is any exaggeration in his descriptions of character, it is in this point. His personages are all highly good-natured, and sometimes to a ridiculous degree. His true forte consists in descriptions of rustic character, such as it was in his younger days. His best sketches in this volume are those of the Old Fisherman, the Country Justice, the Game-keeper, &c. All of these are specimens of the past; aged men whose habits, recollections, and sympathies belong to a former period. The Stage-coachman is another such character, who always walked his horses over a space where there had formerly been a piece of bad road, and who inveighed against the cutting down of a hill as a serious injury to his horses. He gives a very amusing and well drawn description of a village fair, and a very natural account of the adventures of a youthful would-be Robin Hood. When, however, leaving these scenes and the familiar style of writing, he attempts a higher order of composition, he meets with less suc cess. His style, nevertheless, is more polished than we should expect; and if the tastes of the basket-maker sometimes peep out, they only serve to show that he is in earnest. A genuine love of nature softens and purifies the mind. It is true, indeed, that those who are most familiar with the beauties or the wonders of nature are not always exempt from coarseness of mind. The eyes must be opened, the taste must be cultivated, for the perception of natural beauties. It is then no proof that such scenes have not an elevating tendency, that all countrymen are not refined.

Our author looks back, with more pleasure than compunction, to the days of his compulsory visits to the Justice, occasioned by sundry breaches of the game laws, and similar misdemeanors. In this, he probably thinks himself sanctioned by the example of Shakspeare, who was like him a close observer of nature. Retrospections of this kind, in regard to such offences in very early life, do not necessarily show a perverted taste. The thoughtlessness with which they were committed purifies them in the memory. It is not until they are perpetrated in more mature life, in defiance of the laws, that they are to be held as marks of real depravity.

Perhaps there never was a period in the history of the world, in which change-whether it be regarded as innovation or improvement proceeded so rapidly as it has done in the present century. Places which had formerly remained for ages unalter ed the children coming up in place of the fathers, pursuing their occupations, and continuing in their habits are now submitting every where, both in the old world and in this, to the hand of revolution. It is pleasant then occasionally to meet with an

We have dwelt the longer upon this work, because we think that next to the contemplation of nature herself, the perusal of books, which cultivate a taste for rural life, has a favorable tendency. Books of amusement will be read; and probably every one has some moments which cannot be better occupied than in their perusal. It is therefore no small recommendation of such a book, if it can be said that it is innocent as well as entertaining. It is from the tendency of such works as these to cultivate a taste for rural scenery, and to open the eyes of the many to those beauties which they would otherwise pass unnoticed because they are familiar, that we would strongly recommend the republication of this book. There is much of our native scenery, which equals in beauty or surpasses in grandeur many of the much admired and frequented localities in Europe; but which is little valued, perhaps hardly known, because the taste is wanting that would cause it to be generally appreciated.

We hope that the Rural Sketches will shortly be issued from the American press, in the same form as the original, and without omission of the engravings. We cannot doubt that it will meet with a ready sale.

Letters to the Rev. Professor Stuart, &c., by DANIEL Dana, D. D. We have sometimes amused ourselves in the retired alcove of a public library, by looking over old pamphlets on questions which are now entirely settled by the common consent of the world. It is curious to trace out the ingenious arguments by which some really strong and good man has entirely put down, for instance, the Copernican Astronomy, by reason, scripture, and the authority of great philosophers. With something of the same feeling we have read the pamphlet before us. It is a voice from the past, coming upon the present generation to discuss a question which has gone by. As to the author, if for once we may speak in a style similar to his own, we have great respect both for his mind and character. But the controversy, in which he is taking part, has little interest for those who are now coming upon the stage, and can do good or harm only to those whose minds are made up.

Professor Stuart, it appears, has published in the Biblical Repository an Essay, the object of which, according to Dr. Dana, seems to be, to disprove and explode the doctrine of original sin, or of native depravity." The parties are at issue" on points which, on all reflection," says Dr. Dana, "I cannot but view as 3D s. VOL. IX. NO. II.

VOL. XXVII. ·

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fundamental and vital." He first objects to the philosophy of the Essay. He next (Letter III.) undertakes to show that it is not supported by Vitringa, whose authority Professor Stuart had claimed; and having established this to his satisfaction, he adds in his peculiar manner," Such being literally the state of facts, I cannot help imagining that I see the venerable Dutchman smile (not to say frown) at your attempts to enlist him in such a cause.' The fourth letter is taken up with the scriptural argument, which is managed with considerable adroitness.

We must not, however, go through the details. The main argument, though not perhaps apparent at once, is undoubtedly a personal appeal to the peculiar situation of Professor Stuart. It runs in a secret vein through all the letters.

"It is known," says Dr. Dana, "to the churches of New England, and to the community, that you have solemnly declared your faith in the doctrines of the gospel, as expressed in the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly. Of course the expectation has been extensively cherished, that your instructions, as a minister of the gospel, and as one employed in preparing future ministers for the churches, would be in accordance with the principles embraced in the instrument mentioned above."

After defending the doctrine of original,] native sin, as expressed in the Catechism, he adds;

"But I forget that it belongs to you, rather than to myself, to defend the venerable Assembly in this case. Still I am under the necessity of subjoining the following quotations from your Essay."

After making the extracts, he continues;

"These quotations I have introduced with some reluctance, and shall pass with very little comment. It would be obviously gratuitous, though perfectly easy, to show how materially they disagree with the Westminster formulary. Nor would it be less a work of supererogation to demonstrate that the framers of that instrument had no idea of a corruption which has no moral evil in it, nor of a depravity which is innocent, nor of an original sin, which (to use your own emphatic, though unguarded expression,) is no sin. But I forbear.

*

*

*

"In a word, my dear Sir, I cannot but apprehend you are far too sanguine in anticipating the speedy disappearance of the doctrine in debate the doctrine of original sin. Unquestionably, it is one of the grand pillars on which the Andover Institution rests."

Here is the sore point. The Andover Institution rests on original sin as "one of the grand pillars," which its professors have pledged themselves to maintain; and yet, in the opinion of Dr. Dana, this pillar Professor Stuart has been destroying by taking away its moral evil.

The sum and substance of Dr. Dana's letters to Professor Stuart, when translated into plain English, is this; "In entering upon your office you solemnly pledged yourself to support the doctrine of original, native depravity," and now you are laboring to disprove it. "On all reflection," I cannot but view this error as fundamental and vital," nor can I see how, as an honest Christian, you can reconcile your present conduct with the pledge you have given. It is impossible to describe the importance of our Theological Seminaries for good if conducted on right principles.

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"But [we now use Dr. Dana's own words] what if they prove recreant to their high destination? What if the streams, that issue periodically from these fountains, should become impure and polluting? Alas, words cannot paint the bitter disappointment, the deep-felt grief, the disastrous, wide-spread, and almost interminable evils which must ensue!"

The point of such language will be understood, when we remember that it is used by a trustee of the Andover Institution, and a personal friend of Professor Stuart.

Among other considerations urged, the following is a little cu

rious.

"Shrewd and calculating Unitarians are looking on the recent experiment with deep attention and interest. They perceive that much has been conceded. But they demand much more. Indeed, they expect much more. They argue, with no little plausibility, that much more must and will be conceded."

To the following paragraph we entirely assent.

"I cannot, however, conclude, without adverting to one point in your 'Essay, which has not yet been touched. You seem to apprehend that the great evil in the church, at this day, is an intolerance of error; an extreme sensitiveness to every departure from truth. But others are of a different opinion. They think that a 'wide-spread and increasing indifference to sound doctrine is the present great sin of the Christian church.' And you yourself, I think, will not be backward to admit that 'there can be no surer sign of degeneracy than the peaceable progress of error.' For myself, I have no disposition to defend any arbitrary methods of suppressing heresy. It is the truth which, in this case, is the sufferer. Yet if there is not, in this age, an unusual and alarming insensibility to the progress of error, and to the duty of opposing it; if many Christians have not too much forgotten their obligation to 'contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, then am I utterly unacquainted with the signs of the times."- p.45.

We hope never to be found opposed to a sincere and earnest search for the truth. We would by no means interfere with freedom of thought or speech, when used with a sense of the

solemn obligations which it imposes. But we do believe that, in the discussion of the great questions of the day, there is a reckless impatience of existing institutions and opinions, from which we have much to fear. Questions affecting the deepest interests of man and society are taken up as school-boy themes. The faith of thousands is shocked as though it were a matter of no concern. The false views that are abroad give us little alarm; but the manner in which they are sustained and opposed is a ground of serious apprehension. Let men investigate with all freedom, but let them remember that the pursuit of truth is something more than a sport, or a Lyceum debate, where it matters little what opinions are maintained, provided only that it be done with ability and grace. A heavy responsibility rests upon them, and in respect to important doctrines, they should propose innovations only after the most serious, enlightened, and prayerful conviction of their truth.

The School Friend. By the author of American Popular Lessons. Robinson and Franklin: New York. This is a close imitation of a German book of the same title, and is interesting as exhibiting, in small measure, the moral discipline of the German schools. If there be any mode of penetrating the whole popular mind with the principles of morality, it is through the instrumentality of the school, and the school book is one of the earliest oracles by which we are instructed in great truths. There is no want of good and attractive children's books in this country; but those fitted to the best ends are not yet freely admitted to our common schools. But they might be obtained. "It ought to be," says Mrs. Austin, that most enlightened promoter of popular education, one part of the business of those who preside over public instruction, to collect and compare the elementary books, and the methods of all countries." If a spirit of inquiry so searching and comprehensive should enter into our school councils, it is believed that the American" School Friend" would be as useful to the American people, as its original is to Germans. The translation, rendered in the present form for adaptation to our use, is from the one hundred and twenty-eighth edition of the German, and contains in an attractive form, simple and impressive lessons on the principles of duty, and the physical harmonies of nature.

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Testimony of a Thousand Wit-
A very remarkable

8vo. pp. 224. New York. 1839.

and terrible volume. We do not know but it should be regarded