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(B. Pitman, Cincinnati.) A young library, as well as a beautiful and a growing, for the American phonographer. In the course of four years, the singular genius, taste, and energy of Mr. Benn Pitman, (brother of Isaac, the inventor,) have placed before the American public an accumulation of books, which, by their rare beauty of external execution, and the signal value of their contents, will sooner or later, we trust, win the attention, admiration, and gratitude of the American people.

Phonography is a perfected short-hand, which being written with nearly the rapidity of ordinary utterance, possesses the highest beauty of which written text is susceptible, and all the easy legibility of the printed page now before our reader's eye. An intelligent survey of all the short-hand systems extant, synoptically exhibited in one of these beautiful volumes, clearly demonstrates that Pitman's is profoundly original and incomparably superior to every rival. No young man, no child ought to be ignorant of the art. And, once learned, these books furnish a most attractive means of retention by reading.

(21.) "Three Lectures on Egyptian Antiquities, &c., delivered at the Stuyvesant Institute, New-York, May, 1856," by Dr. G. SEYFFARTH. These lectures we find published, with "Copyright secured," in the EVANGELICAL REVIEW, published at Gettysburgh, Pa. We feel a deep regret that a production so extraordinary should not be scattered broadcast before the public, instead of being confined to the pages of an excellent periodical, yet of a limited circulation, and in a provincial locality. We have never read anything on the most interesting subject of Egyptian antiquities to be compared with these remarkable lectures.

Dr. Seyffarth, we are informed, was for thirty-four years Professor of Archæology in the University of Leipsic. "Among scholars acquainted with the subject of these lectures, none, unless prejudiced or irretrievably committed to the contrary, will be disposed to deny, that Dr. S. was the first to unlock the mysteries of ancient Egypt, to read her written character, to interpret her astronomy, and to expound her history and reconcile it with Scripture. His system has been adopted by most eminent scholars; the successor of Champollion at Paris adopted it at once, in the place of his predecessor's, which is notoriously absurd and useless, having never led to any results except the most ludicrous. Dr. Seyffarth's system is the first by means of which anything satisfactory has been, the only one by which anything satisfactory can be accomplished. Himself a profound mathematician and astronomer, he has in his unlimited ability to turn the astronomical observations of the ancient Egyptians to most profitable account, an immense advantage over Lepsius and others, who have employed such knowledge as they possessed of Egypt's antiquities, for the purpose of utterly discrediting the Old Testament. While they cannot calculate, and know nothing of astronomy, the calculations of Dr. Seyffarth, pronounced correct by the most eminent astronomers of Germany, serve in the most wonderful, often startling manner, to confirm the history of the Bible.”

Dr. Seyffarth claims to have discovered a new law in Egyptian writing, which takes up the subject where Champollion left it, and deciphers at once multitudes of inscriptions which were sealed to Champollion, or by him attempted FOURTH SERIES, VOL. VIII.-41

with most absurd results. A whole volume of biblical conformations is thereby opened. The anti-scriptural chronologies of Bunsen are conclusively corrected. Phonetic writing, he traces beyond the flood. The shepherd kings, be identifies with the Israelites. The seventy years of captivity are verified. The ancient Hebrews used a solar year, and observed Easter at the vernal equinox, our 22d of March. Hebrew was the primitive language. Theism, not idolatry, is proved the primitive religion. "The first twelve dynasties of Manetho, and several others, reigned not in succession, but simultaneously in different provinces. Fourteen conjunctions prove that Menes did not take possession of Mizraim until 2781 A. C., during the reign of Phalek, six hundred and sixtysix years after the deluge. Moses, whose conjunction is mentioned by Josephus, by the Rabbis, and even the Old Testament, was born under the seventeenth dynasty, 1948 A. C." "The day on which Christ rose from the dead was the same on which the creation of the world was completed. Thus we have a confirmation of the true chronology of the Bible, which begins with the Sabbath of the vernal equinox, 5871 A. C."

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The seven letters of the primitive alphabet express the seven planets, and by their alphabetic position actually indicate the 7th of September, 3447 B. C., the day of the ending of the deluge! These are a few of many wonders.

We learn from the September number of Der Deutsche Kirchenfreunde, (in the German language,) which has just come to hand, that Dr. Seyffarth is now professor in the Concordia Collegium, at St. Louis. The Kirchenfreunde contains a notice of a work by Dr. Seyffarth in German, published at Leipsic, 1855. It is a "Rectification of Roman and Greek History, Chronology, Mythology, and Sacred History, grounded upon new aids, historical and astronomical." The doctor has been publishing, as we learn in the same periodical, " Polemical Questions for all Christian Confessions," which deal with some matters of chronology upon altogether a different basis from the discussions of Doctors Akers and Strong, which (at the suggestion of Dr. Nast,) a learned friend, a professor in one of our American Universities, has offered to translate for our Quarterly. Now that we are upon the subject, let us most earnestly call upon our friends in the city, or visiting our city from elsewhere, not to neglect the privilege of visiting Abbot's Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. There is no collection so worthy to be the pride of our metropolis and the favourite of our nation, yet it is scarcely named in town, or known in country. One little specimen is worth more to our eyes than a sight of Niagara. It is the necklace of Menes, or Mizraim, first king of Egypt. Here, too, are the features in stone, undoubtedly contemporaneous, of the Pharaoh of the Exodus, the very countenance that Moses faced! Here are the armour of Shishak, the clay seal stamp of Tirhakah, the very strawless, unburned brick of Egypt, perhaps wrought by Hebrew slaves! These and multitudes of other objects bring the Egypt of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, directly under the eye of the New-Yorker.

While millionaire fortunes are made from American Museums scarce elevated above the humbug grade, it is mortifying to know, that this splendid collection pays not its own expenses! Dr. Abbot, we are informed, though not an American, might have received for it a munificent compensation in Europe, but preferred to place it in possession of Young America. It ought to be pur

chased by some our merchant princes, or else by legislative enactment, and be made free to public inspection, as a proud public institution.

(22.) "Notes on the Gospels, Critical and Explanatory, incorporating with the Notes, on a New Plan, the most Approved Harmony of the Four Gospels, by MELANCTHON W. JACOBUS, Professor of Biblical Literature in the Western Theological Seminary at Alleghany city, Pennsylvania. JOHN." (Carter & Brothers, 1856; 12mo., pp. 348.) This is a commentary on John of superior excellence. The sources upon which he mainly relied are thus succinctly stated:

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The illustrations which are introduced are mainly such as have been verified by the author's personal observations in the Holy Land. Notices of localities and customs, from the same source, are also interspersed. Parallel passages of Scripture have been not only referred to extensively in the Notes, but cited in the very words as often as possible. The literature of this Gospel has been greatly enriched of late; and has been carefully applied, during the last few years, to this volume. Besides the works of Lampe, Tittman, and Lücke, which are so well known, Professor Tholuck has issued a sixth edition of his Commentary, quite re-written. It is now in course of translation by the Rev. C. P. Krauth. of Pittsburgh. Of the recent helps, Alford's Commentary' on the Greek text, (Vols. I. and II. issued,) Webster and Wilkinson's New Testament, (Vol. I. just issued,) and Plain Commentary on the Gospels,' are valuable expositions from the Church of England. Brown's Discourses and Sayings of our Lord,' Stier's Words of Jesus,' Quesnel on the Gospels, (Boardman's Edition,) Olshausen's Commentary, and Meyer's and Hutcheson's, with Bengel and Calvin, are but a few of the prominent authorities at hand, on this portion of Scripture. Francis Trench on The Life and Character of John,' is highly interesting."

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The following passage presents a complete disproof of the sceptical theories of Strauss and Hennell:

"The writings of Hippolytus, lately discovered, show that it was acknowledged as in use, and as received in the Churches as early as A. D. 117. The Ottobonian manuscripts lately found, quote it as early as A. D. 120. So that the late sceptical theory which has laboured to make out a later date for this Gospel narrative, even as late as the middle of the second century, is positively disproved, without the need of exposing the folly of those assumptions upon which this theory was built."

There are many points of special excellence, which render this little volume a valuable addition to our Biblical literature.

Our notices of the following works are excluded by want of room : Hibbard on the Psalms. Carlton & Porter, 8vo., pp. 589. A learned and elaborate work, of which a review will be furnished in a future number.

Arthur's Tongue of Fire. Harper & Brothers, 12mo., pp. 354. It is gratifying that this awakening work is scattered broad-cast by the Harper press. Emerson's English Traits. Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co., 12mo., pp. 312. Pisgah Views, by Rev. Dr. CROSS. Carlton & Porter, 12mo., pp. 300. A beautiful and eloquent volume, favouring millennarian views.

The Harmony of the Divine Dispensations, by GEORGE SMITH, author of
Sacred Annals. London: H. Longman, Svo., pp. 357.
Memorials of his Time, by HENRY COCKBurn.
pp. 442.

Appletons, 12mo.,

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ART. VIII.-EDITORIAL PARLEY.

A critical authority in one of our most popular diurnals, gravely admonishes the editor of the Ladies' Repository, that an "editor ought not publicly to praise his own contributors." It is agreeable for us to be instructed by a qualified master of proprieties, but rules of etiquette not founded in some ground of common convenience, or common sense, may well be left to be obeyed or enforced by the gentlemen ushers who are pleased to enact them. Of this and some other grave prescriptions we find it desirable to venture some clear infringement. It is our purpose, first, albeit unsustained by the usual laws of Quarterly impersonality, to spread an "Editor's Table;" at which we design to come into direct communing with our little but very respectable "public." Next, it is very possible that we may commit the malum prohibitum of casting a retrospective glance over the articles of our number, and uttering such commendations or other remarks as our own judgment may suggest. Thirdly, besides this self-review, it is our purpose to establish a department which might be called the "Spirit of the Reviews;" in which we may venture to review our quarterly and monthly brethren, especially the foreign, condensing or briefly extracting, when any article of special interest occurs.

The first article in our present number is a finished and finishing critique, which sustains its own severity by the clearness of its proofs; nor, perhaps, will its great length prevent a sort of willingness that it should have been a little longer.

The admirers of Irving will perhaps be gratified at the genial yet discriminating appreciation of their favourite, presented in the second article.

Those who have marked with deep regret the influence of Carlyle upon the style of language, and not less, undoubtedly, upon the thoughts and principles of our young men, especially at our universities, will find an effective antidote indicated in the article on Bayne's Christian Life, by a young writer, from whom good service in the cause of literature is to be anticipated. We earnestly recommend the work itself to the admirers of Carlyle's barbaric style and Pantheistic philosophy.

Much of our present number is occupied by chronological tables, necessarily though drily, as an appendage to the previous article on Biblical Chronology, by Dr. Strong. Of the demonstrative accuracy of his views, we are unable to express any opinion from a close examination. We have never been able to select our chronology from the hundred or two theories enumerated by Dr. Hales as extant, and we shudder at the thought of adding a new one.

INDEX.

Abbott's (Jacob) Learning to Talk.... Page 153 | Biblical Geographies...

Learning to Think.

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Hermeneutics..

Histories..

Philology..

496

Page 288

239

311

288, 290

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568

289

811

Abrahamic covenants, two...

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585

Biographies, common defects of...
what expected in...

.... 107

108

494

492

157, 449

Blakeley's Theology of Inventions..
Blakeman's State of the Soul, &c..
Blakey's History of Logic..

493

318

505

468

Bonner's Child's History of the United

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312

their theory of transmutation of metals. 472

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473

Brouillon's Missions in China..

151

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