PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

A Personal Narrative of the Discorery of the North-west Passage; with numerous Incidents of Travel and Adventure during nearly five years' continuous Service in the Arctic Regions, while in Search of the Expedition under Sir John Franklin. By Alex. Armstrong, M.D., U. N. , late Surgeon and Naturalist of H. MS. Investigator, Sze. Published with the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

ma .Life and Opinions of General Sir Charles James Napier, G.C.B. By Lieut.-Gen. Sir W. Napier, K .C.B., &c. volumes III. Iv.

Phantasnusta ; or Illusions and Fanaticism, of Protean Forms, prodactire of great Brits. By R. R. Madden, F.R.C.S. Eng., M.R.I.A., Re.; Author of " Travels in the East," Re. In two volumes.

.Aleazar, or the Dark Ages : a Novel. By Richard Baste, Esq., Author of 'The Wabash," Re. In three volumes.

Dyneror Terrace; or the Clue of Life. By the Author of "The Heir of Bedclyffe." In two volumes.

..ef Concise History of the English Constitution. By Edward Howley, Faq., of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-law.—This is less a history of the Constitution than essays upon the growth and nature of its parts or

branches. For example, Sovereignty, Magna Charts, the Bill of Rights,

and similar large questions, are discussed separately. The disquisitions on these greater subjects are accompanied by topics of less primary importance to the constitution, though bearmg indirectly upon it„—as the feudal system, the law of landed property. This method of handling the parts separatelyfacilitates a more detailed and exhaustive treatment than a consecutive history. It produces something of a piecemeal effect; the last being increased by Mr. Howley's mode of proceecling, which often embraces municipal rather than constitutional law. Fm., Recoveries, rises, and other branches relating to the law of freehold property, by helping to break down the feudal system and entails, had a considerable effect upon society, but rather in an economical sense than directly upon the Constitution.

_Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. Vol. I. Part. I.—Another addition to the literary or scientific contributions that have emanated from the Government of India and its zealous officers; though this undertaking is of a less popular kind than some publications that have preceded it. If the literary character of the four memoirs or notes in this first part are not so generally attractive, their subjects are important ; for they relate to gold, iron, and coal—the iron and coalfields of Talcheer, and the "gold-yielding deposits of Upper Assam." The letterpress is accompanied by an excellent map and some plates.

The Pleasure Paths of Travel. By Edward Fox Esq., Author of "Poetical Tentatives."—This volume is the result of Continental tour in search of health, through France and Italy, with a return by way of the Tyrol and Germany. It is not a continuous narrative, but a series of papers on such matters as the Coffeehouses at Rome the Table d'Hote

at Z—; which, after the opening chapter, mingle fancy with reality. They have, says the author, received additions, which, without making them less real, may bring their occurrences somewhat more vividly before the reader." Besides the descriptions of manners, characters, and national characteristics stories are introduced with the same purpose, and there are a few chapters that are critical in their subject whatever they may be in their execution. The papers are tolerably amusing reading, but very flimsy.

.Dr. Oliver's Maid : a Story in four Chapters. By Eliza Meteyard. (Silverpen.)—Dr. Oliver is an excellent, studious, elderly gentleman, who, after having been plundered and neglected by various servants, at last meets with a treasure of a'maid in Honor Freeland. A secret grief preys upon the Doctor, which turns out to be the misconduct of his daughter ; but in this direction also Honor is useful. She secretly attends the deathbed of the dying woman, brings up her daughter by the second marriage, and works many other wonders ; dying herself at last, from the effects of an early disappointment. The story is naturally and pleasantly told, with sonic pathos in parts ; but it is a question whether the troubles of a divorced wife, and the feelings entertained towards her little children by both marriages, is a well-chosen subject for what is to a great extent a juvenile tale. Not that such a subject is forbidden to fiction, but because it cannot be fully developed in a tale like this, and the consequences of guilt completely traced out.

The Sister of Mercy, or Retribution. By-Caraeronia.—The story of a young Frenchman, who forsakes his betrothed, Louise, for an artful widow. Louise' is supposed by Auguste to be dead ; but she really becomes a Sister of Mercy. After a course of extravagance ending in ruin and tempting to disgrace, Augaste, dying, falls under the ministration of Louise ; and his confessions to her and to a priest are the medium for telling the story. Memorials of the High Seho4 of Edinburgh. By Walter Scott Da. gleish, 11.A., Edie.—A handsome-looking folio, containing an historical sketch of the High School of Edinburgh, followed by biographical notices of the Rector and four of the Masters. The notices are accompanied by portraits, sketchy in style, but apparently likenesses : a bold popular view of the school itself forms a frontispiece to the volume. The biographies are very curt, and appear to be so intended. The story of the High School, with allusions to its Rectors and some of its distinguished pupils, is fuller. It will form an interesting memorial to the alumni of that famous seminary.

The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford. Edited by Peter Cunningham. Now first chronologically arranged. Vol. IL—The time in this volume of Mr. Bentley's new edition of Walpole's Letters, arranged with reference to dates and not to correspondents, and including additional epistles, embraces the decade 1746-'66. There are four portraits : two of them ladies—the celebrated Countess of Suffolk, and Viscountess Townsend ; and two men—Mr. Chute, and Richard Bentley, only son of the learned Master of Trinity, the most striking head and attitude of the whole.

The Lost Friend, a Crimean Melody ; and other Poems. By Colburn Mayne, Esq., Author of "Madeline Clare," &c.—Miscellaneous pieces, frequently on some personal topic. For the most part, they are only prose put into metre.

Such is Life. Sketches [and Poems.] By "Double You."—A medley of a very slight character.

The following belong to the class of cheap books. Raymond's very player-like account of the once attractive comedian and subsequently "great lessee" Robert William Elliston, is sent forth by Messrs. Rout. The two novels are included in the "Rim and Read Library." The Life and Enterprises of Robert William Pittston, Comedian. By George Raymond, Author of " Drafts for Acceptance," &c. Illustrated by George Crnikshank and "Phis."

The Convent: a Tale founded on Fact. By Rachel IPCtindell, Author of "The School-Girl in France."

The Star and the Cloud; or a Daughter's Love. By Arthur S. Roe, Author of "P‘e been thinking."