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which purpose the discourses appear to us to be better adapted, than for pulpit instruction. There are one and forty sermons in the two volumes. In style, as well as in point of merit, they vary so decidedly as to be evidently the production, or at least to have been taken from the notes, of different ministers. It would have been more satisfactory, had the Editor communicated some information as to the sources to which he has been indebted for them; but the publication is altogether anonymous, and without preface or advertisement. Several of the sermons read like the imperfect transcripts of memory, rather than corrected manuscripts; and there is a striking inequality sometimes in the same discourse, as well as an occasional abruptness in the style, which favours this supposition. The very first sentence in the volume is such as no good writer or clear thinker would have penned. The third sermon opens with an exordium as trite and vapid as may be, and between the fourth sentence and the fifth, there is evidently an hiatus. Yet, towards the close of this sermon, there occur hints and gleams of an eloquence which could never have proceeded from the editor or reporter of these discourses.

We will, therefore, only remark, that God will perform "all that he hath spoken to us of," respecting the extermination of those sinful principles which are so deeply rooted in the soul; those passions which have needed continual watchfulness, and habits which years of mortification have not been able to eradicate or subdue. During our pilgrimage we have had continual occasion to lament their demoralising tendency, producing alienation of heart from God, indifference to eternal realities, and apathy towards Christ: always striving as it were to move in the direction of sin, and to lead us in the way of temptation. But through grace we shall arrive at a state, and be placed in such circumstances, that we shall feel no desire but what may be gratified with the full approbation of God, and this will be the consummation of our bliss.

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Perpetuity also will be attached to it: we shall see the king in his beauty, and the land that is very far off, and shall dwell in it for The Lord will give it us for an inheritance, and we shall wander in the wilderness no more. On the verge of mortality, the pilgrim may look back on this fleeting world, through which he passed in his way to the kingdom, and bid it a final farewel. The days of his mourning are ended, and the morning of a new world dawns with ineffable brightness upon him.'

We had marked for citation several striking passages; but, having no room for further extracts, we must dismiss these volumes with a general recommendation of them to the notice of our readers.

ART. XV. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

In the press, a new and improved edition of Morris's Life of the Rev. Andrew Fuller; with an Appendix, con taining some pieces never before printed.

In the press, A brief descriptive History of Holland, in letters, from a Grandfather to Marianne, during an excursion in the summer of 1819.

Part

Preparing for publication, A popular Introduction to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, designed for the use of mere English readers. In Two Parts. I-Rules for reading the Bible. Part II-Helps towards a right understanding thereof; comprising Introductions to the several Books; a Summary of Biblical Antiquities, Geography, Natural History, &c. By William Carpenter, Editor of the Critica Biblica, Scripture Magazine, Calendarium Palestinæ, &c. In one large vol. 8vo. with maps and plates.

Speedily will be published, Spirits of the Olden Time, their Sayings aud Doings.

In the press, A Translation of the Tre Giuli, the most popular of the poems of G. B. Casti: to which will be prefixed, a Memoir of the Life aud Writings of the Author.

The Rev. J. G. Foyster, A.M. Minister of Trinity Chapel, has a volume of Sermons in the press.

Professor Lee has in the press, A few further Remarks on the Subject of the Turkish Version of the New Testament, printed at Paris in 1819, in reply to certain positions advanced by Dr. Henderson in Defence of his Appeal to the Bible Society.

In the press, Travels of the Russian Mission through Mongolia to China, and

Residence in Pekin, in the Years 1820, 21. By George Timkowski: with Corrections and Notes by M. J. Klaproth. In 2 vols. 8vo. illustrated by Maps and Plates, &c. &c.

In the press, A History of the Mahrattas, with Plates, and a Map of the Mahratta Country, chiefly from original and recent Surveys. By James Grant Duff, Esq., Captain of the First, or Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, and late Political Resident at Satara. In 3 vols. 8vo.

In the press, Travels in the Provinces on the South-west Bank of the Caspian Sea; with some Account of the Trade, Commerce, and Resources of those Countries. By James B. Fraser, Esq. Author of a "Narrative of a Journey into Khorasan," ," "A Tour in the imala Mountains," &c. To be published on Wednesday, May 10th.

Dr. Mason Good has in the press, a work in 3 vols. 8vo. entitled, The Book of Nature; being a Popular Illustration of the general Laws and Phoenomena of Creation, under the three distinct Series of 1. The Nature of the Material, World, as delineated in the Sciences of Cosmogony, Geology, &c.-II. The Nature of the Animal World, its peculiar Powers and external Relations. III. The Nature of the Mind, its Faculties and Furniture, &c.

In the press, The Necessity of a Revelation: deduced from the State of the Mental and Moral Powers of Man, and the Reasonableness of the Present One shewn from its Adaptation to that Necessity. By the Rev. A. Norman, A. B. Curate of Brailsford, and Author of " Literæ Sacræ." In one vol. 8vo.

ART. XVI. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

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eases of the Chest by Means of the Stethoscope, and of Percussion; and upon some Points of the French Practice of Medicine. By Charles Scudamore, M.D. F.R.S. &c. &c. 8vo. 5s.

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Letter addressed to Robert Haldane, Esq., containing some Remarks on his Strictures relative to the Continent and Continental Societies. By C. F. A. Steinkopft, D.D. 1s. 6d.

The Opinions of an Old Gentleman on several Moral and Religious Subjects. 18mo. 2s.

History of Methodism in the Town and Neighbourhood of Great Yarmouth, including Biographical Sketches of some of the leading Characters who have been among the Methodists at that place. By A. Watmough. 18mo. 2s. 6d.

Woodstock; or, the Cavalier. A Tale of Sixteen Hundred and Fifty One. By the Author of Waverley. 3 vols. post 8vo. 11. 11s. 6d.

Tales from the German of Hoffman, Schiller, Richter, Langbein, La Fontaine, and Körner. By Richard Holcraft, B.A. 1 vol. 12mo. 7s.

Eymons of English Words. By the late John Thomson, M.R. I. and A.S Private Secretary to the Marquis of Hastings, in India. Uniformly printed with Dr. Todd's Edition of Johnson's Dictionary. 4to. 18s.

The Contest of the Twelve Nations; or, a View of the Different Bases of Human Character and Talent. 1 thick vol. 8vo. 18s.

A Word in favour of Female Schools; addressed to Parents, Guardians, and the Public at large. By a Lady. F.cap 8vo. 2s. 6d.

POETRY.

Dartmoor; a descriptive Poem. By N. T. Carrington, Author of the Banks of Tamar. With a Preface and Notes by W. Burt, Esq.; and Vignettes and Etchings by F. H. Rogers, Esq. Royal 8vo. 11. 1s.

The Martyr; a Drama, in three acts. By Joanna Baillie. 8vo. 3s. 6d. sewed. The Poean of Oxford, a Poem; to

which is prefixed, a Reply to the Charges against the University in the recent Numbers of the Edinburgh and Westminster Reviews. By W. C. Townsend, B.A. 8vo. 7s. 6d.

POLITICAL.

Remarks upon the Payment of the Expenses of Out-Voters at an University Election. 8vo. 1s. 6d. sewed.

THEOLOGY.

Morus; or, a Layman's View of the chief Objections which have been brought against Religion, as it existed in Europe during the Heroic Age of Christianity. 1 vol. 8vo. 9s.

Lectures on Portions of the Psalms. By Andrew Thomson, D D. 8vo. 7s. 6d. Sermons. By Thomas Fleming, D.D. Minister of Lady Yester's, Edinburgh. 8vo. 12s.

The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper illustrated; with a View to explain its Nature, to point out its practical Influence, and to establish its Obligation. By William Orme. 12mo. 5s.

Religious Education: a series of Observations on the lustruction of the Young, principally with a reference to Sunday Schools. By A. H. Davis. 12mo. 3s.

A Sermon on Colonial Slavery. By John Nelson Goulty, of Brighton. 1s. 6d.

The Labyrinth, or Popish Circle: being a Confutation of the assumed Infallibility of the Church of Rome. Translated from the Latin of Simon Episcopius, by Richard Watson, Author of "Theological Institutes," &c. 8vo. 6d.

A Preservative against the Errors of Socinianism, in Answer to the Rev. J. Grundy's Lectures on the principal Doctrines of Christianity. By the late Rev. Edward Hare. New Edition. I vol. 8vo. 9s.

An Inquiry into the consistency of those Persons who call themselves Bap-tists, with reference to the late Publications of Messrs Gibbs, Birt, and Cox. By Thomas Eisdell, of Twyford, Berks. To which is added, a Brief Statement of Baptism, by Question and Answer. 1s. 6d.

THE

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ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR JUNE, 1826.

Art. I. 1. The Mission to Siam, and Huê, the Capital of Cochin China, in the Years 1821-2. From the Journal of the late George Finlayson, Esq. Assistant Surgeon of H. M. 8th Light Dragoons, Surgeon and Naturalist to the Mission. With a Memoir of the Author, by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, F.R.S. 8vo. pp. xxxii. 428. Price 15s. London. 1826.

2. Some Considerations on the Policy of the Government of India, more especially in Reference to the Invasion of Burmah. By LieutCol. M. Stewart, F.R.S.E. &c. 8vo. pp. 98. Edinburgh. 1826. 3. An Account of the American Baptist Mission to the Burman Empire in a Series of Letters, addressed to a Gentleman in London. By Ann H. Judson. 8vo. pp. 334. London.

AS part of the ancient dominions of Siam are, by the recent treaty with the humbled Birmans, definitively annexed to the British empire, it is high time that we should know a little more about our fellow-subjects and neighbours on the other side of the Ganges. Mr. Finlayson's volume appears at a very seasonable moment; and although that portion of it which relates to Siam does not materially add to the information of which we were in previous possession, it will be found highly amusing and interesting. It affords occasion for sincere regret, that the amiable Author did not survive to reap the credit and benefit of his labours.

Siam, as our readers cannot require to be informed, occupies the great central valley of that immense region lying between the Gulf of Bengal and the Chinese Sea, which geographers have been accustomed to call Exterior or Ultra-Gangetic India, but which may with more propriety be styled, Indo-China. Exclusive of the Malayan peninsula, this vast territory, extending over more than sixteen parallels of latitude and eighteen degrees of longitude, was, till of late, chiefly divided between three great powers,-the Birman empire, the kingdom of Siam, VOL. XXV. N.S. 2 T

and the empire of Cochin China or Anam. Besides these, there are understood to be some petty kingdoms and independent mountain tribes in the interior; but these three shared between them the whole of the maritime region, and may be considered as the only grand political divisions of the country. The Birman empire, consisting originally of the Ava of our eld geographers, had swallowed up Pegu, part of Siam, the whole of Arracan, and was extending itself over the valley of the Burrampooter; it had, in fact, become our close neighbour and a very haughty and troublesome one. Whatever may be thought of the policy or necessity of the late war, it is quite clear that it originated in unprovoked aggression on the part of the Birmans. As far back as 1818, it appears that their monarch had lent himself to the formidable Mahratta confederacy, which had for its object to subvert our Indian empire. The promptitude with which that danger was met and averted, and the war successfully terminated, alone prevented a tremendous inroad on our eastern frontier. In 1822, under pretence of reclaiming some Assamese emigrants, a considerable Birman force crossed the line of the British territory; but they were soon compelled to retire, and the matter was for the time amicably arranged. In September of the following year, however, a body of their troops took forcible possession of the island of Shapuree, in the river Naaf, while another body advanced into Cachar, then under British protection, and, when opposed by British detachments, disputed the ground with a bravery and obstinacy hitherto unknown in any of the native troops which our Indian armies have had to contend with. At one time, entering the British province of Chittagong, they had advanced so far as to excite the highest alarm at the capital of the Bengal Presidency, having surrounded and routed the detachment sent to oppose their progress. And not in this quarter only, but in the Southern provinces, and throughout the border of this extensive dominion, the Birmans had provided formidable means both of defence and of aggression, and every where fought with the most determined bravery.

An opinion has extensively prevailed in this country, that hostilities might have been prevented by negotiation. We confess that, looking at the case with all the light we at present possess, we cannot see the reasonableness of such an opinion. Lovers of peace as we are, and warmly as we should be disposed to deprecate any warlike projects that had for their object the further extension of our overgrown empire in the East, we cannot for a moment imagine that any alternative was left but an appeal to the sword." The Birmans are a restless military people; and ever since the days of Alom-praw, the founder of

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