PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
Florentine History, from the Earliest Authentic Records to the Accession of Ferdinand the Third, Grand Duke of Tuscany. By Henry Edward Napier, Captain in the Royal Navy, F.R.S. In six volumes. Volume I.
Seventh Annual Report of the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and
Marriages, in England. (Abstracts of the two years 1848, 1844.) The Buchanites from First to Last. By Joseph Train, Author of " The History of the Isle of Man," &c.
Keightley's History of India. I'art L (Whittaker's Popular Library. Copyright editions.) [This is by far the best of the original works in Messrs. Whittaker's "Popular Library—Copyright Editions": for it is wanted. Mill, Elphinstone, and Thornton are too voluminous and expensive for tie common reader: all the compendiums that we have seen are deficient in fulness of matter, proportion to a scale, and sometimes in clearness of exposition, from an enforced curtness when something has to be cut short because another something has been made too long. There are none of these defects in Keightley's History of India. Without original re- search, or much novelty of view, the various received authorities have been studied and compared, and an independentjudgment exercised in the conclusions. There is also a grasp of the subject, a skilful selection of the principal facts, and a workmanlike manner of marshalling and exhibiting them. As much matter is condensed into Mr. Keightley's pages as they will hold without over-crowding; and the scale is strictly observed; even Baber himself occupying the space which this history requires, not that which the Emperor's autobiography enables a com- piler to fill. In this first part, the reader has a condensed view of Indian history from its earlier period to the decline of the Mogul power (about 1760); together with a view of the European connexion with the East, closing with the dawn of the British prospects over the vast empire of Hindostan.] First Principles of Symmetrical Beauty. By D. R. Hay. E.This is a grammar of pure form; in which theelements of symmetrical, as dis- tinguished from picturesque beauty, are demonstrated, by reducing the outlines or planes of curvilinear and rectilinear forms to their origin in the principles of geometrical proportion. In thus analyzing symmetry. of outline in natural and artificial objects, Mr. Hay determines the fixed principles of beauty in positive shape, and shows how beautiful forms may be reproduced and infinitely varied with mathematical precision. Hitherto the originating and copying of beautiful contours have been alike empirical: the production of a new design for a vase or jug has been a matter of chance between the eye and the hand; and the copying of a Greek moulding or ornament a merely mechanical process. By a series of problems, Mr. Hay places both the invention and imitation of beautiful forms on a sure basis of science; giving to the fancy of original minds a clue to the evolving
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of new and elegant shapes, in which the infinite resources of nature are made subservient to the uses of art. The volume is illustrated by one hundred diagrams, beautifully executed, that serve to explain the text, and suggest new ideas of beauty of contour in common objects. To designers of pottery, hard-ware, and architectural ornament, this work is particular] y valuable; but artists of every kind, and workmen of intelligence, will find it of great utility. Mr. Hay liming now, in his various works, unfolded the ruling principles of form and colour, should complete the round of his subject, by giving the result of his studies in the department of decorative art, in the shape of a treatise on or- nament as applicable to present uses. We know of no other writer so thoroughly versed in the theory and practice of ornamental design as to be able to solve this ever-recurring and difficult problem—Given, the end to be accomplished, and the means to attain it; requited, to point out the way. Our designers of shapes and riipatterns are at fault; and eachers of schools of design are blind leaders of the ales for Young People. By Agnes London. Edited by Mrs. London. With Illustrations.
[If not the "most robust and richly graced," the first part of this pretty little volume is the most interesting; for the tales it contains are written by Mrs. Lou- don's daughter, whom she thus introduces to the public. These stories are six in number: five of them relate to the common incidents of daily life; and, being naturally yet gracefully told, mingle the utile with the dulci: the sixth is a sort of fabulous tale, in which dogs are the interlocutors; and we think it less successful than the previous stories. The second pa consists of some tales translated from the German by Mrs. Loudon's sister-in-law; and a few written by Mrs. London herself, in which anecdotes connected with Royalty and the cultivation of fruit are expanded into a story.]
Elegy to Napoleon. By R. H. Williams, Esq.
[It is a maxim of some critics that particular care should be bestowed on the opening verses of a poem, so that the writer may attract by sound since he can- not so early interest by substance. Mr. IL H. Williams does not appear to have heard of this rule, or he designedly neglects it; for his opening " breaks Priscian's head and Pegasus's neck" in this style- -. Of Achilles' deeds, or Agamemnon's fame, Which the great Homer in his works proclaim;
How Ajax fought, and valiant Inomed On human flesh his Agrarian horses fed."
This specimen is enough of Mr. Williams's verse. His views of Napoleon are of the wildest Whig kind prevalent some thirty or forty years ago.] Ignez de Castro; a Tragedy, in five acts. (,As contributed to Hood's Maga- zine.) By the Author of "Rural Sonnets.' [This tragedy was written with a view to public performance, and accepted by Mr. and Miss Vandenhoff; but no opportunity offering for its production upon the stage, it was published in Hood's Magazine. To what extent some striking but melodramatic situations might enable it to succeed in representation, we cannot tell; but as a reading play it is poor—deficient not only in dramatic cliaracter, but in poetical spirit.] A Manual of Practical Draining. By Henry Stephens, F.R.S.E., Author of " The Book of the Farm."
[This publication, though rather technical than general in its interest, is import- ant from its subject; which, at all times of consequence to the agriculturist, is more so now than ever, when he is about to be exposed to the " competition of all the world,"—although as yet that is not very injurious. The year 1896 is early in the struggle, and the agricultural interest, for their own profit, had better set their land in order. The necessity for so doing, the laws in compliance with which it should be done, and the practical manner of executing its details, are all clearly described in this little book of Mr. Stephens.] The Farmer's Almanack and Calendar, for 1847. [The agriculturists are the first afield in the almanack way, at all events; and very creditably. Besides the information common to these works, The Farmer's Alma- nack and Calendar for 1847 contains a great mass of facts and advice peculiar to the agriculturist, in reference to farming operations, acts of Parliament, fain, societies, and what not.] A Catechism of Church History in General, from the Apostolic Age to the
present time: to which is added, a Catechism of English Church History; with a Summary of principal Events, in chronological order. By the
Reverend F. W. Wilkinson, M.A., Theological Tutor of Cheltenham College. [A clearly-exhibited digest of the principal persons, facts, and opinions of eccle- siastical history, in the catechetical form. Mr. Wilkinson has given a truer cha- racter to his questions and answers than is always attained; his queries really asking for specific information, and his replies giving the particular answer. His care, however, has not prevented the questions from often being general, so that the answer might embrace other things than the actual reply: but this cannot bit avoided.] Euclid's Elements of Plane Geometry, as corrected and improved by the late Alexander Ingram, Leith. With the Elements of Plane Trigonometry, and their practical application. Adapted to the use of schools and private students, with numerous and appropriate Exercises annexed to each book, by James Trotter, of the Scottish Naval and Military Academy. [The character of this publication is told by the titlepage. It is a new edition of 1ngram's school edition of Euclid, revised by Mr. Trotter, who has introduced additions and improvements.] Coghlan's Pocket Picture of London and its Environs, alphabetically ar ranged, and embellished with a Map. A new edition, carefully revised and corrected, with 800 additional pages of entirely new matter. By Alex- ander Cooper Lee. [A condensed account of the different sights of London and its vicinity classed under their respective beads—as churches, bridges; mixed with a little informa- tion and advice of a more general kind.]
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