Just published, price 3s. 6d., bound in cloth, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged,

THE LONDON PULPIT,

by
JAMES EWING RITCHIE.

Contents: The Religious Denominations of London—Sketches of the Rev. J. M. Bellew—Dale—Liddell—Maurice—Melville—Villiers—Baldwin Brown—Binney—Dr. Campbell—Lynch—Morris—Martin—Brock—Howard Hinton—Sheridan Knowles—Baptist Noel—Spurgeon—Dr. Cumming—Dr. James Hamilton—W. Forster—H. Ierson—Cardinal Wiseman—Miall—Dr. Wolf, &c. &c.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

“The subject is an interesting one, and it is treated with very considerable ability. Mr. Ritchie has the valuable art of saying many things in few words; he is never diffuse, never dull, and succeeds in being graphic without becoming flippant. Occasionally his strength of thought and style borders rather too closely on coarseness; but this fault of vigorous natures is counterbalanced by compensatory merits—by an utter absence of cant, a manly grasp of thought, and a wise and genial human-heartedness. The book is a sincere book; the writer says what he means, and means what he says. In these half-earnest days it is a comfort to meet with any one who has ‘the courage of his opinions,’ especially on such a subject as the ‘London Pulpit.’”—Daily News.

“It is just the book for the innumerable Religious Book Clubs, one of which is to be found in every market town and every considerable village. Perhaps it would have sold more rapidly but for its ‘exceeding honesty’ and impartiality, which, however, in our opinion, are its great recommendations. Mr. Ritchie is either of no sect, or else he has attained to such a point of freedom, that though he may be especially attached to one, he can look with an impartial eye upon the virtues and failings of all. None but a practised hand could have succeeded in presenting such generally accurate portraits with so few strokes of the pencil.”—Illustrated Times.

“One of the cleverest productions of the present day.”—Morning Herald.

“Discriminating in observation, just in verdict, lofty in its ideal of pulpit excellence, and thoroughly interesting in style.”—Homilist.

“Mr. Ritchie is just the man to dash off a series of portraits, bold in outline, strikingly like the originals in feature and expression, and characterised by bright and effectual colouring.”—Civil Service Gazette.

“The style of Mr. Ritchie is always lively and fluent, and oftentimes eloquent. It comes the nearest to Hazlitt’s of any modern writer we know. His views and opinions are always dear, manly, and unobjectionable as regards the manner in which they are set forth. Many, no doubt, will not agree with them, but none can be offended at them. As we have already remarked, Mr. Ritchie does not write as a sectarian, and it is impossible to collect from the treatise to what sect he belongs. The tendency of these sketches is to introduce into the pulpit a better style of preaching than what we have been accustomed to.”—Critic.

“Mr. Ritchie’s pen-and-ink sketches of the popular preachers of London are as life-like as they are brilliant and delightful.”—The Sun.

“Without going so far as the late Sir Robert Peel, and saying that there are three ways of viewing this as well as every other subject, it will be allowed that the clerical body may be contemplated either from within one of their special folds, and under the influence of peculiar religious views, or in a purely lay, historical manner, and, so we suppose we ought to say, from the ‘platform of humanity’ at large. The latter is the idea developed in Mr. Ritchie’s volume, and cleverly and amusingly it is done. One great merit is, that his characters are not unnecessarily spun out. We have a few rapid dashes of the pencil, and then the mind is relieved by a change of scene and person. . . . He displays considerable discrimination of judgment, and a good deal of humour.”—The Inquirer.

“There is considerable verisimilitude in these sketches, though they are much too brief to be regarded as more than mere outlines. It is possible, however, to throw character even into an outline, and this is done with good effect in several of these smart and off-hand compositions.”—Tait.

“It is lively, freshly written, at times powerful, and its facts carefully put together. It bears the stamp of an earnest spirit, eager in its search after truth, and strongly set against affectation and pretence of every sort.”—Globe.

“Some of the sketches are very good.”—Literary Gazette.

Just published, price 3s. 6d., bound in cloth, Second Edition,
Revised.

THE NIGHT-SIDE OF LONDON.

by
J. EWING RITCHIE.

Contents: Seeing a Man hanged—Catherine-street—The Bal MasquÉ—Up the Haymarket—Ratcliffe Highway—Judge and Jury Clubs—The Cave of Harmony—Discussion Clubs—Cider Cellars—Leicester-square—Boxing Night—Caldwell’s—Cremorne—The Costermongers’ Free-and-Easy, &c.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

“We would wish for this little volume an attentive perusal on the part of all to whom inclination or duty, or both, give an interest in the moral, the social, and the religious condition of their fellow-men; above all, we should wish to see it in the hands of bishops, and other ecclesiastical dignitaries—of metropolitan rectors and fashionable preachers—of statesmen and legislators—and of that most mischievous class of men, well-meaning philanthropists. The picture of life in London, of its manifold pitfalls of temptation and corruption, which are here presented to the reader’s eye, is truly appalling. No one can rise from it without a deep conviction that something must be done, ay, and that soon, if the metropolis of the British Empire is not to become a modern Sodom and Gomorrah.”—John Bull.

“There is a matter-of-fact reality about the sketches, but they are chiefly remarkable for the moral tone of their reflections. Generally speaking, painters of these subjects rather throw a purple light over the actual scenes, and say nothing of the consequences to which they lead; Mr. Ritchie is ever stripping off the mask of the mock gaiety before him, and pointing the end to which it must finally come.”—Spectator.

“We have kept Mr. Ritchie’s book lying on our table, hoping that we might find an opportunity for making it the basis of an article on the fearful evils which it discloses. We must be satisfied, however, for the present, with recommending all our readers who are anxious to promote the social and moral regeneration of our great cities to read it carefully; and to remember, while they read, that London does not stand alone, but that all our larger towns are cursed with abominations, such as those which Mr. Ritchie has so vigorously and effectually described.”—Eclectic Review.

“Mr. Ritchie is favourably known to us; nor do we think this little volume will detract from his reputation.”—Daily News.

“Not ill done in parts, it is not done in a fast spirit or affectedly; and the moral tone throughout is healthy enough.”—Illustrated London News.

“Mr. Ritchie’s sketches are lively and graphic in style, and convey truthful pictures of some of the dark phases of London life. His book may be regarded as supplementary to the Hand-books and Guides of the Metropolis, which lightly touch upon topics which are here specially described and vigorously commented on.”—Literary Gazette.

“Mr. Ritchie’s graphic descriptions, though painful, may be useful.”—Patriot.

“Mr. Ritchie’s work merits the attention of philanthropists and those interested in the education and improvement of all classes, since it will enable them to see the land of evil with which they have to deal.”—Daily Telegraph.

“Mr. Ritchie’s object is evidently to disclose to the view of less venturous philanthropists the fountain heads of the floods of iniquity which overflow large portions of this population of three millions, and he has fully succeeded. His array of statistics in the introduction may be made good use of, and the watchful parent, or zealous minister of religion, the friends of city missions, or contributors to the press, may derive much useful information from all the pages.”—Christian Times.

“In the ‘Night-Side of London’ Mr. J. Ewing Ritchie draws a most painful, but, we have reason to believe, not an over-coloured picture of the fearful temptations which abound in our great metropolis. The evils which seduce many a young man from the path of duty, and keep down the poor in their poverty and degradation, are traced to the love of intoxicating liquors, and the abundant facilities which are afforded for the gratification of that fatal passion. Mr. Ritchie writes in an earnest manner, and his book contains information which demands the careful consideration of the moralist and the social reformer.”—Inquirer.

“The author of ‘The Night-Side of London’ has graphically described the scenes of debauchery which are to be found at night. It is a fearful and shocking exposÉ.”—Illustrated Times.