a new muse is called into the performance, and a higher art is attained. The Lucile of Owen Meredith will, in this respect, doubtless be pronounced a success. The poem displays a mastery and an intense concentration of language, deep passion, rapid action, dramatic effect, and skillful portraiture of character. Lucile, the heroine, is a lofty specimen of womanhood. By a few brief words she is flung into disharmony with the natural order of things; but she preserves, in the comparative isolation of her existence, not merely a self-sustained purity, a firm refusal to return to the orbit of ordinary affections by a sacrifice of unselfish principle, but she exerts a heroic and mastering control over the feebler virtue of others, fixes the wavering purpose of the tempted, and restores the fallen to the path of integrity. Some passages there are where the language of the seducer wiling his victim to ruin is perhaps too lusciously detailed. One character is introduced, however, intended to teach us, very much in the style of the dissolute dramatists of the Restoration, that professed religion and Exeter Hall benevolence are but the cloak for mercenary villainy. (28.) "The Ebony Idol." 12mo., pp. 283. New York: Appleton & Co. 1860. No term could be more expressive of the deep devotion of our Southern friends to the dark power that now controls them than the title of this volume. No picture could better symbolize the deep fanaticism of the pro-slavery spirit than its frontispiece. The scene of the picture seems to be in the center of a southern plantation. The representative of slavery stands in the shape of a fine young negro, crowned with roses, and surrounded by rapt admirers. A thin ministerial looking figure seems to represent the clerical defenders of slavery, like Dr. Smith, or Dr. Ross, who have immolated morality and Scripture upon the altar of this their evil genius. A lank-faced old lady seems to represent Virginia or South Carolina, impoverished and blasted by the dark curse they adore. When we consider how much of prosperity, of honor, of conscience, and of common sense, our southern friends have sacrificed to their mumbojumbo, we fully conclude that no devil worship was ever more intense or more mad than is hourly offered to their "Ebony Idol." While the frontispiece of this book so strikingly illustrates this fact, the book itself is a heavy abortion, offered, with a species of Moloch sacrifice of offspring, by the genius of dullness to the demon of despotism. (29.) "A Man. By Rev. J. D. BELL." 12mo., pp. 462. Philadelphia: James Challen & Son. 1860. The writer of this book is favorably known to the readers of the Ladies' Repository, to the editor of which, Dr. Clark, the work is reverently and affectionately dedicated. It consists of a series of free meditations on a variety of interesting topics belonging to æsthetics, practical life, and morals. In short Mr. Bell here performs as an essayist. His practical aims are excellent, and the natural influence of his reflections is beneficial. after effect. He succeeds well in winning his reader's him through a path of fresh and attractive thought. ommended to the lovers of the essay. There is no overstrain attention and guiding The volume may be rec VII.-Periodicals. (30.) "The Christian Advocate and Journal. EDWARD THOMSON, D.D., Editor." New York. 1860. The Church has placed one of her ablest men at the head of this periodical, and before our January number is likely to be in the hands of its subscribers, specimens of the paper will, we trust, appear, which will demonstrate that it is the purpose of Carlton & Porter, in compliance with what is, we believe, about the unanimous wish of the Church, to place it at the head of American religious journalism. This announcement will be accepted with delight throughout the connection. Without in the least disparaging our other Advocates, and believing the elevation of one will conduce to the prosperity of all, one paper there should be connectional in its character. Where the center of secular journalism is in these free states, every one knows. That it launches its manifestoes from the commercial metropolis of the nation, every one feels. And that the universal circulation of these metropolitan papers increases the number and circulation of sectional periodicals would appear by statistics. We trust, then, that with the approach of the New Year there will be a buckling on of armor, and a general rally of all the "loyal" sons of the Church to roll in an additional fifty thousand upon the subscription list, and place the editor upon the journalistic preeminence in the world which his abilities can so well sustain. (31.) "Sunday-School Teachers' Journal. Published monthly for the SundaySchool Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church. D. WISE, D.D., Editor." The inauguration of a journal for the Sabbath-school teachers was a happy and a wise thought, and wisely has it been realized. Next in importance to an efficient and faithful ministry is a well-trained, well-instructed body of Sabbath teachers. That Dr. Wise should be able to address his counsels and encouragements to them all at once is a peculiar advantage which will result in unspeakable good, and we anticipate a gradual improvement in the discipline and efficiency of the whole army. Pastors and superintendents should forthwith bring the paper before the notice of their teaching corps. The patronage of the paper has indeed surpassed in rapidity and amount the most sanguine expectations of the editor. But there are many schools yet, we suspect, unaware of the existence of the periodical, and needing a hint from the minister or managers to prevent their losing, for a while at least, the benefit of the publication. VIII.-Juvenile. (32.) "The Book and its Story: A Narrative for the Young. By L. N. R.' 12mo., pp. 463. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1860. The Book is, of course, the Bible. Its story is the account of its origin and progressive history, its struggles and triumphs, its circulation and diffusion in modern times through the world. It is an interesting, a sublime story. The plan is well conceived and the development well traced. The illustrations form an instructive attraction. The book is primarily addressed to the young, but its value and interest are for all ages. IX.-Miscellaneous. "A Course of Exercises in French Syntax, methodically arranged after Poitevin's Syntaxe Francaise; to which are added ten Appendices. Designed for the use of Academies, Colleges, and private learners. By FREDERIC T. WINKELMANN, Professor of Latin, French, and German in the Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y." 12mo., pp. 366. New York: Appleton & Co. 1860. "Reminiscences of an Officer of Zouaves. Translated from the French." 12mo., pp. 317. New York: Appleton & Co. 1860. "A Treasury of Scripture Stories, beautifully illustrated with Colored Plates, from original designs, by the first American artists." 12mo. New York: Sheldon & Co.; Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1860. A very fine juvenile gift-book. "American History. By JACOB ABBOTT. Illustrated with numerous Maps and Engravings." 16mo., pp. 280. New York: Sheldon & Co.; Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1860. The beautiful maps and engravings, the entire exterior execution, as well as the known talent of Mr. Abbott, rank this as about the first of juvenile American histories. "Unitarianism Defined. The Scripture Doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A Course of Lectures, by FREDERICK A. FARLEY, D.D., Pastor of the Church of the Saviour, Brooklyn, New York." 12mo., pp. 270. Boston: Walker, Wise, & Co. 1860. Unitarianism stated and advocated by one of its ablest defenders. "A New Practical and Easy Method of Learning the Spanish Language. After the system of F. AHN, Doctor of Philosophy and Professor at the College of Neuss. First American edition, revised and enlarged." 12mo., pp. 149. New York: Appleton & Co. 1860. "Peace in Believing; exemplified in the Memoirs of Mrs. ANN EAST, written by her husband, Rev. JOHN EAST, A.M., author of 'My Saviour."" 16mo., pp. 270. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1860. "My Saviour; or, Devotional Meditations, in Prose and Verse, on the Names and Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the Rev. JOHN EAST, A.M., Rector of Croscombe, Somerset, England." 16mo., pp. 252. New York: Carter & Brothers. 1860. The above two volumes are finished in beautiful style. "Five Years in China, with some Account of the Great Rebellion, and a Description of St. Helena. By CHARLES TAYLOR, M.D., (formerly Missionary to China,) Corresponding Secretary of the S. S. Union of the M. E. Church, South. New York: Derby & Jackson; Nashville: J. B.M'Ferrin. 1860. A very valuable volume for inquirers touching the Flowery Realm. "Natural History. For the use of Schools and Families. By WORTHINGTON HOOKER, M.D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine in Yale College. Illustrated by near three hundred engravings." 12mo., pp. 371. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1860. "History of the Dragon, that old Serpent, the Devil, and Satan, whose head must be bruised in the coming Contest among the Nations. By G. B. STACY." 24mo., pp. 184. Richmond, Va.: W. Hargrave White. 1860. "An Elementary Grammar of the Italian Language, progressively arranged for the use of Schools and Colleges. By G. B. FONTANA." 12mo., pp. 236. New York. 1860. "Rosa; or, The Parisian Girl. From the French of Madame DE PRESSENSÉ. By Mrs. J. C. FLETCHER." 16mo,, pp. 371. Harper & Brothers. 1860. "Chapters on Wives. By Mrs, ELLIS" 12mo., pp. 258. Harper & Brothers. "Right at Last, and other Tales. By Mrs. GASKELL." Harper & Brothers. |