problem, ten-fold more intricate. It attempts to explain the invisible yet harmonious series of chemical, or atomic changes, running through all animal and vegetable life, as warmed, nourished and moved by one common law.

According to the author, substantive caloric arouses "the atomic circulation" in all life. In the simplest language; substantive heat, heat as a physical thing, is the mainspring of all motion, among all atoms or masses of matter, dead or living. The laws of heat are hence the laws of all motion, the laws of nature.

It has been a common saying, repeated, for example, by Scott in his Bible notes, that "we do not know how the grass grows." In short, the law of life has neither been previously demonstrated, nor has even the attempt been put forth to display the entire circle of chemical changes which make up, or are essentially connected with, physical life. It has been deemed too intricate for the grasp of finite mind. It is obvious that, if this could be accomplished, its influence upon practical medicine must be very great.

Heat, according to the author, is not only a substantive agent, though without weight, but the one universal ether pervading all space, attenuating and changing densities, forming the connecting link between the material and mental, commingling with and among the ponderable atoms, not only of animal and vegetable life, but of stellar motions, as the physical plenum of the universe. Caloric combines with, and is disrupted from, the weightier atoms, in exact mathematical ratios, just as such atoms chemically combine among themselves, thus moving and balancing all things, as one harmonious whole.

The decomposition and re-composition of water, by caloric, the condensation and expansion of this all-pervading agent, is made not only the balance-wheel of vital heat by its vaporization, but at every interior point of the animal creation, the condensation of water and its solid union with carbon imparts free vital-heat, just as water freezing imparts free heat.

The author, of course, makes issue with the accredited doctrine, that the carbon for vegetable growth is drawn, via the leaves, from the carbonic acid gas of the atmosphere.* This, in his judgment, is a fundamental error. According to him, vegetables and animals make and unmake carbonic acid for their own growth and vital heat, by aid of iron; it as one of six principal working elements, uniting with the other of the sixteen organic elements, and all guided by one law of chemico-atomic changes; iron being alike the instrumeut of nature for making carbonic acid at leaf and lung. The carbonic acid is not only formed by the sesqui-oxide of iron, but at the leaf it is made and unmade with the speed of thought.

This is the primary issue. A collateral issue is made with the leading thought of Mr. Grove, in his admirable work on the Correlation of the physical Forces, that heat is an imponderable negative, and not a substantive force.

* Liebig.

It is impossible for us, in our narrow space, to go into the minutia of Dr. Spencer's theory. It is applied to animal and vegetable life, to electricity and the telegraph, to the Aurora Borealis, to gravitation, and, in short, to the entire range of chemics and mechanics, from the minutest plant or insect to the motions of the planets. We commend this interesting theory especially to all our friends who have a taste for physical science.

XI. RECENT WORKS OF THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.

1. The Atonement of Christ, and the Justification of the Sinner. Arranged from the Writings of the Rev. Andrew Fuller. By the Editor of his Complete Works. pp. 396.

The Society cannot give us too much of Andrew Fuller. Clear, forcible, evangelical, judicious, we can most cordially commend him. Only, we observe that this is a compilation from various parts of his works, and we always feel a little apprehension in such cases, lest the truth may not be given, in the relations, and with the qualifications of the author himself. We trust that the Atonement here presented is precisely the full and free Atonement that Andrew Fuller preached.

2. Memoir of Rev. Philip Henry. By his son, Rev. Matthew Henry, the Commentator. Abridged from the standard edition, as corrected and enlarged by J. B. Williams, LL. D. pp. 346.

Dr. Chalmers says, "One of the most precious religious biographies in our language." Rev. J. A. James, "One page of Philip Henry's Life, makes one blush more than all the folios of his son Matthew's peerless Exposition." Mr. Jay, "Who, without sentiments of love and veneration can think of Philip Henry?" Mr. Henry was a model of the patriarchal and somewhat quaint character, which we fear is passing away; he led a cheerful, holy, happy life, beloved by every one who knew him. His children were all settled pleasantly near him, and the blessing of God seemed to attend all he did. There was an unction and a pleasant ripeness in his character, and at last, he came to his grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. We wish we could see more of such ministers. He never occupied a prominent place, but lived in the country, like some green, strong and spreading oak, under whose branches many sheltered. The Tract Society do well to publish healthy works like these. It is a type of Christianity especially needed in America.

3. Christian Progress: a Sequel to "The Anxious Inquirer after Salvation." By Rev. John Angell James. pp. 271. Mr. James felt that the impression should be deeply made upon Christians, especially the young, that they must advance in the divine life. This hand-book, therefore, discusses, after an Introduction, the necessity, nature and means of progress; mistakes concerning it, hinderances, motives and encouragements. It is superfluous for us to commend either the style or spirit of Mr. James.

4. The Pastor's Wife. A Memoir of Mrs. Martha Sherman. By the Rev. James Sherman, successor of Rev. Rowland Hill, in Surrey Chapel. Abridged with the sanction of the author. pp. 342.

There is something interesting in the unpretendingness of this memoir. Mrs. Sherman, a lady of quite respectable family, of a lovely disposition and attractive person and manners, without any extraordinary pretensions to learning or talents, addressed herself industriously, on her marriage, to preparation for her duties as a pastor's wife. She became very useful and much beloved. The great excellence of the Life consists in its presenting a model not calculated to discourage; something imitable, yet most truly valuable.

5. The Illustrated Family Christian Almanac for 1855. Certainly a very full and admirable Almanac, well selected and arranged, and beautifully printed.

6. The Life of William Tuttle, the self-made Man and consistent Christian. By Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, Rockaway, N. J. Second edition, abridged by the author. pp. 192.

We must not get the idea, because these books are issued in a series, or bound alike, or by the same Society, that they have no characters of their own. Mr. Tuttle holds a free pen, his thoughts and style are his own, he does not make himself prominent, but his subject stands out from the canvass. We do not exaggerate when we say that this is an admirable book. We need in America the quiet and natural; the homelier virtues to be exalted; factitious life to be shorn of its unreal and evanescent splendor. Here is a man who, by patience in honesty, economy, industry and kindliness made his way gradually upward, happy and cheerful the while, from positive poverty to entire competence, blessing and helping every one within his

reach, and almost translated to heaven by a sudden and painless death. We do not know how it is with others, but we could not read the simple and tasteful record of such goodness, without softened feelings.

We are glad the Tract Society are publishing so many volumes; while we would not undervalue the small tract, yet there is a permanence about the bound volume and the well written book, that we cannot but think calculated to accomplish more. One can hardly underrate the importance of these great publishing Societies, and we think their aim should be higher and higher. We do not think their mission accomplished, until they are able to stereotype books that will command the attention of the country. They should enlist men of genius to write; they should select the highest and purest literature that can be obtained, and they should never rest until the imprimatur of a religious society, instead of making dim impressions of dullness, will excite the expectation of keen intellectual and emotive enjoyment.

The Tract Society have established a branch of the Institution at Philadelphia, in charge of the Rev. N. W. Goertner, D. D. It appears to us excellently managed, and the urbanity, activity and tact of Dr. G., is doing much to remove prejudice and awaken interest. There need be no collision between this Society and our Doctrinal Tract Committee. We understand the American Presbyterian Church as intending, to maintain its own position, to be ready to do its own work, and, if necessary, to fall back on its own centre and conduct any interest whatever through its own organs; but as, by no means refusing to cooperate with voluntary associations, in doing good in their appropriate spheres. In short, it means, we think, neither to be imposed upon on the one hand, nor to be narrow on the other; but while remaining an unit and an entity, to do good in every way, with other churches or without them, just as Providence may open

the way.

XII. Proceedings of the Convention of the Young Men's Christian Associations, held at Buffalo, June, 1854.

The Young Men's Associations, at their Convention, adopted resolutions to form a Confederation, which is to go into effect so soon as twenty-two societies concur in the measure.

Mr. Neff, of Cincinnati, an active member of the oldest institution of the kind in America, formed Oct. 11, 1848, has kindly furnished us with some interesting information on the whole subject, which we regret that our meagre limits compel us to condense. The objects of

the Associations are two-fold. To benefit the members themselves, young men associate, open a reading room, where they hold meetings, and which they fill with a library, periodicals, &c. The members become acquainted with young men who are strangers in the city, assist them as to employment, boarding houses, &c. and visit them when sick. Then they endeavor to be useful to others. In Cincinnati, for example, they have seven mission Sabbath-schools, containing over 600 scholars. The membership is not confined to professors of religion, nor, of course, to persons of any one denomination. An Association, we are glad to see, has recently been formed in Philadelphia.

It is difficult to overrate the importance of this movement, rightly carried out. It has pressed very much upon our minds, that the National Confederation might accomplish an object greatly needed in America and hard to reach; we mean the creating a correct public sentiment in regard to such subjects as, for example, duelling, gambling, honesty as the best policy in politics as well as every where else, the difference between manliness and rowdyism, the substitution of exercise and sports in the open air for lounging and night revelling, the impropriety of indecent fashions and dancing, &c. &c. Young men, speaking in a robust and manly, yet cultivated spirit, might give us what we so greatly need, a social civilization.

XIII. Address delivered at the New White Department of the House of Refuge, on June 1st, 1854, in celebration of the opening of that Department of the Institution, for the reception of inmates. By his Excellency William Bigler, Governor of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1854. pp. 24.

This is the true glory of exalted station; to give its influence to the efforts of philanthropy to elevate the lowly and the degraded. The Governor of Pennsylvania has in this address reflected lustre upon the executive chair, and gained a hold upon the hearts of the people.

XIV. Conversion: its Theory and Process, practically delineated. By Rev. Theo. Spencer. New York: M. W. Dodd. Philadelphia: Willis P. Hazard, 1854. pp. 408.

This work is intended for those who receive the Bible as true. Disheartened, the author informs us, by the want of precision in instruction to religious inquirers, he investigated the subject "for more than a quarter of a century, during which time he conversed with thousands of careless persons, convicted sinners or doubting