We do not envy the man who is not interested in these wonderful stories, for wonderful they are. Whence came they? How far are they pictures of the manners of our fathers? Who had the genius to invent them? Whence came the noble principle and high feeling which gleam through them?

Arthur appears to have been a prince of the tribe of Britons called Silures, whose country was South Wales. The date assigned him is about the year 500. He is said to have been mortally wounded in the battle of Camlan, in Cornwall, in 542. Conveyed by sea to Glastonbury, he there died. Tradition preserved the memory of the place of his interment within the abbey, as we are told by Giraldus Cambrensis, who was present, according to his own account, when the grave was opened by command of Henry II., about 1150, and saw the bones and sword of the monarch, and a leaden cross let into his tombstone, with the inscription in rude Roman letters: "Here lies buried the famous King Arthur, in the Island Avalonia."

The very existence of Arthur has been denied. "Modern critics, however, admit that there was a prince of this name, and find proof of it in the frequent mention of him in the writings of the Welsh bards." The genealogy of Arthur was carried up to an imaginary Brutus, and to the period of the Trojan war, and "a sort of chronicle was composed in the Welsh, or Armorican language, which, under the title of the History of the Kings of Britain, was translated into Latin by Geoffrey of Monmouth, about 1150. The Welsh critics consider the material of the work to have been an older history, written by St. Talian, Bishop of St. Asaph, in the seventh century."

This noble and joyous book treateth of the birth, life, and acts of King Arthur, and of his noble Knights of the Round Table, their marvellous conquests and adventures, the achieving of the Sangreal, and, in the end, le Morte d'Arthur, with the dolorous death and departing out of this world of them all. Which book was reduced into English by Sir Thomas Mallory, Knight, and divided into twenty-one books, chaptered and imprinted, and finished in the Abbey Westmestre, the last day of July, the year of our Lord MCCCCLXXXV.

The stories of the Mabinogeon are not so interesting, inasmuch as they do not take so high a tone of honor and chivalry. The authors to whom the oldest Welsh poems are attributed are Aneurin, who is supposed to have lived A.D. 500 to 550, and Taliesin, Llywarch the Aged, and Myrddin, or Merlin, who were a few years later. The Welsh popular tales existing in manuscript were called Mabinogeon. The manuscripts were contained in the Bodleian Library and elsewhere. For a long time, though Southey and Scott exerted themselves to accomplish it, there was no adequate translation, until, at

length, Lady Charlotte Guest, an English lady, married to a gentleman of property in Wales, brought out an edition in four royal octavo volumes, containing the Welsh originals, the translations, and ample illustrations from contemporary and affiliated literature.

We are accustomed to associate the Normans with our ideas of English chivalry, and later, the Normans and Saxons intermixed, but the peculiar significance of these old legends is the singular and interesting light they throw upon Celtic manners and character, after it has mingled itself with Roman elements. The moral of the Sangrael, of Arthur, Lancelot, Sir Galahad, &c., is very beautiful, and we have a glimpse into the old times which startles us into a feeling that in all respects, at least, the world has not made progress.

Mr. Bulfinch has done his work well. He intimates that he may bring out the Legends of Charlemagne in a separate volume.

XXXII. A COMMONPLACE BOOK TO THE HOLY BIBLE: or the Scripture's sufficiency practically demonstrated. Wherein the substance of Scripture, respecting Doctrine, Worship, and Manners, is reduced to its proper Heads, Weighty Cases are resolved, Truths confirmed, and difficult texts illustrated and explained. By the celebrated JoHN LOCKE, Author of the Essay on the Human Understanding. From the Fifth London Edition. Revised by Rev. WILLIAM DODD, LL.D.; with an enlarged Index. New York: American Tract Society. Philadelphia: For sale at the Tract House, 929 Chestnut Street. pp. 413.

The words of Scripture in the common version are here arranged by the great philosopher under appropriate heads, the whole being a digest, or as he called it, Commonplace Book of the Bible. Thus we have the duty of believers towards God; the duty of believers towards each other; duties towards all men; afflictions, troubles, and persecutions; magistrates and rulers; the resurrection; parables; Providence, &c. &c. There is, also, a full and valuable alphabetical index.

There is also the tracing out of the connection between passages; as, first, David's sin, and then the judgments that came upon him in consequence of it. So there is a methodical arrangement of general doctrines; as, for example, the considerations which should sustain Christians under affliction :

1. That it is their portion, and a proof of their sonship.

2. That their enemies can proceed no further than God pleases.

3. That He orders the measure, manner, time, and continuance of afflictions.

4. That He sometimes makes enemies attest the saints' innocence, and will avenge them.

5. That He will comfort and uphold, and not allow more affliction than we can bear.

6. Christ is with them, and is afflicted in them.

7. Man's extremity is God's opportunity.

8. All will redound to their benefit.

9. Afflictions are short.

10. They have been the lot of saints always, and of Christ himself. The reader will see how useful this book may be made by careful study.

XXXIII.—THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, Translated out of the Original Greek, and with former Translations diligently compared and revised. New York: Collins & Brother. pp. 548.

This is a paragraph Testament. The divisions into chapters and verses are omitted, except that at the top of the page the chapter and verse with which each page begins is given.

The authorized version is adhered to; the text of Bagster, and of Eyre and Spottiswoode followed in orthography and punctuation. Quotation marks are, however, introduced.

The type is large and clear, and it is, on the whole, a useful and valuable edition. There is a full index of subjects.

XXXIV.-BOUVIER'S FAMILIAR ASTRONOMY; or, an Introduction to the Study of the Heavens. Illustrated by upwards of two hundred finely executed engravings. For the use of schools, families, and private students. By HANNAH M. BOUVIER. Philadelphia: Childs & Peterson. pp. 286.

The recommendations of this work are very strong. They are from Messrs. Airy, Herschel, Maury, Bond, Gould, Olmsted, Hind, Smyth, Bartlett, Dick, Alexander, Pepper, Narrien, De Morgan, Nichol, Lardner, Bishop. Prof. Alexander says: "I do but reëcho the opinion of the most competent judges in saying, that your work seems to me to have well fulfilled its object,-being rich in facts, which are well explained, and handsomely illustrated."

The work is in the form of question and answer.

XXXV.-ELEMENTS OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Designed for Academies and

High Schools. By ELIAS LOOMIS, LL.D., Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philo. sophy in the University of the City of New York; author of "A Course of Mathematics," &c. With three hundred and sixty illustrations. New York: Harpers. Philadelphia: For sale by Lippincott & Co. 1858. pp. 351.

Professor Loomis's scientific works have a high reputation. They

state the results which have been reached, in a neat, clear, and concise manner. His books have been in part or in whole, adopted as textbooks in a number of colleges.

In this volume the principles of Natural Philosophy are presented, without the use of Mathematics beyond the first elements of Algebra, Geometry, and Plane Trigonometry. It is, of course, a treatise for the younger class of students.

XXXVI.-THE LIFE OF NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. By B. JAEGER, late Professor of Zoology and Botany in the College of New Jersey. Assisted by H. C. PRESTON, M. D. With numerous illustrations from specimens in the cabinet of the Author. New York: Harpers. Philadelphia: For sale by Lippincott & Co. 1859. pp. 319.

The illustrations are very beautiful, especially the pictures of butterflies, some of which are exquisite.

The Author states that we have hitherto had no general work on North American Insects, "except a few numbers of the American Entomology, by Thomas Say; Major Leconte's Iconography of some genera of Butterflies; and Dr. Harris's elaborate Report on the Injurious Insects of Massachusetts."

Professor Jaeger, therefore, lays before the public the fruits of his "Entomological investigations, pursued for many years, during extensive travels in Europe, Asia, and on this Continent, and accompanied by a thorough examination of all the works published on this subject in the various European languages."

"The Diamond Beetle," he says, "shows its gold, ruby, emerald, and hyacinth colors in the clear and bright sunlight, and the same is the case with many Butterflies, who are, on that account, called diurnal; while the Hawk Moths issue from their dwellings only at twilight; and only towards midnight are seen the gigantic Cecropia, and many others, in their variegated cloaks, or the unicolored, unpretending Luna; and these insects are hence called nocturnal. In order to perfect the task, I have rambled many, many days, and many tropical nights, guided by the dim and twinkling lamps of heaven, through open fields, dark woods, and damp meadows."

We are glad to see such works published. Everything which leads us into the open air, and which substitutes simpler occupation for our constant wearing excitements, is wholesome for Americans.

XXXVII-THE AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. Being Principles and Rules for the Culture of Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers, and Shrubbery. To which are added brief notes on

farm crops, with a table of their average product, and chemical constituents. By ALEXANDER WATSON. Illustrated. New York: Harpers. Philadelphia, for sale by Lippincott & Co. 1859. pp. 531.

There seems to be hardly anything relating to gardening, which is not explained in these five hundred pages. The Author appears to be full of his subject, and to write as one whose heart was captivated by this excellent method of occupation. The book has every look of being able and practical. We only wish that it could create a passion for gardening in every family in America.

XXXVIII.-SELF-MADE MEN. BY CHAS. C. B. SEYMOUR. New York: Harpers. 1858.

pp. 588.

We have here sixty biographies of persons who have attained eminence, notwithstanding adverse circumstances. The lives begin with General Jackson, and end with George Stephenson. The names seem to be well selected, and certainly the encouragement to the young of every station, from the study of these lives, is very great.

XXXIX.—THE FOUR GOSPELS, according to the authorized version, with original and selected parallel references, and marginal readings, and an original and copious Critical and Explanatory Commentary. By the REV. DAVID BROWN, D.D., Professor, Free Church College, Aberdeen. Philadelphia: W. S. & Alfred Martien. 1859.

We must protest against the type in which this book is printed. It is very small, and set in double columns, the whole being trying beyond all reasonable measure to the eyes. The quotations from other commentators are numerous, but brief, and the object appears to be to bring the results of much thought and critical inquiry within short compass. We observe in glancing through, Trench, Stier, Olshausen, Bengel, Calvin, Lightfoot, &c. &c.

XL.-INFANT SALVATION, in its relation to Infant Depravity, Infant Regeneration, and Infant Baptism. By J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D.D., Pastor of the Race Street Evangelical Reformed Church, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1859. pp.

192.

We are sorry to say that this book contains what we deem to be radically unsound teaching. We fully believe in the blessedness of the Abrahamic Covenant; we are sure that it includes infants within its scope; and hold with great earnestness to the doctrine of infant baptism. But we do not desire, in avoiding one extreme, to go over to the other. Dr. Bomberger, in short, teaches the doctrine of Dr.