of a Scottish gentleman, Mr. Robert Haldane, in 1816. He soon became acquainted with two students of Socinian theology in the College of Geneva, and found them, as he says, in profound darkness in respect to the gospel. "They could not have been more ignorant if they had been trained in the schools of Socrates or Plato, and had enjoyed no other means of instruction." They soon became convinced that they knew nothing of the Scriptures or the way of salvation, and exceedingly desirous of information. These two students, with whom Mr. Haldane first conversed, brought six others in the same state of mind with themselves. He had many and long conversations with them, and in the winter of 1817 was induced to give a course of lectures on the Epistle to the Romans, which almost all the students in theology regularly attended. Sixteen of these young men, as the fruits of his labor, are said to have become subjects of divine grace. Among them were Merle D'Aubigné, now known as the author of the History of the Reformation, Adolf Monod, the celebrated Protestant preacher in Paris, and Felix Neff, the Alpine Missionary. Mr. James A. Haldane, an elder brother of Robert, is scarcely less known for his very successful labors in Scotland. The memoir of these two brothers, prepared by a son of the elder, is a work of unusual interest. It is perhaps too extended for most readers. The American Tract Society have done well in preparing this new memoir whose title we give, which, though comparatively brief, presents a very satisfactory account of what was accomplished at home and abroad by these two men.

THE POET PREACHER, CHARLES WESLEY.*-The story of the life of the great Methodist poet and preacher, Charles Wesley, is full of incidents which are admirably calculated to interest and instruct the young. We are glad to find that a compilation has been prepared for the use of sunday school scholars, from the large English biography by Jackson, which was re published in New York, in 1842.

We remind our readers of the well known story of the offer made by the wealthy Irish gentleman, Garret Wesley, Esq., to adopt Charles, wher. he was a boy at school at Westminster, and make him his heir, if he would leave England and reside with him in Ireland. The offer being declined, Mr. Wesley subsequently adopted a kinsman on condition of bis receiving the name of Wesley. This young man was afterwards

*The Poet Preacher; a brief memorial of Charles Wesley, the eminent preacher and poet. By CHARLES ADAMS. Five illustrations. New York: Carlton & Porter. 12mo. pp. 234. Price 75 cents. For sale by F. T. Jarman.

raised to the peerage, under the title of Baron Mornington, and was the grandfather of the great Duke of Wellington. Mr. Jackson has well summed up the case as follows:

Had Charles Wesley accepted the proposal that was made to him, he would have been far removed from the religious friends who were the instruments of his conversion and subsequent piety, and Richard Colley would never have possessed the property of Garret Wesley. According to all human calculation, therefore, the world would never have enjoyed the benefit of Charles Wesley's ministry; his incomparable hymns would never have been written; the extension of the British empire in India, under the administration of the Marquis Wellesley might not have taken place; and the general who conquered Napoleon Bonaparte, and thus overthrew one of the greatest tyrannies that ever existed, might never have been born. What a thought, that events so immensely important, and involving the temporal and spiritual interests of millions, should have been contingent upon the volition of an impetuous boy, who was left to decide whether he would remain in England with the prospects of poverty and labor before him, or go to Ireland to enjoy the luxuries and honor of wealth."

THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE REV. C. N. RIGHTER.*-This book is a sketch of what Mr. Righter did in the last year of his life, rather than of what he was as a thinker and as a man. Those who knew him as a student in college and the Theological Seminary, could have told Mr. Prime much which he did not seem to care to know, else he would not have been content to give so hasty and superficial a view of the marked and distinguishing features of so interesting a person. Mr. Righter was not only the buoyant-spirited, the cheerful and the earnest man whom his biographer describes-but he was also ardent in his pursuit of truth in Science and Theology, and fearless and independent in the avowal and defense of his opinions. He was a very ardent admirer and affectionate pupil of the late Dr. Taylor, his principal Theological teacher. He made special studies of Geology, Metaphysics, and Literature while a Theological student, and was ever wakeful and eager to learn whatever might be known. His modest manners and his symmetrical character veiled and obscured the force of his intellect and the range of the attainments which he had achieved. A large circle of friends will value this well-intended memorial to his honor, and only regret that it is not more complete.

*The Bible in the Levant; or the Life and Letters of the Rev. C. N. Righter, Agent of the American Bible Society in the Levant. By SAMUEL IRENEUS PRIME. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1859. 18mo. pp. 336.

CATHARINE.*-The author of this book is a well known and highly respected clergyman of Boston. He has given a short sketch of the last days and the triumphant death of a young lady, “Catharine," who was his own daughter. It is followed by a tender and affectionate presentation of those truths which have been the alleviation of his sorrow. It is the story of a father who has seen his child "made competent to meet intelligently and deliberately the last enemy," and to come off conqueror, "able to sustain and comfort" those who loved her, that she was leaving behind. We do not know a better book to put into the hands of those who are suffering from a similar bereavement. We make two extracts, which will show how thoroughly the author is able to enter into the feelings of the afflicted, and how tenderly and with what warm sympathy he leads them to the sources of consolation.

"At the death of a friend the greatest suffering does not occur immediately upon the event. It comes when the world have forgotten that you have cause to weep; for when the eyes are dry the heart is often bleeding. There are hours-no, they are more concentrated than hours,-there are moments, when the thought of a lost and loved one who has perished out of your family circle, suspends all interest in everything else; when the memory of the departed floats over you like a wandering perfume, and recollections come in throngs with it,-flooding the soul with grief. The name, of necessity or accidentally spoken, sets all your soul ajar; and your sense of loss, utter loss, for all time, brings more sorrow with it by far than the parting scene." pp. 25, 26.

"See that chamber in yonder mansion, where all the comforts, and some of the luxuries, of life, have contributed to prepare for some mysterious event. The garden of Eden failed to possess such joys as are in anticipation, and are soon to be made perfect. Everything seems waiting, with silent but thrilling interest, for the arrival of an unknown occupant. And there is raiment of needle-work, and of fine twined linen, and gifts of cunning device, from the looms of the old world, and from graceful fingers and loving hearts here, every want being anticipated, and some wants imagined, to gratify the love of satisfying them. And now God breathes the breath of life, and a living soul begins its deathless career, amidst joys and thanksgivings, which swell through the wide circles of kindred and acquaintanceship. The Holy Spirit, in the process of time, renews and sanctifies the soul through the blood of the everlasting covenant; and having, through life, walked with God, the day arrives when the spirit must return to God who gave it. You saw how it was received here at its entrance into the world. You have seen what the atonement, and regeneration, and sanctification, and providence, and grace, have done for it, and with what accumulated love the Father of Spirits, and Redeemer, and Sanctifier, must regard it. And now do we suppose that the shroud, and the coffin, and the funeral, and the narrow house, and the darkness, and

• Catharine. By the author of "Agnes and the Little Key." Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co. 1859. pp. 192. 12mo. For sale by F. T. Jarman. Price 75 cents.

the solitude, and corruption, and the whole dreary and terrible train of death and the grave, are symbols of its reception into heaven; the proper pageantry of its arrival and resting place within the veil? Believe it not! If God prepared in our hearts such a welcome for the infant stranger, that even its helpless feet were thought of, and cared for, surely when those feet, wearied in the pilgrimage of the strait and narrow way, arrive at heaven's gate, it must be, it is, amidst rejoicings and ministrations of love to which earth has no parallel. Let kings and queens prepare a royal room for the new born prince: "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." pp. 79, 80, 81.

WILLARD MEMOIR.*. -The publication of family memoirs is now a common occurrence. It furnishes an occasion for laborious research on the part of the author, and often brings before the public new and interesting facts. These facts the future historian can employ to great advantage.

The subject of this memoir is Major Simon Willard, who emigrated from the County of Kent, England, to Massachusetts, in 1634, and made his residence successively at Concord, Lancaster, and Groton. He died in 1676. He filled many important offices. His biography connects itself with the civil affairs of Massachusetts Bay in what may be called the home department. It exhibits the internal history of the colony, and shows how it grew up to its present form. There are also some topics here of a more general interest, as the confederation of the colonies of New England in 1643, and Philip's war at a subsequent period.

The descendants of Simon Willard are very numerous, most of the Willards in New England being descended from him. The author of the memoir gives his descendants to the fourth generation. The present generation of Willards, by inquiring the name of their grandfather and great-grandfather, can easily connect themselves with the genealogies here given.

The author, who is a descendant of Major Simon Willard, traces his pedigree to Richard Willard, of Horsmonden, County of Kent, England, making seven generations.

On pages 71-73 is a list of fifteen generations, commencing with William Wyllard, of Haylesham, Sussex, in 1341, and ending with

* Willard Memoir; or, Life and Times of Major Simon Willard. With Notices of three Generations of his Descendants. By JOSEPH WILLARD. Bos pp. 488.

ton.

1858.

John Harry Willard, of Eastbourne, England, born 1770, died in 1845. But the exact mode of connection of their family with that of Simon Willard, has not been ascertained. The list just referred to gives us thirty-three years as the average interval between two successive generations.

The author has a long discussion about the origin of the name. The name is undoubtedly Teutonic; but whether it is of Anglo-Saxon, or Norman origin, is uncertain. Teutonic proper names of persons are often of difficult interpretation. They probably originated in a Teutonic dialect now lost.

SCIENCE.

ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, FOR 1859.*—The title-page of Wells's Annual of Scientific Discovery, sufficiently explains the scope and object of the work. The volume before us is the eleventh of the series, and like its predecessors, constitutes an interesting and valuable book of reference for all who care to be informed in respect to the rapid advances continually making in science and the arts, especially for those who are not led by scientific pursuits to an acquaintance with the original sources, the various scientific publications of the day, from which the materials of these volumes are drawn. If these materials were in some instances a little more select, and if, in the departments admitting of it, illustrative diagrams could be introduced, the general value and usefulness of the work would be much enhanced. The volume before us contains a good likeness of Prof. O. M. Mitchel, the Director of the Dudley and Cincinnati Observatories.

SKETCH-BOOK OF POPULAR GEOLOGY.-The main portion of this book

* Annual of Scientific Discovery; or, Year Book of Facts in Science and Art, for 1859. Exhibiting the most important discoveries and improvements in Mechanics, Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Geography, Antiquities, &c., together with Notes on the Progress of Science during the year 1858; a list of recent scientific publications; obituary of eminent scientific men, etc. Edited by DAVID A. WELLS, A. M., Author of Principles of Natural Philosophy, Principles of Chemistry, Science of Common Things, etc. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1859. + Popular Geology: A series of Lectures read before the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh. With Descriptive Sketches from a Geologist's Portfolio. BY HUGH MILLER. With an Introductory Resumé of the Progress of Geological Science within the last two years, by Mrs. Miller. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1859.