PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Boca&

A Narrative of Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro; with an Ac- count of the Native Tribes, and Observations on the Climate, Geology, and Natural History of the Amazon Valley. By Alfred R. Wallace. With a Map and Illustrations.

History of Gm Constituent Assembly (1789.) By Alphonse de Lamar- tine, Author of "The History of the Restoration of Monarchy in France." Volume Rambles in Germany, France, Italy, and Russia, in Search of Sport. By the Honourable Ferdinand St. John.

The Principles of Currency !wad Ranking : being five Lectures delivered in Queen's College, Cork, in Hilary Term 1853, to the Students in Arta of the third year. By Richard Horner Mills, A.M., Barrister-at-law ; Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Economy in Queen's College, Cork. The Institutes of .Tustinian ; with English Introduction, Translation, and Notes, by Thomas Collett Sanders, M.A., late Fellow of Oriel Col- lege, Oxford.

Cherry and Violet; a Tale of the Great Plague. By the Author of "Mary Powell."

Horsemanship ; or the Art of Riding and Managing a Horse, adapted for the Guidance of Ladies and Gentlemen on the Road and in the Field. With Instructions for Breaking-in Colts and Young Horses. By Captain Richardson, late of the Fourth Light Dragoons. [plain, well-arranged directions to the student in horsemanship, from mounting up to lhunting, and to buying or breaking-in a horse. Every page shows the experienced horseman, who handles nothing but what is actually necessary, and to attain that disregards repetition or minuteness. The book, however, seems rather designed to assist than to teach. There are full di- rections to mount, to hold the reins, to sit, walk, trot, canter, gallop, and leap, but not how to ride—that is for practice, not for book learning: you must keep your seat as you can. In buying a horse, the ne plus ultra is to go to a respectable dealer : he has greater variety, and is much honester than any gentleman jockey, pri- vate "party," or horse-selling "friend." One opinion of Captain Richard- son will scarcely meet with general equestrian concurrence—that French- men ride better than Englishmen; an alleged fact which seems to have been one reason for writing the book. The weight of numbers is against the Captain ; but perhaps he means military riding only,—a point that his late comrades may settle with him.] Biography for Boys. Footprints of Famous Men, designed as Incite-

ments to Intellectual Industry. By John Edgar, Author of "The

Boyhood of Great Men." With eight Illustrations by Birket Foster. [There is no very remarkable "incitement to intellectual industry" either in the selection of the subjects or the mode of treatment. Nineteen eminent persons are exhibited in classes : Men of Action—among whom figures orator Erskine; Men of Letters—embracing David Hume, Dean Milner, Southey, and Moore; Artists—Reynolds, Chantrey, Wren ; and Men of Science— Hunter, Black, Brindley, Watt, and Adam Smith. So many biographies doubled up in so small a space cannot be full ; but they are not curt. The plan of Mr. Edgar is to notice events rather than to describe them : by this means, he rapidly presents the outline of the life ; though he might have put more facts into his book, had he been less tree with his own fancies.] The American Aboriginal Portfolio. By Mrs. Mary II. Eastman. Il-

lustrated by S. Eastman, U. S. Army.

[This is a good-looking book for the drawingroom-table, from the Quaker city of Philadelphia. It deals with American-Indian customs, costumes, and characteristics,—" fire-water," pipes of peace, "the White Man," the "Great Spirit," "the home of our forefathers," &c. &c.; with mild inter- mixtures of a missionary or religious tea-party tone. To the curious in such matters it may afford some amusing information ; which can be found else- where, however, more vividly and strongly presented. What degree of at- tention the authoress may have devoted to the subject, or what facilities she may have possessed for personally noting the matters of which she speaks, is not stated ; and the engraved designs, wanting in both the art of the artist and the detail of the student of minute facts are similarly unvouehed.] Lily Gordon, the Young Housekeeper. By Cousin Kate, Author of "Margaret Cecil," &a.

[Household duties, and their importance upon the daily comforts or indeed the happiness of life, are the subject of this volume : and very pleasantly that subject is developed. The leading action is the transformation of Lily Gordon, the amiable but thoughtless daughter of a Scotch laird, from a careless for- getful person in small matters to a steady and regular head of her father's widowed house. With this principal subject is connected a variety of family or parish episodes, very naturally painted, and all bearing in some way upon the importance of daily duty. Perhaps there is more than enough of ser- vants and meals : but they are serious matters in the twenty-four hours; and it is all done gracefully.] The Autobiography of a Five-Pound Note. By Mrs. J. B. Webb, Author of "Naomi," &c. (Run and Read Library.) A Bundle of Crowguills ; dropped by Alfred Crowquill, in his Eccen- tric Flights over the Fields of Literature. The Warriors of our Wooden Walls and their Victories. By J. Brad- shawe Walker.

We know not whether Mrs. Webb's agreeable sketches of the character of persons, with incidents in their lives, through whose hands a five-pound note may be supposed to pass—some thirty tales or sketches by Alfred Crow- quill—or Bradshawe Walker's rapid summary of our naval history, with notices of the principal commanders—are altogether new ; but they are cheap ; eighteenpence for the five-pound note, a shilling for each of the others.] An Introduction to the Elements of Practical Astronomy. By James It. Christie, F.R S., First Mathematical Master at the Royal Military Academy.

[The distinguishing feature of Mr. Christie's Introduction to Astronomy is its mathematical character. Most of the elementary publications on the sciences go upon the principle of "astronomy made easy," if not on the notion of a royal road. After a brief description of some of the bssential aspects of the solar system, Mr. Christie sets the pupil to demonstrate ques- tions, which in more "popular" books are described and must be taken on trust.]

The Botanist's Word-Book; an Etymological and Explanatory Voca- bulary of the Terms employed in the Science of Botany, for use in Colleges, Schools, and Private Study. By George Macdonald, Esq., Fellow of the Royal Educational Institute of Scotland ; and James Allan, Ph.D., A.M., &c., Professor of Chemistry in the Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, Pine Street, Manchester.

[A very useful little pocket-book, of thirty-six pages ; which will greatly facilitate the study of botany, by rendering its terms intelligible, not only in regard to their botanical but to their original meaning.]

Round Games for All Parties : a Collection of the greatest variety of Family Amusements for Fireside or Picnics ; consisting of Games of Action Games simply taxing the Attention, Games of Memory, Catch Games, depending on the Assistance of an Accomplice or Secret Know- ledge for the purpose of Mystification, Games requiring the Exercise of Fancy, Intelligence, and Imagination; Directions for the Crying of Forfeits, &c. For the use of Old and Young; and adapted to the un- derstanding of Children from the ages of seven to seventy.

[As may be gathered from a perusal of the title, "round games" does not mean any of those games at cards which, requiring less attention, permit more approach to pleasantry than whist. The book gives directions for pas- times such as hunt the slipper, blind-man's-buff, forfeits, and others; some of which may seem trifling or rustic to "particular people."]

Sermons on various Subjects and Occasions. With a brief Appendix, on the Modern Philoeophy of Unbelief. By the Reverend James Sher- gold Boone, M.A. Incumbent of St. John's, Paddington.

[A series of sermons of solid merit, sometimes rising to a close and powerful style, especially when the subject bears upon the condition, of contemporary life. The majority of the discourses, however, treat of doctrinal not to say theological topicm—as the Personality of the Godhead.]

The most timely reprint is Messrs. Black's beautiful edition of " The Lay of the Last Minstrel" ; forming a gift-book which unites the very highest style of mechanical art with literature both popular and standard. Like " The Lady, of the Lake" of last year, it is bound with a richness and solid- ity combining the qualities of medimval and modern art. The very numer- ous wood-engravings are in themselves remarkable as specimens of the ex- cellence which that art has reached, besides being in all cases of landscape real illustrations of the text. The paper and typography are alike choice' and, though last not least, it contains the latest emendations of the author from an interleaved copy.

The "History of Englandv by Sir James Mackintosh is a library edition of the work originally written for Lardner's Cycloptedia ; bringing down the subject to the end of Elizabeth's reign. As regards narrative, it wants "the careless, the inimitable graces" of Hume, and makes no pretension to the picturesque or pictorial style which grew into fashion after the manner of Mackintosh was fixed. It may in fact be called a disquisitioual history ; and as such, it is entitled to a high if not the highest place. Perhaps no other work can be pointed out in which so much of judicious commentary is found in so comparatively small a space, and with so little sacrifice of essen- tial facts, though they may not be presented in the most effective manner.

The revised and complete edition of Robert Montgomery's "Poetical Works" forms a goodly volume in double columns—the last testimony of public approbation in these days. The complete edition of "Young's 1Vorks "—poetry, dramas, and prose writings—from Mr. Tegg, fills two good-sized volumes. Of the life, by Dr. Doran, we can say nothing, for both our volumes are second volumes.

The Lay of the Last Minstrel. By Sir Walter Scott, Bart. With all his Introductions, and the Editor's Notes. Illustrated by one hun- dred Engravings on Wood, from Drawings by Birket Foster and John Gilbert.

The History of England, from the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Reformation. By the Right Honourable Sir James Mackintosh. A new edition, revised by the Author's Son, R. J. Mackintosh, Esq. In two volumes.

The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery, MA., Oxon. Collected and revised by the Author.

The Complete Works, Poetry and Prose, of the Reverend Edward Young, LL.D., formerly Rector of Welwyn, Hertfordshire, &c. Re- vised and collated with the earliest editions. To which is prefixed, a Life of the Author, by John Doran, LL.D. With eight Illustrations on Steel, and a Portrait. In two volumes.

NEW SERIALS.

Orr's Circle of the Sciences. No. I.

[Messrs. Orr intend to begin the new year with a very extensive speculation, embracing a vast circle of science, art, and practical pursuits; for the exe- cution of which they have enlisted eminent men, including, among others, Owen, Jardine, and Ansted; while, to follow the fashion of the day, each number will be cheap—only twopence a week. The " Introductory Trea- tise" before us contains a rapid review of the leading subjects that will hereafter be expounded in their divisions. There are those sciences whose laws cannot be other than they are, according to our comprehension,—as mathematics, and its branches or cognates, logarithms, arithmetic, algebra.

Then come those sciences whose laws could not have been discovered a priori, and which when discovered might, so far as we can see, have been contrary

to what they are,—as chemical properties. Physiology, natural history, geology, mineralogy, are touched upon ; nor are pursuits or whatever they may be called connected with social economy forgotten,—as statistics, educa- tion, &c. The essential points of these different subjects are expounded skil- fully, especially in reference to the objects of the prospectus, which the intro- duction really is. An animating principle of the whole series will be the acknowledgment of a Supreme Intelligence for a first cause ; eschewing the irreligious tendency of a certain modern school of philosophy.]

The Chemistry of Common Life. By James F. W. Johnston, M.A., F.R.SS. and E., &c.; Author of "Lectures on Agricultural Chemis- try. and Geology," &c. No. I. The Ai we Breathe. The Water we Drink.

[An interesting work. The leading facts connected with air and water, as well as directions for early experiments, are presented in a style of much lucidity and neatness. In addition to its own interest, the book, when com- plete, seems likely to serve as a popular introduction to the study of chemistry.]

Chemistry, Theoretical, Practical, and Analytical, as applied and rela- ting to the Arts and Manufactures. By Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, F.R.S.E., M.R.I.A., Founder and Principal of the College of Chemis- try, Liverpool, &c. ; Author of "Outlines of Analysis," tke. Embel- lished with a series of Portraits of Distinguished Chemists. Part I.

ALMANACS&

The Literary and Scientific Almanack, for 1854. By I. W. G. Gutch, M.R.C.S.L., F.L.S., Foreign Service Queen's Messenger.

[If this "literary and scientific" pocket-book has not grown larger, it has grown closer and fuller in thirteen years. All superfluous fat and moisture are got rid of, while Mr. Gutch "abhors a vacuum" as much as Nature was held to do under the old system of philosophy. Such a collection of general and special information arranged in distinct divisions, and directed even in its most popular subjects to scientific ends, was never before got together, we imagine. The person who should determine to really master the contents of this alroanack would be a learned man by the time he had done.)

The Illustrated Family Friend Almanack and Housekeeper's Guide ; a

Year-Book for 1854. [Family information in cookery, viands to be cooked, ailments to be cur4 with hints on gardening and other home matters, is the primary object of this almanack. It also contains a good deal of other useful information, among which, that connected with the month itself is conspicuous.] Music.

The Universal School of Music. A Manual for Teachers and Students in every branch of Musical Art ; with additional Notes, a special Pre- face, and Supplement to the English edition ; by Dr. Adolph Bernard Marx, Professor at the University of Berlin. Translated from the fifth edition of the original German, by A. H. Wehrhan, Editor of Dr. Marx's "School of Composition," &c. A Treatise on the Science of Music. By Daniel M. G. S. Reeves. The Creation, an Oratorio, composed by Joseph Haydn, and first per- formed in the year 1798. A new edition with an Accompaniment for the Pianoforte or Organ, arranged by John Bishop, of Cheltenham. Hamilton's Modern Instructions in Singing. Containing a complete- Compendium of the Rudiments of Music, full directions for the Cultis. vation and Management of the Voice, numerous Exercises and EXIttl• plea on Vocalization, with Solfeggi, by Rossini and C. X. Bola 'and a Selection of Celebrated Songs. Third edition.