PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

From December 26th to January 1st.

BOOKS.

The Fall of the Nan Sourq ; a Tale of the Mogul Conquest of China. By A. L. Lymburner. In three volumes. The History of Civilization. By William Alexander Mackinnon, F.R.S., M.P. Volume H.

Letters of Royal and Ilhatrious Ladies of Great Britain, from the com- mencement of the twelfth century to the close of the reign of Queen Mary. Edited, chiefly from the originals in the State Paper Office, the Tower of London, the British Museum, and other State Archives, by Mary Anne Everett Wood. Illustrated with fac-simile autographs. In three volumes.

The Geology of Russia in EurTe and the Ural Mountains. By Roderick Impey Murchison, Pres. R. Geog. Soc., &c.; Edouard De Vernenil, V. Pres. Geol. Soc. France, &c. ; and Count Alexander Von Keyserling, Gentleman of the Chamber of IL I. M. the Emperor of All the Russias, &c. In two volumes. Volume L—Geology. Volume IL—Paleontologie. Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842, and to Oregon and North California in the years 1843-44. By Brevet-Captain J. C. Fremont, of the lopoora,, phical Engineers, under the orders of Colonel J. J. Albert, Chief oi the Topographical Bureau. With a Map and Illustrations.

The Baron's Yule Feast; a Christmas Rhyme. By Thomas Cooper, the Chartist.

[Mr. Cooper appears to much greater advantage in this seasonable poem than he did in his more ambitious attempt of The, Purgatory of Suicides. It may be, as he says, that some of the pieces in the volume were written long ago, perhaps before the turmoil of politics had somewhat soured him; and it is quite clear that Chris- tabel was running strongly in his mind,—though the Christmas enjoyments of our ancestors are not exactly adapted to the style of that " wild and wondrous" poem. However, The Baron's Yule Feast has a genial spirit, various subjects, and a popular animated style. The Baron's Yule Feast is really a collection of poems, sung or said at the Christmas merry-makings of Sir Wilfrid de Thorold, by his own minstrel, various guests, and a strange harper, who turns out to be a lover in disguise, and who in the end wins the consent of Sir Wilfrid to a marriage with Edith his daughter, by

his boldness in saving a vassal's life.; which match of course puts an end to a feud between the families, that had formed the difficulty of the lovers. The poem is the best of Mr. Cooper's publications; but he has rather forgotten him- self in " The Lay Brother's Tale." The story (an intrigue of a prior with a miller's wife) is perfectly in character with the age, and the person telling it; nor is there any impropriety of phrase in the narrative; but it is not exactly the sort of theme for the domestic circle, for which this book was apparently designed.]

Poems, Scriptural, Classical, and Miscellaneous. By Richard Charles Coxe, M.A.

[This volume has been published partly at the request of friends, partly to ex- kiWt a specimen of the ornamental printing of the good town of Newcastle. The initial letters and some other ornamental work is highly creditable to the pro vincial press; and the poems are far superior to the general run of effusions ap- pearing "by particular desire." Strictly speaking, however, they are rather verses than poetry. The diction is smooth, flowing, and removed from prose; the images and tone have the air of poetry; but the spirit is rather wanting. There is no varying the style with the theme—which is ever the ease, even in prose, where the subject is deeply felt: and the metre—the old Pindaric—is often used upon topics to which it is not congenial.] The Twenty-first of October, or the Heroes of the Day; a Poem. By Peter Placid.

[The subject of these verses is not the battle of Trafalgar, but a dinner given in Sunderland on the anniversary of the victory; whence the author digresses to railways and their results; indulging in a diatribe, intended for satire, against the persons concerned in those speculations. The author's model would seem to have been Churchill; and he has all his vagueness and exaggeration, but none of his better qualities.] The Pleasures of Poesy; a Poem, in two cantos. By Henry W. Haynes, Author of " Job, a Lyrical Drama, and other Poems."

[A rambling touch-and-go survey of history, peoples, art, and everything, written in the common heroic couplet.]

Gospel Scenes, illustrative of the incidents in the History of Our Saviour. [A selection of religions poetry on the subjects indicated in the title, chiefly from modern writers, American as well as English.]

Confessions of an Homeopathist.

[This book professes to aim at exposing "the quackeries and delusions of homceo- pathy," in the form of a fiction. Didactic'fictions seldom succeed on any subject; but it is obvious that they can prove nothing or establish nothing upon mooted questions of a scientific nature, which must depend upon gravely-recorded facts and arguments, not upon the assumptions of the fictionist. The Confessions of an Homeopathist, however, advance beyond the usual onesided proceedings of a didactic novelist. The book is an account of the rascalities of a swindler and adventurer; nearly one half of which has no relation to the alleged frauds of the homoeopathists, but are descriptive of his improbable successes in the practices of a scamp at German universities, whence on detection he comes to England to cheat as a quack.] The Enchanted Rock; a Comanche Legend. By Percy B. St. John, Author of " The Trapper's Bride," &c. [The Enchanted Rock forms the second volume of Mr. Percy B. St. John's "In- dian Tales." The scene is laid in Texas: the subject of the story is the love of Walter Mainwaring, an Englishman, and a Comanche chief hight Young Buffalo, for Keetsea, an Indian maiden. Walter subdues his passion; but the story has far- ther variety and interest given to it by a war with the Lepans, a rival tribe of the Comanches, by a suspicion thatMainwaring has murdered the. Young Buffalo, and the determination of Keetsea to have vengeance. There is a good deal of incident in the tale; and whilst the writing is fully equal to that of the first volume, the matter, we think, is superior. The Indian characteristics seem better developed.] Marguerite de Valois; an Historical Romance. By Alexandre Dames. (European Library.) addition 'don to Bogus s European Library does not strike us as supporting the reputation it acquired from the two first numbers; as the plan of composition which M. Dumas adopts is not strictly either history or romance, and his style, however vivacious, is forced and artificial. At the same time, many readers ad- mire his productions, as they admire various other emanations of questionable taste and morals from the modern French school. The subject is nominally the marriage of Henry of Navarre-, afterwards Henry the Fourth, with Marguerite de Valois; but the massacre of St. Bartholomew is a principal event in the piece.] The Breath of Air, the Drop of Water, and the Ray of Light; a Tale of

the Universe. By Earle Colne.

[An attempt to exhibit the influence of light, air, and water, upon the earth, vegetation, and so forth, by embodying the ray, the drop, and the breath, in spiritual forms. In elegance of style, this n Tale of the Universe " bears a resemblance to a translation from the German very popular some years since, called "A Story without an End "; but it has the same hazy and incomplete character.] The Goodnatured Bear; a Story for Children of all ages.

[A pretty story, imitative of the German fictions, for young readers; written with nice feeling and in a pleasant vein, and illustrated with some very expressive wood-cuts. The idea of Bruin seated in an arm-chair in a parlour, and relating his history to a family-circle of boys and girls, is thoroughly German; and the subsequent discovery that the "goodnatnred bear" is an intelligent hnmourist in the shaggy disguise, does not lessen the marvel]

A Handbook for Lewes, Historical and Descriptive. With Notices of the recent discoveries at the Priory. By Mark Antony Lower, Local Member of the British Archeological Association, Author of the " Curiosities of Heraldry," &c. Illustrated with wood-engravings. [The extension of a railway to Lewes has flattered the hopes of the neighbours of Brighton with an idea that their town too may become a visiting-place; which indeed it well deserve; for its gigantic downs and pleasant vicinity. Mr. Lower, the well-known author of the The Curiosities of Heraldry, has undertaken the task of introducing the memorabilia of his own place to the public; and has performed it, as might be supposed, in a complete and agreeable manner. In the Handbook or Lewes,. the valter has a guide to the antiquities, curiosities, and features of the place, just sufficient to guide his perambulations and create asso- ciation of ideas, without puzzling him by needless particulars, or wearying him with the ten tines repeated tales of local tradition.] Specimens of Cornish Provincial Dialect; collected and arranged by Uncle Jan Treenoodle; with some Introductory Remarks and a Glossary, by an Antiquarian Friend; also a Selection of Songs and other pieces connected with Cornwall.

[A selection of songs and pieces of humour, designed to exhibit the Cornish dia- prefaced by an introduction. This introduction is the most interesting part of the book, except to an antiquary: for much of the prose is obviously of mo- dern date, and seems made after the fashion of stage French or Irish, whilst the verse is often rather on Cornish subjects than written in the dialect; and those poems which seem genuine are of a coarse and local character.]

School Education for the Nineteenth Century. By Samuel Preston. [Beyond some general remarks on the importance of education by means of the mother, and similar commonplaces of the subject, this publication is rather a pro- gramme the course of instruction which Mr. Preston would recommend, and the sort of building and discipline he would establish for a large school, than what is usually understood by an essay or exposition. The book will be found sensible and practical, without much novelty.] Lectures on the Nature and Treatment of Deformities; delivered at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Bloomsbury Square, by R. W. Tamplin, F.R.C.S.E., Surgeon to the Hospital. [The reprint of a course of lectures reported in the Medical Gazette, and now revised and extended. A feature of the lectures is to instruct in the remedy of certain deformities by surgical operation.] The Works of G. P. R. James, Esq. Revised and corrected by the Author. With an Introductory Preface. Volume VII.—" Morley Ernstein." The Novels and Romances of Ann Eliza Bray. In ten volumes. Volume

1K.—" Henry de Pomeroy." [There appears to be nothing of novelty in these two volumes—merely reprints of the original editions.]

European Geography made Interesting; or the Pupil's Companion to the Map of Europe. By James J. Gaskm. Third edition.

SERIALS.

Forest and Game Law Tales. By Harriet Martineau. Volume II.

The Knight of Gwynne;. a Tale of the Union. By Charles Lever. [The "Knight of Gwynne" is a "fine old Irish gentleman " of the last century, whose influence is sought by the Government of the day. The story opens with the sending of a friendly emissary by the late Lord Castlereagh, then Secretary for Ireland, to win over the " Knight of Gwynne"; and the reception of the green in- triguer by the worthy Knight.]

NEW PERIODICALS.

Lowe's Edinburgh Magazine. No. L January.

[The plan of this work is quadruple: the first section relates to theology; the second to literature; the third to foreign events, and the characteristics of religions opinion abroad; the fourth to books. Theology, however, seems likely to be found throughout; for in this number we have it in the second third parts, and the accident of publication must sometimes place it in the fourth. The particular sect of the conductors does not appear: they wish for unity; they aim at catholicity,; they are strongly opposed to the Tractarians and the Pope. The style of the book resembles that of the platform and the Dissenting pulpit: the choice of topics exhibits a want of freshness, as the books for notice seem to argue a want of resources.]

The Biblical Review, and Congregational Magazine. No. L January. [This is a new series of the Congregational Magazine, under new conductors, with some slight change of design. Biblical subjects, as may be guessed from the first title, will be a leading object of the work; but often in relation to lite- rature and history, so as to throw light upon Scriptural topics by means of secular learning. General subjects, however, will also be introduced when they bear in any way on religion,—as the review of Carlyle's Letters of Cromwell, and Mr. Cureton's edition of the newly- discovered Syriac manuscript of Ignatius. The tone of the work has the fairness and liberality which generally distinguish the literature of the Independents; and the papers are close and solid, without being very striking.]

ILLUSTRATED WORKS.

The Penny Magazine, 1845.

[The fourteenth annual volume of the Penny Magazine completes the series published under the superintendence of the Useful Knowledge Society; but it will be continued in a new form by its publisher, Mr. Knight, who has also been its editor from the first.

The Penny Magazine was the parent of cheap pictorial periodicals; and now that wood-cuts have become an essential ingredient in popular literature, both for information and embellishment, let not the first publication of its kind be forgotten. Nor, indeed, should the intrinsic merit of its contents, literary as well as graphic, be lightly esteemed. The wood-cats of this volume are remarkable for an im- provement in their style, by which breadth and vivacity of effect are attained together with clear and free execution: the labour of the artists is diminished while their skill is brought out more strikingly. Mr. Knight, in his various pub- lications, has advanced this branch of art remarkably.] The Pencil of Nature. By H. Fox Talbot, F.R.S. No. V.

ALMANACRS.

Oliver and Boyers New Edinburgh Almanack and National Repository, for the year 1846. [This elaborate publication is distinguished by its usual amount of general in- formation, and by the mass of statistical and business matters relating to Scotland. No new features of any importance are presented, but the old ones in several id- stances are more fully carried out.] The Phrenological and Psychological Annual, for the year 1846. Edited by David G. Goyder, President of the Glasgow Phrenological and Physiolo- gical Society, &c. The Naturalist's Pocket Almanack, for 1846.