branch establishment of that most excellent institution, the Female Aid Society, in which are received destitute females of good character. Had there not been some such institution, there would have been great difficulty in providing for her during the few months whilst her health and strength are recruiting, until she is fit to get a situation.

We can commend this institution in the strongest way to our charitable readers who have the means to aid it. Owing to the numerous demands which this year have been made upon it, and the defalcation of subscriptions, owing to the times, we know that it is pressed for money. The rich may rest assured that in no way can they bestow their charity with more beneficial effects than by aiding the institution at 27, Southampton-buildings, Russell-square.

THE CONCORDAT.

THE results of the Concordat with Austria seem likely to be realized even more speedily than was anticipated; and the height to which the insolence of the clergy is rising may be estimated by the following extract from a Pastoral published by the Archbishop of Milan :

'The Concordat not only gives the bishops the right to prohibit bad books, [such as the Bible,] under the menace of ecclesiastical punishments, but also to prohibit their being read by the faithful. The co-operation of the State to prevent their promulgation is promised.

'All law matters relating to the matrimonial tie belong to the church alone.

'By the Concordat, the immaculate bride of Christ (the Roman Catholic Church) has acquired freedom, power, and glory throughout the vast empire. Cast down is every barrier which had been an impediment to her giant steps; broken is every fetter which impeded her action.

'The church has a right to oppose all kinds of error and temptation, as well as on the stage as in the press.

'The Concordat is a work which gives a brilliant example of religious feeling on the one side, of moderation on the other, and of the perfect wisdom and prudence of both parties.'

In some parts of the Austrian dominions the dissatisfaction of the people keeps pace with the intolerance of the priests. Very great religious agitation prevails in Bohemia, and it is considered probable that, at no distant period, whole communities will join the Protestant Church.

As an illustration of the progress which Protestantism has made in parts of this Island, we may state that, within the present month a petition was presented to the Trustees of the Mission estate, through the Rector of the parish, from the inhabitants of the village of Cashel, complaining that the few Romish families which still remain in the village, brought the Priest into one of their houses, under the plea of hearing confessions, but really to insult their Protestant neighbours, and praying that means may be taken to prevent the repetition of the annoyance. The petition was signed by thirty-six adults converts. We should add that Cashel was, some years ago, one of the most thoroughly Popish villages in Achill, and the residence of the Parish Priest.-Achill Herald.

Notices of Books.

PROFESSION AND PRACTICE. By G. MACCULLOCH.
London: Blackie and Son.

THIS is a very earnest appeal to the ministers and people of the Scottish establishment, on the necessity of making their lives and conversation square more faithfully with their public and private professions. In which, of course, much of his sound advice will apply with equal propriety to the laity on this side of the Tweed; although, from its allusions to Presbyterian usages and opinions, it will not be altogether intelligible to them. Mr. Macculloch is very severe in his remarks on the Scottish ministers; and we hope he has exaggerated when he says: [p. 26] 'But not only do the pulpits of our day exhibit, for the most part, a sad lack of earnestness and affection; there is also a fearful amount of positive unfaithfulness. And, in proof of this, let us only listen, with the Bible before us, to the great mass of what currently passes under the name of sermons. Why,

what do we hear, but bald essays of the most common-place description, composed of mere vague and aimless generalities, that have no particular reference whatever, to the known circumstances or condition of the hearers; and might, with as much propriety, be addressed to any one congregation as another. And not only so, but the whole is often so toothless and pointless, that it takes no manner of hold on the conscience, but falls bootless to the ground, like a blunted and barbless arrow.' These are some of the author's thoughts on the low state of vital religion, among professing Christians north of the Tweed; and he concludes with some hints as to the means of its revival.

ECCLESIASTES. By G. W. MYLNE. Wertheim and Macintosh.

This excellent little book is a sort of paraphrase on Ecclesiastes or the Preacher; and it is intended as lessons for the Christian's daily walk. The lessons are short expositions on each chapter, and on most of the verses in each; and they are well calculated to lead the heart to holy thoughts, and right performances. It will be found exceedingly useful to those who are stinted for time. It is very neatly got up, and cheap.

PLAIN SERMONS ON THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. By a Writer in the Tracts for the Christian Seasons.'

Oxford: J. H. and J. Parker.

This is a small, neat volume of sermons that should be in every family. It is not every particular prayer and rubric that is explained, as in the editor's 'Guide to the Daily Services,' but the general doctrines of the Church of England contained in the different Offices in the Prayer-book. In one set of the sermons, the system of the Church is explained; in another, the Prayer-book is compared with the Acts of the Apostles; and in another, the teaching of the Prayer-Book in the Lord's Prayer, in Baptism, in Confirmation, in The Lord's Supper, and in The Visitation of the Sick, is explained and proved from most certain warrant of holy scripture. We think the preacher might have profitably shown his hearers the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, which he has not done, although he has satisfactorily placed the other sacrament in its proper light; of which he says: 'Now whether a man can receive the Holy Ghost without it [baptism]; how far the heathen, who know nothing of it, will be injured by not receiving it; and such questions, have nothing to do with the matter. God knows about them; God will be their judge, not we. God is merciful. If the heathen do not know, perhaps He will not require. We, at least, who know it, have no excuse if we neglect it. We,-I do not fear to say it, for why should I, since the Bible says it?-we have no hope of salvation if we neglect it. It is our duty, who know these things, to do them. They are written for us, and at our peril we neglect them.'

THE WAR AND THE NEWSPAPERS. By the Rev. C. E. KENNAWAY. London: J. H. and J. Parker.

This is a lecture, which was delivered by the Vicar of Campden to the members of the Literary Institution, at Ottery St. Mary; and its object is, to counteract the evil effects which newspaper critics have done, and are still doing, to the noblest, the most powerful, and the bravest army that England ever sent out to combat her enemies. He complains of the abuse of the liberty of the Press, and of the unfortunate effects of 'our own correspondents,' and the private letters of the officers and men, in communicating to the enemy the plans and intentions of our commanders. He shows that noble reputations, without proof, without even trial, have been dishonoured; military performances have been criticised and condemned in perfect ignorance of the plans of the generals; the delicacies of the alliance have been unperceived; the necessities of time and place overlooked; the long peace, and the fatal neglect of every kind of preparation for war-all forgotten.' He complains that our prestige [we hate these Frenchified words] has been imperilled; but in this we must differ from the lecturer. Let Alma, and Balaclava, and Inkerman attest the genuine pluck of Englishmen. We had all the fighting, and all the trench work, and the French have had all the glory. The French, by a dash, sprung nimbly into the Malakoff, and surprised the Russians whilst they were enjoying a nap after their dinner; from which the Russians retreated to meet the British in double force at the Redan. We lost no character in that disastrous attack, and the French were themselves more unfortunate in another point. The lecturer confirms the accounts of the murderous cruelties of the Russians to the wounded allies; and he says, that so late as the 8th of September, ‘a wounded English soldier was held up on the walls of the Redan on the points of bayonets, in derision and defiance!' Miss Nightingale's noble devotion is not forgotten in this interesting lecture; and, citing a chaplain's letter, he says: 'If you want to know how Miss Nightingale and her nurses work, and the immense good they do, ask the convalescents who are sent from this place to England; they will bless her and them to the last moment of their lives.' We strongly recommend this lecture; it will disabuse the minds of those who have placed too great reliance in feather-bed and arm-chair critics, and would-be generals.

THE TWO COTTAGES. Oxford: J. H. and J. Parker.

THE TWO HOMES. Ditto.

The former tale is one of Mr. Parker's useful series, and fully supports their general character. The Two Cottages are a contrast to each other; and the curate labours hard to bring both parties to right principles; he succeds with one, but the wife in the other dying, the widower cohabits with a bad woman, turns poacher, smuggler, and

thief, and dies in consequence of an accident which befel him in robbing a barn. The curate dies from over work; and although there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage, yet the story is most interesting and attractive.

The Two Homes is by the author of 'Amy Grant,' who has well fulfilled his intention of writing of the trials and temptations of the labouring poor, their thoughts and feelings, in language suited for their comprehension; and that too in such a way as will interest and instruct not only them, but their betters, who will see the glory of high principles shining in a cottage.

A PARTING GIFT TO YOUNG WOMEN LEAVING SCHOOL AND
ENTERING SERVICE. Parker.

And an excellent good gift it is too. We earnestly wish young people would read it; mark it well and commit it to memory; for it would fortify them against many snares and temptations to which servants are exposed at their first setting out in life. But as they are not likely to hear of this Gift, and still less likely to buy it, it would be a charitable and kind act in ladies to present a copy of it to any of their poor sisters on their going to their first place, or when they come into their own families.

ON THE TERM OBLATIONS IN THE COMMUNION SERVICE; AND ITS IMPORTANCE AS TO THE TIME OF PLACING THE ELEMENTS ON THE LORD'S TABLE. London: J. H. and J. Parker.

It is a sign of the times, which perhaps is not to be altogether sneezed at, that so much opposition is made by the laity, to the revival of the doctrines, customs, and ceremonies of the Church of England; and, among others, to the introduction of what is called a Credence Table. The Rubric, before the prayer for the Church Militant, directs the officiating priest then to place upon the Table &c.; that is, before he commences that prayer, wherein he offers up to God the alms of the people, which are their part of the sacrifice, and makes the oblations of the elements, which, when afterwards consecrated, are the representations of the Body and Blood of our Lord. If the priest is then, and at no other time, to place the oblations on the Altar, there must be some place whence he can conveniently take them; accordingly the Credence is a small table within the rails of the Altar, where the elements are placed before the service begins, from which he can conveniently remove them, in obedience to the directions of the Rubric, which is an Act of Parliament as well as an Ordinance of the Church. That is all. It is a custom as old as the Reformation, and these harmless tables may be seen in many of the old churches; but as the oblations are not to be placed on the Holy Table till after the alms are placed on it, if a Credence is an abomination, some of the clergy