name of liberalism, it becomes the more necessary to put them on their guard, lest, embracing the system in its altogetherness,-the evil as well as the good,-they should be alienated both from that love of the truth which ought always, and even severely, to govern their researches and their adoptions, and ultimately, form the truth itself. Is it possible to notice carefully the movements of the school for the last twelve months or so, without seeing not only a tendency to regard orthodox truth as by no means essential, but to regard evangelical truth with unconcealed, and even stronglyexpressed, dislike? Popery and Socinianism are even complimented by the members of this school: evangelism, whether in the Church of England, or among Wesleyans and Dissenters out of it, receives no favour at their hands. The petitions of its adherents are contemptuously disregarded. Of course, they do this under the belief (we are not going to assail their sincerity) that what we call evangelism is enthusiasm, fanaticism, and bigotry. Be it so, that this is their excuse; it is at all events their belief: their religious writings, we therefore again say, require to be examined with the greatest care. As to the volume now before us, we are glad to say that we have read it with much pleasure; and that, with one or two exceptions and guards, we can recommend it as a useful and convincing summary of a vast and most important subject. It is not at all an original work. It is an abridgment, and re-statement in a condensed form, of the arguments of Paley, Archdeacon Lyal, and Soame Jenyns. This collection of several lines of argument in one volume, and the direction of them to their grand conclusion, was a happy idea of Mr. Smyth's, and he has conducted the developement in a masterly manner. It is scarcely possible to read the volume carefully without feeling that the conclusion-Christianity is true— is unanswerably demonstrated. But we are bound to say that Mr. Smyth's philosophy is plainly apparent. Had we not read his Historical Lectures, we should, from this single volume, have been satisfied as to the school to which he belongs. His views of the inspiration of the books of the Old and New Testament, and of the connexion between the two dispensations, are, to say the least, very obscure, and capable of very dangerous application. And there is a most important omission. He states the internal argument, (as it has been distinctively termed,) so far as carried by Soame Jenyns, and so far as himself understands it, with great clearness and power. But of the precise nature of the Gospel, as a divinely-constructed scheme of redemption, referring both to its general procurement, and to its personal application and reception, he appears to have no clear notions whatever. And this is that portion of Christianity in which the light of the divine wisdom shines most clearly and brightly. It is on the mercy-seat, in the holy of holies, that the glory of the divine presence is to be found. The reader must guard against the philosophical tendency too apparent in Mr. Smyth to present the sacred volume in what to us is a lowered point of view; and he must supply the absence of that important portion of the argument which is furnished by the fact, that Christianity offers and imparts a present, spiritual salvation, and that it is by this salvation that man is carried out of the degradations of his nature, and towards its most glorious elevations: let him thus guard, and thus supply, and he will find this volume, as far as it goes, affording one of the most convincing summaries of the Christian evidence that we have read for some time. On some points we think that Mr. Smyth is in error; on others, seriously deficient but we only do him justice in speaking as we have done of what is, as far as it goes, an excellent work. We could not help rising from its perusal with a very melancholy feeling. If such are the evidences of Christianity,-arranged by no Methodistical evangelist, but by one who belongs to the liberal school of the age, -then what are we to say of unbelief? The logical conclusiveness of Mr. Smyth's argument is undeniable; and we cannot help the conviction, that wherever studied honestly, and with a truth-seeking mind, and a truth-loving heart, it is irresistible. Then what are we to say of modern infidelity? The subject is a most melancholy one, and we gladly turn from it. NOTICES OF ANIMATED AND VEGETABLE NATURE, FOR AUGUST, 1845. BY MR. WILLIAM ROGERSON, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. "SOFT roll your incense, herbs, and fruits, and flowers, In mingled clouds to HIM whose sun exalts, Whose breath perfumes you, and whose pencil paints. From world to world, the vital ocean round, On nature write with every beam his praise. The thunder rolls: be hush'd, the prostrate world, Retain the sound; the broad responsive low, Ye valleys, raise; for the great Shepherd reigns." "LET us turn to the contemplation of nature, ever new, ever abundant in inexhaustible variety. Whether we scrutinize the damp recesses of woods in the wintry months, when the numerous tribes of mosses are displaying their minute but highly-interesting struct ure; whether we walk forth in the early spring, when the ruby tints of the hawthorn-bush give the first sign of its approaching vegetation, or, a little after, when the violet welcomes us with its scent, and the primrose with its beauty; whether we contemplate in succession all the profuse treasures of the summer, or the most hidden secrets of nature at the season when fruits and seeds are forming; the most familiar objects, like old friends, will always afford us something to study and to admire in their character, while new discoveries will awaken a train of new ideas. The yellow blossoms of the morning, that fold up their delicate leaves as the day advances; others that court and sustain the full blaze of noon; and the pale, night-scented tribe, which expand and diffuse their very sweet fragrance towards evening, will all please in their turn. "Though spring is the season of hope and novelty, to a naturalist more especially, yet the wise provisions and abundant resources of nature in the close of the year will yield an observing mind no less pleasure than the rich variety of her autumnal tints affords to the admirers of her external charms. The more we study the works of the Creator, the more wisdom, beauty, and harmony become manifest, even to our limited apprehensions: and while we admire, it is impossible not to adore."-Sir J. E. Smith's Introduction to Botany. The first half of the month.-The harvest and field mouse, at this time, have litters of young in their nests; and the shrew-mouse is often found dead. The natterjack and toad utter their loud cries, while the frog takes shelter under broad-leaved plants. The trout, the minnow, and the carp sport in the waters, and during hot clear days are seen basking in the beams of the sun. Vast families of young birds are seen in the fields, orchards, and gardens. The whin-chat arrests the attention at this time. It is a solitary bird, frequenting heaths and moors, and also hay-fields: it has no song, properly speaking, but only a simple unvaried note, and in manners very much resembles the stone-chat; it makes its nest very similar to that bird, and is generally seen in the same places during the summer months. The female lays five eggs, of a light blue, very faintly sprinkled with small rusty spots. In the northern parts of England it disappears in winter; but its migration is only partial, as it is seen in some of the southern counties at that season. It feeds on worms, flies, and other insects. About the end of summer it is very fat, and at that time is said to be scarcely inferior in delicacy to the ortolan. One of these birds, brought up from the nest by Mr. Sweet, used to sing the whole day through, and very often at night. It sang the notes of the whitethroat, redstart, willow-warbler, missel-thrush, and nightingale. The pearl-skipper butterfly, the golden-rod butterfly, the goldencopper butterfly, and various species of lepidopterous insects, attract the attention of the entomologist. The vegetable department of nature continues to exhibit a thousand beauties, and as one interesting plant goes out of bloom another comes in. Both gardens and fields now teem with variety. "The convolvulus major is at this time in its greatest perfection of loveliness: it loses its semi-ephemeral character in September and October. This beautiful and delicate flower should be contemplated before the rising of the sun to see it in all its freshness: the sight will amply repay the early visitant. Soon after midnight, the twisted corolla begins to unfold; and by the time the sun has risen, its graceful bell-shaped form is fully expanded. Before the sun has traversed one-fourth of its course, the delicate rim of the flower has its circular figure slightly infringed; though, to common observation, it still continues in its pristine beauty. By noon, the outline of the exterior is so far withered as to assume the figure of a perfect pentagon, which it preserves for two or three hours, unless the heat of the sun be unusually powerful. Early in the afternoon the whole of the expanded part of the flower has enfolded itself towards the centre, leaving none of its withered bloom visible; so that this short-lived flower looks not unpleasant even in decay and death."-Notes of a Naturalist. The last half of the month.-The bull (bos taurus) commences his loud autumnal noise; rooks begin to roost on their nest-trees, and lapwings congregate; the wood-lark sings occasionally; the nuthatch resumes its chattering; the stone-curlew clamours; and the wood-owl hoots. The cuckoo, swift, wryneck, titlark, turtle-dove, dottrell, &c., retire to more southern latitudes, to take up their winter quarters, along with their young families; while the aberdevine, mountainfinch, crossbeak, knot, &c., arrive from the north on their winter visit, along with a few other species. The large green grasshopper makes a loud noise in the hedges, and among bushes near water, in the evenings; while the housecricket is musical in our houses. Ladybirds, and various other beetles, are numerous; so are butterflies and moths. The solitary bee (apis manicata) and the white moth (phalæna pacta) are observed in August; the ptinus pectinicornis also makes its appearance, the larvae of which are very destructive to wooden furniture, boring holes in tables, chairs, bed-posts, &c. The burdock, the lesser-hooded willow-herb, and the lesser fieldscabious, are in flower; while the sweet clematis hovers like perfumed snow about our windows and lattices. The ploughman's spikenard and golden-rod begin to blow. The hollyhock and mallow are now conspicuous in our gardens, and the balsam on our window-sills. Fruit-trees now yield their share of luxuries to our tables; and we trust there are few who view the ripening corn in the fields without experiencing a feeling of exultation, ending in grateful emotions and thankfulness to Him who promised that "seed-time and harvest should not fail," and "Whose blessings fall in plenteous showers Which teems with foliage, fruits, and flowers, J. MONTGOMERY. BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES, FOR AUGUST, 1845. BY MR. WILLIAM ROGERSON, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. "WHEN Night in silent grandeur reigns, And holds the slumbering world in chains, The Hand that wheels the mighty spheres, To speak the wonders of his praise." A CERTAIN writer thus very properly remarks:-"A consideration of the excellent skill and wisdom evident in the works of the universe, ought to induce sentiments of adoration and reverence. The almighty God is their Author; and, whatever they may be termed by man, they are truly and specifically the works of God. Who can behold his stupendous operations in certain parts of the material universe, without awe and wonder; or his more gentle workings in others, without delight and love? And when we consider that all is calculated to benefit us; that all may be conducive to our happiness, if rightly viewed; feelings of heartfelt gratitude should obtain in us; we should endeavour to please the benevolent Being who has endeavoured, so to speak, to please us; who has so bountifully provided for us: and this we may effectually do by yielding to his requisitions, which are both reasonable and easy to be performed. "O, man! 'consider the wondrous works of God.' 'He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom; and hath stretched out the heavens at his discretion.' All his works are glorious and beautiful; and, when associated with a heart devoted to him, will not fail of proving highly advantageous and delightful. Acknowledge, then, his superiority, and choose this God to be thy God." The SUN rises at Greenwich and London on the 1st at twentyfour minutes past four, and sets at forty-seven minutes after seven: on the same day he rises at Edinburgh at four minutes past four, and sets at seven minutes after eight. The Sun rises at Greenwich, or London, on the 18th at fifty-one minutes past four, and sets at sixteen minutes after seven: on the same day he rises at Edinburgh at thirty-nine minutes past four, and sets at thirty minutes after seven. "Now the rainbow tints are meeting The Moon rises on the 1st at a quarter before three in the morning; and changes on the 3d, at twenty-five minutes after seven in |