25 JUNE 1859, Page 17

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Of a book of such mark as Professor Masson's BRITISH NOVELISTS AND THEIR STYLES it is enough for the present to say that it is worthy of the writer's reputation, and that we shall take an early opportunity to examine it in detail for the gratification of our readers.

The author of the Lreu AND MARTYRDOM or SAINT THOMAS BECKET avows the most entire sympathy with the Archbishop and his cause, but states that he has not recorded one word which is not fully warranted by the ancient authorities, and that he has relied for his facts on contempo- rary writers alone, rejecting all aid from modern books.

An inquiry by Mr. Bell, as to the foundation of the law he was to administer in the Supreme Court of the Cape of Good Hope, led him to most unexpected conclusions which he has now presented to the world in a work on the COLONIAL instnetsrasmori or GREAT Barranc "If any reader," he says, "shall be staggered at some of the doctrines pro- pounded, he will not be more so than I freely confess I myself was, when I first found them to be the inevitable result of reflection, as the subject gradually developed itself.

The NATIONAL CYCLOP.2EDIA in twelve volumes was issued by Itirx. Charles Knight between the years 1847 and 1851. It was founded upon the "Penny Cycloptedia," and although mueh less voluminous, it was in many respects better adapted to general use. Being also more recent in date, its articles corresponded more nearly with the existing state of knowledge than did those of its predecessor. The events, discoveries, and mutations of ten or eleven years have again left the "National" in arrear, and to make up this lee-way the proprietors have publiahed s supplemental volume which contains much that was wanting in the first twelve, and makes the work as nearly complete to the present time as any such work can be. The author of .kicreirr Mrivenatoar was Professor of the Greek and Latin languages in Columbia College, U.S., when he composed the monograph of which he now produces a second edition after an interval of four and twenty years. Every classical student will admit that Dr. Moore's subject is one upon which it is desirable to have a distinct trea- tise, embodying all the facts respecting it which are scattered through the works of the ancients, and elucidating them by the lights of modern science. This is what Dr. Moore has done in a very satisfactory man- ner, and we hope that his pleasant little book will meet, in this couni' at least, with a better reception than he seems to anticipate for it. We are sure it deserves it.

Captain Fuller's FIVE Yeens' RESIDENCE IN' NEW ZEALAND is a book of advice and instruction for persons who may or ought to become emi- grants. We do not remember to have seen a more complete book of its class or one of a more practical character.

CrnirwriaNrrv CONTRASTED wrrizt HLTDV Pon.osorny is a revised edi- tion of an essay to which was adjudged a moiety of a prize of 300/., offered by a member of the Bengal Civil Service. The principal part of the book is printed in double columns, English on one side, Sanscrit on the other.

Dr. Bray's Permit, REMAINS; edited by hi s widow, are accompanied by an interesting memoir of the author, who was successively a captain of volunteers, a barrister, called among his legal friends the Castilian, for his high feelings of professional honour, and during more than half his fife Vicar of Tavistock The poems are respectable. Some of them have been highly commended by Mathias, Merivale, and Southey.

A new book likely to excite considerable interest in legal circles is de- voted to an exposition of the Act regulating the sale of Weer INDIAN ENCIIMEERED ESTATES; it SISO contains SE account of the decisions of H. J. Stoner, the Chief Commissioner of the Court. The volume is edited by MI: Cost the Secretary of the Commission, and is in fact the history of the last experiment of the Legislature for substituting Parlia- mentary titles for the complexities of conveyancing. Great obstacles arose at first from the imperfect framing of the original act ; these ob- stacles have now been removed, and the result is, that the measure has proved completely successful. In explaining its operation, Mr. Cast illustrates his subject by a general consideration of the difficulties attend- ing the transfer of landed estates, and gives a summary of the provisions of the Irish Encumbered Estates Act, which was the first sep in this de- partment of law reform. The book is written in a very clear style, and the statutes, orders, &c., are well digested. The decisions of the Chief Commissioner (Mr. Stonor,) are of great importance, on account, not only of the interests at stake, but of the nicety of the points involved, and the practical suggestions they contain for the use of suitors. The decisions have been in no case appealed against ; a proof of the satisfaction that has been given. To the many in this country who are interested in the progress of law reform, and to all in the various Colonies likely to come under the Act, the book will be a most useful, almost an indispensable, manual.

BOOKS.

British Nordista and- their Styles : being a Critical Sketch of the History Of British Prose Fiction. By David Masson, M.A.

The Life and 3fartyritom of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbtnry' and Legate of the Holy See. By John Morris, Canon of Northampton. C010,6ilit Administration of Great Britain. By Sydney Smith Bell, of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-at-law, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. The National Cyclopeedia of Meal Knowledge. Tot. XIIT. AbadrIon—Ziling: 1 liana. Supplement. Ancient Mineralogy: or an Inquiry respecting Mineral Substances mentioned by the Ancients : with Occasional Remarks on the Vses to which they were Appliew' A By N. F. likwasi,LLJA. Poe Tears' Residence in Netc Zealand, or Observations on Colonisation. By Francis Fuller, Esq. (late Captain 59th Regiment) a Resident in the Province of Canterbury.

Christianity contrasted with Hindu Philosophy : an Essay in five books, San- skrit and English: with practical suggestions tendered to the Missionary among the Hindus. By James It. BalLantyne, LL.D.' Professor of Moral Philosophy, and Principal of the Government College atBenares.

Poetical Remains. Social, Sacred, and Miscellaneous, of the late Edward At- kyns Bray, B.D. F.S.A. Selected and edited with a Memoir of the Author by Mrs. Bray, Author of" The Life of Stothard," &a, In two volumes.

The West Indian Encumbered Estates Acts, 1851 and 1818; also the Local Acts, ¢c. By Reginald J. Cust, Esq.

Pastoral and other Poems. By Mrs. George Halse.

Harriette Browne's School-Days. A Tale, Almack's. A Novel, The Campbells. A Novel. In three volumes. Eros and Psyche, and other Poems. By Elias Athergon. Dress. A few words upon Fashion and her Idols. A Guide to the Town of Berne: comprising its Chronicles, Antiquities, Arts, Ike. By a Cantab.

SERIAL.

The History of the Great French Revolution. By M. A. Thiers. With Illus- trative Notes from the most authentic sources. With upwards of forty beau- tiful Engravings. Part I.

School Perspective. By J. R. Dicksee. The groundwork of this ex- cellent manual is the course of lectures and exercises by which the au- thor has for six years prepared the students at the College for training teachers of the British and Foreign School Society for- the annual Go- vernment examinations. As a popular introduction to the principles and practice of an art which may easily appal beginners by its apparent ab- struseness, Mr. Dicksee's book is a model of judicious arrangement and execution, equally suitable as a text-book for schools and for self-in- struction. Nothing can exceed the simplicity and clearness of its demon- strations or the practical completeness, without superfluity, which marks each step in its progressive system of instruction. The work is copiously illustrated with diagrams and wood-cuts, all good in their kind except one a diagram of the eye, in which the engraver has made some gross mistakes, and which ought therefore to be cancelled.