one is now in operation, in which scholarships are endowed. Primary schools are formed, and the governments of some of the states are preparing to establish them in all the towns and villages, by passing laws and appropriating funds for the purpose. Schools on the plan of mutual instruction have been successfully established in San Luis Potosi, Guadalaxara, Guanaxuato, and other places. It is an omen in the highest degree auspicious for the future liberty and prosperity of the southern republics, that their rulers apply themselves with so much zeal in advancing the cause of education. Colombia has set a brilliant example, both by her laws and her practice; and the recent munificence of Bolivar, in aiding the schools of his native city, Caracas, has added a lustre to his name, which can never fade away, even if the glory of his conquests in defence of justice and liberty should perish.

It is a laudable effort, which the Mexican government are making, to restore and preserve all the ancient documents in the archives of the viceroyalties, and also the relics of antiquity now remaining. Several persons are constantly engaged in this work, and the arrangement of some of the branches is already completed in alphabetical order. Mr Alaman relates, that the index alone to the documents pertaining to the branch of tobacco, which have been assorted and arranged, comprises two folio volumes. The branch of excise has an index, which, together with the printed tracts on the subject, extends to eightytwo volumes. The number of documents, which have been transferred to the secretary's office in three branches alone, namely, finance, ecclesiastical benefices, and indulgences, amounts to four thousand five hundred and ninetysix. All these are so arranged, that, by the aid of the index, any document can be immediately found. A curious history of the oppression, folly, and superstition of the old Spanish government in Mexico, will probably be one day drawn from this mass of materials. Many specimens of antiquity are still preserved. A museum to contain the whole is proposed.

Improvements are taking place in the manufactures of Mexico, caused chiefly by the abundant introduction of foreign fabrics, and the necessity of making articles nearly as good, to secure for them a market. Cotton spinning machines, on the plan of those in the United States, have been erected

with entire success. Privileges and monopolies for cotton manufactories have been solicited from congress, but as yet the-e have not been granted. A paper manufactory is established at San Luis Potosi, and another is erecting in the vicinity of Mexico. At Durango a glass house is in successful operation. Agriculture is pursued with more advantage than formerly; olive trees, vineyards, silkworms, and coffee are cultivated, and promise to open a wide and profitable field for future industry.

In short, the prospects of Mexico never shone so brightly as at the present moment. A form of government is adopted, which has been the deliberate choice of the people; internal commotions are quelled; the arts and the enjoyments of peace are taking place of the distractions, privations, and sufferings of war; habits conducive to a new and better state of things are rapidly forming; and the benefits of the change will soon be understood and deeply felt. The government is in the hands of men, whose patriotism and virtue have been tried by a long and bitter experience. Gaudalupe Victoria, and General Bravo, the President and Vice President of Mexico, have been conspicuous actors through the whole revolutionary scenes; they have always been found on the side of humanity, justice, and liberty; skilful in war, brave in battle, and true at all times, they have resisted tyranny with equal firmness, whether in the person of a Spanish viceroy, or a self styled emperor; their ambition has been to see their country independent, enlightened, and happy. With such men as these, aided by the political wisdom of others less known, but not less worthy, the liberties of Mexico are secure. We have fears, that the federative system of government will fail of its purposes, that some of the extremes are but ill qualified to act wisely for themselves, and that the parts in general are too loosely attached to each other to be easily controlled by the head. A temporary experiment of the central system, like that of Colombia, would have been more safe. But whatever intermediate events may occur, the result is certain; the Mexican people are fully qualified to govern themselves, and they will soon learn to do it in the best way.

ART. IX.-CRITICAL NOTICES.

1.-A Sermon preached to the Church in Brattle Square, in two Parts, July 18, 1824. By JOHN G. PALFREY, A. M. Pastor of that Church. Published by Request. 8vo. pp. 81.

THE interest of this discourse is not confined to the events commemorated by the preacher, as having been remarkable in the history of the Church in Brattle Square, but is increased by an account of the life and actions of men, who have held important stations in society, and been ornaments to their country. Among the clergymen, successively at the head of that church, have been men not only of the highest theological and literary rank, but who have exercised a wide influence over the political and social concerns of the community. Dr Colman, the first pastor, was a correspondent of bishop Hoadly, Dr Watts, and bishop Kennett; he was the medium through which benefactions to a large amount for Harvard College were received from Holden and Hollis; and he was often employed by the legislature of Massachusetts in drafting letters and addresses on the affairs of the colony. He died in 1747. Mr Palfrey speaks of him in the following manner.

Among the worthies of the Massachusetts clergy, we can perhaps select no character, which we may regard with more thorough esteem, than that of Dr Colman; and not much more may be said of any man. If his mind was not of that class, by which great revolutions are produced in the intellectual or social world, it was still one of uncommon comprehensiveness, penetration, wisdom, and activity; and it had been cultivated by an enlarged acquaintance with books and men. His writings, besides giving token to a liberal spirit, a well disciplined understanding, various knowledge, and a warm heart, show, for the period in which they were produced, a remarkable acquaintance with the true beauties of composition. To nature and to opportunity he was probably alike indebted for a manly and winning address. Yet, formed as he was for the admiration of a community like this, by a union of accomplishments separately possessed by very few, he rose above the ambition of being eminent, to the ambition of being useful. With all his powers to impress and attract, he was not a man to be content with the notoriety, which consists in being followed by the tasteful, and applauded by the talkative. Like every other man, who thinks it better to be serviceable than to be flattered, he gave himself much to occupations, of which fame takes no cognisance. He was industrious, as every man needs to be, who would make

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himself felt while he lives, and remembered when he dies. He possessed a truly kind heart, as is shown by his generous treatment of Mather, a man, whose character, intellectual and moral, has been sometimes astonishingly overrated; by his constant affection for his colleague, whose views were sometimes different from his own, and who was not a person very easy to differ from without estranging; and by the truly parental attachment, which, after his colleague's death, he transferred to his son. He was a man of liberal public spirit, and of active and enlarged benevolence. The poor of his charge always found in him a brotherly attention to their wants. The town was his debtor for improvements, which he hazarded his popularity to effect. The College, besides owing, in a great part, to his influence the brilliant presidency of Leverett, and the bounty of the Hollises and Holdens, was indebted to him through a course of years for various services, not more honorable and important than laborious. He was animated by the distinguishing spirit of Christian philanthropy, and desired to do extensive good to the souls of men. It was at his instance, that this Church, and others of the town, voted to make a contribution, twice in each year, to form what was called an Evangelical Treasury, devoted to the extension of the knowledge and influence of religion. He was a man, finally, of true piety, proved in a series of domestic trials, some of a kind the hardest to be borne; in the zealous services of a successful ministry, and by the uniform tenor of a sober, righteous, and godly life.' pp. 11-13.

For many years William Cooper was colleague with Dr Colman, and they were both succeeded by Samuel Cooper, so much distinguished for the active part he took in the early scenes of the Revolution.

The ministry of Samuel Cooper,' says Mr Palfrey, 'had but just begun, when he lost the friendship and counsel of his and his father's venerable associate. He was a young man of great promise, which his subsequent life in no degree discredited. He had been known to the society from his childhood. He had had the advantage of the prayers, instructions, and example of a most pious and watchful parent. He had come from college with a blameless character and a high literary reputation, and he had inherited his father's place in the heart of the venerable shepherd of the flock. He had not begun to preach, when the society turned their attention to a supply of the vacant office; but partly, as it seems, through the influence of Dr Colman, he was invited to officiate here as soon as his studies should be completed. December 31, 1744, he was elected colleague pastor; and having made a request similar to his father's on the like occasion, was ordained, and entered on the active duties of his cure in the second following year, May 21, 1746.

'The life of Dr Cooper was one of various and conspicuous usefulness. His education, from the first, had been a suitable preparation for eminence; nor were his advantages wasted on an unpromising subject. Nature had marked him out for a leading man. Acuteness, vivacity, versatility, decision, and the capacity of severe application, were prominent characteristics of his mind. In addition to a person uncommonly dignified and engaging, and a most melodious voice, he possessed in remarkable perfection what seemed a natural fluency and grace, and he had cultivated the arts of writing and speaking with laborious assiduity. If not enjoying the reputation of being extensively learned, he was, however, familiar with the best writers, and was always found in possession of the information which the exigency required. To less uncommon endowments, he joined an address, and what is called a talent for affairs, which, if he had not been the leading divine, would perhaps have distinguished him as the most accomplished gentleman and adroit statesman of his country and time. He filled the clerical office at a period, when it had not ceased to be understood to give the right and opportunity to exert an important influence in public affairs; and in the revolutionary movements of this quarter, he had an agency scarcely second to any man's. He was the confidential friend of Adams, Hancock, and other leading spirits of the time. It was to him that the famous letters of Hutchinson were transmitted, which kindled such a flame against the English ministry and their government here; and among the writings, which alternately stimulated and checked the public mind in that season of stormy excitement, there were perhaps none of greater efficiency than those of Dr Cooper. If other hands launched the lightning, his guided the cloud.

But it is chiefly of his ministerial character that I ought here to speak. With such gifts as those of Dr Cooper, it was impossible that a good man should not be eminently useful in his chosen and peculiar sphere of labor. Unhappily the Church records do not furnish materials for estimating the success of his ministry, having been almost entirely neglected by him in the midst of his various cares. It is certain, however, that his preaching was attended with as great interest, to say the least, as that of any of his cotemporaries; and that his society was numerous, and comprehended a large number of distinguished citizens. His published sermons,- -methodical, elaborate, animated and impressive,-would certainly be ranked, in this better day of pulpit eloquence, as productions of unusual merit. It has perhaps been sometimes taken for granted, by persons not particularly acquainted with his habits, that the active part, which he took in political concerns, must have interfered with the punctual discharge of his pastoral duties. But of