PUBLICATIONS _RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

Tan publishers continue to send forth fictions' though not to the same extent as in the two preceding weeks. Of the two latest arrivals, " Diana • Wynyard" seems a story of modern society, with perhaps some touches on education, in three volumes. "Ailey Moore" is much less ambitious in form, but promises purpose if not novelty : it is an Irish fiction by a Romanist priest, descriptive of the causes of Irish evils from his point of view.

The two books of travels. must depend upon the literary skill or the peculiar pursuits of the travellers : neither the Tyrol nor Brittany are very fresh subjects in themselves. Mr. Freeman's "Lectures on the History and Conquests of the Saracens" are sure to be distinguished by independent opinions and vigorous writing, even if the leanings of the author should somewhat affect the cool impartiality of the historian.

The History and Conquests of the Saracens : Six Lectures delivered before the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution. By Edward A. Freeman, M.A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.

On Foot through Tyrol in the Summer of 1855. By Walter White, Author of "A Londoner's Walk to the Land's-End."

A Vacation in Brittany. By Charles Richard Weld, Author of "A Vacation Tour in the United States and Canada." With Illustrations.

:Diana Wynyard. By the Author of " Alice'Wentworth," Ike. In three vo- lumes.

Ailey _Moore : a Tate of the Times; showing how evictions, murder, and suoh- like pastimes, are managed, and justice administered in Ireland ; together with - many stirring incidents in other lands. By Father Baptist.

A Popular History of .British _Lichens. By W. Lander Lindsay, M.D., 8'c.—Although somewhat disregarded in this country for more com- plex and " higher " vegetable natures, the study of lichens has the ad- vantage of being readily pursued. It requires no long journeys, and no expensive paraphernalia, except it be a microscope. The leafless plants can be .found almost everywhere, and collected at all.seasons. So little is absolutely known about their physiology, that they furnish- a fair field for the ambitious inquirer; their uses in the arts are consider- able - their influence in wearing down the hardest rock and preparing the Arst stage of its transformation into soil are very great, though to note that interesting process would require years .and a particular situation.

To any one desirous of taking up the pursuit,. Dr. Lindsay's British Lichens may be recommended. The Doctor gives a clear historical sketch of the rildeet • not of the lichens, that is, but of our knowledge of them, long retarded by the want of, instruments, and yet imperfect. He expounds•the general characteristics of the plant, and the known or conjectural uses of- the various parts,. and describes in detail the British species, the text being amply illustrated with plates. The geographical distribution is touched npon,.and directions are given for-their collection, examination, and preservation. The style is very slightly florid ; which in a popular work may be an advantage as a relief.

Essays in Philosophy. By Alexander Campbell Fraser, M.A. Pro- fessor of Logic and Metaphysics, New College, Edinburgh.—This vo- lume is a revised reprint of articles on metaphysics published at intervals in the North British Review. Their present appearance avowedly refers to the author's " application for the chair of Logic and Metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh, left vacant by the death of Sir William Hamilton." The life of Leibnitz, perhaps his philosophy, may be of a popular character enough ; possibly even the theory of perception. But the theory of causation, our ignorance of the infinite, the metaphysics of Augustinianism, and of knowing and being, in a scientific sense, are scarcely within reach otthe intellectual gout of the electors.* Probably the Professor trusts to the doctrine of " infusion." The extract from an opening lecture to a class of Logic and Metaphysics, indicative of what should be its objects and spirit, is more within the assimilating power :of the voters.

Opening Address of Major-General Sir Richard Airey, before

the Board of General Officers assembled at Chelsea ' • together with his Summing-up Address &e.—This volume is printed from a manuscript "revised and corrected." We do not know whether the orations bear any resemblance to Cicero's celebrated speech in defence of Milo, where the written address differed so greatly from the spoken, owing to' the orator's confusion. arising from a sudden loss of nerve. Be that as it may, the printed Addresses. of- the. Quartermaster-General are capitally composed; in fact, we should have more reliance upon Sir Richard's pen than his sword—upon his controversial dexterity than his martial strategy. The address is as nice a " bit o' writing " as can be. His style is glib, unabashed, and clear as running water, with a frequent sparkle when touching an obstacle. Attic salt there perhaps is not, but there is a squeeze of acid to give savour lest the compliments should become in- sipid. Here is an Airey gem- " I am one of those who believe that all professions are benefited by throw- ing upon them a little light from outside ; and my regret is—not that civilians discuss military affairs too much, but—that they know-too little of them to be able to conduct a discussion with due effect ; .and I sincerely believe that the comments abundantly applied to the business of the Quartermaster- GeneraPs. Department have resulted not from any want of industry or in- telligence Ula th^ ;art of my critics, but rather from the circumstance that there is no compelidious work from which they might acquaint themselves in a rapid and easy way irlin '---,..:...?..nanizatiazare British Army."

Waters of Comfort. By the Author of " Visiting m

—This " small volume of.devotional poetry, of a practicalcter ad-

dressed to the thoughtful and the suffering," is not exactly a mistake. The writer knows that poetry requires the " faculties of fancy and in-

vention," in both of which he considers himself wanting. A greater desideratum for poetry is what is called poetical spirit,—a something we recognize when present, and miss when absent, however difficult it may be to define.

The Waters ofOomfort cannot be exactly ranked as poetry ; but they have to much -thought and strength to be called prosaic.

They are indeed quite as good as most of what passes for sacred poesy, and call to mind the religious poets of the seventeenth cen- tury, though wanting the extended themes which some of those writers undertook. The volume consists of a number Qf paraphrases of

texts of Scripture, very short sermons versified. There is nothing of the dulness of the sermon about them. On the contrary, we recognize

depth of thought, closeness and. force. of expression, with a comforting

moral attached.: The pieces probably would have been better in prose,

though sonic of them are quite as good as what passes for poetry. This is a short example. "! How sweet and precious is the thought That nothing true is lost ; That every act .whkb, frith 'lath wrought, . Of great or little cost,

Touch'd by an alchemy divine.,

'With lasting radiance shall shine !

And though forgotten, as 'fis meet

They on thy part should, be,

Thy gracious Father sees it.fit To guard most carefully Each offering as a sparkling'gem . Wherewith to form a diadem.

Then think not anything too small To be thy sacrifice : Give but thy will, -and thou giv'et, all That in thy nature lies, However mean may seem the mode

In which thy tribute is bestow'd."

Shadows of the Past. By John Pattersom—Papers in prose, mostly in the form of legendary or historical tales in connexion with. Scotland. The prose is relieved by poetical pieces more various as to subject, though ..for the most part national.

The Stepping-Stone to Naturar History. By James Owen. A Com- plete Catechism of the Descriptive Geography of England. By T. Challener.—Two elementary schoolbooks, on the vertebrate animals, and on the geography of England, thrown into the form of catechisms. Their principal feature is the number of wood-cats. The " Geography " is much overlaid by such things as titles and degrees of society.

• The Town-Council of Edinburgh, -we believe.-