streams, which, pouring each of them through one or other of these mighty hearts, receive in their passage a colouring, an oxygenization, which continues ever after; and which as they divide again and branch out constantly into more numerous and smaller streamlets, are carried to the furthest extremity of every limb, and invigorate with health or impregnate with disease the entire system. Thus the Universities are continually receiving the life-blood of the community -those who, from their birth, their wealth, or the indications they have given of talent, are likely to be eminent or influential; they are received at the age, when their character must take its bent for good or evil, and sent forth with that character in a manner fixed; in their passage through the Universities, a tinge is communicated to their feelings, a tone to their opinions, which subsequent circumstances may sometimes modify, but can very rarely remove; and they go forth, thus embued with certain principles, into the camp, the court, the senate, the bar, the church, to exert an influence over every grade of society, some to advise royalty, some to instruct the children of the neighbouring poor; so that throughout the country there is none so exalted as to be above their reach, none so humble as to be below it.

PRESENT STATE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.-The Newcastle Journal has just published the following summary :

England.

Wales.

Scotland. Ireland. Total.

In the English Counties the Conservatives have a majority of 57; in Boroughs they are in a minority of 36; in the Welsh counties the Conservative majority is nine, but in the Boroughs the Whigs and Radicals are in a majority of 2. If a dissolution of Parliament were to take place at this time, we should feel disappointed, if the Conservatives were not to return at least thirty additional members, which would give them an English majority of 88 members a number more than sufficient to secure a working majority, superior to what the Whigs have enjoyed by about 16 votes. There is reason to hope that in the Scottish Counties a dissolution of Parliament would give the Conservatives additional strength; there is only one Conservative member returned from all the Scotch Boroughs! In Ireland we believe, there is nothing to lose, and everything to gain, The Popish ruffian O'Connell, at the last election, by every exertion and artifice, stretched his influence to its utmost limits. His tail has now seventy Irish joints, and it is scarcely possible that he can add one more joint to it. Taking, then, the aggregate of Conservative strength from the appearances of the present time in reference to the different constituences forming the Imperial Parliament, we think it is not indulging a belief too sanguine, when we say that the strength and prospects of the party in the country are highly flatteringand that such a position ought to stimulate the Conservatives to the most untiring exertion and the most spirited determination to maintain and extend their principles, till they again see them gloriously triumphant over faction, anarchy, and Popish rebellion.

CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.-In the early part of the last century great efforts were made on the continent, assisted by the support of the charitable in Engand, to convert the Jews to Christianity. Two zealous students of the University of Halle in Saxony, devoted themselves to this work of grace. They travelled over Europe several years, preaching and raising funds for the maintenance of proselytes, and for the publication of religious tracts which were dispersed in thousands by Russian officers, a Swedish bishop, the Danish missionaries, and other zealous persons, whenever an individual of the Jewish nation was to be found, and an account of their efforts was published in a pamphlet, drawn up by Professor Collenberg, of Halle, which was afterwards reprinted in London in 1751, with a view to its distribution among Jews and Mahommedans, by English merchants trading to the East. Of the seed thus sown, good fruit was expected, but tares sprung up to destroy the wholesome grain, and to disap

point the hopes of the sower. Hypocrisy and apostasy marred the fair work of conversion and the contributions intended for the persecuted convert were misapplied. In 1749 two German ministers, who had laboured sedulously in this vineyard, arrived in this country, where they were introduced to several distinguished and pious individuals, and preached in the German chapel here with great power; but the time for the conversion of the Jews had not yet arrived, and the mission was not attended with the result expected. The patronage and encouragement which it had received were however sufficient to induce several impostors to profess the same views; two of whom, a father and son, who, after having been several times baptized in various countries of Europe, came to repeat the experiment as a profitable pecuniary speculation: for like their predecessors, they found liberal friends; but whom they grossly deceived and persuaded not only that they themselves were presbyters, but also that they had converted, among others, an individual of the name of David Levi, whose example was calculated to produce a powerful effect upon his whole nation. During the time they resided here, preying upon the credulity of good and religious people, these two vile impostors contrived to amass no less a sum than £1,800, with which they returned to the contineut, there to enjoy their illgotten booty.

THE RUINS OF JERICHO.-The glory of this famous city is departed, and a solitary square tower, called by the monks the house of Zaccheus, is all that remains on the site of the once grand fortifications. A few hedges of wild cactus have supplanted the walls that fell under the blast of Joshua's trumpet; and since the days of Hiel the Bethelite, none has been found bold enough to fly in the face of the solemn denunciation against the rebuilder of Jericho. A few, very few, mud huts, tenanted by naked Arabs, and scarcely visible till closely approached, constitute the modern village of Rihhah, the Turkish name for Jericho. Here we pitched our tents, and the pilgrims strewed the plain around. Elliot's Travels.

UNDER THE ROSE. -The origin of this proverb has been referred to a tradition, that the rose was sacred to Harpocrates, the God of silence. Accordingly, it was placed on the ceilings of banqueting rooms to denote that whatever occurred under it was to be kept a secret.

DIAMONDS.-Louis de Berguen, a native of Bruges, was the first person who attempted to cut the diamond. He did so in 1456. Agnes Sorrel is said to have been the first female, who wore a diamond necklace in France.

GUARDIAN SPIRITS.-From Hesiod, we perceive that the Greeks believed in Guardian-spirits; such was the idea of Socrates respecting his daiμwv. In the old Persian system they were called Furuhers, and supposed to be associated with man from his birth to his death. The Chaldees maintained the same doctrine according to the philosopher Julian, quoted by Suidas and Creuzer, has shewn it to have been also an Egyptian tenet.

THE WORSHIP OF THE HEAVENLY HOST.-The Sabæans or worshippers of the heavenly host did not exclude the Supreme Being from their adoration, but worshipped the seven planets, as Divinities of a secondary rank. The sidereal worship indeed destroyed all religious purity, and effaced all just notions of the first cause, in process of time; but originally it would appear, that the planetary orbs were accounted emblems of God. The Arabs say, that the Sabæans prayed to them three times a day, and practised certain legal purifications.

BABYLON. The origin of this name is affirmed to have been bab-Bel-the gate or court of Bel. The term gate was frequently used of old, and is still so in the East. It was not uncommonly applied in this sense in the Hebrew Bible. See Esther ii. 19. 21. lii. 2. 33. Dan: ii. 49.

SATRAP. This name of office comes from the Persian chatr or Sanscrit ch'hatra an umbrella,-the privilege of having such borne over him having denoted anciently the office of the Satrap. The Satrap was in Pahlvi called Chattrapa, in Sanscrit Ch'hattrapati i. 2. Lord of the umbrella.

* The ch must be pronounced soft as in Church,

108

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Our Reverend Friend S. mistakes us, by supposing that we have any inclination to the levelling system, or to low Church principles. To the Church of England, as exhibited in its Articles and its Liturgy, we cling—and whatever we perceive calculated to destroy the adhesion of others to these we assail. With respect to the Apostolical Succession, it is very evident that the modern theory is intended to favour the Roman Church, and to seduce us to her communion: whilst, however, we deny it as incapable of critical proof, we as positively affirm that our Church is Apostolical, being founded according to the Apostolic institutions, and that no Church can be such which has not the Apostolical gradations of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons. In our next we will more fully discuss this matter.

The First Volume of the New Series of THE CHURCHMAN, with Portraits of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Exeter, and the late Bishop of St. Asaph, in cloth boards, price 7s. is still for sale.

The Engraving and History of Westminister Abbey next month.

We have received Dr. Rudge's Communications, and will insert them in accordance with his wishes.

We are obliged by the hints which VERAX has given to us, and will thank him to supply us with further information on the subject.

The Essay from Tokenhouse Yard was misplaced: it has been found, and shall

receive attention.

We wish our Correspondents to remember, that articles intended for immediate insertion should reach us on or before the 15th day of the month; since some which would otherwise have appeared in this number, arrived too late for the press. We subjoin a letter which we have received from Mr. Smith, and sincerely rejoice to find that we were mistaken as to his opinions:

"King's College, London, Feb. 22, 1839. "SIR,-Although I cannot but feel gratified with the commendation which you have bestowed on the 'Pilgrim's Staff' in the last number of THE CHURCHMAN,' I cannot avoid expressing my regret, that any circumstance connected with the work should have induced you to conclude that I hold opinions partaking of Puseyism.' You refer, in particular to the insertion of the symbol of our common faith in the title page. I trust, Sir, that I shall never be ashamed' of 'the cross;' but I should indeed be ashamed to identify myself with a party, who appear to me, no less than to yourself, to be working infinite mischief to the interests of our holy religion; whose doctrines and rites assimilate so closely with the apostolic simplicity of the Church of Christ.

"To this explanation I will but add, that I have long been acquainted with the opinions of the Bishop of London, and could not therefore have so grossly mistaken them, as to have sought to raise myself in his estimation by taking part with those, whose aberrations he repudiates. I pray too, that I may never be tempted to seek the applause of man at the expense of my religious convictions.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your very faithful Servant,

"H. SMITH.

"Will you do me the kindness to notice this disclaimer in The Churchman.' I request this favour as an old subscriber, as well as in my humble character of Editor of the book reviewed.

"The Editor of The Churchman."

PRINTED BY W. E. PAINTER, STRAND, LONDON.