cult (as in Æsop's fable) to overrate the immense injury to public health arising in all ways, directly and indirectly, from this obviously avoidable cause, whereas privation kills comparatively few. The deaths by cold were only 45, against 195 in 1855, the difference clearly exhibiting the superior elevation of temperature in 1857.

428 deaths were referred to "poison," properly so called; 2,807 to drowning (exclusive of cases at sea); 1,402 to hanging or suffocation; 605 to wounds; and 5,338 to fractures and contusions from all sorts of mechanical hurts.

Taking the ratio of 17 in 1,000, as what may be called the "healthy standard," it is deplorable to hear that on an average 57,582 persons died in London annually during the five years 1849-53, whereas the deaths should not, at rates of mortality then prevailing in certain districts of England, have exceeded 36,179; consequently 21,403 unnatural deaths took place every year in London. In Liverpool, by the same method, it is found that 6,418 lives were lost in the year 1857, in excess of the deaths at the healthy rates. In Manchester the sickness and mortality are also excessive.

THE MORAL CONDITION OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

THE bulk of people have no conception of the real state of the society in the midst of which they are living, and but for our judicial and police systems, it could not be ascertained. The crimes of the day appear in the columns of the newspapers only in detail, and, therefore, the sum makes but little impression. The deeds of to-day overlay and conceal those of yesterday, and the deeds of to-morrow are not anticipated. To be duly estimated they must be viewed in the aggregate, and hence the value of the Parliamentary Returns by which we are enabled to do this.

In the annual "Judicial Statistics," in the parliamentary volume, recently published, a mass of useful information is afforded. Some of the revelations made by Mr. Samuel Redgrave, in the Criminal Registrar, are astounding, and compilation must have been a work of great labour. The number of the criminal classes at large amount to 134,922 in England and Wales. These live by the plunder and vices of the community; to-day in wasteful extra. vagance, to-morrow in want. Each spends less than £25 yearly, though

they cost the public double that sum. This amounts to £7,746,100, which, added to the charges for the expense of offenders in gaol, shows the criminal classes entail an annual expense upon the community of not less than £10,000,000! The constabulary force in England and Wales consists of 20,256 persons, which is an increase on the preceding year. The total cost of such police last year was £1,447,019 3s. 7d. There are 138 detective officers. In September last, the criminal classes numbered 160,346, and of that number 134,922 were at large. Of the criminal classes mentioned in September there were 101,657 males and 58,689 females. The youth of both sexes form a large proportion, being 18,807 or 13.9 per cent. There are 3,122 houses of receivers of stolen goods, 2,402 publichouses, the resort of thieves and prostitutes, and other houses of a similar kind, numbering in the whole 7,096. There are 7,915 brothels and houses of ill-fame, and 6,987 tramps' lodginghouses, making 15,120 houses of bad character. The number of felonies committed in the year ending September last was 57,868. In the same period, 30,458 persons were apprehended. Last year there were 85,472 persons charged with drunkenness, and of that number 51,861 were convicted. The assaults committed were 83,086 in number, and of these 49,873 were convicted. A larger number of offences were dealt with summarily under the Criminal Justices' Act and Juvenile Offenders' Act. Proceedings were adopted against 24,636 common women, and the number at large was 28,760. There were in the year 1858 as many as 260,290 summary convictions. Last year there were 19,846 coroners' inquests, being a decrease on the preceding year, when the number was 20,157. costs of the inquests last year were £58,973 11s. 9d., or on an average of £2 19s. 5d. each inquest. Last year 13,246 persons were sentenced, and of that number 53 were capital convictions. The number executed was 11, in each case for murder; they were all males, and four of them foreigners, making in the last three years eight foreigners out of 40 persons executed.

The

Now, these few figures present a most appalling spectacle. Who can comprehend the misery caused and endured by the classes here specified? What & field for Christian philanthropy!

ISLAND OF ERROMANGA. ERROMANGA is the island on which the English missionary, John Williams, suffered martyrdom. Undaunted by his tragical fate, another missionary is at work among the same savage people. From a letter which he writes we make a few extracts:

"Dillon's Bay, Erromanga,

"March 22, 1859. "As this island has become of classic interest to many Englishmen, by having been the scene of the martyrdom of a distinguished English philanthropist, I have no doubt that some of your readers will accept a brief statement of the present condition of its inhabitants from a missionary who has been nearly two years labouring among them. Some noble efforts were made for the conversion of this island to Christianity several years ago, but by reason of the unhealthiness of the climate, native teachers from the Eastern islands could not remain long on it at one time, and when we arrived we consequently found it destitute of teachers, and many of the natives engaged in war, in which, for the most part, they are still engaged; even while I am writing, they are assembling around us for war, with their faces painted red and black-horriblelooking wretches. They use caves for forts, and some of them build fortifications, by which their wars are prolonged. When we first landed on the island we succeeded in collecting ten of them for instruction on the Sabbath day, and now ten times ten. But these, I am sorry to say, have not yet abandoned heathenism, with the exception, perhaps, of two or three young men, who are beginning to see that they have inherited lies,' for they still worship their own gods, and ask us to pay them for making narot (worship) for us.

We

also hope that a few interesting women are beginning to appreciate the Gospel, for they come to hear it preached, although some of them have been cruelly beaten by their brutish husbands for coming into our school-house. They frequently commit suicide. The chiefs are the most opposed to the Gospel, because they now perceive that if it prevail, it will divest them of their priestly offices, and of some of their wives. Some of them have twenty.

"Like all other heathen nations, the

natives of this island have traditions derived from the primeval families of the earth. They believe that one creator (Nobu) created all things visible and invisible, and by his mighty power upholds all things-even the stars from falling. They however exclude him from ruling over human affairs, by the deification of their deceased patriarchs, whom they exalt to this office, while they give them the character of demons. There seems here to be the confounding of the primeval knowledge of evil spirits. with that of the spirits of their deceased chieftains. They have a tradition of the flood which connects the agency of Nobu with the drying up of the waters. They practise circumcision on this and the neighbouring island, and when foreigners ask them why they hold this rite, they simply reply, Nobu, the creator, gave us this rite,' which is namon (secret). They have no carved idols, excepting some ring-formed stones, which are held in great veneration, not only as idols but also as relics of antiquity. They believe that the gods gave them to their progenitors. No one supposes that they were ever made by man. It is probable that their forefathers brought them with them when they migrated here.

"The natives who surrounded Captain Cook when he discovered this island, understood quite well the meaning of the green branch which he held in his hand, and when they saw the new floating world in which he came, they said,

This is Nobu;' and to this day they call all foreigners by this name who have wisdom to make and govern ships.

"We have had again very recently another dreadful massacre of foreigners on this dark island, which calls vividly to remembrance the martyrdom of Williams and Harris. A few mornings ago, a host of infuriated savages rushed on one of the foreign establishments and killed seven foreigners, three of whom were Europeans. Others have been wounded, and two more since have been killed and eaten, quite near to us. I, however, travel among them, and spend nights with them where these deeds are perpetrated, not of course without danger, from which God is our shield. I have just put a party of fighting men to flight by a few words from the Book.".

IT is curious to see how Protestantism is panting after conformity to Popish usages. In addition to the red and the black ink employed in the title-page of this book, it is stamped with the impress of the Cross. We do not like this: it seems to savour of a spirit which bodes no good to the churches of our times. The Cross on the breast, the Cross on the Bible, the Cross on the book-marker, the Cross on the mantelpiece, the Cross on the pulpit, the Cross on the gable, the Cross everywhere-is now the rage of a portion of the Protestant world! The Cross easily passes into the Crucifix; let men mark that! Going this length they will by-and-by go farther; and there will be no stopping till we reach the "Flaminian Gate," and find ourselves safely ensconced in the Vatican! We may leave the Crucifix to those who know nothing of the true doctrine of the Cross, on which the Son of God expired in atoning for the sins of men! That doctrine is most ably set forth in the valuable discourse or dissertation of Mr. Mellor, who is always at home when descanting on this incomparable theme. We cannot desire a better dissertation; and the appendix, in reply to the Unitarian minister at Leeds, is in itself a considerable as well as a very valuable publication. volume, taken as a whole, is worthy to constitute a species of manual on the atonement. It is a complete digest of this great and paramount subject, presenting, within the smallest compass, all the main points of the great question. Mr. Mellor has performed a service for which he is entitled to special thanks.

The

The Church Distinguished; or, the Christian Community in its Relation to the World. By CALEB WEBB. London: Houlston and Wright.

MK. WEBB is a thoughtful man, and he has here supplied a large amount of thinking. An air of originality rests on the volume, which is fitted to fix the reader's attention on lessons of the highest moment. The grand idea of the distinctive character of the church from the world is successfully elaborated. The earthward spirit of the times, and the special danger of the church from her readiness to mingle with the world, are clearly set forth. To keep free from this is the great difficulty, as it ought to be the daily pursuit both of individuals and fellowships. Making the usual allowance for occasional difference of judgment, we entertain a very high opinion of the book.

The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser. In Five Volumes. Vol. V. Edinburgh: Nichol. London: Nisbet.

We have now reached the close of this great undertaking, for such it is. Five volumes of such letter-press and getting-up imply an

outlay of capital which few publishers would feel disposed to hazard. Mr. Nichol, however, has dared the danger, and we trust the public favour, which he has so richly merited, will bring him safely through.

Manliness: Hints to Young Men. By JOHN BROOKE. London: Blackwood.

THE avowed object of this very racy publication is to expose some of the follies which too extensively abound amongst young men, -to point out the true principles of a manly character, and encourage young men to be virtuous, independent, grave, and energetic; in a word, to cultivate in them the spirit of an exalted manhood. The publication is greatly to our taste. Notwithstanding its brevity, it is the result of much thinking, much reading, and much pains-taking. We should be at some loss to point to any publication of about one hundred pages comprising so much masculine thought and excellent matter. could wish a copy of it to be in the hands of every young man in the empire.

We

Gleanings from Gospel Story; or, New Testament Narratives explained and illustrated. London: Knight and Son.

WE have here twelve clever, instructive, and edifying essays on some of the more remarkable portions of the Sacred Volume, which will be read with interest by the Christian public generally. The illustrations of the volume are elegant and appropriate.

My Evenings; or, the Story of Ann Ellison's Life. London: Knight and Son.

THE Editor suggests that the history of Ann Ellison and her evenings may be instructive to both rich and poor, and we quite concur in the assumption. The pretty book is full of life, and such life as is lived by the millions, blending much enjoyment with much endurance. We have not, for a long time, met with a volume of its magnitude comprising so large an amount of fact and incident, stirring scenes, and touching lessons. Whether in the cottage or the mansion, it will be sure to find readers; and if we mistake not, all who begin will go through with it.

The Missing Link; or, Bible Women in the Homes of the London Poor. By L. N. R. London: Nisbet and Co.

WE are very glad to meet with another publication from the accomplished, although anonymous, author of the present work, which is a collection of truthful thoughts of acknowledged interest, which have been scattered through the pages of the "Book and its Mission." A summary of this, it seems, has been frequently asked for. They are here carefully classified, with a view to render the book still more instructive, captivating, and useful. We have here twenty-two chapters teeming with matter much fitted to enlist the sympathies of Christian philanthropy, The

book is a storehouse of facts intimately related to human nature, which all classes accustomed to read anything will read with pleasure and with profit.

The Camp and the Sanctuary. A Memoir of Thomas Haskar, formerly of the 1st Dragoon Guards. By JAMES EVERETT. London: Hamilton and Co.

THOMAS HASKAR is quite a hero of the humble class-a man of deep native sagacity, and of high moral courage. The facts of his adventures and perilous life are numerous, and many of them very exciting. It supplies abundant material for an animated and amusing narrative, and in the hands of Mr. Everett the public will take it for granted that they have lost nothing. That gifted writer has performed his part with his usual tact, grace, and ability. We have read the book with no ordinary pleasure.

The Precious Things of God. By OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, D.D. London: Nisbet and Co. THIS volume is characteristic, bespeaking that deep piety, tender spirit, and contemplative habit, which are more or less impressed on all the writings of Dr. Winslow. As a thinking man, he has eminently the gift of awakening thought in others. Where all is excellent, to determine the shades of difference or superiority may be difficult. Let it suffice to say, however, that if the present be not the best of his productions, it is at least equal to the bulk of them. Simple, evangelical, and deeply experimental, it is much calculated to promote the spirit of true devotion.

Joseph. A Poem. By SHARON. London: Ward and Co.

THE present volume will be read with much interest by young people, and by the peasantry of the land. The verse is constructed on one of the favourite theories of versification with Robert Burns; the first line always presents two words the one rhyming with the other,

as :

"To justice hand the prison band." The volume is full of capital reading, and worth adding to the village library. . Garner's Dialogues. London: Day. THIS is the most racy, spicy publication that has come before us for a long time. Every page is a poniard, and the aggregate, 174, is an avalanche under which the hapless, presumptuous Vicar of Brent is overwhelmed to rise no more! A more cutting exposure of clerical bigotry does not exist in the English tongue. It is not surpassed by Macgowan and Isaac. It is worthy of the Rev. W. Thorn himself in his best moods. It is a storehouse of facts, points, and exposures, the perusal of which will leave behind it an impression which will not be soon effaced.

Custom without Truth is Antiquated Error. By a CHRISTIAN LAYMAN. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

WE know not who is the author of the present

volume, but it displays a mind of superior power, and highly cultivated. It is entitled to the perusal alike of Churchmen and Dissenters, since there is much in it calculated to instruct, correct, and benefit both.

Day Dawn in Africa; or, Progress of the Protestant Episcopal Missions at Cape Palmas, West Africa. By Mrs. Anna M. SCOTT.

THIS is another of the series of valuable publications concerning Africa with which the Christian public have been furnished, of late years. The narrative is very copious and comprehensive, embodying a multitude of facts concerning African society, customs, habits, and actions. While beautifully written, it is also richly illustrated, and is altogether not merely a readable but a captivating volume. Christian Duties and Cautions relating to the

Holy State of Matrimony. By WILLIAM COE, Jun. London: Hall, Virtue, and Co. THIS is in some respects a remarkable publication. The author is a solicitor, whose health has interdicted his entering on practice; and therefore, in order to promote the welfare of his fellow-men, and the honour of the Master he knows and loves, he betook himself to the preparation of this copious volume of nearly five hundred pages, touching on a series of points, all of vital importance in the domestic constitution, and intimately connected with the best interests of society. Did space permit, we would extract scores of passages of rare worth; but it must suffice to say that the book, in point of matter, is well digested; in point of style, well written; and pervaded by a thoroughly Christian spirit. Since the days of Baxter and his brethren we have seen nothing of its class to be compared with it.

quantities. The writer thoroughly understands the abomination of Popery, and is deeply alive to the importance of the maintenance of our Protestant principles.

Village Poems. By R. S. R. London : Partridge.

We know not why the present volume is so designated, for it is not less suited to towns and cities than to villages and hamlets. It comprises a body of verse abounding in excellent sentiment, and pervaded by sound principles.

Light in Life's Shadows; or, Hymns for the Sorrowing. London: J. Haddon.

THIS is a book of consolation, which the afflicted portion of God's people will find a valuable companion to the Bible. The selection is excellent, and it is beautifully printed. Shall I follow Christ? By the Rev. J. KENNEDY, M.A. London: Book Society. THIS most valuable sermon is the 186th Mayday lecture, delivered to young people at Stepney Meeting by its present excellent pastor. The discourse is eminently fitted to subserve the interests of the present spiritual movement going on in these realms. It overflows with Gospel, clearly stated, and vigorously enforced." We desire for it a circulation

in hundreds of thousands!

India and Christian Missions. By the Rev. E. STORROW. London: Snow.

THOSE Who remember the masterly speech of

Mr. Storrow, delivered at the last Annual Meeting of the London Missionary Society, need not be told how thoroughly that gentleman is conversant with the subject of which he here treats. In fact, the speech exhausted the question, if not in its details, at least in its principles. Now, this golden volume is just the speech amplified into six noble chapters, expatiating on the people, the obstacles, the agencies, the results, the prospects, and the duties. The book, like the Society which the author so ably and honourably represents, is thoroughly catholic, and, therefore, adapted for circulation in every Evangelical community throughout the land.

The Pitcher and the Fountain. By the Rev. J. GRAHAM, London: Thickbroom. THIS is an exceedingly valuable discourse on one of the greatest themes of inspiration-the promises. Their origin, character, and design are ably and eloquently set forth, while the appendix supplies a valuable selection of Scriptures, all bearing on the theme of the volume.

Tales of the Martyrs of the First Two Centuries. By the Rev. B. H. COWPER. London: Book Society.

THIS most spirit-stirring book is alike suited to instruct the young and edify the old. It appeals alike to the judgment and the heart, holding up the mirror of martyrdom to the professing church in a manner well calculated to strengthen weak hands and encourage heavy hearts.

HOME

THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS FUND IN AID OF AGED OR AFFLICTED MINISTERS.-The Second Annual Meeting of the Trustees and Managers of this Fund was held on Monday, the 9th of May last, in the Congregational Mr. Joseph East, the treasurer, Library. was in the chair. The balance-sheet for the past year was read, and has been subsequently audited, by auditors then appointed. following grants to aged or infirm ministers were made, the initials of the grantees, and the amount given to each being appended, to be published in the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, in accordance with the requirement of the Trust Deed. On the motion of the Rev. James Parsons, seconded by Mr. James Spicer, the cordial thanks of the meeting were voted to the Rev. George Smith, for his gratuitous services as secretary to the Fund.

The

The payments on behalf of the Deferred Annuities, during the year, amounted to £113 19s. 1d., which, added to the following

J.

GEORGE SMITH, Hon. Sec.