well as in the whole habit of life, manifest such a stamp and signature of virtue, as to make our judgment of them a matter of intuition, rather than a result of continued examination. I never met a human being who came more perfectly within this description than John Wesley. It was impossible to converse with him-I might say, to look at him-without being persuaded, not only that his heart and mind were animated with the purest and most exalted goodness, but that the instinctive bent of his nature accorded so congenially with his Christian principles, as to give a pledge for his practical consistency, in which it was impossible not to place confidence.

"It would be far too little to say, that it was impossible to suspect him of any moral taint; for it was obvious that every movement bespoke as perfect contrariety to all that was earthly or animal, as could be imagined in a mortal being. His countenance, as well as conversation, expressed an habitual gaiety of heart, which nothing but conscious virtue and innocence could have bestowed. He was, in truth, the most perfect specimen of moral happiness which I ever saw; and my acquaintance with him has done more to teach me what a heaven upon earth is implied in the maturity of Christian piety, than all I have elsewhere seen, or heard, or read, except in the sacred volume." Vol. II. p. 418.

As it is not unimportant to know in what light such a man as Knox viewed the work of Southey, we record his testimony, given, it seems, in the autumn of 1825, which runs thus :-" I cannot express the value which I attach to Mr. Southey's Life of John Wesley; but in certain instances I could wish him to have the means of candid reconsideration." Such were the feelings with which we ourselves perused the work on its first appearance. With all its theological and other drawbacks, it is a work which all Christians and all men may read with interest, instruction, and advantage.

MURRAY'S HOME AND COLONIAL LIBRARY. No. XXXIII. Memoirs of a Missionary in Canada.

No. XXXIV. Sale's Brigade in Affghan

istan, and the Defence of Jellalabad. No. XXXV. Letters from Madras. By A LADY.

Nos. XXXVI. and XXXVII. Wild
Sports and Natural History of the
Highlands. 2 Vols.

No. XXXVIII. Journeys across the
Pampas. By Sir F. E. HEAD.
No. XXXIX. Gatherings in Spain.
Part I.

THE Volumes before us are a valuable addition to the bibliographical signs of the times, showing that even the first publishers in the Metropolis of the world

do not disdain to render homage to the spirit of the age. Volumes which but yesterday would have been issued at Half-a-Guinea are now offered for Halfa-Crown. The Series, as a whole, is well selected, and bearing the impress of Mr. Murray, of course are well executed. Those which head this article are generally interesting and highly instructive. "The Memoirs of a Missionary" is the only one to which we feel it necessary to take any exception. It is much to be desired that missionaries of this stamp could be kept at home. He is a thorough disciple of the Puseyite School, although he flourished nearly twenty years before Pusey's day, and his Church notions peer out on all occasions. Still, however, the work abounds in facts and incidents. The Missionary is a gentleman, and yet a bigot; and priest, and yet a man of business; a keen observer, and a vivid describer; in some sort an ecclesiastical Robinson Crusoe. The dreadful story of "Sale's Brigade," by Rev. G. R. Gleig, M.A., Principal Chaplain to the Forces, seems faithfully as it is brilliantly told. In the writer's honest view, "not one benefit, either political or military, has England acquired by the war. The "Letters from Madras," twenty-seven in number, are admirable, presenting a very life-like picture of men and manners in the East. "The Wild Sports" is an indescribable production; people unacquainted with the theme can have no idea of its all but boundless fertility. It is brimful of most interesting information. The "Journeys across the Pampas" is a grave and solid production, recording the events of a mission of inquiry in South America, which at the same time partakes of the best qualities of the highest class of travels. "The Gatherings" is well designated, for the volume comprises a vast amount of information concerning Spain and the Spaniards. We very cordially recommend the "Library,” as a whole,

On the score of smallness of cost.—Each Number contains more than two ordinary octavo volumes, at one-fifth or sixth of the usual price.

On the score of novelty, interest, and merit. It includes works by Southey, Heber, Borrow, Irby and Mangles, Drinkwater, Barrow, Lewis, Sir John Malcolm, Washington Irving, Lockhart, Darwin, Lady Duff Gordon, Lord Mahon, &c.

And on account of its variety.-It comprises Geography, Voyages and Tra

vels, History, Biography, Natural History, Manners and Customs,-rendering it equally acceptable to the cottage and boudoir; the utmost care being exercised in the selection of works, so that they shall contain nothing offensive to morals

or taste.

Letters to Wesleyan Ministers on Ministerial Duty, with an Address to Members of the Connexion; and an Account of the Trial and Excommunication of the Author, &c. 12mo. Murray; Simpkin & Co.

THIS is a curious affair. Woman's love and woman's hate are alike proverbial; loves and hates are main elements of zeal, and of woman's zeal this book is a very remarkable illustration. Here are 224 pages of as thorough, earnest, and fearless flogging as ever woman administered to man. We have seen nothing like it from a feminine hand; it is of its kind matchless. The first letter, addressed to the excellent Rev. R. Young, opens the whole subject. Her complaints fall under two heads :-Failure to keep appointments, and repetition of sermons. "Five times in twelve months we were left without a preacher." Again-"I marked the disappointments, and there were fourteen in four months." -"I heard a sermon yesterday morning, on Temptation, the fourth time."-"I thought, surely this is an old sermon. Soon after I was told of one who had heard it three times." Mr. Young replies briefly, mildly, and rationally; but it operates only as oil, not upon the waters, but upon the fire. His accuser returns to the charge with redoubled vigour. Mr. Pengelly, Mr. Young's colleague, is the next subject of assault. Thus she thrashes them alternately, without measure or mercy. Returning to Mr. Young, she says, "I feel that for Zion's sake, I cannot rest. If I were not confident I had both sword and shield, I should not have dared to attack you; the difference between us appears as great as between David and Goliath. I have proved my armour in many a combat, and have never yet had cause to be ashamed of it; and, after a little perseverance, it will be victorious in this case." Were it not for the class-meetings, Methodism would now have been extinct. I heard a sister say in class, yesterday, they had been the principal means of keeping the vital spark alive in her soul; and I believe it. For four successive Wednesday evenings, the minister who

has been appointed to Salisbury-street did not come. If our leaders were to disappoint in this way, and send anybody to meet the class, there would soon be a decrease of members. Oh! Ꭵf the preaching were faithfully attended to, it would put new life and energy into all the other means of grace. Although I have written, Sir, to you and Mr. Pengelly on this subject, I believe the preachers, generally, are guilty of the same evil. Mr. Newton is expected soon; he is proverbial for it. It is distressing to think of men of such ability and power, drawing the multitude after them without any lasting benefit. He avoids the laborious part of his office; but will use the utmost strength of his eloquence on an old sermon. This will keep up the reputation he has gained, but it will neither bring glory to God nor peace to men." these two or three simple points she addressed the people, and anon the Conference, thundering with an eloquence that would not disgrace the British Parliament. Mr. Little had the good fortune next to come in her way. Of this gentleman she says:-" Mr. Little holds me up to scorn, and says I am insane, because through grace I would be faithful and not negligent in the work of the Lord. The services of women are recorded in the Old and New Testament: they assisted in the work for the Tabernacle. All the wise-hearted women did spin:

On

Things at last came to a crisis; when the fair accuser was herself impeached, tried, condemned, and expelled! This event supplies materials for a torrent of eloquent recrimination. The volume considered as a whole, amid much that is bitter, exaggerated, and indefensible, comprises not a little that clearly partakes of a somewhat truthful character, and which demands the candid and serious consideration of all concerned. To complete this strange affair it is proper to state, that the volume is the production of a female actually in service! And certainly, after all necessary allowance for her imperfections, she does not a little credit to her station, yea, to her sex, and the community with which she was associated. Her spirit is heroic: "I do not," says she, "write for gain; the first edition I gave away, the second will be sold at a price that will allow others a fair remuneration. I will not receive one farthing for myself."

the ministry which the church-going portion of them attend, all unite in the exclusion of this topic; it is no marvel, therefore, that such gentlemen should vie in the effusion of folly when matters of this sort are brought before them. The House of Commons requires to be educated on the subject of Christ's kingdom. It is needful to convert it into a lecture-room for at least a dozen of sound, well-reasoned, Scriptural, and philosophical speeches, annually, on the great questions of Church and State! For this purpose, and additional to this, for reaching and enlightening through the Political Press, the higher and controlling classes of the empire, there are wanted a body of five or six-and if a dozen or a score, still better-Titanic Nonconformists-men of talents, knowledge, education, discretion, zeal, and address, all of the very first order, -who shall deal in Parliament with ecclesiastical subjects upon principles representing the great community of British Dissenters. If this volume, instead of presenting the "four series" of collected emanations of a single enlightened, laborious, and vigorous pen, poured forth in the columns of a Weekly Journal, had embodied the reports of four successive debates in the Commons on the subject of Ecclesiastical Establishments, comprising in all forty-four well-digested, powerful and conclusive speeches, the number, and character of the Essays before us,in support of perfect freedom in religious matters, the very fact would have been proof that the conflict was already far advanced, and the battle all but won. But while this would doubtless have been a mighty event, the appearance of the volume before us is no trifle; it is no small step in the march of preparation for such an event, and a decisive struggle. This is a war which has no resemblance to that of mortals; it excludes all peradventure as to the issue; it can terminate only in one way. Success, entire, universal, and permanent, is as sure as that the sun will rise to-morrow. It is simply, only a question of time;- -a question which involves the constitution of an empire,― a question which touches at all points both the religion and the legislation of nations, a question which involves millions of money, and the highest interests of millions of men: such a question, therefore, is not to be settled in an hour, nor, perhaps, in an age; but while from its magnitude and its complexity, its progress may be the more slow, its ultimate settlement is not a whit the less certain;

and such volumes as this, taken in connection with its origin, are pillars on the way-side by which that progress is marked and recorded. The mere circumstance, that such an organ as that which gave original currency to these papers exists, and has already endured for seven long years, proclaims a fact full of encouragement to the friends of truth and freedom! In such matters, the least deceptive of all the forms of literature is, the periodical. The simple publication of a volume, whatever its merits, proves nothing as to the state of general opinion. An author, like Adam Smith, may be an age ahead of his own generation, or belong even to a more remote posterity. Not so the periodical writer; he is an index to existing opinion; that he exists is a proof irrefragable that it exists: and the extent of its prevalence is equal at least to his circulation. In periodical literature, if there be no buyers, there will be a speedy end to publication.

This volume is to be considered as a sequel to the "Nonconformist's Sketch Book," from the same pen, and originated in the same way. The object of the "Sketch Book" was, to trace, prove, and exhibit the evils, political, social, and religious, resulting from the connection between Church and State, and thence to derive an argument for their separation. The design of the volume before us is, to demonstrate the entire sufficiency of the "Voluntary Principle" for the support and extension of the religion of the New Testament; a point on which many upright men require to be satisfied before they can be induced to forego the support of Government. Let this point be clearly made out, and they will at once withdraw all further opposition. Now, Mr. Miall, in his attempts at this, has accomplished much. The volume throughout is pervaded by clear statement and cogent argument, clothed in language well fitted to commend truth to men of cultivated minds. The volume, as a whole, has our very earnest recommendation as highly adapted to advance the cause of truth. Fully to meet our views, only one thing more was wanted-the introduction of statistics; of which, on this point, the United States present an overwhelming abundance. That argument here may have the fullest power-a power that shall crush all opposition, it must be founded on facts. We hope Mr. Miall will next begird himself for this method of further dealing with the subject.

REJOINDER ON DR. VAUGHAN'S REPLY.

MR. BAINES has addressed a letter to the Editor of the Patriot, in which, omitting an extended introduction, enunciating important principles, he proceeds as follows:

It will be remembered that the present controversy arose out of the publication of Dr. Hook's pamphlet, and that in that pamphlet the main question was as to the extent of school accommodation, and as to the power of the people to supply the number of schools required. Dr. Hook assumed that there was a very great deficiency in the number of schools, and that voluntary effort had altogether failed to supply the want. He made calculations that not less than £8,312,500 ought to be expended on public schools in England and Wales; that the number of such schools should be 16,625, with as many masters, as many assistant-masters, and twice the number of apprentices; and that the annual outlay to support them would require to be £2,934,650, of which more than £1,000,000 would have to be provided by public funds. He added, moreover, that new schools were required yearly for 365,000 scholars, that being the annual increase of the population, whilst the rate at which we were now building schools was only for 95,000 a year.

The case which I presented in opposition to this was exceedingly simple.

In regard to the latter part of it, I showed that the annual increase of population in England and Wales was not 365,000, but 201,457; and that of these there only needed schools for that portion who were of the school age, and likely to be able to attend school; who did not at the utmost exceed one-eighth of the increase of population, or 25,182 a year. Thus the perpetual difficulty arising from this source was reduced from 365,000 a year to 25,182 a year, or one-fifteenth of the assumed amount! Instead of our only building one-fourth of the number of schools required by the increase of population, we are building four times that number!

My next object was to ascertain what was the actual amount of school accommodation, compared with the demand for it. I inquired; first, what proportion of the whole population we might, in the social and industrial circumstances of the country, reasonably expect to have in the day-schools of England and Wales; and second, what school accommodation actually existed.

It is commonly assumed by statists that the limits of the school age are from five to fifteen years. But it is obvious that all the children in the country do not and could not attend school for the whole of these ten years. Such a term

of schooling has, indeed, by many statists been assumed, apparently without consideration, as the natural and proper term; but it is one of the greatest practical fallacies that can be committed: for it overlooks the most notorious facts in the state of society,-the total inadequacy of the wages of the labouring classes to support their children at school for such a period, the

early employment of children in farm operations, in manufactures, and in handicraft, the number of the sick, the crippled, and the extremely poor, those detained at home for domestic help, and those privately educated. Looking at these considerations, and at the testimonies of secretaries of educational societies, school-inspectors, and others (the Rev. Mr. Burgess, Mr. Tremenheere, &c.), as to the term of schooling now generally prevailing among the humbler classes, I arrived at the conclusion, that an average term of FIVE YEARS of schooling would far exceed the actual existing average, and would equal what we could ever reasonably expect in this country. This estimate has the sanction of Lord Brougham's opinion; and I am happy to say that Dr. Vaughan himself has now declared it to be reasonable. He says, in page 13 of his "Reply"—

"I admit that five years is as long an average as we should calculate upon."

This important point being settled, we next inquire what number of children this will give us. From the census of 1841 we find, that the whole number of children between five and fifteen years of age was then 3,624,595. This, therefore, is the number of children we might expect to find in schools, in that year, if all the children remained at school ten years. But if the average term of schooling was only half that period, or five years, we could only expect to find half the number of children at school. Now half of 3,624,595 is 1,812,292, which number would be the proper number of scholars in 1841. For the five years since 1841 I added 25,000 a year, (which exceeds the actual increase of the children of school age, and whom we could expect to find at school,) or 125,000 in the whole. The result was this

Day-school accommodation required in 1841, supposing every child in England and Wales to attend school on the average five years Add for the five years to 1846

1,812,292 125,000

89,005 1,187,942

1,276,947

turns, in 1833. Of course the amount of school accommodation must have been much greater.

Subsequent to 1833 we have no returns of school attendance for England and Wales; but we are able to form some estimate of the addition made to school accommodation. Dr. Hook, taking the Parliamentary grants and the evidence of the Minutes of Council for his guide, estimated that the number of scholars accommodated in public schools, from 1833 to 1845, was 600,000 or 650,000. I believe the higher of these numbers to be below the mark; and moreover it takes no account of the increase that must have taken place in these thirteen years in the private schools for the middle and upper classes. But I added the lower of Dr. Hook's numbers to Lord Kerry's incomplete returns, and the result was as follows: Day-scholars in England and Wales,

Such was the broad and simple case which I laid before Lord John Russell and the country, as the nearest approach that could be made, from existing documents, to the actual position of things.

I admitted that there was an unequal distribution of schools; but this is of no consequence when we are looking at the question in a national point of view. All we can do is to take averages; and the average which I ascertained was most satisfactory. If the average is satisfactory, there can be no general want of schools, such as would constitute even a pretence for Parliamentary interference.

Dr. Vaughan and Mr. Swaine are of opinion that the children in infant schools ought to be deducted from the numbers given by Lord Kerry's returns. And so they ought, if it were not the fact that a large proportion of the children in infant schools are five years old and upwards, thus coming within the school age of statists; and if also Lord Kerry's returns had not been confessedly much below the truth. On these two grounds I think myself fully entitled to retain the comparatively small number of children returned as in infant schools. I have not the smallest doubt that, including that -number, the returns would still be below the truth.

Dr. Vaughan contends, that, although schools have been provided, since 1833, for 600,000 or 650,000 children, we have no evidence that they have been filled; and therefore we are unable to judge what number of children are at this time actually under instruction. This is true. We have no such evidence, either one way or the other. But my reply is fourfold: 1st. The

original question started by Dr. Hook, and followed up by me, was this-had we a sufficient amount of school accommodation for the children who could and would attend school? And to that question the answer I have given above is satisfactory. 2nd. The amount of school accommodation provided since 1833, namely, for 600,000 or 650,000 children, is a splendid illustration and overwhelming proof of the power and ability of the people to provide the schools that are needed. 3rd. If the schools built are not occupied, that at least shows that there can be no want of the means of education in the places where they exist. 4th. It is one of the most notorious of all facts, though there is no general official proof of it, that the number of day-scholars has exceedingly increased since the year 1833. For practical purposes, therefore, my case was sufficient and complete. I disproved the necessity for legislative interference. The above, then, is my case. It rests on the plainest grounds and the most indisputable authorities. Dr. Vaughan himself admits every material element of it. He admits my estimate of the average duration of schooling, which determines the number of children we could expect in schools. He admits Lord Kerry's returns as to the scholars in 1833, and Dr. Hook's estimate as to the school accommodation provided since. Then this is everything. Those are all the figures in the sum. The question as to omitting the scholars in infant schools is unimportant, and I have more than answered it. And the question, as to how far the schools built since 1833 have been occupied, does not in the slightest degree affect the amount of school accommodation, or in the slightest degree impair the proof given by those schools of the power of the people to furnish whatever accommodation may be wanted.

But, Sir, it may be of some consequence to point out, that I have studiously kept down every part of my case. I have taken the school attendance of 1833, when I might have followed the hint Dr. Vaughan gave me, and calculated the school accommodation at so much over and above the attendance. I have adhered to Lord Kerry's returns, when I might have added to them on the ground of their proved inadequacy. I have assumed five years as the average period of schooling, when I am quite sure that the real present average is considerably less. I have taken the smaller amount of school accommodation computed by Dr. Hook, when I believe his higher conjecture to be below the mark. I have added nothing for the schools that must have been provided for the middle and upper classes since 1833.

Moreover, I do not say, and have not said, that there is no deficiency of schools. I do not say, and have not said, that the quality of the instruction is all that could be desired. No. My inquiry was, whether there was a great case of national exigency, making Parliamentary interference a matter of necessity? And in the face of the country I say, that I have disproved that exigency over and over.

It has given me pain to have in this question Dr. Vaughan for an opponent,—a personal friend, an honoured minister, an able writer, and, in purely religious matters, a Voluntary. But I take you to witness that he has throughout been the assailant. He followed my second letter to Lord John Russell with his first to the