the relations which he sustained to the pope, and other causes, rendered it impossible for him to forward it. Whereupon M. Privat resolved to print it and send it in that form. And with a view to promote the object which he has so much at heartthe unity of the church-as well as to elicit the opinions of distinguished men, Catholics and Protestants, he has caused a hundred copies of this book to be printed, and sent to such men as Chateaubriand, Genoudé, F. Monod, etc. We understand that M. Genoudé is delighted with the subject and enters warmly into it. But we have not learned what answer has been given by others to this benevolent but impracticable proposal.

And here we cannot forbear remarking that this is one of the many instances which show that there is in France a waking up of minds to the subject of Christianity, and to a desire to promote it, though often by means of the most impracticable character. France is weary, as it were, of infidelity, and yet is ignorant of the true Gospel. When will the light of pure Christianity arise upon that beautiful but unhappy country? We answer; that the signs of the approach of that joyful day are numerous and unequivocal.

10. European Historical Congress. The Council of the Institute of History, in France, adopted the resolution, during the last summer, of convoking a grand congress to be composed of persons who take a special interest in history, throughout the continent. For this purpose, notice was extensively given, by means of the public journals, and printed tickets of invitation and admission were sent to all the distinguished strangers who were in Paris. The Institute of History is divided into six classes, corresponding with the arrangement of historical studies under six heads, viz. 1. General History. 2. History of the Social and Philosophical Sciences. 3. History of Languages and Literature. 4. History of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences. 5. History of the Fine Arts. 6. History of France.

This division of subjects was observed in the proposal to hold an European Congress on history. Several important questions were proposed on the principal subjects embraced under each class, and those who were invited to attend were requested to range themselves in whatever class or classes they might prefer. According to appointment the congress commenced its sessions on the 15th (Sunday) of November 1835 and continued them until the 15th of December. The place of meeting was

the Hotel de la Ville, and the hour of opening each session was 11 o'clock. The sessions were not held every day, but, on an average, three or four times each week. The time of each service was taken up with the reading of essays and discussions on the various questions which came before the congress. A large number of distinguished men attended this interesting assembly, among whom was the celebrated Humboldt of Prussia.

We have no doubt that the Report, or Procès-Verbal as the French term it, of this historical convention, which will be full and even complete, will make two, if not more, interesting volumes. It is now preparing, and will in due time be published. The holding of such meetings is undoubtedly one of the best modes of advancing any branch of science, and it is particularly adapted to promote a knowledge of history. We should rejoice to see such a congress convened often in our own country, which is so full of interesting facts and recollections which ought to be speedily gathered up and combined.

11. Histoire Philosophique, Politique et Critique du Christianisme etc, depuis Jésus Christ jusqu'au XIXme Siècle, Par De Potter-12 volumes in 8vo. A Philosophical, Political and Critical History of Christianity from the time of Jesus Christ to the XIXth Century, by M. De Potter-in 12 volumes octavo, each to contain about 480 pages.

This great work has not yet been published. It is however ready for the press, and will probably be printed within a year or two. The author of it is a man who has devoted himself to literature, with great zeal and perseverance. Having inherited a sufficient amount of property to enable him to devote himself wholly to study, he has constantly employed himself in literary pursuits. Nearly twenty years of the prime of his life were almost equally divided by his residence in Rome and Florence, where he enjoyed fine advantages for the prosecution of his studies, which have been almost wholly ecclesiastical. From Rome and Florence he retired to Brussels, where he became distinguished for the interest which he took, as our readers may recollect, in the late Belgian Revolution. But as M. De Potter is a sincere admirer of liberty, he became dissatisfied with the course which that Revolution was suffered to take, and retired, in disgust, to Paris, where he has ever since lived in retirement, having forsaken the storms and vexations of politics for the charms of literature. During the revolution in Belgi

um, and since that epoch, M. De Potter employed his pen in a very able manner in behalf of human rights. Two of his pamphlets are now before us. The first in date is entitled: Lettre à Mes Concitoyens, and indicates his course in regard to the Revolution. The other is entitled: Eléméns de Tolérance, à l'usage des Catholiques Belges, and is an able defence of perfect toleration in matters of religion,-a doctrine which the Catholics, all the world over, have been slow to learn.

But as we have already remarked, M. De Potter's pursuits have been chiefly literary and in a sense theological. And, as might be expected, his publications have almost wholly been of this character. One of the earliest of these was entitled L’Esprit de l'Eglise, a work of some five or six octavo volumes, and which was published at Paris in 1821. The next work which M. De Potter published was Memoires de Scipion de Ricci; Memoirs of Scipio Ricci, Bishop of Pistoya and Prato, Reformer of Catholicism in Tuscany under the reign of the late Grand Duke Leopold. This work was published in three volumes Svo. at Brussels, about ten years since. A private edition was also published in Paris in four volumes 8vo. But as this was done under the Restoration when the censorship on the press was in existence, a considerable portion was forbidden to be published.

The Life of Ricci caused a great sensation in its day. The developments which it makes are indeed astounding. The intimate acquaintance of the author with the family of the bishop during his residence in Florence, furnished him with abundant materials, drawn from unpublished manuscripts and other private papers. A bare reference to some of the portions of this work will be sufficient to show how interesting it must be.Such, for example, as those which give the original papers of the last general of the Jesuits; the relation of the poisoning of pope Clement XIV. (Ganganelli), who suppressed that order; the scandalous conduct and infidelity of the Dominican monks and nuns in Tuscany; the depositions of young ladies proving the abuses of auricular confession by depraved priests and monks, and many letters written to Ricci by distinguished men, on divers interesting subjects, all relating to political and religious affairs, from 1780 to 1810. M. De Potter brought much odium, from the Catholics, upon himself, for exposing the enormities of the church in this work.

But we must say a few words in regard to the History of the

church which we have spoken of at the commencement of this notice. The first volume is designed to be an Introduction, and is divided into sixteen sections, under the following titles: 1. Utility of this work. 2. The last publication of the author on Ecclesiastical History. 3. Refutation of objections. 4. Duty of the philosopher towards the Catholics. 5. Examination of Christianity. 6. The positive parts of Christianity. 7. Revelation. 8. Miracles. 9. Martyrs. 10. Doctrine. 11. Heresies. 12. The moral precepts of Jesus. 13. The morality of Fathers of the Church. 14. The Church. dogmas or doctrines of Christianity. 16. The Conclusion.

15. The

The next four volumes are devoted to the history of the church from the Apostles to the schism between the Greek and Latin churches. These volumes treat fully of the various councils which were held during that period, heresies, etc., and are divided into fourteen sections. The remaining seven volumes treat of the subsequent history of the church, in its multiform relations to the world, its progress, its corruption, its reformation, etc. down to the nineteenth century.

It is not possible to speak confidently respecting a work of which we have only seen the outlines. But we are inclined to believe that it will be of great value as containing an immense collection of well-ascertained facts, and abounding with the remarks and reasonings of an enlightened mind. So far as it relates to the general influence of true Christianity, and also to that of the multiform corruptions of it, on the world, and the influence of the world, on the church,-in a word so far as regards the external affairs of the church, we apprehend that M. De Potter's History will be one of the most valuable works which have ever been published. It is unquestionably a work of great research, and we believe also of great accuracy and impartiality. M. De Potter was born a Catholic, but has long been regarded as a Protestant. We may remark that although this work is spoken of, above, as about to be comprised in twelve octavo volumes, yet inasmuch as French octavos do not contain more than ordinary English duodecimos, it is probable that it will comprise about as much as seven or eight such volumes as Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History.

We will only add to this notice, that M. De Potter is an excellent scholar, familiar with the Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, Danish, and English languages, in addition to his maternal tongue, which is French. He has devoted twenty years' VOL. VIII. No. 23.

30

hard labor to this great work, and has consulted, in all the various languages named above, nearly one thousand authors who treat of the subject. With the Byzantine historians he is very familiar.

II. NOTICES OF WORKS PUBlished in GERMANY.

1.-Christologie des Alten Testaments und Commentar über die Messianischen Weissagungen der Propheten. Von E. W. Hengstenberg, ord. Prof. Theol. an der universität zu Berlin. Dritter und letzr Theil. Berlin, 1835.

This is the concluding work of Hengstenberg on the Messianic prophecies. The first volume contains the general introduction, Messianic prophecies in the Pentateuch and in the Psalms, the Godhead of the Messiah in the Old Testament, the proofs of a suffering and atoning Messiah, etc., and the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah; the second volume embraces the seventy weeks of Daniel and the book of Zechariah; the third takes up the Messianic predictions in Hosea, Joel, Amos, Micah, Haggai, Malachi, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The preface to the last volume we here translate. "With heartfelt thanks to God, who gives strength to the weary and power to those who have no might, the author sees himself at the end of a long and often difficult course. Between the beginning and the end lies the space of seven years, and also the probability, not that praise, but that blame would follow. The author hopes that the season of the year in which this volume makes its appearance, though an external circumstance, will be an indication of those internal relations which it is calculated to suggest. With this hope he has been cheered, while the composition of the entire work has depressed his spirits, though he is conscious of having from the beginning earnestly sought for strength. Many particular opinions, advanced in the first volume, have been, often silently, corrected, in the subsequent ones. Yet the difference consists in particular points, and in the lower field of language. So far as the entire, fundamental view of the design of the prophecy is to be brought into the account, the author has received increasing satisfaction, the longer he has studied