For those who live in Scotland nothing can be more convenient than all the Almanacks published by Oliver and Boyd. Mr. Murphy's Weather Almanack, it appears, truly predicted the coldest day, which is curious.

Mr. Parker, of Oxford, has published a very convenient and useful Catalogue of Divinity Books, preceded by Dr. Wotton's Thoughts on the Study of Divinity, and one or two lists of books by the late divinity professors at Oxford-viz., Bps. Van Mildert and Lloyd, and Dr. Burton.

A Dutch Sermon, by Dr. Dermont, Court Chaplain to the King of the Netherlands, on the Death of the Queen, has been translated by Mr. Marshall, and published at the Hague.

The thirteenth number of the Churches of London is just out, and contains St. Dunstan's in the West, and St. Michael's, Cornhill.

Le Keux's Memorials of Cambridge is proceeding with the same beauty with which it began. A view of the Hall, (which, perhaps, does not convey the idea of its length,) and of the new Court of Trinity, are the engravings of No. III., and a capital wood-cut of the cloisters under the library.

Part IV. of Mr. Yarrell's extremely beautiful book, the History of British Birds, is out: its wood-cuts are admirable. Where all are equally good, one cannot specify any particular plate.

Inquiries having been made whether any answers have been written to Mr. Noel's tract, entitled "The Unity of the Church," it may be stated that two at least have appeared; one entitled "An Earnest Protest against the Further Circulation of Certain Principles contained in that Tract; by Clericus Surriensis," (Seeleys;) to which Mr. Noel has replied: the other is published by Nisbet and Co., and is entitled " A Letter to the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel; containing a Scriptural Examination of his Tract, entitled The Unity of the Church;' by M. A., Minister of Chapel."

The former would be improved by a careful revision, as, perhaps, the author occasionally lays himself open to reply, though it contains, on the whole, good matter. The other is written by one who formerly thought as Mr. Noel does, but sees now that it is unscriptural. The "Practical Evils of Dissent," is a practical commentary on the evil attendant on the propagation of such notions as Mr. Noel's.

Mr. Montgomery Martin's " British Colonial Library" is now completed, by the publication of the 9th and 10th volumes; containing the conclusion of India, Ceylon, Western Africa, &c. In one volume the author introduces a comparative statement of the state of crime in England and Hindostan, the object of which appears to be the abolition of the punishment of death in England. The data appear to the writer of this notice to be very imperfect. There is, sometimes, a quackery even in statistics. In the account of Ceylon, Mr. M., by way of shewing the state of Christianity, only quotes a report of the Wesleyans at full length.

The Rev. F. Whalley has published a little volume, the Articles of

the Church broken into Questions and Answers, with Scriptural Proofs and Mr. J. Thornthwaite has just published No. IX. of Con cordance of the Book of Common Prayer with the Bible.

New editions of the following books have been published :-" The Rev. H. Blunt's Sermons." "Select Passages for a Morning Portion (? the meaning) for the Sermons and Conversations of a Clergyman. "The Rev. W. Goode's History of Church Rates."

The Rev. J. Isaacson has published a neat edition, 18mo, of the Altar Service, with Short Prayers for the Communion of the Sick.

A Practical System of Rhetoric, by Professor Newman, an American, which has gone through five editions in America, has been republished here. The Examples are too much from Washington Irvine, the Edinburgh Review, &c. &c., instead of coming always from great authors; but it seems to be a tolerable book, and the remarks on the use of scripture in quotations shew very good feeling,

A Catechism on the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, embracing the topics of the Unity of the Church, the Ministry and Discipline of the Church, and the Communion of Saints, has just been published, (Parker, Oxford; Rivingtons, London,) containing, in a small compass, much valuable matter, with scripture references, and plain explanations.

Among the sermons lately published, may be mentioned the following:-The Church of Rome Persecuting and Erroneous; two Sermons preached at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Nov. 5; by the Rev. T. Fell.The Faith, Duty, and Church-membership of a Christian; a Farewell Sermon, preached at the Land's End; by the Rev. J. Daniel, curate of Lemen and St. Levan, Cornwall.-A Summary of Christian Doctrine: a Farewell Sermon, at Whitchurch, Salop; by the Rev. W. Sinclair. The Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel; by the Rev. J. H. Todd, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, a sermon full of learning and interesting matter.-The Signs of the Times, and the Claims of the Church of England to Support from her Members: Two Sermons, preached for the National Society; by the Rev. W. B. Clarke. -A Sermon at Manchester, in Behalf of the Additional Curates' Fund; by the Rev. Oswald Sergeant.

A Tract, called "Working of the Tithe Commutation? Act," on exactly the principles of a late article in this Magazine, has been published by Messrs. Rivington.

MISCELLANEA.

ADMISSION TO ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.
(From the "Taunton Courier.”)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TAUNTON Courier.'

SIR,-A Society has lately sprung up in London for the purpose of teaching the fine arts to the common people, and they have very naturally turned their attention to St. Paul's, as exemplifying (with a very few exceptions) every fault in sculpture which the diligent student ought to avoid.

The society petitioned the Queen, the Queen wrote to the Home Secretary, and the Home Secretary to me, in the absence and sickness of the Dean. The report of this society was printed last week in the "Times,” and the debate consequent upon it. In that debate I observe much abuse of myself, and a zeal for freedom and liberality, which would not have been less delightful if it had been accompanied by any attention to facts, however slight and superficial. As the best answer, I shall be much obliged to you to print the correspondence. Yours truly, SYDNEY SMITH. Combe Florey.

CORRESPONdence betwEEN LORD J. RUSSELL And the REV. SYDNEY SMITH.

"SIR,-I should be glad to be informed, whether any further alteration has been made, or is in contemplation, by the Dean and Chapter, with respect to the gratuitous admission of the public to the cathedral church of St. Paul.

"I should likewise be glad to learn whether any additional police are required, or would be useful, in the interior of the church. If so, I am sure the city authorities would be willing to cooperate in the provision to be made. "I have the honour to be, &c., "J. RUSSELL.”

"To the Rev. Sydney Smith, Canon of St. Paul's."

(No. 2.)

"September 22, 1837. "MY LORD,-The church of St. Paul's is open every day, and all persons are admitted gratuitously to it from a quarter before 10 to 11; and again in the evening, from a quarter before 3 to 4 o'clock; and on Sundays from 10 to 12, and from 3 to 5 o'clock-about nineteen hours every week, as long a period, I believe, as the British Museum is open to the public at large.

"All persons so admitted are at perfect liberty to inspect the public and private monuments over the whole area of the cathedral, to quit the church when they please, or to remain there till the doors are finally closed for the day.

"A board is hung up, reciting these rules, and requesting that complaint may be immediately preferred to the canon in residence, if any attempt be made on the part of the servants of the church to act contrary to them.

"I know of no further measures in contemplation by the Dean and Chapter. Their opinion is, that this limited permission to inspect the works of art in a church, the doors of which are passed by a million of people every week, is a much better arrangement than a general notion that all the population of London might resort there as a matter of right for other purposes than those of divine worship. They are apprehensive that under such a system the cathedral of St. Paul would become (as it was in the century before last) a rendezvous for the worst characters of both sexes in the metropolis. "The Dean and Chapter will, I am sure, be much obliged to your Lordship for the offered intervention of the London police. I need not, however, remind your Lordship, that the struggle between the delinquent and the officer of justice is not a fit spectacle for places of worship: and that scenes of levity and impropriety distressing to religious minds, but in which no police could legally interfere, would in all probability take place in such a promiscuous multitude, and fix upon the first church in the metropolis an indelible character of indecorum and irreligion.

"As a proof that these opinions are not altogether chimerical, I lay before your Lordship an extract of a letter (marked A,) which I received a few days since from the Rev. Mr. Packman, one of the minor canons of our cathedral.

"Upon the receipt of this letter, I immediately enclosed a copy of it to the senior verger, Mr. Lingard, and received the answer marked (B.)

"I have stated to your Lordship the opinion of the Dean and Chapter; but though they reserve to themselves (which they think by law they possess) the right of settling these matters respecting their own church, there is, I am sure, on their part, every disposition to listen to the suggestions of your Lordship, and to promote them as far as their sense of duty will permit.

"I take upon myself to answer your Lordship's letter, because the state of the Dean's health is such at this moment that he cannot attend to any sort of business.

"I shall be in residence in November, and if anything else occurs fit to be reported to your Lordship on this subject, I will not fail to attend to it. "I remain, very respectfully, your Lordship's obedient servant,

"SYDNEY SMITH.

"Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's."

"To the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, &c."

(A.)

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Packman, Minor Canon of St. Paul's.

"REV. SIR,-Your good intention of accommodating the public, by throwing open the entire area of the Cathedral on the Sunday afternoon, I am sorry to inform you, has produced an evil of so serious a nature as to require immediate consideration. I should fail were I to attempt to give you even a rough sketch of the disgraceful scene which every Sunday afternoon is acted around us. The whole cathedral, excepting the choir, is converted into a lobby for fashionable loungers: hundreds of persons meet together for no other purpose than to make an exhibition of this description; so that what with the pacing of feet, the murmuring of voices, and the gadding to and fro of figures, every church-like notion is driven from our minds. The whole thing more resembles a promenade in a ball-room, than a congregation in the house of God. I do not hesitate to declare that in my life I never witnessed such a violation of decency."

"To the Rev. Sydney Smith."

(B.)

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Lingard to the Rev. Sydney Smith.

"REV. SIR,—In answer to the first part of Mr. Packman's letter, with respect to the church being thrown open on Sundays, I beg leave to say, it is impossible to describe the noise and unpleasantness that is caused by the pacing of feet. As Mr. Packman observes, it more resembles a public promenade than a place of worship. I was told by a stranger on Sunday last of a gentleman who has been in the constant habit of attending divine service at St. Paul's Cathedral many years having left the church in consequence, and many others will follow the example; it causes a general murmur with those who are in the habit of attending."*

The verger has no interest in this matter. The whole question respects the opening of the area of the church on Sunday evenings, and no fees have ever been taken at the doors of St. Paul's on Sundays.

(No. 3.)

Letter from Mr. Maule, Under Secretary of State, to the Rev. Sydney Smith. "Whitehall, Sept. 29, 1837. "SIR,-I am directed by Lord John Russell to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant, and its enclosure, and to express many thanks on the part of his lordship for this readiness shewn to facilitate the admission of the public to the church of St. Paul's. Lord John Russell suggests, that if the church were open on week days one hour longer, from eleven to twelve, or from two to three, and the crowd excluded on Sundays, it would be more convenient and more decorous. "I have the honour to be, &c., J. Maule.” "To the Rev. Sydney Smith."

(No. 4.)

From the Rev. Sydney Smith to Lord John Russell.

"Combe Florey, Oct. 2, 1837. "MY LORD,―The desire which you attribute to me of promoting the public accommodation is felt, I do assure you, in the same degree by the Bishop of Llandaff (our dean), and by every member of the chapter. Upon receiving the royal message, we immediately (though contrary to our own opinion) proceeded to lay open the whole area of the Cathedral; the consequences have proved, that if the Cathedral of St. Paul's is to be laid open as an exhibition of art, it must be closed as a place of worship. Your lordship (from the documents we have laid before you) coincides in opinion with us, that on the Sabbath-day, at least, things must be restored to their ancient state. We anticipate a considerable degree of difficulty in confining the people again to their ancient limits on Sundays. That the police will effect this or any other point of order we do not doubt, but the altercations which their interference always occasions are painful scenes in a place of worship, and afford the strongest reason against ill-advised concessions, liable to be retracted hereafter, and always increasing (when they are retracted) the fund of discontent and ill humour. The fact is, that we have gained, from experience and tradition, a thorough knowledge of our local circumstances, and of the peculiar position in which our church is placed. We are of opinion, that under the existing rules (of which your lordship has been furnished with a copy) no one need be prevented by poverty from viewing at his leisure every work of art at St. Paul's, and that just as much of difficulty remained as prevents tumult and levity, utterly unfit for a place of worship. We will, however, (as our duty is,) revise these opinions at our first meeting, and consider your lordship's suggestion; but I cannot dissemble the reluctance with which we should, a second time, establish new rules contrary to our judgment, and which, from absolute necessity, repealed in a few weeks, would stamp upon our proceedings a character of mutability and caprice.

"

I remain, very respectfully, your lordship's obedient servant,

"To the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, &c."

"SYDNEY SMITH."

Early in November a note was received from Lord John Russell, desiring to know what had been done, to which the following answer was returned :

(No. 5.)

Letter from the Rev. Sydney Smith to Lord John Russell.

"MY LORD,-I enclose a copy of the notice which will forthwith be fixed up