PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

BOOKS.

Vas Occult Sciences. The Philosophy of Magic Proffigiesi_and A_pparent Miracles. From the French of Ensebe Salve;te. With Notes, Matra five, Explanatory, and Critical, by Anthony Todd Thomson, M.D., F.L.S., &c. In two volumes.

The Mission of the Comforter, and other Sermons; with Notes. By Julius Charles Hare, M.A., Archdeacon of Lewes, &c. Sermons. By Alfred Getty, M.A., Vicar dl Eralesfield. A Peep into Toorkisthan. By Captain Rollo Burslem, 13th, Prince Albert's Light Infantry. Notes and Remarks made in Jersey, France, Italy, and the Mediterearisaa, in 1843 and 1844. By J. Burn Murdoch, Esq. Ilse Life of a Negro Slave. Reedited by Mrs. Alfred Barnard.

The Past and Future of the British Navy. By the Honourable E. Plunkett, Commander R. N.

Olen is a fashion in phobias. At one time it was Russia which was to invade India; and officers wrote books demonstrating the ease with which the thing could be done. Some years afterwards, Russia attempted to reach Khiva• and showed that a paper march and an actual march are two different things. France and invasion are just now the fashion and, by dint of taking all that is possible for the writer's view, and leaving out all that is probable against it—by supposing the French to do everything and to succeed in everything, and Great Britain to do nothing at all but hold out her throat—it is easily shown, upon paper, that London might be reached and sacked, and England permanently reduced to a third-rate power. This is the spirit of Mr. Plunkett's book: but exaggeration on one side need not induce supineness. The use of steam will facilitate rapid descents, which might ruin districts, though not influence the result of a war. Whether it will facilitate invasion, may be doubted, seeing that invasion can only he made with a large army, which will require a fleet of steamers, that could not he assembled without its being known; and a fleet of steamers crammed with troops, beaten or even encountered at sea, would involve no small destruction. Nevertheless, it is quite right to provide harbours of refuge, and to fortify weak places- _It would also be right to attend to about the only practical suggestion in Mr. Plunkett's book, and more fully man our navy and exercise the hands in gunnery; so that we may not be taken by surprise. We think he attributes quite am much national power to French pamphleteers and newspaper-writers as they deserve: and it is probable that he rather overrates the gunnery of the French navy—which did not seem to impress the critical spectators at Morocco.] An Introduction to the Field-Sports of France; being a Practical View of Hunting, Shooting, and Fishing, on the Continent -With a concise Notice of the Habits-and Instincts of the several Animals in question, and a suf- ficient Sketch of the Game and Piscatory Laws of France for the guidance of Sportsmen. By R. O'Connor, Esq., Barrister-at-law. [This volume gives a popular and pleasant description of the various field-sports of France, as pursued by the French, from stag-hunting down to gudgeon-fishing; which last is said to be superior. Mr. O'Connor has also arranged his treatise in an orderly manner, under the divisions of hunting, shooting, and fishing. To the sportsman already in France the volume is essential: its perusal is perhaps equally essential to the sportsman contemplating a journey thither, that he may 'mow what to expect. Judging from the description, the only sport that is likely to hare stimulus enough for an Englishman is boar and wolf-hunting; • though even lzete the final blow is sought to be inflicted at a safe distance, andthe death, es- pecially of the wolf, to be the main object sought. A stag has a certain law given him as regards age, but the fox is leaked upon as vermin, and the hare hunted for the pot. In short, the true British sportsman would rather read of the field- sports-of France than practise them, except at a last pinch.] The Astrologer; a Legend of the Black Forest. By a Lady. In two volumes. [The Astrologer has predicted misfortune to Albert, son of the Margrave of

, if he enter Schwartzwald; and thither of course the Prince goes, partly inveigled by the arts of his cousin.Prince Charles, who would be heir to the Mar- grave were Albert removed, and partly influenced by magic arts. This enmity and these arts pursue him through two volumes; when the guilty are baffled, and the innocent happy, after "a close shave." The author of The Astrologer is not equal to the probable in fiction, much less the marvellous.] Confessions of an Etonian. By J. E. hi.

[The story of an idle Eton boy' whose family forced him into the Church, which he left after a time, and then rambled over Europe. The Confessions embrace three mras,—reminiscences of Eton; the author's life as a country parson; and his reveries (for they are hardly to be called observations or re- flections) during his pedestrian tour. The incidents are mostly commonplace, such as might occur to anybody, though J. E. ht. strives to endow a few with ro- mance by colouring them with boyish fancies. The author designs to point some moral connected with parents and Eton; but the chief moral relates to his own dis

. position or circumstances.] Paul Fitz-Henry, or a Few Weeks in Paris; a Narrative. By Henry John Thornton, Author of" Poetical Sketches," &c. f'A farrago of improbabilities, designed torepresent life in Paris, and the adventures of Mr. Paul Fitz-Henry in that capital; but it represents nothing save the writer's notions.] The Year of the World; a Philosophical Poem on "Redemption from the Fall." By William B. Scott [So far as we can comprehend this poem in conjunction with the preface, the object of Mr. Scott seems to be a sort of philosophical revelation, in which man ahall be traced from the wildness of impulse in youth, through the practical and

=alltive career of manhood, till he reaches philosophical indifference or wis- the result of experience. This idea is embodied in a wild sort of tale, Ulf allegory half myth, set forth in sounding strain, but sadly deficient in defi- Rite purpose. Mr. Scott seems to have tossed together bits of various mythologies, and conceived them to be a revelation.]

Silent Love; a Poem. By the late James Wilson, Esq., Native of Paisley. Fifth edition.

[A cheap brochure. The success of Silent Love is a striking instance of the taking power of agreeable commonplace.]

Jephtheginia, or Jepthah's Daughter. with other Poems, Elegiacs], Allegori- es!, &e., chiefly Sacred. By Edward Farr. (A pretty little volume of smooth verse.) The Debater; s. New Theory of the Art of Speaking: being a series of com- plete Debates, Outlines of Debates, and Questions for Discussion; with re- ferences to the best sources of information on each particular topic. By Frederic Rovrton, Lecturer on General Literature; Author of "Capital Punishment Reviewed," &e. [This volume is a sort of companion to the spouting club, or manual for the de- bating society; and consists of a series of discussions on questions that we dare

say are usually debated at those nurseries of orators, followed by a aeries of skele- tons on the same subject. The speeches seem too like what they profess, to be to inspire much reading interest; and we doubt the utility of Mr. Bowton's plan, which is to teach elocution and oratory all in one. No doubt, in the last stage of perfection, oratory and elocution are combined; but they are in themselves totally distinct, and should so be taught to tyros. Mr. Rowton's principle is the same as if a singer should be simultaneously taught to sing and compose his own song, or an actor his own part; and, after all, the principle breaks down. Mr. Rowton merely substitutes these debating-club effusions for the select masterpieces of the "reader."]

British Ornithology. Manual of British Birds; including the Essential Cha- racters of the Orders, Families, Genera, and Species. By William Mac- ' livray, A.M., LL.D., &c-; Author of "A History of British Birds," ere. Second edition, with an Appendix, &c.

[The chief features of this new edition are a description of eighteen new species, and indices of Latin and English names. It is possible that we may have said it before, but the fact will bear repetition, that this work is designed for the pocket of those who may wish to avail themselves of any leisure hours to study ornithology, as well as for the desk. For this purpose, the book consists of two volumes,—one relating to land, the other to water birds,—which may be had separately, though in the volume before us the two are in one.] The Plough; aJournal of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Volume L January . to June 1846.

[The half-year's numbers of this periodical, collected together, form a bondman volume, with its green binding, gilt edges, and plates of animals. The contents desiderate somewhat more of vigour both of thought and style: there is too mach of the commonplace desponding sort of tone that characterizes the " agricultural interest" when it does not bark and rail.] First Book of Astronomy. By John L. Comstock, M.D., and Richard D. Hoblyn, A.M. Oxon. (Scott's First Books in Science.) First Book of Natural Philosophy. By John L. Comstock, M.D., and Richard D. Iloblyn, A.M. Oxon. (Scott's First Books in Science.) [These cheap little manuals are reprints or condensations from a larger com- pendium of physical science, known as the Manual of Natural Philosophy.] Four Synoptic Tables on Railway Locomotion. Compiled by N. Mph. Banner.

Handbook of Anatomy for Students of the Fine Art.. With Illostralions on Wood. By J. A. Wheeler.

klenburg; Author of " TheV71*

Klauer-Klattowski, of Schwerin in Mec Senoptical Miniature German Grammar, in Nine Tables. By man Manual for the Young and for Self-Tuition," &c. New edition.

ILLUSTRATED WORKS.

Royal Gems from Galleries of Art. Parts IL and IIL [These parts contain two of Wilkie 's earliest and best works, "The Blind Fiddler," and "Village Politicians"; the latter extremely well engraved. The intensity of expression and action in every figure, the marked character of each individual, the animation and completeness with which the incidents are depicted—every accessory of the most trivial kind contributing to the vntisernblance—and the careful finish bestowed on the minutest objects, that constitute the extelleneel of Wilkie's pictures, are conspicuous in these. Two sunny Cuyps from Dulwich, and Alexander Johnstone's best work, "The Covenanter'a Wedding," add to the attractions of these two parts.] Handbook of Anatomy for Students of the Fine Arts. By J. A. Wheeler. With Illustrations on wood.

EA succinct enumeration of the names and uses of the bones and muscles dem human figure, illustrated with neat wood-cuts of the skeleton and muscular system. A useful vade-mecum for artists, whether studying from the a/Maude a drawing-school or from nature in their own studio.]