The enjoyments. Domestic virtues are assiduously cultivated; and home-happiness is not unknown. Of the poorer classes, women as well as men, are frequently engaged in field labour. They are comfortably clad in a loose robe of coarse cotton, of the same form as those of their superiors, only shorter. women dress much like the men, their hair being the main difference. Instead of being shaved completely off, it is fastened upon the top in a knot, or under a pad. In rainy weather, (Japan is a humid climate,) both sexes wear a covering made of straw, fastened together at the top, suspended from the neck, and falling over the shoulders and person like a thatched roof. There were signs of poverty among them, but none of pauperism. Notwithstanding the Japanese reputation for politeness, the following will hardly add to their fame. A dinner was given on board Commodore Perry's flag-ship, and are thus described :-- THE JAPANESE MANNERS AT TABLE "There were remnants of the feast left after all the guests had been satisfied; and most of these the Japanese, according to custom, prepared to carry off with them. They always carry an abundant supply of different kinds of paper within the left bosom of their loose robes, in a capacious pocket. One description is as soft as cotton cloth, and exceedingly tough. This is used for a pocket handkerchief. Another furnishes the materials for taking notes, or for wrapping up the fragments of a feast. On the present occasion, when the dinner was over, all the guests simultaneously spread out their long folds of paper, and gathering what scraps they could lay their hands on, without regard to the kind of food, made an envelope of eatables, in which there was a most extraordinary confusion of sour and sweet, meats and pastry, &c. Nor was this the result of gluttonous propensities, or a deficiency of good breeding: it was simply the fashion of the country. These unsavoury parcels they stowed away in their pockets, or in their capacious sleeves. The practice was universal; and they not only followed it themselves, but insisted that their American guests, when entertained at a Japanese banquet, should adopt it. Paper parcels were thrust into their hands when leaving, and which it would have been an offence against the native hospitality to refuse." The Japanese possess an inordinate curiosity. They followed the Americans everywhere, examining the laced caps of the officers, their boots, swords, and coats the tarpaulins, jackets, and trowsers of the men, with the closest scrutiny. They admired the buttons, and often stripped the coats of their friends by their importunity. Buttons are a rarity in Japan. Strings and various bindings are the only modes among them of fastening their garments. The Japanese are an enquiring people. They carefully chronicled what they observed. The mulberry-bark paper, Indian ink, and hair pencils, were constantly brought out of their left-breast pockets and put to good use. They are exceedingly imitative, fond of drawing, and always wanting to show their skill. Many of their pictures displayed some knowledge of perspective. Their taste as artists is very far before that of their neighbours. Animals, familiar objects of vegetation, are Icarved with remarkable closeness to nature. In architecture they do not excel. Their houses show great finish of detail, but no boldness or beauty in design. In Hakodadi, houses are mostly of one story, with attics of varying heights. The upper part is sometimes a large apartment, but commonly, only a store-room, or servant's lodging. The walls are of pine boards-the roofs of brown tile for the better sort of houses,-grass and vegetables for the rest. Tubs, filled with water, that look like chimneys wrapped in straw, are fixed on the top of the roof, in case of fire; and for greater security, cisterns are placed at intervals along the streets, and engines are in constant readiness. No house can boast a chimney. The smoke escapes where it can. Of Hakodadi, which lies on the southern coast of the island of Yesso, and strongly resembles Gibraltar, in position and appearance, we are told,— "The same municipal regulations obtain here as in all other towns in Japan: the inhabitants of the several streets form so many separate communities, as it were, responsible for the conduct of each other, each governed by an official 'otona,' who is also held responsible for the good order of the people under his especial charge, and these otonas are also made responsible for the conduct of each other. The gates and fences would seem to mark out the separate fields of duty of these officials. At one side of the street, among the houses, there is ordinarily a sentry box, for a watchman, whose duty it is to guard the town against disturbance, and give early notice of the occurrence of fire. A general quiet pervades the streets, without those ordinary sights of busy activity which belong to a trading city. No carriages or laden waggons rumble along the road; no clamorous dealers claim the preference of the purchase of their wares; no busy pedlars, or itinerant hucksters cry their articles for sale; and no turbulent mob disturbs the general tranquillity. An almost universal quiet prevails in the streets, broken only at times by a stout horseboy, yelling to his obstinate beast of burden, either an unruly nag or a lumbering ox, and an officious attendant of great men shouting out to the people to prostrate themselves before his coming master; or the clanging of the hammer of a workman busy at some neighbouring forge. Still the stranger is impressed with the idea that Hakodadi is a thriving town, when he beholds the occasional droves of laden pack-horses slowly pacing through the streets, the hundreds of junks in the harbour, the numerous boats rapidly gliding across the bay, and the many richly dressed two-sworded Japanese gentlemen and officials pompously stalking about, or riding richly caparisoned horses." The Japanese are never forgetful of the respect due to rank, and graduate their obeisance according to its degree. From the emperor to the lowest subject in the realm, there is a constant succession of prostrations. The emperor, because he has no superior to recognize, bows to an idol; and every one of his subjects, from highest to lowest, has some person before whom he is bound to crouch in the dust. The labouring class are in obvious dread of their well-to-do neighbours, and show great restraint in their presence. The high officials frequently, when guilty of betraying their trust, commit suicide by what is known as the kara kari, "the happy release." In plain English, they disembowel themselves; and what is stranger, do it as a point of honour. Their self-murder is taken as a declaration of guilt; it saves the family of the delinquent from inevitable death under the knife of the executioner, and very generally leads to the sons being elevated to more important offices than were held by their parents. The Japanese love sport. They are fox-hunters with a vengeance; but for other reasons than a Leicestershire squire would give. They believe the fox is possessed of a devil, and his willing servant, and hence keenly hunt him to the death. They are fond of amusements, and games analogous to chess, cards, and loto are common among them. The little shaven-pated lads play ball in the streets of Hakodadi with as much zest as in America or England. The Buddhist and Sintoo systems are both prevalent in Japan. Like the Chinese, they pay religious homage to the manes of their ancestors; and like the Tartars, they set up praying wheels. The four square side of the post into which the wheel is fixed, which every passer by twirls and trusts in, is covered with inscriptions. These are a few of them: "Wise men and fools are embarked in the same boat, whether prosperous or afflicted; both are rowing over the deep lake; the gay sails lightly hang to catch the autumnal breeze: then straight away they enter the boisterous clouds, and become partakers of heaven's knowledge." "He whose prescience detects knowledge, says, as the floating grass is blown by the gentle breeze, or the glancing ripples of autumn disappear when the sun goes down, or as the ship returns home to its old shore, so is life: it is a smoke a morning tide.' "He who has left humanity is now perfected by Buddha's name, as the withered moss is by the dew." The only difficulty about the introduction of the Gospel into Japan is the extreme hatred with which all classes regard the Romanists. When once they have learnt to distinguish between the delusions of these men and "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," which it is the glory of the Protestant to proclaim, the government will cease its hostility, and christian missionaries be allowed to settle in Japan. Two facts are mentioned at the close of this volume of a very cheering kind. One is, that at the present time a young Japanese, Seutharo by name, is now studying in one of the American universities, and before long may become a missionary, it may be, an apostle, among his fellow-countrymen. And the other is, that not very long ago, since the American expedition, the Chinese interpreter at the court of Japan sent to Shanghai for books on the doctrines of christianity, not for his own use, but for the use of two eminent mandarins and the emperor himself. None can foresee what issues may grow from these apparently insignificant events. May God make the student wise to win souls, and give the learners hearts to receive his truth, will be the earnest prayer of every christian. The American account of Commodore Perry's expedition to China appeared in a volume richly illustrated with wood cuts and tinted lithographs, and both too big in size and too costly in price ever to become popular in England. We are heartily glad, therefore, that the Tract Society has thought fit to publish in a cheap and compendious form the substance of that book. There are a few wood engravings in "Japan Opened"-a view of Dezima, the interior of a Japanese house, men, women, and children, and other subjects-and they help not a little to assist the reader. The only defects in the book are-there is no index and no map. With these very needful things in a book of travels supplied, the volume will become useful for reference, and increasingly attractive. THEOLOGY IN VERSE; or Poems on the Fundamental Truths of Christianity, Doctrinal and Practical. With Notes. To which are added Rustic Lays, Sacred and Moral. By J. P. SHORTHOUSE. Post 8vo., pp. 160. London; Aylott and Co. If turgid, insipid, and thoroughly impotent rhyme is worth the name of verse, and crude meaningless disquisitions be theology, the writer of this volume has achieved a most happy combination, and given us in two covers a Pope and a Jeremy Taylor. Unfortunately for him, such is not the case; and he only proves by his performance that nature never intended him either to be a poet or a divine. Horace wrote, that a poet is born not made, and we hold that while a divine may be made, he who shall blend the two functions, and in song "justify the ways of God to man," must especially be born, and we have only to point in confirmation of our view to the rarity of such men as Milton, Pollock, and Dr. Watts. Now, if the notes necessary to explain so many of these doctrinal poems show the author in a fair way of becoming a third-rate theologian, the idea is at once dissipated by the shallow flippancy of his fundamental truths; and if the length of his flights hint at the mettle of a Pegasus, we are soon reminded by dissonant notes, and equally suggestive things, that his steed is a much less dignified animal. We are, however, more disposed to forgive his poetical deficiencies, than pardon his theological errors. He does not write for the learned, it is true; he aims, at least so we are led to judge from the preface, at affording spiritual nourishment to such persons as would rather prefer a volume of verses to an essay or a sermon, but he ignores the labours of many abler predecessors in the same field, and for the grand simplicity they exhibit, and the fiery faith that burns in their lines, he lays before the simple in heart a bushel of doctrinal husks, and wine-less mingled with water. Although the heads of his theology would indicate something like a comprehensive scheme, we are bound to confess that the whole presents about as dubious a view of christianity as some equally great genius has accomplished for infant minds in so condensed a form that we commend it warmly to his attention : God made man, man made money; "Too old to mend," is the lamentable tale the author of "Theology in Verse" tells to his critics, and though it has to be discovered beneath an assumed exterior, it is painfully evident that he is not too old to be ambitious. In some personal poems-lays rustic and sacred-at the end of the book, we meet with the following passage in part ii. of his Life's Journey :— At the tent, pitched beneath the hills, where the flocks browse, We take these lines in a prophetic sense, and doubt not their fulfilment. Mr. S. having put his poems to press, hurries back again into nomadic life to watch the effect of his happy unity of forces, and after making known his whereabouts, calmly awaits the "order to move" in the form of a summons for a second edition. We think he will wait in vain, and would recommend him to keep where he is, and pipe, shepherd-like, to these browsing flocks, whose patience, simplicity, and silliness are alike indisputable. In the meantime, as he has confessed to one original thought, and carefully displayed it on an ample page lest its immensity should startle us out of our propriety, we are quite willing to help him in disseminating it. Here it is: CREATION. (A Thought.) God, to declare His being vast His wisdom, greatness, power, The earth and heaven's expanse He cast, And sun, and moon, in day and night, And placed man in this region bright, E. Correspondence. RECREATIONS FOR SABBATH SCHOLARS. [The following replies have been received to the query on this subject. Our friends are opposite in the views they entertain. "An observer" looks at what may be called the abuses which have unhappily attended these recreations, and which certainly ought not to have been permitted. The other friend regards with especial favour the jubilant aspect of these recreations. We think it right, in fairness, to insert both communications. Our own opinion, formed from a somewhat extended observation is, on the whole, in favour of occasional recreations; though we are free to confess that there is great need of caution and a kind of authoritative supervision, that they may be kept within the limits of propriety both as to time and form. Children will love play, and an exceedingly rigid restraint by parents and teachers ever defeats its own purpose.-ED.] To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Permit me to offer a few remarks in reply to a query in your Magazine for November last, as to whether it is in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel for professors of religion and ministers to join in the play games (plausibly termed recreations,) at our Sabbath school anniversaries. We know the Gospel is holy, that it came from God, and leads to God; whatsoever therefore is calculated to advance our holiness is in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel; and contrarywise, anything which tends to carnalise the mind, and alienate the affections from God, must be opposed to it. The word of truth declares, "Every tree is known by his own fruit."-Luke vi., 44. In forming our opinion therefore of the "play games " referred to by Z, it may be well to examine their tendency and effects, or the fruit they produce. Having had repeated opportunities of observing their fruits, I take the liberty of sending a sample for the inspection of your readers. Not many years since a young minister of considerable popularity, in our own connexion, accustomed himself to join in these games, and his conduct became so indiscreet, that finally he was obliged to leave his people and the town in disgrace. In another denomination I was present at a meeting, where long after the time announced for public service it could not commence, because the principal speaker, who came from a distance, was absent, and he was actually fetched in from his diversions in the play ground to conduct the services of the evening! In another society, the teachers-the majority of whom were young and thoughtless individuals-voted that, "At their next anniversary, instead of a public meeting, the whole of the time after tea be spent in play;" which would have been the case (despite the remonstrance of their minister,) had not the rain descended sufficiently to defeat their purpose. In many places the diversions are carried on by the giddy part of the company during the public meetings; so that while the song of praise is ascending from the worshippers within, the shout of unhallowed mirth is heard from the motley multitude without, and sometimes so near as to disturb the congregation. Alas, the good ways of God are evil spoken of through these disorderly proceedings; it is notorious that numbers of careless, godless youth, of both sexes, flock for miles round to these should be "religious meetings," on purpose to enjoy what they call sport. In a certain village, some young people remained in the field till long after midnight; it is charitably hoped, none of the professed disciples of the Holy Jesus were engaged in these midnight revels; but it is certain there were professors who joined in their sports in the earlier part of the evening. Surely these things are not "pure, lovely, or of good report," neither is there any "virtue" or "praise" attached to them.-Phil. iv., 8. When witnessing such proceedings the writer has been forcibly reminded of those of whom it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." If professors sanction such games where is the line of demarcation between the church and the world? Why not introduce the fiddle and the dance? But it may possibly be urged, "We must keep pace with the spirit of the times." Ah! dear friends, had the christians of by gone days kept pace with the spirit of their times, the church of the present day could not then have boasted of her "noble army of martyrs." Alas, for those professors who rather keep pace with the "spirit of the times" than with the "spirit of the Gospel." I know it is predicted concerning the prosperity of Jerusalem that "the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof," but I have yet to learn that professors of christianity and Gospel ministers are included in that prophecy. The writer would affectionately entreat young christians to examine the state of their minds after joining in these games; if they do not find secret prayer a task, and are filled with wandering thoughts during the exercise, or perhaps retire to rest without attending to it at all? Then they may be assured, the tree is bad that has produced such bad fruit, since whatever it may be that indisposes the soul for communion with God is not of the Father, but is of the world. Hoping the youthful part of our christian community will prayerfully consider these things, and "give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully"— but strive to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, I subscribe myself their sincere well-wisher, AN OBSERVER. "re To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. SIR,-The following simple thoughts were called forth by the query on creations." If you think them unworthy of insertion in your Magazine, of course you are at liberty to dispose of them as you may think proper. Query."Is it in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel for professors of religion and ministers to join in the play games (plausibly termed 'recreations,') at our Sabbath school anniversaries" We firmly believe that not a single argument can be adduced from the sacred volume in order to prove that it is wrong for professing christians to indulge in harmless recreations, providing such recreations do not interfere with their religious duties. The christian religion was not intended to envelope its followers in gloom. Its Great Teacher did not found it upon an austere basis. Its foundation is love; and that alone ought to be sufficient to convince us that Christ did not intend his people to debar themselves of those social and temporal enjoyments that are necessary for our health and secular happiness. We read that |