South Africa and its Mission Fields. By the Rev. J.
E. Carlyle. (Nisbet.)—This is an interesting account of the work which is being carried on by various Christian communities in South Africa, There is no part of the world in which the Missionary agencies are so various. Every denomination of importance is represented, and most of them, it is satisfactory to see, have achieved a success which is not unsatisfactory. It is pleasing and hopeful to observe that there is a general harmony of sentiment among them, a harmony which is admirably represented in the tone of the anther of this book. The Anglican Church, as represented by some, at least, of its prelates,. offers a deplorable contrast to this unity of feeling. It is the logical conclusion of sacerdotalism that the Missionary efforts of bodies which do not possess the Apostolic succession are merely efforts of the blind to lead the blind. We say the logical conclusion, for happily all sacer- dotalists are not logical, and we have heard some of their number speak with equal enthusiasm of Adoniram Judson and Francis Xavier, Happy inconsistency ! It would be well if Bishop Webb, of Bloom. fontein, could emulate it. Mr. Carlisle has not confined himself to Missionary topics,—he has " sought to glance, at least, over the wide field of educational, social, and other vitally important South-African questions." What he has to say on these topics has been carefully weighed, and is worth attention. We would commend to our readers what seems an important correction of Bishop Colenso, about the character and conduct of the Zulu King, Cetywayo, on pp. 252-259. Our author quotes distinct testimony that converts were murdered by order of the King because they were converts, and he throws consider- able doubt on the character of the Bishop's witness, Magema.
Just now there seems to be a passion for " Birthday-Books." We have before us four of these little volumes,—The Birthday-Book of German Literature, by J. W. L. (Thomas Laurie), its mottoes and maxims being translated into English ; The Byron Birthday-Book, compiled and edited by James Burrows (Samuel Tinsley) ; The Longfellow Birthday-Book, arranged by Cecilia Dixon. (Routledge.) The ludicrous effect that must be sometimes unintentionally produced by a too obvious contrast between the quotation and the person to whom it is perforce applied is intentionally sought by The Comic Birthday-Book, compiled by W. F. March Phillipps (Hatchards), a humorous preface indicating the compiler's appreciation of the situation. The happiest idea of the kind is that of The Portrait Birthday-Book, noticed in these columns some time ago. It is hard if any one does not find in the list of names which adorn his birthday some one to whom he is, or ought to be, or fancies himself to be, like.
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