'Wountr allb
DAVID MCKINNEY,
JAMES ALLISON,. rilorßirsoits
ETEKIEN LITTLE,
PITTSBIIROIL,FEB.IIIIARY 5, 1859.
IPERBIIS.o. $1.50 1 to airramoas or taL Clubs
01.2511 or,dslimarad at residences of On*seri.
b urs, ;
112.00 • dee Prospectus, on Third Pages
R Rai WA l g should be prompt; a little
while before the year expires, that we way
audio fall arriumgesmenti for a steady supply.
VIM RFD WRAPPZR lakdiostom that we
desire a renewal. If, however, km the baste
of stalling, this signal should be onlitted, we
hope our friende will OW not forget moo
RRIUTIPANOIGII.—Sand payment by safe
• whoa sonvenleat. Or, mood by mail,
.*dosing with ordistary ears, sad troloblial
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doings Per a large amount, wad a Draft, or
large notes. For One ortwo papers, nod Gold
or 'Wan notes.
110 MUM CRAM GM, Saud pOidogo stamps,
• better AM/ mad tor =ore papers; soy dit
or devexty nunmbers, or pl for TlidrtYldureo
Uoiadiord.
DIREIGIP ail Letters and Cousaunitatioils
to DAVID ariduziwirar .b 130,, Pittsburgh,
Pli,
OBITUARY NfitTlCES.—rChese have so ao
etunulated that we , are again obliged to de
vote to them iiifitioitiof our fourth page.
Tics Bisosms of J. B. Williams, H.
Childs, and T. H. Nevin, for monthly receipts
for, Boards and Seminary, are received, but
deferred for want of room.
Tsars Pusssuum upon our columns this
week is beyond their capacity. Some articles,
editorials and others, necessarily lie over—
also the Washington news and some Book
Notices.
BEAD the 'Quarterly Review of Literature,
on this page. It is long, but good through
out. We are pleased to be able to keep our
clerical and other literary readers possessed
of such information.
MIZNOWLMEGMENT.....Mr.,John Culbert•
soa r Librarian, acknowledges the following
contributions to the Board of Colportage
From Society of Inquiry of Elder's Ridge
Academy, Presbytery of Saltsburg, $9.55 ;
Lawrenceville church, Presbytery of Ohio,
DZiAWAILE Common —This institution,
belonging to New School Presbyterians, is
located at Newark, Delaware. The Presi
dent, Rev. E. J. Newlan, has tendered his
resignation, which has been accepted. Mr.
Newlan takes the \pastoral charge of a
church at Bloomfield, N .- . J.
The Noon-Day Prayer-Meeting.
This meeting is regularly kept up in Pitts-
burgh. The attendance is• about from one
hundred to two hundred persons. It should
be greatly increased -very' greatly: — Chriew
thins are 'invited. The sinner is invited.
The aged and the young are invited. The
meetings are characterized by great propri
ety, and often great earnestness is manifest,
both in the prayers and the remarks. We
cannot but think that many there are grow
ing in grace, and are being prepared for and
stimulated to more effective labors in the
Redeemer's cause.
A Response•
[The following, from a lady in Allegheny
City, is a kind response to the address of our
London Correspondent to our Lady Read
ers. We trust there will be many more do
nations to the good object, and that the
" AMERICAN TABLE," on the occasion al
laded to, will be well covered.--EDs
ALIAGRENY CITY , Jan. 25 , 1859.
Bissau. EDITORS—Dear Sirs :—With
mach pleasure, I avail myself of the
present opportunity to evince the fraternal
feeling of a number of us, for our " Island
Cousins."
The two aceompaning " Moucheir " are
the offering, in aid of a good work, of a
young lady, " whose heart is in her hand,"
and who " seeketh wool and flax, and work
eth willingly With her hands:"
Your London Correspondent has made
numerous warm friends, who are acquainted
with him through his correspondence with
your • valuable journal, and we are happy in
testifying our esteem by responding to his
call. •
In the light of dollars and cents, the
vlue of these articles is not great, blt in
them is centered the deepest interest and
heartiest good-will of those whose contribu
tion they are. Their rate is five dollars, ($5.-
00.) •They have cost far more than that, but
"charity is kind," and the excess is freely
given.
Yours, in brotherly love,
M. MANN.
Revivals.
NILES, OHIO.--A gentleman, formerly a
merchant in Pittsburgh, then by no means
interested on the subject of religion, but
who. has now found joy and peace in Christ
Jesus, writes to a friend, giving a glowing
account of the revival at Niles. The meet
ings were continued, every afternoon and
every evening, for 'six weeks. Thera were
one hundred and thirty inquirers, above
one hundred. of whom had expressed a hope,
and many of them had united with the Ev
angelical churches of the place. The
'age is small, and`Chrustians united in their
work and worship. It "would seem that
prayer greatly abounded.- The writer says
" Ever since the revival, last • Winter, our
praying Christians have been praying God
that every house in our place might become
a house of'pro7, and each heart a fit
I temple for Chript,to dwell in. And that
prayer is answered almost to the letter."
Such labors, when performed in faith,
God ;blesses. And such should be the la
bore of Christians, in every city, village,
and country place wheie God has a church
,an 4 people.
-BARNEgylu7i4, OEGO.-A church has
been recently organized here, and fifteen
members added on examination; and also a
house of worship,has been erected.
Nsw HAGERSTOWN, ONTO, AND ARMAGU,
PA,—are rejoicing in a gracious visitation of
the Spirit. We may give more information,
next week.
To the Readers and Friends of the Pres
41113oratt.1 byterian Banner and Advocate.
When the undersigned engaged in the
establishing and conducting of a Religions
Newspaper, it was not from a desire to
change his situation or employment, but to
discharge a duty which seemed to be incum
bent. It was then his settled purpose, either
to retire in a few years, leaving the work in
abler bands, or to become associated with
those younger than he, in its prosecution.
The former was his decided preference, but
the latter sppears to accord best with prori
dences. He has hence entered into arrange
ment. with RYA. JAMES ALLISON, of Se
wickleyville, and Mn. STEPHEN LITTLE, of
this city, to earrry on the PRESBYTERIAN
BANNER AND ADVOCATE as a Co• Partne
rship.. The business firm will be, DAVID
MCKINNEY & CO., to which address corres
pondents are requested to direct all com
munications relative to the paper.
MR. ALLISON has been a contributor to
the columns of the paper, ever since the
BANNER'S second year. Henceforth he
will share jointly in the editorial respon
sibility. His talent, taste, scholarship, tact,
and judgment, eminently qualify him for
the work; especially in that he possesses
much of the ardor of youth, combined with
the wisdom which results from several years'
devoted pastoral life, and from much inter
course with mankind.
MR. .LITTLE has been Principal Clerk in
the office for several years. He is well ac'
quainted with the *business of the paper, is
reliable, accurate, attentive,•obliging, as all
who have had any thing to transact in the
office, either personally or by letter, can
abundantly testify.
THE UNDERSIGNED will devote his time
and energies to the enterprise, as hereto
fore.
This union, both in the Editorial and
Business departments of the journal, assures
the Christian community of its permanence,
and of an earnest personal consecration to
the promoting of its excellence. But it, at
the same time, makes the net increase of its
pecuniary income a necessity. This net in
crease it is purposed to effect, not by lessen
ing the eapenditures upon the paper. Such
a course would diminish its value, and
thwart our aims—for we hold that Presbyte
rians are entitled to that which is truly good,
whatever it may cost. Neither would we
prefer to accomplish the needful end, by in
creasing the price. This must, to some ex
tent, contract the circulation, and thus also,
by curtailing the spread of knowledge, di
minish the efficiency of our Chrirch.member
ship ; for it is a truth, indisputable, that no
church can duly grow, nor put forth its full
capabilities, without the nutriment supplied
by the religious paper. And for this reason,
no church should be satisfied while a single
family in it is without the paper's presence.
We henci.iiiiiitFf prefer to increase .-uur
means, by an increased circulation.
For Subscription lists, we look mainly to
PASTORE, ELDERS, DEACONS, and other de
voted FRIENDS of religion. The work is co
operative, and mutually beneficial.
Advertisement are a legitimate source of
income, and tethese we look for a part of
our support. They enter into the calcula
tion of resources, and, have a decided influ
ence in keeping down the subscription price
of a paper. Cut these off, and the price
must rise at once, or the paper must fail.
We do not, however, wish to occupy a jarge
space thus; but we would hope for an in
crease of a column or two, beyond the paper's
past average. Advertisements are useful.
Buyers as well as sellers have a benefit. All
have wants, and it is well to know where
they may be supplied. And .our, friends
may here do us a great service, not only by
sending their notices, but by stating to
the Oleo', the store, Sze., which they pat
ronize, the fact that they have made, or
have kept up, their acquaintance with it,.
through the medium of our columps.
Obituary, Ecclesiastical, and Marriage
Notices are a source of livelihood, in part, to
the conductors of the Secular press; and
also to those of the Religious press, in sev
eral of the principal Eastern cities.* And
the thing is reasonable. With us it would
do much toward enabling us to continue our
subscription on the present very low terms.
It is thus a matter of interest to our readers.
But still, we have not adopted the system.
It is the purpose of the partners to con
tinue the present Terms, for some time,
with the hope of being enabled to regard
them as fixed. If, however, an adequate
support cannot be thus raised, the price
must be advanced to the common newspaper
standard. We give our journal an intiinsie
value, far beyond the money we ask for it,
professing, as we do, to live, not for gain,
but for usefulness; and maintaining still the
true Gospel doctrine, that 41 the laborer is
worthy of his hire." "Whatsoever is right"
he should "receive."
After stating these faets and principles,
the undersigned, on behalf of himself and
associates, would assure the readers of the
BANNER AND ADVOCATE, that them utmost
exertions shall be made to have the journal
just what a Presbyterian newspaper should
be; and that the business shall be conducted
in the most upright, kind, and acoommo•
dating manner.
With great Respect,
DATrD MOKINNBY
It That popular and ably conducted journal, the
Nees York Obser?ier, charges twenty five cents
each, for 14Iarrriage and Obituary notices; and
if the obituary occupies more than five lines, it
has ten cents a line.
Allegheny Endowment.
•
in the Presbytery of Allegheny City, the
second Sabbath of February has been desig
nated as the day for presenting the En
dowment of the Fourth Professorship, and
setting on foot the collections. Would not
all the churches of the four Synods, who
have not yet carried out the Synodical plan,
do well to act on this same day 7 It is im
portant that the work be promptly acorn-
Oohed. •
To the Chrietiou Public.
It has grown to be a custom, when any
new publication presents itself for public
patronage, or when a change occurs in
the management of one already existing,
to set forth the objects proposed, and the
Way in which they are to be accomplished.
The voice of the people demands such a
declaration.. They would know the grounds
on which their favor is solicited, and what
they may reasonably expect from those who
thus ask for their, confidence and support.
And we have no disposition to shrink from
an open and frank avowal of our purposes,
or of the principles by which we propose to
be guided; we think this much due to our
readers and patrons, and to our brethren of
the religions and secular press.
The BANNER was originally brought into
being to supply a want .that was seen and
felt in the Church. A newspaper whose
theology should be that of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States; which ohould
advocate and defend that Church's system
of government, and her schemes of evan
gelization; which would be accessible to all
the people on the lowest terms consistent
with a just remuneration; which would
convey to them a correct knowledge of the
condition of all the various departments of
the Church, and which would combine, in
proper proportions, secular, literary, and refit
giona intelligence, was called for in a way
not to be misunderstood. To meet, as best
it could, this requisition, was the intention
of the BANNER from the beginning. And
Were was no change of purpose on its be
coming the BANNER AND ADVOCATE; nor
will there be under the present management.
It will, however, be our constant desire and
effort to approximate still more nearly our'
ideal standard. We will endeavor to do oar
part fully in making known the wants and
in presenting the claims of the different
Boards, and in having them conducted
economically, and, at the same time, with
the highest degree of efficiency, and under
strict accountability to the churches.
We come to the aid of pastors, to en
courage them, to supplement their work, to
strengthen their hands, and to cheer their
spirits. The people we would inform of the
(Audition and prospects of the Church at
home and abroad. We would tell them of
their duties to the Church, their pastors,
their fellow-men, and their families, and of
the solemn obligations they are under to
live for God. It will also be our aim to
bring before their minds the various move
ments that are constantly taking place in
our own and other countries, through the
great religious societies, of a general char r
atter ; and also reliable accounts of all edu
cational, literary, and religious progress.
We will seek to be made welcome in the
study, in the reading room, and at the fire
side, by the pastor, by the man of literary
-tastes, and by the parent who would bring
up his children in the nurture and admoni
tion of the Lord. Such are the objects we
propose—such is the work we . have marked
out for ourselves, in conjunction with the
other journals of our Church, and of other
Evangelical denominations.
After this.statement, it is but proper that
we should make known the means by which
this is to be done. The foreign and do
mestic news department will be as full as
our limits will justify. Correspondents in
different parts of the country will give in
formation of what may interest our readers
with regard to the condition and prospects
of religion in ..those places. Careful atten
tion will be given to making valuable ex
tracts from standard authors, and the many
sermons, reviews, and newspapers, that come
under our notice. The Ecclesiastical table
will be as full and correct as possible. Our
London Correspondence, which, we think
we can say without being charged with vain
boasting, is excelled by that of no other
American journal, in breadth of view and
on variety of subject, and in the vivid
picture it exhibits of the living present in
the Old World, will continue its weekly visits.
The Eastern Summary will be prepared
with the same care, and on the same liberal
principles as heretofore, but from increased
facilities, so that our readers will have before
them a correct idea of the condition of
business, of literary progress, and of the
state of religion in those great centres of
wealth, enterprise, and influence, Boston,
New York, and Philadelphia. In this de
partment, particular care will be given to
historical reminiscences, to new public,ations
of standard value in history, literature,
science, and theology, and to the ever
varying shades of opinion and sentiment, as
they may present themselves from time to
time. Our Book Notices will be full and
discriminating ; special care will be taken
to tell exactly what a book is—that is, of
what subjects it treats, and how it treats
them—that justice may be done to both
purchaser and publisher. The leading Edi
torials will be occupied with matters of
weighty and living interest, embracing a
great variety of the topics suitable for dis
cussion , in s religious journal. The
editorial notices of Incidents, Sentiments,
Meetings, and the many things claiming
attention in this way, will be numerous, and
prepared with me. And the rapidly de
veloping West, both North and South, will
be remembered, and it 3 progress be noted
with deep interest.
Such is a brief outline of our future
course, as it lies at present in our own minds.
We trust we are not insensible to the
great advances made within a few years, in
the character of religious journalism; nor
of the responsibilities we assume in our pur
pose to keep at an even pace with this pro
gress. The position of this paper is now
well established, and never before has it re
ceived such commendations from various
parts of the Church and the land, as within
the last few months. To make it increas
ingly worthy of patronage, will be a matter
of constant effort.
With our brethren of the press, both secu
lar and religious, it is our desire to cultivate
the most friendly. relation& If we should
ever differ in opinion from any of them,
we hope to be able to treat their views
with respect, and to state them with candor.
We are attached to our own denomination
by the strongest convictions, but we can yet
recognize, most heartily, all other Evangel
ical denominations as branches of the same
great family of Christ, can pray for their
"success, speak the encouraging - word, and
say, "Mercy unto you, and peace and love
be multiplied."
With these purposes do we enter upon our
work, deeply sensible of the labors we have
assumed, of the responsibilities we have in
curred, of the demands that will be made on
us, and of our need of Divine aid, direction,
and blessing. Our local position in the
country and in the Church, gives us great
facilities for carrying on our work. In and
around Pittsburgh is the densest Presby
terian population in the United States—a
population whose orthodoxy, zeal, activity,
and attachments to their Church, are well
known and eminent. We are located at
a great theological, literary, manufacturing,
business, social, and traveling centre. Our
rivers, railroads, mails, and telegraph lines,
keep us well and speedily` informed of every
important occurrence. All these advan
tages, we trust that we shall use well, to
every reader's benefit.
We look to our brethren in the ministry,
in the eldership, and among the private
members, for that sympathy, encourage
ment, and support so necessary to our suc
cess; and in return we pledge untiring ef
forte for the prosperity of the Church, the
good of man, and the glory of God. If
they will do for us that which will cost
them so little, and benefit us in our work so
much, they will receive our most heartfelt
thanks, and will put it within our power to
make contemplated improvements in our
paper, which may commend it still" farther
to public patronage. The increase of sub
scriptions to the present volume has been
already highly gratifying, and a little atten
tion on the part of our subscribers among
neighbors and friends, would add, in a short
time, thousands to our list,.
In our-work we ask a moderate remuner
ation for our labors and , investments; for
the sympathies, prayers, confidence, and
kindly considerations of our friends; for
the approval of our own consciences, and
for the blessing of our gracious God.
Quarterly Review of Literature, Science,
and Art.
NUMBER VI.
fur MR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)
LONDON, January 7th, 1859.
Among the Nnw Bowls or TECO YEAR,
Carlisle's " Frederic the Great" requires
no further notice from me. It is doubtless
familiar to tens of thousands in the United
States. The impression, however, deepens,
that, after all, it is, a hero-worshipper's
exaggeration of history. Like Fronde, the
new and accomplished historian, who is the
eulogist and defender of Henry YIII., jus
tifying even his crimes, (on a theory of M.
Froude's own suggestion,) so Carlisle seems
determined to make the world think quite
differently of the morale of Frederic, and
by his own magic power to persuade us to
something more than be
"To his faults a little blind."
The Messrs. Clarke, of Edinburgh, have
added three valuable translations to their
already precious gleanings from Continental,
critical, and religious literature. I refer to
the " Life ;of Zwingli, by R. Christoffel,"
and more especially to two productions of
the profound Vinet, viz., " Homiletics, or
the Theory of Preaching," and his." Evan
gelical Meditations." •
" A Handbook for Travelers in Syria and
Palestine," is worthy of special mention,
for two reasons. let. It is the production
of a Presbyterian minister, the Rev. J. L.
Porter, (son-in-law of Dr. H. Cooke, of
Belfast,) whose "Five Years in Damascus"
placed him at once in the front rank of au
thorities, as to Syrian localities. 2d. . This
is the Handbook for Christian clergymen or
others, proceeding to Palestine from the
United States. ,The American travelers on
the Continent—as I can bear witness—all
carry Murray's Guide Books. Here the
same publisher furnishes one specially for
the East, and written by a man who has con
genial sympathies with the sacred scenes he
describes.
Ellis' "Three Visits to Madagascar," is
another work of the deepest interest to
every philanthropist, as well as to the artist
and botanist, to say nothing of the states
man. The author was long a missionary in
the Sandwich ?Stands, his work on which,
still is popular. He is the husband' of the
well-known writer of books for Ladies,
" The Women of England," &c. Mrs.
Ellis is a woman of consecrated genius, and
of kindred sympathies with his own.
From Madagascar, English missionaries
have been excluded twenty years. But, as
you well know, the seed of truth was de
posited there in many hearts, and the Word
in the native tongue, became the light and
life of many, when the apostles of. Mada
gascar were banished. The heathen Queen's
persecutions but broug* out the power of
that faith which " resiibi unto blood ;" and
most affecting' is it qz„,d Mr. Ellis' ac
counts of visits to thOienes of martyrdom,
as well as of the burping love to Christ which
fills the heart ti; Crown Prince, and of
many other ,
Strang and cationti are the revelations
of this aplOttful hOolt, as to the scenes,
mannn#,,mstorno, physique and intellectual
stature;slSe; of the natives; Mentally and
morally ; ; , . they stand high, and have made
wondrous;progress in the arts of civilized
life. " ' Photography was a powerful auxiliary
to Mr. Ellis, in his inland travels .to the
capital, and also whilst sojourning there.
By its aid, also, we nee what officers of
State, and the different classes, are like, as .
well as have a glance at ferns, trees, 'plants,
and flowers, such as will gladden the heart
and excite the longings of Sir W. Hooker,
and all the Fellows"of the Linnean Sdaiety.
It so happens that there is in my WWII
congregation a worthy sea captain, on board
whose ship Mr. Ellis sailed to the Mauritius,
in the course of bia voyage to Mada
gascar, and by him he is described as one
of the most gentle and lovely specimens of
genuine Christianity, radiant with goodness,
wondrously self denied in his habits, and ever
on the watch to do good. We trust and
pray that a persecuting Queen may still be
restrained, and that the precious life of the
Crown Prince—often in peril—may be
spared, that so his sceptre
,may be that of
a nursing father to the Church of God.
"Fiji and the Fijians," is the production
of two Wesleyan missionaries, it is di
vided into two parts, the first treating of
manners, customs, method of warfare, nat
ural characteristics, &e., and the second
specially a history of missions. It is a
sterling illustration of a fact, not always
recognized, namely, that there may be con
siderable intellectual development, with
great brutality of nature—that in these vol
umes it is clearly shown that deliberate
'cannibalism and horrid cruelty is associated
in the Fiji character with a much higher
degree of intelligence than could have been
expected. All the more glorious and
Spirit•honoring are the marvelous triumphs
of the Gospel here recorded.
"The Primeval World," by the Rev. P.
I. Gloag, is the able production . of a Scot
tish mind, on the advance of modern
geology, its relation to theology, and the
confirmation of Scripture. In the discus
sion of the Mosaic days, the author objects
strongly to the "visions" theory of Hugh
Miller. He argues in detail, that there is
no strict resemblance between the order dis
closed in stratified rocks, and the order of
creation, as described by_ Moses; also, that
Moses would, according to this theory, not
have given an account of .the origin ot
present plants, and animals, but of those of
ages extinct; an idea opposed to the entire
method of Scripture, which is to reveal
truth in its practical bearing to man . . A
competent critic says that this volume
"ought to Ammand attention." Certainly
Hugh Miller's views are adroitly made use of
now by Sunday League orators, to destroy the
great argument for Sabbath rest drawn from
the account of the Creation, given in Gen
esis. It was thus used at Glasgow, not
long since, in a public discussion. The
views of Pye Smith, Buckland, and Chal
mers, I am persuaded, are those most ac
ceptable to the majority of 'men of science;
and this new book (together with one
written by M'Causland some time since,)
deserves special attention by all honest
inquirers.
THE EDITORS.
" Caffres and Cele Missions," is a work
of great interest, by the Rev. H. Calderwood,
a Baptist. minister, who, like Ellis, combines
rare secular wisdom and accompliahments
with ardent Christian zeal, and who was se*
leCted, or rather pressed into the Cape Gov
ernment service, as Civil Commissioner for
the district of Victoria. Men of this stamp
take rank with statesmen and legislators.
Of Mr. Calderwood's antecedents—the only
son of a widowed mother—and the circum
stances which led him to leave. England for
a missionary field, I recently had an inter
esting account from the,• lips, of a .minister
in Lancashire. God indeed brings the blind
by a way they know not.
On India, we have bad many publibations.
Some of them are thrilling personal narra
tives, such as a " Widow's Reminiscences
of Lucknow." Others deal with our
responsibilities toward Hindoostan, such as
the Hon. Baptist Noel's work, "'England
and India ; an Essay on the Duty of Eag
nehmen toward India." The Times gives
an elaborate and most favorable review of a
work by an American traveler, Mr. Minturn,
whose work is published by Longman & Co.
The views of the writer, as to the deep de
pravity of the people, their faithlessness and
falsehood, and also as to, the justice and
benignity which, as a whole, characterized
the " Raj " of the East India Company,
are very decided. Indeed, "on the lass point,
he is stronger and more indiscriminate in
his eulogy than our press or our authors in
England. At all events, Mr. Minturn
states more than enough to extinguish the
last remnants of that strange animosity in
a very few writers in the United. States,
toward. Englishmen in . India, and that ap
parent want of sympathy for the victims of
massacre, which Dr. Warren and others so
righteously denounced and exposed last year.
The Native Alphabets of India still form
the subject of discussion. " Indophilna,"
(in the Times,) i. e., Sir Charles Trevyllian,
some time ago broached the proposal of in
troducing one simple alphabet, and that the
Roman, throughout India. The desirable
ness of this cannot be disputed on the
ground of comparative simplicity, and the
superior facility for cheap and easy printing.
The proposition, however, has been opposed
by ridicule, and even by personalities.
There are at least five principal alphabets
let. The Devanagari, or Sanecrit, read from
left to right, for the learned Sanscrit, and
all the }Endo° dialects founded thereon.
2d. The Arabic, read from right to left, for
Arabic, and modified considerably for Per
sian, Hindoostani, and Pushtoo, all Moham
medan languages. No two alphabets could
I be more distinct. 3d. The Zelugu—the
alphabet—a soft language, "the Italian of
the East." 4th. The Tamil. sth. The
Malayalam, or Malabar.
It is positively asserted, by an eminent
scholar, that "the knowledge of any one of
the five, would not lessen the amount of
labor required for the mastery of any one of
the others." They so differ as "to create
a nearly distinctalphabet."
Some alarm has been expressed about
"disgusting the susceptibilities" and offend
ing the tastes of the natives of India, as if
he attempt to introduce a Roman character
might give rise to mutiny. But there is no
intention or desire to force it, more than our
views of religion and science. The proposal
is to seize any oppoitunity of placing the
Roman character before the natives, and of
inducing them to use it, so that, after being
convinced of ita superiority to their own,
they may voluntarily adopt it. Neither is
there hope or design to fuse the twenty-two
languages of India into one common tongue,
or ever supplanting them by English. The
object is to use a common character,
adapted to the expression of all these lan
guages; "a character which, insuring cheap
and rapid printing on the one hand, and
easy reading on the other, may be made a
potent engine not only for promoting inter
course between the European and Asiatic ,
race, but for diffusing education among the
millions of undoes who have never learned
to read and write."
Any change in this direction must neces
sarily be slow, but its advocates are very
sanguine, as the following from an Indian
scholar at Cheltenham indicates : As
surely as railroads, electric telegraphs, steam
printing, penny postage, and every other
European improvement, must in due time
find their way into the remotest corners of
our Eastern Empire, so surely must the
simple Roman alphabet, with Christian
instruction in its train, take the place of
complicated symbols, which now obstruct
the path of knowledge and enlightenment."
The foregoing will not, I trust, be without
interest, specially to the large circle of
Christian ministers whom I have the honor
to address through your columns, and who,
in connexion with Foreign Missions, feel so
deep an interest in the future of India.
Bageter, of Paternoster Row, has added
to his unique and magnificent stock of
publications, " The Commentary wholly
Biblical;" an
, exposition of the Old and
New Testaments, in the very words of
Scripture, with maps, indexes, &a. The
prise for the three volumes, small 4to, is a
little more than $l2.
" Our Christian Classics," is a series of
Readings from the best Divines, by Dr.
James Hamilton, extending from the Refor
mation to the close of the eighteenth century,
and has for its object the giving a compre
hensive view of varied and noble Christian
literature, with biographical and critical no
tices of the more distinguished authors. I
need hardly add that the setting is worthy
of the exquisite gems themselves.
A VISIT TO AN ANTIQUARIAN and Book-
Collector, was made by me last week, and has
left most pleasing impressions. I was called
upon by a gentleman who has devoted him
self, for some time pact, to the extended
circulation of a new and unique Edition of
the works 'of John Bunyan, published by
Messrs. Blgickie & Sons, of Glasgow. This
gentleman acts
,as the agent of the Editor,
—and, I may add, the first collector of Bun-
yam's whole works—George Offor,. Esq., a .
Justice of the Peace . for Middlesex, and a
resident at Hackney, one of the Eastern
suburbs of the metropolis.
Before my visit, I was told .agrest deal
that was interesting and novelraboutiMr.
Offor—of his enthusiasm, of his: editorial
powers, as well as of his noble collection Af
early editions of Banyan's books ;- as well
as of Bunyan•relics. I had heard, also,, of
his magnificent Library of rare and precious
volumes. Being a laudator temperas
acti," and fond , of spying out the venera
bilia" of the olden times, I proposed to pay
4 Offor, and , did so.
Repairing to his fine old mansion, I was
shown into the lesser library; in other words,
the Bunyan-room. Soon appeared a" fine old
English gentleman," about seventy years of
age, healthy, hearty, genial in aspect, and
with a voice ringing out, cheerily, a courte
ous welcome.
Ere he came into the lesser library, I had
peeped into a closet, crammed full of old
books, and then glanced at other and nu
merous Colleetanea. When Mr. Offer ap
peared, in person, although evidently fa
tigued with the magisterial dales of the
day, how soon did his eye kindle, and how
speedily was weariness forgotten 1 Here he
was amidst hii treasures. With what patient
toil he had, for example, filled, that large
book-case opposite, and how many leaves in
those old black-letter volumes he had actu
ally;chemically washed and cleansed with
his own hands I Then, see how this other
book-case, to the left, is filled with the early
editions of the "Pilgrims' Progress," and
with all the rare Tractates and books of
the glorious Bedford Brazier, sought out
with, infinite pains, and at - great expense,
and bound beautifully 1
Look ! here is the edition of "The Pil
grim," a small duodecimo, published inl6Bl.
There is a portrait, on steel, of the Dreamer.
It is Bunyan asleep, with his full, English
face, and the large lids covering those full
orbed, far-piercing eyes, and his noble head
resting on his hand, as he reclines on a hill
side, while, at the top of the picture, are
seen, first, the City of Destruction, and next,
" Christian" emerging ttence—hastening
forth, at sunrise, to begin his pilgrimage to
the Celestial City.
How very neat and compact, and clearly
printed, are these early editions, and how
numerous, too ! Then, what a fine old edi
tion of the " Holy War" is here, with a
noble allegorical picture (in the style of the
modern illustrations of Quarles' Emblems,)
prefixed ! Here is Bunyan's figure, full
length. It gave me a better idea of the
man than any half-length portrait I had
ever seen of him. There he stands, with
his well known moustached face, ample
chest, broad shoulders, rather tall, an outer
garment reaching to the knees, then the
hose, and buckled shoes.
But come, now, into the Library par ex
cellence. Thousands of volumes are here !
It has its old closet, too. Oh, how - rich
its contents ! I could spend a long Summer
day here, and perhaps I may. But, With
drawing our eyes from Folios, see how the
host and Antiquarian brings out a precious
Box ! It is open ; what are its contents ?
Why, Relics of Bunyan—veritable relies!
He died in 1688, one hundred and fifty
eight years ago, and more; yet see, here are
his shodruckies—here a great blade-handle,
with small bill-hook and knife, and saw, all
enclosed, and• opening out easily—made,
doubtless, (thinks Mr. 0.,) by his own
hands. Here, too, is his pen-case, with
about a dozen of the small goose-quills, or
rather pens, ready-made, still black with the
i n k which gave printed utterance to the
weighty and noble thoughts of the man,
whose " mouth," above all others, was "a
well of wisdom l" Here, too, is his apple_
scope of wood, nicely carved, used to thrust
into the sides of Autumn's heat fruits, "Rip
stone pippins," &c., and which oft had car
ried to that wondrous mouth, extracts of
luscious sweetness.
And here are the Tinker's (and it is
likely, as Mr. 0. suggested, the Gipaey's)
scales and weights for weighing and buying
gold and silwr. The weights are stamped
with the Royal _lmage and superscription of
the reigning Sing, and a Jac simile of the
current coin.
I confess to some enthusiasm in seeing
these relics,- as well as one edition - of the
"Pilgrim," in which there area few words
written, it is believed, by Bunyan's own
hand, in Bedford gaol, in which he writes
himself as 44 brasyer." One other relic re
mained—the Family Bible, (Xing James'
translation,) given by Bunyan to his son Jo
seph, thence descending, through successive
generations, to a Mi. Bunyan, of Northamp
ton `; and now—after his death, in 1857, and,
I may add, the extinction of the Bunyan
family—in the hands of Mr. Offor.
. On other portions of 'the collection of this
gentleman, space forbids me to dwell, at
length. For many years he has been gath
ering precious stores. He was a book-col
lector from childhood. His father was the
same, and a handsome fortune has supplied
the necessary funds.
His new edition of Bunyan is enriched
with portrait, fac similes of hand-writing,
vignettes, prefaces, notes, and documentary
proofs, of the greatest value. If Messrs.
Blaekey have a house in New York, to them
let all repair, who wish to possess the most
genuine, and eompletest collection,* with an
editorial supervision and illumination, such
as few authors have ever received; and as
to Bunyan, unparalleled.
I might truly say, that the learned and
noble enthusiasm of Mr. Ogor's life has been
divided between John Bunyan and William
Tindal. Here are many editions, as pub
lished by Tindal, himself, before his martyr
dom. The first edition was printed in 1585,
and within three years, eighteen or nineteen
editions were printed. "So mightily—in
spite of Bonner and Bloody Mary—grew the
'Word of God, and prevailei." The first
edition was seized, or rather bought up and
burned, by Bonner's orders, on the, very
ground where the premises of the Religions
Tract Society now stand. Tindal exulted
in the money thus obtained, to print other,
and more correct editions. And so he
wrote'.
The Pope and Devil are eased, and wouder'd,
Their gold burns one, but mates a hundred."
There is, in this Library, an authentic
portrait of Tindal,' which Mr. Offor hashad
beautifully engraved. Also a gloriously illu
minated book, by Tindal, with Scripture de
vices from Tindal's own hand, while be was
yet a Monk. And what noble folios these
are ! Here is one uncut, very precious, of
the edition of 1538, and the only copy of
that editionin existence. Of the first edi
tion, ,a copp was sent to America, at a cost
of 3365, brit Mr. 0. says it was "a very in
ferior copy."
A curious deceit was practiced on Lord
Lauderdale, in the last century. He thought
proper to assert, that, as in the sixteenth
century, the word "knave" or "knave,"
signified not a rascal, but simply a servant.
Taking advantage of this crotchet, some un
principled book-seller laid hold of an old
copy of Tindal's Bible, and with extraordi
nary ingenuity inserted, without appearing
to do so—in old English text precisely
similar to the printing—in one of the
Epistles, as genuine Tindal—the words,
" Paul, a kneave of Jesus Christ." Lord
L. was delighted, and, effectually imposed
on, paid down £2B. To deceive him.
thoroughly, even the date was altered from
1537 to 1520. Mr. Offor was the first to
detect the forgery, by comparing with it a
genuine copy. The cunning device, marked
and underlined with red letters by the forger,
was pointed out to me.
Here, also, I found copies of the "breech
es " Bible, so called, and also of the "Ge
nevan` Bible," from which Bishop Jewel
always quotes in his writings. Both these
editions were used by many of the people of
England, for many years after the publica
tion of King James' Bible.
Last of all, I was Shown at least eight
magnificent Folies—successive editions of
"Cranmer's Bible "—such as were ordered
by Henry VIII., to be chained in Cathedral
churches. Into the cover of one of these,
which had been used at St. Paul's, London,
was inserted an oblong parchment, framed,
written in old. Englith, and signed by Bon
ner, Bishop of Landon. It was called an
" Admonition," 'and was issued in the
King's name. It gave sanction tathe read
ing of the : Bible, but only in silence, and not
during Divine service, (that is, the Mass,) in
old St. Paul's. A poor man dared, on' one
oecasion, to read aloud, not during service,
but with other persons near. The infuriate
followers of Bonner fell upon him, and mur
dered him in the precincts of the Cathedral.
Great lessons are to be learik after taking
in one's hands the earlyeeditions of that
•
English Bible, whose printing was the pre
cursor of the Reformation ; not only does
one more deeply venerate the worthies of
that olden time, and admire their learning
and indefatigable zeal, but their burning
love to God and their country. As Eng
lish and American Christians, together
let us glorify Him, whose "gentleness has
made us great," whose Grace and Wisdom
thus rested on our fathers, and whose Coun
sel hath stood, and shall ever stand, in spite
of fiery persecution. Our privileges are
great, our liberties priceless. Here are the
memorials of this truth, and therefore, let
"The Stone of Help" be set up, and to
*Since the collection was completed, one other
scarce and precious Tractate has been discovered
by Mr. O.