is arranged like "The Psalmist," for four voices, (but with the C clef,) and has a separate accompaniment for keyed instruments; it is beautifully printed, and very legible. The editor has taken considerable liberty with many of the harmonies, but, whilst freely admitting that some of his alterations are improvements, we should like a further acquaintance with them before pronouncing an opinion on the whole. The tunes are choice, and well assorted, though, in deference to popular taste, a few are inserted which we should have left out,—to wit, Duke Street, Islington, Spanish Chant, which, to the words, "Thou who art enthroned above," is about as absurd as it could be; and Avison, which, with all its popularity, we cannot think suited for a congregation, and one or two others. Like the volume of Burder and Waite, it is not sufficiently extended; but having a class of tunes which the former wants, the two taken together would form a selection tolerably complete. We hope, however, that Mr. Waite may be tempted to bring out another 100 or 150, which number he might easily make up of first-rate melodies, without one new one. And we would at the same time remind Mr. Wright that, in his new publication, if he acts with judgment and care, he may realise all that can be desired. We would here again protest against changing the original names of tunes. We believe we have seen Mr. Wright's Blandford called by three other names. In the Norwich Tune Book we have noticed not less than a dozen, whose patronymics, in which many of them have rejoiced for no less a period than fifty years, have been barbarously taken away. "Evening Hymn" we know is a misnomer for a tune, and it wanted a name; but "New Sabbath," if less ancient and less fragrant than Lebanon, may justly complain of being displaced by it. "Nuneaton" is quite as well known, and as euphonious as "Nerastone;" the ancient and royal city of "Chester" is offended by being turned into "Dover;" whilst "Newport" is not, we believe, to be found in all the "Emperor's" dominions. These liberties with ancient rights are enough to provoke a civil war, and must not be permitted amongst the queen's liege subjects. Verb. sap. sat. But we cannot close our observations without a few words on the introductory essays to "Hallelujah.' Hallelujah." They are worth all the money charged for the volume. The authors have done good service to the churches, in prefixing them to their book; we almost wish we could pass a law that every member should read and obey, or be excommunicated " majore excommunicatione." And we greatly admire the liberality of Mr. Waite, in permitting his to be reprinted in "The Christian Witness." We would press on every Sunday-school teacher, the necessity of becoming familiar with the rules and principles they lay down, and rigidly expurgating the psalmody of our schools of the light fantastic airs so much in vogue. We recommend young ladies too, who have so much power in the formation of the domestic taste in sacred

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music, to study it carefully, and lend their aid in putting down the sentimental, and promoting a familiarity with the chaste and classical. We concur in almost every statement they contain; but if, in addition to the objection taken above, there is any other point in which we differ, it is in thinking that Mr. W. has pushed his remarks on repeats too far. That the repeat has been greatly abused we admit, but instead of its being in every case 'an outrage on common sense," we contend that, when judiciously applied to the last line of some hymns, it is singularly beautiful and emphatic. We agree with Mr. W. in his statement of the difference between an anthem and a psalm tune; but has he not overlooked a class of psalms and hymns which not only admits of greater license than common, but requires it, to give them full effect? We would specify the metre of the 84th Ps. of Watts, 4-8s, 4-4s. What is there to render a repeat of the four short lines, "an insult to the understanding of the people," in any one verse of that psalm? Then there is the favourite metre 8, 7-8, 7-4, 7. Why may not some variety be given to the concluding lines, "It is finished, Hear the dying Saviour cry ;"" Bread of Heaven; Feed me till I want no more ;" "Oh refresh us, Travelling through this wilderness?" If our friend had heard the latter sung, as we have, to the tune Dismission, given defectively by Houldsworth, under the name, we think, of "Canaan," we cannot imagine he would persist in his objection. There are, moreover, those hymns, &c. whose last line, or two last lines recur, as

"Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat his mercies in your song ;"

and that noble hymn of Davies', each verse of which has the chorus"Who is a pard'ning God like thee,

Or who has grace so rich and free!"

"Now begin the heav'nly theme;" "O thou from whom all goodness flows;" and many others that we could mention-established and justly admired hymns are specimens also of what we mean. We cannot part with these hymns: they certainly allow of greater latitude in the music, and we have in our possession tunes to them of a high order, which do repeat, or in which the duet responsive and chorus are introduced; and after thirty years' familiarity, we are prepared to pronounce on their effectiveness as well as their due sobriety; and if our friend should not disagree with us in these remarks, and taking our hint, should feel inclined to prepare a second part of "Hallelujah," we will cheerfully submit them to his inspection.

We feel reluctant to close this article without a quotation from each of the valuable essays just referred to; but we have so protracted our remarks, that one paragraph from Mr. Waite must suffice:

"Few persons have any adequate conception of the elevated and exquisite enjoyment which will be felt in our religious assemblies, when they shall have paid due regard to intelligent and devotional singing. . . . .

"But psalmody rests not its principal claims to our attention on these grounds. It is an ordinance of God; and he who neglects it, or who is indifferent to the manner of its performance, is guilty of sin. All moral disqualifications for this exercise and all mental indispositions to it, are sins. Physical inability is the only ground of exemption from this duty, which in the sight of God, can be successfully pleaded.

"It cannot be too deeply impressed on the mind of the church, that to sing the praises of God with the spirit and with the understanding also, is a religious duty, incumbent upon every Christian.

"Those who feel the importance of this sacred duty, and who conscientiously desire to discharge it aright, should diligently and prayerfully examine the Scriptures for the express purpose of ascertaining the mind of God on this subject. Such an examination has, in our own case, led to an oppressive and humiliating sense of the exceedingly defective manner in which this part of worship is usually performed. A similar effect has been produced on the minds of several ministers, and others who have carefully investigated this matter. The spiritual inculcation of this great duty opens a wide and important field of ministerial labour, from the due cultivation of which, the most valuable results may confidently be expected. The pastors of several churches have begun to direct the attention of their people to this subject, and the indications of an improving state of things have already appeared. . . . . At present the state of our psalmody is truly to be deplored. In many cases, it may be pronounced a daring insult to God, and a deep dishonour to the church. Why should we hesitate to confess this? To hide it from God, is impossible, and it would be unwise to conceal it from ourselves."

Our readers have already been made familiar with such sentiments as these, but we must repeat them, till, by line upon line, and precept upon precept, "the power and the will to sing, happily meeting in our congregations, the psalmody shall become sweet, expressive, harmonious, and affecting beyond anything at present known; and whilst our own graces are excited by it, and our hearts lifted up to heaven, God shall be served in the beauty of holiness.""

We received for review a copy of hymn tunes, composed by the late Mr. Lawson, missionary to India, as well as the first number of "Gems of Sacred Music," consisting of some tunes and anthems, which we intended to have a place at the head of this article. We regret to say that we have mislaid them, and beg to offer to the publishers an apology for the seeming neglect. In the former we noticed several airs, which, we have little doubt, will stand the test of time, and a few which seemed to be of a somewhat new and interesting character, deserving of trial. Of the latter, anxious as we are to afford such works all the encouragement in our power, we cannot be expected from a glance at a single number, to say much.

The Public and Private Life of Lord Chancellor Eldon, with Seleetions from his Correspondence. By Horace Twiss, Esq. 8vo. 3 vols. London: John Murray. 1844.

SECOND NOTICE.

IN Mr. Scott, George the Third found a man after his own heart,— his equal in attachment to things as they were, in firm unyielding opposition to concession and improvement, in perfect admiration of the throne and the altar, and consequent intolerance of dissent in every form, in all due estimation of the royal prerogative, and desire for its maintenance and enlargement. Previous to his receiving the appointment of Solicitor-General, Mr. Scott had felt the warmth of the royal sunshine, but from the day in which he obtained the accolade of knighthood, by which he became Sir John, and sung,

"Oho, the delight

To be a gallant knight !"

he became the valorous champion of the king. Advancing in the royal favour and confidence, rising in offices and dignities, he came at last, like another Lord Chancellor, to be the "something behind the throne greater than the throne," and might have written "Ego et Rex meus" as vauntingly as ever did the Lord Cardinal. "The king, in spite of my teeth, (he writes to his brother,) laid his sword upon my shoulder, and bid Sir John arise." When afterwards he became Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the wig of the royal favourite was deemed a sufficiently grave subject for the royal notice; and on the occasion of his receiving the seals, the king took them out from the breast of his coat, and said, "Here, I give you them from my heart." We have no room for a tithe of the kind things which the king, in his carefully-preserved letters, said to "his most excellent Lord Eldon," when "the king could not allow that any festivity should be under his roof to which the Lord Chancellor was not invited.”

The very high esteem in which Lord Eldon was held by the king, was equalled only by the confidence and respect he received from the queen, and the other members of the royal family, from whom numerous letters were received, showing the absolute control which the "excellent Lord Chancellor" had acquired over them all.

Of this correspondence the following is a brief specimen. (vol. i. p. 439.)

"My Lord,-Something having occurred last night which I wish to communicate to you, I take advantage of your promise to apply to you when under any difficulty, and beg to see you for a moment in case you call at the Queen's house this morning, before you go to the King.

"Q. H., April 14, 1804."

"CHARLOTTE."

And a letter from the Duke of Kent, which begins :

"My dear Lord,-Fearful lest your lordship should, in the multiplicity of business in which your time is so much engaged, forget what I did myself the pleasure of stating to you;" (and ending,) "with a thousand apologies for this intrusion, and sentiments of the highest regard and esteem.”—Vol. i. p. 485.

Lord Eldon did not enjoy this degree of royal favour without suspicions as to his having made an unconstitutional use of it. When he and Mr. Pitt were about to proceed to the king at Buckingham House, after Mr. Addington had gone out of office, Mr. Pitt did not fail to express to Lord Eldon the suspicions to which we have referred. The circumstance is thus related in the anecdote book ::

"When Mr. Addington went out of office, and Mr. Pitt succeeded him, the king was just recovered from mental indisposition. He ordered me to go to Mr. Pitt with his commands for Mr. Pitt to attend him. I went to him, to Baker-street, or York-place, to deliver those commands. I found him at breakfast. After some little conversation, he said, as the king was pleased to command his attendance with a view to forming a new administration, he hoped I had not given any turn to the king's mind which could affect any proposition he might have to make to his majesty upon that subject. I was extremely hurt by this. I assured him I had not; that I considered myself as a gentleman bringing to a gentleman a message from a king; and that I should have acted more unworthily than I believed myself capable of acting, if I had given any opinion upon what might be right to his majesty. Mr. Pitt went with me in my carriage to Buckingham House, and when we arrived there, he asked me if I was sure his majesty was well enough to see him. I asked him whether he thought that I should have brought him such a message, if I had any doubt upon that; and observed that it was fortunately much about the hour when the physicians called, and, it turning out that they were in the house, I said he might see them in an adjoining room. He asked me to go with him into that room. After what had passed, I said I should not do so, and that it was fit he should judge for himself, and that I should be absent. He then left me, and after being with the physicians a considerable time, he returned, and said he was quite satisfied with their report, and expressed his astonishment at what he had heard from them; that he had learned, he thought from unquestionable authority, only the day before, that I never had seen the king but in the presence of the doctor or doctors who attended him on account of his mental health. He intimated that this was intelligence which had come from C-n House, and which he had now learned was utterly devoid of truth."-Vol. i. p. 446.

It is to these, and other similar facts, that Lord Brougham refers in the second edition of his "Statesmen of the time of George III.”

"There is not the least doubt whatever of the extraordinary fact, that, after the king had been in a state of complete derangement for some weeks, and after the government had during those weeks been carried on by the ministers without any monarch, important measures were proposed to him, and his pleasure taken upon them after Mr. Pitt resumed his office, when the sovereign was so little fit to perform the functions of his high station, that Dr. Willis was obliged to attend in the closet the whole time of his majesty's interview with his chancellor. Hence we see that the exigencies of this form of government not only imply the monarch exercising his