the dead and buried past, live before him, and are
realized by him as much, if not more, than the most exciting scenes of
the living present. He follows the Christ as he treads the path of
sorrow--sees him in the manger--in the temple disputing with the
doctors--in the crowded streets followed by an awe-struck Hebrew
mob--alone in the wilderness--or dying, amidst fanatic scorn and hate, a
triumphant death: and the Doctor tells you these things as if he were
there--as if they had but happened yesterday--as if he had come fresh
from them all. Hence there is a pictorial charm in his preaching, such
as is possessed but by few, and excelled by none.

This is also characteristic of the Doctor's writing. He has used the
press extensively. I see he has just issued an account of one of the
sufferers in that unhappy missionary expedition to the island of Terra
del Fuego, the result of which was the slow death, by hunger, of the
parties engaged. His cheap series of tracts, entitled 'Happy Home,' are
considered, by the religious world, exquisite productions. They are much
in demand. This, however, is easily accounted for. The pastor of a rich
London congregation can always have a good sale for his works. The
wealthy members of his church will buy them for distribution; even the
very poor will make an effort to procure them. Bad or good, they are
sure to have a respectable sale. Happily, in Dr. Hamilton's case, this
respectable sale is deserved. His publications have the same beauties as
his sermons. It is to be regretted that the small tracts, published by
well-meaning men, with the best of motives, should be so little adapted
to that end. In reality, they do more harm than good. The very class
they are intended for do not read them; and those who do are precisely
the class that need to be stimulated into some life higher and grander
than your small tract-writer can generally conceive of. It is to the
credit of Dr. Hamilton that he does not disdain to write little books on
great subjects, and thus seek to rescue the tract system from the
contempt into which, owing to the injudiciousness of its friends, it has
so extensively fallen.

We have only to add here, that the Doctor sides with the Free Scotch
Church, and that, of that remarkable movement, he was one of the earliest
and warmest friends.

Miscellaneous.

THE REV. WILLIAM FORSTER.

Aristophanes, were he alive now, I imagine, instead of aiming his w