plored and almost inaccessible mountains and deserts, being in longitude 66 nearly 120°."

But the propensity to misplace geographical points is not confined to this unlucky table. On page 323 we find it stated, that the "monument with inscriptions," marking the "initial point" of the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, was erected in "lat. 32° 31' 59-58, and long. 119° 35 0-15 west from Greenwich"-a place where it is certain that Col. Weller, with the astronomical corps under his direction, could never have built it, unless they could rear it from the unfathomable depths of the Pacific, one hundred and fifty miles from shore. How this position came to be reckoned from Paris also, is beyond our ken.

The computations of the solar eclipse of July 28th, furnished for the Almanac by Lieut. Davis, superintendent of the proposed American Nautical Almanac, are extensive and minute, but even these are so disfigured by typographical errors, that one will hesitate to place confidence in the numerical statements, unless he has the means of verifying them. We have not attempted to examine these computations critically, but even in the figures copied directly from the English Nautical Almanac, we find 10° 28′ W. printed for 106° 28′ W., the point where the eclipse first strikes the earth. The heading of the left hand column of the table on page 43, is minutes and seconds, instead of hours and minutes. Numerous typographical errors occur also in the formulæ and computations that follow; which, if easily detected by the practiced computer, will nevertheless, confuse the less skillful, and create a suspicion of more important errors not discoverable at a cursory glance.

Now such errors as those here pointed out are unpardonable in a work that professes the accuracy and enjoys the reputation of the American Almanacespecially in that division of the volume which is published under the sanction of so distinguished a name as that of the well known mathematical professor at Harvard. Very likely the blunders noted may have been the work of some other hand; if so, they ought not to have appeared in the part of the work professedly under his special supervision.

We may be allowed to remark in passing, that the astronomical portion of the Almanac almost entirely fails of answering the end for which it appears to have been intended. It is too meager for the astronomer, and too full for the mere general reader. The United States Almanac, published in Philadelphia, for 1843-4-5, was very much superior to it in scientific utility, and if published now, would, we think, be universally preferred by the astronomer and scientific traveller to the one in question. No man who has important astronomical or geodetical problems to solve will be without the British Nautical Almanac, or some similar work, and no one possessed of that work will want the meager extracts from it which the American Almanac gives. When the American Nautical Almanac shall have made its appearance, all occasion for the astronomical portion of the work under notice will entirely cease, if indeed it ever existed. The extensive list of occultations computed at the Nautical Almanac office, and published by the Smithsonian Institute, already affords a good foretaste of what American astronomers may expect from the projected work, when the necessary arrangements for its publication shall have been completed.

The great value of the American Almanac, and that on which its deservedly high reputation is based, consists in its statistics. The preparation of this part of the work involves great labor, and so far as we can discover, from a cursory examination, that labor has been as faithfully and accurately accomplished as could reasonably be expected in a work involving such a multiplicity of facts and figures. The successive volumes of this Almanac present an invaluable digest of the statistics of the country, and are worthy of a place in every well stocked library of books of reference. The volume for the present year is full and interesting in this department, and may be studied with advantage by all who would understand the growth, resources, and pres

ent condition of the United States. Its condensed chronological record of passing events, and brief obituary notices of distinguished men, form by no means the least interesting and valuable portion of the volume, and they are presented in a shape convenient for preservation and future reference. We wish the work success, and hope the future volumes will be less disfigured by blemishes than the one before us.

The Method of the Divine Government, physical and moral. By Rev. JAMES M'COSH. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1851. 8vo. pp. 515. THIS is an able work, and one which we can recommend to the attention of all thinking men. It discusses most of the points which are appropriate to its very comprehensive theme, with energy and thoroughness. It is written in an eloquent, though too verbose a style. The author has read very extensively the works in natural theology and metaphysics, not only of the religious schools, but even of atheistic and irreligious writers. He has brought down his reading to the latest times, and has boldly grappled with the giant of the so-called positive philosophy, Auguste Comte. If a man wishes to know what has been taught on these subjects, especially in recent writers, he will be likely to be gratified by perusing this treatise. If he wishes to have his own thoughts quickened, and new and various subjects suggested for earnest and exciting reflection, he can not fail to be interested in this volume. We believe it will be generally acceptable to a large circle of readers. While we say all this of this book, we are bound to add, that the author is not so distinguished, by the highest philosophical ability or acuteness as he is by the power readily to appreciate the general bearings of theological and metaphysical discussions, and by very extensive and well directed reading.

The Women of Israel. By GRACE AGUILAR. In two volumes. New York: D. Appleton & Co. New Haven: Thomas H. Pease. 1851. 12mo. pp. 270, 336. THERE is a strange interest attached to this book. The author is a Jewess, one of the most gifted of the daughters of Abraham, who writes with the most intense enthusiasm, both national and religious, of the distinguished women of her nation. She follows the chronological order and gives an elaborate and finished picture of the circumstances of the life and history of each. Her principal object seems to be, to inspire the females of the Jewish faith, with a religious and patriotic interest in the distinguished daughters of their own race, from whom some of them may be descended. In connection with the life of each of her heroines, she enforces some practical duty connected with the present condition of the Jewish nation, and excite them to earnest attachment to their faith by warm-hearted appeals. We almost imagine as we read these enforcements and appeals, that we are listening to the instructions of some "mother in Israel," in the times of the Maccabees. But alas! there is this striking difference. They saw a Messiah who was to come, even though revealed by the dim light of prophecy. She sees not the one who is comeeven though the fact that he is come, is attested by the record of Jesus, and by the blazing splendors of Christendom. In the midst of these splendors she lives and writes, and one of the most affecting proofs of the divinity of this Messiah, is the vain and ineffectual reasonings by which she endeavors to show that Judaism is not inferior in its adaptation to the wants of our nature to the better hope introduced by the Gospel. But she strives in vain, for it still remains true, that "we have not a High Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." This book is a most profitable one to read. We learn from it to enter more fully into the spirit of the Old Testament, and to value more highly the new.

Christ's Second Coming: Will it be Pre-Millennial? By the Rev. DAVID BROWN, A.M., St. James' Free Church, Glasgow. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 285 Broadway. 1851.

THIS is an able and timely work. It is written in opposition to the theory, in its many varieties, known by the names Millenarianism, Second Adventism, and Millerism, and entitled by the author of this work, the pre-millennial theory-which has been advocated with great zeal by many able and excellent men in Great Britain, especially in the evangelical part of the Church of England, and by a few in this country, Dr. Duffield, Bishop Henshaw, Dr. Tyng, and others, and in one form by Mr. Miller. Some of the advocates of this theory, hold, that Christ will soon come, not to carry on in person and in power the work of converting and saving men-his kingdom of grace-but to close the dispensation of grace altogether, and to introduce an eternal state of retribution. But the greater number hold the theory as essentially defined by Mr. Brown; "That the fleshly and sublunary state is not to terminate with the second coming of Christ, but to be then set up in a new form; when, with his glorified saints, the Redeemer will reign in person on the throne of David at Jerusalem for a thousand years, over a world of men yet in the flesh, eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage, under this mysterious sway."

This theory, in all its diversities, has been regarded with much anxiety and regret by the great body of intelligent Christians, for many reasons, but especially because it tends, as they believe, to paralyze the missionary enterprise and indeed, all evangelizing efforts as now carried on; teaching that they are utterly inadequate as instrumentalities for the conversion of the world, and that little will be accomplished for that end till Christ comes to this world in person.

This theory Mr. Brown undertakes to overthrow, and to establish the common theory of the Christian church—that Christ's second coming will be for the purpose of closing the dispensation of grace by the final judgment; and that this coming will not be till after the triumph of Christianity in the earth by the present economy-the ministration of the Spirit, the truth, and the church, directed and controlled by Christ on his mediatorial throne.

The book, which is an octavo volume of 489 pages, consists of two parts In the first part, entitled the Second Advent, the author confutes the pre-millennial theory, by showing from the Scriptures the purposes of the Redeemer's second advent; and consequently that it will not occur till these purposes are accomplished. He proves, that when Christ comes, the church which he hath purchased with his own blood will be absolutely and numerically complete-admitting of no subsequent accessions: that the Bible makes the hopes and the fears of all men to turn upon the second coming of Christ, as an event future to every human being, and makes no provision for the bringing in of any after it that baptism, and with it the gathering and training of disciples for glory, and the whole mediatorial power and presence of Christ for saving purposes, are ordained to continue till "the end of the world"-the admitted period of Christ' second coming-and not beyond it; and that in the Lord's Supper, the Redeemer's death is to be showed forth only "till he come :" that the kingdom of Christ is the kingdom of grace in the hands of the Mediator -a kingdom already in existence-virtually ever since the fall, and formally since his ascension to the right hand of power; and that it will continue unchanged, both in character and form, till the final judgment, when in its state of glory it becomes "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"" the everlasting kingdom of Christ and of God:" that at Christ's second coming, his whole church-"all that the Father hath given him shall be made alive at once, the dead being raised and the living changed; and that, at the same time, all the wicked shall stand up in a resurrection statethe whole human race appearing together before the great white throne: that

when Christ comes, the whole human race will be tried together for eternity at his judgment seat: and, finally, that at Christ's second coming, the heavens and the earth that are now, being dissolved, shall disappear, and be succeeded by" new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, without the least mixture of sin-good, unalloyed by aught of evil.

In the second part of the volume, which he entitles the Millennium, the author teaches and proves from the Scriptures, that there will be, before Christ's coming, a long period-a thousand years, he thinks, though he acknowledges that the reasons for this opinion are slender, and has no controversy with those who think that this period is indefinite as well as long-when the Gospel will have general prevalence and power among men, and grace will be victorious in the whole earth.

It should be added, that the discussion both of the first and second departments of the subject is so conducted, as fully to notice and answer the arguments which have been advanced to sustain the opposing theory.

English Grammar. The English Language in its Elements and Forms. With a History of its Origin and Development. Designed for use in Colleges and Schools. By WILLIAM C. FOWLER, late Professor of Rhetoric in Amherst College. New York: Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff street. 1850. pp. 675.

THIS work surveys a wide field. It is divided into eight Parts, as follows: The Origin and History of the English Language; The Phonology of the English Language; The Orthographical Forms in the English Language; Etymological Forms; Logical Forms; Syntatical Forms; Rhetorical Forms; and Poetical Forms. Besides, the first chapter of the first part, among other things, treats of the origin and unity of language, the classification of languages, the birth-place of language, together with a more particular account of the branches of the Indo-European family of languages. We ought also to explain, perhaps, that under the heads of Logical Forms, and Rhetorical Forms, the author treats of logic and rhetoric, though of course somewhat summarily. It will be obvious from this statement, that the work goes over a good deal of ground, and that it embraces many things not usually included in English grammar. The materials have been collected from a great variety of sources, and have been put together so as to form a consistent and well arranged work. We think the variety of subjects which are treated of, will render it a valuable book of reference, without impairing, perhaps, its utility as a text-book to be recited. Every student ought to have a work of this kind by him, to refer to, and for this purpose we know of none we could recommend in preference.

It should be added that a portion of the work, a little more than one-fifth of the whole, was prepared by Prof. Gibbs of Yale College. The reputation of this gentleman, as a philosophical grammnarian and philologist, is a sufficient guarantee of the value of any thing he may see fit to publish in this depart

ment.

Christianity Revived in the East, or A Narrative of the work of God among the Armenians of Turkey. By H. G. O. DWIGHT, Missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. New York: Baker & Scribner, 145 Nassau street, and 36 Park Row. 1850. New Haven: T. H. Pease.

In this volume Mr. Dwight has set forth in order the history of the religious movement now in progress among the Armenians. Commencing with a brief account of the Armenian church in which he affirms its close resemblance, in forms and doctrines, to the Church of Rome, he proceeds to trace the influences which, for thirty years past, have been silently working in it a process of reformation. These influences differ not materially from those which are VOL. IX.

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employed at other stations of the American Board. No man perhaps is more competent than Mr. Dwight to execute the task which he has performed. His narrative is methodical, clear and candid. Even the account given in it, of the agency of Bishop Southgate in aggravating if not originating the severest of the persecutions suffered by the Armenian converts-an account which no American can read without mingled shame and indignation-betrays no want of Christian courtesy.

The author's style, though by no means facile and fluent, is yet perspicuous. Any style however would be redeemed by the very great interest of the facts which he has related. We hope his work will be read, and be useful in promoting the missionary spirit in our churches.

India and the Hindoos, Being a popular view of the Geography, History, Government, Manners, Customs, Literature and Religion of that Ancient People; with an account of Christian Missions among them. By F. DE W. WARD, late Missionary at Madras, and Member of the " American Oriental Society." New York: Baker & Scribner. 1850. New Haven: T. H. Pease.

We have found this volume upon India very entertaining and instructive. Indeed, it is a volume not easily laid down by one who has opened it, till the whole is read. We have found its perusal an unexpected treat. Mr. Ward's style is lively and agreeable; indeed his subject-matter, interesting from its novelty, is doubly so from the facility of style with which it is presented. Occasionally, indeed, the author is betrayed into a sentence which must be deemed impracticable to grammarians. He likewise employs occasionally a word not simply in a manner that is novel, but absolutely inadmissible. We find also one or two anachronisms, but with these exceptions there is much to commend and little to condemn in the plan and execution of this work.

Mr. Ward was for a period of ten years a Missionary of the American Board at Madras. At the expiration of that time, he was compelled, by the prostration of his health, to return to this country. But his sojourn in India was marked, as it appears, by great personal industry in acquainting himself with the country and its inhabitants. He traveled considerably in different parts of the peninsula, carefully gathering in every practicable manner, and penciling at the time the information which has been here wrought into one of the most readable and valuable books yet furnished by our missionaries.

In the opening of the work he has devoted a chapter to the geography of the country; another to its natural productions, its zoology and botany; and in a third has glanced at its history. These chapters contain much information, which is attractively exhibited. The reader is then introduced to the Hindoos themselves, and after a general survey of their different classes, and a glance at the British government over them, he is furnished with an insight into their personal and domestic life. Then follows an exhibition of their popular customs, avocations, modes of traveling, amusements, literature and science, their progress in the arts, their religious ceremonies and doctrines, the condition of their women, the system of Hindoo caste, and the various missions by which Christendom, for thirty years past, has been endeavoring to propagate the Gospel in India. In the arrangement of topics we do not think the author altogether happy; his topics might have followed each other in a manner more natural and pleasing. But when all abatement has been duly made, there is left a novelty in the subject-matter of the book, and a sprightliness and charm about its narrations which make it decidedly fascinating. And we advise all persons who resort to novels for lack of other profitable books to interest them, to take up this volume on India and admit that truth as it is more salutary, so is it no less interesting than fiction.