each stanza-" He giveth his beloved sleep." A few pieces too, that are anonymous, or whose authors are unknown to the reviewer, might have found a place in the volume; we name only two-both we believe American-"Over the River" and "Evermore." Stanzas, too, might well have been selected from longer poems-such as Byron's "The Prayer of Nature" and Tennyson's "In Memoriam." Surely, too, some pieces, or selections, might have been given from such poets as Milton, Akenside, Thomson, Campbell, Coleridge, Bowring, and Trench. Nor need such orthodox hymnologists as Wesley, Doddridge, Heber, Keble, Madame Guion, and James Montgomery have been wholly ignored. Some of their compositions all Spiritualists might surely join in singing; and we submit they would have been more suitable for general purposes than pieces so purely local as "Washtenong," and have furnished better poetry than many pieces that might be pointed out in this compilation. For instance, while we make no objection to people being as enthusiastic as they can-boisterous if they will-in praise of the pump and in renouncing wicked tipple and all its ways, we think such sorry verses as—

"Fools may combine to sing of wine,

Of whisky, gin, or porter;

But we delight with all our might

To sing of pure cold water,"

might well have given place to the higher poetry we have indicated. Then, too, we must respectfully protest against giving "improved readings" of great poets. If, for instance, Tennyson's noble bugle song as he wrote it-was deemed unsuitable, it should have been omitted altogether; and the statement of the editors that "the selected poetry is culled with the most scrupulous fidelity," have been rigidly adhered to.

We hope we shall not be considered hypercritical in these remarks. We consider that the book, as a whole, is far above the average of such collections, and that it will be found very suitable for those for whom it has been prepared. We know that in a compilation of this kind there are always difficulties in making selections to give general satisfaction; but while we accord the editors credit for the pains they have taken, we feel assured that neither they nor our readers would respect inconsiderate or indiscriminating eulogy:-a course which makes literary criticism a mere pretence, and tends only to bring it into contempt. We think so well of the work, and deem it so useful, that we would wish to see it made as nearly perfec as possible; and these hints are thrown out with a view to improvement in a second edition, which we hope will soon called for. Perhaps it might be found practicable instead

having in use three or four separate collections of the same kind, to combine in this the several excellencies of each, and to issue a cheap edition of it for those who may not require the music.

A VOLUME OF SPIRITUAL POETRY.*

THE poetry of this volume is preceded by the following introductory words to the reader :- The verses contained in this volume flowed from the pen of the writer unasked for, unpremeditated, and without study or effort. She believes their source to be in the spirit-world. They are here given with very little alteration from the original manuscript. To her they have afforded pleasure and comfort, and she hopes they may not be without interest to others."

A personal friend, in whose house nearly the whole of these songs were written, writes to us concerning it :-" It is exactly what the preface says it is, and the writer has never written any other poetry than that from which these are selected." He adds that the publisher was directed to advertise it as a volume of spiritual poetry: which, probably from business considerations, he has omitted to do. That it is so, will, we think, to those at all familiar with such productions, be evident, from intrinsic evidence, apart from external attestation.

But whatever its origin, it is a book for quiet hours, for seasons of calm religious thoughtfulness and pensive meditation, when the cares of the world are shut out, and the spirit hushed and still, is left alone with Nature and feels its spiritual suggestiveness, or recalls the memories of long ago, or listens to the earnest questionings which spring up within it. We should like to present the reader with several of these gems of spiritual song, but must be content to give only the following one :

THE INNER WORLD.

Around each earth-bound spirit
A world of beauty lies,

Of fragrant flowers and golden fruits,
Seen by the spirit's eyes.

And music deep and wondrous sweet
Amongst those flowerets moves,
Singing those heavenly melodies
Which the watching spirit loves:

A world of beauty wholly made
By man's interior life;

His holy thoughts those fragrant flowers
Which cannot live in strife.

*Songs of the Spirit. By "H. H.," London. F. BOWYER KITTO, 5, Bishops

gate Without.

Those fruits his deeds of love on earth,
That music sweet the breathing

Of his immortal soul to God,

Its blessing e'en bequeathing

To others as unto himself,

For as that music swells
On many ears, and gladdens all,
So, as the spirit wells

Up to the fountain whence it came,
It brings an answer back,
Leaving in brightness, as it comes,
A blessing on its track.

Oh ye who tread God's beauteous earth,
And dwell before His face,

Oh ye are building, day by day,

Your own abiding place!

Your words of love, your gentlest thought,

Your slightest acts are there;

And the breath of life which all must breathe
Is the answer unto prayer.

Then fill your heart with heavenly thoughts,
Your life with acts of love,
And beautiful beyond compare

They shall bloom for you above.

So may ye form a world of light,

Of wondrous sights and sounds,

Where, 'midst pure joys by spirits known,
The peace of God abounds."

Obituary.

THE LATE MRS. COLEMAN.

Where thou art gone

Adieus and farewells are a sound unknown.

On the 28th of September, Elisa, the beloved wife of Benjamin Coleman, Esq., of Upper Norwood, was tenderly removed to the other life.

Her suffering, caused by an affection of the heart, had been long and extreme, and she had waited with yearning desire for the time of her release. Addison summoned his son-in-law, the gay Lord Warwick, to his death-bed, that he might see how a Christian could die. In Mrs. Coleman's case, the doubting sceptic, the disbeliever and derider of spiritualistic truth might have been taken to see how a Christian Spiritualist could die-how she could wait day by day, not alone in calm expectation, but anxiously praying for the divine order of release;

could have seen also how, whilst her soul rested in childlike dependance on the merits and love of the Saviour, there was to her mind no shadowiness or uncertainty as regarded the state into which she was about to enter. The partition wall between the two worlds had indeed become so thin that it existed only as a veil, through the transparency of which, she saw the glory and the reality of the life to which she was advancing.

My daughter and myself had the privilege of seeing her a few weeks before she passed away, nor will the remembrance of the visit be readily effaced from the minds of either. Always singularly pleasing in person she now lay supported by pillows, her whole countenance beaming with the brightness of the spirit within.

Her sufferings were then great from oppression of the heart, and almost total inability to sleep, which produced a constant restlessness, against which she strove with a childlike endeavour which was most touching. Lying thus, in enforced quietness, with her eyes closed or raised to heaven, she would often address those about her in the most beautiful and eloquent manner, pouring forth her love for them, her fear of over-wearying them, and mingling all with prayers to God for patience to wait His time, and yet desiring so earnestly to be set free.

Her husband, writing of her, says: "Extending over nine weeks, her distressing sufferings seemed to us to be never-ending. My heart, I fear, rebelled when I saw, day after day, that her own earnest prayers to God to take her were not answered. But doubtless, all was for the best."

No doubt it was: her friends who did not hold the same spiritual faith with herself, nay some of them who almost deemed it irreligious, could not fail to be deeply impressed with the calmness of mind, and the certainty of rest and joy in heaven, which sustained the poor sufferer through the long nights and days of her probation. Often, too, she would burst forth into such eloquent and inspired prayers as melted all to tears; or, into such joyful anticipation of the bliss before her as left no doubt that its foretaste was already allowed to her.

It is to be regretted that the means were not at hand to preserve some of those remarkable prayers, which flowed from her dying lips like inspired utterances. They were, however, the sacred breathings of the soul to its Saviour, at the same time that they were a source of strength and comfort to the sorrowing and sympathising ones round her.

A few only of her remarks were kept.

Thus when, one evening, she had been quietly looking through the window for some time, her husband inquired on what she was so intently gazing.

"I am looking," she said, "for a break in the heavens. I listen anxiously for my Saviour's voice, saying, 'Come up higher.'"

Again: "That darling," (her daughter) "brought me back this morning when I thought I had escaped. Don't keep me, darling! Life here has no blessing but for your sakes, and you know I can be with you still."

Again: "I am still here, you see. But you will soon come and find I have flown away. God grant it! Jesus, help me!"

Sometimes in the intermission of suffering, she would write letters to her relatives and friends-perhaps to be left unfinished -to remain as precious memorials of her love to them, and of God's love to her, who had at last taken her to Himself.

Thus she wrote to her sister :-
:-

"Night after night no angel's finger closes my eyelids in welcome sleep, consequently each day finds me much weaker. But the weaker in body, the stronger in spirit, as I near my heavenly home, where I trust that my blessed Saviour has prepared a place for me! Oh! the glorious idea of the veil being drawn aside to see the splendours within! And how many of our dear ones there will be to welcome me!

"I grieve only for the loved ones I leave behind. But they are satisfied that it is well. I am truly supported, and bid you all good-bye.

"Remember your affectionate and loving sister,

"ELISA."

In times of deep excitement, when the mind is strained to that high pitch which gives it, as it were, a preter-natural sense, it frequently happens that outward circumstances, otherwise trivial, assume a prophetic significance. Of this kind was a little circumstance which occurred in the chamber of my friend, which, whilst it has a singular correspondence as being typical of the restlessness of the spirit, seeking to be away and at home, so entirely agrees also with the belief of the simple, country people in the approach of death (so-called), that I must be allowed to mention it.

Not many days before the departure of the belove which was even then as a bird beating its wings ag cage, impatient of its detention, a young grey pigeon t the window sill, pecked at the glass of the chamber, flew away. Later in the day it came again, han window frame, as if asking to be let in. Ön morning it came a third time, and the window room being open, it flew in, and perching on nurse, allowed itself to be caressed by all showing the least timidity. Mrs. Coleman sai It is perhaps a messenger for me."