PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

From November 21st to November 27th.

Booss.

Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches; with Elucidations. By Thomas Carlyle. In two volumes.

A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature. Edited by John Kitto, Di)., F. Editor of "The Pictorial Bible," Author of " The History and Physical Geography of Palestine," &c. Illustrated by numerous Engravings. In two volumes.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Written by Himself.

Rambles in the United States and Canada, during the year 1845; with a short Account of Oregon. By Rubio. A Comparative Grammar of the Sanscrit, Zend, Greek, Latin, Lithuanian, Gothic, and Sclavonic Languages By Professor F. Bopp. Translated from the German, principally by Lieutenant Eastwick, M.RA.S.; con- ducted through the press by H. H. Wilson, ALA., F.R.S.,Boden Professor of Sanserit in the University of Oxford.

La Soubrette, or the Adventures and Recollections of Theresa Dornay; Narrative founded on facts. In three volumes.

[The framework of this novel, which serves to connect the adventures, is doubtless invention: for the early story of Theresa Dornay's parents is romantic; and it ends with the quondam governess, companion, and what not, marrying a duke. Much of the intermediate substance is probably "founded on facts." The character of the different families with whom Theresa is placed, and their behaviour in form- ing engagements and treating their governesses, is marked with an apparent truth, which though literal, and perhaps strained, seems taken from life. The succession of situations which the heroine fills, and the number of different charac- ters and families that are naturally introduced, have the same effect as variety of fortune in a well-constructed fiction. But the writer of La Soubrette is deficient in force and lightness of touch: the book consequently wants the vivacity and dramatic character of a novel. Indeed, it more resembles a tale than a novel; but as each new change forms a new story as it were, this is of less consequence.] English History for Children. (The Juvenile Englishman's Library. Vo- lume XL) Lays of Faith and Loyalty, or Narratives in Verse selected from History. By Edward Churton, M.A. (Juvenile Englishman's Library. Volume JUL) [The English History is avowedly "a Churchman's view" of the characters and actions of princes, priests, and nobles; the writer's object being "to secure a correct first impression" on the minds of children, of the "internal history of Church and State." The nature of these "correct impressions," and the character and tendency of the statements meant to produce them, may be inferred from this Churchman's doctrines and opinions. Ile thinks it "possible that the Devil was permitted to give the Druids the power of prophecy." He enunciates as a proved fact, and prints the maxim in Italics, that "property taken from the Church is always a curse." He preaches the right divine of kings in civil matters; but holds that "every man is bound to obey the Bible according to the Church's interpretation of it." He denies that the English Church is "Protestant" in the ordinary acceptation of the term; it is only "Protestant" inasmuch as it is not in communion with the Church of Rome. He excuses the barnings and other cruelties of the Boman Catholics at' various times, by remarking that "the Church did not persecute more than the roller& would have done," or than Cranmer's party did when in power. He eulogizes "Bloody Mary" as "one of the best English Sovereigns "; denounces Queen Elizabeth, as wicked and cruel; and characterizes her assistance of the Huguenots as "one of the worst actions of her life." He regards the premature death of Prince Henry as "a blessing to the Church; for he was a Puritan at heart." Charles the First is, of course, called "the Martyr "; though elsewhere we are told that a man who dies for his opinions is not a martyr unless those opinions are true—the "Church" being the standard of truth. Ergo, no one whom the Church persecutes is a martyr. The Churchman modestly withholds his name: but he dates his preface "Cambridge"; and therefore it may be in- ferred that he is of the "Anglican," not the "Roman" Church. His 'views" are those of a cloistered monk.

The Lays of Faith and Loyalty are fluently versified narratives of saintly legends and historical traditions, exemplifying fidelity, generous self-devotion, and patent suffering, on the part of Pagans as well as Chnstians. They are written in a religions spirit, with poetic feeling, and are free from sectarian bigotry, though the bias of the author's mind is evident.]

The Collar's Sunday, and other Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect By Peter Still.

[This small and unpretending volume of original and collected poetry is by a peasant of Scotland, who has struggled with a contented spirit through natural and social evils that would have overwhelmed most men. Poverty, the hard, cold, and hungry poverty of a Scottish peasant—frequent sickness—temporary blind- ness---fits, that were possibly epileptic, and confirmed deafness—with a wife and children to add to his anxieties—have been the lot of Peter Still, and his age is but thirty-one. Yet under these hinderances, with no other help than the memory of the tales and ballads of his grandmother, and the few books that fell in the way of a "herd" lad or farm-labourer, has Peter Still composed poetry, because he found it a relief from bodily pain and distracting thoughts, and published as a desperate means of gaining bread when too ill to work. His first effort does not appear to have been successful as a directly profitable speculation; but it pro- cured him friends, who, among other assistance, have enabled him to publish the book before us. Under circumstances such as we have indicated, criticism might be dispensed with; but there is humour, observation, and feeling in Peter Still. The Cotter's Sunday is too close an imitation of Burns in style, but the images are derived from nature; as is much of the scenery and characters of the other poems, especially the sketch, in "Robin and Mary," of the drunken pensioner,

• " Little drouthy Davie Riddle."]

Songs of the Press, and other Poems relative to the Art of Printers and Printing; also of Authors, Books, Booksellers, Bookbinders, Editors, Critics, Newspapers, &c. With Notes, Biographical and Literary.

[This volume is a collection of verses having the press for a subject, which Mr. Timperley, the editor, has gleaned from all quarters. Classics like Swift and Pope, Byron, Moore, and Montgomery, lesser names, as Ebenezer Elliott and Ma- ginn, with innumerable magazines and newspapers, have all been laid under con- tribution. The poetry of the press is evidently Mr. Timperley's hobby. He must hunt for it as the bibliographer for an editio pritweps, and hoard what he gets as the theatrical collector does his play-bills.

A great number of the pieces are evidently written by what the editor calls "the profession"; and, such is the power of subject, matter, and aptness, that this class of press poetry seems more attractive than the fragmentary bits from the greater writers.- Notwithstanding their point and completeness, however, many of them have a technical air and smack too much of the shop. Their wit, if ailways understood, can only, be relished by a brother craftsman. Here is an example. "To set up a song for your pleasure II1 try, And my thoughts rit distribute though running to pie; You shall have the best copy my scrip can afford, And knowing my case must not stick for a word.

"Of Printing and Printers we've long had fair proof, Whose correction makes ignorant pride stand aloof; On the rack we will batter each slavish opinion, An chase the base columns of Folly's dull minion.") Si. Lawrence's Well; a Fragmentary Legend of the Isle of Wight. By Henry Brinsley Sheridan, Esq. It seems that in the Isle of Wight—

"the richest gem

That shines in Britain's diadem"—

there is a well called after St. Lawrence, whose waters, among other powers, are able to cure the lovelorn and substitute indifference for susceptibility. From the legends which Mr. Sheridan has selected to embalm inByronic verse, it would appear that the fountain also possesses a power that many might value a good deal more—that of making suddenly rich. In the olden, time, one Enstace Bray, consumed by a passion

"fiercer far

Than mortal passions ever are,"

arrives at the well, falls asleep, and sees in vision the guardian spirit of the place, Who shows him gold. The more important incident does not appear to have been a. dream, since Eustace Bray is next seen as a wealthy noble; but, instead of look- ing after his lady love, he waits till she is married before he goes in search of her. They meet—a scene ensues—they part—Eustace goes abroad: Ada is found dead; and when Enstace is an old man, he returns to be horrified over her tomb, though her death by that time was only "in the common course of things." The particular poem Mr. Sheridan has imitated is The Giaour.] Melaia, and other Poems. By Eliza Cook. Third edition, illustrated. e poetry cf Eliza Cook is not exactly of the kind which strikes the critical, r it is deficient in force and independent thought; but the homeliness of her subjects, the general cast of her sentiments, and the simple character of her verses—a plainer Mrs. Hemans—have been so acceptable to the reading public as to have reached a third edition; and, according to an anecdote in her preface, the lines called "Our Native Song" were the last link that connected a banished felon with his country. The present edition is handsomely printed; the illustrations might have been dispensed with as far as art is concerned.]

Flowers of Scottish Melody; a selection of popular Scotch Songs. The music by eminent composers. Arranged for the voice, flute, violin, &c. CA collection of the most popular and best-known Scotch songs, with the first verse set to the air. The march of mechanics among printers has enabled the publisher to get up a cheap and pretty-looking book; but it is only by this circumstance that it differs from the Pocket Vocalists, &c. of other days.]

ILLUSTRATED WORK.

_Abbotsford Edition of the Waverley Novels. Volume IX. [This volume contains three tales—Redgauntlet; The Betrothed, and The Talisman; and is therefore more abundantly and variously illustrated than usual. There are no fewer than a dozen steel engravings, most beautifully executed, be- sides a hundred and fifty wood-cats. Stanfield contributes four brilliant and faith- f-ul views of Dumfries, the Solway Frith, and Annan—the last a picturesque bit of river scenery—as his share of the illustrations of Redgauntlet; which are pe- culiarly interesting as including some places in Eclinburgh associated with the author's early days. One of the cuts represents Leechman's school, a low-roofed building of one floor only, where Walter Scott learned his first lessons; and two views are given of the house of his grandfather, besides others of the High School and its Wynd, the Parliament House, and views of the scenery of Cumberland. The Betrothed carries the reader into Wales; whose ruined castles, mountains, &era, and Mat are sketched by Wears. Penson_and_Dickes. The Talisman has found no less distinguished artists than Wilkie and Roberts to depict the cities and scenery of the Holy Land. The figure designers are Messrs. F. Taylor; Cope, and Franklin; who have been more successful than ordinary in hitting et the characters and incidents of the stories.]

ALMA.NACK.

The Floral Almatzack. 1846. Printed in Colours, by Owen Jones.

[This beautiful Almanack is worthy of a. handsome frame, and would adorn rooms' from which the ordinary grim calendars are excluded. The table of months is surrounded with a trellis-work tastefully entwined with ivy leaves, through which the flowers of every season, each in their proper place, burst forth in full bloom; garlanding the year with a floral wreath of freshest hues. The divisions of the months give an effect like that of a painted window to the whole design; only, that in this case the framework is coloured and the interspaces are plain. More- over, the flowers retain their natural character, and are not twisted into Gothic quaintness. The sheet is printed by the process of chromalithography; and the: effect is almost as good as that of a drawing coloured by hand.]