FOUR PHASES OF MORALS :-Socrates, Aristotle, There is in all that Professor Blackie speaks and "the steam-power," being entirely religious; whence also humility is a virtue as prominent in Christian ethics as self-respect is in those of Aristotle. The propagation of Christian ethics was the effusion of the Holy Spirit. The "aggressive attitude" of Christianity, as Professor Blackie after Chalmers terms it, springs from the same root. What Professor Blackie's personal views of Christianity as a revelation are, his book does not clearly indicate, and per. haps it would be impertinent to inquire. Priesthood, dogmatism, asceticism, and ritualism, are severely tossed whenever they come within reach of his horns; but he is an advocate for a national church, though we suspect the church he desires is one which would be wanting in "steam power" to extract tithes from the ordinary tax-payer, who fancies that in maintaining a church establishment he is providing for the propagation of some definite belief. The Professor's toryism shows itself in his extreme anxiety to relieve Christianity of the disgraceful imputation of forbidding war; what Christianity really prescribes, he thinks, is only fair fighting and military courtesy. We are not confident that St. John would have accepted the vindication. When Professor Blackie gets among the Utilitarians he carries out the advice given by the Irishman to his son who was going to Donnybrook fair :'Whenever you see a head, hit it." Locke gets hard epithets for his notion of innate ideas. He has given particular offence by saying that “ children do not join general abstract speculations with their sucking-bottles and rattles." The consistency of his successors is dismissed as "a virtue which even thieves and murderers may achieve." Mill is accused of "extreme nonsensicality," and of "flinging open defiance in the face of reason, and making a public ovation of unmitigated nonsense.' Hartley, Hume and Bain come off little better, though Hume gets the benefit of his nationality. Paley, a clerical dignitary, and, unlike most Utilitarians, a Conservative, passes comparatively unscathed. Utilitarianism, as a theory of morals, has in truth burst in attempting to stretch itself so as to embrace self-sacrifice. But partly from the same quarter, partly from that of the Darwinians, has arisen a question as to the genesis of conscience, which Professor Blackie imperfectly apprehends, and has not attempted to investigate. Curious little crotchets crop up here and there. The Professor of Greek seems not very deeply to reprobate the classic practice of infanticide. We are frequently reminded that the author enjoys the inestimable advantage of being a Scotchman. The world is agreed, we believe, in regarding a somewhat obtrusive patriotism as a grace in the members of small nationalities; but corporate self-approbation | speaks of "a great moral teacher or reformer, such is carried somewhat high, when a Scotch writer as the Apostle Paul or Thomas Chalmers." LITERARY NOTES. But we The American people seem to have a fit of morality upon them at present, if we may judge from the works recently issued by New York publishers, on the vices and immoralities of their city life. The desire for sensational effect, however, seems so largely to enter into their denunciation of these vices, that one is apt to think that this "cry of outrage" is more affected than real. Unfortunately, there is reality enough in the social demoralization of New York and the other great cities of the Union to call for urgent, earnest and vigorous arraignment. cannot but think, that a more dignified handling of these vices and greater economy in the tinselled invective of these purists would be more effective. In the pictorial caricaturist we find the same loud and lavish exercise of his art-as in the Nast's cartoons of the Tammany Ring-which evince a vulgarity of treatment in decided contrast to the quiet, yet effective sketches of the English satirist. However, the dish seems to require strong seasoning to suit the American palate, and the rhetoric of the "Daniels come to judgment" must be favoured with all the claptrap of the stump to catch the people's ear. Recently we had from the pen of a Brooklyn clergyman, with all the exaggeration of style and reckless disregard of propriety and good taste, so largely typical of the American pulpit, a book on the depravity of New York fashionable life. The book bore the outre title of "The Abominations of Modern Society," and the American press everywhere greeted it as a "bold, brilliant and incisive work." Now, we have a book from a lady, though on another phase of American life; yet one, admittedly, calling for earnest and effective denunciation-and it has it, according to the prevailing taste, as far as the language employed by the author and the title of her book is concerned. "Get thee behind me, Satan," for this is its title, is said to be a home-born book of home truths; and, no doubt, as the work has for its theme the lively subject of "Free-love, Free-marriage and Free-divorce," it will prove the literary sensation of the summer! Again, we have another startling work in "The Nether Side of New York; or the Crime, Poverty and Vice of the Great Metropolis;" and, we suppose, it will be claimed for this work that it discusses great social questions that affect humanity, and we must read and ponder, while a new regenerator of society dashes off his periods and reclaims the world. Then, there is a class of this literature that fastens itself on the medical profession, -the product, not of the coarse, libidinous charlatan, but the professional physiologist, &c., who affects to write with the strictest decorum, and who professes to be the physical saviour of society, yet whose plainness of speech and indiscreet discussion of subject is more apt to breed a moral plague in the land than any good his nostrums or prescriptions will do to alleviate suffering. But we pass these productions by, and make a few notes in a more wholesome, though probably, a less exciting literature. Prominent among the books of the month will be found several contributions to political science, the most important of which are Mr. Freeman's useful and instructive little manual on "The Growth of the English Constitution, from the Earliest Times," and Sir Edward Creasy's work on "The Imperial and Colonial Constitutions of the Britannic Empire." Mr. Arthur Help's "Thoughts upon Government," is noticed in our Review Department. Mr. Henry Reeves' "Royal and Republican France," is a collection of able papers originally contributed to the Quarterlies; and Mr. Mathew's "A Colonist on the Colonial Question," discusses Imperial relations with the Colonial possessions, and proposes a great federal parliament for the whole Empire. Mr. Jenning's compilation, "A Book of Parliamentary Anecdotes," published by the Messrs. Cassell, may be mentioned under this department; while in general literature, the re-issues may be noticed of Lord Brougham's collected writings, (A & C. Black,) and a new and popular edition, (The Kensington,) of Thackeray's Works, in twelve 8vo volumes. In art, we simply notice, as an evidence of the growth of taste on this continent, a work about to appear in Boston (Osgood), by Walter Smith, State Director of Art Education in Massachusetts. It will be entitled "Art, Education, Scholastic and Industrial," and its objects are to show the benefits of art-studies, and to suggest systematic and profitable methods of pursuing them. In social and industrial matters, we have the interesting Collection of Essays, second series, published under the auspices of the Cobden Club. The joint volume of Prof. J W. Fawcett, entitled, 66 Essays and Lectures on Social and Political Subjects"; and Prof. Leone Levi's "History of British Commerce and of the Economical progress of the English Nation." We observe that of the former of these a second edition has been called for, and of the latter, an American reprint is announced. In Biography, and of some interest to Canadian readers, the Letters and Journals of a former Governor-General, the late Lord Elgin, will be particularly noticed. In Theology, the principal issues have been of an historical and controversial character. These embrace Dean Stanley's "Lectures on the Scottish Church," and Prof. Rainy's reply to the Dean's assault; a second series of the "Church and the Age," a volume of lectures on the principles and present position of the Anglican Church; a variety of tractates on "The Athanasian Creed;" and the issue of vols. 3 and 4, on controversial matters, of the Messrs. T. T. Clark's new edition of St. Augustine's Works. In Poetry and Fiction, we have but space to chronicle the appearance of a new volume from Mr. Browning and Mr. Longfellow; and the reprint of Charles Levers' "Lord Kilgobbin;" and Lord Brougham's posthumous novel, "Albert Lunel." VAULTS, 3, 5, 7, and 9, TORONTO STREET, TORONTO. The large and steady increase of our business has compelled us to obtain more commodious premises; we have therefore removed to No. 3 TORONTO STREET, Just vacated by the Royal Canadian Bank, where we also occupy the cellarage of the adjoining buildings, extending to Court Street. We are now receiving large quantities of Wines, Brandies, and other articles, personally selected in Europe by Mr. St. George, during the past winter, from the proprictors of vineyards and from the holders of the best brands in France, Spain and Germany, to which we respectfully invite the attention of our friends and customers. Among our importations is a large consignment of the Vin de St. George, from Mr. St. George's Vineyards of Lengaren, as well as Clarets, Sauternes, Burgundies, Champagnes, Moselle, Hock, and very choice brands of Old Ports and Sherries. Price list with full particulars sent post free to any address; orders given personally or by mail promptly filled and sent carefully packed in jars, cases, or casks to any part of the Dominion or United States. Terms: Cash at the time of leaving order, or packages sent by express marked C. O. D. QUETTON ST. GEORGE & CO., WINE MERCHANTS, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. TO THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, CANADA, TENANT FARMERS-Improved Farms, with Dwellings and Farm Buildings, can be purchased at from 4 to 10 stg. per Acre, or for the amount required to carry on a leased farm in Great Britain. CAPITALISTS-Eight per cent. can easily be obtained for money, on first-class security. MECHANICS, FARM LABOURERS, SERVANT GIRLS-Employment can readily be obtained at good wages. A FREE GRANT OF 200 ACRES Of Land can be obtained, on condition of settlement, by every head of a family having children under 18 years of age; and any person over 18 years of age can obtain a FREE GRANT OF 100 ACRES, on condition of settlement. These lands are protected from seizure for any debt incurred before the issue of the Patent, and for 20 years after its issue, by a “HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ACT.". Emigrants, on arrival at Quebec, should communicate with the Agent for the Province of Ontario, MR. G. T. HAIGH, whose Office is on the Wharf, at Point Levi. ASSISTED PASSAGES. The Government of Ontario will pay to regularly organized Emigration Societies in the United Kingdom or in Ontario, or to individuals, the sum of six dollars (£1 45. 8d. stg.) for every statute adult sent to this Province, at the end of three months' continuous residence in the Province, and on the following conditions :-- 1st. The Society or individual sending out the Emigrant, in respect of whom the payment is to be asked, shall forward the Emigrant to London, or to a shipping port, to an Agent approved by the Government of Ontario; or where there is no such officer, to the Emigration Agent for Canada, with a certificate in form as furnished on application to any of the Emigration Agents or Societies above mentioned. 2nd. The Agent in Europe will, when the certificate is presented to him from the Society or individual sending out the Emigrant, see that at least seventy per cent. of the adult males are of the Agricultural or Farm Labourer class, and the residue Mechanics, such as Blacksmiths, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Cabinet-makers, Painters, Plasterers, Saddlers, Stone-cutters, Shoemakers, Tailors, Tinsmiths, &c., and if he is satisfied that the Emigrants so being sent are of good character, and suited to the wants of the Province, and in respect of whom the Societies or individuals sending them should receive the Government allowance, he will endorse such certificates in the manner provided for in the " Form of Certificate" referred to. 3rd. The Emigrant, on landing at Quebec, must present the endorsed certificate to the Emigration Agent for the Province of Ontario, at his office on the Wharf at Point Levi, who will again endorse the certificate, and give the Emigrant such advice and instructions as he may require. 4th. The Emigrant having reached the Agency in the Province of Ontario, nearest to his intended destination, will then be provided for by the Local Agent, and sent by free pass or otherwise to where employment is to be had. 5th. At any time after three months from the date of the endorsement of the certificaté at Quebec, and on proof being furnished that the Emigrant has, during the interval, been and still is a settler in the Province, the Government of Ontario will pay to the Society or individual issuing the certificate the sum of six dollars (£1 4s. 8d. stg.) per statute adult. ARCHIBALD MCKELLAR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND PUBLIC WORKS, Toronto, Province of Ontario, 1872. Commissioner. HUNTER, ROSE & Co., PRINTERS, TORONTO, |