Review of Books.

LECTURES ON THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, delivered in London, March, 1840. By the Rev. Hugh McNeile, Minister of St. Jude's Church, Liverpool. Hatchards.

MANY Christian ladies experienced a severe disappointment on learning that the lectures to be delivered by Mr. McNeile in continuation of those with which Dr. Chalmers had, two years before, delighted a crowded auditory, were, like their predecessors, intended for the superior sex alone. The wisdom of that arrangement we do not impugn: nay, we heartily concur in it, on many grounds; and we now congratulate our female friends on being enabled to sit down, and with prayerful study to examine in retirement that which they were not permitted publicly to hear.

Mr. McNeile is most valuable on paper; the extraordinary power of his oratory, the unequalled MAY, 1840.

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graces of his delivery, the fascinating accompaniment of eloquent looks and most splendid intonation, add such a charm to the conceptions of his mighty intellect, that some of his admirers are perhaps in danger of overlooking the deep import of what he says, when listening to the sound of such "a very lovely song; "-they may so look upon the outward fashioning of the fine gold of this chosen vessel, set apart and sanctified for the Master's use, as well nigh to forget that the excellency of the treasure is wholly of God: and on a retrospection, they may be tempted to doubt whether the argument alone would have carried such irresistible conviction to their minds, 'if any one but McNeile had spoken it.' Therefore we say, shut yourselves up alone with what he has written, and be convinced that, despite of all outer attractions, it is by the force of TRUTH McNeile captivates the light that shines on his page is derived from the Sun of Righteousness; and the mental power to which you are compelled to yield is, like the bodily might of Sampson, given of God for an especial purpose.

The great object of these lectures is to induce a vigorous effort for attaining a national blessing through the extension of our national church. We can promise to every reader not only the deepest and most perspicuous line of argument, but such bursts of eloquence, such a glow of holy enthusiasm, such sublime trains of thought conveyed in diction no less sublime and splendid, as will richly overpay the expenditure of time and study. We also promise that the members of our church shall learn to know her better, and to love her more, from these pages; and obtain much information on a subject where, if all

were rightly informed, all-would readily combine for the extension of our people's privileges; then would the prayerful effort be made that should cause our vine to put forth her branches, while the land rejoiced under its shadow, and God, even our own God, should give us his blessing.

FELIX DE LISLE. An Autobiography. Seeley and Burnside.

A SINGULAR book. The hero is a young man brought upon a desert isle by an infidel father, in utter ignorance, not only of the doctrines of Christianity, but of the existence of a God. In this state of natural religion he quits his retreat, at the age of twentyfive, and receives his first religious instruction on board ship from some French sailors-Papists, of course-between whose absurd superstition, and the vague deism of their giddy captain, poor Felix is greatly bewildered to choose. In France, after many adventures, he meets with a fragment of an old Bible, and is thereby brought acquainted with the law, as given by Moses: then, in England, be hears the gospel; and after being so long tossed about by divers and strange doctrines, he finds rest to his soul.

Much vigorous writing, and highly picturesque description, characterize this book. The account given by Felix of his childhood and youth-the splendid natural phenomena of the southern clime, with their effect on his mind and character, are finely brought out. As a whole, the book pleases us greatly.

THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD, and the Church of the First-born; or, An Affectionate Address to Christian Ministers upholding Oxford Tract Doctrines. Seeley and Burnside.

A very mild, sober, and well-timed rebuke to the most wofully mistaken party of men among us. We do not go along with the author of this address in all things: we think he runs occasionally into the opposite extremes from those whom he reproves; but, if extremes we must have, let us recede from Oxford to any extent rather than approximate to it. Of course, by Oxford we mean the Tractarians only. Through God's mercy, this erroneous and strange doctrine' has received a check, primarily by means of the faithful RECORD newspaper, and subsequently by other able hands, that prevent its walking in darkness, undiscovered; and happily its character is such that it can do little harm in the daylight.

THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE AND ITS By Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq.

REMEDY.
Murray.

Many of our readers will be no less astonished than shocked at hearing that, after all the strenuous, and, as regards our own participation, successful efforts of English philanthropists-after all the sacrifice of labour, treasure, and human life so freely made in the cause of poor Africans, the traffic has not been extinguished, has not been diminished, but, by the

latest accounts from which any estimate can be correctly formed, the numbers exported have increasedthe destruction of human life, and all the guilt and misery consequent thereon, have been fearfully augmented,'-the numbers exported from Africa, are, as compared with the year 1807, as two to one; and the annual loss of life has risen from seventeen to twenty-five per cent."

What a picture-what a call on us not to be weary in well-doing! A society has been formed for the gradual extinction of this diabolical traffic, and the colonization of Africa, as a means of Christianizing that land whereof the Holy Spirit has declared that she shall stretch out her hands towards God. It is enough to say that on the list of managers in this new association, we find the names of Lords Ashley, Chichester, Calthorpe, the Bishop of London, Sir R. H. Inglis, and others dear to every Protestant. Mr. Buxton, ever foremost among the friends of Africa, has furnished us with a large and painfully important volume, shewing, as the title implies, the cruel wrongs of our sable brethren, and fully stating his plan, its importance, facilities, and the blessings to be expected. Christian men should immediately take this in hand, and Christian women lend every aid in their power to forward the work.

THE SCHOOL-GIRL IN FRANCE; a Narrative addressed to Christian Parents. Seeley and Burnside.

LONG have we looked for such a work as this, embodying in an interesting tale, the frightful perils to