THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE VARIOUS AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AT THE BEGINNING OF 1880:

RETROSPECT

OF

LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART IN 1880.

LITERATURE.

THE total of new books published in 1880 is almost absolutely identical with that of the previous year, but its component parts show very considerable variations. Works of history, travel, as well as poetry, show a slight falling off; but the diminution in the supply of theological, educational, and technical books is more marked. The number of new novels published in 1879 was 607, and 406 new editions of novels already in circulation, as compared with scarcely more than half as many in 1880; on the other hand, of juvenile works and tales 153 only were new, and only 61 were new editions; art publications, illustrated works, and year-books were, however, more in favour. The following summary shows the actual literary activity of the year :

The Collects of the Day: an Exposition &c. By Ed. Meyrick Goulburn, D.D. Dean of Norwich. 2 vols. (Rivingtons.)—These lectures, originally delivered in Norwich Cathedral, supply a want, both popular and special, which by some strange oversight has hitherto been almost entirely overlooked. Our clergy are so accustomed to look to the Bible alone for subjects for explanation and texts for exhortation, that our Liturgy runs the danger of

falling into unintelligent use. As a text-book of devotion, the Book of Common Prayer offers the richest materials, and the wonder is that a methodical exposition of its contents does not enter into the regular duties of our clergy. Dean Goulburn's contribution to the history and import of the collects is therefore to be doubly prized; arousing special interest in well-known words, and showing the way to fresh fields for meditation. The word Collect as we now understand it is a barbarism, and indeed its original meaning is a little obscure, unless we are ready to accept Archdeacon Freeman's definition, that it was intended to collect and condense the devotional thought suggested by the Epistle and Gospel with which it is associated. Of course, this definition fails when, as we constantly do throughout the Prayer Book, we find Collects wholly distinct from any such adjuncts. Many subtle interpretations of the word, when used in such places, have been put forward, for which the curious cannot do better than refer to Dean Goulburn, who summarises the friendly contest which has been carried on round this word. Their place of origin is more easily decided. They come to us through the translators and revisers of our Book of Common Prayer, from the Sacramentary of Leo the Great, to whom personally we probably owe at least seven of those still in use, viz., those for the third Sunday after Easter, and the fifth, ninth, tenth, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth Sundays after Trinity. These are therefore, at least, not less than fourteen hundred years old. In the collects of Leo the Great, or in those of Pope Gelasius who lived half a century later, we find traces of the political history of the times when Attila, Genseric, and Theodoric were by turns devastating the Western world, and the Church alone was putting up her prayers that the world might be peaceably ordered. But it is to Gregory the Great that we are indebted for by far the largest number of the collects now used in the Church of England, and it is worthy of notice that the Pope to whom the Church owes so much.both of her music and her prayers is the one whose pitifulness was aroused by the Angles in the Roman slavemarket. From various sources the collects were at length gathered together, and the compilation known as the Use of Saruni has been generally as the text-book of Cranmer and the reformers made their translations. The history of the alterations in the collects (chiefly verbal, but in some cases going to the extent of entire omission) is followed step by step by Dean Goulburn, who then takes each collect seriatim, comparing its present form with the original, explaining the meaning of the alterations introduced, and then examines the practical lesson which each inculcates. He is strong in impressing upon his readers that the common idea that a collect is a mere expression of devotional fervour must be dismissed from the mind, and in proving that each of these holy epigrams is full of moral stimulus and of daily application.

The Gifts of Civilisation, and other Sermons. By R. W. Church. (Macmillan and Co.)—This is a volume of sermons delivered by the Dean of St. Paul's in that cathedral, and at St. Mary's, Oxford. The qualities for which Dean Church is already known to be distinguished as a writer of sermons are not wanting here; simplicity, earnestness, close reasoning, and a quiet beauty of language are as remarkable in these as in his former works. The lecture on the Roman civilisation, which follows the introductory sermon, strikes out the thought that no civilisation, however brilliant, is worthy of that name in its truest sense, in which every man does not fulfil his duties as man to society: that man is the true object of civilisation, and not the circumstances and

appliances, however convenient or complex, which surround his life. Dean Church appreciates at its just value the civilisation of Greece, with its exalted idea of citizenship, and assigns a high place to that of Rome, which produced good as well as great men, with grand views of human life and human responsibility. The next lecture explains how the new religious enthusiasm of Christianity took the place of the Roman civilisation as the old Roman ideal and public spirit gradually declined. In the two lectures on the Sacred Poetry of Early Religions there are some interesting paragraphs on the Vedic hymnology, but the grand "natural religion" of the Psalms is ranked high above all other sacred poetry for the true devotional sentiment, the majesty of conception, the moral beauty and yearning affection, which have endeared these songs of David to people of every shade of belief in every age.

Sceptical Fallacies. By W. J. Hall. (Rivingtons.) This little book is, as the author tells us, an attempt to place in the hands of busy people some brief and popular, yet sufficient answers to the current and common objections which are industriously made against the faith which still prevails among us." The refutation of all the tenets of the various philosophical schools, from Descartes downwards, that are contrary to the doctrines of Christianity, is a task of considerable magnitude, and one that necessitates a metaphysical subtlety of language which may possibly render parts of the work unintelligible to those for whom it is specially intended. But Mr. Hall has spared no pains in the compilation and arrangement of his book, and supports his arguments by quotations from authors so various as Jeremy Taylor and Mr. Mallock, as Dr. Johnstone and James Hinton; and if but few will be able to follow his reasoning on such vast subjects as the Divine Omniscience, which are beyond the grasp of man's intelligence, many devout Christians will read with pleasure the chapters on the Immortality of the Soul and the Philosophy of Prayer.

Characteristics and Motives of the Christian Life. By W. J. Knox Little. (Rivingtons.)—A series of Sermons preached in Manchester Cathedral, and published "in accordanc› with the request of many who believe that they have found them helpful" Zhey are in no sense remarkable, doctrinal rather than practical, and characterised by an uniform and orthodox mediocrity.

Some Helps for School Life. By J. Percival. (Rivingtons.)—This volume is a selection of the sermons preached by the late Head Master of Clifton College during the first sixteen years of its existence, and is "intended specially for those who are already familiar with the life of the College and its round of teaching." These are therefore entirely practical, and as they are remarkable for thoughtfulness and simplicity of style, will find favour with many who hold different shades of belief. The book is a proof that the traditional culture and refinement of the Anglican clergy is not yet extinct, and as such will be welcome to all devout Churchmen.

The Human Race, and other Sermons. By the late F. W. Robertson. (C. Kegan Paul and Co.)—The sweepings of the desks of even so great a man and so deservedly popular a writer as the late Frederic Robertson, hardly ever bring to light much that is worthy of being drawn from the oblivion to which the author had consigned them. Fragmentary, however, as are most of the sermons published in the volume now before us, they contain abundant instances of the singular freshness and originality of thought, of the earnest simple eloquence, of the practical piety by which his other works are placed

far above the average sermon. A very few addresses now published for the first time are entire these will be hailed with delight by those who have already found in his former writings the most stable, satisfactory form of religious teaching which the nineteenth century has given.

After Death. An Examination of Primitive Times respecting the state of the Faithful Dead and their relationship to the Living. By H. M. Luckock. (Rivingtons.) Dr. Luckock's work is strictly of a devotional character, though in saying this we would not imply that the intellectual element is wanting, and the execution of the work is careful and scholarly. The book deals with three questions about which Western Christendom has been much agitated, namely, the efficacy of prayers for the dead, the existence of an intermediate state, and the lawfulness of the Invocation of Saints. These are discussed with candour and fairness, on their merits and on the evidence applicable to them. The Inscriptions in the Catacombs are fully treated, and in fact the work is a review of almost all the existing literature on a subject that attracts great attention among all devout people.

Spinoza: his Life and Philosophy. By Frederick Pollock. (C. Kegan Paul and Co.) It is of Spinoza's philosophy, as we should have expected, that this work really treats, and indeed nearly all that is known of his life is summed up in the curious little tract by Colerus which is reprinted in the appendix, of which the English version appeared in 1706. Mr. Pollock gives us the result of some years' careful study in this admirable and exhaustive summary of Spinoza's works, of which no complete English translation has been published, although it is said that the MS. of a translation by "George Eliot " is in existence. The book is not intended merely for those who have made philosophy their special study, and will be read with interest by any thoughtful and intelligent reader. The noble words in which Mr. Pollock sums up his estimate of the great philosopher are more likely to induce people to turn to the book itself than any praise which we can bestow upon it. "His aim was, not to leave behind him disciples pledged to the letter of his teaching, but to lead men to think with him by teaching them to think for themselves. . . . We who have thus far endeavoured, however imperfectly, to follow the workings of Spinoza's mind, and to explain his thoughts in the language of our own time, honour him even more for that which he suggested, seeing the far-off dawn of new truths as in a vision, than for that which his hands made perfect."

...

English Thought in the Eighteenth Century. By Leslie Stephen. (Smith, Elder and Co.)-The value and importance of this work claim for it a notice here, although second editions do not, strictly speaking, fall within our province. It presents a detailed and systematic account of the tendencies of the religious, political, and moral movements and discussions in all the various schools of English thought, from the revolution of 1688 to the opening years of the present century. The deist controversy-the chief product of eighteenth century theology, is fully described, with all the general theological tendencies of the age, and [we are quoting from the preface] in order to set forth intelligibly the ideas which shaped those tendencies, it seemed desirable again to trace their origin in the philosophy of the time, and to show their application in other departments of speculation. I have therefore begun with an account of the contemporary philosophy, though, in repeating a thrice-told tale, I have endeavoured to be as brief as was compatible with my purpose. Further, I have tried to indicate the