24 JANUARY 1880, Page 23

The Pyrotechnist's Treasury ; or, Complete Art of Making Fireworks,

by Thomas Kentish (Chatto and Windt's), is sufficiently described by

its title. We quote from the preface a passage which may set at rest certain apprehensions not unlikely to be aroused by the name :- " Dangerous chemicals, that might produce spontaneous combustion, have been rigidly excluded ; the fullest information throughout has been furnished for preparing the mixtures with safety ; the mode of projecting balloons, and the manner of constructing steel-yard scales

and every kind of tool used in the art, have been added ; and no pains have been spared to make the work as complete and comprehensive as possible."—At the same time, we may mention The Boy's Own. Toy-Maker, by E. Landells, which has reached its sixteenth thousand. (Griffith and Farran.)