LAND AND ITS RENT.*-This little book contains the substance of four lectures delivered in Harvard University in May, 1883.

President Walker's views in regard to rent are fully developed in his large work on that subject, and while the present volume contains an exposition of his theory, which is that of Ricardo, its object seems principally to be to criticise the arguments of Bastiat and Leroy, Beaulieu, John Stuart Mill, and Henry George, and to reply to Mr. Henry C. Carey. The discussion is conducted with great directness and vigor. If the reader is not convinced it will not be because the author is not entirely sure of the correctness of his positions.

UHLHORN'S CHARITY IN THE ANCIENT CHURCH.-The author of this interesting volume is well known to English and American readers by his work, especially, on the Early Conflict of Christianity and Heathenism. In the present book, he sets forth an attractive characteristic of the primitive and early churches,their liberality in dispensing charity. At the present time, when the topic engages a somewhat general interest, and when votaries. of economic science seem disposed to push their theories to a dangerous extreme, a historical discussion of this nature is quite. timely. Independently of this consideration, the theme, handled as it is by a Christian scholar who is qualified for the task, is fraught with interest. One point to be observed is that charity among the early Christians was much more judicious than in the mediæval age.

PLATO'S BEST THOUGHTS.-Generally speaking, persons of taste and culture prefer to make their own selections. If passages are to be culled from great writers, one is disposed to pick the fruit for himself. We want to see not only a part of what an author says on an important topic, but all that he says. The context is often of the highest consequence. Plato, however, is so voluminous a writer, the number of readers who will not take

*Land and its Rent. By FRANCIS A. WALKER, Ph.D., LL.D. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. 1883.

+ Christian Charity in the Ancient Church. By Dr. GERHARD UHLHORN. New York Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883.

Plato's Best Thoughts compiled from Professor Jowett's Translation of the Dialogues of Plato. By Rev. C. H. A. BULKLEY, D.D., Professor in Howard University. New edition. Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883.

up Jowett, much less the original Greek, is so large, the value and suggestiveness of his thoughts are so peculiar, the alphabetical arrangement adopted by Dr. Bulkley, in the arrangement of his excerpts, is so convenient, and the book as a whole, which he has prepared, is so engaging, that we cordially commend it to those who have not time for a larger endeavor, or wish to taste of the viands before they sit down to the meal.

DR. SCHAFF'S CHURCH HISTORY, VOL. II.*-Dr. Schaff has submitted to the labor of thoroughly revising-in fact, re-composing--the portion of his Church History, which covers the period from A. D. 100 to the Council of Nicea, he having previously re-written his history of the Apostolic Age. This new volume gives fresh proof of the learning, the candor and the indefatigable industry of this veteran scholar. One very valuable feature of the book, as of its precursor, is the full guide to the literature which is furnished under the proper heads. It is to be hoped that Dr. Schaff may have the strength, and the leisure from other employments, which shall enable him to carry his important undertaking to a completion.

THE MAGAZINE OF ART commences a new volume with the December number. It contains an original etching by R. W. Macbeth of "Lady Bountiful." "North Tuscan Notes," by Vernon Lee, with eight engravings. "The Poachers Surprised," from the picture, by Hugo Kauffman. Madrazo, the Spanish painter, by David Hannay, with two engravings. Sketches in Egypt, with six engravings. "Venetian Glass," by Madeleine A. Wallace Dunlop, with three engravings. "On the Ebb," from the pictures, by Mesdag. "A Note on Realism," by Robert Louis Stevenson. Some portraits of Martin Luther, by Richard Heath, with seven engravings. "Pens and Pencils; Hazlett & Northcote," by J. Ashcroft Noble. The Constantine Jonides Collection, from David to Millet, by Cosmo Monkhouse, with six engravings. American art notes. The chronicle of art. Yearly subscription, $3.50. Single number, 35 cents. Cassell & Company, limited, 739 and 741 Broadway, New York.

* History of the Christian Church. By PHILIP SCHAFF. New ed., thoroughly revised and enlarged. Vol. II. Ante-Nicene Christianity, A. D. 190-325. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1883.

The "CALENDAR OF AMERICAN HISTORY "* compiled by Miss Lyman is something more than a bare list of important events which have occurred on the different days of the year. Miss Lyman has aimed to give, in connection with each event which is mentioned, a brief account of the circumstances which attended it. Many of these accounts are quite noticeable for the clear and succinct way in which what is most important is stated. Often they are very happily illustrated by quotations from the poems of our best American authors. The range of subjects is large. They include events which occurred in our colonial history, in the revolutionary period, and in the civil war. A place has been found for a large number of the political questions which have at different times agitated the country. Descriptions are given of the leading religious denominations, of the most valuable inventions, of the most popular authors. We feel confident that as the sheets are torn off during the coming year, the conversation at thousands of breakfast tables will be directed to the most important topics in our national history, and the interest of many a person will be awakened afresh in what were not very long ago living questions, while many a youth will be led to seek further information in the standard histories.

THE ART AMATEUR for December, the first number of the new volume, contains working designs for a teapot (Japanesque decoration), a dessert plate (wild geranium), a hand screen (shepherdess), embroidery (a fan, Christmas-card box, doilies and mitres), repoussé work (cockatoos and dolphins), wood-carving and jewelry; two beautiful designs of children, with minute directions for painting in oils and mineral colors; an illustrated report of the Feuardent-Cesnola trial; a biography of Charles Sprague Pearce, with numerous original drawings; an illustrated notice of the Huntington gift to the Metropolitan Museum: reviews of the National and Pennsylvania Academy exhibitions, the Sketch Exhibition, and the National Exposition at Paris; dramatic and musical feuilletons; some fine illustrations of Derby porcelain ; practical articles on decoration, needlework and china-painting; correspondence, literary and editorial notes. Price 35 cents; $4 per annum. Montague Marks, Publisher, 23 Union Square, New York.

* Miss Delia Lyman's Calendar of American History. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York.

The December (Christmas) MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY contains four historical Essays on Christmas and its observances in various parts of early America and among different nationalities. John Esten Cooke contributes the leading article on "Christmas Time in Old Virginia," illustrated with portraits of the Pages, Carys, Pendletons and Nelsons of the "Old Dominion," with pictures of ancient churches and historic houses; Norman McF. Walter, of New Orleans, follows with a charmingly picturesque description of The Holidays in Early Louisiana," among the Creoles; John Reade, F.R.S.C., of Montreal, describes "Christmas-Tide in Canada," among the earliest French settlers; and Mrs. Lamb, Editor of the Magazine, writes of the "Christmas Season in Dutch New York." Publication office, 30 Lafayette Place, New York City.

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Hand-Books for Bible Classes. Romans. By Rev. Principal Brown, D.D. 152 pp. Clark's Foreign Theological Library. New series. Vol. XIV. The Life of Christ-Weiss. Vol. I. 393 pp.

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