dr. Killen has attempted to embody in his new work the fresh results of recent research. As yet, we have had leisure to read carefully but the first chapter, on "The Roman Empire at the Time of the Birth of Christ," and the chapter near the close, headed "Prelacy begins at Rome," though we have done something better than to glance at the work as a whole. Making those two chapters a criterion by which to judge of the entire volume, we hesitate not to bestow upon it very high commendations. The details are admirably classified; and the page is clear, forcible, and compact. The author has made himself a thorough master of matters bearing upon the introduction of the Christian

religion; and he has so stated this portion of his work that his reader may have a clear view of the uprising of the Christian community in its aggressive relations with the corrupt and corrupting civilizations of the age. Readers interested in the Roman controversy will be gratified at our author's full statement of the origin and deceptive advancement of those prelatical notions and usurptions, which finally culminated in the papal despotism. His philosophic distinction between the church invisible and the church visible betrays a liberal and generous spirit, and prepares us to read with candor those portions of the book from which we may be disposed, on doctrinal grounds, to dissent. Clergymen, and especially students for the ministry, will do well to give their attention to the work. The type is large and clear, and the paper of the most durable quality. We are always pleased when books of substantial merit are substantially put together.

3. Library Edition of British Poets. Five Volumes. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Co. 1860.

The older members of the firm will not take it unkindly, we presume, if we state the fact, that the entrance of Mr. Lee into their establishment has raised them to a level with most of the leading publishing houses in the country. He has transferred to it the energy, skill, and a part of the capital which, in large measure, gave prestige to the late firm of Phillips, Sampson & Company, in the days of its prosperity. The firm of Crosby, Nichols & Company has risen rapidly in importance within a few years; but prior to the accession of Mr. Lee, it had done but little in the miscellaneous department of publishing. Now the public may look to the establishment for publications, in first class style of standard and classic works. The edition of British Poets named above may be looked upon as the first installment of the new series of publications. It embraces Milton in two volumes, Campbell and Rogers in one volume each, and the entire works of Collins, Gray, and Goldsmith in one volume. The works of Milton have prefixed the Life by John Mitford — itself a classic in English literature. The other volumes are edited by our countryman, Epes Sargent, Esq., whose scholarly notes and biographical sketches are important additions to the works. On the score of contents, however, no one will ask of us anything more than a mere enumeration of the titles of the volThe point to which we would call especial attention, is the style of print and paper, and the general mechanical execution. In all of these respects we have model work. The vol

umes.

VOL. XVII.

36

umes have precisely that inviting appearance which literary men so quick to see merit or demerit in the exterior dress-love to see upon their book shelves. We are glad to see that the recent fashion of tinting the paper has not been over-done. There is just enough of color to break the glare which comes from a white page; there should be no more. The type is large, round and clear, such as the moderately infirm eye may peruse without fear of harm. We need not wish success to the new firm, taking these volumes as specimens of their future work.

4. The Life of George Washington. By Edward Everett. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1860. pp. 348.

This work is due to the publishers of the "Encyclopædia Britannica "— in which work it originally appeared. At Macaulay's suggestion and solicitation, Mr. Everett was induced to prepare a work which, while comprising all the scholarly merits of the volumes of Sparks and Irving, should nevertheless come within the narrow limits proper to the Encyclopædia. Of course, it is a condensed statement of the essential details in the life of the great American patriot. Yet it has-as everything from so gifted and polished a pen must have all the charms of rhetoric, and all the accuracy of the more ponderous works on the same great subject. We think it will surprise even those most familiar with the rhetorical skill of Mr. Everett, that he should succeed in presenting so complete a biographical picture in so small a frame. We are particularly pleased with the closing part of the volume, which gives us many new facts pertaining to the close of Washington's career. The appendix contains a statement from Dr. James Jackson, of Boston, relative to the disease of which Washington died- in itself a literary curiosity. The book is printed on large type, and is every way excellent in its mechanical appearance.

5. The Lives of Dr. John Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Richard Hooker, George Herbert and Dr. Robert Sanderson. By Izaak Walton; with some account of the Author and his Writings. By Thomas Zouch, D.D., F. L. S. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company. 1860.

This work is quite as interesting on account of its author, as of the persons whose histories he writes. Izaak Walton had in large degree that quality which never fails to win the readersympathy. He has an affectionate interest in everything which he undertakes to describe, whether animate or inanimate. Whether it be a smooth flowing river, or a pleasant expanse of

quiet meadow, or the domestic sorrows of devout Richard Hooker, his whole heart is in his theme. He appears to think that even the landscape is conscious, and reciprocates his friendly feeling. We never tire of such authors. They are the ones who rise above all sinister considerations - in whom neither vanity nor conceit can be detected. Their love is pure, and the human heart always responds to it. Glad indeed are we to see this superb edition of Izaak Walton; it shall have a select nook in our library of English classics. Never before has it been printed in so beautiful a style on either side of the water.

6. The works of Charles Lamb. In Four Volumes. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company. 1860.

The pages of the Quarterly have, at various times, recognized the merits of Charles Lamb. They have described him as pre-eminently the genial author, whom to read is to love. His genius equally great and eccentric; his fancy always lively; his moods capriciously passing from the tender to the humorous; his tastes delicate and keenly sensitive to the beautiful; his style, a strange, yet fascinating mixture of the old and the new in English literature; his touching domestic history all expressive of the nobility of his nature; and his personal magnetism, fascinating all who came within his circle, - all render Charles Lamb one of the most interesting characters in the whole domain of letters. The Boston publishers have brought out his works in a style of typography which renders any attempt at improvement hopeless. No English publisher of Lamb has made any approach to it. The English admirers of this charming author and their name is legion-who would have his works in their best dress, must patronize the American printer! This is something in which we may indulge a national pride; for, in the matter of printing, America has been behind its mother country. We could read Lamb in any typographical dress. It will greatly add to our pleasure that we may read him in the exquisite page now before

us.

7. The New American Cyclopædia: a Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge. Edited by George Ripley and Charles A. Dana. Volume X. Jerusalem - Macferrian. New York: D. Appleton and Company. Boston: Elliott and White. 1860.

Every fresh issue of this noble work impresses us anew with a sense of its great and permanent value. In itself alone, the New Cyclopædia is a library-containing what, in fact, few libraries do contain, the latest sources of information on nearly

every important subject. For instance, in the article "Macaulay" we have a succinct account, given with the utmost care as to accuracy of detail, up to the last hours of the great essayist and historian. No book now in print, so far as we know, does as much. Again, the article "Kansas" collects the scattered facts of the eventful history of that territory, condenses them into a perspicuous statement, and leaves the reader with a picture of the whole up to the latest period. Of the several volumes on Kansas, no one does for the reader what is done by the Cyclopædia. The article "Kant" was evidently written by a master hand. It is the most perspicuous and satisfactory statement of the philosophy of the German transcendentalist we have yet seen. Those who intend to enter upon the arduous study of German metaphysics will find their best introduction in the article referred to. We are pleased to see reasonably lengthy articles on Samuel Johnson, John Knox, Kossuth, Language, Latin Language and Literature, Lead, Leather, Lebnitz, Locke, Logic, London, Luther, and other subjects of permanent interest in all departments of knowledge. In one respect, the New American surpasses its great British contemporay · it does not give books on any subject. The editors wisely assume, that persons wishing the full details on any subject, will have interest enough in them to search for them in separate and special treatises. They do better to give us a variety of information, and this in succinct and condensed form. For close writing indeed — writing that does not waste a word - no better model than the Cyclopedia could be desired. We repeat our standing advice-get the volumes as they appear.

8. The Works of Lord Byron. A New Edition. Edited by Thomas Moore, Esq. Complete in Four Volumes. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company.

In quality of paper, form, and binding, this edition of Byron is uniform with the British Poets from the same publishers. It makes the most desirable reprint of the poet we have seen; and will, we presume, take the precedence of all others in the market. Despite the faults, intellectual and moral-and they were great of the writings of Lord Byron, their merits are so wonderful and so obvious that they will be read so long as the relish for poetry exists in human souls. We have read " Mazeppa" till our brain was almost dizzy; and have paused only to wonder at the genius that could pour out such bewitching rhymes. It cannot be a great risk to put into a costly style of print, an author whose power over the imaginations of readers is so po