strength and bounding blood of youth, and sitting, perhaps, now a tottering and decrepid old man, on some forlorn door-sill, refusing to call it his home, though he had ceased to have another in the earth!"

Here Dalphon and Shallum remain while the Avenger of Blood demands justice, and claim time to produce the two witnesses necessary to prove him an idolater. They send to their home at the far off Tekoah, and the aged Jathniel and his wife Cutha, the lofty Hamutal, with her betrothed, and the drooping Iene (like a flower, whose stem is broken, and only lingers its appointed time, heedless of the sunbeam or the shower, and then, its withering-time finished, dies) all come to the sad city. Jathniel, in memory of his friendship with David, applies to Solomon for aid, and receives an ambiguous answer, from which but little is expected. On the day of trial, however, when the corrupt judge inclines to Talmai, and hope seems none for Dalphon, the king comes, and the righteous cause triumphs, and the Idolater is condemned to be stoned to death. But Iene, the stricken Iene, whose forgiveness has long been with her deceiver, is crushed by the sentence which destroys him. She dies, and her pure body, strewn with flowers, is borne by mourners with veiled heads to the home of her childhood; and the dirge which they sing, while scattering around her clouds of the pale blossoms of spring, is to our mind the most beautiful part of the whole work, and with this we shall conclude our notice of it.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

'Views of Christian Truth, Piety, and Morality, selected from the Writings of Dr. PRIESTLEY; with a Memoir of his Life; by HENRY WARE, Junior, Cambridge, U.S.'-Mardon, London.

We have abstained from noticing this work for want of the information we now possess, that the book can be procured through the regular channels in this country. We wish it a most extended circulation, alike from our respect to Dr. Priestley and Mr. Ware, and from a conviction that it is fitted to be eminently useful. Priestley is commonly known as a mere controversialist. In this volume he appears invested with the positive excellencies of a Christian. Unitarianism itself is regarded by the many as nothing better than a sort of spiritual sledge-hammer. It is the duty of its friends to disabuse the public mind, by spreading far and wide works such as the one before us. We are inclined to the opinion that rational theology is deficient in works of practical piety. Mr. Ware, both in his 'Jotham Anderson,' his' Life of the Saviour,' and in his Views of Priestley,' has done no little to supply our wants. These volumes, as well as Selections from Fenelon,' should be in every Family Library.'

The memoir of Priestley, prefixed to the selection from his works, is a sketch the more interesting because written in that simplicity of style which, while characteristic of Mr. Ware's productions, is exactly suitable to convey to the reader a picture of what Priestley was. The minds of the young, especially, should be directed to biographical notices of the worthies of by-gone days, that they may find in the characters exhibited, Christianity teaching by examples-teaching, therefore, effectually; and learn also to fulfil their own mission in the same spirit of self-sacrifice as that which animated our fathers.

We should much like to see a selection similar to Mr. Ware's Views of Priestley,' made from Lardner's works, where is a rich mine of sound practical morality.

A Few Plain Reasons for rejecting the Doctrine of the Trinity.'

Forrest, Manchester.

SOCIETY has long been supplying reasons for rejecting the vulgar notions of the Trinity, in the spread of intelligence. Like many of the errors of the days of darkness, these notions have disappeared and are disappearing. The name remains, and by the mystic and the zealot is contended for as sturdily as if the Trinity of 1835 was the same as that of Athanasius. The passing away of the substance will draw its shadow after it.

One does, however, occasionally meet with a form of words which wears a less attenuated aspect than the ordinary Trinity of the day. Such is the following inscription-an inscription which will as successfully prevent litigation respecting the sentiments of the founders of the

chapel, as it will bar every avenue to light which coming ages may evolve:

BELGRAVE CHAPEL, LEEDS.-In the Name, for the Worship, and to the Glory, of the Triune Jehovah,-Father, Son, and Spirit, Consubstantial and Coequal,-the revealed God of the Christians, the only God of the Universe, this projected building is dedicated. It is intended for the use of the church and congregation of the Independent Order heretofore meeting in Albion Chapel, in this town, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Richard Winter Hamilton, who now lays its foundation stone. He and his people would inscribe upon it "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us!" Their votive prayer arises that they may ever hold fast the faith, practice and discipline, of apostolic communion. They consecrate these walls to the peculiar doctrines of grace and godliness. Though maintaining the Holy Scriptures as the exclusive standard, they appeal as their interpreters to the writings of Puritan and Nonconformist Theology, to the doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, and to the Westminster Catechism and Confession.'

The Plain Reasons'-twenty-one in number-are powerful in effect; they are all drawn from the Scriptures, so that the allegation that Unitarians reject the Trinity, not because it is unscriptural, but because it appears to them unreasonable, may be declared groundless. The tract is well fitted for general distribution.

Geography in Verse, for the use of Young Children: by S. J. WILLIAMS.-Forrest, Manchester; Longman & Co. London.

SOME of these Verses were originally written for the use of an Infant School, and were generally sung by the children, being set by the teacher to some familiar air. They are published with additions, in the hope that they will be acceptable both in public and private institutions for the instruction of the young. The work is conceived in that pure spirit of benevolence which befits the Christian, and which the accomplished author has expressed in the following lines with simple beauty :

Little people of all ages,

Reading what this book will tell,
Think, that she, who wrote its pages,
Loves all little children well.

'Tis to make their school hours pleasant,
And their tasks less hard to learn,
That short lessons, like the present,
She to cheerful verse would turn.

Miss Williams possesses no ordinary skill in the mechanism of versification, and has accordingly blended together ease and variety to a degree which we should antecedently have thought unattainable in such a matter. And though her main object is to communicate information-in which her little book abounds-yet the graces of poetry are not sparingly scattered up and down her pages; while, from the devotional spirit of her own mind, she has drawn forth a vein of piety which enhances the value of the book as an instrument of education.

We could have wished that a map of the world, and a map of Europe, had accompanied the work. Geography should be taught by the eye as well as the ear; and no definite ideas can be communicated, no lasting results can be obtained, except the inspection of maps is the constant attendant on the perusal of books. Let teachers use and explain maps and globes in connexion with Miss Williams' book, and we feel no doubt it will prove of great service wherever it is introduced, whether into families, infant, Sunday, or the junior classes of classical schools.

'Miscellanies, by the Author of the Sketch Book, No. 1.—A Tour on the Prairies.'-Murray, London.

A FRAGMENT, interesting by its lively and graphic sketches of novel and stirring scenes, and novel and eccentric characters, wherein the reader is presented with pictures of the outskirts of civilization, the borderers of barbarism, adventures and the seekers thereof, hair-breadth escapes, woodland scenes, hunter's fare and feasting, grotesque superstitions, wild horses and wilder men, a bee hunt, a horse hunt, a bear hunt, a buffalo hunt, deer hunted by wolves, a wolf serenade, a hunt for a lost comrade, hard travelling and hungry halting, all exhibited with the utmost ease, and offering a pleasing contrast with the refinements, splendour, romance, and prestige of European civilization, which Washington Irving has exhibited in the best of his former productions. And should the reader miss the high finish which in these works has gratified and improved him, he must bear in mind the circumstances of inconvenience and hardship in which the Notes of a Tour,' as the work might perhaps be more appropriately designated, were written down, and that a certain carelessness of style is not unbefitting the rough scenes that the work pourtrays, while he can hardly fail to be pleased at finding an old favourite in literally a new world, and observing the facility with which he accommodates himself to its novelties, hardships, and perils.

'Miscellanies, by the Author of the Sketch Book, No. 2.-containing Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey.'

We know not whether Washington Irving designs to rival the hero of Abbotsford himself, in the number of his publications; but the appearance of the second of a series, almost before we had had time to read the first, would seem to warrant the idea; and a perusal of Abbotsford and Newstead' has, we must confess, impressed us with the idea that the author is looking rather to multiplicity than worth, rather to the money returns than the guerdon of praise, rather to what the public will purchase than what befits him to publish. It is impossible, of course, that Irving should write on Scott and Byron without saying much that is interesting; and yet the work may be objected to, in being not so much on Scott and Byron as on Scott and Newstead, Byron's patrimonial hall, albeit, we suppose, to serve the booksellers, by striking the imagination of the public, it is termed Abbotsford and Newstead,' as if both pieces bore one character, whereas, the first is not about Abbotsford, but Scott; the second, not about Byron, but Newstead.

Did we not believe that every one will read the work, we might speak rather of its merits than its defects; but as the intellectual triumvirate herein concerned, will not fail to compel the homage of the reading public, we add, after the spirit of our art, that the work is miscellaneous, devoid of unity and of definite aim, (except the pecuniary,) and can scarcely answer any purpose besides affording an hour's amusement; which many, we doubt not, and we with them, will think purpose enough.

MISCELLANIES.

IRISH UNITARIAN SOCIETY.-The Annual Meeting of the Irish Unitarian Christian Society was held the 27th April, 1835, in the Unitarian Chapel, Strand-street, the Rev. JOSEPH HUTTON in the Chair, when the following resolutions were agreed to:

That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the Rev. George Harris, for his truly Christian and beautiful discourses, preached yesterday, in behalf of the Society.

That, whilst we take a deep and lively interest in the diffusion of Unitarian principles in other countries, we at the same time feel that both the name and nature of this Society peculiarly connect it with our native land; that we rejoice in the belief that Bible Christianity is gradually overcoming many obstacles in Ireland, and is steadily advancing; and that we entertain a strong conviction that the increasing zeal of Unitarians themselves, and the increasing knowledge of the public generally, are calculated, under the Divine blessing, to accelerate the progress and secure the ultimate triumph of long lost, and important truth.

That this meeting rejoices in the present opportunity of once more expressing its approbation of the national system of education, and its gratification that a plan adopted under the auspices of Earl Grey, has been thought worthy of the countenance and support of successive Administrations.

That we regard with peculiar satisfaction the progress of pure scriptural Christianity, in many places on the continent of Europe, especially in Switzerland, where the discipline of the Primitive Church was first revived, and the banner of religious freedom unfurled; that we heartily congratulate the Church of Geneva, in particular, on the struggles they have made to carry forward the Reformation commenced in 1535; that we cordially participate in the liberality of that feeling which leads them to commemorate that eventful epoch by the celebration of its centenary in the present year.

THE COMMITTEE OF THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN ASSOCIATION have made an appeal for aid which will, we hope, receive an immediate and satisfactory answer. Especially would we invite the attention of the laity to their pecuniary wants, their past proceedings, and their purposes; and we trust that the friends of entire religious liberty will not fail to meet in strength at the next Provincial Meeting, to be held at Warrington on the 18th instant. The Rev. Mr. Wickstead is the preacher. The danger with which the liberal Dissenters in this kingdom are threatened, shows that the time has come in which decisive steps in self-defence must be taken. The Committee of the Presbyterian Association have, among other efforts, published a pamphlet on The History, Opinions, and Present Legal Position of the English Presbyterians,' which we earnestly recommend them to issue at a very low price for general circulation. After alluding to the Hewley case, the appeal says

It is well known that other attacks on institutions in similar circumstances are already publicly threatened; and the extent to which annoyance and persecution may be carried will appear, when it is stated that the principle of the recent decision of the Vice-Chancellor in the Wolverhampton case, would limit every dissenting foundation of a date preceding 1813, to the exclusive support of Trinitarian doctrine! In truth, it would eject all the existing Presbyterian and General Baptist congregations, under pretence of carrying into effect an intent directly contrary to the spirit of the founders, who evidently sought for themselves, and wished to allow to others, perfect freedom of theological opinion, unshackled by any creed or doctrinal imposition.

In this state of things the Committee felt that they had no choice but to provide for the common safety by a combined effort, and by taking measures for bringing the Wolverhampton case in a proper form before the appellate tribunal. If the decision should still be adverse, it may then be advisable to consider whether it may not be expedient to endeavour to obtain legislative protection.