cultivated taste, with a lofty standard of moral and intellectual excellence, with warm and generous feelings, with a peculiarly susceptible temperament, and surrounded by strong-minded and strong-bodied associates who were pressing on, unretarded, in the path of honorable usefulness-Mr. Stearns had, for many years, an adequate cause for melancholy-a broken physical constitution. From his junior year in college till his death, he was a weak, if not a sick man. No dependence could be placed on the fragile tenement. Hope was strong and elastic, only to be disappointed. Many times did he essay to labor in his Master's vineyard, even if it were but for a "little season," but his shattered energies refused their aid, and nothing remained but a suspension or abandonment of the dearly loved pursuit. Yet there were not wanting those who blamed him for not sooner accepting some one of the numerous invitations which were tendered to him to settle as a christian pastor. But such persons did not know him. They mistook his generally serene countenance and upright gait as the index of considerable, if not entire, bodily energies. They did not know that the strings of the pleasant harp were broken. They could not read the secret history of his mind, or if not absolutely secret, known to but few of his friends. He longed for the pastoral office. He "stretched out his hands" towards the good work, but it fled from his embrace.

Mr. Stearns was the eldest son of the Rev. Samuel Stearns, the late beloved minister of Bedford, Ms. He was born Sept. 12, 1801. In 1816, he entered Phillips Academy, in Andover. In June 1817, he became a member of his father's church. In 1819, he entered Harvard University. At his graduation in 1823, he gave the salutatory addresses in Latin. On taking his second degree in 1826, he delivered the master's valedictory in Latin. From the autumn of 1823 to the spring of 1825, he was an assistant teacher in Phillips Academy. In December, 1825, he joined the theological seminary in the same place, where he remained three years. From 1830 to 1834, he preached, occasionally, in various places, always with much acceptance. April 16, 1834, he was ordained over the Old South Church in Boston. But in two or three sabbaths, his strength was wholly gone. After resorting to various means for the recovery of his wasted powers, a voyage to Europe was determined upon. He sailed for London June 8, 1836. He travelled extensively in Great Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany, and spent the winter of 1836-7 in Italy. In the spring of 1837, he returned to Paris to die. This event took place May 15, 1838. His remains were brought to this country, and interred, with many tears, at Mount Auburn.

Fraternal affection has well performed the biographical office. All is done which we could desire. Every thing is in taste and in excellent keeping with the subject of the memoir. The mechanical

execution of the volume is beautiful. We have seen no American biography which will compare with it, in this respect. About one half of the volume is occupied with the memoir, and the other half with the sermons and other compositions of Mr. Stearns. No cultivated and christian mind will be tempted to stop till the volume is read through.

7.-A Critical Grammar of the Hebrew Language. By Isaac Nordheimer, doctor in philosophy of the university of Munich, Professor of Arabic, Syriac and other oriental languages in the university of the city of New York. New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1838. Vol. I. pp. 280.

Our first remark in relation to this Grammar is the exceeding correctness with which it is printed. The difficulties of reaching, not an immaculate test, for that is out of the question, but a text which may be pronounced accurate, are known only to the few who have made the attempt where there is a profusion of Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac points and letters. The printer, Mr. B. L. Hamlen of New Haven, Ct., and the superintendent of the press, Mr. Turner, deserve great credit for their successful pains. But few books, exclusively English, are more handsomely printed than this Grammar. We have read many pages without noticing any material errors which are not marked in the errata. We have not, however, critically examined the volume in respect to this point.

Our second remark is, that the author evidently possesses rich stores of oriental learning. He familiarly illustrates his positions not only from the dialects kindred to the Hebrew, but from Persian, Sanscrit, etc. He seems to have shared largely in that faculty and diligence in acquiring languages for which the Germans are so renowned. Our author's production exhibits not the mere appear ance, but the results, of extensive and profound personal researches. We presume that the grammar will receive attention in the native land of the author, and not simply in the country of his adoption. While he pays all suitable acknowledgments to the great name and merits of Gesenius, he does not blindly follow him, nor any other master. He gives due credit to Ewald, but is not willing to subscribe to all his theories.

In the third place, the general arrangement appears to us to be perspicuous and well-chosen. Indeed, in many respects, on this point, it does not differ materially from the common Hebrew Grammars. Not a few of the changes may be real improvements, yet in regard to a few, we cannot yet see our way clear. We must prefer, for instance, Gesenius's distribution of the nouns into about a dozen declensions. We would not pertinaciously retain exactly thirteen declensions. Why is it not better, however, to have a sufficient number of distinct declensions to embrace all the im

portant differences in the nouns, rather than to confine them to four or six, and then be obliged to make four or five subdivisions under each of the four? Still, we are aware, that to many minds, the great number of declensions into which the nouns are distributed is in many grammars a stumbling block and a grievance. Such will, doubtless, be pleased with the arrangement of Mr. Nordheimer.

Again, a most important characteristic of the grammar before us is the endeavor to assign the reasons for the various forms and usages of the Hebrew language. The author appears to have brought to this subject a very philosophical and discriminating mind. No inconsiderable light has thus been shed on many intricate paths and dark corners. What, seemed to be mere accident or conventional usage is found to be in accordance with the nature of man and with sound philosophy. Still, we are not sure but that the author has pushed his efforts in this direction too far. Some persons, at least, may think that language is affected in a considerable degree by mere contingencies, or by fortuitous incidents which are incapable of explanation. However, the efforts of Mr. Nordheimer in this department are worthy of all praise. The Hebrew language is full of life and energy, and the grammarian and lexicographer should possess those views and feelings which will enable him to infuse a corresponding vitality and force into his researches.

We conclude this brief notice by expressing our cordial thanks to the author for this valuable addition to our helps in Hebrew study. May he reap a rich reward for his toils. The country of his adop tion will welcome all such strangers as he, who comes to us richly freighted with that which is more precious than gold, yea, than fine gold.

8.-The Life and Times of George Whitefield. By Robert Philip, author of the Experimental Guides, etc. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1838. pp. 554.

Mr. Philip's works have been widely spread and have produced good fruits both in this country and in England. His style, however, has never been any great favorite of ours. It will do very well for a few pages. But we tire in reading a long book, or successive treatises. There is an affectation of point, terseness, striking terms, acute observations. Mr. Philip is, doubtless, far from supposing that there is any affectation in his manner. But what may seem to to himself to be natural, appears to us to be extremely unnatural. This characteristic comes out in the titles to some of his books. He attempts to entrap the reader by some strange combination of words, which on examination is specious and curious rather than weighty and judicious. The Preface to Whitefield's Life contains eighteen lines, of which the following are the last eight. "In regard to the style of this work I have nothing to say; except that it is

my own way of telling the facts of personal history. The time is not yet come for the philosophy of Whitefield's Life. It is, however, fast approaching; and, therefore, my mass of facts will soon be turned to good account by myself, or by some one. In the meantime, Whitefield will be known to the public; which he was not until now." The last sentence is not wholly correct. Whitefield has been known and justly known, for a long time, at least in the United States. Mr. Philip's book will deepen old impressions, rather than awaken any very important new ones. How the matter stands in England we do not know.

Still, we tender our acknowledgments to Mr. Philip for his work. Some new facts have been brought to light. Important contemporary biography and church history is introduced. The misrepresentations of Robert Southey are corrected. The balance is struck with much discrimination and fairness between Whitefield and Wesley and his brethren. The times in which Whitefield came upon the stage are correctly appreciated. Mr. Philip shows that he has a good acquaintance with this country, and is willing to judge fairly of its inhabitants. If he falls into error in respect to names and dates, if he does not always fully understand our congregationalism, our state of society, our modes of thinking and acting, we can readily pardon an Englishman and a stranger. These errors and misjudgments are, on the whole, remarkably few, and in general, unimpor

tant.

The book will be read, and it deserves to be. Every candid reader will pardon the alliterations of the style for the sake of the matter, and for the sake of the subject; and what a subject! shining as the brightness of the firmament forever and forever-casting many crowns at Jesus' feet. The memory of Whitefield will never die on earth. It will gloriously flourish throughout " Heaven's eternal year."

9.-Memoir of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, who was murdered in defence of the Liberty of the Press, at Alton, Illinois, Nov. 7, 1837. By Joseph and Owen Lovejoy: with an Introduction, by John Quincy Adams. New York: John S. Taylor. It is but a few months since our minds were shocked by the report of the scenes of lawless violence at Alton. The community, high in its reputation for civil and social order, and even for christian philanthropy,—the victim, an accredited minister of the gospel, pursuing the work of an editor, with benevolent intentions, and, as he judged, in subordination to the laws of his country,-the assaults, deliberate, repeated, rising in violence and malignity, until at length, consummated in murder ;-all these things conspire to render the catastrophe peculiarly mournful and ominous.

A considerable portion of our readers, we apprehend, have been accustomed to think of Mr. Lovejoy, as one of those turbulent and obstinate spirits, whose influence is really beneficial to society only as it is modified and changed by the over-ruling and corrective wisdom of God. If individuals of this class will take the trouble to read this Memoir, we doubt not they will rise from the perusal, with materially different impressions of his character as a whole. He possessed the social sympathies in a high degree. His feelings were warm, his attachments tender and enduring. As a son, a husband, a father, he stands before us in an interesting light. His intellectual character was of a higher order than we had supposed. Many readers will close this volume with raised conceptions of Lovejoy as possessing the inspirations of poetry, as well as the power of wielding with much effect, the compact vigor of pointed and manly prose. His moral and religious character, and in respect to sincerity and piety, were such as will not fail to command the respect of reasonable men. Whatever may have been his errors in judgment, he had great sincerity and strength of purpose, and was calmly inflexible in prosecuting what he conscientiously deemed the course of duty.

His brothers, the compilers of this memoir, though laboring under some disadvantages, have, in the main, performed their work with judgment and skill. The volume is interesting and instructive. It is the record of one whose life, though brief, had been eminently useful, as well as singularly eventful.

9. Journal of an Exploring Tour beyond the Rocky Mountains, under the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, performed in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837. Containing a description of the geography, geology, climate, and productions; the number, manners, and customs of the natives. With a map of Oregon Territory. By Rev. Samuel Parker. Ithaca, N. Y. 1838. pp. 371.

Mr. Parker set out upon his journey March 14, 1835, from Ithaca, N. Y. On the 7th of April, with his companion, Dr. Marcus Whitman, he started from St. Louis, Mo., in connection with a caravan of the American Fur Company. On the 10th of August, he thus describes the passage through the Rocky mountains. "Cold winds were felt from the snow-topped mountains to an uncomfortable degree. The passage through these mountains is in a valley, so gradual in the ascent and descent, that I should not have known that we were passing them, had it not been that as we advanced, the atmosphere gradually became cooler, and at length we found the perpetual snows upon our right hand and upon our left, elevated many thousand feet above us-in some places, ten thousand. The highest part of these mountains are found by measurement to be