to be mere races produced by selection, however distinct they may appear to be, not only breed freely together, but the offspring of such races are only perfectly fertile with one another" (p. 272). And so we part from Mr. Huxley, the learned and enthusiastic man of science, the effective popular lecturer, the adroit advocate, and the sadly limping reasoner. ༣ ་ THE BOOK TABLE. DR. WILLIAM SMITH'S DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE. Revised and edited by The completion of the American edition of this noble and quite unrivaled Biblical Cyclopædia furnishes fit occasion for a word respecting the additions by American scholars. The work itself has been justly characterized in the REVIEW, during its progress through the accurate Cambridge press, as one of remarkable learning, fulness, correctness, and exhaustive criticism upon the subjects treated. As it now stands, with the corrections of its American editors, and the new matter from others of established reputation in our own land, it is not likely to have a peer or a rival for many a long year. More than half of the new "writers in the American edition" are Congregationalists, viz.: Profs. Bartlett, Day, Fisher, Hadley, Park, Robbins, Talcott and Thayer; Drs. Post, Stowe, Thompson and Wolcott, with Rev. Messrs. Ward and W. E. Park, and Pres. Woolsey, while the Presbyterian contributor is of Congregational extraction and education. Three of those named-Prof. Day and Drs. Stowe and Thompson-contributed to the original English work, with Prof. Hackett, one of the learned and accurate American editors, who now represents with Profs. Conant, Hovey and Kendrick the Biblical erudition of the Baptist branch of American Congregationalism. Three Unitarians and one Methodist, with Dr. Schaff,whom we hardly know how to classify (except in the Evangelical Alliance!) — complete the new list. The American writers do not suffer in any respect by comparison with the writers of the original work, sixty eight in number, nearly all of whom (over fifty, at least,) were English Churchmen, and most of them ecclesiastical dignitaries. These new papers are indicated by a*. How multitudinous these are a running glance over the pages of either of the four volumes will inform the reader. The first volume contains nearly a hundred, covering more than fifty pages. They are of all lengths, from paragraphs to pages, and a scholar will not be likely to deny that they could have been produced by nothing less than finished Biblical and theological scholarship. Going through Vol. I, page by page, and not pausing on lesser addenda — all learned, acute and skillful,— the notabilia are the admirable addenda to Alford's article on the Acts, by Drs. Hackett, Abbot and Fisher those by Dr. Hackett on the Altar to the Unknown God, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Bashan, Bethabara, Betharbel, Bethel, Brethren of the Lord, Burial, Cæsar's Household, Cherub, Cana, Canaanites, Canticles, Capernaum, Centurion, Chal cedony, Chereth, Claudia, Coal, Colossians (Ep.), Corinthians (Ep. I), Crib, Dalmanutha, David, Day's Journey, Deaconess, Deceitfully, The Deep, Degrees (Songs of), Diadem, Dial, Dothan, Dragon Well, Dropping, Dust, Ecclesiastes, Egyptian, Elijah, Elisha, Elkosh, Emmaus, Ephesians (Ep.), Ephesus, Epi-tle, Esdraelon, Esther, Eunuch (Etb.), Ezekiel, Field, Gasah, Gadara, Galatians, Ditto (Ep.), Gamaliel, Games, Genealogy, and Gennesaret; by Dr Abbot, on Air, Amomum, Apocrypha, Cedar, Daniel, Ecclesiasticus, Enoch (Bk.). Esdras (Bks. I, II), Essenes, and Geheana; by Prof. R. D. C. Robbins, on Balaam; by Dr. Abbot and our associate, Prof Bartlett, on Chronology, Dan, and Demoniacs; by Dr. Abbot and Dr. Hackett, on Chronicles and other topics; by Pres. Woolsey; on Appeal, Divorce, and Festus; by Dr Conant, on Candlestick, Cherub, College, Covering of the Eyes, The Dead, Firmament, and Genesis; by Prof. H. B. Smith, (Rev. F. Meyrick, joint author,) on Church (literature); by Dr. Schaff, on Deacon; by Prof. G. E. Day, on Degree; by Prof. F. Gardiner, on Easter; by Dr. S. Wolcott, on En-Rogel; and by Dr. J. P. Thompson, on Egypt. We omit mention of numberless briefer articles by Dr. Hackett, and of those briefer still by Dr. Abbot, which enrich almost every page. Dr. Thompson's, on Egypt, is an addendum to the original paper of nearly twenty pages by Mr. Poole of the British Museum. Of the four articles which represent an editor of this REVIEW, one supplements Mr. Poole's on the same subject (Chronology), and another- on Demoniacs-shows a Scriptural prepara tion for the discussion of "Spiritism" in our pages. So minute an examination carried through the four volumes would be more laborious than needful. The results stated above fairly represent the work done throughout by the new American contributors. In Vol. II, pursuing the same course, we find articles by Dr. Wolcott on Gerizim, Gischala, Jerusalem -13 columns, supplementary to two articles by English writers covering 41 pages,― Joseph and Jotapata; by Dr. E. G. Post, on Geir Eagle, Hyssop, Lebanon, Leopard, Lily, and Kanah; by Prof. A. P. Peabody and Dr. Abbot, on Gospels, very clear and able; by Dr. Conant, on Gutter, Job, Leviticus, and Lot; by Prof. Bartlett, on Hebron and Hell; by Prof. Thayer, on Hebrews- - five columns, Lazarus and Market; by Dr. Schaff, on Helps and Jesus Christ an appendix to one of 36 pages by Arch. Thomson; by Prof. Gardiner, on Hour, Jude, and Luz; by Prof. Robbins, on Imagery, Chambers of, and Lance; by Prof. Talcott, on Isaiah; by Dr. Abbot, on James (I and II, Ep.), Jude (Ep.), Judith, Lamentations, Luke, and Mark; by Prof. Fisher and Dr. Abbot, on John (Gosp.)16 columns; by Prof. Stowe, on Jonah ; by Dr. Thompson, on Joseph, and Law of Moses; by Prof Park, on Judas, a brilliant appendix of 11 columns; by Prof. Hovey, on Kingdom of Heaven; by Prof. Hadley, of New Haven, on Language of N T.,- 10 columns; and by Dr. Hackett, on Geth. semane, Gilboa, Gilead, Habakkuk, Haran, Horosheth, Hermon, Herodians, Hezekiah, Hinnom, Hosea, House of God, Husks, Iconium, Isaiah (with Dr Abbot), Italian Band, Jacob, James, Javan, Jebus, Jehoiakim, Jehoshaphat, Jehovah, Jephthah, Jeremiah, Jerusalem (mod.), Joshua, Judea, Judah, Judaism, Kaper, Kid, Kedron, Kings (I and II), Knife, Line, Liquor, Lysias, Machaerus, Machpelah, Mahanaim, and Malachi. These titles last given illustrate the laborious industry and fidelity of the leading American editor. And all that we have now given will testify to any one not acquainted with the work, of its richness and fulness in this vastly improved American edition One would hardly have supposed that an English work of so eminent excellence could so soon, and in our land, have been improved so much. But a thorough examination discloses such omissions of important topics as explain the matter in part. In Vol. III, we notice 20 articles of importance by Prof Hackett,- besides a good many minor ones,- some of them on new topics; 13 by Dr. Abbot, besides those too brief to count, chiefly biographical, as in former volumes; 5 by Prof. Talcott; 12 by Dr. J. P. Thompson, all Egyptian, and noteworthy; 7 by Dr. Wolcott, mostly geographical; 3 by Dr. Conant and Prof. Robbins, respectively; 2— on Natural History — by Dr. Post; and one, each, by Prof. Warren-eight able columns on Names,- by Pres. Woolsey, by "A. C. R.," by Prof. Bartlett - 13 columns on the Pentateuch, a masterly resumé of his well-known and widely esteemed vindication, — by Prof. Park, on Miracles, 17 columns, acute and admirable, by Prof. Kendrick, a fresh, wise paper on Preaching, and by Rev. W. E. Park, on Psalms Imprecatory a performance that does credit to perhaps the youngest contributor in the whole list. Vol. IV contains 17 articles by Dr. Hackett, and the same number by his associate, not counting the shortest ones in either case, and all excellent; 14 by Dr. Wolcott, geographical and topographical, and corrective of other writers; 8 by Dr. Thompson on important Egyptian topics; 7 by Prof. Gardiner, lucid and helpful; 4 by Prof. Mead, of Andover, whose work is so excellent as to make us wish there were more of it; 3 by Prof. Talcott,that on The Word particularly satisfactory; 2 by Prof. Robbins; and one, each, by Pres. D. R. Goodwin, Prof. Bradley, Dr. Schaff, Prof. Thayer, Pres. Woolsey, Rev. W. H. Ward, and Prof Stowe. Dr. Goodwin writes on the Resurrection, as his Bib. Sacr article of years ago might lead us to expect, Dr. Schaff treats Transfiguration, unaccountably overlooked originally, and Mr. Ward digests the latest learning touching the Moabite Stone, as he did recently in the Bib Sacra. It would take us too far to characterize the judgment and scholarship of many of the new American articles in these last volumes But it is worth noticing that the peculiar and superior excellencies of this edition of the Dictionary, the use made of the most recent Oriental researches by various persons, and of the reconstruction of Ancient History by Rawlinson, the more extended references to the literature of the subjects, the ample citation of able and learned American authors, the correction of Scripture references-more than 1000,- the re-adjustment of points of orthography, accent, and signification of words, the use made of the Codex Sinaiticus, and the more complete and convenient cross references now contained on almost every page, are all characteristic of this edition. In paper, press work, cuts, maps, etc, etc., we do not see anything to choose between this and the more costly English original; while in a multitude of other respects which affect the trustworthiness, thoroughness, and supreme excellence of the work as a thesaurus of Biblical knowledge this is vastly to be preferred. G. F. M. ASTRONOMICAL AND COMMERCIAL DISCOURSES. By Thomas Chalmers, D. D., LLD New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. Chicago: Wm. G. Holmes. Pp. 745, 12 mo. Price $1.50. The "astronomical" discourses are those which fifty-five years ago filled the old Tron church full to overflowing on Thursday afternoons, month after month; of which nine editions were printed the first year, and which, as Wilberforce writes, in 1817, set "all the world wild about Chalmers." They call for no criticism now. The other discourses are almost equally out of the beaten track, both in theme and thought. Among them are such topics as the Dissipation of Large Cities, the Love of Money, the Guilt of Dishonesty, the Christian Law of Reciprocity, the Restlessness of Human Ambition, and the noble sermon on the Expulsive Power of a New Affection. They may show modern preachers that the free application of the sermon to all the aspects of life is not a recent discovery; they may also show some of them how to perform this process, and still preach Christ and religion. Among the various sensational devices of the times, we venture to suggest the sensation of preaching the Gospel. There are places where this would be, no doubt, a novelty; but we assure both preacher and hearer that the gospel has made a great stir as they will learn on inquiry. ENGLISH, PAST AND PRESENT. Eight Lectures. By Richard Chevenix Trench, DD., Archbishop of Dublin. Seventh edition. New York: C. Scribner & Co. Chicago: W. G. Holmes. Pp. 352, 12 mo. Our noble language is a great study, curious and profound. It is the embodiment of a wonderful history, as well as the exemplification of striking linguistic principles. A man who should have mastered the English speech in these respects - in its principles and historic relations and suggestions-would be an eminently thoughtful and scholarly man. Dr. Trench has made a good contribution toward this result. His first book, on the Uses of Words, was one of the most suggestive and stimulating that had then appeared. The present volume, which has been steadily improving till it has reached the seventh edition, is full of information and interest. Without pretending to be an exhaustive discussion, it deals learnedly and thoroughly with these topics: The English vocabulary; English as it might have been; gains of the English language; diminutions of the English language; changes in the meaning of English words; changes in the spelling of English words. FRESH LEAVES IN THE BOOK, AND ITS STORY. By L. N R., author of The |