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a lengthened quotation, in illustration of the author's manner of treating the subject: this our limits forbid, and we must, therefore, content ourselves with our hearty recommendation and a slight sketch of the tale.

A lady takes out her two children, William and Mary, for a walk, on a fine morning; they determine to go into the woods. After the children have delighted themselves with tossing about the dry leaves, and rolling upon them, they lie down upon one of the heaps, and the mother holds an interesting "Conversation" with them, on the nature of spiritual and material substances or existences; on the difference between the human and the merely animal soul, &c. These very abstruse subjects are here brought down to the comprehension of a child ten years of age. Could this have been done before the outpouring of divine truth which commenced at the establishment of the New Church, and which continues to this day, and will increase to endless ages? No. Even men have hitherto walked in darkness respecting these matters, and consequently knew not whither they went. Let our children have their tender minds saturated with the knowledge contained in this series of juvenile works, and they will not grow up mere prating animals, repeating parrot-like the words of a Belief; but they will be rational and truly human beings.

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Mrs. D. and her children return to their home, and, by the way, enjoy some delightful reflections that naturally arise from the discussion of such topics; which reflections find expression in another Conversation on subjects of deep spiritual interest. May the time be hastened when every mother shall be a mother to the mind of her infant, and not trust to the hands of another, a task which none but her own are capable of performing! They afterwards take a walk to the beach, and every object they see serves as a topic for a "Conversation." Among much other useful and important information, it is shewn, that the minutest occurences are under divine controul, and, however trifling they may appear at the time, carry with them eternal consequences.

In reference to "Alfred," we, in common with all who take an interest in the welfare of the rising generation, feel greatly indebted to "Uncle George" for condescending to devote his talents to the production of such unpretending but highly useful works; their direct tendency being to produce good early impressions, which are usually the most lasting and remain with us through life. Let those who imagine it easy to write for children only make the experiment, and the probability is they will be quickly convinced of their error.

In most instances adults have so long departed from the innocent habits of childhood, that it is next to impossible for them to accommodate their style to the capacities of children.

In this tale the author strikes at the root of a very common error in education, into which even the members of the New Church, who certainly ought to avoid it, are too apt to fall-the cultivation of the intellectual powers to the almost entire neglect of those of the will. Availing himself of the principle, that example is more influential than precept, he delineates the character of several individuals; some of whom, although faithfully discharging one important class of duties, yet at the same time disregarding another equally important class, are in the natural course of events brought into most distressing situations. From witnessing these, Alfred is led to review his own line of conduct, which has yielded him scarcely anything but unhappiness; the kind instructions of his departed mother, which had for years been unheeded, are brought fresh to his memory; and, being humbled in consequence, he is led, in full submission to the dispensations of Providence, to commence upon an entirely new course of life, which yields him genuine, although not unmixed happiness. The tale is, in fact, an illustration of its motto; "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." Like the "Conversations," it is thickly interpersed with New Church truths, so introduced as to be very likely to strike the attention of adults, and to lead them to inquire for the source whence they have been derived.

We do not know more appropriate New Years' presents for children than these books, and warmly recommend our readers to indulge themselves in the luxury of purchasing several copies and disposing of them in this way. Books are printed that they may be read, and the truths contained in them applied to the regulation of the life; but in the case of children's books, it is evident that adults must generally be the purchasers.

LONDON PRINTING SOCIETY.

INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE.-The exertions of this society continue unabated. Within the past month, the society has published a handsome edition, on the standard page, of the New Jerusa lem and its Heavenly Doctrine, price One and Eightpence, and also of the Last Judgement, together with the Continua

tion, price One Shilling. The new edition of the Heaven and Hell is about twothirds completed. All we can say of the above reprints is, that they are fully equal in typographical excellence, and in their general appearance, to the numerous volumes on the standard page, which have won admiration already on both

sides of the Atlantic: and as for their cheapness, we have authority to state, that they are sold by the society at prime cost.

The secretary has received the following delightful letters from Mr. Birch, the society's esteemed collector in the Danish Island of St. Croix, West Indies.

St. Croix, 14 August, 1841. Sir, In ackowledging the receipt of your highly esteemed favour of the 3rd of April last, I have to return the committee of the London society instituted for disseminating the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, my most grateful and sincere thanks for the high honour conferred on me, at their monthly meeting, on the 1st of April last, in nominating me a collector for the society in the Island of St. Croix, West Indies; I sincerely hope and pray that I may be worthy of the office, and that all my proceedings may be guided by a right spirit. There are three gentlemen here of high respectability, who are serious in the cause of New Church doctrines, and to whom I transmitted your letter for their perusal, accompanied by an explanatory circular from me; but whereas they are not all constant residents of the town, besides being much occupied at this season with business attendant on their respective offices and other occupations, this would of course take up some time; which will apologize for my not having answered your letter sooner. With respect to other inhabitants of this island, I am truly happy to say, that there are now a good many readers of the New Church tracts; and great credit indeed is due to Mr. Newbery, who, on my visits at his repository, during my short stay in London last year, so kindly made me acquainted with those valuable tracts, which may be read with speed and ease, and are providentially adapted to remove prejudices against the original works. I have purchased from Mr. Newbery about 800 tracts, of which I have now about 600 circulating. A young man, a native of this island, who has read all the tracts and is now perusing the original works, renders me a great deal of assistance in circula

ting the said tracts, and is careful that the admirers of them should not escape one single number. I earnestly pray for a continuance of your valuable correspondence, and I shall not fail in giving information from time to time of the progress of the reception of the New Church doctrines in this island.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

A. C. BIRCH. St. Croix, 20 September, 1841. Sir, Since writing to you on the 14th of August last, I have been successful in collecting from the following gentlemen in this Island, viz.

From C. A. Kierulff, Attorney at
Law

J. M. Johnson, Esq., Planter
A Friend

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£4

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£20

Which amount we have the honour herewith to remit you in a draft on the court of directors of the Colonial Bank, London, at thirty days' sight, hoping that you will receive and appropriate the same, conjointly with the disbursements of the institution, in disseminating and publishing the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg; and while we congratulate ourselves on the honour of being introduced to a society whose members exert themselves in dispelling the prevailing darkness, by promoting the truth and doctrines of the New Jerusalem,-a hope beams upon us, that their zeal and exertions in this great act of Christain benevolence, may, through the infinite mercy of Providence, extend its beneficent influence also on us in our remote island.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant.

A. C. BIRCH. It is almost unnecessary to comment on these letters. We have no need to suggest, that they are a ground of hope

and confidence,-a cheering earnest of the prosperity of the Society;-still less, that the hearty liberality of our Danish brother and his fellow-countrymen, is a severe rebuke to English apathy, wherever it exists.

As

An admirable discourse has lately been delivered by the Rev. E. D. Rendell, and a collection made at Newcastle-uponTyne, in aid of the funds of the society. Mr. Rendell's Address* has since been published by request, and the expense defrayed, we are gratified to learn, by some kind and liberal individual. Apart from its powerful advocacy of the claims of the society, this discourse is distinguished by so clear and forcible a statement of the truth, and of the life and character of Emanuel Swedenborg, as to render it really one of the very best tracts to put into the hands of a noviciate. such we commend it to the most extensive circulation. Its result was, a subscription of 21. 8s. on the part of the congregation. With this exception, the Printing Society has had no further replies to their circular; about thirty being yet due, and chiefly from the wealthiest and most numerous congregations in the country. Even under the disadvantage of this delay, the subscriptions for the current year amount already to 2081.; a sum far beyond the contribution of ordinary years; but which may easily be more than doubled, without injury to any individual, whenever the appeals of the society are willingly responded to, and its mature plans adopted by the co-operation of each and all. Here it may be necessary to remind the reader, that the publication of a single

"A Brief Discussion of some of the claims of the Hon. E. Swedenborg, to be received as the Herald of the Second Advent of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Being a lecture delivered on the occasion of a collection for the funds of the London Society for Printing and Publishing his Theological Writings, on Sunday Evening, the 31st October, 1841, in the New Jerusalem Temple, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. By the Rev. E. D. Rendell. Published by Request. London: J. S. Hodson, and

W. Newbery. 1841.

N. S. No. 25.-vol. 3.

vol. of the Arcana will consume nearly the sum which has been subscribed up to the present time.

I

The committee is in possession of interesting intelligence from Mr. Zina Hyde, (of Bath, Maine, U. S.) who was appointed by the General Convention of the United States, to form one of a committee for raising subscriptions to aid in the PUBLICATION of Swedenborg's DIARY. (See Report of London Printing Society, No. 32, p. 42.) Mr. Hyde says, "I would now state for the infor.. mation of the Printing Society, that the subscriptions in the hands of the committee, amount to twenty-four,-namely, five in Baltimore, seven in Philadelphia, five in New York, and seven in Bath. In addition to these, I calculate on about twenty in Massachusets. have in my hands, about twenty-five pounds, which subscribers have liberally advanced, and I wait to place it in a situation to be furthering the work for which it is designed. I calculate on five or six more in Maine, and that some copies will be taken by our friends in the West, and also by our friends who are connected with the "Middle Convention." And I think the field has been yet so imperfectly explored, and so much time will be consumed in completing the publication (of the DIARY), that we are fully justified in calculating that near one hundred copies will be taken in this country." All this speaks well for the energy of our American brethren; and taking Mr. Hyde's own account of the matter, the probability is, that even a larger body of supporters of the publication of the DIARY than he anticipates, will be found in the United States. And here it occurs to us to remark, that were the division of labour more attended to in our respective countries, the fruits and uses of the church would be more abundant. works, either directly or collaterally important to the New Jerusalem Church, as it exists among men in this century, As are now in progress amongst us. foremost of these we may mention two; -the translation and publication in English of the entire series of Swedenborg's

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Scientific Treatises,-those great works, which, under the Lord's guidance, will do much towards effecting the "Christianization of Science;" and, secondly, the publication in Latin of the whole of the Theological and Scientific Manuscripts, and the republication of the Latin works of the same enlightened author. These two great tasks, are we trust, but a fraction of the work which is committed to be done by the present generation. But it is obvious that a most comprehensive economy will be requisite ; economy of money, economy of labour, economy of energies. And how is this economy to be achieved? Clearly by attending to many particulars, of which we will specify only one, as applicable here it is this:-That two societies should never labour at what one society is singly competent to effect. One Printing Society is surely sufficient for all who speak one language. Where more than one such society exists, great expense is entailed, great labour is undergone, great energy is wasted, to do what is already done. The church is exhausted before it can approach its legitimate work: its operations are confused; its progression is impeded and as there is no co-operation of all for any one thing, so no one thing is done in the best way possible. The committee of the London Printing Society, since the prices of its works have been reduced, and their excellence has been admitted on the other side of the Atlantic, are not without hopes of inducing their American brethren to "come and buy," on mutually advantageous terms; on terms which must, indeed, be highly advantageous to the buyers, were it only by leaving their hands free for the important uses, in education and association, for which their genius and their position at once seem to capacitate them. In this case, their co-operation with the London Printing Society, would probably be more effective even as a means of publication, than their isolated efforts. When the "General Convention" thoughtlessly spoke of "rendering unnecessary the importation of books from England," they seemed to court the risk of entailing a

heavy and a useless burden on themselves and their posterity: and did they succeed, they would cripple the energies of the readers of Swedenborg in both countries.

The LIBRARY of the London Printing Society is at length receiving some share of attention from the church. The importance of this department will become plainer every day, in exact proportion as the church progresses, and the exertions of this institution are required. We have to report having received from the Rev. Augustus Clissold, bound copies of his Letter to Archbishop Whately, and of his Illustrations of the End of the Church; from the Boston Printing Society, U. S. the Divine Providence; from Mr. Otis Clapp, Publisher, Boston, the new American edition of Arbouin's Dissertations, a complete set of Reports of the Massachusets Association, and several other interesting papers and discourses; from the Rev. W. Mason, of Melbourne, an entire set of his works, all neatly halfbound. Mrs. Hyde, Bath, Maine, U. S., promises the society a complete set of the Boston New Jerusalem Magazine*, which has been thankfully accepted. Mr. Baldock has already presented some volumes of the same excellent periodical; and several other presents of the kind are also announced. We give, from the last report, a paragraph on the subject of the library, which may not have met the eyes of many readers of the Repository.

"The committee take this opportunity of once more urging their call on authors and societies for donations of books, and of stating that the library should contain entire sets of all the New Church Magazines, published in this and other countries. This is especially necessary for the following reason: very few of these works are entered at Stationers' Hall; and the consequence is, they never pass into those great libraries, eleven in number, which are the depositories of our national literature. Thus, not only has

*The Precursor, the Errand Boy, and the New Churchman, would be thankfully received for the library.

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