PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

Lives of the Queens of England, from the Norman Conquest; with Anec- dotes of their Courts. Now first published from Official Records and other Authentic Documents, private as well as public. By Agnes Strick- land. Volume X.

Notes from a Journal kept in Italy and Sicily, daring the years 1844, 1845, and 1846. By J. G. Francis, B.A. With Illustrations.

Happy Ignorance, or Church and State; a Religious Adventure. With Notes by the Editors.

[This is a philosophico-religions romance. In 1712 a religions party of colo- nists are supposed to have been wrecked on an island in the South Seas, and to have lost all their ministers, and nearly all their books; but they go on very well for upwards of a century in "happy ignorance," both in religions and civil affairs. In 1846 four strangers with libraries drop suddenly on the island: one new comer is a Romanist bishop, another a clergyman of the Church of England,

a third a Methodist minister, the fourth a reflecting and philosophic scholar. The three divines agree that the colonists, besides being a very moral com- munity, have well preserved the leading outlines of the Christian dispensa- tion; but they wish to improve the system by inculcating their own peculiar views. The President demurs to this till he shall know what they are. The

consequence is a series of dialogues; in which the writer shows, that in despite of all their theological quarrels, the differences in religious doctrines are few and unimportant; though he bears hard upon the priestly assumption of au-

thority in the Romieh Church, and the extreme views of justification among the Methodists. The President refuses them permission to preach; but his succes- sor grants it; and as a consequence, the community is split into sects and dis-

turbed by differences. A lapse of forty years is supposed; and in 1876 a new President consults the scholar Alexis, the only survivor of the original band, as to what should be done to establish peace and unanimity. The application gives

rise to another aeries of dialogues on the connexion of church and state; in which nothing is concluded, save that the state, if it is to do anything, should pay all.

The book is well written; the views are calm and rational, but perhaps they want a little more decision and earnestness. The writer appears to be a member of the Church of England.]

Shadows of the Clouds. By Zeta.

[This volume contains two tales, "The Spirit's Trials," and "The Lieu- tenant's Daughter." The tales are not very new in substance; the moral tone is unhealthy; the treatment clever, and the writing good in the high-pitched vein. " The Spirit's Trials" is the tale of two peculiarly-trained lovers, who are separated through their connexions; the lady marries; Edward Fowler the gen- tleman continues single and a student, till he dies of consumption. The meeting with his old betrothed during his last illness, and a metaphysical examination of his thoughts and feelings, form a large portion of the story; but in what the

"spirit's trials" consist, we are not clear. It may be in the suffiaings of Emma from her blighted hopes, or the struggles of Edward through philosophy to faith; or in both.

"Time Lieutenant's Daughter" is a sort of vision, such as was popular at the Adelphi Theatre some years ago, and afterwards borrowed by Dickens in his Chimes. In one view we have the story of the seduction, abandonment, and de- gradation of the Lieutenant's daughter, told with rather too much unpleasing detail; in the other, we have her happily married ; the difference in the results arising from the father living in the latter case, dying in the former.] Annals of England; a Poem, in four books. By Edward Daeres Baynes, Esq. [It is probable that as true poet could produce a valuable work on the history of a

country; but it could only be done by dealing with the essence of the subject, and

in any case the attenipt could only be justified by success. In the Annals of England, Mr. Baynes has given a metrical version of events and persons with the

order and specificaliry if not the fulness of prose. There is common historical

truth in the narrative, and much pains may have been spent on the execution: some passages are powerful, but the general etierseter of the verse is prosaic. The work has not the elevation of poetry, or the ease and fulness of history. Mr. Baynes had some thoughts of treating the whole of our annals, but determined on publishing the first four books, corning down to the Battle of Hastings: and in. this he did wisely.] Fashionable Dancing. By Cellarius. With twelve Illustrations by Gavarni. [A handsome volume containing a series of essays on dancing in general, as wdl as on particular kinds of dances. The text is illustrated by a dozen plates; which may be useful for the outline of attitudes, but afford a sorry specimen of " the beauty and fashion" of the salons. The ladies are so-so; the cavaliers very different The gentleman bowing to his partner is a perfect study of a stiff- jointed Hebrew.] The Natural History of the Ballet-Girl. By Albert Smith. Illustrated by A. Henning.

[A very clever little affair, with more matter and reality about it than each things generally possess. The ballet-girl is exhibited during training, rehearsal, per- formance, and in her recreations; in all of which Mr. Smith turns his knowledge of theatres and theatricals to good account, without anything coarse or dubious. It is a picture of the playhouse and one phase of real life, a little in rose-colour. The illustrations are good.]

Outlines of the History and Formation oldie Understanding. By the Au- thor of " Outlines of Social Economy." [A compilation on the subject expressed in the title, for the use of schools.] History of the Girondists; or Personal Memoirs of the Patriots of the French Revolution. From unpublished sources. By Alphonse Be Lainartine, Author of " Travels in the Holy Land," &c. In three volumes. Volume I. Translated by H. T. Ryde. (Bohn's Standard Library.) History of the Conuest of England by the Normans; its Causes and its Con- sequences, in England, Scotland, Ireland, and on the Continent. By Augustin Thierry, Member of the Institute. Translated from the seventh Paris edition, by William Hazlitt, Esq. In two volumes. Volume H. (Bogue's European Library.) History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. By Archibald Alison, F.RS.E., Advocate. Volume the sixth. Seventh edition. Select Writings of Robert Chambers. Volume IV. Essays Philosophical, Sentimental, and Historical Sketches.

[The foregoing continuations of works already noticed or noted explain them- selves; though the translation of Lamartine's personal notices of the principal actors in the French Revolution, and by consequence of the Revolution itself, claims a word of welcome. It forms u valuable addition to Mr. Bohn's Standard Library.] SERIALS.

The Picturesque and Popular History of England. By Thomas Miller. Part I.

[A great many more persons real historical romance than history, says Mr. Md.. ler, because the latter is dry. He therefore proposes to render the history of Eng- land popularly attractive, by "describing its important truths in a more pic- turesque and familiar manner—by bringing out the actors and scenery more boldly before the eye of the reader—by throwing more of a poetical spirit into the narra- tive, and giving it all the fascination of fiction without altering a single recorded truth." If this were done sparingly and with original knowledge under the gui- dance of a severe taste, life and variety might be given to a work, without losing sight of its nature; which is recorded history, not imaginary description or fluent rhetoric. Indeed, when they thought the case required it, Sanest, Livy, Arnold, and other historians' have fulfilled Mr. Miller's theory as a matter of course. In his own development of it, he seems to us more likely to substitute fanciful addi- tions and a dreamy sort of reverie, consisting half of imagined facts and half of mere opinions, than to rise to the height he rums at. Perhaps he will go further than this: there may be no alteration of any recorded fact, yet the additions may be so many, and so completely of the nature of facts, as to produce all the effect of error upon the ignorant mind. The first part comes down to the Saxon invasion.] Discourses on Church Subjects. By the Reverend Charles Girdlestone, M.A., Rector of Kingswinford, Staffordshire. No. I. The Right of Private Judgment; being a Sermon preached before the University of Oxford, 14th February 1847. To which is prefixed, a Letter from the Reverend J. H. Newman to the Author.

[This appears to be the first of an intended series of sermons on questions of doc- trine; which, though involving matter of private conduct, also relate to topics controverted by Christian; and therefore wear a more public character. The first, before us, is a very able sermon on the right or rather duty of private judgment, urged against Rome and the Tractarians. The brief letter from Mr. Newman, addressed to Mr. Girdlestone, was an invitation to assist in com- mencing the celebrated Tracts: it is chiefly remarkable for the "high priest " tone which pervades it.] The Disgrace to the Family. By W. Blanchard Jerrold. Part I.

[So far as we can yet tell, The Disgrace to the Family is a younger brother, whose elder brother inherited all the property by "the law of primogeniture,' (though it does not appear that any of it was freehold,) and Henry in consequence turned retail grocer. The subject of this first number is the farnily's abandon- ment of Henry, the loss of his mistress, his bankruptcy, and distress.] Fact and Fiction: a Collection of Stories. By L. Maria Child, Author of "Letters from New York," &e. (Smith's Standard Library.) The Life of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Written by Himself. With a Prefatory Memoir and Portrait. (Smith's Standard Library.) Mauprat. Part II. (Works of George Sand.)

ILLUSTRATED WORKS AND PRINTS.

Picturesque Illustrations of Ancient Architecture in Hindostan. By Tames Fergusson. [Coloured lithographic sketches, representing many of the very beautiful struc- tures of India; the scene enlivened with figures engaged in some characteristic vocation. As a work of art the book cannot rank high: but it will pass as a con- tribution to the drawingroom table.] The Tradesman's Book of Ornamental Designs. Part L [A laudable endeavour to bring correct ideas oi art within the reach of brass- founders, bookbinders, and others who have to handle ornamental work. There is a test, with carefully-executed plates. The author, Mr. Samuel Leitch, dedi- cates his work to the Board of Manufactures, &c. in Scotland.. The price is per- hapthigh for the class to whom the book is addressed.] Major-General Sir Harry Smith, Bart., of Aliwal, G. C. B., &s. Painted by Henry Moseley; lithographed by Thomas Fairland.