Review of Books.

THE "FIELD OF HONOUR;

or scenes in the Nineteenth Century. By Anne Flinders, Author of Felix de Lisle," &c, &c.-Dalton.

66

THE subject of this work is the dreadful practice of Duelling, illustrated by four Tales, fictitious of course, and somewhat romantic, but abounding with plain facts that it would have been unpleasant to narrate in all their particulars of name, time and place. It is written with great power, and many of the details are exceedingly affecting. We confidently look for much good to result from the application of the Author's rich and varied talents to such a subject.

Next after seeing a gallant soldier or sailor forward in this righteous cause, it is the most gratifying to see the only child of one of the most truly brave and truly valuable of England's naval officers, taking up such ground as her father would surely, by God's

grace, have occupied, had he been now living. Years, however, have elapsed since Captain Flinders fell a victim to the effects of arduous service, and a long, cruel captivity in a hostile prison; and while every navigator sent forth by the Admiralty is furnished with his charts, the result of his devoted application of the highest talents to a very difficult and dangerous branch of the service-while every experienced officer knows that hundreds of valuable lives are yearly saved to that service by the adoption of his wise, judicious, scientific plans, based on the knowledge that deep experience gave him—while, in the far distant territory of Van Diemen's land, which England mainly owes to him, a principal river bears his name, and a conspicuous monument records his services ... we-we in grateful England, only hear that name when his young daughter has with difficulty been persuaded to lay aside the retiring incognita, and to prefix it to the writings by which she contributes to the comforts that a beloved mother's advanced years require. Truly, were we in the British Parliament, this stigma should not long rest on the nation; one voice at least would demand of those whose prodigality showers gold upon the gift of genius, when it is desecrated to the service of Satan, perverting the ways and polluting the minds of our countrymen, "WHY is England thus disgraced in the eyes of foreign nations, by withholding from the aged widow of that distinguished officer, whose services you all know to have been, and still to be, so conducive to our naval and territorial interestsherself, in her own gentle sphere not one whit less worthy than he in his bolder one-the tribute of an acknowledgment which would carry with it the

accordant voice of thousands?" Such neglect is a blot on our national honesty: the sailor king, William IV, felt this, and warmly urged its removal, but he urged it in vain ; and death stayed his generous purpose. Let Anne Flinders persevere in her course of pious usefulness: the day may come when governments shall learn to do justly; and if so, her gallant father's claims will no longer be thrust into a dark corner till then, she has with the inheritance of his talents, a heart given her to devote them to the service of her God; with Him is her work; from Him, in due season, will be the reward.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED: being Lectures delivered during Lent, 1844, at St. George's Church, Bloomsbury. By twelve Clergymen of the Church of England, with a Preface by the Hon. and Rev. H. Montague Villiers, A.M., Rector of St. George's, Bloomsbury.-Nisbet and Co.

THERE is much reason for thankfulness to Almighty God that this most important part of his holy book, "the sure word of prophecy," continues to excite increased and increasing attention.' So says the excellent Mr. Villiers, and so echo we. It is fast becoming almost the only ground of rejoicing among the true members of Christ's true church as a body; for to those who have been dreaming of a gradual conversion of the whole world by the preaching of the gospel, and a spiritual reign of righteousness, the daily darkening of the scene around, and

more especially before us, would almost shake the saving faith of many in the truth of God's word, if that continued to be regarded as the true meaning, which is, indeed, quite foreign to it. This volume will be a great treasure to those whose eyes are already fixed on the light shining in a dark place; and a blessing to many who do not yet see it clearly.

The Rev. Mourant Brock's sermon, on the Lord's Supper, is, to our mind, one of the most valuable treatises we have ever met with on that much mistaken, much abused ordinance. The recent efforts of Puseyism to prostrate us before the bread and wine in senseless idolatry, have put Christians on seriously enquiring into the real nature and purport of that simple and beautiful commemoration; and the result is becoming manifest in a widening separation on that very point where principally we separated, though never as decisively as we ought to have done, from Popery. There is a little Tract of sixteen pages, entitled “The Lord's Supper,” published by Baisler, and now in its second edition, calculated to excite very serious reflections in the minds of many who feel that they have been erring in this matter. The Tract is by a layman, and wholly unconnected with the volume before us; but we were greatly struck by this additional evidence that a much clearer light is rapidly breaking on the church, that is to say, on the various and scattered individuals of whom the church is composed. We have long felt what Mr. Brock remarks, that an undue proportion is observable between the degree of prominence given to this ordinance by the only apostle who adverts to it, and that which is given to it among ourselves; and the writer of the tract,

entering fully into the subject, takes his stand where, at present, few may be found bold enough to accompany him, but where, we are persuaded, truth will yet find its level. "We must recede more and more from the principles of the Reformation," said the renowned Mr. Froude. We must re-form the Reformation on a model much farther removed from Rome, say we even the model of God's pure word, untrammeled and untwisted by any human authority whatever.

THEOPNEUSTIA.

The plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. From the French of L. Gaussen. -Bagsters.

WE did not know, when noticing the New York translation of this beautiful work, that England possessed one so valuable as that published by the Messrs. Bagster. The whole range of theology does not include a question more important than this: for endless as numberless are the heresies that may creep in, and fasten themselves on a man's mind, even to the making final shipwreck of his faith, if he be not grounded and settled on that point. We rejoice in being enabled to direct attention to this edition of M. Gaussen's work, which is rendered the more valuable by the publishers having obtained a sight of his own latest corrections before putting it to press. Long may England and America carry on the noble rivalry of supplying their respective populations with such food for mind and spirit as is here prepared!