An Authentic Interpretation of the Guarantee of England and France, with reference to the Duchy of Schleswig. Compiled from Documentary Sources. By Dr. WILLIAM LEVERKUS, Keeper of the Records of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. Translated and Edited, with Prefatory Remarks, by EWING PYE COLQUHOUN, Scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, late of the University of Heidelberg. London 1848.

THIS well-timed publication comes upon us at a period when the whole continent of Europe is mad with theories, and when facts are especially valuable. We had given our German neighbours considerable credit for sober thinking: indeed, we had paid them the compliment of believing that much of the solidity of the English character was attributable to our Saxon origin. But the Frankfort Parliament puzzles our philosophy altogether: we only hope that the wild notion of constructing unity out of materials which have not in them the quality of cohesion, may not plunge Europe into a war, which it is the obvious interest of all parties to avoid at any sacrifice but that of honesty.

We cannot, by any attempt at epitomizing the work before us, more completely possess our readers with its scope and object than by the following extract from Mr. Colquhoun's preface:

"The object in the following pages is to prove

"That either the Danish lex regia should be received in the Duchy of Schleswig in its entirety or not at all; at any rate, not that particular provision of it alone which substitutes the female for the male

succession:

"That neither did the patent of homage of 22nd of August, 1721, incorporate the ducal with the royal part of Schleswig, much less both with Denmark Proper, by the words secundum tenorem legis regiæ: "That the oath of fealty was sworn to Christian I. as Duke of Schleswig, not as King of Denmark:

"That until the patent of the 8th of July, 1846, was published, the Danish court had never ventured to assert the incorporation, pretended to have taken place in 1460, as a legal reality.

"With respect to the guarantees of England and France

"That those powers only guaranteed in any case the ducal partviz., that part which was wrested in 1720 from the Gottorf family : That the word Ducal has been omitted in some reprints :

"That the guarantee which was in 1721 interpreted in the case of the Bishop of Lübeck versus the Crown of Denmark by Great Britain only applied to the portion formerly belonging to the house of Holstein-Gottorf:

"That the rights of private or third persons were not intended to be affected thereby :

"That no rights were guaranteed but those which the former possessor of that part of the country had enjoyed; and, lastly—

"That the Danish family did not wish to supersede the inheritance in the male, and transfer it to the female line."

The public are much indebted to Mr. Ewing Colquhoun for this little but important pamphlet, which, if not absolutely essential to the right understanding of this "vexed," and extremely vexing, question, will prove a valuable acquisition to the information of all who are interested in the subject.

Arithmetic for Young Children. By H. GRANT. New Edition. London: Grant and Griffith. 1848.

ADMIRABLY adapted to the object it proposes to accomplishnamely, to teach the infant mind the rudiments of arithmetic. The plan is happily conceived; and we have tested its efficiency.

Testimony to the Truth: or the Autobiography of an Atheist. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1848.

THIS has internal and unmistakeable evidence of being a genuine narrative; and, as such, possesses a value compared with which a work of fiction subsides into insignificance. It is written without any pretension to the graces of style or composition, and the single aim is better than the double one. There cannot exist a doubt of the intention or spirit in which the narrative is given to the world. It is a journal of thoughts and feelings, belonging to a life of much vicissitude and some trial; the scene lying principally in one of the Australian colonies. The language is simple, and the story not without interest even to those who read for amusement; and to many who take it up with no other motive it may insensibly convey the lesson it is designed to teach. In a word, it is a chart for the voyager on the troublous sea of life, in which are laid down the rock and the quicksand as well as the secure anchorage and the safe haven.

Questions on Church History: from the Earliest Period to the Present Century. Addressed Particularly to Young Persons. By EMMA M. KING. London: Painter. 1848.

THIS, as the title imports, is a work on the history of the Church in the form of question and answer, and is, therefore, especially adapted for the instruction of the young, in at all times an important, and, at the present juncture, a very interesting branch of study. Although comprised within some hundred and fifty pages, it contains a marvellous amount of valuable information, based on indisputable authority. The great recommendation of the work is the impartiality with which the

author has addressed herself to her task. It is not a onesided view of the many questions involved in its pages; and may, therefore, safely be committed to the youthful student, on whose plastic mind the earlier impressions are commonly the more enduring. The object of the author is evidently to teach the truth, and there is no leaning to any particular party in the Church. It is, in fact, the sort of work which we would wish to form one of the standard books of our schools, for which the simplicity of the language and soundness of its views peculiarly adapt it. It contains, in a compendious form, the result of extensive reading; and the more advanced student will find in it much to refresh his recollections, if not to add to his information, on the subject to which it refers.

Egypt and Nubia. From Sketches by DAVID ROBERTS, R.A.; the Literature by WILLIAM BROCKENDON.

THE eleventh and twelfth parts of this work are now before us; and, reserving more especial remark for the completion of the series, we may observe that, as the undertaking progresses, it increases in splendour. Nothing can be more beautiful or effective than the illustrations of these numbers, especially the scenic embellishments, which have all the character, finish, and richness of original drawings.

The Voice of Many Waters. A Tale for Young People. By Mrs. DAVID OSBORNE. With Illustrations by A. COOPER, R.A., and A, W. COOPER. London: Wilson. 1848.

THE object of this gracefully got up little volume, as modestly stated by the author in her preface, "is merely to relate a few interesting particulars connected with the various oceans, seas, and rivers which occupy, at least, three-fourths of the surface of the globe." The language is singularly and most appropriately simple and the style attractive, while the information conveyed is various and interesting, and a vein of unaffected piety runs through the whole. Mrs. Osborne displays a vast amount of geographical, and even topographical, knowledge, which especially qualifies her for the task she has proposed to herself, and which she has carried out in a manner that cannot but commend her little volume to the favour, not merely of the younger portion of the community, but to all who are interested in their education and improvement. Although the volume assumes the character of a dialogue between the teacher and the taught, it is not, like many works on a similar plan, broken up into short sentences, to which we greatly object; but the narratives

are continuous for many pages. Not the least attractive feature in the book are the illustrations, which are spirited in design and effectively and delicately engraved. Mrs.Osborne, in the present addition to our juvenile literature, has rendered an acceptable service to society, and we shall be glad to find her continuing a course which she has so successfully begun. We cordially recommend the "Voice of Many Waters."

The Bible of every Land; or, a History, Critical and Philosophical of all the Versions of the Sacred Scriptures, in every Language and Dialect, into which Translations have been made. With Specimen Portions, in their own Characters. Part I. London: Bagster and Sons, 8vo. 1848.

THIS work fills up a chasm in Biblical literature: while it illustrates the progress of divine truth, in connexion with missionary efforts, it supplies materials and authentic facts for those who are interested in philosophical researches. The languages into which the Scriptures have been wholly or in part translated are nearly one hundred and fifty in number; and they are arranged under eight classes, viz.--1. Monosyllabic; 2. Shemitish; 3. Indo-European, which are subdivided into eight families; 4. detached families; 5. Polynesian, or Malayan; 6. African; 7. American; and 8. Mixed, or Patois languages. The portion before us comprises the first, or Monosyllabic lauguages, comprising the Chinese, Tibetan, Siamese, Burmese, Arakanese or Rukheng, Peguese, Talain or Mon, Karen, Munipoora, and Khassee. Under each language are given, in the following order, the geographical location and statistics of the nation into whose language the Scriptures have been translated; the characteristic features of the language, notice of the version in such language; and, finally, the results of the dissemination of each version. These various particulars are derived from authentic sources of information, which are cited in the notes. Ethnographical maps, compiled from the latest and best researches, will be occasionally given. This first part is illustrated with an ethnographical map of the countries in which the monosyllabic languages are spoken. The typographical execution of this truly valuable work is very neat. We shall probably recur to it on its completion.

A Letter to Lord John Russell, on Church Reform. By a Curate of the Diocese of Exeter. London: Painter. 1848.

THE object of this pamphlet is, inter alia, to show how 70,000l. per annum may be obtained for supplying the wants of the

Church; and, among other means and appliances, the author suggests a graduated tax from one to eight per cent. on the income of all Church preferments, from 50l. to 8007. per annum, and ten per cent. on all above that sum. His views are clearly propounded; and, although we do not agree with him in some particulars, his pamphlet is worthy of the grave consideration of all whom it may concern, especially of those who have the power of applying the remedies suggested.

The author goes into other matters connected with the interests of the Church. He eulogizes in no measured terms the Premier's translation of Dr. Sumner to the see of Canterbury, as well as what the author is pleased to term his firmness in resisting the intolerant cry which was raised against Dr. Hampden. This savours a little too much of partisanship; and we do not quite understand what the author means by the "Orthodox Churches of the Dissenters." We were not aware of the existence of such things. Indeed, the designation appears to us to involve a contradiction in terms.

Original Thoughts on Various Passages of Scripture; being the Substance of Sermons preached by the late Rev. Richard Cecil, A.M., never before published. Taken down by some of his hearers, and now edited by CATHERINE CECIL, Seeleys. 1848. OUR recollection supplies us with the names of very few pastors who have been regarded with warmer affection by their flocks while living, or have been remembered with greater reverence since their departure, than Richard Cecil; and his "Remains," which were published soon after he departed this life, have endeared his memory to numbers who were beyond the reach of his living ministry. For we know of more than one, and some of them who were themselves pastors, yet confessing with gratitude that their first apprehension of the spiritual import of many of the most prominent doctrines of the Gospel was to be ascribed, in a great degree, to the reflections which were suggested by a perusal of " Cecil's Remains."

Such facts furnish the best eulogy on a minister of Christ. But it is no trivial thing that the friend and successor of Cecil, the present Bishop of Calcutta, should have passed upon him so high an eulogium as is found in the published "Sermons and Tracts," I. 291:-" As a man, his talents were of no ordinary cast as a Christian, all the fine materials which distinguish him as a man were brought up, if I might so say, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit: the leading feature of his character was faith." His humility, candour, self-command, and patience under affliction, are severally commended; and these were al

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