Sadness is selfish,-and the throng A Few Words to Churchwardens on THIS pamphlet, we are happy to see, has attracted considerable notice; the object of its publication is to call the attention of the Churchwardens of rural parishes to the state of the fabric of the church, and to endeavour to awaken in them a feeling in favour of the building, with the praiseworthy design of preserving it from decay and ruin, and saving from mutilation and destruction the ancient ornaments which still exist. The condition of too many of these edifices is disgraceful to the Establishment; and we sincerely hope this tract will produce some changes in the management which may lead to better results. It is truly said that many people who have not troubled themselves about the matter seem to believe that, so long as the church is in such repair as will keep it from tumbling down, so long as its windows give light enough, and the doors turn on their hinges, it skills not how much the building has been spoilt, how much of its beauty has been lost, how damp and unhealthy it has become. But do you think it befitting the majesty of Him whose house this is, that things should be done in it which the poorest peasant would not do in his cottage? Do you think that it is,-I will not say seemly, but even decent,-that the church windows should be blocked up with brick or boarded over with wood; the roof patched and plastered till it can hardly be called the same, and the floor be made up of bricks and stones, and tiles, and these the cheapest of their kind." The greatest evil which exists arises from the damp occasioned in all cases from the accumulation of earth against the walls; and it is truly said that "the great cause of almost all the ruin and unhealthiness that are found in our parish churches may be told in one word, DAMP." The very inefficient processes which are usually resorted to for applying a remedy for this great evil are pointed out, and a recommendation is given to do away with the cause of the damp by removing the accumulation of earth from the outside of the building, and the effect by washing the walls with sulphur acid. The attention of the parties to whom the tract is further especially addressed, is particularly directed to the preservation of the church, with its screen and other contents, and to the font and its correct position. Some very useful hints are given respecting the restoration of the mullions, tracery, and labels of the windows, with a recommendation to apply to the Society from which this tract has emanated, or a corresponding one at the sister university, both of which societies proffer their services for the purposes of aiding in the restoration of similar subjects. The size of pews, and the modes of obtaining fuller accommodation in churches, form prominent subjects in these hints. It would indeed be desirable to repew most of the churches which are incumbered by the clumsy pews set up too often from a feeling of selfishness and pride. The area of the nave if covered with seats, having low backs, and poppy-heads at the ends, would in point of effect greatly improve the building, and do away with that appearance of exclusiveness which pews cannot fail to create. We shall not further notice the contents of the work, than by recommending our antiquarian readers to assist in carrying into effect the objects of the publication. We heartily wish that it may have its full effect in arousing the class of officers to whom it is addressed, to a sense of their duty, and the importance of the charge committed to their care; and if they closely attend to the instructions given in this publication, the appearance of their churches will not only be greatly improved, but the comfort of the congregation, and its consequent increase, will be assured and confirmed. Chronicon Mirabile; or, Extracts from Parish Registers; principally in the North of England. 8vo. pp. 160. THE evidence rendered by parish registers to genealogists, is not exceeded in value by any other available source of information; indeed, from the period when escheats and visitations cease, they become the principal and ordinary authority. As the researches of genealogy have become more minute, and therefore more certain and satisfactory, a larger use has been made of registers; and various antiquaries and topographers have published extracts-the unwrought ore of the mine, which, from the migratory properties of families and individuals, belong in many cases to the history of localities at some distance from the place where they occur, and are consequently more useful to other authors than to themselves. Malcolm's Londinium, and Lysons's Environs of London, are books very valuable in this respect; and several series of extracts from parish registers have recently been published in the Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica. The Editor of the volume before us, (Sir Cuthbert Sharp) has displayed many of the merits and curiosities of his collection in a poetical " Prologue," which comes in the place of a more . sober Preface. He says that some of the best lines of this effusion were written by the late Historian of Durbam, Mr. Surtees; we extract those which appear to us to answer that description: Cromwell, who sternly govern'd poop and peers extract, And quote the Register for every fact; out, The registers from which the contents of this volume are derived, are sixty-six in the county of Durham, and about fifty in Northumberland, and various incidental parishes throughout the kingdom. The editor has not, as we presume, taken any extracts from printed sources.* We cannot undertake to point out what families of interest are commemorated; but shall merely say that the book abounds in names of rank and distinction, and give the memorial of one eminent man, the "Apostle of the North :" "Mr. Bernard Gilpin, Parson of Houghton-in-the-Spring for the space of 26 years and 49 weekes, one of the two founders of Kepier schoole in Houghton, who bestowed in building and endowing of the same 460 pounds, as appeareth by a note of the halfe sister of the said Bernard Gilpin, and his servant all the space that he was parson of Houghton, bur. 5 March 1583." The editor has paid special attention to those entries which illustrate history or old customs, and some of these we shall now extract: At Hart.-Ellen Thompson, fornicatrix, and then excommunicated, was buried of y people in the chaer at ye entrance into the gate or stile of ye church yeard, on the east thereof, 17 Dec. 1596. (p. 8.) St. Helen's Auckland.-1646, 4 Feb. Geo. Cumming and Jennet Hodgson married. And the same night, our gracious King Charles laid at Christo pher Dobson's house in Bishop Auckland. (p. 23.) Whitburn.-1645, 2 Jan. The Common Prayer Booke was delivered to Mr. Richard Hicks, and he delivered it to Thomas Letting, before the most parte of the parish, to be sent to one Gylpin, clarke of the county. (p. 28.) 1662, 17 Aug. The abjuration of the Solemn League and Covenant, was publickly red in the parish church of Whickham, (sic) in time of divine service. (P. 28.) Chester-le-Street. -1627. April 26, Ellis Thompson, insipiens Gull. Lambton militis. (The Lambton Fool.) (p. 29.) The following is an interesting me. morial of the good old custom of supporting poor scholars at the university, by private or public donations: *The extracts from Twickenham have been published by Lysons, but are evidently not taken from his pages. "Letter from Mr. Richard Watson* to the Inhabitants of Witton Gilbert, dated 3 July, 1626: "From my house in Colman Street. I do remember at my goeinge to Cambridge in the month of Maye, 1594, I received as a testimony of your loves the somme of six shillings and eight pence, which gifte I have imployed this two and thirtye yeares, and being desierous to make some returne of thankfullnesse, I have restored unto you your lent noble, and thirty-two nobles more, being the increase of it,-twelve pounds in all, as an addition to my brother William his ten pounds." (p. 35.) With one more incident, characteristic of former days, we must now conclude: At Royston, co. Cambridge.-James Blood, of the par. of Ravenstone in Buckinghamshire, who was kill'd by the Sign of the George in the High Street, which fell upon him as he was driving his waggon thro' the street, 5 Sep. 1733. (p. 134.) We have indulged in many a smile over the odd names, quaintnesses, and absurdities which Sir Cuthbert has delighted in pointing out by his Italics, but for these we must refer to the book. The Life and Times of Montrose, illustrated from original MSS. including Family Papers now first published from the Montrose Charter-chest, and other Private Repositories. By Mark Napier, Esq. Advocate. Crown 8vo. pp. 537. THE volume now before us, might justly bear the motto of alter et idem, with reference to the author's former work, on the same subject, entitled "Montrose and the Covenanters." It possesses the double advantages of condensation and addition; the narrative has been compressed, with a view to giving a more biographical character to the book, several documents being either omitted, or transferred to the appendix. At the same time, various important papers, which have lately come to light, owing probably to the sensation created by the former work, have now been inserted, to the elucidation of the history. form our readers in what these addiLittle more is necessary than to intions consist. It had been supposed that there were no papers in the family archives, which could throw any light on the subject; but a search is always worth making, and in this case it has brought forward some important materials. Among these is the letter of Charles I. so celebrated in the history of Montrose, which was concealed in Walter Stewart's saddle. It contains, as might be expected, no treason against the majesty of the Covenant, but an honest declaration on the King's part, "to satisfy his people in their religion and just liberties." (p. 521.) Some curious extracts are given from the MS. diary of Sir Thomas Hope, Lord Advocate for Scotland at that period. Among other particulars, they afford an incidental vindication of Archbishop Laud, who has often been sneered at for recording his dreams in his diary. But as the Lord Advocate, who was one of the sternest heads in that age, relates his dreams also, the practice can no longer be regarded as a proof of weakness in the unfortunate primate. From the Cumbernauld charter-chest, are obtained various papers of Montrose's friend and relative, the Earl of Wigton. Some Gaelic memorials of Montrose's battles, both in poetry and prose, have also been made available. An interesting state-paper, in the shape of a letter from Montrose to Charles II. at the Hague, 1649, is now printed for the first time. But the additions of this kind are too numerous to specify. We will therefore remark, dicated his hero from the hearsay that Mr. Napier has successfully vinstories which Burnet has thought it worth while to repeat; and he has also made it plain, that Montrose, in his descent upon Scotland, acted under the instructions of Charles. To go adequately into these points would require a paper, not of monthly, but of quarterly criticism. We must therefore content ourselves, reluctantly indeed, with referring our readers to the "Life" itself. If we were called upon to pronounce in what respect it differs most from the former work, we should say that the earlier production was preferable, as a history of Scotland during that period, and the latter as a biography of Montrose. There is a point, however, which requires a more particular notice, because the author has refuted a modern calumny against his hero, and we hope effectually set it at rest in all candid minds. We allude to the burning of Dunottar, (p. 316), concerning which Spalding says, that the poor people entreated the erll to save them in vain. This has been seized on as a proof of Montrose's inexorable cruelty, whereas Mr. Napier has shewn, that the erll was the Earl Marischal, who could, and ought to have protected the sufferers; and that Spalding speaks of Montrose, three pages before, as "the Marques of Montrois." There cannot, we think, be a reasonable doubt on the subject. thought it necessary to apologise, for having written tumultuante calamo. The tumult has subsided, without his writing less in earnest, and the style, in consequence, is more historical. The book itself is one which we have read with pleasure and interest-with interest on account of the subject, and with pleasure, from the ability with which the subject is treated. We shall often recur to it, and we can recommend it to every reader who is interested in those eventful times, as one of the most interesting works of an interesting class. The volume is illustrated by two portraits, of Montrose after Vandyck, and of Archibald second Lord Napier (Montrose's nephew) after Jameson. The vigorous expression of the former offers a remarkable contrast to the pensiveness observable in the latter. There are also specimens of Montrose's hand-writing, and of that of Charles the First. As a specimen of typography and illustration, it is really In the former work, the author elegant. The Englishman's Greek Concordance of the New Testament, being an attempt at a verbal connexion between the Greek and the English texts. London, Bagster. -The plan of this work, as the introduction informs us, is not new to the student, it being, in fact, a modification of those of Marius, Kircher, Trommius, and others. It has evidently been compiled with extraordinary care and attention, and though the scholar may object to the novel plan of giving the pronunciation of the Greek words, it will not be without its usefulness to the unlearned. As a specimen of typography the work may vie with the most costly productions of the English press. Letters to an aged Mother by a Clergyman.-The author says, there is reason to believe that these letters were a comfort to her to whom they were addressed, and as the subjects certainly are of the highest importance, they will doubtless interest not only those who resemble her, but all anxious to obtain a clear knowledge of the great Scripture truths, and then to conform their lives to them. The South Sea Islanders, a Christian Tale. By John Dunlop, Esq.-We can have no objection to a religious drama, or to a religious truth conveyed in any shape or form that may make it acceptable. The drama was indeed originally consecrated to religious worship, however erroneous; and the profoundest sentiments of belief in and fear of the gods may be found in the tragic productions of the Greek Muse; the drama also, both in England and France, revived in the form of Mysteries or sacred stories; and we have a noble specimen of the manner in which a religious history in the hands of genius might be adorned and elevated, in the Samson Agonistes of Milton. But we object in toto to a drama in prose; for we might with equal right have epic poems and elegies in prose. He who means to build up the tragic fable, should have confidence enough in his genius, and in his resolution to meet and overcome difficul ties, as to give it the legitimate structure of versification: we think Mr. Dunlop's story would have suited poetic numbers very well, and admitted much pleasing variety of style. Alda, the British Captive. By Miss Agnes Strickland.-An interesting tale, formed with tasteful invention, and described with simplicity and elegance of language. Miss Strickland never offends by exaggeration, and never injures the force of her narrative by unnecessary accumulation of incidents. The characters are pleasing, the passions described are natural, and the events striking; the conversion of Alda to the Christian faith, and the effect of that faith upon heart and life, is a well-chosen and affecting subject; a few hymns and sacred poems are scattered through the little volume, which, though they have no pretension to superior merit, and are purposely kept down in style, in order to suit the narrative, are such as we should expect from Miss Agnes Strickland's pen, which in our estimation never wants mending. The T Hakoorine, a Tale of Mandoo. By Captain James Abbot.-Mandoo is the ruined Moslem capital of Málwa: of which the circuit exceeded thirty-five miles, and comprised the entire summit of a table mountain. The poem itself, founded on one of the legends with which the place abounds, is versified with spirit and ease, though sometimes deficient in correctness of rhyme, and too luxuriant in description. When we find an author writing so well, our advice is to try and write better. The Orphan, or the Principles of Religious Education vindicated. By the Author of Poetic Sketches, &c.-A pleasing little story, the moral of which is unexceptionable, and the vehicle in which it is conveyed alluring to young minds. The contents of this volume, we are told, appeared originally in the form of three essays, to which the Hulsean and Norrisian prizes were adjudged by the University of Cambridge. This high approbation renders our praise superfluous: yet we would add, that we can see in the arrangement of the arguments, the judicious choice of the authorities, and the fairness of the statements, sufficient reasons for the honour conferred on it. In a short space, it contains a refutation of the most specious sophisms of infidelity. The Chief of Glen Orchay, &c.-This Poem is too long, nor do we like the short tetrameter metre, which brings the rhyme too constantly into the versification. This we consider a blemish in Scott's poems, for it leaves to the poet little else than the rhyme to consider. The verse itself is too short for much variety of harmony. Instead of satisfying himself by writing long poems tolerably well, the author should concentrate his powers, and endeavour to write short ones, with that degree of perfection which only thought and labour can bestow. Anti-Popery, or Popery unreasonable, unseriptural, and novel. By John Rogers. Mr. Rogers is alike forcible in his arguments, and eccentric in his orthography. The Papists would find it difficult to refute his reasoning, and the grammarians would not find it easy to agree in his derivations.-Seriously, Mr. Rogers's work is that of a serious, zealous mind, aware of the fearful enemy he encounters, and attacking him in a panoply of unassailable truth. We must, however, remonstrate strongly against the manner in which he has spoken of Mr. Newman and Dr. Pusey, both of whom are as strong Anti-Papists as himself, and both have expressed themselves to that effect. We have seen this passage with great sorrow. With regard to his dilemma of Pseudomenos, p. 320. ،، There was a famous problem among the Stoics called the Pseudomenos, which was to this purpose :When a man says, 'I lie,' does he lie, or does he not? If he lies, he speaks truth; if he speaks truth, he lies: many were the books that their philosophers wrote to solve this problem. Chrysippus favoured the world with no fewer than six; and Philetas starved himself to death in his attempt to solve it." When Chrysippus and Philetas failed, we cannot hope to succeed; but we should say, when a man says "I lie," and that saying is unsupported with any fact or proof, no proposition is in truth made, and there is no subject for discussion at all. With regard to the Grecian dilemma, p. 319, it appears to us that the bargain itself was never intended to come under the sentence of the judge, and could not be affected by the decision of the court; and the whole question seems to be, which is to decide, the private bargain or the legal decision, for both cannot, being contradictory to each other. The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections; compiled by H. S. Smith (of Leeds). 12mo.-This is a manual which will be very interesting, and even useful, at the present period. It contains the numbers and results of 2000 contested elections, being all, we presume, that have taken place in England within memory, or of which the records remain. In many cases the plumpers and split votes are specified; the colours used by the candidates; and the returning officers' charges. After page 120 are inserted "the whole of the uncontested Elections plan that will be adopted throughout the since the passing of the Reform Bill, a work in a future edition." An index of names is only wanting to render its utility complete. |