drawing in the Bayeux tapestry. Buildings represented are covered with tiles, seeming to indicate a southern origin. The same might also be inferred from the umbrella or parasol held over the head of a king, in the drawing which separates the 26th and 27th Psalms. The introduction of this canopy into northern Europe is of very recent origin. The agriculture, the sports, the arts, and the manners of the period are easily made out. Double and triple representation is constant in these illustrations, enabling even the unlearned reader to trace the meaning of the poet, and the progress of the action described, independently of his words.

Considered in its connection, either with literature, art, or theology, this fac-simile must be regarded with great interest. Although the scrutiny to which it has been submitted, has caused to be rejected the claim which was made for it to an extreme antiquity, yet the period to which it must be assigned is the age of Charlemagne, and of Haroun al Raschid. The great soldier and legislator of medieval Europe died in 814; and the delight of Eastern fable expired in 810. The manuscript here presented to us was actually contemporaneous with these illustrious men, whom romance and song have so loved to commemorate, that something of mist and halo seems to environ those glorious names. This sensible relic of their age may help to rehabilitate them in colors of reality. The very strokes of the pen, which we are here enabled to trace, were drawn in the life-time of this glorious pair. We may even go so far as to imagine, that these very pages may have passed beneath the eyes of Charlemagne, friend and patron, as he was, of learning and religion. "The northeast of France" has been conjectured to be the region in which this manuscript was written; and that monarch reigned and is buried at Aix-la-Chapelle. When this manuscript was written, Germany was yet pagan; and Saxony had been the late and unwilling convert of Charlemagne. The fanatical hosts of Mohammed had been checked-half way across France--by Charles Martel, only seventy years before. The Danes and Normans had scarce begun their invasions of England and the south. The earliest. university had not yet begun to be. Slavery prevailed in every part of Europe. America was to remain yet seven hun

dred years beneath the horizon of night. This Psalter is more than a thousand years old.

The photographing of this manuscript may well seem an auspicious incident for the world of letters. We had fac-similes before of a few famous Greek manuscripts, executed at an enormous cost, and, therefore, accessible to few. Latin palæography had very seldom enjoyed such honors. And, as ancient manuscripts will never cross the Atlantic, American scholars. may well rejoice at this opportunity-not merely to scan a brief fac-simile-but virtually to study, at leisure, a whole codex of early date. It has been suggested, by one of those who reported on the Utrecht Psalter, that the British Museum might borrow and photograph the chief palæographic treasures of Europe, and thus familiarize English scholars with secrets of learning shut up in Paris, Vienna, and Rome. Why, rather, should not an American association be formed, composed of wealthy amateurs, and the chief colleges, seminaries, and libraries of the country, expending ten thousand dollars a year in photographing the best monuments of learning of every kind? This would be virtually to efface the disadvantage of our transatlantic habitation, and place the original evidence on all questions of sacred and classical learning within the reach of the poorest scholar. A hundred partners, each contributing a hundred dollars, would afford the needful funds; and each would, in twenty years, be possessed of a store of palæographic documents far superior to the present treasures of the most favored metropolis.

Art. VIII.-CURRENT NOTES.

REVIVALS IN COLLEGES.

AS THE Day of Prayer for colleges, schools, and youth, recommended by the Assembly (the last Thursday of January) is at hand, we wish to call the attention of ministers, churches-and especially of Christians more immediately connected with these institutions-to the great importance and promise of Christian colleges, in connection with the revival of religion now in progress through the country.

Contrary to a very extensive impression, colleges organized like most of the older American colleges, contain more that is favorable to religion in their individual members, and favorable to these great religious awakenings which stir communities to their depths and en masse, by the powers of the worll to come, than is found in most other spheres of life and activity, open to young men. Allowing the utmost for the temptations, and the powerful social currents toward evil that undeniab'y have place in them, still, where do no: these have place? Where are young men set free from the moral probation which tests whether they will give way to their ruin, or wi hstand and conquer, unto glory, honor, and immortality? On the other hand, there are few spheres of youthful activity combining so many and such potent influences for good. The nature of the student's occupation involves constant attention to themes pure and high, ei her referring directly to the Great Supreme, or to topics related thereto, and lifting the soul from Nature up to Nature's God. This is true in various degrees of the Physical, Mental, and Moral Sciences.

Then it is ensured, as no where else, that all the academic community regularly attend daily and Sabbath worship, and receive regular religious instruction, so that they are never allowed to forget God, the soul, and eternity, as too often happens when they go from home to the mercantile or mechanical pursuits of the cities.

Then they come almost entirely from the Christian families, where they have been religiously trained, and have imbibed religious convictions and impressions, so that a large proportion have already become Christians in full communion by profession. For the last few years a record of the church relations of students matriculated in Princeton College has been kept, and from two-fifths to one-half of those entering there were already communicants. Others become so during their college course, and it may be safely assumed that something like half or more than half of the students of our Christian colleges are ordinarily Christian professors of some evangelical denomination. Could all these be induced to act as the salt of the earth, and to shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, what a power for good beyond estimation would they be! How often would they arrest those in the downward road to perdition, while they "allure them to brighter worlds and lead the way."

And how does the quick and intense social interworking of college companionship running through so great a throng, constitute a medium through which, if evil sometimes runs, the celestial fire of God's spirit will fly with electric speed from soul to soul.

This is no fancy sketch or mere theory. It is verified in the relig

ious history of American Christian colleges, in which, how often have those familiar with them seen the Word of God running very swiftly, and the whole body of students stilled and awed by the felt presence of God; the all pervading inquiry heard, "what shall we do to be saved," the chief anguish sorrow for sin, the most exuberant pleasure that of sin forgiven, "joy in God through the atonement," and in the hope of his glory. Such scenes have we repeatedly witnessed in both the colleges with which we have been connected, and among the fruits are great numbers of Christian ministers and laymen, serving their generation by the will of God, ornaments and pillars in church and State, some holding the supreme places of government and teaching in the churches to which they belong. Saying nothing of those Presbyterians and Congregationalists who hold chief pulpits or positions in seats of learning, two of our own class in Yale college who were subjects of a great awakening there, became and are now bishops of the Episcopa! Church, and quite as conspicuous are the cases of Bishop Johns and the late-Bishop McIlvaine of Princeton College.

Shall we not pray and labor for such a visitation in our colleges during the present winter, which, if it bring in the reign of death in nature, is eminently the season of spiritual harves:s? Shall it be that the church at large shall be thus quickened and increased, while colleges and other educational institutions are passed by, because they do not prepare the way of the Lord, and open wide the gates that the King of Glory may come in? God forbid; and let not colleges wait till the town or surrounding country, and their churches, are reached. Chris tian colleges present far greater facilities for the beginning of such a work than average communities, while, commonly, the revivals that have reached and blessed the churches and people around, have begun and had their strongest development in the college. And not only this, but so widely ramified are the connections of colleges, through their students, with other churches, that the sacred flame glowing in them has of en kindled itself in other and distant churches, and thus promoted a general revival. So, in Yale College, in 1831, the work having first pervaded the college, spread thence with unprecedented power to the town, and thence to nearly every town in the State of Connecticut.

Let, then, all members, guardians and friends of these institutions, ask themselves, shall it be due to our apathy and sluggishness, if we now fail of similar blessings? Shall it be so that God will pass by and let us alone because we are joined to our idols? That Christ carnot do many mighty works among us because of our unbelief?

Art. IX.-CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

THEOLOGY.

William Mullen, of Belfast, Ireland, and Scribner, Welford & Armstrong, of New York, bring out Science and Revelation; a Series of Lectures in Reply to the Theories of Tyndall, Huxley, Darwin, and Spencer; a goodly octavo, at the price of $3.00.

These lectures were called forth by the strongly materialistic and atheistic utterances which proceeded from Mr. Tyndall and others, before the British Association at Belfast, in the autumn of 1874. These have been made familiar to the thinking world, and have excited the general abhorrence and detestation of Christendom. It was felt that an antidote was needed in that

city where the poison was sown. The result is the volume before us, portions of which had already been called for in pamphlet form by the thousand, and even ten thousand.

The several topics and authors, are as follows:

Science and Revelation: Their Distinctive Provinces; with a Review of the Theories of Tyndall, Huxley, Darwin, and Herbert Spencer; by J. L. Porter, D.D., LL.D., Belfast. Design in the Structure and Fertilization of Plants-a Proof of the Existence of God; by Dr. Moore, Glasnevin. An Examination of Herbert Spencer's Biological Hypothesis; by Rev. Professor Watts, D.D., Belfast. The Doctrine of an Impersonal God in its Effects on Morality and Religion; by Rev. W. Todd Martin, M.A., Newtownards. Miracles and Prophecy-Direct Proofs that the Bible is a Revelation from God; by Rev. A. C. Murphy, M.A., Londonderry. Prayer in Relation to Natural Laws; by Rev. Professor Wallace, Belfast. Man's Responsibility for His Belief; by Rev. John Macnaughtan, Belfast. The Life and Character of Christ an Evidence of the Truth of Christianity; by Rev. John Moran, Belmont. The Achievements of the Bible a Proof of its Divine Origin; by Rev. William Magill, Cork.

The treatment of these momentous themes is able, of some of them remarkably so. The book in its spirit and contents is highly adapted to correct the aberrations of minds warped by the fallacies of fashionable skepticism, to strengthen the wavering, and to furnish valuable materials for offensive and defensive warfare to those who are called to contend for the truth against the specious attacks of recent assailants.

While all these lectures are able, and often fresh and original in their presentation of the issues and arguments of the controversies involved, we have been specially impressed with that of Mr. Martin, on the Doctrine of an Impersonal God in its Effects on Morality and Religion."

Dodd & Mead publish The Character of St. Paul, by Dean Howson, a course of five lectures delivered at Oxford, on some endowment, it does not appear what, except that it prescribes that their topics are to "have some