The Lecture on "The Philosophy of Reform" is the only portion of this little volume we have had time to read. It is a noble and beautiful production of an earnest, free, strong and loving soul. Attacking with equal force of censure the two antagonist evils of a stagnant Conservatism and a mere tempestuous Destructivism, he makes a fine plea for that true spirit of Christian Reform, which is neither the one nor the other of these, but which partakes wisely and well of them both. We would gladly quote largely from it, were it in our power. The following are all which we can permit ourselves:

"My objection to the strict CONSERVATIVE is, not that he holds back in the tide of Reform, but that he holds on to all things just as they are-and not merely to the good that is in all things. He loves existing institutions because they happen to exist, and for no other reason. He loves old customs because they are old, and he is very comfortable under them. Too often when we come to analyze his conservatism, the whole reason of it is found in sheer, downright selfishness. He hates to be disturbed. If the movement prevails he must move too, and he dislikes the exertion and the sacrifice. He has got a snug corner of the world, and ample means to live, and surely, he thinks, the world is well enough as it is. It is natural that he should think so. But the poor bondman, who labors in blood and tears, thinks that the world is not well enough as it is, and it is evident that there must be some other criteria than the convenience of one man, or of one class of men. "Or, if the Conservative is not selfish, he is an alarmist, and as much deluded as the veriest fanatic. He exercises no discrimination. Every plan that is proposed to alter existing institutions, to him looks heretical and dangerous, because he will not set himself to work candidly to investigate the matter, but sees through his prejudices, and acts from his old habits of thinking. At the mere mention of the word Reform, vague ideas of unsettlement and confusion rush upon him; he sees all things in chaos-nothing but licentiousness and destruction, blood and flame; and, honestly scared, no doubt, he vociferates from the very depths of his lungs-Great is Diana of the Ephesians!'

"My objection, then, to the strict Conservative is, that he allows no movement, either forward by way of advancement, or backward by way of purification; but wants all things to remain as they are, which nature will not permit, since by her laws all things move in some way, either in growth or decline. And I object to the Conservative, because with all his fears for Goodness and Truth, he evidently knows but little of either, else he would exercise more discrimination, and while clinging to the good would let the bad go, and thus be a Reformer-and, also, he would be willing to trust truth in every encounter, knowing it to be eternal and omnipotent. I object to the Conservative, because he has no faith in progress

"We must not be rash; we must not adopt everything as it comes, but compare, reflect, e13mine-and fear not the result. And is it not better even to move at a risk, than not to move st all? This Conservative argument was as valid countless ages back as it is now. And if men had heeded it, the race would be now where i was countless ages ago. But they did not heed it. They took a step forward-a step at a time, to be in the untried path of experiment. I do not like sure-but still a step forward, even though it was the legitimate bearings of this argument. do as well for the Grand Turk as for the professed Republican-it will serve the high Tories of Eagland, as well as any Conservative in this country. Enough, that reason decides after calm reflection. Enough, that all that intuitively recognizes the Enough, if we have these, to venture forward, Good and the True, appeals in our, bosoms. even hazarding by experiment the issue which, at the worst, can produce evils scarcely more aggravated than those which already exist."

It wil

There is so much wisdom and truth in the following, from the per contra to the above, that we cannot refrain from inserting it, as a useful lesson to not a few probably of our readers-nor useless, perhaps, to ourselves:

"With this I dismiss the Conservative and his arguments, and pass to consider the strict RADICAL, who, I say, is also wrong. He who wages war with all existing institutions, is as bad as he who holds on to all existing institutions-perhaps worse. There is always some good to be preserved. To think otherwise, is to calumniate the past, and deny the Agency of Providence. In order to reform, it is not necessary nor practicable, to level all existing institutions to the dust at one stroke, and drive the ploughshare over them. If they do not actually think so, there are some men who speak as if they owed nothing to the Past or the Present-as if these were naught but hindrances to human progress. But if I understand progress, it is the gradual passage from one condition to another, each link in the chain being necessary to the consummation. If human nature grows, it must have something to grow out of, and therefore it is indebted to that something. Your Reform will not create itself, nor will it be born mature, nor can it be produced in the impalpable air. You must use what exists in order to build up what shall be. If you strike away every vestige of the past and the present, upon what will you stand for the future? No-no-you cannot get out of the world in order to move the world. You must stand upon this old firm earth just as it is, and try to make it better. The plant that shall blossom into an immortal flowering, must assimilate to itself elements that have been winnowed in the storms and changes of the Past. The harvest of human effort, and hope, and prayer, will spring up in the furrows of by gone revelations, out from the embers of sin, and the ashes of martyrdom, and the soil of blood-soaked battlefields.

To the strict Radical I object, moreover, that if he does not actually seek thus to destroy at once all existing organizations, he often does what amounts to the same thing. He attempts to introduce principles and institutions that are impracticable, because they are fitted for an entirely different state of things, for an advanced era of humanity, a golden age, a time of perfection. But between our present state and such an elevated condition, a wide space intervenes. Every inch of ground between this point and that, is to be trodden gradually. His Reform is impalpable because it does not connect with what has gone before we cannot reach it from where we stand

-and if we would advance to it, we have nothing to advance upon. It is premature, and not regarding the Past and the Present, is the same as if it rejected them. I think that many Radicals are of this class. There are some, I presume, who disgrace every attempted Reform-who seek to overturn all things in order that they may gratify their revenge and their lusts. But these are vile men who do not listen to reason. But, I say, many are of the class to which I just alluded. They are virtuous but dreamy. They speculate too much. Their philosophy may be very good, but they want common sense. Their logic is sound so long as we confine it to abstract principles, but it cannot stand the ordeal of stubborn facts. We may hope for the future, but we must act in the present. We cannot forestall nature, nor renovate society by steam.

"Again;-your Radical is frequently a mere grumbler. His sole function, in that case, seems

to be, finding fault. He has a shrewd wit, perhaps, and he cultivates a sharp satire, which are often effectual, and sometimes amusing. It makes us laugh when he shakes some respectable old rottenness, or when decently-clothed sin winces at his punctures. But, after all, this is an unenviable and unprofitable function. It is the easiest thing

in the world to find fault. It requires no great power to pull down, or to pick in pieces. He who takes away without giving something instead, performs no grateful office. If you take from a poor man his ragged cloak, and give him no other clothing, he will hardly call you his benefactor. Now the true Reformer not only removes the bad -he gives us something better. He has not only

'a torch for burning, but a hammer for building.' At least he will have pity for the evils that he cannot help, and while he bears them with meek humility, will ever look forward with hope and faith. The fault-finding Radical knows not the true spirit of Reform. This seeks to build up, to develope, knowing that in this way evil is best destroyed. It will not pluck the crutch from the cripple-but will seek to heal his lameness. It will not seek to undermine the faith of childhood's simple hymn, but will anoint its lips, and teach its faltering voice to flow in deep and sweet

hosannas."

Four parts of this excellent popular encyclopædic compendium have appeared, at the price of twenty-five cents each, for a mass of most valuable matter, of which it is hard indeed to conceive how it can be furnished to the public at such rates. Of its general character it is unnecessary for us to add anything to its well known and settled reputation. It is to be completed in twelve semi-monthly parts, and it will be the no small loss of any, not themselves possessing the assorted contents of an encyclopedia in their own heads, ready for constant reference, who do not take advantage of the present opportunity to possess themselves of this, at a cost so small

in its total amount, and made so insensible to the pocket by its distribution.

Tales and Sketches. Translated from the Italian, French, and German. By NATHANIEL GREENE. Boston: Charles C. Little & James Brown. 1843.

This is a charming little volume-as modest and sweet as a violet. The refined poetic taste guiding Mr. Greene's selection of the stories which it becomes a labor of love for him then to transfuse rather than translate into English form, may be sufficiently judged of by our readers, from the exquisite story entitled "Poor Margaret," originally published in our pages, and now re-appearing most welcomely in these.

The London Christian Observer for January and February, 1843. A Reprint. Joseph Mason, 102 Broadway.

This is the second time that this periodical has been brought more immediately under the notice of the American public by means of a reprint. Several years have now elapsed since the first experiment was discontinued. Why it did not then succeed we are unable to explain; certainly it was not through any deficiency of talent in the editorial department. But, waiving all conjectures upon this head, we must content ourselves with deVoting a few lines to the present edition which commenced with the January number of the current year, under the auspices of Mr. Mason, so well known as the The unusual excitement which now prepopular republisher of foreign periodicals. vails throughout the country on various religious doctrines, renders the appearance of such a magazine as the London Christian Observer peculiarly well-timed to meet the wants of a large class of readers. Its pages are under the control of a committee of members of the established church of England. From what we have seen of this periodical, we should infer that it was less disposed to be the organ of any narrow and sectarian sentiments, than to cultivate an enlarged spirit of charity towards all men. And this characteristic is virtually acknowledged by the clergymen of twelve different denominations, who have united in commending its perusal to their fellow-citizens. We cordially wish Mr. Mason success in this undertaking; though we are inclined to think that his terms (only $2 per annum) are too low to afford him much more than a bare re-imbursement of the actual outlay which he incurs in getting up his edition, of which the typographical aspect is also highly satisfactory.

There is still a great paucity of Literary news; the following comprise the leading items. First, to begin near home, our publishers, the Langleys, are acting on the modern popular plan of publication-that of issuing in numbers-with respect to Norman's popular work on Yucatan. It is to be comprised in 4 numbers, at 25 cents each-including all the illustrations in Lithotint, and bound up in the French style of a fancy paper cover. There can be no doubt as to the success of such a movement on the part of these sagacious bibliopoles, and were it otherwise the fault would not be theirs, but the ungrateful public's. We believe this beautiful volume is about the ne plus ultra of cheap issues, and even the most parsimonious may now possess a copy of this attractive tome, without inflicting a very serious tax upon his purse. The two medical works referred to in our last, will appear in the course of the present month. Dr. Sweetser's work, entitled "Mental Hygiene," we have just had a glance at; it seems a very curious and interesting volume, and we expect to find in it much valuable disquisition on the subtle subject of his inquiry. 'The

Conspectus of the Pharmacopeias,' by Dr. Thomson, is also ready for publication. The following are said also to be forthcoming-"The Life and Remains of Dr. Marsh, of Vermont University," edited by Professor Torrey. The same Professor has also a translation of Schilling's "Discourse on Fine Arts." Professor Benedick has a new work cn Conchology, with plates. A Treatise on Music, by the late Dr. Lincoln. Prescott's " History of the Conquest of Mexico," and volume 4 of Bancroft's "United States," will appear about midsummer. Rev. O. A. Choules is preparing to issue a new edition complete to the present time of Hinton's "History of the United States." Harpers are about to issue in numbers several works, M'Culloch's "Universal Gazetteer""Travels in Arabia Petræa," &c., by Professor Olin, and also some other standard works. Hoffman's "Wild Scenes in Forest and Prairie" is in press The forthcoming Annuals," &c for 1844-" The Hespe rian," edited by J. Keese; "The Gift," "Christian Offering," edited by R. W. Griswold, and the "The Rose of Sharon."

March 7th.-The Society met at their rooms in the University-present, a large number of members and invited guests, among whom were Dr. Huxtable, of Bristol, Eng., S. S. Trikaliotes, of Athens, Greece, Dr. Robinson, (author of Travels in Palestine, &c.), Hon. G. C. Verplanck, Rev. Dr. Turner, Mr. Schoolcraft, Mr. Van Rensselaer, and others. The chair was taken by the President, Hon. A. Gallatin, assisted by the Vice Presidents, Mr. Lawrence and Rev. Dr. De Witt. The minutes of the last meeting were then read by Mr. Jay, the Recording Secretary, and approved. A considerable time was occupied in the consideration of several proposed amendments of the Constitution of the Society, reported by Prof. Mason as chairman of the executive committee. The amendments, with some slight modifications, were severally adopted; the most

important changes made by them being a provision for a new class of members, to be called corresponding members; for two corresponding secretaries, foreign and domestic; and the restoration of the old standing committee of seven members, to be called the executive committee. The foreign correspondence was on motion assigned to Mr. De Peyster, the corresponding secretary under the former arrangement; and Mr. Folsom was elected domestic corresponding secretary, agreeably to the new provision. The following gentlemen, nominated on a previous occasion, were elected honorary members, viz.: Sir James B. Williams, Bart., Shrewsbury, Eng.; Robert Lemon, Esq., F.S.A., Chief Clerk in Her Majesty's State Paper Office, London; and Hon. F. C. Gray, LL.D., of Massachusetts; and as resident members, Messrs. W. S. Wet

more, James Gallatin, S. R. Child, M.D., and Richard S. Fellowes, Esqrs. Several nominations were then made for honorary, corresponding, and resident members, to be acted upon at a subsequent meeting.

A paper by Mr. Catherwood (the travelling companion of Mr. Stephens), was then read, on the subject of an ancient monument observed by him in the Beylic of Tunis, Africa, at a place called Dugga, about 80 miles from the site of ancient Carthage. It was accompanied by an original drawing, with a plan of the interior of the building and the inscriptions on its front. The building is thirty-six feet in height, and of an order of architecture totally different from that of the other ruins of the country, exhibiting much greater simplicity and elegance. The interior is divided into three rooms, and the several stories are so low, and possess other peculiarities of so striking a character, as to induce the conclusion that they could only have been intended as places of deposit for the dead-a supposition confirmed by two inscriptions on the right of the exterior entrance, one in Phoenician or Punic, and the other in Lybian characters, of which copies were made by Mr. Catherwood, which accompanied the drawing; together with a translation of the former made by the great German philologist Gesenius (recently deceased), from which it appears to be the tribute of a son to the memory of his father, lauding his virtues and recounting his ancestry for several generations. With regard to the probable date of its erection, Mr. Catherwood expressed no decided opinion, but from the traces in its architecture of the severe and rigid style of ancient Greece, he seemed inclined to refer it to the period of the foundation of Carthage, about 900 B. C. This remarkable monument was overlooked by Mr. Shaw, one of the most distinguished travellers in that part of Africa; it was visited by a French traveller, M. D'Arcos, in 1631, who, however, gave no description of it beyond copying the inscriptions. As this paper will soon be published at length, we forbear giving any farther account of it at present.

When the reading was finished, Professor Robinson addressed a few remarks to the Society on the subject of the paper, in which he stated that the description of this interesting relic of antiquity by Mr. Catherwood was of the greatest value, as no other traveller had described it; and that he (Professor R.) had furnished Mr. C.'s copy of the inscriptions to the learned Gesenius, who inserted it in his great work entitled "MONUMENTA PHOENICIA." Professor R. had been strongly reminded

by the architecture of the monument of remains similar in style with which he had met at Petra, and was inclined to refer its erection to the same era, namely, the second or third century, A. D. He expressed his hope that the paper would soon be given to the world, as it was interesting in itself and highly important to scholars. The thanks of the Society were then voted to Mr. Catherwood for his valuable communication.

Mr. Gibbs exhibited part of an ancient water-pipe,of coarse earthenware, brought by his father, the late Col. George Gibbs, from the ruins of Carthage. It was probably one of the small distributing pipes, that conveyed to private residences the water brought by the famous aqueduct of Carthage from the mountains fifty miles distant.

Mr. Folsom read several interesting extracts from his forthcoming work on the Conquest of Mexico, translated from the official narration of Cortes, the conqueror, addressed to the emperor Charles V. The original work, Mr. F. stated, is comprised in three letters or despatches, of great length, written in Mexico during the conquest, and transmitted to Spain, where they were soon after printed; the first appearing at Seville, in 1522, two years only after it was written. These valuable and curious documents have never been translated into English, although they contain the most authentic account extant of the extraordinary enterprise conducted by Cortes against the Mexican empire, which resulted in such complete success. Dr. Robertson, who consulted them in the original, says that "they contain a regular and minute history of the expedition, with many curious particulars concerning the policy and manners of the Mexicans." The following passage is taken from that portion of the work in which Cortes speaks of his efforts to reform the religion of the Mexicans; after describing the great temple, he says:

"I precipitated from their pedestals the principal idols in which the people have the greatest faith and confidence, and cast them down the steps of the temple. purifying the chapels in which they had stood, as they were all polluted with human blood, shed in the sacrifices. In the place of these I put images of Our Lady and the saints, which not a little incensed Muteczuma and the natives of the country. They at first remonstrated with great earnestness, declaring that if my proceedings were generally known, the people throughout the country would rise en masse against me; for they believed that their idols bestowed on them all temporal blessings, and if suffered to be treated with

indignity, they would be displeased, and withhold their gifts, depriving the country of the fruits of the earth, and thus causing the inhabitants to perish with hunger. "I answered by an interpreter, that they were deceived in expecting any favors from idols, the work of their own hands, formed of unclean things; and that they must learn there was but one God, the universal Lord of all, who had created the heavens and the earth, and all things else, and had made them and us; that he was without beginning, and immortal, and they were bound to adore and believe him, and no other creature or thing. I said everything to them that I could to divert them from their idolatries, and draw them to a knowledge of God our Lord. Muteczuma replied, (the others concurring in what he said), as follows:-That they had already informed me they were not the aboriginal inhabitants of the country, but that their ancestors had emigrated hither many years ago; and they supposed, that after so long an absence from their native shores, they might have fallen into some erroneous notions; that I had more recently arrived, and must know better than themselves what they ought to believe; and that if I would instruct them in these matters, and make them understand the true faith, they would follow my directions, as it would be better for them.'

"Afterwards, Muteczuma and many of the chief personages of the city, went with me to remove the idols from the temples, and assisted in purifying the chapels, and placing the images in them, with apparent pleasure; and I forbade their sacrificing human beings, as they had been accustomed to do; because, besides being abhorrent in the sight of God, Your Sacred Majesty had prohibited it by law, and commanded to put to death whoever should take the life of another. So, from that time, they refrained from the practice; and during the whole period of my abode in that city, there was no instance of their killing or sacrificing a human being."

*

AQUEDUCTS OF MEXICO. Cortes gives the following description of the aqueducts of Mexico: "Along one of the causeways that lead into the city are laid two pipes, constructed of masonry, each of which is two paces in width, and about five feet in height. An abundant supply of excellent water, forming a volume equal in bulk to the human body, is conveyed by one of the pipes,

and distributed about the city, where it is used by the inhabitants for drinking and other purposes. The other pipe is, in the meantime, kept empty until the former requires cleansing, when the water is let into it, and continues to be used till the process of cleansing is completed. As the water is necessarily carried over bridges on account of the passage of salt water across its course, reservoirs resembling canals are constructed on the bridges, through which the fresh water is conveyed; these reservoirs are of the breadth of the body of an ox, and of the same length as the bridges; by this means the whole city is supplied. The water is carried in canoes through all the streets for sale; it is taken from the aqueduct in the following manner: the canoes pass under the bridges on which the reservoirs are placed, and men stationed above fill them with water, for which service they are pa.d."

CHARACTER OF THE MEXICANS.

But

"The inhabitants of this city pay a greater regard to style in their mode of living, and are more attentive to elegance of dress, and politeness of manners, than those of the other provinces and cities; since, as the sovereign Muteczuma has his residence in the capital, and all the nobility, his vassals, are in the constant habit of meeting there, a general courtesy of demeanor necessarily prevails. not to be prolix in describing what relates to the affairs of this great city, (although it is difficult for me to avoid going on), I will say no more than that the manners of the people, as shown in their intercourse with one another, are marked by as great an attention to the proprieties of life as in Spain, and good order is equally well preserved; and considering that they are a barbarous people, without the knowledge of God, having no intercourse with civilized nations, these traits of character are worthy of admiration."

Mr. Folsom exhibited a copy of an Italian translation of the first Letter of Cortes to Charles V., printed at Venice in 1524, two years after the publication of the original at Seville; which was procured at Venice, and presented to the Society by Samuel Ward, Esq.

The business of the meeting being finished, the Society adjourned for conversation, and to partake of slight refreshments provided as usual in one of its rooms, for the members and their invited guests.