of embracing the results of the latest investigations in every field; its articles are often admirable in their general scope and execution; but there is also abundantly manifest a lack of appreciation of the popular wants. The editors and many of the English contributors are scholars, and are more familiar with the demands of scholars and of the higher classes of English society; but they have not prepared a work adapted to the use of the great reading class of this country, who need a Bible dictionary not only com prehensive and accurate, but intelligible by itself,-at least, without the aid of dictionaries of other languages. Not only should Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Arabic terms, if they necessarily occur in the work, be generally translated into English, but all references to the Scriptures should be so made as to convey information to those who understand only the English language, and have only the English version of the Bible. Those who consult this dictionary will see the bearing of these remarks on the articles. "Abdi, 3," "Achzib, 1," "Amos," " Azal," "Jeiel," and indeed on almost every page. We suggest further, that a Bible dictionary for popular use should make it an object to explain apparent inconsistencies in the Bible, instead of merely pointing them out (as in the articles "Aceldama," "Ahaziah, 2," &c.), and then leaving them as so many stumbling-blocks.

We notice that this "Concise Dictionary" is especially deficient in regard to maps. Robinson's Calmet and Kitto's Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature are both far superior to it in this respect. The pronunciation of this new dictionary appears to have been systematically altered from that of the larger dictionary; it differs in innumerable instances from that which is prevalent among us; it is often inconsistent with itself, and in many cases even the number of syllables in a proper name cannot be determined from it. So numerous are these alterations that we looked to see if Jon'athan and Josh'ua were not changed to Jo'nathan and Jo'shua to correspond with other like alterations.

The exclusion of American names from the "List of Contributors to the Original Work" was a noticeable feature of the first imported copies of the "Concise Dictionary:" but there has recently appeared at the beginning of the volume a new leaf substituted (probably by the American publishers) for the one first inserted, and on this new leaf a new "List," embracing with the other contributors the names of four Americans, viz: Prof. G. E. Day, Prof.

H. B. Hackett, Prof. C. E. Stowe, and J. P. Thompson, D. D., (wrongly spelled Thomson), who furnished numerous important articles for the larger dictionary.

We will only add that this "Concise Dictionary" has a great amount of valuable matter from which and other accessible materials there might be made a better dictionary of the Bible for popular use than any now extant in England or America; and the preparation and publication of such a dictionary would be an important service to the cause of the Bible and of Christianity.

PHILOSOPHICAL.

JOHN STUART MILL'S DISSERTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.*- In our last number, we noticed the publication by Mr. Spencer of the critiques of the Philosophy of Sir William Hamilton, by Mr. Mill. We have since received a collection of his Dissertations and Discussions previously issued by the same publisher in a similar style. We cannot commend too highly the beauty of all these volumes, nor the value of their contents. We have already disavowed our discipleship to his views and our aversion to the direction of his philosophy. But a knowledge of his opinions and a familiarity with his writings are almost a necessity to every well educated man. There are few living writers who deserve to be counted among "representative men" as John Stuart Mill. It is true that in England the number of his professed adherents and disciples is small, much smaller than it is in this country, and yet in England he represents an important element of the public sentiment of the country. Though opposed by the power of caste and of the church; though the traditions, the beliefs, and the prejudices of the ruling and the educated classes are against him, the small, yet select band of reformers, especially in politics and finance, acknowledge him as one of their great leaders. His theological views and his religious position are, unhappily, such as to cast him off from the cordial sympathies of many who are at one with him in liberal principles. A necessitarian in psychology, a rejecter of all a priori beliefs in metaphysics, and a known disbeliever in the supernatural origin of

• Dissertations and Discussions; Political, Philosophical, and Historical, by JOHN STUART MILL. In three volumes. Boston: William V. Spencer. 1865. 12mo.

Christianity, he must, of course, be superficial and inconsequent in his philosophy. It might be thought that he must, therefore, be an unsafe and even a dangerous guide to the uninstructed and to the young. On the other hand, he is so candid in his temper, so critical in his analysis and statement of his own opinions, and so fair in his appreciating and exhibiting the views of his opponents, that he is at once the least dangerous and the most instructive of all modern philosophical free-thinkers. To those who must necesarily acquaint themselves with views that are antagonist to their own, in order that they may learn the strongest things that can be said against the opinions which they regard as true, it is almost a necessity to be familiar with the philosophy of Mill. Students of netaphysics and theology can learn as much from the right use of the principal writings of Mill as from the stoutest defender of liberty and of intuitive truth.

These three volumes of his Dissertations contain the principal papers which he has contributed for a long course of years to the quarterly and other journals of England. They were all designated by himself. The American edition is introduced by a preface from his own pen, and it includes his recently published treatise On Utilitarianism. These papers are upon a very wide range of topics; literary, political, metaphysical, and biographical. The first volume leads off with his interesting and much read paper on the contest in America, contributed to Frazer's Magazine in February, 1862. This is followed by a discussion of the right and wrong of state interference with corporation and church property. An interesting paper occurs among others on Professor Sedgwick's discourse on the studies of the University of Cambridge-a biographico critical article upon Armand Carrel, another upon Jeremy Bentham. The second volume contains, among others, articles upon Coleridge, De Tocqueville's Democracy in America, Bailey's Berkeley's Theory of Vision. The third has papers upon the enfranchisement of woman, Dr. Whewell on Moral Philosophy, and Grote's History of Greece. As almost every paper which Mr. Mill brings before the public is elaborate and principled, so to speak, it will at once be very properly inferred that these volumes contain a very attractive and various collection of papers of permanent value.

JOHN STUART MILL ON THE "POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY OF AUGUSTE COMTE*-Closely following upon the Dissertations, &c., Mr. Spencer has given the public in a small volume, uniform with them, two papers of Mr. Mill upon the philosophy of Auguste Comte, partly expository of his system, and partly critical. As Mr. Mill was the first English writer who avowed himself a partial disciple of the great positivist, and has made a careful study of his works, we presume that we have a fair account of the chief points of his system, so far, at least, as it bears upon metaphysical and social sciences. And perhaps no volume gives so clear and succinct a view of these features of his philosophy.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

LIFE AND LETTERS OF REV. F. W. ROBERTSON.t-This is a profoundly but painfully interesting biography. The sermons of Robertson have been generally recognized as productions of genius. They are marked by originality of thought, a most remarkable power of developing Scripture, and a wonderful condensation and precision of language. The curiosity to know more of the personal history of one whose character is so mildly reflected in his writings, is natural. We learn from these volumes that Robertson's life was, on the whole, a sorrowful one. With a strong desire to take up the military profession, he gratified his friends so far as to renounce his chosen pursuit and devote himself to the Christian ministry. At the outset of his career he was “Evangelical" in his religious opinions,-read the lives of Brainerd and Henry Martyn with deep sympathy, and mastered Edwards. His mind became unsettled respecting the doctrines of religion, and he passed through a trying inward conflict. He passed some time in the Tyrol during this period of mental agitation, and returned to England with a new system of Christian belief. A new crystalization followed upon the commotion which had broken up his previous connections. Exactly what this new creed was, the biographer does not inform us; but on other points the reader o

* The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte. By JOHN STUART MILL. Boston: William V. Spencer 1865. 12mo. pp. 182.

† Life and Letters of Frederic W. Robertson, M. A., Incumbent of Trinity Chapel, Brighton, 1947-53. Edited by STOPFORD A. BROOKE, M. A., late Chaplain to the Embassy at Berlin. 2 vols. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1865. $4.

Robertson's sermons need hardly be instructed. His divergence from the accepted forms of doctrine, as well as his practical and effectual sympathy with the working men of Brighton, where he resided, excited against him much ill-will and suspicion. He drew around him, however, a large congregation of friends and supporters. The opposition which he experienced wore upon his heart. For with intense independence, courage, and honesty, he combined an equally intense craving for sympathy. This natural sensibility, together with a sense of loneliness that haunted him, rendered the later portion of his ministry an extremely sorrowful record.

This memoir is well and judiciously written, The letters of Robertson are full of interest and often exhibit the force and richness of his mind. A fine specimen of his power is the spirited defense of Tennyson's In Memoriam, in reply to a carping reviewer in the London Times. We have not space here to discuss the theological opinions of Robertson. He is suggestive and inspiring, even where his statements are defective and partly erroneous.

LIFE OF DR. VAN DER PALM*-If any of our readers would like to know what sort of a man is a veritable Dutch divine of the nineteenth century, how he lived and how he preached, we advise them to procure this book, to read this biography, including the stately Latin of the appendix, and to ponder over these sermons. It breathes the very atmosphere of Leyden. We seem, when we read it, to see the stately doctor in the lecture room, in the pulpit, in his home, and walking the streets-formal, learned, eloquent, affectionate, pious, and Dutch. The Latin address to his pupils after the death of a favorite son,—the learned opinion of Dr. Van Kaathoven, respecting his constitution, his sickness, and death, are in perfect keeping, and remind us of the days of the famous old times in the university of Leyden. In all these respects the work is quite unique and is worth an attentive perusal. Aside from these features, it gives us the picture of a faithful and devout Christian preacher. We commend the volume to our readers as a

* Life and Character of J. H. Van der Palm, D. D., Professor of Oriental Languages and Antiquities, also of Sacred Poetry and Eloquence in the University of Leyden. Sketched by NICHOLAS BEETS, D. D. Translated from the Dutch by J. P. WESTERVELT. New York: Hurd & Houghton. 1865. $2. 12mo. pp. 401.