principle will to the English. In the canonical code of the African Church, we have a decree of a provincial council that, dating from a certain period, the Catholic bishops had to claim jurisdiction over the dioceses held by the Donatists, whether converted to unity, or not.* This shows, in how little esteem was held a bishop's authority, who communicated not with the rest of the church. 5. We have been struck how the Donatists, while they did not relish this name, had no objection to the national appellation of Africans, the African Church, which is consequently often applied to their party by the Fathers, without any offensive meaning at the same time that the latter gloried in bearing no other appellation but that of Catholic. In like manner, the denomination Anglican, is assumed by our HighChurchmen, and we willingly accord it; at the same time, we repudiate every designation, save that of Catholic. 6. In fine, as from the great Donatist church we have seen how many dissenting sects sprung up, and have therein traced no small resemblance to the fate of the Anglican, so have we a counterpart to our conduct towards this, in the conduct of the Fathers towards the former. For, the great body of the Donatists immediately treated those separatists as schismatics, and severely denounced against them the penalties of schism, precisely as the Tract-writers deal with dissenters from the Anglican church. St. Augustine thus retorts upon the Donatists what they said of their separatists: "Cui enim unquam schismatico suo pepercerunt, qui sibi ab orbe terrarum, cujus ipsi schismatici sunt, nimis impudenter parci volunt? cum a vera sola ipsa unitate justissime schismata puniantur, si eo modo ista punienda sunt." This is a severe retort, but not more severe than we have a right to make in our days. The Council of Carthage, seeing the advantage which this argument gave the Catholics, decreed, that envoys should be sent among the Donatists, expressly to inculcate it; since, "by it is demonstrated, if they will but attend to it, that it was as wicked for them to be then cut off from the unity of the Integer Cadex Canonum Eccl. Afric. ap. Labbe, tom. iii. col. 1116. "For what sehismatic from themselves did they ever spare, they who too impudently wish to be spared by the entire world, from which they are schismatics? whereas, only by the true unity, schisms are most justly punished, if, indeed, they are to be punished in that manner,"-that is, by appeal to the civil power, which this Father strongly blames in them. This constant eagerness for the exclusive support of the civil magistrate, might have formed another point of contrast between the African and Anglican churches. Ubi sup. lib. ii. cap. 13. Church, as they now cry out that it was wicked in the Maximinianists to make a schism from them."* For Maximianists, read Wesleyans, or Quakers, and you have an exact answer to the complaints in the Tracts. On another occasion, writing to some Donatists, he bids them contrast the great body of bishops from which they separated, with the small number from which their schismatics departed. "Multum quidem interest et incomparabiliter distat vel auctoritate vel numero Africana Ecclesia" (observe the name) "si cum ceteris orbis partibus conferatur; et longè minor est, etiamsi unitas hic esset, longe omnino minor est comparata ceteris christianis omnibus gentibus, quam pars Maximiani comparata parti Primiani." Here is an argument well fashioned to our hand to be wielded at pleasure against the arrogant pretensions of the Anglican High-Churchmen, when they on the one hand charge others with the mote of schism from a national church, seeing not the beam of schism from the universal church, which fearfully presses on their own cause. Truly, if we would but fill our quiver from the armoury of the Fathers, we should find no difficulty in piercing any mail of proof in which our adversaries may think proper to encase themselves. There is not an argument, a cavil, which they can use, that will not be found answered by anticipation, in the writings of the venerable lights of the ancient Church. Hence, we augur results most favourable to the cause of truth, from the publication of the Fathers, in a form accessible to ordinary readers. There is one view of the apostolical succession, taken by the authors of the Tracts, which we most cordially admit, because conformable to the doctrine of antiquity. It is that explained in the fifty-fourth Tract, p. 4, in these words: "How had the right interpretation of Scripture been preserved in each of those places?" (Rome, Corinth, &c.) "By the succession of bishops, each in turn, handing over to the bishop that followed him, what he had himself learned of his predecessors." Thus, it appears that the apostolical succession, where it exists, is a guarantee to the faithful, that the same doctrine is * "Ubi eis demonstratur, si attendere velint, tam inique tunc illos ab Ecclesiæ unitate præcisos, quam inique nunc clamant a se Maximinianistas schisma fecisse." Conc. Carthag. Africæ univ. ad Calc. S. Opt. p. 211. "There is much difference and an incomparable distance in number or authority between the African church, and the remaining parts of the world: and it is far smaller-supposing unity to exist in it-it is, indeed, far smaller, compared with all other Christian nations, than the party of Maximianus is, compared to that of Primianus." Epist. xliii. ol. clxii. cap. 9. taught which has been taught from the beginning. Now, if we apply this test to the Anglican Church, how certainly it must fail! For it is as clear as noon-day, that the bishops, after the so-called Reformation, taught the doctrine opposite to that of their immediate predecessors. Cranmer, for instance, blasphemed Transubstantiation under Edward, which had been taught in his see till his time. Where, then, is that evidence of such succession, which perseverance in the same doctrine ought to afford? We here close our article, not from want of materials, but from fear of wearying. We do not engage ourselves to pursue our controversy with the authors of these Tracts any farther, in this form. Perhaps it may merit a more complete and systematic arrangement, than separate articles in a Review can supply. We are sensible that we have left unredeemed one or two pledges given at the close of our former article. The growth of more important materials, as we advanced, must be our apology. Still, a pledge thus given, may act as a stimulant to us to resume our periodical strictures upon the theological labours of the High-Church divines, should the Catholic public approve the present plan, and lead us to comment on a few more at least of the innumerable fallacies which pervade their productions. ART. VII.-Essays on Natural History, chiefly Ornithology. By Charles Waterton, Esq., Author of "Wanderings in South America." With an Autobiography of the Author, and a view of Walton Hall. Second edition, London: demy octavo. Longman and Co., 1838. T is now twelve or fifteen years since Mr. Waterton published his Wanderings in South America. Since that time, a number of pieces from his hand have appeared in various periodicals; among the rest, the pieces which form the present collection were published by Mr. Loudon, at different times, in the Magazine of Natural History. Mr. Loudon has now collected them together in one volume. The autobiography of the author appears, we believe, for the first time. Mr. Waterton is one of our best writers on Natural History. His Wanderings are the most faithful account we have of the natural history of the countries he visited: indeed, of the interior of Guiana and the adjoining tracts, now forming part of Brazil, he is still the only author we have. Our knowledge of Guiana had been confined to the coast of Dutch and of French Guiana. The work of Depons, the French agent, is geographical and commercial, and chiefly confined to New Grenada: the history of the expedition against the negros of Surinam, by Stedman, an excellent work, is chiefly historical: the Paris naturalists, who have paid a good deal of attention to the natural history of Dutch and French Guiana, and Cuvier, who has profited by the specimens which exist in Paris in great abundance, had not extended their researches farther; but Mr. Waterton has introduced us into the deepest recesses of those regions, and laid open to us the boundless stores of their natural history. He was just the man for the undertaking. To him, no forests were too boundless or too gloomy. No bogs, no swamps or marshes, no inundations, could check his enterprize. He had nerves formed of such happy cordage, that he could sleep in the trees amidst the howls, hisses, and screams, that were going on all night. The encampments and yells of the savages did not daunt him: nor the wild beasts, nor serpents. To him, no mountains were too steep, no trees unclimbable, no rivers or gulphs impassable. He had a taste for the beauties and wonders of nature from his childhood: he had a natural turn for enterprize and adventure. He had received an elegant and classical education; his associations and feelings were those of a gentleman: his mind was cultivated, and his fortune easy. To him, no climate was too hot : his spirits were light, and he had great ardour in pursuit of his favourite science. Such was the man who set out on an expedition to the unexplored regions of Guiana. In his Wanderings, he has given us an account of his adventures. His style is remarkably clear. It is pure, elegant and emphatic. There is a vein of cheerfulness and happiness of disposition which keeps the reader in good spirits through the varied scenes of the narrative: there is a fellow-feeling for animated nature, which is very interesting and even affecting: an enthusiasm, (and without something of enthusiasm, the best style of writing and the most valuable information, is sometimes very heavy, and a drag upon the reader's mind) an enthusiasm which enlivens, but never misleads him. The researches of Mr. Waterton, and his writings, have done a great deal towards the advancement of natural history in this country. We are improving in natural history very perceptibly. It is hardly thirty years, since several works on natural history, after a volume or two, or a few numbers had been published, were abandoned for want of public encouragement. But the public taste is now improved. We have excellent writers on the subject, and they meet with public patronage: we have large and excellent collections of specimens, particularly in the British Museum;-Mr. Waterton's collection,-the Manchester collection: we are also acquiring a taste for the charms of living nature in aviaries, zoological gardens, and menageries, such as the gardens in the Regent's park, the Surrey gardens, the Manchester and Liverpool gardens. Besides, noblemen and private gentlemen, now take a pleasure in forming aviaries and similar establishments, as the Earl of Derby, the Duke of Northumberland, and others. Again, gentlemen residing in foreign countries, in military, naval, or commercial capacities, also devote some of their leisure time to pursuits, by which they at once adorn their own minds, and contribute to the improvement of literature and science. In this manner, natural history is improving in all its branches. Ornithology, among the rest, to which Mr. Waterton has particularly applied himself, has advanced rapidly. This is especially the case with regard to the ornithology of three extensive countries, India, North America, and the South of Africa. So much has been done in those quarters, that, in all probability, not much now remains to be done. A great deal has been done for other countries also: the history of the birds of our own islands is now completely cleared up; and that of France, is considered by the French as in a state of perfection. In the ornithology of the West Indies, of Mexico and Peru, and of the western coast of Africa, a good deal has been done. In the meantime, three splendid fields for discovery, affording an almost boundless range for this charming study, have been thrown open. Brazil; the countries lying north of India, including the Himalay mountains, Tibet, &c.: and thirdly, the vast islands of the Indian ocean, New South Wales, &c. For, whilst we are introducing our commercial communications and our national power into Nepaul, Chabul, and across the Himalay mountains into Tibet; whilst we are colonizing and civilizing New South Wales, science is also visiting those sunny regions, and, with pencil in hand, is taking faithful and beautiful drawings of every thing new: and not only that, but as Columbus sent to Ferdinand and Isabella, hampers, containing the fruits of the newly-discovered |