is added to the argument on either side; and the historical interest of the question, though it must always be considerable, fades before the stirring events of more recent date.

Our limits forbid our entering on the copious correspondence connected with the first agitation of the Catholic question in 1801. This was not the brightest epoch in Mr. Pitt's honourable and useful career. In his inconsistent tampering with the question, so little understood in its consequences, he was too closely followed by his fidus Achates of the Treasury. Subsequent events have thrown so much light on the real bearings of this question upon the chronic agitation of Ireland, and the isolated position ostentatiously assumed by our Romanist members of parliament, that while no politician ever dreams of retracing the momentous step of 1829, even the great organs of liberalism are obliged to confess there was more foundation for the apprehensions of an Eldon, and the policy of a Percival, than they were once willing to allow.

To general readers, probably, the most interesting portion of the diary will be the notes of the conversation of George III. with Mr. Rose when visiting him at his country seat. (Vol. ii. p. 176.) These royal dicta are pleasing proofs of the monarch's sincerity and affability; but they do not convey an exalted idea of his wisdom in forming opinions, or in communicating them to others.

A curious instance is shown (Vol. ii. p. 50) of the indifference of our government to foreign spies and incendiaries even at a crisis of great danger. The Russian ambassador informed Lord Liverpool, at that time Foreign Secretary, of a most dangerous emissary of Talleyrand and the French government, who was actively employed in London. Some time afterwards Lord Liverpool told the Russian minister that the man in question had been found to be a person of a very dangerous character, and had been sent out of the country under the Alien Act, but that his papers had not been examined by the government, but were perhaps at the Alien office. On another occasion, an American jacobin of the name of Barlow, against whom the government was warned as an emissary of France, was allowed to continue unmolested in the country at the request of the American minister, on his undertaking for his good behaviour. This was certainly not tyranny or jealousy, but might be termed something more criminal still in the circumstances of the country.

The interesting and important fact, that in 1810 the Regent did not change his father's ministry, which took all political intriguers by surprise, the secret being kept to the last moment, is attributed in these Memoirs to a solemn appeal made by the queen to the filial feelings of the prince, and to his own regard for his father's peace of mind, should he eventually recover. One could wish this solution to be the true one. It would place the prince Regent's motive in the

most amiable point of view. But as is well known, another female influence, of a less commendable character, was at work; it is alluded to as not without weight on the Regent's determination.

We could have wished for fuller information respecting the close of Mr. Percival's administration. But Rose's keen interest in politics terminated, and perhaps his best source of information was closed, with the death of Pitt and of his great rival. He is hardly fair to the honesty or even to the abilities of Addington; and the brevity with which the lamentable death of Mr. Percival is disposed of, indicates no great warmth of attachment to that consistent and disinterested minister.

From the long personal and official intimacy that subsisted between Mr. Pitt and Rose, it was natural that the latter should exert himself, after the premier's death, in raising funds for the payment of his debts, and for a provision for the only relation he left depending on him, Lady Hester Stanhope. Application was made, with very general success, to the many wealthy who owed their prosperity to Pitt's patronage, or had been identified with his party and policy. On this occasion it is curious to contrast the warm-hearted liberality of Wilberforce with his small fortune, with the cold reserve of Bishop Tomline, who owed his vast church preferment to his departed friend and pupil. The reluctance of the king to contribute to this object can hardly be explained; particularly as, on a former occasion, he had expressed himself to Mr. Rose with great warmth and admiration at Mr. Pitt's disinterested conduct in office. (Vol. ii. p. 207.)

It is certainly no credit to any man to incur debt, and least of all to the treasurer of a commercial country. But we who live in a tamer age, when the characteristics of the middle class have spread with the growth of their political influence, and the habits, at least, of the religious have penetrated the mass of society, can scarcely appreciate the careless hospitality and frivolous ostentation of the upper classes seventy years ago. They were a serious infliction on men of small fortune, who were indebted to politics for their higher position in life. Nor should it be forgotten, that the debts of Pitt were careless household expenses, incurred while he was immersed in public business; not, like those of Fox, in a round of play and dissipation, when the debtor might have well attended to his own affairs without injury to those of his country.

Mr. Rose died as long ago as 1818, and has been worthily represented down to our own time in the public service of his country, by his son, now Sir G. Rose, the diplomatist, and by the present Indian general, Sir Hugh Rose. Before leaving office, he brought his great financial experience to bear on important points of customs and excise reform. He had a large share in the establishment of our decennial census, the basis of all the statistic information which has proved so serviceable to social and political science. In his venerable retirement in Hampshire, he was active

in the establishment of savings banks and bible societies; but let not the reader smile, as at an incongruous juxtaposition. For whatever promotes self-denial and forethought cannot be considered detrimental to the religious character, or opposed to the spirit of that faith that has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Interesting particulars are given of the measures taken to meet the fearful scarcity of 1800 and 1801, when wheat rose to the enormous price of 130 shillings the quarter. Much valuable information was collected on the occasion as to the relative proportions of home and foreign wheat consumed in the country, and the channels by which it found its way into the market. Many of the measures adopted, such as interference with distillers and starch manufacturers, would be scarcely reconcilable with our present views of economical science; but were probably justified by the pressing emergency, and at least they indicate the active and lively interest of the government in the welfare of the humbler classes.

One lamentable characteristic of the statesmen, and, no doubt, of the general society of that day, which often meets us in these Memoirs, is the total neglect of the Lord's-day. The Sabbath is so truly made for man, apart from its claims on him as a spiritual being, that it is not too much to attribute Mr. Pitt's own early decay and shattered constitution to the criminal neglect of the divinely appointed pause and rest of the Sabbath.

No uninteresting paper might be drawn up under the head of "The Sabbath in Politics," as considered in the career of public men, and the maturing of public measures. Most striking is the contrast, in this particular, between the analogous career of our Long Parliament and the National Assembly of France. In the wildest and most factious moments of the Puritan Senate, one can trace the effect of the Sabbath in mitigating measures, and in suspending the action of fierce passions and the promptings of evil counsel. Many a measure of cruelty and confiscation was proposed, but delayed, modified, and often abandoned, from the happy interposition of that day of rest, which the traditions of the movement party had invested with a somewhat exaggerated rigidness. Whereas, in the corresponding period of French history, excitement knew no lull, reflection no leisure, and therefore crime no pause; it moved round its fearful cycle of blood and ruin.

As an instance of how little the observance of the Sabbath was considered even by one so respectable and religious as George III., we remember to have heard the following anecdote. Bishop Porteous, on one occasion, with due deference, suggested to his majesty that the Sunday promenade of the royal family on the terrace at Windsor led to a great desecration of the Lord's-day from travelling and dissipation. The old king, with some archness, but more characteristic regard for official routine, replied, "I never knew before, my lord, that Windsor was in the diocese of Lon

don." The poor bishop was, of course, shut up by this prompt rejoinder, though a readier and more zealous man might fairly have urged the pastoral claims of the élite of London society; who were attracted to the Windsor high road every Sunday, to the great detriment of themselves and their attendants.

To the work that has called forth these remarks, we have done no more than justice. It is a valuable contribution to the political history of one of the most momentous periods in our annals, and as such, though in no higher religious character, we would now commend it to our readers.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Moral Emblems; with Aphorisms, Adages, and Proverbs of all Ages and Nations, from Jacob Cats and Robert Farlie. With Illustrations freely rendered from designs found in their Works. By John Leighton, F.S.A. The whole translated and edited, with additions, by Richard Pigot. Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts. London. 1860. This is a splendid volume, meant for a drawingroom table. Our first impression is perhaps to question the wisdom of spending a guinea and a half (or two guineas and a half, if charmed with red morocco) for a single volume in quarto, when so many admirable works may be had for a much less sum. But on second thoughts we are not disposed to find fault. There are occasions in life when we all wish to make handsome presents, and are happy to receive them. Now here is a gift, to say the least, of a much higher order than the flimsy volumes, often of questionable tales and poetry, which used to be exchanged as presents. The Emblems are quaint and amusing, the poetry often very good, the moral tone excellent, the religion not unsound; indeed the doctrine is sometimes admirable. It is gratifying to witness the improvement thus indicated in public taste and feeling, as well as intelligence. The publishers who get up such a work are public benefactors, and deserve our thanks; for whatever tends to raise the tone of our "minor morals," and to do this while mingling amusement with instruction, is a valuable contribution even to the religion of the age we live in.

Scenes and Incidents of Missionary Labour. Seeley and Co. 1860. This, too, like the publication we have noticed above, is meant both for use and ornament. The pictorial embellishments commend it to the drawing-room table; the descriptions are short, effective, and full of variety; and the introduction is from the pen of Mr. Knight, of the Church Missionary Society. They will suggest, we hope, many a profitable conversation, and they furnish materials for many a good speech. Perhaps, however, such books as this help to solve the question, Why it is that missionary meetings are less valued of years? The truth is, information is more widely diffused, and the platform becomes less interesting. Yet we hope our missionary meetings will not be suffered to decay. How can they be made more useful? We answer, by making them more highly instructive, and more devotional. The mere communication of facts is not now suffi

late

cient. Appeals to the heart and conscience come with more effect from the pulpit. Yet a large field remains, for exposition; for the discussion of missionary subjects; for prayer for particular missions; intercession for especial churches, missionaries, absent friends, and so

on.

We do not pursue the subject at present; but we feel the time is at hand, when our missionary meetings, to continue to be efficient, must receive something of a new character.

Sermons by the Rev. M. M. Preston, Vicar of Cheshunt, Herts. Selected from those delivered by him in the later years of his ministry. and published at his last request. Seeley and Co. 1859.-The revered author of this volume was one of the fruits of Mr. Simeon's ministry, while yet an undergraduate at Cambridge; and one of those who showed in his own person that deep piety was perfectly consistent with high academical attainments. It is enough to say that he was a Fellow of Trinity and the private tutor of Lord Macaulay. He was the friend of professors Farish and Scholefield, and one of the last of a generation now passing away. For a great number of years he was vicar of the important parish of Cheshunt; but his name was more widely known, and his influence extensively felt. We remember hearing it remarked of his preaching, many years ago, that it was too thoughtful to be popular; that his thoughts seemed to have been submitted to a sort of hydraulic pressure, and lay together so tightly packed in his discourses, that to listen attentively was an effort. But what was a fault in the pulpit adds to the value of the printed sermon. One of these discourses contains matter sufficient for three or four. Mr. Preston resembles the best of our older divines, and therefore stands in contrast with most of our living ones. The taste is now to attenuate, to expand, to illustrate; and in the pulpit this has become necessary, and therefore it is right, no doubt. But, in preparation for the pulpit, it would be no unwise thing if our younger clergy would study a sermon from this volume, make it thoroughly their own, and then add the illustrations and life-like touches which it needs. They would find, if we are not mistaken, their own souls refreshed, their acquaintance with practical divinity enlarged, and their people edified and comforted; for they are sermons of a high order (twenty-six in number), and we need not say that, coming from such a pen, they are full of Christ.

The Life of Antonio De Dominis. By Henry Newland, D.D., Dean of Ferns. Oxford and London: John Henry and James Parker, 1859.-The history of this remarkable man seems to have been written for the purpose of drawing attention to some of the obscure parts of our ecclesiastical annals. And as no life of the archbishop appears to have been published in this country, the work before us will probably be perused with considerable interest. It embraces a very considerable amount of contemporaneous church history, derived chiefly from statements contained in original documents, published during the period in question. The author takes a charitable view of the conduct of De Dominis. Amongst other incidents relative to church history, we are not sorry to see the groundless fable of Archbishop Parker having been consecrated at the Nag's Head, in Cheapside, again completely refuted.

The subject of this biography was born at Arba, in Dalmatia; was educated at Padua, and afterwards placed under the control of the