Art. X. The Monthly Bible-Class Book, upon the American Plan; or, Scriptural Aids to promote a Revival of Religion among the Rising Generation; in the form of Catechetical Exercises upon some of the most interesting Portions of Sacred Writ. Intended also as a familiar Commentary on the Books of Scripture. Vol. I. Gospel by John. By John Morison; Author of an " Exposition "of the Book of Psalms", and of "Lectures on the Reciprocal Obligations of Life", &c. &c. No. I. 18mo. pp. 36. Price 6d. London, 1829.

SUCH a work as this, which enters thoroughly, in a catechetical form, into the meaning of the text of Scripture, was greatly needed. Mr. M. has set the example of a style of Biblical Instruction somewhat differing from any thing we have yet seen. He has not contented himself with a general reference to the contents of a particular verse, without proposing such interrogatories as must compel thought on the part of the pupil, and lead to a sound and substantial knowledge of the word of God. The mode of illustration is also well adapted to secure the attention and stimulate the inquiry of young persons between the ages of twelve and sixteen. We trust that the Author's aim at usefulness will be successful. We would caution him against every approach to tediousness in his mode of illustrating texts. Brevity, with a sufficient measure of perspicuity, will be a great recommendation to his labours. The immediate design of the Bible-Class Book is thus stated in the preface :

"Should religion experience a pre-eminent revival in this country, a powerful impression must be made upon the rising generation. In what way can this be expected so effectually to be accomplished as by leading the minds of inquiring youth directly to the fountain of living waters? Catechisms founded upon human formularies of doctrine may often serve an excellent purpose; but exercises directly derived from the written word, and directed towards its immediate illustration, must claim a decisive superiority.

In the little periodical, of which this is the first number, it is the intention of the Author to combine instruction with impression; and to aid heads of families and ministers in conducting Biblical exercises upon a plan that may call forth the mental energies of the young, and induce them to commence for themselves the delightful task of searching the Scriptures, and " comparing spiritual things with spiritual."'

pp. iii, iv.

Art. XI. The Annual Peerage and Baronetage for the Year 1829. 2 Vols. 12mo. With the Arms of the Peers, &c. Price 11. 8s. Saunders and Otley. 1829.

THIS publication deserves high praise for the tasteful manner in which it has been got up; and it now appears with great improvements. The clearness and simplicity of its plan was its original recommendation; but unwearied diligence could alone have secured that high degree of accuracy and fulness of detail which are the distinguishing fea

tures of the present (the third) impression. The labour of obtaining from each noble house, a personal return of the order and extent of their respective families and their collateral branches, must indeed have been immense. Among other improvements in this edition, may be specified, the condensed manner in which the early history of each family is given. In these sketches, many new facts and some amusing anecdotes are introduced. Mr. Lodge, so well known as a herald, an antiquary, and an elegant biographical writer, has, we perceive from the preface, laid the fair Compilers (the Misses Innes) under no small obligations to him for valuable assistance. A Baronetage is also for the first time added; and the arms, occupying eighty-eight pages, are engraved with a degree of clearness and beauty worthy of the advanced state of the arts. Altogether, these volumes cannot fail to be extensively acceptable, and we have pleasure in recommending them to the notice of our readers.

ART. XII. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. W. Cuninghame (Author of a Dissertation on the Seals and Trumpets of the Apocalypse) is preparing for the Press, A Critical Examination of some of the Fundamental Principles of the Rev. George Stanley Faber's Sacred Calendar of Prophecy.

Mr. Edmeston has in the Press, The Woman of Shunem, a Dramatic Sketch, and other Sacred Poems.

Preparing for the Press, and will be published during the Spring, Dioclesian, a Dramatic Poem. By T. Doubleday, Author of the Tragedies of Babington, The Italian Wife, &c. &c.

Mr. Allen, the Translator of Calvin's Institutes, is preparing a Translation of the Commentaries of that Reformer; and some part of the work may be expected to appear soon.

Early in February will be published, Three Sermons on the Prosperity of a Christian Church, and the Scriptural Means of promoting the Revival of Religion. By the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, A.M. of Stepney.

Early in February will be published, a Second Edition of An Itinerary of Provence and the Rhone, made during the Year 1819. By John Hughes, A.M., of Oriel College, Oxford. Illustrated by Views from the Drawings of De Wint, and engraved in the Line manner, by W. B. Cooke, G. Cooke, and J. C. Allem. Large Paper, Royal Quarto or Imperial Octavo, uniform with Batty and other European Scenery. The work will be sold with or without the Illustra

tions.

Shortly will be published, in 12mo., The New Testament; with a Key of Reference and Questions, Geographical, Historical, Doctrinal, Practical, and Experimental; designed to facilitate the acquaintance of Scriptural Knowledge in Bible Classes, Sunday and other Schools, and Private Families. By Henry Wilbur, A.M. Attached to this Edition are the following useful Tables; viz. An Alphabetical Table of Proper Names, accented for correct Pronunciation; an Etymological

Table of such Names as are of importance in elucidating Texts; a Chronological Table; Table of Reference to the Prophecies; and a Miscellaneous Table.

In the Press, The Portraiture of a Christian Gentleman, by a Barrister.

ART. XIII. WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR MARCH 1829.

Art. I. The History of Rome, by G. B. Niebuhr. Translated by Julius Charles Hare, M.A. and Connop Thirlwall, M.A., Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge. The first Volume. 8vo. pp. 572. Price 158. Cambridge, 1828.

2. The Roman History, by G. B. Niebuhr. man by F. A. Walter, Esq. F.R.S.L. 1070. Price 11. 4s. London, 1827.

Translated from the Ger-
In two Vols. 8vo. pp.

WE E confess, at once and without reluctance, that we feel considerable embarrassment in dealing with the work before us. The difficulty does not lie in forming a general estimate. We could state in a very few sentences, our reasons for approbation or rejection, and accompany them with such examples or illustrations as should set our views in a clear, if not a satisfactory light. But we are bewildered by the multitude and complication of the details. Analysis is out of the question; and equally so is that minute and extensive investigation which alone could enable us to meet Mr. Niebuhr on his own ground, and to bring his multifarious and frequently whimsical hypotheses to an adequate and decisive test. He is an unsparing sceptic. He sweeps away, with equal nonchalance, the Mosaic genealogies and the story of the Roman kings; while the Scripture history of the origination of mankind, pairs off with Numa and the nymph Egeria; alike the theme of an idle legend, the burden of an old song, the counterpart of the Round Table or the Niebelungen. So far as the Bible is concerned, he does not give himself the trouble of assigning reasons for his unbelief; and it will, of course, be quite unnecessary for us to do battle with the sneers and peremptory self-complacency even of Mr. Niebuhr. We have no concern with mere infidelity, but to lament it: it is only when it puts on the armour of argument, that we are bound to accept its challenge. And when we are superVOL. I.-N.S.

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ciliously told of the 'fallacy', which obtains such general acceptation, that tribes of a common stock must have sprung genealogically by ever-widening ramifications from a single root,'we are not Quixotic enough to snatch up our lance and run a fierce tilt against a shadowy windmill in encountering Mr. N.'s bare assertion. Neither does the lofty intimation, that they who do not recognize a plurality of races, but ascend to a single 'pair of ancestors, betray that they have no idea of languages and their modifications, unless they cling to the miracle of a 'confusion of tongues; a miracle which may suffice with respect 'to such races as present no striking physical difference';awaken any other emotion in our minds, than contempt for the wretched coxcombry that can deal with such questions in such a way. To Mr. Niebuhr's extensive learning, we give all deference; to his acuteness and activity of mind, we bear respectful testimony; but, in his mental development, the organ of ratiocination must, we fear, be either absent or strangely defective. And hence arises, we think, the great flaw of his work from beginning to end. Of ingenious conjectures, there is a superabundance; of prompt and widely ranging reference, there is an inexhaustible variety; and there is displayed a faculty of ready and specious combination, which, if submitting itself to strictly scientific and argumentative processes, would be invaluable. But all this is so mingled up with rashness and arrogance,

so largely alloyed with a spirit of speculation, tenacious of its views, and without the slightest misgiving as to the possibility of error in its calculations,-as to lessen very materially our confidence in his authority. We disclaim the affectation of pronouncing loftily and ex cathedra, on a man of Niebuhr's eminence: but neither can we consent to surrender, without equivalent, and in tame subserviency to high pretension and tranchant phrase, the foundations of history and the landmarks of human genealogy. To evidence, to argument, we will concede every thing; to airs of infallibility, nothing.

Our readers are aware that the early history of Rome has been made the subject of severe investigation, and that the ablest scholars have felt it necessary to reject, not merely the dress and ornaments in which the Roman annalists have presented it, but more or less of the very substance of the traditions which were once welcomed with implicit credence. There are discrepancies and contradictions, as well as obvious fallacies, which it were absolute waste of time to attempt to defend, and which it is the wisest, as well as the shortest course, to give up at once. Still, the great outlines of Roman story have been held sacred; they have been considered as beyond the reach of cavil, and as supported by documents and monuments that left scepticism without a plea. All this, however, vanishes