5 MARCH 1842, Page 18

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

From February 25th to March 3d.

BOOKS.

The Pilgrim of Glencoe, and other Poems. By THOMAS CAMPBELL. Primitive Christianity Exemplified and Illustrated by the Acts of Primi- tive Christians. By the Right Reverend RICHARD MAST, D.D., Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. Speeches of Lord Campbell, at the Bar and in the House of Commons; with an Address to the Irish Bar as Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Michael Thomas Sadler, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., &c.

Luther; a Poem. By ROBERT MONTGOMERY, MA., Author of "The Omnipresence of the Deity," &c.

A Visit to the United States in 1841. By JOSEPH SrunGE. Britannia after the Romans ; being an attempt to illustrate the religious and political revolutions of that province in the fifth and succeeding centuries. Vol. II.

Time and Timekeepers. By ADAM THOMPSON. [This little book contains an account of Nature's methods of marking the lapse of time; the different calendars adopted by various nations of antiquity ; the in- struments that have been used at different periods to note time till the invention of horologes and clocks; together with an historical sketch of the manufacture of clocks and watches, extensively illustrated by diagrams and plates, and bio- graphical notices of the principal craftsmen. The book is written with the en- thusiasm but the knowledge of an artist, and contains a variety of particulars both curious and useful. Notwithstanding the late advances in mechanics, and the great subdivisions of labour now used in the watch-trade, it appears that the superiority of modern watches is owing to the principle on which they are constructed; in accuracy and nice adjustment of parts the old watches equal the best of the modern, and surpass the bulk of them. The quality of essential fitness in watchmaking, as in some other things, works results not immediately aimed at : where beauty of form is the first thing con- sidered, the watch will probably be bad ; but a well-made watch will be a hand- some watch.] Athelwold ; a Tragedy, in five acts. By WiLurers SMITH, Esq. [This tragedy is founded upon that incident in the life of the Saxon King Edgar, when his friend Athelwold being sent to criticize the reported beauty of Elfnda, daughter of the Earl of Devonshire, gave a false report, and married her himself. The deception coming to the ears of the Monarch, he verified its truth by a sudden visit, and after murdering the husband married the widow.

The whole transaction marks a batharous age, and would require high genius in an author to impart to it an appearance of nature and truth. It ii further unfitted for tragedy, as being a tissue of crime and criminals, the two worst of which escape justice; whilst the action the story possesses is his- torical, not dramatic. To struggle with these difficulties is beyond the power of Mr. Smrrn, whose poetical and dramatic capabilities do not appear to be of a high order. There is no nature in his dialogue: we see in it an author of the nineteenth century putting speeches which he deems effective into the mouths of the dramatis personae; not the probable sentiments and language of old Saxons. Nor is there any discrimination or consistency in the persons themeelves; they change their character with the convenience of the playwright, especially Elfrida and Dunstan. Here and there may be found an effective hit, and that iS

GiAppus ; a Play, in five acts. By GERALD Gamma, Esq., Author of " The Collegians," &c.

Tales of the Munster Festivals. First Series.—" The Collegians." (The Works of GERALD GRIFFIN, ESC1.—V01. IL) [This volume is the beginning of a series intended to embrace the entire works of the lee GERALD GRIFFIN, prose as well AS poetry. It is to be completed in twelve volumes ; the first, containing the Life of the Author, is to be pub- lished last ; and notes, exhibiting the original fact or tradition on which the tales were founded, are to be added to each.

The success of poor GRIPFIN's posthumous play of Gisippus will give the publication a useful stimulus to start with; and the broad and vigorous sketches of Irish life, of which the majority of the tales consist, will furnish a continuous attraction to the purchaser; for though the author was by no means secure against critical objection, yet he had a raciness and power which carried the reader along—that is, whilst he continued on Irish ground.]

Blackwood's Standard Novels, Vol. V.—" The Youth and Manhood of Cyril Thornton." [Another fit addition to the series; though the attraction of Cyril Thornton is scarcely as great, perhaps, as it was formerly, when the Peninsular war had not been so much applied to the uses of fiction.] The Great Commission; or the Christian Church constituted and charged to convey the Gospel to the World. By the Reverend JOHN Moms, D.D., President of Cheshunt College, Author of " Mammon," &c. [ Some anonymous friends of the Missionary cause connected with the Church of Scotland having subscribed 250 guineas to forward its objects, a prize of 200 guineas was offered for the best essay on" the duty, privilege, and encou- ragement of Christians to send the gospel of salvation to the unenlightened nations of the earth," and 50 guineas for the second best; the adjudication being committed to five clergymen, respectively members of the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches, the Wesleyan Methodists, the Independents, and the Baptista. Forty-two essays were received in consequence ; and the first prize was adjudged to The Great Commission, written by the Reverend Josue HARRIS.

In point of literary merit, and very probably in all points, the adjudication seems to have been just. Dr. HAinus's division of the subject is orderly and methodical ; showing that missionary enterprises are not only permitted but en- joined by Scriptural precept, and still more by Apostolic example; answering, or at all events noticing, the different objections raised against these attempts to convert the heathen ; pointing out the direct and reflex benefits that have flowed both to Heathen and Christian communities from missionary enterprises; and containing a variety of exhortations, for a variety of reasons, to persevere in the good work. The literary execution of the book is also respectable : the arguments and illustrative facts are well selected, and well enough stated, though smacking of clerical rhetoric. Our objection to the book would be, that it is too long to be acceptable to any class but those who already interest themselves in missions ; and that it is deficient in vigour and originality. Dr. HARRIS states that he had already turned his attention to the subject befbre the appearance of the prize-advertisement; but his book, notwithstanding, bears about it marks of the prize-essay, as if it were less the effusion of a mind full of a long-considered subject, than the pressed-out arguments of a person taking up a question. Dr. HARRIS wants the art of leaving oat. The Great Commission is over-done, and what is over-done is ill-done.] Magdalenison ; an Inquiry into the Extent, Causes, and Consequences

of Prostitution in Edinburgh. By Wu.raint TAIT, Surgeon, Member of the Anatomical Society, &c., Edinburgh. Second edition. [The subject of this work unfits it for exhibition in a miscellaneous journal; but the second edition it has reached within a year, shows the interest this opprobrium of civilization is exciting. The profession of Mr. Tarr, and the different situations he has filled in public charitable institutions, have given him favourable opportunities for investigating the subject ; and he has collected together a good deal of information touching the classes, character, and mode of living of the Edinburgh prostitutes, and the causes which lead to their de- gradation. Mr. TAIT does not, however, appear to be a very rigorous logician : his statistics of course can only be approximate, but his data appear to be somewhat loose, and his particular instances are sometimes of a strange and improbable kind, rather evidencing credulity. The tale of the Reverend Mr. M•DowALL, about the little girl and the pictures in New York, has quite the air of one of those well-intentioned stories with which religionists of a certain class are accustomed to regale their audiences; and Mr. TACT'S single example of prostitution among married females is not at all a case in point, supposing it to be true—which appears questionable, though it was doubtless told to him.]

Rambles in the Country. By the Sherwood Forester. [A aeries of sketches of rural scenery, mingled with little incidents and tradi- tions, which originally appeared in a Sheffield newspaper. They are pleasantly written, and the subjects are pleasant ; but they have no very marked character.]

The Drunkard; a Poem. By Joan O'NEILL. With Illustrations by

GEORGE CROIKSHANK.

C As the production of a mechanic, whose sturdy and intelligent physiognomy faces the title, this moral tract in verse on the miseries of drunkenness chal- lenges attention that its intrinsic merits solely would not command: with the working-classes, who are particularly addressed, the lesson enforced by one of their own body may prove more influential than an exhortation of higher eloquence. GEORGE CRUIKSHANK'S etchings point the moral in a striking manner : "The Upas Tree," whose stem is composed of barrels and its branches of serpent-like pipes distilling the liquid poison that is caught in the glasses of the squalid groups below, is a graphic fancy equally ingenious and impressive.]

Bubbles of the Day; a Comedy, in five acts. By DOUGLAS JEREoLD, Author of "The Rent-Day," &c.

SERIALS.

Bells and Pomegranates, No. IL—" King Victor and King Charles." By ROBERT BROWNING, Author of "Paracelens."

Stephens's Book of the Farm, Part III. Handy Andy, Part III. First Catechism of Geography. By the Reverend T. WILsoN. Lift and Letters of Cicero, Part VI. Dramatic Works of hlassinger and Ford, Part VI. Curiosities of Literature, Part VI. Dramatic Works of Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and Farquhar, Part VL The Commissioner, No. IV.

Our bless, No. III.

London, Part XII.

Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall's Ireland, Part XVII.

Emstimser is the Nineteenth Century. Northern Diviaion, Part III. Southern Division, Part III.

PERIODICALS.

King's College Magazine. Conducted by the Students of King's College, London. Volume I.

[This volume includes the number for March; and has for its frontispiece a beautiful line-engraving of the true portrait of Raphael, painted by himself. The conductors of this periodical, encouraged by success and stimulated by counsel, promise to make fresh efforts at improvement.]

Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, No. LVL Dublin Review, No.- X. IlL

Magazines for March—Blackmood's, Tait's, Dublin University, Ains- worth's, Monthly, North of England, St. James's, Australian and New Zealand, British Friend of India, Churchman's Monthly Review, Inde- pendent, King's College, Mirror, Florist's Journal.

PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND PRINTS.

.Roberts's Sketches in the Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia. Lithographed by Louis HAGUE. With Historical and De- scriptive Notices, and an Introductory View of Jewish History, by the Reverend GEORGE CIIOLY, LL.D. Part L [This long-expected work has at last appeared; and the superb style in which it is produced cannot but satisfy the highest expectations, and abundantly com- pensate for the delay. Mr. Moon observes in his apologetic note—" The Historical Introduction was not included in the original plan ; the vignettes have grown into importance; and the sketches have become highly-finished drawings: in fact, the time consumed, the difficulty and the outlay, have alto- gether exceeded his first calculations." The result, we hope, will not be leas advantageous to the enterprising publisher than it is to the subscribers; for all those who witheld their names until the appearance of the work, and many others who had no thought of subscribing, will be induced to possess such a magnificent publication.

Mr. ROBERTS'S sketches, admirable alike for their fidelity and beauty, were so fully noticed by us at the time of their exhibition, that a further tribute to their extraordinary merits is not necessary here. The lithographic copies of Mr. HAGUE recall to mind not only the scenes themselves, but the style of the artist; yet the elaborate closeness of the imitation has not interfered with their spirit and freedom. Distinguished as Louis RAGHE is above all other li- thographers for delicacy and precision of drawing, combined with artistic know- ledge and skill, be has in these transcripts from ROBERTS surpassed all his former efforts in finished execution and powerful effect: so suggestive is the tinted lithography of the sunny brightness and purity of tone of the originals, that the absence of colour is not felt as any diminution of their pictorial qualities.

Each part contains six views ; three principal subjects of unusually ample dimensions, being nearly double the size of the sketches of HARDING, STAN.. FIELD, &c., forming complete pictures ; and three vignettes, half as large, printed on the letterpress, with tints and white lights like the others. The de- scriptions consist of notices of the scenes represented, compiled from the artist's notes, and the accounts of other travellers, prefaced by a sketch of Mr. ROBERTS'S journey.; the Historical Introduction consists of a review of the history and wanderings of the people of Israel, written in that exalted tone which characterizes Mr. CROLY S eloquence ; and separate disquisitions on other points suggested by the scenes depicted will be introduced as occasion arises. The work thus assumes a decided literary as well as pictorial character ; and we may add, that the beauty of the typography is no less remarkable in its way than that of the plates. In short, this great undertaking is commenced on the grandest scale, and in the most splendid manner in every respect ; and taken altogether, it will rank among the noblest productions of art.

The subjects of the principal plates in the First Part are—a general view of Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives; a nearer view of the city, in which the great Mosque of Omar is a prominent feature, taken from a terrace overlooking the Pool of Bethesda, with a group of Turks at their devotions; and the gorgeous interior of the Greek Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at the time of the ceremonials of Palm Sunday : the mixture of Gothic and cinque- cents in the architectural decorations—the pendant lamps and colossal candles— the flowing robes of the Armenians and the variegated costumes of the Greeks— present a sumptuous scene of tbeatric display. The vignette in the title re- presents the entrance-front of this incongruous building, which has the appear- ance of Samcenic Gothic, and is not inelegant. The Damascus Gate of Jeru- salem, with a caravan issuing from it—the Tomb of St. James, and the Tomb of the Kings, two rock-hewn sepulchres with architectural facades, both en- livened by picturesque groups of figures—form the subjects of the vignettes.] British Moths and their Transformations, No. V.

The Castles and Abbeys of England, Part IL

Pictorial History of England, Part LXL Pictorial Edition of Shakspere, Part XLL—" Pericles."

PAMPHLETS.

Mendicancy. On the Means of Eradicating or Suppressing Mendicancy. By PHILIP DANVERS, Esq. Weal not Peel.