PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Booxs.

Travels in Peru, during the years 1838-1842, on the Coast, in the Sierra,

across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests. By Dr.

J. J. von Tschudi. Tranlsated from the German, by Thornasina Ross. The Statesmen of America in 1846. By Sarah Mytton Maury.

St. Sylvester's Day, and other Poems. By Euphrasia Fanny Haworth. With, illustrative Designs by the Author. [The fair author of this volume aims at the double honours of painting and poetry; her verses being accompanied by illustrative designs from her own pencil. The public attempt is ambitions, but exhibits more of promise or possession than of performance. Miss Haworth appears to possess poetical feeling and poetical power, which experience and study may possibly mature into the bringing forth fruits in due season. At present she wants the oneness that constitutes an ac- complished artist, much more the original genius. The style of her tale rather changes than varies with the subjects. In her opening description, Tennysoa seems to have been her model; in her sombre and half niystical reflections on the operations of mind and the misgivings of presentiment, she imitates Byron; in the more supernatural parts of her tale, which is founded on the gift of prophecy pos- sessed by a person born on St. Sylvester's Day, Coleridge appears to have been her prototype, though perhaps at second-hand. There is even a greater want of her individuality and nature in h matter. The subject, she ear, is takon.froutan American book called Twice-told Tales, and has probably a trerman origin. Miss

Haworth speaks highly of the original; but, unless she has- injured it in her handling, we differ with her in opinion. It seems to us one or those thousand- mulsone tales which are as common as blackberries. The persons and events are meld life; they are not of history; they are not in the records of the wild and wonderful—the true store-house of romance; nor are they supernatural in any proper or effective sense. Events are brought about without motive, and the con- cocter is constantly for his own convenience drawing upon our faith. In short, the matter of the story is taken from the quarry of the circulating library. We say this not to discourage, but to advise. In the opening description there is a combination of reality and fancy, though Miss Haworth has looked at nature through the glasses of the quaint school; and there are throughout the germs of power, which observation and thought may develop. The cuts v be dismissed with an analogous remark, but with this difference—the designs failfrom mere deficiency of mechanical skill to present the designer's own conception: the artistical remedy can be more readily found than the literary.]

Sir William Crichton; Athehoold; Guidone; Dramas. By William Smith, of the Middle Temple, Esq. EThree dramas in a very neat little volume. Two of them, Guidone and Athel mild, have already appeared in print, and Athelwold was brought out by Mr. Macready : Sir William Crichton, founded upon the history of James the Second of Scotland, is new. We have not been able to read this play with the attention it deserves: the inspection shows that it is written with great force of thought and diction; but it seems to be deficient in thedmmatic quality of exact personation, as if the sentiments, especially in scenes of passion, were rather those of the looker-on than of the person engaged,—a thing so difficult to escape, that it. may almost be pronounced the natural difficulty of dramatic writing. We think, too, there is some violation of poetical justice. An historical play must indeed adhere to history; but introduced parts, if they influence the action, become amenable to poetical law.] Etherea, a Poem. By William Bennett.

[Etherea, the heroine of this poem, is of a speculative mind; and, being puzzled by Nature and her own contemplations, determines to invoke Heaven by a spell, and if she gets no reply, to commit suicide—or, in the couplet of Mr. Bennett, "And Men, if instant answer does not come,

nty soul shall burst Its bonds and seek God's home."

Previous to this anti-climax, the Devil himself has left a place unmentionable to ears polite, in order to tempt Etherea; but he is baffled by an angel sent express for that purpose. This action is only reached—but we need not go further: Mr. Bennett has been ill-advised.]

Country Scenes and Subjects. By Rhoda Maria Willan, Author of "The Flower-Girl," &c. With Illustrations. [Country Scenes and Subjects is one of the many agreeable and readable books which have had their origin in the suecess of Washington Irving's Sketch-book. The interchange or rather intermingling of short tales, sketches of character, de- scriptions of scenery, personification, and reflection, not to say reverie, all derived from the commonest scenes of life, and done with a minuteness which seemed easily imitable, tempted many to imitate. Hence, any one who was equal to a communication to a periodical thought himself pr herself capable of producing a counterpart of the Sketch-book; and if a knack of versifying was possessed, why poetry added variety to the papers. So much better is it found to tie things to- gether,even by the commonest thread of a title, than to place them disconnectedly Wore the reader, and so germane to modern mind was his choice of topics, that the example of Washington Irving is followed, and in eases where it would not at first be suspected. The various descriptive works of Thomas Miller, Ilowitt's Homes and Haunts and -Visits to Remarkable Places, with several tours where the fan- ciful predominates over the real, have originated in the American tale-writer and descriptive essayist, besides more direct imitations. Of this latter class, Country Scenes and Subjects is by no means among the worst. The fair writer has a feeling for domestic ties and natural scenery; she has something of an artist's eye for landscape, and a pleasing vein of versify-- ing, which rather animates and refines than ttunelies her prose. In aiming at minute fidelity, she sometimes overdoes her descriptions; and in her tales, she is apt to give rather a rose colour of sentiment to rustic life: but the chief objec- tion to the book is that we have had sometbing similar so often. The most pleasing passages, perhaps, are the personal reminiscences, and the effusions of in- dividual feeling.] Aceth, the Egyptian; a Novel. In three volumes.

[The time of this novel is about the year 700 before Christ: the object of the au- thor is to represent the manners and opinions of the ancient Egyptians, with ad- ditions from other nations, using thereported history as a vehicle. He has also some metaphysical design, in which the .regular stock character of a haughty, intellectual, sensual, ambitious unbelieving priest, is opposed to conscientious scepticism and earnest longing rifler truth and goodness on the part of Azeth.

The author professes to have derived his representations of manners, religion, take and occupations, from Wilkinson and others; his history is drawn from

Herodotus; "in the introduction of Arabs and of Druids, the theories of Upham, Vallancey, Higgins, &e. have been followed "; and it strikes us that for the more theatrical spectacle character thrown over the priestly scenes, he is indebted to the fertile imagination of modern romance-writers. Authorities, even when classical and judiciously used, are bukthe enter husk in fiction; and in Aze,th the animating soul of antiquity is wanting. What the sentiments, opinions, and man- ners of the ancient Egyptians were like, we do not indeed know; but we strongly suspect that they were not modern English, such as it appears in philosephico- tbeatrical romances. In this respect, however, the author fails in good company. We do not know that Moore or Bulwer have succeeded any better than the author of A zetA in depicting ancient life; and their style is equally stilted, if the stilts they mount are somewhat better made. The so extremely remote as to be unknown, seems always treated magniloquently—perhaps upon the principle of omits ig- notum.] Village Tales from the Black Forest. By Berthold Auerbach. Translated from the German, by Meta Taylor. With four Illustrations by John Ab- solon.

Ivo; a Village Tale from the Black Forest. By Berthold Auerbach. Trans- lated from the German, by Meta Taylor. With four Illustrations by John

• Absolon.

Thom's Irish Almanack and Official Directory, with the Post-office Dublin City and County Directory, torthe year 1847. Fourth animal publication.

UMW improved and enlarged edition of Mr. Thom's Statistical Companion, Dublin

Directory, and Official Guide (for these it really is,); appears to us a model for such a work. The usual alinanack information is very full, both in the astro- nomical and business divisions; the information connected with the Court, the 011icial departments, Parliament, the Army, the Navy, the Irish Militia, the Churches of all denominations, public institutions of all classes, and the statistics of Ireland, are elaborate and well-arranged. In addition to all this, there are well-displayed directories of various kinds and classes, both-for Dublin and the county, and a mass of useful information, connected with the Poet-office, legislation, and various other subjects. It is not only an admirable business as- mania, but combines with this use a great variety of important facts on subjects interesting to those who are something more than mere men of business. The volume is also handsomely printed, on good paper, and is not so large as to be un- wieldy. When we look at the style and quantity of its typography, with the cost getting it up, and consider its price, and, compared with the London Directory, it probably. limited sale, we cannot but conceive that the sum charged for the

latter is too high, and that the accusations made before Parliament against flue London -Post-office compilation are h priori supported—at all events, enough tore. quire investigation; which, by the by, is all that is asked. We trust that Lord' Clanricarde will not lose sight of this among other things; or that Mr. Duncombis and the trade will not]

The Parliamentary Companion, for 1847. Fifteenth Year. By Charles

Dodd, Esq., Author of the " Peerage, .Baronetage, Snightage," &c.

[The fifteenth Parliamentary Pocket-book of Mr. Dodd is a timely publication; for the approach of the collective talk will soon set people agog about the talkers,.

and the tnore bearable "pedarii senatores." The general plan and character of this Parliamentary vade-mecum are too well known to require a word. Among the features of the new edition may be noticed, the changes consequent upon the- change of Ministry, the election of thirty-live new Members, with the deaths or retirements of their predecessors, he advent of the four rotatory Bishops to repre- sent the Irish Church among the " Barons bold," and the new creations of Peers. and Baronets, both by Sir Robert Peel and Lord John RasselL1

Sermons preached in the Parish-Churches of Old- and New Shoreham, Sussex. By William Wheeler, S.D., Vicar.

[The thirty-three sermons in this volume were not originally written for publica- tion. They are printed with the advice of the preacher's friends, in consequencei of the " misapprehension," or rather " the hostility," to which their delivery gave, rise.

These allusions' we presume, refer to suspicions of Tractarianism; and the High Church views of the author appear so marked in the power he attributes to the priesthood—the authority he ascribes to tradition—the mystical views he appears to entertain or expresses upon the subject of the sacrament, and his stickling for the "altar "—that we are not surprised at the charge.Rutting this bias aside, the sermons are brief, able, and forcible: but they are still too much of sermons,. to come under literary notice; and these columns are not the place for theologi- cal exposition or controversy.] Probabilities; an Aid to Faith. By the Author of " Proverbial Philosophy." [Stripped of its surplusage, the basis of Probabilities an Aid to Faith is, that a doubter of any particular fact will be more inclined to believe it if he is shown, that its existence is in- with some principle, and not an exceptional occurrence. The objec of the book is to apply this not very novel fundamental, to some of the loftiest and obscurest subjects connected with religion and religious history.

As long as he confines himself to things-of this world—to matters with which. we are acquainted by experience or human record, and consequently know bp

analogy and sympathy—the author of "Proverbial Philosophy " is always inge- nious and frequently. happy in his illustrations, for such they are. When he travels into the higher regions of revelation, he may be as ingenious, but he is by no means so satisfactory in his logic, or so attractive in his literature. The logica is a failure, the literature overlaid by scholastic subtilties as unsubstantial ast such speculative refinements generally are.] Truth as Revealed, or Voluntaryism and Free Churchism Opposed to that Word of God; with an Answer to the Protest left on the table of the Gee neral Assembly in May 1843. By the Reverend George Smith, Ministers of Birse.

[Truth as Revealed is an ingenious and able defence of the Established Church of Scotland, and an attack upon the Voluntaries and Secessionists. The basis or Mr. Smith'e argument, however, is somewhat of the narrowest; resting leas (morn the general principles of the question—an Established or an Independent church, —than upon the peculiar character of the Church of Scotland, and the reasons bye which the Secessionists and Voluntaries attempt to maintain their position-and' justify their views.] The Prisoner of Ham: Authentic Details of the Captivity and Escape of Prince Napoleon Louis. By F. T. Briffault.

[This book has been published under a mistaken notion: the British public feel: little interest upon the subject of Napoleon Louis Bonaparte; and if they did, they would not learn much-more from the pages of Mr. Briffault than what they knew already from the daily newspapers, except perhaps in the details of his imprisonment. Indeed, a better biography might be drawn up from the journals, and some notices of the Prince that are to be found in modern tourists; the three - events of the hero's life—the affiiir at Strasburg, the invasion of Boulogne, ands

the trial before the Peers—being very briefly dismissed. The book has the ina.II- ner and cleverness of the French litterateur, but is more adapted for the atmo- sphere of Paris than of London.) Lectures on the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals, delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in 1844

and 1846. By Richard Owen, F.R.S., Huntenan Professor, and Conser- vator of the Museum of the College. Volume IL Part., L Fishes. Il- lustrated by numerous Wood-cuts. [The first volume of this learned and valuable work has been silently reproaching; us for a long time, and here is the second to increase remorse. But the truth is,

the extent, minuteness, and elaboration which give such value to the Lectures on- the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals, for scien- tific or special objects, rather militate against their use in a newspaper,. especiallye when more popular though lens valuable books constantly press one into a pawn against time and publications.] The Works of G. P. R. James, Esq. Revised and corrected by the Author. With an Introductory Preface. Volume XL "The King's Highways"- [There is nothing new in this eleventh volume of Mr. James!rs collected works.]. The First Principles of Algebra. Published by command of the Lords, Conimissioners of the Admiralty, for the use of the Boys of the Rep& Hospital, Greenwich. Elements of Geometry, Symbolically Arranged. Published by command of' the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for the use of the Boys of the, Royal Hospital, Greenwich. Second edition. Progressive- Geography for Children. By the Author of "Stories for Chil- dren." Fourth edition, revised.

Simple Arithmetic as connected with the National Coinage,, Weiy44ts ands Measures. By Henry Taylor. Third edition.

[The subjects of these four little elementary publications are statedwith sufficient_ clearness in the titles; and the auspices under which they appear, . or the public- patronage, or both, are sufficient to supersede further remark.]

An Appeal for the Irish Peasantry, with facts of paramount advantage tar the iron-masters, manufacturers and agriculturists of England, respecting; the value of peat and peat-charcoal as a fuel and fertilizer. By Jasper Wa Rogers, C.E. NEW Psaiordc.u.s, 77ie Labourer; a Monthly Magazine of Politics, Literature, Poetry, &c.. Edited by Feargus O'Connor, Esq., and Ernest &Mee Esq., Barristers-at- law. No. L [The subjects of this magazine are indicated in- the titlepage; and the names of: the conductors sufficiently tell that Chartist principles will be inculcated in the matter-of-fact papers; while from the specimen before WI we should infer that the, same principles will be enforced in the poetry and fiction. The manner is. more temperate and the style better than might have been expected; ,there is some vigour and much cleverness in the literary papers. "The Romance of a People,". a tale apparently designed to represent Polish oppression and Russian tyranny, promises well; and Mr. Jones reminds one of Southey's early ballads, in a emir partitive view of labourer? poverty and landlord's wealth, in a production called " AtChristmas Carol," though it is rather a ballad than a carol. The miseries of tlitrpoor and the vices of the rich are both presented from a chosen point of view; ani'Mr. Jones was morally and artistically right in doing so: but he should not eudeavonr-to raise a prejudice or produce an effect by misrepresentation. He must knew perfectly well, that to shoot a suspected pilferer, heading his pursuers, would be murder; and that such a proceeding, if it ever took place, is an exception tethe general practice whether English or Irish. Exaggeration of this kind is not fiction, but falsehood.]

The Florist's Journal and Gardener's Record. No. I.

NOTE.

We have received a long letter from Mr. Edward Farr of Iver, denying that Mr. Collier's Book of Roxbury/4e Ballads is "unique," and so forth. To some-extent Mi. Farr has misunderstood both Mr. Collier and the review: the allusions were chiefly to published volumes, not private collections The only important part of Mr. Farr's communication is that Mr. W. H. Miller, of Burnham, has got "duplicates" of nearly all the Roxburgh° Ballads, and many other broadsides which are not in that collection.