some of the Quarterly Reviews issued at the time of its publication should be consulted. The Universalist Quarterly for July, 1849, contains a very good statement of its character and contents. At all events, the substance of the facts must be obtained in some way. (2 vols. 8vo. $4.50. Putnam.) 2. Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia. Russell, 2 vols. 90 cts. Harpers. Farr's Egypt, 1 vol. 50 cts. Carter. Gliddon's Ancient Egypt. Hawks' Egypt and its Monuments. Putnam. $3.00. Hebbe, vol. i. Egypt, Ethiopia. Old Testament. The volume on Nubia and Abyssinia should be read first, particularly chapters i. iii. iv. The facts respecting the commercial connection between India and Arabia, Nubia and Egypt, are important to a right understanding of the origin of the civilization, arts and religion of the countries in review. That we are to look to the East, perhaps to the Hindoos, as the head-springs from which these have flowed into north-eastern Africa, is at least made strongly probable by all the facts so far brought out by those who have investigated the subject. The account given in chapter iv. of the temples and monuments of Nubia and Abyssinia is full of interest, and cannot fail to sharpen the appetite of the student for more. For Egypt, read particularly chapters i.-iv and ix. x.; and Farr's work entire. Hebbe's chapters on Egypt and Ethiopia contain much valuable information, and collect the results scattered abroad in many costly volumes. But for Egypt, the student must not fail to read Gliddon, if it can be obtained, which will probably be difficult, owing to the unfortunate style of its publication, an extra number of the New World newspaper. It is, however, the only American work of the kind, and embodies a summary of the recent discoveries among the monuments and inscriptions of Egypt, and presents an amount of information respecting hieroglyphical literature, which, in English works, would cost half as much as all the books recommended in this article. One thing, however, the student must remember in all this kind of reading, viz: to distinguish carefully between facts and speculations, between the thing actually discovered and the inferences drawn from it. Let every author's theory go its way peacefully, but hold fast to whatever is a real addition to human knowledge. Some allowance, also, must be made for Gliddon's assurance and disposition to hasty generalizations and large conclusions. The recent work on "Egypt and its Monuments, as a witness to the Bible," by Dr. Hawks, may be consulted by the theological student with instruction and pleasure. He draws from the most reliable authorities, as Wilkinson, Birch, Bunsen, &c., and furnishes a brief statement of the results of monumental investigations, as they bear on the integrity of the early books of the Old Testament. And after the noise and boast of a certain class respecting the overthrow of the Pentateuchal history, it is equally astonishing and gratifying to find how many facts are gathered, now in the beginning of research, to witness to the truth of many of its disputed statements. It is wonderful how the weapons of attack have changed hands, and how many of his positions the scoffer has been compelled to abandon. The first half of Dr. Hawks' book is valuable, interesting, and modest; but of the last half we cannot say much in praise either of its matter or style.1 3. The Jews. The Old Testament and Josephus. Milman's History of the Jews, 3 vols. $1.20. Harpers. 2d vol. of Hebbe. 3d vol. of Horne. Jahn's Archæology, 1 vol. $2.50. Prideaux's Connections, 2 vols. $3.75. Harpers. There is also a very good edition in two volumes published in Baltimore, 1833-$3.00. Hengstenberg's Egypt and the Books of Moses, 1 vol. $1.00. Andover. Turner's Sacred History of the World, 3 vols. $1.35. Harpers. Milman's History is popular in its design, yet it shows a good degree of diligence and thought; and is not without marks of patient investigation. The author labors to 1 I have not introduced India, though I regard it as one of the most important chapters of History, for two reasons: first, the want of American books; and second, the confused state of what information we have respecting its early history. The best I can do is to recommend Robertson's India, Appendix and Notes; and Murray's British India; Mythology, vol. ii. chapter vi.; Munners and Literature, chapter vii.; Astronomy and Mathematics, vol. iii. chapters xiii. xiv. Read them in connection with the chapters of Russell's Nubia and Egypt, as given above. A brief sketch of the Philosophy of the Hindoos may be seen in Henry's History of Philosophy, vol. i. pp. 18-64. remove the difficulties of the Hebrew narrative, and in many cases his explanations are eminently successful. In some the results are not very satisfactory, leaving perhaps as great difficulties as they remove. The volumes are written in a liberal spirit of criticism, and the style is animated and picturesque. The threads of the narrative are woven up into the web with a skilful hand, and the reader follows the story to the close without effort or fatigue. Hebbe's second volume is a very good Introduction to the Old Testament History; one of the best we know. Of course we speak of its historical merit entirely, and not of its Biblical criticism or its theological peculiarities. There is, as I have said before, an extent of reading, and an accumulation of facts and illustrations drawn from modern investigations respecting the chronology, governments, religion, language and customs of Egypt and the East, which impart equal interest and value to the work. It is to be read, however, with an eye to the qualifications given above; and to be corrected on the general principle involved in the Jewish history, by Turner's 3d vol. Letters xxxv.-xlii.; and specifically by Gleig, Leslie's Short Method, and especially by "Egypt and the Books of Moses." This last, for its size, is the best work extant for exposing the bold assertions and hasty conclusions against portions of the Pentateuch, grounded on the monuments of Egypt by certain semi-philosophers and savans. For the political and sacred antiquities, the arts, customs, manners and domestic life of the Jews, Jahn's Archæology holds the first place. But if the price hinder, a very good substitute will be found in the third volume of Horne, and the articles on these subjects in Robinson's Calmet, or even the Religious Encyclopedia. The first volume of Prideaux should be read both for its information respecting many of the details of Jewish political history, and for the valuable matter it contributes to the history of Egypt and Assyria, and especially Persia. It connects into one web the political relations of these countries with the Jews, and the conquests and changes, backwards and forwards, down to the time of Alexander. Beside this, it furnishes important information in regard to other subjects; as, for example, Zoroaster and the origin and character of his religion, Anno 486-Darius 36. See also respecting the trade of the East, Anno 740— Ahaz 3; and some twenty to thirty pages of learned comments respecting the books of the Old Testament collected and edited by Ezra, the Masorites, vowel points, the Talmuds, Jewish traditions, &c.; being the closing portion of Book v. The second volume is a detailed history of Syria, Egypt and the East, as it is interwoven with that of the Jews, down to the time of Christ. 4. Phenicia. Hebbe, vol. i. Hebbe, vol. i. pp. 492-562. Anthon's Classical Dictionary, Art. Phenicia. Ezekiel, chapters xxvi. xxvii. Isaiah, Chapter xxiii. Read also Newton and Keith, chapters on Tyre. I introduce Phenicia here because of its commercial importance in the early ages, and consequent influence on contemporary civilization. The immense extent of its trade, its great resources, its uncounted wealth, and the princely character of its merchants, are still matters of wonder, and lessons to the nations and rulers of the earth. The power and resources of Tyre, a single city, are well displayed in the sieges which it sustained against Shalmanezer, Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander; the first five years, the second thirteen years, and the third seven months against the conqueror of the world. And though he completely demolished insular Tyre, and made an entire ruin of it, yet in eighteen years from that it had recovered so much of its commerce and opulence, as to withstand Antigonus for fourteen months. These facts are mentioned to show the immense power and means of a commercial people, and to induce the student diligently to gather up all he can respecting the Phenicians, their trade, civilization and political influence. He will find a graphic description of their commercial relations, ships, articles of trade and manufacture, wealth, &c., in the chapters of Ezekiel given above. The article in Anthon's Dictionary is critical and good; but best of all is Hebbe, who draws his materials respecting the trade, manufactures, navigation, colonies, &c. of the Phenicians, from the elaborate work of Heeren. The student will be particular in regard to the facts touching the colonies and foreign possessions of the people; and he will find it profitable to connect the history of Carthage, the daughter of Tyre, and its tremendous struggles with Rome for the VOL. VII. 3 |