PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Japanese Fragments. With Fac-similes of Illustrations by the Artists of Yedo. By Captain Sherard Osborn, C.B.—Any one who has had,the pleasure of reading Captain Osbones Cruise in Japanese Waters will be prepared to find amusement and a great deal of instruction in any other work of his about Japan. We put amusement before instruction, for undoubtedly we all prize the entertainment derived from a novel subject more than the new knowledge we get out of it. The pictures illustra- ting this little volume are very amusing, and full of information con- cerning what the Japanese do not know in the art of design. As Cap- tain Osborn evidently thinks these productions of 'the native artists are very valuable to the English reading world, and we are surprised to find from 'his preface that he had any difficulty in getting them and his own " Fragments " published in London. We should, in our ignorance, have supposed that any publisher would have felt certain, 6. priori that such a combination must be "a hit." The readers of Once a Weeihave been fortunate in obtaining a first sight of the contents of this volume which is one of the best of unpretenders to public favour. The third, fourth, and fifth chapters contain an account of what European inter- course with Japan had effected before the middle of the seventeenth cen- tury. It is a slight historical sketch, which need not be read by any one who has read Mr. Dalton's recently-published quasi-historical novel called Will Adams. All the rest is Captain Osborn' s own experiences and observations, written in the easy, pleasant, sailor fashion which has become popular with those who read accounts of Arctic and Japanese voyages. For ourselves, we share Captain Osborn's liking for Japan, partly on the ground that the Japanese empire is geographically so mush like an Eastern British empire, and partly because its inhabitants do.not take their pleasure "moult tristement," like ourselves, but contrariwise, with genuine gaiete de coeur.

My First Voyage to Southern Sea& By W. H. Kingston.—Mr. King- ston is a sort of Mayne Reid, junior ; whatever he writes for boys is full of varied adventures, scenes, and sights, unlike the every, day life which boys who have leisure to read books generally lead. His books.arna contrast to their daily play, as well as to their daily work. The charms of cricket and boating sink into insignificance when compared with buf- falo or elephant-hunting, or being wrecked on an unknown coast. Young messmates (in imagination) will hear with delight "a brother seaman" tell "the dangers of the sea" in this volume, especially the South Sea, to the islands and stormy perils of which it is mainly devoted. It is very prettily illustrated; and, like all the author's books, written for the boy-public, to whom we gladly recommend it.

The Dog Crime. A tale of the Western Prairies. By R. M. Ballan- tyne.-LThe hero of this book is a Newfoundland dog, the property origi- nally of a Major Hope, who was a settler in the Mustang Valley of the Missouri. Major Hope is an excellent shot—and the times are made perilous by hostile Indians • as well as by wild beasts, so that Crusoes adventures with other dogs, human and canine, among the prairie in- habitants, are very exciting. Mr. Ballantynes style is sometimes spoiled by jocoseness, but on the whole the book is a fund of entertainment for those who love field-sports •and wild adventures among savage men end beasts.

The Tiger Slayer. 'A tale of the Indian Desert. By Gustave Aimard.— M. Aimard has achieved what his translator calls "a continental reputa- tion "—the said continent meaning always Europe, and not Asia, or Africa, or America. "The Tiger Slayer" is a novel of a kind of which we now have many ; all about shooting wild beasts in partially inhibited countries. The tiger of Mexico and the north of South America is the Cougar, and this is the animal largely slaughtered in M. Aimard's really amusing and exciting book, which we recommend to all whose touch ef the savage and the predatory man is strong within them.

The Uncommercial Traveller. By Charles Dickens.—We dare not venture to reckon the number of years since we were young, and the sketches by "Boz," were anew delight ; but, we will be bold enough to say that few writers have for many years maintained their popularity as Mr. Charles Dickens. These later " Sketches," by him are full of interest ; and it would be curious to compare their tone of feeling and knowledge of humanity with those "which- took the public fancy so long -since. The "Uncommercial Traveller" is soberer and .more gentle in his judg- ments—and &great deal more sentimental on his journey than " Boz" ; and he-may not have 'ailmirers so clamorous or so numerous, but we do not hesitate to say.that the middle-aged observer of men and manners-in-out- of-the-way places iv-hose sketches are now under our hand, deserves the praise of those who loved " Boz," quite as much as that youthful satirist himself. It is needless to enter into particulars concerning these papers, aitmeit peoplehave seen_ them in Household Words .and All the Year Round. There are people so constituted as to be utterly unable to read those publioationa,, or even to read anything written by Mr. Dickens "in his present manner." To all such, we say, "The Uncommercial Tra- veller" has many excellencies of that "early manner" which helped to make every body in love with "the Funny." We -must also remind them that' Mr. Dickens is no more responsible for all the bad fun which *swallowed in the* daystthan the vine-grow-era of Champagne can be considered guilty of all the stomach-aches caused by gooseberry-wine.

2femoirs and Essays illustrative of Art, Literature, and Social Morals By Mrs. J amesorr.—Thie is a cheap but very neat little edition of mis- cellaneous papers which have been-long deservedly admired. We remem- ber them all well, and look upon them as on the faces of old friends. "The House of Titian" is full of interest for all who love painters and painting, and that on Adelaide Xemble recals fine feelings, and noble uses of art to the mind of all wholave studied the music and musicians of the last twenty years.

True Manhood. By William Landels, Minister of Regent's Park Chapel—This volume, as the author informs us, is composed, to a con- siderable extent, of Lectures delivered to Young Men's Associations in different parts of :the country. It, of course, contains nothing new in morals or religion, and is- sufficiently well written to read as well as to be listened to by the large class for which it is meant. It is not bigoted in tone, nor, does it omit to teach that humility and mercy are the corner- stones of Christ's doctrine.

Plain Truths Plainly Put. By Newman Hall, LL.B.—A little hook containing.ten Sermons preached during the present year in St. James's Hall and the theatres, to the lower classes of the London poor. To those among our readers who have attended any of those special services, we need only say -that Mr. Newman Hall's Sermons are some of the best preached on those extraordinary occasions ; and are well worth the at- tention of-those who are seriously studying the religious condition of the people of England. This kind -of preaching does move large numbers of uneducated natures and common natures, whether among our rich classes or poor classes ; and we must not forgot that the educatedand uncommon natures are a small minority-in any nation of the earth.

Kelly's London Directory for 1861, may be truly said to be a -volume of general interest. London without such a guide would be a wilderness as inexplicable as Pekin, but with the aid of the Directory, London is rendered easy in the transaction of business or pleasure. Philosophers might profitably muse over the volume, and wonder at the collection of motives and designs which bring together so large a collection of human begins," for all men have business and desires, such as they are." Ours is at present the more utilitarian purpose ; to point to the enormous industry and mechanical skill, which have brought together in a volume a only 2481 pages the whole of the information necessary to the object. It forms a marvellous result, and the accuracy of the contents is not the -least part of the marvel. Perhaps, the enterprising spirit of the pub- Ushers is the greatest point of admiration.

Who's Who in 1861? tells us just as much about everybody as any one is likely to wish to know. The Editor is an inquisitive gentleman, --who has made minute inquiries into the ages, opinions, and official ?-position of every notable person. The Court, the Army, the Navy, the Cabinet, Parliament, the Bench of Bishops and the Bench at West- miester Hall, the Clubs, the County Court Judges, Queen's Counsel and Sergeants, are all classified, and, with other subjects, presented in a neat little volume, which may be easily carried about by the curious or ill- informed on public -personages. The information is brought down to the latest date ; as, 'for instance, in the list of the House of Commons, -we find the names of Lord Bury, Lord Stanhope, Mr. Somerset Beau- mont, and Mr. Layard, who were only elected a few days ago.

The Burlington Music Album is a collection of vocal and dance music, arranged for the pianoforte. In two respects the volume is acceptable, the music is entitled to consideration from the high authority of the names of the contributors---Schlosser, Adam Wright, W. T. Wrighton, W. Ball, Brinley Richards, J. W. Cherry, H. D'Orsay, Vincent Wallace, S. Glover Carlo Minasi, Lintolff: Linter, Miss Lindsay, and G. F. West, whose exertions, .put together, bring into one volume the music for ballads, polkas, and quadrilles. But, in another respect, also, the volume is welcome, for it is got up by the publishers in so handsome a ety, le as to suggest its bestowal as a Christmas present ; and in that view we mention it to Paterfamilias.

All among the ;Barley, a piece of -music, a galop, with Mr. Novello's permission, by Elizabeth Stirling, will be welcome in our festivities this eeeson.

Dolerue's Bed-.Letter Diaries and Lnproved Memorandum Books for 1861) are conveniently arranged in columns ; they contain necessary items, information frequently.and..urgently needed, and they deserve the attention of-all who find It desirable to record what they do and ought to do.

Boons

Supplementary Despatches, Correspondence, and Memoranda of Field Mar- shal Arthur Duke of Wellington, E.G. Edited by his son, the Duke of Wellington, K.G. Volume the seventh. Peninsula. December 1810, to June 1818.

Antique Gems: their Origin, Uses, and Value as Interpreters of Ancient His- tory • and as Illustrative of Ancient Art : with hints to Gem Collectors. By the Reverend C. W. Ring, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.

A Residence in Jutland, the Danish Isles, and Copenhagen. By Horace Marryat. In two volumes.

Iceland; its Volcanoes, Geysers, and Glaciers. By Charles S. Forbes, Com- mander R.N.

Euclid, arranged for Examinations • or the Geometrical Copy-book Being an attempt, by means of a new arrangement of the figures and demonstra- tions, to simplify and Sala the memory the propositions of Euelid,-and to impart the habit of writing them out logically and rapidly, for examisations, in the abbreviated and symbolical form adopted in the-Universities and public schools. By A. K. Isbister, M.A.

Tkelve o'Clock. A Christmas Story. By the Author of "Grandmother's Money," Ike.

The Magic of Science ; a :Manual of Easy and Instructive Scientific Experi- ments. By James Wilde, formerly Lecturer on Natural Philosophy, 8m. at the London Polytechnic Institution. Illustrated.

A Pictorial Hand-book of Modern Geography, on a Popular Plan, com- piled from the best Authorities, English and Foreign, and completed tolhe Present Time ; with Numerous Tables and a General Index. By Henry G. Bohn, P.R.G.S., fire.

The Oyster : Where, How, and When to Find, Breed, Cook, and-Eat It. ...Everyday Chemistry. A Familiar Explanation of the Chemical Principles connected with the Operations of Everyday Life. By Alfred Sibson, F.C.S.

Ways and Words of Men of Letters. By'the Reverend James Pycroft, B.A.

Legends and Lyrics. A Book of Verses, by Adelaide Anne Procter. Second volume.

Constable's Educational Series. Poetical Reading Book, with Aids for Gram- matical Analysis, Paraphrase, and Criticism. By J. D. Morell,-AM., LL.D. W. Ihne, Ph.D.

The World's Verdict. By the Author of "The Morals of May Fair." Ike. In three volumes.

80170 of the Cotenant Fines. By an Ayrshire Minister.

The Burlington Album of Pianoforte, Focal, and Dance Music, All Among the Barley ; arranged for a Galop.