cies in the clerical part of the Permanent Board, care should be taken to avoid giving a majority to any one religious denomination," offered a Report terminating in the conclusion, "that it is unnecessary and inexpedient to adopt any rule or regulation as to the precise manner in which the right of suffrage should be exercised." Mr. Bancroft, as chairman of the Committee upon " diminishing the cost of instruction in Harvard College," read a Report, to which were appended certain resolutions for effecting this object; and Hon. Mr. Gray read a Minority Report containing views different from those advanced by the chairman. Both these Reports were finally laid upon the table. Hon. Mr. Savage presented a final Report from the Committee "on the division of time" at Cambridge, proposing one or two alterations; which was accepted and referred to the Corporation.

Considerable discussion arose upon all these Reports, but particularly upon that respecting elections to fill vacancies in the clerical part of the Board of Overseers. An amendment was offered by Hon. Mr. Child, that the Board "express an opinion that care should be taken that such vacancies should be so filled as to give to no one religious sect or denomination a majority of the clerical members of the Board." The debate turned very much on the question of a sectarian influence controlling the affairs of the College; some of the speakers asserting and endeavoring to prove that such an influence existed, while by others it was denied and disproved. The discussion ended in laying the whole subject on the table. We have given this account of the proceedings of the Board, because we think them important as indications of what may hereafter be attempted, and because they may then acquire an historical value.

President Quincy has addressed a letter to the Corporation resigning, from the termination of the present academic year, the office which he has held for more than sixteen years as head of the University. He assigns his age as the reason for taking this step, which was prospectively determined upon in his own mind, he says, three years ago. He leaves the College at a time when his acquaintance with its history enables him to say, "its internal state is as prosperous and peaceful as its friends at any past period have ever witnessed." And he promises that whatever knowledge he has gained or power he may possess, "shall be at her service and devoted to her cause; and especially to the greatest of all causes - her religious freedom." The Corporation have accepted the resignation, and replied in terms of strong respect and affection. As the confirmation of his successor in office by the Overseers cannot be made till the meeting of the Board during the annual session of the Legislature, the choice on the part of the Corporation will probably be deferred for several months.

New Works. Professor Stuart's Commentary on the Apocalypse has appeared. We hope to take notice of it in a future number.—The "Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition" has also been published in a style of magnificence unusual, at least in this country. -We find at the bookshops but few other new volumes of permanent value. - The Democratic Review announces Professor Longfellow's "Poetry and Poets of Europe of the Nineteenth Century" as on the

eve of publication.-The same work speaks of Mr. Dana's "Life of Washington Allston" as in course of preparation. The Memoir of Rev. Dr. Channing has so far advanced towards completion, that it may be expected in the course of the present year. — The Memoir of the late Dr. Ware is also approaching its close. Rev. Mr. Hedge of Bangor is engaged upon the translation of a literary work from the German.

Among the journals that are continually springing into existence, we notice "The Investigator: religious, moral, scientific, &c.," published monthly at Washington, D. C. The title indicates the design, and from our knowledge of the editor we believe that he will furnish useful reading to his subscribers. He seems specially to devote his pages to an examination of the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. It may be somewhat unusual, but we are disposed to express our satisfaction in turning over the pages of the "Southern Review." As it is edited by a personal friend, a native of New England and graduate of Harvard, and formerly a preacher and still a Unitarian, we may be excused for feeling a peculiar interest in its character. Its literary articles are highly respectable, and its political discussions, though strongly tinctured with Southern opinions- of which the Review is meant to be the organ-are generally such as may be read with advantage. We regret only that on the subject of Slavery it should take the extreme Southern ground, and wed itself to the support of an institution so thoroughly anti-republican and unchristian. Were it not for the doctrines it advances on this subject, we should need to use very little qualification in our commendation of its pages.

Theological Journals. - We are much impressed by the excellence of the larger journals published by different religious denominations in this country. In the theological learning and general ability which they exhibit, they will bear comparison with the best of the foreign journals. Indeed England has no publication of the sort of equal merit with some of these. At the head of our American theological literature we may place the "Bibliotheca Sacra," published in New York, of which we have spoken once before. Next to this we think we should name the "Christian Review," the organ of the Baptist denomination, published in this city. Next, in the liveliness and force of its articles, we should mention the "New Englander," edited at New Haven. The "Biblical Repertory," from the Princeton Press, has more learning, but is heavy. The "Biblical Repository," at New York, has assumed the additional title of "Classical Review," and is more popular in its character than its Princeton rival. The "Universalist Quarterly" is creditable to the denomination by which it is sustained. And last, but not least in pretension or strength among those which we see, is "Brownson's Quarterly Review," devoted now to the interests of the Roman Catholic Church, of whose claims the editor glories in being the expounder and defender before his Protestant readers. Whatever Mr. Brownson may be, no one can charge him with disguising or undervaluing the opinions which for the time he may hold, or with being mealy-mouthed about those which he has renounced. In his last number he alludes to the "crude speculations and pestilential heresies," to which he was "at one time accustomed to give circulation" through our pages. He will, we doubt not, ren

der effective service to the Church of which he has become so zealous an advocate. Some will read his Review from curiosity, and more from the attraction of his clear and vernacular style. He is beginning to relish the technical language of Rome, but for the sake of our literature we hope he will preserve his love of pure American English. He will do more good as an example to our writers, than harm to those who may be captivated by his theology.

Christian Register.- Since our last publication this venerable journal has passed into new editorial hands. It is now conducted by Rev. Charles W. Upham, who will be able to give it his whole attention. We have been surprised at the industry as well as ability which has been shown by the past editors, whenever we have considered under what an amount of professional cares they must have prepared their weekly sheet. Mr. Upham will be free from such occupation of mind by other engagements, and may therefore give a yet higher character to the paper. We are sure that under his management it will be devoted to the interests of a sound theology and a scriptural faith.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Philanthropic Institutions. — We rejoice to find that institutions for the relief of those who are suffering from privation of sense or reason in our country are not only increasing in number, but are establishing their claim to the confidence of the public by the results which they produce. The last Report of the Institution for the Blind at South Boston confirms the opinion long entertained of its excellent management. Laura Bridgman, whose knowledge of the outward world is derived through a single sense, is still an inmate of the house, and of her progress the last year such an account is given, as shows that she is at once in the way of improvement and within the reach of injurious influences. We have received a pamphlet, of nearly two hundred pages, replete with information, the "Twentyfifth Annual Report and Documents of the New-York Institution for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb;" containing, with other matter, a "Report on the Schools for the Deaf and Dumb in Central and Western Europe, by Rev. George E. Day." We are surprised to find that an enumeration of similar institutions in all Europe gives so high a number as one hundred and sixty-two; while in the United States there are only six. The labors of Miss Dix in behalf of the Insane Poor, are well-known throughout the country. After effecting important changes in their condition by means of the hospitals which she has been instrumental in inducing legislative bodies or private individuals to erect in New England and Canada, she has spent the winter in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, urging upon the Legislatures of those States the duty of making appropriations for the establishment of similar institutions within their bounds; and with entire success. She has also obtained grants from the proper authorities for building several new county poor-houses and jails, for the more decent accommodation of those who may become their inmates. Her efforts for the relief of a class whom she justly considers the most

pitiable and ill-used in our Christian land, have been unwearied, but she has the satisfaction of witnessing the fruits of her disinterested toil. We have noticed with peculiar satisfaction the formation of a Society in New York for rendering assistance, especially through counsel and sympathy, to released convicts. No Society among us occupies a more important or more neglected sphere of benevolence. By the treatment which those now receive whose terms of imprisonment have expired, they are, almost inevitably, driven back to the commission of crime. Objects of suspicion, and unable to obtain employment, the alternative offered them is starvation or renewed violation of law. There is no class of persons in the community, we believe, for whom it is more necessary that some provision should be made, to save them from utter ruin. A Society whose object it is to assure them that they are not outcasts from the kind regards of their fellow-beings, must find great opportunities for usefulness; and we should rejoice to learn that other Societies of the same kind were established in our other cities.

Increase of Boston. — At no period since the settlement of this place has its growth in population and business been so rapid as everything which we see indicates at present. New dwelling-houses, new blocks of warehouses, new meetinghouses, new streets, show that there is a great increase in the number of the inhabitants. The construction of railroads connecting the city not only with different parts of the Commonwealth, but with the extreme North and the extreme West— with Canada in the one direction and with the Valley of the Mississippi in the other, has given an impulse to business, which is felt alike by the rich and the poor, the enterprising and the indolent-if of the latter class there be any among us. We hope that the evil consequences which are apt to attend such a state of prosperity may not be realized here. There is always danger that people will become worldly in character, when their minds are crowded with worldly cares or elated by worldly success. There is reason, also, to apprehend that they will forget the restraints of prudence and moderation, will "make haste to be rich," and bring on disaster through the rashness or magnitude of their engagements. Speculation is a word of ominous meaning for practical men as well as for visionary theorists. If there be any element in the American character yet ascertained, it is the love of change, or discontent with the present-be that ever so safe or prosperous. Our people are "reaching forth unto those things which are before," in a very different sense from that intended by the Apostle. The lessons of experience seem to be lost upon them. Again and again have we seen the mischiefs that flow from an excessive eagerness to accumulate wealth. If the considerations which a regard to reputation and domestic comfort suggests are insufficient securities against the seduction of “good” times, men of religious principle, men who lay any claim to the Christian name, should remember that there are higher interests than those which are represented by mercantile terms, and that these are endangered by surrounding the mind with earthly anxieties. The question has not less significance now than centuries ago- "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

OBITUARY.

DEACON JACOB WHITNEY died at Stow, Mass., October 20, 1844, aged 85 years. "For more than half a century he was a member of the Unitarian church" in that place, "and for more than a quarter of a century one of its officiating deacons." Mr. Whitney was a devout and sincere Christian, who labored to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man.

G.

SAMUEL DORR, ESQ. died at Boston, Mass., December 18, 1844, aged 70 years. Mr. Dorr preferred the offices of integrity and charity in private scenes to the engagements of public life. But he in various ways made himself a useful and valued citizen. In the suppression of intemperance, in the relief and prevention of pauperism, and in the support of religious institutions, he was among the foremost and most consistent. He was a member of the New South church in this city, and clung with a grateful faith to the truths of the Christian revelation.

G.

Rev. IRA H. T. BLANCHARD died at Weymouth, Mass., April 9, 1845. Mr. Blanchard was a native of Weymouth, and graduated at Harvard College in the year 1817. After holding the office of Tutor in the College, and completing his theological studies, he was ordained over the First Congregational Church in Harvard, Mass., where he remained till severe illness compelled him to relinquish the pastoral care. At a subsequent period, having partially recovered his health, he took charge of the congregation in South Natick, but was never again settled in the ministry. A few years since he removed to Weymouth, and occasionally preached in the neighborhood. His death was occasioned by that fatal disease of our climate, consumption. Mr. Blanchard was a man of much more than ordinary abilities, and of great excellence. His physical sufferings, which for a long time were extreme and left permanent effects upon his constitution, prevented his occupying the place before the public eye which he might otherwise have filled, but few men excelled him in soundness of intellectual or moral character.

G.

DEACON SAMUEL H. HEWES died in Boston, April 6, 1845, aged 84 years. Mr. Hewes was a worthy member of the community which he had long served. He was for many years Superintendent of the Burial-grounds of this city, an office of considerable labor and responsibleness, which he held at the time of his death. His activity, both of body and mind, continued in old age. He was an officer in the New South church, and was a willing almoner of the bounty of our churches to the poor.

G.

The writer of the article on "Poetry" in our last number desires us to say, in reply to a letter received by him from the author of Gonzalvo, that he "did not undertake to pronounce upon the work as a story, and said nothing against or about the value of the book in peint of historic or romantic merit. He was concerned simply and solely with so much of Mr. Hood's part of the work as related to the general style of the literary execution, as indicating the poetic sense and spirit." "One or two expressions in the article," he thinks, "were unnecessarily harsh."