PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BQOES.

FOREMOST in importance among the publications of this week is the long-expected Memoir by the late Sir Robert Peel upon the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act. It • consists of confidential conespondence between himself and various persons high in office and political influence, during the whole of the year 1828 and the earlier portion of 1829, on the coudition of Ireland; and thus reveals, almost day by day, the practical considerations that forced the Duke of Wellington's Government to bring to a settlement that long-vexed question. Those who seek a knowledge of the real motives which determined Mr. Peel to advise the concessions he had so long resisted, and himself to bring in the bill which embodied them—who desire thoroughly to understand the nature of the man and the character of his statesmanship=will find in the Memoir ample materials for a correct judgment on both branches of the subject ; and we much mistake the public of the present day if their estimate of Peel , will not be even raised by the revelatiolis here made. But the volume is one of secret history; not of political gossip. Into the personalities af ' the discussion—into the selfish motives which secured the vote of this Peer or Bishop or Commoner, or strengthened the opposition of that—the Memoir does not enter. It violates no confidence, and might have been' published in 1829 as safely and with as much propriety as now. The translation of Baron von Haxthausen's almost semi-official ac- count of the Russian Empire is somewhat late in the day as regards matters that admit of great changes from such an event as the late war. Still, many of the subjects are of a permanent nature, being based on manners or institutions ; and may probably furnish hints as to the means of political advancement existing in Russia. Mr. Hill's Travels in the Sandwich Islands may throw some light on the social and religious condition of the natives and the foreign in- truders -.or settlers. Dr. lilacdonald's " Creation and Fall" appears to contain more learning than is usually displayed on the much- vexed question of which he treats. The " Memoir of the Cholera at Oxford," by Dr. Acland, is a very painstaking and elaborate amount gf the statistics of the disease at its last visitation in that city, with won- executed maps, and a great variety of medical and hygienic facts-1- perhaps a shade too formally exhibited and treated. An additional contribution, in the form of the fifth and sixth volumes, is added to the uneventful life of Montgomery of Sheffield, and there is another yet 'to come !"

Memoirs by the Bight Honourable Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., &c. Pub- lished by the Trustees of his Papers, Lord Mahon (now Earl Stanhope) add ■ 'the Right Honourable Edward Cardwell, M.P. Part 1., The Roman Catholic Question. 1828-'9.

The Russian Empire, its People, Institutions, and Resources. By Baron von Hasthausea, Author of " Transcaucasia," &c. Translated by Robert Fad!. Esq. In two volumes. Travels in the Sandwich and Society Islands. By 8. S. Hill, Egg.. Author Of, " Travels in Siberia," &c. The Creation and Pill: a Defence and Exposition of the First Three-Chapters of Genesis. By the Reverend Donald Macdonald, M.A., Sfinister_of the Free

Church, Edinkdlie. •

Memoir as the Cholera at Orford in the Year 1851; with Considerations sug- gested by the Epidemic. By Henry Wentworth Adam!. M.D., &c., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Physician to the Radcliffe itaarraso, Radcliffe Librarian, and Lee's Reader in Anatomy in the University of peford. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of✓Jima* Montgomery : including Selections from his Correspondence, Remains in Proge and Verse, and Conversations on various subjects. By John Holland and James Everett. Volumes V. and VF. Elsie Seymour; or the Contrast. By A. Wygom. In three volumes.

• .

A Natural History of the Animal Kingdom. By W.- S. Dallas, F.L.S., &c. &c.—This volume completes the subject of natural history in " Orf s Circle of the Sciences," and has been already published in parts of that series. The book is avowedly a compilatiOn, and indeed it could not well be otherwise ; for no one could have original information extending over so immense a field, and new views are rather for in- dependent discussion. The compilation, however, is very able. Mr. Dallas has a touch of warmth and of richness in his style, that leads him on fitting occasions to something like eloquence. He clearly perceives and as clearly presents the leading characteristics of the great di- visions, and sparingly mingles with his accounts of the species some anecdotical traits ; his leading objects being classification and organi- zation. When all the orders of animantia are embraced in a single volume and much attention is paid to insects and still lower animals, individual omissions must take place ; but the more remarkable species Of the genera arc sufficiently noticed. The book contains a full and clear coup d'reil of animal life, from its very lowest stages to the chim- panzee, with a postscript that las why man is not included. The volume is full of wood-cuts, always informing to the eye, and often essentially

illustrative of the text.

_Marvels awl Mysteries of Instinct. By G. Garratt.—The substance of this book includes well-known facts relating to animal instinct, anec- dotes of men that from their spontaneity indicate an instinctive tendency if not actually instinct, and arguments touching the difference between instinct and reason. The claim of the author is to application and illus- tration ; in which he is not very successful as regards literary manner. '

June : a Book for the Country in Summer-time. By H. T. Stainton.— The freshness and charm of the subject, a fine June, gives an attraction to this little volume, descriptive of the country in several distinctly- marked places, as Scotland, the English Lakes, the vicinity of Lon"- don, and even in London itself., The utility of the Work would have been greater had its descriptions of nature and its instructions for country trips and country observations been more precise. The Law of Reformatories ; or Legislative Measures for the Establish- ment and Support of Public and Private Institutions for Juvenile Offend- ers, &c. &c. By John Macgregor, Esq., M.A., Barrister-at-law.—The primary object of this volume is to "set forth the present state of the law with regard to the reformation of young offenders in England, Scot- land, and Ireland." This it accomplishes by presenting the acts or the substantial part of the acts relating to the subject. The book, however, does a good deal more. It gives a synopsis of laws proposed but not passed; a useful feature. It also exhibits an account of the different Re- formatories actually at work, whether (1) established by Government, (2) established and supported under the provisions of an act of Parliament but by officers not appointed by Government, and (3) Reformatories supported by private efforts, in which Government only interferes by request. 'There is likewise some notice of the statistics, rules, &e. of these socie- ties, with practical information as to their management. In short, under the form of a legal treatise, the volume contains a clear, terse, and well- arranged coup-d'ceil of the whole subject of Reformatories.

Gonzaga di Capponi : a _Dramatic Romance. By Henry Solly.—The conception of this dramatic poem is very much above the author's power of execution. Mr. Say wishes to show that " genius, ambition, eisthe- tie taste, and strong passions, combined with patriotic or sentimental philanthropy, but without the redeeming influences of a devout religious. spirit and a pure morality," may become a curse to their possessor and others. To embody this idea, he takes an event in Florentine history, but without rigidly adhering to historical accuracy, and shows, not the character he describes in the above quotation, but a gentleman of the "Vivian Grey" school, rising to power by unprincipled arts, and very ive.tvously misbehaving himself both before and during his elevation. The literary execution is not remarkable, beyond a species of dramatic -tone in the dialogue ; which tone, however, evaporates in the terribly long soliloquies, of a philosophic air, that continually interrupt the story.

The Pleasures of Home : a Poem. By the Reverend John Anderson, Minister of KinnouL—This poem is formed upon the idea of numerous other " Pleasures." Home and the feelings connected with it are varied by incidents and reflections. The sentiments are pleasing, if' somewhat obvious ; the versification easy, but deficient in force.

The Lover's Seat : Kathermenira, or Common Things in Relation to Beauty, Virtue, and Truth. By Kenehn Henry Digby.—The first title of this book refers to a landscape and rustic seat at Sydenham, but has no relation to the matter even as a framework. Any other mode would have served to introduce the unconnected observations, reflections, and incessant quotations both in verse and prose, of which the two volumes consist. The book is a mere jumble—an indigesta moles ; not without thought, taste, and good feeling, but missing effect, from want of pur- pose or intelligible plan.

The _Russian Account of the Battle of Itikernaan. From the German.— This "account" was published in the early part of 1855, when a. portion of it appeared in the Times. Mr. Murray has now enabled the collector of bOoks and documents relating to the war to add it to his stock. There is more scientific exposition in the narrative than in any English account we have met with. The writer compliments the combatants all round, bathe wishes to make out that the Russians were fewer in number than the Allies.

A .Few Kind Words and Practical Hints to Young Soldiers. By an Officer.—This brochure is constructed upon the principle of Cromwell's celebrated order, "Put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry." Prayers, moral advice, and military hints, are the matter of the publica- tion. The hints are the best. They appear to pack up the results of a good deal of experience and knowledge in a small compass.

Alfieri, his Life, Adventures, and Works: a Sketch. By C. Mitchell Charles.—In this number of the "Reading for Travellers" the facts of Alfteri's life are narrated and commented upon with a vigour which if a -little coarse islresh. Some specimens from his dramas are given.

Terville : a Tale. By the Reverend H. S. M. Hubert, M.A.—The atory of a curate's son, who loses the lady of his love, the squire's daugh- ter, by the father's deceit in intercepting letters. The tale is not drama- tically told, but contains sketches of college life.

. The reprint of Lord Brougham's "Natural Theology" forms a volume of the Library Edition of his Lordship's Works, in course of publication by Messrs. Griffin.

The " Noctes Ambrosia= " are closed with the fourth volume to which the editor has added that literary and satirical curiosity the " Chaldee Manuscript," which in the first number of Blackwood struck -what was to be the key-note for many a year—unflinching Anti-Whig- gery and not over-scrupulous personality. The " Popular Tales" of Mrs. Hall are a cheap edition. The German students' edition of the first part of Faust explains itself.

Natural Theology.: comprising a Discourse on Natural Theology, Dialogues on Instinct, and Dissertations on the Structure of the Cells of Bees and on Foe- ail Osteology. By Henry Lord Brougham, F.R.S., Member of the National Institute of France, and of the Royal Academy of Naples.

Noetes Ambrosionze. By Professor Wilson. In four volumes. Volume IV. (The Works of Professor Wilson, of the University of Edinburgh, edited by Lis Son-in-law, Professor Ferrier.) Popular Tales and Sketches. By Mrs. IL C. Hall, Author of " Marian," &c. Goerhe's Faust : the First Part, with an Analytical Translation, and Etymo-

logical and Grammatical Notes. By L. E. Peithinann, LL.D. Second edition, revised and improved.

NEW MAGAZINE.

London University Magazine. No. I. May I858.--The contributors to this new e are to consist of persons who are or have been con- nected with the ndon University. The first number is well written, vari- ous, and for the most part real in the choice of subjects. Two or at the utmost three articles only are of the light literature ldnd ; the remainder, except a review of Maud, treating of questions relating to the actual business of life. In some of these, however, the-newspapers have anti- cipated the periodical. The great changes of the last fifteen or twenty years in journalism should ever be present to the mind of the projector of a magazine, which cannot treat subjects with the full elaboration of a quarterly work, and is therefore liable to take up questions whose leading points arc more or less exhausted.