to alleged irregularities in the Synods of Albany, New Jersey, Cincinnati, Illinois and Michigan, it used its highest constitutional prerogatives in the summary dissolution of the three New York Synods. Their case was so bad that a re-organization was necessary to their purity. In the language of CHIEF JUSTICE GIBSON, "It was impossible to eradicate the disorder by any thing less than the dissolution of those bodies, with whose existence its roots were so intertwined as to be inseparable from it, leaving their elements to form new and less heterogeneous combinations." There can be no doubt that the Assembly adopted the very best mode of carrying its constitutional action into effect.

Having shown the constitutionality of the Reform measures of 1837, we shall, in the next article, bring to view some considerations which mitigate the apparent harshness of these measures, and which justify them as expedient, as well as right, in the time, place, and circumstances of their enact

ment.

Keview and Criticism.

[In consequence of a greater number of long articles than common, our space for Reviews, &c., this month is necessarily curtailed.]

THE LOW VALUE SET UPON HUMAN LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES: a Thanksgiving Sermon by HENRY A. BOARDMAN, D. D., Phila. Joseph M. Wilson, 1853.

Dr. Boardman, in this seasonable, able, and discriminating Discourse, first alludes to the fact of the low value of human life in the United States. The causes of this insensibility to the true value of human life, are stated to be 1st. The peculiar circumstances of our country in the rapidity of its settlement, &c. 2d. The dominant spirit of the country as seen in excitement, money-making, restlessness, self-satisfaction. 3d. Defective legislation, especially in regard to intemperance, and the punishment of crime. 4th. The frequent frustration of justice, owing to the sympathy excited by efforts to abolish capital punishment, to the composition of juries, and to executive clemency. The enormity of the sin of disregarding human life is shown in the wrong done to the individual, the assault made on the rights of society, and the wicked invasion of the divine prerogative. The reformation must begin in the better education and discipline of children, privately and publicly, in the institutions of the pulpit, in the discussions of the press, in the enactment of more wholesome laws, and in the more thorough enforcement of law and justice by executive officers.

OLD SIGHTS WITH NEW EYES. By a YANKEE, with an Introduction by ROBERT BAIRD, D. D., New York. M. W. Dodd.

This is an interesting account of travels in Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Italy. The fact that the volume was written by a Yankee, and is endorsed by Dr. Baird, will go far to extend its travels in the United States.

THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE WORLD TO COME. By ALFRED BRYANT, Pastor, &c., at Niles, Michigan. New York. M. W. Dodd. 1953.

Mr. Bryant is an attractive and popular writer. His work on Millenarianism is one of the best on that side of the question. The present volume is one of high themes and rich discussions. Its topics are the immortality of the soul, the intermediate state, the resurrection, the day of judgment, the nature of future happiness, and the nature of future punishment. In highly commending the volume, we do not adopt all its sentiments.

GLAD TIDINGS, OR THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: a series of daily meditations for Christian Disciples. By the Rev. WM. K. TWEEDIE, D. D., of Free Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh. Boston. Gould & Lincoln. 1854.

A volume of meditations is adapted to refresh and strengthen the mind. of the Christian. Dr. Tweedie is one of the distinguished ministers of the Free Church of Scotland, and this production of his pen is worthy of his reputation. The three sections of the volume have reference to the three stages in which personal religion may be studied; viz: 1. As presented— "Good Tidings." 2. As attracting the soul by its "Wonders." 3. As realized under the gracious guardianship of the "Shepherd of Israel."

ADDISON'S WORKS, &c. Vol. II. G. P. Putnam & Co. New York. This volume brings to view Addison's miscellaneous writings, and consists of a learned essay on coins and medals, travels in Italy, a dissertation on the Christian religion, and various political essays. The notes are generally good, but we must make an exception of the one on page 154, where the Editor, as if in condemnation of Addison's opinion about the sin and shame of saint-worship in Italy, suggests that probably Addison had not read Boccacio's (1) Apology for that abomination.-All success to Mr. Putnam in getting out this fine edition.

THE ELECTION OF GRACE AND THE MEANS OF GRACE: a Sermon preached before the Synod of New Jersey, By the Rev. HENRY PERKINS, Trenton, N. J., 1853.

Mr. Perkins, as Moderator of Synod, delivered the opening sermon, was as marked for its scriptural statements of doctrine as for the ability with which they were sustained. The discourse lays down and establishes three propositions. I. The means of grace, by the appointment of God, are in connexion with, and in fulfilment of, the election of grace, and are themselves proofs of election. II. In the use and abuse of the means of grace, men act with entire freedom of will, and are accountable for their actions. III. The doctrine of election, when rightly viewed, holds out the strongest and most rational encouragement to the use of the means of grace. These propositions are fundamental in their nature; and were it not for party prejudices and misrepresentations, would command the acquiescence of the mass of Christians.

HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

This volume is both substantial and splendid. Its literary matter is of the first order, and the printing, paper, &c., correspond. It is one of the most beautiful volumes ever published in America. The engravings are twelve in number. There are thirty-two chapters, which contain an account of the country, the antiquity of the Waldenses, their extension, martyrs, persecutions, massacres, modern history and present condition. The appendix gives a view of their doctrines and ecclesiastical polity, their ancient discipline, confession of faith, catechism, &c.

Che Religious World.

STATISTICS OF OLD AND NEW SCHOOL PRESBYTERIANS BY STATES.

193

92

California, The totals of the two denominations are, Old School Presbyterians, 219,263; New School, 140,452.-Presbyterian Banner.

FIRST CHINESE CHURCH IN CALIFORNIA.- -On Sabbath, November 6th, 1853, the first Chinese Church was organized in San Francisco, under the auspices of the Rev. W. Speer, of the Chinese Mission. The exercises were held in the First Presbyterian Church, on which occasion four Protestant Chinese Christians were, at their own request, formed into a Presbyterian Church-one of whom was, on the occasion, ordained an elder. The Rev. Mr. Briggs, of the Methodist Church, the Rev. S. Woodbridge, of the Presbyterian Church at Benicia, and the Rev. Albert Williams and the Rev. William Speer of San Francisco, assisted in the exercises, which in part consisted of a prayer and sermon in the Chinese language, by the Rev. W. Speer. The sermon he afterwards (in brief) delivered in English. The usual address and questions to the elder were delivered and propounded by the Rev. Albert Williams in English; and, sentence by sentence, they were translated and read in Chinese by Mr. Speer, and duly responded to by the venerable Chinaman, who has long acted as a Chinese colporteur, both here and in China. The Rev. Mr. Speer took occasion to remark that there were other professing Christians present among the Chinese, who did not at this time feel willing to connect themselves with a Presbyterian organization, having been educated by another branch of the Christian Church in

China. The congregation assembled on the occasion was numerous, and, we trust, that on the completion of the new Chinese chapel, now erecting and to be completed within a month, a large number of the Chinese will be eager tc. improve the opportunity for instruction in the Christian religion.-Presby. COMPARATIVE COST OF CLERGYMEN.-Some people talk a great deal about ministers, and the cost of keeping them, paying their house-rent, table expenses, and other items of salary. Did such persons ever think that it costs thirty-five million dollars to pay the salaries of American lawyers; that twelve millions of dollars are paid out annually to keep our criminals, and ten millions of dollars to keep the dogs in the midst of us alive, while only six millions of dollars are spent annually to keep six thousand preachers in the United States? These are facts, and statistics will show them to be facts. No one thing exerts such a mighty influence in keeping this mighty Republic from falling to pieces as the Bible and the ministers.

NOAH'S ARK AND THE GREAT REPUBLIC.-The East Boston clipper ship Great Republic, which was destroyed by fire in our harbour, on Tuesday morning, was said to have been the largest vessel constructed since the days of Noah's Ark. She was three hundred and twenty-five feet long, and was supposed to be capable of carrying six thousand tons of cargo, though only rated a little over four thousand five hundred tons burthen. It may be interesting at this time, since the two vessels have been alluded to in this connection, to learn the dimensions of Noah's Ark. A ship was constructed for Ptolemy Philopater, which was 420 feet long, 56 feet broad, and 72 feet deep, and of 6,445 tons burthen. Archimedes constructed a ship for Hiero, King of Syracuse, of such large dimensions, that none of the harbours in Sicily or Greece could receive it. Noah's Ark, by those who are curious in such things, has been calculated to have contained 1,500,000 cubic feet, and was of 11,905 tons burthen. A remarkable difference between modern and ancient times, in state and condition, is exemplified in the "Great Republic." She was the property of a private American citizen; while the wealth and resources of all Sicily were called into requisition to construct Hiero's vessel.-Evangelist.

[The Great Republic," which was consumed by fire in New York, had been thrown open on Sunday, as well as other days, to visitors, at twelve and a-half cents each.]

POPULATION OF THE TURKISH EMPIRE.-We are constantly told of twelve millions of Greeks domineered over by four millions of Turks; the proportions are not correctly given, even if we confine ourselves to European Turkey alone. In that estimate are given the whole Greek population, in all the dominions of the Sultan, whilst the Mussulman numbers are only those of Europe. The latest authority upon the statistics of the population of the whole Turkish empire, is a work just published in Paris, by A. Ubicini. He gives the number as follows:

Religions.

Mussulmans,.

Greeks,.......

Catholics,......

Jews,.......

Gipsies,.......

Total of Mussulmans 21,000,000; of Greeks 13,000,000; of Catholics 900,000; of Jews 150,000; of Gipsies 80,000; making an AGGREGATE of 35,130,000; of which, 15,340,000 are in Europe; 15,990,000 in Asia; and 3,800,000 in Africa.

General Readings.

DR. ALEXANDER'S LAST SERMON.

Ir was in the First Presbyterian Church at Princeton, and on the 20th of July, 1851. The Sabbath was one of the most beautiful I ever saw. The harvest was just over, and the farmers, who made up the country portion of the congregation, had finished reaping the fruits of their year's toil, and had carefully housed their crops. Many of them were present, with their faces bronzed by the harvest suns. Judge, therefore, the appropriateness of Dr. Alexander's subject. His text was 1 Cor. iii. 9. "Ye are God's husbandry." I can, of course, give but an imperfect outline; but he said:" These words apply to the Church universal, or its members taken individually. The agriculturalist who wishes to raise a good crop does four things: 1. He prepares the ground. 2. He sows the best seed he can procure. 3. He takes care of the grain when growing. 4. He reaps and stores away the harvest. So, in spiritual things it is necessary for us: 1. To make ready our hearts to receive the impressions of the truth-to come to Christ repenting of all our sins, and asking forgiveness of them for his sake. 2. We must plant the good word of God; and, 3. We must cultivate the good seed by prayer, self-examination, and the use of all the means of grace. We must learn the precepts the Bible lays down, and practice them in our walk and conversation. As the husbandman is never free from solicitude and care until he gets the crop stowed safely away, so the spiritual man can never cease to watch or relax his diligence till life is over. 4. He will reap his reward, to some extent, here, but the great reward shall be hereafter."

HIS TOMB.

Dr. Alexander's tomb has the following inscription:

Sacred to the memory
of

ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER,
Doctor of Divinity
and

First Professor of the Theological
Seminary in this place:
Born in what is now Rockbridge county,
Virginia, April 17th, MDCCLXXII:"
Licensed to preach the gospel
October 1st, MDCCXCI:

Ordained by the Presbytery of Hanover
June 9th, MDCCXCIV:

A Pastor in Charlotte and Prince Edward
for some years:

Chosen President of

Hampden Sidney College in MDCCXCVI:
Pastor of the Third Presbyterian
Church in Philadelphia in MDCCCVII:
Professor of Didactic and Polemic
Theology in MDCCCXII:
He departed this life

In the faith and peace of Christ,
October 22d, MDCCCLI.

[He forbade all words of praise upon his tomb.]-Presbyterian.

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