PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Bonne.

Memoirs of the We and Times of Sir Christopher Hatton, If.G., Vice- Chamberlain and Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth. Including his Correspondence with the Queen and other distinguished persons. By Sir Harris Nicolas, G.C.M.G.

Travels in the Interior of Brazil, principally through the Northern Pro- vinces, and the Gold and Diamond Districts, during the years 1836-1841. By George Gardner, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardena of Ceylon.

A Canoe Voyage up the Sources of the Minnay Sotor; with an Account of some lead and copper deposits in Wineonsin and of the gold region in the Cherokee country, &c. G. W. Feathersionhaugh, F.R S.,&e.; Author of " Excursions in the Slave States." In two volumes. Volume L Correspondence of the late James Watt on hie Discovery of the Theory of the Composition of Water. With a Letter from his Son. Edited, with Introductory Remarks and an Appendix, by James Patrick Mairhead, Esq., F.R.S.E.

Chemistry of the Four Seasons, Spring Summer, Autumn, Winter: en Essay, principally concerning Natural Phrenomena admitting of interpreta- tion by Chemical Science and illustrating Passages of Scripture. By The- mes Griffiths, Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of St. Bar- tholomew's Hospital; Author of " Recreations in Chemistry," tko.

Tales of the Century; or Sketches of the Romance of History, between the

years 1746 and 1846. By John Sobieski and Charles Edward Stuart. [This volume is entitled to some attention for its authors; who, we believe, lay claim to a connexion with the clan Stuart, as their book is devoted to the subject of their chieftain. According tithe tales of our authors, set in a framework, the wife of Charles Edward of the '45 was secretly delivered of a son; which, for political reasons arising out of his adverse circumstances, the father sent away in infancy, and never acknowledged. The first tale in the volume describes the mysterious accouchement by an exiled Scotch Jacobite physician who was suddenly called upon to attend the Princess, with the equally mysterious conveyance of the infant on ship-board. The second story is supposed to relate to the fortunes of* Highland Jacobite; but it is constructed to exhibit the assumed heir of the Stuart line on a visit to Scotland. The scene of the third tale is laid in England: the subject is the abduction of a young lady to whom the Prince is attached, in order to prevent his marriage, and her subsequent rescue by her lover, with their wed- ding. The plots of the tales are ably managed for the purpose in view; and con- siderable knowledge of Highland manners and Jacobite feelings is exhibited by the writers. Whether the same praise can be given to their history or tradition, we cannot undertake to say—how far it may be "an ower true tale," or a clever invention. However, there are a variety of able and interesting notes in the ap- pendix; which discuss many matters touched upon in the text, either indirectly— as political assassinations and Highland practices, or directly—as the long incog- nito of Charles Edward from 1749 to 1764, or the connexion with Miss Walking- ton,—in which part, by the by, our copy is imperfect]

Hugh Talbot; a Tale of the Irish Confiscations of the Seventeenth Century. By William J. O'Neill Daunt, Esq., Author of "Saints and Sinners," &c. [The scene of this novel is laid in England and Ireland during the time of James the First, when the great confiscations of Irish property took place. The hero Of the story is Hugh Talbot, a proscribed Romish priest, brother of the Earl of Shrewsbury; and the incidents are contrived to exhibit the persecutions which the Romanists suffered, and the miseries religions bigotry introduced into social life. The view of course is onesided; but that is not the evil of Hugh Talbot, Mr. O'Neill Daunt is deficient in the imagination necessary to revive the past, or the genius to animate his characters with life. He can, however, interest the reader in a stirring event so long as the action is going on; though the interest ceases when his persons have to speak.] The Good Genius that turned Everything into Gold, or the Queen Bee anli the Magic Dress; a Christmas Fairy Tale. By the Brothers Mayhew. With Illustrations by George Craikshauk. [This is as pretty and fanciful a fairy tale as ever Mother Bench invented; awl what is more, it is full of adventures, of a serio-comic character, and points not only one good moral but many,—though the lesson chiefly taught is the happineaa of contented industry. The intermixture of possible and fabulous incidents, and of human and fairy nature, is cleverly and pleasantly managed, though sometimes the pleasantries partake too mach of the style of phraseology in theatrical burlesques; and droll and beautiful scenes are described with equal gusto. It is a capital Christina; book of its kind, that bids fair to become popular.]

d Catholic History of England. By William Bernard MacCabe. Volume 1. [It is Mr. Bernard MacCahe's opinion, that every history of England is that of the author rather than of the truth, or even of his authorities; as by the name we guess the bias, not to say distortions, we have to expect from Lingard, or Hume, or any other writer. There is some truth in this remark; and it is proba- ble that a fuller display of the original authorities, if skilfully and critically done, (wherein lies the difficulty,) would make a better or at all events a more truthful history than any now existing. Mr. MacCabe's plan, however, is not to purify and amalgamate the original authors, rejecting what is foolish, fabulous, Ines; prolix, or evidently the author's own rhetoric, and to present what is dubious al doubtful: he designs a history on the scissors and paste plan. The fullest nar- rative of any public event which he finds in a monkish historian he translates for his text; collateral accounts sometimes follow, and are sometimes exhibited in notes; which last also embrace occasional remarks by modern critics or histo- rians. The idea of alteration is foreign to Mr. MacCabe's plan: excision or omis- sion seems equally alien. The facts of history we may accept from the chroni- clers, when the chronicle is really aathentic,—unless it be such tales as that Joseph of Arimathea headed, by appointment, a mission of twelve to preach the gospel in Britain. But possible additions, such as conversations the author was not likely to have heard, or evident descriptions of his own—as when he imitate; the classical accounts of battles, or reflections upon sublunary subjects in general— should be unscrupulously rejected, or only occastonally presented as specimens of the manners of the age or the style of the writer. Mr. MacCabe, as we have said, thinks otherwise; and the result is, that he has extended the Saxon story till the reign of Egbert and the first appearance of the Danes to nearly 750 page!, and, what is a worse consequence, called upon the general reader to peruse a vast amount of original rubbish, which loses its character by being transplanted.1

The Life and Speeches of Daniel O'Connell, M.P. Edited by his Son, John O'Connell, M.P. Kilkenny City, &c. Volume IL

[This collection of O'Connell's speeches on various subjects, both of law and agi- tation, extends from 1813 to 1824; the principal national topic being "Seen.. cities" and the "Veto," in which Mr. O'Connell opposed the leading Catholio nobility and gentry. These speeches are taken from the ntwspaper reports, and garnished by copies of resolutions and other formal documents,—specimens of stuffing. The running commentary of Mr. John O'Connell is useful as a setting or connecting link, and is fair enough considering his position: of course nothing like criticism is to be expected, and the praise is not fulsome. The account of tlah fatal duel between Mr. O'Connell and Mr. D'Esterre, and a paper war between the rabble leader and Peel's 'friend," have perhaps the most interest of &uplift in the volume; though there is something about them at once shocking end indiums.) English Etymologies. By IL Fox Talbot, Esq. [A learned and Ingenious attempt to trace the origin of many English words whose etymology is disputed, doubtful, or in Mr. Talbot's opinion wrongly ascribed. Sometimes the derivations are dogmatic, and briefly dismissed; sometimes they Are disqnisitional, and extend to a short essay. Knowledge and study are exhibited throughout the volume, and the conclusions often command assent; but the au- thor often displays that ingenious mode of forcing things his own way which dis- tinguishes etymologists, who frequently have to grope without guide through the mist of ages, and are sometimes inclined to substitute conjecture for research.] The Theatres of Paris. y Charles Hervey. Illustrated with original Por-

traits of eminent living Actresses, by Alexandre Lacauchie.

[This handsome volume contains a general view of the rise and progress of the drama in Paris, introduced in conjunction with the history of each theatre; a no- tice of the actors and actresses attached to each playhouse, following the account of the "house" itself. These notices vary from a pretty full biographical and cri- tical sketch, down to a few lines. The historical and descriptive accounts, with some of the biographical passages, seem quoted or compiled; the criticisms are mostly original. It is a useful volume for those who are or wish to be acquainted with the Parisian theatrical world; but the splendid style in which the book ift got up is out of all proportion to the worth of the matter.] Irish Diamonds; or a Theory of Irish Wit and Blunders: combined with other kindred subjects. By John Smith, one of the Editors of the "Liver-

- pool Mercury," late Lecturer on Education and Geographical Science, &c. With Illustrations by "

[As regards appearance, this is another of the numerous little gift-books that brwe characterized the present December. Its subject is the wit, humour, re- Veand blunders of the three nations, with a sprinkling from other sources; tte most prominent place is assigned to the Irish, both in wit and bulls, while an effort is made to discuss the subject critically. The theme would appear to have originally served Mr. Smith as a subject for lecturing, or viva voce dis minion.] - A Treatise on Chemistry; with Questions on each page, and a Glossary of Terms. By. Richard D. Hoblyn, A.M. Oxon; Author of Manuals of Chemistry, the Steam-engine, 86c.

- First Book of Heat, Light and Optics, and Electricity; with Questions on each page. By John L Comstock, M.D.; and Richard D. Hoblyn, £M., &c. [Two little publications, partly extracted from the larger works of the authors, with a view to serve as introductions to the study of the respective subjects.]

ALMANACK.

The Illustrated Musical Aknanack, for 1847.

[Alandsome and amusing medley of pictures and music, sentimental and comical, by a baud of composers and sketchers, led by F. W. N. Bayley, of facetious re

mite, who makes the jokes and verses that are pictorially and musically accom- panied. Among the musicians, are Balfe, Wallace, Hatton, Crouch, and Alexan- der Lee; and the designers include Kenny Meadows, Phiz, J. Doyle, Warren, and others. The designs that adorn the songs are on a large scale, and boldly and beautifrIlly engraved on wood by Linton; and many of the comic cuts are ex- tremely droll.]