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physique was fragile, but his presence was not a little imposing. He was about the average height, and though his head was not large, his thick white locks gave him a venerable appearance, and calm, deep, thought sat upon his brow. As a preacher he was far above the average. If not distinguished by striking originality and far-reaching thought, his sermons were always devoutly meditative, and thrillingly interesting. His manner was grave, his elocution perfect, and his voice admirably suited to convey the loftiest ideas and sublimest sentences into the deepest depths of the soul. As a religious author, too, he took no mean position. I have read with interest his "Quiet Resting Places," and his work on Jonah, as well as some of his contributions to monthly serials. His diction was elegant, and his phrases ever musical. He attained to great popularity in his denomination, and his popularity was that in which the most thoughtful men could rejoice. It was not won by hooting orthodox platitudes, roaring paradoxes, or screaming out the horrors of damnation. He will long live in the grateful memory of those who were favoured to attend his ministry or read his books.

DR. MELLOR, who has just passed away, to the profound regret of all who knew him, I knew tolerably well, and greatly respected. He first introduced himself to me some thirty years ago or more, in a way that I shall not soon forget. It was at the Ordination of the late Rev. W. Betts, Hanover Chapel, Peckham, the successor to Dr. Collyer, a man whose pulpit popularity, some sixty years ago, was almost without parallel. On this occasion, the Rev. Thomas Binney preached, and after the morning service there was a public dinner, at which there was a large gathering of London ministers. After dinner, a fine, well structured, open-faced young man came up to me and said, "I have been told that the author of the 'Crisis of Being,' is present. I have looked round on all the ministers here, and asked myself the question, Who of them all is the most likely to be, the author,' and I have fastened on you. May I ask, are you the author?" Of course I did not deny it. After this, we frequently met. He contributed to the "Homilist," wrote me several encouraging notes as the editor. He not only was a monthly subscriber to it from the beginning, but was one of its most enlightened and appreciative friends. The last time I met him was last May twelvemonth, coming out of the Memorial Hall, when he pressed me to dine with him. On that occasion we had much free

genial chat, on a variety of topics, in which we were mutually interested. He was a most interesting companion. I remember a few years ago spending some time with him at Ben Rhyding. He was full of hilarity, playing quoits in the grounds, detailing striking anecdotes, and often giving utterance to lofty thoughts. When the thickening shadows of the night compelled us to leave the ground, and to retire to the hall of the splendid mansion, he, for the entertainment of the numerous guests, extemporised a concert, became: the conductor, and with his clarion voice sang several classic songs,. much to the delight of all. On the whole, I regard him as the ablest man of the denomination to which he belonged. By nature he was endowed with a singularly powerful mind, and this mind was well trained for high work, and enriched with vast and varied information. He was a splendid reasoner. In a discussion which went on a few years ago, on the "Atonement," with a somewhat popular London minister, in the "Independent" newspaper; with what masterly power and ease he crushed his argumentative antagonist. Nor was he less distinguished as a rhetorician. As an orator, though, he did not court the cheers, he commanded the reverent attention of his audience. His appearance on the denominational platform was always welcome, his presence was an ornament to it, and his speeches relieved it of its characteristic dulness.. Though I deeply lament his departure, I encourage the hope of meeting him and other kindred spirits that I have known and. loved in higher realms. Among the very few stars in the firmament. o his denomination he was undoubtedly the brightest.

Know we not our dead are looking,
Downward as in sad surprise,
All our strife of words rebuking
With their mild and earnest eyes.
Shall we grieve the holy angels?
Shall we cloud their blessed skies?

Let us draw their mantles o'er us
Which have fallen in our way;
Let us do the work before us
Calmly, bravely, while we may,
'Ere the long night-silence cometh,
And with us it is not day."

J. G. Whittier.

Literary Notices.

[We hold it to be the duty of an Editor either to give an early notice of the books sent to him for remark, or to return them at once to the Publisher. It is unjust to praise worthless books, it is robbery to retain unnoticed ones.]

THE REVIEWER'S CANON.

In every work regard the author's end,
Since none can compass more than they intend.

Vol. II.

London: The

THE GIRL'S OWN ANNUAL FOR 1881.
Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster Row.

The second volume is in every way worthy of the first. It has immense attractions for girls, abounding with most useful information on almost every conceivable subject. It is also crowded with anecdotes, many of them of thrilling interest; and well told stories of course it has, suited to the girl's mind, nothing purient, but most with a pious tendency. Girls are supposed to be inquisitive, and questions innumerable start to them which they cannot answer themselves, these are here answered, anyhow, as many of them as deserve replies. It has some able contributors, and not a few distinguished artists, hence the pages are adorned with woodcuts, many of them striking and illustrative. We recommend all parents who have girls to subscribe to this journal.

THE BOY'S OWN ANNUAL FOR 1881. Vol. III. Religious Tract Society Paternoster Row.

All that we have said about "The Girl's Own Paper," will apply to this work. This, however, has the immense advantage of contributions from that most learned and distinguished naturalist, Rev. J. G. Wood. His articles alone give the book a priceless worth. The illustrations here are, we think, better than in the Girl's Own Paper; many of them withal are coloured. If we have any objection to urge it is to the assumed rightness of war. It has too many tales and stories that seem to minister to the belligerent and bloody tendencies of human nature. Of course boys like to read these things, but their effect is to brutalise the young mind. It has been said that pugnacity is an element in human nature. Granted, but the aim of all true Christian teaching should be to give a right

Christian direction to this instinct; to set it a fighting not against life, but against lies; not against existence, but against the physical and moral evils that curse existence. Boys do not want to have pictures of men with swords and guns and military costume, but pictures of great moral heroes. In fact, we feel in duty bound to protest against introducing so much of this kind of thing in books, professing rightly to educate our boys.

THE QUIVER FOR 1880. Vol. XVI.
Galpin, Ludgate Hill.

London: Cassell, Petter, and

This serial not only holds on its way, but seems to wax stronger. It is too well known now to require us to characterise it, and too extensively appreciated to require a word of commendation. The sermons and religious discourses are what we least appreciate. With a few exceptions, they are rather conventionally evangelical, presenting to men the distorted Christ of the creeds, rather than the all-beautiful Christ of the gospels. There are many good tales in this book, two of which we have read with great interest, "Borne Back," and the "Sailor's Daughter." We have two faults, however, to find with this volume. The Index is most incomplete, and the binding is very imperfect, the leaves fall out as you read.

THE CLERGY LIST FOR 1881. London: John Hall, 38, Parliament Street.

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This is the " Clergy List for this year.

It contains a list not only of all the clergymen in England, Wales and Scotland, but also in the Colonies. Also a list of benefices, with their post towns, net value, patrons, &c. Of course this volume is not only almost a necessity for all clergymen, but for all public men.

THE PROVINCIAL LETTERS OF PASCAL. Edited by JOHN DE SOYES. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell & Co.

It is somewhat strange that confessedly the greatest of French prose works has never yet been satisfactorily edited. The "Provincial Letters" have been so often reprinted, that the bibliographer loses all count of editions. The present edition attempts two objects. "In the first place to furnish students of French literature with an accurate text, supplemented with necessary historical notes. In the second place, to offer theological students the materials for thoroughly investigating one of the most important

pages in ecclesiastical history. It is hoped that the arrangement of the volume will prevent any confusion in the attempt to combine these objects. The Introduction contains special essays upon the great controversies upon Free-will and Casuistry, without some previous knowledge of which it is impossible to follow Pascal's polemics." The editor has done good service in the production of this valuable work.

THE STRAIT GATE AND OTHER DISCOURSES, WITH A LECTURE ON THOMAS CARLYLE. By a SCOTCH PREACHER. Edinburgh:

Andrew Elliot.

This volume consists of six discourses, the subjects of which are -The Strait Gate; The True Life of Man; Christianity in its Personal Centre and Spiritual Root; Faith, its Nature, Root, Range, and Reference; the Spirit; Unconsciousness of Self; the Spirit of Christ. Also a lengthened Preface, and a Lecture on Thomas Carlyle, his life and writings. We are sorry the author has not given his name. If he has withheld it from fear that he will be condemned on account of his heterodoxy, we have no respect for him. The time has come when every man who has the power of thinking like unto him, and whose thoughts run not on the old lines. of a conventional evangelism, should show himself. The truest men of all communnions would like to see, greet, and shake hands with him. For our own part we should much like to see the author of this book. Although we do not endorse all that the volume contains (and we should have little respect for the man who would endorse all that we have written), we highly recommend these discourses.

MELANCHOLY ANATOMISED. By R. BURTON. May Fair Edition. London Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly.

The author of this work was born in Lindley, in Leicestershire, in February, 1578, studied at Christ Church, Oxford, became rector of Seagrave, in Leicester, and continued to reside in his college at Oxford, where he wrote this work. Though he seemed to be endowed with an unusual amount of high spirit, which often filled him with fun and frolic, he was subject, as is often the case, to subjects of great depression. When these fits were on him, we are told he used to go down to the river near Oxford, and listen to the coarse jests and ribaldry of the bargemen which would often excite

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