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to them through a different channel than that from which they are accustomed to receive it, we are indebted to that science for the correction of some false interpretations of Scripture, and the illustration of some important subjects of philosophical inquiry. No other science could have demonstrated the Scriptural account of the creation of the universe, the antiquity of the earth, the origin of animal and vegetable life, the existence of the sun antecedent to the fiat, "Let there be light," and the presence of death in the world before the fall of man; no other science could have suggested the important doctrine of specific centers of creation, or have so well met the difficulty of explaining a universal deluge.

Science was at fault in the discussion of the origin of nations and languages, but its conclusions came into agreement with Scripture when it discovered its own error. Sacred writers affirm positively that "Eve was the mother of all living," and that "God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." In opposition to this doctrine it was affirmed by science that "there were an indefinite number of separate creations." This assumption was founded on analogy, and the error was scientifically answered by Dr. Pritchard. "All the diversities which exist are variable," says that eminent writer, "and pass into each other by insensible gradations, and there is, moreover, scarcely an instance in which the actual transition can not be proved to have taken place." The controversy still exists among the ethnologists, and a difference of opinion will probably continue among them; but believing, as we do, that science has in this instance corrected its error, we acknowledge a perfect agreement between its conclusions and the teaching of Scripture.

Archdeacon Pratt satisfactorily meets an objection to the unity of the human race, founded on the representation of the specific forms and complexions of the Negro, Egyptian, and Asiatic, in certain Egyptian paintings, supposed to have been executed in the time of Moses, about 850 years after the Deluge. Such national diversities of form, could not, say the objectors, have been produced in the short interval of time which elapsed between the Deluge and the Exodus of the Israelites, if all the races had their origin from one man-Noah. To this conclusion our

author objects upon sufficient evidence. Color, he says, is an uncertain mark of origin and descent. The offspring of European and Hindoo parents may be either white or colored; and if the children be white the grand-children may be colored--a fact as unaccountable as the asserted appearance of gout in alternate generations. And although the world was re-peopled by the descendants of one man, there were three fathers of the race, and they, or their wives, may have possessed some of those marked features which distinguish their descendants-Ham of the African, Japhet of the European, Shem of the Asiatic. National characteristics of form and feature must, therefore, be traced to a period antecedent to the Deluge.

The origin of the diversity of language, is a question apparently connected with that of the origin of the races. The narrative of the confusion of tongues has been rudely attacked by some daring disputers, but many eminent philologists believe all languages to have had a common origin, and trace in them evidences of a violent separation. In the six thousand lauguages or dialects now spoken by man, there is said to be such a relation in structure and in their radicals, as can not be explained without assuming a common origin. We are not among those who believe the Bible narrative of the confusion of tongues to be much interested in the question whether all human languages are traceable to a common source. language of Noah, which became the common tongue of all his children, was confounded that the people might not understand it, and that they might be "scattered abroad over the earth." Why a relic of the old should have remained in the new, and why that relic should now be discoverable by us in all, we do not understand. It is not necessary that we should find a common stock for all human tongues, as a proof of the unity of the human race.

The

The second part of Archdeacon Pratt's book is a short essay on "The Historical Character, Plenary Inspiration, and Surpassing Importance of the First Eleven Chapters of Genesis." The author maintains the credibility of the history they contain, by reference to the numerous instances in which the facts are re-stated, frequently in the same words, by our Lord and his disciples. The credibility of the

history being thus established, the inspira- | filled-the coming of the seed of the wotion follows of necessity, for in no other man to bruise the serpent's head, and a way could the facts have been communi- declaration of the future condition of the cated to the narrator. The importance sons of Noah. of the history can not be over-estimated, for it is the only record of the creation of the world, and of the condition of the antediluvian people. It announces the institution of marriage, of sacrifice, and of the Sabbath; and it more overcontains two prophecies, both of which have been ful

We do not claim for Archdeacon Pratt's book any marked originality of thought, but it is a clear and concise record of some former controversies between human research and Divine revelation; and as such, we recommend it to our readers.

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THE NEW-YORK PULPIT IN THE REVIVAL OF 1858.
A MEMORIAL VOLUME OF SERMONS. Pp. 394.
New-York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. Richmond:
Wortham & Cothell. 1858.

THIS volume, comprising twenty-five Discourses from twenty-five able ministers and pastors of twenty-five large and influential churches of NewYork and Brooklyn, of seven different denominations, is an eloquent and fitting memorial of the great religious Revival, which will form a most important and interesting chapter in the history of the time. Talent, learning, long experience and tried fidelity in the ministerial office, are here collected and combined in one harmonious and brotherly volume. of different and differing denominations. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in one volume of Unity!

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Ir is enough to announce the publication of these eloquent discourses, from the pens of the eminent men who are their authors. Their reputation is world-wide. Their learning, piety, and wisdom commend their writings to all who can appreciate human excellence. The translators have done a good service to the cause of sacred literature in clothing these twenty Discourses in a neat English dress. The letter-press is very creditable to the enterprising publishers.

SERMONS OF THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, OF LONDON.
Fourth Series. Pp. 445. New-York: Sheldon,
Blakeman & Co. Washington: William Ballan-
tyne. 1858.

THIS Volume comprises twenty-seven discourses, which were reported from the lips of their author and published. They are not learned sermons; they

are not literary discourses. They are plain, direct, and highly colloquial in style, and doubtless for this reason they have been far more attractive and useful, with whatever of faults and imperfections they may possess, than if they abounded with the erudition of the schools. That preaching and that sermon is the most truly eloquent which, by the power of the Spirit, most effectually secures the great end in view -the renovation and salvation of souls. It is a significant and an encouraging fact, if the enterprising publishers find an adequate demand for these continuous issues from the lips of this modern Whitefield.

GLIMPSES OF JESUS; OR, CHRIST EXALTED IN THE AFFECTIONS OF HIS PEOPLE. By W. P. BALFERN. "He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high." (Isaiah 53: 18.) From the Second Loudon Edition. Pp. 259. New-York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. Boston: Gould & Lincolu. Richmond: Wortham & Cothell. 1858.

THE title of this choice volume in its obvious

meaning breathes through all its pages and pervades all its language. It seems to have been written from the overflowings of a pious mind in love with its theme, more than with any ambition of literary

excellence.

WOMAN: HER MISSION AND LIFE: By ADOLPHE MONOD, D.D., OF PARIS. Translated from the French: with a Biographical Sketch of the Author, and a Portrait. "They who rock the cradle, rule the world." Pp. 82. New-York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1858.

It would naturally be expected that a man of so much mental and moral worth, and of talents so eminent, would utter thoughts in regard to Woman's Mission worthy of his theme, and so the reader of this little volume will find enough amply to repay perusal.

THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.-The cable at Keyham has now been stowed away on board the two vessels with which last year's attempt was made. The total length of cable with which the attempt was made last year was rather under than over 2400

hagen. Jakout's Dictionary was compiled with the greatest care, and forms a perfect summary of the state of geographical science in his country and age. Amongst other curious things it contains an account of an embassy sent to Bouskara by the Emperor of China, as far back as 942, and one of a mission to the King of the Bulgarians, sent by the Caliph Mokhadin Billah, in 921.

WE learn with regret from Paris three new instances of the extreme rigor of the present Government of France towards literature and the press. A work, in three large volumes, entitled, "De la Justice dans la Revolution et dans l'Eglise," by P. J. Proudhon, the well-known writer on politics and political economy, published within the last few days, has been seized by the police; and the author and publisher of it are to be prosecuted. The peculiar doctrines of M. Proudhon are far from obtaining general assent; but considering that he is universally allowed to be one of the most original thinkers and one of the most brilliant writers of his country in these days, it is hard that he should be rudely silenced. The second instance of rigor is the suppression of an old-established daily newspaper, by name the Estafette, for having been twice condemned on the prosecution of the Government; and the third is the exclusion from circulation in France of the Belgian daily newspaper, the Indépendance, for having published Paris letters of which the tone was displeasing to people in high places at Paris.

miles, which was so near the quantity actually re-rary of St. Petersburg, and in the Library of Copenquired to span the distance that the first loss of 300 miles proved fatal to the whole attempt, for that time at least. Now, however, the length of cable on board both vessels is precisely 3012 miles, exclusive of the shore ends, of much greater weight and thickness, and which amount to about thirty miles more. There is therefore in round numbers 3050 miles of cable to submerge between two points only 1950 statute miles apart, so that 1100 miles, or about forty per cent, is allowed for accidents and slack in paying out. This immense cable, which weighs about one ton per mile, will be equally divided between the Agamemnon and Niagara. All the ships of the squadron will leave Plymouth about the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth of this month (May) on their experimental trip, which will occupy from six to ten days. The squadron then returns to Queenstown, and starts for the great attempt about the tenth June. Both ships, with the accompanying frigates, make all speed to the Atlantic, or rather to the center of the space to be traversed by the cable, which is about 32 degs. west of Greenwich. Here the splice between the two halves will be made without loss of time. There are 1500 fathoms water where this join must be made, and both vessels will ⚫ remain stationary until the splice has well settled on the bottom, when the Niagara will at once steer for the New World, and the Agamemnon return to the Old. The depths to which the Niagara will have to sink her portion vary quickly and irregularly from 1500 to 2500 fathoms, or from 14 to about 3 miles; and this is the case also with the Agamemnon's portion of the distance. But on the American side the water shoals easily and gradually towards Newfoundland, whereas on the British portion of the ocean the Agamemnon will have to surmount a tremendous ridge, which may be called the Andes of those vast submarine plains of the Atlantic. It commences at about 5° west longitude, and in the course of a few miles the water suddenly shoals from 1750 fathoms to 550. Up this vast rocky precipice-almost as steep as the side of Mount Blanc -the cable must be laid with extreme care. This difficulty once overcome, the way thence to Valentia becomes comparatively of no account. In case of dangerous weather arising, the first consideration in all cases will be, of course, the safety of the cable. Each vessel is provided with reels of strong wire rope which can be attached to buoys made in the manner of ordinary fishing floats, though, of course, capable of sustaining a weight of several tons. Provided with this apparatus, the cable may be cut without reluctance, if ever the weather threatens, and the end of it (firmly secured to the rope and buoy) allowed to rest almost upon the bed of the ocean, to be hauled up directly the storm has passed. -London paper, May 18.

THE Imperial Library at Paris has just obtained a copy of the "Geographical Dictionary" of Jakout, one of the most learned Oriental writers of the thirteenth century. It consists of six folio volumes, and has been taken partly from the portion of the original manuscript of Jakout, which is in the possession of Kupruly Pacha, at Constantinople-partly from a copy of the remainder of that manuscript which belongs to Achi Effendi, of the same city. Only four complete copies of Jakout's Dictionary have hitherto been made, and they are in the British Museum, in the University of Oxford, in the Lib

ON Wednesday evening the sixty-ninth annual festival of the Royal Literary Fund was celebrated at the Freemasons' Tavern. Lord Palmerston presided, and proposed the toast of the evening. We observe that he took credit to her present Majesty for being the first sovereign of this country who had acknowledged literary attainments "as a claim to the distinctions which it was her peculiar prerogative to bestow." This is, of course, a fiction."Her Majesty" means "Her Majesty's Prime Minister," Lord Palmerston himself, who advised the elevation of Lord Macaulay to the peerage. But the statement needs modification. Literary merit was certainly not Lord Macaulay's sole qualification. He was a politician before he was an historian; and even as an historian, the claims of party are obviously, in his mind, paramount to the claims of historical impartiality. We must be thankful for Lord Macaulay's liberality, such as it is; but his history is, after all, a gigantic Whig pamplet. We much doubt whether the present reign is the first epoch in our history, when the claims of literature to high honor in the tate were acknowledged. Putting our early sovereigns, Edward III., Richard II., and Henry IV., out of the question, surely, Addison and Steele owed their honors to literature rather than politics. At any rate, literature has always been a passport in the Church to preferments, which it is the peculiar prerogative of the Crown to bestow. How. ever, Lord Palmerston's allusion answered the purpose of the moment. M. Van de Weyer, in returning thanks for the health of the "Foreign Ministers," dwelt upon the interest taken in English literature abroad, and stated that a congress of literary men was about shortly to be held in Belgium, to consult on matters relating to their common interests. The subscriptions and donations announced in the course of the evening, amounted to about 900, of which one hundred guineas were subscribed by the Queen.

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