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20. New Granada; Twenty Months in the Andes. By Isaac F. Holton, Professor in Middlebury College. With Maps and Illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers. Boston: Whittemore, Niles & Hall.

Professor Holton's attention was directed to New Granada "by the scantiness of botanical information on a region so profusely rich in plants." Botanical curiosity, however, appears to have been a thread on which almost every thing touching the climate, the topography, the manners and social peculiarities of New Granada, are strung. His octavo is instructive in all these particulars. It is rarely the case, that a scientific traveller has so many faculties. He has an eye for every thing that in any way exhibits a peculiarity, either in the land, or its people. His faculty as a writer is not less versatile. He paints, narrates, speculates and dramatises. He has made a book of facts lively and humorous. But he is not superficial. He has only put the "heavy" matter into an appendix. And here we have a Glossary, Observation on the Maps, Geographical Index, Alphabetical list of Places in New Granada, Mail Routes, Geological Section, Altitudes, Climates and Productions, Itinerary, Chronological Table, Weights and Measures, and an Analytical Index. All classes of readers—the lover of a good story, and the lover of science-will find the work alike suited to their tastes.

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21. History of Texas from its First Settlement in 1685 to its Annexation to the United States in 1846. By H. Yoakum, Esq. In two volumes, 8vo. Redfield: New York. 1856.

This is no ephemeral work. It is the result of unwearied pains to ascertain all the particulars of the early history of Texas, and of nice discrimination in selecting from the abundant materials of the later history of the same State. The author writes with becoming modesty. There is no boasting of the magnitude of the results of his researches, but a complaint that his labors to obtain the facts of early Texas have met with so little success. Nor would he leave the impression on his reader's mind, that the little which he has obtained, is all that can ever be hoped for. On the contrary, he enumerates the sources from which many new and valuable materials may yet be secured. Such frankness always puts us on good terms with an author. It gains our respect and confidence. And though in reading the history of Texas, we shall in some instances question the inferences which Mr. Yoakum has drawn, we shall put full confidence in his statements of fact. His very natural predilection in favor of the State whose history he has written, leads him to put on the conduct of Texas in its revolutionary relations with Mexico, a more favorable construction than we fear the facts will warrant.

But the facts are given, we have no doubt, with scrupulous conscientiousness. Texas surely has a romantic history, and the pen that records it with truthfulness, can but be sure of readers. Mr. Yoakum's style is pure, flowing, and perspicuous. There is no affectation of ornament,—a negative quality which cannot be too highly commended. His sketches of persons,-particularly his sketch of Houston, the Texas hero,—are exceedingly lifelike. We can commend his two octavos, as calculated to give pleasure to the reader, and at the same time worthy of a permanent place in the nation's historical literature.

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22. The O'Brien's and the O'Flaherty's. A National Tale. By Lady Morgan. Annotated by R. Shelton Mackenzie, D. C. L. In two volumes. Redfield: New York. 1856.

The first of a series of four Irish novels, which, at the time of their appearance, did good service in the cause of Irish emancipation. Lady Morgan gained no small degree of notoriety because of the intense opposition of the Tory journals, of which Blackwood assailed her with most pertinacity. They even questioned her right to "meddle with politics!" The period which is covered by the volumes named above, has a deep national interest," it embraces events which prepared the Rebellion, and accomplished the Union." It may perplex an American to get at the real merit of the Irish question, but a taste for whatever is piquant and imaginative will surely find something relishing in Lady Morgan's national tale.

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23. Modern Atheism under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism, Development, and Natural Laws. By James Buchanan, D.D., LL.D. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1857.

All theological error, when traced to its source, is seen to have a common root-atheism. The author of the book whose title we here give, has apprehended the truth in this statement with a rare faculty of comprehension; and he has traced the several forms of pantheism, materialism, and development theories, with a directness, and has stated his reasonings with a clearness and force, not often met with even among Scotch theologians. True, the self-styled evangelical dogmas protrude themselves occasionally, but not in a way to distract the intelligent reader. We must commend the catholic spirit which pervades his volume -a quality not always found in volumes with similar titles. He makes the just distinction between atheism and its forms-between the atheist, and the man, who, though holding to notions which are atheistic in their root, is any thing but a conscious dissenter from the great truth of theism.

Dr. Buchanan finds in modern atheism the illegitimate offspring of the inductive process, which, in its healthy form, is the glory of modern civilization. He rejoices that ancient atheism cannot be revived, yet finds it feebly represented in modern idealism and materialism. He endorses the eclectic philosophy, but thinks Cousin has made it a justification of error; and he dissents from the postulate, that error is perverted truth. He thinks that Combe has unintentionally argued against the efficacy of prayer, and the reality of providence. But his catholic spirit never deserts him in his criticisms. We commend "Modern Atheism as a book for the times, and as having special claims on theological students.

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24. The Prince of the House of David; or Three Years in the Holy City. Being a Series of Letters of Adina, a Jewess of Alexandria, sojourning in Jerusalem in the days of Herod. Edited by the Rev. Professor J. H. Ingraham. New York: Pudney & Russell. 1856.

We

There is nothing irreverant either in the plan or execution of this work. On the contrary, we consider it a legitimate and highly successful attempt to convey the substance of the gospel history to a class of minds-and this a very large class— who could not be easily reached in a more formal way. think that the author has composed these "letters" in a graphic style; and the sober reader will not fail to profit by the perusal. We find little to object to on the score of doctrine-the book is by no means sectarian, and we commend it to readers of every theological belief.

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25. The Gallows, the Prison, and the Poor-House. A Plea for Humanity; showing the demands of Christianity in behalf of the Criminal and the Perishing Classes. By G. W. Quinby. Published by the Author: Cincinnati. 1856. pp. 326.

A very thorough treatment of a painful theme—a theme which demands at the hands of the Christian community, a degree of attention which it by no means receives. As a biblical, statistical, and rhetorical presentation of the argument against the gallows, and for reform in the prison and poor-house, Mr. Quinby's book has no substitute. We trust that the friends of humanity will aid its circulation.

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26. Neighbor Jackwood. By Paul Creyton. Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Company. 1856.

This comes too late for a notice based on a proper examination of its contents. We cannot, however, suffer any thing from Paul Creyton to pass by wholly unnoticed. He is, we think, a first-class writer in the department of fiction. We have noticed in his former works a fidelity to real life, an exemption from

caricature, from over-wrought pictures of society and of individuals, which indicates a pure taste, and a just perception of the truly elegant. We must commend " Neighbor Jackwood' on

the reputation of its predecessors.

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27. A Duodecimo Edition of the Works of Charles Dickens. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson. 1857.

Works which are destined to have a wide circulation, and also of a character to ensure a permanent reputation,-two facts which rarely hold of the same book,—not only justify but demand different styles of publication. We have Shakspeare in every style of print, illustration, and binding, and every style has its purchasers. We have had American editions of Dickens in every style but one. A duodecimo form of the works of this wonderful writer, has been a desideratum. The admirers of Dickens have wanted a style and form of print and illustration, that would ornament their libraries. They have wanted an edition that made some approach to a durable casket in which to preserve gems which are not destined to corrode by time. Mr. T. B. Peterson-already the successful publisher of Dickens in other forms of print-is now bringing out the needed duodecimo. The works thus far printed are "The Pickwick Papers,' 66 Nicholas Nickleby," "David Copperfield," and the first volume of the one now in the course of its first issue, "Little Dorrit." No pains have been spared in getting up these volumes. The illustrations by "Phiz" and "Cruikshank have found an engraver who does them justice. The paper is of substantial quality, and the print is on good-sized, fair, round type. The admirer of Dickens can ask nothing better; and we congratulate the numerous readers of this author, on the publication of his works in a durable and convenient as well as popular style.

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28. Autumnal Leaves: Tales and Sketches in Prose and Rhyme. By L. Maria Child. New York: C. S. Francis & Co. 1856.

No living writer has more power when appealing to the benevolent affections than Mrs. Child. She speaks the language of the heart, and the heart always responds to her call. This new issue comes with a reputation; its several papers having appeared in various periodicals. We are glad to see them collected in so convenient a volume.

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29. History of Henry the Fourth, King of France and Navarre. By John S. C. Abbott. With Illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1856.

If Louis the Fourteenth was "the grand monarch," Henry the Fourth was the greatest monarch of France. Mr. Abbott has given us a history of his eventful life. The book is intended for the young. The old may not be ashamed to read it.

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ART. VIII.

The Intercession of Christ.

To bring any large subject into the order of a complete system, and to adjust properly all its dependencies and conclusions, so that they may be in harmony with the system, is a labor requiring much care, foresight, and patient thought. It is usually accomplished only after repeated efforts, put forth by different minds, and prolonged through considerable periods of time. This last condition seems necessary, because each age has its peculiar aspects and predilections of thought, and it requires time to produce changes enough in these to attain the proper stand-points, so that all sides of the subject may be observed. There are several subjects having a legiti mate and clearly-expressed right among the doctrines of Christianity, whose appropriate place and office have hardly been assigned in our theological system, and whose dependencies and relations to other truths have not been defined. Among these may be reckoned the subject which will claim our attention in this article,-the intercession of Christ. It is our central and favorite dogma that God is the Father of all; that his love towards his children is infinite, and can neither be increased nor diminished; that, to ensure the peace of men, it is necessary that they should be reconciled to God, who is waiting to be gracious to them. We hold, as an essential part of this view, that God's loving care over his children is perpetual and unintermitting,-present in all places, pervading all time, and flowing on with the interminable current of eternity. His paternal love, partaking of the great elements of his nature, is almighty, eternal, unchangeable, omnipresent, and unmingled. Now, with such a being, actuated by such a love, what need is there of an intercessor in behalf of its objects? Not to refresh his memory; he cannot forget them. Not to increase his good will; that is perfect. Not to obviate the effects of their imperfections; they were all known from the beginning. From the beginning he loved them, and his love is

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