PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The dose approach of the Parliamentary session seems to have moved the publishers to activity in order to get their books well out before an- other kind of reading diverts the public attention. Mr. Bentley has produced what he or the editor, Dr. Doran, calls the " Last Journals " of Horace Walpole. They are in reality a continuation of his " Memoirs of the Reign of George the Third " ; but written it strikes us more dis- tinctly in the journal manner as well as form, and often dealing with particular not to say trivial anecdotes that can scarcely by any interpreta- tion be called history. The period over which they extend is the most im- portant of the eighteenth century between the close of Marlborough's wars and the commencement of the French Revolution, namely 1772- 1783, involving the troubles and finally the war in America, the last -vo- lume closing with the arrival of the definitive treaty of peace. Macbeth's maxim—" the very firstlings of my heart shall be the first- lings of my hand," appears to be one result of John, Lord Campbell's Shakspearian studies. Scarcely was the world informed that he had turned his attention to Shakspeare's "Legal acquirements," • than lo ! here is the book. It may. be said, however, that it was originally written with "a view to assist" Mr. Payne Collier ; but that distinguished commentator "in terms," says Lord Campbell, "which I should like to copy if they were not so complimentary, strongly recommended me to print and publish it in my own name.' In fourteen out of the thirty- seven dramas the Chief Justice finds nothing indicative of special legal knowledge. In the remaining twenty-three dramas he discovers traces of the poet's practical acquaintance with the law, and sometimes of remarkable mastery. The leaning of Lord Campbell evidently is to the idea that William Shakspeare belonged to the profession, but he pro- nounces no opinion. He would leave it to the jury and be satisfied with a verdict either way, "Were an issue tried before me as Chief-Justice at the Warwick assizes, whether William Shakespeare, late of Stratford-upon-Avon, gentleman, ever was clerk in an attorney's office in Stratford-upon-Avon aforesaid,' I should hold that there is evidence to go to the Jury in support of the affirma- tive' but I should add that the evidence is very far from being conclusive, andI should tell the twelve gentlemen in the box that it is a ease entirely for their decision,—without venturing even to hint to them, for their guidance, any opinion of my own. Should they unanimously agree in a verdict either in the affirmative or negative, I do not think that the Court, sitting in banco, could properly set it aside and grant a new trial."

A dry joke follows touching locking up the good men and true in palpable allusion to slate case, and the law there anent; but we need not continue the quotation. Mr. Murray has also brought out Lord Broughton's work on Italy as well as Lord Campbell's Shakspeare. The Italy, however, does not seem to us entirely new. The well-known "Historical illustrations" to the fourth canto of Chide Harold forms a part of the matter of the book, but with considerable additions and many passages of a personal kind. This last named portion seems very interesting; relating as it does to the sen- timents of distinguished Italians, which could not with safety to them have appeared during their lives, and indicating the growth of the pre- sent public opinion or feeling in Italy. The design of Mr. Morier Evans's "Facts, Failures, and Frauds" is to narrate the principal doings in this way of late years, as a story, sup- porting it by a report of the trial or trials where such have taken place. The cases are familiar to us all—Hudson, Walter Watts of the Globe In- surance Office, Windle Cole and his coadjutors, Sadleir, Robson, Red- path, the bankers Strahan and partners, and two banking companies— the British, and the Eastern. It is convenient to have these strange cases readily accessible ; but we have some doubts whether the character of the compiler's mind quite fits him to deal with the philosophy and morality of the affairs, though he writes readably enough.

Boom.

Journal of the Reign oiling George the Third, from the year 1771 to 1763. By Horace Walpole. Now first published from the original MSS. Edited, with Notes by Dr. Doran, Author of 'S History of the Queens of England of the House of Hanover," &c. In two volumes.

Shakespeare's Legal Acquirements Considered. By John Lord Campbell, LL.D., F.B.S.E., in a Letter to .1. Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A.

Italy : Remarks made in several visits from 1816 to 1854. By the Right Hon- ourable Lord Broughton, G.C.B. In two volumes.

Facia. Failures, and Frauds : .Revelations, Financial, Mercantile, Criminal. By D. Morier Evans.

The Book of the Thames from its Rise to its Fall. By Mr. and Mrs. 8. C. Hall.

Who Invented the Locomotive Engine ? By Oswald Dodd Hedley.— The invention of the locomotive engine is not the subject of Mr. Hed- ley's publication ; but whether his father did not first prove by actual experiment that smooth wheels would run upon smooth rail ; for up to 1812-14 it was an article of theoretical belief among engineers that a smooth rail and a smooth wheel would be without adhesion. Hence the few locomotives till 1812-14 were made with cogs, or some other contri - 931211308 to give a purchase ; but practically they all failed. In 1812, according to Mr. Oswald Dodd Healey, his father conceived that the engineering world was wrong in its opinion ; set about con- structing a locomotive with a smooth wheel, which established the prin- ciple for which he was struggling, though it did not practically answer so well as a second and improved engine ; and he took out a patent for his invention in 1813. As Stephenson's first locomotive was not made till 1814, the discovery or invention belongs to Mr. Hedley's father ; and this somewhat operose publication appears to put in the claim ; and to review " Smiles's Life of Stephenson" in order to expose its unfairness in attempting to deprive Mr. Healey senior of the credit due to him, and

car it to Stephenson's account. That t-Dr. Smiles, like many other biographers with their heroes, (at- tributes merits to Stephenson to which he is not in strictness entitled is quite true. The exposition of this biographical enthusiasm formed a large feature in the Spectator's review of the Life.* At the same time, we do not think (for we have not the work to refer to) that Smiles sup- pressed the historical facts connected with the locomotive ; though he might state them bouncingly and substitute the name of Mr. Blackett (Mr. Iledley's employer) for that of Mr. Hedley, as the man who first established the great fact that a smooth wheel would run upon a smooth raiL

The general exaggeration of Smiles is a critical fault, and his suppres-

• Spectator 1857, pages 628, 629.

sion of Mr. Medley's name and claims may be a particular unfairness ; but when all is done, the distance between George Stephenson and Mr. Medley senior will be much what it was before. The true claim of Ste- phenson is, that by his improvements on the way, the rail, and the loco- motive he rendered the railway profitable on a small scale in the trans- port oicoals, practicable on a larger scale in the Darlington line, and in the plan and construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway really established the existing system.

Sir Joshua Reynolds's Notes and Observations on Pictures &e. Edited by William Cotton, Esq.—A useful contribution of materials to the life of Reynolds and a curious book in itself. From family repositories with family sanction, Mr. Cotton has exhumed-1. a rough and irregular- journal kept by the youthful artist on his visit to Italy, in which he tersely noted his observations on works of art ; which observations Mr. Cotton has illustrated by extracts from other writers. 2. An unfinished manuscript of Mason's on Sir Joshua's method of colouring ; the know- ledge being derived from a close attendance in his painting room and con- versations. It is curious though rather technical, and mainly directed to explain the cause of the painter's fleeting colours. 3. Unpublished letters from Johnson Fox, Malone, and others. 4. A copy of Sir Joshua's account boa from 1772 to 1791 showing what pictures he painted, and the prices he obtained for them. For the charming group of the Lady Waldegraves, forming the frontispiece to Mr. Bentley's ninth volume of the Letters of Horace Walpole, Horace paid 3151. for a first payment, or rather for a total, as we infer from the absence of any further sum.

The Friendly Disputants; or Future Punishment Reconsidered. By Aura, Author of .Ashburn.—A theologico.didactic novel in which the question of eternal punishment is discussed in a series of dialogue-scones, the side which the writer espouses—that of the temporary character of future punishment, having the advantage in the argument. It is a singular jumble of love, friendship, characters society, Greek discussion on the meaning of words, and arguments that are speculative and na- tural rather than theological. Therefore we conceive them to be often in- appropriate; for as their subject matter arises altogether from revelation, it is only to the interpretation of the text that we can have recourse for our reasonings upon the subject. The book it appears is a continuation or sequel ; for it opens with the honeymoon of some former hero and heroine ; who now go about visiting, discussing, and corresponding. The work is elegantly written and well-intentioned; but subjects of this kind we think are best handled directly ; that plan saves space, if there were no other reasons.

The Soul and the Future L. By Thomas Cromwell, Ph.D., F.S.A. The Philosophic argument. —This volume forms the commencement of a work in three parts against the utimaterialism of the soul; for Dr. Crom- well seems to disclaim the idea of being absolutely a materialist. The present section treats of the philosophy of the question ; that is, the metaphysics and physiology. The second part will trace the history of the common opinion, and the third will exhibit the "Biblical view." The present volume does not impress us with a sense of the author's capabilities for his self-imposed task. He wants physiological and meta- physical knowledge, or the power of using it, as well as method, clearness, and terseness.

The Gospel of St. John arranged in Parts and Sections. For the Use of Schools and Young Students. By the Reverend J. Forshall, 11.A., Chaplain of the Foundling Hospital, &c.—The object of this pub- lication is to present St. John's Gospel in a form better fitted than the nsual arrangement, for the instruction of the young, as regards a thorough comprehension of the narrative. The principle followed by Mr. Forsfiall is to eschew chapters and verses, and arrange the text into sections according to subjects, each forming a complete action or dis- course in itself. This plan is well calculated to imprint the masses of the narrative as well as the details distinctly upon the mind; but we sus- pect some slight typographical subdivision of the longer sections would be useful as lessons for children. If we rightly understand the editor, it will be followed by the other Gospels, the harmony of the whole being the final object sought to be finally taught. The text of the authorized version is implicitly followed.

Aunt Judy's Talcs. By Mrs. Alfred Catty. Author of "Parables from Nature, &c.—A very pleasing collection ofjuvenile tales, novel in plan, fresh in treatment, and pointing useful morals in away that strikes home. For example, "the Little Victims" is an allegory representing little folk who have every comfort, and yet are dissatisfied with the regu- larity of domestic order, as prisoners to cruel jailors, who put them to bed when they do not want to go, make them get up when they wish to lie longer, and so on through a whole day's life. It is a pretty book ; prettily illustrated by Miss Clara S. Lane.

Sir Roderick I. Murchison's third edition of his " Siberia" is the great reprint of the week. It contains much additional matter, embracing the latest discoveries of eminent geologists, so far as they relate to the subject of the work, and many additional illustrations. In fact the volume teems with cuts, in which the eye of the painter is often traceable, as well as the science of the geologist.

Next in point of dignity comes Mr. Brock's Sermons, which have reached a second edition ; then we have a reprint of a dozen literary notices from the Times under the title of Eminent Men and Popular Books ; followed by a sinle volumed edition of Mr. Trollope's last satire on current events "The Two Clerks."

Siluria. The History of the oldest Fossiliferous Rocks and their Foundations; with a brief sketch of the Distribution of Gold over the Earth. By Sir Ro

derick Impey Murchison, G.C. R. 8., D.C.L., Director-General of the Geological Survey of Britain, President of the Royal Geographical Society of London, &e., &c. Third edition, (including" The Silurian System,") with Maps and many additional Illustrations.

Twerity-seven Sermons, and a Farewell Sermon ; preached in St. George's Church, Barnsley, by the Reverend W. J. Brock, B.A., Incumbent of Hay- field, Derbyshire. Second edition.

Eminent Hen and Popular Books. From " The Times."

The Three Clerks; a Novel. By Anthony Trollope, Author of "Dorchester Towers," &c.

The Derivative Spelling-Book, giving the origin of every word from the Greek, Latin, Saxon' Gerrsan, Teutonic, Dutch, French, Spanish, and other Lan- guages : with their present acceptation and Pronunciation. By.!. Rowbotham, F.R.A.S., Author of "A Derivative Dictionary," &c. Improved edition. The following are publications of a small kind. The highest in point of caste is "Parker's Church Calendar," a species of almanack whose information is mainly though not solely limited to clerical matters. M. Korokeffs "Trade of Russia" is not very remarkable for its Political Economy or its commercial projects, but the author's sketches of the condition of the industrial classes in Western Europe undesignedly suggest some curious contrasts. "The Woman Hater" is a cheap novel contained in " Blackwood's London Library." The others explain themselves.

Parker's Church Calendar and General Almanack for the Year of our Lord 1859.

The Trade of Russia considered from a European Poiret of raw. By B. A. Sorkoreff. The Woman Hater; or True and Feigned Love. A Dramatic Tale. By Cap- tain A. F. Clarence. A Handy .Book on the Law of Prorate Trading Partnership. By W. Smith, Esq., LL.D., of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-law, Author of "A Handy Book on Bills, Cheques, Notes, and! 0 U's." The Handbook of the Court, the Peerage, and the House of Commons. Ninth Year. (Corrected to January 1859, from information supplied by the Mem- bers of both Houses.) A Key to Part Second of Riley's Practical English Composition. By the Author.