MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THE ELEMENTS OF VOCAL MUSIC, on the Pestalozzian System; designed chiefly for Children and Youth, but adapted to Singing Schools generally, and to Private Instruction. By LOWELL MASON, Professor of the Boston Academy of Music, Boston: 1834.

The success which has attended the efforts which have been made within a few years past, in several of the larger cities and towns in this country, to teach music to large and promiscuous classes of young persons, on the German method, has excited surprise in all who have witnessed it; and a very strong desire has been felt, by those interested in the dissemination of a knowledge of vocal music, to learn the details of the mode adopted. These details Mr. Mason has given with clearness and particularity in this work, so that any intelligent teacher, who is acquainted with music himself, can, by the help of this manual, at once adopt the system. This mode of teaching is well worthy the study of every one interested in the subject of instruction, as its principles are capable of being universally applied; - they contain the secret of success in every branch of education. We are convinced that the teachers of schools throughout the land, who possess any skill in vocal music themselves, would, by devoting a few minutes each day in practising the simple lessons of this manual, promote among their pupils an improvement of moral feeling, and mental discipline, habits of careful discrimination, and correct methods of study, and at the same time carry them all insensibly forward to a degree of skill in this art, which, without the trial, would have been supposed to be unattainable.

This book is, in our opinion, written in the right style, and on the right principles for interesting and benefiting children. It must take strong hold of them, and do them good. The several lectures are on the most important subjects connected with the salvation of the soul; they come directly to the point; they are full, perhaps too full, of anecdote and illusration; the little reader, however, cannot avoid understanding the bearing of all, and will with difficulty shelter his conscience from its infiuence. We have two or three other remarks to make, suggested by the work.

1. To Ministers. Mr. Todd says in his preface, that these lectures are actual sermons, prepared in the course of his pastoral duty, and preached once in three months, after the afternoon service, at his church; the children being seated directly before him in the body of the house, and those of the congregation who choose to remain, (i. e. every one) occupying the seats above and around them. Would not some such plan be a good one for general adoption?

tical, familiar development of sound principles, carrying them out into detail, and though addressed to fathers, it will, perhaps, be nearly equally useful to both parents. Entertaining the views we do of the parental relation, we cannot but hope that this work, together with the Book for Parents, noticed above, may have a wide circulation. One thing we have been particularly pleased to observe, in looking at several popular works on the subject of domestic education, which have recently appeared. We mean the great degree of agreement among them in respect to principles; while, at the same time, there is the greatest degree of diversity in respect to the particular contents of the volumes. Thus while they are all pressing upon the community the same great views, each has taken his own separate department, so that no two cover the same ground. Jay's Family Monitor, The Mother at Home, The Book for Parents, The Father's Book, and the Mother's Friend, about to be published in New York, are co-operating in the great work of bringing before the Christian public in various ways, views of Christian education which, as exhibited by each, are essentially the same. And they are producing a great effect.

MISCELLANEOUS DISCOURSES AND REVIEWS. By HEMAN HUMPHREY, D. D. President of Amherst College. We cannot better express the thoughts which this volume has suggested than by adopting the language of the publisher's preface.

"The productions of Dr. Humphrey bear the impress of a sound and vigorous mind, acting under the excitement of a love of truth and goodness. His views, although often very original, are never of that startling character, which induces an immediate suspicion of their correctness, however much there may be of ingenuity or brilliancy to create admira

tion. On the contrary, they have the image and superscription of prac the business and bosoms' of men, tical wisdom. They come home to with such a strength of conception, definiteness of purpose, clearness and energy of language; with an unostentations simplicity, yet with such shrewdness and sagacity of illustration; with such a lofty spirit of enlightened Christian benevolence, and such an affectionate earnestness of appeal;that the Author has long been esteemuseful writers in the clerical profesed one of the most impressive and sion. He has not, however, confined the labors of his pen to the immediate sphere of his professional duties. He has taken a wide view of men and will be found rich in variety of subject things. Hence the present volume and style."

FAMILIAR LETTERS TO FEMALES; BY A LADY. Boston Crocker & Brewster. Price 33 cts.

The volume consists of a collection of real letters written by a lady at various times to her friends, generally from different places in New England. They contain lively descriptions of domestic scenes, and village adventures, and exhibitions of character, interspersed with remarks on various subjects. We have examined it, by proxy, (a method of performing the duties of criticism, for which we are indebted to the New York Journal of Commerce,) and find it an entertaining volume, and calculated to exert a good moral and religious influence, though it is not its special object to give advice or instruction.

A MANUAL ON THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH, embracing a consideration of its perpetual obligation, change of day, utility, and duties. By JOHN HOLMES AGNEW, Professor of Lan guages, Washington College, Washington, Pa. With an Introductory Essay, by DR. MILLER, of Princeton, N. J. Philadelphia: 1834.

The design of this work, as will sufficiently appear from its title-page,

is to furnish for the church a convenient manual of doctrines and duties, relating to the Christian Sabbath.

It seems to us, that the importance of this subject calls for more careful, and perhaps, in some points, more extended discussions, than have yet appeared in this country. We cannot refrain from expressing the hope, that some one devoted to biblical studies, will give to the subjects to which we allude, such an examination, as shall in its results afford reasonable satisfaction to those, who are sincerely desirous to know the truth. Could we flatter ourselves that we possessed the requisite ability and information for conducting such a discussion in a successful manner, we should still reckon some other vehicle more appriate, than the pages of a Magazine, professedly devoted to subjects more directly practical.

What seems to us of primary importance in such a discussion is a cool, clear, and philosophical examination of the following points.

1. By what authority has the Christian church, with few exceptions, laid aside the observance of the Jewish Sabbath?

2. On what authority rests the religious observance of the first day of the week?

3. If it be settled that the first day of the week is to be observed, In what manner is it to be kept? And especially what authority is there for considering it as substituted for the Jewish Sabbath, and rightfully claiming to be celebrated in a similar

manner.

4. If it can be shown to be substituted for the Jewish Sabbath, by what authority is any abatement made in the rigor, with which the Israelites were wont to celebrate it.

While questions of this nature remain unsettled in the minds of Christians, and we believe there are many whose views are in these respects, less clear than they could wish, exhortations to duty in whatever relates to the observance of the Sabbath, will come to them with force greatly diminished. When reason is satisfied, the affections maybe moved to useful purpose. Truth is the only foundation for profitable excitement. ALPHA.

PHILLIS WHEATLEY.

In the books put into the hands of the younger portion of our readers, and especially in such as relate to the character of the African race, the name of Phillis Wheatley has probably sometimes occurred. To such, we have supposed, that a brief account of her might prove not unacceptable.

Phillis was born in Africa, whence she was brought to this country as a slave, in the year 1761, when she was about seven years old. The scenes in which she was placed, after leaving her native shores, were so unlike those of her earliest years, that she soon forgot almost everything rela ting to her own country, and even of her parents she remembered very little. All that she could recollect of her mother was, that she was accustomed at sunrise, to pour out water upon the ground, towards the rising sun. This was undoubtedly an act of religious worship, paid by her parent, to that great luminary, which has so often received from mankind the homage due only to its Creator.

At the time when Phillis arrived in this country, there was a regular market for slaves in all our large cities, and to such a market in Boston, Phillis was brought. The people of Boston were perhaps not less humane then, than now; but the injustice and the cruelty of bringing the Africans from their native country, against their will, and selling them as slaves, had not then, as it has since, been brought out fully to view, before the community.

Phillis was exposed for sale, among other slaves, and though a feeble child, she had the good fortune to be selected by a very humane and excellent lady, Mrs. Wheatley, who with her family then resided in Boston. The poor child, when purchased, had no other clothes than a piece of carpeting, but she was soon warmly and neatly clad by her new mistress, and received the name of Phillis. It was then usual to add to the name of slaves, that of the family to which they belonged, and accordingly she was always known by the name of Phillis Wheatley.

Mrs. Wheatley had intended that Phillis should become her waiting

maid, but this intention she gradually relinquished, and in consequence of discovering the uncommon talents, which the child evinced for acquiring knowledge, she continued ever to treat her with the kindness and indulgence of a daughter. On her part, Phillis was eminently grateful to her benefactress, and was always distinguished by great modesty and propriety of deportment, and she seems never to have been elated by the attentions which she received, either from her mistress, or from the public. We have but little information respecting the nature of the education which she received, but we know, that at the period of which we are now speaking, the females of this country, possessed very few advantages of a literary nature, compared with those which their descendents now enjoy. But under all the disadvantages of the age in which she lived, of her sex, and especially of her race, her progress in learning was such as very early to attract the attention of a literary gentleman, who assisted her by the loan of books. In addition to her acquaintance with the English language and literature, she also acquired some knowledge of the Latin language.

She early discovered a turn for poetry, and this seems to have been cherished and directed to that peculiar style of composition, which she adopted, by the study of Pope's translation of Homer. In most of her poetry she has imitated the style of that translation, adopting not only the measure, but the peculiar machinery of that interesting work, and allusions to the gods and heroes of Homer are scattered everywhere through her writings. Her versification is in general correct and easy.

Phillis was fortunately not less distinguished for her piety, than for her amiable disposition, and for her literary attainments. At the age of sixteen, she became a member of the Old South church, and continued through all her subsequent life to exhibit a truly religious character.

Her health had always been delicate, but at the age of nineteen, she had

become so feeble, that it was determined, with a view to the restoration of her health, that she should accompany a member of the family who was then going out to England. She accordingly left this country, and on her arrival in England, was treated with all that attention to which her talents and her virtues gave her so clear a title.

She was introduced to

many of the nobility, and to other persons of high distinction, and would have been introduced to the king, had she not been prevented by her sudden recall to America, on account of the sickness of her benefactress, Mrs. Wheatley. Soon after her return, she had the misfortune, in the year 1774, to be deprived by death of her most faithful friend and kind mistress.

From this time till her death, which happened but four or five years after, her life was little more than a continual scene of misfortune and suffering. The American Revolution was now commencing, and general distress was soon felt among the people of Boston. Phillis was left without property. The family to which she had belonged were scattered, and feeble, and destitute: there was no one on whom she could lean for support. In this situation she formed a matrimonial connection, which proved less fortunate than had been anticipated. Her husband failed in business, and they were reduced to extreme poverty While Boston was occupied by the British, she with her husband lived in the country, but after the Americans regained possession, they returned, and Phillis soon after died at Boston."

The two poems entitled "Goliath of Gath," and "Thoughts on the works of Providence," we think are among her happiest efforts, and in these we see perhaps more traces of her own genius, than in most of her other productions.

A new and neat edition of her poems, with a memoir written by a relative of her mistress, has been published in Boston, by George W. Light, and we are glad of an oppor tunity to recommend it to the attention of our readers. 103 pp. 12mo. Price 50 cts.