Day (next month). He is the patron saint of this country, who assisted them in destroying four or five thousand men, women, and children, at Otschakow last year on this day. But as our trades are different, I wish to have no further acquaintance with that saint. Though ever wishing to be with my affectionate friend, JOHN HOWARD. Samuel Whitbread, Esq., M.P.

WHO ARE THE PROSPERED MEN IN OUR CONGREGATIONS?

In order the better to understand the question, we shall do well to define the term prosperity. It is not understood to mean merely the acquisition and possession of wealth, place, and power; but, in the mind of the writer, the term includes the following points as elements of prosperity :

1. A good measure of success in the acquisition and possession of property.

2. The possession of the confidence and affectionate interest of mankind.

3. The possession and enjoyment of a peaceful and happy home.

4. Health and strength to endure the bur dens of life.

5. A calm, peaceful, and quiet frame of mind.

Such, it is believed, is true prosperity. Unless the writer is much mistaken, it is the grand idea, the one which lay in the Saviour's mind when he said, "There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospel's, but he shall receive a hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life." Now, who are the men who have this prosperity? The writer will give the result of his observations, premising that he has had a personal acquaintance with three congregations, so far as to be able to respond intelligently. The prospered men, in general, have been those who, in their circumstances, have been most faithful to their Master. There stand the men in the memory of the writer, the men of highest prosperity in each of the three congregations referred to, and they were the men described above. But, to be more definite, they are the men,

1. Who have made the greatest sacrifices to establish and maintain religion at home. How happy have we known men, how blessed and prospered in sacrificing their income to such an enterprise!

2. Who have laboured, even to the extent of sacrifices, in promoting the cause of benevolence at home and abroad. Such action is as requisite for the health of the spiritual man, as exercise is for the physical.

3. They are the men who have walked in harmony and love with the church. During more than twenty-five years' observation as a minister, I never knew the man of a disorderly walk who, in the sense expressed, could in any manner be deemed a prosperous man. Again,

4. The prospered men in our congrega. tions are those who have walked in harmony with their pastors. Who ever knew a really prosperous man, in the sense defined, in conflict for any length of time with his pastor? The thing is impossible. On the other hand, the writer has never known a man co-operating in every good work with his minister, but he had prosperity in the sense before described.

OPIUM-ITS PARTICULAR PROPERTIES.

THE essential and primary action of the drug is upon the nervous system. When taken in a moderate dose, the usual results of this action are, that the mind is exhilarated, the ideas flow more quickly, and a pleasurable or comfortable condition of the whole system is experienced, which it is difficult to describe. It thus acts in a similar way to our wines and spirituous liquors, and it is chiefly as a substitute for these that it is used in China. It possesses, however, a wonderful power of sustaining the strength, which is not found in alcoholic drinks, and of enabling men to undergo fatigue and continued exertion under which they would otherwise inevitably sink. Thus the Halcarras, who carry litters and run messages through the provinces of India, when provided only with a small piece of opium, a bag of rice, and a pot to draw water from the wells, perform almost incredible journeys. The Tartar couriers, also, who travel for many days and nights continuously, make much use of it. And hence travellers in the Ottoman dominions generally carry opium with them in the form of lozenges or cakes, stamped with the Turkish legend, "Mash Allah," the gift of God. Even the horses in the East are sustained by its influence. The Cutchee horseman shares his store of opium with his flagging steed, which thus makes an incredible stretch, though apparently wearied out. The drug, in its usual form, gradually loses its effect upon the habitual consumer, so that the dose must be increased from time to time, if the influence of the drug is to be maintained. But at length even this resource fails in the inveterate opium-eaters of Constantinople, and no increase of dose will procure for them the desired enjoyment, or even relieve them from bodily pain. In this emergency they have recourse to the poisonous corrosive sublimate. Mixing at first a minute quantity of this substance with their daily dose of opium, they increase it by degrees, till they reach the limit of ten grains a day, beyond which it is usually unsafe to pass. This mixture acts upon their long-tortured frames, when neither of the ingredients taken alone will either soothe or exhilarate. But the use of the new medicine only protracts a little longer the artificial enjoyment, which has become a necessary of life, finally bringing to a more miserable termination the career of the debilitated and distorted Theriaki.-Chemistry of Common Life.

THE Australian Colonies, more especially Victoria, have been of late much alarmed by something like an invasion of the Chinese. So large have been their numbers, so peculiar are their characters, and so undesirable is their presence, that it has been deemed expedient to resort to Legislative measures, if not wholly to exclude them, at least to limit their numbers. This fact will explain the very remarkable speech of one of the poor emigrants, on learning the opposition which was being made to his countrymen. The speech, translated from the Chinese by Atchai, the interpreter," is the following:

SPEECH OF QUANG CHEW, LATELY AR

RIVED, A MAN BEING GOOD IN HIS
REASON AND AFFECTIONS, AND FIFTH
COUSIN OF THE MANDARIN TA QUANG
TSING LOO, WHO POSSESSES
GARDENS NEAR MACAO.

MANY

Kind People of the Gold-enticing Country!-I, a man of some years beyond the rest of us Chinese, who have recently disembarked upon the hospitable shores of your yellow fields; also a man wishing very humbly to express the gratitude of his heart, and of all those who accompany him, or who have gone before us, and not forgetting all those who are humbly on the way; I, being moreover, a man of moderation and cautious judgment, even after looking on both sides of the bridge, according to the wise laws and advice of Cung Foo T'see and Lao Shang, cannot but give words to my surprise at some of the roughly-split and knotty bamboos which, as we are informed by the tongue of the interpreter, Atchai, have been swung threateningly above the shoulders of all the golden sea-crossing people of the Central Flowery Empire, our much-distant native land.

Man, being subject to many changes and dark clouds, must submit with resignation. Man must be patient, and likewise exceedingly respectful. All good laws teach this; and all dutiful Chinese reverence the laws, because they are the finest flowers and fruits which the heavenly sun extracts from the roots of wisdom. Therefore man must always bow before his governors and superiors, because they are the roots of wisdom. With all becoming ceremonies we wish to approach and bow before the governor of this town.

In what thing have we, the Chinese, humbly landing on your delightful shores, given just cause of offence? That is what I am desirous to know. We wish to be made sensible. Man at all times needs instruction, and particularly when he arrives in a foreign land. Our interpreter Atchai would not deceive us. Atchai is a respectable young man,

formerly one of the agents of Howqua and Mowqua, merchants in tea; but Atchai may have made some mistakes in your words, and in the characters he places before us as representing your words. This is my opinion. It is also the opinion of Ayung Fi, a man of extensive judgment, and one of the principal tailors in Canton. I will say more. All the oldest men among us think the same as I think, and Ayung thinks Atchai has made a bad looking-glass.

Understanding, by the assurances of many respectable people in our own country, and additionally convinced by others who had voyaged to this land, and returned to the Central Flowery Empire, that not only do the people of England come here, but the people of India, and Japan, and America, and also from French lands, and other places; and having been informed that there were no people of any country who were excluded, and that all those people were even welcomed with both hands, and the sound of triangles and kettles (meaning drums), who came from civilized places, where the arts and other useful labours were studied from the wisest and most ancient traditions, and were industriously cultivated; now, therefore, in all reverence, and with every proper ceremony, I, the speaker of this, Quang Chew, a very humble man, but having reason, do not think it will justly balance in your wise Governor's hand, when bitter and unfruitful counsellors (more literally, mandarins made of orange-peel) propose that all nations shall be welcomed here, excepting the Chinese. I appeal to you all, diversified people of the gold-enticing country, if this would not be a hard-grained and distorted proceeding? At the thought of being sent home with disgrace, and for no wrong done, we blush, though innocent; we tremble excessively, though free from guilt.

Among our numbers we have men well skilled in gardening and the cultivation of all sorts of fruits and flowers; likewise carpenters, and workers in fine wood and in ivory, which we hear abounds in your forests; also cunning agriculturists, who know how to manage the worst as well as the best soil, particularly Len Lee, and his five nephews; also two men accustomed to make ornamen. tal bridges, and a skilful man named Yaw, who can make the best kites, having wings and great glass eyes, not to be surpassed; likewise Yin, who understands the breeding of fish, and birds, and dogs, and cats; also, many excellent cooks, who would allow nothing to be wasted; and, moreover, we have lock-makers, and toy. makers, and umbrellamakers, greatly needed, and inventors of puzzles and fireworks, and carvers of fans and chessmen, and some who make musical instruments, which others can play. Why should all these things be sent back with disgrace?

If it has unfortunately happened that any among our people, through ignorance of your

laws, have committed any offences, let them suffer the punishment awarded and due to ignorance. Man must be instructed either by wise precepts or by punishment. That is all I shall say on this matter. But it is necessary that I should speak about gold.

Thinking very considerably on the subject, I can see very surely that it is not every man who can find much gold. Some, indeed, will find none at all. These poor men will need to live upon the labours of others, who will not be pleased with that arrangement. Therefore these poor men will return to this town, and to all your smaller towns, and villages, and villas, and farms, and sell their services in their several ways for a little money and perhaps rice. Why should all our gardeners, and cooks, and fish and bird breeders, and conjurors, be driven away in scorn, when they might be of great use to many others, if allowed to remain here? Should it be deemed prudent not to allow above ten or twenty thousand more Chinese to come here, it surely would be a harsh proceeding to send away any of those who have already come so far, and are all full of respect.

I will propose one thing in particular. Being aware that the Governors of this place are always chosen as being most eminent in wisdom; also being well informed of the

great extent of land in the distant regions beyond the town, and that the greatest part of these lands have never been cultivated, I, the speaker of this, Quang Chew, a humble man, but having some little sense, feel very certain that most of those men of different countries who have found much gold have purchased land from the Governor of the soil. Man delights in having land, and also in orchards and gardens, and prosperous farms. If, then, these places have not been cultivated, it is because those who have bought, or perhaps been presented with all these gardens and fields for good conduct, by your generous and rational Governor, are men accustomed only to dig for gold, and not to till the soil, or else not numerous enough for the work of cultivation. Perhaps, also, not being cunning in those labours.

If this speech have any reason in it, I know it will be heard with a close ear, and the head leaning on one side, and I most anxiously hope that the Governor of this town, and all the towns and lands beyond, will condescend to weigh and measure, and reflect a little upon my words; in the belief of which, with all humbleness of heart and with ceremonies, we await, in silence, the vermilion-coloured reply.

OF all that Dr. Chalmers has left the world, there is nothing on which posterity will set greater value than on his Natural Theology. In this book, the orator has in some degree been merged in the philosopher; while the philosopher has carried on his disquisitions under the lights of inspiration. Other things being equal, as we have often said, the possession of the knowledge of Christianity never fails to impart an overpowering superiority in matters of ethical discussion. The writings of Dr. Chalmers resemble himself; they are the embodiment of his intellect, and his imagination. He

was not one of a class, but an individual; and the same individuality attaches to his writings. The style, manner, delivery, everything was new, original, peculiar; everything was a fit subject for admiration, but not of imitation. To imitate was to become ridiculous.

The volume before us which was first published in two volumes, amongst works of its class, stood alone; there

is nothing extant which admits of advantageous comparison. His celebrated volume on the Evidences of Christianity, which first appeared in the Cyclopædia, and was subsequently enlarged and elaborated into a distinct publication, and the present volume bear a strong resemblance to each other. What that work was amongst publications on the Evidences, the present work is amongst publications on Natural Theology. Each, in its kind, is alike clear, cogent, and conclusive. While neither is stamped by that gorgeous eloquence which characterises most of his works, both are distinguished by a vividness and an all-pervading ray of brilliancy, which sufficiently proclaim the character of the mint whence the coin has issued.

The work consists of five books broken up into appropriate chapters. The first comprises preliminary views, and is highly analytic and argumentative. Here, Dr. Clarke and Mr. Hume are dealt with relative to their various positions, touching the subject in hand.

Having thus cleared his way, in Book II. the author adduces proofs of the being of a God, in the dispositions of matter; here, the natural philosopher ministers abundantly to the purposes of the natural theologian. In this, as in many other points, the science of Chalmers was particularly availing.

In Book II. we have proofs of the being and character of God in the constitution of the human mind, and here the mental philosopher is more strikingly apparent. The chapter on the supremacy of conscience, and the inherent pleasures of the virtuous, and the misery of the vicious affections, is exceedingly fine, and not less so is the chapter on the power and operation of habit.

Having emerged from the somewhat murky regions of mental science, the author proceeds to descant on the evidences for a God in the adaptation of external nature to the mental constitution of man; and here we have a succession of brilliant descants on the special affections, as conducing to the civil, political, and economic well-being of society; the adaptations of the material world to the moral and intellectual constitution are also discussed with singular ability. These points occupy Books III. and IV.

The fifth and last book is of a highly controversial character, discussing the inscrutability of the Divine counsels and ways, viewing natural theology as an imperfect system, and yet a precursor to Christian theology.

This book shows at once man's greatness and littleness; it dwells on his partially limited knowledge of Divine things, exhibiting the use of hypothesis in theology, setting forth the doctrine of a Special Providence, and the efficacy of prayer. Religiously viewed, there is nothing in the work superior in value, or interest, to this disquisition. The volume closes with a discussion on the defects and the uses of natural theology.

Dr. Chalmers, great as an original thinker, was not less so as a critic on other men's thoughts, although in this latter capacity, some how, he has put forth his strength but sparingly. The course of his intellectual labours did not require him to do otherwise. In his lectures on Butler's Analogy, however, he has left a specimen of his analytical power, which strongly excites the wish that he had extended his

province in philosophical criticism. Nothing in the works of Chalmers, we believe, will be read with more interest, instruction, and pleasure than those lectures, either in present or future times. They are examples of thinking calculated to be of eminent service to thoughtful men. The close of the volume exhibits two Introductory Lectures of exceeding value; the first on the use of Text-books in Theological Education, and the second, Advice to Students on the Conduct and Prosecution of their Studies. These Lectures alone are worth far more than the price of the entire volume. But we are somewhat surprised that Dr. Hannah should have placed them here at the end, and not at the beginning of the volume, which was surely their legitimate position. We have said enough, and we trust more than enough, to excite the curiosity of thousands of our ingenious, youthful, and studious readers to possess themselves of a work so rich in its materials, and so beautiful in its execution.

The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel; translated from the Original Hebrew, with a Commentary, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical. By E. HENDERSON, D.D. Hamilton, Adams,

and Co.

Those who have the happiness to possess Dr. Henderson's volume on the prophet Jeremiah, together with the books of the twelve Minor Prophets, will rejoice that their great teacher has added this volume to his benefactions. The learned translator, although he has in a measure withdrawn from professional duties, it will be seen, is prosecuting his Biblical labours with undiminished vigour. While the services he has done by his previous translations is very great, we are inclined to believe that that of the present volume is even greater. Of all the prophets, we have ever considered Ezekiel as amongst the most difficult, and his translation the least perfect. There is, in truth, an unusual difficulty to be encountered in turning the Hebrew of Ezekiel into a modern language. The prophecy is unusually dark and complicated, far more so than that of any other prophet. Once, and again, on the Continent, as well as in our own country, attempts have been made with various success. The last work which

has appeared amongst ourselves, that of Mr. Fairbairn, is a performance of exceeding great value, more particularly the last edition recently issued. He and Dr. Henderson, however, by no means come into collision, neither does the one at all supersede the other. On such a field there was room enough for both. Dr. Henderson, beyond, perhaps, any living man in these lands, has consecrated his superior gifts to Biblical Studies; and his perfect mastery of the inspired tongue and the Eastern languages has served pre-eminently to qualify him for his undertaking. His unusual soundness of judgment, and accurate views of the Gospel, moreover, have been of great importance, alike in preserving him from doctrinal error and from bewildering fancy. From the beginning to the end of the work he confines himself steadily to the matter before him, making the text his leader, and condensing within as small a space as was compatible with a due regard to perspicuity, what he had to say in the elucidation of the subjects treated of by the sacred writer. Warned by the palpable failure of authors who have staked their literary reputation on calculations as to events still future, and the coming history of the Church, he has not presumed to lift the veil which it has pleased the Spirit of Inspiration to leave on certain portions of Prophetic Scripture. His province has not been to prophesy, but humbly and carefully to investigate the materials set before him. It were almost an impertinence to say we recommend the work; but we would say that we consider it a great and valuable addition to the Biblical literature of our times.

Olga; or, Russia in the Tenth Century. An Historical Poem. Hamilton and Co.

WITHIN the last year or two, Russia has supplied a text for preachers, platform orators, journalists, and public writers; and even the poets have more than once condescended to glance towards the mighty monarchy of the North. Most of the poetic performances, however, have been brief; none have aspired to the occupation of an entire volume of hundreds of pages until the adventurous writer of "Olga" appeared. The gifted author, while thoroughly English at heart, mani

fests somewhat of a lurking respect for the Muscovite, considering it at variance with British love of justice to deny that Muscovy has had heroes to adorn as well as tyrants to disgrace its annals, and heroines in whom to glory as well as princesses for whom to blush. Righteous as may be the warfare in which we are engaged, just as may be our indignation at the policy Russia has pursued, the author submits that it must not be forgotten that we go forth to battle as a Christian people, and that it consequently behoves us to love enemies, to bless them that curse us, and to act a dignified part in yielding the tribute of admiration due to such of their nation as merit the garland of

renown.

Our

The historical details so skilfully woven up in the web of "Olga" are strictly in accordance with the narrations of the chroniclers; and it is believed that their re-publication in a novel garb is not unbefitting at the present season, since in the temper and designs of Olga's martial son may be seen a striking parallel to the spirit and aims which have actuated the present movement on the part of the Czar, while the judicious advice which the great Czarina was wont to give forms a counterpart to the wiser counsels of the few among them who have been unsuccessful advocates for peace. The period chosen appears to us felicitous, since it intervenes between the first introduction and the full reception of the Christian religion; so that scope has been given for depicting the varied workings of varied minds towards the new and growing faith. The author, too, reminds his readers that even among corrupt communions there are to be found some who receive the truth in the love of it; and moreover that such has been especially the case with early converts, who have embraced it from persuasion rather than prepossession, from conviction rather than tuition, and in spite of example rather than in consequence of it. The writer is duly alive to the errors of the creed, leaving the reader to judge how far these statements are consonant with the truth of Scripture on the one hand, or with the more perverted tenets of later ages on the other.

The volume is written with great vigour. Much of the portraiture is