1 DECEMBER 1838, Page 18

The British Almanack and Companion maintain their usual superiority over

all others, for the amount, variety, and usefully scientific character of their information, as well as for the work- manlike pains with which it is put together. The " Miscellaneous Register" of the Almanack contains a mass of facts a knowledge of which is constantly requisite in the business of life. The con- tents of the Companion are of a more enlarged and elevated kind, but equally useful. Amongst them may be mentioned, a very valuable history of the statistics and legislation of the Wheat Ti-ache; good papers on Steam Navigation, the Railways of Great Britain, and the Uniform Penny Postage; and a pleasant review of Public (Architectural) Improvements during the last twelvemonth.

Mr. MURPHY, nothing disconcerted, has brought out his Wea- ther Almanack for isms; which is rather more explicit in its prognostications than his first, as well as more flattering in its prospects of fine weather. The coming Christmas will, according to MURPHY, be a bitter one : we are to have a storm on Christmas Day, frost sets in three days before the New Year and lasts a fortnight, and after a week's intermission returns for a few days more. The general character of the weather is, however, favour- able, for our climate, during the year. February, March, and

April have many clays marked " fair ;" May is very "change- able," and June looks lowering; but July and August wear a smiling and sunny aspect, and there are a good proportion of fine days in September : the next year's October, too, may match with the one just passed ; while the November is a great improvement on the present year's, and even dreary December shows a fair face.

The Sporting Almanack marks in its calendar all race•days, and the seasons and events interesting to sportsmen; contains lists of hounds, yachts, and cattle-fairs ; and gives useful information to anglers, recipes for horse diseases, and laws of racing, coursing, cricket, &c. It is ornamented with some pretty etchings of field sports ; and is altogether a handsome and complete vade mecum for the turf.