PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Parliament is beginning to tell somewhat upon the regular publishing trade. Except the Duke of Buckingham's " Memoirs of the Court of George the Fourth"—which, hewever, seems to us (for it arrived very late) a species of gossiping narrative of events and reports, illustrated by curious family letters, rather than anything like secret history, the two principal unnoticed books of the week are American in their origin. Commander Page's "La Plata" promises to be a fresh and in- forming work, narrating as it does a four years' exploration of that great river and the adjacent countries, undertaken by the orders of the United States Government. Agassiz's "Essay on Classification," or an exposi- tion of the general principles of zoology, is reprinted from his quarto work under the title of " Contributions to the Natural History of the United States," the two first volumes of which appeared at Boston in 1857; and to which this Essay served as an introduction. Herbert Grey's fiction of "The Three Paths," is perhaps less a true novel, than an illustration of certain views of the author by means of characters with a story attached. The main object of Mr. Grey will be popular with the ladies. It is to show that well-assorted matrimony is better than wild living, or glumpy bachelorhood ; though there are cer- tain conditions not attainable by everybody—good looks, good disposi- tion, and other good things, including a good property. The book indi- cates thought, ability, and spirit ; but the writer's turn appears more adapted to discussion or exposition than to narrative. The rest of the publications are either of the nature of serials that ap- pear at the usual time, or books in which the feelings of the writer have a good deal more to do with the putting forth, than either the interest of the booksellers or the demand of the public.

Boom.

_Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 From original Family Dom- abents. By the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, K.G. In two volumes.

La Plata, the Argentine Confederation, and Paraguay. Being a Narrative of the Exploration of the Tributaries of the River La Plata and Adjacent Countries during the years 1853, '51, '55, and '56, under the order of the United States Government. By Thomas J. Page, U.S.N., Commander of the Expedition. With Map and numerous Engravings.

An Essay on Classification. By Louis Agassiz,

The Three Paths. By Herbert Grey, M.A. In two volumes.

OA the Probable Fall in the Value of Gold : the Commercial and Social con- sequences that may ensue, and the Measures which it invites. By Michel Chevalier, Member of the Institute of France, Svc. Translated from the French by Richard Cobden, Esq.

The Encyclopedia Britannica. Volume XVII.—The striking though not the greatest feature of this volume is Macaulay's Life of Pitt—a masterly resume of incident and characteristics, told in a more subdued style than is usual with " My Lord," without losing anything of force or attractiveness. The estimate of the man and the minister are both just; but we think on tracing the cause of Pitt's influence over the public, enough is not ascribed to his strength of character. This in active life operates quite apart from ability or other intellectual quali- ties, and is, indeed, sometimes seen to domineer over them by mere strength of will.

There are many other articles with great names and of great merit ; in fact, this volume may be called rich. Professor Goldwin Smith takes a rapid survey of the life of Peel, and pronounces a fair and favourable judgment on his character. M'Culloch has an essay on Partnership, limited and unlimited, containing a view of the law of joint-stock companies and urging his well-known opinions on limited liability as regards this country, where there is no lack of capital or enterprise, to require a temptation for men to embark in business. Dr. Donaldson ex- pounds Philology, Sir David Brewster Photography, Owen Palaeontology, and Eastwick Gude and Persia. In short the volume teems with papers on important subjects by distinguished writers.

Thoughts on the Policy of the Crown towards India. By John Malcolm Ludlow, Barrister-at-law ; Author of "British India, its Races, and its History," &c.—Another batch of the author's suggestions and opinions upon India and Indian affairs. The substance of part of the book has appeared already in the columns of the Leeds Express, and some of its conclusions, at least, in British India. A species of novelty is given to the arrangement and form by making the Queen's Proclamation a sort of text on which to found the remarks. These are broadly divisible into two sections, one relating to the princes of India, one to the people. The former are chiefly concerned with annexation of territories or con- fiscation of income in some form or other, and go over ground that has been well trodden already. The discussions relating to the people eu4wace more numerous subjects—religion, property, usages, and so forth. There is a good deal of knowledge, and a good deal of power in the volume ; but also a good deal of violence and one-sidedness, even when the general views of the author are right ; which is not always the case.

Essays, Biographical, Critical, and Miscellaneous. By Peter Bayne, A.M., Author of " The Christian Life, Social and Individual," &c.— This volume is substantially a collection of articles ; for though only three of them seem to have appeared in British periodical literature, and a fourth was originally delivered in the form of a lecture, yet all the essays partake of the nature of the " article," and those which have not been published at home have appeared in America.

It is a readable collection, but by no means first rate ; the writing being discursive and somewhat inflated. The majority. of the papers derive interest from the contemporary character of their subjects. In military biography there are two names that have an every' in- terest—Napoleon and Wellington; in literary criticism, we have " en- nyson and his Teachers," or, more properly, his immediate predecessors ; Mrs. Browning ; and the Bells ; with Ruskin in art. There are a few papers of a more general or abstract kind.

Classic Records Reviewed or Deciphered. By Thomas de QuinceY-- There is more unity than often attends upon collected papers in this vo- lume of De Quincy's works, from the general unity of their subjects, which are all classical, or at least ancient. The great production, occu- pying indeed two thirds of the volume, is the essay on the Caesars, from the first Julius till the power though not the name of the Western Eat. perors was extinct. The other papers are the Theban Sphinx, the Es- wines, and Aelius Lamle.

The Epochs of Painting Characterized, by R. N. Wornum, Keeper and Secretary, National Gallery.—" A rapid and continuous survey of the whole subject,—neither intended nor adapted for special reference, as no portion is independent of that which preceded it."—Such, we are assured by the compiler is the character of the publication, and it would be invidious to consider it in any other light. Mr. Wornum, however, remembering his position, should have cared more for the art of the book, which, in the twenty illustrations inserted, is of the lowest order of exe- cution.

The Earth we Inhabit. By Captain Alfred W. Drayson, Royal Artil- lery, Author of "Sporting Scenes in South Africa," &e.—A teatise of a tentative kind. In Captain Drayson's opinion the world is growing larger and has been throughout its history. This theory he endeavours to maintain by proofs drawn from astronomy, the measured distances that have been laid down for scientific purposes by scientific men, and other data. His most popularly intelligible argument is that drawn from the fracture of submerged telegraphic cables, usually attributed to an an- chor fouling. But he says the fracture bears no sign of rent by a violent blow or force, but every appearance of a strain ; and this strain he is in- clined to ascribe to the enlargement of the earth.

Half-a-dozen books of verses are before us, signs probably of the mild weather, which the bards have mistaken for spring. Of these the best is unquestionably " Holy Places and other Poems," " by Rebecca Hey. There is not, indeed, much of strength or spirit, but the images are pleasing and natural; when the writer is treating simple themes, her ver- sification is easy ; and there is a vein of pleasing morality in many of her pieces. Mr. Wyon's "Poems" seem to aim at the satiric and didactic. There is a poem on Politics, suggested, as we learn from a note, by the Chinese embroglio of 1857, though we should scarcely have gathered that fact from the text. Then there is another on War, which may be designed for satire ; and two on Hope and Charity, that rather fall into the di- dactic vein. Of poetic fire in the execution we say nothing; but there is a sad want of definite purpose, and ideas with a distinct bearing. The Lyrical drama,"Lemma of the Isles and other Poems," has a good deal of fluency, sound, and almost vigour, but of a very Milesian kind. This peculiarity naturally tends to exuberance, which is one great fault of the book ; but its greatest is the want of real poetical spirit. There is a knack of versifying in "Frauds and Follies in Picture Dealing," though the metre is very badly chosen for what is in reality satire, and the verse does not always rise much beyond doggrel. Still a mere knowledge of the subject and apt materials, though of a matter-of- feet kind, impart more interest to the "poem" than its actual merit would lead one to expect.

The "Reliquiss" of Mr. Edward Smith are of a very so-eo kind. Mr. Macphail's "Burns' Vision of the Future,"—that is the Crystal Palace and his honours, shown to the poet in the flesh by Caledonia, does not affect the decision of the judges. It does not appear that John Clark Ferguson's "Poem in Honour of Burns" was a competitor, but if it were it would not have carried off the prize.

Holy Places; and other Poems. By Rebecca Hey, Author of " The Moral of Flowers."

Poems. By Frederick Wyon.

Gamma of the Isles; a Lyrical Drains, and other Poems. By A. and L., Au- thors of " War Lyrics."

Frauds and Follies in Picture Dealing, Roc. a Poem. By George William No- vice, Artist.

Religuim ; Poems by Edward Smith.

Burns' Vision of the Future, a Centenary Poem. By Miles Macphail.

Poem in Honour of Burns. By John Clark Ferguson.

NEW MAPS.

Stanford's New Map of the Parliamentary Divisions and Boroughs of England and Wales.-:-The existing representation of England and Wales presented to the eye in a large and for general purposes a good map. Colour is the means by which Mr. Stanford works. The boundaries of a county or division returning one member are marked by green, two members by ied, three by yellow. The same mode of distinguishing. to the eye is made use of in the boroughs, and unrepresented towns having more than 8000 inhabitants stand out in true blue. An elaborate table of statistics of population, inhabited houses, taxes, electors, and members, with a view of the changes proposed by Lord John Russell's Bill, John Bright's Bill, and some other schemes, is printed with the map.

Geological Map of England and Wales. By Andrew C. Ramsay, F.R.S. and G.S., Late Director of the Geological Survey of Great Bri- tain, &c. &c.—A map of England and Wales on the scale of twelve miles to an inch; the geological characteristics distinctly defined, without in- terfering with the geographical information. It is a valuable production