A LIST OF RECENT WORKS SUITABLE FOR BOOK-SOCIETIES. St. Paul and Modern Thought. By Rev. Llewellyn Davis. and Daldy. Bell [A piece of profound as well as genial theological criticism.] Signs of the Times. By Chev. Bunsen. Smith, Elder, and Co. Shakspere's England; a Sketch of our Social History during the Reign of Elizabeth. By G. W. Thornbury. 2 vols. Longmans. Essays, Biographical and Critical, chiefly on English Poets. By David Masson, M.A. Macmillan. Essays on Philosophy. By A. C. Fraser, M.A. Hamilton and Adams. History of England, from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth. By J. A. Froude, M.A. Vols. 1 and 2. J. W. Parker. [Reviewed in Article IV.] Memoirs of the Court, Aristocracy, and Diplomacy of Austria. By Dr. Vehse. 2 vols. Longmans. The Ottoman Turks. By Professor Creasy. Vol. 2. Bentley. The History and Conquests of the Saracens. Six Lectures delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution by Edwin A. Freeman, M.A. J. H. Parker. Beaumarchais and his Times. By M. de Lomenie. 2 vols. Addey and Co. Memorials of his Time. By Henry Cockburn. A. and C. Black. Memoirs of Sir Robert Peel. Edited by Earl Stanhope and Mr. Cardwell. Vol. 1. The Roman Catholic Relief Bill. Murray. [Reviewed in Article VI.] Modern Painters. By J. Ruskin. Vol. 4. Smith, Elder, and Co. [Reviewed in Article III.] Noctes Ambrosianæ. By Professor Wilson. Vol. 4. Blackwood. [Reviewed in Article VII.] Memoirs of John Kitto, D.D. By J. E. Ryland, M.A. Hamilton and Adams. Memoirs of Thomas Moore. By Lord John Russell. Vols. 7 and 8. Longmans. [Reviewed in Article I.] The Russian Empire; its People, Institutions, and Resources. By Baron Von Haxthausen. Translated by R. Farie, Esq. Chapman and Hall. The Chinese and their Rebellions, viewed in connection with their National Philosophy, Ethics, Legislation, and Administration; with an Essay on Civilisation in the East and West. By Thomas Taylor Meadows. Smith, Elder, and Co. Wanderings among the High Alps. By Alfred Wills, Esq. Bentley. [An entertaining volume of Swiss travels, full, too, of useful information for intending travellers.] A Vacation in Brittany. By C. R. Weld, Esq. With Illustrations. Chapman and Hall. Travels in the Sandwich and Society Islands. By S. S. Hill, Esq. Chapman and Hall. [A very interesting account of the geography of the principal Sandwich Islands, and of their social state.] Revelations of Prison Life. By George L. Chesterton, Esq. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. The Life and Protectorate of Richard Cromwell. By M. Guizot. 2 vols. Bentley. On Foot through the Tyrol in the Summer of 1855. By Walter White. Chapman and Hall. Ismeer. Madden. The Holy Places. By H. L. Dupuis. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. An Exploring Voyage up the Rivers Quorra and Tshadda in 1854. By Dr. Baikie, R.N. Murray. Travels in Persia, Georgia, and Koordistan; with Sketches of the Cossacks and the Caucasus. By Dr. Wagner. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Adventures with the British Army from the Commencement of the War to the Fall of Sebastopol. By George Cavendish Taylor. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Wanderings in North Africa, Benghazi, Cyrene, and the Oasis of Siwah, &c. By James Hamilton, Esq. Woodcuts. Murray. Caravan Journeys in Persia, Affghanistan, Turkistan, and Beloochistan. By J. P. Ferrier. Murray. Recent Works suitable for Book-Societies. 253 A Summer in Northern Europe; with Sketches in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Aland Isles, Gothland, &c. By Selina Bunbury. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Beyminstre. By the Author of "Lena." 3 vols. Smith, Elder, and Co. [A novel full of really delicate insight into character, and rich in humour; though scarcely, perhaps, equal to "Lena."] Erlesmere; or, Contrasts of Character. By L. S. Lavenu. Smith, Elder, and Co. [A tale of very considerable literary power, with a valuable secondary theological purpose.] Perversion; or, the Causes and Consequences of Infidelity. A Tale for the Times. 3 vols. Smith, Elder, and Co. [Reviewed in Article V.] Martins of Cro'Martin. By Charles Lever, Esq. Modern Society in Rome. By J. R. Beste, Esq. Chapman and Hall. 3 vols. Hurst and Evelyn Marston. By the Author of "Emilia Wyndham." 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett. Hertha. By Frederika Bremer. Hall, Virtue, and Co. John Halifax Gentleman. By the Author of "The Head of the Family." 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett. [A tale of much interest, grace, and skill.] Crown Ward. By Archibald Boyd, Esq. 3 vols. Bentley. [A Roman Catholic tale, not without some of the power evinced THE NATIONAL REVIEW. OCTOBER 1856. ART. I.-THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY. The History of the Kirk of Scotland. By Mr. David Calderwood, sometime Minister of Crailing. Edited from the original Ms. in the British Museum. By the Rev. R. Thompson. Printed for the Wodrow Society. Edinburgh, 1845. Gowrie; or, the King's Plot. By G. P. R. James. London: Sims and M'Intyre. In the months of August and September, in the year 1600, a controversy was going forward in Edinburgh of a very singular description. James VI., king of Scotland and king-expectant of England, had declared himself to have been exposed to a frightful danger, from which he had been delivered by a series of miracles. There was no apparent ambiguity in the circumstances; and in the main features of the story no deficiency of evidence. The hand of a ruffian had been on the king's throat; the point of a dagger at his breast. In facts so palpable as these he could not easily be mistaken; and while he published in the form of a proclamation an elaborate narrative of the attack upon him, he was anxious that his subjects should at once be made aware of the misfortune which they had so narrowly escaped, and should unite with him in an expression of gratitude to the Power which had interfered so signally in his behalf. The ministers of the church in Edinburgh were therefore invited to assist in this proper and natural proceeding; and on so remarkable an occasion objection could not have been easily anticipated. The duty which was laid before them was obvious, and ought to have been welcome; to hesitate was almost to declare themselves accomplices in the treason. The ministers, on their part, had no thought of disloyalty; and yet such was their singular opinion of the king's character, No. VI. OCTOBER 1856. 8 |