THE OIL REGIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Showing where Petroleum is found, how it is obtained, and at what cost: with hints for whom it may concern. By WILLIAM WRIGHT. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 12mo. pp. 275. As a work of Science, or as throwing light upon curious questions, respecting the origin of an article which has become so important in Commerce and the practical Arts, this book has little value. Indeed, in this respect, it makes no pretensions. He says:-"No theory is hedged in with difficulties so numerous and insuperable, as that which traces to the coal-fields the existence of rock-oil." Mr. Wright's theory is, "that as coal takes us back, geologically, to a carbonaceous era anterior to existing bog or forest, so petroleum discloses to us another such era, equally anterior to coal-at least anterior to the coal found on this continent." It is as a practical work, and as giving information of the processes of securing petroleum, the causes of failure, and as exposing the systematic deception by which the public are so outrageously swindled, that the book is really valuable. He says:-" to reach one productive source, with all the knowledge that has been gathered, it is necessary to put down five wells. Some persons say that one-fourth of those now sunk become profitable; but, taking the entire oil region, I am within the mark in setting down the ratio at one in five." "From the best information accessible, I am led to estimate the average period of a good well's productiveness, at eighteen months. In a majority of instances, the repairing and tinkering done after that date, does not pay. In any case, the purchaser should be careful not to accept the first day or two's yield thereafter, as evidence of what it will be on the average." One chapter, devoted to statistics of production, contains much valuable information about wells in detail. The recapitulation shows that there are upwards of three hundred oil wells now in operation in Pennsylvania, yielding at the rate of three million barrels annually. We advise such of our readers as have any intentions of trying to "strike oil," to read this book. It is, withal, a valuable hand-book on the subject for the general reader. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES CAVALRY, from the formation of the Federal Government, to the first of June, 1863. To which is added a List of the Cavalry Regiments, with the names of their Commanders, which have been in the United States Service since the breaking out of the Rebellion. By ALBERT G. BROCKETT, Major First United States Cavalry, &c., &c. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 12mo. pp. 337. No notice is taken in this volume of the mounted service in the Revolutionary War; and very little, of its employment in the second War with England; in both which, indeed, the Cavalry were, comparatively, unimportant. As his record only comes down to June 1st, 42 VOL. XVII. 1863, he makes no mention of the signal efficiency of this branch of the service near the close of the late War. Beginning with the organization of a mounted force in 1793, he describes their service in the Indian and Mexican Wars, and their more signal exploits after the annexation of Texas, and the conquest of New Mexico and Texas, and also in Oregon. He also notices, in the late War, the engagements in which the Cavalry bore a prominent part; and describes the Cavalry Battle at Beverly's Ford, and the famous Raids of Grierson and Stoneman, which affected so seriously the fortunes of the War. The volume contains several Maps and illustrations. COMPANION POETS FOR THB PEOPLE, IllustraTED. National Lyrics, by JOHN G. WHITTIER. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1865. 12mo. pp. 104. Whatever may be said of the power of Whittier's philanthropy, or humanitarianism, or Christianity, none can dispute that he has the genius and power of a genuine poet. PAPERS OF THE RUSSO-GREEK Committee, No. V. 8vo. pp. 31. In the present Paper, the Committee have given portions of several Sermons and public Addresses, by the highest dignitaries in the Russo-Greek Church; and on several points of Doctrine, where the corruptions of Rome are most flagrant. These show, most clearly and decidedly, the fundamental and radical difference on these several points, between the Russo-Greek Church and the Church of Rome. The points treated of, in this Paper, are Faith and Good Works; Human Merit; Christ Crucified; the Virgin Mary; the circulation and reading of the Bible. These Papers deserve a wide circulation, and must exert a most decided influence. HOW TO BE SAVED; Or the Sinner Directed to the SAVIOUR. By J. H. B. Fortieth thousand. St Louis, Mo.: 1865. 12mo. pp. 126. The very large sale of this work is owing, in part, to its exceedingly plain and pointed style. Yet it is written from that basis of a spurious modern Calvinism, which wholly ignores the Covenant relationship, and, indeed, does not know what to do with it. Its theory of the Atonement is of that quid pro quo, or commercial type, which respects God's strict Justice alone. On this theory, a Limited Atonement, or Universal Salvation, is a necessary alternative; and such has been its actual history in Germany, New England, and elsewhere. There is no way to escape such a logical deduction. If we must have a theory of the Atonement, the Governmental theory, or that propounded so ably by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk, is the only tenable one. SCRIPTURE BAPTISM DEFENDED; and Anabaptist Notions proved to be Anti-Scriptural Novelties. By Rev. JOHN LEVINGTON. Detroit: T. K. Adams. 12mo. pp. 143. This little work, by a Methodist Minister, is learned, and dogmatic, and blunt enough to meet the so-called Baptists, and their method of controversy. Yet he over strains his argument. Baptism, both by pouring and immersion, as well as by sprinkling, were primitive modes of administering the Sacrament. Each mode is significant; yet too much stress upon the manner of administration, runs the argument into the ground. The following publications have been received: SON OF THE SOIL. A Novel. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 8vo. pp. 241. MISS MACKENZIE. A Novel. By ANTHONY TROLLOPE. New York: 8vo. pp. 139. THEO LEIGH. A Novel. By ANNIE THOMAS, author of "Denis Donne," &c. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 8vo. pp. 158. BELIAL. A Novel. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 8vo. pp. 119. DENIS DONNE. A Novel. By ANNIE THOMAS, author of "On Guard," and "Theo Leigh." New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. 8vo. pp. 147. CARRY'S CONFESSION. A Novel. By the Author of "Mattie," &c. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. pp. 190. CAN YOU FORGIVE HER? By ANTHONY TROLLOPE. Illustrated by Hablat K. Browne. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1865. Rt. Rev. Dr. JOHN TRAVERS LEWIS's Sermon on Confirmation; in St. George's Cathedral, Kingston, C. W. Rt. Rev. ALFRED LEE'S Sixth Triennial Charge. 1865. 8vo. pp. 28. Rev. Dr. W. F. MORGAN'S Sermons, in St. Thomas' Church, New York, on the Death and Burial of President Lincoln. 8vo. pp. 47. Rev. L. T. BENNET'S Twenty-fifth Anniversary Sermon, in Christ Church, Guilford, Conn., July 9th, 1865. Rev. Dr. G. M. RANDALL'S Sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, on its CCXXVII. Anniversary. Boston, June 5, 1865. Rev ALEX. CRUMMELL'S Sermon, on Emigration an aid to the Evangelization of Africa, in Trinity Church, Monrovia, West Africa, May 4, 1865. SERMON, on the Work of GOD, and How He does it. By a Presbyter of Minnesota. 1865. Rev. W. R. HUNTINGTON'S Sermon, on American Catholicity, in Trinity Church, Boston, May 10th, 1865. Rev Dr. THEODORE EDSON'S Essay, on Independency and the Church, or on the best way of establishing the Church in Massachusetts. Read in St. Matthias' Church, South Boston, Mass., Feb. 1, 1865. LIFE OF PHILIP NOLAN, "The Man without a Country." Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1865. 16mo. pp. 23. OCCASIONAL PAPER, of the Hawaiian Church Mission. London: Rivingtons. 1865. 12mo. pp. 63. NEPHOTHEROPY: Dr. E. B. Lighthill's new System for Diseases of the Throat. New York: 1865. 12mo. pp. 44. THE STEWARDSHIP OF WEALTH: Lives of Amos and Abbott Lawrence. New York: 1865. THE VOCATION AND MINISTRY OF CHURCH MEMBERS; Report on the best mode of working a Parish. Philadelphia: 1865. 8vo. pp. 52. ST. MARY'S HALL, Burlington, New Jersey. Twenty-Eighth year. 1865. CATALOGUE, &c., of Nashotah Theological Seminary. Delafield: 1865. SIXTH ANNUAL CATALOGUE, of Griswold College. Davenport, Iowa. 1865. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT, of the Church Charity Foundation. Brooklyn, N. Y.: 1865. FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, of the Trustees of The Sheltering Arms. New York: 1865. FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, of the American Tract Society. Boston: 1865. Calvary, New York City. Powell, W. R. St. Luke's, Portland, Me. Wainwright Mem'l, N. Y. City. Wainwright Mem'l, N. Y. City. Chapel, Gambier, Ohio. Wainwright Mem'l, N. Y. City. |