Johnson, unsettled and fortuitous; nor has even his authority, or the industry of his painstaking successors, been sufficient to banish its irregularities. The few specimens we have given of English in " olden times," will show how capricious and fluctuating was the orthography of its earliest writers. We find yf, gyf, for if; yt, hit, hyt, hight, hyght, for it; geve, gyve, yeve, for give; Englonde, Inglonde, Ynglonde, Engelonde, for England; anes, anis, anys, ones, onys, for once; ley, lage, lagh, laugh, for law. These diversities of orthography Dr. Johnson thus explains: "As language was at its beginning merely oral, all words of necessary or common use were spoken before they were written, and, while they were unfixed by any visible signs, must have been spoken with great diversity, as we now observe those who cannot read, catch sounds imperfectly, and utter them negligently. When this wild and barbarous jargon was first reduced to an alphabet, every penman endeavoured to express, as he could, the sounds which he was accustomed to pronounce or to receive, and vitiated in writing such words as were already vitiated in speech."

The idiom of our language has undergone fewer changes than its orthography. The Saxon has always formed the groundwork of English; and the introduction of words from other sources has never entirely frittered away this foundation, nor materially affected the peculiar structure of our language. Still our idiom, formed out of so many heterogeneous materials, remains on many points unsettled and clashing. We speak of conformity to, or with a principle; of being in, or under certain circumstances; of one thing corresponding to, or with another; of an argument founded in, or upon a premise. Such diversities of structure and phraseology are comparatively unimportant; but we need some standard on this subject to guide inexperienced writers; and we know not a greater or more urgent desideratum in the literature of the present day than a full, accurate and decisive work on the idiom of our language.

But the most important change that has taken place in

No

our tongue respects the use and signification of words. one acquainted with any of the writers previous to the seventeenth century, need be told how many words then in familiar use have now become obsolete, and how many more have so far changed their signification as, in some instances, to lose their original meaning. We cannot open a volume of Hooker, nor read a single page in Chaucer, Spenser, or Shakspeare, without finding words and phrases that would now seem strange, and perhaps unintelligible to most readers. A few such occur even in the common version of the Bible. The Psalmist speaks of leasing for lying; and Peter exhorts the Christian to eschew (avoid) evil. We meet with trow, for think, and wot for know. "Doth he thank that servant? I trow not. I wot that through ignorance ye did it." We find also let for hinder, and prevent for go before. "Only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way.— I prevented the dawning of the morning; and cried." On nearly every page of Todd's edition of Johnson's Dictionary, we find words not now in use; and of those from Saxon roots which once formed nine-tenths of our language, more than one fifth have become obsolete, and their place been supplied by words from ancient and foreign tongues.

But a topic far more important than either of the preceding,—the origin of past and still continued changes in our language, must be reserved for a future number.

ARTICLE VII.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

1.-Biographical and Critical Miscellanies. By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT, Author of the "History of Ferdinand and Isabella," etc. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 638, 8vo.

THIS volume is got up in a style correspondent with that of the author's historical works, and contains his contributions to the North

American Review. Among them are Reviews of Irving's Conquest of Granada-Cervantes-Sir Walter Scott-Chateaubriand's English Literature-Bancroft's History of the United States-Madame Calderons' Life in Mexico-Molière, etc.

They are written in Mr. Prescott's usually lucid and chaste style, and, although by no means so valuable as the works on which his fame rests, yet are they worthy of a place on the same shelf, and will, doubtless, be wanted by all who possess the others.

2.- Observations in the East, chiefly in Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor. By JOHN P. DURBIN, D. D., late President of Dickinson College. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. 2 vols., 12mo.

Dr. Durbin is an observant traveller, and an independent thinker. His Observations in Europe met with a favorable reception, and those on the East will, no doubt, be read with equal interest.

Dr. Durbin disagrees with Dr. Robinson in respect to the approach to the Red Sea, and the passage over it, and gives some striking reasons for his view of the case. He agrees with him, and of course disagrees with Dr. Olin, as to the site of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem; i. e. on the question, whether the present sepulchre covers the ground of our Lord's tomb.

Much valuable and interesting information is conveyed in these volumes, in regard to the ancient churches of Asia Minor; and the Doctor's reflections on the Missions to the Eastern Churches of the present day, are discriminating and candid.

His observations on the ground lead him to the conclusion, that the missions of the A. B. C. F. M. are spiritual in their object, while those of the Episcopal Church and the Papacy are ecclesiastical and political. The two latter seek fellowship and communion with those churches, as they are; the former seek first their conversion to a true, spiritual Christianity, in order to fellowship; without, however, disturbing their organizations.

3.-The Sufferings of Christ. By A LAYMAN. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 328, 12mo.

This is a novel book, on a startling subject; not startling in its title-"The Sufferings of Christ;" but in its real doctrine-the passibility of God, and the actual suffering of the Divine Word incarnate. The impassibility of the divine nature has been so long a settled doctrine of the church, that when a layman broaches and defends the opposite doctrine, at this day, we are naturally startled.

The book is evidently the result of no little reflection, and has been penned by one who is not unused to expressing his thoughts in

clear and forcible diction. Few books of the present day are written in so forcible style. It is a pleasure to read the volume, independently of the interest of the subject.

We are not ready to pronounce positively on the argument. We are not yet convinced by it. Some parts of it, we think, not just criticism; as, for instance, in the chapter on the meaning of the term "flesh;" yet is it worthy of serious consideration, and is, at least, a good specimen of an argument.

The author only contends, that God is capable of voluntary suffering, not involuntary, that he can choose to suffer, if thereby his own glory and the good of his creatures shall be promoted. Then he contends, that God did actually choose to suffer in connection with human nature, and did suffer for the redemption of sinners.

It might be asked, whether a being capable of suffering, can be denominated a perfect being? whether experience of suffering is not evidence of imperfection? and whether, for any purpose whatever, God can voluntarily inflict pain on himself, without, at the same time, detracting from our view of him as the Perfect One?

4.-The Philosophy of Mystery. By WALTER COOPER DENDY, Fellow and Honorary Librarian of the Medical Society of London, etc. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 442, 12mo.

This is the third volume of Harpers' New Miscellany, and truly an interesting volume it is. The form of dialogue is adopted, and thus the author presents different views, and answers objections philosophically, clothing the whole in a very pleasant diction.

The object is to give a history and an explanation of all manner of spectres, phantasies, and illusions. Hence we have interesting chapters on the nature and motives of ghosts, phantasy from mental association, mysterious forms and signs, demonology, nature of soul and mind, of sleep, of dreams, somnambulism, trance, mesmerism, etc., etc. The analysis and classification of spectral illusions evinces genius and analytic power.

5.-The Life of Mozart, including his Correspondence. By EDWARD HOLMES, Author of "A Ramble among the Musicians of Germany." New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 380, 12mo.

Another volume of the New Miscellany, and one well worthy of a place in it. For the first time is the English public put in possession of any thing like a Life of Mozart; and surely it cannot but be acceptable, to be introduced to a more familiar acquaintance with one who has done so much for the musical harmony of the world. Much of Mozart's correspondence is embodied in the volume; and he is THIRD SERIES, VOL. II. NO. I. 12

made, as much as possible, to tell his own tale of himself. A full account is also given of his compositions, from an inspection of the original MSS.

It will be perceived that Mozart was born to music, and that at the age of four he already composed pieces, which his father wrote down in a book. This book was preserved by his only sister to the end of her life, and a specimen from it, composed at the age of four, is found in this volume. Connoisseurs and amateurs will, of course, be greatly gratified with this record of the development of the great musical genius.

6.-Aids to English Composition, prepared for Students of all Grades; embracing Specimens and Examples of School and College Exercises, and most of the higher departments of English Composition, both in Prose and Poetry. By RICHARD GREEN PARKER. A new edition, with additions and improvements. NewYork: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 429, 12mo.

We wish there were more attention paid to composition in our schools than there is; and we, therefore, rejoice in any well-constructed aids prepared for teachers and scholars. Mr. Parker's work has been before the public for some time, and has been pronounced useful by those who are practically acquainted with its details. We find in it many admirable rules and appropriate examples, and doubt not that much benefit may be derived from the study and practice of its inculcations.

7.-The Pilgrim's Progress; with a Life of John Bunyan. By ROBERT SOUTHEY, Esq., LL.D. Illustrated with fifty cuts, by Adams, after designs by Chapman, Harvey, and others. NewYork: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 348, 12mo.

This edition of the Pilgrim's Progress will meet a want of the community. Whilst the wealthy can afford to buy more elegantly illustrated editions, here is one adorned with beautiful wood-cuts, which will come within the means of the humbler classes of society; and to such is it an interesting and useful book.

8.-The Vigil of Faith, and other Poems. By CHARLES FENNO HOFFMAN. Fourth edition. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 164, 18mo.

A neat little volume, too well known to require any special notice from us. Mr. Hoffman possesses a poetic vein, not of the purest order, yet yielding occasionally some golden threads.