PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Boons.

The Dispatches and Letters of Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson; with Notes by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, G.C.M.G. The seventh volume. August to October 1805. Pasilogia: an Essay towards the Formation of a System of Universal Language, both Written and Vocal; with Suggestions for its Dissemination throughout the World: including a succinct Review of the principal Sys- tems of similar character heretofore published. By the Reverend Edward Groves. Clinical Collections and Observations in Surgery, made during an attend- ance on the Surgical Practice of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. By W. P. Ormerod, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, late House- Surgeon at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Cosmos: Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe. By Alexander Von Humboldt. Volume I. Translated under the superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Sabine, R.A., For. Sec. RS. Heidelberg; a Romance. By G. P. R. James, Esq., Author of "The Smug gler," &e. In three volumes.

Penscelh000d Papers: comprising Essays on the Souls and Future Life of Animals; on Capital Punishments; on the Evangelical Alliance; on the Endowment of the Protestant and Roman Catholic Church of Ireland; and on the Education of the People. By the Author of "Dr. Hook- well," See. In two volumes. [These " Papers " are supposed to be written by the Pastor of Penscellwood; and are introduced by one of those frameworks, of easy invention, where the editor acci- dentally makes the acquaintance of the author, and is in consequence intrusted with his book. In the particular case, indeed, some dramatic consistency may be

intended between the supposed writer and the actual work; but what is gained in dramatic propriety is lost in interest. The style of the composition and the treat-

ment smack of another age. The writer seems to have been formed by books

instead of testing his scholastic knowledge by the requirements of life: his abilities are not of a very high order; and as his disposition induces to prosiness, he rather

copies the form than imitates the spirit of his models. The manner of the writing smacks of the school of Addison; the matter is of a lower character—wide away in argument when closeness is all in all. The reader of the lesser literature of the last century cannet have forgotten the affectation of elegant simplicity in the choice of fine names, by which false refinement sought to veil the homeliness of nature. A shepherd was called Colin or Strephon, and young ladies corresponded with each other under still finer names. Even this is copied in The Penscellwood Papers; and the Pastor writes to "My dear Patroclus' on the Souls and Future Lives of Animals, and subscribes himself "Achilles." Some of the topics are of the day, but that is all.] The Ship of Glass, or the Mysterious Island; a Romance. In three volumes. By Hargrave Jennings. Author of "My Marine Memorandum-book," &c. [In My Marine Memorandum-book, faults of diffuseness, over-detail, and want of art, were to some extent overcome by the author's living knowledge of his subject. In the volumes before us Mr. Jennings has not this advantage, and his deffciencies are proportionately felt by the reader. The Ship of Glass is a mixture of the wild romance and the sarcastic tale. A people of Spain having at some remote period a prophecy among them, that an island should be discovered, and the discoverer achieve certain wonders, if he set sail in a vessel of woven light; which a magician rightly reads by a ship of glass; and the commander on his return marries the maker's daughter. A tcherley, the other story of the volumes, is a tale of the age of Charles the Second, with the Rye House Plot as the historical incident. There is less of verboseness in Atcherley than in The Ship of Glass; but the story has no peculiarity to separate it from other tales of the same period; and the villany and ability of Atcherley are alike too great for the probability of fiction.] Evelyn Stuart; or Right versus Might. By Adrian. In three volumes. [Evelyn Stuart is a didactic novel on the present state of British society; in which the miseries of the poor, the political events of the last few years, and a counterfeit presentment of some leading politicians, are mixed up with the mis- fortunes of the heroine, Evelyn Stuart. These misfortunes arise from her straitened circumstances, the distresses of _poor relations, and a troubled course of true love for Arbridge—a sort of sensible Young Englander. The author, hight Adrian, has not the clearest ideas upon economical or political subjects, and very false notions as to the probabilities or even the manners of real life. The:great objection to Evelyn Stuart, however, is its deficiency in narrative and dramatic qualities.] The Sybil Spell, or a Midsummer Night in the Olden Time; a Fairie Tale. [The Sybil Spelt is a commonplace ballad-story, of a knight who woos Ella, a lowly maiden; deserts her for a more ambitious match, though still retaining his old affection; and is finally won back to his first love by the influence of a spell, sung by Ella in the guise of a sybil. There is not much of character in the out- line, or of incident in the filling up; and the materials, such as they are, are im- perfectly developed. A fluency ot style and a harmony of versification are the author's chief merits; but even in his best state there is so much of mistiness, that his narrative often approaches to nonsense verses. He must undergo a good deal of discipline, and acquire a good deal of art, before he can turn his facility to any account.] The Druidical Temples of the County of IVilts. By the Reverend E. Duke, M.A., F.A.S., F.L.S., and Member of the Archmological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.

[This is an earnest and ingenious attempt to explain the mysteries of Salisbury Plain by considering its various monuments as forming an astronomical represen- tation of a Druidical system, in the main corresponding with the great year of the Platonic cycle. According to the Reverend E. Duke, Silbury Hill represents the Earth and forms the centre of the system; the circle of stones at Abury is the Temple of the Sun, supposed to revolve round the Earth; other remains stand for the p ni ets; and finally, Stonehenge represents Saturn. One might have looked for a position of greater dignity in the system for old Stonehenge, but still the sweep of his orbit encircles all the rest. The views of Mr. Duke are illustrated by mate and diagrams, and enforced by the various antiquarian learning that is called in to aid an hypothesis of this character.] Proceedings at the Annual Meeting of the Arch aological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, at Winchester, September 1845. [The contents of this beautiful and curious volume are imperfectly indicated by its title; for the account of the proceedings of the last meeting of the Archicolo- gists forms the smallest and least interesting portion of the book; while it does not profess to give all the papers read on this occasion, these having been judiciously limited to the antiquities of the county. It i in fact an examination of the an- tiquities in and around Winchester by certain members of the Institute, illustrated with numerous and finely-executed engravings; and as such it possesses a local and general interest, apart from its connexion with the society.

Professor Willis contributes a most elaborate architectural history of Winches- ter Cathedral, and Professor Cockerell takes a learned review of the buildings erected by William of Wykeham: that unique example of the ancient "hospital," St. Cross, the fine old Norman Abbey Church of Romsey, the Priory of Christ- church, Porchester Castle, the Palace and Mint of Winchester, including the famous "Round Table," are each the subject of papers that will interest others besides antiquarians: and the churches and other old buildings of the city and vicinity—stained glass, seals, monuments, and Saxon names—are treated of by learned writers with great ability. In short, the volume is an epitome of the an- tiquities of Hampshire, and includes buildings of almost every description. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the wood-engravings; which illustrate cha- racteristic features of architecture, and are remarkable for precision of form : they include picturesque views, as well as plans, sections, and details, and serve to ex- plain the text they embellish.]

Morals of Manners; or Hints for our Young People. By Miss Sedgwick, Author of " Home," &c.

[This little hortative of Miss Sedgwick to the rising youth of America would give a very bad idea of Transatlantic manners, if we did not remember the minute precautions which Chesterfield deemed it necessary to enforce in England only a century ago touching certain exceedingly offensive or vulgar actions; and if Miss Sedgaack did not appear to be writing not to the rich or well-to-do only, but to the "citizens" at large. It is an elegantly-written and well-intended book, but of small use in this country.]

The Art of Elocution; from the simple articulation of the elemental sounds of language, up to the highest tone of expression in speech attainable by the human voice. By George Vandenhoff, Professor of Elocution.

[This is an American system of elocution, which appears to have been highly popular beyond the Atlantic: to us it appears too complex and artificial. The idea of the plan seems to have been derived from Walker; his rising and falling inflexions figuring in the exercises: but Mr. Vandenhoff goes farther, even making use of the musical divisions of time, and musical notes, to illustrate and enforce his method. The system, it strikes us, is one that cannot be properly taught but by example; and though a degree of excellence may no doubt be attained in it, we suspect that a highly artificial, not to say an unnatural manner of speak- ing—a sing-song style—will be the result.]

Oral Exercises in French Phraseology, Synonyms, and Idioms. Designed as a Vocabulary or Phrase-book, for the use of those who have already

made some progr in the French Language. By Henry Stein Tuna, late Head Master of the Brighton Proprietary Grammar School. [A publication intended to follow the usual conversation-books, and to exercise- the student on the nicer distinctions of words and qualities of style. With this

purpose, the French synonyms are classed under gne head, in the alphabetical order of the English word to be illustrated, and the proper use of each is ex- plained by examples in conversational phrases. The book appears likely to be highly useful, not merely in accomplishing its direct object, but in improving the student in the power of conversation.] Time Tables, on a new and simplified plan, to facilitate the operation of discounting bills and the calculation of interest on banking and current accounts, dr.c.; showing, without calculation, the number of days from every day in the year to any other day, for any period not exceeding 365 days. By Thomas Reader.

[This volume contains a page for every day in the year, in which 365 days are printed; and by an ingenious but simple mode of working, the number of days that

lie between any two dates are readily found, unless perhaps in the case of a bill having a certain number of days to run, when the question must be approximately solved, or the referrer driven to hunt out a particular column. This knack, how- ever, is readily attainable, if it be not possessed already by any one engaged in the calculations which it is the object of these time-tables to assist.] Black's Picturesque Tourist of Scotland. Fifth edition.

[This new edition of a guide-book remarkable for the fulness, correctness, and plainness of its information, has been thoroughly revised, in order to bring down to the latest period its accounts of all travelling arrangements, and to supply any deficiencies: thus, descriptions of the Isles of Skye and Arran have been incor- porated in the text, railway routes extended in the itinerary, and new views intro-

duced among the engraved illustrations. The publishers observe in their preface, that the present edition will be found still better deserving of commendation than the former ones: yet they seemed so complete and satisfactory, that beyond the addition of new information and a general revision, we are not aware that any- thing could be desired in the way of improvement.] The Picturesque Handbook of Liverpool; a Manual for Resident and Visiter with a Day at Birkenhead, and a Series of Pleasure Excursions in the Environs. Embellished with a Map of the Town, and above one hundred Engravings. Fifth edition.

[The words "fifth edition" speak well for the utility of this guide to our great commercial mart; but the chief addition is a new chapter descriptive of its young rival, Birkenhead.]

Nyren's Cricketer's Guide; containing full Directions for Playing this elegant and manly game. By John Nyren, many years player in the

famous Old Hambledon Club; and in the Marylebone Club. With Sketches of the Cricketers of My Time. Collected and edited by Charles Cowden Clarke. Fourth edition, corrected and improved by the latest authorized laws.

[A useful pocket-piece for the votaries of this truly English game. When the tyro has studied the rules and directions, he may fan the flame of his ambition by perusing the " characters " of the great heroes of the sport.]

An Easy Introduction to Chemistry. By George Sparkes, late Madras Civil Service. Second edition.

[The practical directions for experiment, and the mixture of scientific principles interesting nteresting facts, have deservedly brought this useful compilation to a second edition.] L' Union's Pittoresque. Histoire et Description de Tons lea Penples. Danemark, par M. J. B. Eyries, blembre de l'Institat; et continue par M. Chopin. The subject of this volume in the well-known L'Univers Pittoresque of the brothers Didot, is the history of Denmark. Apart from its own merits, of a

clever arrangement of subject and display of matter, it will be found a useful compilation, from the circumstance that we have not a good history of that Northern kingdom in English.]

The History of Civilization, from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. By F. Gnizot, Author of "History of the English' Revolution of 1640." Translated by William Hazlitt, Esq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-law. Volume III. (Bogue's European Library.)

[This volume completes the celebrated work of M. Guizot, and includes the torical illustrations as well as the text.] ILLUSTRATED WORKS AND PRINTS.

Views of Simla. By Captain George Powell Thomas, Sixty-fourth Bengal Infantry.

[Simla, the sanatorium of India, and the summer residence of the Governor- General, is not far from the Silk and the scene of our late victories; but, from its situation on one of the high hills that form as it were the outposts of the Himalaya range, it partakes of the salubrious and delightful climate of that vast chain of mountains, and also of the grand and picturesque character of the scenery. Captain Thomas has made sketches of the most striking features of the country round Simla; which have been lithographed in the tinted manner by Messrs. Dickinson and published in a folio volume. They are spirited and effective in style, and drawn on the stone with a freedom that is more agreeable than la- boured and formal execution; besides being characteristic of the rapid and vigor- ous pencil of a soldier.

These views are remarkable for the variety of climate indicated in them: a water- fall dashing down from a rocky cleft amid trees and herbage, reminds one of Scot- land; a sunny hill covered with verdure studded with villas, and having pine-trees rising in the foreground, resembles Italian landscape; and presently we are among dreary solitudes, where mountain-peaks covered with perpetual snow, the crevices bristling with pines, call to mind the sublimity of alpine scenery: occasionally a verdurous plain skirted by wooded heights presents an English aspect; but the recurrence of stupendous masses of rock, with a river forded by Indians, recalls the tree locality; and the vast scale of almost every scene proclaims its Orien- tal character. It is extraordinary that, with such rich materials for the pencil, Simla should not have before been delineated: but few artists venture so far, and amateurs less bold and clever than Captain Thomas would be daunted by such difficulties as the country presents. The views are prefaced by some lively and informing descriptions of the cli- mate, natural and artificial productions of the soil, habits of the people, and other particulars: so that the volume is interesting to the reader as well as to the lover of pictures.] NEW PEItIODICAL.

Eli/in Bum-rift's Bond of Brotherhood. Nos. L and II.

[Two packets of paragraphs printed in the tract form for distribution, emanating from the Peace Society, and inculcating horror of the sin and miseries of war.)