taste, Gerrit Smith, with fine insight, detected the injustice of the act and, in spite of opposition, boldly asserted that the man had been greatly wronged. Of course he was misunderstood. People could not distinguish between this defence of the man's rights and an advocacy of his conduct. But Gerrit Smith was not one to be deterred from duty by the fear of being misunderstood. It is not very easy to get Mr. Frothingham's books in this country, but all who can should certainly procure this thoughtful biography of a man of whom Dr. Channing wrote that he was "worthy of all honour for his overflowing munificence, for his calm, yet invincible moral courage, for his Christian liberality, embracing men of every sect and name, and for his deep, active, inexhaustible sympathy with the sinful, suffering and oppressed."

BUSINESS, by JAMES PLATT, Fifty-first thousand; revised. London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 1879.

We are glad to see a new edition of Mr. Platt's admirable essay, and to read his thoughtful words on the present stagnation in trade and on the causes which have led to it. Mr. Platt writes from the standpoint of the moralist, but he is a practical man of business for all that, and speaks with a full knowledge of the ins and outs of trade. So, when he deliberately tells us that, in trade as in other things, "honesty is not only the best, but the only safe reliable policy," we will do well to hearken to his words. With much justice he traces the present depression to a departure, on the part of traders, from this policy of honesty. There is no doubt that over speculation and reckless enterprizes infringe the strictly honest path. "From every pulpit" says Mr. Platt, "and in every school throughout the kingdom, the justification of double-dealing and trickery upon the plea that it is impossible to get a living honestly by trade, or in any vocation, should be denounced, in the most unmistakable language, as a libel on

Providence, and the failure to succeed be attributed to its real cause, the man's ignorance of, or incapacity for the business or profession he follows, which has caused him to take a crooked course." (page 179.)

Concerning bankruptcy Mr. Platt gives us some startling facts. In the United Kingdom, during 1878, there were 15,059 bankruptcies against 11,022 in 1877. The average loss sustained in this way, in the last five years, has been eighteen millions of pounds annually. Seventy-five per cent. of the compositions made with creditors during 1878 were for less than 5s. in the pound, and a large number were for only is. and 2s. in the pound. Mr. Platt attributes part of this serious condition of things, showing, as it does, a terrible amount of commercial dishonesty, to the existing Bankruptcy Laws, which he considers "a disgrace to any honourable people or nation." His own idea is to "abolish the Bankruptcy Laws altogether, and save the expense of useless courts, officials, accountants and lawyers. People would then be more careful whom they trusted; the honest trader would, by stopping 'as soon as he was in difficulties,' get relief from his creditors; the dishonest would be prevented from again cheating the public till he had satisfied existing demands." When we consider the worse than fruitless efforts Parliament has made to enact a good bankruptcy law, it certainly seems as if Mr. Platt's plan would be worth trying.

It is rarely that a book so full of sound information and wise suggestion is offered to the public at the trifling price of a shilling, and we are sure that none of our readers who decide to purchase a copy of "Business" will regret the investment,

DEMONOLOGY AND DEVIL LORE, by MONCURE DANIEL CONWAY, M.A. 2 vols. London: Chatto and Windus, 1879.

In two large volumes, got up in Messrs Chatto and Windus' usual handsome style, Mr. Conway discourses of devils of

every variety of size, shape and disposition. The deep researches into ancient lore, which are necessary for such a work as this, are well suited to the special bent of Mr. Conway's mind, and we would be justly disappointed if the task were not well performed. In point of fact, however, there is no room for dissatisfaction.

That this book must be interesting, goes without the saying. It has some lessons to teach as well, not only to those worthy people who still vaguely believe there exists a prince of darkness with a cloven foot, two horns and a tail, but to those, also, who, having discarded these grosser forms of superstition, would still do well to bear in mind the reality upon which they rest. There are other persons besides these who, if so minded, might take a hint. Well intentioned "revivalists" and others often recommend people to accept their form of Christianity on the ground that, whether true or false, it is, on the whole, safer to believe than to doubt. We advise these to ponder a while on this anecdote given on page 13 of Vol. II. of Mr. Conway's book:

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"A lady residing in Hampshire, England, recently said to a friend of the present writer, both being mothers, 'Do you make your children bow their heads whenever they mention the Devil's name? I do' she added solemnly 'I think it safer'."

A number of well-executed wood-cuts, representing various devils, add to the interest and value of the work.

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

'Tis always sweet to have friendly intercourse, whether in the family or in the little home circle, including immediate intimates and friends, or even in more extended unions. The pleasant greeting and smile, the warm shake of the hand, and the interest shown and felt in each other's welfare is very grateful to both giver and receiver. How much more is it so when, in some exceptional cases, intense emotion is excited by events or circumstances of an unusual character. Then the full soul is poured forth, and the close communion and fellowship of feeling are very manifest.

There is, however, except on rare occasions, generally, in all the social intercourse of actual life, something that is a little out of harmony with the peace and tranquillity of the hour, some little incident that seems not just as we should like it, and which, if dwelt upon too much, would destroy the social charm. Some freak of temper, or thoughtless or unkind remark or gesture, or expressive look which is not what we think seemly.

But there is a state of mind in every good man in which he is, as it were, in his highest mood. The spirit is unruffled and calm as a summer lake, and a tranquil peace that passeth all understanding is his treasure and his joy. And this state is most often realized when in close intercourse with God. Then it is he is conscious of the Communion of Saints. For are there not thousands of other minds elevated like his own above the world, and, like him, holding with awe-wrapt soul adoring fellowship with the Highest. The great charm of their union consists much in this; they are joined together in worship and lowly adoration of the All-Perfect, All-Wise, All-Powerful, All-Holy, and All-Beautiful and Good. There is no jar between them now; every evil passion is hushed, and yet there is a passionate outburst of holy joy and rapt devotion.

Who are these that thus worship? They are Saints. Not the proud and lofty of the earth. Not the exclusively rich and powerful, yet these are not excluded. Not the learned or the brilliant, yet are there many of these. There are amongst them rich and poor, high and low, healthy and afflicted ones, the child, the timid maiden, the vigorous man, and the feeble grey-beard. Yet are they all saints. Not by any means perfect, but sincere; earnest, with a great love in their hearts for purity, and goodness, and truth, and righteousness, and willing to sacrifice even their life, if it be the holy will of God. All the loftiest conceptions they have ever formed of Deity at any time, in any place, from ancient prophet or sweet psalmist, or God's greatest Son, are centred now in Him.

The

And thus their reverence for God includes a veneration and worship of all the attributes that inhere in Him. Goodness, Truth, Purity, and Love. He is the great centre of all Righteousness, the Central Sun of the moral universe. Thus His true wor shippers must in some sense become like Him, and the more they reverence Him the more they grow in His moral likeness. more closely they are united to God, the more nearly they approach and resemble each other, and the more intimate their communion. They may differ in almost everything else-in social rank, in intellectual culture, yea, in moral and spiritual attainment-but yet there is the Communion of Saints, in that they all unite in loving adoration of the Source of all true excellence.

When we consider the millions of immortal spirits who are joined with men in this worship of love, who have passed from the scenes of earth, but yet, whom we hope, have entered upon a higher stage of existence, we become conscious of quickened feelings of emotion and of joy; our old friends also join us, purified and made perfect—our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and dear children are our fellow-worshippers. No jar of feeling now, no ill-tempered petulance, no morose envy, no impurity of passion, or selfish eagerness of purpose. All are hushed in the joyous presence of the High and Lofty One, yet who is also our Father and our Friend.