the editor to throw light on the customs, laws, scenery, geography, etc., referred to in the Scriptures. Many illustrative maps, wood and steel engravings, tables, etc. are added. On the whole, we heartily commend this publication to our readers. It will repay many-fold the cost of its purchase. No single volume in the language, so far as we know, contains a larger amount of valuable knowledge.

2.-A Grammar of the Hebrew Language. By Moses Stuart, Prof. Sac. Lit. in Theol. Sem. Andover. Fifth edition, corrected and enlarged. Andover: Gould & Newman. 1835. pp. 271, 8vo.

We are intimately acquainted with the second and fourth editions of this grammar, and have never experienced the difficulties, which some persons have attributed to the grammar, though it was doubtless susceptible of improvement, as is shown in the fifth edition. Nothing is gained, we are fully persuaded, by studying the grammar of any language in a very compendious and abridged form. A small grammar of the German language, we have found far more unsatisfactory and embarrassing than one thrice as large. If the parts of a grammar are well arranged, and the proper type is employed, and clear divisions made in respect to the portions, which are of greater or less importance, we do not see how an intelligent student can find much reason to complain, especially if he is near an experienced instructor. The great principles of Mr. Stuart's grammar can certainly be apprehended, by an ordinary mind, without any necessity of becoming perplexed with exceptions, and the minutiae in general. At the same time, a thorough student will very soon feel the need of those very exceptions and minute points. There is no pleasure and but little advantage in studying a language except it be studied fundamentally. We want a grammar of all the anomalies. The expense of the apparatus for studying Hebrew is now inconsiderable. The cost of Mr. Stuart's Grammar and Chrestomathy and Hahn's Bible will hardly reach nine dollars. In the present edition of the grammar, a synoptical view of all the conjugations of the Hebrew verbs is added at the close of the paradigms. Besides being inserted in the grammar, it accompanies each copy on a broad sheet, which can be pasted on stiff paper, and hung up so as readily to meet the eye. This edition has undergone

other improvements, which it is not necessary here to specify. No fault can be found with the mechanical execution.

3. A Grammar of the Hebrew Language: with a brief Chrestomathy, for the use of beginners. By George Bush, Prof. of Heb. and Orient. Lit. in the New York City University. New York: Leavitt, Lord & Co. 1835. pp. 299, 18mo.

We are not sorry at the appearance of this grammar. It indicates an awakening attention to a most important and interesting language. An author, even if his grammar be no better than that of others, can use the products of his own mind in a recitation-room, better than he can employ those of others. We are glad to see the energy and intelligence with which Mr. Bush is commencing his labors. We hope that the literary men in the two collegiate institutions of the city of New York will give a new character for science and learning to the Commercial Metropolis. A generous rivalry between various portions of the United States can be productive of nothing but good. The price of Mr. Bush's grammar is about one dollar less than the other grammars now in use. Of the 300 pages, the Chrestomathy occupies 30. "A leading feature in the work," says Mr. B. "is a return, in the vowel-system, to the older and simpler division into two classes only, the long and the short, specifying the cases which form exceptions to the general rules. "Another distinguishing feature is the entire omission of the Declensions of Nouns. The difficulty of retaining them in the memory, the nature of the peculiarities by which they are marked, and the perplexities and inconveniences of the system undoubtedly outweigh its benefits, and sanction the propriety of its omission. These declensions are entirely arbitrary. They do not enter essentially into the structure of the language." Though there is force in these remarks respecting the omission of the declensions, yet we should prefer to have them retained with all their perplexities. Some of them, according to the common division, are distinguishable at first sight, and when so, perform important purposes. Though the arrangement be arbitrary, yet thereby some system is introduced, and we doubt whether an accurate knowledge of the nouns in their various modifications can be well attained without them.

We are glad to see a decided improvement in the

printing of the Hebrew over that attained in the first No. of the Commentary on the Psalms. We know very well the extreme difficulty of approximating towards perfection in this matter, still it is attained, as many Hebrew Bibles show; and it is worthy the most patient and anxious toil. Better paper should have been found by the publishers. It is rough, uneven, and illpressed. In conclusion, we wish Mr. Bush all possible success in his praiseworthy exertions to introduce oriental studies into the Tyre of this new world. Every liberal-minded man will rejoice at the increasing indications of an attachment to the study of the Eastern languages, whether these indications are exhibited at Andover, New Haven, New York, or Cincinnati. Let us have but one biblical republic.

4.-The Elements of Moral Science. By Francis Wayland, D. D., President of Brown University, and Professor of Moral Philosophy. New York: Cooke & Co. 1835. pp. 448, 8vo.

THE first part of this work is taken up with Theoretical Ethics, embracing a consideration of the origin of our notion of a moral quality in actions, conscience, the nature of virtue, human happiness, self-love, imperfection of conscience, natural religion, the relation between natural and revealed religion, and the Scriptures. The second book or Practical Ethics, includes first, our relations towards God and the duties growing out of these relations-the general obligation of supreme love to God, devotional spirit, prayer, and the Sabbath-and, second, duties to man. These duties are classified under the heads of Reciprocity and Benevolence. To the former belong justice as it respects personal liberty, property, and reputation, veracity in regard to promises and contracts, the duties which arise out of the constitution of the sexes, and political philosophy or the duties of man as a member of civil society; to the latter, belong the general ooligation of benevolence-benevolence to the unhappy, to the wicked, and to the injurious.

It cannot be expected that we shall go into a lengthened discussion in respect to this interesting volume. Our only design is to give our readers some general account of its contents. Our notion of right and wrong, the author thinks, is not a modification of any other notion,-neither derived from an exercise of the judgment, from association, or from a notion of the great

est amount of happiness. The will of God alone, manifested in the human constitution and in the Scriptures, is sufficient to create the obligation to obedience in all intelligent creatures. We are so constituted as to be under obligations to our fellow-men and to our Creator. Conscience is defined to be "that faculty, by which we discern the moral quality of actions, and by which we are capable of certain affections in respect to this quality." "The perfection of a moral organization of any being consists in the perfect adjustment of its moral faculty to its moral relations, throughout the whole course of its history." The imperfection of conscience is shown in various respects, and the necessity of some clearer revelation from God pointed out. If our limits would permit, we should gladly give extracts in regard to various points in practical ethics, which, as it seems to us, the author has handled with clearness and effect. But we must, for the present, forbear.

ARTICLE X.

LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

UNITED STATES.

THE third volume of Dr. Bowditch's translation of the Mécanique Céleste has been published. The first volume was issued in 1829, and contains 746 pages quarto; the second in 1831, 990 pages; the third consists of 1000 pages. The translation will consist of two volumes more, one of which is in the press. The object of Laplace was to reduce all the known phenomena of the system of the world to the law of gravitation by strict mathematical principles; and to complete the investigation of the motions of the planets, satellites and comets begun by Newton in his Principia. The whole of the results of gravitation upon the equilibrium and motions of the fluid and solid bodies which compose the solar system constitute the science of Celestial Mechanics. The first part, embraced in the first two volumes of the translation, contains the methods and formulas for the development of the motion of the centre of gravity, the oscillation of fluids, and the motion about the centre of gravity. The second part applies the formulas of the first part to the planets, satellites and comets of the system. In conclusion several impor

tant astronomical questions are discussed, and a view is given of the progress of the science. As the method of Laplace was condensed and abridged, it has been Dr. Bowditch's object to insert the intermediate steps. Considerable additions have also been made for the purpose of introducing late improvements in the calculation of the attractions of spheroids, by Poisson, Ivory and others.

We learn that an ecclesiastical history of New England has been prepared by a venerable writer, who already enjoys an enviable reputation for his familiar and accurate knowledge of our history. He has had the best means for acquiring information which our country affords. We think that his history, which we trust will soon see the light, will entirely remove the doubts which have been at various times thrown over the motives of the early settlers of New England.

During the last few months, several courses of lectures have been delivered in the large towns of the Northern States on Geology, by gentlemen eminently skilled in natural science. We regard the proceeding as worthy of all encouragement. It prevents the intrusion of ill-qualified lecturers. It furnishes interesting topics of conversation and of reflection to a large number of persons, and awakens an interest in our colleges and higher seminaries, and serves to connect them with the community generally. In this connection we may state that the study of Natural History is making gratifying progress throughout the country. Mr. C. U. Shepard of Yale College, has just published a new work on Mineralogy in two volumes. We notice with pleasure that he has made familiar use of the recent German investigations on the subject. In more than a third of the United States, geological surveys have been made, or are now in progress, by order of the respective legislatures. The same object has been undertaken in the Territories by the General Government. We trust that when completed, some person will be prepared to give a synopsis and digest of the results.

We have received from Kenyon College, Ohio, a pamphlet with the following title, "The Greek verb taught in a simple and fundamental manner, according to the Greek Tables of Friederick Thiersch, professor in the lyceum and president of the philological seminary at Munich, with alterations, additions and selections from Buttmann's Larger Grammar, and adapted to the principal Greek Grammars in use, by William Nast D. Ph., teacher of Ancient Languages." The Greek Tables" of Thiersch, on account of their great practical utility, have been generally admitted into the German Gymnasia. "His system differs from that of Buttmann chiefly in this, that it pursues the analysis a step or two further, by

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