the work. We hope that the introduction to its pages of a wider range of the topics of the day, will not be attended with the loss of its high character for sound and unsparing criticism, by which it was winning for itself a noble and wide reputation. We confess that under Mr. Hoffman's management, some of its critiques appeared to us almost perfect models of their kind. There was occasionally a union of piquancy, terseness, learning, and courtesy, rarely equalled in the best English criticisms which have fallen under our eye. The faithful mentor of the modern press executes, oftentimes, a thankless task, but his services were never more needed. We notice in one of the recent numbers of this work, a report of the Meeting of the "American Oriental Society," lately held at New Haven; at which important original papers were read by Dr. Robinson, Rev. Dr. Jarvis, President Woolsey, Prof. Salisbury, Prof. Edwards, and Prof. Gibbs; and also interesting letters from gentlemen in Syria, Persia, and India.

THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST.

This is a Sermon preached by Rev. Titus Strong, D. D., of Pittsfield, Mass., in Christ Church, Springfield, at the Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Henry W. Adams, M. A., Rector of the Parish. The sermon is a very lucid statement "of the office and duty of those who come to be admitted Priests; from whom they derive their commission; whence is the necessity of their appointment; and how they are to be esteemed by the people." There is an earnestness and affectionateness in its manner, such as becomes the Ambassador for CHRIST. Its venerable author, we may be permitted to say, has remained for a long course of years firmly at his post, where he, first as a lay reader, gathered a little congregation in a private room, and where now a new and noble Church edifice has arisen, a lasting monument to his faithfulness. We commend the fact to the attention of those numerous Parishes, who are perpetually dwindling, under the influence of the same mania which St. Paul discovered at Athens.

A PASTORAL, from the Rector to the Parishioners of Calvary Church. New York.

In so far as this Pastoral, in its rules and directions, was designed to secure certain definite and local results, so far we, as public Reviewers, can have no judgment to express. While withholding, therefore, comment upon its details, there is one feature of it deserving, we think, of attention. It vindicates the independence of the Christian Ministry, and their irresponsibility to the whim and caprice of popular opinion. In multitudes of our Parishes, and where, too, the support of the Ministry is reluctant and stinted at best, there are those who evidently look upon their attendance at Church as a kind of patronage; and their pecuniary support as establishing a stewardship and the right of dictation. This is the worst feature of the Voluntary System; in that it tempts the Ministry to trim to the popular breeze. In this respect the "Pastoral" will do good.

THE "MYSTERY OF GODLINESS." By SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD, A. M., Rector of Calvary Church, New York. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1848. 8vo. pp. 138.

Seven sermons on different branches of one continuous topic,—the mystery of Godliness, elaborately written, containing many passages of beauty and eloquence, neatly and beautifully printed. The idea of the Discourses is well conceived, and in most respects well executed. There is, however, one particular of which this can not be said. The length to which the author has carried his favorite simile,—that of comparing the truths of the gospel

to a painting,-sometimes obscures the meaning, and in other ways often destroys the effect he designed to produce. The technical language of the easel is hardly pertinent to the sublime mysteries of redemption, and must be used with great caution, if employed at all. There is also an occasional commingling of figures, confusing and distracting the mind, rather than enlightening the understanding.

THE SOCIAL SYSTEM. An Address pronounced before the House of Convocation of Trinity College, Hartford, Aug. 5, 1848. By DANIEl BarNARD, L. L. D.

There is a straight-forward simplicity of truth in this Address, altogether admirable. It recognizes in plain terms the divine origin and perpetual obligation of the Social System, whether found in the Family, the State, or the Church; and without committing ourselves to the soundness of every point, or the propriety of every illustration contained in it, we pronounce the Address a good one,-breathing the spirit which we hope ever to see in Trinity College. We commend it to the notice of our readers, and the principles set forth in it, to the attention and practice of the public.

THE BOY AND THE BIRDS. BY EMILY TAYLOR. From the London Edition, with additional pieces. Illustrated with twenty-five Engravings, chiefly from Landseer's designs.

This is a most charming book.

THE DARK RIVER; an Allegory, by Rev. EDWARD MONRO. Third American Edition. With Engravings from original designs by Chapman. THE COMBATANTS; An Allegory by the Rev. EDWARD MONRO. With Engravings by Childs, from original designs by Darley.

This is an allegorical representation of the Christian warfare. The style is pure as a mountain rivulet. There is a vein of rich beauty and exquisite simplicity running through it, which makes it fascinating to the old as well as young.

BESSIE GRAY; or the Dull Child.

LUKE SHARP, or Knowledge without Religion. By FRANCIS E. PAGET, M. A. Rector of Elford.

GEORGE AUSTIN, or Patience and Perseverance Rewarded. First American Edition.

THE WIDOW's SON.

THE DOG, as an Example of Fidelity.

THE LITTLE MOUNTAINEER.

BEAR AND FORBEAR, or the History of Sarah Allen.

These are new works issued from the press of the Sunday School Union, and are reprints from London Editions of books attractive and useful for children. The three works first named, are elegantly published; the illustrations are exceedingly well done, and the volumes will be found appropriate for holyday presents.

It behooves the Clergy to examine carefully the contents of their Sunday School Libraries. We caution them against poison in sugar-coated pills, neutralizing the wholesome teaching of the Church; and are glad to see that the Union is attempting to keep pace with the increasing wants of the Church in this respect. The time, we trust, is not distant, when there will be no temptation to provide for the children of the Church, literature, the tendency of which is positively mischievous.

The above books, with many others published by the Union, may be found in New Haven at the Bookstore of Mr. A. C. Heitman, 116 Chapel st.

REPORT of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, for the year 1848. London: 1848.

PROCEEDINGS of the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East, 1847-1848, containing the Anniversary Sermon, &c. London : 1848. We are indebted to the Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne, B. D., for these important documents. Copious extracts from them will be found upon our pages.

The following Journals of Diocesan Conventions have been received:
Of the Sixty Fourth Convention of the Church in the Diocese of N. York.
Of the Convention of the Church in the Diocese of Virginia.

Of the Thirty First Convention of the Church in the Diocese of Ohio. Of the Twenty Second Convention of the Church in the Diocese of Mississippi.

Of the Eleventh Convention of the Church in the Diocese of Western New York.

A complete Summary of Church intelligence from these several Journals, is prepared and will appear in our next number.

ECCLESIASTICAL REGISTER.

SUMMARY OF HOME INTELLIGENCE.

In presenting our readers with the last Number of the present Volume, it is due to them to say, that we have only given an example of what we design to do under this head, having been unable to make our Summary as full, complete, or accurate as we could wish. The difficulty of access to authoritative documents is always great,-with a new work, to a considerable extent insurmountable, and hence errors are sometimes unavoidable. These will be prevented, just in proportion as we are able to obtain the requisite Journals, Reports, and other similar publications, from which accurate details can be gathered. Experience and the co-operation of our friends, will, we trust, enable us to make it all that can be desired.