PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

The Castle of Ehrenstein; its Lords, Spiritual and Temporal ; its Inhabit- ants, Earthly and Unearthly. By G. P. R. James, Esq , Author of " Hei- delberg." A History of the Royal Navy, from the Earliest Times to the Wars of the French Revolution. By Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, G.C.M.G. The first volume.

Lagamon's Brut, or Chronicle q f Britain; a Poetical Semi-Saxon Paraphrase of the Brut of Wace. Now first published from the Cottonian Manuscripts in the British Museum; accompanied by a Literal Translation, Notes, and a Grammatical Glossary. By Sir Frederic Madden, K.H., Keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum. In three volumes.

Memoirs of William Yates, D.D., of Calcutta; with an Abridgment of his Life of W. H. Pearce. By James Hoby, D.D. Memoir of William Knibb, Missionary in Jamaica. By John Howard Winton, M.A. Cleveland; a Tale of the Catholic Church.

The Poacher's IVife; a Story of the Times. By Charlton Carew. In two volumes.

The Pilgrim of India, an Eastern Tale; and other Poems. By James Hutchinson, Esq., late Secretary to the Medical Board of Bengal. A new edition.

[The hero of this poem is a counterpart of the Giaour. Of the soldier caste, he Ms in love with a Brahmin's daughter: on her death, by her father's hand, the loverjoins liolkar ; becomes a robber on that chieftain's decease; then turns devotee; but, finding no refuge from the past in asceticism, wanders about Asia till a mortal sickness overtakes him, and then he pours forth the poem which de- scribes his career. As the leading incident and character resemble Byron's (Wooer, so does the execution; which is not, however, such mere mimicry as is sometimes met; and the Hindoo imagery, action, and modes of thought, give a little relief and variety. The tale is rather encumbered with unnecessary par- ticulars, and too general in its account of incidents; but the story is not devoid of interest. The first edition of the poem seems to have been published. in 1837; but whether in England, India, or at the Cape, where it was written, we do not remember.] Outlines of Structural and Physiological Botany. By Arthur Henfrey, F.L.S., Ike., Lecturer on Botany at St. George's and Middlesex Hospitals, &c. With numerous Illustrations.

[The object of this book is to exhibit the elements or outlines of botanical science as they arc now received, rejecting what is superseded or superfluous, and also all i

which is merely hypothetical. The position of the author is well fitted to enable him to attain this end; since a lecturer, more than any other man, must keep himself well up with all discoveries, and annually at least travel over the entire field of his subject. The arrangement of Mr. Henfrey's book is not essentially different from some other works on the subject; first treating of the component parts or elements, and the primary structure of plants; then proceeding to the various parts of an individual plant—as its root, its leaf, its functions and organs. The execution of the book is able; clear in style, full of matter, and con- stantly exhibiting the result of thought upon the work as well as knowledge of the subject.] Observations on Hydropathy; with an Account of the principal Cold Water Establishments in Germany. By J. Stevenson Bushnan' M.D., &c. [This volume contains an account of Dr. Bushnan's opinions of hydropathy, and a-descriptive account of the different establishments in Germany for the practice of the cold water cure; the result, it would appear, of six years' travel and in- quiry, The Doctor is perhaps inclined to overrate the powers of hydropathy; but his view seems a just one—that it acts constitutionally, not specifically; an opi- nion which shows the necessity of caution and constitutional considerations in ap- plying it.] History of Spanish Literature. By Frederick Bonterwek. Translated from the original German, by Thomasina Ross. With Additional Notes by the Translator. (Bogue's European Library.) The History of Painting in Italy, from the period of the Revival of the Fine Arts to the End of the Eighteenth Century. Translated from the Italian of the Abate Luigi Lanzi. By Thomas Roscoe. Volume I. Containing the Florentine, Sienese, and Roman Schools. New edition, revised. (Bohn s Standard Library.) [There is not a better illustration of the maxim that plenty lowers value, than the little critical attention that can be paid to the various volumes of Bogue's " European Library" and its competitor the "Standard Library" of Mr. Bohn. The lists of these two series contain a collection of standard works, the pub- lication of which a few years since would have been considered a monument of literary enterprise, and challenged frequent and full notice. But, such is the change of affairs caused by diffusion of books, that a series of works not appealing to mere popularity or to high classical reputation, but addressing themselves to almost special studies, are published at a price that would scarcely seem to repay the actual outlay, and are only mentioned on their customary appearance; their iceiknity in this respect not being the least remarkable thing about them. he books we are now to chronicle are, Bonterwek's elaborate historical sketch of Spanish Literature, extracted from the History of Poetry and Eloquence from the Close of the Thirteenth Century, well translated by Miss Ross for the Emo; pan Library; while Mr. Bohn enriches the Standard Library with the first I'D- lame of Lanai's History of Painting in Italy, to be completed in three volumes.] William Tell; a Play. By Frederic Von Schiller. With an Introduction and Explanatory Notes, by Adolphus Bernays, Ph. Doc., Professor of the German Language and Literature in King's College, London. (Parker's German Classics)

[This is a nice and moderately-priced edition of one of Schiller's masterpieces, produced under the satisfactory guarantee of the name of Dr. Bernays. The Introduction consists of a slight sketch of the circumstances which provoked the

Swiss Cantons to rebellion daring the reign of Albert i Emperor of Germany: it also points out Schiller's deviations from true history in order to produce more dramatic situations. The foot-notes—translations of idiomatic phrases, Swiss patois, in which this play abounds, and terms not usually found in dic- tionaries—will certainly be voted a useful and welcome addition by all those who are beginning to read the German language. If sufficiently encouraged, this volume it to be followed by a series of selections from the works of Schiller, Goethe, and other authors, suitable for the use of young persons Chronicles of Charter-House. By a Carthusian. [This is a compilation from ancient records connected with the history of the Charterhonse, followed by a description of the present buildings, and the actual economy of the school. The division of the subject is threefold: the Charter- house as a Carthusian convent, in which its story at the dissolution is the most fully exhibited; its history as a private mansion, till the death of its last owner, Sat- ton; and the foundation of the present school under his will, with its present state. The book is an effort of one of the Carthusian who "has but recently left the walls" of the school, and is creditable to his state and industry. If not exhibiting deep research, he has displayed taste in the selection of his original documents, from our principal antiquaries, with some literary cleverness in string- ing them together: and his original descriptions are clear.] What is Religion ? The Question Answered. By Henry Colman. [In Mr. Colman's opinion, religion is not a theoretical but a practical matter; not belief, or devotion so far as devotion consists in forms, but the discharge of our duties to ourselves and our neighbours. Originally addressed as a discourse to an Unitarian congregation, the little volume has much of the largeness, philo- sophical view, and literary excellence, which generally attach to the sermons of that sect. The scanty number of their preachers probably enables them to select a higher general ability; and they have not yet attained so much conventional sameness in the manner of their preaching as the Established Church and the larger Dissenting bodies.] Poetical Chronology of Inventions, Discoveries, Battles, and of Eminent Men, from the Conquest to the Present Time; exhibiting their effects on the history of Great Britain. Elucidated by a Catechism in Prose sub- joined to each page. By the Reverend Dr. Brewer, Head Master of King's College School, Norwich. [The subjects enumerated in the titlepage are classed under their respective heads, and their leading particulars exhibited in verse, in order to impress, first the date, and then the view or facts, upon the pupil's mind. So far as metre and rhyme can assist the memory, and a peculiar kind of poetry lessen the drudgery of get- ting by heart, the book will be found useful; but the political deductions do not always gain in point of expression by the necessary fetters of verse. The' metre is various: the style will be best indicated by a specimen. The following lines are from a passage descriptive of the state of England at the close of the eleventh century. " When century eleven closed, from Norman subjugation, Profoundly abject was the state of all the British [English] nation. The Normans were to rank preferred, and seized on all the property ; The English were to serfs reduced, and most degrading poverty : From every post in Church and State of wealth and trust rejected: Their language, laws, and name were banned, their customs disrespected."]

Sequel to Lectures delivered at Literary and Mechanics Institutions. By William Henry Leatham. [The subjects of these lectures are English Literature and Mental Culture. English literature is packed up in a very close but crude way: yet what can be- expected from a man who attempts to dismiss the whole question, with notices of our leading authors, in less than thirty pages; and appears to be principally indebted to Chambers's " Cyclopedia of Literature" and " The Library of Enter- taining Knowledge " for his information?]

The Golden Remains of the Early Masonic Writers; illustrating the In- stitutes of the Order. With an Introductory Essay, and Explanatory Notes. By the Reverend G. Oliver, D.D., Author of " The Historical Landmarks," &c. Volume L Masonic Institutes.

[A reprint of various masonic classics. The present volume consists of defensive. or expository lectures to different lodges, delivered during the last century; for although two or three anonymous productions have no dates, they seem to refer to that period. The reverend editor has added an introduction and various elabo- rate notes.]

Key to the Questions on Generalities. By G. M. Sterne, Authoress of " Tales for an English Home," &c. [This key is perhaps the bet proof of our criticism on some of the Questions OR Generalities that could be furnished. Some of the answers are almost little es- says, and others are really small masses of statistics. If so much assistance is required for the master, to judge whether the task be done, how can a mere pupil be qualified to do it, unassisted ?] Bibliothague des Memoires relatifs it l'Histoire de France pendant is Dix- huitiime Wick; avec Avant-Propos et Notices, par M. Fs. Barrire. Tome VI.

[The sixth volume of this convenient collection by Firmin-Didot is devoted to the Actors; among whom our English Garrick has procured a place, by his eminence as an artist, though he wrote no autobiography; and Goldoni, though he was a playwright, not a player—but then he wrote his own memoirs.]

History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. By Archibald Alison, F.R.S.E., Advocate. Volume the Third. [The first German and Vendean wars, with the trial and execution of the King, and the rule of the Girondists till their overthrow by the Jacobins, form the sub- jects of this volume.] Arthur Arundel; a Tale of the English Revolution. By the Author of " Brambletye House," &c. (Standard Novelists.) The Hussar. By the Author of " The Subaltern," &c. (Standard Novelists:) foTozongre.fints of well-known novels, in single volumes, rather balky, but well- Select Writings of Robert Chambers. Essays Familiar and Humorous. Volume II.

&mem.

Knight's Farmer's Library, and Cyclopiedia of Rural Affairs. Part I. [In ancient times, says Mr. Knight's prospectus, agriculture was considered as a cyclopedia, and everything was included in treatises that had reference to the snlsject, down even to cookery. A similar plan is pursued upon the Continent; bat in England the farmer is treated as a " practical man"; the later writers almost "adhere to technical directions" in their books. Knight's Farmer's Library proposes to follow the good old way, and make a man of the farmer—" homo ad• unguem foetus." In pursuance of this idea, it begins with an elaborate account

of the Ox; exhibiting him in all his varieties, wild and tame, with all the va- rious " breeds " produced by art, and considering him anatomically in a scientific point of view, as well as with an eye to the butcher. The account of this valuable "beast" is not concluded in this part, though occupying 64 pages; breaking of in the middle of the Devonshire breed. The work is neatly printed, and pro- fusely illustrated by wood-cuts.]

Popular Cyclfixeclia of Natural Science. By W. B. Carpenter, M.D., F. R.S., Author of Principles of Human Physiology." Part I.

[This is a species of reprint or reproduction of Dr. Carpenter's treatises upon the natural sciences; and the work of which the first number is before us will con- tain Zoology. As yet its is chiefly introductory; somewhat diffuse in style; but that may be necessary for the class whom the writer is addressing, it being " as- sumed that the reader has only such knowledge as every person of ordinary capa- city possesses." The part has a variety of wood-cuts, pictorial and illustrative. It is very cheap.]

Sketches of German Life, and Scenes from the War of Liberation in Ger- many. Part L (Murray's Home and Colonial Library.) Andre. By George Sand. Translated by Eliza A. Ashurst. Edited by Matilda M. Hays, Author of " Helen Stanley." (The Works of George Sand. Part IIL)