8 MAY 1858, Page 18

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Tint latter part of the week has been distinguished by a brisk inpouring of books that obviously require further consideration, and most probably fuller notice ; though some do not promise very much of mark or fresh- ness. Except novels, (the supply of which seldom fails,) the translation of the Life of Zwingle, and the biography of Cardinal Mezzofanti by Dr. Russell of Maynooth, the books are a species of continuations. First among them is the sixth volume of Mr. Merivale's valuable work on the Romans under the Empire. Next there is the second volume of Mr. Rawlinson's translation and illustrations of Herodotus ; a second series of Samuel Bailey's Philosophy of the Human Mind ; and last but not least, Mr..Forster's Historical and Biographical Essays on questions re- lating to England, or on English writers. Some of these are reprints with revision and considerable extensions, but some are original.

Booxs.

Zwingli; or the Rise of the Reformation in Switzerland. A Life of the Re- former, with some Notices of his Time and Contemporaries, by R. Christoffel, Pastor of the Reformed Church, Wintersingen, Switzerland. Translated from the German by John Cochran, Esq.

The Life of Cardinal Mezzofanti ; with an Introductory Memoir of Eminent Linguists, Ancient and Modern. By C. W. Russell, D.D., President of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.

History of the Romans under the .Empire. By Charles_Merivale, B.D., late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. Volume VI.

The History of Herodotus. A new English version, edited, with copious Notes and Appendices illustrating the History and Geography of Ilerodotus, from the most recent sources of information, and embodying the chief Re- sults, Historical and Ethnographical, which have been obtained in the pro- gress of Cuneiform and Hieroglyphical Discovery. By George Rawlinson, M.A., late Fellow and Tutor of Exeter College, Oxford. Assisted by Colonel Sir Henry Rawlinson, K.C.B., and Sir J. G. Wilkinson, F.R.S. In four vo- lumes. Volume IL With Maps and Illustrations.

Historical and Biographical Essays. By John Forster. In two volumes. Letters on the Philosophy of the Human Mind. By Samuel Bailey. Second Series.

Likes and Dislikes; some Passages in the Life of Emily Marsden.

The Cruelest Wrong of All. By the Author of " Margaret, or Prejudice at Home."

One and Twenty. By the Author of "Wildflower." In three volumes.

The Principles of Physical Geography, prepared for the Use of Eton College. By the Rev. C. G. Nicolay, F.R.G.S., &e. &c., Professor of Geography and History at Queen's College, London.—Time was, and not very distant either, when the elements of geography were universally taught little better than by rote. After the common definitions of a gulf, an island, a river, a mountain, and the like, the pupil learned by heart the names of countries, towns, &c., with their relative position as de- termined by latitude and longitude, a map assisting to realize the woids and figures which repetition had for the time at least impressed upon the memory. Of late years this plan has been partially superseded by popularizing Humboldt's views of physical geography, of which speaking generally, distribution is the essence. The respective proportions, and the arrangement of land and water—the distribution of mountains here, of plains there—sometimes fertile, sometimes desert—the course of cur- rents, that is, the distribution of water in regular movements—the va- riations of temperature, the varieties of animals, and plants. In this way more comprehensive and vivid ideas of the world were obtained, and its leading outlines being impressed upon the pupil, his mind was bet- ter prepared to receive that particular information about places and position, which after all is important for practical use. Mr. Nicolay in his Principles of Physical Geography includes the plan of Humboldt, but goes still further into the comprehensive if not the ab- stract. He begins with the mathematical principles relating to the sphere, and having expounded the laws which determine its form goes on those which govern its size and motion. He then proceeds to its [nib. stance and structure, which involve chemistry and geology, as the form of the land is connected with volcanic action and its results. The expo- sition has now reached the method of Humboldt, and Mr. Nicolay draws freely but not servilely on that great cosmogonist, winding up with the laws of life and the distribution of animals and vegetables.

With a skilful teacher and apt pupils, this book will beyond all ques. tion be a great advance upon former methods of instruction. At beet they taught geography ; Mr. Nicolay will turn out geographers.

Fishes and _Fishing, with Illustrative Facts. By W. Wright, Esq. Surgeon Aurist to her late Majesty Queen Charlotte, &c., &c.—An podrida of reading, gossip, anecdote, and recollections' generally re- lating to fishing or fishes, and possessing more interest than literary power. Mr. Wright is a very Nestor of the gentle craft, angling ; he has reached four-score years and three ; and though he cannot remember so far back as that, he can, in connexion with other things, recollect the riots of London, and even earlier dates in reference to his favourite pas- time. It is the length of time over which his reminiscences extend that gives its interest to the book. Born at Dartford, he remembers that place when a brook with fish in it ran along a public highway now desecrated by the North Kent line. In his time the Thames was frequented by salmon—he has himself even caught one in the Lea at Lea Bridge, and he knows from experiment when all the streams round London teemed with fish of some kind. As a record of sporting enterprise the book is not much. Every one now-a-days who goes a fishing for the public has more stirring captures to tell of; but its gossipping memorials about a state of things, passed beyond recall and yet so near to,us, possess a pleasant kind of interest.

My First Voyage. A Book for Youth. By William Stones.—Thie book is founded on a mistaken plan, and is consequently liable to disap- point the reader. Instead of fresh adventures and living observations by sea and land, the nautical occurrences are few in number, and of a commonplace kind. The voyage in reality serves as a framework to in- troduce various moral and scientific subjects. There is a minister on board, and the reader is furnished with a report of one of his discourses. An artist voyaging for his health gives a species of lecture on flags, and then turns to natural history, chiefly in connexion with salt water. The ship's doctor expounds natural philosophy in reference to the same subject, be- ginning with the decomposition of water, and ending with the compass and navigation. Among many other subjects, the story andpresent state of Australia and New Zealand are passed in review. There is a good deal of informing matter and some tales in My First Voyage, but the scheme is incongruous.

The Eject of Septic Inhalations on the Lungs and General Health. By Donaldson Mackenzie, Surgeon-Dentist.—The principal theme of this volume is a letter of the author reprinted from the Medical Times and Gazette. In this epistle Mr. Mackenzie stated his opinion that disease was often induced by the necessary inhalations of air vitiated in the mouth by carious teeth, or the action of a peculiar saliva upon artificial or even natural teeth. His remedy is a "new composition' of his own, from which his artificial teeth are made. The other portions of the book are wordy and common.

Health for the Million. By the Author of "How to Make Home Happy."—Some quarter of a century ago, Andrew Combs and Southwood Smith first called attention to the general advantage that would attends popular knowledge of physiology and the means of preserving health by regimen, diet, and sanitary observances. Since then various books have appeared upon the subject, a few having claims to originality, the majority being merely compilations. Health for the Million belongs to the latter class ; its principal feature is the great number of topic, it handles.

Easy German Readings. Part I. By Dr. A. Buchheim, Conductor of the "City of London Classes for Languages."—The German text of Niebuhr' s "Tales of Greek Heroes" written for his son, with explana- tory notes, and a complete vocabulary, with questions "to each lesson or division with direct reference to nearly. each sentence in the text:' These questions are in German, and the intention is for the pupil to reply in the same language.

The collected reprint of Professor Wilson's Poems is not only remark- able for itself, as containing the poetical effusions of a powerful man, who exercised in various ways a considerable influence on his genera- tion, but as completing his entire works in twelve volumes.

The volume of Mr. Be Quineey's Essays consists of eight papers re- printed from periodicals, of which the most popular in subject are Walking Stewart" and "The Marquess Wellesley."

The Works of Professor Wilson of the University of Edinburgh. Edited by his Son-in-law Professor Ferrier. Volume XII. The Poetical Works of Profes- sor Wilson. A new edition. .Essays, Sceptical and Anti-Sceptical, on Problems Neglected or Misconceived. liy Thomas De Quincey.