Allerton and Dreux; or, the War of Opinion. By the Author of a "Rhyming Chronicle." Two Vols. London: Wertheim and Macintosh.

THE "War of Opinion" ran very high in the town of Westport, where Allerton and Dreux, two clergymen-the one of High Church and the other of Low Church tendency-disputed the palm of superiority. After a pamphlet war of some bitterness on either side, the two clergymen, though still maintaining their antagonistic opinions, become the warmest of friends. This intimacy is, however, broken off in consequence of the refusal of Dreux to give his sister in marriage to Allerton on account of his unorthodox principles. They are at length reconciled, Allerton renouncing his errors, and both are united to the objects of their affection. Such are the main features of this work, though the story is enlivened by the introduction of several characters of a lighter cast. Notwithstanding this, the work is essentially religious, with a spirit of earnest piety and serious feeling pervading throughout. The characters are all well-imagined and clearly defined-those of Allerton and Dreux being especially well-drawn, while, that of Marion is replete with all the deep feeling and warm tenderness that mark the true woman. It is written in an elegant yet unaffected style, and at times with a geniality and quaintness of humour that are highly amusing. Certain members of the religious community at Westport are thus happily hit off:

"These (ladies) were among the first to declare themselves 'greatly edified with dear Mr. Allerton's excellent discourses,' in proof of which edification they always abstained from giving tea-parties on Fridays-took care to attend service on every Saint's day-talked about the Anglican branch of the holy Catholic Church-wore slight mourning during Lent-spoke of the Reformation with a shake of the head-talked with rapture of the ancient custom of confession, and hoped that privilege would soon be restored to us.'

"These ladies caricatured all Mr. Allerton's opinions, and caused him infinite vexation. They were a set of retainers whom he would fain have been rid of. They had a book-club of their own-most of the books had decorated margins; and, to hear some of them talk, one might have been led to suppose that they conceived the distinction between them and their late friends, the evangelical party, to lie chiefly in some such trivial peculiarities as dress, form, and fashion. They had never troubled themselves much with the doctrines of either party consequently, when they apparently came over to Mr. Allerton's side, they had no better way of deciding to which set' a clergyman belonged than by observing whether he preached in his black gown; and of certain people they would affirm that it was impossible they could be High Church, because they had no fish on a Friday."

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6

The author seems to be well-versed in the various points in dispute between the parties above referred to, and manifests considerable tact in the discussions between the two clergymen upon their favourite dogmas. It is clear, from the general tenor of the work, to which party the author inclines; but he, nevertheless, places his opponents on such equal ground that we cannot accuse him of partiality in advocating the one cause to the disadvantage of the other.

The Weaver of Quellbrunn; or, the Roll of Cloth. Edinburgh: Paton and Ritchie.

In this little work, which is a translation from the German of Dr. Barth, the influences and effects of vice and virtue are depicted with an earnestness and simplicity that render it highly suitable for children, both as an amusing and instructive work, and as conveying a powerful moral lesson. We can cordially commend it to the notice of our readers as being written in an honest and truthful spirit, unexceptionable alike in its tone and the moral inculcated; while its language, though forcible and earnest, is well suited to the intelligence of the young, for for whom it is chiefly intended.

The Advent of Charity, and other Poems. By THOMAS BAILEY. London: Simpkin. 1851.

A VERY graceful volume, of the merits of which, however, the principal poem is by no means the most favourable specimen ; many of the minor pieces exhibiting a power and spirit which we do not so often recognize in the larger one. Taken as a whole, it rises above the mediocrity which is the characteristic of the great majority of poetical, or, more correctly speaking, the metrical contributions to modern literature.

A Popular Account of Discoveries at Nineveh. By AUSTIN HENRY LAYARD, Esq., D.Č.L. Abridged from his Larger Work. London: Murray. 1851.

THE publication of this admirably executed abridgement has been rendered necessary by the piracies committed on the larger work; and, being published at a cheap rate and in an elegant and profusely illustrated shape, will, of course, drive the spurious fabrications from the field. The public is much indebted to Mr. Layard for thus putting the substance of his interesting discoveries more generally within its reach.

Post Office London Directory. London: Kelly and Co. Nor the least extraordinary of the wonders of the present day is the "Post Office Directory," the fifty-third edition of which is now before us. The compilation and classification of this ponderous volume must have been enormous, more especially as the labour expended on its production increases with each succeeding year. Nevertheless, its accuracy has in no degree diminished from that by which it has ever been characterised, and the care manifested in its arrangement is equally apparent. As an instance of this we may mention that, in this bulky tome of 2,080 pages, the corrections caused by death or removal are made up to a date within six days of its publication. Its efficiency as a work of reference has long established it in the estimation of its purchasers as an indispensable appendage to the counting house as well as to every man of business in the metropolis. The present edition displays a laudable anxiety to deserve the patronage it has so long enjoyed.

Grace Overton; or, the Service of the Heart. London: Wertheim and Macintosh.

In the inculcation of moral principles, works of this class are invaluable. The difficulty of enforcing a serious subject upon the attention of the young proves a great obstacle to instruction; but, by blending with it an interesting tale, illustrating the subject, the mind is enchained and rendered more susceptible to serious impressions. In "Grace Overton" is exemplified the importance and necessity of a free surrender to the service of God, the results of which are manifested on earth in the happy life and serene death of the heroine. The story is related with a simplicity of language and sincerity of purpose that especially commend it to the attention of the young, to whom it affords a valuable and instructive lesson.

The Fair Carew; or, Husbands and Wives. London : Smith, Elder and Co. 1851. Three vols.

THE publishers of this novel made a great hit some three or four years ago in bringing out "Jane Eyre," a book of unquestionable power and originality. In point of style and interest, the Fair Carew" will stand a comparison with "Jane Eyre ;" while the moral, to our mind, is of a higher and far purer kind. The heroine is truthfully and delicately drawn: indeed, there is not a character in the story which is not a finished picture. Cousin John, a nautical personage of good family but rather doubtful morals, and with more of romance in his stories than

in his character, is one of the most felicitous portraits in the book-admirably true to nature. The interest of the tale, until nearly the end, is of a somewhat painful kind, though not the less intense on that account. We may safely commend it to those of our readers whose reading lies in that line.

Daughter Deborah. By the Author of " The Miser's Secret." London: Saunders and Otley. Three vols. 1851.

THE writer of this very clever story is already favourably known to the public, not only as the author of the "Miser's Secret," but of other works in the same class of literature. Deborah is the daughter of John Melton; and the characters of father and child, especially of the former, are admirably pourtrayed. In fact, the author appears to have been imbued with the spirit of the times among which the scene is laid; and we are so completely carried back to the days of Cromwell and the Second Charles that we seem to realize the characters which then occupied the stage. The scenes between Melton and his daughter are naturally described and bear the stamp of verisimilitude. "Daughter Deborah" is a noble conception well carried out. Her lover, Master Abraham, is drawn with equal truth, as is the villain of the piece, Gaspar Price. Inferior to none, however, in graphic power and truth, is that of the old Puritan justice, a stern but consistent specimen of his class. There is a great deal of very fine writing in this book-in fact, the style is vastly above the standard of a modern novel. Some of the descriptions are admirable, and partake more of the character of poetry than narrative prose. The moral and tone of the story are high throughout, and the interest never flags for a single page.

The Magazine for the Young. London: Mozley. 1851. THIS cheap, clever, and nicely-printed periodical sustains the character which its former numbers have established for it.

The Gawthorn Correspondence. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Rev. Brudenell Barter's "Few Words." London: W. E. Painter. THIS is a terse, spirited, and ably-written reply to the pamphlet put forth by the above-named reverend gentleman, who is convicted of mis-quotation and certainly uncourteous conduct towards the most reverend prelate.

William Edward Painter, 342, Strand, London, Printer.

THE

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Quarterly Review.

APRIL, MDCCCLII.

ART. I.-1. The Spiritual Exposition of the Apocalypse, as Derived from the Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg: Illustrated and Confirmed by Ancient and Modern Authorities. By the Rev. AUGUSTUS CLIssold, M.A. Four Volumes, Octavo. Longmans. 1851. 2. Combined View of the Prophecies of Daniel, Ezra, and St. John; with a Minute Interpretation of the Prophecies of Daniel. First published, 1814. Second Edition, 1850, Corrected to the Prophetic Epoch, 1847-8. The General

Structure of the Apocalypse. By J. H. FRERE, Esq. 1826. 3. Three Letters on the Prophecies; chiefly Relating to the Individual Antichrist of the Last Days. Published in 1833; re-published 1850. By J. H. FRERE, Esq. Hatchards. 4. The Sacred Calendar of Prophecy; or, a Dissertation on the Prophecies which Treat of the Grand Period of Seven Times; and especially of its Second Moiety, or the Latter Three Times and a Half. By GEORGE STANLEY FABER. Three Volumes. Painter. 1844.

5. Hora Apocalypticæ; or, a Commentary on the Apocalypse, Critical and Historical. By the Rev. E. B. ELLIOTT, A.M. Fourth Edition, carefully Revised, Corrected, Enlarged, and Improved throughout: and with Many Additional Plates. Four Volumes. Seeleys. 1851.

THE political aspect of Europe has undergone so complete and so surprising a change during the last three months, and the important events which have occurred in such rapid succession

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