Mr. Ward's amendment has been negatived by a majority of 322 to 148,-evidence the dawning of truth mingled with much error, the perception, in part, of the viciousness of past legislature, with an utter ignorance of the true and only remedy. Our senators are beginning to feel, and have now recorded their conviction, that the ascendancy of the protestant church in Ireland is an insult and a wrong. The experience of centuries has at length forced from them this acknowledgment. So far it is well. Church-of-Englandism, as a specific form of the establishment principle, is on the wane; and its political patrons are, in consequence, compelled to resort to measures which they would formerly have rejected with scorn. But how is it, that a sense of past misgovernment is associated with so much misapprehension of the true principles of legislation? How is it, that the men who acknowledge it to have been wrong to make the catholics of Ireland contribute to the support of the protestant hierarchy, do not see that it is equally vicious to make the protestants of the empire contribute to the support of the papacy? How is it that principles with which we have long been familiar, which are as household words among us, are so little known, so slightly estimated by our rulers? We fear, that in replying to these questions we must criminate ourselves. Had we been faithful to the truth as we should have been; had our zeal in its advocacy been proportioned to that which we exhibit in other directions; had we laboured on its behalf with an energy and self-devotion comporting with its higher claims, our senators could not have displayed the ignorance they have recently evinced. They might still have disliked the truth, they might have attempted in various ways to evade its obligations, they might have decried it as intolerant, have sneered at it as methodistical, but we should not have seen the disgraceful misapprehension of first principles, which the parliamentary debate has displayed. The absence of a large and comprehensive sense of duty has given a character of indifference and feebleness to the movements of dissent which has prolonged the reign of ignorance, and encouraged our rulers to attempt further oppressions upon conscience. We fear there is too much truth in the opinion expressed in one of the resolutions adopted at a public meeting of the Anti-State Society, convened in the London Tabernacle, on the 14th of April, which affirmed—

That the supineness and indifference of dissenters respecting the progress of their principles, and with regard to the injustice of state churches, have unintentionally encouraged the government to take the initiative in the increase of the Maynooth Grant for establishing by law the Roman catholic church in Ireland.'

In this state of things, our first duty after a clear and practi

cal exhibition of our sentiments, is to look about us for suitable men to represent us in parliament. This is the great difficulty, and our best energies must be directed to master it. We must not sit quietly down under the conviction, that such men are not to be found. They are in existence, and must be brought forth, men of clear understandings, of settled convictions, of determined purpose, who unite religious devotedness to the emancipation of the church, to a deep and cordial sympathy with the righteous demands of the popular mind. We know of no nobler or higher vocation, none more worthy of engrossing the energies, or of having consecrated to it the whole life of any man. He who with competent abilities should enter on such a field of labour, in a spirit of enlightened and ardent devotion, and give himself to its duties with singleness of purpose and untiring zeal, would become a benefactor to his species of no ordinary kind. His motives might probably at first be misapprehended, his early efforts be unsustained. Unreflecting piety might condemn, worldly politicians despise, and sectional interests and prejudices cross his path; but, so surely as he held steadily on in his career, would he gather round him the elements of a moral power before which intolerance and latitudinarianism, political corruption and priestly craft, would ultimately be compelled to tremble.

Brief Notices.

The Comedies, Histories, Tragedies, and Poems of William Shakspere. Edited by Charles Knight. (Library Edition.) Vol. XII. 8vo. London: 1844.

WHEN this work was about half through the press, we testified our approbation of its plan and execution; of the pains and judgment which the editor had employed on the text; of the valuable introduction and excursus, historical, and critical, with which each drama is accompanied ; of the immense mass of valuable antiquarian and philosophical information embodied in the notes; and of that profuse and pleasant commentary of pictorial illustrations, which give to this edition so unique an interest. Of the praise then bestowed, we do not feel disposed to retract a single syllable. We then declared our opinion, that Mr. Knight's promised to be incomparably the most complete edition of Shakspere hitherto given to the world, and now that the work is finished, we are of opinion that it is so.

The volume just published, the twelfth and last, contains the poems

of Shakspere, and extensive criticisms on the spurious and doubtful works ascribed to him. The Yorkshire Tragedy,' Mr. Knight supposes, on very general grounds of criticism, not to be Shakspere's. If it be not the work of the great poet, it at least contains many touches and expressions-nay, long passages which are scarcely unworthy of him, and which few but himself could have produced. We acquiesce, however, in Mr. Knight's opinion, as to its not being the work of Shakspere, though we can hardly divest ourselves of the feeling, that he might have here and there vivified it by his genius. Similar remarks apply to Arden of Faversham,' as to which Mr. Knight is more doubtful, whether it be not a genuine work of Shakspere's.

Of the judgment, truth, and taste of the great majority of Mr. Knight's criticisms, on these disputed works, we cannot speak too highly. He has carried into their investigation the same enlarged views, searching spirit, and minute examination of details which pervade the whole edition. As the volume can be procured separately, we should imagine it will prove a welcomed boon to very many, who, possessing other and costly editions of Shakspere, may not be disposed to purchase the whole of the Library Edition;' and we would suggest to Mr. Knight, whether it be not worth while to publish it in a separate form. We thought, but it seems erroneously, that Mr. Knight's biography of Shakspere was to have formed part of the present edition.

Peril in Security: A Memorial of N. E. Parker, late House Surgeon to the Macclesfield Dispensary. By S. W. Rix. London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co. 1844.

A PLEASING and affecting tribute to the memory of a young man, who, with every prospect of eminent success in his professional labours, fell a victim to consumption. The title of the book is derived from the fact, that in the practice of things lovely, honest, and of good report, he was indifferent to the peculiar truths of the gospel; enjoying a false and delusive peace, instead of that of reconciliation. The discipline of providence, and the faithful admonitions of friends, appear to have aroused him from apathy, and led him to understand and value religious truth. The book may with advantage be placed in the hands of medical students.

Elements of Arithmetic and Algebra: for the use of the Royal Military College. By William Scott, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Mathematics in the Institution. London: Longman and Co. 8vo. 1844. pp. 500.

THIS is one of the Sandhurst Text Books of Mathematics-the first of the series in point of order-but not the first published. About two years ago we noticed the Geometry' of the same series, and have much pleasure in bestowing equal commendation on the work before us. Nearly half the ample volume is given to arithmetic, and

rather more than half to algebra; and as the page is full, though the type and mode of printing are remarkably clear, each subject is treated with a degree of fullness, which is not to be found in the generality of elementary treatises. Great pains have been evidently taken to unite perspicuity with brevity. Principles are explained with much precision and clearness, and what is often needed in works of this kind, an ample number of examples is appended to the rules and formalities, to which the solutions are in every case given. The fullest consideration is bestowed on practical, as well as scientific arithmetic; and in algebra, over and above a fuller treatment of all the ordinary subjects than is to be found in more elementary treatises, not less than fifty pages are given to the Composition and Resolution of Equations-Elimination and its Application-the Resolution of Numerical Equations-Sturm's Theorem-Horner's Method for the Resolution of Numerical Equations-and the Solution of Literal Equations of the third and fourth degrees.' Upon the whole, we consider it a work which may not only be very useful in a college, but one of the very best with which a private student of the mathematics can provide himself. We shall be happy to see the remaining volumes of the series, and if as judiciously executed as the first two, we have little doubt that they will ultimately attain, as they will assuredly deserve, an extensive circulation.'

Laodicea; or religious declension. Its nature, indications, causes, consequences, and remedies. An Essay, by David Everhard Ford, author of Decapolis,' &c. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1844. pp. 118. A LITTLE work, well adapted for usefulness; and which, as Mr Ford is so well known to the religious public, needs no recommendation to those who have favourably received his other publications.

The Supplement to the Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Part I: Abatement-Amberger. London: Č. Knight.

The Penny Cyclopædia is one of the ablest and most useful of modern publications; and the Supplement, the first Part of which now lies before us, promises to enhance its value very considerably. The progress of human knowledge is perpetually out-stripping the industry of authorship, and the most complete and elaborate works are in consequence soon doomed to the charge of deficiency. Geography enlarges her boundaries, science opens new fields for human inspection or greatly extends those previously known, biography has to recount the deeds of men recently deceased, while history receives new light from the disclosures of long-concealed records or from the achievements of statesmen or warriors. Hence the importance of our Cyclopædias being perpetually brought up to the information of the day, and the wisdom of

To the pur

the course pursued by the projectors of the one before us. chasers of the Penny Cyclopædia, this Supplement will be indispensable; and to all other readers or consulters of books it will be an invaluable digest of the most recent and important additions to the stock of human knowledge. Like its predecessor, it is the joint production of many minds, highly distinguished in their several departments, and is under the editorship of a gentleman whose competence is admitted by all.

The Complete Works of the Rev. Andrew Fuller. With a Memoir of his Life. By A. G. Fuller. Parts I. II. and III. London: G. and J. Dyer.

It would be superfluous to commend the writings of Andrew Fuller. They have taken their station amongst the most valuable theological productions of the past generation, and will survive so long as masculinę force, transparent and conclusive reasoning, and the clearest exhibition of scriptural truth which modern times have witnessed, retain their hold on the English mind. The present edition, in imperial octavo, is to consist of twelve parts at two shillings each. It is printed on good paper and in a clear type, and is enriched by the Memoir of the author from the pen of his son.

Literary Entelligence.

Shortly will be Published,

Views of the Voluntary Principle. In Four Series. By Edward Miall.

Just Published.

A Commentary on the Apocalypse. By Moses Stuart, Professor of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass. 2 vols.

A Grammar of the Latin Language. By C. G. Zumpt, Ph. D. Translated from the Ninth Edition of the Original, and Adapted to the Use of English Students. By Leonhard Schmitz, Ph. D. With Numerous Additions and Corrections by the Author.

Scriptural Conversations between Charles and his Mother. By Lady Charles Fitzroy.

A Memoir of the Hon. and Most Rev. Power Le Poer Trench, last Archbishop of Tuam. By the Rev. Joseph d'Arcy Sirr, D.D.

Seasons of Sorrow. Original Poems. By John Pring.

A Summary view of the Evidences of Christianity, In a Letter from the Right Honourable Charles Kendal Bushe. With a Preface and Notes. By the Rev. James Wills, A.M.

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Edited by William Smith, L.L.D. P. XI.

Plan of an Improved Income Tax and Real Free Trade, with an Equitable Mode of Redeeming the National Debt, and some Observations on