election. Therefore, when he nominates any person to elect him, and gives, as I may say, the first vote for him.

"Philodoxus.—What kind of elections are those of your deans and chapters? 'Tis certain they can't be called free elections, since nothing is to be done without the King's previous authority.

"“Orthodoxus.—The freedom of election doth not exclude the King's sacred authority, but force and tyranny only. If any unworthy person should be forced upon them against their will, or the clergy should be constrained to give their voices by force and threatening, such an election cannot be said to be free. But if the King do nominate a worthy person according to the laws, as our Kings have used to do, and give them authority to choose him, there is no reason why this may not be called a free election; for here is no force or violence used.

""Philodoxus.-But if the King, deceived by undeserved recommendations, should happen to propose to the clergy a person unlearned, or of ill morals, or otherwise manifestly unworthy of that function, what's to be done then? ""Orthodoxus.-Our Kings are wont to proceed in these cases maturely and cautiously, I mean with the utmost care and prudence; and hence it comes to pass that the Church of England is at this time in such a flourishing condition.

"Philodoxus.-Since they are but men they are liable to human weakness; and, therefore, what's to be done if such a case should happen?

""Orthodoxus.-If the electors could make sufficient proof of such crimes or incapacities, I think it were becoming them to represent the same to the King, with all due humility, modesty, and duty, humbly beseeching his Majesty, out of his own clemency, to take care of the interest of the widowed Church and our Princes are so famous for their piety and condescension, that I doubt not that his Majesty would graciously answer their pious petitionand nominate another unexceptionable person, agreeable to all their wishes. Thus a mutual affection would be kept up between the bishop and his church."

'Nor is this a mere supposition, but there are instances in the history of this kingdom of such judicious reconsideration of an undesirable appointment. I will cite but one from Burnet's 'History of his own Times,' A.D. 1693, vol. iv. p. 289. London, 1733 :

"The state of Ireland leads me to insert here a very particular instance of the Queen's pious care in disposing of bishoprics. Lord Sidney was so far engaged in the interest of a great family in Ireland, that he was too easily wrought on to recommend a branch of it to a vacant see. The representation was made with an undue character of the person; so the Queen granted it. But when she understood that he lay under a very bad character, she wrote a letter in her own hand to Lord Sidney, letting him know what she had heard, and ordered him to call for six Irish Bishops, whom she named to him, and to require them to certify to her their opinion of that person. They all agreed that he laboured under an ill-fame, and till that was examined they did not think it proper to promote him; so that matter was let fall. I do not name the person, for I intend not to leave a blemish on him, but set this down as an example fit to be imitated by Christian Princes."

'But, alas! remonstrance seems unheeded, and if our venerable Primate and thirteen Bishops have raised their united voice of warning and entreaty to no purpose, it is no marvel that my humble supplication should have pleaded in vain, for time-for investigation-for some regard to our consciences-some consideration for our painful and delicate position.

The time draws near-on Tuesday next the semblance of an election is to be exhibited. I venture to assure your lordship that I could not undertake to say that it would be an unanimous election; I was bold enough

to affirm that it would not be unanimous; and I, in my turn, received the intimation and the caution, I will not say the threat-that the law must be vindicated. Already have I assured your lordship that the principle on which this painful affair is regarded, is that of the most solemn religious responsibility; thousands regard it in this light. I have already told you, my lord, that the watchword of such is this-"Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." I have anxiously implored your lordship to pause-to avert the blow. I have long since told you the truth. I have endeavoured to prevent, by every means in my power, the commotion which has arisen, and the necessity of the performance of a painful duty. I hoped the Congé d'Elire would not be issued until a fair inquiry and investigation had been instituted. A suit has been commenced in the ecclesiastical courts-why not have awaited its issue? When the Congé d'Elire did appear, I at once presumed, humbly but faithfully, though I stood alone, to petition the Crown; and now, when I am officially informed that "her Majesty has not been pleased to issue any commands thereupon," I feel it to be my bounden duty, after a full and calm deliberation on the whole subject, having counted the cost, but remembering the words of Him whose most unworthy servant I am—“ He that loveth houses or lands more than me is not worthy of me "-loving my children dearly, and ardently desiring to complete the noble work which I have for seven years laboured to promote, yet not forgetting that there is "an hour of death and a day of judgment," when I trust, through the merits of my Redeemer, to be allowed to look up with hope, that I may be considered by the intercessions of mercy and pity to have been faithful in the hour of trial, to have "fought the good fight, to have kept the faith, to have finished my course,"-believing that I risk much, and shall incur your lordship's heavy displeasure, who may, if you will, direct the sword of power against me and mine-being certain that I preclude myself from that which might otherwise have been my lot, and expecting that I shall bring down upon myself the abuse and blame of some-I say, my lord, having fully counted the cost, having weighed the sense of bounden duty in the one scale against the consequences in the other, I have come to the deliberate resolve, that on Tuesday next no earthly consideration shall induce me to give my vote in the chapter of Hereford cathedral for Dr. Hampden's elevation to the See of Hereford.

'I have the honour to be, my Lord,

'Your Lordship's faithful humble servant,

JOHN MEREWETHER, Dean of Hereford.

'Hereford, Dec. 22.'

IX.-LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S REPLY.

'Woburn Abbey, December 25.

Sir, I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 22d inst., in which you intimate to me your intention of violating the law. 'I have the honour to be your obedient servant,

'The Very Rev. the Dean of Hereford.'

'J. RUSSELL.

254

NOTICE S.

THE Spottiswood Society has just completed the first part of Bishop Forbes's 'Considerationes Modestæ et Pacificæ Controversiarum de Justificatione, Purgatorio, Invocatione Sanctorum et Christo Mediatore, Eucharistiæ,' &c. The Latin text is accompanied by a translation into English, very carefully executed, and the numerous references are verified and completed in a manner almost as creditable to the patience of the Editor as his threading the mazes of Bellarmine, Paræus, and fifty other laborious controversialists, is to that of the writer. The present volume only extends to the first three books: 1. of justifying faith, 2. of the formal cause of justification, 3. on the questions of the uncertainty, mutability, and inequality of justice (the justified state). It would be premature to review the work until at least the whole subject of justification is completed; but there is matter in the present volume to occupy an ordinary thinker in mastering it at least until the next comes out. The views of numerous writers are stated and balanced with wonderful accuracy, and each is referred to his own point of view with a fairness rarely to be met with. In short, any one who wishes to know what has been thought and said on this great and difficult controversy, can do no better than consult Bishop Forbes, who has waded through the whole of it, and marked almost every point that is worthy of attention. Nor are his labours superseded by later controversial writings on the subject. They may help the reader to a more speedy decision of controverted points, and mark out a more single line of thought, but they will not equally answer the purpose of enabling him to understand various writers, and to separate the true from the false in their statements. Some may think this scarce worth while, at least as regards the 'more rigid Protestants;' and yet our view of the course of faith, and the merciful dealing of God, with our weak and prejudiced understandings, must always be very incomplete if we will not condescend to such investigations. And, perhaps, it may be said that most minds have some shreds of prejudice clinging to them which would be better cleared away by the discovery of their origin than blindly swept off by the adoption of a wholly new way of thinking.

'A Systematic Analysis of Bishop Butler's Treatise on Analogy.' By John Wilkinson, B.A., of Merton College, Oxford, Curate of Exmouth. (Oxford, Parker.) Framed upon an excellent model, and apparently very ably carried out, so as to present the reader with each of the great philosopher's reasonings, in a distinct form, together with what is too often omitted in works of this sort, its place in the main body of the argument. The only desideratum which we could feel,-one, however, which perhaps we have no right to expect from the analysis before us,-is that a greater perspicuity of style should be attempted, even at the cost of departure sometimes from the author's own modes of expressing himself,

which, it is impossible to deny, are not always the most happily chosen for the conveyance of his ideas, however natural, viewed as exponents of the particular process by which this great work was elaborated.

Perhaps the most important book of the quarter is Mr. Keble's volume, 'Sermons Academical and Occasional.' (J. H. Parker.) They range over a quarter of a century: and, which can be said probably of no other living theological writer-they are uniform. The author's mind certainly has grown and expanded; but this growth implies a succession and enlargement, not a change. The particular charm about them is their even, smooth, soothing character. They breathe quite an atmosphere of calm. Dignity, however, and the consciousness of power, are implied in their character: it is the still, unruffled character of conviction and of an intense hold and living upon truth. We attach too ordinarily the notion of weakness to calm. Mr. Keble's is the calm of a settled tranquillity which arises after inquiry and conviction: some minds are tranquil only because apathetic or incapable. These sermons are a treasure, and fit for all time; while the Preface, 'On the present position of English Churchmen,' which has attracted most attention, has only a temporary or at least a local, however high, value. It is a careful and striking application of Bishop Butler's argument to the actual state and case of the Church of England: and of course takes, as the argument from analogy must take, the lowest ground. But while rhetorically the most doubtful, we all know that logically analogy is the most powerful weapon of the reasoning art. Still the argument from analogy, simply as a profound argument, is not fit for the popular reader; and, thankful as we are for everything which comes from Mr. Keble's pen, we may admit this. It is probably from such a feeling that we have heard people speak of this Preface as too apologetical, and that it ought to have taken, or rather added, some constructive argument in favour of the English Church. So to say only shows complete ignorance of the nature of Bishop Butler's argument, which can only be defensive: but it will serve to show that while the Sermons bear a very popular aspect, the Preface is more esoteric.

The Bishop of Exeter's brilliant letter on 'Scripture Readers,' (Murray,) has been effaced by his still more celebrated one on the Hampden case. We are disposed to take his Lordship's view: at the best all that Scripture Readers can do ordained Clergy can do better; and it is premature to try a new order till we have laboured to recruit the old force; and who shall say that anything like serious attempts to increase the Clergy have been made in responsible quarters? This single fact, together with the less than dubious parentage of the scheme, must be decisive.

A 'cabinet,' and slightly lopped, edition of 'Gulliver's Travels,' has appeared as a volume of one of Burns' series. It is a pretty book, and has some very clever woodcuts by Hablot Browne, the 'Phiz' of Dickens, &c. One of them, placed at p. 116, and lettered as the illustration of the voyage to Laputa, should have been at p. 140, to which in fact it refers.

The Juvenile Englishman's Library,' (Masters,) has received additions, and judicious ones, in the shape of Stories from Froissart,' by Mr. Dunster, and an admirable volume, of great practical importance, from Mr. Neale, 'Stories from Heathen Mythology,' for the use of Christian children.

The Adventures of a Fly,' and 'Simple Tales for the Young,' (Burns,) we find tell with those for whom they are written: the best test of value.

Original Tales and Legends,' (Burns,) by Mr. W. B. Flower, has the same pious object as Mr. Neale's. To say that Mr. Flower has succeeded

in a line so thoroughly his own as Mr. Neale's, is no slight praise.

'The Progress of the Church of England since the Reformation,' (Masters,) is an article reprinted from the Ecclesiastic,' which we admired at the time of publication, and welcome in this more permanent shape. It shows that we have constantly been drifting for three centuries since the Reformation: but that the tide has always swept in one, and that a more catholic, direction. The inference is obvious.

'Beauties of German Literature,' (Burns,) is a volume of the 'Select Library.' Heavy, we thought, but readable with an effort. Of the two schools, as in literature so in art, our affections are rather for the imaginative literature of Italy.

'Balaam and his Ass: a Poem,' (Houlston & Stoneman,) a vituperation of the Church of England by a Dissenter. Archbishop Laud observed of one who was guilty of a similar performance in which the same names occurred, that it displayed more of the ass than the prophet.'

A beautiful Edition of Watts's Hymns 'Divine and Moral Songs,' (Van Voorst,) has appeared sumptuously enriched with wooden block drawings by Cope, cut by Thompson. The artist, always pleasing, often inimitable, succeeds better in the quiet vignettes than in the more ambitious subjects. Compare the delightful little subject of p. 35 with the thin unsatisfactory group at p. 33, or with that at p. 88. The province of xylography is not the very highest, however important. The cuts are well worked by the printer, to whom is owing more than half the effect of this particular art. But what thin meagre stuff are the 'Songs' thus enshrined!

'History of the Hebrew Monarchy,' (Chapman,) is perhaps the most complete and plain-spoken attempt to force an indigenous rationalism on the English public, which has yet appeared. It is quite of the school of Ewald, written possibly with greater profanity. If there were not buyers for this class of books, such a series of them would not appear. We have already called attention to the fact, which every day makes more prominent, that a flood of practical, and, in a way, critical, and scholarly unbelief is setting in. The present writer, and with reason, suppresses his name.

The first volume of the Posthumous works of Dr. Chalmers, 'Daily Scripture Readings,' has been published by Mr. Constable, of Edinburgh. It is quite clear that they were never intended for, and are utterly unworthy of, publication. We can only attribute their appearance to some sordid purpose which does now and then appear in the religion established north of the Tweed.

Mr. W. G. Humphry, Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of London, has published a short 'Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles,' (J. W. Parker,) which is judicious and sound. It is quite eclectic in character, and incorporates the researches of the more respectable German commentators, such as