observation, when the veriest novice could have been taught how to supply them. Evidently, then, he has most needlessly multiplied Italics, to the confusion and perplexity of unlearned readers, who are not aware that they are not used in the Bible for emphasis, as in other volumes, but to mark words supposed to be wanting in the original. Scores, and hundreds, and perhaps thousands of our present Italics, answer no valuable purpose, and deserve no more distinction in a translation, than would ille in a translation of dixit. The merest child in Latin understands that a verb in that language may, in ten thousand cases, as well be without a pronoun as with it."

To this we would add, as a still graver disadvantage of the Italics in many cases, that not only is "confusion and perplexity" occasioned, by mistaking them for emphatic words; but very often we have known "unlearned readers," who were informed of the actual intention of these Italic words, and yet were greatly perplexed by an inability to estimate their exact nature and value, and, because they were unable to see for themselves that these words were inserted merely in order to give an adequate expression of the original, were in doubt whether they were not unauthorized additions to the inspired word. On every account, therefore, we are glad that Dr. Coit has done so much towards removing this cause of perplexity; and we hope he will continue his labors, and give us a thoroughly complete revision of the common version, in this respect. We should rejoice, also, to have him take up the matter of marginal references, and free this department of Biblical elucidation from the cumbrous, fatiguing, and useless mass of merely verbal references; and give us instead, a choice selection of such as are truly logical, and important to the explanation of Scripture by Scripture.

We add, contrary to our custom in regard to such matters, that Mr. Josiah Adams, the agent for this book in New-York, has his office at Gould & Newman's, corner of Fulton and Nassau streets; and we wish him great success in circulating so valuable and important a work.

14. The True Intellectual System of the Universe: wherein all the Reason and Philosophy of Atheism is confuted, and its impossibility demonstrated.-A Treatise on Immutable Morality; with a Discourse concerning the true notion of the Lord's Supper; and Two Sermons. By RALPH CUDWORTH, D. D. First American edition; with references to the several quotations in the Intellectual System; and an account of the Life and Writings of the Author. BY THOMAS BIRCH, M. A. F. R. S. In two volumes. Andover and New York: Gould & Newman. 1837. 1838.

A YEAR ago, we announced the appearance of the first volume of this great and learned work. We have now the pleasure of seeing the second. This volume contains the Treatise on Immutable Mo

rality, not contained in Birch's edition. It was published in 1731 by Dr. Chandler, Bishop of Durham, but has for many years been so extremely rare as to be met with only in old collections, and was almost inaccessible to the American student. It is the most learned, critical, and complete vindication, any where to be met with, of the eternal and immutable distinction of right and wrong, against the old doctrine of Protagoras and other Greek philosophers, which in modern times was revived by Hobbes, and since then has been reproduced in various forms by different writers. In this volume, also, will be found the learned discourse on the true notion of the Lord's Supper, and the two admirable sermons which were published in Birch's edition of the Intellectual System. Of these two sermons, the one on the Knowledge of Christ, the other on the Christian's Victory—and particularly of the former, it is, perhaps, not too much to say, that they contain more rich,profound, and noble thought, than is to be found in any half-dozen volumes of modern sermons. The publishers deserve great credit, and the especial thanks of scholars, for bringing out this work in these times, when so many others prefer the more profitable business of catering to the vitiated taste that gorges itself on the cargoes of British trash, re-published and spread abroad over the country.

In this connexion we may add, that we have observed, with great satisfaction, an edition of the other ethical writings of Cudworth, left by him in manuscript, and which have remained in that state a century and a half, recently announced in England. They are edited from the original manuscripts, by the Rev. John Allen, Chaplain of King's College, London. The first part, containing the treatise of FREE WILL, has already appeared. What the other parts are to contain, is not stated. The other manuscripts left by Cudworth, which would come under the description of ethical writings, are the following: A Discourse concerning Moral Good and Evil-A Discourse on the Creation of the World and Immortality of the Soul - and an Explanation of Hobbes's Notion of God, and of the Extension of Spirits. We presume that all who possess the works of Cudworth, now published in this country, will be glad to complete their collection; and we earnestly hope the success of the publishers, in the present praiseworthy undertaking, will induce them to give us an American edition of the remaining writings of this most learned and profound critic and thinker.

15. Proof of the Genuineness of the Writings of the New Testament for intelligent readers of all classes. Translated from the German of DR. H. OLSHAUSEN, Professor of Theology in the University of Erlangen, etc. With Notes, by DAVID FOSDICK, JR. Andover and New York: Gould & Newman. 1838. 12mo. pp. 216.

MR. FOSDICK deserves credit for a number of valuable contributions to Biblical learning from German sources, which he has presented to American readers. He has done his part in general with judgment, good taste, and ability. This work, as expressed in the title, is not so much designed for Biblical scholars and theologians, as for intelligent readers at large. Its object is to present a clear, simple, and concise view of the present state of investigation concerning the genuineness of the New Testament; and the translator says he does "not know of a book upon the subject in any language, which combines so popular a cast, with so much comprehensiveness and justness of representation."

The object of this notice is simply to give a brief statement of the conclusions of this book-and even here we must limit ourselves to what is most peculiar or most noticeable:- In regard to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Dr. Olshausen distinguishes the question of its Pauline origin from that of its canonical authority; he admits the latter, and shows that it rests on decisive evidence; but he thinks the epistle was written, not by St. Paul, but, perhaps, by Apollos under St. Paul's superintendance.

The author holds that there is no decisive evidence either for or against the canonical authority of the second epistle of Peter, and that the want of historical proofs will render it probably always impossible to clear up the doubts that rest upon the question.

The epistle of James is attributed, not to James the Apostle, the son of Alpheus, but to James, the brother of our Lord. The canonical authority of the epistle the author considers unquestionable.

The epistle of Jude is ascribed, not to Jude the Apostle, but to Jude, the brother of James. He thinks the canonical authority of the epistle not certain.

Dr. Olshausen believes the Apocalypse to have been written by St. John, and long previous to his Gospel and Epistles. He maintains the doctrine of the future personal reign of Christ on the earth, which he regards as a point of belief inseparable from receiving the epistle as authentic. He agrees with most other writers, in maintaining that the apostolic origin of the epistle was never called in question till the millennial controversy began to rage.

We have no space to go into the discussion of these opinions. We can only add, that notwithstanding the somewhat startling

character of some of the author's opinions, and the peculiar air and tone of feeling which will be noticed by an American reader,— the work will be found extremely interesting to every thoughtful and intelligent reader. Dr. Olshauser. has a high and established character for piety and learning, and is one of the ablest champions of Orthodoxy against the so called Rationalism of Germany.

16. Historical Sketches of the Old Painters. By the Author of Three Experiments of Living." Boston: Hilliard, Gray, & Co. 1838. 12mo. pp. 296.

AN author, who has made his debut before the public in a very popular book, has to sustain a severe trial on his re-appearance- he is not permitted to fall a hair below his own established standard of excellence, without great loss of favor. We seem to see a confirmation of this remark in the case before us- the stamp of the author of the "Three Experiments," will certainly give it currency, but it must prove very pure coin, or it will pass only as an inferior alloy. It is not always remembered, that the degree of interest in books varies with their subject; it is expected of a favorite author, that he will create an interest in every thing upon which he writes. The story just referred to had not only great intrinsic merit to procure for it ready and universal favor; it also had the advantage of embodying a strong public opinion at a most opportune time. Ours is an utilitarian age, and it is vain to proceed on the contrary supposition; the history of Dr. Fulton and Jane's rise and fall in the world was a profitable lesson, which all could understand; few find pleasure in reading about "Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff." The stories of the old painters are pleasantly and well told, almost as well as that which forms the author's popular anonym; but how many thousands there are, who want to know about the art of living, for one who knows or cares to know about the fine arts. There lies the secret ; the one comes home to the concerns of all, the other reaches a very small number. For our part, we like such an evidence as this volume furnishes, that a person of the good sense of the author of the "Three Experiments," believes what is beautiful is useful, as well as that what is useful is beautiful; and do therefore cordially approve of his or her effort to satisfy "the thirst for amusement from so healthy a fountain." It is not a book to be referred to as authority in the history of artists, and must therefore be excused for admitting some mere "on dits" among its facts. Not

withstanding several trifling inaccuracies, the sketches are generally drawn to the life, and by their ease and spirit, remind one of the unfinished but beautiful head by Stuart of the greatest of modern painters, him to whom the volume is dedicated.

17. Sachem's - Wood: a Short Poem, with Notes. New Haven: B. & W. Noyes. 1838. Svo. pp. 30.

HERE, as we conjecture, is something new, after a long silence, from the pen of the author of Hadad, and the Percy's Masque. It is thus prefaced:

"FELLOW-CITIZENS :-The sweet-blowing breezes of these regenerated times, have stimulated a before drooping fancy, (even in extremely warm weather!) to the task of weaving a few rhymes; which, as they relate to local matters, I beg you to accept as a testimony of renewed pleasure and pride in my native State. NEW HAVEN, 30th July, 1838."

The rhymes are light and graceful, thrown off with octosyllabic facility, and seem to be a sort of christening ode, on occasion of changing the name of the author's residence from HIGH-WOOD to SACHEM'S-WOOD. There are the reasons for the change, with pleasant descriptions of the scenery, and reminiscences of the olden time, when the Pequot Chief Sassacus haunted the woods, and of the first white settlers

They who, in Newman's barn laid down
Scripture "foundations" for the town,-

and of the author's Father, the late James Hillhouse, so long known and so universally respected and loved, under the sobriquet of the Sachem.

This little poem is to us extremely pleasant reading, far more so than many a one of more poetic pretensions. We like the tone of it-- its graceful and gracious spirit. And then the "NOTES," especially the two long ones which occupy nearly all the space, about the author's father and grandfather-we like them even better than the "rhymes," as, we doubt not, does the author also. They give us what it is really refreshing to the heart to find that we have any stock of some "venerable images of the elder day." They are worth whole volumes of solemn matter, brought out now-a-days by the so-called spirit of the age; -- they do more to quicken the imagination and to nourish the best affections of the heart. We wish we had space to extract them, as well as some of the poetry; but cannot spare the room we would like to give, and must send our readers to the pamphlet itself.