effect of some such new sect as we have sug- which are incessantly lifting up their heads on gested a sect which should take as its each side of it, to scare and mock all such as stop special mission to preach Christianity in its to look at them. But there are minds, whose lot harmony with a sound philosophy-in other it is to grapple with the hardest problems of their words, in its harmony with the great wants them,-men who seem to regard it as their ap age, and who cannot rest until they have solved and facts of human nature, would be, that pointed task to descend to the gates of Hades, and it would stimulate all great religious parties bring back Cerberus in chains; and of these men to bestow more attention themselves on a Sterling was one. Nor are such men to be disfield of labor, now almost neglected, but missed with a cold taunt, or a severe reproof, which, if well worked, would yield, under as wasting themselves unprofitably in grubbing the Divine blessing, a most potent return. For the roots, too, may often need to have the soil about the roots, instead of feeding on the fruit. We conclude our observations for the pres-about them loosened, and uncongenial substances ent on this topic, with an extract relating removed: nor is it well to blame those who deto it from the close of Mr. Hare's beautiful vote themselves to this more arduous labor, in ormemoir :

der that others may have more abundant and better fruit to feed on. If the great problems of spec"The representation of his life is unsatisfactory, ulation, which are continually rising up as our horibecause the problem of his life is incomplete. zon widens, are left unexplored,-if those who are That problem, as has been truly observed to me set to be the guiding spirits of their age, pass them by one of his chief friends, was the same as the by, and are content, provided they can evade esgreat problem of our age. In fact, it was the same cape from them, or if they try to impose upon with the great problem of all ages, to reconcile their followers by denying their existence, or their faith with knowledge, philosophy with religion, magnitude and danger, the vessel after a while the subjective world of human speculation with will assuredly strike against the rock, and founder. the objective world, in which God has manifested In such a state of things, falsehood is sure to creep himself by a twofold revelation, outwardly to our in, and to spread from mind to mind, from heart to senses, and spiritually to our spirits. Nay, this is heart, with hollowness, hypocricy, and a whole only the intellectual side of the problem, though legion of fiends in its train. We must do the work not merely intellectual, inasmuch as in the higher that is set us to do-the intellectual work as well regions of thought the wings of the intellect flag as the moral: we must not shirk it, or slur it and droop, unless a moral power nerve and sustain over: and this is a part of it.

them. For what is the great moral problem of It may be thought that the story of Sterling's mankind, though in this, since the will is the life is a warning to refrain from all speculation. main seat of our weakness, we have wandered But this would be to misread and pervert it. When still more widely from its true solution, but to we listen to those most beautiful and gracious strive after a like atonement? From the first words, in which our Lord gives thanks to the dawn of speculation, man has ever been endeavor- Father, that he has hid the mysteries of heaven ing to solve this great problem under one form or from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them other; and it has ever been receiving fresh, though to babes, are we to conclude from them, that God only partial solutions. Ever since it was solved, has set a bane against wisdom and prudence, and once for all, for every practical purpose of life, by has excluded the wise and the prudent from the the Incarnation of the Word, new forms of the kingdom of heaven? Surely this cannot be. speculative problem have been continually presenting themselves: every new solution has disclosed a deeper mystery still unsolved: nor has any form of it been more perplexing, than that in which it presents itself to the meditative minds of our own times.

Even the deplorable shipwreck of Solomon is not to teach us this lesson. For what does the whole history of the Church declare? Was Moses, who was skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians, debarred thereby from receiving the revelation of the eternal I Am? Was St. Paul shut out from "If we look through the recent history of the kingdom of heaven? or St. Athanasius, or thought, especially in Germany, where thought Augustin, or Bernard, or Hooker? Our Lord's upon such subjects has been far more active and words are indeed a warning, and so is the whole vigorous than elsewhere, we may see what powers volume of the Scriptures, from the story of the have been engaged in it, and what powers have fall downward, against man's natural proneness to been baffled, at least so far as only to attain to a overrate worldly wisdom and knowledge, and to very partial and inconclusive solution. One wiz believe that of himself he can penetrate into the ard after another has bid the waves be still, and mysteries of God. But on the other hand, it ought then, deluded by a momentary lull, has fancied only to render us the more indulgent towards those that he had found out the spell to bind them; but who have these heavy incumbrances to struggle anon they have swollen, and tost, and roared; with. We ought to judge them the more leniently and he too has been swept along by them. It is for this very reason. If there is any man, who, true, very many, nay, the great bulk of mankind, having exerted himself laboriously and perseveringmay find peace in some partial solution of the ly to pry into the hidden recesses of our nature, to problem, and may walk on quietly and straight- pierce through the unfathomable abyss of evil, and forward along the path of life, without troubling to catch a glimpse of the light and glory beyond themselves about the doubts and questionings and behind, can say he has never been shaken or

The rare value of these extracts must be

to our readers.

troubled in the calm composure of his faith, let | sail them. If we do so, though some lives may him cast a stone at Sterling: I cannot; nor should be lost in the attack, one obstruction after another they, who, never having engaged in such inqui- will gradually be removed. Now Sterling was ries, can form no estimate of the difficulties beset- one of the men whose nature commanded him to ting them. The reader of Cowper's Letters' may stand in the van of human progress. He belonged remember how, in speaking of Johnson's Lives to the body-guard of him who might be called by of the Poets,' he says to Newton, that he had ob- the name of the heroic Prussian, Marshal Forserved but one man in the whole number, whose wards. If there was a post of danger, he would mind seemed to have the slightest tincture of reli- rush to it; if a forlorn hope was sent out, he gion.' In this there was a good deal of morbid would be among the first to join it. Such men we exaggeration, arising from the narrowness of Cow. honor, although they fall; nay, we honor them per's own religious views of the time; for Milton the more, because they fall. Of the mystery of was one of the poets thus condemned in a mass, their fall we cannot judge; but we may trust that as not having the slightest tincture of religion. he, who, so far as we can discern, has earnestly Something, too, is attributable to the biographer's loved truth, and sincerely desired to serve the God incapacity for representing man's inner life. Still, of truth, will be judged by the God of mercy and with all these deductions, the fact noticed may we may feel sure that the prayer for forgiveness, serve as an instance of the separation, almost the when it rises from the depths of a departing spirit, divorce, which took place between man's intel- cannot be uttered in vain." lectual and spiritual faculties a century and a half ago. If we look through a list of the historians during the same period, or of the metaphysicians, our apology for presenting them so largely or of the men of science, the same fact forces itself upon us. There are divers exceptions indeed; but the majority bear witness that the intellect of man had thrown off its allegiance to Christian truth. In many cases, no doubt, this sprang from some moral perversity wresting the judgment awry. But it must also be conceded, that the advocates of Christian truth did not set it forth in that simple, convincing majesty which would have constrained the intellect to bow before it. Nor can any one be well acquainted with the state of the intellectual world in our days, without knowing that the same phenomenon is still lamentably frequent, not merely in France and Germany, but also in England. Among men of intellectual vigor, I will not say the majority, but undoubtedly a very large portion, are only withheld from open infidelity by giving up their thoughts entirely to the business of this world, and turning away with a compromising indifference from serious inquiries about religion. In such a state of things, it becomes the imperative duty of all who love the truth in Christ, to purge it, so far as they can, from the alloy which it may have contracted in the course of ages through the admixture of human conceits, and which renders it irreconcilable with the postulates of the intellect. This is indeed a very delicate work, and accompanied with many risks; and many will go astray in attempting to accomplish it. But still it must be done. The men of our days will not believe, unless you prove to them that what they are called upon to believe, does not taste, all connected with art, may be considered as so many additions to the senses. Take the whole contradict the laws of their minds, and that it rests range of sciences-take astronomy, for instance. upon a solid, unshakable foundation. We cannot The astronomer-how far higher does he stand than arrest the winds or the waves; nor can we arrest the simple peasant, who views the stars but as mere the blasts and tides of thought. These, too, bright spots in the vault of heaven; while the asblow and roll where they list. We may indeed tronomer gazes upon them with higher respectemploy them both; but, to turn them to account, with increased veneration-for the great and good we must suffer ourselves to be impelled and borne Being who called them into existence, and who along by them, without fainting at the thought of holds the firmament, as it were, in the "hollow of the perils we may have to encounter, and in the artist walks along the fields, over the mountains, his hand." Take again the art of painting. The hope that, with the help of our heavenly compass, through the city and the plain, and sees objects, the we may render those tumultous elements sub- beauty of which, to those who are ignorant of the servient to the good of mankind. Fresh obstacles true effect of light and shade, is effectually hidden. are ever rising across our path; and we must as-Lord Brownlow.

EDUCATION AMONG THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS. -There are 4,169 Sabbath-schools, being an increase of 65 during the year. In these schools there are 442,895 children, namely, 219,798 boys, and 223,098 girls. This is an increase above the number reported last year of 17,825. Of these scholars, 22,703 meet in select classes preparatory to their introduction into the Christian church. This is an inCatechisms are taught. The total number of teachcrease of 8,418. In 3,441 schools, the Wesleyan ers is 81,780, being an increase of 2,125. Of these teachers, 57,724 are members of the Wesleyan church, being an increase during the year of 4,326. The total cost of maintaining the Sabbath-schools, as far as it can be ascertained, is £26,420, being an increase of £464. The number of day-schools is 408; being 13 more than were reported last year. the direction of the committee; and 225 by other Of these 183 are taught by teachers trained under teachers, some of whom have received their training elsewhere; and some of whom have been at no training school. There are 164 boys' schools; 58 girls' schools; 130 mixed schools; and 56 infant schools. In these schools there are 37,679 scholars; i. e. 20,261 boys, 12,495 girls, and 4,923 infants. The total cost of maintaining the day-schools for the last year is stated to have been, £24,112.-The Wesleyan.

TASTE AND ART.-All studies connected with

From Hogg's Instructor.

WASHINGTON IRVING.

adopted on the other, as they did but generally affect the subjects of Britain and the citizens of the United States separately, were beyond the pale of legitimate criticism, unless to their respective communities; for, however much the mercantile interest of this nation might deprecate exclusive or retaliatory laws enacted by Congress, still it was legitimate for the United States to regulate its own affairs of foreign and domestic policy, if such procedure did not involve an interference with the rights of other people.

THE alienation which took place between | The individuality of the national laws, Great Britain and America, in the year which were maintained on the one hand and 1775, was not only political but personal. The struggle which resulted in the constitution of the thirteen United States not only disrupted the colonial tie which bound them and the mother country together, but infused an antagonistic element into the feelings and ideas of these rival nations, although they were still essentially identical in origin, in literature, and religion. Britain had been humiliated. She had received the first blow to her pride from a hand she had hitherto beheld as that of a petulant child, and which she had affected to despise; and in order to conceal the cha- There are certain attributes of humanity grin which she really felt at the martial which cannot be confined or cribbed within discomfiture and territorial disintegration the conventional boundaries of nations, which had followed the unseemly war of however, and rights which may extend even 1775-83, she pretended to smile disdain- into the bosom of a so-called foreign comfully upon the men and novel institutions munity. There are interests in which all of the young republic. America, as jealous men have a brotherly concern, and which as Britain was disdainful, and as egotistical all constitutional laws should heartily and and vainglorious in her triumph as the lat-freely concede. Nationalities should never ter was scornful in her defeat, sought, by a refuse to affirm what assuredly involves the strange perversity of nationality, to detach weal of humanity, and nothing that we can herself in idea, as well as fact, from the conceive of, save religion, can claim a motherland. Perhaps in no visible type of higher respect or wider field of acknowledgthe British and American minds are this ed right and influence than literature. egotism, this jealousy, and rivalry of na- The influence of British literature has been tionality so apparent as in the literature of universally felt and acknowledged in the the two countries, although in international United States, but the interests of those politics and diplomatic policy the same spi- who produced that literature have long rit prevails. The general unity which ac- been repudiated and scorned. An intertually exists between the two states is pro- national copyright law, which seems so fair duced by commerce; the general antago- and equitable, and which would so materinism which as really makes the British and ally conduce to produce a unity in AmeriAmericans two nations, although one peo- can and British literature, and which would ple, is the result of diversity of thoughts soon induce a harmony in the minds of upon subjects of familiar polity, and of a those brother nations, has been long refused reciprocal spirit of pride. Authors, more by the legislative assembly of the United than any other class of men, possess capa- States, at the instigation of certain intecities for producing and maintaining either rests, and upon the pleas of patriotism and unity or enmity between nations, and, un- principle, to the palpable sacrifice of the fortunately, causes of a very personal and best interests of the American people, of exciting nature have operated to array British authors in particular, and humanity British writers, especially, in opposition to at large. The pirates who reprint British the policy of the United States. When works in America declare that a mutual America gained her political independence copyright law would enable British authors she did not denude herself of the English to undermine the institutions of America, tongue; and when her people had no longer while under present circumstances the indecause to study so ardently the tactics of war, they devoted themselves with renewed energy to study the English mind in books.

pendent republisher can ostracize from the stolen book all obnoxious expressions; and this is extensively admitted as a valid ob

jection to the enactment of a regulation attire of burgomasterial amplitude, and which would assuredly cause the writer on placing them in positions of the gravest this side of the water to consult his own legislative importance and national peril, interests by respecting and writing for the fictitious Diedrich produces a fictitious America, and which would enable the peo-history, which may be studied with as much ple of the United States to obtain the ori-profit as the majority of authentic histoginal and not the diluted ideas of the au- ries, and with infinitely more amusement. thor. The refusal by America of this in- The topography and scenic descriptions are ternational law has arrayed against the spirited and true to the life; the men are as model republic the animosity of the British palpable as the reader's own conceptions. republic of letters; and instead of mutual" Knickerbocker" is not only a witty, huinterchanges of softening, humanizing ideas, morous book, however, but a satirical book, the literature of the two countries often and its satire is of the most smooth and presents acrimonious caricatures and depre- agreeable kind. The obstinate valor of ciatory allusions to each other. The ani- Peter Stuyvesant was but a type of the hemosity of ideas, although still strong, is roic, thick-headed chivalry of our ancesnow gradually softening, however, and tors; and the deliberative acumen of the several journals of established fame and sage Wouter Van Twiller a "heavy" illusworth on the other side of the ocean strong- tration of their wisdom. "Knickerbocker" ly advocate a law acknowledging an author's opened the door of Britain to its gifted auproprietory right in literature. Nearly thor, and won friendships for him on our thirty years ago the exclusive principle soil as well as fame. He visited this counseemed like a passion in the United States, try in 1817, and was received and enterand the scorn of British authors was as tained in a manner as becoming to the Brivehement as it was bitterly resented, when tish literati as it was deserved by so amiable Washington Irving arose, not only to ren- and so accomplished an American author. der American authorship respectable, but Perhaps the most delightful of his sojourns to become the pioneer of a more friendly was at Ashestiel, and the most earnest and and intimate relationship between the na- heartfelt of his friendships was for Sir tional minds. Washington Irving, one of Walter Scott. Furnished with a letter of the most elegant and classical writers of the introduction by Campbell, Washington IrEnglish language, is a native of New York, ving, while en route for the borders, mowho began his literary career, in conjunc- destly stopped his carriage at some distance tion with his friend Mr. Spaulding, at a from the house of the minstrel, and sent a very early age, as a contributor to the pe- messenger to inquire if it would be converiodical press. Unshackled by the restric-nient for the "Great Unknown" to receive tive agencies of a stamp or excise act, lite- him on his return from Melrose Abbey. rature in America, after the separation, be- Presently the wondrous painter of mankind came rapidly popularized; and the weekly periodical vehicle was sooner and far more extensively adopted as the medium of the best minds in the United States than was the case in Britain until within a recent period. It was while cultivating his fine taste and chaste ideality in this popular manner that Mr. Irving conceived and executed the "History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker," Lis first independent publication, which appeared in 1812, and In 1820 Washington Irving accepted the not only afforded the liveliest pleasure to immunities and privileges of British authorthe reading public, but led it to expect ship, and, under the assumed cognomen of much from an author whose wit and genu- Geoffrey Crayon, published his "Sketchine humor were only excelled by his de- Book." The sensation created by these scriptive ability and elegance of style. fresh, vivacious, genial, and happy essays Exaggerating the popular ideas of Dutch was as pleasant as it was unexpected. The phlegm and obstinacy, embodying these in pure, careful style of the author was represeveral personifications which are as gro-sentative of the pure and careful character tesque in appearance as could be conceived; of his thoughts. The penetration of a dressing them in the quaint and multiplied philosopher and the delicacy of a poet were

limped from his keep, followed by a canine army, and the amiable American was forthwith installed into his home and heart. Scott was wont to speak with rapture of his short personal connection with Irving; and the latter yet recounts with pleasure the incidents of his visit to him who had peopled the Scottish border with a thousand bright idealities, and had rendered its hills and rivers classical for ever.

combined to produce those most beautiful was privileged to interfere with politics in commentaries on men and things. "Brace- more than an editorial capacity. Monarbridge Hall," ""Letters to Jonathan Old-chical France has taken her ministers and buck," and the "Tales of a Traveller," ambassadors from the closets of the hommes succeeded in rapid succession his first de lettres, and republican France and British-printed book, and he returned to America have erected authors into promihis own land, not only more famous as an nent directors of their political sovereignauthor, but as the honored instrument who ties. Washington Irving, in his youth, had had taken the initiative in that brotherly been employed as attaché to the Spanish kindness which ought to govern the inter- legation; in his riper years he was appointcourse of the united people of Great Britain ed representative of the American republic and America. to the court of Madrid-a situation, the duties of which his brilliant abilities, his sterling virtues, and his elevated urbanity, enabled him to discharge with credit and eclat.

In 1824 Washington Irving was attached to the Spanish legation, and during his stay in Madrid he devoted himself to the study of Spanish literature. In 1828 the fruits of his studies appeared in his most Several years ago, the death of a citizen interesting and popular "History of the of New York placed at the disposal of Life and Voyages of Columbus." In 1829 the surprised author a handsome fortune, he published the "Chronicle of the Con- which enabled him to retire from the labors quest of Granada," and in 1832 the "Com- of political life to that elegant yet simple panions of Columbus " appeared, followed rusticity so congenial to his tastes and naby the "Alhambra." His "Crayon Mis- ture, and to gratify his gentle benevolence, cellanies" issued from the press in 1835, as well as his longing for the life-giving and in the same year the "Legends of the leisure so essential to the cultivation of Conquest of Spain." In 1836 John Jacob literature. The person who bequeathed Astor, in conjunction with several other in- this fortune to Washington Irving did not dividuals, having determined to establish know him in person; he knew that part of the "American Fur Company" in the him, however, which was superior to perpathless wilderness of the west, Washington sonality—that soul which, breathing in his Irving availed himself of the opportunity of works, found entrance to the deepest founvisiting the unknown country since called tains of the world's hearts, and stirred them Astoria, afforded by the romantic progress up to love mankind in general, and himself of a strong but motley mounted band of in particular. Washington Irving yet lives trappers, hunters, and other pioneers, whose in his native state, to adorn humanity with appearance and manners, and the recapi- his virtues, and exalt it by his example. tulation of whose adventures as they bi- He is admired and loved by all who can vouacked in the wilderness, offered as much appreciate the English language in its pleasure and as many elements of romance purest and most elegant combinations, and to the mind of the author of the "Sketch-adapted to the finest thoughts, and who Book," as did the more primitive natives of have been privileged to call him friend. the wild scenes which he had come so far to One beautiful characteristic of the books behold. A spirited and graphic description of Washington Irving is that they are conof the forest, the prairie, and of the half sistent representations of himself. The and wholly savage life which he had seen elegance and purity of his style are rescripts during this visit to the wilds of the "far of the elegance of his manners and the puwest," appeared in 1836, under the name rity of his morals; and the fresh sympaof " Astoria," and a sequel in 1837 suc- thetic sweetness of his written sentiments ceeded it, with the title of "Captain Bon- is but the effusion of his noble good heart. neville." In wit and humor he resembles Sterne; but France and America present a political it cannot be said of him as it was said of phenomenon which does not find a parallel the author of the "Sentimental Journey," in Great Britain. Men of letters are often that " he could weep for an ass, yet smile chosen, upon the ground of their literary as his mother wept." The essays of Washand moral capacities, to occupy offices of trust, and to fill high legislative and diplomatic stations. We could not point to a British author who owes to his talents a seat in the House of Commons, or who ever

ington Irving have been compared to those of Addison for richness and variety of fancy, and for classic delicacy of style; while in vigor of composition and variety of sparkling metaphor they excel those of the