these wild men immediately commenced secret prayer. The good influence of Livingstone's endeavor to preserve habitual cheerfulness, even when surrounded by the most depressing evidences of depravity, are briefly described by him, and may be copied with advantage by all in similar circumstances.

He at length determined to return with his family to the Cape Colony, and send them to England, while he, with the advantages resulting from all his experience and acquaintance with influential chiefs, set forth vigorously on the hitherto unattempted effort to make a thorough exploration of this vast terra incognita.

Accordingly he set forth from Cape Town in June, 1852, on the last and longest journey; and under circumstances full of embarrassment, he persevered for about two years, and reached Loando on the Atlantic Coast in June, 1854. What he endured, and the vast number of valuable discoveries he made while traveling, sometimes in a canoe, and oftener on the back of an ox, it is impossible for us even to hint at. We cannot follow him in this interesting journey, especially as aided by the large and minute maps, which enable you distinctly to trace all his course, without the liveliest sympathy with him in the pains and pleasures, the joys and sorrows of this marvellous career.

After four months' recruiting at the Portuguese settlement on the Atlantic Coast, the Dr. returned, making several important detours from his route in reaching it, and adding immeasurably to the amount of valuable information of all this region, its agricultural and other capabilities, and the facilities for opening a more extensive and profitable trade with its various inhabitants.

Not content with this achievement, however, after his return to the friendly tribe which had fitted him out to explore the western track, the same people generously aided his endeavour to make up the complement of his enterprize, by a journey to the east, so as to reach the Indian Ocean. He set forth with a noble retinue early in Nov. 1855. Descending the Zambesi river, their progress was easier and more rapid, and in six months and a half, including all their explorations and delays on either side, they reached Kilimane, very near the Ocean, May 20th, 1856. The hunting exploits were perhaps more perilous and exciting than ever, and the encouragements for trade, and for evangelizing the natives, were of the most cheering character. But the volume itself must be read to do any adequate justice to this subject. It will be found one of the most graphic, charming and useful publications for a long time issued. The publishers and artists have helped to do it ample justice, and its portrait, maps, and nearly fifty other illustrations of the most spirited kind, will give abundant satisfaction.

AFRICAN EXPLORATIONS. Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa. Being a Journal of an Expedition, undertaken under the auspices of H. B. M. Government, in the years 1849-1856. By HENRY BARTH, Ph. D.C.L, Fellow of the Royal Geographical and Asiatic Societies. Profusely and elegantly illustrated. In three vols., 8vo. (NewYork: Harpers. 1857.)

After several months delay, we have from the American publishers the first two of these noble volumes, fully realizing the high promise and expectation which their announcement had awakened. They have been justly denominated "the most magnificent contribution of the present century to the cause of geographical knowledge."

A slight description of these volumes-such as the department of notices will allow-will verify these high claims.

In the Preface, the learned traveler states with refreshing and rare simplicity how he was introduced to this sphere of service. While lec

turing at the University of Berlin on Comparative Geography, he learned that the British Government was about to send Mr. Richardson on a mission to Central Africa, and would allow a German traveler to join the mission, if he would contribute to his own personal traveling expenses. Soon as arrangements could be made for this purpose, Dr. Barth joined this mission, accompanied by another German, Dr. Overweg, "a clever and active young geologist.' This was in October, 1849, and two months afterward these Germans had actually entered the field of their labors. Dr. Barth had previously performed a journey through the Barbary States; and now beginning at the same point, they set forth from Tripoli, and with greater thoroughness than we have seen elsewhere, they describe the region lying next south of these Barbary States, and particularly the ruins, sculptures, and other remains of a very early and remote character, perhaps, identified with Roman, Carthaginian, and even a more primitive Berber origin. The first ten chapters are occupied with these interesting details, before they plunge into the desert, and approach tropical climes.

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Then, as you spread out the map of Africa and trace their course,not direct and rapid, but with many declinations to the right and left, and many delays at all places whose size, or other circumstances of interest, made them worthy of thorough examination,-and see this track which they have carefully marked, extending over twenty-four degrees from north to south, and twenty degrees from east to west in the broadest part of the country of Africa, reaching from Lake Tsad on the east, to Timbuctoo on the west, and extending south to Yola and Adamawa, some nine degrees only from the equator, the vastness of this exploration may be in outline conceived. To fill up the details with the exhaustive thoroughness of these patient German travelers, is worthy to occupy so full a space as is here devoted to this object.

Not a little additional interest is imparted to these journals from the fact that Dr. Barth has incorporated with his own travels the most reliable information which could be obtained of vast regions beyond his track on every side; so that, as the result of his careful sifting out the grains of truth from the chaff offered him, we have, from these volumes, a pretty full and faithful picture of about one-third of the vast African peninsula. In the incidental manner in which he brings out the natural features of the country, its rivers, plains, mountains, its soil and geological structure, together with the natural history of its teeming animal life, we get a more satisfactory idea of all these in their manifold relations, than any direct description could afford.

But chiefly are we interested in his full development of the human species, in their wide varieties, which here abound. The combined influence of climate, habits of life, government, religion and social connecions, are here depicted: we have very little theorizing, but abundant facts as the materials and data of such scientific classifications, as have too often been attempted from conjecture, or wild and unreliable surmises. The conviction will be forced on every candid reader of these journals, that much which has hitherto passed for profound philosophy in regard to the inhabitants of Negroland, has been unfounded nonsense of bold, empirical pretenders. The work of classification must be begun again, founded more on facts, and less on hypothesis. What Africa has suffered from the Mohammedan despotism of her ruthless masters, and how deep and wide the inspissated fibres of the system of the false prophet have taken root, will here be conspicuously seen. Developments of the same character more recently made in British India, will coincide with these in carrying conviction to the most skeptical, that an authoritative limit must be enforced on the bad influence of Musslemen wherever Christian light and love are expected to be tolerated, and in the end to obtain tho ascendancy.

Dr. Barth's relations to his fellow-travelers, Richardson and Overweg, seem to have been of the most satisfactory character, until one after the other, they both fell as martyrs to their noble efforts in the cause of scientific exploration and research. This left him alone for more than onehalf of the whole period covered by this interesting mission. Our readers must not expect too much of a religious character in these volumes. Their author is probably a fair sample of the savans of Germany and her universities, but evinces no particular sympathy with more than the humanities of the Christian system.

Sometimes Dr. Barth traveled about almost alone; but the necessity of securing defence against the bands of robbers who infest many portions of the country, induced him, especially after the death of his associates, to connect himself with caravans and military expeditions, the purposes of which, in great part at least, were robbery, spoliation and enslavement, for the defeated party. He seems to have felt not a little the incongruity of traveling with such defenders, while under the commission and patronage of a government proposing, as one of its chief objects, the abolition of the slave trade. The necessity of the case appears to have reconciled him to it. In this way, moreover, we get a clearer view of the cruelty, wholesale murders, and other wretched results, among these people, of the slave trade, whether domestic or foreign. Sometimes the traveler remonstrated with his protectors, in reply to which the Vizier could only plead "the slave trade furnished them means to buy muskets." On which the following correct remarks occur in his journal: "Such is the history of civilization? If the poor natives of Africa had never become acquainted with muskets, the slave trade would never have reached those gigantic proportions which it has attained: for at first, the natives of Africa wanted fire-arms as the surest means of securing their independence of their neighbors; then these instruments of destruction became necessary, because they enabled them to make slaves of less favored tribes, thus obtaining those luxuries of European civilization, with which they had likewise become acquainted. Hence the debt which the European owes to the poor African, to right this mighty wrong."

The susceptibility of the Africans to suffering from a low temperature, Dr. Barth thus notices: "I have repeatedly had occasion to mention how sensitive the Africans are to cold; and I am persuaded, that in the burning regions of Central Africa a good cargo of under-clothing would find a ready sale, especially in the months of December and January."

His descriptions of some of the chief cities and towns visited, and their method of trade, the routes by which they can be best reached, the style of living, the productiveness of the soil, and many other matters of this kind, we have not space to advert to, except in this summary manner.

An examination of his route upon the map, shows how nearly his track, when farthest south, approached the regions of Central Africa, where the intrepid Bowen and his associates have not only explored, but actually have made permanent lodgment, planting there the banner of the Cross, that best extirpator of all evils. These journals of Dr. Barth's show how wide and inviting a field is now open for evangelizing labors in Northern and Central Africa.

A HALF CENTURY OF THE UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY, with particular reference to its Origin, its Course, and its prominent subjects among the Congregationalists of Massachusetts. With an Appendix. By GEORGE E. ELLIS. (Boston: Crosby, Nichols & Co. 1857. 8vo., pp. 511.)

This is one of the most significant books of the day. We regret that our space will not allow us to notice it as it deserves. Professedly historical, not controversial, and wearing the garb of great candor and courtesy, its author has an excellent opportunity to say much indirectly, yet most

effectively, in favor of Unitarianism and against Orthodoxy. His design is to state the fundamental doctrines of Unitarianism, and to show, by the history of the past half century, how far Orthodoxy has been compelled to modify its positions, and to approach Unitarian ground. Those who have hoped that Unitarians were fast forsaking their hostile attitude, and were almost ready to fraternize with the great body of Protestants, have only to read this book to be undeceived. On the unqualified denial of the three great doctrines,-the inheritance of a corrupt and guilty nature from Adam, the supreme deity of Christ, and the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus, to satisfy the claims of a broken law, -he declares that “Unitarianism has resolutely held its ground, and intends to hold it, firmly, and without yielding a hair's breadth" In defence of this position, he draws forth again the old weapons of the Unitarian champions, and some new ones of his own, and also endeavors to prove, not without a show of truth, that the tendencies of the recent speculations of many gifted minds nominally Orthodox, especially "in the American Congregational, and English Episcopal Churches," are in favor of what he calls "Liberal Christianity."

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In the execution of his task he exhibits much skill and power as a writer. We doubt not he meant to avoid bitterness and "offensive language," but when we find him frequently applying to Calvinism such epithets as "harsh, ungenial, narrow," unreasonable," "illiberal," fanatical," "superstitious," "repulsive and forbidding;" when we read such shocking caricatures of Orthodox Christians and meetings as we find on pp. 339-40: and when we see him arrogantly boasting that "a fair and just combination of the elements of intelligence and piety, an harmonious adjustment of the relations of reason and faith, will issue in Liberal Christianity,"-we cannot admit that he has succeeded.

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A remarkable feature about all his arguments is, that he relies very little upon quotations from the only true source of theological light, the Bible; preferring to take refuge in general assertions or denials, such as: "No oracle, vision, chronicle, proverb or psalm, recognizes the doctrine" [of our connection with Adam's sin and fall]. 'One passage in the New Testament furnishes all the substantial authority which the Gospel is supposed to give to this doctrine. Not a word, however, can be quoted from the Savior's lips in recognition, still less as an assertion of the doctrine." "He [Christ] forbids all homage or supplication addressed to himself, and enjoins that such exercises be offered to God"!! Indeed, the obvious duty of "following the argument for the deity of Christ into those ambushes of sentences, half-sentences, and phrases called textsproof-texts in which it is supposed to hide," he stigmatizes as welcome work," and accordingly soon abandons it.

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very un

Nor, although it must be admitted that he has some ground for the very serious charge, that several distinguished men, both in our own country and in England,-whom he eulogizes in the most glowing terms,—are “engaged in invalidating the doctrinal views" they nominally profess,— is there a shadow of truth in the assertion that such men are "approved Orthodox writers." If the leading Orthodox journals are to be regarded as exponents of public sentiment, these heretical innovators are already branded with the stigma of disapproval, and the very compliments which this work so profusely strews at their feet, will but awaken still stronger suspicion and dislike of their dangerous errors.

This we regard as the chief value of the book. It will draw a line of discrimination between the real friends of Orthodoxy, and the traitors in the camp. It strips off the "testudo" under which the sappers and miners at the foundation of the Christian faith have been secretly working, and reveals clearly the insidious and fatal tendency of their labors. It may, perchance, hasten some of them to retrace their steps, and others to throw themselves openly into the Unitarian ranks.

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Another good result from the work is, that here Unitarianism is exhibited in its true colors and tendencies, and the picture is by no means a flattering one. The author acknowledges as among the proximate causes of its origin in New-England, the prevalence of the half-way covenant," and of the dogma that " a profession of piety ought not to be required of those who should offer themselves for communion," as "among the appointed means of regeneration.” By that innovation, not only did church members come into communion, but ministers also acceded to pulpits without reaching in spiritual stature the high mark of Calvinism."-p. 23. Springing from such a source, it is no wonder that it was at first, and ever since has been strongly destructive and negative in its character, full of objections, and mighty to pull down the established doctrines of Christendom, but weak and unstable in building up a positive faith. In our author's definition of the three distinctive points of his creed are no less than twelve negatives, and the same peculiarity runs through the book. He can deny with great boldness, and demolish with hearty good-will the Calvinistic doctrines, but when he is called upon to state the Unitarian position, he has “to admit vagueness and indefiniteness into the creed." 66 There must be some other explanation of our frailty and sinfulness than" the Calvinistic one, but our author will not undertake to give it. Jesus Christ is not God-that is certain; but he may hold any other rank, from that of "pure humanity," up to "a sacred companionship in the otherwise lonely majesty of heaven, the sharer, and almost the equal in essence with the Supreme"! The "legal, governmental theory of the Atonement" is utterly without foundation in Scripture or reason, but exactly how "Christ died for our sins," or what precise benefits he has bestowed upon us, we cannot learn from these pages.

We are told that the Scriptures "manifest errors and perplexities, inconsistencies and discrepancies, found in a close and careful study of the record, which utterly confound one who seeks to refer them all to inspiration from God," and yet that "there is an inspiration of the Scriptures;" though the Unitarians "have never given a rigid dogmatical definition of their idea or their belief on this point." We hardly think such a definition necessary, after those holy writings are arraigned as abounding in mistakes, and after such a declaration is made as that "science, history, chronology, geography, and even morality and piety can propose valid ob jections to more or less important contents of the Bible, if the letter is insisted upon, and a plenary inspiration claimed for it."-p. 241. It is impossible for us to reconcile the compliments which Mr. Ellis pays the Bible as "the world's only light, law and hope," an island rock" amid "the sea of human life," with his previous assaults upon the veracity, the wisdom, and the inspiration of its writers.

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Well may he describe Unitarianism as "loose, vague, general, indeterminate in its elements and its formularies ;" and as a legitimate consequence has it "proved itself inferior to Orthodoxy as a working power, a method of presenting and applying the gospel so as to engage the enthusiasm, the zeal, the hearty, devoted service of its disciples in devising eminently Christian schemes, and in carrying on great religious enterprises." It is to us astonishing that Mr. Ellis should complain of the exclusion of Unitarians from Christian fellowship with other denominations, for we are satisfied that no Orthodox man or woman can carefully read his work without being more than ever filled with "horror of the calm, cold, languid spirit of Unitarianism, of its bleak and houseless exposure, and of the precipices of infidelity which it leaves unfenced."-p. 370.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, OBJECTIVELY CONSIDERED. Being the first part of Theology considered as a Science of Positive Truth, both Induc