THE WORLD'S CONVENTION. In our last dissertation on this subject, we testified to the thoroughly evangelical spirit of the movement, as most fully demonstrated at the Convention. In so far as the British churches are concerned, this was a point of primary importance, for were the Temperance movement to be considered not as a pioneer but a rival of the gospel, the question of duty in relation to it might very speedily be settled. It only now remains to speak to the general merits of the measure, and of the results which are likely to flow from it. The whole subject may be comprised under four points, the time-the place-the things done-and the things left undone. Now it strikes us that, on several high grounds, the time was excellently selected. On the subject of place, Mr. Beggs, Secretary to the National Temperance Society, has expressed himself with such vigour and felicity that we have pleasure in substituting his language instead of our own:

"There was an auspicious propriety in the place fixed upon for the Convention. It was the heart of English civilization, the metropolis of the world, and of the world's intemperance. It had come to be the centre of the social system of humanity, toward which all the societies for the promotion of civilization and Christianity seem to gravitate. Physically it had become the heart of the world; and it was capable of sustaining the same moral relation. Through the veins

of its commercial communication, it could reach the extremest members of the human family. Here the whole race might be reached by associated philanthropy. It was the point of rest for the Archimedean lever of moral power; and to this centre, the men who had lifted up a standard against intemperance, at its flood-tide, had come. From be yond the seas they came; from the frontiers, centre, and sea-board of young America. Men, grey-headed, and full of years, and of the experience of years of doing and enduring in the ministry of temperance, crossed the ocean, with all its stormy peril, to give in their testimony before the earnest and true-hearted. Men, of all professions, came up from the people-the representatives of fifty millions scattered over the earth, speaking the same language, and united by

the same sympathies: ministers of the gospel, physicians, lawyers, editors, merchants, mechanics, and farmers-men, of all religious denominations, and political parties, met in that Convention, in a unity of spirit, and an earnest singleness of purpose, which the cause of temperance must feel throughout the world. Witnesses were they all, of the Galilean order, of moral courage; not statesmen, nor mighty, nor noble by the stale virtue of genealogy; nor the orators or aspirants of the political forum. They were the earnest men of the times, of that energetic philanthropy which is abroad, in this hopeful day, searching the lowest aisles and avenues of human wretchedness with lighted candles; letting the sunlight of salvation and human sympathy into the windowless hovels of sick poverty; men, of great hearts and lowly minds, who ride-if ride they may-on the beast of the good Samaritan, with his oil and anodynes at their saddle-bows, and lift up the retching victim of his own appetite, however deep and murky the ditch of degradation in which he lies. They were witnesses assembled, as it were, from the four quarters of the globe, to arraign a vice, entrenched in the strongest habits of human nature and society; to indict the great prime minister of sin and death on earth, to which, as unto the beast in the apocalypse, everything honoured of men had given its power and honour; to which religion had bowed, and the best graces of civilization and refinement, of poetry, and the prose of common hospitality. If any person lack demonstration of the faith of these men, and of the courage which braced up their hearts for the stoutest doings of benevolence, let him count the gin and beer-shops in any thoroughfare of London, of one mile in length; or let him go into the high places of power, fashion, or religion, and thence descend into the lowest lane and life of London poverty and crime :-let him do this, or, if it be too long a walk, let him but go and look into the crater of one of the huge beer breweries, which deluge, in brain-soddening death, more Englishmen, in ten years, than Vesuvius ever destroyed, with its red lava, since its subterranean fires were first kindled. Let him go to either of these points of evidence, and he will understand the exi

gency of this high court of errors, convened in London, by the social necessities of humanity. He will appreciate the energetic, ever-hoping faith of the witnesses and advocates at that moral tribunal, in their attempt to arraign and convict, at the bar of the world's conscience, the world's ruling passion-a custom of immemorial antiquity and universal prevalence; a custom claiming even divinity of extraction and patronage, and fellowship with the sacred rites of religion!

Such was the custom, arraigned in its own citadel, by the men of whom we have spoken. The evidence and the argument were weighty and powerful, and they plead, like angels trumpettongued' against the usurper. Heaven, earth, and sea, and the annals of universal suffering, crime, and poverty, gave in their evidence,-bitter revelations, facts of awful consequence! From the most distant regions of the race; from islands of the far ocean; from the four winds of heaven; from tribes of different tongues and zones; from the deep mysteries of the human system; from garrets, hovels, and the homes of new-made widows; from shipboard; from river and the mountain, there came a tide of evidence, like the voice of many waters, against the GREAT CURSE OF THE ENGLISH RACE."

Is it asked, What has been done? The reply is, Much, in various ways. In so far as the Temperance multitudes are concerned, the philosophy of human nature teaches that great objects have been achieved. The elements of moral strength have been vastly invigorated. The mere convention of so great a body of such men to spend a lengthened season in each other's company, had this been all, was far from a small matter. Visibility was thus given to names, many of them great and honoured; minds mingled as well as persons; interest was deeply excited, and highly gratified; honourable and gratifying friendships were formed, animated by inutual respect, and accompanied with sincere esteem. That man is but little read in history who considers this a light thing among the leaders of either physical or of moral conflicts. When to confidence in a cause, is added confidence in companions in labour, what is not gained? No reflecting man, we believe, left that Convention without a large addition to those moral qualities which, instrumentally, conduct to triumph and conquest. But the happy influence was

not confined to them; it extended to multitudes throughout England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and even in foreign lands, communicating impulse and inspiring hope.

Again, among that portion of society who are not connected with the Temperance Movement, who can estimate the influence of the Convention? Who will deny that here it has done much to silence opposition, and there to dispel doubt, and yonder to command respect, and in places to conciliate regard? Let us assure ourselves that such sermons and such speeches as the bulk of those delivered, could not be heard in vain; and thousands upon thousands will feel their ultimate effects whose ears were not permitted to listen to them. Moral influence is but slightly allied to electricity; time is required to bring on great moral harvests, and time will verify the truth of our allegations. Of the statistics supplied during the Convention much might be said did our space permit, but we must refer our readers to the Proceedings of the Convention-a publication of great value, and which may be had at a trifling cost. We earnestly recommend its diffusion.

With respect to the things which were left undone, were it necessary, much might be said; divers schemes, some of them splendid and imposing, were rejected, as, however desirable, for the present, at least, impracticable. Time has only added to our conviction that the course preferred was the wise one.

We cannot close without a word on the general subject. No week passes without the revelation of the stupendous mischief resulting from the use of strong drink. We point with special emphasis to the following extracts from the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons:

"That the number of ships and vessels belonging to the United Kingdom which have been wrecked and lost during six years past amounts to 2905. That, taking the number of vessels wrecked and lost at the assumed value, £5000 for each ship and cargo, the loss of property occasioned by these wrecks would amount to £14,525,000, being an average of £2,420,833 per annum. Number of vessels of which the entire crews were drowned during the six years, 130. Number of persons drowned in addition to the foregoing, which are distinctly known by the same return from Lloyd's books, during the six years, 3414. Among the principal causes of shipwreck

the Committee state drunkenness and the use of spirits. That drunkenness is a frequent cause of ships being wrecked, leading often to improper and even contradictory orders on the part of officers, sleeping on the look-out or at the helm among the men, occasioning the ships to run foul of each other at night, to be taken aback and overpowered by sudden squalls, sinking, upsetting, or getting dismasted for want of vigilance in preparing for the danger, or in steering wrong courses, so as to run upon dangers which might otherwise have been avoided. That the practice of taking large quantities of ardent spirits as part of the stores of ships, and the habitual use of such spirits in what is ordinarily considered the moderate quantity served to each man at sea, is itself a very frequent cause of the loss of ships and crews, ships frequently taking fire from the drawing off of spirits, which are always kept in the hold, crews getting access to the spirit-casks, and becoming intoxicated; hence insubordination, insolence, disobedience of orders, and refusal to do duty, as well as confinements and punishments as correctives, both which must for the time greatly lessen the efficiency of the crews.

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Experiments in American vessels.— That the happiest effects have resulted from the experiments tried in the American navy and merchant-service, to do

without spirituous liquors as an article of daily use; there being more than 1000 sail of American vessels traversing all the seas of the world, in every climate, without the use of spirits by either officers or crew, and being in consequence of this change in so much greater state of efficiency and safety than other vessels, that the public insurance companies in America make a return of 5 per cent. of the premium of insurance on vessels completing their voyages without the use of spirits, while the example of British ships sailing from Liverpool on the same plan has been productive of the greatest benefit to the ship-owners, under-writers, merchants, officers, and crews."

These are facts which, in so far as the sea is concerned, ought at once to settle the question. Yes, laugh or sneer who may at the Temperance movement, the loss of fourteen and a half millions of money, and of some four or five thousand men, in the space of six years, mainly through drink, is no matter for sneering and laughter. For this mountainous mass of calamity we offer our remedy, which is proved to be effectual; and, in the name of those who are beggared by the loss of those millions, and of the crowds of widows and orphans of those drowned men, we call upon the scorner to offer his, with proofs of its superior efficiency, or henceforth to hold his peace!

THE Letters of Mr. Baines, and the Letters and Article of Dr. Vaughan, are now before the public, and are, we trust, in the way of obtaining a very extensive circulation. No means should be left untried to fill the land with them. We are much gratified to learn that a fund has been opened for defraying the expense of a cheap circulation and free distribution of Mr. Baines's Letters. The Committee appointed for this purpose by a Conference of the friends of Voluntary Education, held in London, hope to secure the sale of the work at the very low price of One Shilling; and as this will involve a heavy expense, they hope that the decided friends of Voluntary Education will liberally sustain the effort.

We hope so too, and shall be glad to share in the matter, while equally ready to do the same for Dr. Vaughan, that the world may have both before them.

The Rev. Mr. Parsons, of Ebley, author of a most excellent work, entitled, "Education the Birthright of every Human Being," recently published, has just issued a pamphlet in two letters addressed to Dr. Vaughan, in support of the position that "the people can educate them

selves " This piece is strongly marked by the author's well-known attributes-intelligence, argument, fervour, and power and certain other qualities which might be advantageously dispensed with-dogmatism, vituperation, and harshness at times amounting almost to violence; in fact many parts of the volume are distinguished by a spirit which might, by those who know not the peculiar character of the excellent writer, be thought to savour of personal animosity. With this drawback, which we cannot but lament -we might say, deprecate and denounce, in a man of so much sterling merit-the letters possess great claims to public attention.

The West Kent Educational Association has rendered good service by publishing a body of statistics for West Kent, which go a great way to support Mr. Baines's argumentation. The Report says, "The following abstract gives 11 55 per cent., or 1 in 9 as the proportion actually in course of instruction, and exhibits a deficiency (according to the previous calculations) amounting to 2:45 per cent., or 1 in 41, that is, 8743 children. This deficiency, however, is not in the means of education, but in the

number in attendance at school-a fact that must not be lost sight of, as the existing schools are capable of receiving on the average onesixth more than they at present contain. The addition of this one-sixth reduces the deficiency to 1.25 per cent., or to accommodation for 4461 children. But deduction should be made even from this number, on the ground of schools, to the number of five or six, being in course of erection during the collection of these statistics. The opening of these new schools would further reduce the deficiency to about 4000."

The following works on our table may be briefly characterized:

Remarks on National Education. By GEORGE COMBE. 8vo, pp. 33.-Vigorously written, but strongly pervaded by a spirit of undisguised infidelity. Mr. Combe contends that "Government has a right even to compel its subjects to receive such secular instruction as is necessary to qualify them for the discharge of their social duties." But this is not the only discovery Mr. Combe has made. Hear the Phrenological sage: "Another reason why these views may merit some consideration is, that the theology which is based exclusively on Scripture, and rejects the alliance of nature, is actually falling before the progress of science. I have travelled in the United States of North America, in Germany and Italy, and held converse with men of cultivated minds in these countries, as well as in the three divisions of the United Kingdom, and I venture to say that the popular theology, however vigorous, powerful, and triumphant it may appear externally, is in the course of its decline and fall, as no longer suited to an enlightened age." If these things be so, Dr. Thomson, Mr. Spottiswoode, and the Bible Printers, had better mind what they are about, lest they be found engaged in a losing enterprise.

The Prussian System of Popular and National Education; its History, Character, and Prospects. By Rev. JAMES ADAM, of the Free Church. 18mo, pp. 70.-A luminous analysis of a remarkable system, closing with some interesting prophetic and philosophical speculations. The following fact is curious: "A change for the better in the education of Prussia was first experienced in the higher orders of society. The reason of this is obvious, and will soon appear. Not much less than a century ago a law was enacted, and though at first evaded by many, it was afterwards pretty generally enforced, forbidding that any young man educated for the Church should obtain a living unless he had previously been, for some years, a teacher in a public school. Such an engagement became a necessary pre-requisite to ecclesiastical preferment. Henceforth none but those who had been teachers could lay any claim, or have any title, to a living in the Church. All candidates for the ministry, therefore, were under the necessity of spending some portion of their time in the capacity of public teachers, previous to their settlement as clergymen. The natural consequence of this was, that many of these gentlemen became enamoured of their new occupation, relinquished all expectation of preferment in the Church, and devoted themselves entirely to the noble, the Christian, the philanthropic work of educating the young. By this means, as

might have been anticipated, the science and the art of education were alike wonderfully improved."

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The Essential Connection between Education and Religion. By A. REED, BA., Norwich.Generous, manly, noble, breathing throughout the spirit of Christian patriotism. The following are specimens :-" Education, to be worth the name, should cultivate a profound regard for what ought and what ought not to be-a warm relish for the good, and a steady hatred of the evil-a pleasure in regularity-a fervent love of justice, and an ardent indignation against wrong-a modest self-diffidence, disgusted at conceit a self-denying generosity, and detestation of meanness a glow of satisfaction in pleasing others, and a keen sympathy in their distress a honest regard to principle, and an aversion to crooked courses-an admiration for all things lovely and of good report'-an unbending truthfulness, and a transparent simplicity-a dislike of the artificial pretences of society. The scope of education is to nurse and ripen every moral disposition proper to personal, domestic, and public life; and to produce the pure and contented cottager, and the patriot citizen.

"How can this be done without religion? The teacher will soon find human nature opposed, at every point, to his efforts. Religion alone can effect the change. Let us try to analyze its influence. A sense of unworthiness before God is the basis of religion. Now this tends to deepen humility and meekness. Faith in the provision of a Saviour for the forgiveness of sin is a second great point. It elicits a prudent respect to future consequences-a firm selfdenial-a lofty and spiritual aim-a familiarity with the sublime-and it touches the heart with a sense of generous gratitude and obligation. Again, the purity and authority of the divine law begets a tender conscience and a habit of close self-inspection. The belief in immortal existence heightens our regard to human character, quickens mental effort, and reveals ample scope for boundless progress. The promise of divine aid and reward gives superhuman courage, and bears up the soul above the cares of life, of mortality, and of eternity.

"Now let these truths be brought to bear on education by a teacher whose soul is imbued with them-let the children be taught to address God in worship, and to hear him in scriptural instruction-let them feel that something divine is in their midst that the teacher owns its presence, and they will soon imbibe his feelings. God himself has promised to crown such faith with spiritual life and conversion. Under such influences the stubborn would become facile -the angry, meek-the fearful, bold-the mean, high-souled the dull and slow would be roused to intellectual energy-the thoughtless would become serious-the lazy, industrious-the unsteady would grow up to unwonted application -the lusts of the body would be kept underthe object of life raised-and the divine grace realized."

"Schools of all classes, conducted in this spirit -every association to promote letters, charity, and religion every well-chosen library and reading-room-all periodicals and newspapersthe pulpit, the bar, the lecture-desk, and the press-all these, if under a truly religious influ

ence, availing themselves of the vast facilities which cheapen and expedite the transmission of intelligence by books, letters, or friendly converse, supplying wings to knowledge-all these agencies winnow the healthful influence of intelligent piety over the homes and works of man -guide and quicken his laborious industry and ingenious art-solace the rest of wearied diligence-supply with thoughts the vacuity of suspended action-instruct the leisure of wealthy luxury-detect the artifices of political intrigue -confound the schemes of profligate ambition -preserve the fatherland from the decline of nations, and raise it to the summit of righteous prosperity-animate the patriot's hopes, and nerve the hero's arm."

"Is not education in this light a noble object? To rescue immortal souls before the enemy has hardened and enslaved them; to begin at the fountain-head of all Christian enterprise; to leave a legacy of righteousness to our posterity; to arrest the evil of the coming world while it is yet in faint and feeble progress,-has such a work no inspiration? Here are the future agitators and troublers of society, the daring infidels, the hardy libertines, the vicious criminals that society may produce-now all in our power, with hearts soft, ductile, and convertible under the power of the gospel and the blessing of God.

Our national curses may in this way be turned to blessings, and those who will be little better than heathen, if abandoned now, may here become the most philanthropic and influential Christians."

Equity without Compromise; or, Hints for the Construction of a Just System of National Education. With Remarks on Dr. Hook's Pamphlet, and the Letters of Edward Baines, Jun., Esq., to Lord John Russell. By EDWARD SWAINE, Member of the Congregational Board of Education. Second Edition. Snow.-Concisely written, severely reasoned, and containing much from which all parties may derive profit. We should like to publish it entire; but it may be had for a shilling.

The Advantages of General Education amongst the Youth of the Higher Ranks. Addressed to Parents, Preceptors, and Pupils. By F. B. RIBBANS, F.S.A. 8vo, pp. 40. Whittaker.A very business-like production, full of common sense and experimental doctrine.

Observations on Sunday-school Instruction. By JOHN GREGG, A.B. 18mo, pp. 83. Longman. -Judicious and valuable; may be read by teachers with much advantage.

A Memoir of the Life and Character of Thomas Wilson, Esq., Treasurer of Highbury College. By his SoN. 8vo, pp. 584. Snow.

THIS is one of a class of books which possess a special interest—a class of which, unhappily, we have but too few ; not from the want of authors, but of subjects. This is real biography-a history of things done-a record of facts. Here the excellent man will continue to speak for God and truth for ages to come. "Rich men," says his Son, "will be most successfully taught their duties, and most effectually persuaded to practise them, by the example of persons in the same circumstances, who exhibited in their conduct a practical illustration of the true value and legitimate uses of wealth." This witness is true, and hence the preeminent value of this work, which will long remain an impressive lesson to opulent Dissenters. Altogether the volume is one of great worth, and forms a most important addition to our Religious Biography. It is so multifarious as to defy analysis; it must be read, and it will be read very extensively throughout the Christian church, and by all competent persons be judged a precious record of Christian excellence, which, while it does

the highest credit to the talents and discretion of the filial biographer, cannot fail to prove a source of deep interest to the multitude of Mr. Wilson's personal friends. We reserve interesting extracts for future opportunities.

Sermons by the late Dr. Welsh. With a

Memoir by A. DUNLOP, Esq., Advocate. 8vo, pp. 379. Hamilton. THE Memoir deserves particular notice, as a model of compact, classical biography, which well merits separate publication. As to the Sermons, the mere name of Dr. Welsh cannot fail to carry them over the world in triumph. They are, as may be anticipated, thoroughly Scotch-solid, intellectual, but somewhat heavy and rather cold. In the north they will be considered good sermons; in the south, masterly dissertations, admirable reading for educated men, but too profound and elaborate for popular assemblies.

Discourses by James Peddie, D.D. With a Memoir by his Son, Dr. WILLIAM PEDDIE. 8vo, pp. 486. Oliphant and Sons.

THIS volume cannot fail to prove a very general favourite with the churches of