HAWKSTONE: A Tale of and for ENGLAND, in 184-. In 2 volumes. From the second London edition. pp. 344, 350. New York, Stanford & Swords, 139 Broadway, 1848.

This work is producing considerable sensation. The author, subject, and manner of the work, have given, and will give to it a wide circulation. It is called a "a tale," and yet is not exactly a work of fiction. Names, dates and places are imaginary, but the story itself is mostly a life-like illustration of principles actually at work, and is told by one who knows and appreciates what he affirms. Its main object, evidently, is to arouse attention, in view of certain dangers; dangers to the State, to the Church, and to the social system generally. The evil of popular education, where the religious element is wanting;-the deep craftiness and relentless cruelty which often mark the measures of Romanism;-the hypocritical union of Romanists and Infidels with dissent to crush the English Church; the time-serving, truckling, and treacherous policy of the Prime Minister;-the Simoniacal plea of "mental reservation ;"-and the infidel doctrine of development—all these are illustrated with great beauty and effect. There are several portraits in the work admirably drawn. The noble Ernest Villiers, arresting and chaining the attention to the last ;-Pearce, the unprincipled, wily Jesuit, meeting us continually in an almost endless variety of character; Macarthy, honest minded and talented, but the dupe of a false system, and finally falling by a tragic death;-and Mabel Brook, the secretary of a dozen societies are specimens of the authors talent at fine description. Several events are described with intensity of interest, such as the death of Wheeler, and the conversion of Lady Eleanor.

There is one feature in the character of this work which deserves attention. We mean, the clear and masterly delineation between Catholicism and Romanism. There is a class of minds, cherishing a morbid hankering after the novelties of Rome, who, we hope, will read this work again and again. It will effectually cure them.

There is another respect, in which we like the author's treatment of Romanism. It is, his attitude of authority; his calm, but stern rebuke of Romanism in England, as schismatical and heretical; his boldness in calling things by their right names, and his love which pities while it condemns. The blustering assurance of Popery is half its charm with weak and unstable minds.

And yet, there are things in this work, which we can not commend, or of which we must speak with caution. We are by no means prepared to endorse the author's views of the desirableness of "religious houses;" Monasteries and Convents, even with all the security which he would throw around them. Let primitive piety warm the Church, and there will be no need of them. And yet, we doubt not that some modification or expansion of the Collegiate system, would mark an epoch in the history of the modern Church, and especially in our own country. Neither are we pleased with the author's method of defense of the union of "Chureh and State," nor do we know how to reconcile it, with his avowal elsewhere, of the Divine Institution and Constitution of the Church of CHRIST. This we regard as the weakest portion of the volumes.

But, notwithstanding these and other blemishes, we commend "Hawkstone" as extremely entertaining, and worthy to be widely circulated.

We ought also to allude to a well-written preface to the American edition, by Rev. John Williams, D. D., and also to the neat style in which the publishers have issued the work.

SEVENTY YEARS SINCE, or what we owe to Bishop Seabury: A Sermon preached in St. John's, Hartford, on Sexagesima Sunday, Feb. 27th, 1848. By the RECTOR. Hartford, Calendar Office Press, 1848.

This Sermon has convinced us more deeply than ever, of the desirableness of a faithful biography of Bishop Seabury. The difficulties which he surmounted, in procuring Consecration, and the importance of that event in the future history of the whole Church in the United States, are not generally known or appreciated. We thank the author for this slight tribute to a most remarkable man, and would, if we had room, quote several important passages.

Mark Wilton, the Merchant's Clerk. By CHARLES B. TAYLOR, M. A., author of "Records of a Good Man's Life," "Lady Mary," etc. 18mo. pp. 214. Stanford & Swords, New York, 1848.

We are by no means opposed to all works of imagination: nay, we believe that pure fiction may often be made highly serviceable to the cause of truth. Yet it requires to be used with great caution, when applied to any topic connected with religion. Especially is this true at the present time, when unreality is the leading characteristic of our popular religionism. Whatever would minister to that, ought, upon principle, to be carefully avoided. How far the species of reading properly characterized as religious novels, tend to this end, we are not prepared to say. But we are free to confess our fears that, while we have read Mark Wilton with deep interest, and doubt not all others will do the same, it has not been without the fear, that the remedy may be found as bad as the disease, or rather, will tend to foster the evil it was intended to cure. We can only say, therefore, that the book is well written,-with a good moral in view,-in a deeply interesting manner, and that those who delight in this species of literature, will find nothing safer or better, than Mark Wilton.

Will and Doom, or the miseries of Connecticut by and under a usurped and arbitrary power; being a narrative of the first erection and exercise, but especially of the late changes and administration of government in their Majesties colony of Connecticut in New England in America. December 12th, 1692. By GERSHOM BULKELEY, Esq., one of their Majesties' justices of the peace in the county of Hartford during the administration of Sir Edmond Andros. [MSS.]

We are departing somewhat from the ordinary course of Reviewers, in calling attention to the preceding. But the interesting and important nature of the subject, induces us to copy the following account from one of our city periodicals, the signature of which [K.] will be recognized as one which gives assurance of accuracy in such matters.

"Mr. Henry Stevens has been for several years very actively engaged in looking for such documents, as might throw light on the more obscure portions of American history. His researches have, thus far, been attended with great success. For more than two years, under the patronage of several enlightened and patriotic individuals in the United States, he has been in Europe, and has had opportunities, especially in England, to inspect numerous manuscript as well as printed works unknown on this side of the Atlantic; and which are highly important, more particularly as illustrating our early annals. Without referring at present to others, it may be mentioned, that he has discovered one manuscript, of which he has procured a copy, which will be of no inconsiderable use, in elucidating a portion of the history of Connecticut, the title of which is given above. The author was of the party opposed to the resumption of the government under the charter in 1689. Attached to the manuscript, is a certificate, signed by the author and by

Edward Palmer and William Rosewell, in which they say, that according to our best knowledge of things, the state of affairs in Connecticut is in this narrative truly represented, and we doubt not, that every material passage in it may easily be proved by us.'

This Will and Doom,' though written in 1692, in the reign of William and Mary, was not sent to England till more than twelve years afterwards. It was then forwarded by Lord Cornbury, Governor of New York, for the information of Queen Anne's ministry. It is a history of Connecticut, exhibiting the opinions and feelings of the royal party in the colony. There is a first sketch of the planting of the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, and of their union under the charter of Charles I., but the chief object of the author is to detail the facts connected with the rise and fall of Sir Edmond Andros' administration. Emanating from such a source, the work contains throughout, as might be expected, the assertion of high monarchical principles. form or kind of civil government.

'Monarchy,' says the writer, 'is the best The king is the minister of God for our good, and the fountain of all lawful civil authority in all his dominions.' Speaking of the state of affairs in Connecticut after the reception of the charter, he adds, 'But the old democratical leaven had so seasoned the lump, that it would not be so easily purged out,--nor is it yet,—and God knows when it will be.'

"The author exhibits talent and legal knowledge, and appears to have been personally acquainted with the principal colonial magistrates. Our knowledge of the history of Connecticut, at the time to which this manuscript chiefly relates, is acknowledged by all to be imperfect, and may be enlarged, if not corrected, by this discovery of Mr. Stevens. As the two political parties in Connecticut, from the first planting of the colony to the close of the revolutionary war, were the colonial party and the royal party, and as our history of that period is derived principally from the representations of the former, it may be of use, in arriving at the truth, to compare with it the views of the latter.

"Mr. Stevens has seen likewise in the British Museum, a pamphlet respecting the affairs of Connecticut, published in 1689, by the same Gershom Bulkeley. Though the pamphlet was printed in Philadelphia, it is doubtful whether a copy of it exists in the United States. Many valuable discoveries have been made relating to the history of other parts of New England. It is matter of congratu lation, that so much is doing to remove all obscurity from our early annals, and that the efforts for this purpose have been followed by such success."

This view is not a new one. The Hon. Timothy Pitkin, in the Preface to his Civil and Political History, published twenty years ago, expresses the convictions of his own mind after the most diligent search after documents: "We are satisfied that a full and complete history of this country can not be compiled, without the aid of those papers, [which exist in foreign archives, especially the Board of Trade and Plantation,] and we can not but express the hope, that by the patronage either of the general government, or the state governments, authentic copies of them may be obtained, and deposited among the archives of our country." (p. 4.)

The Conquest of California and New Mexico, by the forces of the United States, in the years 1846 and 1847. By JAMES MADISON CUTTS. With Engravings, Plans of Battle, etc. 18mo. pp. 264. Philadelphia, Carey & Hart, 1847.

We find upon our table, this one among all the multitude of books which have issued from the press during the past year, on the subject of the Mexican War. That the public mind would be intent upon the condition and prospects of their fellow-citizens, wedging war in the heart of an enemy's country, was to be expected. And that this feeling of interest has been abundantly ministered to, is evident from the great number of works that have followed each other in such rapid succession for twelve months

past. We are astonished at the mere list of those which have come to our knowledge. The principal are: Life of Gen. Z. Taylor, by H. Montgomery; another, (by Lindsay & Blakiston ;) another, (by Derby & Co. ;) another, by Dr. Frost. Life of General Winfield Scott, by D. H. Strother. Taylor and his Generals, (by E. H. Butler.) Mexico as it Was and as it Is, by Brantz Meyer: History of the Mexican War, with a preliminary view of the causes that led to it, by Brantz Meyer. Mexico and her Military Chieftains, (by E. H. Butler.) Young's History of Mexico; Gregory's History of Mexico; Conquest of Sante Fe and Subjugation of New Mexico, by the Military forces of the United States, by a Captain of Volunteers; Campaign Sketches of the War with Mexico, by Capt. W. S. Henry; History of the War between the United States and Mexico, (Zeiber & Co ;) Our Army at Monterey, by T. B. Thorpe; Peace with Mexico, by Albert Gallatin; a Campaign in Mexico with Col. Doniphan, by S. F. Edwards. General Taylor and his Staff, (Grigg & Elliott;) History of the Mexican War, by E. D. Mansfield; Sketches of the War in Northern Mexico, (Appletons.)

The work before us, like the others mentioned, contains much of interest, -much that is true, and some things, no doubt, which will require correction, when a more full account of all the war shall have been laid before the public. It is impossible, therefore, at this early period to say that any of the works on the subject, are either full or accurate. They are to be regarded rather as contributions toward the mass of materials from which the history is hereafter to be compiled.

History of all the Religious Denominations in the United States; containing authentic accounts of the Rise and Progress, Faith and Practice, Localities and Statistics, of the different persuasions; written expressly for the work, by fifty-three eminent authors, belonging to the respective denominations. Second, improved and portrait edition. 8vo. pp. 598. JOHN WINNEBRENNER, V. D. M. Harrisburg, 1848.

It was a happy thought that led to the production of the present work. That each denomination of Christians should be represented by some prominent member of its own body, telling their own story in their own words, was an important idea; and if a judicious selection of writers has been made, the result must be a work, which, for fairness, fullness, and accuracy, is without a parallel. We shall do all inquirers into the faith and practice of the various denominations in our country a favor, by calling their attention to the work. Of the accuracy of most of the articles we can not speak from personal knowledge, and of the article on the Church, modesty causes us to refrain from giving our opinion. We can say, however, that we believe the work to be as well executed as happily conceived.-and that, considering the authoritative nature of its contents, it will be found a most valuable contribution towards the religious history of the country. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF SOME OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED JEWISH RABBIES, and translations of portions of their Commentaries and other works, with illustrative Introductions and Notes. By SAMUEL H. TURner, D. D., Prof. of Biblical Learning and Interpretation of Scripture, in the Gen. Theol. Sem. of the Prot. Epis. Church. New York, Stanford & Swords, 1847. pp. 245. 12mo.

We are happy to find that Rabbinical learning, which has been too much neglected and despised by English and American divines, for about two centuries, is again beginning to excite some interest; and that one of our ripest and most judicious biblical scholars, is not only devoting his own attention to

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it, but is endeavoring to awaken the attention of others by this pleasing and valuable publication.

In the preface, Dr. Turner dwells on the folly of attempting the conversion of the Jews to Christianity, without some knowledge of the religious principles and prejudices of that people. And his remarks are very just. But he might also have stated, that nearly all our knowledge of the Hebrew language comes to us from the Jewish Rabbies. They early translated the Old Testament into Greek, Chaldaic, and Syriac, and more recently into Arabic, Persian, and several of the languages of modern Europe. And this they did directly from the Hebrew, a knowledge of which their Rabbies have preserved, without interruption, from the Babylonish captivity to the present time. To them it has been a living language during the whole period, and in it they have written, for eighteen centuries, their voluminous annotations on the Bible, their Lexicons and Grammars, and most of their theological, historical, and philosophical works, and all their numerous expositions of their civil, ritual, and penal laws. Rabbinic authority and Rabbinic usage are, therefore, our chief, and almost our only resource, in all questions as to the right interpretation of the language of the Old Testament. And it can not be supposed that our numerous and valuable Hebrew lexicographers have completely exhausted this source of knowledge, or that our Schindlers, Castells, Taylors, Buxtorfs, Geseniuses, &c., have embodied in their valuable compendiums all the information contained in the hundreds of folios written by the Rabbies during more than eighteen centuries. But further, the New Testament stands in very close connection with the Old; and, being written by inspired Jewish Christians, and much of it addressed to their own countrymen, it bears very much of a Jewish aspect. Its phraseology, its allusions and its illustrations, derive far more light from the Jewish writers than from the classical Greek authors. Lightfoot, Owen, Selden, Schattgen, and others of former times, have shown us the value of a familiar acquaintance with the Rabbinic writings for the better understanding of the New Testament.

With these preliminary remarks on the immense importance of an acquaintance with the Rabbinic writings in order correctly to understand the Scriptures, we proceed to give some account of the book before us.

It is, properly, divisible into three parts. The first part, from page 17 to page 65, gives a very lucid and pleasing account of all that is known, and worth repeating, respecting seven of the more distinguished Jewish Rabbies of the middle ages, viz: Solomon Jarchi, Judah Halevi, Aben Ezra, Moses ben Maimon or Maimonides, David Kimchi, Abarbanel, and Saadias the Gaon. In this part of his work, Dr. Turner has consulted and followed the best authorities. Dr. J. M. Jost is, very properly, his chief reliance; and we are gratified to find, that he has so closely adhered to this greatest of modern Jewish historians.

In the second part, from page 69 to page 204, he has given us, in quite readable English, translations from the commentaries or Kimchi, Aben Ezra and Saadias, and from the Chaldee paraphrases or Targums, on several interesting portions of the Old Testament, which Christians apply to CHRIST, but which the Jews apply otherwise, or explain of such a Messiah as their fathers expected. The notes of the translator are excellent. To the correctness of the translations from Jarchi and from some of the Targums, we ourselves can testify. Those from Aben Ezra, Saadias, and some of the Targums, we had not at hand the means of testing.

The third part of the work, from page 205 to page 245, contains translated extracts from two of the most valuable works of Maimonides, viz: the