the art of becoming a great philosopher, I send you a copy, elegantly bound and gilt for the important purpose of “occluding" the entrance to the interesting regions.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

THE STORY OF JOSEPH.

From "Conversations on the Bible," by a Lady.

WE announced, some months ago, that a lady of Philadelphia, was preparing for the press a work on the Bible; and we now have the pleasure of informing our readers that a specimen of the author's plan has recently been published.

We learn from private sources, in addition to the publisher's advertisements, that this specimen has been received with great commendation, from those who are best qualified to speak on the matter, from ministers of the gospel who preach various doctrines, but who unite in one opinion on the merits of this unambitious production; and are very desirous that it should be introduced into our schools. Eminently useful as it would be in the seminaries of youth, there is much in these CONVERSATIONS of which very many of a more mature age, are deplorably ignorant; and after dosing away the sabbath mornings of a whole life, and acquiring the name of Christians, some of them might not be a little mortified to find in this book, how ignorant they were of the mere history of the volume which contains the sum of their hopes. How many of this description would be puzzled to answer one of the first questions that occurs in this volume-Why the Bible is so called-need not be investigated. The object of the writer is to give a plain and connected view of the historical parts of the Bible in conjunction with the prophesies, and to illustrate the customs and manners which so often occur in the sacred pages. This is effected by means of CONVERSATIONS between a mother and two daughters, to which persons, a son is occasionally added, when the author finds it necessary to introduce a little learning, and wishes to do it without shocking the feelings of some readers at the very idea of women

talking Greek! The mother relates, in her own language, the sacred history, and the young ladies ask questions whenever they feel at a loss. In this way they proceed through the first five books of Moses, in a series of dialogues, which are never dull, even to those to whom the subjects are familiar, and which will be very instructive to those who do not repair to the great fountain head from which this rivulet flows. The author says, in her preface,

"To talk about the Bible in our social circles now, is just as fashionable as it is to be a member of a Bible society; for in our age of wonders, we are all philosophers and all philanthropists-the title, therefore, of this little book will lead some to expect that sort of discussion to which they are every day accustomed. They will be entirely disappointed. The flippancy and temerity with which the most abstruse questions of scripture are introduced into familiar conversation is as irreverent as it is absurd, and ought to be discouraged. Let us endeavour to ascertain, with a seriousness corresponding to the magnitude of the subject, the authority on which these doctrines are given to us, and if we find, as we certainly shall, that they will bear the severest scrutiny, let us acquiesce in silence, while we humbly feel their superiority to our limited reason.

'Should this first essay be received with approbation, the work will be continued.

'That faults may be discovered in this performance, there exists not a doubt in the mind of the author. They might, perhaps, be extenuated by adequate apologies; but they who take upon themselves the office of instruction, have but little right to insist on the lenity of the public. An anonymous work may anticipate candour, because it owes nothing to the adventitious weight of reputation. Nor is there, in our liberal times, any hostility to a female pen, to be deprecated. The moral and intellectual sphere of women has been gradually enlarging with the progress of the benignant star of Christianity; but it was reserved for the nineteenth century to honour them beyond the circle of domestic life-to form them into societies organized, active, and useful in the most excellent pursuits. Still, let them ever remember, that whilst here, they may be permitted to emit one invigorating ray,—there, it is their duty, and their privilege to shine.'

Philadelphia, 1818.

The volume is embellished with a variety of engravings, illustrative of the scenes described, which are executed with much neatness. We insert two of them with this article; and as we did not propose to enter into a review of the CONVERSATIONS, we pro

ceed to make an extract. It will certainly be admitted by those who understand the subject, that we expose this book to a severe ordeal, when we select for this purpose an abridgment of a story so simple, so affecting, and so replete with instruction, as the tale of Joseph. As a specimen of eloquent narrative, it has never been surpassed. But it was necessary to bring it within the compass of a part of a small volume, and it will be seen that this difficult task has been accomplished with singular felicity. Unlike the compositions of uninspired men, there are in this tale, no excrescences to be lopped off, no verbiage to be pruned, no tediousness to be enlivened-it would seem to be like a finished picture, so perfect that the slightest touch would destroy the whole. Yet it has been condensed here, by a mind so familiar with all the lights and shades, that the reader rises from the perusal with the same satisfaction that a spectator feels while he dwells upon the vivid colours of an accurate panorama.

"We come now to the beautiful story of Joseph, which is familiar to every one. We cannot however omit it, because it is intimately connected with the history of Israel.

CATHERINE. No matter how often it is repeated, mother. I have never read any thing so deeply interesting.

MOTHER. It is impossible to surpass the relation which has been left by the inspired historian. But unless we could assume his mantle, the noble simplicity of his manner must be lost in any abridgment. I touch it therefore with unaffected diffidence, and must be content to relinquish the embellishment of many an inimitable stroke of natural eloquence, and continue briefly our narrative through the principal events of that patriarch's life. He was the favourite child of his father, and most probably because he was the most amiable. For it would seem more likely that Benjamin, the Benoni* bequeathed with the last breath of his beloved Rachel, should engage the partial fondness of the bereaved husband. But he loved Joseph more than all his other children, and excited their jealousy by imprudently displaying his affection.

Accustomed as they were to consider the elder, as entitled to superior honours, they could not behold Joseph distinguished by a garment of curious texture, the mark of his father's peculiar favour, without envy and disgust. But Joseph was destined to be more nobly distinguished by wisdom and virtue, to fill a station of eminence, and distribute relief to a suffering community.

* Benoni, "the son of my sorrow." The name given by his mother at the moment of her death.

Intimations of his extraordinary fortune were given to him in two dreams, which, in the innocency of his heart, he related to his family. "We were binding sheaves together in the field," said he, at one time, "and my sheaf arose, and stood up, and your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to mine." And at another, "I thought the sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars, made obeisance to me."

CATHERINE. This designation of their number was too plain to be misunderstood, particularly by those, who envying him, might be watching for occasions of complaint.

MOTNER. Even his fond father felt the implication, and rebuked his seeming arrogance. "Shall I," said he, " and thy mother, and thy brethren, indeed, come to bow down ourselves to thee?" but the prediction sunk deep in his mind.

The hatred of his brothers was embittered, and they determined to remove him from the possibility of realizing his vain hope. When he had just reached his seventeenth year, an opportunity occurred to execute their atrocious plan.

They were shepherds, and tended their flocks, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, occasionally shifting for the benefit of pasturage. They were now supposed to be at Shechem, considerably distant from the vale of Hebron, the dwelling of the family, and had probably been a good while absent, as their father became anxious to hear from them. Unsuspicious of any danger to Joseph, whom he had kept at home, he sent him to visit his brothers, and bring him intelligence of their welfare. Coming to Shechem he was informed by a stranger of whom he inquired, that they had removed to Dotham. Thither therefore he followed them; and when they saw him approaching, and remembered that he had on a former occasion reported their reprehensible conduct to their father—his superior endowments, and aspiring dreams, they saw the opportunity they had waited for of avenging themselves, and proposed to put him to death, and deceive his father by some plausible tale.

Reuben, the eldest son of Leah, was not of the council, but overheard the shocking design, and moved by compassion for his aged parent, he contrived to save the life of the helpless youth, by persuading them rather to confine, and leave him to perish in the field, than stain their hands with his blood. To get him out of their way at any rate, was their object; after stripping him therefore of his clothes, regardless of his tears and entreaties, they cast him into a pit, and sat down unfeelingly to their accustmoed meal.

Whilst they were yet eating and drinking, a caravan of Ishmaelitish merchants, carrying balm and spices to Egypt, appeared in view. They dealt also in slaves, and now the avarice of these unnatural men, most