of the letters instead of the medial or final, and vice versa; which is the same sort of blunder as the putting of a final s in the middle of a word in Greek.

We hope these matters will be better attended to, and accuracy in Oriental printing much more encouraged ere long. Why should we not have an ELZevir, a RuddimaN, or a FOULIS, offering a guinea for an erratum in the typography of Oriental books, as well as of Greek and Latin?

We cannot conclude without_recommending the attentive study of Dr. Robertson's Clavis Pentateuchi, to all who wish to acquire a thorough knowledge of the HEBREW SCRIPTURES. They will find very few books better calculated than this, to assist them in the speedy attainment of their object.

The Life and Diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader of the Cameronian Regiment, and Deputy Governor of Stirling Castle; who served with distinguished Honour in the Wars under King William and the Duke of Marlborough, and afterwards in the Rebellion of 1715 in Scotland. By ANDREW CRICHTON, Author of the Memoirs of the Rev. J. Blackader. 18mo. 578pp. 7s. 6d. Baynes. 1824.

THE Editor states that "the principal materials from which the following life (Col. Blackader's) is compiled, are the diary and letters written by the Colonel himself during the campaigns in which he was engaged. These manuscripts, it would appear, were committed to the hands of his widow; after her death they were thrown aside as papers of no value, and lay neglected for many years." Passing through various hands, they at length got into those of Dr. Charles Stuart of Duncarn, who published all he could then collect. Mr. Chrichton having succeeded in procuring all the original manuscripts, "the former extracts have been revised and enlarged, various letters and select passages inserted, so as to render the LIFE as complete and interesting as the nature of the materials will admit......The peculiar formation of the Cameronian regiment, the character of the religious sect from which it was originally composed, and the distinguished share they took in the memorable revolution, are dwelt upon at considerable length, not altogether from their connection with the Colonel's personal history, but because they throw light on the principles and conduct of the party with whom

he was associated in arms-a party which," according to the editor's opinion, "has been much traduced and misunderstood."

Above an hundred pages are taken up with this account, and that of the military operations during the war in Flanders, which ended with the peace of Ryswick; but it does not appear that any new light is thrown upon the principles and events of a day in which there was at least a large admixture of evil with all the good that can be recorded of them. The Diary commences in October 1700; the author introduces them thus:

"As the diary and letters are entirely personal, and relate almost exclusively to matters of private concern, the reader is not to expect from them much historical or extraneous remark....his object was to keep a spiritual register of his experiences."

The publisher mentions several of the Colonel's errors in sentiment, and misconceptions in regard to interpreting certain passages of Scripture; as if, in addition to their original and literal import, they had a secret and mysterious application to himself. These, however, and some other misapprehensions into which he has fallen, are the less to be wondered at, considering the prevailing religious sentiments of the times in which he was educated.

"Those," he says, "who may feel disposed to deride or reprimand, we would beg to keep in mind that the papers now laid before them were not intended for public inspection. They are the private registers of an individual, unfolding his mind without disguise or reserve, drawing aside the curtain, as it were, and disclosing the inmost recesses of his thoughts."

Why then, it may be asked, drag them forth to public view? This is surely one among many instances in the present day, of the mischievous practice of exposing private thoughts and correspondence to the public; and the injury here done to the individual is hardly to be compensated by any benefit which can arise to the cause of sober unobtrusive piety from the publication of such a diary as that of which the following is a specimen.

"Instead of a lively frame, I often feel a deadness and heaviness through unbelief. Though I am serious, I am not religious; though calm, not spiritual. Sensual appetites and vain imaginations usurp the place of heavenly affections. Corruptions which I thought subdued or extirpated, had only retreated into a corner of the heart, where they gather strength and sally forth anew; but through grace they shall be conquered. I see if I could rely more on Christ, there would be more contentment, more peace and tranquility of mind, even in outward troubles. On Sabbath I was cheered and comforted by the joy which a sure interest in the Saviour gives: in the evening I had one of the sweetest visits, the most sensible communion with him, I think I ever

experienced; I was admitted, as it were, to draw aside the veil and look into heaven, and would have been content to have been dissolved that instant. O that I were in such circumstances in the world! wherein, free from the hurry of business and the cares of this life, I might serve my God, and enjoy sweet communion with him. The world is not my element. I am like a stranger in a far country, and exile chained to his oar. I do not ask to be taken from the world, I only beg to be found in my duty, and that I may have counsel to conduct, and grace to devote myself to the service of God; and if he have any use for me either to act or suffer, here I am, but my warfare must be at his charges."

Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: a Picture of Judaism in the Century which preceded the Advent of our Saviour. Translated from the German of FREDERICK STRAUSS, with Notes and Illustrations by the Translator. 2 Vols. 8vo. 16s. Mawman.

SUCH a story as this title promises, if well imagined and possessing enough of verisimilitude, cannot fail to be interesting. We learn that

"The work which is now offered to the public appeared in Germany in 1820, unaccompanied by notes, or even references to Scripture. The author promised to remedy the deficiency. As the work had been partly translated into Dutch, and illustrated with notes by the Professors Vanderpalm and Clarisse, he purposed to add his own notes to theirs when their translation should be completed."

The translator adds,

"It was my original intention to have waited for the appearance of this appendix, but as four years have elapsed, and I have been unable to hear any tidings of it in Germany, I thought it better to endeavour to supply the defect. The reader who is not acquainted with any other authorities for Jewish antiquities than the Old and New Testaments, will not, perhaps, be displeased to find here a brief statement of the sources whence the materials of the following work have been derived."

The author's account of the principal object which he had in view is this:

"The present work contains a picture of the Jewish people, in which their ecclesiastical and civil constitution, their social and domestic life are represented, as they existed at the time when the Messiah was at hand."

After stating the feelings which gave rise to his design, and the progress of them in his mind, he goes on to unfold his plan.

"A young Jew, who had been enamoured of the prevailing Grecian philosophy, has returned to the observance of the law of his fathers at one of those important crises in life which decide the character of succeeding periods. Bent on the fulfilment of the law, which he believes it impossible to accomplish any where but in the place where the altar of Jehovah is fixed, he makes a journey from Alexandria, where he had been brought up, accompanied by his uncle, to Jerusalem, in the spring of the year 109 before the birth of Christ, remains there during the half year which included the principal religious festivals; becomes a priest; enters into the married state; and by the guidance of Providence and varied experience, attains to the conviction that peace of mind is only to be found in believing on Him who has been promised for the consolation of Israel."

After stating his reasons for selecting that period, he finishes his preface thus.

"It is well known that the want of a lively and distinct picture of those local and national peculiarities which are presented in the Bible, revolts many from the perusal of it, and exposes others to very erroneous conceptions. It is the author's prayer to Him from whom these precious records have proceeded, that the present work may serve, under his blessing, to make the perusal of the Scriptures more attractive and edifying; and he hopes those who shall drink with pleasure from his humble rill, will not be satisfied without going to the fountain of living waters."

Of the story, which opens with a description of the preparation for the departure of Helon and his uncle Elisama from their home at Alexandria, and closes with the loss of the ship at sea, in which Helon was returning thither, we have no room to speak. We can only add, that the manner in which it is told will be found both instructive and entertaining, especially to young persons who are beginning the study of Scripture history. No opportunity is lost of bringing to the mind of the reader the events which have occurred at each particular place through which the travellers pass; and upon every occasion selections from the Psalms and Prophets are introduced, which seem to come forth as the effusions of the mind at the moment, and exemplify, in an interesting and appropriate manner, the beauties of the sacred volume. The version made use of is neither that of the Bible nor of our Prayer Book. The translator in a note states it to be that of Dathe and others.

The notes and illustrations are satisfactory, as they give the authorities of learned writers upon the Jewish history, and of our most esteemed travellers, with respect to the customs and habits of the eastern countries, upon which the descriptions in the text are founded.

A Practical Treatise on the Law of Advowsons. By JOHN MIREHOUSE, of Lincoln's Inn, and of the Inner Temple, Esq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. 824pp. 14s. Butterworth. 1824.

ALTHOUGH the title of this book may well be supposed to have some attraction for those among us who are clerks, yet, after a careful perusal of it, we cannot say that it is one from which we can promise the general reader much amusement. Indeed with the exception of the far-famed Commentaries of Sir William Blackstone, a little tract of Sir William Jones on Bailments, and a few others ejusdem Farinæ—and above all the delightful Lectures of Mr. Job Surrebutter in verse, we cannot call to mind any legal treatises of a very lively character. If their authors are not to be classed amongst those, who are "sleepless themselves to give their readers sleep"-it is because they for whom their labours are particularly designed, sit down to them with minds excited by more powerful feelings than those of mere curiosity, or the hope of entertainment. With them no doubt both writers and readers,

"Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
(That last infirmity of noble mind)

To scorn delights, and live laborious days :-"

And we are always happy when "the fair guerdon" rewards at length their honourable and indefatigable exertions. But still we fear that they who are "out of the pale" of forensic enterprize, will always find something dry and uninviting in legal composition, which it is perhaps more easy to account for than to avoid. The matter of which it consists is almost always (as in the instance before us) to be collected from a great variety of sources. Propositions laid down by very different men, at very distant periods, are to be amalgamated and reduced to order and harmony. This is no easy task. For though it may be true, that a strong family likeness pervades the styles of lawyers at all times, still there is a difference

"Facies non omnibus una,

Nec diversa tamen; qualem decet esse sororum.'

We do not mean to say that Mr. Mirehouse has not contended with this difficulty as successfully as most of his predecessors have done. But still it is a difficulty not wholly to be overcome, and it imparts a certain stiffness and occasional obscurity to his sentences, which probably would not be found, if he were writing more immediately from the dictates of his own mind.

But passing from the manner, let us consider shortly the