PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
BOOKS.
Catlin's Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe with his North American Indian Collection. With Anecdotes and Incidentsof the Travels and Adventures of three different parties of American Indians whom he introduced to the Courts of England, France, and Belgium. In two volumes. With numerous Illustrations. Er423.Place in Universal History: an Historical Investigation, in Five By Christian C. J. Bunsen, D.Ph. and D.C.L. Translated from the German, by Charles H. Cottrell, Esq., M.A. Volume I.
Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards. By William Andrew Chatto.
[The general error of writers on antiquarian subjects is to overdo by digression or minable; and Mr. Chatto is not entirely free from this propensity, though in him it takes a lively and literary, not a dull and pedantic form. The Facts and Spe- culations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards would have borne con- densation, and been improved, by it. In all other respects it is a carious and agreeable compilation, if indeed the author's reading is nut so extensive as to en- title him to the praise of research. The industry of the French writers has left little for other investigators to discover on the origin and history of Playing Cards,—how —how they were most probably invented in the East, and thence intro- duced into Europe through the Crusades, or the commercial intercourse which followed; how they apparently gave rise to the picture-books, and thence by degrees to printing; and what various forms they took, as well as the prevalence of card- 'playing at various times. Late Oriental travellers, however, have added par- dealer facts to the subject, if not to our general knowledge of the question; • and of these Mr. Chatto has availed himself. He has also given a more -English cha- racter to parts of the investigation, especially in the history of English card- playing and card-players. The arrangement of the contents is in five divisions,—on the origin and name • of cards, their introduction into Europe, the progress of card-playing, the diffe- rent kind of cards with the marks of the snits, and the morality of card-playing. Even this last subject, however, is treated as much in a gossipy as a grave manner, with many anecdotes of persons who liked a game of cards. The volume is copiously illustrated with fac-similes of the most curious specimens of cards, Oriental and European. In short, Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Play- ing Cards is an agreeable and amusing book, which should be read by all card- players, as well as by those who like to dip into& subject of carious investigation, which possesses a great deal more of importance and learning than its name promises.] The Phrenomena and Diosemia of Arabia. Translated into English Verse, with Notes. By John Lamb, D.D., Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Dean of BristoL ESome of the ancients classed Aratus next to Homer, if not on the same level; & judgment which the moderns will be slow to confirm. We have indeed but two of his numerous works; and the subject of The Phanomena, treating of the constellations and other astronomical mutters, has not now the use it anciently possessed as a work of instruction, combining the duke with the utile; while the Diosemia, containing poetical directions to prognosticate the weather by natural signs, if more permanent in utility, is more limited in range. Still, the very nature of his subjects seems to militate against the power of exciting an interest at all approaching that of Homer. Devoid of action and story, unless the brief allusion to the mythological fables about the constellations can be so considered, Aratus wanted, as Quintilian observes, movement, variety, passion, and persons; though he skilfully created opportunities for reflection. A man, however, who could attract the attention which Aratus did, mast have had great merit, even if we allow that some of his panegyrists were moved by those leanings which un- accountably spring np in the human mind. Dr. Lamb has done a literary service in presenting the public with a version of the extant works of Aratus. The poetical translation, though scholarly and classical, is not, indeed, of a very remarkable kind; but it is equal to the gene- rality of translations, if not superior, and conveys a good idea of the topics of Aratus and his mode of treating them, if not of his style. The life of the poet, the view of his system, and the notes to the poems, are also entitled to praise.]
Wisdom, and Miscellaneous Poems. By J. F. Hulbert, 14.R.C.S.
[The subject of this poem is not so mach wisdom in the usual acceptation of the term, as the wisdom displayed in the creation of the world, the revelation of Christianity, and so forth. The author is not equal to so large a theme, or even to a &nailer one. He is rather a versifier than a poet.]
Literary Chit-chat; with Miscellaneous Poems, and an Appendix of Prose
Papers. By David Lester Richardson, Author of "Literary Leaves," &c. [The greater part of this volume consists of critical dialogues, originally pub- lished in the Calcutta Literary Gazelle, on subjects of literature and art. Mr. Richardson intimates that his object was to give a less onesided character to criticism than obtains in the present day. We do not know that his criticism is more catholic than other people's; but, not being limited to a particular subject or mode of treatment, and assisted by the discursive character of dialogue, he is able to avoid the formal and explanatory, to select traits which seem to him the most striking, and as soon as he has exhausted his points, to leave his topic for a new one. There is nothing very profound or even remarkable in this Literary Chit-chat; but it is agreeable, very various, and, discussing the characteristics of celebrated and contemporary names, has an interest in the subjects. It is well to have bad the papers reprinted; the volume will form very pleasant reading for leisure-hours on warm days.] Adventures in Cireassia. By the Reverend W. Wickenden, alias the
Bard of the Forest, Author of " The Rustic's &c.
The supposed adventures of the writer; who, havil g assisted the captain of Russian merchantman, is carried by him to Circassia, and brought back agaiq after an interval, which the enthusiast passes in wandering through the and serving with the Circassian. There is invention in the incidents, and more keeping in the narrative than might be supposed from the peculiarity of the lino idea; and the book is readable.] How to Win Love, or Rboda's Lesson; a Story for the Young. By th, Author of "Michael the Miner," &c. [A pretty little story of two little girls, Annie and Rhoda, and their kindhearted schoolmistress, Winifred Lee; by whose virtues, with Annie's sweetness of dim. position, Rhoda's temper and obstinacy are overcome, and she is totally reformed. The book would have been better for very little folk by the substitution of shorter words for some long ones.] The Peerage, Baronetage, and Knietage of Great Britain and Ireland; including all the Titled Classes. Eighth year. By Charles R. Dod, Esq Author of " The Parliamentary Companion," &a [It is extraordinary how Mr. Dod manages to have some new features in each new edition of his well-known Peerage, although time and change by death; births, marriages, and creations, find him constant employment in keeping up to the mark? Besides attention to these points, the volume before us has twenty- four plates of the ornaments peculiar to the ranks whose owners are the subject of the book; a curious and sensible chapter on precedence, much more extensively treated than is usually the case, Mr. Dod venturing into the Law Courts, and travelling as far as India; a brief historical view of each rank among the titled orders; and the formal modes of addressing persons with a "handle to their name." Mr. Dad's Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage, might be said to be an indispensable book for every one who has any sort of connexion with the Fashion. able World, or wishes to know the " birth, parentage, and education," of the quality, if people did not know the fact already.] Excerpta ex Taciti Annalibus. Selected and Edited by Professor Palen, of the University of Edinburgh. [This volume forms another of Mr. Parker's useful editions of the text of cies. sisal writers, but with a peculiarity in this case which requires a word. Mixed with the narrative of great events, the acts and sufferings of well-known charac- ters, and the reflections of Tacitus himself, the Annals contain anecdotes of oh. scure individuals, or accounts of isolated events, which interrupt the progress of the story, and have small interest for the modern world. These minutiae Professor Pillana has omitted, so as to render the narrative closer and more continuous. He has also added from Dion the downfall of Sejanus, and the death of Nero from Suetonius, to supply, as well as may be, the lost passages of Tacitus.] The First Seven Books of "Lea Aventures de Telemaque Fits d'Uksse.'' Par Fenelon. Arranged on a new and easy Plan of Interlinear and Col- lateral Translation. By Mariot de Beauvoism. [The principal feature of this volume—on what is called the Hamiltonian system —is the use of an interleaved silver leaf, on which the translation is printed in red letter so arranged as to fall ander the French. By this means, the pupil has both texts before him, or by means of a piece of plain paper can use either sepa- rately. The translation by M. de Beauvoiein is as literal as Hamilton himself could wish, with various typographical directions as to the words omitted or sup. plied, Sic.]
Christian Consolation; or Discourses on the Relief afforded by the Gospel under different States and Trials of the Christian Life. By Daniel Moore, M.A., Perpetual Curate of Camden District, Camberwell.
[Ten sermons of a superior character. The Consolation which Christianity affords above every other system to the evils of life, the struggles of temptation, pr remorse of conscience, gives a unity to the series which is wanting in books of sermons on miscellaneous questions. The treatment is consolatory; although Mr. Moore ventures on delicate ground in dwelling so forcibly on the illimitable pardon for sins, as tending to encourage weak-minded sinnere. The execution is able. The style is clear and terse, and possesses a scholarly force and finish without scholastic commonplace.] Tales of the Munster Festivals: containing Card-Drawing, the Half-Slee and the Coiner. By Gerald Griffin. (The Parlour Library.)
Justin; a Play. Translated from the Spanish of Calderon de In Barak By J. H. PERIODICAL.
Revolution in Europe; a Monthly Record of the Events passing on the Con- tinent. Edited by Percy B. St. John. No. L
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