Contemporary Literature [pp. 362-378]

1876.] CONTE~IPORARY I~ITERATU kE. 373
Constantinople; and fully deserved the tribute paid by the Earl of Shaftesbury to the American missionaries in Turkey, that il~ey are "a marvellous
combination of common sense and piety," and that "they have done more
toward upholding the truth and spreading the Gospel of Christ in the East,
than any other body of men in this or in any other age." Though Dr.
Goodell kept no diary, yet his characteristic letters, written during his forty
years'~residence in Turkey, and other papers, ftirnished abundant materials,
so that the chief difficulty was in the selection of just enough, and the best.
This has been admirably accomplished by Dr. Prime. The traits of Dr.
Goodell's character come out rather incidentally, than by formal descriptions
or elaborate panegyrics. We receive a living impression of an earnest, wise,
devoted, persevering Christian Missionary-faithful day by day, yet also
ready for any crisis-a strong character, tempered by an affectiqnate disposition, and elevated by divine grace-simple, and yet. shrewd-witty as well
as wise-unconscious of itself, while influencing all around. Tbe book, too,
gives graphic illustrations of life in the East-of all the domestic incidents of
a missionary career. For the history of the Turkish Empire during these
eventful years, it furnishes important and valuable data aad documents. It
will take its rank among our best missionary biographies and ought especially to be in the hands of all our students.
The Presbyterian Board has published two works, ~ppropriate to the
Centennial year. I'rcsbyterians, and the P~cvo1ution, by the REv. W. P.
BREED, D.D., i2rno., pp. 205, gives interesting historical sketches of the
services which Presbyterians rendered to the country, in connection with our
revolutionary history. They contributed largely to the preparations for
Independence, to the success of the war, and to the shaping of our republican government. In the latter respect their influence was very great.
Presbyterianism itself is, as Dr. Breed justly shows, a Representative Republican Form of Government. Much still remains to be gathered and written
on this point. The "Westmoreland County Resolutions," and the famous
"Mecklenburg Declaration," are described in the fifth and sixth chapters.
The "final action of the Presbyterian Church," in chapter eight, shows the
true spirit of our fathers, and that they were very far from holding to some
recent theories about the indifference of the church to all state affairs. The
inspiring record of Dr. Witherspoon is fitly commemorated. Dr. Breed's
useful volume should have a wide circulation. The other volume is an Historicat S~tch of the Synod of Phiiade/~hia, by REV. R. M. PATTERSON,
of Philadelphia; with 13iogra~hica/ Sketches qf Bistin~u?~~hed ~~embers of
the Synod of Phiiade1~hta, by Rev. ROBERT DAVIDSON, D.D. I2mo, pp.
128. A careftilly prepared yet concise work. There should be similar
volumes for all our Synods, in due celebration of our Centennial. We trust
that our Historical Society, under its efficient Secretary, Dr. Craighead,
may be encouraged in its present effort to-bring about this result.
Whillet & Shepperson, Richmond, Va., publish the Lzfr of 7arnes
Henly Thornwel4 D.D., LL.D., Presirlent of South Carolina College, and