The pamphlet contains much interesting matter relating to the political and judicial history of Pennsylvania during the last half century.

Prize Essays on Juvenile Delinquency. Published under the direction of the Board of Managers of the House of Refuge, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Edward C. & John Biddle. 1855. pp. 159.

The former of these Essays by r. Edward E. Hale, of Worcester, Mass.; the second ad much the longer of the two, by the Rev. T. V. Moore, D. D., of Richmond, Va., and is entitled "God's University; or he Family considered as a Government, a School, and a Church, the divinely appointed Institute for training the Young for the Life that is, and for that which is to come." The former is entitled, "The State's Care of Children considered as a Check to Juvenile Delinquency." These titles sufficiently indicate the different points of view from which the subject is considered. No subject is of greater practical interest, and the Essays before us merit general consideration.

The Exigencies of the Church; a Tract for the Times. By a New England Pastor. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Collections for Charitable and Religious Purposes, a Part of the Service of God, a Means of Grace, and therefore an Essential Part of Christianity. By Rev. Thomas Smyth, D. D. Third Edition. Charleston: James, Williams & Gitsinger. 1855.

Remarks on the Penal System of Pennsylvania, particularly with Reference to County Prisons. By William Parker Foulke, of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Printed for the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons. 1855. pp. 52.

This publication is another evidence of the enlightened and benevolent interest taken by educated men in the amendment of penal codes and institutions. The pamphlet contains a description of the York County Prison, and several plans which are worthy of attention. We give the titles of publications of this class, without attempting to specify their contents, because we hope that those who have the time to devote to this field of benevolence, will seek fuller information in the publications themselves.

Addresses Delivered at the Inauguration of Rev. Emanuel V. Gerhart, A. M., as President of Marshall and Franklin College, Lancaster, Pa., July 24, 1855. Chambersburg, Pa.: Printed by M. Kieffer & Co. pp. 31.

The Introductory Address, by Dr. Bauman, is very brief; the Inaugural Address, by the new President, occupies most of the pamphlet. It will be read with interest, as unfolding the principle on which an important literary institution is to be conducted. The theme of Mr. Gerhart's discourse is, "The

Vital Principle of College Education." By vital principle, he means, that "which determines the internal structure and government of a college; that which gives a position, and assigns relative importance to the different branches of study; that which originates the general spirit in which all subjects are investigated and taught, and proposes the ultimate end, for the attainment of vich they are all pursued." Such principle is not a complete course of study; it is not thorough and complete training for the business of life; it is not moral suasion, not religious instruction, not theological science, not belief in the Bible, but positive faith in Jesus Christ. In establishing this position, he says, we must distinguish between the objective and the subjective world. By the former is meant the universe and all it contains, as distinguished from the conceptions we form of it, and from the nature of logical thinking in general. This universe is not a chaos, but is composed of innumerable systems mutually related and connected. This is nature-the creation-which of necessity implies a creator; relative implies absolute being. This is the highest conception of reason. This absolute Being is God. The universe is not an accidental arrangement; it is not a mass, in which infinite power lives and works, as the soul in the body; but it is a fixed order, established and controlled by an omnipresent divine will. Every law of life, vegetable, animal, or human, is an expression of the will of God. God is thus the last ground of the universe, and the basis of all knowledge. But Jesus Christ is the most complete, and only true revelation of God; and hence it is not God, as such, but God in Christ, who is the ultimate ground of all logical reasoning, and of all correct systems of education. All things were created by Him, and for Him; and by Him all things consist. But it is not Christ, as such, but positive faith in him, that is the vital principle of college education. The office of reason is, to develope consciousness; consciousness of self, of the objective world, and of God. The first form of activity of reason is faith. This is seen in the infant, in the boy, and in the man. All knowledge and all reasoning begins. with faith. We must confide in something before we can know, learn or reason. Every science begins with something which reason accepts as true without proof. The proper object of faith, whether it springs from nature or grace, is something which lies above and beyond the comprehension of the logical understanding. When reason cannot comprehend, its higher faculty is evoked. Reason believes. It perceives the truth of an axiom, because of its intimate adaptation to the perception of a proper object, just as the eye perceives light. To believe

implicitly in the absolute ground of the objective world, God in Christ, is therefore, not inconsistent with the laws of thinking. Another characteristic of faith is that it unites the subject and the object. To believe is to receive and transform an object into a principle of actual life. Faith receives its object just as the eye receives light, or the ear the vibrations of the air. As the eye is essential to the conception of colour, so is faith, a general capacity, to the perception of the fundamental in every sphere of thought. As an organ of the spirit, it receives first truths, whether natural or supernatural, as the most real of all entities. The object and the subject thus become one. The object is in the subject, as light in the eye. This attribute of faith is power, it governs the whole life. What is true of faith in general, is specially true of Christian faith. Called into life by a direct divine agency, it possesses a depth, an intense energy and compass, far exceeding similar manifestations in any lower sphere. The germ of intellectual, moral and spiritual development, the centre around which all sound reflection revolves, the deepest inner principle, penetrating and governing all the laws of thinking; faith quickened by the Holy Ghost and assuming a new and most comprehensive form, now grasps the person of Jesus Christ, the absolute ground of the objective world; and in virtue of its mysterious power to unite object and subject, it transforms the first cause of the universe into the first and all controlling principle of individual, social, and national life. Its object being the first of all facts, that object itself becomes the germ and sap of all literature, philosophy and religion. In this way and in this sense positive faith in Christ is the vital principle of college education.

We have given this condensed view of Mr. Gerhart's discourse because of its suggestive character, and as a specimen of a mode of thinking not familiar to English readers.

The Lives of the British Historians. By Eugene Lawrence. New York: C. Scribner, 145 Nassau street. 1855. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 395, 380. This is a work of uncommon excellence. The idea of presenting us with a history of the British historians was a happy one. The author's style is graceful and graphic; indeed we have not recently perused anything surpassing in interest the sketches of Sir Walter Raleigh, David Hume, Edward Gibbon, and Oliver Goldsmith. The volumes, while devoted to the Lives of the Historians, contain a large amount of the history of their times, and form one of the best introductions to English history with which we are acquainted. We sincerely hope that the work will be favourably received, that the author may be encouraged "to continue the series down to the death of

Arnold." If we wished to interest young persons in the reading of history, it is such a work as this we would first put into their hands.

We think Mr. Scribner is worthy of special commendation for the style in which the works that bear his imprint are issued, and for the zeal with which he devotes himself to publishing the works of American writers, instead of to the republication of books which have been successful abroad.

An Inaugural Discourse. By Rev. B. M. Smith, Professor of Oriental Literature in Union Theological Seminary, Prince Edward county, Va. Delivered in the Seminary Chapel, September 12, 1855. Published by the Board of Directors. pp. 39.

Professor Smith commences his discourse with a handsome tribute to his predecessor, the late lamented Professor Sampson-in whose early death so many were disappointed. He closes with a grateful reference to the kindness and worth of the Rev. Dr. John H. Rice, the founder of the Seminary. The subject of the discourse is, "The Relation of Biblical Study to Theological Education and the work of the Ministry." This topic is rather discursively handled, with the vivacity characteristic of the author. His abilities and acquirements are well known and highly estimated in the Church, and we trust he may be eminently successful in the important field of labour on which he has entered. We think there are some opinions thrown out in this address which further experience will lead him to modify. He will find, we suspect, that there are other writers in Germany besides Tholuck and Hengstenberg, worthy of being studied, and other German works than lexicons and grammars, concordances and geographies, which may be profitably con

sulted.

History of Medicine, from its Origin to the Nineteenth Century; with an Appendix, containing a Philosophical and Historical Review of Medicine to the Present Time. By P. V. Renouard, M. D. Translated from the French, by Cornelius G. Comegys, M. D., Professor of the Institutes of Medicine, Miami Medical College. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co. New York: Miller, Orton & Mulligan. Boston: Whittemore, Niles & Hall. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1856. pp. 719. This we believe is the only extended history of medicine accessible to the English student. It traces the progress of the healing art from the origin of society to the present time; giving important notices of the most influential members of the medical profession, and expounding the various theories which have prevailed in different ages, in all departments of medical science. The author's own leading principle, which we take to be a sound one, is, "Empiricism, or the Empirical method, is alone applicable to the cultivation of medicine, and therapeutics,

not physio-pathology, the foundation on which the science rests." This is only the application of the inductive science to one department of the vast field of human knowledge, in which that method is the only safe guide. The work is handsomely printed, and will, we doubt not, be regarded by the profession as a valuable contribution to medical literature.

The Russian Empire; Its Resources, Government and Policy. By a "Looker on" from America. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co. 1856.

This is an elaborate plea for Russia and her cause as against the Allies. As a specimen of special pleading in this behalf, it is at least respectable, and will doubtless be welcome to the Russian sympathizers, who, we are sorry to say, are not few among us, if we may judge from the tone of some of our most popular metropolitan journals. We cannot, however, believe that these reflect the predominant judgment or sympathies of the intelligent, moral, and religious portion of the American people. That whatever is anti-British is popular with the "baser sort" is undeniable. Nor is it to be denied, that many things have been done by Old England fitted to kindle bitterness and animosity in the breast of Young America. But notwithstanding all this, our prayers join those of the Missionaries in the East for the success of the Allied arms, believing as we do, that the contrary issue would be the triumph of despotism temporal and spiritual, over nascent freedom and reviving religion, in one of the most interesting and important regions of the earth.

Man-of-War Life; A Boy's Experience in the United States Navy, during a Voyage around the World, in a ship of the line. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co. 1856.

The Merchant Vessel; A Sailor Boy's Voyages to see the World. By the author of "Man-of-War Life." Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co. 1856.

These two volumes will be read with pleasure, and not without instruction, by the young.