What can be done to Suppress the Opium Trade? By William Groser. London: Richardson. An able pamphlet, which satisfactorily disposes of an inquiry by which too many are inclined to evade the claims of an urgent duty. We trust that it will obtain the wide circulation which it merits. Voyages and Travels Round the World. By the Rev. Daniel Tyerman and George Bennet, Esq., deputed from the London Missionary Society to visit their various Stations. Between the years of 1821 and 1829. Compiled from original documents by James Montgomery. The second edition, corrected. London: John Snow. The present is an age of cheap publications, of which the volume before us is an admirable specimen. It is printed in a neat and elegant style, and sells at the very moderate price of seven shillings. Such a reprint cannot fail to be an acceptable present to a large class of readers. A History of British Starfishes, and other Animals of the class Echinodermata. By Edward Forbes, M.W.S. Illustrated by a Woodcut of each Species, and numerous Vignettes. Part I. London: Van Voorst. Little attention has been directed to that department of natural history which the present work is designed to comprise. Though amongst the most remarkable inhabitants of our seas, the starfishes have hitherto eluded the researches of modern science. No work has been devoted to their history since the time of Link, who wrote in the early part of last century. Mr. Forbes has enjoyed peculiarly favorable opportunities of observing them in their native haunts as well as in the cabinet; and several distinguished naturalists, who have directed their attention to these animals, have kindly promised to contribute to his stores, so that he hopes in this work to fill up a blank in the fanna of Britain and of Europe, which has too long remained open.' The work will be printed uniformly with those of Mr. Bell's and Mr. Yarrell's, and will be completed in four parts. The Book of Quadrupeds; or Outlines of a Popular History of the Class Mammalia: with a Particular Notice of those mentioned in Scripture. Illustrated by upwards of Eighty Engravings. London: Religious Tract Society. An excellent book for our intelligent young people under the guidance of which they may advantageously prosecute the study of an extensive and interesting department of natural history. The work is written in an admirable spirit; its execution is highly creditable to the printer and the artist, and its low price places it within the reach of almost every class. The Voice of Conscience. A Narrative founded on Fact. By Mrs. Quintin Kennedy. London and Paris: Fisher. 1840. This is an extraordinary narrative. Its fascinating style and important truths commend the book to the attention of our readers. It sets forth the subtle influence of temptation,-the fallacious judgments of an infatuated conscience,-the agony of conviction, and the only source whence peace can be obtained. We invite the attention of all to this interesting volume, but especially the young, in the hope that they may be spared the pains the subject of this narrative endured. Both one in Christ; or the Middle Wall of Partition taken away. By These interesting volumes, the productions of a converted Jew, are designed to show the Jewish nation their sin and inconsistency in rejecting the Messiah, and to direct the prayers and efforts of Christians to the great work of gathering the outcast of Israel' into the church of Christ. It has seldom been our happiness to see these important topics more ably discussed. Literary Entelligence. In the Press. Mr. J. E. Ryland is preparing a Translation of Dr. Neander's History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (second edition, Hamburgh, 2 vols. 8vo. 1838); the first volume will shortly appear in the Biblical Cabinet. Captain Abbott, of the Bengal Artillery, is about publishing a Poem, entitled the T'hakoorine, a Tale of Maandoo. A Manual of British Algae (Seaweed). By the Hon. W. H. Harvey. 8vo. A Journal of a Winter at the Azores and a Summer at the Baths of the Furnas. By Henry Bullar, Esq., and Dr. Joseph Bullar. 2 vols. 8vo. A Grammar of Entomology. By Edward Newman. A new edition, almost entirely re-written, 8vo. The Vicar of Wakefield, with thirty-two designs, engraved by Thompson from drawings on wood by W. Mulready, R.A. Post 8vo. The Heraldry of Fish. By Thomas Moule. 1 vol. 8vo., with Illustrations. Just Published. Sermons by Robert Sanderson, late Bishop of Lincoln, with a Life of the Author, by Isaac Walton; and an Introductory Essay by R. Montgomery. A.M. 2 vols. Family Prayers for every Morning and Evening throughout the Year, with additional Prayers for Special Occasions. By John Morison, D.D. Sixth edition. Hints on the Best and Shortest way of Cultivating the Mind. By a Student of University College, London. Third Thousand. Analysis of the Bible, with Reference to the Social Duty of Man. By R. Montgomery Martin. The Congregational Calendar and Family Almanac, 1841. The Works of Josephus. Part VII. The Principles of Nonconformity. By J. P. Mursell, of Leicester. Canadian Scenery Illustrated. Part 8. Sounets. By Sir John Hanmer, Bart. Tendrils Cherished, or Home Sketches. By E. B. Ward's Library of Standard Divinity-The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. By Rev. Jeremiah Burroughs. A Help to the Unlearned in Reading the Epistles-Romans and Galatians. Popular Errors Explained and Illustrated. By John Timbs. The Parables of Jesus Explained and Illustrated. By Frederic Gustar Lisco. Translated by Rev. P. Fairbairn. On the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological Science. By John Pye Smith, D.D. The North American Review. No. CIX.-October 1840. Le Keux's Memorials of Cambridge. No. IX. The Illustrated Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, being a republication of the Notes of the Pictorial Bible. Vol. III. The Christian Visitor. By Rev. W. Jowett, M.A. Letters Illustrative of the Reign of William III. from 1696 to 1708, addressed to the Duke of Shrewsbury by James Vernon, Secretary of State. 3 vols. Ancient Christianity. No. 6, containing a Sketch of the Demonolatry of the Church in the Fourth Century. Pastoral Annals. By an Irish Clergyman. Peace for the Christian Mourner. Voyages and Travels round the World. By Rev. Daniel Tyerman and George Bennet, Esq. Compiled by James Montgomery. Pictorial Edition of Shakspere. Twelfth Night. Part 27. Pictorial History of Palestine. Part 16. Lane's Arabian Nights' Entertainments. Part 31. A Second Letter to Lord John Russell on the Plans of the Society for the Civilization of Africa, By Sir George Stephen. Report of Operations in Translating, Printing, and Circulating the Scriptures in the Languages of India, by the Calcutta Baptist Missionaries. Oratory; a Lecture delivered at the Literary Institution, Staines, by the Rev. Robert Jones, D.D. British Birds. The Holy War. By John Bunyan. The Hour and the Man; a Historical Romance. By Harriet Martineau. 3 vols. Bible Stories from the Creation to the Conquest of Canaan. By G. M. Bussey, with Illustrations by Martin and Westhall. Lectures on the English Comic Writers, by W. Hazlett. Edited by his Son. Poems, by a Slave in the Island of Cuba. Translated from the Spanish by R. R. Madden, M.D., with the early Life of the Negro Poet, written by Himself. Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. By Bishop Percy. Intemperance the Idolatry of Britain. By W. R. Baker. The Bible Monopoly Inconsistent with Bible Circulation, a Letter addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Bexley. By Adam Thomson, D.D. THE ECLECTIC REVIEW, FOR FEBRUARY, 1841. Art. I. 1. The Hebrew Wife, or the Law of Marriage examined in relation to the Lawfulness of Polygamy, and to the extent of the Law of Incest. By S. C. DWIGHT. With an Introductory Recommendation. By RALPH WARDLAW, D.D. Gallie: Glasgow. 2. Marriage Act (5th and 6th of William IV. chap. 54), commonly called Lord Lyndhurst's Act. Reasons in support of an application to the Legislature for an Act declaring that Marriages with a deceased Wife's Sister are not within the prohibited degrees, and shall therefore be valid. 3. Considerations on the State of the Law regarding Marriages with a deceased Wife's Sister. By a Barrister of the Middle Temple. Longman and Co. 4. Summary Objections to the Doctrine that a Marriage with the Sister of a deceased Wife is contrary to Law, Religion, or Morality. 5. Observations on the Prohibition of Marriage in certain cases of Relationship by affinity. 6. The Present State of the Law as to Marriages abroad between English Subjects within the prohibited degrees of affinity. Seeley and Burnside. MAR ARRIAGE was antecedent to all law; and arose out of the necessity of man's condition, as a being who was to live and enjoy the physical and moral advantages of his existence by the continuation of his species. The law which invested marriage with the sanction of heaven was announced in Paradise, and from that period has been a binding obligation upon all the families of the earth. It is simple and of universal application. It has never been the creature of circumstances, but has remained invariable and un VOL. IX. K changeable; the basis of society, the only foundation on which it immovably rests, the source of its increase, and the one great instrument of its prosperity and happiness. Chastity, the parent of love, and love the guardian of chastity, and both the source of pure thoughts and holy affections, delight to wear the golden chain of marriage,-they entwine themselves around the principle of consanguinity-from which spring forth the social virtues which are indebted not only for their beauty and energy but for their very existence to the sacredness of this union. The deterioration of marriage has been the deterioration of man, in all his capacities and relations. The law of marriage, as originally promulgated, was intended to embrace two objects; the universal adoption of the practice, and the unmixed purity of the relation as subsisting between the husband and the wife. The legality or the illegality of marriage within certain degrees of consanguinity became, long after its existence, the conventional affair of states. The morality or the immorality has always depended upon the will of God, either as expressly revealed in his word, or as it may be gathered from the light of nature, or the law written upon the heart, which becomes increasingly legible as our nature advances in intellectual and social improvement. Where these laws, namely the laws of states and the laws of God, are said to be identical, or believed to be so, or where the human are declared to be expressly derived from the divine, we have no alternative as Christians but to obey them; that is, if we are convinced that the statement is just, and that the human legislation is indeed based upon divine authority. This, as it regards the Canon and Statute laws of our own country, we think cannot be established; nay more, we are persuaded that the whole weight of proof is in the opposite scale. We affirm that there has been no subsequent law to that originally announced obligatory upon mankind or binding upon Christians, which interferes with the state of marriage, except so far as to restore its inviolable sanctity, and to enforce its mutual duties. We admit that the Levitical law is a divine institution, and that it does tolerate changes in the law of marriage materially affecting the other social relations of life, but we maintain that it was intended for the government of one people that it was applicable to them alone, and that it is of importance as affecting mankind in general only so far as it inculcates an immutable and universal morality; and that while we may profitably derive instruction from an investigation of its principles and a voluntary application of them to any given circumstances of our own, we are not required to submit to its authority, or to acknowledge ourselves bound by its peculiarities or amenable to its sanctions. We are, however, free to ac |