PROGRESS OF PUBLICATION.
FOUR books of Travels arc despatched in our Library; two more are on our table, together with a collection of Tales that have been gained by travelling. They are all from Mr. BENTLEY; and, so far as one can judge from titles and dipping, appear to be of considerable promise; but they arrived too late in the week to be available. Mr. BENTLEY should bear in mind, that when a department must of necessity close on Friday night, Wednesday is a late day for those who like to read books before they pass opinions on them, especially with many other and prior claimants for notice before them. The titles in which the Bentleian batch rejoices, are— A Steam Voyage down the Danube; with Sketches of Hungary, Wal- lachia, Servia, and Turkey, &c. By MICHAEL QUIN, Author of " A Visit to Spain." In 2 vols. A Summer Ramble in Syria, with a Tartar Trip from Aleppo to Stamboul. By the Reverend VERE MoNeo. In 2 vols. Tales of the Ramad'han. By J. A. ST. JOHN, Author of " Egypt and Mohammed Ali," &c. In 3 vols.
Mr. WILLIAM BLACK'S Practical Treatise on Brewing, and on Storing Beer, is rather addressed to the profession than to the public at large; for the author seems to think that beer is not an article to be produced in a small way, as one would make a cup of tea. The writer professes to give his brethren the result of forty yeare' experience in the art; and in his instructions aims at com- bining chemical science with practical skill. According to his views, a good beer can only be made from the best materials; though these may readily be spoiled in the process ; the end of which, be it said, is to produce a proper fermentation in the five stages through which the product must pass, whilst one consi- derable effect of indifferent materials seems to be their injurious action on fermentation. Mr. BLACK, supported by the opinion of
Sir HUMPHRY DAVY and other chemists, confirmed by his own experience, also maintains that electricity has a very fatal effect on beer-making ; to obviate which, he recommends that the " squares or gyle-tuns" should neither be placed on the ground, touch the wall, nor have any metal pipes attached to them, but be perfectly isolated, and rest upon wooden bearers.
Into the details of the work we cannot of course enter. Let it suffice to say, that it abounds in minute directions for all the dif- ferent steps to be taken in making and storing beer; and is interspersed with what appear to us sensible remarks on the principles of the art.
A continuous in-dropping of small matters during the week, and a sudden rush at its close, compel us to break off abruptly. Several Serials have arrived with the last day, but we yet miss many of the usual visitants ; we will therefore postpone a detailed acknowledgment until the arrival of all. Poems also appear to be rife ; but the number of the miscellanies is so considerable, that we have not had time to examine, much less to read them. We must therefore, though somewhat out of order, ask leave to suspend the Report of Progress till the next sitting.
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