fagging are inseparable from its operation, we should not hesitate to vote for its abolition. It were better, surely, to sacrifice all its advantages, than to perpetuate the moral mischief of which it has been the occasion; the misery to the weak and helpless; the hard-heartedness and self-indulgence which it has fostered among those who have had the power in their hands. We are persuaded, however, that these evils are by no means unavoidable: but rather, that when they exist to any serious amount, it is owing to a culpable slackness of supervision on the part of the masters of the school. Fagging, properly administered, will undoubtedly conduce greatly to the good management of the school, and to the formation of a high and manly tone of feeling among the boys but in order that it may be so administered, and be productive of such results, it must be carefully watched and controlled by those to whom the education of the boys is entrusted. We are satisfied that such watchfulness is exercised in the timehonoured institution of S. Mary Winton College; and we confidently hope that the good fruits of "fagging," as it is there maintained, may lead to the correction of its abuses, and thereby to the continuance of its benefits, in other similar establishments.

:

VIII.-Practical Sermons. By the Rev. W. GRESLEY, M.A., Prebendary of Lichfield. London: Masters.

THE author of this volume has proposed to himself in its publication to select those topics, and treat them in the way which appears to him most suitable to the particular times in which we live. It is accordingly directed to explain the doctrines of the Gospel on such subjects as are either matter of controversy, or are too much neglected, and to enforce such rules of Christian morality and holiness as are peculiarly disregarded in the present times. To enter into detail on this subject would be impossible at present. But we may express our gratification at the plain, distinct, and truthful mode of treatment of the different points, which is exactly what might have been anticipated from Mr. Gresley's other works.

IX.

-Some Account of the Foundation of Eton College, and of the past and present Condition of the School. By E. S. CREASY, M.A., Professor of History at University College, London, &c. London: Longmans.

WE have looked with some curiosity into a work on Eton College, proceeding from a Professor of the London University, as we certainly should not have supposed that much cordiality of feeling could exist between the members of the one institution and

of the other. But Mr. Creasy, as an old Eton man, is connected with both institutions, and accordingly we find no unfriendly tone of criticism-indeed no criticism at all; but a very cordial and admiring description of the Eton system, with some little outline of the history of the College. This little work will be very useful to persons in any way connected with Eton, from the details which it affords of the management of the school, and the Examination papers which it appends. The earlier history of the College is briefly told, and we should have been glad to have seen more facts brought together.

x.-Reading Lessons for the Higher Classes in Classical, Middle, and Diocesan Schools. By the Rev. W. B. FLOWER, B.A., &c. London: Masters.

As far as we can judge of this Reading Book, it appears to be a very judicious and well-selected compilation. The pieces included in it are arranged under the heads of "Imaginative;" "Descriptive Geography;" "Oratory;" "Natural History;" Biography;" "Religion;" "Science;" and "Poetry." We can safely recommend the volume to those who are anxious to obtain a good reading book.

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XI.-1. Popery Delineated in a Brief Examination and Confutation, &c. Second Edition. London: Painter.

2. Archbishop Murray's Douay and Rhemish Bible, and the Bordeaux New Testament, &c. By a LAY BARONET. London: Painter.

THE first of these little volumes is a kind of Manual, in which all the errors of Romanism, and its principal pretences, are treated of. It comprises certainly much very useful information, and much plain vigorous argument, put in that short and clear way which is adapted to the understanding of the middle classes. We can have no doubt of its being eminently useful in many cases, and we should decidedly recommend it to the notice of the clergy; but there are a few blemishes, which prevent us from saying that it may be circulated with perfect satisfaction by Churchmen. We refer, in particular, to the contrast between the doctrine of Scripture, and of the Church of Rome on the subject of Transubstantiation (p. 157), which appears to us injudicious, if not unsound. We should be truly glad to see occasional faults of this kind removed from this otherwise well-conceived and useful volume.

The little work on "Archbishop Murray's Douay and Rhemish VOL. X.-NO. XIX.-SEPT. 1848.

P

Bible," &c., is of a different character from what its title would seem to infer at first sight; for it has very little reference to the Douay and Rhemish Bible, or its notes, but is a brief controversial work against Romanism, and we can speak of it in almost exactly the same terms as we have of the preceding work. It contains a great deal of very valuable matter in a short compass, but with occasional blemishes, which might be easily removed.

XII.-Hours of Recreation; a Collection of Poems, written to the age of Twenty-one. By CHARLES S. MIDDLETON. London : J. R. Smith.

JUVENILE poems are very seldom worth publication, and we naturally feel prejudice against a volume which comes before us with a deprecation of criticism in its very title-page. We are inclined to throw it aside without perusal; for the question naturally occurs," If a work has been composed at so early an age as to claim exemption from criticism, why has it been published at all; why add to the multitude of second and third rate books, by which we are inundated at the present day?" We deem such appeals to indulgence ill-advised in general; but, at the same time, there is so much modesty, and, we will add, feeling, in the author's preface, that we are rather reluctantly compelled to sympathize with his exertions, and more especially so, as his great wish is to create within his reader's mind a "spirit of love." As might have been anticipated, there is not much power in the volume, but it is very pleasing in tone and spirit, and shows the workings of a gentle, and thoughtful, and cultivated mind. The versification is extremely good. Altogether we do not see why these poems should not rank pretty nearly with those of Henry Kirke White. There is much of the same kind of tone throughout, and nearly the same amount of poetical power.

XIII.-Holy Times and Scenes. By the Rev. J. S. TATE. Second Series. London: Masters.

THIS Volume of poems consists of short pieces, chiefly on religious and devotional subjects; and we have been gratified at all that we have seen of it. There is one series entitled "Lessons from Nature," which forms a whole in itself, and is very pleasingly written. We select a short example of the mode in which the author combines instruction and thought with the sights and scenes of every-day rural life. It is taken from a poem "The Morning."

"The toiling bees sing out their busy hum

From flower to flower, in silence gathering sweets,

on

Like poets from each laden nectary :
And e'en contentedly amid the air

Sing rich melodious bass, when barren flowers
No honey yield to their industrious search.
So should we soar amid the purple air,
And thankful sing; and e'en in poverty
Contentedly lift up the louder hymn.

Upon a bank, some blue campanula,
Hanging on wiry stems its little bells,
Caught by the breeze, rings out a merry chime;
Rustling among the slender leaves of grass:
Where in green vest the shrill-toned grasshopper
Sits twittering out his tune; with buoyant heart
Then leaps on high to thank the morning air,
As o'er the bending leaves it softly steps
And flusters with a transient glow of health
Some pallid son of woe, who early winds

Through lanes and fields his sad, yet hasty way."

It is impossible to open this volume without meeting some passage like that we have quoted, full of pleasing imagery, and of the spirit of religion.

XIV. The Churches of Scarborough, Filey, and the Neighbourhood. By GEORGE AYLIFFE POOLE, M.A., Vicar of Welford; and JOHN WEST HUGALL, of Pontefract, Architect. London: Masters.

THIS will be found a very interesting and instructive Manual for the use of persons visiting Scarborough. It is adorned with numerous woodcuts, which are always essential in works of this description. Every contribution to the knowledge of the architecture of our parochial churches is valuable in itself, and we have seldom seen a volume which is, in all respects, better executed than this.

xv.-The Gospel of St. Matthew. Illustrated from Ancient and Modern Authors. By the Rev. JAMES FORD, M.A., &c. London: Masters.

In examining this work we have been struck by its adaptation to the use of preachers. The collection of thoughts, extracted from a great variety of ancient and modern authors, and arranged under the texts of the Gospel of St. Matthew, accompanied by apposite references to Scripture, seems to us eminently calculated to supply valuable aid and material of instruction to those who are about to explain the Word of God. The tone of the Preface

is excellent, and inspires confidence in the principles of the writer, and, as far as we can judge, his selections are very good. XVI.-The Whole Armour of God. Four Sermons preached before the University of Cambridge, &c. By HENRY JAMES HASTINGS, M.A., &c. London: Hatchards.

THESE are plain, sensible discourses, and apparently very well adapted to engage the attention of those to whom they were addressed. Mr. Hastings is a strenuous advocate of the right of private judgment, and of the supremacy of Scripture; and he has certainly spoken throughout his sermons in a very distinct and unequivocal manner against the errors of Romanism. Perhaps it would be too much to expect that, in so short a compass, he should have guarded himself equally against the inferences of dissenters, and of those who deny the legitimate authority of the Church,

XVII.-Female
-Female Examples.
For Young Persons.
London: Hatchards.

Selected from the Holy Scriptures.
By a CLERGYMAN'S DAUGHTER.

THIS is a very pleasing and useful little book. Eleven characters are selected from the Old and New Testament; and the tale of their actions is very simply and well told, and interspersed with remarks tending to point out the example which they should be

to women.

XVIII.-Hymns for Public Worship and Private Devotion. For the Benefit of the London German Hospital, Dalston. London: Hatchards.

THIS collection of hymns presents many pleasing features, and has been brought together by an Editor who is apparently fully competent to his task. The hymns themselves are selected from all kinds of sources. We do not object to a good hymn merely because it may be one of Wesley's, or a Moravian composition, or a translation from the Roman Breviary; but we would prefer, if possible, to see hymns either derived from the Early Church, or from writers of the English Church. The tunes of these hymns, which are published in a separate volume, are, in many instances, derived from the fine old music still in use in Germany; and they deserve particular attention from all who are interested in the subject.

XIX. Contributions towards an Harmony of the Holy Gospels. London: Rivingtons.

THE author of this Harmony is of opinion, that there is yet room