We shall immediately commence an examination of this great, and, as we suppose, truly interesting and instructive work, preparatory to the publication of an edition from the Methodist press in New-York, which we have no doubt will be done with all convenient dispatch.

Those on the one hand who believe in the validity of Mr. Wesley's ordinations for America, and those on the other who denounce our episcopacy as "spurious," and have pressed Mr. Charles Wesley into their service, will wait with no little anxiety to see what light his private papers reflect upon his real and mature views on that subject. Whether Mr. C. Wesley was in all respects a genuine high Churchman, we shall now probably be able to determine with certainty.

2. Delineation of Roman Catholicism, drawn from the authentic and acknowledged Standards of the Church of Rome: namely, her Creeds, Catechisms, Decisions of Councils, Papal Bulls, Roman Catholic Writers, the Records of History, etc., etc.: in which the peculiar Doctrines, Morals, Government, and Usages of the Church of Rome are stated, treated at large, and confuted. By Rev. CHARLES ELLIOTT, D. D. Vol. II, 8vo. New-York: Published by G. Lane. 1841.

We are happy to have upon our table in time for notice in this number, the second volume of Dr. Elliott's work on Romanism. The work is one of great labor and of great merit. Any one who wishes to understand the controversy which has been in progress between Romanists and Protestants from the days of Luther to the present, and who wishes to see the evidence of the real character of the Romish heresy from the most authentic sources, cannot fail to be gratified by the perusal of Dr. E.'s volumes.

The present volume is divided into two books; the first treats of the "government of the Church of Rome," and the second of "miscellaneous doctrines, usages," &c. In the first our author investigates the character of the church, the claims and prerogatives of general councils, and the supremacy of the pope. And in the second he treats of the celibacy of the clergy, and the worship of saints.

A leading object of the author is to show, from Romish authorities, what the real doctrine of the Church of Rome is on these points. This is most of all, in relation to Romanism, what we at the present want to know. Where the Bible is critically studied in the original languages by a multitude of scholars, and is circulated among the people without restraint, the anti-scriptural dogmas of Romanism only need to be seen and properly identified, to meet with the universal reprobation of all who are not stupified by the monster's poison.

Such, however, are the jesuitical arts practiced by Romish priests in the defense of their doctrines and usages, that it should not be considered a work of supererogation to enter into the argument with them as our author has done. Both as it respects the data by which the true doctrines of the Romish Church are to be identified, and the best mode of refuting them, the volumes before us constitute a text book of inestimable value, and one which every student of the controversy ought to have in his library. We shall reserve what further it would be proper to say upon the work before us, for a complete review which we propose to give it in a future number.

3. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. By JOHN L. STEPHENS, author of "Incidents of Travel in Egypt, Arabia Petræa, and the Holy Land." Two volumes, 8vo. New-York: Harper & Brothers.

PROBABLY nothing that we may say of these remarkable volumes will either procure for them a single additional reader, or have much influence in the formation of an opinion concerning them; for their popularity has been so immense, the curiosity to become acquainted with their contents so universal, and the sale has been so exceedingly extensive, that few probably will read our notice who have not previously read Mr. Stephens's book, and formed their own judgment of the wonders it relates. A rich and curious work it unquestionably is, and teeming with matter of the highest interest to almost every class of students, inquirers, and observers. Faulty, doubtless, in some respects-not profound enough in disquisition on any of the multitudinous subjects worthy of note that were presented for the author's examination-chargeable at times with a levity of thought and expression which, however amusing to many readers, is not much to the taste of such as read to learn rather than to be amused-open also to the imputation of a latitude in describing certain incidents and objects, which borders too closely on indelicacy-but, with all these and some other objectionable features, still a work of remarkable attraction, and highly creditable to the author, for whom it has secured much increase to a most flattering reputation.

The general character of the book must be already known to almost every one in this country who ever reads, or knows any thing of books; for where the volumes themselves have not yet found their way, the daily, weekly, and monthly publications have borne copious notices of their contents, generally accompanied by liberal extracts. The portion-and it is a large one-devoted to the extraordinary antiquities

of Mexico and of Central America, has naturally attracted the most general attention; and without doubt the descriptions of these mysterious remains given by Mr. Stephens, with the admirable and evidently most faithful representations of them furnished by Mr. Catherwood, are of a nature at once highly to excite and to gratify curiosity. But we must confess that we have followed Mr. Stephens with more interest in his sketchy, but graphic and very "incidental" notices of the countries through which he passed; his life-like pictures of the inhabitants in their social and political condition, their manners, occupations, wars, amusements, and, above all, in their religion. Pictures, strange in many aspects, curious in all, in some far from displeasing, but in too many altogether lamentable. The religion of these people, if such it may be called, as exhibited by Mr. Stephens, we have examined with deep and painful interest; a religion-or rather a substitute for religion-so purely a system of externals; so dark; so destitute of true gospel light; so childish in its observances; so utterly incapable of exercising any power for good over the spiritual nature and the conduct of its votaries. Among them, perhaps more strongly than among any other people bearing the name of Christians, is exhibited the tendency of the Romish faith to bring the minds and bodies of the laity into a slavish subjection to the priests. The very essence of religion in these countries seems to be to obey the "padre" in all things. This, and the duty of securing to him a bounteous provision not only of the necessities but also of the luxuries of life, appear to be two great elements of the religious code; the third and only remaining one being the duty of attending to the festivals of the innumerable "saints" that throng the Roman calendar, which, being nothing more than so many occasions for merry-making and display, are of course agreeable enough to a people ignorant, thoughtless, careless, passionately fond of amusement, idolizers of finery, and enjoying a soil and climate which make the toil of providing for the wants of life but little more than nominal. It is but just to say, however, that the "padres," as described by Mr. Stephens, seem not always to abuse the almost unlimited power they enjoy. He represents them as often kind, hospitable, simple-minded, affectionate to their people, and ever ready to supply the physical wants of all around them; and if we could forget the wretched state of spiritual destitution in which their ministry leaves the souls committed to their charge, some of the most pleasing pictures drawn by Mr. Stephens would be those of the padres in the numerous villages through which he passed, in their personal characters, their modes of life, and their manner of intercourse with the inhabitants, who look up to them on all occasions for instruction and advice.

4. Life and Times of Red Jacket, or Sa-go-ye-wat-ha: being the Sequel to the History of the Six Nations. By WILLIAM L. STONE. "Humani nihil alienum." New-York and London: Wiley & Putnam. 1841. 8vo., pp. 484.

THE volume whose title we have given above, is one of a series by the author, giving an account of the Iroquois confederacy from the discovery of America down to 1838. The first of the series, the Life of Brant, has been for some time before the public. The two which remain are the Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, and the early History of the Six Nations. The whole plan is one of sufficient magnitude and difficulty to give full scope to the author's diligence, discrimination, and patient research.

It will not be long ere these once mighty nations will only be known in history. They are fast perishing before the march of civilization. Their cries and groans are dying away in the distance, and soon, very soon, the winds of heaven will waft the last sigh of an extinguished people. And while it is laudable in the historian to record, for the information of posterity, the story of their wrongs, their valor, and their acts of retaliation, how does it become the Christian and the philanthropist to use the last opportunity to pour the oil of divine consolation into their bleeding hearts, and to strike up the light of hope before their expiring souls! When will the ears of the church and the nation be fully open to the cries of our red brethren for the blessings of religion and civilization?

The volume now upon our table contains the latter history of the Six Nations, with not only an account of the different negotiations entered into, and treaties effected by the general and state governments, but the speeches at length of Red Jacket and other chiefs made upon these occasions. Here we see the native untaught orator pleading the cause of his people, and often making the most moving appeals to the sympathies and the justice of those who had taken possession of their lands, but too often, on the erroneous principle that might gives right.

Colonel Stone's character as a writer is too well established to require our commendation. It is presumed the Life and Times of Red Jacket, as a literary effort, will compare with any of his previous productions. We can but regret that it did not come within the range of our author's plan to notice the Methodist missions established at Sandusky, Grand River, Oneida, and Green Bay, for the benefit of the people whose history he writes, and which have been so eminently successful in improving their moral and physical condition. There are documents in abundance upon this subject, very easy of access,

which, could the author have consistently used, would constitute a bright spot in his generally gloomy picture. The book is beautifully execute, and reflects great credit upon the publishers. We most cordially recommend it to our readers as a most interesting and instructive volume.

5. An Exposition of some of the Doctrines of the Latin Grammar. By GESSNER HARRISON, M. D., Professor of Ancient Languages in the University of Virginia. Part I, 8vo., pp. 139.

THE science of grammar is founded upon observation. The individual facts which are to be observed and classified, together with the theories to be deduced from them, render the preparation of a work on grammar a labor of deep research and patient investigation. A grammar is not complete which is limited to a few general principles, or a brief detail of the appearances which a language presents. But the whole science of speech must be unfolded, and the principles which regulate the expressions of the human mind developed. Many of the classical text books which are used in our colleges and seminaries of learning are on many accounts deficient and unsatisfactory. The work before us is of quite another character, and presents many striking and original views of language. The author has brought to bear upon the investigation of the principles of Latin grammar an intimate acquaintance with the researches of the German philologists, and has illustrated many points in a clear and lucid manner. The work opens with a preliminary chapter, containing an exposition of the objects of etymological inquiries. The views which he gives of the powers of the letters, and their interchange in obedience to the laws of euphony, will be properly appreciated by the general philologist.

He has divided words into three classes or 66 parts of speech," viz.: nouns, verbs, and particles. This is the division most commonly adopted, and which was derived from the ancients. As regards the classification of the nouns, the author is of the opinion that in accordance with strict etymological principles there should be but two classes or declensions, distinguished by the ending of the inflectional root. Still the division into five is the most convenient for practice, and consequently should be retained. By a careful examination of the ancient forms, and by comparison of parallel cases in the Greek and Sanscrit, he has given some views on the formation of the dative and ablative, which render clear and satisfactory what has hitherto been a perplexing rule of Latin syntax. He dwells at some length upon the