PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED, From October 11th to October 17th.
BooKS.
The Life of the Reverend Andrew Bell, D.D., 4c., Prebendary of Westminster, and Master of Sherburn Hospital, Durham. Corn- the History of the Rise and Progress of the System of Mutual Tuition. The first volume by ROBERT SOUTHEY, Eq., P.L., LL.D. Edited by Mrs. SOUTHEY. The two hut by his Son, the Reverend CHARLES CUTHBERT SOUTHEY, B.A., of Queen's College, Oxford, Perpetual Curate of Setnaurthy, and Assistant. Curate and Evening Lecturer of Cockermouth. In three volumes.
„requres on Painting and Design. By B. R. HAYDON, Historical Painter. With Designs drawn by himself on wood, and engraved by EDWARD EVANS.
[This volume contains the Lectures on Painting and Design originally, we be- neve, delivered by Mr. HAynos at the Mechanics Institution, and subsequently repeated in various places throughout the kingdom. The first lecture embraces an exposition of the lecturer's views of the origin of art, the importance of the human figure in design, and the necessity of a staudard of form based on ana- tomical knowledge, together with a long disquisition as to whether the Greek artists dissected. The three next lectures elaborate the only really practical topic of the first lecture—the principle of basing historical painting on anato- mical knowledge ; intermingled, however, with collateral discussions on taste in England, British artists, and so forth. The three remaining lectures of the seven treat, first, of "composition,"—placing it, as it seems to us, on rather formal grounds; second, of colour, with a disquisition on the invention of oil- painting; and lastly, of invention.
As a set of discourses addressed to a popular assembly, these Lectures were well adapted to answer the purpose of stimulating attention, by the vehemence of the lecturer's character, which imparts something both of force and fluency to his style—by frequent digression to branches of the subject that in some sense partake of personal remark, and are more likely to seize upon a mixed audience than a calm and reasoning exposition of principles of art—by a bold and un- hesitating claim of something like infallibility, with broad and not always scrupulous attacks upon those, either living or dead, who may happen to differ from the lecturer in opinions on art, or in the conduct of their professional lives. Mixed with these things will be found many remarks on art, of vary lag value, but few of them, perhaps, to be received with that unhesitating submission that the lecturer would wish to claim for them. The best, in our opinion, are those where criticism predominates—as the exhibitive illustrations from the cartoon of Christ delivering the keys to Peter, and the knowledge of anatomy in action displayed in the Elgin Marbles.] Perran-Zabuloe ; with an Account of the Past and Present State of the Oratory of St. Piran in the Sands, and Remarks on its Antiquity. By the Reverend WILLIAM HASLAM, B.A., Resident Curate.
[St. Perran or Perran-Zabuloe is an extensive parish on the North coast of Cornwall, very subject to inundations of sand ; whence its name of Zabuloe. One church in very ancient times was overwhelmed by this kind of encroach- ment ; the second only escaped a similar fate by being pulled down and rebuilt elsewhere. In 1835, the primitive church was discovered, and brought to light from the sand in which it had been buried : but, such was the interest it excited, that antiquarian zeal, more fatal than time and burial, carried away some of the more curious parts as relics; when those who claimed a nearer interest in it removed the remainder to the Truro Museum, to prevent them from being stolen. Disputes have since arisen among antiquarians touching its age ; some affirming
it to be Saxon, others maintaining it to be British. Among those holding this last view, is Mr. HASLAM, the curate of the parish ; and this little volume is devoted to maintaining his opinion. The arguments on the main question are rather overlaid, from being mixed up with other matters—such as that the primitive British Church is really Asiatic, and was for a long time independent of Rome.] Points and Pickings of Information about China and the Chinese. By the Author of "Soldiers and Sailors," &c. With twenty Engravings, from Drawings by W. H. PRIOR. [The reader will get a good enough idea of Points and Pickings, and of the character of its author, by imagining a pleasant, "funny," middle-aged gentleman—perhaps rather beyond the middle—giving an account of what he has read about China and the Chinese to his young friends, and animating it by the knowledge derived from an actual visit, or from a fancy so dramatic that it produces the same effect. The manner is not always that which one associates with the school-room-like gravity of juvenile literature; but its force and character excite attention. Neither is the method altogether very regular : the reader passes from a summary of Chinese history, chiefly sketched in an anecdotical account of some of the Emperors, to an account of opium, its nature, uses, and abuses ; which leads, of course, to the Opium War; whilst that carries us to the character of the Chinese. But this desultory way, the author says, is more amusing, and enables him to put more "points and pickings" into his book than be could in any other manner; which is probably true.] Ballads and other Poems. By Joime G. Wm-mien.
[This appears to be a selection from the works of an American poet whose name is not much known in England; and it forms one of the cheap and pretty little editions issued by Mr. CLARKE. The contents of the publication consist of ballads or tales, Anti-Slavery poems, and miscellaneous verses ; of which the Anti-Slavery poems are likely to attract most attention, frum the uncompromising boldness with which Mr. WHITTIER assails the Southern sup- porters Of slavery. Considered as poetry, the productions are fluent, and well- sounding ; but they have not sufficient strength or distinctive style to call for criticism.]
The Star of the Court, or the Maid of Honour and Queen of England, Anne Boleyn. By Miss S. BUNBURY. This is a memoir of ANNE BOLEYN; or rather a sort of commentary on ber career, to point a moral against female ambition, vanity, and flightiness. Nothing new is added to the well-known facts of the life ; nor does Miss SUN- BURY make any pretensions to research—she avows her obligations to Miss STRICKLAND and Miss BERGER. The commentorial narrative is elegant, and the remarks are just; but the subject has been too thoroughly exhausted to admit of anything like novelty.] The Recreation; a Gift-Book for Young Readers. The fifth of the series. This volume pretty well maintains its character fora varied selection of strange adventures, striking features of "the earth and animated nature," and interest- ing tales of real life. The books of the year, however, appear to have been less fruitful than formerly ; and the editor has had recourse to newspapers, pe- riodicals, and older publications.] The Irish Question Considered in its integrity. Second edition. With an Introduction, and Prefatory Remarks on the Conduct of the Homo( Peers. By Viscount WELLESLEY. [Viscount WELLESLEY has taken advantage of a republication of his volume on Ireland, to append to it an introduction and a preface on late events. Tie refusal of the Lay Lords to vote upon a law question calls from him a pro- test against that view of their right, which enabled O'CONNELL to get a re- versal of judgment, and which Viscount WELLESLEY on the same grounds of squeamishness was deprived of, when he appealed to the Peers from Lord ELnote's decision in the case of Wellesley v. Beaufort.] Illustrations of the Law of Kindness. By the Reverend G. W. MONT-- GOMER Y. With a Prefatory Address to the English Reader. [A neat and cheap reprint of an American work, whose object is to show the diabolical character of revenge, and the good effects of kindness. The book is divided into sections devoted to some particular branch of the subject—as Kind- nese and Insanity ; each "illustrated " by a variety of apposite anecdotes.]
Souvenirs, Impressions, Pens &s, et Paysages pendant un Voyage en Orient.
Par A. DE LAMARTINE. Nouvelle edition, revue et abregae par E. Dunne, M.D., Maitre de Francais ii Edimbourg.
[An abridged edition of LAMARTINE'S celebrated work, neatly got up.]
ILLUSTRATED WORKS AND PRINTS.
Abbotsford Edition of the Waverley Novels, Volume VI. [The illustrations of this volume, which contains Kenilworth and The Pirate, particularly exemplify the utility of views of places in assisting readers to realize the scenes described in Sir WALTER SCOTT'S fictions. We see Kenil- worth Castle and Cumnor Place, not only in their ruined condition, but re- stored to their pristine state, as nearly as existing remains and documentary in- formation enable the artists to approximate to probable reality ; and the bleak and dreary scenery of Zetland and the Orkneys derives from art a charm that renders the stern and rugged features of these rocky islands impressive ; their wild and desolate aspect harmonizing with the romantic superstitions of The Pirate. STANFIELD and COLLINS contribute the landscapes for the steel engravings ; HARVEY, LAUDER, McKee, HODGSON, and other artists, together with the Dateless-Countess of SUTHERLAND, furnishing drawings for the wood-engravers : and the sketches of the lady-amateur are among the most characteristic and effective of the views.] Forbes Winslow, M.D. Lithographed from Life, by T. H. Meounts.
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