BOOKS ON OUR TABLE.

1. The History of the Civil Wars of Ireland, by Mr. W. C. TAYLOR, of Trinity College, forms a portion of " Constable's Mis- cellany (No. 73.)" The first volume alone has made its appearance. We know not the circulation of this Miscellany, or whether it is a favourable medium for the dispersion of historical truth. We should, however, be glad to find that so clear and rational a view of.the troubles of Ireland was very generally spread among our reading public, as is afforded by this unpretending and yet labo- rious little work. The History of the Civil Wars of Ireland, is in fact the history of the still imperfect conquest of that country by its neighbour. The English ought to have been more cruel or more wise.

2. Mr. GLEIG has published the first volume of his long- promised Biography of British Generals. Any work from his pen is sure at least of being respectably executed. Mr. GLEIG, though now a clergyman, is well known to have had military ex- perience, and indeed to be indebted for his reputation to his mili- tary narratives. Assuredly, had not the Subaltern made him known, his Sermons would not. These " Lives " are evidently written by one who has his own opinion on matters that must once have been a favourite study, and his views generally appear sen- sible and judicious ; beyond this, they contain nothing remarkable either in style or thought. This volume contains Sir WALTER MANNY, Sir FRANCIS DE VERE, CROMWELL, and the early part of MARLBOROUGH. The force of Mr. GLEIG'S prejudices some- times appears, perhaps in spite of himself; he speaks of NAPO- LEON being a general " for a time, at least." This will be amusing in France.

3. A bookseller has republished DANIEL DEFOE'S History of the Plague of London, apropos to the Cholera. The form is pretty, and the back all gay and gilt, as if the subject were the merriest in the world. This narrative has been held by very eminent critics to be worthy of a place by the side of Robinson Crusoe. Such has never been our opinion : there is no invention in it, and the pictures are merely those of vulgar horror, such as our penny- a-line men would indite. The man of genius, everywhere visible in Robinson Crusoe, shows himself here in very few traits. Viewing it merely as a History of the Plague, it is a curious work, though far inferior to the History of the Plague of Marseilles.

4. Mr. HARRISON CURTIS has published a fifth edition of his Treatise on the Physiology and Pathology of the Ear. He is a lucid writer, and appears thoroughly to understand his subject. The numerous editions of this work, we presume, is a proof of the frequency of Ear-disorders, and the estimation in which the wri- ter's opinions are held.

5. Our energetic and inventive friend Mr. MURRAY, the chemist and philanthropist, has published an enlarged edition of his work on the Cure of Pulmonary Consumption, by means of Chlorine and Vapour of Nitrous Acid. Independent of the importance of the work for its discoveries relative to this dreadful disease,—a far worse plague than the Cholera,—the book is well worth the atten- tion of the general reader, for the variety of its curious facts on many subjects of art and nature.

6. The Histoire des Campagnes de Hohenlinden et de Marengo, par l3uLow, published by Major EMMETT of the Engineers, is re- markable for containing the marginal notes of the Emperor NAPOLEON, as written by himself in pencil on the leaves of a copy of the book belonging to Major EMMETT. The notes are very nu- merous, and we should think very valuable to the inquirer into the military history of those important campaigns, as well as to the professional student of tactics and strategy generally.

7. We find before us two more handsome and entertaining vo- lumes of the Traditions of Lancashire, by Mr. Rosy. If the im- portance and number of the works daily publishing do not prevent us, we shall hope to dedicate a larger space to some of his lucu-

brations. •

8. We are not inattentive to the claims of the lucid and intel- ligent writer of the Modern Sabbath Examined. His principal ob- ject is, to put the institution of the Sabbath on its proper founda- tion ; and to show the distinction between a political regulation and a divine ordinance, and the practical consequences of this distinc- tion. We shall shortly take an opportunity of developing his views.

9. Dr. ALLEN'S book on Insanity has been some time before us; and though the pressure of more temporary works has hitherto prevented us from consigning any portion of our space to that con- sideration of it which so curious a collection of remarkable facts deserves, we will very soon take an opportunity of expounding its merits.

10. MOORE'S Dictionary of Quotations is an enlargement of iii`Dozolzu.'s compilation of the same nature. An industrious

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man might, by means of this work, greatly annoy his friends by the variety and ostentation of his learning. An unerudite person. may make out, by its aid, the enigmas which scholars are apt to scatter over their writings. An apt quotation has always been thought a charm in conversation : such charms are here packed up and labelled by the thousand. As the principal motive for learning languages, with most persons, is that they may not seem ignorant, they have now nothing more to do than send languages to Babel, and go to Messrs. WHITTAKER'S for this Dictionary.

11. We confess to being unable to get through the Jew. It is a translation from the German of' SPINDLER ; and we see is highly praised by Mr. LEITCH RITCHIE—a tolerably good fudge; and we believe that other critics have spoken well of it. It is in three volumes; and, as well as we can guess, there are about three hun- dred and fifty dramatis personae. They talk a language which the translator has mistaken for English : in the German it can hardly be either sense or passion.

12. We have received Mrs. SOMERVILLi S great work on the Mechanism of the Heavens; and we shall certainly notice it, not with the presumption of critics, but the humility of learners. We believe that the mere sight of such a work, proceeding from the pen of a lady, will excite more surprise than any event that has taken place in literature or science for many years. We cannot, for our own parts, express the feelings of astonishment with Aich a mere cursory glance over its pages has filled us. Italy halter AGNESI, France her DE CHATELET, and now England has her SOIVIERVILLE.

13. Mr. PICKERING is proceeding with his Aldine Classics. we have before us his first volume of Milton ; with a new Life, by the Reverend JOHN MITFORD, which is very creditably executed. He has, however, prefixed a dedicatory sonnet to the Bishop of WINCHESTER, on his publication of Milton de Doctrina Christi- ana : we would suggest that the initials J. M. be replaced by the abbreviation of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY'S Latin sig- nature.

14. Mr. FENWICK DE PORQUET, whose System of Teaching. Languages, as he calls it, we some time ago treated with but little ceremony, has published a small volume of selections from poe- tical French authors. It is entitled The French Poetical Gift, or Coors ElOmentaire, from MALLIERBE to VOLTAIRE; and will prove a useful and elegant eletlientary reading-book for learners of French. The selections are tastefully made, and the little bio- graphies agreeably written.