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ARTICLE XII.-RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

I.-The Resources of Estates: Being a Treatise on the Agricultural Improvement and General Management of Landed Property. By JOHN LOCKHART MORTON. Royal 8vo, pp. 637, with 24 Plates. London: Longmans. 1858.

MR MORTON'S goodly volume is mainly designed for the instruction of owners of lands and tenant-farmers. We trust, however, it will get the attention of other, and, perhaps, more influential classes. At a time when so much unrest prevails in our monetary system, it is pleasant to discover that capitalists have modes of investment opened up to them, even "safer than the bank," and by which they may add very greatly both to their own usefulness, and to the comfort and elevation of that large class who "eat their bread in the sweat of their face." The work will also be found suggestive by those who are labouring for the moral and social improvement of our hard working peasantry-claiming for them a fair remuneration for their work, comfortable housing, a system of education equal to the necessities of the population, the removal of the "navvy hut" and "Scotch bothy," and the abolition of those fruitful sources of temptation, degradation, and crime-the game-laws. The attention devoted to these and kindred topics, in former numbers of this Journal, will be in the memory of many of our readers. We are glad to notice, that hints, thrown out in the articles referred to, have helped forward the influential, though comparatively recent movement towards a thoroughly scientific system of tillage, and towards the general management of land in a way most profitable both to landlord and tenant, and most conducive also to the moral health and material comfort of the labourer and his family.

In a work, intended to become a hand-book of industry, Mr Morton has wisely avoided the introduction and discussion of abstract questions concerning the rights of property, and has dealt chiefly with those which immediately relate to its duties.

He states, in the outset, that there is a very large extent of cultivable land in Britain which has never been touched by spade or plough; and shows, that what is at present under cultivation, might be greatly enriched and its fertility much increased. But several things are required in order to this. Theoretical knowledge and practical skill must be united in cultivators. When this union does not obtain, the merely practical man, ever jealous of new plans, will continue to do as his fathers have done, and remain unwilling even to harbour the thought, that the ways of a more intelligent and enterprising neighbour are better than his own. The theorist, again, will praise chemistry and geology, as supplying the grand "open sesame," by which he, as a privileged one, is sure to be admitted to the treasures hid in the soil-treasures which never reveal themselves to the men whose minds run in ruts. But, when united, theory keeps

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up the spirit of enterprise, and ever has fresh thoughts waiting on work; while practice modifies theory at one point and another, and keeps it from becoming proudly self-reliant.

If Mr Morton's well expressed and common sense views on this subject are to become influential, there must be a great alteration in the mode of educating the children of farmers. Notwithstanding very many exceptions, a somewhat large acquaintance with different classes of farmers, both in England and Scotland, warrants us to affirm, that, taken as a whole, there is really less enterprise, less devotion to the higher aspects of moral purpose in dealing with their servants, and less high-spirited enterprise in their own work, than can be found in any other industrial profession. Account for it as we may, there is little doubt but that the men who manufacture the implements of husbandry-whose applied skill has done so much for agriculture, are more knowing, more enterprising, more useful in social and religious matters, and found more companionable by educated men, than the common run of farmers. We rejoice that this reproach is being gradually wiped away; and we know of no work so well-fitted to be helpful to this, as that now under review. We should like to see it on the parlour-tables of all our large farmers, as well as in the hands of owners of estates. It is characterised by much fine feeling, correct literary taste, and abundance of reliable information on all the topics discussed.

To our author's value for farm leases, as calculated to encourage men of capital and enterprise to throw their energies into their profession, we would add another element. The year by year, tenantat-will system, not only cramps the spirit of industry and enterprise, it also degrades the tenant in his political relationships. The knowledge that landlords do set something by their political influence as fitted to open up ways for the advancement of family and of relative interests, is calculated, notwithstanding the denial of pure patriots, to bias, it may be unconsciously, the minds of tenants, and to lead them to vote as their landlords do. We could point out extensive estates, in which tenants have never been known to poll against their landlords, even though the owner's political creed may have been changed more than once in their lifetime, by the sale of the property, or on the accession of the eldest son! Now, we do not regard this as adverse to free institutions only, but as even more injurious to the religious principles and to the whole moral tone of those thus influenced. If once a man allow a superior to dictate to him on political matters, he is not far from allowing him to interfere with his religious liberty. The economical and industrial disadvantages of the year by year system of leases are forcibly stated by the author at pp. 152, 153.

Mr Morton's estimate of the game-laws is judicious, and free from all that extravagance of statement, which is apt to become associated with this singularly irritating question.

Valuable information is given on accommodation in farm-steadings, on drainage, fence-making, on the choice of servants, etc. The chapter on "The Soil" affords good illustration of Mr Morton's accomplishments as a scientific agriculturist. We have read, with much

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interest, the geological sketch of soils. The results of natural, and of scientific chemical action on the soil, are well put. The section devoted to "Double Silicates," sets Mr Way's theories in new lights; and the remarks on the influence of rain-water, sunshine, etc., are both graphic and instructive.

We have said that our author does not deal with debateable questions. He rather avoids them, even though they turn up at every point at which purely industrial pursuits come to have direct moral and social bearings. He not unfrequently, however, puts the former in such lights before us, as to suggest the latter, as, for example, when he discusses the question of "the Extent of Farms." We should have liked had he given as free scope to his large sympathies in dealing with them, as he has done in connection with Croftings, and told us what he considers the influences of the large-farm system to be on the community. In looking at this work, we have not even indicated a fourth of the interesting matters which, with great ability, are discussed in it. We have only glanced at such points as might be most interesting to general readers; and we leave the volume, very heartily commending it to all whom it may concern.

II.-Hermeneutical Manual: or, Introduction to the Exegetical Study of the Scriptures of the New Testament. By PATRICK FAIRBAIRN, D.D., Principal and Professor of Divinity in the Free Church College, Glasgow. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1858, pp. 480.

AMONG the distinguished cultivators of Biblical literature both in this country and in America, Dr Fairbairn deservedly occupies a high position. The work at the head of this notice is his latest contribution to Scriptural studies, and his first direct application to New Testament criticism. It was with some regret, however, and also apprehension that we saw this work announced; regret at the author's even temporary abandonment of the field wherein he had already so successfully laboured, and with a prospect of materially advancing our acquaintance with the Old Testament, the study of which is so much overlooked; and apprehension lest he should be thus entering on a department with regard to which, judging from the direction of his previous studies, he must be indebted more to the testimony of others than to his own direct investigations. It is only by division of labour, and a sedulous cultivation of special, and even minute subjects, that any valuable contributions will be made to the higher literature of the Bible. A careful perusal of the work has removed much of our misgiving, though we are still convinced, notwithstanding the proofs here given to us of the versatility of the author, that this will not, as an original work, take rank with any of his previous productions. But while there is not much that is strictly original, as regards either the interpretation of particular passages, or the exposition of the principles, yet there are, it is fully conceded, many new and striking thoughts, particularly where the author traces the connection between the two parts of the inspired volume, a subject for which his previous labours pecu

liarly qualified him. His success, in this and other particulars-a matter to which we shall presently revert-we regard as confirmatory of one of our most strongly cherished convictions, that the critical study of the Old Testament is the best preparation for, and, therefore, should, in all theological arrangements precede, that of the New, if the latter is to be successfully prosecuted.

This volume is about equally divided into three parts; the first only of which treats directly of the principles of Hermeneutics, the remaining space being devoted to "Dissertations on particular subjects connected with the Exegesis of the New Testament," and "The use made of Old Testament Scripture in the writings of the New Testament." Our estimate of the work will greatly depend on the circumstance of its being viewed strictly as a treatise on Hermeneutics, or as partaking of a more miscellaneous character. As a collection of disquisitions on New Testament topics, we attach to it a high value; but in any other light, the plan on which it is constructed must be pronounced decidedly faulty; for, in no circumstances can we approve of an arrangement which reduces to something like a prefatory chapter what ought to constitute the bulk of the volume. The miscellaneous dissertations are no doubt important, and are for the most part handled in a masterly manner, but they have no more relation to the main subject than many others which might be named. We have, indeed, been particularly pleased with the discussions on the term saw, and on the import and use of diaben, especially in relation to Heb. ix. 15-17 (p. 314), as also with the remarks on the terms indicative of the nature and extent of the renovation to be accomplished through the Gospel (pp. 318-33). The subject of Part III. is also of great importance and of acknowledged difficulty; but as it has been already partly considered in the later editions of the "Typology" (Appendix vol. i.), and belongs perhaps more to the interpretation of the Old Testament than to that of the New, we feel that along with the whole, or at least the majority of the "Dissertations," it might, without serious inconvenience, be omitted, and thus a place would be found for matters more closely related to the primary object of the work. Among other desiderata, we could have wished to find, in a "Manual of Hermeneutics," a brief history of interpretation, an enumeration and estimate of the more important exegetical helps, and other subjects which might be specified. The literature of the science, in particular, scarcely occupies that place in the volume which its importance merits; and although the occasional references to, and estimate of, authorities are usually correct and judicious, yet we meet with a few, though not serious, mistakes; as for instance the mention of Robert Stephens among those who contended for the absolute purity of the Greek of the New Testament (p. 13), whereas it should be Henry Stephens (Preface to Greek Testament, A.D. 1576); nor is it correct to represent him as contending for the absolute purity, for he held much the same views as Beza; the first proper representative of the Purists being Sebast. Pfochen, 1629.

In selecting, however, from the multiplicity of subjects, such as should have a place in a work like the present, there will of course

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be diversity of opinion, as also in determining the relative importance of those that have been selected; and although we think Dr Fairbairn errs here, too, on the side of brevity, yet he has succeeded in conveying much valuable information in a very limited compass, often by a single happy remark placing the matter in a light which at once commends his proposed interpretation, or obviates some formidable objection. Several of his remarks on the Parables are of this character; particularly the answer to an objection from the father's reception of the prodigal son as to the need of an atonement. "It is not as a father, but as a righteous governor, that God requires an atonement for the guilty" (p. 165). In tracing out the great principles of revelation, and establishing the connection, as well in words as in ideas, between different portions of Scripture, especially between the Old and the New Testaments, the author is particularly successful. This is a characteristic feature of the work, giving, in many instances, freshness to the illustrations, and force to the reasoning; and, as an aid to interpretation, it is found to be of great service in connection with such texts as Heb. x. 22, and Romans xii. 1. The portion of the work specially devoted to this subject (pp. 109-36) is of high value; and we exceedingly regret that from our limited space we cannot refer to it more fully. We would, however, direct particular attention to the rule of interpretation laid down on p. 116. Various examples, too, are furnished throughout the volume, of the manner in which the Old Testament serves to illustrate the sometimes obscurer words and expressions of the New; but which are obscure only and misunderstood by interpreters, when not so viewed. The expression Beornela Ty oupavy, for instance, which Campbell so grossly misinterprets, is shown to "point back to those prophecies of the Old Testament, in which promise was made of a king and kingdom, that should unite heaven and earth in another way than could be done by a merely human administration," etc. (pp. 41-43).

It is indeed, as already remarked, in the elucidation of matters such as these, that Dr Fairbairn is most successful, and this we certainly regard as no mean attainment. His mode of viewing a subject partakes more of a logical than a critical character; and it is in his discussion of subjects which require the exercise and application of a sound judgment rather than the statement of nice philological distinctions, that we have least occasion to dissent from his views. In matters of philology there is sometimes perceptible a want of depth and preciseness. This renders the section devoted to "The Characteristics of New Testament Greek," upon the whole, the least satisfactory in the volume; and yet this is a subject to which, in a treatise on Hermeneutics, the very first place is due. Of more value than any general rules is it to give the student a clear conception of the character and composition of the Hellenic Greek, and to impress on him the necessity of strict attention to the precise import of terms and constructions, for which sometimes, in cases of difficulty and apparent anomaly, a too ready explanation is found in assumed Hebraisms. To this object modern philology has furnished valuable contributions, and it would have greatly added to the value of the work had