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PRINCIPLES OF ZOOLOGY.- Professor Agassiz and Dr. A. A. Gould have prepared this book, which is published by Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. These names are full security that it is, in all respects, what it ought to be. It is wonderful that a book so overflowing with very hard names should be so lucid and intelligible. Whoso would know what sort of live creatures have inhabited this globe before us, as well as what kinds are now joint-tenants with us here, let him consult this volume. If it does not open a new world" to him, it may open several old worlds, though none so comfortable to live in as this we now have. Let us, then, be more content with it as it is; for though it is rather a hard sort of a world in the main, it has yet "some pretty good pickings." As good, old patriarchal Mr. Hallock, of Canton, Conn., used to say: "It is a very good world for the purpose for which it was made; though it is a miserable portion for the soul.". We observe with pleasure, that the volume before us, designed to be a text-book for our higher seminaries, contains nothing which can grate upon the feelings of the lovers of revelation.

REV. LEVI NELSON'S LETTER.- We have here a large pamphlet addressed to the Theological Professors at New Haven. It is a tough question, in solving which many an unhappy metaphysician has cracked the skin of his brain, How can the existence of moral evil in the creation be reconciled with the absolute perfection of the Creator? The New Haven divines have undertaken to vindicate the character of God by means of a hypothesis. "And what sort of a thing is that?" quoth he that sitteth in the seat of the unlearned. A hypothesis is a supposition-a something placed under what is not understood, in order to account for its being as it is. And the New Haven supposition is, that God is not to be blamed for the existence of sin, because he may not have been able to prevent it. They do not directly assert that this supposition is true. But they try to prove that it may be true, and their whole system of moral theology is framed so as to match with it. Mr Nelson is quite indignant that they should rest the honor of God entirely on a mere supposition. He evidently thinks that this hypothetical way of speaking is rather hypocritical, and he denounces it with caustic severity. We are inclined to the belief, that the gentlemen to whom this vivacious epistle is addressed, will not compliment it with a formal reply, but will leave " more expressive silence to speak its praise."

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANTI-SABBATH CONVENTION.— A copious report of the sinful fooleries of this assemblage, which took place in the month of March, has been issued by authority. No one was then allowed to speak, unless to say "Amen" to Garrison's resolutions; but it was loudly promised, that other conventions should be speedily called in abundance, wherein the friends of the Sabbath should be allowed to have freedom of discussion. We were quite certain, at the time, that these promises were insincere; and, accordingly, there has been no such meeting since. As to the fidelity of this printed Report, we have only to say, that it carefully dresses up the ludicrous

proceedings of that noisy, crazy, and cankered crew, in a garb of decency and order. The debates of Friday forenoon, on their own gag-law, are disposed of in five lines; though they occupied several hours, and, more than any other part of the proceedings, illustrated the domineering impudence of the leaders, and the pliancy of their slender tail of followers. To make up for this omission, there is an appendix of sixteen pages, filled with most biting and sarcastic accounts of the transactions from the "religious press." The antiSabbath men are evidently thankful to be noticed in this way, rather than not at all. They are now sunken so far below contempt, as to exult in it as their highest attainable distinction. They are like the returned traveller, who boasted of having once pressed so near the carriage door of Louis XIV., that the "grand monarque" actually conversed with him. His envying hearers begged to know what his majesty said; and the traveller, with a little bashful reluctance, replied: "He told me that if I did not get out of the way, I should be kicked out!" Such are the compliments, which intoxicate the vanity of the expiring band of infidel reformers.

PETER SCHLEMIHL IN AMERICA. This is a marvellous book. We strongly recommend it to all those serious people, who nevertheless take enjoyment in exercising the gift of laughter, when they can indulge it with a good conscience. We think favorably of that sort of exercise, at right times and places, and at the expense of lawful sufferers. We can almost accord with the remarks of Dryden : "After all, it is a good thing to laugh at any rate; and if a straw can tickle a man, it is an instrument of happiness." But Peter Schlemihl is no straw. It contains something for every body. Of course, no one reader will be equally entertained or edified with every chapter in this large volume; but he must be a queer one himself, if he is not hugely pleased with the greater part of it. The author pours forth an astonishing profusion of knowledge and wit on all subjects. When he touches upon law, you are sure he must have spent his days at the lawyer's desk. If he takes up the subjects of disease and medicine, it seems as if he must have passed his whole life in looking at people's tongues, and feeling their pulses. But when he comes to treat of theological matters, you are confident that his whole strength must have been given to the ancient fathers and the modern divines. His satire is dealt with terrible, and yet diverting severity, not only on the follies of fashionable life, which he thoroughly understands, but on Puseyism, Parkerism, old-fashioned Unitarianism, Fourierism, Popery, Swedenborgianism, Transcendentalism, Communityism, and Scepticism. The reader, for a long time, will suppose that he is perusing a string of satires; though, at last, the book turns out to be a sort of novel. The plot, however, is nothing; the author using the course of imaginary events merely as a chain, to whose links he appends his lively discussions. These discussions occupy at least nine tenths of the pages. His sentiments do not appear to be strictly Calvinistic, though very decidedly evangelical. In three or four instances, fashionable expletives of a profane character occur in the dialogues. For this unnecessary fidelity to actual manners, let the writer be sternly

condemned. It is also singular, that his favorite Christians, even the best of them, are represented as attending the ball-room, and partaking in its levities, though with no very apparent relish. Abating these unaccountable incongruities, the writer seems to be a man of sound religious principles, who writes from the resistless impulses of a full mind and a fertile wit.

THE CHURCH IN EARNEST.- Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, who have done so much to multiply good books among us, have given us another volume from the pen of John Angel James. It is a vigorous effort by one who had striven to do his part towards raising an "earnest ministry." He would rouse up the Church also to that earnestness whose spring of action is deep conviction of gospel-truth, and the fruit of whose action is that Christian diligence and activity in all duty, which is the highest triumph and noblest commendation of religion. Give us an earnest Church with an earnest ministry, and we shall see the kingdom of heaven at hand.

OLD TIMES. The following advertisements are copied from the Boston News-Letter, and are matters of curiosity and interest. The first is taken from the Boston News-Letter, of May 25th, 1719.

"A likely Negro Boy about Fifteen years old, speaks good English, to be sold by Mr. Samuel Sewall, Merchant, Inquire at his Warehouse, No 24, on the Long Wharf."

The other is from the same paper, for June 1st, 1719.

"Two Negro Girls and a Negro Woman to be sold, Inquire at Mr. Faneuil's Warehouse in King Street, Boston.

The first of these noted merchants was nearly related to the family of a very excellent gentleman, whom the Liberty Party delight to honor, and have for years endeavored to place, as an anti-slavery candidate, in the gubernatorial chair of Massachusetts. The other, Mr. Faneuil, of King Street, now State Street, has immortalized his name by the munificence which has forever inscribed it on the "cradle of liberty." Those were "times of ignorance which God winked at;" but the true light has since shone so long and so brightly, that it seems almost incredible that the dark night of slavery once lowered over the passionately free city of Boston. According to the Roman poet, "Times change, and we change with them." Let us not be discouraged about the South. A hundred years hence, and such advertisements of the present day may seem as strange in Richmond, Charleston, and New Orleans, as the old scraps of antiquity now quoted appear to us. So mote it be.

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A VATICINATION. In the year 1840, a highly popular minister of Maine spent an evening at Washington, in social converse with the venerable John Quincy Adams. The conversation turned on France. The hoary sage expressed his firm conviction, that Louis Philippe would not be able to form a dynasty, and that no son of his would ever sit upon his throne. Mr. Adams thought, that Louis Philippe might possibly occupy his precarious seat during his lifetime; but that it was very doubtful. These predictions were not

uttered in view of any facts which had recently transpired; but were grounded on the philosophy of succession as developed in the history of France and of Europe. The clear-headed "sage of Quincy had studied these matters, till he became a political seer whose foresight of public events exceeded the famous prophecies of Merlin and the Sybil.

"For old experience doth attain

To something like prophetic strain."

While the prophet lay in the capitol, sinking into his last peaceful sleep, the fugitive king was flying with his family to spend in exile the poor remains of life.

MONTHLY RECORD.

Rev. Dr. Bushnell at Cambridge. The appointment of this gentleman to deliver the annual sermon, before the graduating class of the Unitarian divinity students at Cambridge, occasioned some surprise. On the Sabbath evening, July the 9th, in the Unitarian meeting-house, the discourse was delivered. It occupied two hours, and it was on that most important subject, which is the central truth, the heart, the most vital part of Christianity, - the doctrine of Atonement. To handle such a subject, before such an audience, and on such an occasion, was a matter which might well occasion a deep and trembling sense of responsibility to God. It was no time for the watchman's trumpet to give an uncertain sound. How far Dr. Bushnell cleared himself in this matter, we can tell better when the ́ discourse shall be published. The reports are so incoherent and unintelligible, that we must wait for "the documents."

The General Association of Massachusetts. — The recent meeting of this body, at Chelsea, was chiefly remarkable for its unanimous action on the bearing of the common school system, as at present conducted, on the religious interests of the young. A highly respectable committee has been appointed to investigate the whole subject, and to report next year. By the statistical returns, it appears that there has been a small increase of churches, pastors and communicants. The churches reported are 442; pastors, 365; stated supplies, 50; communicants, 66,144; additions, 2,922; net increase, 659.

Park Street Church. -This important church is again without a pastor. Rev. Mr. Aiken, who has served for eleven years with great fidelity and industry, was dismissed by Council on the 11th of July. His resignation was made necessary by the state of his health. It is matter of universal regret, that one so esteemed and beloved should be removed from this field of labor. Wherever he may go, he will be followed by the warmest regards of all his brethren in this region.

Unitarianism in Boston. - In our January number, we described the feeble condition of most of the Unitarian churches in this city. For meddling with such facts, we were very severely handled, and the attempt was made to shew that some of these societies were quite prosperous. Among these, was the Second Church, in Hanover Street. That ancient church was rebuilt, two or three years since, on an elegant and costly plan. The effort was too great for the congregation. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Robbins, an amiable man, has resigned. It is understood that he will preach in some hall, to as many of his followers as he can gather around him. That splendid edifice is to be sold, by a vote of the Society. The steeple is one of the tallest in Boston, and while it was yet unfinished, some huge fowl, in passing over, alighted on it. The pastor, who seems to have taken it for a bird of pray, in his dedication sermon, "accepted the omen;" and alluded to the strange bird as "the bird of Jove!" This is not a subject to be jovial upon; but it seems probable that the old king of heathen gods is about to send some of his wild fowl, to make that property their prey. Others of the new meeting-houses of which there has been so much boast, are in a very precarious plight. The other Unitarian church in Hanover Street, has dismissed one of its pastors; while the other has relinquished both his salary and the charge of the pulpit. It appears by a recently pub lished statement, that the income of that church will only allow of the employment of "supplies" from Sabbath to Sabbath.

ORDINATIONS.

June 8. Mr. T. A. Weed, Mexicoville, N. Y.

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21. Mr. Joseph Garland, Monument, Sandwich, Ms.

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Mr. Joseph Avery, Exeter Society, Lebanon, Conn. 28. Mr. Enoch Caswell, Salisbury, N. H.

July 13. Mr. James H. Means, Dorchester, Ms.

INSTALLATIONS.

June 9. Rev. John P. Foster, Sweden, Me. "15. Rev. J. J. Dana, South Adams, Ms.

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Rev. Thomas Jones, Grand Rapids, Mich. "21. Rev. John D. Smith, West Charlemont, Ms. "28. Rev. Ebenezer Newhall, Willsboro', N. J. July 6. Rev. James P. Terry, South Weymouth, Ms.

DEATH OF MINISTER.

Feb. 15. Rev. Nathaniel Stone, Naples, Me. æ 76.

CHURCHES ORGANIZED.

June 14. Fourth Orthodox Congregational Church, Worcester, Ms. July 11. Melrose Church, Malden.