PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The principal unnoticed book of the week is Mr. Colley Grattan's "Civilized America," the result of a long residence in the United States in an official capacity, and much meditation since. After a narrative of his voyage and first impressions, he takes up the country and its people as an anatomist might handle a " subject " for dissection. Classes, and remarkable individuals—religious sects and political topics,—" national characteristics," society, especially in New England,—Mr. Grattan's official head quarters, and various exciting international questions, as the " Boundary " in Peel's time—" quorum pars fui "—are, with similar sub- jec* successively examined and discussed by the ex-Consul of Massa- chusetts. Nominally smaller matters arc considered, though they may not really be of less importance, as "The Women of America " ; there are some illustrative excursions and a few ceremonials as it were, such as the inauguration of a President. Besides the number and variety of his subjects, Mr. Grattan had good opportunities for closer observation than most travellers possess,—and his style, whatever else may be said of it, moves along without impediment. He has also a theme that never tires, not only from its intrinsic importance to the world at large, but from its many associations to Englishmen. What Mr. Grattan does with it, and what conclusions he arrived at, we shall see.

The essay on "Man and his Dwelling Place," is a series of papers on man in his relations to science, philosophy, religion, and morals, followed by dialogues which treat the same subjects, though not exactly discussing the same topics. The essays are thoughtful and searching; the manner has some resemblance to that of "Friends in Council," and similar works; but scarcely so attractive. That, however, may arise from the nature of the book, which is essentially metaphysical.

Booxs.

Civilized America. By Thomas Colley Grattan, late her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the State of Massachusetts ; Honorary Member of the American Institute, he., ezc. Author of" A History of the Netherlands." In two volumes.

Man and his Dwelling Place. An Essay towards the Interpretation of Nature.

The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford. Edited by Peter Cunning- ham. Now first Chronologically Arranged. In nine volumes. Volume 11.. Right or Wrong. By Geraldine E. Jewsbury, Author of" Constance Herbert."

In two volumes.

Alfred Staunton. A Novel. By J. Stanyan Bigg, Author of" Night and the Soul," he.

Christianity in China. A Fragment. By T. W. M. Marshall, Esq., Author of "Notes on the Catholic Episcopate."—The precursor of a large work which proposes to contrast the religious success of Catholic and Protestant missionaries throughout the world. The portion relating to China is published at once, on account of the "special interest at- taching at this moment to that country." Without any formal division the book really consists of two parts ; one telling all the good that can be told of the Romanist missionaries, the other all the ill that can be picke.d up about the Protestants. The critical acumen Mr. Marshall brings to bear on his own church may be indicated by a couple of extracts.

"Schaal [in the seventeenth century) was condemned to be strangled, and afterward chopped in pieces ; but it is said that whenever the judges as- sembled to read the sentence, . they were forced by earthquakes to fly from the tribunal; and the affrighted people, understanding the warning of God, obtained a reversal of the judgment. • • • • •

"On the 29th of February in that year, [1856,] in the province of Quang- tong, Father Chapdelame, who had only !spent three years in the mission, was beheaded. He had a -few days previously been tortured, and had re- cdred a hundred blows in the face so that his jaws were completely smashed ; yet, as the apostolic prefect relates, he did not utter a cry, but. united as he was to the heart of our suffering Lord, he endured the most exquisite tortures without a word.' He was carried back to prison, fright- fully mutilated and unable to move hand or foot; yet, a moment after, to the amazement of all who saw him, he rose up and began to walk, as if in perfect health."

The little success of converts by the Protestants, and, according, to our author, the little knowledge of Chinese the missionaries have se- quirekare smartly enough brought out, especially the picture of Morri- son. The controversial style of Mr. Marshall is not of the best. It is not violent, but the sarcasm is rather feeble and the tone is poor.

English Country Life. By Thomas Miller, Author of "A Day in the Woods," &c.—For continuous perusal this volume has too little sub- stance or sustained story, but it is a very pleasing book for occasional reading. "English Country Life" is redolent of wild woods and culti- vated fields, winding lands and breezy commons, rustic labours and rus- tic games birds, flowers, fruit, animals of chase or rarity, and field !ports. The arrangement of the subjects throws the form of the work into a sort of Seasons. Thomas Miller begins with the Spring, and talks with us of the most attractive features of that most attractive time. Summer, with its leading productions, employments, and rural pleasures comes next, followed by Autumn, and closed by Winter. Besides prose, Thomas Miller has added sonic of his own poetry, and quoted freely from other poets. The volume is illustrated by nearly three hundred engrav- ings, consisting of landscapes, animals, and genre designs, by the usual popular artists for this kind of work.

Terratnot ,o or the _Earthquake and Eruption.—The narrative of a jour- ney to Naples by way of Marseilles: with some excursions in the vicinity of the pleasure-loving Bay—Prestum, Vesuvius, and other well-known places. The writer had also the advantage of feeling the late earth- quake and witnessing the eruption. The book is in the form of a diary, except where a chapter is devoted to a single subject, as Pompeii. It is a slight not to say a flimsy affair. The excursionist has seen nothing but what thousands upon thousands have seen i before: and there nothing remarkable in the mode of describing what she has seen. There is good faith and unaffected cheerfulness in the book ; but it would be rather an awful thing if books such as this were to be multiplied.

Htoomely Rhymes.—A Second collection of Poems in the Dorset Dialect. By William Barnes.—Of course this volume of rustic poems in the Dorsetshire dialect is primarily a tour de force, the difficulty of which lies in using the Provincial words appropriately. As respects the general subjects this has been done with great care ; all the poems not only touch upon country life and scenery, but are regarded from the rustics' point of view. Of the dialect we cannot speak so surely, but the use of the words seems natural, though they are often uncouth enough, and do not improve the pieces as poetry. Partly from the genuine Dorio character of the verses, partly from the interest now attached to local language the attempt of Mr. Barnes has been so successful that his first series hai reached a second edition.

Hand Shadows to be thrown 14p011 the Wall. From original designs by Henry Bursill.—We all have seen the "rabbit on the wall," and here is a series of similar not to say superior designs which are produced in the same way, that is by a reflection of the fingers. Of the shadow-pictures designed by Mr. Bureill, some are human heads, as " Grandpapa" and " Sambo." The majority are animals, of which the goat, the deer, dog Toby, Old Growler, and pig are the most successful. The mode of pro- ducing the eighteen. "hand-shadows," is by imitating the sketches of the fingers as exhibited in the plates. Mr. Bursill says that the most diffi- cult may be thrown by the hand " after a few minutes " practice. And no doubt it may if the tyro has flexible fingers and a tum for this kind of amusing art. Well done it will be irresistible to young people.

The Healing Art the Right Hand of the Church. By Therapeutes.— The advantage of combining the missionary and the medical man is ob- vious, in countries where the real physician does not exist, or is not at- tainable. The difficulty does not lie in gaining the assent of people to this proposition, but in inducing them to realize the idea. The lucu- brations of Thempeutes, will go a very small way towards accomplishing this object.

The reprints of the week belong to the belles lettres. The most cu- rious are two included in Mr. Russell's " Library of Old Authors "— fiackville's Poetical Works and Spence's Anecdotes. To any one cu-

rious in the history of English poetry or the English language it is superfluous to recommend the examination if not the study of Sackville. His tragedy of " Ferrex and Ponta," more popularly spoken of as " Gorboduc," has critically speaking no action or scarcely ending ; death has plenty to do in removing persons, and the management is inartistical enough. There is, however, a directness of speech that often goes to the point ; and the first English tragedy must have been to its contemporaries a miraculous advance over, the mysteries Miracle-Plays, and abstract Moralities that preceded it—a feeling which should over be present in perusing " Gorboduc." The introduction to "The Mirror of Magistrates" and the "Legend of Buckingham" strike us as being the first really modern English poems in style, as well as diction; though many will put in claims for Surrey and Wyat. More attractive for the general reader: and yet almost as rare as Sack- vile,, in another way, is the edition of " Spence's Anecdotes "—one of the most interesting books in its way, second only to Boswell's John-. son.

The Poetical Works of Burns is a cheap edition from Messrs. Rout- ledge, judiciously illustrated by Mr. Aria Willmott, with no more notes than are needed. The editor doubts, and very truly, whether we have not had enough about Burns.

Vie Works of Thomas Sackoille, Lord Buakhurst, afterwards Lord Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth, and Earl of Dorset. Edited by the Hon. and Rev. Regi- nald W. Sackville West, M.A.

Anecdotes, Observations, and Characters of Books and Men. Collected from the conversation of Mr. Pope, and other eminent persons of his time. By the Rev. Joseph Spence. With Notes, and a Life of the Author. By Samuel Weller Singer, F.S.A. Second Edition.

The Poetical Works of Bobert Bursts. Edited by the Rev. Robert Aria Will- mott, Incumbent of Bear Wood. Blind Amos and his Velvet Principles. A little book of Proverbs and Parables for Young Folk. By Edwin Paxton Hood. Second thousand.

The following are of the pamphlet form. "Francesca da Rimini" is an attempt to change the received opinion as to the guilt of the lady and her brother-in-law by interpretative evidence. "The Progress of the Telegraph" may seem more in character when taken with the entire course of lectures. At present it reads a shade too jocular, beginning with the signs of birds, and running through the leading signals, that mankind have made use of. "The Monisian Prize Essay for 1858" is an argument to establish the antiquity and inspiration of the Pentateuch from internal evidence. The well-known favourite among the special annuals, "The Post Magazine Almanack," has its wonted mass of well displayed information, especially in relation to insurance offices. Its principal new feature is the table of premiums of the whole of the Life Offices."

Francesca da Bimini, her lament and vindication ; with a brief notice of the Malatisti. By Henry Clark Barlow. M.D., iire. The Progress of the Telegraph. Being the Introductory Lecture on Techno- logy for 1858-9. By George Wilson, M.D. Regius Professor of Technology in the University of Edinburgh, he. he. The Pentateuch its own Witness. An Essay, which obtained the Morrislan Prize for the year MDCCCLVIII. By the Reverend William Ayerst, M.A. Hulsean University Prizeman; late Scholar of Caius College, Cambridge, and King's College, London. The Post Magazine and Insurance Directory for the Year of our Lord 1859.