Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers, D. D. By the Rev. W. HANNA, LL.D. Vol. I. Thomas Constable, Edinburgh.

ALTHOUGH it is probable that, when this work is complete, we shall feel disposed to examine it at greater length, it appears desirable to announce the publication of this introductory volume. The connection of Dr. Hanna with the illustrious subject of the Memoir naturally designated him as the author of it; and we are happy that it should have thus fallen into able, as well as willing, hands. The mass of materials which has come under his inspection is very large; and he appears to have made a discreet use of them. The life of Dr. Chalmers is necessarily one of deep interest; because it is a life of large results, as respects religion, morals and "civic economy," both to his own country and to the world. In proportion to this interest and to these results, was the necessity that it should be traced out by a faithful and discriminating hand. It is pleasant to be introduced in this first volume to the earlier stages of Dr. Chalmers' career, and to observe in the boy many of the elements of the future man. We knew him well as a man; and we can thoroughly understand how the following sentences should present a faithful picture of the boy :

"Joyous, vigorous, and humorous, he took his part in all the games of the play-ground-ever ready to lead or to follow, when school-boy expeditions were planned and executed; and wherever for fun or for frolic any little group of the merry-hearted was gathered, his full, rich laugh might be heard rising amid their shouts of glee. But he was altogether unmischievous in his mirth. He could not bear that either falsehood or blasphemy should mingle with it. His own greater strength he always used to defend the weak or the injured, who looked to him as their natural protector; and whenever, in its heated overflow, play passed into passion, he hastened from the ungenial region, rushing once into a neighbouring house, when a whole storm of muscle-shells was flying to and fro, which the angry little hands that flung them meant to do all the mischief that they could: and exclaiming, as he sheltered himself in his retreat, 'I'm no for powder and ball,' a saying which the good old woman, beside whose ingle he found a refuge, was wont, in these later years, to quote in his favour when less friendly neighbours were charging him with being a man of strife, too fond of war."

Such are the elements of the bold, joyous, manly writer and speaker whom few can have seen, or have heard without the deepest emotions of respect and regard being awakened in the mind. His early hatred of deceit expanded into an integrity which nothing could seduce. His cheerfulness, we believe, rarely forsook him in scenes of the deepest anxiety. And the protector of an injured schoolfellow, ripened into the champion of the weak and the injured in all quarters of the globe. His intellectual powers were slow in development; and no one could have anticipated from his schoolboy progress the distinction of his University career. Nor was it till some years after his mathematical and literary powers had been fully recognised, that he received from above that new direction of his feelings and

powers, which disposed him to consecrate all his gifts and acquirements to the service of a crucified Saviour. His address to the "Inhabitants of Kilmaney" has been long before the public; and multitudes have learned from his testimony to the fruitlessness of mere moral ministrations, and to the power of the simple preaching of the Gospel, the imperishable truth, that the doctrine of "Christ Crucified" is not less the source of morality than of deep-seated religion.-But we will not forestall our future notice, should such be the will of God, of this valuable work. Dr. Chalmers was one of the few original thinkers and writers of his day. He has either originated ideas, or has accomplished, what Coleridge regards as one of the great prerogatives of genius, the dragging out of great and neglected ideas from their obscurity. As such, and taking into account the subjects of his writings, he is to be hailed as one of the great instructors and benefactors of his age and country. We do not wish, on the present occasion, to touch upon the transactions of the last years of his life; our estimation of which might, perhaps, fall below the sanguine and unqualified admiration of the author of this memoir. The volume externally is worthy of the subject; and does credit to Mr. Constable, under whose auspices it has appeared.

Daily Steps towards Heaven; or Practical Thoughts on the Gospel History. Parker, London.

THIS little work is supposed to be the production of a layman; and is highly creditable both to his industry and piety. It is intended to supply subjects and assistances for daily meditations and readings in families; and there is a certain freshness, as well as fulness in the volume, which fits it for the object proposed. The work is mainly an abridgment from a Latin, and therefore, probably, from a Popish work. And the author himself has been, perhaps unjustly, suspected of a leaning towards the semipopish opinions of our own times, which have been dignified with the title of Anglo-Catholic. But we have not discovered anything either of real or disguised Popery in the volume. And we venture to hope that the case of the writer is one of those cases in which the swerving vessel has been kept in her course by the strong helm of Scriptural principle and ardent love of a Saviour. Much may be hoped of those whose fate for a time may seem to hang in suspense, if they really feel with the author that "to have any other refuge than the cross of Christ is to have no shelter at all. They who have any real hope find it here. This will, in His own good time, be found the stay of all and the knowledge of Jesus, and communion with Him, will increase hour by hour to those who seek it, until the soul loses the sense of its own misery in the abiding sense of His presence and love!" (Preface, p. 5.)

The Sacred Mountains. By J. T. HEDLEY. Collins, Glasgow.A well-intended little work, too small for us to notice, but that we are glad of the opportunity to testify against the style in which it is composed, and which is, we fear, growing to be the fashion of the day. What will our readers think of the following passage?

"That was the gloomiest wave that ever broke over the soul of the Saviour; and he fell before it. Christ was dead; and to all human appearance, the world was an orphan. How heaven regarded this disaster, and the universe felt at the sight, I cannot tell. I know not but tears fell like drops of rain from angelic eyes when they saw Christ spit upon and struck. I know not but there was silence on high for more than half an hour, &c. &c."

Our Scotch brethren, when they mount on the wings of metaphor and allegory, are apt to soar into regions where it is difficult to follow them.

The Sinfulness of Little Sins. A Course of Sermons preached in Lent. By JOHN JACKSON, M.A. The Word of God; its importance and power. Sermons preached in St. George's, Bloomsbury. By H. MONTAGU VILLIERS, M.A. THESE two volumes are from the Rector of St. James's and of Bloomsbury, two of the most important parishes in our vast Metropolis; and the genuine scriptural piety, which breathes through them, and the vigor, carnestness, and ability with which they are executed, are such as to fill our hearts with gratitude that such posts should be occupied by such men,

The Ten Years' Conflict; being the History of the Disruption of the Church of Scotland. By R. BUCHANAN, D.D. Blackie and Son, Glasgow. The necessity of a good historical account of the events connected with the disruption of the Scottish Church, has been long felt by many on this side the Tweed; and such a work, especially now that the minds of men are a little more at rest, might not, we think, be without its use on the other side of it. Dr. Buchanan has in these two volumes presented us not only with the results of 782 pamphlets, but of his own intimate acquaintance with the circumstances of the controversy. It was scarcely to be hoped that a work written by a leader in the conflict, should be impartial. Nor does the writer pretend to impartiality. We should be truly glad were we able to say that this spirit of partizanship did not sometimes approximate to bitterness and intolerance. The desideratum, therefore, of a candid history of this sorrowful event, is not yet supplied.—Dr. Cooke's promised volumes may assist us to trim the balance a little more successfully. In the mean time, how much is it to be desired that men should resolve to fight the battle of religion with only such weapons as its great Author allows them to wield.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

ALTHOUGH the following Hymn arrived too late for its insertion in the part of this work which it ought to occupy, yet, as it is from the pen of one who has contributed more largely and for a longer period than any living writer to the sacred poetry of our language-and as it is sent by the author with the distinct intention of expressing his good wishes for the Christian Observer, we thankfully insert it.

A HYMN FOR THE NEW YEAR.

"For who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me, saith the Lord." (JER. xxx. 21.)

A YEAR, another year is fled;

Its issues who can tell?
Millions of voices of the dead
Reply from heaven or hell.

All these were living at the birth
Of the departed year;

They all have vanish'd from the earth;
We fill their places here.

Though to the eye, the ear, the mind
Of man, their speech is seal'd,
The eternal meaning each may find
In two plain words reveal'd.

Lost spirits, from the dark abyss,
Cry mournfully, "Beware!"

Spirits in glory and in bliss,

Sing joyfully, "Prepare!"

Thus timely warn'd, and moved with fear,
Of wrath, let Us beware;

For life or death, in this new year,
For earth and heaven prepare!

Who then of those with us, this day,
In childhood, youth, or age,

"To love the Lord our God" can say,
"We all our hearts engage."

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

NOTHING can approach nearer to a work of supererogation than a mere chronicle, at the end of a month, of events which have been trumpeted forth in every newspaper during the past thirty-one days. On such a summary, therefore, we shall not enter; but content ourselves with a slight reference to a few leading events abroad and at home.

In Germany, the Archduke has deposited his short-lived dignity, as Regent of the Empire, in the hands of the newly-appointed Commission. Thus perishes the last relic of an Empire which was to "bestride the narrow world like a Colossus"!-another testimony to the fact, that empires are not matters of sudden and forcible creation, but must grow up under the gradual extension and development of political and moral power.

The President of the French Republic, in spite of the prognostics of all the great political authorities of the day, and, as we chance to know, among others of those of M. Guizot, retains his uneasy and uncertain throne. It is curious to learn that the Pope has addressed a letter of thanks to him for the "liberation of his country from the hands of an anarchical and unchristian faction," and that the Emperor has sent him his portrait as an acknowledgment of the services he has rendered to peace and order. But the constancy of his own fickle countrymen is the most remarkable phenomenon in his history. The truth is, that the French people have learned to prefer almost any government to none; and have begun to perceive that the will of one ruler, controlled by law, is a better security for happiness, than a state of things in which every man is to follow his own will. The present position of the President reminds us of the recorded conversation between Charles II. of England and his brother James, then Duke of York. "Why," asked the latter, "is not your Majesty afraid to ride without guards?" "Because," answered the facetious Monarch, "the people know that if they kill me, they will have you for king." Thus, the security of the President is in the possible character of the Government, or no Government, which might follow him. No events in the history of mankind, are more calculated than those of the two last years, to impress the lesson of the feebleness and mistakes of man, and of the overruling authority and power of God. "By Him Kings reign, and Princes decree justice."

While such is the state of things in Paris, the French nation are dishonouring themselves by some of those transactions, we had almost said exhibitions, which are so common in their history. In Africa, they have taken the town of Zaatcha, and put to death the whole of the garrison; a fact which appears to have awakened the most lively joy among the good citizens of their gay metropolis. In the South Seas, they have made, under the influence, as it would appear, of the Ecclesiastical authorities-which was also the case in Madagascar the most unwarrantable demands and assaults upon some of the Sandwich Islands, and especially upon Tahiti. Robert Hall has taught us, from the history of the first French Revolution, how closely vanity and cruelty are allied. And no change appears to have come over the spirit of the nation. A French captain, in a remote region of the earth, finds no satisfaction in the quiet discharge of the ignoble duty of watching over the commerce of his country. He must strike a blow which shall sound from pole to pole; and dye his sword in the blood of unoffending savages rather than let it rest in its scabbard, or unsheath it for their protection. In the mean time, Great Britain is the covenanted protectress of those Islands; and we trust that both the natives and the Missionaries will soon feel the value of her interference and guardianship.

The Pope has again and again announced his intention to quit his retreat at Gaeta, and return to the Vatican. But he, not without reason, shrinks from resuming a position where much is demanded, which he has no disposition to yield. In the mean time, how wonderful is the degree in which his spiritual appears to survive his political authority. The Pope is an exile. But Popery is lifting up her head in almost every part of his Ecclesiastical empire. How much does such a state of things bear the aspect of spiritual reprobation and desertion. Ephraim is joined to Idols-let him alone.”

Russia has withdrawn her most unjust demands on Turkey, in the matter of the Hungarian fugitives. Great Britain, in her honorable zeal to protect a weak Government, has become the violator of a treaty, which restrains any power from "sending ships of war into the Bosphorus, while Turkey is at peace." This violation of a treaty, Russia has met with admirable calmness and patience. Thus it is that States, like individuals, blunder on, through right and wrong. It is a great happiness if communities, as well