BOOKS ON THE TABLE.

1. Letters on Dancing, by E. A. THELEUR. This is a very splendid quarto volume, on that methodical management of the ,muscles which men agree to call Dancing. It might be supposed that dancing, as an art, was incapable of being reduced to paper ; but Mr. THELEUR is not the first whose elaborate work on this elegant accomplishment has come under our notice. Englishmen consider the "poetry of motion" merely as a scheme for the ma- nagement of the toes; and if a party of English dancers could be observed in such a manner that the plane* of vision ended with, the calves of their legs, no spectator could imagine what grave work they were about. Mr. THELEUR educates arms as well as legs; and we wish he could also infuse a little enthusiasm into the body, if not into the spirit. Why do we delight to witness fandangos, boleros, &c., but that we detect evidences of the true enjoyment of dancing, which we curse our stars that we cannot reach in our own stiff persons ?

Fi 2. Polar Seas and Regions (Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. I.) The general excellence of this compilation has called forth a third edition, which is improved by some changes and additional mat- ter,—such as the history of the last year's Whale-fishery, and a very interesting narrative of the shipwreck, sufferings, and ulti- mate escape ol'a part of the crew of the John of Greenock.

3. Lodges Peerage of the British Empire. This is a continu- ation and improvement of the Annual Peerage, in two volumes, by the Misses INNES. It must supersede all other works of the kind ; for two reasons,—first, it is on a better plan; and second, it is better executed. The genealogical portion is separated from that which fluctuates every year,—namely-, the present state of the families: it only the latter volume that will need to be re- placed from time to time, as alterations occur. The arrangement is alphabetical in both divisions. We have had much to do of late with Peerages; and can safely pronounce this to be the readiest, the most useful, and exactest of the modern works on the subject. We lay no particular stress k upon the eminent name of Mr. LODGE, "Norroy King of Arms," being attached to the book. It will, indeed, from this alliance, 1 be understood to possess high genealogical claims : we believe, however, that on this point, the compiler has in general followed the example of his predecessors, and abridged Cotamvs. 4. We are glad to see a second edition of Mr. WAKEFIELD'S Facts relative to the Punishment of Death. There is an appendix added, on what is called Burking, or, according to Mr. WAKE- FIELD, Murder for the Sale of the Dead Body. As a mode of procuring subjects for the anatomical schools, he suggests that the bodies of all persons who receive above a certain amount of public money should be forfeited, for the benefit of the public, after death. This looks like njoke : for all purposes of utility, Mr. WAKEFIELD might just as well have suggested that no stu- dent should pass the College of Surgeons who could not produce a certificate of having spent an entire year with the cannibals of New Zealand. , There is a Society for the Diffusion of Information on the sub- ject of Capital Punishment: they have latelyissued a pamphlet, the chief value of which consists in a comparative view of the punishments annexed to crime in the United States of America . and in England. This Society could not do better than purchase the copyright of Mr. WAKEFIELD'S book, and circulate thirty thousand copies at 6d. or Is. They would affect public opinion more by this means than by a hundred such pamphlets as this be- fore us,—without denying its merit.

5. The Outlines of English History, by Mr. INCE of Dover, are not without merit as a first book for schools. There is a great deal of information in a small compass, and he seems to have availed himself of the latest authorities. We prefer the form of Outlines very much to that of Catechisms. It contributes to the formation of more logical views, both by the teacher and scholar. Cate- chisms are tile school-books of parrots. Mr. liven should be told, that of all books, school-books ought to be correctly printed.

6. The Anatomy, of Drunkenness, by Mr. MACNISH, is a very useful and even ingenious work, which has arrived at a third edition, and at each stage doubled its size and power, in order to show the strength of its constitution. We can recommend it to all persons who suspect themselves of a growing fondness for- " excitement ;" they will find their bad habits properly depicted, and themselves duly horrified. We are amused by Mr. MACNISH'S good-nature: after having tried, through 230 pages, to disgust men with their liquor,—and feeling, perhaps, that he had failed, or might have done so,—he straightway indites a chapter of "Advice to Inveterate Drunkards,' showing how they may get drunk with most wholesomeness and the least loss of health. The rules are of the plain kind: such as—Mix your spirits; never mix your wines; don't drink on an empty stomach.

6, Poetical Ephemeras, by JAMES PENNycoox BROWN, is a col- lection of verse, not without poetical feeling. We do not pretend that it has high claims; but they whose hearts melt easily to the cadence of verse, .will find some pleasure in perusing these modest "ephemeras." We will give a specimen.

MT CHOSEN ONE.

Thou art indeed my chosen one—

My lovely, good, and kind, Whose scat is on my bosom's throne, Whose home is in my mind; There's not a joy that lights my heart, Nor dream, howe'er so fair, But thou in all thy beauty, art The ruling spirit there.

And thou to me art but a dream Of hope, and joy, and love,

And all that gives life's turbid stream

The light of things above ; A dream, whose brightly coloured dyes Shine forth in lustre meek, As brilliant as thine own bright eyes, And lovely as thy cheek !

As spring gives back unto the flowers The smiles they laid aside, When winter ruled their scentless bowers In all his gloomy pride ; So, when my glowing thoughts of bliss Are darkened all with gloom, Thy smile gives to their witheredness The richness of their bloom.

Then, when amidst the lofty throng, 'Mon g which 'tis thine to move, Oh! think upon the child of song, Thy lowly minstrel love—

Him, o'er whose harp in sadness oft Is breathed thy gentle name, Awakening feelings, true and soft, Of love's undying flame !

Alas alas ! it may not be That thou wouldst stoop so low, As give thy thoughts to one like me, Whose life-path teems with woe.

If such should be, I ask them not From out their taintless shrine ; But my love's lamp will light my lot, Though blending not with thine!