The subject of this notice met with an accident in early boyhood, which although apparently most untoward and ruinous to his prospects in life, proved to be the cause of his future usefulness and fame. A fall from a great height spared his life, but took from him the sense of hearing as completely as though the effect had been congenital, and not the result of accident. What gloomy thoughts must have filled the hearts of those interested in the child thus mysteriously kept in life, but deprived of one of the essentials of its being prosperous and happy! How did fond hearts mourn over his blighted prospects, and anticipate for him, perhaps, a state of dependence upon others, entailed. upon him by this loss of a sense so indispensable for the active business of life! But they had to learn the lesson, taught by a thousand similar instances, and yet hard to learn in our own case, that God can bring good out of evil, and even turn misfortune into the means of the highest blessings.

It is a law of nature that the deprivation of one sense gives greater acuteness to the rest, from the circumstance that they have more to do, and become more active by the additional exercise thus demanded of them. Shut out from former occupations by his early calamity, young Kitto was fortunately thrown into associations which quickened his natural intellect, and developed tendencies which would not otherwise have been awakened. In his work on "The Lost Senses," Dr. Kitto has shown us something of the different world, as it may well be called, into which sufferers like himself are introduced, and made us aware, by implication, of the manner in which it moulded and fashioned his own powers. As far as that piece of autobiography extends it is deeply interesting, but it makes us wish for more. The records of a life nurtured and brought to a high state of maturity in such untoward circumstances can only be told by him who was the conscious subject of its phenomena; and we

in

hope it may one day be given to the world. All we know at present is, that educational advantages were afforded to the deaf child, and that his mental improvement soon made what was a misfortune to be, many respects, a blessing. A life which would most probably have been passed in mere ordinary employment, was turned into a more elevated and noble channel; and the same hand which locked up the avenues to all eloquent words and sweet sounds, opened up other sources of happiness, which more than compensated for the loss.

It was with an eye made quicker by its inability to depend upon the sense of hearing, and with a power of observation vastly increased by the absence of the disturbing influence of sound, that Kitto was introduced to the East, and there treasured up those facts of scenery and manners which qualified him for his peculiar line of Bible illustration. It is true his deafness precluded him from deriving benefit from the spoken languages of the countries in which he was located; but he well embraced and used the opportunities of treasuring up those innumerable facts which shed such light on Holy Writ. Had he visited Italy, but few opportunities of illustrating Latin literature would have presented themselves, on account of the entire change which time has wrought in the manners of the people of the West. But under an oriental sky there is something which gives fixedness to the habits of life; so that the long lapse of thousands of years leaves the people the subjects of the same characteristics which distinguished their far distant progeni tors. Every one who has but a slight acquaintance with the Bible, as interpreted by Eastern manners, must be aware of this fact, which gave Kitto such constant topics for meditation, and enabled him to treasure up such abundant materials for future use. He returned from the East, deeply conversant with those peculiarities which shed light upon the Holy Scriptures; and

it was not long before an occasion presented itself of bringing his various knowledge to bear on that important purpose.

About twenty years have elapsed since THE PICTORIAL BIBLE first appeared. It was published anonymously, and its claim to notice appeared to rest upon the novel combination of engravings with the text. The idea was a happy one, and the work soon gained great popularity. But it was not long before the discovery was made that the pictorial illustrations formed but the smallest part of the value of the work, and that its notes and observations had a trust-worthiness, and a graphic power, which made them of inestimable importance as illustrative of the Bible. The Pictorial Bible quickly became an authority, nor is it likely to lose the character for correctness and point, which have placed its notes in the very highest rank of exegetical helps. Others had before used the customs of the East for the same professed end; but their descriptions were generally borrowed from travellers, and wanted the reality of life.

This work was too popular to allow the editor to be concealed, and he was placed at once in the very honourable and pleasant position of a popular biblical writer, and his name appeared in the title-page of the complete work. In 1847 a new edition was published with many and great improvements. The literature of the several books of the Bible is given, and the whole revised and enlarged. This is now a standard work, and cannot easily be excelled for the fulness of its details of oriental manners and customs. A reverential spirit pervades the whole; and although pious reflections are not formally indulged in, every page bears testimony that the pen of the writer is under the controul and guidance of a pious heart. In connection with this work, the "Pictorial Palestine" was published, which is marked by the same characteristics.

In 1845 appeared A CYCLOPEDIA of BIBLICAL

LITERATURE, in two large octavo volumes, containing each as much as would fill an ordinary folio.

And it certainly is a noble monument of learning dedicated to the illustration of the sources of our common Christianity, although, as it comprises the opinions of co-adjutors of various theological tenets, the views of the writers on some points, with all due care to avoid unnecessary intrusion, will sometimes appear such as neither Dr. Kitto, nor our readers can quite approve of.

Perhaps to none of his literary schemes did Dr. Kitto give more solicitude than to the JOURNAL OF SACRED LITERATURE. He conceived the design long before he was able to carry it into effect; he gave to the execution of it much energy and labour, and he saw its success, gradual as it was, with a large measure of gratified affection.

Dr. Kitto conducted it until he had overcome the difficulties of its early years, and then delivered over its management to the present editor, to use his own expression, "with great reluctance, and even with grief." But a sedentary life had rendered it desirable that, for the highest use of his talents, he should lay aside some of his arduous toils, and use his mental powers less intensely. The labour of such a work is very great, even if the editor should not employ his own pen to any extent. It is a labour of an anxious and harassing kind, returning as soon as completed with an iron inflexibility, and leaving no escape from its arbitrary rule. With robust health such labour may be endured, but with less than that it cannot be performed without danger. In the case of Dr. Kitto, there is the cheering thought, that of several duties drawing on his mental resources, he only relinquished that which entailed great exertion with but little present advantage, however much he might feel attached to it.

Some years back, a continental University conferred on the editor of the "Pictorial Bible" the degree of

D.D., as the highest expression of respect it was capable of bestowing. In Germany this degree is given to laymen, but in England it is exclusively appropriated to the clergy. This led to the very general impression among strangers, that Dr. Kitto is a clergyman. Had he ever been disposed to take upon him the sacred office, his deafness would have prevented his doing so. In communion with the Church of England, he has embraced those outward means which his isolation from the living voice of men allows of, but further than this, his intercourse with the religious world has been by books alone. His communings have been with the mighty dead, in connection with the authors of the present age, but words proceeding from human lips are lost to him, either for instruction or sympathy.

We now come to a work which we are inclined to consider the most important of Dr. Kitto's productions-the DAILY BIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS. When we say the most important, we mean in the whole extent of their influence and usefulness, and as constituting their author a popular Biblical writer. The plan of the work is a good one, allowing the author the most extensive range of subjects, and at the same time putting the results of his researches before the reader in a most convenient form. The single papers are short, and for the most part have an individual completeness; such as might be read thoughtfully in a quarter of an hour.

We believe that these "Bible Illustrations" enjoy the great honour of being carefully read, as well as extensively purchased-two proofs of the popularity of a work which do not always go together. There is a charm in the style and the matter, which makes the reader wish for more, and return to the volumes again after he has once perused them. This is high praise, and, in the case of works so eminently useful, the fact is most pleasing and satisfactory.