16 MAY 1846, Page 17

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

An Essay on the Character of Macbeth. [This essay is written in reply to a powerful article on the character of Macbeth, published seine time since in the Westminster Review; in which the hero is de- scribed as a person of "intense selfishness, with a total absence both of sympa- thetic feeling and moral principle, and a consequent incapability of remorse in the proper sense of the term." The author of the essay before us, on the contrary, holds that the more general opinion is the true one,—that Macbeth, though in- firm of moral purpose, is originally an innocent and noble character, falling before ambition, "supernatural soliciting," and the persuasions and taunts of his wife.

To enter fully upon this question would require a large space; for there is not a finer example of moral art on the part of the poet in redeeming crime from base- ness, yet exhibiting its inevitable punishment, in any production of the human mind. We may briefly say, that on the whole we are inclined to agree with the Westminster Reviewer, though with some qualifications. Like most forcible writers, he states his opinions so broadly as to pass the middle line of truth; and there is certainly no legitimate inference that Macbeth was, as he says, contem- plating the asqassination of Duncan before the prophetic greeting of the weird. sisters. We know that the idea of murder then strikes hun immediately- " Why do I yield to that suggestion ? "—that it takes a definite purpose as soon as Malcolm is to be nominated Prince of Cumberland; and that he has been busying himself about the witches. His reluctance to commit the murder is rather of an intellectual than a moral character. His speculative and poetical mind presents all the possible consequences that may follow, (except, by the by, those which arise from his own character and position,) and all the reasons that forbid it. Of honest moral repugnance, of shrinking from murder as a crime, therein no trace, unless we are to receive sentiment for honesty; and as for re- ligion, he says himself—" We'd jump the life to come," could he but be assured that the single deed •• Would be the be all and the end all here."

Strange as the assertion may seem, the character of Macbeth is not an uncom- mon one stripped of his elevation and poetry. The combination of great intellect, strong affections, and amiable feelings, with regular conduct on common occasions, but a weakness of moral principle that yields to great temptation on a great oc- casion, is not rare. Napoleon was a man of this kind; so perhaps was Robespierre; and there are hundreds of others at all times in all ranks, though their "lurking principle of death" may not be developed, from want of opportunity.]

Thornberry Abbey; a Tale of the Established Church. [This is a Romanist effort in the form of fiction. The scene inlaid in a rural

district, where there are the ruins of an abbey: its lands were despoiled under Elizabeth, and therefore belong to the Church,—the Pope having, in Mary's reign, condoned the confiscations of Harry the Eighth! Theologically speaking, the sub- jects are—a strong Evangelical party; a fractarian clergyman, supported by few elegant-minded and religious persons, including the heroine and her father; and a Romanist family, with their priest, Mr. Vernon. The Evangelicals so perse- cute the Tmctarian Mr. Lester, after the manner of the dissensions in the diocese

From May 8th to May 14th.

BOOKS.

A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive • being a connected view of the Principles of Evidence, and the Method; of Scientific Investigation. By John Stuart MilL In two volumes. Second edition. of Exeter, that he becomes a pastor without a flock; and finally, Ella the heroine and her betrothed are converted to Romanism, and restore the despoiled lands to the Church. The story is of course subordinate to the religions purpose; but the persons are clever sketches, especially of the Evangelical party, and without exaggeration; the style is smooth, elegant, and well-tempered; but the arguments are poor, not to say ridiculous. Ella is mainly converted by Mr. Vernon's con- vincing her that we have not the Apostolical succession: she must, poor soul, be.. long to a church, and the Anglican is not one.]

The Blackgown Papers. By L Mariotti. In two volumes. A series of tales illustrative of Italian life and manners; supposed to be told to Black&own, D.D., pastor of a Western settlement, by a stranger who marries his niece. The tales are somewhat loose in structure, from their being intended as a vehicle to present character and manners; but they conveya lively idea of Italian life, and their English style, considering that their author is an Italian, is really remarkable. Nor should the opening tale pass without praise. If Signor Merlotti has been in America, the manner in which he has seized the prominent traits of Eastern and Western character indicate a quick eye; if he has never crossed the Atlantic, they argue knowledge and a vivid imagination.] The Memoirs of a Femme de Chambre; a Novel. By the Countess of Blessington. In three volumes. [The framework of this novel is the adventures of Selina Stratford, first as a governess and then as a lady's-maid, with a longish story of her parents to boot. The idea is not new; for a few months ago we had La Soubrette before us, whose heroine was also governess, companion, and lady's-maid. The plan, however, serves as a peg to hang a series of adventures, sketches, or rather caricatures upon; done in a hard, literal, prosaic way.] The Squire's Daughter; a Tragedy, in five acts. By Andrew Park, Author of "The Mariners, an Opera," Fee.

[The Squire's Daughter is a young lady engaged to a young gentleman; but a rival in the shape of an old lord effectually forbids the bans, by hiring some ruf- fians to murder theyoung suitor. The old villain escapes to France; whither he is followed by the lady .'s brother, not to arrest but challenge him. A duel ensues, in which the brother is wounded; but old Lord De Lacy is finally seized by officers, and brought to "Hall of Justice—England—Judges on the Bench"; where he stabs himself in fall court, and dies. Strange, that people cannot see that a case for the police is not a subject for tragedy! The execution of The Squire's Daughter is on a par with the conception.]

Poems. By Camilla. Tonlmin. [ha i

s Tonlmin s, we believe, well known as a clever contributor of verse to Annuals and so forth; and some of the poems in this volume have appeared before. The others are similar in kind and quality; the subjects and treatment vergin upon elegant claptrap, such as Mrs. Helmuth originated; the style rather rheton than poetical, but still doing deity for poetry, especially when the theme is one of domestic life, where she speaks from feeling or sympathy rather than reflection. She may prefer "The Cry of the Felon," suggested by Dickens's Letter on the Ragged School, or "The Best Chamber," a sort of historical review of a ducal race more noble than virtuous; but "The Blind Girl's Lament" has far more of simple truth.] The Practice V Conveyancing; comprising every usual Deed, analytically and synthetically arranged. By James Stewart, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-at-law. Third edition, corrected and enlarged; including Select Precedents under the Copyhold Enfranchisement Act, 4 and 5 Vic. c. 35, and the Conveyancing Acts of 1845. By James Stewart, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-at-law, and Harris Prendergast, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Bar- rister-at-law. Volume I. Part L The first edition of this work was published in 1827; and it may said to have formed an tera in English conveyancing. Its forms were shorter and more avail- able than any that had been Fainted before. This was not all: Mr. Stewart, by bzeaking up and classifying these farms, and explaining to the student their es- sential parts and the modes of their practical application, was the first English author to lay the foundations of systematic conveyancing: The work was re- ceived by the profession as it deserved, and a second edition was called for in 1832. Since that time, important changes have taken place in the practice of conveyancing, in consequence of a series of law reforms, commencing in 1834. To accommodate Mr. Stewart's standard work to these changes is the task he has undertaken in this third edition, with the able assistance of Mr. Prendergast The plan of the work is as follows. The parts into which deeds are commonly resolved are distributed under twelve "preliminary divisions"; the deeds are distn buted under eight classes—Purchase Deeds, Leases, Annuity Deeds, Copartnership Deeds, Debtor and Creditor Deeds, and luminary or Miscellaneous Deeds. A Syn thesis of the whole of the forms, and two copious Indexes, are added. In the new edition, the common forms in the preliminary divisions have been much increased in number; the analytical and synthetical parts have been somewhat curtailed; and under some classes of deeds "select precedents" are added. The preface contains an able exposition of the principles of the new Conveyancing Acts, and of the benefits to be derived from them.]

Remarks Ton Medical Organization and Worm. Foreign and English. By Edwin Lee, Fellow of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, &c. With an Appendix. [This book seems to have been published with a view to the present (or late?) movement in the profession on the subject of medical reform. It contains an ac- count of the Government medical regulations in France, Germany, and Italy; in wt reprinted, and in part expanded from former writings of Mr. Lee. This is fol- lowed by a sort of view of the state of the practitioners in this country; consist- ing of large extracts, principally from Mr. Kennedy's pamphlet published some years since. The whole is wound up by an exhibition of several schemes of medical reform, and a rather complicated plan by Mr. Lee. Beyond combining the College of Physicians and Surgeons into one body, its practical part is not tly different from a late bill proposed by Sir James Graham, approved of by National Association of General Practitioners, but overthrown by the opposi- tion of the two Colleges, and of some of the general practitioners themselves, bent upon attaining impossibilities.] A Treatise on Railway Surveying and Levelling. By John Quested, Sur- veyor; Author of the" Art of Land Surveying." [A brief introduction to railway-surveying, designed for those who have already some knowledge of land-surveying, illustrated by directions and diagrams from actual surveys. The book is of too mathematical and technical a character for further description.] The Jesuits. By R. W. Overbuiy. LA sketch of the past and present history and character of the Jesuits, from the Exeter Hall point of view.] ILLUSTRATED WORK.

Mrs. Burr's &etches.

[A handsome portfolio of highly-coloured lithographs, mounted like original drawings, consisting of picturesque views of the architecture and costumes of Egypt, Spain, and Portugal. As the sketches of a lady amateur, they are re- markable for the artistic feeling shown in the choice of the subjects, and a vivid perception of the characteristics of the scenes; though the lithographer has not done all that might have been effected towards supplying the deficiencies of form; and the colourist has endeavoured to emulate, by gaudy hues, the gor- geous colours of Oriental costume, mistaking garishness for richness. The characteristics of Moorish architecture as shown in the Alhambra and the Alcazar, and of Byzantine in the Mosques and streets of Cairo, have been too often depicted by artiste of distinguished talent to afford much scope for the pencil of an amateur; yet the effect of colour, where the bad taste of the unskil- ful print-painter has not destroyed all traces of truth, is striking, and has an air of verisimilitude. The most successful of the sketches is one of the soberest scenes and most difficult subjects—the Great Pyramid: the vastness of the pile and the desolation of the scene are conveyed with impressive simplicity. The effect is partly owing to a little palm-tree, whose green branches show by contrast the sterility of the sandy desert around, but chiefly to the stupendous mass of the pyramid being only partially shown.]