Notices of Recent Publications.

The Ely Volume; or The contributions of our Foreign Missions to Science and Human well-being. By Thomas Laurie, D.D. Boston: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 1881.

THE collocation of the words | the best style of the Boston press, Missions and Science will surprise and illustrated with a large number many readers as much as it did of illustrations.

one who was connected with a It will interest some of our scientific journal to whom Mr. readers, who have not yet seen the Ely spoke about the debt of science volume, to quote the testimony of to our missionaries, when he re- some learned men to the value of plied, "I was not aware that mis- the contributions made to different sionaries had ever done anything sciences by missionaries. "Carl for science." Ritter, the prince of geographers, confesses he could not have written his Magnum Opus, the Erdkunde, without the aid of material collected and transmitted by missionaries. "The Missionary Herald" he says "is the repository to which the reader must look to find the most valuable documents that have ever been sent out by any society,—and where a rich store of scientific, historical, and antiquarian details may be seen."

Mr. L. H. Morgan, in the preface to Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. XVII, says: "No class of men have earned a higher reputation as scholars or philanthropists than our missionaries. Their contributions to history, ethnology, philology, geography and religious literature form their enduring monument."

The author in his Introduction states the origin of this volume thus: "This volume had its origin in the same devotion to the kingdom of Christ that leads some to found lectureships for the better elucidation and defense of the truth. The late Hon. Alfred B. Ely inherited his father's love for the missionary work. He felt that the amount of scientific information given by it to the world was greatly underestimated, and, therefore, made provision for the publication of this volume, to show what the missionaries of the American Board had done, especially for geography, philology and archæology, not overlooking any contribution they had made to the advancement of human well-being. He hoped thus to interest some in the great work, through its incidental results, who had not learned to love it for its own sake."

The volume which has been prepared for this purpose is a large 8vo. of 532 pages. It is printed in

Mr. G. M. Powell, of the Oriental Topographical Corps, in a paper read before the American Institute, 1874, says: "Probably no source of knowledge in this department has been so vast, varied and prolific as

to dete

the investigations and contributions This volume is taken up with of missionaries. They have patient- details showing how much the ly collected and truthfully trans- missionaries of only one Societymitted much exact and valuable the American Board of Bostongeographical knowledge, and all have done. The matters presented without money and without price, are arranged in separate chapters though it would have cost millions under their appropriate heads as to secure it in any other way.” Geography, Geology, Meteoralogy,

One writer says: “Missions en Natural Science, Archæology, Phiable the German in his study to lology, Ethnography, Bible Transcompare more than two hundred | lations, General Literature, Conlanguages; the unprononnceable tributions to History, Education, polysyllables used by John Elliot, Natural Regeneration and Philanthe monosyllables of China, the thropy. The volume is furnished lordly Sanscrit and its modern as. with a full Index. We can not copy sociates, the smooth languages of more from its pages-but refer all the South Seas, the musical dialects our readers, who are interested in of Africa, and the harsh gutturals the matters of which it treats, to of our own Indians."

the volume itself.

Plain Questions and Straight-forward Answers about the Opium Trade.

By the Rev. Griffith John. London Missionary Society, Hankow China.

London : 1882. THE discussion on the Opium at the present time in view of the Trade continues with increasing in- actual facts of the case ?” We terest and earnestness. Mr. John quote a paragraph from page 10:writes like one who has strong “Opium the cause of the War. Yet convictions on the subject and the this war, of which we are now speak. courage to declare them. We coming, will always be regarded, and mend this pamphlet to the considera- justly regarded, as an opium war, tion of those who have been reading and as such wholly indefensible. the Lectures by Mr. Breriton and In spite of the sincere desire of the the recent statements of Sir Ruther- Chinese to put an end to the traffic ford Alcock. The five questions in opium, the East India company which Mr. John answers are these : did everything in its power to foster viz., “Is England responsible for it. The English Government never the introduction of the opium vice did a thing to discourage the cultiinto China ? (2) Has opium been vation of the poppy in India, or to forced by England upon the Chinese? check the contraband trade in (3) Is opium-smoking in China as China. When Captain Elliot was injurious as it has been represented? appealed to, as Superintendent of (4) Are the Chinese sincere in the Foreign trade, the Chinese their desire to put down the traffic ? authorities were told that the trade (5) What is the duty of England did not come under bis cognizance,

and that Her majesty was not sup- | matter, and protect the people from

posed to know anything about it. a terrible evil. In reply to one of The principal opium dealers were Captain Elliot's dispatches, Lord residing in Canton under the pro- Palmerston had said:"No protection of the British flag, and yet tection can be afforded to enable the Superintendent declared his in- British subjects to violate the laws ability to deal with them. The of the country to which they trade. evil was fairly brought before the Any loss, therefore, which such British Government by it represen- persons may suffer in consequence tative in China, but no notice was of the more effectual execution of taken of it, and nothing was done the Chinese laws on this subject, to suppress it, or even control or must be borne by the parties who mitigate it. What was the Chinese have brought the loss upon themGovernment to do, in the circum- selves by their own acts. A sound stances, but to take the matter into principle was thus enunciated by their own hands, and make a final Lord Palmerston ; but the moment effort to put the trade down? The it was called into play the British Chinese had a right to seize the Government violated it in the opium and destroy it. While no grossest and most flagrant manone would attempt to justify many ner." The author gives the history of Lin's proceedings, his whole of the introduction and progress of conduct shows that he had but one the trade and the consequences object in view-namely the delivery thereof. Our readers who can of the opium and extinction of the procure the pamplet, or as it was illicit trade. Surely the Chinese originally published in the "NonGovernment has a right to execute conformist," will find it very interthe laws of the country on this esting reading even for the dog-days.

The Opium Trade and Sir Rutherford Alcock. By B. Fossett Lock. Of Lincolns Inn, Barrister-at-Law. London: 1882.

THIS is a reprint in pamphlet form | drug, seriously demoralizing and of an article which appeared in the enervating to the population of "Contemporary Review." There China, a source of impoverishare some who would rather read a ment and ruin to families.' 2. The barrister on this question than a Chinese authorities, who are a patermissionary. Mr. Lock gives his nal government, sincerely desire reasons for receiving the testimony to check in every way, and, if posof Sir R. Alcock as given in 1871, sible, abolish the consumption of rather than the testimony given in the seductive drug. 3. They are 1881. At the former period Sir R. foiled in their efforts to do so by Alcock held sentiments, which Mr. the action of the British GovernLock says "may be stated as fol- ment, which has forced the trade lows: 1. Opium is a dangerous upon them. In 1881 Sir R. Alcock

expressed an entirely different changing his statements. We opinion of each one of these points.” commend the discussion to all who Mr. Lock goes over each point in are interested in this subject as succession showing that Sir R. it now engages the public attenAlcock had no just grounds for tion.

The China Review. May-June. Hongkong: 1882. This number completes Vol. X. of But the most striking paper in this valuable publication. Each this numbor of the Review is the succeeding volume is better than one by “Scutica," in which he criti

" . the preceding. The article of most cises the defects and inaccuracies interest to general readers in this of the Translation of the Rer. E. number is the continuation of the

Faber's account of Mr.E H. Parker's journey German into English by Rev. A.

“Mind of Mencius," from in Szch'uan Province. It gives a

B, Hutchinson. The writer appears great deal of information about that part of China. “The Cases

to write with an animus which is in Chinese Criminal Law” will not all due to a literary taste or interest those who are investigating an impartial judgment of the work the intricacies of Chinese law. Mr. done. But we refer any who wish 0. F. von Mollendorff contributes to know of the inaccuracies of the some valuable suggestions for per

translation to this paper. We wish fecting the compitations of Chinese every success to the future volumes Bibliography

of the China Review,

Report of Christian Literature in China ; with a Catalogue of Publications.

By J. Murdock, LL.D., Indian Agent of the Religious Tract Society,

Shanghai : 1882. The Author of this pamphlet of some officers. This pamphlet contains a 56 pages has been the agent for the portion of his observations. The London Religious Tract Society in short prefatory note reads as folIndia for nearly forty years, seek- lows." The Report was originally ing to promote the circulation of prepared for the Committee of the the publications of that Society, Religious Tract Society. It is cirboth in English and in the various culated in China, that the suggeslanguages of that populous country. tions offered may be examined by At the Society's request he came to those who are most competent to China, on his way to Great Britain, weigh them and by whom they must that he inight collect information be mainly carried out, so far as in regard to the preparation, publi- approved.” A very casual examication, and circulation of tracts in nation of its contents shows that China which would be useful to the the name on the title page does not Society when communicated to its convey a very adequate idea of the

subjects treated of. The matters tories, Sales in Preaching Halls and presented for consideration in this Book shops, Colportage and Period. very useful pamphlet are arranged icals."—V. Organizations. Under under some ten heads. The first this head the Author refers to "the contains Introductory Remarks on present organization " for printing “Missions in China, The Press as and circulating tracts and then a Missionary Agency, The Chinese suggests “Proposed Arrangements, Language, Publication work in and Examining Committees and Wen-li and Colloquial, the Term General Committees."-VI. Is in Question, Use of the Roman Cha- reference to the encouragement of racter, and Roman Catholic Publi- Native effort, and discusses the cations.”—II. Protestant Publica- importance of having “ Native tions existing or required. In this members of Committees and of chapter a referenee is made to the Native Authorship, Native Contrifollowing items; viz.: "Catalogues, bations and Tract Distribution." Pastor's Library, Christian Family This summany does not exhaust all Library, Child's Library, Tracts, the subjects referred to by the Periodicals, Popular Literature, Author in bis survey of the subject. special effort for the Literati, Anti- We give this number in detail to opium Movement, School Books, show to our readers the wide range Illustrations, and Wall Pictures.”- of subjects referred to. We comIII. Printing. In this chapter the mend the pamphlet to the consiauthor presents some views in regard deration of all. Many of these to Block Printing, Type Printing, subjects might be profitably disChinese Paper, cost of Printing, cussed in the pages of the Recorder. Wrappers and Binding.-IV. Circu. We invite missionaries to send lation. The points referred to are contributions to its pages that “Sale or gratuitous circulation. will be profitable to helping all Prices, Circulation of Catalogues, to do the best things in the best Establishment of central Deposi- ways.

The Eleventh Annual Report of the Foochow Medical Missionary Hospital in

connection with the A.B.C.F.M. Mission, under the care of Henry T.

Whitney, M.D. 1882. This Report is drawn up with great | Asylum, refers to the fact of a care and shows the Institution to be smaller attendance at the asylam in a very prosperous condition. than in some previous years. But Dr. Whitney carries on these bene- in the same connection he makes a volent labors in the spirit and with statement which fully accounts for the same success as did his lamented this diminished attendance at the predecessor Dr. Osgood. We refer Foochow Asylum. He states that all interested in the details of such some five native opium Asylums medical work to the Report. Dr. had been opened by men who had

. | Whitney, in his report of the Opium been formerly connected with the