PROSPECTUS.

Ir is proposed to publish a QUARTERLY REVIEW of SOCIAL SCIENCE considered in its ETHICAL, ECONOMICAL, POLITICAL, and AMELIORATIVE aspects.

SOCIAL SCIENCE has been lately attracting considerable attention, and philanthropists have evinced a growing interest in its problems, and in the various practical attempts which are being made to solve them. The condition of society has rendered the cultivation of this science necessary to our advanced enlightenment. Christian civilization cannot look on the diseases of our social system without much concern, and without making an effort to remove or ameliorate them.

SOCIAL REFORM is a question of the day. How to arrest the ignorance, intemperance, impurity, and crime of the masses of the people, and how to provide more healthy and comfortable dwellings for them, are inquiries demanding the immediate attention of all enlightened and patriotic citizens. The permanent progress of the state depends on the social health of the people.

It is, therefore, desirable that a public journal should devote itself chiefly to these great subjects; and, by the publication of facts and suggestions, give a tone and direction to public sentiment, and hasten desirable reforms.

This Review will have as its chief aim the discussion of subjects connected with Social Science and Reform. It will advocate national rather than denominational education— prevention rather than punishment of crime-prohibition rather than license of the traffic in intoxicating drinks-the promotion of temperance and sanitary reform-the restriction of the opium trade in India, and the faithful enforcement of laws and treaties for the suppression of slavery.

It will thus be prepared to encourage all philanthropic efforts for the improvement of public morals, and to oppose whatever endangers the social health or makes the revenue of the state foster social disease. It will further what its title indicates: MelioraBetter things,'

A Record of social politics, and a Review of current literature, will also have a place in each number, and questions of science and philosophy, bearing on the chief objects of the Review, will be discussed by the ablest pens.

MELIORA will eschew party politics and sectarian jealousies. Advocating whatever promotes national progress and the real welfare of man, it will not fail to recognise in Christianity the principles of all social ethics for the establishment of the right and the reformation and prohibition of the wrong.

As such a Review is an acknowledged want, it is hoped that it will meet with general support. It will contain literary matter supplied by distinguished writers, so as to give it a claim on the attention of persons of influence, by whose means all practical reforms are promoted, and it will be published at a price which will give it access to the homes of the people, whose intelligent aid is also indispensable to the successful adoption of reformatory measures. Already the subscription list is large and is rapidly increasing. Contributors of acknowledged ability have been secured, and several persons distinguished for their interest in social questions have promised their countenance and support. No expense will be spared to make Meliora a first-class Review. It will be published quarterly, price One Shilling.

No. II. will appear in July.

Communications and Books for Review to be addressed to the Publishers,

MESSRS. PARTRIDGE & CO., 34, PATERNOSTER ROW.

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Copies will be sent, post free, to any address, at the published price, prepaid.

Meliora Quarterly Advertiser.

APRIL, 1858.

WORKS OF DR. F. R. LEES.

Select Works (subscription edition). Vol. I.-On the Moral, Social, Religious, Chemical, and Medical aspects of Temperance. Vol. II.-On the Historical and Biblical. Vol. III.-On Physiology and Diet. In cloth, 165; in roan, 18s.

'I would very earnestly recommend the works of Dr. F. R. Lees, a gentleman, who to a vast amount of diversified learning and research, is possessed of a logical acuteness and a thoroughness of perception which enable him at once to see through, and fully to exhaust, almost every and any subject he is induced to take up. They will find them there, like almost everything else pertaining to temperance, fully and ably discussed.'_ Rev. G. GREIG, M.A., in Christian News.

Author's Edition of the Argument on Prohibition. On best paper, with Brussels' Congress Address. 3s. 6d. (Uniform with Works.)

Prize Essay, with Sequels. On ordinary paper. Uniform

with the Author's Works. 3s.

Discussion with G. J. Holyoake, Esq., on Teetotalism and the Maine Law. (Two days.) 2 copies, 9d.

Refutation of the Westminster Reviewer.

1s.

'A masterly and merciless exposure.'- Alliance. 'Sweeps away his logic with resistless force.'-Christian News. Those who delight in philosophical polemics will have a rich treat.'-Boston Guardian.

A Glass of Pale Ale; or, Commission of Inquiry into Allsop's Boon to Mankind, with exposure of contradictions of the witnesses. 2d.

Corrections of the Errors of Johnston's Chemistry of Common Life. Printed so as to bind up with that book. 3d.

Letter to Professor Gibson, of the Free Church, in reply to his 'Principles of Bible Temperance,' To which is appended the controversy

with The Reasoner.

5d.

Kalon Oinon; or, the Miracle at Cana historically explained. 4d.

'A very felicitous attempt. admired.'-The Chronicle.

It is such a specimen of Biblical criticism as Moses Stuart would have

The Bible a Teetotal Book: in two Lectures on the Old and New Testaments. 6d.

Sacramental Wine Question; being the First Prize Essay ; and answer to the Rev. Dr. Halley's objections. 6d.

Prize Essay on Deut. xiv. 25, 26; or, the 'Strong-drink

Question.' 6d.

The Truth-seeker: an Organ of Philosophical and Religious

Discussion. First Series, three vols., 78. Second, two vols., 78.

Epidemic Whims: a Reply to Isaac Taylor's Lecture against Vegetarianism, Teetotalism, and Maine-Lawism. 3d.

Post free, from "Dr. LEES, Meanwood, near Leeds."

b

Works by J. Ewing Ritchie.

Just Published, price 3s. 6d., bound in cloth. Second Edition.

THE LONDON PULPIT.

CONTENTS:-The Religious Denominations of London-Sketches of the Rev. J. M. Bellew, Dale, Liddell, Maurice, Melville, Villiers, Baldwin Brown, Binney, Dr. Campbell, Lynch, Morris, Martin, Brock, Howard Hinton, Sheridan Knowles, Baptist Noel, Spurgeon, Dr. Cumming, Dr. James Hamilton, W. Forster, H. Ierson, Cardinal Wiseman, Miall, Dr. Wolff, &c.

'One of the cleverest productions of the present day.'-Morning Herald.

The subject is an interesting one, and is treated with very considerable ability. Mr. Ritchie has the valuable art of saying many things in few words-he is never diffuse-never dull-and succeeds in being graphic without becoming flippant.'-Daily News.

The style of Mr. Ritchie is always lively and fluent, and oftentimes eloquent. The reader cannot fail to acknowledge Mr. Ritchie's merits while his mind is interested with his vigorous delineations, and the freshness and freedom of his views.'-Critic.

The book is capitally written.'-Court Circular.

"Mr. Ritchie is just the man to dash off a series of portraits-bold in outline-strikingly like the originals in feature and expression, and characterised by bright and effectual colouring.'-Civil Service Gazette. 'Written in a fluent and easy style.'-Weekly Times.

Mr. Ritchie's pen-and-ink sketches of the popular preachers of London are as life-like as they are brilliant and delightful.'-Sun.

It is lively, freshly written. It bears the stamp of an earnest spirit eager in its search after truth, and strongly set against affectation and pretence of every sort.'- Globe.

Just Published, price 3s. 6d., bound in cloth.

Second Edition, Revised.

THE NIGHT SIDE OF LONDON.

CONTENTS:-Introduction-Seeing a Man Hanged-Catherine Street-The Bal Masque -Up the Haymarket-Canterbury Hall-Ratcliff Highway-Judge and Jury ClubsThe Cave of Harmony-Discussion Clubs-Cider Cellars-Leicester Square- Dr. Johnson's-The Sporting Public-house-The Public-house with a Billiard-room-The Respectable Public-house-The Hungerford Music Hall-Highbury Barn-Boxing Night-The Mogul-Caldwell's-Cremorne-The Costermongers' Free and EasyThe Southwark Music Hall-The Eagle Tavern-The Police Court-The Lunatic Asylum.

'We would wish for this little volume an attentive perusal on the part of all to whom inclination or duty, or both, give an interest in the moral, the social, and the religious condition of their fellow-men; above all, we should wish to see it in the hands of bishops, and other ecclesiastical dignitaries-of metropolitan rectors and fashionable preachers-of statesmen and legislators-and of that most mischievous class of men, wellmeaning philanthropists. The picture of life in London, of its manifold pitfalls of temptation and corruption, which are here presented to the reader's eye, is truly appalling. No one can rise from it without a deep conviction that something must be done, ay, and that soon, if the metropolis of the British Empire is not to become a modern Sodom and Gomorrah. What that something is to be the writer does not indeed indicate that is not his object; what he aims at is, to let one part of the world of London know how another part of the same world spends its days, ay, and its nights. The disease is laid bare by him, it is for others to devise the remedy.'-John Bull.

Mr. Ritchie is favourably known to us; nor do we think this little volume will detract from his reputation.'-Daily News.

'Not ill done in parts, it is not done in a fast spirit or affectedly; and the moral tone throughout is healthy enough.'-Illustrated London News.

Mr. Ritchie's sketches are lively and graphic in style, and convey truthful pictures of some of the dark phases of London life. His book may be regarded as supplementary to the Handbooks and Guides of the Metropolis, which lightly touch upon topics which are here specially described and vigorously commented on.'-Literary Gazette.

These graphic and powerful sketches, the result of keen, extensive observation and high literary talent.'Alliance Weekly News.

We hail Mr. Ritchie as a social reformer, and trust he will not merely rest satisfied with exposing, but will seek at the same time, by personal effort, to illume" The Night Side of London."'-The Weekly Journal of the Scottish Temperance League.

'It sketches and spreads out before us many of the Night Scenes of London with great vividness and truth.'-The Christian News.

It is a book of off hand sketches, but they afford the reader many truly instructive glimpses of those apples of Sodom and grapes of Gomorrah-the amusements that are furnished for the metropolitan public by the vendors of intoxicating liquors.' - Evangelical Repository.

'Anything of their sort more striking and vivacious cannot be conceived.'— Weekly Record.

LONDON: W. TWEEDIE.