trary side which appear not? And this form, to say the truth, is so gross as it had not been possible for wits so subtle as have managed these things, to have offered it to the world, but that they hasted to their theories and dogmaticals, and were imperious and scornful towards particulars; which their manner was, to use but as "lictores et viatores," for sergeants and whifflers, "ad submovendam turbam," to make way and make room for their opinions, rather than in their true use and service."

Some over zealous admirers of Bacon, have declared that he first discovered the inductive method of investigation. But the above quotation disproves this. And Tycho Brahe, in a letter to Kepler, speaks of the inductive method in the most explicit terms. Copernicus practised it a century before Bacon wrote upon the subject. Galileo also practised it to a great extent. And long before Bacon wrote, Dr. Gilbert, of Colchester, had practised it to great extent in his investigations into magnetism. And it is generally thought, from what can be gathered of their tenets, that the ealier Greek philosophers, Thales, Anaxagoras and Pythagoras, were diligent observers of nature; and we have no doubt of the fact; for it is only in conditions of society, where, from some cause, an undue importance is given so metaphysical studies, that nature is neglected in philosophical inquiries. This was the case in Greece; this was also the case during the middle ages; and is now the case in metaphysical Germany. During such a state of things, whatever speculations are ingenious and novel lead the public mind captive, and hurry it on into the romantic wilds and dark wildernesses of conjec

ture.

But let it not be supposed, that because we deny that Bacon was the first who discovered the inductive method, that we wish to detract from his merit. His fame can neither be tarnished by our censure, nor brightened by our praise. We not only admit, but earnestly declare, that he was the great pioneer in modern science. For though he did not discover the inductive method, he was the first to develope its nature, to show its transcendent importance, and to lay down rules for conducting it aright. What other men saw faintly, he saw clearly and confidently. Though Tycho Brahe, Galileo, and Copernicus saw the morning twilight of the inductive method, he saw its full meridian blaze. It was he who poured the tide of fire over the fields of knowledge, and withered and consumed the poisonous growth, with which

they were over run, and prepared them for the rich harvests which have since been cultivated by those illustrious labourers who have followed his directions. When he was born, the temple of false philosophy still stood firm, and the priests who ministered at its altars thought it eternal. He was brought up in the false creed, and soon learned all its mysteries: but his bold Anglo-saxon mind could not be dwarfed so as to wear the fetters of the schools. He saw the folly of all the miserable pedantry which was mistaken for profound learning; and, in the full strength of his convictions, he determined to overthrow the false systems among which men had been so long bewildered, and to free the human mind from the bondage of prejudice and canonised authority. With this design, he wrote his Novum Organon; and let the spendid discoveries of modern science attest his success.

ART. IV. Catalogus Collegii Neo-Cæsariensis. Princetoniæ. Typis Roberti E. Hornor. 1839.

THE College of New Jersey was founded in 1746, and has therefore existed nearly a century. It appears from its last triennial catalogue that the number of its alumni is two thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, of whom four hundred and sixty-six were, or still are ministers of the gospel. The college was founded for the promotion of religion and learning; and the blessing of God has richly rewarded the zeal and labours of the devoted men to whom it owes its origin. Every thing connected with the history of an institution so intimately connected with the Presbyterian church, by whose members and for whose special service it was at first formed, must be a matter of interest to the readers of this work. Having recently obtained access to some old manuscripts, which throw light upon some points connected with the history of the college, we have not hesitated to avail ourselves of them for the benefit of our readers. These manuscripts consist principally of letters addressed by President Burr and Mr. Davies to the Rev. David Cowell, the first Pastor of the Presbyterian church at Trenton, and belong at present to the descendants of the last named gentleman. Besides the letters addressed to Mr. Cowell, there are some others written by

him relating to the affairs of the college, and several documents connected with the same subject.

It is well known that the synod of New York, at the request of the trustees, sent, in 1753, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent and Samuel Davies to Great Britain, to solicit contributions to aid in establishing the college, which was then in its infancy. It has, however, never been accurately known what was the result of their mission. The following extract of a letter to President Burr, dated Edinburgh, August 28. 1755, gives more information on this subject than we have elsewhere met with.

The writer says: "We were much afflicted here for a long time by a report which reached us from England, that the Rev. Mr. Davies had died, in his passage for Virginia. But we were most agreeably relieved from that distress by our getting notice very accidentally of his having written a letter from Virginia, to Mr. Ruggles, a gentleman of Essex, who has no correspondence with this country; but by the Rev. Mr. Davidson, of that place, our countryman, we got notice of it. It is very surprising neither Mr. Tennent nor Mr. Davies wrote one scrap to any person in this country on their arrival; which we think they ought to have done. We were uneasy; we heard nothing of Mr. Tennent till about ten days ago I received his acceptable letter of 6th June last from Philadelphia.

"I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that the collection for New Jersey College amounts to above a thousand pounds; whereof seven hundred were collected by my son and me. Mr. Archibald Ingram, of Glasgow, will acquaint you that he has got above three hundred pounds. You may depend on our remitting 700l. to William Belchier, Esq., at London, as you desire, and that in a month or two after this date; and Mr. Ingram is to acquaint you that he will remit 300%. at the same time; and therefore you may, with all freedom, draw on Mr. Belchier for 1000l. sterling, after receipt of this letter. And though your bills be drawn on receipt of this, it will be three months, or pherhaps four, ere your bills come to London, and therefore though the money be not in Mr. Belchier's hands till two months hence, it will be in time.

"There are many parishes whose ministers have not collected or sent in their collections; but as they are country parishes at a distance, we suppose, though they were come in, they would amount to but a small sum; but you may be

sure that Mr. Ingram and we are doing what we can to get in what collections are wanting. We applied to the last General Assembly in May, and they have renewed their appointment to all the ministers who have not collected, that they would with all speed collect and send their collections. They have also ordered the sundry presbyteries to call for our reeeipts from the respective ministers. We have published the act in our newspapers, which we hope will have a good effect. I cannot miss to acquaint you that there is included in the £700 above mentioned, fifty pounds received from the most honourable the Marquis of Lothian, president of the Society for propagating religious knowledge. We think it will be necessary to write a letter of thanks to his lordship in the name of the trustees, as you did to the Earl of Dumfries; and we find it is very agreeable to his lordship.

"What further collections we get in, we shall take care to acquaint you of, and remit to Mr. Belchier; but perhaps it will be six or eight months ere we can get it in from the sundry parishes which have not yet collected. The surprising appearance of providence in giving such success to Messrs. Davies and Tennent in their application in behalf of the College, and in preserving them and bringing them home in safety, is indeed great matter of thankfulness and praise. And we desire heartily to join with those who are magnifying our gracious Lord for his goodness. And we would fain hope that it was a token for good that the Lord will make that Seminary of learning eminently useful in sending forth labourers into his vineyard.

"I notice your relation to the Rev. and worthy Mr. Edwards, by marrying a daughter of his. I have had for seve ral years past a great regard for Mr. and Mrs. Edwards and their family, as he has been eminently useful by his labours in the ministry. I am heartily sorry for his present situation, but I would fain hope that the Lord will eminently appear in behalf of his people in North America and deliver them from their strong enemies. We have just now got a confused account of an awful stroke of Providence, of General Braddock's army being totally destroyed, and himself and many other officers killed. It seemed to be needful that we should meet with such an alarming check, for our too much trusting to the arm of flesh, and in thinking our navies and armies invincible, without looking to Him who is the only decider of battles. But I would fain hope that he will stay his rough wind in the day of his east wind, and by this awVOL. XII. No. 3.

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ful dispensation to humble us under his mighty hand, that he may exalt us in due time.

"My hearty respects to Mr. Tennent, and acquaint him that I had his letter. I heartily wish that our gracious Lord may emminently assist you in the station you are in, and in your endeavours to promote the religion of Jesus, especially among the students of divinity, that they may come forth qualified to make the knowledge of Christ manifest in every place where Providence may cast their lot.

"We suppose the collections through Britain and Ireland will not amount to less than four thousand pounds; at least they are far more than what you or any other of the trustees could expect; and I am sure it will be all carefully and frugally laid out on purposes for which it was designed. I shall be glad to hear from you with the first conveniency after the receipt of this. I think it will not be amiss that the trustees prepare next spring a state of the affairs of the college, and a short hint how the money has been laid out, that it may be laid before the General Assembly of this church in May next. "My son, Thomas Hogg, joins with me in our most affectionate respects to you and the trustees; and we shall always be ready to serve you and the college as much as is in our power.'

The sum of one thousand pounds, for which President Burr was by this letter authorized to draw, appears to have been the proceeds of a general collection in the several parishes ordered by the General Assembly; and obviously did not include the sums collected by the personal agency of Messrs. Tennent and Davies. It is probable also that the sum of four thousand pounds mentioned as the amount of the subscriptions in Britain and Ireland did not embrace the whole amount collected.

One of the principal points of interest in reference to this subject, is the evidence of mutual respect and confidence between our church and those to whom this application was made, which these contributions afford. Had the church of Scotland been then viewed with the feeling which is now manifested towards her by some who claim to be the true representatives of the fathers of our church, it is not likely that the synod of New York would have applied to her for aid, or that her General Assembly would have thought it worth while to order a general collection in their behalf. This was not a solitary example of friendly intercourse between the two churches. The synod of Philadelphia at an