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widely circulated and the most influential journal in the Union, edited by a Scotchman, and devoted to British rather than to American interests, an echo of the London Times, published in New York. The Herald is the best index that can be selected to the present character and tendencies of the ruling classes in the Union, and has power enough to ruin the administration it opposes.

ART. VII.-LITERARY NOTICES AND CRITICISMS.

1. Le Christianisme en China, en Tartarie, et au Thibet. Par M. Huc. Paris. Gaune Frères. 1857. 2 tomes. 8vo.

2. Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet. By M. L'ABBÉ Huc, formerly Missionary Apostolic in China, author of "The Chinese Empire," &c. New York. D. &. J. Sadlier & Co.,

1857. 12mo. 2 vols.

The second work named is an English translation of the first, though by whom made, or whether made in this country or in England, we are not informed; but at any rate, the Messrs. Sadlier & Co. deserve great credit for their spirit and enterprise in giving us an American edition in English, so soon after the appearance of the original at Paris.

The Abbé Huc is well known to the reading public as the author with a companion of Travels in Tartary and Thibet, and by a.work on the Chinese Empire. His previous works have been read with avidity as well for the information they give of countries, tribes, institutions, manners and customs little known to the Western world, as for their intrinsic merits and personal adventures; and whatever else may be said of the author, it is certain he has the art of writing very agreeable and interesting books, and not the least interesting and agreeable as well as instructie of his productions is the work now before us. It contains a history of the establishment and various fortunes of Christianity in India, Tartary, Thibet, and China, from the times of the Apostles down to the present day, a history replete with interest and instruction.

We hope to be able to return to this work, and give our readers an analysis of its valuable contents, with some reflections on the progress of Christianity in the East; we can now only add that the author, if he has not exhausted the learning of his subject, and if he is not always to be followed in his theories and conjectures, has, at

least, told us much that was not generally known, and thrown much light on a branch of history that had been generally left in the dark. He has shown us that Christianity has made conquests, and has a history in countries where the general reader had supposed her light had never dawned. He gives a large amount of extremely interesting information; but we must say that, after all, it is a little fragmentary, and leaves a multitude of important questions unsettled. We want the line more distinctly drawn between the Catholic missions and the Nestorian, and the point cleared up, whether the latter ever did more than enter into possession of the missions of the former. M. Huc leaves this matter quite in the dark. We want, too, more evidence that the dress, the rites, and usages of the Lamas of Thibet, which bear so striking a resemblance to those of Catholics have had a Christian origin, or that Budhism in Tartary or Thibet has been modified by the influence of Catholic or Nestorian missionaries. The thing is possible, and we are far from questioning the fact, but we do not find it proved to our full satisfaction. It can be proved only by a fuller history of Budhism from its origin than we possess. The author is learned, but he does not always win our full confidence in his critical or even his reasoning powers.

3. The Convert; or, Leaves from my Experience. By O. A. BROWNSON. New York: Dunigan & Brother, 1857. 12mo. pp. 450.

The relation of the author to this Review prevents us from expressing any opinion on the merits or demerits of this new work. All we can say is that it is what it professes to be, and perhaps something more.

4. My Trip to France. By the Rev. JOHN P. DONELAN. New York: Dunigan & Brother, 1857. 12mo., pp. 385.

5. Tully's Columbian Spelling Book; or, Easy Introduction to Orthography, Orthoepy, and Etymology; a new and easy method of teaching the spelling, pronunciation, meaning, and application of almost all the difficult and irregular words in the English language, by means of spelling and dictation exercises. In three parts. New York: O. Shea. 1857. 12mo., pp. 209.

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