13.-M. T. Cicero de Senectute et de Amicitia, ex editionibus Oliveti et Ernesti. Accedunt notae Anglicae juventuti accommodatae. Cura C. K. Dillaway, A. M. Bostoniae: Perkins et Marvin, pp. 158, 1837.

M. T. Ciceronis de Officiis Libri Tres, ex editionibus Oliveti et Ernesti accedunt notae Anglicae. Cura C. K. Dillaway, A. M. Bostoniae: Perkins et Marvin, pp. 297, 1837.

The latter of these works has long been studied in most of the colleges and higher seminaries in New England. The treatises contained in the other, though hardly less valuable, have not, we believe, been so generally used as text books, but are much read in private. Mr. Dillaway has done a good service to the cause of classical learning and of good taste and of sound morals, in giving these editions to the public. They are fairly adapted to the study of youth by the excellence of their style, and the purity of their sentiments. Α young man can hardly rise from the perusal of them without feeling a certain elevation of thought, and strengthening of virtuous purposes; while as specimens of pure language and fair writing, they cannot be too carefully studied.

These works must, we think, prove acceptable to our clergy, and our christian students. There has been among us an unnatural divorcement between the morals of human reason and the morals of the christian Scriptures. Truth in morals, if not derived directly from the word of God, has been thought to be not truth, or worthless. Yet we know not a better preparative for the study of a purer and better system, than to have meditated on the speculations of candid reason, and to have thoroughly apprehended the conclusions of the unenlightened conscience. The judgments of Cicero too, may often shame later moralists who have drawn from the fountain of truth. We remember the experience of Reinhard, and how devoutly he studied and profited by the writings of Epictetus, and Cicero, and Seneca. Not only they teach valuable lessons in morals, but by the high notions of propriety and decorum they contain, they may render much aid in, what is of no slight consequence, forming the sentiments and manners of the gentleman. Better discussions and truer judgments of the proprieties of social intercourse can seldom be found in modern writers. Chesterfield does not inculcate habits so generous and truly accomplished, and a Rochefoucault gives a falser view of human nature, and of human life. Indeed good sense and just observation of life and character are distinguishing merits of Cicero's philosophical writings. His impartiality was not swayed by a theory, and he has given us the results of a long experience and a profound meditation. His writings are models too, not always of precise statements, or logical deduction, but of full and calm dis

cussion, controlled by a sober love of truth, and chastened by an exquisite sensibility. With what clear integrity does he discourse of the "offices" of human life! With what pathos and subdued enthusiasm does he suggest manifold topics of consolation and hope to the infirmities of age! With how much justness and beauty does he set forth the grounds and conditions of a true and heroic friendship! dwelling all along with a generous admiration on the nobler thoughts and acts of the patriots and sages, who had earned renown in earlier days. Modern history might well match the firmness of Scaevola or of Regulus, but such instances of excellence and greatness do not so adorn our literature, as that of classical antiquity, and not least, the pages of Cicero.

Mr. Dillaway has well done what he has undertaken to do. The notes are accurate, in good taste, and well illustrate the text. Yet we fear he has somewhat erred in too often defining words, which is, however, more allowable in respect to Cicero than most other writers, and in translating clauses and sentences. The labor of the student is lightened, but we doubt if he is profited in the same degree. We think too that more matter strictly philological might have been well introduced, and the De Officiis at least would have been not less adapted to its readers, by occasional remarks on the best reading of the text; a style of note-writing which we regret to see the editor of a late edition of Cicero's Letters so heartily despises. 14.-Tullii Ciceronis de claris Oratoribus Liber, qui dicitur Bru

tus. Edited by Charles Beck, Professor of Latin, in Harvard University. Cambridge: John Owen, pp. 145. 1837. In the preface Dr. Beck says, "With regard to the subject of this book, the chief difficulty arises from the mention of so many per sons of whom the student naturally knows little or nothing. The notes have been prepared with reference to this difficulty, and, consequently, are chiefly historical. The object has not been to furnish articles for a biographical dictionary, but simply to inform the student of each individual's place in history, and his relation to the subject under discussion. The notes, though brief, will, if attentively consulted, be found sufficient for the object." The text is mainly that of Orelli. The notes are prepared with careful brevity, yet are ample enough, and are remarkable for the absence of every thing that does not tend to illustrate the author. The dates of events, and persons alluded to, have been fixed, with great pains and accuracy. An excellent index of names is appended. On the whole, this edition, in the judiciousness of its plan, and the strict exactness with which it has been executed, is well worthy of its author, who is unquestionably one of the first and most accurate Latin scholars in our country.

15.-Testimonials in behalf of George Combe, as a candidate for the chair of Logic in the University of Edinburgh. 1836, pp. 281.

We notice this book for the variety of curious facts which it embodies, a few of which we will quote. July 15, 1836, the vacant chair of Logic in the University of Edinburgh was filled by the election of Sir William Hamilton. The other most prominent candidates were Isaac Taylor, author of the Natural History of Enthusiasm, and Mr. George Combe. To make his pretensions fully known, Mr. Combe published the letters and certificates with which learned men, above seventy in number, honored him on this occasion. Among these was Dr.Whately, archbishop of Dublin, who says: "I have no hesitation in repeating what I have often said before, that I have derived both entertainment and instruction from the perusal of your works. In some points I differ from you, and in several others I remain in doubt: but much that you have said I consider as highly valuable. The anatomical and physiological portion of phrenology, which I believe you call Organology, demands more attention than I have had leisure to bestow, to enable a cautious inquirer to make up his mind upon it. But I am convinced that even if all connection of the brain with mind were regarded not merely as doubtful, but as a perfect chimera, still the treatises of many phrenological writers, and especially yours, would be of great value, from their employing a metaphysical nomenclature far more logical, accurate, and convenient, than Locke, Stewart, and the other writers of their schools. That the religious and moral objections against the phrenological theory are utterly futile, I have from the first been convinced." Among other testimonals are those of Drs. Cowan, Barlow, Sir G. S. Mackenzie, Drs. Drummond, Brown, Willis, Macnish, Evanson, Gregory, Andrew Combe, seventeen distinguished men in Paris, Drs. Elliotson, Robert Hunter, James Simpson, Esq., Dr. C. Otto, prof. of medicine in the university of Copenhagen, Dr. James Johnson, Rev. Dr. Francis Sadlier, etc. The electors are the town council of Edinburgh. On the first ballot, Hamilton had 14 votes, Taylor 10, Combe 3, Mc'Dougall 5; on the second ballot, Hamilton 18, and Taylor 14. It seems, by the testimonials of British booksellers, that 43,000 copies of Combe's works had been sold up to the spring of 1836, besides a large number which could not be enumerated, and besides the many editions in the United States, and the French, German, Swedish and Danish versions.

ARTICLE XII.

SELECT LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

UNITED STATES.

On the 17th of August last, a Convention of clergymen and laymen in connection with the Presbyterian church, and mostly belonging to those synods which were exscinded by the last General Assembly, met at Auburn in the State of New-York. One hundred and twentyone clergymen and fifty-eight lay delegates were members, belonging to thirteen synods and forty-three presbyteries. Rev. James Richards, D. D., professor in the theological seminary at Auburn, was president of the Convention. The following resolution, after friendly and ample discussion, was adopted unanimously: "That it be recommended to the exscinded synods, presbyteries and churches, to retain their present organization and connection, without seeking any other; and that the presbyteries send commissioners to the next General Assembly as usual." Since the Convention met, three eminent lawyers, Hon. George Wood and Hon. James Kent of NewYork City, and Hon. Samuel M. Hopkins of Geneva, N. Y., have given their judgment in reference to the exscinding of the synods and presbyteries by act of the late General Assembly. Mr. Wood thus sums up his learned argument: "I am of the opinion that the four synods and the presbytery above mentioned, are still legitimate members of the Presbyterian church, and under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, and are entitled to all the rights and privile ges, and subject to the duties incident to that relationship." With Mr. Wood, judge Hopkins substantially coincides. Chancellor Kent's opinion on legal questions is perhaps higher than that of any other man in the United States. We give some of the most material points in his paper. Referring to the Plan of Union of 1801, he says: "Nor do I think that either of the contending parties was at liberty to disavow and renounce the compact at pleasure without the consent of the other, except in the case of some new occurrence that would render the further operation of the Union useless, or destructive, or greatly injurious to the ends in view; nor even in that case, without first applying for such consent and stating the reasons of the application.' "It may be taken, I presume, for a fact, that every branch of the Presbyterian church knew of that Plan of Union, and uniformly acquiesced in it, and acted upon it, whenever the occasion required it. Such general and uniform assent, or acquiescence, when given understandingly, and with full knowledge of the facts, is conclusive, and cannot be gainsayed."

"The objection that the General Association of Connecticut had

no power to enter into an agreement to regulate the churches 'not within her limits,' does not strike me as being of any force. The object of the Plan of Union was not local, and the Connecticut Association had a right to act with missionary views, and to make contracts to be executed beyond the limits of the territorial jurisdiction of their State. Every individual has that power. All parties individually and collectively acted knowingly on the subject, and none are now at liberty, on principles of Law and Equity, to deny the validity of acts founded on such agency." Accusations were made before the Assembly, seriously implicating the doctrine and discipline of the churches in the exscinded synods, while the synods had no due notice by regular process of the accusations nor any opportunity to meet them. "This proceeding," says the chancellor, was contrary to all established principles of municipal justice, and would of itself, if there were no other objections, render the expulsion void."

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Besides, the expulsion is not a necessary consequence of the resolution abrogating the Plan of Union. "Nothing can be more erroneous than this idea, even if the premises were true; for the repeal of a grant or the recal of a power will not and cannot invalidate acts done and rights required under it, provided the grant or power did not originate in fraud. Nor could any thing be more mischievous than the principle assumed in the resolution, if carried out to its practical consequences. But it appears that the "mixed churches" in the three synods in western New York were not founded on the plan of Union of 1801, but essentially on that of 1808, and which received the sanction of the General Assembly in the same year. If this be the fact, (and it appears to be so from the documents before me), then the resolution of 1837 was, upon every view of the subject, inoperative as to those synods, and had no application to them." The chancellor then comes to the general conclusion that the exscinding resolution was irregular, illegal and void." We presume, from many and increasing indications, that his benevolent wish will be accomplished," that the next General Assembly will retract their obnoxious resolutions," and "recognize the four excluded synods as part and parcel of their own association."

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Mr. Isaac W. Stuart, professor of the Greek and Latin languages in the college of South Carolina, has published an edition of the Edipus Tyrannus of Sophocles, with notes, and a critique on the subject of the play, in a duodecimo volume of 222 pages. We had hoped to have received from a learned friend a short review of the work for our present number, but we are disappointed. The sixth edition of Prof. Moses Stuart's Hebrew Grammar is in press, and will shortly be published.-A translation of a late edition of Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar, by prof. Conant, is in the press of VOL. X. No. 28.

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