and which are imperfectly appreciated by continental critics, and also furnishes copious citations from the leading English authorities arranged under the most important topics. While we recommend this work as almost a necessity for the beginner, it will be found almost equally indispensable to the more advanced student, for its convenience.

What we miss most in this work is a high degree of critical ability. We naturally expect in the author of such a dictionary, that he would show an independent judgment in the treatment of the several topics, and that he should now and then rise above the mere compiler of other men's thoughts. Even if he professes to do nothing more than give the opinions of others, it is reasonable to expect that he should lend to this exhibition somewhat of the life and interest which are imparted by a sententious presentation, or, that now and then, there might appear a pithy saying or a striking observation. This vocabulary, with all its usefulness, is rarely if ever thus relieved.

ETHICA.*This little work is characterized by some originalities in the development of its plan, as well as some freshness of treatment in the style. It would have been much improved, however, had the author thoroughly studied the history of ethical sciences, as expressed by others, before committing his doctrines to the form of a published treatise.

INTRODUCTORY LESSONS ON MIND.t-This admirable work, by Archbishop Whately, may be recommended for many of the rarest excellencies; not the least of which is, that it performs far more than it promises. As a reading book and a text-book, it is fraught with profit and interest.

THE NEW CIVILIZATION AND THE NEW SPECULATIVE THINKING.— This well written address deserves our notice for its just appreciation of

*Ethica. An Outline of Moral Science, for students and reflecting men. By JOHN H. STINSON. New York: A. B. Kinston, Room 20, Cooper Institute. 1860. 18mo. pp. 104. Price 50 cents.

Introductory Lessons on Mind. By the author of "Easy Lessons on Reasoning," "Lessons on Morals," &c. Boston and Cambridge: James Munroe & Co. 1859. 12mo. pp. 240.

The New Civilization and the New Speculative Thinking. An Address before the Society of the Alumni of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, December 22d, 1859. By EDWIN HARWOOD, M. A., Rector of Trinity Church, New Haven, Conn. Philadelphia: 1859. 8vo. pp. 23.

the movements of our times and the causes to which they are to be ascribed. Its sketches of these movements are strikingly beautiful and startlingly true. The author shows ripe culture, deep thinking, an earnest spirit, and a warm heart. His Christian spirit is catholic and elevated; and he has the good taste and good sense, which is the more admirable for its rareness, of sinking the Churchman in the Christian, as became the theme and the occasion.

TRAVELS.

KRAPF'S TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES IN EASTERN AFRICA.*—The very extended travels which were made by Barth and the members of his party, in Northern Africa, and those which were made by Livingstone, in the south, have given value to all the supplementary researches of other travelers. The name of Dr. Krapf has long been familiar to those who have watched the progress of African discovery. A native of Germany, but sent out by the British Church Missionary Society to the eastern shores of Africa, he has displayed in his residence there the indefatigability of the one nation, and the practical talent of the other. The volume which he has now published, while written in a plain and unostentatious style, presents a clear and interesting record of his experience as a missionary, and of his observations as a traveler in Abys sinia and the neighboring country. There is one subject of peculiar importance discussed by Dr. Krapf,-important in its bearing on the vexatious question as to the sources of the Nile. Mr. Rebmann, his missionary colleague, saw in 1848, and Dr. Krapf in the following year, the high mountain Kilimandjaro, which is situated almost on the equator. Its white top they believed to be covered with snow, and so reported it. But Mr. W. D. Cooley, who has paid much attention to the history of discovery in Africa, has endeavored to controvert their views, and to show that the mountains were not white from snow, but from stones. Dr. Krapf still maintains his original belief, and states his case with great force.

Prefixed to his portion of the volume is a succinct and satisfactory review of the recent travels in Africa, down to May, 1860, (including, therefore, those of Burton and Speke,) which is attributed to Dr. Ravenstein. A neat outline map gives additional value to the book.

* Travels, Researches, and Missionary Labors in Eastern Africa. By Rev. Dr. J. L. KRAPF. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1860. 12mo. Price $1.25.

TAYLOR'S "FIVE YEARS IN CHINA."*-Mr. Taylor's book cannot lay claim to any very high literary merit; but it really does contain a great deal of interesting information about the Chinese people. It is remarkable for the extraordinary minuteness of detail with which the daily life and habits of the people are described. We are told exactly how they live, how they build their houses, what they eat and drink, and wherewithal they clothe themselves;-how they marry, how they bury. Mr. Taylor does not impress us as being a man who could philosophize upon the facts which he records; he does not always read aright the character which is expressed in all this outward life; but he was evidently a quick, and generally accurate observer, and he has given us the narrative of what he did and what he saw, in a book that is really fresh and readable.

The chapter which contains an account of his visit to the camp of the Insurgent army at Chin-kiang-foo, is deeply interesting. Mr. Taylor was an enthusiast in his missionary labors, and volunteered to go and carry copies of the Bible to those rebel soldiers, and to find out how nearly their own religious views approached a true Christianity. The expedition was a perilous one, and it is a wonder that he did not lose his head, either from the vengeance of the Imperial troops, or from the suspicious violence of the Insurgents. He was well received, however, by the highest officer at Chin-kiang-foo, and was himself vastly encouraged by what he saw of the rebellion. We confess that we are not able fully to agree with the high estimate which he has formed of the high religious character of that strange insurrection. But his statements in regard to it are new and valuable, and profoundly interesting.

BIOGRAPHY.

EVERETT'S LIFE OF WASHINGTON.t-Mr. Everett states, in the preface to this new sketch of the life of the Father of his Country, that at the suggestion of Lord Macaulay, the proprietors of the Encyclopædia Britanica applied to him to prepare for them the memoir of

Five Years in China. With some account of the Great Rebellion, and a description of St. Helena. By CHARLES TAYLOR, M. D. (formerly missionary to China,) Corresponding Secretary of the Sunday School Society of the M. E. Church, South. New York: Derby & Jackson. 12mo. pp. 413.

The Life of George Washington. By EDWARD EVERETT. New York: Sheldon & Co. 1860. 12mo. pp. 348. Price $1.

Washington. We are glad to find that the work was intrusted to one of our own countrymen, who is so admirably qualified for the task, and we are pleased to see that he has found the execution of it consistent with his other engagements. Messrs. Sheldon & Co., of New York, have promptly republished the memoir in a volume whose beautiful typography it is a luxury to behold. It is no easy matter to condense the life of a man like Washington within the limits appropriate to an encyclopædia. In the large type of the present broad margined volume it covers about two hundred and fifty pages. Mr. Everett has not attempted to examine any of the original sources of information, for new facts, but making use of the materials to be found in the great national works of Marshall, Sparks, and Irving, he has prepared a memoir which, though extremely concise, is yet, from its polished and scholarly style, one which will be in every way attractive to the general reader. We shall not attempt to follow him as he traces the career of the "greatest of good men and the best of great men." From amorg the many passages which we have marked in our reading, we will allude but briefly to a single one. It is sometimes said that Washington was too grave and dignified; and the wish is expressed that there had been something more genial in his character and manner. It is forgotten that we now receive our impressions respecting him from those who saw and remember him as he was when overwhelmed with the cares and duties of a most responsible office, at a period, too, when the warm blood of youth might be expected to be somewhat cooled by years. Mr. Everett tells us that the habitual circumspection and prudence which marked him during the revolutionary period and afterwards, were "forced upon him by circumstances;" and expresses the opinion that there has been a great mistake on the subject of Washington's temperament, "which was naturally sanguine." He says that the general traits of his character in his early years, his early friendships, his love of adventure, his athletic prowess, when "he wrestled, leaped, ran, threw the bar and ran with the foremost," "have been too much overlooked."

In the appendix is a very valuable and interesting paper by Dr. JAMES JACKSON, the "venerable head of his profession" in Boston, in which he gives a very minute account of "the last sickness of General Washington, and its treatment by the attendant physicians." The disease which cut him down is represented to be a very rare one, now known under the name of acute laryngitis. Dr. Craik, the life-long friend of Washington, has been severely criticised for his treatment of

the case; but Dr. Jackson, after a long and carefully prepared ac. count of it, gives it as his opinion that the treatment was substantially in accordance with the most recent scientific views respecting the management of the disease. There is also in the Appendix a copy of the official inventory of the personal property at Mount Vernon, taken by the sworn appraisers, after the death of Gen. Washington, which includes a catalogue of the books in his library. There is also a copy of the will of Mrs. Washington, which has never before been published.

TREASON OF MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES LEE.-This is a monograph which was prepared for the New York Historical Society, by George H. Moore, Esq., the Librarian, and read before them on Tuesday evening, June 22d, 1858. It presents for the first time positive proof to the world, that Major-General Charles Lee, of the army of the American Revolution, was really a traitor to the cause in which he had drawn his sword. It will be remembered that he was tried before a courtmartial, after the battle of Monmouth, for disobedience of orders; for misbehavior before the enemy; and for disrespect to the Commanderin-Chief; and that the court found him guilty upon all the charges, and suspended him from his command. It now appears that he was more deeply involved in guilt than was supposed. We have here conclusive evidence of his treachery. To those who have read the life of General Lee, by Mr. Sparks, and especially the last published volume of Mr. Bancroft's history of the American Revolution, it will not be at all surprising that this vain, selfish, eccentric, avaricious, soldier of fortune, when he found himself a prisoner in New York, in 1777, the gloomiest period of the Revolution, should be very willing to try his hand at planning for "the reconciliation" of the colonies with the mother country. As might have been expected, so it was. Mr. Moore tells

us:

"While the Continental Congress were denouncing their most solemn vengeance in retaliation for any injury which he (General Lee) might receive at the hands of his captors;-while Washington, forgetting the insults and injuries which had led to his misfortunes, was straining every nerve in his behalf, and urging his requests upon Congress with constant zeal and sympathy;-he was planning, for the enemies of America, the ruin of THE CAUSE!

*The Treason of Charles Lee, Major-General, second in command in the American Army of the Revolution. By GEORGE H. MOORE, Librarian of the New York Historical Society. [Read before the Society on Tuesday evening, June 22d, 1858.] New York: Charles Scribner. 1860. Royal 8vo. pp. 115. With engravings and fac-similes.