PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

Five Years in China, from 1842 to 1847. With an Account of the Occupa- tion of the Islands of Labuan and Borneo by her Majftiy's Forces. By Lieutenant F. E. Forbes, R.N., Commander of H.M.S. Bonetta. Switzerland in 1847; and its Condition, Political, Social, Moral, and Physi- cal, before the War. By Theodore Mugge. Edited by Mrs. Percy Sin- nett. In two volumes.

The Autobiography of Goethe. Truth and Poet: from My Own Life. Translated from the German, by John Oxenford, hhaq. (Bohn 's Standard Library.) The Condition and Prospects of Ireland, and the Evils arising from the Present Distribution of Landed Property; with Suggestions for a Remedy. By Jonathan Pim. [Jonathan Pim is an Irish Friend, who acted daring the late famine as one of the Secretaries to the Central Relief Association of the Society of Friends. In this position a great many facts relating to the state of the country came under his notice; he has also given some personal attention to the Condition-of-Ireland question; and the result is, that he considers encumbered estates, complicated titles, the expenses of transfer, and other evils connected with property in land, as the great cause of the country's misery. In the early part of last year he pub- lished a pamphlet on this subject. The Condition and Prospects of Ireland is an extension of that pamphlet, and embraces a cursory review of the history of Ireland, with its present social condition. This review is very well and fairly done: history has been examined, blue books and their statistics studied, the documents before the Central Relief Association considered and used: but there is little novelty in the book, and it is rather of a business than a literary nature. One important fact or opinion is worth noting: Mr. Pim considers that Ireland herself possesses sufficient capital to support and improve her industry, if her state of disturbance did not prevent its employment; the poorer class hoarding, and the rich investing in securities out of Ireland. Of course Mr. Pim thinks that an improvement in the laws of landed property would lead to the employment of Irish capital in Ireland; and such is no doubt its ten- dency. Still it is only one means. A change in the law would not ipso facto produce quiet and security; which, indeed, is only to be looked for as a final re- sult of that law. A distasteful process must be gone through before even that law could be made to work for economical purposes. Another assertion of Mr. Pim is also worth notice: he maintains that emigration from Ireland must go on to England, until the condition of the poor in both countries is equalized. To a Government system of emigration he is adverse; he would rather spend the money it would cost in Ireland.] Duchenier; or the Revolt of La Vendee. By the Author of " Stories of the Crusades."

This tale would have been considered a first-rate historical novel had Walter Scott never shown the most effective way of applying public events to the pur- poses of fiction, and innumerable writers before and atter him used the French Revolution and the wars of La Vendee for the materials of romance. Duchenier, having come so late in the day, can only be pronounced a clever tale upon an ex- hausted theme, in which the subject-matter and the mode of presenting it have nothing of novelty, although both derive interest, if not freshness, from the ac- quaintance of the author with the book-facts and spirit of his subject, as well as from his knowledge of France and Frenchmen, seemingly drawn from life.

Duchenier, the hero of the story, is a Vendean Loyalist, betrothed to Marie de Beanrepaire. The uncertain nature of the contest, and of public affairs in general, induces her father, M. de Beaurepaire, an able, cool, rather selfish, but brave and honourable noble of the old regime—exceedingly well drawn—to allow the marriage to take place sooner than he intended. Both before and after this event, the principal parties with various subordinates are involved in the turmoil and deadly anxieties of the period; Duchenier chiefly in the Vendean campaigns; Marie at Paris, whither she is carried as a prisoner, and followed by her father to attempt her rescue. These occurrences enable the author to bring into his story some of the most striking events of the Reign of Terror, from its commence- ment, to its close with the death of Robespierre. It also permits the introduction of some of the Revolutionary leaders in private life, as well as several sketches of executions. All this is done, as we have said, with knowledge of the facts and the people; but perhaps thetrue French spirit and the circumstances of the times, which alone explain the atrocities, are not thoroughly caught. The author, too, allows an Anti-Revolutionary bias to tinge his characters both of Robespierre and Denton; and he sometimes sacrifices probability to a struggle after " situatian" and effect.]

The Lord of the Forest and his Vassals; an Allegory.

[The idea of this allegory is taken from the Pilgrim's Progress of Bun- yan. The Lord of the Forest is the Devil; his vassals are the people of the world; but the tale more immediately relates to the family of Sinda a fisherman, his wife Lisette, and their little boy Christian. The parents are excellent poor people after the law of nature; but their child, by a not very well-contrived in- cident, is baptized; and the story turns upon the endeavours of the Lord of the Forest and his vassals to get possession of little Christian; who, though some- times nearly falling, is supported in time by the presence of a dove, typical of the Holy Spirit. The writing is elegant, the descriptions are picturesque; but the allegory and its incidents are ill-contrived and forced. The pictures of church and school are Tractarian, almost Romish; but the doctrine is Anglican, or rather catholic. Any denomination might receive its substance if they were not scared by " the form of words " of the Liturgy.]

Town Lyrics and other Poems. By Charles Mackay, LL.D., Author of " Voices from the Crowd," &a

[The subjects of these poems are not so much derived from the general feature., of London, as from incidents or topics that contain something peculiarly sug-

gestive the poet. "The Light in the Window " is a writer always at work, who dies at last, unknown; which furnishes Dr. Mackay with some comments not very appropriate. " The Mowers" is a phantom piece; Pomp, Luxury, and Pride detailing their deadly triumphs in London, but the most successful allow- ing that the coming cholera will triumph more: and thus the writer proceeds. The style is fluent, the versification with motion, but exactly like Dr. Mackay's former poetry—no better, no worse. The sentiments are of the Dickens and Jerrold school; the poor. right, the rich wrong, with a rather twisted view even where the questions are indifferent. Essentially, Town Lyrics are smart clever " papers," condensed and versified.] history of the Modern Music of Western Europel from the First Century of the Christian Xra to the Present Day; with Examples, and an Appen- dix explanatory of the Theory of the Ancient Greek Music. By R. G. Kiesewetter„ Imperial and Royal Counsellor of State at Vienna. Translated from the original German, by Robert Mailer. [Of the subject indicated by this comprehensive title, a small octavo volume like the present can necessarily give nothing more than a more outline. But that out- line might have been rendered more valuable by better proportions between the importance of the several topics and the spaces allotted to them. Three-fourth{ of the book are occupied with the progress of music prior to the sixteenth cen- tury, and therefore with matters interesting only to musical antiquaries, a class of readers who will not be content with slight summaries. As a conse- quence, the really interesting periods of musical history are huddled up in mar- vellously small compass. The subject of madrigals Is disposed of in two sen- tences, without even the names of the greatest madrigalists. The "Epock of Haydn and Mozart" is discussed in four pages. In the equally brief chapter called " The Epoch of Beethoven and Rossini, ' both these composers are dismissed in a single sentence. Handel and Sebastian Bach are scarcely noticed; and there is not even the name of an English composer. In regard to what the book doe; contain, the author is painstaking and accurate: in his account of Palestrina, is particular, he avails himself of the recent biography of Baini, and corrects various errors of preceding historians. But, as a whole, the book is by no means calcu- lated to give the general reader anything like a satisfactory view of the history and present state of music; though some of its defects are supplied by the very pertinent notes of the translator.] Sermons for the Saints' Days. By Francis E. Paget, KA, Rector of Elfond. [These sermons were preached when Mr. Paget began more frequent service-days in his pariah; and they are published as a contribution towards the repairs of his church. With the exception of All Saints, Innocents Day, St. Michael's and All Angels, the saints are Scriptural, indeed Apostolical, and the sermons rather hor- tative than biographical. The Purification of the Virgin is the medium for a dis- course on purity. of life; St. Peter's Day, for a warning against self-delusion and weakness, even in the best of us. As the title looks of doubtful aspect in these days, it is proper to observe that Mr. Paget is quite opposed to Romanism, and holds the observance of saints' days and other festivals as desirable but not obli- gatory.. They are, says he in his introductory discourse, " Ecclesiastical, nob Divine institutions. Attendance on them is more a privilege than a duty. Those are happy who can avail themselves of them; those who from their avocations and the necessity of daily toil are unable, suffer loss, but incur no guilt."] The Christian L. Twelve Sermons. By Richard Creswell, Comte of Salcombe Reps, Devon.

[Twelve sermons, in which the progress of Christian life is treated, but not very successfully, as a sort of counterpart or symbol to that of the natural life; fol- lowed by two discourses on the present and future state of the Anglican Church. As compositions, the sermons are not remarkable: they want distinctness of purpose, and consequently have no very close application or definite conclusion.]

Edda; or the Tales of a Grandmother. History of Denmark. First Part, from the Earliest Ages to the Death of Canute the Great. .Edited by Ph iloj u ven is. [A useful compilation, though we have not yet the most useful part; as the Bri- tish public have easier means of getting access to the antiquities of Scandinavia

than to the middle-age or modern history of Denmark. The book exhibits pains-

taking, and some critical views in the disquisitional parts, which are probably de- rived from the writer's authorities. Edda is of course written in imitation of the Tales of a Grandfather; but, independently of wanting its power of attraction, the book is devoid of the plain and sensible garrulity which rendered the reflec- tions as clear as the story in that remarkable production of Scott. From the closeness of the type, the volume contains a great deal more matter than might be expected from its size.] Practical English Composition. Part I., or Junior Series. By Richard Riley, Author of "An English Grammar," &c.

[This is a little book, but it requires a long course of study; three years and a half being the time allowed by its author for getting through the seven parts, at half-a-year to each. When accomplished, the pupil will no doubt be a more

thorough master of English composition than some who undertake to compose. for the world. The only question is, whether the book does not require more mind, and more materials in the mind, than children possess at eight or nice, or for some years afterwards; unless in the case of a very small class, ander a very able and devoted teacher.] A Glance at the Globe, and at the World around us. By Jefferys Taylor, Author of "Esop in Rhyme," &c. [There is no lack of subjects in this little volume: astronomy, geology, the

physical features and productions of the earth, man and his history, with his religion too, all find a place in it. Of course, everything mast be treated very generally, but the striking facts are well chosen.]

History of Europe, from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. By Archibald Alison, F.R.S.E., Advocate. Volume the Fourteenth. Seventh edition. [The domestic history of Great Britain from 1809 to 1812, the administration of the Spanish Cortes, and a continuation of the Peninsular war, together with the whole history of the revolution of the Spanish Colonies in America, form the sub- jects of this fourteenth volume.] Lays of Ancient Rome; with " Ivry" and "The Armada?' By Thomas Babington Macaulay. New edition.

[A more compact and we suppose a cheaper edition of Mr. Macaulay's animated, vigorous, but rather wordy ballads on subjects from Roman story. How the author could ever deem them "lays of ancient Rome," is one of the curiosities of literature. The additional poems, so far as we remember, complete his poetical works.]

A Bowl of Punch. By Albert Smith. Illustrated by Henning, Hine, and Sala.

[A miscellany of pointed and clever facetite, in this author's usual manner.] Memoirs of tie Duke of Marlborough, with his Oinal Correspondence. By William Case, M.A., &c. A new edition, revised by John Wade, Au- thor:of "British History Chronologically Arranged." In three volumes. Volume IL (Bohn's Standard Library.)

SERIALS.

Portugal and Galicia; with a Review of the Social and Political State of the Basque Provinces. By the Earl of Carnarvon. Part L (Murray's Home and Colonial Library.) It is upwards of eleven years ago since we noticed Lord Carnarvon's work on its first appearance. Since that time, its sterling merit has been proved by the test of a sustained demand; and it now appears in the most popular of uniform-the drab garb of Murray's Home and Colonial Library. From the preface we learn, that the noble author has omitted the chapters on the merits of the Carlos and Christino war, and the politics of the French and English Governments, which a dozen years ago had a practical interest, when we were so unconsciously helping Louis Philippe to aggrandize his family. In the same place, too, Lord Carnarvon says a good word for theson of Don Carlos, as a capital candidate for the Spanish crown.

Rosa and Gertrude, and My Uncle's Library. By Rodolph Topffer. (Parlour Library, No. %IL) Ranke's History of the Prussian Monarchy. Part la