sition of our system of government, especially with regard to the itinerancy, by its forcible arguments in defence of that system, and by its eloquent appeals to the best feelings of the Methodist community, produced a powerful effect, both in confirming many wavering minds and in preventing the sophisms of the malcontents from leading others astray. This pamphlet, with the "Narrative and Defence," forms part of the history of the controversy. While Dr. Bond was thus acting the part of an able attorney-general, the wisdom and firmness of Rev. James M. Hanson, with whom rested the responsibility of the administration in Baltimore in those perilous times, erected a defence of another sort, no less legitimate, and perhaps no less effective, against the assaults of the innovators. But while these brethren had the danger, and the honour, of fighting the battle in the very district where the enemy's chief strength lay, their efforts were called forth by local circumstances, and some general defence of the Church was needed which should vindicate the fame of her founders, and set forth, before all men, the true principles of her organization. It was reserved for John Emory to do this work. He did not interfere in the controversy until the demand for his services became urgent, and then he interfered effectually. The "Defence of our Fathers," designed, primarily, as an answer to Mr. A. M'Caine's "History and Mystery of Methodist Episcopacy," took a wider view of the subject than was necessary to refute that malicious production. Mr. M'Caine went far beyond his associates in violence and effrontery. No calumny was too foul to find currency through his means, if it would only serve his purposes of defamation. An honourable character formed no defence for the living against the shafts of his malice;

the grave itself was no sanctuary for the venerable dead. His soul had not honour enough "to bless the turf that wrapped their clay;" it could only find utterance, over the tomb, in a hideous howl of slander. But there were many who knew little of the men whom he traduced or the events which he misrepresented: and, in the absence of other information, the very boldness of his assertions gained them credence for a time. "At the instance of some who had taken the deepest interest in the existing contest, Mr. Emory undertook to expose the falsity of his statements and the fallacy of his arguments." In a very short time the "Defence" appeared, and although prepared so hastily, amid the laborious engagements of the book agency, it fully sustained the reputation of its author, and, what is more important, triumphantly vindicated the fame of the founders of the Church. The work at once produced a great sensation; friends were delighted, foes were alarmed. It has since been made a part of the preachers' course of study, and has taken its place, deservedly, among the standard writings of the Church. The biography by his son gives a clear outline of its contents, and the work itself is well known to most of our readers, so that we need do nothing more than express our opinion in regard to its inerits. It has the same points of excellence that distinguish all Mr. Emory's writings-clearness of arrangement, fairness of statement, soundness of logic, and conciseness of expression. Nor does it lack pungency of satire and severity of rebuke; and these are combined with deep feeling in the remarkably eloquent passage at the close of the volume. On the whole, this tract, considering the time of its publication, the subjects of which it treats, and the effects which it produced, may be regarded as one of

the most important publications that have appeared in the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A posthumous tract on episcopacy exhibits Dr. Emory as the defender of the Church against assaults from without. Incomplete as it is, it does no discredit to its author; there is enough to show that he was master of the subject, and would have disposed of the controversy satisfactorily had he been allowed to complete his design. The latter and better portion of the tract, containing a partial examination of Dr. Onderdonk's "Episcopacy tested by Scripture," is, in our judgment, as far as it goes, the ablest answer that has yet been given to that ingenious but overrated production. The high Churchman's weak points were clearly perceived by Bishop Emory, and he attacked them with great weight of metal and directness of aim.

At the Conference of 1824 Mr. Emory was elected Assistant Book Agent, with Rev. Dr. Bangs as senior; and in 1828 he was elected Agent, with Rev. Beverly Waugh as Assistant. In the language of his biographer, his "connexion with the Book Concern, whether it be considered with reference to its influence upon that establishment and the Church at large, or its influence upon the development of his own character, must be regarded as one of the most important periods of his life." The chapter on the Book Concern in his biography, while it in no respect depreciates the services of others, shows that the present commanding position of the establishment is mainly to be attributed to Dr. Emory.

The Publishing Fund originated with him. Its origin and objects are set forth in his admirable address to the Church and its friends in behalf of the Bible, Tract, and Sunday-School Societies of the Methodist Episcopal

Church; and though its results have not fully equalled the expectations at first cherished, they have sufficed to evince the sagacity of the measure. The Methodist Quarterly Review also owes its existence to Dr. Emory, who commenced the publication of its first series in 1830. Most of the original articles, up to 1832, were from his pen, and some of them were written with distinguished ability.

A comprehensive sketch of the history of the Book Concern, from the pen of Bishop Waugh, is given in the "Life of Dr. Emory." From that outline, and the more extended account in Dr. Bangs's History, vol. iv, we learn that between the years 1823 and 1828 there was a great expansion of the business of the Concern, to meet which a building was purchased in Crosby-street, and a printing office and bindery established on the premises. During this period Dr. Emory was junior Book Agent. But "this extension of business had not been accomplished without an increase of debt, and although there was now greater energy in the institution to effect its discharge, it may well be doubted whether this result would not have been wholly prevented by the system on which the business was conducted."

The debt of the establishment in 1828 was $101,200 80, two-thirds of which sum was at interest. Its nominal assets amounted to $456,898 30, of which only $59,772 28 were in fixed capital, cash, and notes receivable; the remainder consisting of stock on hand, and accounts, mostly for books sent out from New-York on commission, from which immense deductions had to be made in order to anything like a true estimate of their value. Indeed the agents estimated the real capital of the establishment at only $130,002 02,