PROGRESS OF PUBLICATION.

Wu are reminded of the close of the year, by the character and number of the books on the table. Guides and Companions for the year to come; nice little books for little people ; some' volumes adapted for presents of a higher class; and many which doubtless are admirably fitted to answer the purpose fi r which they were ushered into the world, though that purpose was clearly not criticism. To review, regularly, some thirty claim- ants upon our notice, is impossible in any reasonable space. We must therefore put them into classes, and dismiss them as a re- viewing general dismisses the rank and file, where a sentence of remark serves for several braces, unless in the case of very marked individuals. Following the order of the season, we will begin with ALMANACS FOR 1835.

Of which, notwithstanding the numbers sent forth to the world, we

happen to have only four before us.

Temporis Calendarium. By WILLIAM ROGERSON, Greenwich, Kent.

British Almanac and Companion.

Household Almanac and Year-Book.

Working-Man's Almanac and Year-Book.

The first of these, the Temporis Calendarium, is more entirely astro- notnical than the ethers. It has also some predictions on the weather, and the notes are intermingled with a touch of seriousness arid some indifferent verse. The information in the calendar seems very com- plete, and is certainly very full. The miscellaneous department con- tains nothing particular, excepting a list of the fairs in England and

Wales.

The three last in the list are publications of the Useful Knowledge Society ; and are workman-like in execution, intelligibly arranged, and well-stored with practical information, varied according to the class of persons to whom the title shows they are addressed. The same character may be given of the Companions which accompany them ; though, in the Companion to the Almanac, the articles, with the exception of a paper on the " Bills of Mortality," are somewhat heavy, and many of the statistical tables merely wholesale transcripts from the Parliamentary Papers ; whilst in those of the other two, the attempt to imitate the style of FRANKLIN is not very happy—the home liness is attained, but where are the strength and felicity ? However, take them for all in all, they are capital works of their kind ; cheap, informing, and well up to time wants of the age.

These remarks relate to the general character; they do not extend

to minutia. We perceive, from some of our contemporaries, who would wish it to be understood that they have grappled with the details far more closely than we pretend to have done, that few of these publications are exempt frem errors and minute defects. The Mecha- nic's Magazine advocates the productions of the Stationers Company, and rubs up the Useful Knowledge people. A correspondent of tho Gazette falls upon the Right Worshipful. The matters noticed in each case appear to us typographical errors, or points of slight importance. It may be said, and truly, that in Almanacs neither the one aor the other should occur; but, as regards the printer's department, we sus- pect that with such a multiplicity of figures, no care will insure perfec- tion—one error will be made in correcting another. There is this comfort, however, for the belligerents—the errors of the concoctors will not alter the course of nature; the sun and moon, we trust, will rise and set at their proper times, let the Almanacs say what they will. Those who are deeply interested in the matter may, in sea phraseology, correct errors by observation.

POETRY.

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM'S edition of the Works of Burns is now com- pleted, by the publication of the Eighth Volume. It contains Beaus'a remarks on Scottish song ; the memoranda of three tours, made at the time for the purpose of being expanded into a complete narrative ; and some fragments from the poet's commonplace-book, including the rough materials from which he composed the journal, unfortunately lost to the world, through the perfidy of a rascal-acquaintance of the bard's, who stole it. A very copious glossary (with illustrative quota- tions from Scottish authors), an index, and a selection from the poetical tributes to the memory of BeaNs, are appended. Amcng the tributes, the latest, and the most spontaneous in feeling and characteristic in style, is ALLAN'S own, in which he takes leave of his pleasant task. The artist, D. 0. HILL, has continued improving with every volume. The vignettes of Ayr and the Pier of Leith are more successfully emulative of STANFIELD than some former views were of TURNER. They are very clever works of art, and beautifully engraved. We sub- join the editor's leave-taking, entire.

My task is ended—fareweel, Robin ! My prentice muse stands sad and sobbin` To think thy country kept thee scrubbite Her barmy barrels,

Of strains immortal mankind robbile

And thee of laurels.

Let learning's Greekish grubs cry humph ! Hot zealots groan, cold critics grumph, And ilka stared and garter'd sumph

Yawn, hum and ha; In glory's pack thou art a trumph,

And sweeps them a'.

Round thee flock'd scholars many a cluster, And dominies came in a fluster,

In words three span lang 'gas they blaster

Of classic models, Of Tully's light and Virgil'. lustre, And shook their noddles.

Ye laugh'd, and muttering, " Learning ! d—n her !" Stood bauldly up, but start or stammer Wi' Nature's fire for lore and grammar, And classic rules,

Crush'd them as Thor's triumphant hammer

Smash'd paddock-stools.

And thou wert right and they were wrang- The sculptor's toil, the poet'. sang, In Greece and Rome free nature sprang, And bauld and free, Ia sentiment and language stung, They spare like thee.

• Thy muse came like a giggling tau pie, Dancing her lane : her sangs sae sappy, Cheer'd men like drink's inspiring drappie, Then, grave and stern, High moral truths sublime and happy She made them learn.

Auld gray-heard Lear, wi' college lantern, O'er rules of Horace stoitering, veuturin' At song, glides to oblivion saunterin' And starless night ; Whilst thou, up cleft Parnassus cauterin', Lives on in light.

In light thou livest. While birds lo'e simmer, Wild bees the blossom, buds the timmer, And man lo'es woman—rosie harmer!

I'll propheeie Thy glorious halo nought the dimmer Will ever be.

For me, though both sprung from ne mother, I'm but a weakly young half-brother, Sae, 0 forgive my musing swither, Mid toils benighted, 'Twos lang a wish that nought could smother To see thee righted.

Free Kyle, wi' music in her bowers, Frac leery glens, where wild Dom pours, Free hills, bedropp'd wi' sunny showers, On Solway strand,

I've gather'd, Burns, thy seatter'd flowers

Wi' filial hand.

And 0, bright and immortal Spirit !

If ought that lessens thy rare merit I've utter'd,like a god thoult hear it ;

'thou canst but know

Thy stature few or none can peer it Now born below.

The most ambitious worshipper of the Muses at present before us, is VIGILI:S SOMNOZA, an American; who has obliged the world with the Day Decanter, "a Poem." It consists of two cantos ; the first of which details, in 480 lines, the boyish fancies or waking dreams in which the author loved to indulge, till he became, it appears, unfitted for society ; the second—still under the guise of a dream—narrates his supposed loves and adventures amongst an Indian tribe. There is some smoothness, smartness, and fancy in the writer, with a good deal of improbability in his story, and no small share of affectation in Som- NOZA himself. His mode of composition is the ottava rima ; and it is clear that Don Juan has furnished him with much more than his ver- sification.

The Magic Prodigy is a translation of the Magic° Prodigioso of CALDERON; a lyrical drama, whose subject is the martyrdom of Cy- prism, as the Saint himself is the hero of the piece—unless the Devil or "the Duenion" may divide the honour. It may be guessed, that it partakes more of the character of the old mystery than of the regular drama : it will be conceived that neither in subject nor treatment is it altogether adapted to the popular taste of the present day. As a speci- men of the Spanish romantic theatre, and perhaps as having suggested the idea of GOETHE'S Faust, it may be perused for curiosity, if not for pleasure.

Queen Anne Boleyn; " an Historical Tragedy," exhibits the decline and fall of the ill-fated Queen. To a casual reader, the production will only seem remarkable for occasional imitations of the turn and manner of the old poets ; for there is no real passion, not much of action, and on the whole neither conception nor display of character. There is some skill, however, indicated in the pride and waywardness attributed to Anne after the death of Catherine of Arragon, and in Henry's management in getting up his ease; which, if they be not borrowed from BANK's Anna Boleyn, may perhaps, with labour and travail, lead to better things. The author intimates, in his preface, that his tragedy has been rejected by " the houses ;" and in this case we think it is impossible to blame their decree. Mr. SMYTH must rise far beyond Queen Anne Boleyn before he will produce a drama fit for the stage.

The Little Villager's Verse-Book, by the Rev. W. L. BowiEs, is a new edition, "with additions," of the amiable compositions, originally written " to be learnt by heart by poor children of his own parish, who have been instructed every Sunday through the summer, for many years, on the garden-lawn, before the parsonage-house, by Mrs. Bowixs," and subsequently printed for limited circulation. The subjects are drawn from common country life ; the images are familiar to childhood; but we suspect the style and tone of composition are rather above the pitch of " poor children." We may, however, be in error; therefore let the reader judge.

MISUSER'S EVENING.

As homeward, by the evening star, I pass along the plain, I see the taper's light afar, Shine through our cottage-pane.

My brothers and may sisters dear, The child upon tha knee, Spring, when my hastening steps they hear-

And smile to weleeve Lae,

And when the fire is growing dim,.

And mother's labours cease, I fold my hands, and say my hymn, And " lay me down in peace."

INSTUUCTION AND INFORMATION,

The Book of Science. Second Series, By JOHN N. Morralr. Sacred Geography. By WILLIAM SIME. M'Phun's Ouide through Glasgow. Second Edition. 7'he Pocket Medical Guide. By a Physician. Third Edition. 7'he Mother's Pocket Medical Guide. By a Physician. The Anatomy of Drunkenness. By ROBERT MACNISH. Fifth Edi- tion. A New Guide to the French Language and Conversation. By J.

ROWBOTHABL F. R. A. S.

An Easy Introduction to Short-Hand. Being an Abridgment of

BYROM'S celebrated System. Fourth and improved Edition.

A Catechism of Phrenology). Seventh Edition. A Catechism if Useful Knowledge Adapted for Schools. Fifth Edi.

tion.

Lessons on Words and Objects. By JOHN SMITH. Second Edition.

Of this batch for instructing or informing us, or both, the Book of Science has more points about it, and is therefore entitled to the first consideration. It is capitally got up ; neat, rich, and enduring ; it has numerous wood-cuts, and one clever specimen of the new art of print- ing in oil-colours: in externals, therefore, it is well adapted for juvenile presents. The subjects treated of are important—Chemistry, Mctal. lurgy, Mineralogy, Geology, Aleteorology, tkc. Mr. MOFFATT has aimed at adapting them to the " comprehension of young people ; " and in this he appears to have succeeded, so far as the nature of the subjects themselves would permit.

Mr. SimE's Sacred Geography is in reality a Scriptural Gazetteer. It contains an account, arranged in alphabetical order, of every place mentioned in Holy lirrit, and embraces not only their sacred but even their profane history, bringing down the descriptions to modern times. From the articles we have turned to, it appears to be excuted with pains, care, and diligence, and to be a useful companion to the Bible. It contains a clearly-executed map of the Holy Land : in the case of a new edition, we should recommend another, or more, so as to exhibit the position of all the places named in the work.

M'Phun's Guide through Glasgow is convenient in size, neat in ap- pearance, clear in its arrangement, and brief but satisfactory in its information. It has a map of this Western capital of Scotland, with sonic sufficient views of its principal structures ; and appears altogether an excellent vade mecum for the visitant to Glasgow.

The Pocket Medical Guide is a painstaking compilation from the best modern writers on Indigestion and the effects of Cold. The directions on the subject of diet and regimen are not very new to us, who have pondered over the purges of ?mum and others till we could alter ACCVM'S title to " Death in every Dish ;" but they may be new, and perhaps useful, to many, as hints and warnings. When indigestion to any extent has really appeared, the physician must be consulted in person.

The Mother's Pocket Medical Guide, touching the Physical Educa- tion and Diseases of Children, is from the same publisher; and ap- pears to be compiled in a similar way, from similar sources.

Lo! here is a fifth edition of that quaint, curious, clever, and amusing book, the Anatonig of Drunkenness ; whilst that of Sleep has not yet reached its third. Yet every one must sleep, whilst among the most moral people no one ought to drink till he is disguised. What are we to infer from this ? That people buy Anatomies of Drunken- ness as they buy Treatises on Digestion, not to learn how to reform, bust how to sin with impunity ? Is it a sign of amendment in the land ; or eo the sober only purchase them, as the most pious are always the best stored with prayer-books ? These are knotty points. Let the .Drunken Committee be appointed in the ensuing session to decide upon them.

Mr. Rownoritam's New Guide to the French Language is well adapted to answer all the purposes such works can ever reach—that of enabling a person to make himself sufficiently understood to rub on, though with some troubles and difficulties. The little pocket-book contains vocabularies of the nouns' verbs, adjectives, &c.. tlse most common use, a large selection of familiar phrases, and a variety of dialogues on subjects of daily occurrence, wh5.ch have the rare and praiseworthy characteristic of being brief.

Of the four last little tracts upon our list, we need scarcely say more than that they are neat and cheap; the number of editions they have passed through is a guarantee of their popularity, and it would seem of their utility. Mr. SMITH'S Lessons on Words and Objects possesses the greatest claim to novelty. His plan is to take a word and tho- roughly exhaust it, so as to impress thins as well as words upon the mind.

SERIALS.

The most novel undertaking in this class of literature is Mr. VAL- PY'S Summaries of the Sermons and Discourses of the most Eminent Bri- tish Divines, conducted by the Reverend T. S. Hecni:s. The work is chiefly addressed to clergymen and divinity students. The object is to furnish them with the ready-made outlines of a sermon, which they are to fill up. The mode pursued is to present the skeleton of the dis- course only ; retaining the order, the arguments, and as it were the key-notes ; leaving out the ripeness, the fulness, the fancy, and the eloquence of the original. By this means a great saving of space and money is effected—in a single part of little more than 120 pages,. we have the pith of forty-two sermons : the vigorous power required to digest the pure essince forbids any hope of saving tone. Their use, of course, must depend upon the character of the user: he who will take them as texts, which he is to expand, and compare his performance with the originaLwill assuredly profit by his labour : he who looks upon them as means of evading exertions—as spirit which he is to dilute--will neither benefit himself nor his hearers. Judging from the specimen before us, the work will be carefully and skilfully done. The abridg- ment reads coutiouously, and preserves the effect of a wboie, How--