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ceased to testify his ardent and profound sympathy for the great nation, Christian and free,' to which he is joined by ties. both of friendship and of blood, may teach us a noble lesson here. I quote from his famous pamphlet on the Indian Debate. first published in the Correspondant. For my part, I say plainly, I hare a horror of that orthodoxy which takes no account of justice and truth, humanity and honour; and I am never weary of repeating those bold words recently uttered by the Bishop of La Rochelle (in the Univers of August 10, 1858): "Would it not be well to give some Catholics a course of lectures on the virtues of the natural order-respect for our neighbour, loyalty in dealing with our opponents, the spirit of equity and charity?... The virtues of the natural order are essential, and the Church herself can give no dispensation from their observance.' Three-fourths of the incentives to the shocking temper Montalembert denounces, would cease to exist in a reunited Christendom."

Another passage, equally eloquent and full of hope deserves likewise to be put on record here.

"But is there nothing in the outward aspect of things for hope to feed upon? Look back on that dreary century of light without love,' which came next before our own, when Christian faith seemed to be dying out by inches in the very heart of the Christian Church. Look at its stormy close when the eldest daughter of the Church' had renounced her creed, when Heathen deities were borne in solemn procession through the streets of a Christian capital, and the goddess Reason enthroned on the altar of its cathedral. Or, turn your eyes on England when Wesley was cast out of the National Church for preaching the love of Jesus, when the test of orthodoxy was to abjure enthusiasm, and belief in the Sacraments was chiefly valued as a safeguard against belief in converting grace. Think of the time, within our own memory, when the Apostolic Suc cession was the doctrinal limit of High Church aspirations, and preaching in the surplice of their ritual. And then consider the Eirenicon, and how it has been received in the country and the Church of England-how Catholic teaching gains ground daily in her pulpits, and Catholic ceremonial at her altars. Ponder over the changes that have passed in the lifetime of the great Christian poet, who even now, as I am writing, has been taken from us, as we may well hope and believe, to keep his Easter in a brighter home, after living to see the religious affections of two successive generations of Englishmen tuned to the music of his song. Remember, too. how fast we live, if I may be allowed the expression, as compared with our fathers. Our decades are their centuries. Then, again, increased facilities of communication between different countries are rapidly breaking down barriers of national and local prejudice,

and in religious matters as in secular, isolation is the strength of schism. Observe how the old hateful spirit of persecution is dying out everywhere; how even amid the most fundamental differences men are trying to understand one another better. The recent undertaking, commenced under the high sanction of the Archbishop of Paris, for a French translation of the Bible by a combined body of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish scholars, is a striking instance of this. Much more might be added, but this is enough to show that, even humanly speaking, we have abundant ground for encouragement."

But, in fact, the whole of the pamphlet is worthy of a careful study. In ability it is deserving of a place side by side with Dr. Newman's Letter to Dr. Pusey, while it breathes the same spirit and takes the same line-a line of charitable moderation and Christian hope, which all Re-unionists on the Anglican side will fully appreciate. They should procure it at once. In the Appendix Mr. Oxenham gives a list of weighty authorities in favour of Corporate Re-union: thus continuing the good work which prelates, doctors, and distinguished laymen of almost every country in Europe have begun, in the hope that Christendom may again become One in the sight of mankind.

We have much pleasure in recommending a very entertaining little book of travels, entitled A Winter in the East, in Letters to the Children at Home, by F. M., (London: Masters,) which combines amusement with instruction in a marked degree. Trust, from the same publisher, is an interesting story of a poor schoolmaster and sacristan, in Belgium, who became blind and lost the means of obtaining a living. His little daughter, whose piety is displayed in deeds and not in words, is the sole comfort and support of his life, until, through the goodness of some English friends, he is placed in happier circumstances. This tale, the interest of which is well sustained throughout, would be found an agreeable addition to a village library. The same may be said of an affecting and nicely-written story, called Miss Chester's Work, by F. A. H., (London: Masters,) which conveys a religious lesson simply and without cant.

The plot of Iron (London: Masters) is so very similar in many respects to that of "The Heir of Redclyffe," that it is impossible to read the book without being tempted to compare it with that most popular of Miss Yonge's works, to which, of course, it is not equal in ability or literary merit. The tale, however, is pleasing and interesting; the characters on the whole life-like and natural; and we can promise an agreeable hour to those of our readers who, having a taste for quasireligious tales, obtain and peruse it, which we recommend them to do.

We have received from Mr. Murray an interesting book. entitled Memorials of the Tower of London, by Lord de Ros, its Lieutenant Governor. It consists first, of a general description of the building, of the White Tower, and of S. John's Chapel, followed by twenty-five historical sketches, recording the principal incidents connected with the Tower and its most illustrious and famous prisoners from 1377 until 1820. These sketches are lively, interesting, graphic and well-written, while the accompanying admirable illustrations add much to their interest and to the attractiveness of the book. The introductory description of the Tower, without being too archaically archæological, is full of curious information, set forth in an exceedingly pleasant manner, while the section on S. Peter's Chapel is equally valuable. While the whole volume is thoroughly readable, some portions are of special interest, more particularly those treating of "The Prisoners of Agincourt," "The Earls of Kildare," "The Earl of Nithisdale's Escape," and a too-brief chapter on ancient armour. All the wood-cuts, both small and large, are remarkably well executed: especially those at pp. 38, 70, and 222. The internal view of S. Peter's Chapel, too, is exceedingly good, while the head and tail pieces of the volume give it a very handsome appearance. Moreover, the accounts of such important deeds as the Gunpowder Plot, and the Cato Street Conspiracy are particularly well told and worthy of perusal. One of the concluding chapters gives a brief history -which might with advantage have been more full and satisfactory-of the Constables of the Tower, and some interesting information concerning the much needed reforms brought about by the Duke of Wellington, who was Constable from 1824 to 1852. On the whole we can recommend the book with sincere cordiality, as one not only calculated to be of great value to strangers visiting the Tower, but as well worthy of a place in the library of the country gentleman.

There is, undoubtedly, a considerable amount of poetic taste. sound religious feeling and ability for versification, displayed in Mr. Mariate's Alboin and other Poems, (London: G. J. Palmer,) while some few of them, as for example, "The Song of the Angels," and "The Monks' Funeral Hymn" deserve high commendation as poetical essays. The defects of the volume, as a whole, however, are, in the first place, an utter absence of vigour of thought, and in the second the presence of a somewhat effeminate style of expression. The book would well have borne curtailment, 'and have been all the better for it.

Mr. G. J. Palmer has published, for a penny, The Sunday Antiphons at Magnificat, a work which needs no recommendation at our hands. We trust soon to find the use of the antiphon generally restored.

We cannot but regret that the Bishop of Exeter should have re-published his ephemeral Letters to Charles Butler, (London: Murray,) with a new preface, expressive of his dislike of the Re-union movement and the renewed attempts to reconcile the Thirty-nine Articles with the Decrees of Trent. The letters are unquestionably clever, written in a good style, with theological precision and great general knowledge, but they are oldfashioned, smack of a state of isolation and self-satisfaction which increased information will never allow to be reproduced, and are not now likely to find a very extended circle of admirers. Catholics in the Church of England are monstrously illogical, if they do not see, firstly, that the divisions at the Reformation were a singular evil; and secondly, that the work of Christianizing the heathen world-putting aside altogether the masses of our great English cities-can never be successful so long as visible Re-union is unattained. Within the last few days we have received a letter from a clergyman in New Zealand, giving an account most sad and astounding of the reproduction of sectarian strife there, which has not only ruined the Anglican Church, but which is daily fostering indifferentism and extending unbelief. In truth, if the subject were impartially considered, we should find that more than half our missionary works are undoubted failures. Officials only allow the British public to see the bright side. It is painful, therefore, to find a bishop, who has done such great service to the Catholic cause in England, lending a helping hand in endeavouring to strengthen the partition wall between ourselves and Roman Catholics. "Truth and Peace" is our motto, not one before the other: but both together.

A Manual of the Lives of the Popes, (London: Richardson,) by Mr. J. C. Earle, is one of the most useful books we have met with for many a day. Touching upon a subject, which in this form has never been given to the public before, and treating it in a manner learned, careful, judicious, and accurate, this book most successfully fills a hitherto vacant place in literature, and fills it remarkably well. As an historical handy-book we recommend it with sincere cordiality to our readers, not alone for the excellence of its plan, but for the exceedingly complete and efficient manner in which that plan has been carried into execution. Moreover, it is well printed and cheap-two important and commendable points.

The Little Primer, (London: G. J. Palmer,) compiled by a mission priest, and printed in bold type, at a reasonable cost, is well worthy the attention of all who need a book of plain prayers, with instructions in the Christian Religion and other important information prefixed, for distribution amongst the least educated of the middle and lower classes.

Mr. Masters has published a rubricated edition of The Divine Liturgy of S. Chrysostom in English, which being a timely publication, will no doubt be much sought after, as it deserves-for the translation is accurate, and Ritual knowledge is decidedly on the increase.

Two reprints of papers which first appeared in the Union REVIEW are out. One on Sacrifice, (London: Hayes,) a second On the Principles of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, from the same publisher. Our own opinion of these remarkable papers coincides with those of others who have so wisely demanded their republication.

Mr. James Raine's pamphlet on l'estments (London: Riving. tons) being rather archæological than ritualistic, is a little dry and not a little heavy. Its author may be a learned, but certainly is a prejudiced priest. Archbishop Thomson has bestowed upon him a dignity at York, apparently as a reward for having said something that something being marvellously jejune and commonplace-against the Catholic Revival. We have not yet heard that His Grace has commenced proceedings against the clerical heretic in his diocese who maintained-God pardon the blasphemy!--that our Blessed Lord was born by natural generation of Mary and Joseph. The Whig bishops scold the Ritualists and shelter Dr. Colenso and his allies-thus exemplifying the episcopal notion of faithful fealty to their Master and strict impartiality to those over whom they rule.

Mr. Thompson, of Chard, publishes a Lecture on The Sunday School, (London: Masters,) the distinguishing features of which are practicability and sound common sense. We are not amongst those, however, who think it either necessary or desirable that the well-worked parish priest should trouble himself with Sunday schools. Others can do the work. The priest's special duty is intercession and sacrifice. We don't use a razor to cut down a tree. A saw and a hatchet are more suitable implements.

While we are far from undervaluing the work which Mr. Aitken has effected in some quarters, we cannot but be alive to the fact that the so-called system with which his name has been associated is somewhat onesided, and, perhaps, too subjective in certain of its characteristics. It was a natural, necessary, and welcome reaction against what seemed rather like high and dry formalism. In High Truth (London: Macintosh) there is much that is eminently practical expressed in beautiful language: the types of the Old Testament being judiciously used and powerfully applied. We would urge Mr. Aitken, however, to follow closely the great S. Bernard, to avoid exaggeration, and not to place too much confidence either in the temporary excitement of his followers, or in their groans and exclamations. The real test of sincerity are deeds not words.