The suggested Bill would empower the ratepayers of a borough, parish, or township to call upon their mayor, or chief officer, to take the votes of the district; and if a majority of two-thirds of those voting were favourable to the adoption of the Act it would be so adopted; but if this preponderating majority were not secured, and, of course, à fortiori, if the vote were hostile, the Act would not come into operation, nor could a further effort be made in its behalf for at least twelve months.

The Act, when so adopted, would amount to an entire prohibition of the common sale of alcoholic liquors, save by agents, to be appointed, within certain limits and under certain restrictions, by the justices, and who would be paid by salary, and not by profit, so as to be deprived of the inducement to 'push business.' These agents would be allowed to sell only for such purposes as might be declared legal by the Act. Into the machinery suggested we need not enter; it appears simple and likely to be effective; but we must allude to one of the suggestions as involving a very evident principle of social equity. Ordinary trades are held at law responsible for any damage they may cause: chemical works can be indicted and removed, or the party injured may appeal to his private remedy; but the publican's trade is protected by virtue of his licence from the operation of this general law. The gin-seller and beerseller pocket all their profits and leave society to pay for all their damages. The suggested Act of the Alliance would remove this unfair distinction by making the seller (illegally under that Act) responsible for all the damages to person and property which might result from such sale. It cannot be denied that if ever there can be a case deserving, at the hands of a jury, substantial compensation, it is that of the poor wife, who, for the profit of the publican, is deprived of the home and happiness and comfort and protection

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and support that may be regarded as the consideration upon which she entered into the marriage contract.

A careful perusal of these 'suggestions recommends them to our approval. It is certain that a law, and especially such a law, to be efficient must be popular-that is, must be the expression of public sentiment and desire. But public sentiment cannot enforce itself. It must assume the form of law in order to carry out its own dictates against the power of indifference, selfishness, avarice, or cruelty. Precisely such a law is this of the United Kingdom Alliance. would simply be an imperial enactment enabling a preponderating public opinion to exercise executive power.

It

As an interesting circumstance, bearing on this subject, we may allude to the removal of the PITCAIRN ISLANDERS from their old home to Norfolk Island. Their new form of government-essentially democratic-has been established for them by Sir W. Denison, Governor of Tasmania. Among its provisions, based upon their old experience of its utility, is an entire prohibition of the sale of beer and spirits on the island, save only for purposes of medicine.

The existence of intemperance is, indeed, the great barrier to social progress. It feeds the reformatory with juvenile criminals, and the gaols with hardened offenders; it neutralizes and destroys the work of education, and undermines the physical power of the industrious people; it creates the necessity for taxation, and diminishes the resources of the people to sustain that taxation. It would ill become any social reformer to turn with indifference away, or to allow prejudice to prevent his acceptance of any reasonable measure for securing deliverance from this national curse, even though its acceptance might involve some little obloquy, and its accomplishment considerable labour.

1. Biographical.

Fifty Years' Recollections, Literary and Personal, with Observations on Men and Things. By Cyrus Redding. London: Skeet, 1858.

THE

HE last half century has been memorable in this country, and more productive of changes than any preceding period of like duration. Progress in science and commerce, in social and national reform, has been extensive. Railways, steamships, telegraphs, penny posts, free trade, &c., have been originated and carried forward incredibly. He who has watched the rise and progress of these, and can give us the record of his recollections, must to some extent be our benefactor. Mr. Redding does not notice such events at any length, but clusters around his personal history, which was chiefly literary and connected with the press, notes of men and manners during his times. His two volumes are pleasant gossip. He was dandled on the knee of John Howard, saw John Wesley, heard Mrs. Siddons and Talma, and was associated with Thomas Campbell. He was editor of a provincial and of a metropolitan paper, of Galignani in Paris, and contributed to the New Monthly' and the Metropolitan.' There are some interesting stories of the men, now passed away, who figured during the last fifty years, and pictures of many social customs now obsolete. Mr. Redding, though a journalist, is a connoisseur of wine and the author of its history. We hope he has escaped the penalties of indulgence; for he must have been well initiated who could, as he boasts, vanquish Christopher North in a match at rum punch. Such matches will, we trust, soon be obsolete.

The Gloaming of Life, a Memoir of James Stirling. By the Rev. Alexander Wallace, author of the Bible and the Working Classes.' Glasgow: Scottish Temperance League. AN exquisite biography of a man rescued from the depths of intemperance, continued through forty years. It is worthy of extensive circulation, and is a noble monument to the beneficent effects of temperance. The reverend author has executed the task, evidently a labour of love, in a manner that will secure the eager perusal of the little

work by all into whose hands it may come. The pictures of Scottish villagelife, the drunken habits of shoemakers, the touching incident of Stirling's conversion, and his many labours, are the touches of a master. We wish we had more of this literature for the million. Béranger's Memoirs, written by Himself. London: Hurst and Blackett. 1857. THE story of the poet's early life and struggles is told with great simplicity; and in the appendix the translator has added some information relative to Béranger, with a number of his letters. But this volume is not a sufficient life of the lyric poet of the French people. Like our own Burns, Béranger has indulged in many coarse expressions in his songs, which, as in the case of the former's in Scotland, do not tend to improve the social morality of the people in whose mouths they are familiar as household words.'

2. Philosophical.

The World of Mind. By Isaac Taylor,

London: Jackson and Walford. 1857. THE author of this work is too well known to need eulogium. Any production of his pen is entitled to respect, though it is generally open to criticism. We do not mean to enter into the merits of this valuable treatise, or discuss the themes which it suggests. There are a few remarks on social matters which we quote:

902. When the default of sympathy with genuine griefs, especially with those griefs that spring from the domestic instincts, arises, as we have said, from the brutalising effect of barbarous usages in which, from childhood, we have been accustomed to take part-then, and in every such case, the

Social Institution," by which such usages are sanctioned is itself A CRIME, and it will be germinative of crimes, until a community so deeply plaguesmitten becomes the nuisance of the world.'

Thorndale; or, the Conflict of Opinions. By William Smith, author of Ethelwold,' &c. Edinburgh: Blackwood and Sons.

THIS is a most fascinating work, and suggestive of many thoughts. The style in which it is written is beautiful and lively, though the subjects dealt

with are occasionally of the most abstract kind. The volume is an autobiography, mingled with short essays and reports of conversations, and supplemented with a dissertation, entitled, The Confessions of Faith of an Eclectic and Utopian Philosopher, A.D. 1850.' Charles Thorndale is an interesting character, of fine cultivation and ardent sympathies, encompassed with doubts, yet inquiring. Himself the victim of consumption, he is keenly alive to the diseases in our social system which prey upon the community. The world is a counterpart of himself; but amidst the various Utopian theories propounded, he can find no practicable plan whereby the evils can be removed or remedied.

We desiderate something more certain than this book affords; but its spirit of inquiry must stimulate every reader to think for himself. We regret that we canuot enter more fully into the merits of this valuable production, and conclude by recommending the thoughtful and cultivated among our readers to peruse for themselves a book which, for its fine sentiment, manly thoughts, varied interest, and wholesome speculation has not many equals.

3. Voyages and Travels.

A Two Years' Cruise off Terra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and in the River Plate. A Narrative of Life in the Southern Seas. By W. Parker Snow, late Commander of the mission yacht, Allen Gardiner;' author of Voyage of the Prince Albert' in Search of Sir John Franklin.' 2 vols. London: Longman and Co. AMIDST much that is very interesting, Captain Snow has mixed unnecessary controversy with the missionary society in whose service he was engaged. He might have left out that portion, especially as he threatens another publication on the subject. Captain Snow has given some lively details of nautical experience in the Southern Seas; but he presents no very pleasing picture of the colonial establishment at Stanley. Letters from Cannes and Nice. By Mar

garet Maria Brewster. Edinburgh: Constable and Co.

WRITTEN in a vigorous, healthy style, containing considerable information, and fitted to be a handbook of English residents in these two towns, now so much a resort for invalids and others. This volume is elegantly got up by the publishers.

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The Land of Promise. Notes of a Spring Journey from Beersheba to Jaffa. By Horatius Bonar, D.D. London : Nisbet and Co. 1858. INTERESTING notes, with very full references to Scripture, which the author has taken much pains to elucidate.

4. Social Science.

Punishment and Prevention. By Alex. Thomson, Esq., of Banchory, author of Social Evils,' &c. London: James Nisbet and Co. 1857.

THIS is a most valuable work on social reform. The author is fully informed on the subjecst he discusses, and the counsels he urges on public attention are statesmanlike, philanthropic, and Christian. Prison discipline in all its phases, reformatory efforts—especially the history of the Aberdeen Industrial Feeding Schools-the financial and moral results of strong drink, &c., are treated in a way worthy of the careful consideration of all who are interested in the improvement of the people. It is gratifying to find a landed proprietor occupying his leisure with such philanthropic purposes and work as are embodied in this important volume. Mr. Thomson writes as a scholar, a political economist, a patriot, and a Christian. The Band of Hope Review for 1851-57,

and British Workman for 1855-57. London: Partridge and Co.

WE hail the growing circulation of these excellent and beautiful periodicals. Their moral tone, literary matter, and artistic illustration are all commendable, and cannot fail to do good service to practical and necessary reforms.

English Hearts and English Hands; or, the Railway and the Trenches. By the author of Memorials of Captain Hedley Vicars.' London: Nisbet and Co. 1858.

WHEN earnest Christian sympathy is shown towards the sunken masses, good will result. The lady to whom we are indebted for this work, as well as its highly-popular predecessor, has tried practical philanthropy, and, in the happy transformation of the roughest navvies, realised her reward. Frequent testimonies to the deadly influence of publichouses are given in this work. The authoress sighs for some wise man who will devise and carry through a moral and legislative cure for the drunkenness of the land. The moral is in such labours

bours as her own; and it is a pity that legalised temptations should exist to blight so salutary a work. We trust this volume may induce many to 'go and do likewise.'

Tom Brown's School Days. By an Old Boy. Cambridge: Macmillan and Co. WE are not surprised that this work has become popular. It is just the book for a schoolboy, and will scarcely fail to awaken in him good, noble, and manly purposes. Besides, there breathes throughout it that Christian tone of which the lamented Arnold was so illustrious an expression. The influence of that great and good man as an instructor of youth is by no means exaggerated in the story of Tom Brown. May there be many such masters in our public institutions, who shall send forth youths so well disciplined and imbued with such a spirit as Tom Brown!

5. Miscellaneous.

The Exiles of Italy. By C. G. H., author of The Curate of Linwood.' Edinburgh: Constable and Co. 1857. FEW will peruse this volume without deep feeling. Though in the form of a novel,' the author informs us that it is a strictly authentic history of the period embraced.' It is a record of the sufferings and oppression endured by Italians since the memorable year 1848, when the whole peninsula was in such commotion as led many to hope its national liberty was about to be secured.

It narrates, in a most interesting manner, and often with pathos, the events of that period, and traces the fortunes of some of the most celebrated men around whom the hopes of constitutional liberty for Italy were then entwined. The reader is taken to Naples, and made familiar with the scenes of which that capital was the theatre during May, 1848.

Rome next engages his attention during the period of Pio Nono's feigned constitution and cowardly flight, of the republic and its triumviri, and of the siege by the French. After the impossibility of continuing the unequal strife was too clearly demonstrated, Garibaldi and his brave troops passed out of the city to await on some hospitable shore the dawning of a brighter day. The faithful few had soon to separate for fear of discovery by the Austrians. Garibaldi and his beautiful wife were left alone.

'The gentle spirit was indeed strong, so strong that it sustained the fragile and sinking frame with the power of a quenchless life. Yet though her sweet smile ever answered the anxious gaze so often bent upon her, and her voice spoke only of hope, Garibaldi saw that her strength was failing from day to day, that her cheek became paler, and her form more attenuated.'

They found a resting-place in a wood-cutter's cottage, where Garibaldi watched the sleep of his exhausted wife. He learned from the trusty peasant the fate of some of his compatriots. Next morning

'A murmur was heard in the outer room, and Goffredo's step hastily entering from the porch.

The Austrians are in the valley," he whispered. Anita caught the sound. "They are coming. We shall go together.'

Startled, he bent over her. Her eyes met his with a long gaze of love, then softly closed, and the gentle spirit of Anita Garibaldi was with her God.

But a little time had passed, when Rosetta opened the door.

"Generalissimo! you must fly; the Austrians are at hand."

"I care not!" he exclaimed; "let them take me."

Then, suddenly checking himself, he knelt beside the bed, and clasping Anita passionately in his arms, he kissed her.

"No! my beloved; I will live for our suffering country till God calls me home to thee."

'Then turning to Rosetta and her mother, who stood weeping at the door"Farewell, my friends! God will reward you" and clasping to his bosom the cherished form of his wife, he passed from the cottage door.

A little way down the valley the Austrian bayonets were gleaming in the sunset. He heeded them not, as he strode up the mountain with his burden and when he had reached a green lonely spot, where the dark figtrees threw their shadows on the grass, and the gnoling rocks shut out all human eyes, he stopped. Digging a grave with his sword in the velvet turf, he laid her gently there; and covering her quiet resting-place with grass and flowers, went forth a lonely wanderer on the earth.'