19 MARCH 1842, Page 17

PUBLICATIONS RRCEIVED.

From March 41h to March 17th.

BOOKS. .

Cakes and Ale. By Doonras JERROLD. In two volumes. The Slave States of America. By J. S. Bucsitionuf, Esq., Author of " America Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive." In two volumes. The Works Of Jeremy Bentham ; now first collected, under the superin- tendence of his Executor, JOHN BOWRING. Part X1X.—Containing Memoirs of Bentham, by JOHN BOWRING ; including Autobiographical Conversations and Correspondence. Greece as a Kingdom' or a Statistical Description of that country, from the arrival of King Otho in 1833, down to the present time. Drawn up from official documents and other authentic sources. By FRE- DERICK STRONG, Esq., Consul at Athens for their Majesties the Kings of Bavaria and Hanover.

Quest iones Mosaice ; or the Book of Genesis compared with the Remains of Ancient Religions. By OSMOND DE BEAUVOIR PRIAULX. From the Creation to the Death of Abraham.

A Treatise on the Application of Marine Surveying and Hydrometry to the practice of Civil Engineering. By DAVID STEVENSON, Civil Engineer; Author of " A. Sketch of the Civil Engineering of North America," &c.

The Mabinogion ; from the Llyfr Coch o llergest and other ancient Welsh Manuscripts; with an English Translation and Notes, by Lady CHAR- LOTTE GUEST. Part IV., containing Kilhwch and Olwen.

[This example of Lady CHARLOTTE GUEST s munificence, and of her skill IR ancient as well as modern literature, proceeds with its wonted spirit. The present number contains the tale of " Kilhwch and Olwen"; a story sup- posed to be purely British, SS "no parallel or counterpart has been discovered in any other language," and some of its allusions are unintelligible even to the best Welsh antiquarians, though some are still current in the Principality. The story of" Killiwch and Olwen" relates to a kinsman of King Arthur,

who goes in search of a particular lady for a wife. To discover her, however, is only half the battle ; she was to be won by a series of labours to which those of Hercules were easy undertakings. By the assistance of the Knights of Arthur, and occasionally of Arthur himself, the bride is at last won, and her father dies ; fulfilling the prophecy which caused his very natural objec- tion to her marriage.

The reasons adduced by Lady CHARLOTTE are sufficient as to its purely British origin ; but the story strikes us as being less racy and original than some of the former ones. There is less simplicity about it, and more of imita- tive art. The writer accumulates both names and incidents, as if he had readied a period when complexity and variety were required, and he was trying to accomplish those points by mere quantity. We should also infer that be had less faith in his own marvels than the authors of some of the previous stories.]

Socrates ; a Tragedy, in five acts. By FRANCIS BARHAM, Esq. [This tragedy is a curious example of a confident misconception of a man's own powers. Mr. BARHAM is "desirous of advancing the reform of the drama and the stage," and "initiating a nobler series of tragic dramas than those which have been in fashion of late years." To accomplish his purpose, he tells us that he hu carried "poetical licence a long way," by introducing Socrates in all the most striking incidents of his biography "; that "he has violated the unities without remorse," and "studiously avoided the display of learning, and endeavoured to be simple and familiar even to a fault." All this would have been very well had Mr Bannest been a poetical David, whose sling and smooth stone could accomplish more than regular arms and armour; but he is merely another in- stance of the many examples that to despise formal merits does not of necessity produce essential ones. Before adopting a life as the subject of a plot, he should have seen that it had some action and connexion ; before trying to emu- late SHAKSPERE in Hamlet by mingling the lofty with the familiar, he should have ascertained whether his simple style did not halt upon crutches; and be- fore undertaking to write a tragedy, he should have considered whether he pos- sessed any poetical or dramatic powers.1 The Prisoner of War; a Comedy, in two acts. By DOUGLAS JERROLD, Author of" The Rent-Day," Ike.

Wakondah, the Master of Life ; a Poem.

[Wakondah is the name given by the Red Indians to the Supreme Being, who they believe haunts the Rocky Mountains in the likeness of a hunter of colos- sal stature : to shadow forth the appearance of this awful form, and the emo- tions of Wakondah at the destruction of his worshipers, appears to be the aim of the writer of this ambitious attempt to attain the "large utterance "of heroic verse. It is only a small fragment of a poem, the completion of which depends on the verdict of "the "grand inquest of criticism, which is to decide whether it has in it life or death. As one of the jury, we should say "death"; for, though not without indications of power, there is too much evidence of effort to give hope of a vigorous vitality.] Songs. Written by ANDREW PARK.

Characteristics of the Genius and Writings of L. E. L.; with Illustra- tions from her works, and from personal recollection. By S. S., Author of" The Hebrew Converts," &c.

[A series of disquisitions on the writings of L. E. L., prose, poetical, and post- humous; accompanied by copious extracts. The remarks of the writer are sometimes graceful and sometimes sensible ; but as a whole, the book is devoid of substance and plan, and besides being too eulogistic, consists too much of mere opinion.]

The Traduced; an 'Historical Romance. By the Author of "The Fa- talist, or the Fortunes of Godolphin, &c. In three volumes."

["The Traduced" is no other than the beautiful Joanna, Queen of Naples; whose history is a romance of itself. Apart from the difficulty of investing well-known events and characters of history with the attributes of fiction; the author has not sufficient power to grasp or mastery to unfold the springs of action in the historical personages that figure in his pages. The story wants life and interest : the descriptions resemble the gayly-coloured patterns for Berlin needlework rather than animated pictures of stirring scenes ; and the general reflections are deficient in originality and force.]

Scraps from the Knapsack of a Soldier; consisting of Brevities in Verse. By CALDER CAMPBELL, Author of "The Palmer's Last Lesson," &c. [A miscellaneous collection of fugitive verses, some of which have appeared in various periodicals. They are principally of a personal nature, and are cha- racterized by a kindly and tender feeling; but they read more like the effusions of a susceptible mind, given to reverie and prone to the indulgence of morbid fancies, than the healthy impulses of a lively imagination : the verse is fre- quently disfigured by conceits; and affectations; while sometimes sense is sacrificed to sound.] Pindar's Epinician or Triumphal Odes, in four books; together with the Fragments of his last compositions. Revised and explained by JOHN WILLIAM DONALDSON, M.A., Head Master of Bury School, and late Fellow and Assistant Tutor of Trinity College, Cambridge. A General and Elementary View of the Undulatory Theory, as applied to the Dispersion of Light, and some other subjects; including the sub- stance of several Papers printed in the Philosophical Transactions, and other Journals. By the Reverend BADEN POWELL, M.A., F.R.S., &c., Savilian Professor of Geometry in the University of Oxford. Principles of Mechanism ; designed for the use of Students in the Univer- sities, and for Engineering Students generally. By ROBERT WILLIS, M.A., F.R.S., &c.' Jacksonian Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy in the University of Cambridge. Moral Agency, and Man as a Moral Agent. By WILLIAM M.Comant, Author of" Hours of Thought." [An Anti-Puseyite argument to prove that man is a free agent, and that moral action is based on a knowledge of right and wrong, obtained chiefly from Scripture testimony, the divine authority of which is authenticated by con- science.] Discourse on the Enlarged and Pendulous Abdomen; showing it to be a visceral affection, attended with important consequences in the human economy ; with cursory observations on diet, exercise, and the general management of health. For the use of the dyspeptic. Second edition; augmented by a Dissertation on Gout, suggesting new physiological views of its cause, with directions for its treatment and prevention. By RICHARD FRANKUM, Esq., Surgeon. [The Dissertation on Gout forms an addition of one-half to the former contents of this little volume. The author's view of the nature of this disease is, to use his own words, that it is "essentially dependent on an inflammatory affection of the mucous membrane of the stomach"; and his treatment is therefore directed to the removal of this cause of gout, as well to the mitigation of its effects by topical applications.] Lectures on the Diseases of the Urinary Organs. By Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart., F.R.S., Sergeant-Surgeon to the Queen. Third edition, with alterations and additions. [This new edition of Sir Benelux BRODIE'S valuable work has been consi- derably altered, and enlarged in the substance as well as the quantity. The alterations comprise the result of his increased experience, and some modifica- tions of his views: the 'principal addition is a lecture on the operation of lithutrity, in which the best modes of performing it are lucidly described, and the few cases considered in which lithotomy would be most judicious.]

The Cyclopedia of Popular Medicine, intended for domestic use; with numerous illustrations. This work comprises an account of the causes, symptoms, and methods of curing diseases, together with the diseases of women and children, and those incident to warm climates ; with a plain description of the medicines in common use ; to which is added, a com- plete Treatise on Diet, and Directions for the Treatment of Fractures of the Limbs, illustrated by several plates. By KEITH butes, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, &c.

SERIALS.

Thornton's History of the British Empire in India, VoL II. Part V.

Captain Cook's Voyages, Parts 1V. and V.

PERIODICALS.

Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science, Agriculture, Statistics, tc. No. L Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. CXV. New York Arcturus, January and February. Periodicals for March--Asistic Journal, Facts and Figures, Independent. London Saturday Journal, January, February, and March.

PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND PRINTS.

The Launch of the Trafalgar. Drawn by W. RANWELL ; lithographed by T. PICREN. [A large and well-executed print of the animating scene of the launch of the Trafalgar, as viewed from the river just at the point of time when she floated. It conveys a good idea of the crowds of steamers and other craft, the stupen- dous size of the ship, the concourse of spectators, and the enthusiasm of the moment ; though the drawing is somewhat tame in its neatness.]

Winkle's Cathedrals, Nos. XLV. and XLVL Le Seeds Memorials of Cambridge, Nos. XXIV. and XXV.

PAMPHLETS.

Financial Reform; a Digest of the Reasons for and against a Tax upon Permanent Property, in lieu of some of the present taxes, especially those on commodities. By Ft. W. RUSSELL.

The Justice and Utility of a Property- Tax, as a means of restoring the revenue, placing it upon a permanent basis, and affording facilities for the development of the commercial and manufacturing resources of the country. By a True Conservative.

Letter to the Council of the Anti-Corn-Law League. By THOMAS GIs- BORNE junior, Esq.

A Plea for the Total and Immediate Repeal of the Corn-Laws; with re- marks on the Land-tax fraud, and a table of the official" valued rental" of 100 parishes of Scotland in 1650-67; with the rental of the same in 1791-6, and at the present time, 1832-41, &c. Fourth edition, enlarged. (Anti-Corn-Law Tract, No. L) Sir Robert Peel's "Burdens on Land." (Anti-Corn-Law Tract, No. IL)

An Inquiry into the Principles which ought to regulate the Imposition of Duties on Foreign Corn; in answer to "Statements illustrative of the Policy and probable Consequences of the proposed Repeal of the exist- ing Corn-laws, by J. R. ad‘Culloch, Esq." By GEORGE TAYLOR, Esq., Writer to the Signet. Anti- Corn-Law League; Aristocracy Defended : Pillars versus Posts !

Letters on Emigration : containing a few remarks on the benefits likely to be derived by the adoption of a national system of emigration. By C. H.

Inquiry into the Validity oft/se British Claim to a Right of Visitation and Search of American Vessels suspected to be engaged in the African Slave-Trade. By HENRY WHEATON, LL.D., Minister of the United States at the Court of Berlin; Author of "Elements of International Law," &c.

Memorial submitted to her Majesty's Government by a Committee appointed at a meeting of .Ministers, Elders, and others, members of the Church of Scotland, held at Edinburgh 12th August 1840.

Essay on the Headsh0 of the Lord Jesus Christ. By an Office-bearer of the Church of Scotland as by law established.

Memorandum for the Solicitor-General for Scotland. By a Deputation from the Constitutional Church Committee appointed to wait on him and represent the views of the minority of the members of last General Assembly.

A Reply to the Letter of the Reverend Charles Stewart, which appeared in the "Dundee Warder" of 25th ultimo; together with a statement of facts referred to in that letter. By " A Person carrying on the business of a Bookseller in this Town" (Perth.) Third edition. A Letter to the Lord Chancellor on the subject of the Revising Barristers. By CHARLES RA:vs KENNEDY, Barrister' of the Inner Temple. A .Utter from a Citizen of London to the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, Bart., on the Necessity of Restricting. and Defining the Power of Magistrates and Protecting Places of Public Entertainment from Persecution.