CLASS Boom, Bro.—Outlines of Indian History. By A. W. Hughes.
(Bell and Daldy.)—Mr. Hughes' book is intended for candidates purpos- ing to compote for Civil-Service appointments. Ho compresses a great amount of information into his two hundred and thirty pages, and he adds a very useful appendix in three hundred and more questions on the subject of Indian history which he has constructed and collected. —The Practical Moral Lesson-Book, by the Rev. Charles Hole, Book I. (Longmans), has for its subject "Duties concerning the Body." On the whole, wo are inclined to prefer lesson-books that are not so directly didactic. Mr. Hole has received, it would seem, a brief from the United Kingdom Alliance, for he condemns both alcohol and tobacco ; he is even doubtful about tea, proscribing green and allowing black only in a much diluted form. He tolls us an etwful fact, that every one who consumes a pound of hyson (which an ordinary tea-drinker dogs in three months) swallows what would poison 10,860 cats threo months old. " Think of it ! "trios our author, with prophotie fervour. In another edition he may add, on our authority, as an argument against alcoholic drinks, that any one who drinks a pint of claret-cup flavoured with cucumber- pool swallows what would poison twenty blackbootlos six weeks old. Is it not somewhat odd, by the way, to speak of a lad who hanged himself in a fit of passion as having " neglected the duty of soli-preservation "? —A Chronological Sketch of the Kings of England and France, by H. M. L. (Washbourne), appears in a third edition. Tho author has, he tolls us, "had the happiness of b000ming a Catholic," and has therefore 41 amended and corrected it, so as to adapt it for circulation in Catholic eohools and families." Surely it is a little strange for an author to alter his history becaueo he has changed his belief. We wonder what the first edition said of Mary I. Now she appears as "brave, pious, and resolute." The "Catholic families" do not hear a single syllable of the little affairs at Smithfield and elsewhere. Possibly indeed these are implied in the word " resolute." This, however, we can account for; but why should "Catholic families" be told that George IV. " was a wise monarch and discreet statesman ; his personal appear- ance was prepossessing, and his manners captivating " ?—Tho Rev. John Hunter publishes another of his useful series of Shakespearian editions, King John. (Longmans).—The Boy's Manual of Seamanship 'and Gunnery, by Staff Commander O. Burney, R.N. (Warne), appears in a second edition, approved for use by the Admiralty.—Among legal text- books, we may mention Notes on Liquidations and Compositions, by G. Manley Wetherfiold (Lougmane); The Law of Bills, Cheques, Notes, and 1 0 U's, by J. W. Smith, LL.D. (Effingham Wilson); and The Law of Private Trading and Partnership proceeds from the same author and publisher. Mr. Parnell in tends his little book Lands and Houses (Effing- ham Wilson) as an "Investors' Guide ;" An Essay on the Reform of the Law of Real Property and the Practice of Conveyancing, by a Solicitor (Bomrose), aims at furthering the great object of "free trade in land."
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