The sins and corruptions of Rome, bad as they undoubtedly are, will justify no one in speaking of them in public without a theological education, and theological reading.

From this piece of rude and riotous ignorance we turn with pleasure to three specimens of transatlantic divinity: "The Churchman's Manual," by the Rev. B. Doer, A. M. Rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 2d edition, (Latimer, Philadelphia, 1838,) the "Recognition of Friends in another World," and the "History of a Pocket Prayer Book," by the same Author, will be read with interest by all who are sensible of the great importance of the American Church in the Christian world. The last named belongs to a class of fictions which, in spite of the violent impersonation they involve, are sure, in good hands, to be amusing. We cordially recommend these little books to any who can gain access to them. It is delightful to find the enthusiasm which American Churchmen seem to feel for apostolical order. They do not, however, strike us as always developing the doctrine of sacramental grace with equal fulness.

Two new editions of Hooker's works have just issued simultaneously from the Oxford University press,—the one being a reprint of Mr. Keble's first edition compressed into three volumes; the other, by the omission of the notes, is contained in two volumes, and sells for the extraordinarily low sum of thirteen shillings. It will be remembered that the delegates recently published two cheap editions of Clarendon, and we presume it was the success of that experiment which has induced them to put forth Hooker in a similar form. The happiest results may surely be expected, when two such authors are brought within the reach of the general reader.

“The Christian's Duty from the Sacred Scriptures, containing Exhortations to Repentance and a Holy Life, and Devotions for the Closet, in three Offices for every Day in the week, a new edition,” originally appeared in the year 1730, with the approbation and assistance of several eminent divines of the period, -among others, Bishop Gibson, who then filled the see of London, and the venerable Dean Stanhope. It possesses a character peculiar to itself, every sentence which it contains being composed of the words of Holy Scripture. In describing this work we cannot do better than quote the words of the editor of the present edition :" —Considerable skill and ingenuity," he observes, "as well as a deep and intimate acquaintance with the Word of God, have been employed in the formation of this work, and the result has been an arrangement so complete in all its parts, as to afford devotional and pious exercises for every condition and contingency of this passing scene, and also to exhibit the most striking illustration of the truth, force, and practical character of the beautiful and impressive language in which St. Paul has stated the various uses to which the Holy Scriptures may be applied; 'all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'

The book forms a very handsome and portable volume, and is printed in a type suited to old as well as young eyes, a circumstance, by the by, which, important as it is, (especially in devotional books,) many publishers now-a-days lose sight of.

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Family Devotions from the Book of Common Prayer, &c.," compiled by Thomas Stephen, (Bell, 1841,) is a work in the title-page of which we are glad to see the words "second edition." It well deserves this success, being calculated to be extremely useful. Its value is enhanced by a sensible and orthodox introduction, and by a collection of "Private Devotions before the Holy Communion," of which it is surely enough to say that they are taken from the writings of Taylor, Ken, and Beveridge.

"Sacred Mountains and Waters versified," by Lady S******, Burns, 1841, are given to the public to promote a privately charitable object, seemingly of a

very interesting nature. The little work is one of great elegance, and deserves circulation.

"The Service of God in Public," by Dean Stanley, is an extract from a valuable work of other days, which has been printed at Colchester in the form of a cheap tract; an undertaking which is always useful.

We are glad to notice, though late, "an Inaugural Lecture delivered to the Members of the Bristol Established Church Society and Book Association," by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. (Bristol: Taylor, 1840.) It is well adapted to open the proceedings of a society, the design of which "is to promote the glory of God, by the religious instruction of its members in accordance with that form of sound doctrine taught in the Established Church, and by the communication of other useful knowledge, especially such as may serve to illustrate Scripture truth."

"Hints to Teachers in National Schools," selected from Modern Works on Practical Education, edited by the Rev. Henry Hopwood, of Queens' College, Cambridge, (Burns, 1841), is a little work, of which the object, as the editor informs us in a short dedicatory letter to the Archdeacon of Chichester, is "to assist in increasing the efficiency of the masters and mistresses of our National Schools, by introducing them to an acquaintance with the general principles of practical education, as set forth by writers of experience, and exemplified in the principal central and model schools in the kingdom." Passing by those works which the national schoolmaster may be assumed to possess, the editor has drawn upon those recent treatises in which the general principles of practical teaching have been insisted upon, and the regulations of the most successful schools have been exhibited. We do not see that we can better show the nature of this well-timed work than by giving the titles of its several articles. These are as follows:-1. Of the Habit of Obedience. 2. Of the Lesser Habits. 3. Of Early Religious Instruction. 4. Of Disputatious Religious Teaching. 5. Of the Insufficiency of Mere Instruction. 6. Of Teaching the Natural Sciences. 7. Of Methods of Teaching. 8. Of Blending Amusement with Instruction. 9. Of Conscious Obedience. 10. Of the Use of Words. 11. Of Guiding a Child's Mind. 12. Analysis of the Intellectual Faculties so far as relates to the Culture of each. 13. Of Mental Development by means of Language. 14. Of the Liturgy and Incidental Scriptural Teaching. 15. Of Public Examinations. 16. Of the Danger of Over-Teaching. 17. Of Teaching Orthography, &c. 18. Of the Excitement of Feeling in Infant Schools. 19. Of Teaching Geography. 20. Of Systems of Teaching. 21. Of Catechising. 22. Of the Edinburgh Sessional School. 23. Of the Monitorial System. 24. Of Intellectual Education in Infant Schools. 25. Of the Training System in the Glasgow Normal School. 26. Example of "Picturing Out." 27. Of the Labour Schools of De Fellenberg. 28. Of District Schools.

Remarks on "the Old Principle" of the Assessment to the Poor Rate, as it affected the Tithe Owner and the Occupier of Land, &c. by a Bystander, (Burns, 1841), is a pamphlet on a subject of much moment at present, written by a clear-headed man, who has given great attention to it. It will, therefore, be well worth the perusal of all who wish to inform themselves on this question.

"The Christian's Miscellany," No. I., March 1841, No. II., April 1841, (Rivington, Burns, Houlston and Stoneman, London; and Green, Leeds), seems a very promising undertaking. No I. contains two interesting and instructive Lectures on the Structure and Decoration of Churches, by the Rev. G. A. Poole, of Leeds. No. II. seems to us inconveniently short, containing hardly four pages. Its contents we think would have been better as a separate tract. Though the price has varied with the amount of matter furnished, yet we suspect people will not attach themselves to a monthly publication, unless they can count on a more considerable and uniform supply of reading. The next number, we hear, will consist of "Lectures on Choral Service," by the Rev. John Jebb, M.A.

Two volumes of "Cambridge University Sermons" have recently been published; one by the Rev. J. Hildyard, Fellow and Tutor of Christ's, (Rivington, 1841), to which is appended a Plan for the introduction of more effective theological education in the university; the other on "the Image of God in Man," by the Rev. William Harness, A.M. of Christ's Coll., and Minister of Regent's Square Chapel, St. Pancras, (Rivingtons, 1841).

"A Collection of Sermons " by different Clergymen, chiefly we believe in the north, has just been very elegantly got up at Chester, (London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co.) The names of Bather, Blomfield, Buddicom, Evans, Raikes, &c. will sufficiently indicate to all what they may count on if they purchase the work. If the other sermons be worthy of the only one we have read, that by the Rev. R. W. Evans, the volume is a truly valuable one. The discourse in question is entitled, "Christian Conduct as affecting Missions," and ought, we think, to be published as a separate tract for young men going out to India, and their relatives and friends.

One of these authors, the Rev. G. B. Blomfield, Rector of Stevenage, Herts, and Canon of Chester, has also published a volume of "Sermons," (Hatchard, 1841). As far as our hurried glance into them entitles us to judge, we should say that they give a very pleasing indication of the character of his teaching.

Among single sermons we have to notice one "On Refusing Consent to Sinners," by the Rev. Johnson Grant, Minister of Kentish Town Chapel, printed by Edward Drew, New Chapel-place, Kentish Town, 1841.

Dr. Pusey's beautiful sermon, entitled "Christ the Source and Rule of Christian Love," lately preached at Bristol, is referred to in another part of this Number.

MOTETT SOCIETY.

Those of our readers who have followed us in our remarks on "Church

Music," will be glad to be told of the formation of Society having for its exclusive object the cultivation of that kind of Music which we are engaged in recommending, as that which is proper to sacred subjects. There were, of course, associations previously existing for the practice of sacred music, and others in which ancient music, sacred and secular, was performed; but in all of these the mixed character of the music, and in some, the mode in which the proceedings were conducted, have proved insuperable objections to many lovers of Ecclesiastical Music. In the present society it has been the aim of its originators to obviate those inconveniences, and to make such provisions as are calculated to ensure the reverential performance, and right appreciation of the Music of the Church.

We have been favoured with a copy of the Society's rules, which we subjoin; and as we understand that the first meeting has already taken place, and that the number of members will be limited, no time should be lost in communicating with the secretaries, by those who desire to avail themselves of its privileges.

LAWS.

I. The object of this Society shall be to revive the study and practice of the ancient CHORAL MUSIC of the CHURCH, understanding by this term the sacred compositions of the best masters down to the middle of the seventeenth century.

II. The Society shall consist exclusively of members of the English Church.

RULES.

I. Every member of the Society shall subscribe one guinea annually; the subscription to be considered due on the second Wednesday of April in each year. A payment of half-a-guinea shall also be made by each member on admission.

II. Ladies shall be eligible as members.

III. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee, consisting of twelve gentlemen, exclusive of members ex officio. A majority shall be Clergymen.

IV. The President, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers of the Society, shall be members of the Committee ex officio.

V. Any three members of Committee shall form a quorum.

VI. The Society shall hold a meeting for practice on Monday evening in each week, or at such other times as may hereafter be determined by the Committee. The meetings shall commence at half-past seven o'clock, and close at ten.

VII. Each member of the Society shall have the power to introduce one visitor at each meeting. VIII. A statement of the accounts of the Society shall be printed and circulated amongst the members annually.

IX. All vacancies in the Committee, by retirement or otherwise, shall be filled jup by the Committtee for the time being.

X. Every new member of the Society shall be proposed by two members, and be elected by the Committee, if unanimous. The names of candidates to be sent in writing to the Secretaries.

XI. It shall be the province of the Secretaries to select the words and music to be sung at each meeting; and to make such other arrangements respecting the choir as may be necessary for carrying out the design of the Society.

XII. The Committee shall have the power of adding to, or altering the Rules, as they shall deem expedient, provided that such additions or alterations do not infringe the Laws of the Society.

Donations towards a fund for purchasing a stock of Music for the use of the Society will be received; and gifts or loans of music suited to its purposes will be thankfully acknowledged. P.S.-It is in contemplation to prepare a Series of Selections of Standard Church Music, to be printed for the use of the Society.

The Society will hold its Meetings for the present at the All Souls' and Trinity National Schools, adjoining All Souls' Church, Langham Place, every Monday evening, at half-past seven.

It is requested that communications for the Secretaries be addressed to the care of Mr. Burns, 17, Portman Street, Portman Square.

MISCELLANEOUS.

[The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed in this department.]

ON AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' COTTAGES. SIR, Within the last fifty years, a great improvement has taken place in the dwelling-houses of all classes in this country, except the lowest, and this improvement is especially observable in the houses of what are called the middle classes. The residence attached to a large farm, in these days, is often as extensive as, and generally more comfortable than, that occupied by the lord of a small manor an hundred years ago; indeed, many an old manor-house, still perhaps dignified with the title of the Hall, would now be considered an insufficient residence for the principal tenant on the estate. The same observation applies to the houses of tradesmen in country towns and villages; the thriving village shopkeeper having now frequently almost as comfortable a residence as a gentleman of small fortune had in the days of our grandfathers. Improvement has, however, made but little progress among the cottages of agricultural labourers; with a few exceptions highly creditable to benevolent land-owners, who have, in some cases, improved or rebuilt their cottages, labourers' dwellings in general are miserable abodes, destitute of every convenience and comfort. Our peasantry are, in fact, in a worse condition as to cottages, than they were a century ago. I need only observe, in proof of this assertion,

that, while the population in every parish has increased to a large amount, the number of cottages has not increased in proportion. In most agricultural villages there is an insufficient number of labourers' houses. Hence cottages are frequently divided into tenements, and two large families are often crowded into a small dwelling, which scarcely affords decent accommodation even for one. The disuse of small farms, which, by adding to the number of labourers, has lowered wages, increased the poor rates, and has had a general ill effect upon the condition of the peasantry, has also been prejudicial to them in regard to houses. Formerly their male children lived in the farmhouses as yearly servants, from early boyhood till they were married a custom which thinned the inmates of the cottages, delayed the period of marriage, and had many other good effects upon the condition of the labouring classes.

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Cottagers were then also a less numerous body in proportion to the population, in consequence of the number of small farms. All these causes have had a tendency to produce the miserable state of cottages in general; and I believe it may be truly said, that the peasantry are more uncomfortably crowded, and altogether worse housed, than they were a century ago. The prominent defects of cottages may be thus enumerated. 1. The want of a sufficient number of bed-rooms for the decent accommodation of a family. 2. The want of offices, as pantry, fuel-house, &c. 3. The very bad damp situations in which they are placed. And 4. The general discomfort and dilapidated state of the buildings. In the country where I reside the great majority of the cottages contain only two rooms-a kitchen, with a bed-room over it. The bed-room is generally in the roof, often a mere loft open to the thatch; the sidewalls in many instances scarcely rising two feet above the floor, and frequently having a window that cannot be opened. The kitchen is commonly a low comfortless room, in which a full-grown man cannot stand upright;—I was lately in one which could not be five feet six inches high, and I had a practical proof of the misery of living in such a room, by twice knocking my head against the rafters of the floor above, before I could get to a seat. The kitchen is usually dark, the small window being placed in the worst possible situation for lighting the room: the door has the same fault of being in the wrong place, and seldom excludes the wind. In the chalk country where I reside, the villages commonly stand in the valleys for the convenience of water. The floors of the cottages are therefore damp. Those of the worst description of dwellings have no pavement, and are below the general surface; they are consequently wet for several months in the year springs rise in many of them, and several are occasionally flooded. To show the improper sites chosen for cottages in my own neighbourhood, I will mention, that the flood caused by the breaking up of the frost in January actually destroyed no less than thirty cottages in two adjoining villages; leaving, at that severe season, nearly 200 people houseless, and with their little property all lost. Three persons were drowned; and even the pigs, the poor man's chief treasure, were found dead about the ruins when the waters had subsided. Another defect usually observed in cottages is the want of what may be called offices. Few have any thing in the way of a wash-house;