PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Booze.

A History of Modern Italy, from the first French Revolution to the year 1850. By Richard Heber Wrightson.

.Rig-Veda Sanhita. A Collection of Ancient Hindu Hymns, consti- tuting the second Ashtilia, or Book of the Rig-Vida, the oldest Au- thority for the Religious and Social Institutions of the Hindus. Translated from the Original Sanskrit. Volume IL By H. H. Wilson, F.R.S., Member of the Royal Asiatic Society &e. Published• under the patronage of the Court of Directors of the East India Company.

A Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms, and of useful Words oc- curring in Official Documents relating to the administration of the, Government of British India, from the Arabic, Persian, Hindustani,. Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Uriya, Marithi, Guzarathi, Telegu, Kar- nate, Tamil, Malayalam, and other languages. Compiled and pub- lished under the Authority of the Honourable the Court of Directors of the East India Company. By H. H. Wilson, ILA., F.R.S.„ Libra- rian to the East India Company, and Boden Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford, &c. [This is one of the many volumes which owe their existence to the liberality of the East India Company, either by direct or indirect patronage.. In the. present case, it is probable that the entire work, as regards the expense both of compilation and publication, is borne by the Directors ; and though. it may be said that the book is for their advantage, yet there are some go- vernments whom no ideas of utility can persuade to lay out money usefully., The various forms in which official, legal, and other terms connected with' the public service in India, are continually written, and very often the meta- morphoses they are made to undergo by ignorant, idle, or careless. civil. aer- vents, have given rise to lingual obscurity and public. inconvenience. To re- medy this the Directors resolved upon the production of an authorised glossary. In 1842, a list was drawn up from documents in the India House, printed m a form adapted to the purpose in view ; and sent out to the authorities in India with a statement of the object., directions to distribute the lista among the local servants for correction, and for the insertion of the words written in native characters. It was ordered that any new words that appeared to fall' under the category should be added; and the return was required in six. rmonths. From Bombay no answer ever arrived. This, however, was of leas consequence, as the returns from Bengal and Madras were nearly useless: Professor Wilson was therefore thrown upon his own resources from pub- lished books, official manuscripts, and private collections; of which he makes particular mention in his preface. I Even when the reader is told that the official terms are drawn from more, I than a dozen languages, he will still be surprised at Oriental copiousness,. on learning that the "index of the Glossary exhibits an aggregate of more than. 128,000 words." The utility, indeed the necessity of such a work, is obvious ;. its execution can only be determined by long, actual use. In the words we have referred to, there is not only a clear explanation of the meaning, but often a good deal more. The root and its ramifications enable the reader to I realize the living meaning, to get a glimpse of the practice that lends 1 its significance to the word, as in legal terms, to note the copiousness of some Oriental languages, and to guess at the litigiousness of Indians from the multiplicity of their proceedings as expressed in the " vocabu- laria antis." The spelling of the terms in English characters follows a regular system, very fully explained in the preface ; but the spelling in Oriental characters is always exhibited. An index of mere words refers the reader at once to their place in the Dictionary, helping him in the case of terms spelt differently from the mode which he is accustomed to, by bring- ing- numerous words at once under the eye and suggesting what he is in search of.

This Glossary seems to us distinguished by persevering labour, sound judg- ment, a reference to the wants of the persons likely to use it, and a vital spirit, not always found in compilers of dictionaries.] The Works of Virgil, closely rendered into English Rhythm, and Illus- trated from British Poets of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Centuries. By the Reverend Robert Corbet Singleton, MA., late Warden of St. Peter's College, Radley. In two volumes. Volume l.

[It is the opinion of Mr. Singleton that the lame and crude way in which schoolboys are petmitted to translate the Latin poets is altogether mischiev- ous. They learn very imperfectly the meaning of particular words, and the structure of the language ; they lose all sense of the poetical character of the original author. The remedy, he truly perceives, must ultimately rest with the tutor; but he thinks that his task will be aided by re- quiring the scholar to translate into rhythmical English. As every tutor may not have the time or spirits to translate to his classes extempore in this manner, Mr. Singleton has undertaken the translation himself ; his main objects being rigid accuracy, adherence to the Latin order as closely as pos- sible, and rhythmical arrangement. He has further aimed at poetical expression, and the use of Anglo-Saxon words. Poetry, or a poetical. version, he has not attempted. The version he has reached is best shown by a spe- cimen; the opening of the 2Eneid will furnish an average sample.

" Arms and the man I sing, who from the coasts Of Troy, a wanderer, erst came by fate To Italy and the Lavinian shores. Much he Was tossed both on the lands and sea, through might Of heavenly powers, for the rankling wrath Of ruthless Juno: ay, and much he bore Through war, till he a city built, and brought His gods to Latium ; whence the Latin race, And Alban sires, and walls of lofty Rome."

It may be doubted whether a pupil who translated any poet in a style that should rival this example would have done much towards attaining either critical perception or poetical power. People translate badly because they understand imperfectly. They know little about the foreign tongue, and are probably far from masters of their own. As a matter of necessity, they are loose and wordy if they paraphrase, stiff and lame if they construe. Translation depends much less upon a " dictionary " understanding of the meaning of words, than upon a comprehension of the ideas or things which the words represent. This is not very easily attainable by any one,

e 'ally if he has not been in Italy. It can only be partially gained at col under a tutor patient enough to continually exercise his pupils on a few of the easier authors, and with knowledge enough to bring home to their minds the reality of ancient images of life and ancient implements or articles of use. Such a man, however, will not long occupy his time in teaching boys Latin ; for the sufficient reason that their parents would not pay him for his labour. Under the present system of teaching, Mr. Single- ton's book may have its use. We do not think it based on a sound principle.] Medieval Popes, Emperors, Zings, and Crusaders ; or Germany, Italy, and Palestine, from A.D. 1125 to A.D. 1268. By Mrs. William Busk, Author of " Manners and Customs of the Japanese," &c.. Volume. U.

[We have no recollection of the first volume of this work. The subject of Mediaeval Popes, Emperors, &c., may be described as a history of Germany, including the affairs of Italy and the East, from 1125, when Lothaire the Second mounted the Imperial throne of Germany, till 1268, a few years be- fore the confusion of an interregnum was terminated by the accession of Radek& of Hapsburg. The period was remarkable for a decline in the Imperial power, though some Emperors were men of vigour and capacity— as Frederic Barbarossa, and for the development of the Guelph and Ghibel- line factions ; but it was rather a transition than a determining period, and probably Mrs. Busk wants power to bring out all that it contains. The nar- rative is clear, though-not striking; the remarks are judicious, but not pro- found ; the fulness is rather devoted to the account of events with charac- teristic details than to a philosophical exposition of the state of society or the condition of the country and the people. This established mode of treatment, the length of the work compared with the time treated of, and the remoteness of the theme to English readers, somewhat militate against popular interest. Those who wish to examine the period will find Medieval Popes, &c., a painstaking history of the oldfashioned kind.]

Frank Wildman's Adventures on Land and Water. By Frederick Gerstaeeker. Translated and revised by Lase.elles Wraxall. With tinted Illustrations by Harrison Weir.

[Gerstaecker is known in this country by a translation of his personal travels in America as a sportsman, and by a number of sketches in which he de- lineated American life or scenery, as well as manners he had observed in a subsequent voyage round the world. Prank Wildnion's Adventures seems to adopt that voyage for a basis, with a superstructure of fiction. The hero, Frank, is a German orphan in New York State, who on the death of his grandfather goes to sea, in what turns out to be a pirate ship. After wit- nessing stirring scenes in the Shark, he escapes from the pirates in the South Sea, and accompanies a naturalist through the Indian archipelago, where he meets with various adventures ; and finally returns to marry his first love. There is nothing new in the plan or the manner of telling the story. The matter has reality, from the writer's experience ; but he has a tendency to exaggeration. There is plenty of variety and action in the book.]

Astro- Theology ; or the Religion of Astronomy: four Lectures, in re- ference to the Controversy on the "Plurality of Worlds," as lately sustained between Sir David-Brewster and an Essayist. By Edward Higginson, Author of the "Spirit of the Bible."

[Any speculation on the plurality of worlds can only be successfully carried on by an astronomer ; and even he, perhaps, will best succeed by using- his theme as a means of popularly displaying the facts of astronomy in 1111

rest form, rather than by attempting to prove what from the nature of the case cannot be proved. The references in the present volume to the habita- tion of the planets are slight, and of the nature of literary criticism on the two lately-published books of Whewell and Brewster, rather than of scien. tifie argument. The chief object of the author, a Unitarian minister, is to argue against the obstacle which Trinitarian belief offers to scientific inves- tigations. There is also a sketch of the history of astronomy, from the Jews to Newton.]

Biographical Sketch of the late. Dr. Gelding Bird: being an Address to Students delivered at the request of the Edinburgh Medical Mis- sionary Society. By John Hutton Balfour, M.D., &e. [The late Dr. Golding Bird was a scientific physician and a lucky practi- tioner, whose life fell a sacrifice to his industry at the early age of thixty4 nine. The present address contains a good many biographical traits : its object, to urge the importance of religion to medical men and indeito.'-a everybody, rather interferes with their effective display, and gives the,- . the appearance of a "discourse."] Byron ; Salathiel, or the Martyrs; and other Poems. By , talk. [The first piece in this volume is a rhapsody on the memory of Byron, in which some well-known facts in his life are mixed up with some mysterious romance, such as people once talked about. The verse is fluent and sound.. ing, but imitative of the hero—in fact, an echo of Childe Harold. The moral tone is not exactly what might have been expected from an " /Emilia Julia."]

Poems. By Arthur M. Morgan.

[A turn for versemaking, improved by exercise, is the characteristic of Mr. Morgan's volume of poems.]

Mr. Bentley has sent his third and last volume of Jesse's courtly Memoirs of England under the Stuarts ; and, stimulated by Routledge'a cheap shil- ling reprint of " Wolfert's Roost," Mr. Constable of Edinburgh has brought out a superior author's edition at the same price.

Memoirs of the Court of England during the Reign of the Stuarts, in- cluding the Protectorate. By John Heneage Jesse. New edition, revised. In three volumes. Volume III.

Chronicles of IVolfert's Roost, and other Papers. By Washington Irving. Author's edition.

PaitimErs.

The " Warnings of the War": a Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Palmer- ston, Prime Minister. By a British Commoner.

Administration of the Admiralty. Opin- ions of the late Right Honourable Sir George Cockburn, Bt.. G.C.B., Ad- miral of the Fleet, on the Necessity of Remodelling the Admiralty Board. Reprinted from the Times of the 1st and 2d February 1855.

Lord Raglan a would-be Sacrifice to a Ribald Press: his History, Character, and Services described in a Letter pub- lished in the Morning Chronick of the 8th March. By an Englishman and Civilian.

Sir John Burgoyne a Sacrifice to " the Slanders of a Ribald Press": his His- tory and Services described in a Letter published in the Morning Chronicle of the 1st March. By an Englishman and Civilian.

Parliamentary Government ; or Respon- sible Ministries for the Australian Co- lonies. By H. S. Chapman. Railways in India: their Present State

and Prospects; considered with refer. cove to the field they present for Eng- lish Capital. With Observations upon the terms of the Guarantee granted to the Railway Companies by Honour- able East India Company.

Representative Self-Government for the Metropolis. A Letter to Viscount Pal- merston, from Viscount Ebrington, Ex-Secretary to the Poor-law Board. and.formerly Chairman of the Metro. politan Commission of Sewers.

Plague Cradles of the Metropolis. By it Pedestrian.

On the _Economy of the Law; especially in relation to the Court of Chancery. By George Cochrane, Esq., Barrister- at-law.

Present State of the Movement for the Prevention of Unnecessary Sunday Trading in London.

Puor Letter .12, its Use and Abuse: a Letter

of Condolence to poor Letter H. By Robert Ruskin•Rogers.