PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

From January 16th to January 224. BOOKS.

Notes of a Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo, by way of Lisbon, Athens, Constantinople, and Jerusalem : performed in the Steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company. By Mr. M. A. Titmarsh, Author of " The Irish Sketch-book," &c.

History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena. By General Count Montholon, the Emperor's companion in exile, and testamentary exe- cutor. Volumes I. and IL Western Clearings. By Mrs. C. M. Kirkland, Author of " A New Home, Who'll Follow?" &c.

Baliotherse des Memoires relatifs it l'Histoire de France pendant le Huit- Rine Sleek. Avec Avant-propos et Notices, par M. Fs. Barriers. Tome I. [Talk as we please about our national solidity, the French certainly excel us in historical collections, and, we may therefore assume, in real historical knowledge: since booksellers would not publish so choice and often sa magnificent series, if they were not bought; and we may also assume that the purchasers read their purchases, as foreigners rarely spend their money without a return. Nor is this liberal curiosity confined to their own annals. If the Englishman wishes to study the history of Charles the First and the Commonwealth, how can he do it? Some of the more popular works, such as Clarendon, and Mrs. Hutchinson, can be pro-

cured without cult'', though of various editions; but the rest must be picked up as they can from the catalogues of booksellers, or sought probably in the British Museum. Yet Gnizot, a quarter of a century ago, could publish a complete col- lection, in twenty-five volumes, of the original memoirs relating to that period, and publish it with success.

With France and England for a market, we have therefore small doubts of the success of the enterprise before ns ; which is to comprise, in a dozen volumes, a selection of the memoirs relating to the history of France during the eighteenth Century, drawn from the two hundred tomes of which the whole consists. The object of the work is to present the reader less with an account of public events, than a picture of public men and women in their private as well as their public capacities, from the death of Louis the Fourteenth to the fall of the dynasty at the close of the century. Such works only will be chosen as possess authority in addition to literary merit; and when only parts bear upon the historical purpose, such parts alone will be given,—as the extracts in the volume before us, from the Memoirs of Madame Mere du Regent and of St. Simon. Preliminary notices by the editor, of the writer and of the work, will be prefixed to each memoir; and, adding that the volume is handsomely printed in Didot's best style, we say enough to recommend the undertaking to the public.] Thoughts on Finance and Colonies. By Publius. This is one of that kind of books which occasionally appear when a crotchety individual has bestowed his tediousness upon a scientific subject, and not content with riding his hobby for himself and friends, determines on a public exhibition. Mr. Publius is wroth with the Government of Lord Liverpool for not continuing the Income-tax of 1816 by a threat of resignation; he prefers a mixture of direct and indirect taxation, but thinks the latter ought to be limited to an Income-tax, and the Assessed Taxes abolished; though, according to his own account of his principles, capital rather than income should be the subject of taxation. The only two novelties in the Thoughts on Finance and Colonies are these. Mr. Publins considers that men may fairly be called upon to pay in proportion to the coition they require from the state: so that a man with a wife and many might, abstractedly, be properly taxed against a bachelor as twelve to one. The other novelty relates to Canada: anticipating its independence, Publius would begin by putting the thing in train now, so that by the time Prince Alfred attains majority he should become King of the Canadas,—having previous) married a granddaughter of Louis Philippe, to whom he should be early affianced.] Military Miscellany; comprehending a History of the Recruiting of the Army, Military Punishments, &c. By Henry Marshall, FJI.S.E., Deputy-In- ector-General of Army Hospitals; Author of " Notes on the Medical Topography of the Interior of Ceylon, &c.," and " On the Enlisting, Dis- charging, and Pensioning of Soldiers?'

I_The Military Miscellany contains a dozen papers on subjects relating to the formation and discipline of our Army; sometinies historical—as in the view of the English Army from the feudal militia of the Conqueror down to the latest regulations; sometimes taking the character of disrsm ition—as in the chapters on the duration of enlistment, education, and p 'ql eats. In each class com-

mentary is continually intermingled with narrative or facts; and the book teems with information, either literary or derived from experience. It is of too technical a character for extended notice in our columns; but the Military Miscellany should have a place in the military library. One fact, however, is worth noting, for its shameful injustice, or rather fraud. The present bounty, in " cash and necessaries," is 31. 98. 6d. cavalry, 3/. 17s. 6d. infantry: but as the "necessaries" amount to at least 51., the recruit, so far from getting a farthing, is under stop- pages for a year or more. " A fertile source of desertions"; and no wonder.] Recreations in Shooting; with 'some Account of the Game of the British Islands. By Craven. With sixty-two Embellishments, engraved on wood by Frederick W. Branston, from original Drawings by Wilham Harvey. [This is an exceedingly handsome volume the wood-cuts, especially of the different kinds of game,having the spirit of life, whilst the mechanical engraving gives beauty and variety to the pages. For the neat morning room of the City sportsman's box it is the very thing, to please his own mind's eye, whilst it im- presses urban visitors with the idea that he is pursuing his recreation secunduni artem. As a regular sportsman's book we have our misgivings about Recreations in Shooting. Mr. Craven seems a great deal too familiar with the pen, and the arts of extract, reproduction, and writing, to impress us with the idea of his being the best working guide. However, the book is pleasant enough reading; and there are a good many Dints for the young sportsman, which appear to be derived from actual experience.] Lives of English Poets, from Johnson to Kirke White; designed as a Con- tinuation of Johnson's Lives. By the late Reverend Henry Francis Cary, M.A., Translator of Dante.

The Early French Poets; a series of Notices and Translations. By the late Reverend Henry Francis Cary, MA., Translator of Dante. With an. Introductory Sketch of the History of French Poetry, by his Son, the Reverend Henry Cary, M.A. Worcester College, Oxford.

[The contents of these two volumes were published about a quarter of a century ago, in the pages of the London Magazine, and are now reprinted in two neat volumes. The favourable impression they made on their appearance has not been diminished by the lapse of time,—if, indeed, their quiet, scholarly, and painstaking character, does not rather show to advantage against the more rapid, brilliant, and offhand style of the day. In a period of greater leisure we should willingly have called attention to some of the English names which obli- vion has partially or quite overtaken, or have lingered over the excellent account of the decline and deathbed of Johnson, or have characterized the lives and criticisms of some of the early French poets. Meanwhile, we may recommend the books; and the latter work will be found useful over and above the biography and particular criticism, by a general notice of the rise of the French language and French poetry, with which the editor heralds his father's work.] Lays of the Sea, and other Poems. By Personne.

[A pretty little volume of very pretty poems, on a variety of topics; almost self- suggestive if the general class be named—as "The Convict Ship," "The Dying Sailor's Song," in the Lays of the Sea; "The Snow-drop," "The Old Elm Tree, in the Miscellaneous Poems; and analogous themes in the Hymns for the Fire, side. The imagery is pretty, the style fluent, and pretty too; though the views of nature are rather fancied in the boudoir than taken from reality, and there is somewhat of sameness in the Lays. They are very creditable verses.]

The Raven, and other Poems. By Edgar A. Poe. [A collection of fugitive American poems, which their author, Mr. Poe, has re-

printed; not that he thinks the "volume will be of much value to the 'a or very creditable to himself," but with a view to "their redemption from the, many improvements to which they have been subjected while going at random 'the rounds of the press.' "]

Whistle-Binkie; a Collection of Songs for the social circle.

[A chubby, ruddy-cheeked book, full of hearty Scotch songs., jovial, sentimental, and humorous; and all by modern writers, including Carrick, Miller, Rodger, Thom, Motherwell, and other popular lyrists. This plump little volume contains five series of The Whistle-Binkie, with an appendix of Nursery Songs; and each song has the autograph of the writer affixed to it.] The Works of Beaumont and Fletcher; the Text formed from a new -cella- tion of the early editions. With Notes and a-Biographical Memoir, by the Reverend Alexander Dyce. In eleven volumes. Volume X.

ILLUSTRATED WORKS.

Sketches in Egypt. By H. Pillean, Sixteenth Lancers. Lithographed by Dickinson and Son.

[A set of twelve views of some of the most striking remains of the sculpture and architecture of Egypt; including the Temples of Philw' Edfou,

Luxor, Denderah, the Pyramids, and the colossal statues in the desert; with descriptions of the scenes. These sketches only pretend to the merit of fidelity: and this they appear to be entitled to; though Mr. Pillean has not always been successful in conveying an idea of the enormous magnitude of these stupendous structures: instead of the ruins seeming to be of vast dimensions, the figures and landscape only look small. Not only are these objec ts—seemingly so easy to delineate, because of the largeness and regularity of the masses and fewness of the parts— the most difficult to represent adequately on account of their prodigious size, but the beautiful drawings of David Roberts have so impressed the public mind with the grandeur of Egyptian monuments that no one coming after has any chance of being appreciated unless he surpasses his predecessor. But next to Roberta's these sketches by Mr. Pilleau are the best that we have seen; and their price renders them accessible to more numerous purchasers. They are executed in tinted lithography, roughly but effectively.] The Spanish Lodge's Love. Illustrated by Lady Dnlmeny. Drawn on stone by Lowes Dickenson.

[A set of designs in shaded outline, illustrative of an old ballad which recites the love of a Spanish lady for an English cavalier. The designs are executed with elabor- ate finish and neatness; and the work is got up in a style of sumptuous ele- gance that renders it quite unique of its kind. The pictures are drawn with a delicate chalk outline, admitting of tender gradations to represent distant ob- jects; and the shading has a rich softness, with the depth and clearness of ink touches. The verses of the ballad are emblazoned in the corner of each design in letters of gold and colours; and the superb illuminated titlepage is a very bold and handsome specimen dold English characters, with floriated initial letters and scroll ornaments.

Lady Dalmeny's designs are sufficiently clever to entitle them to praise as the work of a lady amateur. Graceful sentiment pervades them throughout; die posing one to overlook feeble and defective drawing, tameness of style, and want of animated character. The English Adonis is not only effeminate, but life• lessly indifferent; and the lady's countenance, though more expressive, does not get beyond a plaintive look of sadness. The details of costume and accessories are made out with only too minute distinctness. Notwithstanding its faults, this is altogether a remarkable production.] ALMANACK.

The Literary and Scientific Register and Almanack, for 1846. By J. W. G. Gutch, M.R.C.S.L. [This is the eyeloptedia of pocket-books, and exemplifies the multum in parvo principle applied to useful information. There are many libraries where one might search a good while to pick out the scientific and other facts, desirable to be known that are packed up in alphabetical order in this little repertory.]