and Rev. Mr. Lillie, preached excellent sermons. Rev. J. W. Sarles prepared the circular letter, which was admired. The delegation was large, and the deliberations harmonious and very pleasant. The Association adjourned to meet next year with the church at Greenport, L.I. Rev. J. S. Backus is to preach the introductory sermon; Rev. S. Wills on Domestic Missions; and Rev. J. R. Stone is to write the circular letter. S. H. Cone, D.D., Moderator; Rev. Messrs. S. White and W. S. Clapp, Secretaries.

VALPARAISO-Earthquake.-The severest shock since 1822, when the whole city was destroyed, was experienced April 2. A severe trembling of the earth, of fifteen seconds duration, prolonged less violently to two minutes, has in so short a time destroyed several hundred dwellings. It is a remarkable fact, that not an individual was killed or seriously injured. The loss of property is estimated at about one million dollars. Great damage has been done in Santiago and other towns.

GREAT FIRE AT SAN FRANCISCO-Earthquake.—Another disastrous fire occurred at that ill-fated city, May 3, destroying property, it is estimated, to the amount of from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000-demolishing the largest and best portion of the city: but, by the wonderful activity of the people, three hundred buildings were erected on the burned district, and occupied, in ten days. The mining operations are still prosperously carried on. There was a severe shock of an earthquake, May 15, causing the greatest consternation, and threatening to engulph the city. A great fire has occurred at Stockton, destroying property to the amount of from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.

THE KAFFIR WAR IN AFRICA.—Advices, dated April 12, state that the natives are gaining upon the British-and the worst fears on the part of the English are entertained as to the result.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Sad Intelligence.-The Missionary Magazine informs us that the buildings and property of the Am. Bap. Mission at Bangkok, Siam, were destroyed by fire on the 4th of January last. "The fire originated in a native house a few rods distant, and spread with such rapidity, that very few articles could be saved. The printing-office and stock, the bindery and type-foundry, libraries, and nearly all the personal effects of the missionaries, were consumed. The greater part of the second edition of the New Testament was lost, and it was difficult to procure copies enough to conduct the ordinary Sabbath worship. The total loss was not less than ten thousand dollars, and probably is considerably more. The missionaries were received into the residence of Senor Marcellino de Aranjo Rosa, the Portuguese Consul, and met with much attention and kindness from others. Mr. Chandler will return to this city as soon as possible to make arrangements for repairing the loss."

LITERARY ITEMS.

TENNESSEE BAPTIST.-This paper has recently been enlarged and improved. Its new heading is good. Bro. Graves-Carry out your motto. You are able to do it, and I have no doubt you will.

THE BAPTIST BANNER.-This paper, we notice, has recently taken a new name, and will hereafter be called "The Western Recorder." It has also been enlarged and improved. It is published at Louisville, Ky., and is conducted with ability by Brethren J. L. Waller, R. L. Thurman, and A. W. La Rue.

THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST.-The late editor of this paper, B. C. Pressley, has become editor of a daily paper in Charleston, S.C., and the "Baptist" is to be edited hereafter by Brethren Kendrick and Winkler. We are sorry to lose Bro. Pressley from the religious editorial fraternity; and we regret that he is to ralse the standard of revolt to our blessed Union, by advocating secession on the part of the South.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.-We notice in the New-York Recorder of June 18th, an announcement that Rev. Dr. Conant, of Rochester University, is preparing a translation of the Sacred Scriptures, with brief notes. The work is to be published by Lewis Colby, of this city, in parts. The first part is to go to press late in Autumn. Dr. Conant stands high as a philologist in this country and in Europe, and is competent for the work. We understand that he is corresponding with the first biblical scholars in this and other countries upon the subject, and we have no doubt that the work will be worthy the attention of scholars as well as of the common reader. We understand that Dr. C. intends to adapt the translation and the notes to all minds. While they are to be critical, they are to be presented in plain English, so as to be adapted to the masses as well as to the learned few. We approve of the manner in which this project is started. It is to be published entirely by private enterprise, and no drafts are to be made upon our churches for aid in the undertaking. When the work shall appear, it will, like previous translations, stand upon its own merits. We should have been better pleased, in some respects, if other denominations could have had equal influence with our own, in its preparation; but we have full confidence in Dr. C.'s scholarship; and we understand that he is corresponding with the best philologists of the age, irrespective of the denominations to which they belong.

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

EARLY INHABITANTS OF AMERICA.--Two human skulls have been found in a bed of marl in Ohio, which are supposed, by indications surrounding them, to be two thousand years old-showing that this country was inhabited before the Christian æra.

CRYSTALIZED MINERALS.-M. Eoelmen, of Sevres, has produced precious stones of different kinds by dissolving alum, zinc, magnesia, oxydes of iron and chrome, in boric acid. He has thus obtained brilliant rubies from two to three millimetres in length, and as thick as a grain of corn.

Mr. Paine, of Worcester, of water-gas notoriety, has now invented, it is said, a method of catalizing the oxygen of the atmosphere, and rendering it highly luminous, at a mere nominal expense.

MOST ANCIENT STRATA FORMING THE CRUST OF THIS GLOBE.-Near Lake Superior, strata of rocks have been discovered in which there are no organic remains. Prof. Agassiz supposes that they are the most ancient strata in the crust of the earth, having been formed before the existence of animal life. This is a suitable starting point for geologists.

THE PENDULUM.-A gentleman at Dundee, who has tried the pendulum experiment, states that it does not show the rotation of the earth, but that it tends to the magnetic meridian. He states also, that a scientific friend has come to a similar conclusion.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

Rev. H. Bromley, of Willimantic, Ct., has become pastor of the Bap. church, East Killingly, Ct. Rev. A. Williams, of Painesville, Ohio, has become pastor of the Bap. ch., King's Creek, O. Rev. J. B. Saxton has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Hightstown, N.J. Rev. J. G. Binney (having been obliged to leave the Karen Mission, on account of the ill health of Mrs. Binney,) has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Elmira, N.Y. Rev. C. C. Park has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Italy Hollow, Yates Co., N.Y. Rev. Wm. Bowen, of Berlin, N.Y., has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Hancock, Mass. Rev. A. S. Curtiss, of Copenhagen, N. Y., has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Westmoreland, Oneida Co. N.Y. Rev. N. Barrell, of Chardon, O., has become pastor of the Bap. eh,, Colebrook, Ashtabula Co., O. Rev. Thomas Barber has become pastor of the First Baptist church, Lime, Ct. (Laysville P. O., Newlond. Co., Ct.) Rev. D. S. Parmelee, of Pemberton, N.J., has become pastor of the Union Bap. ch., N. Y. City. Rev. J. E. Chesshire has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Lyons Farms, N.Y. Rev. Henry Bowen, of Chili, Mon. Co., N.Y., has become pastor of the Bap. ch., Cortland Village, N.Y.

LITERARY NOTICES.

▲ Greek Grammar.-By Philip Buttmann. Revised and enlarged by his son, A. Buttmann, translated by Edward Robinson. New-York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 528-8vo.

A Grammar of the New Testament Dialect. By M. Stuart. New-York: Van Nostrand & Terrett. pp. 312-8vo.

Philip Buttmann will ever rank as one of the first Greek Philologists of any age, and his grammar is destined to hold, as it has done for about half a century in Germany, and for many years in this country, the highest place as a text-book. It may be thought best by some, for a beginner to study a smaller grammar; but we are fully of the opinion, from our own studies, and from some experience in teaching, that a grammar in any language, ought always to contain all of the important phenomena of that language. It should be a kind of Thesaurus, to which a student may go to be relieved of difficulties which he may find in endeavoring to construe or parse sentences. Buttmann's intermediate grammar is none too full for that purpose. The rules and remarks in a grammar, should not at first be committed to memory; but fixed in the mind by applying them in parsing. Then the labor of committing the grammar is very small. Dr. Robinson has made a good translation from the eighteenth German edition, and, as extensive improvements have been made in the German edition, the labur in translating has been great. The Syntax, particularly, has been almost entirely reconstructed. Many of the above remarks will apply equally well to Professor Stuart's Grammar, as a reference-book to the student of the New Testament Greek. After becoming master of the phenomena contained in Buttmann, let the theological student consult Stuart's grammar, and he will find it just adapted to his wants. This second edition has been before the public for some time; but has recently come into the hands of the present publishers. The Syntax is especially thorough, and indispensable for the bible student.

Elements of Analytical Geometry, and the Differential Calculus. By E. Loomis, A.M. New-York: Harper & Brothers.

The Philosophy of Mathematics. By Auguste Comte. Translated from the French by W. M. Gillespie. Same Publishers.

Prof. Loomis, of the University of the City of New-York, has prepared three volumes previously to the one here announced, this being the fourth in the series. The author deservedly stands high in his department, and has furnished, in this volume, just the work which is needed in colleges. It is not too intricate, and yet sufficiently thorough for the student. The Calculus, so often entirely passed over, because it is so difficult, is explained in such a manner that many, we believe, will be induced to study it, who would otherwise avoid the task.

Prof. Gillespie, of Union College, the translator of Comte, has performed a good work. The original, (called Course de Philosophie Positive) consists of six large octavo volumes, The volume before us is a translation of about two-thirds of the first volume of the " course," including that which relates entirely to mathematics. Comte is called the "Bacon of the nineteenth century," and gives in this volume the true philosophy of mathematics. Different parts of it should be examined by students in connection with the temporary subject of their " special study." It is too difficult for them to comprehend at once. We hail with pleasure all contributions to mathematics, as we regard its study in our colleges as very essential in disciplining the mind. It should be borne in mind, however, that Comte is skeptical in his sentiments, and even his mathematics should be studied with caution. The Harmony of Prophecy, or Scriptural Illustrations of the Apocalypse. By Rev. A. Keith, D.D. pp. 439-12mo. Same Publishers.

Dr. Keith has distinguished himself by his admirable works on the evidence of prophecy, and on the demonstration of Christianity. In the volume before us, the author endeavors to explain the wonderful revelations and prophecies in the Apocalypse, by comparing them with various other passages of Scripture. That is the true method to ascertain the interpretation of a passage, by comparing it with all others in the sacred volume, referring to the same subject. This work will be considered as very important by biblical scholars, and we believe that it will have a wide circulation.

History of Providence, as unfolded in the book of Esther-The God of Providence, the God of the Bible-The truth of the Gospel exemplified in the Atonement. By Alex. ander Carson, LL D. New-York: E. H. Fletcher. pp. 271-12mo.

We have already in former numbers of the Memorial, noticed "the Life of Carson" by Mr. Moore, and "the Knowledge of Jesus," written by Dr. C. We have now the third volume in the series, and we hope there will be many more, if they are all as good as the one before us. It contains a clear, cogent, and incontrovertible argument in favor of the cardinal doctrine of a special Providence of God. The skeptic maintains that all events occur in accordance with the general laws of nature: but Dr. Carson shows conclusively, that even in the general laws of his government, God specially superintends them so that particular events transpire by the efficiency of particular agents, and usually in accordance with general laws. The author shows that the special providence of God is remarkably exhibited in the deliverance of the Jews, described in the book of Esther. While God especially interferes in favor of his people, destroys their enemies, or delivers them from their foes, he accomplishes it through the operation of general laws. Especially, in his letter to Thomas Carlile, Dr. Carson displays a ratiocinative power, which has rarely if ever been surpassed by any defender of Christianity. We commend the book with the two preceding volumes, as worthy to be in every Christian's library.

We have also received from the same Publisher, a "Conversational Commentary," combining the question book, and exposition, designed for Bible classes, Sabbath schools and families, by William Hague, in two volumes. One is upon Matthew, and the other on John. They are admirably adapted to the wants of Sabbath schools. The questions on Matthew, with the numerous references, give a connected view of the history of Christ, and those on John, present a view of the Saviour's conversations. Those questions which involve difficulties are answered by the author. This series has been extensively adopted in Sabbath schools, and we heartily commend it to every school in which it has not been already introduced. It contains a kind of digest and lucid exposition of difficulties in the gospels, and will be found to be very instructive to adults as well as to youth. Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation. By an American Citizen. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. New-York: E. H. Fletcher. pp. 239-12mo.

This is an anonymous work, written by a person who was for a length of time a skeptic, and presents his reasons for becoming a believer in Christianity. His name is now known to be Rev. J. B. Walker, of Cincinnati. The work consists of a series of demonstrations, proving the Divine authority of the Christian scheme. The argument is cumulative, strictly logical, perspicuous and unanswerable, showing in a philosophical manner, that the Christian religion as taught by the interpretation and experience of evangelical Christians, is necessarily the only religion possible to meet the spiritual wants of mankind. We are pleased to see the second edition of so valuable a book. It has already been instrumental in reclaiming many skeptics, and is destined, we believe, to exert a still wider influence. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Thomas Chalmers, D.D. By Rev. Wm. Hanna, LL.D. Vol. II. pp. 547-12mo. Harper & Brothers.

We have, some time since, noticed the first volume. This contains a large amount of information in respect to the great Chalmers, from the time that he preached his first sermon at Glasgow in 1815, until his installation as Professor at St. Andrews in 1823. Many thrilling incidents are related, and much valua ble correspondence is presented. It is exceedingly interesting and profitable to look into the private life of so great and good a man. One more volume will complete his life. We have received from the same house, several other valua ble works, which we have only space to name. They are" The Colonial History, and Romance of Louisiana." By Charles Gayarre. pp. 546-8vo.-A book full of exciting incidents in reference to the early settlement of the country, and the contentions of the settlers with the Indians, written in an attractive style. "History of Greece," by Dr. L. Shmitz, from the earliest times to the destruction of Corinth, B. C. 146. An able and reliable work, based on the extensive work of Bishop Thirlwall, D.D. " Dealings with the Inquisition"-by Rev. G. Achilli, D.D. An interesting book, showing that popery of the nineteenth century, is just as cruel and oppressive, when in power, as it was in ancient times. "Curran and his Cotemporaries." "The Irish Confederacy, and Rebellion of 1798,"—both extremely interesting and authoritative works on Ireland and its orators.