ren dying by inches from hunger in a dreary wilderness; the living feeding upon the dead; toasting their hearts on a stick, and cutting off the flesh from the bones and subsisting upon it; killing each other for food; selfishness, revenge, murder, cannibalism in its most horrid features, reigning in the camp, -the annals of human suffering nowhere present a more appalling spectacle. We specify "The Camp of Death,” and “The Winter Camp," on the terrible Sierra Nevada, as embodying a tale which nothing but the terrible fidelity of truth could have drawn. Once read it will never fade from the mind. It gives one a new view of the power of human depravity and human endurance. We give an extract or two, though of the most revolting character. The scene is "The Mountain Camp," when visited by the party of relief sent out from California to the famished, snow-bound, cannibalized survivors of that ill-fated party. "The men had now, for the first time, a little leisure to observe. The mutilated body of a friend, having nearly all the flesh torn away was seen at the door, the head and face remaining entire. Half-consumed limbs were seen concealed in trunks. Bones were scattered about. Human hair of different colors were seen in tufts about the fire-place. The sight was overwhelming; and outraged nature sought relief by one spontaneous outcry of agony and grief and tears. The air was rent by the wails of sorrow and distress that ascended at once, and as if by previous concert, from the charnel-house of death beneath the snow." Eight miles distant was the camp of Messrs. Donner. Baptiste had just left the camp of the widow of the late Jacob Donner, with the leg and thigh of Jacob Donner, for which he had been sent by George Donner, the brother of the deceased. That was given, but the boy was informed that no more could be given, Jacob Donner's body being the last they had. They had consumed four bodies, and the children were sitting upon a log, with their faces stained with blood, devouring the half-roasted liver and heart of the father. * * * Around the fire were hair, bones, skulls, and the fragments of half-consumed limbs. * * They had not gone far when they came to the grave of Jacob Donner. His head was cut off, and was lying with the face up, the snow and cold having preserved all the features unaltered. His limbs and arms had been severed from the body, which was cut open -the heart and liver being taken out. The leg and thigh which the boy Baptiste had obtained, had been thrown back, upon the party coming up with relief. Other graves were seen, but nothing remained in them but a few frag ments." And yet the author says: "A multitude of the most shocking and revolting circumstances are designedly suppressed as being unfit for the sober pages of history. Notwithstanding the unspeakable distress which is known by the world to have existed, and the thrilling scenes which the narrative of this lamentable affair presents, the full story will never be told, and the half of that which is known by the people of California will never appear in print; and indeed ought not."

*

8.-Punishment by Death: its Authority and Expediency.

BY GEORGE

B. CHEEVER, D.D. New York and London: John Wiley. 1849.

THIS is a second and complete edition of this great work. It is a masterly argument, based on Divine Authority, and on the experience of the world, in favor of Capital Punishment, and all attempts to set it aside or evade its conclusions are vain. It has already done a great work. It has made a deep and salutary impression on the public mind; restrained, as by a mountain barrier, that tide of licentiousness, irreligion, and mock sensibility-for that the springs of this movement lie in the deep-seated wickedness and infidelity of the human heart, no observing mind can doubt-which is beating against the great sanction of law, and threatening the very foundations of society.

The re-issue of this work is highly opportune. The battle is evidently to be resumed; the great struggle is yet to come on this fundamental question; and every lover of order, peace, virtue, justice, humanity, religion, ought to

prepare for it, and to awake to meet it. Nothing so able, so convincing, so logically irresistible, has been written as this argument of Dr. Cheever's. It ought to be read and pondered by every legislator, judge, juryman, minister, layman, and citizen, that its principles and conclusions may be embodied in public sentiment, and made to control the legislation and jurisprudence of this great nation.

9.-An Introduction to the New Testament, containing an examination of the most important questions relating to the authenticity, interpretution, and integrity of the canonical books, with reference to the latest inquiries. By SAMUEL DAVIDSON, LL.D. Volume I. The Four Gospels. London: Samuel Bagster & Sons. 1848. 8vo. pp.

430.

We take great pleasure in introducing this elegantly executed and highly valuable work to the notice of American scholars and divines. It is eminently timely, and a valuable acquisition to English Biblical literature.

The work has been prepared with special reference to the researches and speculations of German Biblical scholars. The author's knowledge of German mind and of the entire field of German criticism, including the most recent writings, is extensive and thorough. No available source of information adapted to render it worthy of the name, "Introduction," has been neglected. But while he treats this German literature with fairness, and evinces a perfect mastery of it all, the author is no slave to it; he yields no blind submission to its authority, but retains that freedom of thought and of soul which is so essential to correct investigation and sound criticism. While he has no sympathy for the stereotype minded" or for those "who creep along in the ruts of hereditary or pravailing opinion," he has none for the rash innovator or specious speculator, and is free from the virus of German neology.

The author says: "It seems to be the wiser course to prepare for all the objections that may be urged against the New Testament. It is better to anticipate the diffusion of certain subtle cavils in the field of Christianity than to decry at a distance, or to be overwhelmed by their novelty when they are fairly imported from other lands. It is the writer's belief that the books of the New Testament are ere long to pass through a severe ordeal. The translations of various Continental works which have recently appeared in England, and the tendency of certain speculations in philosophy, indicate a refined skepticism or a pantheistic spirit which confounds the objective and the subjective, or unduly subordinates the former to the latter. Many are disposed to exalt their intuitions too highly to the detriment of the historical, as Kant did his Pure Reason."

These extracts will give our readers some idea of the design, character, and utility of this "Introduction to the New Testament." It supplies a want which many have felt and expressed, and we doubt not that when its great merit is known on this side the Atlantic, it will be eagerly sought after and highly appreciated. We hope it will be speedily republished in this country, as the English edition is quite expensive. The work will be completed either in two or three volumes, and when completed we shall refer to it again.

10.-Posthumous Works of the REV. THOMAS CHALMERS, LL. D. Edited by the REV. WILLIAM HANNA, LL. D. Volume V. Sabbath Readings. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1849.

THIS Volume is uniform in its mechanical appearance and in its general character with the four previous ones. It extends from Genesis to II. Kings. We have already several times expressed our high opinion of the spiritual character and merit of this series, and need not now renew our commendation. We take great delight ourselves in reading them for edification; and although they

are neither critical nor expository, but just the free pious thoughts of that great good man, yet are they highly suggestive and abound with original, striking views of Divine Truth. The Harpers have brought out this series in a very appropriate and beautiful form.

11.-Life of Franklin Illustrated. His Autobiography, and a Narrative of his public life and services. By the REV. H. HASTINGS WELD. Splendidly embellished by numerous exquisite designs by JOHN CHAPMAN. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1849.

FRANKLIN'S Autobiography ought to be read and carefully studied by every man, especially by every young man who wishes to be anything. There is a world of wisdom, sterling sense, and sagacity in it. He certainly possessed peculiar gifts; he was a close and discriminating observer; a bold and original thinker; a real genius in invention, a philosopher in arrangement, and a master-operator in execution. His experience was varied and profound; his opportunity for a thorough knowledge of human nature in all its phases and conditions peculiar, while the part he acted in the great events of our Revolutionary history was conspicuous, and places him in the very first rank of statesmen, diplomatists, and patriots; and here we have the results of his sagacity, shrewdness, extensive observation, and experience, embodied in his own personal history, and told in his own inimitable manner. It is a book for "the people"-a book of "proverbs," if you please, having in it no little of the wisdom of Solomon; proverbs illustrated and worked out in his own history. It is a practical every-day philosophy which has made the fortunes of more men (for this world only, alas!) than all the gold of California will ever make. The narrative of his public life and services by Mr. Weld, forms an interesting and valuable addition to the autobiography.

This edition is a splendid affair-nothing like it exists; the old philosopher would hardly know himself in so splendid a dress. The paper, the presswork, the pictorial illustrations are all superior. And yet though got up in this costly manner, it is sold for the low sum of $2, in eight numbers.

12.-Life and Reign of Pope Pius the Ninth, with a Biographical Sketch of his predecessor, Gregory XVI. Prepared as a Supplement to the 17th edition of the History of Romanism. By JOHN DOWLING, D. D. New York: Edward Walker. 1849.

A FIT supplement to Dowling's great work, The History of Romanism, and bringing it down to the present eventful period. We are glad to learn that this highly valuable book, so full of historic interest, and constantly referred to as good authority in the great controversy with Romanism, is having so extensive a circulation. It is indeed a remarkable book; and if our readers wish to know what Romanism is and was historically, let them get and read Dr. Dow. ling's History.

13.-History of Alexander the Great. By JACOB ABBOTT. gravings. New York: Harper & Brothers.

With en

THIS is decidedly the most interesting and life-like sketch of the world's renowned conqueror that we have seen. It has all the interest and charm of the liveliest romance with the fidelity and truthfulness of veritable history. The main features of the character, the conquests, and the life of this wonderful man are here so distinctly brought out and so admirably blended and colored as to leave a very vivid and lasting impression on the reader's mind. The rapidity and grandeur of his conquests; the pomp and magnificence and orien tal luxury of his court and regal state while reposing on his laurels at Baby

lon; and his final debauchery and melancholy end, as herein narrated, possess a power of fascination that rarely falls to the lot of history.

14.-History of Hannibal, the Carthagenian General. By JACOB ABBOTT. With engravings. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1849. CARTHAGE, the rival of Rome, and long her maritime mistress, and finally the victim of her terrible vengeance, will ever possess a melancholy interest to the student of history. This beautifully written life of Hannibal, her great General, who carried the war to the very gates of Rome, performing the prodigious feat of crossing the Alps in the dead of winter with his whole army and implements of war; whose splendid career of victory and conquest for a season covered Carthage with glory and Rome with defeat, but whose sudden reverses rolled back the tide of carnage and death upon the shore of Africa and reduced her proud city to ruin, and overwhelmed the General in hopeless and terrible calamity-this life, so crowded with great and startling events, and chequered with prosperity and adversity, glory and shame, and terminating in so melancholy and tragical a manner, is replete with interest and instruction.

15.-History of Queen Elizabeth. By JACOB ABBOTT. With engravings. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1849.

QUEEN ELIZABETH, if we judge rightly, appears here in her true light, and that is no very enviable one. Mr. Abbott's appreciation of her great virtues and great faults, her private character and public life, comes nearer to our ideas of the truth than anything we have before seen in any single history. He narrates her early life as the neglected child of a disgraced and beheaded queen and as the victim of Mary's jealousy, and you become interested in her; he sketches the principal events of her long and glorious reign, and you admire and wonder at her strength of mind, and indomitable energy of will, and political sagacity, and regal splendor, and state crimes; he portrays her utter selfishness and hypocrisy and double-dealing and cool calculating treachery and cruelty as a sovereign, and you loose all respect, and denounce her memory; he shows her womanly weaknesses, her pride and vanity, her partialities and love attachments; the struggles of sovereign pride and love of power against maidenly tenderness and yearnings as in the case of the ill-fated Essex, and you know not whether most to pity or to blame; he paints the death-sceneElizabeth prostrate on the floor, writhing in agony and calling for mercy, straining her ear to catch the sound of prayer, forsaken by nearly all of her lords and other satellites who had fled to Scotland to hail King James as soon as her death was known, and she stung by the consciousness of abandonment,—and you inwardly exclaim, "O the littleness of human greatness! the poverty of a crown! the bitterness of death in a palace with not a true heart to tender its sympathy, or a divine consolation to offer its support!"

This series of brief histories from the polished and graphic pen of Mr. Abbott is not only of a very popular character, but is admirably adapted to interest, particularly, the young in the study of history. He has selected the most remarkable characters in history, and grouped together the leading events in the life of each, so as to give a distinct and complete impression of their historic being. And while these histories wear an air or romance, and are highly fascinating, the author has confined himself to the facts of sober received history. The series will form a gallery of well-executed and striking portraits of these world-renowned personages. The several histories are uniform in size, binding, and general appearance; are illustrated by many striking and beautiful engravings; and together make a useful and most beautiful little library.

16.-Raphael. By ALPHONSO DE LAMARTINE. New York: Harper & Brothers.

1849.

LAMARTINE is certainly a writer of great beauty and power, whether his subject be history or romance. This work is a fictitious narrative, full of the poetry of thought, the beauties of style and imagery, and the extravagance of over-wrought and transcendental sentimentalism. The drift of it is to illus trate the power and workings of that mysterious element in man which we call sympathy, in the affairs of love and conjugal life; showing that the love which is based on the beauties and accomplishments of person, on matrimonial bonds, or rank, station, and wealth, cannot secure the bliss for which the lover sighs in his inner soul; that heart must meet heart in the contact, the outgoing and the communion of a pure spiritual sympathy, or man must pine in loneliness and die with secret grief. There is a profound truth at the bottom of all this; and our regret is that the distinguished author has so marred the description by the most extravagant romantic ravings and superlative nonsense, that all sober-minded matter-of-fact persons will only read to laugh, and sentimental ones to run mad.

17.-The North British Review. November 1848 and February 1849.

THIS Quarterly represents the Free Church of Scotland party in English literature, politics and religious matters, and is conducted with great ability. It comes nearer to our own standard of thinking and feeling than any one of the other great Quarterlies which give expression and direction to the English mind; indeed no well-informed American ought to be without it.

These last two numbers contain several articles of peculiar interest and great excellence. We have only space to specify those relating to the Authorship of the Letters of Junius; the Final Memoirs of Charles Lamb; the Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh; Baptist Noel's Church and State; Macaulay's History of England; and the Duke of Argyle's Essay on the Ecclesiastical History of Scotland since the Reformation.

The Review of Baptist Noel's powerful work, though kind in spirit and favorable in general, takes decided exceptions to some of his principles and reasoning, as unsound, and pushed to extremes; as having a decided tendency to radicalism in ecclesiastical matters. "We had hoped to find in Mr. Noel's book a more moderate scheme of reform projected, which might have reconciled the extremes; but we are compelled to say, that we despair of him as a leader in any great movement of reformation, when we see him thus merging himself in the confused ranks of existing dissent-descending into the arena, singlehanded, as the champion not of a Church but of a chapel-and pleading with all the ardor of a neophyte for a system of disunion and disorganization, the utter impotence of which, for any combined action, even its veteran supporters were beginning to deplore." How far the decided Presbyterian feelings of the "North British" have influenced its judgment we know not: it anticipates however, far humbler and less beneficial results from this already renowed Essay than are confidently predicted on this side of the Atlantic.

The article on Macaulay's History is one of the ablest and grandest things we have read in many a day; and it is doubtful whether many of the thousand and one reviews which it has called or will call forth, will attain to its high standard of merit. While the reviewer is not blind to the faults of the great historian, to his church partialities, and his injustice to Puritan character and history, he still does him noble justice, and profoundly appreciates the incomparable merits of this great work. We think it vastly more truthful and just and valuable than the critique in the British Quarterly already referred to.