PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED, From July Slst to Icily 2814.

BOOKS.

Memoirs of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of her Majesty's Treasury. By the Author of "The Life of the Duke of Wellington." In two volumes.

The Expedition into Afghanistan; Notes and Sketches descriptive of the country, contained in a Personal Narrative during the Campaign of 1839 and 1840, up to the surrender of Dust Mahomed Khan. By JAMES ATKINSON, Esq., Superintending Surgeon of the Army of the Indus, Bengal Establishment ; Author of an Abridged Translation, in prose and verse, of "The Shahnameh of Firdousee," &c.

Report to her Majesty's Principal Secretary . of State for the Home De- partment, from the Poor-Lam Commissioners on an Inquiry into the Sanatory Condition of the Labouring Population of Great Britain; with Appendixes.

The Lawyer; his Character and Rule of Holy Life. After the manner of George Herbert's "Country Parson." By EDWARD O'Bantir, Barrister-at-Law.

English, or the Art of Composition Explained, in a series of instructions and examples. By G. F. GRAHAM. [The object of this volume is to enable the art of composition to be taught from an early period of a pupil's tuition, by presenting him with sentences in the very simplest form, and gradually proceeding to something like short essays; the subjects of the latter exercises being so selected as to induce him to extend his knowledge of .history and biography, by filling up with additional facts the mere skeleton presented to him in the book. The first lessons consist of mere propositions—as "bread is wholesome," so arranged as to impress upon the pupil's mind the nature of subject, predicate, and copula. He is then taken to "complements," beginning with those of a simple kind—as "the little girl was quiet " ' - and advancing by degrees to complex sentences, and thence to paragraphs, &c.; a variety of skeleton words, of a common, not of an abstract kind, being given under each lesson, which the pupil is to use in the for- mation of sentences, under the direction of his tutor. Systematically gone through, there is no doubt but this volume would give a person a clear idea of the structural parts of a sentence, and a toler- able facility in composing, so far as it can be acquired by mere tutoring. An intelligent master, however, would find it much more advantageous to use Mr. 6-annex's book chiefly for its rules and general method, drawing his ex- ercises from real things around him. The table, the pens, the desk, the ink, every thing in the room or in the house will furnish subjects; to which the pupil, by judicious questioning, may supply the predicate, till the three parts of a proposition in its simplest form are distinctly understood. As be advances to more complex sentences, and even to paragraphs, we should still recommend the same process of selecting the theme from nature, and compelling the pupil to fill it up by drawing upon his experience and perception, rather than upon his ingenuity. Nor is this at all difficult as regards materials. The flowers of the garden, the character and habits of the common animals with which a child is acquainted, the little incidents which every day occur even to little children, would furnish topics enough for short paragraphs. By this means, the mind of the pupil would be exercised, and his observation encouraged ; whereas, by giving a child " fruit " as a subject, or "tall" as a predicate, and bidding him complete the proposition, he is merely puzzled.] A First Grammar, introductory to the Study of the French Language, in French Authors, without writing Exercises ; containing an Accidence, with a new system of regular and irregular verbs =I of tenses, intended as a step towards an improved grammatical system in every language. By C. &arm, B.A.

[It would take more space than we possess to describe the peculiarities of this new French Grammar intelligibly to common readers, beyond the indication of the titlepage, and a good deal of leisure—while we have very little—to test their value in practice. The writer displays knowledge, and superior powers of analysis. His book is for the consideration of teachers and adepts in the philosophy of language, rather than of mere tyros.]

Commercial Tariffs and Regulations of the several States of Europe and America, together with the Commercial Treaties between England and Foreign Countries. Part the fifth. States of the Germanic Union of Customs; also the /tense Towns, Holstein, Hanover, Oldenburg, and Mecklenburg.

[Part of a valuable Government publication, which collects and methodizes the most important information relative to the commerce of the world, exist- ing in the shape of laws, treaties, or official statistics. The work is compiled under the superintendence of Mr. Alacorteoon of the Boanl of Trade. He has aptly prefixed to this volume an account of the Commercial League of Germany; showing that its objects were purely national, and not aimed at the exclusion of foreign productions ; whilst even its national purposes were rather political than fiscal—at least on the part of Prussia.] Poems, by Tuomws POWELL. [This volume consists of several " modernizations " from CHAUCER, and ori- ginal miscellaneous poems. The original poems have not sufficient merit or character to separate them from the verse which every month produces: the "modernizations" of CHAUCER strike us as being better than some which have been published under higher names, as Mr. POWELL adheres more closely to his author. Like most writers, however, who have attempted to popularize CHAUCER, (excepting Mr. COWDEN CLARKE,) Mr. POWELL often alters his text without any necessity, beyond some fancied improvement in sound, and sometimes without any necessity at all.] Westminster Abbey; its Art, Architecture, and Associations. A Hand- book for Visitera. By PETER CUNNINGHAM.

[A very complete and intelligent guide to the monuments in Westminster Abbey. The sites of every one, and the burial-places of celebrated men, are marked down in little ground-plans of the several chapels and other portions of the building; and some notice of the deceased, his tomb, and epitaph, is given to each. The introduction gives a sketch of the history and associations of the Abbey ; and both these and the beauties of the architecture and sculp- ture are pointed out in detail: but more particular notice of the fine propor- tions, skilful construction, and architectural effect of the venerable pile, and also of the statues that adorn Henry the Seventh's Chapel, was required in a publication professing to describe the "art and architecture" of Vs'estminster Abbey.]

What is a Voltaic Battery? By ROSINA M. Zontiess, author of "Bible Narrative," "Recreations in Geology," &c. &c. [The question of the title is fully and clearly answered, in a manner intelli- gible to the young inquirer: moreover, a complete yet concise account is given of the origin and progress of electricity and magnetism and their relation to galvanism ; and the latest experiments in voltaic electricity, including the recent applications of this wonderful power to the reproduction of medals and engraved plates, and the production of etchings from daguerreotypes, and of electro-magnetistn to the purposes of clocks telegraphs. and the propelling of boats in lieu of steam, are described. In short, all that the general reader needs to know of the subject is explained with singular neatness and precision, assisted by cuts.] The Boe-Keeper's Guide; containing concise practical directions for the management of Bees, upon the depriving system. By J. H. PAYNE, Author of "The Cottager's Guide." Fourth edition.

[The earlier editions of this little book we have not seen; and so steady a de- mand for a publication on a practical subject seems to supersede recommenda- tion. Mr. PAYNE appears a sensible man and his Bee-Keeper's Guide con- tains plain and apparently sound directions,; from experience.] Selections from the Best German Authors, in Prose and Poetry; also con- taining some Commercial Letters. By DT. LUDWIG BERNSTEIN, of the University of Berlin, Professor of the German Language in the Manchester New College, &c.

Blackwood's Standard Novels, Volume IX.—" Pen Owen."

Waverley Novels, Volume XVIL—" St. Ronan's Well."

The Recreations of Christopher North. In three volumes. Volume IL SERIALS.

Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry. By WILLIAM CattizTon. Part I.

[A reissue of these true and forcible pieces of Irish life and character, in Monthly Parts; embellished with initial wood-cuts to each tale, and etchings by Pam, which show a perception of Irish physiognomy. The only addition is an introductory sketch of an autobiographical kind, recounting the sources whence the author drew the materials for his narratives : it has a lively per- sonal interest, and serves as a voucher for the truth of the characters and inci- dents described in the fictions.]

The Shepherd's Evening Tales. 1. Ethelwolf; a Tale of the Olden Time. [The story of Dunstan, Edgar, and Elfrida, in the ballad metre that WALTER SCOTT made popular, spun out so diffusely as to be almost unintelligible, and without a single new idea. The verse has some fluency, but it is attained at the expense of rhyme, rhythm, sense, and even grammar ; which are each sacrificed upon occasion to the necessities of the author. It is a merely imita- tive effusion by one who has read SCOTT'S poems, and mistakes the echo of the metrical jingle for inspiration.]

Foster's Elementary (ivy-Books. [Ruled books for children learning to write : the letters to be copied, being written in with pencil, are to be first traced over with pen and ink by the pupil, who then proceeds to imitate their form, with no other guide than the sloping lilies. No. 1, the object of which is to give a correct habit of holding the pen, we have not received ; nor other numbers having a special purpose—as No. 5, consisting of capitals, and No. 10, for an improved method of teaching running-hand. No. 2 begins with straight strokes, pot- hooks and bangers in large text band, as usual These copy-books have the recommendation of cheapness, and save trouble to the teacher.] The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge; containing memoirs of persons from the commencement of

historical -records to the present time. Vol I. Monthly Part IL

An issue, in Monthly Parts, of a work we noticed on the appearance of the half-volume. The First Part did not reach us.] Waverley Novels, Vol. IV. Part II.—" St. Ronan's Well."

Susan Hopley, Part IL PERIODICALS.

New York Arcturus, for May.

Magazines for August—Blackwood's, 'Felt's.

Music.

Songs for the Million : Bingley's Select Vocalist. Arranged by eminent

professors, with pictorial illustrations, engraved on steel by JAMES RINGLET, from drawings by A. ASHLEY. Parts I., IL, ILL [A very cheap, neat, and even elegant publication ; not, however, for "the million," but for well-taught singers. The editorship is intrusted to incompe- tent hands, and hence some of the compositions are inserted in such a form as to be useless,—" Heart, thou seat of soft delight," and "My mother bids me bind my hair," for example, without their basses. The same labour more judi- ciously bestowed, and the same space more skilfully appropriated, would ren- der this as valuable a publication as it is cheap and elegant.] PAMPHLETS. •

H. 71ihaudin's Proposed Original System for a Radical, Universal, and Philosophical Reform in the Spelling of Languages. [Many persons have started proposals for a uniform system of spelling parti- cular languages, so that every word should be spelled exactly as it is sounded; a scheme more specious than solid, as it could never reach beyond an approximate sort of accuracy, since there are endless niceties in pronunciation that signs cannot express. M. A. THIBAUDIN, however, improves upon these improvers by a proposal for a reform in the spelling of all languages,—limited, we imagine, to those with which he is acquainted. The best feature of his scheme, in our view, is its brevity ; though perhaps he has scarcely escaped the difficult alter- native of HORACE, " Brevis ease laboro, obscurus So."]

The Paradise within the Reach of All Men, without labour, by powers of nature and machinery. An address to all intelligent men. In two

parts. By J. A. ETZLER. First Part. Second English edition. [A reprint of an American publication, of an Utopian scheme for employing the winds, tides, and the sun's rays, to work machinery that shall supersede human labour, and convert the world into a paradise. Mr. ETZLER is a German en- thusiast, whose acquaintance with practical science seems to have excited his fancy to produce this dream of the omnipotence of machinery.]

A Letter addressed (by permission) to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, on the subject of the Plan of a proposed School for the Sons of Clergymen, Sc. By the Reverend G. H. ROWERS, B.D., Rector of St. Paul's, Covent Garden.

Remarks on the Laws rdating to Attempts against the Person of the Sove- reign; including the new Statute for the better Security of her Majesty's Person. By Geonoz X RICKARDS, Esq., M.A., of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law.

The Triune Constitution of the Mind ; a Sermon by the Reverend HENRY MACKENZIE, ALA., of Pembroke College, Oxford; Minister of St. James's, Bermondsey, &c.