28 JANUARY 1843, Page 17

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED, From January 20th to January 26th.

Booxs.

Travels in New Zealand; with Contributions to the Geography, Geo- logy, Botany, and Natural History of that Country. By EasEsT DIEFFENBACH, M.D., late Naturalist to the New Zealand Company. In two volumes.

New Holland; its Colonization, Productions, and Resources, with Ob- servations on the relations subsisting with Great Britain. By THOMAS BARTLETT, Assistant-Surgeon, Fifty-first Light Infantry.

[This is a book against New Holland. It is not a comprehensive view, point- ing out the natural disadvantages peculiar to the country, and the hardships and privations which all first settlers in any place ought to prepare for, but at the same time pointing out the class of persons to whom emigration is adapted, and showing what peculiar advantages New Holland possesses as a set-off, (for some it must possess, though they may not outweigh its evils.) It is not

even the more limited judgment of a fairly-disposed practical man, whose experience, whilst it acquaints him with minor inconveniences which only experience can develop, enables him also to point out the manner in which the

theoretical or paper-looking evil is diminished. New Holland, its Colonization. and Resources, is a "dead set" at the country; the aim being to show that it is by nature unfitted for colonization, and consequently for emigration. But,

like witnesses of a certain stamp, Mr. BARTLETT "proves too much." If we took his statements without qualification, or rather without the other aide of

the question, New Holland—not merely New South Wales, South Australia, and Swan River, but the whole continent—is almost unfitted to support life, and never could have permitted communities to increase in wealth, and, as the

author himself admits, in population, notwithstanding the paucity of females in the penal settlements. In saying this, we do not intend to imply that Mr. BARTLETT is advancing falsehoods ; but, either wilfully or unconsciously, he deduces whole conclusions from single cases, or omits all that would make against his views. The book is not a narrative of travels, nor is it a descriptive account of the Australian colonies. New Holland is a series of disquisitions: the two opening chapters run a tilt against the different writers who have recommended colo- nization on the modern principles, especially Australian colonization : half- a-dozen chapters are then devoted to an inquiry into the general character and capabilities of the Australian settlements, with occasional allusion to a par- ticular colony. In the course of this investigation, some useful observations are made; some practical facts are stated, especially in relation to climate and disease; and some useful hints are given to the intending emigrant (supposing anybody, after reading the book, resolute enough to emigrate at all): but the main conclusions of the work and its general character are such as we have stated.

Whilst running a-muck against all modern plans of colonization—some, we may say all of which that have been reduced to practice, are going on pro- gressively—our censor, it should be obeerved,has a project of his own, or rather a scheme which is a great favourite with persons of his turn of mind and ex- tent of capacity : he would improve the waste lands at home.] Church- Clavering ; or the Schoolmaster. By the Reverend W. GRESLEY, M.A., Prebendary of Lichfield. [The design of Church-Clavering is to indicate the views of Mr. GRESLEY, and perhaps of a section of Churchmen, as to education. With this view, the reader is presented with the biography of "a Schoolmaster." Joseph Primer, the son of an old-fashioned clergyman of small means, narrowly escaped the "sin" of becoming a Dissenting minister, and exercising sacred functions "without the laying-on of the hands of the Bishops " ; but being saved from this dilemma, he is presented to the mastership of a small foundation-school. Church- Clavering consists of an account of his career ; the story being made the vehicle for developing his modes of education and his views upon the subject. Although dialogue predominates over incident, the book is pleasantly written, with an amiable feeling running throughout ; and the views of education, as education, are sensible. But there are strange weaknesses of opinion, and an inca- pacity of apprehending the signs of the times, mixed up with the better things. Besides the sweeping charge of "presumption " and " sin" brought against the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches, as well as against all the ministers of the Protestant Dissenting sects, Mr. GRESLEY seems to hold that education is committed to the Church by right divine, and that, though the time of a fully- occupied minister could not he spent in teaching, yet masters only ought to teach who are authorized by the Church. This, Mr. GRESLEY is aware, could not now be enforced; but he wishes to revive the practice of licensing school- masters by the Bishop, and confining the children of Churchmen to such schools.] Papers of Regnault. Edited by WILLIAM DE BART. [Notwithstanding the title, and a prefatory notice and conclusion affecting a sort of mystery about the author,—fashionable among young writers since the publication of" Thomas Little,"—the Papers of Regnault is merely a volume of verses ; and better verses than might be expected from their silly heralding. There is some imitation of MOORE'S earlier poems in the style; and they have the spirit, not of the Anacreontic, but of the would-be town-Anacreon : there is also a want of purpose in the drift, and of compactness in the structure of some of the best of the poems, which favourers may call the wildness of genius, but we call a want of skill and knowledge. Still, in spite of these faults, there is a freshness and buoyancy of manner, with something like poeti- cal spirit in the volume, that argues promise in the writer, when he shall have acquired juster views of life, and cultivated his art with greeter care. But the Papers of Regnault will not attract notice, much less create reputa- tion; and if the author, as he intimates, has got a second series of the same kind ready, the best thing he can do is to burn them.] Poetry for the Million, Edited by PETER PRIGGINS. With Notes by the Sub-Editor. Second Series.

[An additional letter in dogged l verse, supposed to be written by Mr. WAKLEY to the editor of the first volume of Poetry for the Million. We do not clearly understand the scope of this brochure ; but so far as we can grasp it, it appears intended to ridicule the Finsbury M.P., both en passant and as regards the coming session. The jokes are flat ; sometimes so much so that the mind will not even take the trouble to try and perceive the meaning. Perhaps the best is the line, " SUISSE has composed a work on morals." It is strange that the author of College Life—if he is indeed the author—should publish such feeble flatness and fancy it satire.] Por Church Poetry; or Christian Thoughts, in old and modern verse. [A little volume of well-selected devotional poetry, classified tinder some dolma heads according to the subject handled—as Rules and Lessons for Life, the Church and her Ordinances, Prayer and Praise. The object of the selector is to produce a collection designed for members of the Anglican Church, Ind conveying no sentiments in opposition to her doctrines. The collection is made up from both ancient and modern writers, perhaps the older predomi- nating, with a sprinkling of original poems, of which those by S. R., though not high poetry, are worthy of commendation. The index of authors is cu- rious for its suggestion : perhaps no other church, certainly no other nation, can show such a list of serious poets, as respects intellect, character, and various station.]

Hymns on the Catechism.

[ Some thirty hymns on themes taken from the Catechism, versified with a view of impressing its leading points on the minds of children. The deficiency of the book, in the object it aims at, lies in its want of directness and plainness. The text is expanded without being lucidly illustrated.]

Gleanings in Natural History. By EDWARD JESSE, Surveyor of her Majesty's Parks and Palaces.

[A new edition of Mr. JESSE'S Gleanings; the most charming of all his works, because they are the most fresh, original, and con amore in their spirit. The different series are here compressed into a single volume, by means of stoutness in bulk, compactness in printing, and some abridgment, which does not, however, seem to affect the style. The book is handsomely got up, and will form an agreeable work to many besides school boys and girls, if they have not already got the Gleanings in Natural History.] Universal Directory. Annuaire General du Commerce et de l'Industrie, de la Magistrature, et de PAdministration ; on Almanach des 500,000 adresses. Publie par FERMIN Droor Freres, Imprimeurs-Libraires de l'Institat de France. 1843. Sixierne atm& de la publication. [This is a model of Directories, as regards comprehensiveness, completeness, and arrangement ; we have no publication in this country to compare with it : the Edinburgh Almanack approaches nearest to it in point of the fulness and variety of its information, but is of a more local character; and our Post office Directory, improved as it is, would form but a section of such a work as the French Annuaire. The great superiority of this Directory over any other that we have met with consists in the substantive nature of its information : it is not made up of lists of names merely, it is a catalogue raisonnee of matters. For instance, in the portion answering to our Court Kalendar, besides the names of ministers, secretaries, and officers, are the details of the adminis- tration of each bureau ; the matters cognizant by the different tribunals, and the extent of their jurisdictions: and in the Directory, not only are the trades and professions of all the residents of Paris mentioned, but the principal works of authors, artists, composers, and the particular description of articles sold or manufactured at the shops, and the classification of trades includes even "aerostats." The precise objects of the several learned societies and charitable institutions, of trading and insurance com- panies, and the class of performances and prices of the theatres and other places of amusement, are stated; the nature, extent, and price of the various periodicals and journals; and the particulars of conveyances by land and water include the times of arrival and the plates where they stop, with the fares to each. The Directory embraces not only Paris, but the whole of Prance; and in addition to the French colonies, includes the principal capitals and ports of the world. Some statistics of foreign countries as well as those of the several departments of France are likewise given.]

The Ladies'. Handbook of Baby-Linen : containing plain and ample in- structions for the preparation of an infant's wardrobe. By the Author of" The Ladies' Handbook of Fancy Needlework," &c.

SERIALS.

Life in Mexico, during a Residence of two years in that country. By Madame C— DE Ls B—. With a Preface, by W. H. Pnzscorx, Author of" The History of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain." Part L (Foreign Library.)

PERIODICALS.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Nos. CXXIL and CXXIIL PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND PRINTS.

Abbotsford Edition of the Wavering Novels, Part XX. PAMPHLETS.

Observations on the proposed Dismemberment of the Northern Circuit, and the Rearrangement of all the Circuits throughout England.

England and China ; their future duty, interest, and safety. In a Letter to the Right Honourable Sir R. Peel, Bart., &e. By an Englishman. Remarks on the Present Position of Joint Stock Banks. By THOMAS P. BADNALL, Esq.

Suggestions submitted to the Legislature for putting an end to all Private Trusts, and for establishing a General Court of Trusts for the due administration of trust property. By EDWARD COOKE, Esq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law.

No Sliding Scales but the Scales of Justice; an Essay on the Law of Wages. By HAMER STANSPELD.