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ARTICLE XIV.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

1.-Hebrew Grammar by George Bush. New York, 1839. 8vo. Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar, translated from the eleventh German edition, by T. J. Conant, Prof. in Lit. and Theol. Inst., Hamilton, N. Y. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, 1839. pp. 325.

We have looked at a number of the sheets of Prof. Bush's Grammar. It is the second edition greatly enlarged and modified. Indeed it may justly claim to be a new and independent work. The first edition, though unfortunate in the style of its typographical execution, was not without decided merits. It showed its author to be a zealous and successful laborer in this interesting and important field. The second edition, we presume, has been entirely rewritten, and many portions of it reinvestigated. The type employed in printing the volume is good. The paper also receives a fair impression. No one will have cause to find fault with the compositor or proof-reader. We have not space here to go into an examination of the merits of the work. Indeed this would not be practicable without an extended and thorough examination of the whole ground. This, if we had the ability, the limits of a literary notice would not admit. We can only say, that we hope the author will be remunerated according to his merits. It is in some respects an unfavorable time for a new Hebrew Grammar to make its appearance. We have the standard Grammar of Prof. Stuart, which has now reached its sixth edition. Dr. Nordheimer's production is everywhere regarded with favor, as being a very able and philosophical work. Then we are soon to have Prof. Conant's Translation of Gesenius, to say nothing of Ewald and of other German writers. On the other hand, there is a wide and increasing demand in our country for Hebrew Grammars. Multitudes at least commence the study. Not a few students will wish to own two different Grammars, while every teacher will endeavor to be in possession of all the accessible helps. There cannot of course be a large sale for four different Grammars of a dead language, but still we trust that all will find students and patrons, for all are worthy of commendation, though of various merit.

Professor Conant's translation comes out in a very attractive form. Indeed we have no occasion to say anything in praise of it, when we have mentioned the worthy typographer. Mr. Folsom and the uui

versity press at Cambridge bid fair to rival the Aldine establishments or those of the Stephenses in the old world. The paper is of the purest white, while it is sufficiently firm. The English type presents a beautiful appearance, while the Hebrew is by no means deficient in good qualities. The form of the letter is not so graceful, however, as that employed by Tauchnitz in Hahn's Bible. Some of the letters also appear to be somewhat dim. The book is printed, so far as we can judge, with exceeding accuracy. It is, moreover, we are assured on good authority, well translated. We have read portions of the larger Grammar of Gesenius, the Lehrgebäude, to which he frequently refers in his Manual, but we have no copy of the edition from which Mr. Conant has translated. The translator has resided, we believe, sometime in Germany. He has likewise been commendably patient and persevering in his labors on the present volume. The pages which we have read bear indubitable marks of faithful attention, and of a clear and discriminating mind. The English sentences are constructed in an easy and natural manner. Gesenius, indeed, is not obnoxious to the charges so frequently made against his countrymen-of sentences blind by their involution and interminable in their length. He has a simple and straightforward manner. Of the merits of his Grammar, it would be supererogation to say a word.

2.-On the Foundations of Morals. Four Sermons preached before the University of Cambridge, Nov. 1837, by the Rev. William Whewell, fellow and tutor of Trinity College. With Additional Discourses and Essays, by C. S. Henry, D. D. Professor of Philosophy in the University of the City of New York. New York: E. French, 1839. pp. 239.

Professor Whewell is well known to many of our readers as the author of one of the best of the Bridgewater Treatises. He is one of the leaders among the eminent scientific individuals of the United Kingdom, and was, one year, we believe, president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. In the work of which we have given the title, he has entered the territory of morals, and has given us four instructive and valuable discourses. One reason for writing and publishing these sermons is the use by the university of Cambridge of Paley's Moral Philosophy. "I do not think it can be doubted," says the author, "that the general currency which Paley's Moral Philosophy has acquired, (a currency due in no small degree to the adoption of the work by this university,) has had a very large share in producing the confusion and vacillation of thought respecting the grounds of morals, which is at present so generally prevalent in England, even among persons of cultivated minds." The writer whom Whewell adduces as the principal representative

of a better system than Paley's, is Bishop Butler. This eminent writer has indeed constructed no system of morals, but he has discussed the fundamental principle of the subject, in his sermons upon Human Nature, Compassion, Resentment, Love of our Neighbor and Love of God. Prof. Whewell announces his intention to publish the sermons of Butler in a convenient form, arranged so that the different parts could be easily referred to, and provided with a few illustrations of Butler's representation of the principle of human action collected from ancient and modern authors.

The four sermons of Whewell in the present volume are mainly employed in maintaining that conscience is an original and independent power in the human constitution, and in discussing various questions relating to our moral nature. We have been highly gratified with the author's views and with his manner of stating them.

The additional Discourses in this volume by Dr. Henry are on Moral Integrity, The Moral Argument for the Being of God, Moral Requisites for the Knowledge of Divine Things, and The Nature of Moral Obligation. Under the first head, the following principle is illustrated, He who lives in the deliberate and habitual violation of one known command of the Divine law, practically sets at nought the sacred authority which proclaimed the whole, and thereby proves himself to be wanting in the essential principle of true obedience to the whole. The object of the second essay is to show, that to deny the existence of God is to treat all the implanted sentiments and irrepressible aspirations of the heart, and all the dictates of the conscience as a delusion. Thus while the existence of God accounts for all that we behold around us in nature, it harmonizes with all that we feel within us in the sentiments, the dictations and the wants of our essential constitution. The third essay comprehends an earnest and valuable illustration of the words of our Saviour," If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." A practical trial of Christianity is indispensable to all satisfying insight of its nature. In the last treatise, Prof. Henry discusses the essential and immutable distinction between the idea of right and wrong. These terms express the qualities of actions, and not merely the causes of certain agreeable or disagreeable emotions in our minds. These qualities do not depend on any arbitrary relation between our constitution and certain objects. The mind has the faculty, under certain conditions, of forming necessary and universal conceptions, perceiving absolute truths, and passing absolute judgments. Supply the conditions, and the faculty enters into exercise, forms the conceptions, perceives the truth, passes the judgments. At the close of the discussion, Dr. Henry urges various objections against the theory which makes the will of God the ultimate ground of moral obligation, and also against that which places it in an enlightened self-interest.

From this brief abstract, the highly interesting nature of the subjects discussed will be seen. No one can read the volume without profit. Dr. Henry's contributions form an excellent supplement to the sermons of Whewell. The thoughts are clearly expressed and not seldom beautifully illustrated. We commend them to all our readers as worthy of diligent study. They are among the promising indications that a better day in moral science is about to dawn on the English world. Paley no longer reigns in undisputed supremacy.

3.-The Christian Philanthropist; or Harbinger of the Millennium. By William Cogswell, D. D. Secretary of the American Education Society. With an Introductory Essay by James Matheson, D. D. of Wolverhampton, England. Second Edition. Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1839. pp. 394.

Besides the Essay of Dr. Matheson and an Appendix by Dr. Cogswell, there are seventeen Dissertations in this volume, on the following topics: Distribution of the Scriptures, Distribution of Tracts, Foreign Missions, Conversion of the Jews, Home Missions, Supply of Ministers, Sabbath Schools, Promotion of Temperance, Involuntary Servitude, Religious Improvement of Seamen, Reformation of Prisoners, Promotion of Peace, Charitable Contributions, Benevolent Agencies, Qualifications of Public Agents, Revivals of Religion, Millennium. These various topics are discussed with sound judg ment and in a scriptural and impressive manner. Nothing will be found in them, which savors of an uncharitable spirit or of partizan views. The various societies are made to appear what they are in reality, fraternal associations, all aiming at one object, the alleviation of human woe, and the universal diffusion of the gospel. The appendix is not the least valuable part of the volume. About sixty pages are employed in giving details in relation to the various associations. The facts are well condensed and are brought down to the present time with much labor. Dr. Matheson's Essay is a good introduction to the volume. The thoughts are important, and are presented in a judicious and earnest manner.

4.-Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature, by George Ripley. Boston Hilliard, Gray & Co.

Four volumes of this very interesting series are now published. The first two were translated by the editor from the French of Vic. tor Cousin, Theodore Jouffroy and Benjamin Constant. The style in which these translations are executed is worthy of all praise. While the meaning of the original is clearly given, the language is well-chosen and graceful. Every page bears marks of an accomplished scholar. The illustrative and other notes will be read with

deep interest. We have been highly gratified with some of the disquisitions of Jouffroy in particular. Many of his thoughts are sagacious and deeply studied. The views which he takes of the present condition of humanity are comprehensive and just. He is not so much known among us as Cousin, but he strikes us as in no wise inferior.

The third volume of the Specimens is composed of some of the miscellaneous poems of Goethe and Schiller. The translator is the Rev. John S. Dwight of Boston, assisted by several of his literary friends. In this selection, we recognize some of our old favorites. In order to relish these poems fully, the reader must place himself in the position of the gifted authors. A mere American taste will be sure to misinterpret or scorn them. The fourth volume of the series, translated by S. M. Fuller, is from the Recollections of Goethe by Eckermann. The fifth and sixth volumes, which, we believe, are in the press, will comprise Menzel on German Literature, by Prof. Felton of Cambridge. Judging by the extracts from this author which we have seen in the foreign reviews, we shall expect a rich treat.

5.-The Life of William Wilberforce, by his sons, Robert Isaac Wilberforce, M. A. and Samuel Wilberforce, M. A. Abridg

ed from the London edition by Caspar Morris, M. D. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins, 1839. pp. 544.

This volume is a treasure. No one can read ten pages in it without the conviction that religion is a reality, and that it alone can truly fit man to bear the ills and perform the duties of life, whether that life is spent in the retirement of the study, or in the bustle of courts and forums. Nobly, with the grace of God, did Wilberforce accomplish his errand of mercy. His name will be one of the brightest on the page of history. He sought not for an earthly immortality, but it shall be most surely awarded him. His governing motive was not the praise of man, but praises shall cluster around his head till time shall be no longer.

The reviewers seem to regret that Wilberforce was not a party man. They say, that he was undecided, vacillating, that no one could depend upon him in an extremity. He ought to have been either a whig or a tory. But we rejoice that he was not a mere politician. He was a statesman, in the noblest sense of that term. Wits and changelings might have laughed at his simplicity or his method. ism. But these men at the same time feared and respected him.

We have only to add that this memoir is fraught with the deepest interest. An abridgement of the English edition was needed, and Dr. Morris has accomplished his task with fidelity and sound judg

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