PROGRESS OF PUBLICATION.

AFTER a torpor in the publishing world almost without example of late years, the bibliopoles seem to have determined to make up for lost time, and to let their activity be as singular as their former ease. Besides the works already added to our library, some forty volumes of various kinds are on our table: enough, in point of tale, to serve an " ambitious student" for a year's reading; containing, we should think, as much type as would suffice to cover the whole of the Classics of old Rome, whilst we could to a certainty pick out two or three tomes whose single bulk would equal that of the Corpus Poetarum Latinarum. When, such mighty masses are suddenly and simultaneously moved upon the critic from various quarters, what can he do, but follow the approved example of the imperial politician, and endeavour to conquer by dividing? Looking at the awful array before us, we feel that, to take up all the claimants in succession and in detail, would be impossible, if they even expected or required it. Nothing, therefore, is left us, but to put them into classes (in which mode of arrangement we shall now follow the fitness of things, and now make the theory square to our convenience); pass judgment at once upon some, postpone the trials of others, whilst a few will fall under a third head of judicial proceeding, and be dismissed upon their own recognizances to come up for judgment—if called upon.

Our first Catalogue will comprise works to which we propose recurring at AD early opportunity : a determination we come to rather as a matter of faith than reason, for we have not yet read enough to speak from knowledge. This is a class arranged according to arbitrary will, and not to the characters of the creatures. It may be headed

POSTPONED BOOKS.

Miss MITFORD'S Belford Regis. A kind of successor to Our Village; doing, in three volumes, for an old-fashioned country town, what that pleasing work accomplished in five for a subject containing, it would appear, less matter ; especially as, from a glimpse or two we have snatched, the fair writer appears to have given us on the present occasion a little of what Mr. GEORGE ROBINS makes such frequent use of—rus in urbe. Mr. WARREN'S Popular and Practical Introduction to Law Studies. A goodly volume, seemingly written as a guide to intended lawyers in the books of general literature they should read, the law-books they should study, and the steps they should take to enter the profession.

The Belgic Revolution of 1830, by CHARLES WHITE, Esq. In 2 vols. Of which we can as yet only say, that they are dedicated to Mrs. CHARLES WHITE; and that the preface complains of the difficulties attending the subject, hilst it tells us that Mr. W. was well placed for solving them. Doctors ANDREW REED and JAMES MATHESON, their Visit to the American Churches. Two grave and weighty volumes doubtless, and throwing, we trust, much light on the workings of the Voluntary principle. Hydraulitz, by Mr. WILLIAM MArrnEws, author of "The History of Gas-Lighting," is a book of Water-works; containing an historical and descriptive account of the contrivances by which London and other great cities have been supplied with the pure element.

WORDSWORTH'S Yarrow Revisited, and other Poems. "Long looked for, come at last;" but without a word to explain why it tarried on its way to Wellington ktreet.

Our next list embraces productions which at all events seem some degrees lower in capabilities, whatever they may eventually turn out. Let us call them

DOUBTFUL BOOKS.

The Second Series of the Journal of the Heart. Men and Manners in Great Britain, or "a Bone to Gnaw for the TROLLOPES, FIDLERS," &c. A title indicative of the work, though not of the execution : the subject at all events is good. Letters of Major Downing to his Old Friend Mr. Dwight. It is a reprint of an American book ; and a humorous skit on the government of' the Gineral."

The Student; a series of Tales and Essays, by Mr. E. L. But WER; the greater part of which have appeared before in the New Monthly Magazine or the Annuals. Speaking from old impressions and casual dips, their literary character scarcely appears to require much discussion. It is just possible that, in a time of leisure, we may find something to say on their philosophy. Sketches and Recollections, by JOHN Petite, Esq, In 2 vols. Another reprint from the New Monthly, of a series of light and amusing articles that have appeared in that periodical during the last ten years.

USEFUL Bemis.

The Emigrant and Traveller's Guide to and through Canada. By JOHN MURRAY.

Canada in the Years 1832, 1833, and 1834. By an Ex-Settler. Popular Statistics and Universal Geography. CHADWICK'S Practical Treatise on Brewing. The two little publications which lead off this list reciprocally illustrate each other. The Guide first tells us the different modes of going to Canada; the various routes that traverse the country, which is roost convenient, which is the cheapest, what is to be seen along each, and—what is still more important to the stranger suddenly let down in a new country—the kind of conveyances used, the places where they start from, who the proprietors are,. and the usual charges. Having arrived at the land of promise, the ExSettler's Canada aims at informing the emigrant how to go about settling ; and when he has chosen his allotment, he instructs him touchine° the best way of clearing and fencing it, and the cost ; he then discourses on cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses, with the respective difficulties and profits attendant upon each kind of stock ; the house, the out-buildings, garden and " bees," next engage his pen ; and he closes with a view of crops, prices, and the barter system. The merits of the Guide consist in its minute and spe-cific information: assuming its correctness, it must be invaluable to the intending emigrant, with whom its dry exactness forms its chief merit. Canada has no literary pretensions, and the ExSettler seems to have dwelt long enough in the bush to have corrupted his mother tongue; but the little volume is real, full of everyday matter, and gives some useful advice both to intending emigrants and to new comers.

Popular Statistics contains a good many useful facts, selected from various quarters ; tables of chronology, and gold and silver foreign coins, of the height of mountains, towers, and spires, ofwaterfalls and cascades, of the length and breadth of cathedrals, of the principal modern geographical discoveries, chronologically arranged (a very useful table), &c. We have also the statistics of the globe as regards population and productions, with a variety of minor matters, and a neat little chart of the world after Mercator's projection.

Mr. CHADWICK'S Treatise on Brewing is a practical tract, by a practical man, who disdains not the aid of science. Besides general instruction to the uninformed or the half-informed, he has two specific objects in view, both of which are useful : he would popularize the use of the thermometer and saccharorneter, and make six bushels of malt go as far as eight.

MISCELLANIES.

Sketch of the Life of Thomas Singularity, journeyman printer. By JEREM I AH HOPKINS. An American work reprinted in London : it was written to preface a collection of tales ; and is a laughable affair enough, though we do not altogether comprehend the writer's drift, unless it be to shadow forth the abstraction of a Yankee scamp. Singularity is a foundling, by profession a printer,. by practice an adventurer in various ways—a chevalier dindustrie ; and here is a narrative of some of his doings. It reminds one of the older novels descriptive of minor thieving ; though the events are less striking, and suited to these matter-of-fact times. Thestyle is not so rich as that of the productions alluded to ; indeed it is so subdued as to give a greater air of truth to the life than it obviously pretends to. The chief defect is a want of breadth and of object.

Sphinx Incruenta contains two hundred and twelve original. Enigmas and Charades. Those we have looked at are ingenious,. and even elegant; and the book is likely to afford some puzzling amusement for many idle hours. It may be a recommendation to those who "have no Sphinx at home," to know that the answers are given in a key annexed.

The Second Volume of Mr. JOHN WALKER ORD'S England, ars Historical Poem, completes his task. There is not so much difference between Mr. ORD'S first and his present book as to call for comment. He still selects a single character or event, and versifies it ; and his poetry, as heretofore, excels his prose. He opens. his labours with the Battle of Crecy, and closes with SHAKSPEARE and the reign of ELIZABETH. Like " stout Gloucester," Mr. ORD would "have stood aghast in speechless trance" at the Republican atrocities during the Great Rebellion.

INSTRUCTIVE BOOKS.

A Treatise on English Grammar, Style, and Poetry; to which is added, Advice to the Student on the Improvement of the Understanding. By RICHARD RILEY. Second Edition. An Abridgment of Hiley's English Grammar ; together with appropriate Exercises. Second Edition. Questions and Exercises adapted to Hiky's English Grammar; to which is added, a New System of English Composition. Second Edition.

A Manual of English Grammar, Philosophical and Practical. By the Reverend J. M. M.Cui.Locit, A.M. Second Edition.

The word" second edition" to every book in this list. precludes the necessity of description or criticism. It is sufficient to note the leading character of each writer. Mr. H I LEY, then, seems the safer master for those who prefer authority. Mr. M'CuLtocies is the more original and philosophical mind. Circumstances having turned his attention to the subject of grammar, Mr. Hi LEY and a critical friend took up LI NDLEY MURRAY, and tested every rule and opinion advanced; a similar plan was pursued with the remainder of the most celebrated English grammarians by Mr. HILEY alone; the final result produced a Grammar which purports to contain the valuable essence of all former writers, with some additional rules to supply their deficiencies. Mr. M'Cur.Loci proceeded on a very different plan : he subjected the English language to the test of the rules which practice and custom had laid down,—keeping up an appeal, however, from these to reason herself. The result is, a much shorter and simpler grammar than his know labourers; in which few will be able to read many pages without meeting something to excite their attention and set them thinking.

GOOD DOORS

Are few, and little,—Caroline, the Spoiled Child Reclaimed, and Spiritual Food. The two first are each a series of stories intended to improve children. The object of Caroline is to show the folly of young ladies endeavouring to govern themselves; and Miss RonwELL, the amiable writer, most forcibly impresses upon infant minds the immediate disasters to which any attempt to supersede the governess gives rise. In the Spoiled Child, Ellen, who enacts that disagreeable rOle, is reclaimed by a •visit to her aunt and cousins; where her airs and graces are practically put down in a series of adventures.

Spiritual Food for the Spiritual Mind, like the noun substantive of the Eton Latin Grammar, "expressly declares its own meaning, and requires not another word to be joined with it to slow its signification."

THE SERIALS

Upon our table are nine in number ; three of which are poetical. The Thirty-third Volume of the Aldine Poets commences BUTLER, and contains a Memoir of the author, by the Reverend JOHN MITFORD, that tells us what little was known of his life, and gives besides some biographical inhumation as to the publication of the earlier editions, and of the imitations to which the success of Hudibras gave rise. The Second Volume of VAL PY'S Pope is rich in great and varied excellence, containing "Eloisa to Abelard," the "Essay on Criticism," " W indsor Forest," the "Moral Essays," and all the Satires and Epistles, including the imitations of HORACE —why was the original Latin omitted ? The Third Part of Mr. Moxoses monthly edition of Roos.as* Poems, amongst other things, contains the whole of his charming "Jacqueline." Some of the prose volumes are valuable, and would warrant more than a sentence of mere acknowledgment, if time and space permitted: especially—Mr. SWAI NSON'S treatise on the Geography and Classification Animals, published in LARDNER'S Cyclopedia; the Second Volume of the Reverend T. S. HUGHES'S interesting History of England, embracing as it does the stirring times of WILKES and JUNIUS, and the early part of the American War; and the Third Volume of SAUNDERS and OTLEY'S beautiful edition of the Life and Works of William Couper.

The remaining two consist of the Third Part of Dr. COPLAND'S Dictionary of Practical Medidicine, which commences with "Dropsy "and comes doe n to "Fever." The Fifth Part of Mr. KNOWLES'S Pronouncing Dictionary, terminating with the word "Ribbed." The Sixth Volume of the Family Divinity edition of DODDR I DGE'S Expositor, which completes the work.