an established institution. It now has, what it was far from having a year ago, a sound practical business basis for a permanent literary organ of the Church; that is, its income, supposing all the subscriptions to be promptly paid, is somewhat more than enough to cover the expenses of printing and publishing. Of course these expenses have to be provided for first; and until they are met, the editorial work, and all the brain-sweat of the concern, has to go unpaid. But this part of the labour cannot be permanently done for nothing. Industry, economy, and self-denial, hard thinking, and plain living, from these we do not shrink, and have not shrunk; but even plain living costs something, and hard thinking has to depend on so vulgar an article as bread-and-butter. As to the business affairs of the CHURCH MONTHLY, these, as our readers may have seen, have lately passed into new hands. We need but add, that we have entire and unfaltering confidence that in those hands they will be managed with energy and skill; and that our subscribers will henceforth find them going all right. For our part, we are heartily glad to have them in the keeping of such a man as Mr. Dunnell. Here the gentleman is, and will speak to our readers for himself: THE PUBLISHER'S PROSPECTUS FOR 1858 Shall be brief. The habit of letting off largely inflated promises, and of blowing high-sounding intentions through the medium of that brassy instrument, " one's own trumpet," has so often preluded the mysterious disappearance of the gas-sustained body in obscuring vapour, or its untimely death from columnar weakness, with only the rattle of its own twisted brass for a requiem, that we shall avoid their course, as we would avoid their fate. Having assumed the business directorship of the AMERICAN CHURCH MONTHLY, we have a threefold interest in its prosperity. 1st, as a churchman, we feel that a liberal, solid, and comprehensive Church organ, conducted with the ability which the MONTHLY has displayed, ought to prosper. 2d, as a business man, we feel that natural anxiety in its well-being that is inseparable from any enterprise with which we are associated. Our 3d interest is one which naturally arises from, and looks for its legitimate return to, pecuniary principle, to capital of time and money invested. A considerable proportion of our subscribers have delayed sending in their subscriptions for the present year. This is attributable to many causes, not the least of which is, perhaps, that they do not know the inconvenience resulting to us from such an oversight. We shall hope to hear from them at once with remittances as well for the coming year as for that which is just completed; and we would urge upon our subscribers to send in their subscriptions as early as possible. In furtherance of the plan hinted at in the editor's Left-hand Drawer, it is our wish to introduce from time to time such embellishments as can be advantageously employed to illustrate letters of travel, biographical history, or other papers that seem by their nature to require such illustrations; and in many other ways to make the MONTHLY more generally desirable, without losing sight of the object for which it was established, and which it has so successfully prosecuted. To do this, however, and meet all the other expenses attending the publication of a work of this kind, it is essential that our resources should be available. It shall be our anxious care to see that the mechanical execution of the MONTHLY be in every way perfect; it shall be promptly issued and carefully mailed, and indeed no pains shall be spared to make it worthy of the name it bears and the interest which it represents. Our friends will find on the back cover all necessary information as to the manner of remitting subscriptions. W. N. D. READERS' EXCHANGE. MR. EDITOR :-In Virgil's description of the banquet given by Dido to Eneas and his followers, we have the following lines: Dant manibus famali lymphas, Cereremque Canistris That is, as usually translated, -Eneid, Lib. I., 701-2. The servants give water for the hands, supply bread from baskets, and hand smooth-shorn towels. All editors hitherto, it is believed, have interpreted the words Cereremque Canistris as referring to bread to be eaten. Davidson (Bohn's edition) translates" gifts of Ceres," but means, doubtless, some article of food prepared from the gifts of Ceres. But is it not quite singular that Virgil," that great master of proprieties" (as he is called by Bishop Pearson "On the Creed"), should make mention of the dispensing of bread just between the furnishing of water and handing of towels? Could it have been the fashion, in the days either of Dido or Virgil, to take bread just after having washed, and before having wiped, the hands? These seem to be serious difficulties in the way of the common interpretation. But it has been suggested, by a learned gentleman, the word Cererem here refers not to bread to be eaten, but to coarse meal (prepared from the "gifts of Ceres") to be rubbed on the hands, thus answering the purpose of soap. Meal is used now by many persons in preference, or in addition, to soap, and might it not well have been so used in the time of Æneas or Virgil? Can you, or any of your learned readers, throw light upon the subject by telling us whether any scholar has publicly sanctioned this interpretation, or give any reason why it is less tenable than the common one? H. H. A NEW ENGLISH DICTIONARY.-The Athenæum sets forth in full detail the plan of a work that promises to be of great interest and importance. It is a new and complete dictionary of the English language, proposals for which have been issued by the Philological Society of England. The work is to be 2 done under the supervision of R. C. Trench, R. T. Furnivale, and Herbert Coleridge; which names, especially the first, is an ample guaranty of excellence. Special committees are formed, whose business it is to look up unregistered words; the less read authors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries having the precedence in the search. A set of rules has been drawn up for the guidance of collectors; the main scope of which rules is, that the words are either to be such as are not in the last editions of Johnson, Todd, or Richardson; or such as these dictionaries adduce no authorities for, or only late authorities; or such as are used in different senses from what are there assigned. Obsolete words are also to be included, and such words as were not fully naturalized when those dictionaries were written. Idiomatic phrases, also, and constructions passed over in the forementioned dictionaries, are to be included. Among the authors to be used, special mention is made of Bishop Andrewes, Roger Ascham, Bacon, Barrow, Burton, Henry More, Fuller, Fenton, Holland, Hackluyt, Pilkington, &c. There is ample room for substantial service to be done in tnis great field of literary labour. We have ourselves had large personal experience of the insufficiency of existing dictionaries, even in ordinary questions of philology. Even Richardson is very apt to fail us where we most need help; though he is commonly full enough where one can get along very well without him. A vast deal has been done, of late years, in particular departments of the field; but it is eminently desirable to have the results of these scattered labours brought together, and digested into a work that shall cover the whole ground, and really serve the purpose of a standard dictionary. We shall look for the work with great interest. THE CHURCH AT HOME. THE DOMESTIC COMMITTEE have set forth, through their Secretary and General Agent, a very eloquent and stirring Advent Appeal to the Clergy and Laity of the Church, urgently requesting that contributions be made for the cause" during Advent if possible, if not as soon after as may be, and certanly by Easter, if not before." The subject is so important, and our space is limited, that we see no way but to condense the paper: That the recent Address of the Board of Missions, though carrying all the weight of the Church's collective missionary interest, has not yet done its work; and the trying times on which we have fallen make the present work of the Committee both delicate and difficult. That the extraordinary efforts for which the Board came to their aid can nowise supersede their stated calls, or regalur sup plies they will need all that both extraordinary and ordinary means can bring, for the wants and clams of the current year. That no thoughtful Christian can survey our missionary field, and range over its surface, and go down into the deep of its mysteries and prospects, and take in its earnest and varied calls, from Maine to California, and from Michigan to Texas, from Iowa and Oregon, from Tennessee and Wisconsin, and look upon our population in its rushing tide and forming state, and upon our towns and cities, States and territories, moulding and preparing for their solemn destiny; and not feel that we have a great work to do for GoD and His Church. That with every year the works grows upon them, and, with appaling speed, outstrips their feeble efforts. That they have for once passed the sum of $50,000; and ought never, for the last ten years, to have come short of it; and for the next ten they should aim at not less than $100,000 a year. That this year they need not less than $60,000; and, without it, they must retrench, retreat, and lie down helplessly, in debt and despondency; an issue which they cannot for a moment think of. As to ways and means, the Appeal runs thus: "Let more individuals give liberally, as some have given the last year, and it will help to do it. Let the remaining half of our parishes come up to the work this year, and all do something, and the work is done. Let every watchman on the walls blow with a certain sound the trumpet-call, and the people will hear it, and obey. We invoke more interest, more energy, more spirit, more life, more love, from both ministers and people, than we ever yet have known. If only onehalf of our parishes, so imperfectly drawn out, could raise last year over $50,000, what might they all raise now, if roused, united, and drawn out, in one determined and successful effort." Mr. T. N. Stanford has resigned the office of Treasurer of the Domestic Committee, and has been succeeded by Isaac Seymour, Esq., Cashier of the Bank of North America, 44 Wall-street, New York; to which place remittances for Domestic Missions should be sent. THE RT. REV. the Provisional Bishop of New York has put forth, under date of Oct. 5th, 1857, a brief but forcible appeal to his Clergy in behalf of the unpaid missionaries of the Diocese. The thing is timely, is called for, and will doubtlessly be responded to at once in a suitable manner. We will do what we can towards making it known: DEAR BRETHREN: At the close of the late session of the Convention of the Diocese, I reminded the Clergy and Laity present of the need of over $2,000 to meet the payments due to the Missionaries on the first day of October, just now passed. I requested the Clergy to procure and send in to the Treasurer at once, a small amount, say one per cent. on their salaries, with the understanding that it was not to take the place of the contributions expected from them during this Conventional year, but was to be a special addition thereto. When I thus referred to the subject, many of the Clergy and Laity had returned to their homes, and I therefore forward the same request to them in this form. The sums requir ed are small: they are very much needed, and I indulge the hope that they will be promptly and cheerfully contributed. THE DEATH of the Rev. W. W. Bours, at Jacksonville, Florida, is a memorable event in the Church anuals of the past year. Sometime in September, he went North, to join his family, and to get recruited for the Winter's work. He had been there hardly a week, when he heard that a malignant fever had broken out in Jacksonville. He thereupon hastened back with all possible speed; arrived before any of his own flock had fallen; laboured incessantly among all the sick; was at last seized by the devourer; and died with that peace which cannot be taken away from such spirits as his. The example of such Christian heroism is eloquent indeed! Mr. Bours went to Jacksonville about three years ago, and became Rector of St. John's church. He was then a Deacon, but was admitted to the Priesthood some six months after. OF THE ALUMNI of Hobart College, 41, says the Gospel Messenger, have taken orders in the Church, and of these, 35 are believed to be now living, and at work in their holy calling. Of the twenty-one candidates for holy orders, reported by Bishop De Lancey to the last Convention of his Diocese, eleven are graduates of this College. Of the seven candidates admitted by him during the last year, six received the honours of the College at the last Commencement. The two deacons reported by him as advanced to the priest hood, are both graduates of the College. One Alumnus is a candidate in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. A MISSION CHAPEL is to be erected in Cleveland, Ohio, with buildings attached as a home for the sick and friendless. The chapel is to be in the "early pointed" style, and is to have sittings for 150 people. The whole cost to be borne by the Rev. James A. Bolles, D.D., Rector of Trinity church! The race of great and noble souls is not run out yet. A PARISH SCHOOL has been established in connection with the House of Prayer, Newark, New Jersey. Suitable premises having been obtained, on a site near the church, they were lately taken possession of in due form, and publicly opened as a parish school, with appropriate religious ceremonies. The Rev. Mr. Shackleford, the Rector of the parish, is at the bottom of this good work, and, we suppose, at the top of it too. Success to him, and to it! NASHOTAH seems to be in a state of remarkable thrift. It deserves, as well as needs, all the help and encouragement that can be obtained. The Banner of the Cross, for Oct. 29th, publishes the following paragraphs from a letter respecting the institution : The Annual Term of Nashotah Home opened on the first of October. Everything has gone on since in a most happy and encouraging manner. The number of students is not as large as it would have been if the financial condition of the country had continued prosperous. We have forty young men preparing for the Holy Ministry, of whom eighteen are candidates for Holy Orders. Seven more students would have been, but for the cause above named. One of them, for example, by earning ten dollars per week, brings to his father and mother, brothers and sisters, the only money used for their subsistence. Six clergymen constitute the Faculty for the instruction of the students. All the teachers and the taught are constantly employed in the great work of preparation for the Holy Ministry. Never has Nashotah been better situated for doing good. Her interior life has never been more under the hallowed influences of the Spirit of God. Her exterior missionary life and power have never been more extensive or reached so large a population. Nashotah is, as ever, dependent upon the alms and offerings of the Church. In the most prosperous times this dependence is not free from anxiety and care, but now it causes no little concern for the future. A little from every one interested in her welfare-a little-a mite if it can be spared by each one of Nashotah's friends, would be of great service. THE REV. MR. BRECK and his associates have reorganized their work, notwithstanding their late discouragement. It is not to be doubted that the heart of the Church will go with them, her hand sustain them. The nature of this undertaking appears by a letter published in the Church Journal, from which we extract the following: We have organized ourselves into an "Associate Mission" for educational and missionary work in both the white and red fields of the Church in Minnesota. The name "St. Columba Mission" will continue to designate our field of labor, and embrace within it the Association of Clergy, who shall be missionaries under it. The "St. Columba Mission" is also the style of a charter, by which it is legally capacitated to received and hold all manner of property devoted to the interests of Religion and learning embraced by it. Its institution for educational purposes will be located at Faribault, which is the centre of the vast tract of Daco tah land recently ceded to the United States by the Sioux Indians. Faribaul is already a town of about two thousand inhabitants, and is the geographical centre of a rich agricultural district, which is rapidly settling with an enterprising people. This mission will embrace a circuit of 30 to 50 miles, |