Woman, Female Influence, Female Education, Home, Society, Love, Single Life, Reasons for Marriage, Conditions of True Marriage, Society of Young Men, First Love, Conduct during Engagement, Trials of Woman and her Solace, Encouragements. We name all these topics, both to give an idea of the character of the book, and to show the ground of our chief objection to it; viz. that so large a proportion of the whole, seven chapters out of fourteen, should be given to one subject, and that subject Love. The subject is well treated—as well as we remember to have seen it; and if it be best that it should be treated at all so fully and minutely, we can recommend the volume for this, as well as the other, portions. But to our minds the other portions, relating to Education and Influence chiefly, are the most valuable. There are many good hints, some admirable maxims and needed cautions, and little if anything that is extravagant or useless. The author tends to the old-fashioned view of woman's sphere of duty, but does not show the narrowness and bigotry exhibited by most of the many who have lately taken up the battle against modern reformers and women's rights."

There are a few sentiments in the book, about whose accuracy or propriety we should doubt, but they relate chiefly to the matter of Love, and it may be only a question of taste between us and the author. We were sorry however to see the allusion to Mrs. Hemans, as not enough is known of her marriage, it seems to us, to authorise the assertions here made (p. 229); it can hardly be said that any thing had power to ruin her noble spirit." These are small blemishes. As a whole, the volume is decidedly good, and if properly read will do good. Mr. Muzzey deserves many thanks for his earnest and judicious labours in behalf of the young, particularly at that age when they are most exposed and character is taking its permanent stamp.

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HINTS TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, in a Series of Familiar Lectures. By a Pastor. Boston: James Munroe & Co.

pp. 100, 18mo.

1840.

MR. Fox, the author of this little treatise, has distinguished himself as the devoted friend of the young. His many small books contain

much sound and cheerful wisdom. He now writes with the authority of experience obtained by the application of his own well considered principles. In his present work he states at length some conditions which have not been sufficiently observed even in theory, much less. in practice, as to the qualifications of teachers. Only that school will be a good one, in which the teachers expect to receive as much good as they impart. Mr. Fox begins with the explicit statement, "The teachers are the school." They must enter upon their work as feeling it to be a happy privilege, and as impelled by a sense of duty. They must have a trustful and hopeful spirit of faith in its result. This will be their only safeguard against the little discouragements which present themselves. A true love for the young, a sympathy with their early thoughts and habits, and a close observation of their characters, will furnish the teacher with many aids towards his successful labour. Method and manner of behaviour, tone and language, simplicity of speech, minuteness of detail, and the practice of keeping a journal of what is accomplished or attempted in the school, are useful qualifications. The teacher should follow his pupils to their homes, and by the interest which he shows in them there, he can best enlist the cooperation of parents. The minor details, upon the matter and manner of instruction, the use of outward nature and of the Scriptures, the library and teachers' meetings, being the fruit of his own experience, are very clearly and forcibly presented by Mr. Fox. Every contribution to the great work, which is to be accomplished by many humble agencies, plants the little seed of a wide and fruitful growth.

A DISCOURSE, pronounced at Barnstable on the Third of September, 1839, at the Celebration of the Second Centennial Anniversary of the Settlement of Cape Cod. By John Gorham Palfrey. Boston: F. Andrews. 1840. pp. 71, 8vo.

WE rejoice in the appearance of this Discourse, though it be somewhat tardy. The handsome and ample pamphlet which Dr. Palfrey has here given us, will take a permanent place at once among the most valuable of the Addresses of which the town celebrations have been the cause.

Our space does not permit us to notice the Discourse at length, nor is it necessary to do so, the less as we have heretofore had opportunity to refer to the occasion which brought it out. We must however refer to a passage of the early and English history of the Barnstable church, which may be considered one of unusual eclat. We are informed that "Mr. Henry Jacob, a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, established in London in 1616 a society after the Congregational model, and ministered to it himself eight years; at the end of which time, departing to Virginia, he was succeeded in his place by Mr. John Lothrop, a graduate of the University of Oxford, who like himself had been in Episcopal orders. At the end of eight years more the congregation, which of course conducted its worship in strict privacy, was discovered by the Bishop's pursuivant, at the house of a brewer's clerk in Black Friars, London. Forty-two persons were apprehended; eighteen escaped. Those who were taken were confined in different prisons for two years, and were then released upon bail, except their minister, for whom no favour could be obtained ;” till after a time he was liberated on condition of going to America, whither he was accompanied by the principal part of his flock. Here, "to use the phrase of those days he was first called to office' at Scituate," but soon afterwards removed with the majority of his church to Barnstable.

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Again, we are reminded of the "interesting fact, connected with this primitive English Congregational church, still surviving in our church at Great Marshes, that from its bosom also proceeded the first English Baptist church; so that it is further entitled," says Dr. Palfrey, to the eminent rank of parent of the now very numerous churches of that denomination, both in England and America. It was in Mr. Lothrop's church, that the question respecting the authority for infant baptism was first moved in England, and it was seceders from that church. who laid the foundation of this respectable communion."

In regard to the style of this Discourse, we are glad to speak of its freedom from faults which have sometimes been noticed in the productions of the accomplished author. It is warm and rich. His eulogy on James Otis, "the pioneer of the American Revolution,” his description of the prosperity which crowns the "sand-banks" of the Cape, his picture of the Barnstable sailor-boy at sea and at home, and his notice of "our old Massachusetts burying-grounds" are, each in its own way, admirable.

HISTORY OF AMERICAN MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN from their commencement to the present time. Worcester: Spooner & Howland. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1840. pp. 726, 8vo.

THE American Missions whose history is given in this volume, are 1. those of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; 2. those of the Baptist General Convention; 3. those of the Methodist Episcopal Church; 4. those of the Protestant Episcopal Church; 5. those of the Freewill Baptist Foreign Missionary Society; 6. those of the Board of Foreign Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The first and last are from the pen of Rev. Joseph Tracy; the second is prepared by Rev. Solomon Peck, Secretary of the Board; the third by Rev. Enoch Mudge; the fourth by William Cutter; and the fifth by Rev. Enoch Mark.

The work is designed to be a complete history of "American Missions," collecting and condensing the principal facts of their operations, now scattered through many volumes, all of which are accessible to few or none who may wish to investigate them. In the Editor's language, "the object is to bring the substance of all these publications within the compass of one volume, of a convenient size and moderate expense, supplying their deficiencies, reconciling their discrepancies, and correcting their errors by reference to the original documents of the several Missionary Societies." This is a clear account of what we think must strike all minds as a valuable project. The only question as to the worth or interest of such a book must remain to be decided by its execution. In regard to this, without professing to speak from minute examination, we form our judgement rather from the cursory perusal of passages here and there. These have given us a favourable impression of the merit and the spirit of the History, its substance and its style. Mr. Tracy's reputation, too, is to our minds something of a guarantee. Not only as Editor of the New York Observer, but in various situations and productions, he has displayed qualifications which specially commended him for such a compilation. Add to this the opportunities allowed him and the aid he has so judiciously secured, together with a characteristic. industry which appears on every page; and we could hardly fail of having a book not merely worthy of a single perusal, but of a permanent place in the library of every liberal-minded religious scholar.

PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY: being Thoughts and Arguments originally Treated. By Martin Farquhar Tupper, Esq., A. M. From the London Edition. Boston: Joseph Dowe. 1840. pp. 114, 12mo.

The title

Yet it is

THIS is a book of which we hardly know how to speak. has a little pretension, and so have the style and whole form. by no means all pretension. There is in it a great deal of clear thought and practical sense, with some original expression, if not conception, and not a little of true religion. The style is not to our taste-not natural, simple-but often artificial, and sometimes cloudy. Many who open the book will be prevented from reading it by this unusual, and they will think forced and foolish, manner. If they are not prevented thus-if they read fairly and thoroughly, they will be repaid. While many, no doubt, will be attracted by the style itself, and find themselves more impressed and improved by it. Besides this, which after all is a mere matter of taste, the book has no fault that we think worthy of notice, and many excellent sayings which are worth reading and keeping. A single thought on Sin is better than some folios that have been written: "Seek not further, O man! to solve the dark riddle of sin; suffice it, that thine own bad heart is to thee thine origin of evil.”

STRIVE AND THRIVE.

Munroe & Co. 1840.

A Tale. By Mary Howitt. Boston: James pp. 175, 18mo.

This is a very good book. It is designed for children, though not the very youngest, and is suitable for any library. The style is simple, the story engaging and natural, and the moral excellent-indicated sufficiently by the title. It is not well to represent or imply, that they who strive always thrive. But as a general rule, and a natural ordination, it cannot be too frequently set forth, where, as here, all extravagance is avoided. Mary Howitt has written many good things, but we have seen nothing better than this. Our only objection would be, that the latter part of the story has rather too much the character of romance.