his kingdom upon earth. We cannot help quoting a remark in a letter from the Duke of Wellington, given in extenso by Gene ral Parlby, on the subject of the religious instruction of the army. It is dated Cartaxo, February 6th, 1811; and the dictum of his grace derives additional weight as coming from one whom our author describes "as the very last to be acted upon by a pharisaical affectation of what he did not feel "

"I am very anxious upon this subject (wrote the duke in the letter referred to), not only from the desire which every man must have that so many persons as there are in this army should have the advantage of religious instruction, but from a knowledge that it is the greatest support and aid to military discipline and order."

Comparing the character of Bishop Middleton, the first Indian bishop, with that of his successor Heber, the author says:

"In some minute points there was a difference between the two prelates wide as the poles asunder. Under the most sultry Bengal sun Bishop Middleton would never have appeared in public divested of the smallest portion of the episcopal costume. He would, probably, have indulged in a supercilious smile, could he have beheld his successor cantering cheerily along in a wide-brimmed straw hat and white trowsers.'

We cordially commend this book to the perusal of those who are desirous of information on the subject of religion in India; and we may add that it is written in a remarkably simple and lucid style.

Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers, D.D., LL.D. By his Son-in-Law, the Rev. W. HANNA, LL.D. Vol. III. Edinburgh: Constable. 1851.

We have received this third volume of "Memoirs," while our last sheets are passing through the press; and, though we can only notice it briefly, we are unwilling to postpone the announcement of its publication, especially as it has been delayed in consequence of the severe illness of the editor. But we have the less occasion to regret the loss of the present opportunity, as we hope to take rather an extended notice of the whole work when the next, which is expected to be the concluding volume, shall be published.

The great feature in Dr. Chalmers's character is thorough honesty. It produced or brought into harmony all the other features, so as to render him, with all his great talents, natural and acquired, simple and artless as a child; and, with all his tenderness and warmth, firm and consistent. And, above all, it brought peace within, and threw a perpetual sunshine around him wherever he went. He lived in the light and

walked in the light, in the perpetual consciousness that he had nothing to conceal.

A striking instance is given on the discussion of the Pluralities Bill, in the General Assembly, 1825. One of the members quoted a sentence from an old pamphlet written by Dr. Chalmers which was in opposition with the sentiments he was then expressing on the Pluralities Bill. The sentence ran that, "After the satisfactory discharge of his parish duties, a minister may enjoy five days in the week of uninterrupted leisure for the prosecution of any science in which his taste may dispose him to engage." Dr. Chalmers replied :—

"Sir-That pamphlet I now declare to have been a production of my own, published twenty years ago. Verily, I believed that my unfortunate pamphlet had long ere now descended into the tomb of merited oblivion, and that there it was mouldering in silence, forgotten and disregarded. But since that gentleman has brought it forward in the face of this house, I can assure him that I feel grateful to him from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity he has now afforded me of making a public recantation of the sentiments it contains. At the time when I wrote it, I did not conceive that my pamphlet would do much evil; but, sir, considering the conclusions that have been deduced from it by the reverend gentleman, I do feel obliged to him for reviving it, and for bringing me forward to make my public renunciation of what is there written. I confess myself to have been guilty of a heinous crime, and I now stand a repentant culprit before the bar of this venerable assembly.

"The circumstances attending the publication of my pamphlet were shortly as follows:-As far back as twenty years ago, I was ambitious enough to aspire to be successor to Professor Playfair in the mathematical chair of the University of Edinburgh. During the discussion which took place relative to the person who might be appointed his successor, there appeared a letter from Professor Playfair to the magistrates of Edinburgh on the subject, in which he stated it as his conviction that no person could be found competent to discharge the duties of the mathematical chair among the clergymen of the Church of Scotland. I was at that time, sir, more devoted to mathematics than to the literature of my profession; and, feeling aggrieved and indignant at what I conceived an undue reflection on the abilities and education of our clergy, I came forward with that pamphlet to rescue them from what I deemed an unmerited reproach, by maintaining that a devoted and exclusive attention to the study of mathematics was not dissonant to the proper habits of a clergyman. Alas! sir, so I thought in my ignorance and pride. I have now no reserve in saying that the sentiment was wrong, and that, in the utterance of it, I penned what was most outrageously wrong. Strangely blinded that I was! What, sir, is the object of mathematical science? Magnitude, and the proportions of magnitude. But then, sir, I had forgotten two magnitudes-I thought not of the littleness of time-I recklessly thought not of the greatness of eternity!" (78).

We have only room for one other extract, taken from Dr. Chalmers's evidence before the Poor Law Committee, He is asked:

"The population of Ireland being chiefly potato-fed, which is a crop attended with great fluctuations and casualties, do you consider that these fluctuations and casualties would render a system of compulsory relief advisable? Dr. Chalmers-Quite the reverse. In what respect do you consider the assessment principle would be productive of evil under such circumstances?-I think it would just add to the recklessness and improvidence of the people, and so land the country in a still greater population without increased means of maintaining them. If I may be permitted, I will advert to a principle which I think may be called the pervading fallacy in the speculations of those who advocate the establishment of a poor-rate in Ireland, and is founded on the observation of a connection between a high state of character and a bigh state of economic comfort. It is quite palpable that so it is in fact, but there seems to be an important mistake in the order of causation. It is often conceived that comfort is the cause, and character is the effect...... What I should advise is, that education be made universal in Ireland, and that you should weather for a season the annoyance of Ireland's mendicity, and the annoyance of that pressure which I conceive to be altogether temporary. This appears to me the only principle upon which Ireland can be securely and effectually brought to a higher standard of enjoyment, and into the state of a well-habited and a well-conditioned peasantry" (252).

An Enquiry into M. Antoine D' Abbadie's Journey to Kaffa, to Discover the Source of the Nile. By CHARLES T. BEKE, Ph. D. F.S.A., &c. London: Madden. 1850.

THE object of this pamphlet is to show that M. d' Abbadie's journey is a fiction; that, if undertaken at all, it was never performed; and, to prove this, we have some fifty pages of close letter-press, a map, and some diagrams. We confess our inability to decide a question which we, therefore, refer and commend to the consideration of the Geographical Society.

The Village Astronomer; or the Kalendar Man of Vertzberg. By the Author of "Anna, the Leech Vender." From the German. By MATILDA WRENCH. London: Wertheim. 1851.

THE translator of this story is favorably known to the public as the author of an interesting narrative entitled "The Highland Glen;" and we have to thank her for presenting to us, in an English dress, a tale, the interest of which never flags, while the moral it inculcates is of the highest and purest kind. It is a story of Christian endurance under persecution and sorrow.

William Edward Painter, 342, Strand, London, Printer.