them removed, with the consent of the Bishop. The Ritualist, however, need not despair. If, by the free use of the pulpit in the inculcation of his novelties, and by his personal zeal and address outside the church, he can succeed in obtaining a Parochial Council which shall countenance his innovations, they will finally be introduced by an adequate authority. The minority of parishioners may protest, and they may be supported by the Bishop, yet the changes wrought in the Church Services by the incumbent will be, at the end of two years, finally established, and that with a firmness and prestige which they could not have obtained, save through the intervention of the Parochial Council. Whenever this new institution shall be in perfect union with the incumbent in opinion and purpose, it will be superior in authority to all but the law. The value, therefore, of such decisions as have been, or may yet be, gained by the Church Association, will not be diminished by the institution of a Parochial Council, but enhanced.

But the space which you can allow me I have now exhausted. I must ask your permission to reserve the subject for another letter. Yours, &c.,

E. H. C.

The Book of Common Prayer, in its History and Interpretation. By the Rev. R. P. Blakeney, D.D., LL.D., Incumbent of Christ Church, Claughton. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. London: James Miller. 1870.

WE hail with satisfaction the third Edition of a work which reflects great credit upon the patient research and investigation of the compiler. The portion of this book which can, in any sense of the term, be called original, is small; and we do no injustice to Dr. Blakeney if we describe it as forming the least valuable part of a work, the chief merit of which consists in its bringing a vast mass of information within the reach of a large number of the book-reading community, and thereby showing, as we think, conclusively, the essentially Protestant character of the English Reformation.

While heartily endorsing the general conclusions at which Dr. Blakeney has arrived, we cannot but think that his labours would have proved more beneficial to the cause which he has at heart, had he shown less of the spirit of the advocate, especially in the discussion of points of little or no importance, when viewed with regard to their bearing upon the great points at issue in the controversies of the present day.

We select, as an illustration of our meaning, Dr. Blakeney's somewhat laboured argument to establish a distinction between the terms of the Injunction of 1559, "whensoever the name of Jesus shall be in any Lesson, Sermon, or otherwise in the Church pronounced," due reverence shall be made; and those of the Canon of 1604, "when, in time of Divine Service, the Lord Jesus shall be mentioned, due and lowly reverence shall be done." If there be any distinction in the meaning of the two Injunctions, we confess our own inability to perceive it; and when we remark, (1) that the practice is a thing in itself indifferent; (2) that the Latin has quoties (as often as); and (3) that the Canons are obligatory only so far as they may be enforced by lawful authority, we think that Dr. Blakeney would have shown greater discretion in abstaining from the attempt to establish a distinction so refined as to be almost, if not wholly, imperceptible to other eyes than his own.

As an illustration of the trifling instances of carelessness and inaccuracy which occur in this work, we may refer to a passage in Dr. Blakeney's account of the History of the Final Revision of the Prayer Book in 1661 (p. 133), in which, unless we have failed to comprehend his meaning, he not only endorses a charge, commonly preferred at the time against Laud, but never established, and, as we believe, altogether without foundation, viz., that that prelate purposely altered the Prayer Book of 1604 in accordance with his own views, but also represents the edition of 1634 as the "book of Laud," as though there had been an edition of the Common Prayer Book printed in that year which was stamped with the Archbishop's distinct imprimatur, and which bore undoubted indications of the Archbishop's manipulation.

We have made these remarks as impartial reviewers, not only because we are persuaded that the cause which Dr. Blakeney so ably vindicates needs no arguments which will not bear the most searching investigation, but because we conceive that the imputation of motives without sufficient evidence, and the assigning an unnatural interpretation to verbal differences in cases in which the import is, in the judgment of impartial men, identical, is alike unfair and unwise. However freely and successfully such arguments have been adopted in bolstering up systems which cannot endure the light, they are, in our judgment, wholly out of place when adduced in support of a cause which courts the fullest and most impartial investigation, and in the prosecution of that twofold object which, in our opinion, our Author has steadily kept in view, viz., the endeavour to "record facts and authorities fairly and honestly," and to "interpret the Book of Common Prayer in the light of the Reformation."

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Sundays at School. Short Sermons, preached in Repton School Chapel, by S. A. Pears, D.D. London: Hatchards. 1870.-Among the seminaries of sound learning and religious education, with which England happily abounds, Repton occupies a distinguished place, for which it is mainly indebted to the zeal and abilities of its Headmaster. Many of its pupils have been foremost in competition at our Universities, a convincing proof that the education given at Repton is inferior to none to be had elsewhere. But these Sermons prove that higher interests are sedulously cared for, and that, as a wise master-builder, Dr. Pears lays the foundation of his teaching upon Him who is the Rock. It is not his fault if his pupils go forth unguided and unwarned into the world of schoolboy life, with its trials and temptations. There is a peculiarity in these Sermons especially deserving notice. They are addressed to boys, many of whose parents are Christians not only in name, but in reality; they deal accordingly with the responsibilities of such youths to an extent not easily met with elsewhere, and singular value thus attaches to the volumes. In other respects the Sermons are distinctly evangelical in doctrine; great plainness of speech is used with regard to prevalent errors; and the frank manly tone in which the boys are addressed must, we feel assured, have commended the truths inculcated to their hearts and understandings. As there is hardly any topic urged peculiar to Repton alone, we hope these Sermons will gain much acceptance among Christian parents, those especially whose sons are exposed to teaching far less profitable than that for which Repton is so conspicuous.

Four Hundred Millions. Chapters on China and the Chinese. By the Rev. A. E. Moule, Missionary at Ningpo. London: Seeley. 1871. -This pleasant volume treats of many interesting topics relating to a country which, without reckoning all the regions included under its Empire, is eleven times the size of the British Isles, and has twelve times the number of people an Empire which was founded while Abraham was wandering through Canaan, and still lives on, the oldest of the nations, "sed cruda viridisque senectus;" which, for four hundred millions, has one common language of books, that, if mastered in its entirety, would require almost two lifetimes of unremitting toil;" a language spoken in two hundred dialects, varying almost as much as varying languages; a language which has moreover no relationship with any other tongue worth attending to, spoken in the time of Abraham, spoken by English merchants when they buy tea and silk. Mr. Moule's chapters on the religions, the superstitions, the language of China, on Chinese beggars and Chinese proverbs, will furnish much valuable information on topics with which few persons are familiar, and on which many would gladly be informed if they could procure information, as it is

presented here, in a form readily accessible. The spirited vindication of Protestant Missions, which occupies the remaining portion of the volume, may more immediately interest those who are concerned in the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, but ought to be pondered by all. The volume is attractive in appearance, and is adorned with quaint illustrations from Chinese sources. We hope it will meet with extensive circulation.

Aunt Judith's Recollections. London: Seeley. 1870.-This is a tale of the eighteenth century. It is written much in the style of those by the authoress of Mary Powell. Historical characters, such as Wesley, Grimshawe, and Lady Huntingdon, are introduced. The picture drawn of the times is dark and painful; indeed it could not, consistently with truth, have been presented in any other way. It is, however, relieved by the story, the plot of which is well conceived. The book is altogether to be commended, as, with the interest of fiction, useful information and profitable instruction are combined.

Sister Rose; or, St. Bartholomew's Eve. London: John Shaw. 1870. -Partly fact and partly fiction, this interesting volume tells the tale of the massacre of St. Bartholomew in a way which will heartily commend itself to the sympathy of young readers. It deserved earlier notice from us; but perhaps a word of praise now will not be out of season to call attention to its merits, in the midst of the many candidates for popular favour that at this season are crowding in upon us. The purpose is excellent, and the execution very creditable to the author's literary powers.

The Picture Gallery of the Nations. London: Religious Tract Society. An admirable book for young people. It contains brief descriptions and pictorial illustrations of the principal nations of the earth. A few lines by way of heading to each section supplies useful statistics; a pleasant account of customs and manners follows; chief objects of interest are described, and interesting anecdotes interspersed. It is, however, impossible to do justice to the book in a notice like the present, where no specimens of the illustrations can be presented; they are of rare merit for such a book, and will prove a source of great delight to those who may be fortunate enough to possess it.

Original Fables. By Mrs. Prosser. London: Religious Tract Society.-The Preface puts forward an apology for a book of Fables appearing among the publications of the Religious Tract Society. We do not think it was needed. The book is a good wholesome book, well calculated to supply useful admonition in a pleasing form, and in a fashion to be remembered. The illustrations are very choice embellishments of the letter-press. As a specimen of the author's manner, we subjoin one of the shortest fables :

"WHERE IT COMES SHARP.

"Well! that is surprising,' said a young jackal to his mother. 'I have seen the hunters rattle balls from their rifles against that elephant, and they fell from his tough hide like hailstones; and those flies have actually made him caper about quite in a fury.'

666

"Ah son,' replied the old jackal, the secret is, that the flies have

found out where his skin is thin; most of us have a tender spot somewhere; and even an elephant, when that is touched, feels the bite of a contemptible fly more than he would the stoutest rifle where he is invulnerable.'

Tony and Puss. London: Seeley. 1870.-This is a child's book, cunningly devised for the delectation of small folk; but what the moral of the tale is, we do not quite see. There is little to read, and plenty to look at, so that the result is a minimum of toil with a maximum of pleasure. The troubles of Tony are translated from the French; the illustrations are from designs by Lorenz Frölich, and exceedingly well executed.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

WHEN We last month gave our usual summary of public affairs, news had just arrived of the capitulation of Metz on the 29th of October. There was apparently no scarcity up to the 16th, but during the last fortnight the dearth of provisions had been serious, although not absolutely reaching the point of famine. Still, although Metz was not reduced to the last extremity, after the 18th Marshal Bazaine's army practically refused to fight, and 173,000, of the flower of the French army, including the Imperial Guard, commanded by three Marshals of France and fifty Generals, surrendered themselves prisoners of war to 200,000 German soldiers. Furious charges of treachery have been made against Marshal Bazaine by M. Gambetta; but in the opinion of so competent and impartial a judge as Sir J. F. Burgoyne, the Marshal's case was hopeless; "he had really no alternative but to surrender." We refer to this, because the case of Metz, which has capitulated, seems precisely analogous with that of Paris, which is still invested; unless, indeed, some adequate effort can be made from without to relieve the besieged, and the army of the Loire can succeed in accomplishing what McMahon attempted with ruin to himself. Whatever may have been the success of General Trochu in drilling the defenders of Paris, they can hardly surpass the élite of the French army in discipline and military skill. The number of useless mouths in Paris must be disproportionately great compared with those in Metz, and they are likely to be far more clamorous. When then dearth once begins to tell on Paris-as it shortly must, the siege having already lasted nine weeks-the great city must, we think, share the fate of the provincial town.

Meanwhile Verdun, Thionville, and Neu Breisach have to be