PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Boons.

The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte. Freely translated and condensed by Harriet Martineau. In two volumes. (Chapman's Quarterly Series.) Forest Life in Cciflon. By W. Knighton, M.A., formerly Secretary to the Ceylon Branch Royal Asiatic Society. In two volumes.

History of Europe from the Fall of Napoleon in 1815 to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in 1852. By Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., Author of the "History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Battle of Waterloo," &c. Volume II.

The Hermit; a Novel. By Emilie Carlen, Author of "The Birthright," &c. In four volumes.

The Gold-Rocks of Great Britain and Ireland; and a General Outline of the Gold-Regions of the World. With a Treatise on the Geology of Gold. By John Calvert, of Australia, Mineral Surveyor. [Mr. Calvert, it appears, has been knocking about Australia for a good many yoars, and in the course of his adventures followed the "great Australian rderilla from Tan Diemen's Land to near Moreton Bay," seeking gold and science at the same time. He returned to England with the idea that Great Britain and Ireland were gold-countries, which could be lucratively worked. It is true, "Sir Roderick Murchison and other eminent geologists" did not countenance his schemes; but men "full as clever and ten times as hearty" made up for scientific scepticism. "Many noblemen and gentlemen," says Mr. Calvert, "came to show me specimens of gold from their estates and mines. * * * * The directors, shareholders, and members of the Stock Ex- change, interested in existing gold-companies, likewise gave me every in- formation as to their ores and their workings." That gold has been found in the British Isles, in the lump, in ore, and mixed up with other metals, is well known. That in earlier ages it was more plentiful than now, is very possible. The question is, whether it would pay for working ; and there must be some better grounds of assurance than will be found in this volume, before any reasonable person would be justified in spending his money on the attempt. An accumulation of anti- quarian extracts, and quotations from books of a later day, long enumera- tion of places where gold may be found, with "it is reported," "on the statement," and "it is said," form the bulk of the survey of Great Britain and Ireland. The few facts of a more practical kind, relating to the produce of certain mines, are deficient in this most important point—the coat of working and assaying compared with the value of the gold.] The Greyhound : being a Treatise on the Art of Breeding, Rearing, and Training Greyhounds for Public Running ; their Diseases and Treat- ment. Containing also, Rules for the Management of Courting Meet- ings, and for the Decision of Courses. By Stonehenge. With Illus- trations. [What work we undergo in the cause of pleasure ! If men paid as much at- tention to their health, their diet, their exercise, and their offspring, as this volume directs the votaries of coursing to do with those of their dogs, what a race we should be ! In this revised and extended reprint from Bell's Life, the author tells how to choose a greyhound, or how to breed him ; enters at length into his diseases, which if Stonehenge is right have a singular re- semblance to those of humanity, ; gives minute instructions for bringing him up from birth, and training him when of age for a public match; and finally closes with directions for management during the match itself, and offers a new code of laws to the coursing world. The book is of a practical character; highly useful, we should consider, to the amateur of coursing or the admirer of the greyhound. It is profusely illustrated with portraits of the most celebrated dogs; which, irrespective of their utility, have great attraction from their various expression of countenance. The blood of the greyhound would seem to be at once so pure and so sensitive as markedly to exhibit the slightest cross, so that the nature of the ancestry can almost be read in the face.] Life of Robert Southey, LL.D., Poet Laureate, &c. By Charles T. Browne. [The voluminous "Life and Correspondence" of Southey, edited by his eon, contains so full an account of his actions, and a his thoughts and feelings, under his own hand, that a person must have special sources of information to add to the facts of that biography. In the literary qualities of criticism and of comments on the career and character of the Laureate there is plenty of room' for originality. To this last Mr. Browne has no pretension, and he adds little or nothing to our knowledge of facts. The book is a workmanlike digest of Southey's Life from the six volumes of his son, interspersed with fair and sensible commentary. It would however admit of improvement. Southey's early ballads for the people, the attacks on him in his youth by the Antijacobin, and the quarrel with Byron in his maturity, were better worth some little space than an account of his travels in the Peninsula.] The Young, Voyageurs; or the Boy Hunters in the North. By Captain Mayne Reid, Author of "The Boy Hunters," &e. With twelve Illus- trations by W. Harvey. [The present volume of Captain Mayne Reid carries his "Boy Hunters" from the Southern States to the Hudson Bay Territory, accompanied by a cousin who has come to lead them to their uncle's fur station, on the death of their father. This journey from the Southern confines of the British territory, to a fort of the Company on the Mackenzie River, is made a vehicle for describing the natural history both animal and vegetable of this wintry land, as well as for depicting the scenes and adventures that may occur to travellers therein. An objection might perhaps be raised, that too much is made to befall one party ; but this was necessary to the complete development of the subjects, and it is very well done. Many of the adven- tures strongly excite the reader's attention, and carry him almost breath- lessly along. The Young Voyageurs is a capital book for a Christmas present, a New-Year's gift, or a keepsake at any season.]

Handbook to the Library of the British Museum : containing a brief History of its Formation, and of the various Collections of which it is composed ; Descriptions of the Catalogues in present use ; Classed Lista of the Manuscripts, &c. indispen- sable a variety of Information ndispen- sable for the " Readers ' at that institution. With some Account of the Principal Libraries in London. By Richard Sims, of the Depart- ment of Manuscripts; Compiler of the "Index to the Heralds' Visit- ations."

[A general exposition of the literary treasures at the British Museum ; very curious in itself, and of great utility to any one intending to read there, or who has begun his studies, but find; himself baffled by the multiplicity of books and manuscripts, or the complexity of the catalogues, like a guest puzzled with a voluminous bill of fare of unknown dishes. And what a col- lection it is! To learn the names and subjects, much more to master the contents of the hooka themselves, would seem work enough for a lifetime. However, classification saves the student from looking after what he does net want, and experience will enable him to see that there is really very little new or essential in secondary books.] The Political and Military History of the Campaign of Waterloo. Translated from the French of General Baron de Jommi, by S. V. Benet, U. S. Ordnance.

An American translation of Jomini's history of the Hundred Days ; forming

22d chapter of his Vie Politigue et Militaire de Napoleon. There is more of narrative than might be expected by a reader thinking only of the author's Preis de 1' Art de Guerre; but the story is often suspended for criticism and commentary. It may be recommended as probably the best and fairest French account of the period, though with a bias in favour of Napoleon, or at least with a strong leaning to a highhanded military man- ner of conducting public business. General Jomini has little love for the members of the Assembly at Paris whose opinions led them to oppose the Emperor; and not much for constitutional government in France.]

The Turk and the Hebrew; or the Rule of the Crescent. A Story of Real Events and living Persons.

[There is something of " catchpenny contrivance" about this title, and its "story of real events and living persons." The tale is founded on the at- tack upon the Jews at Damascus, which took place some years ago, on ac- count of the disappearance of a Romish monk whom the Hebrews were ac- cused of murdering. The prejudices and intrigues of the Christians had, howeveri quite as much to do with the persecution as the " rule of the Crescent" ; and so, indeed, it stands in the book.

The story is cleverly made up, and by a person evidently acquainted with Oriental life. Some of the descriptive touches of character have striking reality about them, and the whole' atmosphere is Eastern. But the story is melodramatic, the action and persons are unreal. The Turk and the He- brew. seems like the work of a ready writer practised in his craft, but want- ing the true dramatic spirit necessary for the novelist.] Letters of Laura D' Auverne. By Charles Swain, Author of "The Mind,' &c.

[Although we cannot agree with Southey and a is many other critics in their estimate of Charles Swain as a poet, there s no doubt but that he has a wonderful knack of versifying, as well as great fertility of thought and imagery. Such a gush of well-sounding verses with ideas to match " we never did see." But the verse would be better for even a little ruggedness, the ideas if they were less poetically conventional, and the pieces if they had More of force and feeling. It is sometimes a surprise that men write so Much ; the wonder in Swain's case is that he writes so little.

The " Letters " in this volume are from a bride who quarrels with a hus- band because he objects to her riding on horseback, and after a parting and long trouble makes it up again. Short and slight as the letters are, they are too long for the subject, which should lead either to less or to greater re- sults. The songs and miscellaneous poems are on occasional topics ; clever, tripping, lively, but wanting depth and earnestness : " we start, for soul is wanting there."] The Keepsake, 1854. Edited by Miss Power. With Engravings from Drawings by the first Artists, engraved under the superintendence of Mr. Frederick A. Heath.

The Court Album; • a Series of Portraits of the Female Aristocracy. Engraved by the best Artists. [The appearance of the last of the old Annuals reminds us, like the weather, of the approach of Christmas ; but except in their elegant appearance and their plates there is not much to recall the gift-books of some quarter of a century ago. The Keepsake has the wonted variety—tales, essays, poetry, with a goodly list of contributors, though the fashionable names are foreign, and those of celebrated authors not so numerous. The Court Album is simply a book of ladies' portraits; the letterpress being bare notices of the family of the heroine. As for the art of either volume, it is below the average • the only thing worthy of note being the excessively skilful way in which Mrs. Ryles has, in The Keepsake, engraved a female figure, which we remarked last year at the Exhibition of Sketches for skilful painting of a like order.] Miss Corner's Scriptural History Simplified ; in Question and Answer; for the use of Schools and Families. Revised by John Kitto, D.D., F.S.A.

[The leading facts of the Old Testament throwninto the form of question and answer. They are well presented to the mind of the youthful student, and in an orthodox way.] An Attic Philosopher in Paris; or a Peep at the World from a Garret. Being the Journal of a Happy Man. From the French of Emile Souvestre. (The Traveller's Library.) Mary Aston; or a sketch of Town and Country. By Edmund Nugent, Esq. Second edition.

Guthruns the Dane; a Tale of the Heptarchy. In six cantos. By Ro- bert Story. Second edition.

The Student's Self-Instructirly French Grammar ; consisting of Twelve Progressive Lessons, wherein the Parts of Speech are exemplified in Conversational Phrases : Fables, Anecdotes, and Bon Mots, with lite- ral translations, are also introduced. By D. M. Aird, Author of "Sketches in France," &c. Seventh edition, enlarged and corrected.

ALMANACKS.

The British Almanack and Companion, for the year 1854.

[This oldest and best of the practical Annuals has made a new start, at least in one of the main divisions of the Companion, the "General Informa- tion " section. The conductors have even more than usual turned their atten- tion to the current business of life ; and the result is certainly cheering.. "Public Baths and Washhouses" show, and in an interesting way, the ad- vance which a large portion of the poorer part of the community have made in the virtue that is uext to godliness; and throws out a hint for reaching even the very lowest. "Ireland, its Industrial and Commercial Prospects," speaks of advances even "in the first flower of the earth and first gem of the sea." The "Progress of Administrative and Financial Improvement" takes a cursory review of what has been done during the last thirty years; with a fuller account of what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has accomplished, and what he probably proposes in the way of further fiscal reforms. Mr. De Morgan writes a paper on Decimal Coinage, and, like all mathematician; urges its adoption ; though he shows that it seems yet a disputed point how accounts should be kept under it, while he forgets that man is not a mathe- matical animal, except in Laputa. There are two good papers of a more arithmetical kind—a display of the new Tariff, and an analysis of the late Census. This last is a general and in its opening a graphic picture of Eng- land a century and a half ago.] Raphael's Prophetic Almanack. By Raphael, the Astrologer of the Nineteenth Century. Thirty-fourth year, 1854.

The Peoples Health Almanack, 1854.

PAMPHLETS.

The Present Crisis ; or the Russo-Turkish War and its Consequences to England and the World. By Coningsby.

The Future of the Human Race; or a Great, Glorious, and Peaceful Revolution near at hand, to be effected through the Agency of De- parted Spirits of good and superior men and women. By Robert Owen.

Asiatic Cholera; its Cause and Cure Discovered and Demonstrated. By Thomas Harvey, Esq.

" Sfrikes," viewed in relation to the Interests of Capital and Labour ; a few Thoughts on the present Industrial Crisis. By Henry Dunckley, M.A., Author of an Essay on the Working Classes, entitled "The Glory and Shame of Britain."

The Black Man. The Comparative Anatomy and Psychology of the African Negro. By Hermann Burmeister, Professor of Zoology in the University of Halle. Translated by Julius Friedlander, Dr. Phil. of Berlin ; and Robert Formes, M.D., of New York. (Republished from the Evening Post.) Clerical Education ; or the importance to the Clergy of a Correct Ac- quaintance with the Original Scriptures. From the Journal of Sacred Literature for October 1853, Two Lectures on the Influence of Poetry on the Working Classes. By the Reverend Fred. W. Robertson, M.A., Incumbent of Trinity Chapel, Brighton. Second edition.

The Laws of Artistic Copyright and their Defects. By D. Roberton Blaine, Esse, of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-law.