"We are all well aware that one who feels himself drawing near to eternity, and around whose couch of suffering the light of that 'better country' is shedding its heavenly radiance, can stand in no need of earthly consolations. Nor would we offend your Christian humility by enlarging upon the services you have rendered to the cause of Christ. But we may-nay, we must-magnify the grace of God in you, which has wrought so effectually to the furtherance of the Gospel amongst us through your instrumentality. We can not accept your resignation of the important office you have just relinquished, without bearing our formal and grateful testimony to the manner in which its duties have been performed. With devout thankfulness to God, and under him, beloved brother, to you, we record our sense of the eminent wisdom, fidelity, and efficiency, and the noble, disinterested liberality with which you have for fourteen years conducted the affairs of our 'Board of Education.' Under your administration it has risen from a condition of comparative feebleness, to strength and power. Its plans have been matured and systematized. Its sphere has been greatly enlarged. It has assumed new and most beneficent functions. Your luminous pen has vindicated the principles which lie at the basis of true Christian education. And by your numerous publications, your sermons and addresses, your extended correspondence and your self-denying activity in visiting every part of the Church, you have, by God's blessing, accomplished a great work in elevating this sacred cause to its just position, and gathering around it the sympathies of our whole communion. Nor may we forbear to add, that in prosecuting these manifold official labors, you have greatly endeared yourself personally to the ministry and membership of the Church. "Rejoicing as we do in the auspicious re sults of these unwearied exertions, we mourn this day the sacrifice they have cost us. While the Church is reaping the harvest-a harvest which we fully believe she will go on gathering until the Master comes to present her unto himself, a glorious Church-the workman who has done so much to prepare the ground and sow the seed, falls exhausted in the furrows. There, dear brother, we doubt not you would choose to fall-upon that field to the culture of which you had dedi. cated your life. "On behalf of the Church we represent, we once more thank you sincerely and gratefully, for all your labors and sacrifices. We lift up our hearts in humble and fervent supplication to our common God and Father, that his presence may be with you in this hour of trial. We hear with joy, that he does not forget you; that he is giving you strength according to your day; and that your peace flows like a river. We plead with him that if it be possible, this blow may still be averted, and your health be restored. But we desire to commit you into his hands. That Saviour in whom you trust will not forsake you. The Divine Comforter will comfort you and yours. Your covenant God will be the God of your children. "To him, the Triune Jehovah, we affec tionately commend you-praying that his rod and his staff may comfort you, and that whenever the summons shall come, an entrance may be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "On behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in session at Rochester, N. Y., May 23, 1880. "JOHN W. YEOMANS, Moderator. "WILLIS LORD, Stated Clerk. "ALEX. T. MCGILL, Permanent Clerk. "A. G. VERMILYE, Temporary Clerk. "[Signed also by the whole Assembly.]" LITERARY MISCELLANIES. THE WORKS OF CHARLES LAMB; in four volumes. CHARLES LAMB is a favorite author with many THE AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW. Conducted THE WORKS OF FRANCIS BACON, Lord High Chancellor of England; collected and edited by James Spedding, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, Robert Leslie Ellis, M.A., and Douglas Denon Heath, Trinity College, Cambridge. Vol. XI., being Vol. I. of the Literary and Professional Works. Boston: published by Brown & Taggard. 1860. Pages 462. THIS volume is chiefly devoted to the History of King Henry VII., then follows an Appendix of some 25 pages, succeeded by the beginning of the History of the Reign of King Henry VIII., and a Latin In Memoriam of Queen Elizabeth, translated in English. The students of History will thank the publishers of this work for bringing it out in this neat and attractive form. The talents and genius of Bacon will render this work a desirable acquisition to many libraries. TICKNOR & FIELDS, of Boston, have sent us another. of the beautiful series of their diamond edition, works in blue and gold. LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA, as represented in the fine arts. By Mrs. Jameson, corrected and enlarged. Pages 483. THE curious reader will find many curious things among these curious legends of by-gone ages. He will need to travel into foreign lands and cities and visit many galleries of paintings in imagination to find the works of art to which allusion is made. But it will prove an interesting excursion. We remember to have seen many of these beautiful works of art. They are worth an actual visit. An ima by Rev. H. B. Smith, D.D., and Rev. J. M. Sher- ginary one even will give pleasure. wood. Boston and New-York. THE November number of this able quarterly has been issued. It opens with a masterly article on the Laws of Civilization, by Rev. Prof. Hitchcock, of the Union Seminary. The article abounds with powerful and suggestive thought. Objective Preaching is the theme of the second article, from the pen of Dr. Asa D. Smith. It is a theme worthy of an angel's mind and pen, and we are glad to see so important a subject presented with so much force of diction, and so practical and pertinent in its bearing on the most solemn business of human existence. Other able articles follow. Dr. Samuel M. Worcester's article on the origin of American Foreign Missions will be read with interest. The whole number is admirably sustained. HOME BALLADS AND POEMS, by John Greenleaf THE LIVES OF DR. JOHN DONNE, SIR HENRY WOTTON, RICHARD HOOKER, GEORGE HERBERT, and DR. ROBERT SANDERSON. By Isaac Walton, with some account of the author and his writings. By Thomas Touch, D.D., F.L.S., Prebendary of Durham. New edition, with illustrative notes. Complete in one volume. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company, 1860 Pages 386; with a copious index. In this well-executed volume, is a sort of resurrection of the character, life, and times of these ancient worthies, so that the reader may hold communion with their minds and thoughts, which are here reproduced. THE OAKLAND STORIES. Claiborne. By George B. Taylor, of Virginia. New-York: Sheldon & Company. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1860. In this story of Claiborne, eight persons appear THIS neat volume contains ten ballads and twenty-on the scene and speak their sentiments concerning five poems and lyrics. The lovers of poetry and the admirers of Mr. Whittier's pleasant harp and song will not need a second invitation to repair to this volume and drink of its fountains. the subjects of conversation which are introduced. Our young readers will welcome this pleasant story to their firesides, both for their amusement and instruction. HAND-BOOK OF UNIVERSAL LITERATURE, from the best and latest authorities. Designed for popular reading and as a text-book for schools and colleges. By Anne C: Lynch Botta. New-York: Derby & Jackson, 1860. Pages 567; with a copious index. THIS is a book of rare excellence and value. It is the result of very extended research, and the literary treasures which are here brought together and arranged for convenient use, constitute a work highly creditable to the talents and judgment of the authoress. The young lady or young gentleman who shall mentally digest the literary aliment of this book will possess a richly-endowed mind. BROWN & TAGGARD, the publishers of BACON's WORKS, have sent us Vol. XII., being Vol. II. of the Literary and Professional Works. Pages 454. THIS volume is devoted chiefly to additions and corrections inserted by Bacon in a manuscript copy of Camden's Annales and Essays, or counsels, civil and moral. In these productions of Bacon's pen are found many treasures of thought which were held in high repute by his cotemporaries. They are still rich mines of intellectual wealth, where the lovers of literature of the present age may dig and explore, and find golden nuggets. For sale by E. French, 53 Cedar street, New-York. THE BOTTOM OF LOUIS NAPOLEON'S HEART." At one of the recent meetings of the Liverpool Social Science Association, Baron Gudin, the celebrated French marine painter, who was present, delivered a speech in English, deprecating any idea of a war between France and England, and arguing that the Emperor was most anxious to keep up the entente cordiale. He also mentioned that he (Baron Gudin) had invented an apparatus in connection with gas and water, which would, he hoped, be of great benefit to the public. "The Emperor," he said, "is my friend, and I know the very bottom of his heart." At these words, Lord Brougham, who was in the chair, smiled and shook his head; and at the conclusion of the Baron's remarks he highly eulogized his talents as an artist, and added, "but with reference to his great discovery-I don't mean that of the bottom of the Emperor's heart, but of the gas and water apparatus-I hope we shall soon hear more." These words, delivered in the noble lord's driest manner, excited roars of laughter, which seemed to puzzle Baron Gudin immensely. Baron Gudin, Lord Brougham stated, is married to a Scotch lady. ROME IN THE COMING WINTER.-Some apprehension seems to exist in Rome with regard to the prospects of the coming winter season, supposed to commence on the first of November, by which date, or soon after, there is generally a strong muster of foreigners and especially of English-in the Pontifical capital. Numerous classes of Romans and some foreigners depend in great measure for employment and prosperity on the annual influx of our countrymen for a few weeks' visit, or a few months' stay. Artists of all grades and descriptions, sculptors, painters, mosaic workers, cameo engravers, etc., would be sensibly affected by the absence of English. The shops await the British advent before replenishing their stock and filling their windows. As for hotels and lodging-house keepers, they depend entirely on the winter, and some of the former have only just begun to receive guests, having preferred to close altogether during the summer, as Baden inns do in winter. "To judge, however," writes a correspondent, "by the enormous rents demanded for furnished tenements, whether large or small, their owners feel pretty confident of tenants." DR. SMITH'S Dictionary of the Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History of the Bible, is now for sale at the Boston bookstores-thanks to the enterprise of Messrs. Little and Brown, the joint publishers of America—at less than one half the English price. The first volume only is yet published -volume two, completing the work, will appear in about eighteen months. Among the contributors appear the well-known American names of ProfesHackett, and others, in juxtaposition with Dr. Stansors Calvin E. Stowe, Felton, (of Harvard,) Conant, ley, Dean Alford, A. H. Layard, Rawlinson, James Ferguson, etc. In spite of the low price at which the original edition is offered, two houses have announced reprints. DR. LORD'S LECTURES.-The new course of six Historical Lectures of Great Representative Women which this eloquent lecturer is about to deliver in this city, is so rich and instructive that he may well expect large assemblies of hearers, for repeated courses. FOOTSTEPS ON THE OTHER SIDE. SITTING in my humble doorway, With a kind of sad delight- All the night seems filled with weeping, I can fancy, sea, you murmur, Branches, bid your gusts be silent: Like the blushes of a bride, Ah! how many wait for ever, For the steps that do not come ! Wait until the pitying angels Bear them to a peaceful home! Many in the still of midnight In the streets have lain and died, While the sound of human footsteps Went by on the other side. |