Ontrg, Autumn. Sweet Sabbath of the year! While evening lights decay, Thy parting steps, methinks I hear, Steal from the world away. Amid thy silent bowers 'T is sad, but sweet, to dwell, Where falling leaves and drooping flowers, Around me breathe farewell. Along thy sunset skies Their glories melt in shade, And, like the things we fondly prise, Seem lovelier es they fee. A deep and crimson streak Thy dying leaves disclose, As, on oonsumption's waning cheek, 'Mid ruin, , blooms the rose. Thy scene each vision brings Of beauty in decay, Of fair and early faded things, Too exquisite to stay; Of joys that come no more, Of flowers whose bloom is fled ; Of farewells wept upon the shore, Of friends estranged or dead; ..of. all , thatasow,may. seem, To Memory'Llearfal eye, Thiiiniehild beauty of a dream, O'erlrhioh.wcgaze and sigh. for the Preebyterien , Banner and Advocate. Sketches of New England Life. NUMBER 11. Free Schools in New England—SkePticiem in Debt to the Bible—lmportance of Good Nen for Teachers—Committees in all the Towns—Board of Education—Powers of the School Committees in Boston and Massachusettalncrmapetency and Negket of Committees—The Injury Catued..by School .Funds.. MESSRS. EDITORS :—Though I pmsbiloily in this, my second number, to opal/ AO** Colleges of New England, yet, some4things have induced me to change my mind,„and give a further statement of the management of the Public Schools in that portion of our country. These schools are more general than private institutions, and their influence is much.wider, on.this account. There is not a single town in New-England, to,my knowledge, (and that knowledge is somewhat extensive,) in which therewre.not free •pub. lie schools. I mean by, their being free, that all, how poor so•ever they may be, have'the privilege of sending to them. All these schools owe their origin, like the Hospitals, and ether benevolent institu tions, to the Bible ;..to that open Bible, which the " Pilgrim Fathers" of New Eng land brought with them, when they came, an•exiled band, to these sehores. This.foot does not loam to be, sufficiently recognized by those of skeptical tendencies. Indeed, infidelity has never been willing to pay back what she has really received through: the medium of the Holy Scriptures. I suppose, for this reason, It would piok her bane, As bird of borrowed feather." Wherever the Bible has gone, schools, edu cation, and science, have all ollowed in its train. I, therefore, like your remarks when, speaking of Jefferson College, you say, "There are those who lament that so, many of our ministers should be employed as teachers, in Seminaries, Colleges, and Acad emies. With such .we have no sympathy; we rejoice that so large a •portion at our schools are truly Christian." To this, the writer would say, Amen, with all his heart. I think that in all the New Englitnd States, I am sure it is so in Massachusetts, the examining power to introduce or mom mend teachers, is vested in a Committee consisting of more than one person. This, it is believed, is, an .improvement•-upon the course pursued in ,Pennsylvania, where a County Superintendent conducts the exami nations of teachers, and issues certificates of qualification. This, it strikes us, is vest ing too , much power in one man. True, it may never be abused, and. yet it may. A Committee of three, five, Seven,. or more, according to the population of the town, would-seem. to, be preferable ..in „very Jnany respects. In Massaihusetts..each towivis. by statute law required to have such a Committee, whose dup it is, not only -to examine" anti issue certificates• of pialifieition. to all teach ers, but also to take the general oversight of all the public sohoola. This arrangement of Committees does not interfere in-the least with the doings of the "Board of Education," in this Comiiion• wealth, nor with their " Secretary," who is the Genera/ Superintendent of all the Public Schools. This office has been filled but by three gentlemen; the first of whom was the late Horace Mann, who' occupied it for the first sixteen years of its-existence. Mr. Mann, though a Unitarian t and.his influence upon the rising generation somewhat. feared (perhsps justly, on • that account,)' was by far the most efoient and energetic of either of the three who have heldrthe office. The Rev. Bernal Sears, the present President of • " Brown University," the immediate successor of Mr. Mann, was tame in com. parkin with his "illustrious . predecessor," and it is difficult to see what qualification the present incumbent has for discherging its duties, save that in time of high party excitement, he was unfortunate . enough to be elected Geverner,of the Commenwealth, a misfortune whieh\liiis,hetellpese thwone man of =Mateeseteity:in , the t politios of the " Oldsßay‘State. dues 411Celeo don and of the , Committuit interfere, in the city-of Boston, with the arrangement of a Superintendent of Public Schools in that city Indeed, the Committee is the acting body, and the Superintendent a crea ture of their election, and the office itself a creature of their formation. The manage mint of all the schools, the examinations and recommendations of all the teachers, the selection of the Superintendent and as signment of his duties, and all their War. lee, are the legitimate duties of the Com mittee. The Committee is composed of seventy-two members, six from each of the twelve wards of the city, making the exact number of. the Jewish Sanhedrim, to which are added by the city charter, the Mayor and President of the Common Council, ex officio.. This " School Board " has great power, as the expenditure of all the school money, and the entire and absolute control of all the teachers and schools, is. their special perogative. The powers of the Board sre as they should be, but men are often elected as members who are totally unqualified for the office. You would scarcely believe that in this so called " Athens" of America, men would Ix chosen on such a School Board, who were so ignorant as to be laughed at and about, by the young ladies whom they had examined as candidates for teachers. The way in which this Committee is elected is responsile for bringing in suoh in competent men, as they are ohosen by party polities, and he who oan brawl the loudest in a political gathering, is the most likely to be elected. • Another defect is, the Committee receive no pecuniary consideration for their services, and as .a consequence of this, many, atioept the office who have not sufficient interest to attend the regular meetings of the Board, 'or to %lett the schools as the law directs. So that, taking into account the ineompe tenoy and neglect of the Committee in Bee ton, (and in other towns,) there is mush .to call for a change in , the umnagement of the public soboolsan the Ohl Bay St Yet, the schools here have been .far be fore these in boineetiont and the other New -England States. A great evil to the tiablio schools in Connecticut has resulted from their large School Fund. It was laid aside for future use by the early settlers of the State, but like the Manna which the Is. , raelites gathered over and above what , they needed for their daily supply, it has bred corruption in ths form of negligence. and indifference to the echools. In theirechools the old adage has been verified,l"light come, light go." The people have had nothing to pay for schools, ' and they have valued them in that ratio. In some towns, twenty years ago, they had not interest enough in public schoolsito keep their school houses in decent 'repair. In towns border ing upon the line between -this -State. and Massachusetts, a very visible,, difference be tween the schools, in these contiguous towns, was manifest. ,In Massachusetts, where the money was chiefly .raised by di• reot tax, the schools were an hundred per cent. better( than in Connei3tiont, wherea cost the people nothing._ Indeed, the same principle seems e. to have operated: iphere funds had -been allowed. , to accumulate for the support of Gospel ordi names. The money given by good men to the. Congregational churches, in- the...great defection from the truth, anal- even the par sonages and ohurah plate, were carried off by the Unitarians, as originally the vessels of the Temple of Solomon were. , earried among the heathen to grace their idol fes• tivities. Does the great Head of the Church design by this that every generation shall bear its own burdens,. and to inculcate that while " the laborer is worthy of his hire," those who have the labor , shall pay the " hire ?" I have sometimes thought principle is here involved,. whibh is..werthy of the,consideration, not only. of: elk who. have to do with schools, but 'also by those who are called to manage the affairs of. " the Lord's house." SENEX. • Pf. ~ 1101 . , d p.„,, - '"` '4 THE WORDS OF TR! LOWn JESUS: By Rudolf , Stier., Translated from :the second revised and enlarged German edition. New Edition. Phil adelphia: Smith, English i t Co. New York: Sheldon 4^ Co. Boston: Gould; 4 Lincoln. 'Pittsburgh: Wm. S. Rollout, and John S. Davison. 1859. " stier's Words of the Lord Jesus." have been held in high, esteem among the Evangelical Di vines of Germany, for nearly twenty years ; and within a few years this work has, been introduced to English readers, by whom-it has-been.received with the warmest approbation. The object of the is to unfold the meaning and harmony of all the recorded words that fell from the lips of the Lord Jesus, when upon earth. In doing this he brings to his aid _wonderful learning, great subtlety of analysis, and keen .inquisition into the meaning and secret thread of every di's course, and throughout he makes unwearied pro test, against Rationalistic opinion& Probably, no, other work upon the Gospels is equally able, and at the same time equally, safe. Therefore we hail this new edition with unfeigned pleasure. The • first lour volumes will contain what has hitherto been published in eight volumes, (averaging nearly one thonsand pages each,) and the fifth volume will be the translation of the author's recent addition to his work, entitled. ' " The,Words of the Risen Jesus." • ' The first volume is now readr; ;the second will be published on the• 16th of December ; the fifth. volume, viz., .":The Words of the Risen Jestis," on the 15th of Jaisnary, 1860 ; and the two remaining volumes within four months from that time. The price. Will be $3.00 per volume for each of the first four volumes, and $2.00 for the fifth, with the usual , discount to clergymen and theological students. Timm VISITS TO MADAGASCAR, during the Years 1863-4-6, including a Journey to the Capital, with Notices of_ the Natural . History of the , Country, and of the Present Civilization of the People. By Rev. William Ellis, , author of "Polynesian Researghes." Pp. 426. 12mo. Illustrated by woodcuts and photographs. Bradley, Philadelphia. Madagascar is the largest , of the African Tslands.lt . hasa population of some four , mil lions. The people are more intelligent and more .olvilized than are the great body of the Africans. The English missionsowerei for some time,.great. ly successful, bat they were, about twenty years ago, expelled from the country. They, however, left seed which still .grows .and flourishes. The Queen who now occupies the throne is a Pagan, and is exceedingly hostile to Christianity; The Prince, her son, and heir-apparent to the throne; is a Christian. On his accession there will, doubticss, batt,groat4hange. The work, by Mr. Bradley, is a condensation of Mr. Bilis' •larger volumes. To those who have a thirst for knowledge, but whose time is much oceepied, the book before ns may be 001..4 dially oommended. TRH ORIICIBLII ; or, Tests of, a Regenerate State By Rev. T. A. Goodhue, A With an Intro ductibn by. E. 7. Kirk, D.D. Pp. 852,12050 Boston : Gould. 4- Lincoln. New. York: Shed don t Co. Pittsburgh John S. Davison 1860. This work treats of .a most important subject concerning the highest interests of immortal ' some. Its object is to bring to light suppressed, hopes, expose false ones, and confirm the true. It is addressed to all serious persons, and may be read by them with great profit; but it is espe cially designed for ministers and others, whose tan requires them to test and gidde the religious. hopes and. experiences of others. We do not agree with all the positions here taken, nor will our readers; but this does not diminish, in any degree, our estimate of the ability and value of the book. In its scope and spirit it accords, in general, with the treatise of Pi esident,Edwards on "The Affections," although the subject is treated from a different point of view. The minister that studies this volume carefully, will be convinced-more than ever of the. necessity, of returning to the discriminating, searching, and experimental mode of preaching• that 'character ised former times, but,that has ; fallen so laments,- bly into disuse in our days., A DICTIONARY or THE HOLY BIELN, , for General Use in the Study of the Scriptures. With En gravings, Maps, and Tables. Pp. 584, ;12mo. Price 75 cents. or $l.OO gilt, Published by the American Tract Society. New York. Phila delphia : Tract House, No. 929 Chestnut Street. Pittsburgh : W. S. Rentoul, St. Clair Street. This work is based on Dr. Edward Robinson's Condensed Bible Dictionary, first published in 1888. About two thirds of that work 'is com prised in this, with large additions drawn from hisinore recent Biblical researches, from the Bi ble Dictionaries of Rev. John Brown and Prof. Eadie, of Scotland, sod from the most valuable recent discoveries in Biblical Geography, Natural History, etc., as gleaned from travelers and ex plorers in Palestibe, Egypt, Arabia, and Assyria. Much care seems to have been expended in the preparation of the book, and the engravings and • Maps are particularly fine. e 0 -- WOMEN ARTISTS IN ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES. By. Afro. A'llet, author of •4 The Women of the American Revolution," etc Pp, 377, 12mo. New York: Harper 4- Brothers. Pittsburgh: John B. Davison. 1859. Mrs. Ellet has dene.a good service io preparing this reliable and readable account of the " Wo men Artists of all Ages and -Countries." The writer gives evidence -of a wide acquaintance with the history of art, a taste highly cultivated; and a spirit lively, and appreciative of criticism. We can commend this . book to all who- wish to know what women have done and can do as artiste, and as a handbook in these days of pic ture galleries. Harper's catologne is continually receiving new and valuable additions. Tel 8111AISONS. By James Thomson. New ,York : Robert Carter Brothers. Pittsburgh : Tokn S. Davison. 1859. Thii is anew and superb edition of " Thom son's fiessous,"Ainstra,ted.in thuhighest style of art with over forty engravings; designed by such eminent artists as Birket Poster, F. It. Pickers gill, R. A., J. Wolf, G. Thomas, and Noel Hata= FRE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE. ..as phreys. In binding, paper, type, and illustra tions, it , is a perfeot gem of the book-making art. As the holidays are approaching, we would , oall the attention of those intending to make' presents, to this book. Tau TWltuarWakqes., ; With Hymns and - Songs. , 13y the author of "The Voice of 'Cliristian Life , in Song." Pp.,,228; 12mo. New York: Robert. Carter 4 "Broil; Pittsburgh : John 05. Davison: A 'sweet and precious little volume, sparkling with beauty, and redolent of fervent piety.: The author has much of. the evangelical fervor of MaCheyneand Bonar .with much of the imagery, calm richness, and touching pathos of Keble. AXPOStrIaI Olt MISSTATIMINTII. By Nevi/is B. Craig. Pp. 79. Pittsburgh : John . S. Davison. 859. This is a reply to some of the statements, con tained in H. M.-Braokenridge's " History of the Whiskey Insurrection, noticed by ns a short time ago. Mr. Craig writes with "oloarness and force, with eyident honesty of intention,and in as good 'a spirit as could he , expected in the circum stances. Tom BROWN AT OXFORD. By Thomasrhythm, ' author, of " Sohool.D,ays at Rugby,!' BaCuring of the White Borse," , etc., etc. Boston: Tick ; nor 4. Fields. Pittsburgh : John S. Davison: This is,a sequel to School Days at Rtgby," that bus „bean read, and admired by so . many, thousands. - , lifs,published .in monthly-parts,. at twelve .cents,..and the name. Of the ; author, and the success of his-previous works will secure' an im mense circulation. Ear ourselves, we-will;look anxiously for the Appearance of every successive number.. tor tke in* TWO POISOni* "NO,'" said Arthur - Wilson, one. even -64 will you give me the key of the book ease in your study'?" , ":Why,