7 JULY 1883, Page 25

We have received a second edition, "thoroughly revised," of California,

for Health, Pleasure, and Residence. By C. Nordhoff. (Sampson Low and Co.) We may specially commend to our readers the chapter on the culture of the vine in California. Vine-growing in the New World, now that the phylloxera is ravaging the vineyards of the Old, seems to be one of the most promising careers of the future, unless, indeed, the Total Abstainers succeed in putting an end to the occupation. Probably that is not more likely than that the Peace Society will abolish the profession of arms.—Introduction to the Critical History of Philosophy, by the Rev. Asa Mahan (Elliot Stock), being the introductory chapter of a large work bearing the same title. — Vibratory Motion and Sound, by Professor Everett. (Longmans.)—The War in Egypt, illustrated by Richard Simpkin (Routledge and Sons), the text and the maps being reprinted from the Times.—Copyright and Patents for Inventions, Vol. II., by R. A. Macfie. (T. and T. Clark.) There is a section specially interesting, to those, at least, who live by the pen, on the copyright question. Mr. Macfie is an advocate for the royalty system. A book once published, and the first edition sold (this concession has been made in the view of obvious difficulties), any one is to be allowed to republish it, paying a certain consideration to the author. That, we take it, would pretty well reverse the present situation of authors and publishers, as far as money is concerned. The profit would go to those who write the books. It is possible that this may be right, though the precedent of ages is against it.— The Guide of the Perplexed of Maimonides. Translated from the original text by M. Friedlander, Ph.D. (Published for the Society of Hebrew Literature by Trabner and Co.)—An Essay on Assyriology, by George Evans, M.A. (Williams and Norgate), published by the Hibbert Trustees. — Saint Augustine, a Sketch of his Life and Writings, by Charles Hastings Collette (W. H. Allen and Co.), a con- troversial work, disputing the arguments which have been drawn by Boman theologians from the writings of Augustine in support of Tridentine doctrine.—Education. By J. MacLochlin. (Elliot Stock.) —The Arabian Nights. Translated into Urdu, Rornanised under the superintendence of J. W. H. Tolbert, and edited by Frederic Pincott. (W. H. Allen and Co.)—Dialogues, Russian and English. Compiled by A. R. Thompson. (Triibner and Co.)—Bentrose's Choir Chant Book. By Charles Edward Stephens. (Bemrose and Sons.)