'Midst rocks and quicksands then in safety steers His doubtful way, and still his spirit cheers, And with fresh energy inspires his breast, Until in peace he gains the haven of his rest. Its wonders are unveiled to faith alone. To scan its boundless treasures; And she can sing of what no eye hath seen Nor ear discerned, and where no thought hath been, In splendour inaccessible enshrined; Who is, who was, who will for ever be Reader! wouldst thou behold that land so fair? The record of eternal truth receive In Him of whom it testifies, believe His word declares, "The just shall live by faith." IOTA. REVIEW OF BOOKS. New French Manual and Traveller's Companion, 4s. New Pronouncing French Primer, by Gabriel Surenne, F.A.S.E.-Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.1826. THE former of these small works, in which the latter is comprised, is superior to any of the kind we have met with, in the arrangement and practical usefulness of its contents. It will be found very useful to learners, and to unlearned travellers. And though we are persuaded every attempt to enable a person to teach themselves the pronunciation of French without instruction, is unavailing, some assistance may yet be derived to those who have not the advantage of it, by the manner in which the pronunciation is here given. Consistency. By Charlotte Elizabeth. Hatchard, London. 1826. Price 4s.. THE author of "Consistency", will not desire that after we have given so often and so strongly our opinion against the reading of these religious fictions for young people, we should individually recommend what we have generally discountenanced. But there are still many readers who take delight in these works, and seek them eagerly, and have traced to the perusal of them the most useful and permanent impressions. To these we can well say that this little work is marked by all the discriminating piety we should expect, from the opinion we have formed of the author. The purport throughout we understand to be, to show the mischiefs that result from equivocating in what we believe to be truth, from motives of human expediency: and it is very well shown. The character of Mrs. Forbes is extremely well given, and is, we fear, no uncommon one at the present day; therefore very useful to present to those who may take a caution from it. For the benefit of those who may not read the story, we cannot forbear extracting the summary of this character from one page of it. "Keeping the vineyard of others, she had neglected both her household and herself. She had indulged a spirit of censoriousness, and shamefully connived at, if she had not actually encouraged a feeling of contempt in the family against him, who, as the head of it, was entitled to a master's honour and a father's fear. This is too frequently the case where the household are unfortunately divided on religious subjects; but not the less criminal for being so common; and whatever disgrace may seemingly attach to the individuals thus held out to the scorn of those beneath them, a double portion of guilt and shame rebounds upon the promoters of such unnatural and unscriptural rebellion against an authority established and recognised by the Most High God. In this, and numerous other instances, Mrs. Forbes felt herself to be verily guilty, and wished to amend her con duct. Good resolutions, daily formed and hourly broken, only served to show the adhesive power of sin, not to be shaken off by any effort she was capable of: and indulging the spirit of slumber that so continually creeps over the soul, even of the established believer, and so often and lamentably ensnares to utter destruction the indolent professor of vital Christianity, she sought the evidences of her adoption, not in the abiding sense of a determined struggle against besetting sins; not in a deadness to the world, and growing conformity to the image of Christ, and persevering efforts to tread in the steps of a lowly Redeemer, but in the contrast between her present knowledge and former ignorance concerning divine truths: in a careful recapitulation of what she had done and suffered in the cause of Evangelical religion; and yet more, in the occasional ardour of feelings, peculiarly excitable at all times, and frequently roused to enthusiasm in the contemplation of a glorious dawning, which gives promise that the day of millenial triumph is not now far distant. Unconsciously Mrs. Forbes acquired a habit of balancing against known inconsistencies in temper and conduct, the probabilities of her being really a child of God, founded upon the above-mentioned insecure basis. When her heart, naturally affectionate, expanded in the endearing intercourse of truly Christian fellowship; when her comprehensive mind and quick invention, seconded by great personal activity, were brought into hearty co-operation in some plan for the spiritual advantage of the surrounding flock, or for souls yet enshrouded in the shadow of death in distant countries, she readily appropriated the words of the Evangelist, 'We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren,' and similar texts. Thus soothed into a perilous compromise, she forbore to make free use of that Word of God, &c. &c." The author has with excellent judgment left the issue of this character untold-but has described the evils of it by the way, in a manner that we hope may be useful to those whose character bears any likeness to it. EXTRACTS. THERE are some which call it a mercenary and servile spirit to be led by fear of punishment or hope of reward, to any service of God; yet if the loss of God be the punishment we fear, and God himself the chief reward we pursue, this fear may well consist with love and with a filial and not a slavish spirit. 'Tis the greatest effect of love to lose the communion of that which is beloved, and to fear to displease it in the least.-MRS. HUTCHINSON. BAKER AND SON, PRINTERS, SOUTHAMPTON. THE ASSISTANT OF EDUCATION. OCTOBER, 1826. A SKETCH OF GENERAL HISTORY. (Continued from page 128.) ATHENS, FROM THE FINAL EXPULSION OF THE PERSIANS, TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF PERICLES. THE Athenians, more elate than ever with the glory they had won, and the freedom they had so bravely purchased, now began to rebuild their city, with some magnificence and great expedition. The government too was to be re-established. More enamoured than ever of the name of equality, a feeling Themistocles had always encouraged, and Aristides now yielded to, it was proposed that every citizen should have equal right to the government, and the Archons should be chosen from the body of the people without preference or distinction. With this the commons were pleased; while the men of distinction were satisfied in the certainty of being always chosen, where talent and merit were sure to prevail. Themistocles also proposed that Athens should be fortified, to prevent a recurrence of past misfortunes. This gave great alarm to the Spartans, who could endure no rival in Greece, and took advantage of their superiority to forbid it. Themistocles, wanting power to resist their commands, had a ready devise to evade them. To get rid of the Lacedæmonian ambassadors, he assured them the fortifications should proceed no farther, till he had sent an embassy to Sparta to satisfy that state upon the subject: and immediately offered himself for the embassy, undertaking to bring all to a happy conclusion. Thus appointed, on his own proposal, with some other citizens, ambassador to Sparta, he set out before the rest, advising the Athenians to delay them as long as possible. Arrived in Lacedæmon, he put off receiving audience, because he was alone, under pretext of daily expecting his colleagues. Meantime he had enjoined the Athenians to proceed as rapidly as possible with the fortifications. This they did most ardently; sparing neither houses nor sepulchres for materials; women, children, strangers, servants, and citizens, toiling together day and night, till the walls were completed. The Lacedæmonians received advice of what was doing, and when the colleagues of Themistocles arrived, summoned them before the Ephori, to reproach them with the perfidy of the Athenians in thus violating their promise. Themistocles denied the charge; said his colleagues assured him to the contrary; it ill became a great people to depend on flying rumours; they ought to send deputies back with the Athenian ambassadors to ascertain the truth of the reports, and he would himself remain a hostage till their return. This being agreed to, he enjoined his friends, as soon as they reached Athens, to get the Spartan ambassadors committed to safe custody till he should be released. This done, he avowed to Sparta the whole transaction, and excused himself by saying, "All things are lawful for our country." The Spartans, thus outwitted, and seeing no remedy, stifled their resentment, and sent him back in safety. The next achievement of Themistocles for the aggrandizement of his country, was to render the Pyræum the most capacious harbour in Greece, and unite it to the city by long walls: for he did not consider it fit that the port should be made part of the city, because |