those who are unacquainted with the work; a recommendation of it is superfluous. We hope the preachers will follow out the recommendation of the Discipline, and scatter the book broadcast among our people.

(17.) HE is a lucky author whose book comes just in time; and no more timely book has lately appeared than "Oregon and California in 1848, by J. QUINN THORNTON, late Judge of the Supreme Court of Oregon,” with an Appendix, including Recent and Authentic Information on the subject of the gold-mines of California, &c.: (New-York, Harper & Brothers, 2 vols., 12mo., 1849.) The work gives an account, in minute and ample detail, of a journey from Independence, Missouri, by way of the South Pass, Ogden's River, and the Umpqua Mountains, to Oregon, during most of which a regular journal was kept from day to day. Notwithstanding occasional prolixity and inapt quotations, the narrative is full of incident and interest. The first volume closes with an account of Oregon,-its climate, soil, productions, population, &c.,-giving by far the best view of that extreme region of our territory that we have ever seen. From Oregon, Judge Thornton went to California; and his second volume gives an account of that country, with a fearful narration of the sufferings of the California emigrants of 1846-enough to frighten any one from attempting a journey liable to such accumulated horrors. An appendix of one hundred pages contains a summary of the latest information in regard to the gold regions of California.

(18.) ANOTHER:-"The California and Oregon Trail; being Sketches of Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life," by FRANCIS PARKMAN, jr.: (New-York, G. P. Putnam, 12mo., pp. 448.) Life in the wilderness will soon become familiar to thousands from actual observation; and to tens of thousands, stay-at-home travellers, from books. A more agreeable guide of this latter sort could not be found than Mr. Parkman. The sketches furnished in this volume are stirring and graphic; the style is that of a man of culture; and the interest is kept up throughout. The work deserves a fuller notice, but it came too late for anything more than this brief one.

(19.) MESSRS. HARPER & BROTHERS are still continuing the publication of Jacob Abbott's series of Histories, of the plan and general tendency of which we spoke in our last number. The "History of Hannibal, the Carthaginian,” is fully equal in spirit and execution to those which preceded it. By skilful selection of the most striking events in the career of this most energetic general of antiquity, Mr. Abbott gives all the interest of romance to his biography. There are no dull places, no tedious pages that a boy will want to skip. We renew our hearty recommendation of the series. It cannot fail, if as widely diffused as its merits deserve, to create a taste for better reading than the trash of romance with which the land is flooded. These "Histories" have all the interest of novels, with none of their dangers; and in that light especially are worthy the attention of all Christian parents who desire to put good, and, at the same time, attractive reading into the hands of their children.

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(20.) THE "President of the French people" is, on many accounts, a man of whom the world desires information, and of whom the world has doubtless heard many false reports. For this reason, if for no other, a hearty welcome will be given to "Napoleon Louis Bonaparte, First President of France," by HENRY WIKOFF: (New-York, G. P. Putnam, 1849, pp. 155.) These sketches originally appeared in a New-York journal, and are therefore more loose and discursive than printed books ought to be; and, moreover, the writer too often gives us his own words and thoughts instead of M. Bonaparte's. But still the book is full of interest. Mr. Wikoff met the Prince in London, and afterwards obtained from the French government permission to visit him during his imprisonment at Ham. His view of the person, culture, and bearing of M. Bonaparte are highly favourable.

(21.) "An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics, embracing the Theory of Statics and Dynamics, and its Application to Solids and Fluids. Prepared for the undergraduate course in the Wesleyan University. By Augustus W. SMITH, LL.D., Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy:" (New-York, Harper & Brothers, 1849, pp. 307, 8vo.) A book that will be heartily welcome to all Professors of Mathematics in our colleges. The only books of higher Mechanics heretofore accessible to our students have been Boucharlat and Young. The former is clear and scientific, but destitute of examples for practice; the latter is crowded, not seldom confused, and frequently deficient in brevity of statement. The chief points to be sought in such a work are, apt selection of materials for the purpose of college recitations, abundant illustration by examples, and concise and clear expression. In all these essential features Professor Smith's work is a model. The points selected are precisely those which combine adaptation to college classes with essential importance in the science; examples are supplied amply; and each statement is made with a clearness and precision rarely rivalled. The division of the whole into propositions is an advantage which every working teacher will at once recognize. The work must and will take its place as the text-book on Mechanics, in all our colleges that seek to maintain a high standard of mathematical training.

(22.) WE have received a copy of "Elementary Astronomy for Academies and Schools, illustrated by Diagrams, and adapted to use either with or without the Author's large Maps," by H. MATTISON: (New-York, Huntingdon & Savage, 1849, pp. 243.) The copy sent us is of the twelfth thousand, although the work has been in circulation but little more than eighteen months. This fact alone renders any commendation of ours almost superfluous. Mr. Mattison has also published a series of astronomical maps, sixteen in number, representing the various appearances of the heavenly bodies, &c.,-designed to be hung up in the school-room. The present edition of the "Elementary Astronomy," however, contains all these maps in miniature; so that the work can be used either with or without the large maps. Our opinion of the book must be put into a sentence:-it is the best elementary book on the subject we are acquainted with.

(23.) MESSRS. LANE & SCOTT have just published "An Essay on Dancing," by J. TOWNLEY CRANE, A. M., of the New-Jersey Conference: (18mo., pp. 132, muslin, gilt.) It is a very timely production, and well adapted to its purpose. It contains nine chapters, with the following titles:-Introduction -Religious Dances of the Hebrews; Religious Dances of the Heathen; Military or War Dances; Dances of Pleasure and Amusement; Apologies for the Pleasure-Dance considered; More Apologies for Dancing considered; Objections to the Dance of Amusement; More Objections to the PleasureDance; Appeal to all concerned in the Matter. Without any cant whatever, the writer sets forth clearly the dangers of the pleasure-dance, and, in a strain of rich irony, exposes its absurdities. It closes with an earnest appeal to the Christian feeling of professors of religion, and to the good sense of all others, for their aid in discountenancing so hazardous an amusement. The style is pleasant, lively, and attractive.

(24.) "Reminiscences of Methodism in West Jersey," by Rev. G. A. RAYBOLD, of the New-Jersey Conference, is the title of a very neat 18mo., just issued by Messrs. Lane & Scott: (pp. 202.) Under the very modest guise of recollections gathered from old ministers and members of the Church, it presents a number of interesting facts that will be useful to the future historian of the Church; and as a record of the patience, labours, and sufferings of the pioneers of Methodism, it is full of interest for all members and friends of our Church. The style is easy and graphic-precisely the qualities for this kind of writing.

(25.) A NEW edition of BURKITT's excellent " Explanatory Notes, with Practical Observations on the New Testament," has just been published by John Ball, Philadelphia. Long as this work has been before the public, it still holds its place as one of the very best of practical Commentaries, and indeed, as such, it is not likely to be soon supplanted. This edition is very neatly got up, on good paper, well bound, and is sold at the low price of $4 50. The publisher sells it by agency, and advertises for a number of suitable persons to act as agents in its distribution.

(26.) THE second part of the third and final volume of De Wette's Compendious Commentary on the New Testament (Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zum Neuen Testament, von D. W. M. L. DE WETTE; Leipsig, 3 vols., 8vo.) is before us. The veteran commentator, now in his seventieth year, closes his labours on the New Testament in sadness and gloom. How different might have been his state of mind; how much more cheerful his hopes; how much more bright his visions even from the Apocalypse, had his whole career been lighted up by the simple, child-like faith in Christ, which he now sees to be so necessary! It is clear that a great change has passed over his mind;—though still far from orthodoxy, he is no longer the reckless rationalist of thirty years ago. The Commentary on the Apocalypse is

condensed into 207 closely printed pages, containing as much matter as three times the number in ordinary commentators. We translate the following passages from the preface:

"I am permitted to finish this last part of the Exegetical Manual, and, with it, the work begun thirty years ago. The last labour on the book has been the hardest.. I began this part amid the preparations for civil war in Switzerland; I carried it on, undisturbed, while the throne of France was falling, and those of Germany tottered; I have finished it under the dark thunder-clouds of anarchy which are lowering over the nations and kingdoms of Europe. I thank God for the peace of mind he has granted me; yet anxiety for our fate, and for that of the Church, has accompanied every stroke of my pen. I could not help seeing the Antichrist of the Apocalypse in our day, though with changed and even more fearful characters. The self-deification of the Romish Church appears to me as child's play compared with that arrogant and atheistical Egoismus which spurns all restraint; and what were persecution, with fire and sword, in comparison with the modern unbelieving love-offreedom, with all its infatuations and blandishments; freedom, so called, yet springing from the veriest slavery, and leading the poor nations to the direst bondage, both of soul and body?. This I know, that salvation can be found in no other Name, but the Name of Jesus Christ the crucified; that there is nothing higher for mankind than the Divine Humanity realized in him, and the kingdom of God planted by him. . . . Had Christ been our Life in deed and in truth, how could such an apostasy have occurred?. Our Christianity must become life and deed. How long before we shall escape from the confined and barren circle of the abstract understanding and enervating sentiment? More than seven, and again seven plagues, may be necessary to teach us where true salvation is to be sought."

(27.) A NEW edition of CLAUDE'S "Essay on the Composition of a Sermon” has been called for, as the work is now made part of the Preachers' course of study. Messrs. Lane & Scott have reprinted it in a neat 18mo., (pp. 252,) from the edition of Simeon.

(28.) "The Life and Thoughts of John Foster, by W. W. EVERTS," author of Pastor's Hand-book, &c.: (New-York, E. H. Fletcher, 1849, 12mo., pp. 314.) This is a well-conceived and useful compilation. It contains a brief sketch of the life, character, and writings of Foster, with a selection of his best thoughts, arranged under distinct heads, as the "Existence and Attributes of God," the "Individual and Social Depravity of Man," &c. Those who do not possess Foster's complete works (and, by the way, no complete edition has been published in this country) will find here the cream of his writings, not in unconnected excerpts, but in systematic form; and those who have them will find the volume as useful as a common-place book filled with extracts from the works of a master mind. But it is strange that the compiler could get up such a book, and the publisher permit it to go forth, without an index. The table of contents does not supply its place.

(29.) MESSRS. HARPER AND BROTHERS have published a new edition of LONGFELLOW's Poems, including Evangeline. As Longfellow has taken his place, not merely among the poets of America, but of the age, we need say nothing more than that this is the most complete edition of his Poems; and while it is neatly, and even elegantly, got up, it is sold remarkably low.

(30.) MESSRS. HUNTINGDON & SAVAGE have published "A Pictorial History of Ancient Rome, with a Sketch of the History of Modern Italy," by S. G. GOODRICH: (12mo., pp. 333.) This is the last of Goodrich's series of Pictorial Histories for schools and families, and is characterized by the same excellences that have made the others so popular. A set of questions would add to its practical value.

(31.) MUCH is said about elevating and dignifying the office of the teacher. It is true that a totally false view of that office has too long prevailed; but one of the best modes of correcting it is to elevate the teachers themselves— the dignity of the office will follow. This end will be greatly promoted by such books as the "Theory and Practice of Teaching; or, the Motives and Methods of good School-keeping," by DAVID P. PAGE, A. M., Principal of the State Normal School, Albany, N. Y.: (New-York, A. S. Barnes & Co., 12mo., pp. 349.) It has already to some extent fulfilled its mission, for the copy before us is of the tenth edition-and the work was first issued in 1847.

(32.) "A Practical Grammar of the English Language, in which Words, Phrases, and Sentences are Classified, &c., illustrated by a complete System of Diagrams,” by S. W. CLARK, A. M.: (New-York, A. S. Barnes & Co., 1848, 12mo., pp. 218.) This work takes up the subject analytically, and contains many ingenious devices for fixing the attention, and facilitating the progress of pupils. The machinery appears to be a little too cumbrous, but perhaps this objection might disappear if we were practically using the book.

(33.) WE are pleased with the practical look of "A System of Book-keeping by Single Entry," by LEVI S. FULTON and GEORGE W. EASTMAN: (NewYork, A. S. Barnes & Co., 1848, 12mo., pp. 210.) It contains three different forms of books, designed for the farmer, mechanic, and merchant respectively, with a variety of useful forms of notes, bills, receipts, &c. The work is unpretending, but decidedly meritorious.

(34.) WHILE the study of language, in the higher walks of philological science, has given rise to books without number, the general reader has been left to gather his knowledge of the subject as he best can, from incidental notices merely. At all events, we are acquainted with no separate and portable treatise conveying clear views of the present state of the science except a little volume prepared for the (London) Religious Tract Society, and lately republished under the editorial care of Rev. D. P. Kidder, entitled, “The Origin and Progress of Language:" (New-York, Lane & Scott, 1849, 18mo., pp. 227.) Its "main object is to prove that language was not invented by men, but bestowed at first upon them by the Author of their being." Besides discussing this great question, the work embodies a large amount of information on the general subject of the nature of language, its uses, its growth, and