The Character and Mission of Woman; a Lecture applicable to the New Marriage Law. By John Omer Squier, Minister of Church Street Meeting House, Deptford. London: Smallfield and Son, and J. Mardon.

THE Lecturer has taken occasion of the late Act of the Legislature to introduce to his own, and we believe some other congregations, the very important considerations which relate to the situation and duties of the female sex, and the happiness which Divine Providence has caused to result from their society and kind offices. Our readers may judge how highly the author estimates these advantages by the following extracts :

"How valuable and sacred are the relations which the Creator has appointed and established in society! How deeply implanted is the sentiment of compassion and kindness in woman! How vast her capacity for self-sacrifice and patient endurance! What adversity or affliction can vanquish her faithful love? What neglect or ingratitude can extinguish in her tender bosom the generous flame of sympathy and benevolence? What a thrill of delight vibrates through the soul, after long absence from a cheerful home, when we hear the endearing names of mother, sister, wife, and cherish the fond hope of realizing the pleasures of their company! Who can forget the condescending goodness of the Saviour to the interesting family at Bethany? Or the respectful terms in which the Apostle Paul mentions the mother and the grandmother of Timothy, with other excellent women who laboured with him in the gospel?

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It is woman that teaches the young idea how to shoot,' and supports the steps of tottering age. She is the first and the last to succour, help, and comfort man. her belongs the honour of forming the infant mind, unfolding the beauties of the human blossom, and ripening the soul for immortality. When we come into the world, she is there, to greet us with smiles and caresses; and when we go out of it, she is there, to soothe and sustain, to whisper peace, and impart consolation. Unaided by woman's tender care, what can man do for his little children? Without her unwearied kindness, how are they

to be brought up, and qualified for stations of usefulness in society?"

Regarding the recent enactment as a privilege conferred upon Dissenters, our author is led to point out to this class of the community the duties incumbent upon them.

"The sacred cause of Nonconformity with which is identified religious liberty-requires of all its supporters the utmost purity, the greatest circumspection. It should be their constant aim to exemplify, as well as profess, an elevated religious character; to outstrip their brethren in the noble career of goodness; to live not only above reproach, but beyond suspicion. The most dangerous schisms are domestic broils; and a bad life is a most fearful and fatal heresy. Oh! let not the Gospel be hindered by the folly and criminality of its professors, nor its Author wounded in the houses of his friends. If any thing can provoke the scoffs of unbelievers, it is such perverseness and madness. If there be laughter in hell, or weeping and trembling in angels, it is at such a sight."

It may reasonably be expected, that all real Dissenters should avail themselves of the facility of contracting marriage by their own ministers, if they are desirous of entering into that holy state. But we venture to think that our author has somewhat too strongly marked the inconsistency of the contrary course, when he says that " such persons violate the clearest dictates of reason and conscience, commit an act of treason against public liberty, and must expect to be visited with the well-merited contempt, if not indignant reprehension, of all judicious and upright people."

may

It is true, that the Lecturer has pre-supposed the motives to be "morbid delicacy," (if delicacy at all, it not be easy precisely to define the species) "aristocratic stateliness, or blind and servile custom." We do not by any means defend the inconsistency of Dissenters' conformity, on the occasion of marriage, to the rites of the Established Church; but we can imagine hesitation to depart from the hitherto general custom to proceed from feelings altogether distinct from want of principle; and therefore

to be treated with more consideration than any violation of plain and acknowledged duty.

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We wish to recommend this Lecture to our readers, as containing much amiable and serious sentiment expressed in impassioned and frequently elevated style; but we venture to suggest, that the effect of certain passages is somewhat weakened (to our own ears certainly) by too great a fondness for alliteration; never, we believe, to be regarded as a recommendation, though it may occasionally be tolerated by correct writers. We venture to point out a passage at the beginning of page 25 as an illustration of our remark, in which the jingle of sounds occurs, "Forms and fastings, tithes and taxes, surplices and, steeples, creeds and cathedrals."

THE LATE DR. TURNER, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.

THIS eminent teacher died on the 12th of February last, and is generally considered to have fallen a sacrifice to his professional studies. We think our readers will be interested in the following delineation of his character by his friend, Professor Christison, of Edinburgh:

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Few words are needed to depict a character, like Dr. Turner's, in which open sincerity of mind and simplicity of heart were the predominating qualities. He was the very soul of honour in every act and thought: without this quality, indeed, his reputation as a faithful and exact experimentalist never could have been established. Himself undeviating in probity, and keenly alive to defects in the character and conduct of others, he was nevertheless gentle and indulgent to all. Of warm feelings, yet in constant possession of temper, energetic in action and thought, yet mild and winning in his deportment,-unpretending, yet without reserve in his address and manner,-he seldom failed to gain at once the esteem and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. During the many years we passed in one another's society, I have reason to believe that he never made an enemy, and never lost a friend. In his domestic relations he was a pattern of all that is good. The junior members of his father's family resided con

stantly with him, and received from him all a father's care and tenderness, as well as a brother's warmest love. Scarcely a scheme did he plan without their interests forming an essential element of it: in every recreation they were his never-failing companions. Throughout all the relations of life, with his pupils, his colleagues, his friends, and the world at large, he exhibited the same kindness of feeling, the same disinterested conduct. But in no respect was his character more strongly marked than by his Christian principles and practice. At all times his mind was deeply imbued with the feeling of true religion; and, far from allowing the pursuit of science to withdraw him from religious contemplation, which has unhappily been the case with too many of its cultivators, his faith grew in purity with his knowledge. In his latter years, his favourite recreation was the study of the history and principles of the Christian church; and his great delight was to follow this study in company with the members of his family. Under such mental discipline, and the hallowing influence of long and increasing illness, his mind was purified of what remained of this earth's corruption. That his faith was as pure as the faith of man can be, we have the testimony of his intimate friend and former colleague, the Vicar of Saint Bride's, and the internal evidence of his own deportment on his deathbed. That deathbed was in many respects so solemn and instructive, as to have been taken by his reverend friend for the subject of a most eloquent and impressive funeral address to his congregation*, from which I need make no apology for borrowing the leading particulars of his closing scene.

“During his final illness, he had shewn throughout the utmost resignation and cheerfulness. When at length told for the first time of his danger, he desired to receive the sacrament with his brother and sisters, in presence of the members of his household. Having communicated, he called his brother to his bedside, and bidding him feel his pulse, Is it not,' said he, 'perfectly calm?" It is,' was the reply. 'Then what can make it so at such an hour?

"The Philosopher entering like a Child into the Kingdom of Heaven. A Sermon, preached on the occasion of the Death of Edward Turner, M.D., &c. By the Rev. Thomas Dale, Vicar of St. Bride's, London. Taylor and Walton. 1837."

What but the power of religion? Who but the Spirit of God?'

"After some time spent in occasional conversation of the same purport, symptoms at last came on whose indications he knew full well. Painfully struggling for utterance, he recovered his speech for a little, and spoke kindly and cheerfully to his relatives of his condition. I could not have believed,' he said, 'that I could be happy on my deathbed: I am content my career should close.' The last effort of reason was to answer, soon afterwards, the question put by an anxious relative,— Is not Christ as good as his word?' " Yes,' he faltered, Quite;' and with these words he became insensible, and soon expired."

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A PRAYER, BY A DECEASED MINISTER. LORD God Almighty, most holy, and abundant in goodness; whose we are, and whom we are bound to serve; who searchest the heart, and art to be sanctified in those who call upon thy name; who hearest prayer, and satisfiest the desire of such as seek to do thy will-we would adore thee with awful submission, solemn recollection, and lively faith. We would engage in the worship of thee, the greatest and best of beings, with the noblest faculties of our minds, with the purest affections of our hearts. We would bid memory bring back to our remembrance some portion of the blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us. To enumerate them all is far more than we are able to do; but we would not forget all thy benefits. We would employ our understanding in contemplating thy perfections as manifested by thy works of nature, providence, and grace. We would impress our souls with such a sense of thy power, wisdom, and goodness, as shall cause us to fear thy displeasure as the greatest of evils, to rejoice in thy government with unshaken confidence, and to love thee with that superlative affection which is productive of unreserved obedience. That these good fruits may, through the co-operation of thy Spirit with our sincere endeavours, be brought forth in us by these religious exercises, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, as whose disciples we are assembled, on the first day of the week, in commemoration of his glorious resurrection, the pledge of our own.