by an English divine. Hampson's, ready for the press when Wesley died, in 1791, was extremely meagre, and partisan in its tone. Coke and Moore's, issued the following year, was written in haste to secure the market, and was very imperfect. Whitehead's, completed in 1796, was a partisan work. Southey gave a charming literary tone to his biography of Wesley, printed in 1820, but it is full of errors in dates and so made confusing. Moore's published in 1824, is mostly a reprint of Whitehead's and is the fullest and most truthful of any printed before it. In 1831, Watson issued from the London press an avowdly popular life of Wesley" with special reference to general readers.

These comprise all of the biographies of note. Several sketches of the life of Wesley have been published, which may not claim the dignity of biography. All have been out of print for sometime, excepting Coleridge's and Watson's; and a full and reliable history of John Wesley and his times appeared to be wanting. Such an one Mr. Tyerman seems to have given us in his three volumes of several hundred pages each.

The life of John Wesley is intimately connected with American History, and is specially interesting to a vast body of American citizens because he was not only the founder of their religious sect, but was a champion of that religious liberty which our national constitution secures to every citizen.

John Wesley was the founder of Methodism, not only in Great Britian, but in America. In 1770, he sent out four lay missionaries to this country, and so laid the foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Assuming the office of Bishop, he ordained the Rev. Thomas Coke of Oxford, bishop of the church in America. That was in 1784. Coke was authorized to confer the same office on Rev. Francis Asbury, who became the first resident American bishop of the Methodist Church. It was Bishop Coke who issued the biography of Wesley in 1792.

Mr. Tyerman's work has been constructed from a vast amount of original materials in his own possession and others. Wesley's letters have been freely used in it. The author has so attempted to make him his own biographer. He has not attempt. ed to reveal the philosophy of his life in a labored essay. The facts are sufficient for this. He seems to have tried to be non-partisan and honest with Wesley's correspondence and writings. "Nothing" he says in his preface, "likely to be of general interest, has been withheld: nothing derogatory to the subject of these memoirs, has been kept back. Whatever else the work may be, it is honest."

This work contains a clear general history of a sect whose influence in the religious world has been marvellous and benign. Its leading idea has ever been that which Wesley avowed, namely, the entire freedom of conscience. "The Methodists" he wrote, " do not insist on your holding this or that opinion, but they think and let think; neither do they impose any particular mode of worship, but

you [proselytes from others] may continue to worship in your former manner, be it what it may. Now I dont know any other religious society, either ancient or modern, wherein such liberty of conscience is now allowed or has been allowed since

the days of the Apostles. Here is our glorying, and a glorying peculiar to us."

It was this liberty and the social tone of the Methodist Church, which caused it to take a powerful hold upon the popular mind, and which it has never relaxed. The growth of the denomination has been, and still is wonderful, notwithstanding schisms have crept into it-in fact divided it early into the Wesleyan and Whitfield Methodists, the latter denouncing the doctrine of sinless perfection attainable by man, which Wesley preached as truth found in the Bible, he thought. They have since divided upon questions of church government and polity, and yet they are kept in close connection by identity of religious doctrine and the exercise of religious freedom.

Of the early struggles of Methodism with persecution, derision and human infirmity, Mr. Tyerman's volumes give most interesting details.

Around the world. Sketches of Travel through many Lands and over many Seas, By E. D. G. PRIME, D. D., with numerous illustrations. New York: Harper and Brothers, 8vo. pp. 455. This is a pleasant and very instructive record of a journey around the world during the lapse of a year. The journey may now be made, by continuous travelling on the established routes, in seventy-five days; starting from New York, and travelling to the Pacific coast at San Francisco by railway, thence by steamer to Japan and China, and so on to Calcutta; thence across the heart of India by railway to Bombay; thence to Suez, and so on to London or to some Italian or French port by steamship, and finally crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a similar conveyance. This was the general route of the Author of this volume, who spent a year away, for he made many excursions far aside from these great routes of travel.

Dr. Prime, having before become familiar with Europe, he devoted the most of his time to more Eastern lands, and thereby he has been enabled to make a more extended record of those countries which were until recently almost a terra incognito. He aranged his journey so that he should experience the least inconvenience from excesses in temperature. He travelled through countries where the range of Farenheit's thermometer is for long periods, at 120°, and yet his journey was so well-timed, that he did not, during the whole year, see any frost, nor experience a degree of heat above 80° in the shade.

The work is full of valuable information, and might serve as an excellent guide to persons about to take the journey and desire to see all that is best in the countries visited. The illustrations add much to the value of the work. They are well engraved wood cuts.

THE

OF

The May number is again an improvement upon the best of its predecessors. It has a round dozen of engravings, and a variety of articles elucidating public, local, personal, literary and antiquarian history. There is an amusing illustrated account of the Ducking Stool. Philadelphia, Press.

The following notice of the RECORD, republished in the May number should have been credited to the New Jersey Patriot.-C. & T.

The April number of this valuable magazine abundantly fulfills the promise of the earlier issues. It is filled with articles of value to all who feel an interest in the early history of our country, and should be in the hands of every one and on the table of every reading room. No better selection than Mr. Lossing could have been made to edit a magazine of this kind-a life spent in the field of American History has qualified him, in an especial manner, for the position. We have long needed a journal of this kind to preserve the many valuable facts of our early history which are fast slipping away from us, and it gives us great pleasure to commend the Record to our readers. Among the "Notes and Queries" we notice a request for information concerning the ship "Shield," which brought into the Delaware, in December, 1678, a large number of passengers who settled in West Jersey. "As very many prominent families claim lineal decent from members of the West Jersey Colony, of that period, it is hoped they will communicate all the information they possess in relation to the ship and the names and places of birth of its passengers."

THE HISTORICAL RECORD, the new historical Magazine by Benson J. Lossing, is becoming the most popular work of the kind ever issued. Mr. Lossing is, as generally known, the best authority on American history in the country.

Rochester Courier, N. H.

The substance of great hooks yet to be written, will be found in the brief essays and communica tions of this valuable Magazine, where the waifs and strays of American history are garnered by a careful and competent hand.

Phila. Printers' Circular.

Mr. Lossing, is eminently qualified to conduct such a work to the benefit and satisfaction of sub

scribers. We cordially welcome this periodical, and bespeak for it the generous support of the public.

N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register. This magazine is edited by Benson J. Lossing, the historian, and will command a hearty welcome at every library table.

New York Home Journal.

The American Historical Record sustains itself admirably. The adventure of the publishers proves a success. With Lossing, the historian, for editor, it cannot be other than a historical and financial triumph. Xenia Gazette.

An interesting number of this highly valuable Magazine-it is a treasure of old news.

Holmes County Republican.

The May number contains a sketch and picture of the famous or infamous Ducking Stool, according as one may look upon it, also a specimen of Political Caricature in England; America and her other enemies being the target, when England towered and America drooped. The plan of the RECORD is well calculated to gather and preserve much valuable matter connected with our country's history.

Northampton Free Press, Mass.

Chase & Town's excellent publication, The American Historical Record, is a work of a peculiar and rare class. It deals only in antiquities relating to our national history, and for statistical and out-of-the way information is extremely valua ble. Benson J. Lossing, its editor, has stores of such matter ever on hand.

The Peoples' Protector, Phila.

This work is one of the neatest publications of the present day, and possesses a permanent value for future reference. To preserve the history and antiquities of America and the biography of Americans is one of the main objects, and to no better hands could this important work be entrusted than to its editor, Benson J. Lossing, a gentleman whose reputation as a writer is well known throughout the country. We know of no magazine of more real value to the student or the reader desirous of attaining a correct knowledge of the early history and to such we warmly commend it. of the men, and incidents of the past and present,

Chester Pa. Republican.

This is really a Magazine worth having and well worth the price of subscription $3.00 per year. It is edited by Benson J. Lessing, and its contents give evidence of his competency and ability to conduct the editorial department in a satisfactory manner.-Buffalo Pest.

The Historical Record for May is on our table, and we find it quite an interesting number of this highly interesting magazine. It is a treasure of old news. Holmes Co Repubican.

ورم العرمة رقم