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narrow ideas were only the more penetrating and the more dangerous; he rushed upon Calvinism, head foremost, like a bull maddened by the sight of something red. This fanatic, strange to say, was one of Colbert's creatures. After his patron's death, he aimed at pleasing Louvois, and thought he had succeeded in his attempt, by excess of violence. Louvois was fond of violence, or rather of strength, but only when it was intelligent, and especially docile; Foucault's obstinacy did not suit him. However, want of agreement manifested itself only after Foucault had been placed under the immediate orders of Louvois: as long as he was unfettered, that is to say, whilst he was at Montauban and at Pau, he did nearly what he liked, under superiors less attentive, or less jealous of their authority."

If we add to this list of worthies the unprincipled Madame de Maintenon, Father La Chaise, Chancellor Le Tellier, and the King, we have the chief dramatis persone, who will for ever be responsible in the eyes of posterity for one of the most wicked and (to take no higher ground) one of the most short-sighted pieces of policy that history has on record. Our readers cannot do better than turn to M. Rousset for an interesting account of the half-tragical, halfridiculous, and scandalously profane scenes which went by the name of conversions, and from the assumed authenticity of which Louis XIV. was led to believe that the Edict of Nantes had become a dead letter. One anecdote will suffice here. The inhabitants of the city of Orange (then independent of France, although on French territory) had received amongst them some of the persecuted Protestants. It was accordingly decided that they should be treated as Frenchmen, that is to say, converted. Count de Tessé, who had charge of the expedition, appeared to take considerable pleasure

VOL. X.-FIFTH SERIES.

in it, and wished to amuse Louvois by a narrative of its success. "Not only," said he, "the whole town has been converted in one single day, but the magistrates have taken the same resolution, and Messieurs du Parlement, who wished to distinguish themselves by a little more obstinacy, gave in twenty-four hours later. Everything took place quietly, without either violence or disorder. The minister Chambrun, the patriarch of the country, is the only one who persists in not listening to reason; for the President, who aspired to the honours of martyrdom, would have become a Mahometan, as well as his colleagues in the Parliament, if I had expressed such a wish."

M. Rousset, we need hardly say, condemns most strongly the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and proves that it really did more harm to the Roman Catholic cause than to that of Protestantism. Vauban, whose evidence cannot be suspected, remarked, that "if there were no more religionnaires, (such was the name given to the Protestants,) the Roman Catholic faith would only be the more neglected." Bayle, with much clear-sightedness, anticipated for France what really took place,

the triumph of infidelity and of scepticism. The help of the Protestants, as our author observes, was indispensable to the Catholics in defending the great principles of the Christian faith; and, "in firing on the Protestants, the Catholics of the seventeenth century did not see that they destroyed their own outposts."

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Dr. M'Cosh; vol. VII. of Sibbes, completing the works of an author who has few to rival him in his own spiritual vein; and vol. I. of the Practical Works of David Clarkson, B.D., of Clare-Hall, Cambridge, containing many good things, and many things which we are not predestinarian enough to think good ;but, also, the less known Commentaries of Dr. Henry Airay on the Epistle to the Philippians, and of Thomas Cartwright on that to the Colossians. The former of these annotators was, some two centuries and a half ago, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and an opponent of Laud in matters both of doctrine and of ritual. In his lectures, here republished, there is less of the expository, (the word being taken in its literary sense,) than of the religious and the earnest. The tone is Leighton-like.-Cartwright was sometimes called "the standard-bearer of Puritanism;" and Beza said of him, that "the sun shone not on a more learned man." A vigorous hand is traceable in the notes on the Epistle to the Colossians, though, confessedly, they want finish, and would be improved by revision.

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Messrs. Clark, of Edinburgh, have lately brought out a valuable " tribution to the Church-History of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries," by Dr. Hagenbach :-German Rationalism, in its Rise, Progress, and Decline; in relation to Theologians, Scholars, Poets, Philosophers, and the People.-The same publishers give us, in their " Foreign Theological Library," vols. I. and II. of the Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Professors Keil and Delitzsch, extending to the first three Books of Moses; and the Theological and Homiletical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, by Lechler and Gerok, complete in two volumes, edited by the eminent Professor Lange, of Bonn.

Messrs. Bell and Daldy add to

Bohn's "Standard Library" Dr. Southey's Life of Wesley, and to the "Historical Library" the first volume of Miss Strickland's Lites of the Queens of England. Of these works, graced as they are with many attractive features, we cannot speak in anything like unqualified praise. The latter is tinged with a certain æsthetical bias, which has led Protestant readers to call it "unhis

torical." The former propounds a theory at variance alike with fact and with philosophy. It is known, however, that the Laureate intended to modify various statements; and there is cause of deep regret that ef fect has not been given to his design.

Last year the Committee of THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY offered the Society's Commentaries, in six volumes, for twelve shillings, to those persons who needed help in their biblical studies, but were unable to pay the full price. Encouraged by success in this instance, the Committee have now resolved upon making another offer. The Society's edition of Howe's Works, in six volumes, 8vo., by Professor Rogers, is admitted to be superior to any republication of that eminent divine which has hitherto existed. This edition, including the valuable Life of Howe, by Mr. Rogers, in a seventh volume, is published at £1 15s. the set; and the Committee have resolved to offer the whole to clergymen and ministers of limited incomes, home and city Missionaries, national and British schoolmasters, and Sunday-school teachers, at ONE GUINEA. This offer will continue open until March 31st, 1865.

Preparing for publication, in crows 8vo., The Great Possession: a Contribution toward the Knowledge and Education of the Human Soul. By Richard Bell. Wesleyan Conference Office. This work will exhibit the Christian view of its subject. The

design is to illustrate the existence of the soul, to unfold its powers, trace its aspirations, prove its immortality, and enforce its claims. It will aim, throughout, to develop the harmony which subsists between the nature and necessities of the soul, and the truths and provisions of Christianity. It will be divested of technicalities and needless metaphysical subtleties; being intended to present in a lucid form subjects which must be regarded as of the highest importance, but which are generally avoided as uninteresting.

The fifth edition of Holy Living, exemplified in the Life of Mrs. Mary Cryer, comes, in beautiful form, from the Conference Office. A narrative, this, which none ever prayerfully read without deriving great spiritual benefit; and which will be an admirable gift-book for as many as resolve to be, by grace, wholly on the Lord's side.

Of late, the press has been in high activity. It is to us cause of regret, that limits of time and space admit, for the present, but the announcement of a few of its issues. The following are selected, some for their importance, some for the interest which belongs to the subjects:

The Divine Plan of Revelation: an Argument from internal Evidence in support of the structural Unity of

the Bible. Being the Boyle Lectures for MDCCCLXIII. By the Rev. Edward Garbett, M.A. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

Sermons on Biblical and Theological Subjects. By the Rev. Thomas Allin, Author of "Discourses on Atheism.” Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

The Theological Works of the Rev. J. H. Hinton, M.A. Vols. I. and II. Houlston and Wright.

Genesis: its Authenticity and Avthority discussed. The first eleven Chapters. By Henry Girdlestone, A. B., Rector of Landford, Wilts. Nisbet and Co.

Notes on the Gospels, (St. John,) critical and explanatory. By Melanethon W. Jacobus, Alleghany City, Pennsylvania. Edinburgh: Oliphant and Co.

The Life of our Lord upon the Earth, in its historical, chronological, and geographical Relations. By the Rev. Samuel J. Andrews. Strahan and Co.

Memoirs of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D., LL.D. By Thomas Stamford Raffes, Esq., B.A. Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

Memoirs of Joseph Sturge. By Henry Richard. Partridge; Bennett.

Clerical Elocution: a natural, practical, and original System of Delivery. By Charles W. Smith, Professor of Elocution. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

GLANCE AT PUBLIC OCCURRENCES.

THE Franco-Italian convention in very difficult circumstances. It continues to be viewed variously, provides for the withdrawal of the both on the Continent and in Eng- French troops within two years; but land. It is denounced in Italy by it stipulates, apparently, for the integthe "party of action," whose cry is, rity of the Papal power, when the "On to Rome," in defiance of every guardianship of France has ceased. let or hindrance. The great mass of Victor Emanuel, who, a few years the Italian people have accepted it as ago, despoiled the Pope of a portion the best bargain that could be made of his territory, is, strangely enough, with the Emperor of the French,— to become the protector of "His so long the "master of the situation," Holiness" against external foes! No

doubt, the meaning of this part of the treaty is, that no foreign troops are to be allowed, even under the plea of defending the "temporal power," to occupy the place vacated by the French. If this be so, the foes against whom the Papacy is to be protected are its professed and undoubted friends,-Austria, Spain, or other powers under Ultramontane influence. Against internal enemies, that is, against the people of Rome, the Papal government inust protect itself, by organizing an army of its

own.

Volunteers from other countries can be found, who are willing to defend the Pope against his own subjects, and who, in doing so, will think that they are earning heaven and doing God service. But, surely, when the old cumbrous government by priests-repellent of all modern advancement-comes to be upheld over an unwilling people by a motley army of adventurers, mercena ries, and fanatics, this will precipitate a crisis which may have important issues. At least, the long continuance of such a government, up held by such means, is scarcely credible or conceivable.

The most suspicious articles of this treaty are those in which the King of Italy apparently agrees to abandon all attempts at the acquisition of Rome as the capital of his new kingdom. And this is the very part which is so variously interpreted, according to the hopes or fears of the readers. Diplomacy has not earned for itself an unimpeachable reputation for honesty; so that it is but little wonder that it is sometimes suspected. Some, accordingly, look upon the transfer of the metropolis of Italy from Turin to Florence as a mere feint, and are of opinion that the occupation of the Tuscan city by the government is only a step toward the attainment of Rome. Whether this will be the issue or not, time will tell, if diplomatists still mystify, However monarchs may agree, the

people of Italy are not likely to be satisfied with any thing less than the city of the Cæsars for the capital of their new-made kingdom.

Meanwhile, Christian effort should be redoubled for the evangelization of Italy. The openings for the Gospel throughout the peninsula are unprecedentedly numerous and invit ing; the offers of personal service by enlightened Italians, to aid the good work of Protestant Missions in their native land, are encouraging, and even surprising; while indications of a wonderful Providence are pointing the church to re-enter a field where apostolic Christianity has been long supplanted by a system which has for centuries dishonoured and degraded the Christian name. Educated Italians tend evidently in the direction of infidelity, while the ignorant masses still lean toward the hoary superstitions which they have been taught to regard as the religion of Christ. Great will be the responsibility of the church, if at such a crisis she be unfaithful to her trust, by neglecting to show the people of Italy that between the two extremes of infidelity and superstition there is a scriptural Christianity, such as Paul preached to them that were "at Rome also."

In America, the political “situation" has of late absorbed a larger amount of attention than the military.

With regard to the contest for the Presidency, all that Christian men on this side the Atlantic should desire is, that the issue may be for God's glory, for the good of the American people themselves, and for the advantage of the millions of Negroes whose interests are involved in the gigantic strife.

The Romanists in England are at present discussing among themselves the project of a "Catholic University," to be established in some English town, or else a "Catholic Cal

lege" at Oxford or Cambridge, in connexion with one of the existing Universities. The former appears to be regarded with greater favour than the latter. In either case, the mooting of such questions betrays the restless grasping after a national recognition by a church which is insatiable in its ambition, and fixed in its resolves to regain dominion in England. While Roman-Catholic parents are left at liberty to educate their children in their own creed, their attempt to obtain such a government recognition as would be involved in the granting of a royal charter of incorporation for a "Catholic University," and such state-support as would be necessary to uphold this institution with fitting dignity, should be closely watched and vigorously opposed. At present, so far as means and facilities for education are concerned, Romanists have an equality of privilege in England

with Protestant Nonconformists. For the education of their poor, they have grants from the Committee of Council; and for the higher classes they have the common advantages of the University of London, with which several of their colleges are connected. In Ireland, the National system is for their almost exclusive benefit; whilst, in the national endowment of Maynooth College, they have their priests trained at the public expense. What more do they want? Plainly, on both sides the Channel, a position of superiority to all Protestant Nonconformists, and of equality with the Established Church. Surely it is not a childish fear that warns us against the stealthy and little-bylittle advances of a sect which in every country where it has acquired power has proved itself an untiring foe to liberty of conscience, November 15th, 1864.

VARIETIES.

THE COST OF NEW PLANTS.-It is something fearful to contemplate the price these new plants cost. I do not mean the guinea and a half you gave for that new Medinilla, nor even the twenty pounds you gave for that splendid mass of a new orchid; no, I mean the price in men's lives. It is worth while to think, as for the first time you contemplate a plant which has just gained the gold medal, what the man had to go through who sent it home to increase your pleasure and mine. He stood face to face with death for months-for years, perhaps with death in all its most terrible forms. He could, it may be, count his attacks of fever by the score like Livingstone, and calmly write home to his friends that he was just recovering from his forty-eighth attack. He may have been in peril from wild beasts of all descriptions, and dependent for the supply of his daily wants upon natives scarcely less ferocious than the wild animals.

His home was a hut built with a few branches in the depths of a primeval forest; or he swung his hammock between two trees, and slept there, with the sky for the only roof that covered him.

What he found to live upon, we had better not inquire. One collector told me he was obliged for weeks to strain every drop of water he drank through the only fragment of a shirt he had left. You may safely set these men down as "total abstainers," if you expand the meaning of the term so as to include not only those who drink no intoxicating beverage, but those also who abstain totally from all the so-called comforts of life. Perhaps the greatest comfort one living in a foreign land can enjoy is to receive a letter and a newspaper from home; but Sir Rowland Hill's emissaries do not traverse the districts into which the botanical collector has to penetrate; and

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even this pleasure is denied him. You and I, who get our letters regularly three or four times a day, can hardly form an idea of the anxiety with which a traveller returns to a seaport, after six months' absence, to obtain the letters which have arrived for him,-if, indeed, they have arrived. How he longs to know whether that last consignment of plants, upon which he had founded so much hope, arrived safely in England! He thinks of how much trouble and la

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