A. Bible Dictionary. Edited by the Bev. Charles Bolden, M.A.
(Moson.)—This is intended as a volume of what is called " The Haydn Series," to which belong " The Dictionary of Dates " and "The Dictionary of Biography," both of them very useful, and, as a tolerably large experience of them enables us to say, very complete works. The volume before us we can estimate best by comparing it, as we have done in a number of items, with Dr. Smith's "Dictionary of the Bible." It has about three-fifths of the bulk of "The Conde°
Dictionary of the Bible." In antiquarian, geographical, historical matters, and the like, it follows much the same authoritio e, though an occasional variation is to be found. We havo found little or nothing that was new. Very possibly there was, for the most part, but small opportunity of saying anything now. When Mr. 13outell does put in anything that is clearly his own, it is not always very valuable. This, for instance, about " clouds " might have been spared. " Clouds, irre- spective of their own unequalled and over-varying be auty, have special claims for the admiration of the Christian, since ho knows that as his Lord was received by a cloud out of human sight, so he shall coma again in the clouds of heaven," "having blotted out, as a thick cloud, his trans- gressions, and, as a cloud, his sins." The articles which require more original treatment do not impress us much with the idea of power. On the whole, speaking as perfectly impartial critic; we prefer the older book, though the volume before us, putting aside all question as to the obligation under which it may be to its predecessor, (thaws an amazing amount of industry and research.
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