The Sword and the Trowel. Volume XX. Passmore and Alabaster. We will not commend ourselves: we need not do so to our own readers. We little thought when we commenced this serial that we should attain to Volume XX.; much less did we foresee all the good work which would grow out of the magazine, and be fostered by it. The Sword and the Trowel is our chronicle, and in some sense our autobiography. We are frequently told by our subscribers that they find the earlier volumes very fresh reading; and therefore we recommend all our friends to preserve our issues as they appear, for they are not worse than their predecessors. The volume, nicely bound, is not dear at 5s., and should be purchased while there are yet copies to be had. Those who have complete sets from the beginning are fortunate; for those who have tried to purchase the back volumes have rarely succeeded in getting them all. The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit. Volume XXX. Passmore and Alabaster.

THIRTY yearly volumes of sermons ! One thousand eight hundred and fifteen discourses published week by week in unbroken succession! Think of that. A friend writes us, "The freshness of the good old-fashioned gospel is a standing miracle! Fancy one of the modern school dilating three times every week in the Tabernacle for thirty years on Positivism or Rationalism! How long would he keep a congregation together? And yet the good old story, told by a man who has felt it himself, interests, and cheers, and attracts, and saves souls." Yes, it is even so, and none shall stop us of this glorying. Not our power, but the power of the truth is seen in the production of these thirty volumes, and in the continued flocking of such vast numbers to hear the discourses contained in them. The cost of the volume is seven shillings. Whitaker's Almanack for 1885. Whitaker, 12, Warwick Lane. THIS seems to us the best of the general almanacks. It comprehends information most various and ample. Nothing seems

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to be left out which one can desire to know. It is almost too much for a shilling.

The Baptist Almanack and Congregational Hand-book for 1885. Robert Banks, Racquet Court, Fleet Street. THIS is an exceedingly useful almanack for Baptists. Great pains have been taken to get it up, and the publisher deserves the support of the denomination. The Home Friend: a magazine for

young women. Volume for 1884. Edinburgh: Macniven and Wallace. A QUIET little magazine which we have never before seen. For the woman's side of the family it is quite a little

treasure.

Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest.

Illustrated. Blackie and Son.

ALL alive. Not a dull page. Excitement carried to its highest pitch. We are not sure that too much of this thing is good for boys, or for any one else. Methodist Worthies. Characteristic Sketches of Methodist Preachers of the several Denominations, with Historical Sketch of each Connexion. By G. J. STEVENSON, M.A. T. C. Jack, 45, Ludgate Hill.

Two handsome volumes, crowded with information. Mr. Stevenson is a born biographer, and, as in this case he has ject, we here see him in great force. had personal acquaintance with his subThe reader will learn the meaning of the various divisions of Methodism; and the causes, bad or good, from which they sprang upon this matter we judge our author to be singularly well-informed and thoroughly impartial. The sketches of the first Wesleyans are sufficiently well done; but we value most the lives of later worthies with whom Mr. Stevenson was personally acquainted. We consider this work to be an extremely useful addition to our library. All persons who wish to be posted up in the ecclesiastical history of one of the most useful of the churches should procure this excellent work. Every Methodist, Conference, Primitive, New Connection, or whatever he may be, will have the volumes as a matter of course.

Stories of the Sea in Former Days. Illustrated. Blackie and Son. HEARTRENDING stories of shipwrecked mariners, starving crews on barren islands, and wretches upon rafts. The greatness of human endurance is thus terribly illustrated.

Johnsoniana: Life, Opinions, and TableTalk of Dr. Johnson. Arranged and collected by R. W. MONTAGU. Alfred Boot and Son, 13, Paternoster Row. A VERY good shillingsworth of scraps about Dr. Johnson. He is viewed from all sides, and something is said upon him in every part of his character. We do not see the particular use of keeping a centenary of the great dictionarymaker; but as people will fall into the fashion, this brochure will suffice to refresh one's memory, or even to form the basis of a lecture.

More Bits from Blinkbonny. A Tale of Scottish Village Life between 1831 and 1841. By JOHN STRATHESK. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson, and Ferrier. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

THIS is a worthy sequel to the former "Bits from Blink bonny." Rare, racy stuff we have here. Never say the Scotchman has no fun in him; for a deep, quiet, thoughtful mirth he beats us all. We like this book, and would aid its circulation; it does good to scatter such innocent pleasantries. One should know a little of the Northern Doric to appreciate these pages as they deserve to be.

Punchi Nona: a Story of Female Education and Village Life in Ceylon. By the Rev. S. LANGDON. T. Woolmer. FACTS which occurred in connection with the Wesleyan Mission in Ceylon are here deftly twisted into a story, even as many rushes are made into one basket. It will please the children, and help to train them up in that way of helping missions in which we all desire to see them go.

Graham McCall's Victory: a tale of the Covenanters. By GRACE STEBBING, J. F. Shaw and Co.

A COVENANTING story, very harrowing to the feelings. It is a fine, stout, handsome volume; but we have read it with scant pleasure; in fact we should never

THESE tales, in pretty bindings, at ninepence each, are marvels of cheapness. We have not been struck by the authorship; indeed, it seems rather poor; but there is plenty for money, plenty to look at, at any rate.

Monte Carlo and Public Opinion. Edited by a visitor to the Riviera. With Illustrations. Rivingtons. No denunciation of the gambling-hell of Monte Carlo can be too severe. The Committee for the suppression of that infamous den have done well to issue this volume, in which the case is stated very plainly, but by no means bitterly.

We know of a surety that the tables of Monaco are the source of numerous suicides, countless crimes, and measureless misery. How France can tolerate such a cancer within its own body it is hard to say; the horrible thing ought to be cut out remorselessly, and at once! Zoological Photographs; being short and interesting chapters on Natural History. By JOSEPH HASSEL, A.K.C., London. With numerous illustrations. Sunday School Union. FULL of interest. It leads the young to admire the works of God. The chapters are out of the common way, dealing with crustacea, worms, and insects. We infinitely prefer this entertaining work to novels and tales. Children reading it will learn something, and have their appetites whetted for more knowledge. Fiction is a sort of mental alcohol, stimulating for a time, but weakening in the end: but works of natural history are as refreshing water from a flowing well. Better spend half-a-crown upon this work than the same amount on pages which make each individual hair stand on end like to the quills of a fretful porcupine.

By Still Waters: a Story for Quiet Hours. By EDWARD GARRETT. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson, and Co. As a story, highly improbable: that, however, is of small consequence, for the most of the book is a vapid talk against creeds, and an empty argument Fine for religion without doctrine. words and pretty sentiments: the usual cant of the new theology.

The Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. By DANIEL DEFOE. Blackie and Son.

SINCE Robinson began his cruise he has never put to sea in more gallant style than this. What a witching book this is! Doubtless it makes many a boy lie awake, and pine for the sea, and for man Friday; and too often this leads to restlessness at home, and a hungering to be "aboard o' the Arethusa!' Will our readers believe it? We have been seduced into reading this story again, and we have been astonished at the truly religious and deeply spiritual character of the narrative, so far as Crusoe's sojourn in the island is concerned. His conversion is fine. We can well believe that many a rough seafaring man has been helped by it into peace with God.

Alda's Leap, and other Stories. By the Hon. Mrs. GREEN. T. Nelson and Sons.

PROTESTANTISM in its conflict with Romish persecution is the burden of the three thrilling stories here told, and told with unusually graphic power. The authoress has that unerring first touch that paints the picture in a few vivid strokes, and makes it live before your eyes. We should like these narratives to be scattered broadcast, so that our young folks may learn the untamable fierceness and malignity of the Mistress of the Seven Hills, and be preserved from any trifling or compromise with her. A knowledge of her cruel past is the best antidote to Rome's poison of to-day. "Well done, Mrs. Green, and may your book be well read!"

A Backward Glance on Childhood's Scenes. By C. F. WEST. Nisbet

and Co. 1s. 6d. As pure, natural, and sparkling as a newly-fallen flake of snow. We should

not have advised the publication of it, for it is a trembling child of genius, and heavy literary criticism would crush it ; but since it is already abroad, we cannot help hoping and believing that it has a measure of quiet interest all its own, which will secure it life and attention. The booklet is sweetly good. A child's brief story is here told in her own artless words. A sort of rhythm, a kind of delicious jangle of wood-music, rings through the artless narrative.

Beke's First Corner, and How She Turned It. By J. M. CONKLIN. J. F. Shaw and Co.

Ir our girls will have fiction, they cannot do better than buy this. The principles of faith in Jesus, life for God, and devotion to his service, are all here, and yet not in prosy and moralizing style. They steal into the heart as a perfume, and are there before we are aware. Would make a good Christmas or New Year's present to girls budding into women. We unstintingly recommend it.

A TOUCHING, tender story of a dishonest lad won to integrity by the patient efforts of a gracious Sundayschool teacher. It cannot but do good, and stir in the hearts of those who read it renewed attachment to the service of the Saviour. Admirably written; the interest is sustained to the very last sentence. It has our warmest commendation.

Scarlet Anemones. By L. T. MEADE. The two Sisters. By the same author. Hodder & Stoughton.

THESE pretty shilling books are, we suppose, both intended for the young. The first is suitable, for it exhibits the evils of falsehood; but the second is quite unsuitable for the young, unless we include under that head young women of marriageable years. It treats of a good girl who imagines that her younger sister is enamoured of the gentleman who is her own choice, and therefore she hides away to prevent her sister's being disappointed. It turns out to be a mistake, and we think the book is a mistake,

too.