pro

this question, as the mischievous intermeddling and bitter vituperation of a small party of agitators in the north. Our sentiments on this subject have been openly expounded, and the gress of events has served only to confirm us in what we have long since written. We live in the confident expectation, that Virginia will by a process more rapid and effectual than superficial observers suppose, be drained of her slave population, and become a free state. And while we await this revolution, which pragmatical intervention does but postpone, and which is to be wrought by the mighty yet silent hand of Providence, our chief anxiety is, that the African bondman may receive in all its fulness the light and consolations of the gospel. Instead of weeping over his imagined physical privations, which are less than those of the New England sailor, we should better aid the work of true philanthropy, by seeking to extend to him the inestimable blessings of the word of God.

4

There is a single paragraph in the work before us, in which we take a special interest, because it is the only one which seems to allude to our church. It is as follows:

"As the minds of men became expanded by knowledge, toleration for the opinions of others on religious subjects had been gradually established. Yet the very existence of this word 'toleration' will prove how far public opinion yet fell below freedom and truth. No insolence can exceed that of human governments which have declared their purpose to tolerate' what the laws of God have placed beyond their control. It would be wiser in them to announce toleration to the course of the sun in the heavens! Governor Gooch was religiously inclined, but his religion was bounded by the rubric; he knew some Scripture, but it was all from the English Prayer Book. (1745.) In the midst of his administration, there appeared in the colony a large number of fanatics, composed of Methodists, Moravians, Quakers, and a sect known as New-light Presbyterians. What these last-named persons believed is not certainly known, but they were doubtless impressed with the delusive hope, that an immediate revelation had been made to them by the Deity-a hope which, from the death of the Apostles to the present hour, has been invariably productive of folly and crime in those encouraging it, and of relentless persecution in church authorities. These wild declaimers spread themselves abroad, preaching their doctrines to all who would listen. We do not learn that they were guilty of any deeds adverse to the substantial interests of the state. If they were disorderly, they were amenable to police regulations; if they were rebellious, Virginia had a law of treason. No unwonted rigour seemed to be required. In later and happier times, the flames of their zeal would have been permitted to expire for want of fuel. Resistance tended only to make them more determined and enthusiastic. (April 25.) But the Governor was greatly scandalized by their course, and at the next meeting of the General Court, he proceeded to deliver an edifying charge to the Grand Jury, directing their thoughts to these persons, and urging them to present or in

dict them uuder the laws requiring conformity. The chief offence of these hapless dreamers seems to have consisted in the doctrine, that salvation was not to be obtained in any communion except their own. Of this the Governor complained; but he might with justice have been reminded, that such doctrine was neither unknown to nor unapproved by many in the church to which he adhered with all his powers, both of mind and body."—pp. 429, 430.

On our first perusal of this passage, we were painfully impres sed with the belief that it was the intention of the author to strike at the genuine Presbyterians of Virginia, by a passing sneer; especially as the beginnings of our church are nowhere else mentioned. On a more mature examination, we acquit him of such an intention, but we still have just ground of complaint. He should have said either more or less than he has said. Having named Presbyterians, and this by a title, which however ambiguous, was often applied to our ecclesiastical predecessors, he should have added some note of discrimination, as a line between them and a supposed body of fanatics.

But over and above this, we entertain no doubts that the persons intended by Governor Gooch, in his proclamation under the name of 'New Lights,' were such men as Robinson, Tennent, Blair, and Davies. We have no evidence of the existence of any other Presbyterians, within the jurisdiction of Gooch; we have evidence that these, and such as these were denominated 'New Lights,' in Virginia; though their common appellation in the middle states, was the 'New Side.' In 1738, and again in 1745, Gooch expressed his willingness that the Synod's ministers should labour in Virginia; but we regard this as altogether compatible with his subsequent dislike of their proceedings. Indeed we may fairly presume, that a high churchman of his temper would feel little favour for the reforming and agitating piety of these preachers.

We record our dissatisfaction with the statement of Mr. Howison, as one fitted to grieve the Presbyterians of the south; yet we do not press the matter to extremity, as we have good reason to believe, that his error arose from too hasty an assent to the Episcopalian authorities, and that it is one which he will gladly correct in future editions. But for this persuasion, we could find matter in the paragraph just cited, and in the vagueness and laxity of the charges it contains, for very serious and extended animadversion.

This volume reaches far enough to include the military expe

ditions of 1759, the capture of Fort Duquesne, Braddock's defeat, and, of course, the rise of Washington. Of these great events, Mr. Howison's narrative is succinct and pleasing. He has still before him a period which more than any other is suited to try the pen of the historian. Between the settlement of colonial peace, and the outbreak of revolutionary zeal, we must acknowledge, the tract is uninviting. Here and there a stirring incident catches our attention; but generally speaking the prosperous quiet of the "Old Colony and Dominion" is dull and dreary. It would have diversified and animated the picture, if more special and individual trials had been admitted; if the general dignity of the public story had been occasionally sacrificed; if we had been introduced to a nearer view of manners and men, of household ways, of amusements, foibles, and adventures. In all this period, no events are really more awakening, than those which relate to the spread of Christianity; the extension of the church; the struggles for religious freedom; and over these our author has passed with a singular inattention.

In regard to the manner in which Mr. Howison has executed his plan, we are disposed on laying down the volume to speak with much respect. Every contribution to our national annals deserves our considerate regard; but the present work need not shield itself under this statement merely, for it possesses intrinsic worth. We have not pursued the particular statements to their authorities, nor ransacked the alleged sources; but every page shows signs of extensive, laborious, and competent research. The margin is studded with notes of reference and citation; sometimes, even to excess; as in cases where no point is to be settled, and where all that is gained is literary allusion or embellishment. Yet we consider the abundance of historical authority as a principal excellence of the book.

The style of the performance merits remark. It is such as could have proceeded from none but a scholar and a man of taste. It is, without an exception, perspicuous. It is never slipshod and never ragged. It never approaches the voluminous, overstrained, or bombastic; and after all it is faulty. There is an excess of care bestowed on the dignified march of the period; hence a loss both of animation and simplicity. As we would far rather write Hume's worst page than Gibbon's best; so, without going to such extremes of style as these, we would barter all the

stately correctness of Robertson, for the transparent flow and exquisite naturalness of Southey's prose. To express our meaning by a single citation, we earnestly wish our author would refrain from every such form of speech, as that in which he tells us that Captain Smith "sought the shores of Caledonia." p. 94. If he is still a young writer, it is not too late for him to become one of our best; but we see a leaning towards the side of an undue, and we rejoice to say a somewhat obsolete, formality of diction. The extreme of the evil which we intend, may be seen in any page of Sharon Turner. We owe it to Mr. Howison, to admit, that in his writing the tendency is slight, and reveals itself only here and there. The great models of historical writing, we need scarcely say, are Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Cæsar; we earnestly ask attention to the directness and simplicity of their style.

So far as the matter of the history is concerned, the selection of facts is full and judicious, but there is little revelation of forgotten events. We have already hinted at a defect, the absence, we mean, of graphic details. These give charm to national story; and sometimes a single incident reveals more of the condition of a people, than the most elaborate generalities. It is remarkable how few are the occasions in which Mr. Howison leads our minds to connect great events with any striking locality; how seldom he pauses before any great wonder of nature; and how rare are the scenes which will recur to the imagination of the reader. Yet a history may be just, and even satisfactory, without these; such is the one before us.

Mr. Howison deserves well of his native state for this filial tribute. We hope he will persevere, and carry his purpose to successsful completion. From the unfeigned interest which we have taken in this volume, we indulge pleasing expectations of that which is to follow.

The uncommonly accurate and beautiful typography of this work merits a special commendation; being such as fits it to be placed with the best productions of the American press.

ART. VI.-Lectures on Systematic Theology, embracing Lectures on Moral Government, together with Atonement, Moral and Physical Depravity, Philosophical Theories, and Evidences of Regeneration. By Rev. Charles J. Finney, Professor of Theology in the Oberlin Collegiate Institute. Oberlin: James M. Fitch. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. New York: Saxton & Miles. 1846. pp. 5S7.

THIS is in more senses than one a remarkable book. It is to a degree very unusual an original work; it is the product of the author's own mind. The principles which he holds, have indeed been held by others; and the conclusions at which he arrives had been reached before; but still it is abundantly evident that all the principles here advanced are adopted by the writer, not on authority, but on conviction, and that the conclusions. presented have all been wrought out by himself and for himself. The work is therefore in a high degree logical. It is as hard to read as Euclid. Nothing can be omitted; nothing passed over slightly. The unhappy reader once committed to a perusal is obliged to go on, sentence by sentence, through the long concatenation. There is not one resting place; not one lapse into amplification, or declamation, from beginning to the close. It is like one of those spiral staircases, which lead to the top of some high tower, without a landing from the base to the summit; which if a man has once ascended, he resolves never to do the like again. The author begins with certain postulates, or what he calls first truths of reason, and these he traces out with singular clearness and strength to their legitimate conclusions. We do not see that there is a break or a defective link in the whole chain. If you grant his principles, you have already granted his conclusions. Such a work must of course be reckless. Having committed himself to the guidance of the discursive understanding, which he sometimes calls the intelligence, and sometimes the reason, and to which he alone acknowledges any real allegiance, he pursues his remorseless course, regardless of any protest from other sources. The scriptures are throughout recognized as a mere subordinate authority. They are allowed to come in and bear confirmatory testimony, but their place is altogether secondary. Even God himself is subordinate to "the intelli16

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