are like to gie them as guid as we get. And for the hangin', the Scotsman is no deservin' o' the name that's no ready to brave death, in any form, for his country.'

"Bruce caught the enthusiasm of the speaker. A tear started into his eye, and seizing the hand of the humble patriot—

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My noble fellow,' he said, would to God all Scotsmen were like thee. Beneath that homely plaid of thine there beats a heart of which any knight in Christendom might be proud. Lose or win, this shall not be forgotten.'

"Having made the necessary arrangements, and agreed upon a sign for communicating with each other, Binnoch took his departure from the castle of Torwood.

"The next day, the men selected by Bruce, were at Binnoch's house, having been admitted through the preconcerted signal. They repaired to the barn, and were snugly packed away in the hay-cart, armed with steel caps and short swords. Every thing being in readiness, Binnoch hid a sword amongst the hay for his own use, and in such a situation that he could easily seize it when wanted. He also provided himself with a poniard, which he concealed beneath his waistcoat. Thus prepared at all points, the intrepid peasant set forward with his load of daring hearts; and having arrived at the castle, he and his cart were immediately admitted. They proceeded onwards till they came to the centre of the court-yard, when Binnoch gave the preconcerted signal to his associates, which was conveyed in the words, spoken in a loud voice- Forward, Greystail, forward!'-as if addressing his horse, which he at the same time struck with his whip to complete the deception.

"These words were no sooner uttered than the hay, with which the daring adventurers were covered, was seen to move, and the next instant it was thrown over upon the pavement, to the inexpressible amazement of the idlers who were looking on; and to their still greater surprise, fifteen armed men leapt with fearful shouts into the courtyard, when, being instantly headed by Binnoch, the work of death began. Every man within their reach at the moment was cut down. The guard-room was assailed, and all in it put to death; and passing from apartment to apartment, they swept the garrison and took possession of it. The attack had been so sudden, so unexpected, and so vigorous, that its unfortunate occupants, six times their number, had no time to rally or defend themselves, and thus fell an easy prey to the bold adventurers.

"We have only to add that Binnoch was rewarded by Bruce for this important service, with some valuable lands in the parish of Linlithgow; and that his descendants had for their arms a hay-wain, with the motto, virtute doloque.'

Scotland has been rich in poets. In the course of his volume, Mr. T. gives us notices, more or less extended, of

This story is equally ingenious with that of the Trojan horse, and manifests much less awkwardness. Mr. T. gives, in a foot-note, another version of it, from Sir Walter Scott's "Tales of a Grandfather," quite as natural, and which he pronounces as probably more correct.

Macpherson, Gavin Douglas, Dr. Pennycuick, Allan Ramsay, Burns, Drummond, Hector Macneil, Pollok, Motherwell, Leyden, James Grahame, Hislop, Michael Bruce, Logan, Henryson, William Dunbar, Buchanan, James Hogg, Mary Lundie Duncan and others. In this department of literature, Sir Walter Scott stood very high, though in some respects he is inferior to men of less note. Mr. T. gives a rapid but interesting sketch of his life, but our limits forbid any further quotations.

ARTICLE IX.

LITERARY NOTICES.

1. Annals of the West: embracing a concise account of the Principal Events which have occurred in the Western States and Territories, from the Discovery of the Mississippi Valley to the year eighteen hundred and forty-five. Compiled from the most authentic sources. By JAMES H. PERKINS. Cincinnati, James R. Albreech. 1847. 8vo. pp. 591. This is the most accurate, complete, and correct work, that has ever been published concerning the Western Valley. The author, or as he modestly styles himself, compiler, is well and favorably known in the Eastern States as one of the former editors of the North American Review, and author of some of the most valuable papers in that periodical. On the work before us, he has bestowed great labor and research; for it is a more difficult task to a correct writer of Western history or biography, to separate the true from the spurious, than to fill up a respectable octavo with matter that will pass current among general readWe know something of the toil and care Mr. Perkins has bestowed on this work, and the difficulties to be surmounted, owing to the hastily composed and ill-digested volumes that have been published, embracing the whole, or portions of the same field.

ers.

Knowing something of the numerous mistakes made by nearly every writer and compiler before him in this department of literature, we are by no means surprised to find an occasional inaccuracy in date, or an imperfect and deficient detail of a historical incident. We are only surprised they are so few. Not only are accuracy and completeness indispensable in such a work, but a judicious selection and condensation of the materials at hand were particularly desirable. The whole Western Valley has been the theatre of the most stirring incidents, following and intermingling with each other in rapid succession. We have had discovery and adventure; border wars and fierce contests with Indians; projected Spanish and Mexican invasions; settlements

multiplied and extended; more than ten millions of people spread over the surface of more than 600,000 square miles-exclusive of Texas, and the unsettled territory north and west of Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas, to say nothing of Oregon, New Mexico and California. Twelve great states, each exceeding on an average in geographical extent the Empire State New York, and each nearly equal to the whole Territory of New England,-have been organized, and cities, towns, villages and settlements have risen up, and advanced beyond all former precedent in the history of man. The wilderness has been made to blossom like the rose. The history of many centuries in other nations has been compressed into the short space of the age of man— seventy years. Men are now living who remember distinctly when Botetourt County in Virginia, was the most western civil organization in the colonies, and this great valley was a wilderness, except a few French hamlets and Indian trading-posts along the Mississippi. Mr. Perkins has been successful in condensing the annals of this great country into a volume of less than 600 pages.

The work before us is exactly such an one as we have long desired to see. It will be the guide of the future historian and antiquarian, and the copious foot-notes furnish references to nearly every authority on the subject.

In one respect, and designedly so, the work is incomplete for every purpose. It contains little information of the rise, progress and present condition of religion-of philanthropic societies and their effects-of colleges and other literary institutions, and the progress of education in the West.

We are advised that it is the desire of the author to publish an appendix in the next edition, for which the present is now in process of revision, to contain an abstract on these subjects. But although an abstract with copious references would be a valuable appendage to this work, there are materials accessible, or which can now be gathered up, for a respectable volume, on the same plan as the Annals. Such a compilation, it appears to us, is called for by all classes who take an interest in the moral advancement of our country.

We commend the "Annals" to all who desire information how things have been managed in what formerly was called the "Far West," but which now constitutes the GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY OF THE UNITED STATES.

J. M. P.

2. History of the Presbyterian Church in the State of Kentucky; with a preliminary sketch of the Churches in the Valley of Virginia. By the Rev. ROBERT DAVIDSON, D. D. New York. Robert Carter. 1847. pp. 371. 8vo.

In the first sentence of his preface, the author has truthfully said, "There is no section of the Presbyterian Church on the Western Continent, whose history has been more eventful or interesting, than that planted in Kentucky." And we say with pleasure that he has performed his task as a faithful historian, with ability and skill; making due allowance for his peculiar views as an old school Presbyterian. This work cost the author" nine years' laborious research," during a portion of which he performed the duties of President of Transylvania University, and pastor of a church in Lexington.

an

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The sources from which he has gleaned the facts of the history are Outline," published some years since in a Memoir of the Rev. David Rice, by the Rev. R. H. Bishop, D. D.; the MS. Diary of the Rev. John Lyle; the records of the Kentucky Synod; and papers and communications from ministers and other gentlemen, who were actors in the scenes of the settlement and progress of Kentucky. Amongst these latter sources of intelligence are the " McAfee papers,” a series of MS. journals, kept by the Messrs. McAfee; especially "The History of the Rise and Progress of the First Settlements on Salt river, and Establishment of the New Providence Church;" a volume in manuscript, compiled by General Robert B. McAfee, of Mercer County.

The commencement and progress of pure Christianity and Christian institutions in the States of this great central valley, furnish some of the most signal manifestations of divine Providence to be found in the history of the church. And in proportion to the time that has elapsed, and the instrumentalities employed, the results have not been equalled in any age.

Mr. Davidson commences his history with a sketch of the ScotchIrish Presbyterians, who were driven by persecution from their native country to the colonies of New Jersey, Maryland and North and South Carolina. At a later period, middle Virginia, and western Pennsylvania were settled by some of the straitest sects of Presbyterians. A number of families from middle Virginia migrated to Kentucky in the period of its earliest settlements. The Scotch term Mac is appended to many of their names.

The first Presbyterian minister to that colony was the late Rev. David Rice, father to the late Rev. John H. Rice, D. D., of Richmond, Va. Mr. Rice made a visit to the country in 1783, and being invited to return by about three hundred persons, whose signatures were sent on in a letter, he removed his family from the Peaks of Otter, and settled near Harrod's station. In this region, which is in the central part of Kentucky, he raised up three congregations, to whom he ministered, but from whom he received but a partial support. The Presbytery of Transylvania, the first ever formed in the Central Valley, was organized on the 17th of October, 1786, which consisted of the Rev. Messrs. David Rice, Thomas Craighead, Adam Rankin, Andrew McClure, and James Crawford. In 1788, the Rev. Samuel Shannon was received. At this period, the Presbyterians and Baptists in Kentucky had an equal number of congregations-sixteen of each denomination-but the former had nearly thirty preachers, including ordained elders and licentiates, while the Baptists could reckon only seven. In 1786, two itinerant preachers of the Methodist connection, came to the colony.

The Presbyterian connection was now fully organized, and in point of an educated ministry, were far in the advance. At this crisis the demon of schism and strife arose in their midst. The Rev. Adam Rankin, with the zeal, intrepidity, and fiery temper of an ultra Scotch Covenanter, commenced an onslaught on Watts' Psalms and Hymns, and denounced in the most bitter language all who used them, and all who held any communion and fellowship with such persons. It resulted in a division. At the close of the century, a general declension in religion and morals prevailed throughout Kentucky. Infidelity came

in like a flood; the prospects of the church were shrouded in gloom. Most of the Presbyterian clergy were men of moderate talents, and dull and uninteresting speakers. Accustomed to a fixed routine, they could not move out of it. At this juncture, they were reinforced by a few zealous missionaries, sent out by the Synod of Virginia.

The Rev. Mr. McGready, at this period, who was a real son of thunder, lived and officiated in the country south of Green river. He held a "sacramental meeting," in July, 1800, which among the Scotch Presbyterians, was customarily held three or four days. Here was the beginning of the series of extraordinary excitements, known in the West as the GREAT REVIVAL, and which soon spread over Kentucky, and into Tennessee south, and Ohio north.

Mr. Davidson has given the most complete and philosophical history of this revival, and the religious extravagances, and the singular nervous or "bodily exercises " that followed, of any writer. We commend his record of the facts as truthful and correct, though we do not concur with all his inferences. He keeps before him the very staid and conservative notions of the old school Presbyterians, by which he measures the religious excitements, which he admits, in their commencement to have been of the Lord's doing, and marvellous in our eyes.

The truth is, the world has probably never witnessed, since the apostolical era, such a direct, overwhelming display of divine power and grace as in this series of revivals. It gave a new character to this great Valley. Infidelity and vicious practices were prostrated by its influence.

The extravagances that followed, and the lapses from the Christian profession, though in themselves numerous, ought not to be put in contrast with the many thousands of converts who sustained their Christian profession, and the many hundreds of ministers raised up to preach the gospel throughout the Central Valley. That revival was as life to the dead in all the new States of the West. And it began unexpectedly, and without any direct effort from man. No one spoke or thought about "getting up a revival."

The New Light" schism, which originated in the defection of Presbyterian preachers and churches in this revival, occupies a due proportion of the history. The author concludes with a chapter on what he calls the "New School Schism," in which he has given his view of the recent division of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and the position of parties in Kentucky.

We will only add, that had the Western Valley been left to depend on the peculiar views of Presbyterians, especially in relation to the gospel ministry, it would have been a region of moral desolation truly. Presbyterianism is adapted to settled and compact communities, but greatly deficient in its mode of operation for the scattered population on our widely extended frontiers. Of this fact the comparative results between Baptist and Presbyterian economy in Kentucky afford illustration. Sixty years since each denomination had sixteen churches, and about an equal number of communicants, while the Baptists had not one minister who had received a classical education. Now the Presbyterians number about nine thousand communicants, and the Baptists (deducting all they have lost by schisms) about seventy thousand.