essay upon covetousness. This prize was eventually awarded to the author of "Mammon." It is stated that Mr. T. was among the three first, including Mr. Harris, whose comparative claims the committee of adjudication found some difficulty in settling. They, however, offered fifty guineas for Mr. T.'s essay, which was published under their auspices, and a second edition was almost immediately called for. But Mr. Treffry's chef-d'œuvre is, by common consent, the Treatise on the Divine and Eternal Sonship of Christ, published about the time of the author's death, and making a duodecimo volume of five hundred and forty-seven pages. "Whether we consider this production," says an able critic, "as a satisfactory disquisition on an important topic in theology; as a cabinet of Scripture illustrations; or as a model of critical exegesis, it is one which we can most earnestly recommend to all who are covetous of advancement in the well digested knowledge of things divine and heavenly."* Dr. Pye Smith says, "I am persuaded that the reading of this pos thumous work will increase the conviction, already deeply felt, of the author's transcendent excellences, intellectual and moral." And the venerable Henry Moore, declares, "The book is too good. I mean, that it is so large that I fear it will not be read extensively. No man who had not faculties of the highest order could have produced such a book."t Such is a brief outline of the life and literary labors of Richard Treffry and as our limits will not admit of any due critical examination of the various and masterly productions of his pen, we shall conclude our present notice with a few remarks upon some traits of his character with which we have been particularly struck in glancing over the volume before us. It is but justice to remark that these "Memoirs" are executed in a manner highly creditable to the vene. rable author. Though he who writes is a father that mourns as few have occasion to mourn, there is no evidence of any paternal bias or partiality which would prevent a just appreciation of the character of the deceased: and we are persuaded that the task of preparing this memorial could hardly have fallen into more competent hands. The character of Richard Treffry, though it was in some respects strongly marked, and presented its salient points, appears to have been developed in very harmonious proportions. His intellect was of the first order, vigorous, clear, and comprehensive. To sober reason and a dispassionate judgment were added a lively imagination and gorgeous fancy. In some of his earlier productions he exhibits a fondness, not uncommon to youth, for a highly embellished style. But he soon learned to distinguish between meretricious ornaments and that simple, yet graceful beauty, which is, "When unadorned, adorned the most." For this chastened diction he is probably much indebted to the writings of Mr. Wesley, of whose pure, graceful, and sententious style he was an enthusiastic admirer. * (London) Methodist Magazine for April, 1838. Among the posthumous works of Mr. Treffry are "Letters on the Atonement," 18mo., pp. 262, and "Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity," 18mo., pp. 224. Not less admirable were the qualities of Mr. Treffry's heart, which seemed to overflow with the sweet charities of life, and to be ever glowing with the most generous affections. "It was his filial affection," says the father, "that renders his memory so peculiarly dear to me. He had a wife whom he tenderly loved, and by whom he was equally beloved. He had little children to whom his heart was fondly attached; and he had Christian friends, in whose welfare he greatly rejoiced; and yet he manifested such endearing affection for me as his father, and evinced so deep a solicitude for my welfare, as if I had been the only being in whom his affections centred, and for whom he had any regard. And this was not an evanescent sensation, that fluctuated with every change of circumstances, but a settled, permanent principle, so deeply rooted in his mind that neither age nor sickness could destroy it." To what extent his success in life resulted from a conscientious observance of the first command with promise, and a respectful deference to all whose wisdom and years commended their opinions to his good sense, is a point deserving consideration. In reference to his catholic spirit and his dutiful devotion to the church of his adoption, it is said: "While he gave the right hand of fellowship to all who trusted in Christ for salvation, he was a Wesleyan Methodist from principle. He cordially believed the doctrines, and heartily approved of the discipline of Methodism. He meddled not with those who are given to change, and sought not to mend our rules, but to keep them for conscience' sake. With the liberalism and factious spirit of the age, either in politics or religion, he held no communion. He saw the danger of removing the ancient landmarks which our fathers have set." We may well suppose, then, that one endowed with such qualities of mind and heart would be eminently devotional; and that of such a one the saying of the "Ancient Mariner," "He prayeth best who loveth best All things, both great and small," would be admirably descriptive. We find him ever glorying in the exceeding riches of grace. Thus, in a letter to Mrs. Farmer, he says:— "I have specially felt the preciousness of, "If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him! Upon this passage, the being a parent singularly assists me to rely. I argue thus: There is no blessing that I would not give to my children. But were I as pure as an angel; had I arrived at the highest point of disinterestedness of which I am capable, still my capacities are limited; and there is a shore on which the highest tide of my best parental feeling must break. But my heavenly Father is good; perfectly, infinitely, eternally pure and beneficent. His element is eternal, disinterested love. As far then as the infinite exceeds the finite, as far as eternity exceeds bounded duration, as far as immaculate goodness surpasses the mixed condition of my own spirit, as far as the nature of God transcends my low notions and perceptions of man, so far is God more ready to bless me with his Holy Spirit than I am even to give food to my hungry child. And what is the evidence of this? 'He who spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us ALL, how will he not with him also freely give us ALL things.' It is enough; away with all hesitation, all unbelief, all questioning, all doubt. Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' What then is included in the promise of the Spirit? Here I feel my want of comprehension, and still more my want of words. Thus much, however, I know; that I am herein promised all salvation, from all sin, into all purity, to the highest degree of which my nature is capable." The divinity of the ever blessed Son of God, and the infinite merit of his atoning sacrifice, were themes upon which he dwelt most em. phatically to the last. "O the precious blood of Christ!" he exclaimed the morning before his death, "O the precious blood of Christ! What should I now do but for the precious blood of Christ!" Again: “I am clinging to the cross until the light of eternity, no more to be ob. scured, shall break in upon my soul." Soon after, he expressed a desire to see his wife. The interview was deeply affecting, and the parting scene inexpressibly solemn. "We had often," said she, "conversed of that dreaded hour;" and it was now come. With a look of ineffable tenderness, he bade her adieu; and she, with a tremulous voice, and in an agony of grief, said, "We shall soon meet in glory." "O! yes, yes," he replied, with marked emphasis, but with difficult utterance. She expressed her willingness to remain with him, if she could minister to him any consolation, but he said, "No, go and pray." "This was the last sound," says Mrs. Treffry, "I ever heard from those lips whose melody of tone had so often fallen on my ear and heart with a power of subduing and melting influence." Thus in the galaxy of Wesleyan Methodism has another beautiful orb been quenched-yet not quenched-it has only melted away into the light of heaven. We may then "Rejoice for a brother deceased, And freed from its bodily chain; Our brother the haven hath gain'd, Hard toiling to make the blest shore, And sorrow and sin are no more." THE BOOK CONCERN AS REBUILT. ON Thursday morning, February 18, 1836, the spacious buildings of this noble institution, with nearly all its valuable stock of every description, were destroyed by a calamitous fire. All over our land were excited the most generous sympathies of the members and friends of the church, who gave substantial evidence of their high estimation of the importance of the Concern to the church and to the community, by their contributions for its restoration. The agents, in behalf of the church, have felt, and still feel, a deep sense of the kindness of those generous friends, and deem it proper to give them a plain account of the Concern as rebuilt, and show its adaptation to answer the design of its institution. The front building is one hundred and twenty-one feet long, thirty feet wide, five stories high, including the basement, has iron doors and window.shutters throughout, front, rear, and inside, and the roof is covered with copper. Near the centre of this building is a cartway, nine feet wide, which gives access to the yard. The walls on each side of the cartway run up through all the stories, and about two feet above the roof; and the roof over this cartway is composed of iron rafters covered with copper, so that in the event of one end of this building taking fire, it is believed that there will be little or no danger of its being communicated to the other. In the north end of this building are eight large safety vaults, having double walls and double iron doors, believed to be perfectly fire-proof. These vaults are in the basement, first, second, and third stories, two in each, and are designed for the safe keeping of account books, valuable papers, stereotype plates, &c. In the upper story, and immediately over these vaults, is a large cistern, so constructed as to receive the water from the roof, which is conveyed by leaden pipes to different parts of the building where it is needed in the operations of our business— such as wetting paper to prepare it for printing, washing stereotype plates, &c. It would also be of great advantage in case a fire should take place in the building. The cistern will hold two thousand three hundred and eighty-five gallons of water. There is a similar cistern in the back building, though not so large; and also three large cisterns in the yard to receive the surplus water; which may be raised again when needed to the cisterns in the buildings, by a forcing-pump. The stairway from which this building is entered by the workmen runs up between it and the wing of the rear building, and is constructed of iron supporters and hard plank steps. The roof over the stairs is of iron rafters covered with copper. In this building the book store and printing operations are arranged with great convenience. Here, also, the agents, editors, and clerks are well accommodated in their respective offices. The rear building, which is sixty-six feet long, twenty-eight feet wide, with a wing of the same width and twenty-six feet long, has the same number of stories as the front building. It has iron doors and window shutters, and the roof is covered with tin. This building is occupied as a book.bindery and depository of stock of different kinds. Both buildings are of brick, built in the most substantial manner, and are well arranged for the business to which they are appropriated. Manner of warming the buildings.-These extensive buildings are warmed by steam, which, after having performed its work upon the engine, is conveyed through copper pipes into all the apartments where the workmen are employed, and finally returns, in a condensed state, into a large cistern, from which it is received into the boiler to be reconverted into steam. This method of warming the building saves a large amount of fuel, much labor in making and keeping up the fires, and greatly diminishes the risk of accidents by fire. The boilers. We have two boilers, which are used alternately a week each. This affords opportunity to clean and keep them in good order, and is calculated also, in case of accident, to prevent the ne. cessity of stopping the works. In order to avoid, as far as possible, the danger from fire or explosion, the boilers are in a strong vaulted room of brick and stone in the yard, with a room for coal, and another which serves for the engineer's apartment. The Steam Engine, rated at eight horse power, is of the very best workmanship, and performs to admiration. It is situated in the basement story of the south end of the front building. Power Printing Presses.-Until within about one year past, we were under the necessity of doing most of our book work upon hand presses; but are now happily relieved from this laborious and tedious mode of operation. We have eight power presses, all moved by steam; one Napier cylinder press, on which the Christian Advocate and Journal is printed, and which will print one side at the rate of one thousand per hour; to medium power presses for printing books; two medium and half, and three double medium. For the better information of those who may not understand the terms medium, medium and half, and double medium, as applied to printing presses, and to give a correct idea of the amount of work these presses are capable of performing, we will farther state that a double medium press will print at one impression eight pages quarto, (the size of our large Bible,) six. teen pages octavo, (such as Wesley's Sermons,) twenty-four duodecimo, (such as Mrs. Fletcher's Life,) and so in proportion, books of a smaller page; and this too at the rate of fourteen impressions per minute. In other words, such a press will print a hundred and twelve pages of the quarto Bible, two hundred and twenty-four pages of Wesley's Sermon's, or three hundred and thirty-six pages of Mrs. Fletcher's Life in a minute! The pearl Hymn Book, the sheets of which have seventytwo pages on each side, are printed on a medium and half press, at the rate of fourteen impressions, as before, or one thousand and eight pages per minute. The whole of these presses will print on an average forty-five reams of paper in a day of ten hours' work, two hundred and seventy reams in a week, or fourteen thousand and forty reams in a year; and if the business should require it, it is easy to continue the presses from one to three hours longer in the day, or, if necessary, the whole, or part of them, could be run all night, as the steam engine does not tire, or need sleep or rest, like the operators at hand presses. To the above we may add, should the present number of presses prove insufficient to print the necessary supply of books of every description proper to be issued from the Concern for the use of the members and friends of our church, we have the necessary arrangements in our building-and our engine was made with this view-to double the amount of our operations. So far, then, as the simple fact of manufacture is concerned, we could very readily furnish double the amount of what we now do. But it should be borne in mind that something else besides facilities for manufacture is necessary to enable the conductors of this establishment to issue large editions and supply the quantity of books which may be called for. By a reference to the Discipline, p. 181, it will be seen that "the agent, or general book steward, shall |