brated speakers have first given evidence of their oratorical powers, and developed their debating capabilities. Its meetings are held every Wednesday evening, and frequently the discussions are very ably maintained. None but students of the university of a certain literary rank are admitted as members.

66

Dublin can boast of an 66 Oratorical and Literary Society," and a Legal and Historical Debating Society" also. At a meeting held in connection with the former, some few weeks since, we heard a very excellent paper read, on "Living Essayists," which, if taken as a sample of the capabilities of the members generally, would reflect much credit upon their literary attainments. The Right Hon. Joseph Napier, exLord Chancellor of Ireland, is president of this and of "The College Historical Society." The subjects dealt with at "The Legal and Historical Debating Society" are chiefly on legal topics, and none but members of the bar are admitted to the privileges of membership in it. It is an exceedingly useful preparatory school for the professional man, and, as such, is largely made use of by would-be chancellors, &c.

The "Oratorical Society" meets every Friday, and the "Legal" one every Thursday evening, at eight o'clock, in their rooms, Upper Sackville Street.

We can but name "The Social Enquiry Society," and "The Celtic or Irish Historical and Literary Association," inasmuch as we, until recently, never heard of their existence in our city. Their objects, judging from their titles, are excellent, but their operations are, we anticipate, limited.

Our city boasts a "Mechanics' Institution" also, but the fact of its existence has long since faded away from the minds of the more intelligent citizens. Like almost all other institutions of its kind, it has failed in the objects for which it was founded, and is the lounge of every class but that of the mechanic. If a well-stocked news-room, largely pervaded, as some think, by a religiopolitico atmosphere, and a very miscel

laneous library, entitle a building to the epithet "Institute," certainly that in Lower Abbey Street has earned it well. Its management lately has undergone some improvement, but still needs a touch of Lord John Russell's reforming wand!

"The Young Men's Christian Association" appears among us as a flourishing tree, although but of about a dozen years' growth. It is established on the same basis as that in London, and its operations are carried on by similar agencies. Annually a course of lectures is delivered in connection with the association, which is attended by large numbers of young men especially. Heretofore, the lecturers on these occasions have been all public, well-known, welltried men, and most of their papers have been published. It might form a matter of consideration with the committee, however, whether, in future, it would not add much to the interest felt in these proceedings, if some one or two of the members were selected as lecturers. We know that many of them are quite equal to the duty, and we are certain that some of them would give a much more pleasing and instructive address than many of the public lecturers have done. The experiment might be worth the trial, at any rate. A well-selected library and a comfortable reading-room in Middle Abbey Street form useful adjuncts to the machinery of the association.

Besides the societies which we have named, there are some fourteen or fifteen Young Men's Societies in Dublin, all, with one exception, we believe, connected with some of the congregations in the city. A few days since, that in connection with the Union Chapel, Abbey S reet, which claims to be the oldest of these societies, held its annual meeting in the Metropolitan Hall;-we say "claims," because there seems reason to believe that the statement is not strictly correct, though we cannot ourselves see anything very important in the point. Recently, a course of lectures in connection with this society was delivered

by members only-and we believe all of them were very well attended.

The operations of all these Young Men's Societies are alike, to a great extent. Their meetings are held weekly, and their programmes prepared quarterly. Subjects in literature, science, and religion are brought before the members in the form of essays or debates, and the proceedings are opened and closed with prayer. The pastor of the congregation is president, and the members, from among their own number, elect a secretary and treasurer. The majority of the meetings are well attended, and the papers read at them often very creditable productions. The members, being in general young men engaged in mercantile or commercial houses in the city, do not claim any high position in the literary world, but they feel that connection with such associations aids them in their literary progress and home studies. All these associations are based upon the foundation of Gospel truth, and seek, while improving the mental powers, to develop the moral faculties of their members. Their influence in a city such as Dublin is very great, but would be much more tangible if means were adopted to unite them all in one bond of fellowship and brotherhood,though still pursuing each its independent course. Why should not they be as offshoots from the Christian Association? At present they have no unity of action, and, indeed, almost no community of feeling; and the result naturally is, that their influence is limited towards what it might be. One of these societies, some few years since, endeavoured to amalgamate them all under one common banner, and make them branches of the central Christian Association but, with one or two exceptions, its suggestions were but coldly received. We hope, however, such an amalgamation may yet be carried out.

We mentioned that all these societies but one existed in connection with some

Eustace Street. This society was originally in connection with the Mary's Abbey congregation, but for several years has existed as an independent body. It has not found the election of a president essential to its prosperity, and its management is therefore entirely in the hands of its own members. About fifteen months since prizes were offered for the best essays upon the subject of Competitive Examinations," written by members; and since then two other competitions have taken place, one upon the subject of "The adaptation of the Gospel to the wants and conditions of all men" (a notice of which appeared in this magazine), and the other, only now decided, upon the subject of "The best safeguards for a young man." The adjudicators have spoken very favourably of the papers sent in, and the competition has awakened a great interest in the minds of the members themselves. We are not aware of any other society of the kind which has yet adopted the prize essay scheme.

The Roman Catholics have of late established a young men's society in connection with their own body, which, however, lays no claim to the character of a "literary" association. The fact of their establishment of it, however, shows the benefits resulting from the operations of the various Christian societies in the city. Their influence must have been great, when it was deemed advisable to start a monster rival institution to counteract their hallowing tendencies.

In conclusion, we would say that we regard the existence of so many of those simple young men's societies in our city as one of the most healthy and encouraging signs of our times. We have belonged to one of them for many years, and have experienced great benefits arising, mentally and morally, from our connection with it. Their exercises tend to cultivate a habit of thought, a charity of feeling, and a facility of utterance, which are one and all, now-adays, almost essential to our temporal progress; and they at the same time

recognize to the fullest extent the evanescent character of all mental knowledge, when not based upon that knowledge which appeals to our higher and nobler being. They are shields of protection to their members, if used aright, against many of the snares which beset their daily path in a city such as ours, and ought to receive the support and aid of all who desire to see

LITERARY

James Aikman, bookseller, author of "A History of Scotland," &c., died in Edinburgh on May 21st, aged 81.

Professor John Lizars, editor of "Anatomical Plates," and author of several physiological works, expired at Edinburgh, 21st May.

The French Emperor is emulous of many fames. He is said now to be engaged in composing "A Life of Julius Cæsar." Is this because he was engaged in the invasion of Britain?

S. G. Goodrich, author of 170 works, under the nom de plume of Peter Parley, is dead. He was born in Aug. 1793, and was, therefore, nearly sixty-seven years of age.

Laconics, by Chatham," is to be the title of a work formed out of materials discovered in MSS., in his handwriting, recently.

The first volume of Lamartine's complete works is to be delivered to British subscribers on 1st July.

Webster's "Speller" is reported to have a circulation of a million copies per annum.

Two humourists are to have additional memorials of them published-Hood and Jerrold. The letters of the former, and the Browning Papers of the other, are the works which filial affection is to place before the public.

A new Latin-English Dictionary, by Rev. J. T. White and Rev. J. E. Riddle, in one octavo volume, is expected to be ready for issue in the autumn.

our young men living evidences of the Christian faith, and living examples of Christian character. Their standing in a literary point of view may be far inferior to many of the societies we have named, but in their place and generation they may accomplish quite as much for the advancement of their members.-G. H. S.

NOTES.

John Veitch, Esq., translator of Descartes' "Method" and " Meditations," and sub-editor of the lectures of Sir William Hamilton on Metaphysics and Logic, has been appointed Professor of Logic in the University of St. Andrews, N.B, as successor to the late William Spalding.

Mr. Herzen is compiling a translation of the Bible into popular, instead of ecclesiastical Russ.

"The New Revolution; or, the Napoleonic Policy in Europe," by R. H. Paterson, Esq., editor of the Press, is likely to be a work of much value and insight. His papers on foreign policy in Blackwood, have long borne the marks of intimate knowledge and keen reasoning.

The concluding volume of the late Mrs. Jameson's "Legendary Art," "The Life of Christ and John the Baptist," is to be edited by Lady Eastlake.

Messrs. Routledge have become proprietors of the copyright of "Men of the Time."