CURRENT LITERATURE.

We are indebted to the Tower of Babel for three Grammars and a Pro- spectus. "Elaborate treatises have been written," says Mr. Kalisch,* "to prove that Hebrew is an easy language, and manuals have been published professing to teach it in four-and-twenty lessons." He himself does not "flatter the student with hopes so pleasing and gratifying." As a preliminary step, therefore, he calls upon the learner to master two formidable volumes on Grammar, which, he is careful to add, "is only the vestibule of the temple which enshrines the literature." For our own part we cannot venture beyond the threshold, and consequently shall not tarry long even over Mr. Beamont's "Concise Grammar of the Arabic Lan- guage,"f though he assures us that "the importance of that language to the study of Hebrew, the living to the dead, can scarcely be overrated." 14 as Mr. Beamont asserts, it is our imperative duty "to attempt the con- version of the Moslem subjects of Turkey to the Christian faith," it may be conceded that it would be very desirable we should be able to hold familiar intercourse with them. We therefore commend this Grammar to the atten- tion of all such as have other designs upon Turkey than the conversion of Kaimes. We are next invited to acquire the Dutch tongue in order to converse with the Japanese.t. The "enterprising British merchant," and every "literary man with the smallest pretensions to philology," are alike interested in making themselves master of "the most perfect of any of the Lower Teutonia dialects." The Prospectus to which we have alluded refers to the projected publication in Italian of two quarto volumes, the one containing 70 beautiful chromo-lithographs of large dimensions, and the other 400 pages of illustrative letter-press, intended to convey much curious and original information on the subject of Buddhism. § If the plates be only equal to the specimen submitted to us the work will be cheap at the price, 300 Italian lire.

The cultivation of Cotton on scientific principles forms the subject of an extremely useful little volume by Dr. Mallet.II And not only does he minutely investigate the elements and causes of its successful culture, but he also furnishes a careful account of the practice actually pursued in the Southern States of North America. The results of his researches are decidedly adverse to any expectations that may have been formed of obtaining large supplies of a first-rate article from India, and this conclusion is borne out by all the best authorities in that matter. This being the case, it may be worth while to consider the practicability of adopting Sir W. H. Holm's suggestion to turn British Guiana into a cotton-growing district!" There is no doubt whatever that the cultivation of cotton might be carried on there to any extent, if capital and labour were procurable. The latter, indeed, is now being obtained from China and India, and the former will not be slow in flowing into a profitable channel.

Great credit is due to Messrs Groombridge and Sons for their admirable "British Directory,"** which is by far the most complete work of the kind that has ever been published. There is scarcely any conceivable matter of reference that is not to be found in it, and the arrangement of its varied details leaves nothing to be desired. Of less general utility, though &shale quite as good in its way, are Mr. Haines' Tables for the Paper Trade.ff Another convenient compilation is Mr. Sampson Low's Guide-book to the charities of London,t: comprising, as it does, an account of the operations, resources, and general condition of the charitable, educational, and religious institutions of London.

A second edition of Dr. Thomson's "School Chemistry," proves that its author did not over-estimate his powers. §§ Much, it seems, has been re- written, and great care bestowed on the revision of the atomic weights and formulae, so as to render it a practical introduction to the present state of chemistry.

"Good wine," says the proverb, "needs no bush," but the difficulty is to find good wine. It is quite clear that a very large proportion of the wines drunk in this country are vile adulterations, in which the juice of the grape plays a very subordinate part. No unsophisticated wine, says Mr. Tovey,1111 and least of all Claret, can be sold at the prices advertised by certain un- scrupulous firms. The mixture that usually passes current as a cheap Claret, is simply a concoction of Cetti, Beni-Carlo, and Pontac, while in one instance he "found that a marvellously low-priced Claret consisted of a mixture of British spirits and water dashed with an acid, which had been racked upon wine lees coloured with dyewood." Really good wine, it seems, can never be otherwise than high-priced, owing to the comparatively small area on which it is produced, and the positively large demand for it in all parts of the globe. Many erroneous impressions 'and prejudices on the subject of French and German wines are successfully combated and removed by Mr. Tovey in his unpretending but exceedingly interesting little manual, and much useful information imparted in a simple and concise manner. Some of his revelations, however, will be hardly agreeable either to the keepers or

frequenters of taverns, though the latter have reason to be grateful for his courageous exposure of the fraudulent practices of "mine host." It is satisfactory to know on such good authority as that of Dr. John Brown, of Edinburgh,11 that a moderate use of sound wine will gladden the heart of man without injury to his constitution. The author of " Rab and his Friends" is not only a humorist of a high order, but a sensible and experi- enced practitioner of the healing art. His opinion on all that belongs to bodily health is therefore entitled to consideration, and he has the merit of tendering his advice in homely language intelligible to all classes.

• A Hebrew Grammar, with Exercises. By M. H. %Misch, Ph.D., M.A., Part I. Longman and Co.

t A Concise Grammar of the Arabic Language, revised by Sheikh All Nady El Barrany. By W. J. Beamont, M.A. Bell and Daldy.

t A Concise Grammar of the Dutch Language. By Dr. F. Ahn. Translated by H. Van Laub. Trilbner and Co.

§ Sommonakodom. Codice Buddistico Siamese (2', Has) Maniscritio e Dipinto. Publi- cato per cars di B. Biondelli. TrUbner and Co.

Cotton : the Chemical, Geological, and Meteorological condilions involved in its awes- fat Cultivation. By Dr. John W. Mallet. Chapman and Hall.

IF Free Cotton: How and where to grow it. By Sir W. H. Holes. Chapman and Hall.

" Thom' British Directory and Official Handbook of the United Kingdom: with County and Borough Register for England and Wales. Groombridge and Sons. tt The Paper Makers' and Stationers' Calculator. Compiled by E. N. Haines. W. J. Adams.

ft The Charities of London in 1861. By Sampson Low, Junior. Sampson Low, Son, and Co.

§§ School Chemistry, or Practical Rudiments of the Science. By Robert Dundaa Thomson, M.D. Longman and Co.

fill Wine and Wine Countries ; a Record and Manual /or Wine Merchants and Wine Consumers. By Charles Tovey. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. ill Health : Five Lay Sermons to Working People. By John Brown, MD. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. A varied assortment of books on theological and ecclesiastical ma adorns or encumbers our table : Tantum religio poluit readers malorarn. Th first of these that comes to hand is a collection of Charges and Sermons,* delivered at long intervals over a period of fifty years, by the venerable minister of Wycliffe Chapel. Among these is a funeral sermon on the death of the Princess Charlotte, in 1817, which acquires a double interest from the affliction which has 80 lately befallen the Royal Family of these realms. From Dr. Cumming, t we learn that Isaiah beheld in his mind's eye long trains of locomotives filled with the remnants of two tribes, at length disentangled from the complications of the nations," and all bound for " Vother side of Jordan." The ten tribes, who are now "somewhere out of sight," will at the same time "emerge from their hiding-place"— China, Tartary, or Thibet—and "be borne to Jerusalem in an exodus vastly more sublime than that in which they came forth from Egypt, and amidst miracles, and wonders, and mercies, cross the Red Sea, and settle peaceably in the midst of Palestine." Now, though we have not the slightest objection to the dwellers in Holywell-street, the Minories, and Houndsditch,being dragged through the waters of the Red Sea, we confess to being somewhat puzzled as to the route likely to be taken by the missing ten tribes when they pass from Central or Eastern Asia into India by way of Suez, and the mi- raculous ford. As of old the forthgoing Hebrews spoiled the Egyptians, so in the next exodus they are to take possession of the horses that are "the property of Gentile nations," as well as of their " Kurkaroth," or "chariots revolving with the swiftness of the clouds." It is thence evi- dent that the restoration of the Jews cannot be very close at hand, inas- much as not even the prospectus has been issued of the Eurkaroth line from Petticoat-lane to Palestine. We may, therefore, also presume that the "immortal smash" has again been postponed for a few years—so that there is yet hope in store for the expectants of deferred annuities. Far larger and more worthy views of God's dealings with man were entertained by the late Vicar of Banbury,t whose essays on the Church of Israel are not only marked by genuine piety and an enlightened faith, but are like- wise valuable as contributions to historical knowledge. Seeing that "we have no right to go out of" the world, or to "separate ourselves like wicked monks from its affairs," the Rev. Thomas Markby, M.A., § came to the wise conclusion that the best thing to be done was to turn life to good account, by walking, as far as possible, in the footsteps of the Re- deemer. It appeared to him that "an unusual and very awful parallel might be drawn between the time of the Son of Man on earth and our own." It is true the fagot no longer crackles in Smithfield, but the spirit of persecution is as rancorous as ever. Men still cling to obsolete forms and phrases, and regard the mere ceremonials of worship as the very essence of religion. There is the same " simoniacal and devilish traffic whereby the cure of souls is made as common a matter for bargain and sale as sheep in the market." There is the same seeking after signs and resorting to quacks and impostors, the same belief in wonder-workers, the same superstitious reverence for sacred buildings, the same disregard of holiness. "A season of tribulation" may, therefore, be expected, "such as has not been exceeded, if equalled, since Jerusalem fell." Having• established this parallel to his own satisfaction, Mr. Markby thought he could not do better than occupy himself with placing before his congrega- tion the daily life and teaching of the Saviour of mankind. The idea was unexceptionable, and its execution has been very creditably and usefully carried out. Should any one, however, still be troubled with vague and imperfect notions of Christianity, he may turn with advantage to the Rev. Edmond Mortlock's treatise to prove its consonance with reason and adapt- ability to the ordinary occurrences of life.lj As faith, unlike to "human love," is in a great measure "the growth of human will," it is gene- rally found more profitable to enforce its expediency by illustrations than to prove its necessity by logical arguments. In fact, reason is incompetent of itself to produce faith, and it is probably on this account that, instead of entering upon a disputation, an anonymous writer has preferred to quote the examples of certain scriptural personages to show how faith should be exhibited by those who have reached that haven.1 There is a very general belief on the Continent that every educated Englishman is familiar with the writings of St. Augustin, and regards the " Civitas Dei" as almost the offspring of inspiration. Whatever may have been the case when the educated class might be counted by tens, such is certainly not the case at the present day, nor is it likely that any great desire to become acquainted with the works of the learned Bishop of St. Hippo will be kindled by the latest translation of his Manual of Devotion.*• The very name is a misnomer. Devotion is not to be "got up" by the aid of a Manual, like the elements of an art or a science and assuredly very few persons in the middle of the nineteenth century ;yin find these prayers applicable to their own circumstances. The book itself, however, is beautifully printed, and rejoices in a pretty ecclesi- astical cover, and will look very nice" upon a medieval prie-Dieu.

Should any one be induced, by the interest he may take in sanitary questions, to procure a little volume entitled Ministers of Health,tt he will certainly be doomed to disappointment. The ministers. in question are simply visions, after the manner of those which used to appear in Mr. Charles Dickens's Christmas books, only adapted to the capacity of very juvenile readers. If these slight moral tales seem inappropriately placed among religious dissertations and Handbooks to Heaven, no objection can be made, at least on that ground, to Dr. Taylor's Sermons for Advent.t$ The early destruction of the terrestrial globe through the action of subter- ranean fires forms the burden of the third sermon, and is handled with artistic effect. A series of papers having for their object the promotion of good sense and thoughtfulness, and the discouragement of unmeaning and conventional modes of religious tuition, is now issuing from the prolific press of Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co., under the equally ambitious and • Charges and Sermons on Special Occasions, during a Ministry of Fifty Years. By Andrew Reed, D.D. Ward and Co.

t Readings on the Prophets: Isaiah. A Familiar and Popular Exposition for Sun- day Beading. By the Rev. J. Cumming, D.D., F.R S.E. R. Bentley.

The Church of Israel: a Study in Prophecy. With an Essay on the Chronology of Scripture. By William Wilson, MA. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. § The Man Christ Jesus ; or, the Daily Life of our Lord Jesus Christ on Earth, as dis- played by His Evangelists for our Example. By Thomas Markby, M.A. RiVillgt0118. II Christianity Agreeable to Reason in its Evidence, its Doctrine of the Atonement, and its Commemorative Sacrament. By the Rev. E. Mortlock, B.D. Macmillan and CO. ir Illustrations of Faith : Eight Plain Sermons. By One of the Writers of the

"Tracts for the Christian Seasons." J. H. and J. Parker. •

4* Manual of Devotion. From the Writaags of St. Augustin. John Ifaclaren.

tt Ministers of Health: Sketches, Mystic and Moral By the Rev. IL Boyden. T. T. Lemare.

tt The Time is at Hand : Advent Sermons, 1861. By the Rev. D. F. Taylor, LL.D. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. ambiguous title of Philo-Socrates.* Ambitious—because the author pro- fesses to investigate subjects "which, there is reason to believe, would have interested Socrates, and in a manner that he would not disapprove were he among us now, gifted with the knowledge and familiar with the habits and doings of our times." Ambiguous—because, while its natural meaning is the friend of Socrates, it is intended to represent the admiration Socrates would have entertained for Mr. William Ma, had he been so fortunate as to have postponed his existence to the present times. While agreeing with many of Mr. Ellis's conclusions, we confess to a narrow escape from a dislocation of the cervical vertebrte while nodding over his tedious and pedantic prolusions. Tortoise-like in many respects, the gens braccata of Holland have nevertheless anticipated the English theologians in their attempt to introduce rational argument in the discussion of Christian doctrines. The three cardinal points—the nature of the Trinity, or Tri- unity, "the Atonement, or satisfaction of God's justice by Christ's suffer- ings, viewed as an equivalent for the punishment due for the sins of the whole world," and the verbal infallibility of Scripture—are shown by Dr. Lorgiont to be, strictly Speaking, unscriptural. "They are not to be found in the oldest creed of the Christian Church, the so-called Apostolical creed,

• Philo-Socrates. Part IIL Among the Teachers. By William Ellis. Smith, Elder, and Co. .1. The Pastor of Vliethinsen ; or, Conversations about the Groninfer School, the Doctrine of the Church, the Science of Theology, and the Bible. By E. J. Diest LorgIon, D.D. Translated from the Dutch. Cape Town : J. C. Jut&

the confession of which was deemed sufficient for admission to membership of the Christian Church during the first three centuries of its existence. Indeed, the atonement theory,' as expounded by modern orthodoxy, is scarcely eight centuries old." A scientific, though reverent, examination of the Sacred Writings is earnestly advocated as the only means of ensuring the diffusion of real Christian knowledge, but at the same time it is admitted that whatever is "characteristic in the person of Christ has been set forth in the Gospels in complete accordance with truth." In other words, Dr. Lorgion is a Dutch "Essayist and Reviewer," and therefore would not be at all to the taste of a certain anonymous writer who subscribes himself as "One who wishes to ascertain what is the True Faith of a Christian.' Though undertaking to examine these ill-starred Essays by the test of common sense, this gentleman, with a long pseudonym, charges Dr. Temple and his colleagues with being deficient in spiritual light. With them "the eye of the soul" is obscured, and consequently they are unable to comprehend mysteries which are accepted by babes and sucklings, and likewise by " One who, &c. &c.," and who is considerate enough to inform his readers that he is now in his seventy-fourth year, and that since the age of fourteen he has been engaged in trade—obviously an excellent training for the polemical arena.

• The" Essays and Review?' Examined on the Principle-1 of Common Sense; some Preliminary Remarks on the Mode in which Instructions are Communicated from God to Man. Walton and hiaberly.