PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Boons.

The Correspondence of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, and the Re- verend William Mason. Now first published from the Original MSS. Edited, with Notes, by the Reverend J. Mitford. In two volumes.

The Life of Edward Baines, late M.P. for the Borough of Leeds. By his Son, Edward Baines, Author of "The History of the Cotton Ma- nufacture."

A Glimpse at the Great Western Republic. By Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Cunyngham, Author of "An Aide-de-camp's Recollections of Service in China."

The Mamelukes ; a Romance of Life in Grand Cairo. By A. A. Paton, Author of "The Highlands and Islands of the Adriatic," &c. In three volumes.

Companions of my Solitude.

Logic for the Million ; a Familiar Exposition of the Art of Reason- ing. By a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Travels in the United States, eg., during 1849 and 1850. By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley. In three volumes.

The One Prinueral Language, traced experimentally, through ancient inscriptions, in alphabetical characters of lost powers, from the four Continents; including the voice of Israel from the rocks of Sinai, and the vestiges of patriarchal tradition from the monuments of Egypt, Etruria, and Southern Arabia. With Illustrative Plates, a Hers monized Table of Alphabets, Glossaries, and Translations. By the Reverend Charles Forster, B.D., one of the six Preachers of Canter- bury Cathedral, and Rector of Stisted, Essex, Honorary Member of the Literary Society ; Author of " Mahometamsm Unveiled," &c. e subject of this work, by the well-known author of " Ifahometanisat Unveiled, " is of a kind which unfits it for full consideration except in a theological or philological publication ; but we can tell what the leading subject is and the purpose of the author. J

In the reign of Justinian, a merchant of Alexandria named Cosmas visited the peninsula of Sinai, and observed the numerous inscriptions that cover the rocks in that neighbourhood. He was informed by certain Jews of the company that those inscriptions had been made by the people who fol- lowed Moses in the Exodus; and this statement, with his own account of the region and the rocks, Cosmas inserted in his work called " Christian Topography,"—a book which remained in manuscript till 1707, when it was published by Montfaucon. The existence of the inscriptions was then un- known; but the editor gave full credit to his author upon the fact. The interpretation he left to the reader's opinion, but expressed his own that the Jews were liars—" Nos sane Cosman Hebrreorum mendacio deceptum probe- bilius existimamus."

Future travellers confirmed the accuracy of Cosmos ; but little beyond copying many of the inscriptions was done systematically, till the late Pro- fessor Beer of Leipsic took up the subject. Like Montfaucon, he threw the Jews overboard summarily, and attempted to show that the inscriptions were by Christian pilgrims of the fourth and fifth centuries, forming a key which interpreted some of the sculptures upon this theory. About 'the same time, Mr. Forster had his attention drawn to the subject in ignorance of Beer's book ; he conceived he had hit upon the key, and had ac- tually interpreted one inscription from Mr. Gray's work, which made out and remarkably confirmed the account given by the Jews to Cosmos. One point, however, was deficient. In the inscription was the figure of a "quad- ruped" ; which Mr. Gray mentioned, but did not copy. Mr. Forster de- clared, that if his interpretation was correct, it would turn out to be an ass : on procuring a copy of Beer's book, the quadruped was there figured, and an ass it was.

The present volume is introductory; containing but few inscriptions, which are to be increased in succeeding parts. If correctly interpreted, they strongly confirm the Mosaic account. Into the probability of this correctness we cannot enter. The principle on which Mr. Forster proceeded was to compare the Sinitic figures with the letters of all the other ancient Oriental alphabets, and to give to figures that were unknown the same power as was possessed by known letters ; the first a philosophical proceeding, the last perhaps incapable of coming nearer to proof than probability. The form of a sign seems accident- al or arbitrary.] Pitcairn' s Island, and the Islanders, in 1850. By Walter Brodie, Author of " The Past and Present State of New Zealand," &c.

[In 1850, Mr. Brodie, in company with four other persons, was left at Pit- cairn's Island, while on his way to California ; the vessel in which he was sailing having been blown off the island, and the captain making no effort to pick up his passengers. After a sojourn of some three weeks, Mr. Brodie got a passage in a vessel that touched at the island, and arrived at his destination before the captain who had left him in the lurch. Mr. Brodie's book con- tains an account of his residence at Pitcaini's Island ; his subsequent adven- tures in California, and on his return journey to New York by way of the Isthmus of Panama ; together with a great variety of documents relating to Pitcairn's Island, including copies of the reports made by officers of the Navy who have touched there, and of the registers kept by the islanders them- selves.] Tryphena, and other Poems. By John William Fletcher.

[So mere and palpable an imitation of Don Juan, with touches of Childs Harold, was hardly to be expected at this time of day, especially from a person who seems capable of better things, as is the case with Mr. John William Fletcher. The miscellaneous poems that follow " Tryphena" have fluency and force, with a certain degree of freshness of mind and manner. Greater knowledge and greater art are wanted : where Mr. Fletcher aims at what should be individual, he is commonplace in subject and matter, though not in style; and when he would be general, he becomes vague.]

A Hymn for All Nations. 1851. By M. F. Tupper, D.C.L., Author of " Proverbial Philosophy." Translated into Thirty Languages. [Nearly fifty Versions.] The Music composed expressly by S. Se- bastian Wesley, Mus. Doc. [One of the most curious publications that the Great Exhibition has insti- gated. Mr. Tupper's hymn of six stanzas is indeed hardly equal to the oc- casion or his own character. In aiming at generality, he has lost sight of aptness. With the exception of a line or two, the hymn is fit for all occa- sions and peculiar to none. But the assistance he has received from scholars in every branch of scholarship, and from men of many climes, in rendering his verses into ancient and modern languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Sanscrit, Arabic, Chinese, and Ojibway, shows the hearty good-will of superior men in contributing towards the great undertaking.] Recollections of Mrs. Anderson's School. A Book for Girls. By James M. Winnard.

[A juvenile book, consisting of a series of sketches of the governess, Mrs. Anderson, the teachers, and some of the pupils, with a few incidents and tales connected with members of the establishment. The "Recollections" are agreeably written ; and, as we gather from the preface, to put in a word for the oldfashioned ladies' boarding-school, in opposition to modem col- leges, lectures, and cramming.] A Manual of European Geography; embracing the Physical, Indus- trial, and Descriptive Geography of the various Countries of Europe. For the use of Schools and Colleges. By William Hughes, F.R.G.S., &c. [Another geographical publication by Mr. Hughes, in which the new system of broadly presenting the natural features and productions of a region in a philosophical spirit is combined with the old plan of giving names, positions, and minute particulars.] Chemistry of the Crystal Palace; a Popular Account of the Chemical Properties of the chief Materials employed in its Construction. By Thomas Griffiths, late Professor of Chemistry in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Author of " Chemistry of the Four Ancient Elements," &e. A Practical Compendium of the recent Statutes, Cases, and Decisions af- fecting the Office of Coroner, &c. By William Baker, Esq., one of the Coroners for Middlesex.

[This volume is of a more professional cast than many legal compendiums that come before us ; being primarily intended for the practical guidance of Coroners. It is well arranged, full, and clear ; but its chief feature is the introduction of the new matter or law upon the subject, caused by recent acts of Parliament and late decisions.] Original View of Passages in the Life and Writings of the .Poet-Phi- losopher of Venusia ; and with which is combined an Illustration of the suitability of the Ancient Epic and Lyric styles to Modern Sub- jects of National and General Interest. By John Murray, MA., &c.

[An attempt to throw a new light on the life of Horace, in opposition to re-

eeived opinions; to trace greater connexion in the plan of his works, and to illustrate particular passages. Mr. Murray has not escaped the prolixity that characterizes commentators in general.] The Illustrated Omnibus Guide.

A New Distance Map of London for Cab-fares, &e. The Penny Map of London, or Great Exhibition Guide. Publications promptsd. by the Great Exhibition. The "Omnibus Guide" is a full, useful, and apparently correct account, of the times, routes, and fares of the London omnibuses. It is followed by a list of the principal sights, and preceded by a map which ingeniously shows half-mile distances on the principle of the triangle," like Midshipman Easy's duel. This is published separately, as the "New Distance Map."1 The new editions, or continuations of works of which a former volume has appeared, are not numerous, but good. The fifth volume of Napier's great work is the foremost, for the never-cloying interest of its subject, the breadth of its massing, and the spirit of its narrative; qualities which grow with the progress of events, that now carry the reader beyond Vittoria and the Pyrenees into France. Mr. Knight's National Edition of his Shakspere, commencing the first volume of the Historical Plays, is rich, not only in curious but informing illustrative matter, as well in text as the cuts. Dr. Kitto's able and interesting volume of " Daily Bible Illustrations " com- pletes the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Before proceeding to the New Testament, Dr. Kitto, in compliance with many suggestions, will under- take the prophetical and poetical books of the Bible. The fifth edition of " The Temperance Cyclopedia" contains a great many facts about the evil effects of indulgence in strong drinks, or even " touching a drop "; some of which are "curious if true." The " Boswell " in the National Illustrated Library proceeds favourably, though some of the heads are rather blotty.

History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the year 1807 to the year 1814. By Major-General Sir W. P. P. Napier, K.C.B., Colonel Twenty-seventh Regiment. New edition, revised by the Author. Volume V.

The Comedies, Histories, Tragedies, and Poems of William Shakspere. Edited by Charles Knight. The National Edition. Histories. Vo- lume I.

Daily Bible illustrations ; being Original Readings for a Year, on sub- jects from Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities, and Theology. Especially designed for the Family Circle. By John Kitto, D.D., F.S.A., Author of "The Pictorial Bible," &c. Solomon and the Kings. October—December.

The Temperance Cyclopedia. Compiled by the Reverend William Reid, Edinburgh.

Boswell's Life of Johnson. Illustrated. Volume II. (National Illus- trated Library.)

PAMPHLETS.

Records of the Supremacy of the Crown, and of the Civil and Religious Liberties of the People of England. By James Brogden, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Speech of Sir William Molesworth, Bart., M.P., in the House of Corn- tnons, on the 10th of April 1851, for a Redaction of the Colonial Expenditure of the United Kingdom.

Special Report on the State of Juvenile Education and Delinquency in the Borough of Salford. By Stephen Neal, Chief Constable of the Borough of Salford.

Catalogue of East Indian Productions collected in the Presidency of Bengal, and forwarded to the _Exhibition of Works of Art and In- . dustry, to be held in London in 1851. Compiled by A. M. Dowleans.

Ye Prophecie of Pierre Reillor, an Heretique Friere of ye Abbey of Holie Crosse by Waltham. In ye whiche is dimlie foreshadowedde ye Great Exhibition of Eighteens Hundrede and Fiftie-one.

The House that Albert Built. Illustrated by Henning. Robert Owen's Journal.

A Word in Season to the Civil and Military Services in India. By Captain James Barber.

Thucydides or Grote? By Richard Shilleto, MA., of Trinity College, and Classical Lecturer of King's College, Cambridge.

Water Supply for London, &c. By John Londe Tabberner, Esq.