PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

Memoir of the Life and Services of Vice-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Baronet, K.C.B. Edited by the Reverend Henry Ilaikes, Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester.

King Charles the First; a Dramatic Poem, in five acts. By Archer Gurney. [This play is the story of the "Church's Royal Martyr" put into scenes, and altered according to Mr. Archer Gurney's views of the record. What those views are may be gathered from the writer's idea of two characters. "I firmly be. lieve," says Mr. Gurney, "King Charles the First of England to have been one of the noblest of all mere human creatures that have breathed the air upon this earthly planet." Hampden, on the other hand, is painted in the darkest colours. "I fully believe," Mr. Gurney loquitur, "that remarkable man to have been more supreme for vile and infamous cunning, veiled beneath the mask of excessive honesty and singlemindedness, than any of his factions contemporaries." As the King's conduct does not in all things square with Mr. Archer Gurney's notions of his nobleness"—in the abandonment of Strafford, for example—the author takes upon himself to improve the history. In order to procure the King's consent to the execution, Pym has a secret interview with Charles, and promises to save the Church in return for Strafford's head. The King has then a secret interview with the Ex-Minister in the 'rower; where the case of the Church versus Strafford is argued in full, and decided, with consent, against Strafford.

When a writer starts with such ideas of his subject and his art, it is useless to i

ds cuss the questions of how far the story of Charles the First may be fitted for a drama, to what extent an historical dramatist may be permitted to alter the facts of history, or whether. he can be allowed to alter them at all. Mr. Gurney's fanaticism gives him an earnestness which occasionally lays holds of the attention, and a "situation " is sometimes produced by a freedom from all sort of dramatic restraint—" back fly the scenes and enter foot and horse." But King Charles the First is rather a study of political monomania than a subject for criticism, unless for some examples of the serious burlesque.]

The Curse upon Canaan; a Seatonian Poem. By the Reverend R. W. Es- sington. M.A., Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and Divinity Lecturer.

[A very superior prize poem, remarkable for the skill with which the subject is massed and treated, as well for the force of the language and harmony of the verse.] John of England; an Historical Romance. By Henry Curling, Author of " The Soldier of Fortune." In three volumes.

[John of England is rather for the circulating library than the critic; for the author is deficient in the imagination necessary to the difficult task of reviving the early feudal ages or painting the character of King John; and if he has studied archeology, of which we have doubts, he has penetrated no further than the husk. The book is not devoid of an " effective " theatrical character in its incidents, with some rapidity in the changes of its scenes; and Mr. Curling has force and fluency of style. But a specticle at the playhouse has as much claim to the title of an historical drama, as John of England to the character of an "historical romance."] The Jewish Faith, its Spiritual Consolation, Moral Guidance, and Immortal Hope. With a brief Notice of the Reasons for many of its Ordinances and Prohibitions. A series of Letters answering the inquiries of youth. By Grace Aguilar, Author of " The Women of Israel," &c.

[The religious movement of the day appears to have spread to the Israelites; some of whom, by means of the periodical press, are endeavouring to revive the spirituality of their brethren by a recurrence to the Bible. The Jewish Faith of Miss Grace Aguilar is a contribution to the same end, designed for Jewish females. It would appear that many Hebrew ladies feel the want of a more spiritual religion than the general formalism of their sect enables them to attain; and, in default of Jewish books, they have recourse to Christian, which, even when not controversial, have a tendency to shake their faith. To supply this want is the object of Miss Grace Aguilar; and she has cast her matter into the form of letters to a young lady, who is in the predicament described—dissatis- fied with the dead formality of her Jewish friends, and rather leaning to the fer- vour of the Christians. For this assumed correspondent she goes over the diffi- culties of the subject; explaining the reason of the ceremonial law, maintaining that the spiritual character of the Jewish religion predominated over it, and de- fending the Jewish doctrine of individual responsibility, in opposition to the ne- cessity of a vicarious sacrifice, consequent upon the Christian interpretation of the Fall. The subject gives the book a curious attraction'. both for its exposition of the revived Jewish faith and its glimpses of Jewish opinion. The matter might have been presented more advantageously by a greater condensation: if not verbose, the style is too extenuated.]

Historical Centuries, from the Christian -.Era to the present Time: showing at one view the rise, progress, and decline, of the various empires of Eu- rope, Asia, and Africa. Accompanied by descriptive columns of the prin- cipal religious, political, scientific, and literary events in each century. By E. H. Keating.

[Each page of this folio is divided into ten columns, each column devoted to a decade,. and of course each page to a century, beginning with the Christian era. The principal kingdoms and states of the world are displayed perpendicularly in the margin; the names of the reigning monarch; r' in case of subjugated countries, the sovereign state, with any very. remarkableincident, being placed in the columns devoted to the decade: religious, political, scientific, and literary persons

and events, are briefly noted at the foot of the page under their proper chronology. A readiness in the use of the Historical Centuries is soon acquired by a little at- tention; and the publication will then be found alike useful as a refresher of the memory, a book of reference, or a companion to the study of history.] The Scienqc Phenomena of Domestic Life Familkrly Explained. By Charles }cote Gower, Esq. Second edition.

[We have no recollection of having seen the first edition of this little work ; but we are not surprised at its having reached a second edition, from the excellence both of its plan and its execution. The object of Mr. Gower is to excite the attention of the young to scientific inquiry, by explaining the laws of natural philosophy; deriving his instances from such common matters as the frost on the bedroom-window, the steam from the kettle in the parlour, the cup in the pie in the kitchen. His exposition of the principles, and his deductions from the facts, are also as neat as the examples are well chosen. Parents and teachers, how- ever, would do well to remember that books of this kind can only excite a taste and furnish facts; scientific knowledge must be gained in another way.]

A Popular View of Lift Assurance: embracing a sketch of its origin and progress, its principles, objects, and advantages. By John Hutchinson, B.A., Accountant, Glasgow. [A compilation from the more elaborate works that have lately appeared upon the subject. The topics handled by Mr. Hutchinson are mentioned in his title.. page: of the execution it is only necessary to say that it is perfectly plain and intelligible.] Look before you Leap, or Wooings and Weddings; a Comedy, in five acts. Written by George W. Lovell, Author of "The Provost of Bruges," &c.

PR INT& Continental Scenery; comprising Views in Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and on the Stelvio Pass in the Tyrol. By John Round junior, Esq. Part I.

From the Tuileries to the Field of Waterloo, from Baden Baden to the Alps, and thence along the Stelvio Pass of the Tyrol, and across the plains of Italy to the Lake of Como and Venice, is the route of the tourist in these twelve sketches. Though the production of an amateur, they would not discredit the reputation of a professed artist; and they have qualities not always found in the works of prac- tised sketchers,—namely, careful attention to detail, and strong local character. The drawing is correct in perspective and neat in execution; and the varied and characteristic effects, especially in the Alpine scenes, show that Mr. Round has attained proficiency in the art of picture-making. The view of the Madatsch Glaciers is remarkable for its felicitous representation of the snowy range of Alps, and the expression of vastness and grandeur; though the style generally tends to the petite. The distant view of Venice, from the lagoon, strikingly conveys the idea of a city rising out of the sea.

The work is got up in a handsome manner; and the drawings are extremely- well lithographed by Messrs. Dickinson. The artistic way in which the neutral tints are made to produce various atmospheric effects deserves particular notice. We look forward with interest to some farther selections from Mr. Round's port- folio.] ALBIAEACE.13.

A Commercial PespetualAlmanack, and Table for verifying Dates. By Si- mnel Maynard, Editor of Keith and Bennyeastle's Mathematical Works, &c. Maynard's Desk Almanack, for 1847. [The Perpetual Almanack proposes to discover the day of the week and the cor- responding day of the month at the remotest period in chronology, or for anyfature time, either in the old or new style. This is sought to be accomplished through tables, which enable the consulter, by means of two or three references, to dis- cover the date wanted, for a few centuries: for more extended periods he has to work the question. In short, the sheet is rather a series of rules for shortly working chronological questions, than an almanack of reference. The Desk Al- manack simply shows the day of the week on which any particular date of the month will fall for 1847; and, though ready enough in use, seems rather less ready than the common calendars.] The Railway Almanack, Directory, Year-book of Statistics, and Digest of Railway Law, for 1847.

[This almanack is very complete in its general information; and its diary for ap- pointments and cash-accounts is ample. The main feature, however, is the facts connected with railways; which embrace acts of Parliament, digests of cases, planned and existing railways, with a variety of statistics.]

The Comic Almanack, for 1847. With twelve Illustrations of the Months. By George Cruikshank. [The cuts of the Comic exhibit the well-known humour of George Cruikshank, and the prose and verse contain the usual hits at passing events; but the style of both verges a little upon the past.]