The latter gave a course of demonstrations, or lectures, at seven o'clock in the evening, and, on several occasions, such exhibitions were made as those to which I have alluded. On one of these, a living pig was tied down to the table, and to prevent its screaming from annoying the class, an incision was made into its throat, (Anglice, its throat was cut,) and a part of its wind-pipe removed: and nothing could exceed the delight of most of those present, on perceiving that when the lecturer closed the opening of the windpipe with his thumb, and thus permitted the air to resume its natural passage through the glottis, the animal screamed; while, by removing his thumb, it was again rendered voiceless.

This could be perfectly understood without any such inhuman experiment. The pig's belly was then ripped open in its whole length, and then from side to side, so that the skin and muscles could be thrown in four flaps from the surface of the intestines which they had previously covered; and this for the purpose of showing that the intestines have a vermicular motion for pushing on their contents, a fact which one minute's explanation could render perfectly clear, and which can be seen at any time, by simply looking at the intestines of a sheep recently killed. I do not recollect particularly any other objects intended to be shown at this exhibition; but I have distinctly before my eyes the sufferings of the animal, as its intestines were cut out piece by piece, and cast on the lecture-table, to show how long the vermicular or peristaltic motion might remain after their separation.

"On another occasion, a beautiful spaniel dog was fastened down to the table with strong cords bound tight round each leg; and for the purpose of securing his head, and preventing motion, a thick piece of whip-cord had been passed (not without much violent resistance) from the back part of the mouth through the nostrils, so that one end came out through each; these were carried round the extremity of the table, and fastened so that the animal could not move in the slightest degree. The former experiments (if they are to be called such) were repeated, and various others besides. An opening was made into the chest on one side, to show that the animal might live and breath by the other; then both sides were opened, to show how long he might still breathe before he became insensible; then the openings were closed, to show that respiration would return, and the animal revive and again become sensible of his sufferings. The latter parts of the operation were done before the opening of the belly. The expression of torture, as the animal uncovered his ivory teeth, and tried to struggle as

he felt every cut of the scalpel, was greater than any thing indicative of excruciating pain I ever witnessed before or since; but I believe the agony the creature must have suffered, by every attempt to move his head, from the cord cutting the septum of the nostrils, was greater even than that inflicted by the knife.'

"The kind author of this communication adds: :- Of the above facts I was an eye witness, and for the truth of them in every particular, I can conscientiously vouch. You can clothe them in proper language, as my recollection of them is noted in the first words that occurred.'

"But they require no artificial decoration of style to expose their atrocity, and call down upon them the reprobation and abhorrence of every humane mind. It is disgraceful to the age, that students at the university of one of the most enlightened cities in the world, mere boys,' at that period of life when they are most susceptible of every impression, should be initiated into such scenes as have been described; and that teachers whom they have been taught to regard with respect and veneration, should recommend them to perpetrate such cruelties, under the specious idea that they are prosecuting science! Science indeed! hoc prætexit nomine culpam. Science! to mutilate poor animals, and subject them to such excruciating tortures as would shock a cannibal! American savage who puts his enemy to death by all the torments he can devise, has the passion of revenge, at least, to plead in defence of his barbarity; but what shall be pleaded in extenuation of the passionless, cold-blooded, unrelenting cruelty of a vividissector's slaughter-house? Science! no; her name is dishonoured and prostituted by being even mentioned in connexion with scenes so abhorrent from her nature."

The

His

One word to Dr. Drummond before concluding. enthusiasm in the cause of the animal creation does him the highest honour; but surely not even this should induce him to forget the law of kindness towards members of his own species. In some of the instances in which he records offences against the rights of the inferior tribes of being, the Doctor expresses his indignation in a spirit which, we fear, is more likely to irritate, than to reform the transgressors. It should be remembered, that many of the acts which are so much to be deplored, are not the dictates of any atrocious desire to inflict pain, but of mere heedlessness or ignorance; and the offenders themselves are nearly as much to be pitied as condemned.

P.

97

REVIEW.

"The Blood of Christ."-The Import of this Phrase, as used in the Apostolical Writings, &c. pp. 18. Clonmel, 1839.

THIS we regard as one of the most useful Tracts that the Irish press has produced. It is the substance of a sermon preached to the Presbyterian Congregation of Clonmel, by their talented young minister, the Rev. JAMES ORE, in whom they, as well as his Northern friends, have reason to rejoice, as a zealous defender of the faith of old delivered unto the saints. Mr. Orr's hearers seem to have considered it “a satisfactory explanation of a rather difficult subject." The subject has been rendered difficult by the longestablished practice of mixing up with it the views of heathen mythology and philosophy, instead of abiding by the plain words of Christ and his Apostles. It was from Heathenism that the idea sprung, of representing God as an implacable and revengeful tyrant, and of imagining that he required the sufferings and death of Jesus, as a satisfaction to his infinite and relentless wrath; that thus his burning ire and his frowning face were calmed, and that thus the forgiveness of the human race was wrung from his otherwise inexorable justice.

The readers of the Bible Christian need not be told that every page of the infallible record of their faith repels this calumny, and that God is universally described as a tender, forgiving, and merciful parent, by him who came to show us the Father. The blood shed in sealing the New Testament, was not required to change and influence the mind of the unchangeable Jehovah ; but it was given as a pledge and surety of God's love to man. It was because God so loved the world that he gave his Son; and it was because that Son so loved the world, that he voluntarily submitted to all the sufferings and sacrifices of his laborious ministry, and gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Mr. Orr has, in this little work, clearly traced before us the various prophetic allusions to man's redemption, from Genesis to Malachi,-to prove that the regeneration or improvement of the soul is ascribed, by Moses and the Prophets, chiefly to the effects of Christ's teaching, and that when the Saviour's death is mentioned in the Old Testament, it is always represented as part of

I

God's plan for the bringing in of righteousness among men,-but never as a satisfaction to divine justice. He shows that, in the Gospel, our Saviour himself uniformly holds forth the same views of salvation; and he then dwells at considerable length on the same subject as treated of by the Apostles. His explanations of the different phrases used by these servants of Jesus in reference to their Master's death, are indeed clear and satisfactory.

But the most excellent part of the Treatise we take to be the conclusion. Inspired with the spirit of an Apostle, he points out, in a strain of evangelical truth and earnestness, the many moral effects ascribed in Scripture to the death of Christ; and the constraining power, and the deep and lofty influences with which it is calculated to work on the understanding and the heart of man.

Would that the voice of this young apostle were heard, not in he province alone where he labours, but throughout the length and breadth of our land,-that so our countrymen might be induced to dwell upon these Scriptural views of Christ's sufferings and death, which would bind them to their Saviour, and reconcile them to one another, and to God! For the sake of Christian truth and Christian improvement, this little Tract should be extensively circulated. We thank its Author, and cordially wish him “God speed" in his labours.

N.

INTELLIGENCE.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SOIRÉE AT HOLYWOOD.

ON the 1st ult. the Sunday School children of the First Presbyterian Congregation, Holywood, amounting to about fifty, were entertained by their Minister at a juvenile soirée in the upper room of the Session-House. After tea, the twenty-third Psalm was sung, and a prayer offered up. In the course of the evening, a Magic Lantern, with figures illustrative of Natural History, &c. was exhibited in the lower room, which contributed much to the entertainment of the young assembly. The party then returned to the upper room, where, after fruit had been distributed, they were addressed by Dr. M'Kittrick in simple and instructive language, which was listened to with the greatest attention. the course of his address, which we regret that we have not space to give at length, he alluded to the erection of the comfortable

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rooms in which they were entertained, for which they and the congregation were indebted to many kind friends both in Holywood and Belfast. Here they had an opportunity of meeting their Minister every Sunday, that they might have their religious principles cultivated, and their duty to God and to their neighbours illustrated and enforced. He concluded by cautioning them against pride, vanity, falsehood, envy, and profaneness, and entreated them never to forget, that there is an all-seeing, all-powerful, yet all-merciful Being watching over their actions and their thoughts.

Mr. M'Alester also spoke to them briefly on the importance of punctuality in their attendance at the Sunday School. The Evening Hymn was afterwards sung, and the meeting closed with prayer. The utmost regularity and order prevailed; it was delightful to see so many happy faces, and particularly pleasing to hear their young sweet voices mingling in the praise of Him to whom every blessing was ascribed.

UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY IN LIVERPOOL.

THIS Controversy is proceeding, by means of lectures, by thirteen clergymen of the established Church on the one part, and by three Unitarian Ministers on the other. The following is an account of the subjects:

Syllabus of a Course of Lectures, intended to be delivered on

successive

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS IN CHRIST CHURCH. 6th Feb. 1839.-1. Introduc

TUESDAY EVENINGS

IN PARADISE-STREET CHAPEL. 12th Feb. 1839.-1. The prac

tory. The practical importance tical importance of the Unitarian of the Controversy with Unita- Controversy.-Rev. J. H. Thom. rians. Rev. F. Ould.

13th. 2. The integrity of the

19th.-2. The Bible: what it

Canon of Holy Scripture main- is, and what it is not.-Rev. J. tained against Unitarian Objec- Martineau.

tions. Rev. Dr. Tattershall.

20th.-3. The Unitarian In

26th.-3. Christianity not the

terpretation of the New Testa- property of Critics and Scholars; ment based upon defective Scho- but the gift of God to all men.larship, or on dishonest or uncan-Rev. J. H. Thom. did Criticism.-Rev. T. Byrth. 27th.-4. The proper Humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. J. Jones.

5th March.-4." There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."-Rev. H. Giles.