Western AfriCA.—Missionaries inform us that a regularly written language exists among a people there discovered. The alphabet is syllabic, like that of the Cherokee and Ethiopic. There are about one hundred characters, each representing a syllable. The important question, what is the connection between the ancient Ethiopic, Indian, and perhaps modern African and our American Indian languages, is an intensely interesting one for ethnographical science to answer. THE UNITED STATES.-We learn that Mr. George P. Putnam, of this city, announces as in preparation a series of manuals, comprising history, science, literature, biography, and useful arts; also the Life of Washington, by Wash ington Irving; the Monuments of Central and Western America, by F. L. Hawkes, D. D.; a Commentary on Ecclesiastes, by Prof. Stuart, and other works. Prof. Hart, of Philadelphia, has in preparation a volume of "The Female Prose Writers of America," royal octavo, of 500 pp. with elegant portraits executed in London. Mrs. Hale's "Female Biography" will soon be out. DEATH OF JOHN JAMES AUDUBON.--This distinguished ornithologist died at his residence on the banks of the Hudson, Jan. 27, in the 76th year of his age. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION.-$50,000 IN THREE MONTHS.-The expenditures of the current financial year will almost certainly reach $118,000; and the whole amount of donations and legacies paid into the treasury during the nine months ending with December, 1850, was nearly $45,000-about $6,000 more than in the corresponding months of 1849. We have the promise of larger grants from coordinate Societies and the United States Government than were received in the last fiscal year; but should these assurances be realized, a balance of FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS will be needed from the friends of mis sions, in the three months ending with the ensuing March, to cancel the liabili ties of the year!-Macedonian. SHAWANOE INDIANS.-Mr. Barker, under date of Oct. 25, mentions a cheering state of things in connection with his labors, including a notice of some additions to the church. SIAM.-Bro. Dean writes that at Bang Chang station, under date of June 6, there had been several recently baptized, and fifty-nine since the establishment of the mission. DEATH OF A MISSIONARY.-Mrs. S. E. W. York, for several years a missionary in Greece, died Jan. 9th, at Charlestown, Mass., after a short illness. THE ATLANTIC SAFE.-We stop the press to announce the cheering news that this noble steamer is safe. When nine days from Liverpool she was disabled in a storm, and her engines useless, when 897 miles from Halifax. Her course was shaped for that port, and she made sail; but another violent storm commenced, and she was obliged to sail for Europe. She arrived at Cork, Ireland, Jan. 22, in sixteen days, and the passengers arrived at this port in the Africa, Feb. 15. MINISTERIAL CHANGES. Rev. Wm. Crowell, of Waterville, Me., has become editor of the Western Watchman, St. Louis, Mo.; Rev. James French has become pastor of the Baptist Church in Exeter, N. H.; Rev. G. W. Hervey, late of the Union Theol. Sem. New-York city, has become pastor of the 2d Baptist church, Middletown, Ct.; Rev. E. D. Farr, of Unity, N. H., has become pastor of the Baptist church in Goshen, N. H.; Rev. J. K. Chase, has become pastor of the Baptist church, Parkman and Sangerville, Me. (P. O. Parkman); Rev. W. F. Nelson, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., has become pastor of the 1st Baptist church, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Rev. L. Black has become pastor of the Concord-St. Baptist church, Brooklyn, L. I.; Rev. James W. Lathrop, of Newton Theol. Inst., has become pastor of the North Baptist church, Dorchester, Mass.; Rev. J. G. Miles has become pastor of the Baptist church, Jersey Shore, Lycom. co., Pa.; Rev. Isaac Westcott has become pastor of the Laight-St. Baptist church in this city. REVIVALS. Sandy Ridge, N. J., 17 baptized January 1; Danbury, Ct., 17 baptized about the middle of Jan.; Mount Bethel, N. J., 50 baptized up to January 25; Carmel, Putnam co., N. Y., 24 baptized up to Jan. 20; Kingsbury, Laporte co., Ia., 66 added in five weeks in Jan. last; Hartford, Washington co., N. Y., 79 baptized up to Feb. 1; Pastor's Conference in this city reported, at their monthly meeting Feb. 3, 60 baptisms during the last month; Post Oak Grove, Montgom.co. Texas, 70 added up to Jan. 5; Wooster, O., 52 baptized up to Jan. 1. MONTHLY LIST. Deaths of Baptist Ministers. Walter Patton, Newtown, N. J., Jan. 9. John W. Hickman, near Lafayette, Ma-S. M. Broakman, Catlin & Dix church, con co. Tenn., Nov. 25, aged 32. Jan 15. Benjamin Putnam, Billerica, Ms. Dec.21. J. M. Shotwell, Walesville, N.Y. Jan. 21. Wm. N. Cone, Montgomery co., Ala., James W. Lathrop, Dorchester, Mass., Jan. 2. Noah Norton, Litchfield, Me., Jan. 6, E. S. Shepherd, Alna, Me., Jan. 10. O. J. Dearborn, Jamesville, Rock co., James A. Davis, Blountsville, East Ten. Thomas Jones, Newville, Sussex co. Va. Dec. 27. Jan. 29. Churches Constituted. Stanton Township, Miami co. O. Jan. 9. Dedications. Powhatan, Cumberland co. Va. Sept. John T. Freeman, Starksville, Miss. Dec. Marshfield, Mass.. Jan. 1. Charles Bailey, Warren, Her. co., N. Y. North Bridgewater, Mass., Jan. 22. Jan. 2. Edmund C. Cook, Bennettsville, Chenan. Richville, Gen. co., N. Y., Feb. 5. co., N. Y., Jan. 7. Wm. Clock, Oak Creek, Wis. Jan. 8. Trumansburg, Tomp. co. N. Y. Feb. 6. SKETCH OF FATHER PECK.-We regret that we have not received from Dr. Eaton the remainder of the Memoir in time for this No. of the Memorial. We hope to have it for next month. A Copious and Critical Latin-English Lexicon; founded on the Larger LatinGerman Lexicon of Dr. William Freund. Edited by E. A. Andrews, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 1689-royal octavo. In our last volume we noticed an English-Latin Lexicon, by the same publishers, founded on the German-Latin Dictionary of Dr. Georges, and commended it as an admirable work. We now have the Latin-English Lexicon, which is an essential companion of the other. Heretofore both these works have been includ ed in one volume, with a less number of pages than that of the great work before us. Of course, changing Latin into English is of more importance to pupils than changing English into Latin; but neither can be dispensed with. Dr. Freund is well known as one of the most distinguished philologists on the continent of Europe, and his great Lexicon, when completed to the letter Q. in 1845, contained 4500 pages. During the same year he prepared an abridgment, containing about 1800 pages, from which the present work is mostly derived. Rev. R. D. C. Robbins, of Middlebury College, translated from A-C. inclusive, Prof. Wm. W. Turner, of the Union Theological Seminary of this city, the remainder from D-Z. inclusive, and President Woolsey, of Yale College, translated the Author's Preface.— So that the Editor, Dr. Andrews, had only to review the whole, and make such abbreviations as would adapt it to the wants of colleges and seminaries of learning in this country. There can be no question that he has accomplished his task in a judicious and in an able manner. Those parts which have been added from other sources than Freund's works are marked with an asterisk and inclosed in a parenthesis. Many proper names have been added, enhancing the value of the work. Dr. Andrews already stands high as a Latin scholar, and this renewed evidence of his accuracy and extensive knowledge of the language, added to the great celebrity of Dr. Freund, and his remarkable success in applying to Latin lexicography the same method which, in the hands of Gesenius and Passow, has produced an era in that of the Hebrew and Greek, we do not doubt that this volume will be generally adopted throughout the country as the standard Latin Lexicon. The English Language in its Elements and Forms, with a History of its Origin and Development. By Wm. C. Fowler. Same Publishers. pp. 681-8vo. We have been highly pleased in the examination of this work. We agree with the author that the English language-its matter, forms, historical elements. grammatical and logical structure, its application to eloquence and poetry-ought to be studied in our Colleges, and not confined wholly to our elementary schools.The author of this work, during his professorship of Rhetoric in Amherst College, investigated, with untiring industry and great enthusiasm, the subjects here discussed. He gleans from Latham, Mill, Whately, and other English philologists, and indirectly from Grimm, Bopp, Becker, Kuhner, and other German authors, with great advantage. He treats at large and philosophically upon the Origin and History of the language, its Phonology, Orthography, Etymology, Logical forms, Syntax, Rhetorical and Poetical forms. We were much interested with the origin and history of the language as here discussed, and indeed the whole work is just what is needed in every college and higher seminary in the land. Indeed every family desirous to fully understand the English language, ought, if possible, to have the work. While the ancient languages should not be neglected, they should not certainly exclude a knowledge of our own tongue. The Island World of the Pacific. By Rev. Henry T. Cheever. Same Publishers. pp. 407-12mo. There is, at the present time, in this country, and throughout the civilized world, a deep interest felt in the present state and future destiny of the land of gold and of the Pacific world. The author of the work before us has recently traveled among those luxuriant islands, and seen the wonders of the deep as well as those upon the land in those unfrequented regions. He has seen many of those wild, savage cannibals, tamed by civilization, through the instrumentality of the Christian religion, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in their right minds. The greatest triumph of modern Christianity is witnessed in the success of Ame rican Missions in the Sandwich Islands. This triumph is described by Mr. Cheever, and a large variety of facts concerning the history, customs of the peo ple, natural phenomena, &c. &c., of Polynesia, are here presented in an attractive style, illustrated with numerous beautiful engravings. The book must have a wide circulation. History of Madame Roland. By J. S. C. Abbott. Same Publishers. This little volume depicts, in glowing colors, the horrors of the French Revolution-the streams of blood which flowed in Paris-the executions of the Girondists, among whom was Madame Roland, and various other tragical events. We have seldom read any thing more thrilling. Europe, Past and Present. By Francis H. Ungewitter, LL.D. New-York: Geo. P. Putnam, pp. 681-12mo. This is a capital work. So many Americans are now traveling in Europe, they need a hand-book of geography and history to direct them in their peregrinations among the wonders of the old world. The author has published several extensive geographical works in Germany, his native land, and is just the person to give us such a manual as we need. Of course the sketches of history are brief; but they are accurate and full enough for such a work. The copious index at the end of the volume will enable one readily to find almost any fact connected with European geography and history. We commend this volume to every American or English traveler in Europe. We should think also that it would be an excellent reading book in schools. General View of the Fine Arts, Critical and Historical, with an Introduction by D. Huntington, A.M. This is a work which will be appreciated, we think, at the present time. There is an increasing interest in this country upon the subjects here referred to. Architecture has, in some cases, reached a high state of improvement. It is especially so in respect to music; and the visit to our shores of the Swedish Nightingale has aroused over the whole land a desire for advancement in that elegant art. With such a desire, the contents of this work will be devoured with avidity. The writer enumerates five fine arts, viz.: Ornamental Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Poetry and Music, and discusses the origin, progress and present state of each with the pen of a master. The great artists of antiquity, as well as those of modern times, and the elements of their success, are described. Books upon this subject are generally very expensive, and here we have the substance of the large works condensed into one volume. It is composed by a practical painter of the fair sex, and we think the ability and style exhibited in the work would have honored her name had it been inserted. We commend it as a convenient and useful manual upon the subject. Life and Correspondence of John Foster. Edited by J. E. Ryland, with Notices of Mr. Foster as a preacher and companion, by J. Sheppard. Two vols in one.694. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. pp. Not long since we announced a Life of Foster by W. W. Everts, from the press of E. H. Fletcher of this city. Here we have another, which was first prepared before that of Everts. It is much more full than Evert's edition. The latter is a connected, historical, and brief memoir, while the former consists mostly of letters, with some essays and extracts from Foster's private journal. In this work we have the facts in that great man's life laid fully before us, mostly from his own pen. Foster was an original and strong thinker. His thoughts are rich, lofty, sublime. They are gold, while the vehicle in which they are conveyed is of a very different material. We commend the book to all. John Foster on Missions, with an Essay on the Skepticism of the Church. By Joseph P. Thompson. New-York: E. H. Fletcher. pp. 206.-18mo. After what we have said above of Foster's writings, it is only necessary to add that this Essay on the Spirit of Christian Missions is one of his happiest efforts. The power of his great intellect, the vividness of his imagination, and the ardency of his piety here shine forth with brilliance. The introduction upon the practical skepticism of the sleeping church should arouse her to her duty. The book costs but a trifle. Read it, and never look coolly upon a perishing world. |