PUBLICATIONS RECEIVEL From January 26th to February 1St.

BOOKS.

The Prairie-Bird, By the Hon. CHARLES AUGUSTUS MURRAY, Author of" Travels in North America." In three volumes.

Songs, Ballads, and other Poems, by the late Thomas HAYNES BATLY.. Edited by his Widow. With a Memoir of the Author. In two volumes. The First Ten Cantos of the Inferno of Dante Alighieri, newly translated into English verse. By T. W. PARSONS. [This is an American version of the Divine Comedy, which, so far as it goes, is creditable to the author from the generally correct translation and smooth- ness of the verse. It is written in quatrains, as being, in the translator's esti- mation, the best approach that can be made in English to the terza rims: for Mr. PARSONS discovers, that even the author was cramped by the tissue of his verse, and he deprecates mathematically servile exactness of copy. In spite of general fidelity, however, the licence thus admitted sometimes goes too far in the endeavour to render the obscure poet mathematically precise and clear. Thus, the poet describes Virgil on meeting him in the wood, as one "chi per lungo silenzio pareafreo "; Mr. Ransoms translates it, " Darkling amid the deep obscure he seemed "; which he justifies by some strange refinements o6 analogy between silence and obscurity, and by the remark that DANTE could not have known Virgil to be hoarse, as he had not yet spoken. Many such a lapse might be pointed out in great writers, if need were ; but the new reading is in no way justified : " fioco "is hoarse and not dark or obscure, and it is to this day eminently the Florentine term for "hoarse." The man who attempts to render DANTE with crystalline perspicuity in every part, does as well as if he were to try to reduce one of REMBRANDT'S pictures to an outline like Rwrzsen's, and must necessarily fail in construing DANTE'S manner: the Boston DANTE accordingly lets escape the living power of the poem. ] Tragedies ; to which are added a few Sonnets and Verses. By T. N. TALFOURD. A new edition.

Philip Van Arteveld e; a Dramatic Romance. By HENRY TAILOR. Third edition.

[The chief feature of these two publications is bibliographical. Here we have two volumes of copyright works, got up with the elegant neatness which dis- tinguishes Mr. Moxosr, and, what is perhaps stronger, with a general novelty of appearance, and sold for half-a-crown a volume,—a price which, a dozen years ago, would not have procured nearly the same quantity of old matter.

Each author writes a new preface. Mr. TAYLOR merely states that he has made some additions and some corrections, in compliance with criticism and his own reflections. Mr. TALFOURD is more copious. Mr. STEPHENS, the author of The Hungarian Brothers, had stated that the learned Sergeant ad- mitted that the "unacted" drams of the present day was superior to the acted: this Mr. TALrocan explains, and denies; taking the opportunity at the same time to compliment MACREADT, and to warn authors and the public

that the drama will not revive without a crop of theatrical artists capable of vivifying dramatic conceptions. The rarity of histrionic merit gives a mono- poly, the Sergeant says, which acts of Parliament cannot do away with.]

The " Monster " .31isery of Ireland ; a Practical Treatise on the Relation of Landlord and Tenant ; with suggestions for legislative measures and the management ef landed property, the result of above thirty years' experience and study of the subject. By Joni; Wrooiss, Esq., F.G.S., English Agent to Estates in the South and North of Ireland.

[Mr. 'MTh:mins is a practical man, well acquainted with Irish modes of land- business, and familiar with the characters both of landlords and tenants, which he occasionally depicts with effect ; indicating the existence of a species of feudal exaction in the way of " services " and "dues," which one is rather surprised to meet with in the British dominions in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Irish lord, moreover, bargains for a money-rent in addition ; which, to do the feudal baron justice, he scarcely thought of. The " Monster Misery" of Ireland, according to our estate-agent, is the exorbitance of the rents, and varieties of bad management. His exposition of these in detail conveys a good or rather a " shocking bad" picture of Ireland and the Irish ; and his practical acquaintance with men and affairs enables him to show the fallacy of several plans that have been proposed for relief,— especially the jobbing inutility of grand public works, and grants of public money.

Stilt, public works are to a certain extent proper and necessary in Ireland: but they ought to be kept within reasonable bounds, and not customhouses built for twenty times the trade. gaols for four times the number of prisoners, bridges costing 20,0001. where 5.0001. would have answered every purpose. All the millions of public money which have been already spent is Ireland could not be proved to pay cue eighth per cent upon their cost. It may be said that they have promoted industry. I say they have been but as the stimulus of a dram, whilst they diverted industry from the land. the true object and end of steady permanent employment in Ireland: harbours of cut atone, to shelter a few cock.boats, and grand canals. on which a ship of war might Rust and two might pass abreast, chiefly employed iu the conveyance of turf fuel I" Mr. WIGGINS is leas successful in the discovery of remedies than in the exposition of facts and the criticism of proposals. One of his plans is to com-

pel the letting of conacre, and at a fixed rent ; a project not physically im- possible, but practicable in no other way, and only productive of temporary benefit if put in operation. Another proposal is a labour-rate, to be raised

upon property, and expended in public improvements; a proposal which differs nothing from Parliamentary grants except in the source whence the fund is drawn and in its possible power of rendering the landlords more cautious in the expenditure.]

Scenes and Scenery in the Sandwich Islands, and a Trip through Central America; being Observations from My Note-book during the years 1837- 1842. By JAMES J. JARVES, Author of "History of the Sandwich Islands," Member of the American Oriental Society, &c. Embellished with map and plates.

[This book, designed by Mr. JARVES as a companion to his "History of the Sandwich Islands," contains an account of various tours that he made, sketches of scenes and incidents that be saw, with a fuller description of the places occu- pied by the European residents, and of the singular mixture in Hawaii of civi- lized and savage habits. The book is readable and the style animated with something of that fluent go-ahead manner ;Web characterizes the modern American writers, whose models of composition seem to be their newspapers, but which always leaves a doubt in the mind as to how far accuracy may be sacrificed to smartness and effect, in descriptions where the general is substi- tuted for the specific. The "Trip through Central America" from Acajutla to Gualan took place in 1837; and was selected as a shorter route than Cape Horn, though Mr. JARVES scarcely recommends it to others. The country was distracted by CARRERA'S rebellion, of Which STEPHENS gives a full RC. count ; and the party had to pass through byways and travel by night, yet did not escape arrest after all ; though their previous precaution in setting rid of all superfluous or suspicious articles, and the assistance of a friend, ren- dered the delay temporary.] Thermal Comfort; or Popular Hints for Preservation from Colds, Coughs, and Consumption. By Sir GEORGE LEFEVRE, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London, &c. Second edition, greatly enlarged. [The chief object of this little work, by Sir GEORGE LEPEVRE, a physician who practised at St. Petersburg, is to call attention to the advantage that de- licate persons and invalids would derive from having the house heated through- out, according to the Russian fashion, and from paying greater attention to winter-clothing, more especially in cases where consumption is apprehended. This, the main novelty of the publication, is followed by some general remarks of a popular character upon diseases of the lungs, and by a brief discussion of a professional cast upon English and foreign modes of treatment. There can be no doubt that when circumstances admit of it, a higher tem- perature in staircases and bedrooms would add greatly to the comfort of every inhabitant, delicate or robust, and thus far contribute to their health. Whether the full results would follow that Sir GEORGE contemplates, may be doubted ; as we think be has not allowed sufficient for the different character of our eliniate and that of Russia ; whilst the greater absence of consumption in the North may arise from the absence of hereditary and predisposed subjects, all delicate constitutions being removed in infancy or childhood. There is no- thing, however, in the book but what is reasonable; and it may be recommended as a useful treatise on some important topics, very agreeably written.]

Results of Reading. By J. STAMFORD CALDWELL, M.A., Barrister-at- Law.

[A volume of select sentences and elegant extracts, drawn from such recondite sources as BYRON, HUME, BURKE, JOHNSON, BACON, PALEY, and SO forth, with other authors less generally read but by no means inaccessible. To say

that the book contains good remarks, or valuable lessons, or what not, is only saying what may be predicated of the Penny Magazines, or any other cheap pe- riodical possessing a useful aim. And though Mr. CALDWELL'S preface is modest and unpretending, we know of nothing that can justify books like this in the year of grace 1844—or even 1843, which is on the title. It is like in- viting a grown man to dine on spoon-victuals.]

Domestic Scenes in Greenland and Iceland.

[A. very pretty little book, designed for the young, and giving in a plain and *anent style an account of the manners, customs, and natural features of Greenland and Iceland, as well as the story of the discovery of the latter Country.] The Aristocracy of Britain and the Laws of Entail and Primogeniture, judged by recent French writers : being Selections from the Works of Pussy, Beaumont, O'Connor, Sismondi, Buret, Guizot, Constant, Dupin, Say, Blanqui, and Mignet, showing the advantage of the law of equal succession. With explanatory and statistical notes. [A selection of some of the best passages from the best modern French writers who have handled the subject of the British aristocracy and its political effects.

The object of the compiler is to draw attention to the subject in reference to "further reform "; but his book may be advantageously perused without refer- ence to his purposes.]

The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Volume ILL, Part IL [The most elaborate articles in this Part-volume are " Aristotle " and " Ark- aright "; the philosophy of the Greek, and the claims of the Englishman to in- vention, being examined at considerable length. Of the number of the other notices an idea may be formed from the fact that the volume contains upwards of four hundred pages, and that it opens with AR (Aristophanes) and only gets to AT (Atkyns).]

Nature, an Essay ; and Orations. By RALPH WALDO EMERSON. (Smith's Standard Library..)

[An English reprint of EMERSON'S somewhat mystical essay on Nature, and of several discourses or speeches delivered at various societies, and which smack somewhat of American oratory, though not devoid of this writer's peculiar genius. We think we have met some of the Orations in separate forms.]

The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art; exhibiting the most im- portant Discoveries and Improvements of the past year. Illustrated with engravings. By the Editor of " The Arcane of Science." [This volume contains its usual variety of interesting facts and discoveries ; but there is nothing calling for special remark.] The Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister. Sixth edition.

SERIALS.

The History of Cleveland. By J. WALKER ORD, Esq. Part I. [It may be inferred that this work is to contain a topographical account of Cleveland and its vicinity ; but beyond two plates of mansions, that we presume will be described in letterpress hereafter, we see little in the First Part to warrant this assumption. The number contains three chapters and begins a fourth. The first chapter discusses the question of the aborigines of Great Britain, commencing with Noah ; and (repudiating the story of Brutes the Trojan) decides that the ancient Britons were aboriginals, descending from Japhet, and emigrating from GauL The second and third chapters handle the Roman and Saxon periods, and the fourth will embrace the Danes. When Mr. WALKER ORD will descend to Cleveland and its localities, we have no idea.]

A Complete Condensed Practical Treatise on Ophthalmic Medicine. By EDWARD OCTAVIUS HOCKEN, M.D., &c. &c., Author of a "Treatise on A.manrosis and Amaurotic Affections." Part I.

[Designed to present the student and practitioner with a digested view of the principles and practice of inflammatory diseases of the eye; • exhibiting the established views of the first authorities and the results of the author's own experience.] Reports of Cases of Controverted Elections before Committees of the House of Commons, and Cases upon Appeal from the decisions of the Revising Barristers in the Court of Common Pleas. By ARTHUR BAR.. now, Esq., of the Inner Temple, and THOMAS J. ARNOLD, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Barristers-at-Law. Volume I., Part I.

The New Statistical Account of Scotland, No. XL Vii.

Martin Chuzzkwit, No. XIV.

Maxwell's History of the Rebellion in Ireland in 1793, Part II. Chronicles of the Bastile, Part II.

Murray's Colonial and Home Library, No. V.—Bishop Heber's Indian Journal, Part III.

Novel Newspaper, Part LXX.

PERIODICALS.

Chambers's Edinburgh Journal. New Series. Part I. [A new series, printed to correspond in size with the "Information for the People" and other publications of the Messrs. CHAMBERS. The change haa been made at the request of many subscribers who objected to the larger size of the old series.] Magazines for February—Blackwood's, Dublin University, Tait's, Fra- ser'a, British, Ainsworth's, Illuminated, Portfolio, Artist and Ama- teur's, Simmonds's Colonial, Monthly Review, Chemist, Builder, Pre- cursor of Unity, Ladies' Cabinet, Mirror of Fashion, Des Costumes.

ILLUSTRATED WORKS AND PRINTS.

The Prince of Wales's Library. No. L—The Primer. Edited by EL MAYHEW; embellished by J. GILBERT ; engraved by E. LANDELLS; printed by W. STEVENS.

Bells Compositions from the Liturgy, No. IV.

British Moths and their Transformations, No. XXVIII.

Music.

Les Espagnoles—Valses brillantes. Compose& par Elan LAUNITZ.