PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
Account of the Formation of the Manchester Field-Naturalists' Societf : with Report of the Committee for the Year 1860. London: Whit-
taker.—It appears that about a year ago, a number of ladies and gen- tlemen resident in Manchester and its vicinity, being interested in "botany, zoology, or any of the kindred sciences," resolved to form themselves into an association for the better prosecution of their favourite pursuits. The pamphlets before us contain an account of this society, and of its proceeding's during the first year of its exist- ence. Among the latter were a dozen excursions into the country round Manchester, which are described with a luxuriance of language and an attention to minor details not usual in the reports of scientific societies. The project is a good and useful one, and we are glad to hear that it is likely to be successful.
Characteristics of Old Church Architecture 4'c., in the Mainland and Trestgrn Islands of Scotland. Edinburgh : Edmonston and Douglas.—
If any illustration were required of the folly of trusting too implicitly to outward appearances, a very efficient one might be furnished by the work now before us. It is a stately quarto volume, as handsome as thick paper, wide margins, and antique type can make it and hearing upon its outside an elaborate architectural symbol, which is calculated to convey a very impressive idea of the sternly scientific nature of its contents. But when we proceed to a closer examination of the book, any such idea is dissipated at once. It consists of two distinct parts; the first of which is devoted to the architectural re- mains of the mainland, and the second to those of the Western Islands. The former, which has already been published about six years ago, and was then (very judiciously) withdrawn from circulation, "under the conviction that it had fallen short of its ain3,* is a very meagre col- lection of architectural notes' while the latter is simply a would-be jocose account of an expedition to the Western Islands. The author appears, indeed, to have visited such architectural remains as came in his way ; but he devotes more time to the description of the incidental occurrences of his journey than he does to that of its special objects. Thus, he gives us a very lively account of how he sat down one even- ing to compose what he elegantly calls "quite a hit in the archreolo- peal line—a topper in the Druidical department," having previously fortified himself with a strong glass of whisky-toddy; and of his vexation when, on waking in the morning, he found that his proposed topper was represented only by one or two lines of flagrant nonsense. Experiences of this kind are, no doubt, very pleasant in their way; but they do not contribute much to our knowledge of the character- istics of the old church-architecture of Scotland.
Lectures on the Book of Proverbs. By the Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. Vols. II. and III. Edinburgh and London: Fullarton and Co.—
These two volumes, which form part of the collected edition of Dr. Wardlaw's posthumous works which is now in course of publication under the superintendence of his son, brings to a close his course of lectures on the book of Proverbs. The tendency of these lectures is eminently practical, and they appear to be well calculated to enforce the moral lessons which they are designed to illustrate. An AccounLqf the Manners and Customs qf the Modern Ferfiam• By Edward William Lane, Hon. M.R.S.L. Translator of The Thousand and One Nights," Fifth Edition. Edited by Edward Stanley Poole. London : Murray.—This edition of Mr. Lanes well- known and admirable book has been prepared for publication by the nephew of the author, a gentleman whose qualifications for the task are only inferior to those of his uncle. It contains all the additions and corrections which have been made from time to time by Yr. Lane himself in a copy of one of the previous editions, many of which arq of such importance as to render this, beyond dispute, the standard edition of the work. The additions made by Mr. Poole are very few in number; for Mr. Lane has performed his task so completely as to leave scarcely anything to be done by future labourers in the same field. Such as they are, they are thrown together in an appendix, Poole having wisely determined to introduce no foreign matter into the body of the work. The most important of them is an able dis- sertation on Arabian architecture. Mr. Lane's work is complete in itself, and no lapse of time is likely to impair its value- for since the establishment of steam-communication with Egypt, the inhabitants of that country have, in great measure, lost their distinguishing characteristics, and, as Mr. Poole observes, "they_ are now yearly straying from the old paths into the new ways of European eivilza- tion.' The present edition is printed so as to form a companion-vo- lume to the latest issue of Mr. Lane's translation of "The Arabian Nights."
The Student's Manual of Ancient Geography; based upon the Dic- tionary of Greek and Boman Geography. Edited by William Smith,
LL.D. London: Murray; Walton and Maberly.—In the present instance Dr. Smith has made a departure from the system to which he has hitherto adhered in condensing his larger Classical Dictionaries for the use of schools, and has abandoned the dictionary form for that of an ordinary geographical manual. We are by no means sure that this innovation is not a mistake: for we are inclined to think that, for all books of reference, the alphabetical arrangement is the most convenient that can possibly be adopted. However this may be, there is very little doubt that the work before us is the best manual of Ancient Geography that has hitherto been published. Its compila- tion has been entrusted to the Rev. W. L. Bevan, a gentleman who is already favourably known to the public as the author of that section
of the Messrs. Parker's "Manual of Geographical Science ;" which is devoted to ancient geography. Mr. Bevan's labours have not been confined to the systematization of the larger work, but he has contri- buted.an able and lucid sketch of the history of ancient geography, together with as full an account of Scriptural geography as his limits would allow. The book will be an important and very useful ad- dition to school-literature.
De nth Illustribus Urbis Ronue, a .Romulo ad Allusion:. I Latin Reading-book, after Lhomond. By the Editor of The Graduated Series of English Reading-books." London: Rivingtons.—A collection of extracts from the works of Latin historians, illustrative of such events in the lives of illustrious Romans as may be supposed likely to excite the interest of boys. In order to bring the various narra- tions within the comprehension of the class of readers for whom they are designed, the compiler has taken the liberty of occasionally "shortening lengthy phraseology, and somewhat simplifying the order of words when it appeared to be too complicated;" a proceeding the wisdom of which is certainly not beyond question.
Red Snow, and other Parables from Nature. Third Series. By Mrs. Alfred Gatty, Author of "Aunt Judy's Tales," London: Bell and Daldy..—A. fresh instalment of those simple and charming allegorical stories which Mrs. Gatty knows so well how to tell. The present volume is quite equal to any of its predecessors. The story entitled "The General Thaw" might have -been written by Hans Andersen himself.
Wheel within Wheel. By Noell Radecliffe, Author of "Alice Wentworth, &c. &c. Three volumes. London: Hurst and Blackett.— This novel deserves to be, and we have but little doubt will be, very favourably received, it is written throughout with a remarkable smoothness and evenness, which is a sure proof of a practised hand; its characters are in general, well conceived and consistently carried out ; and both its hero and heroine, without being at all unnatural, are sufficiently out of the common way to inspire a mole than common degree of interest. The construction of the story, however, is, we are Inclined to think, the point which does the author most credit. This is, as might be expected from the title of the book, of a more than usually complicated nature,- and we are compelled at once to admire the ingenuity which has led to its conception, and the singular skill by which so great a multiplicity of distinct interests and incidents are made to converge to the final catastrophe. When the reader has once made the mental effort necessary for the due comprehension of the various relations existing between the extraordinarily large number of persons who are brought together on the stage, most of whom make their appearance very early in the story, he will, unless we are much mistaken, find it more than usually difficult to lay down the book until he has learnt all that it can tell him of their respective for- tunes. Perhaps the most striking evidence of the author's construc- tive skill is afforded by the manner in which the conclusion of the story, which appears to be close upon us at the end of the second, is made to elude our grasp until we have reached the close of the third, volume. The only hint that we shall give as to the nature of the story is, that it is 'decidedly tragical, and is designed to illustrate the lesson that a wrong action, even though inadvertently committed and sincerely repented of, will sooner or later meet with its due punish- ment. The most original feature in the book is the openness with which the heroine is made to recognize the existence of certain cir- cumstances in the lives of young. men, of which youg ladies are Pnerally supposed to be entirely ignorant. We are glad that Noell nadecliffe has had the courage to depart from the conventional model in this respect; for we are sure that his view is more true to nature, and no one can find fault with the manner in which it is carried out. In only one instance does he go, perhaps, a trifle too far when he represents M. Spencer Langton, while conversing with the heroine, as alluding to such subjects with a freedom which, we fancy, would. s earcelybe met with in real life. We can very conscientiously recom- mend wheel within Wheel to every one who is sensible to the attrac- tions of a well-written and more than commonly interesting novel. _Tramps: a Novel. By G. W. Curtis, Author of "Nile-Notes of a .tpt_o_wadp," 8ce, splendidly Illustrated by Augustus Hoppin. London: 'mRaoll, Low, Sim, and Co.—There is something so peculiar about a gen.inne American novel, that it is pretty sure to possess a certain kind of interest for English readers, independently of its literary merits. Not only is' the life which it describes very different from that to !hid'. we areaccustomed, but the style in which it is narrated is con- cwly and spasmodic than that which is usually em- ployed by the more matter-of-fact novelists of the old country. It is not impossible, therefore, that the volume before us may meet with a fair share of readers. We cannot say much for the merit of the story, which is very vague and carelessly put together; but in the course of its perusal we obtain some curious glimpses into the peculiarities of modern American life. The very fact that a considerable number of the characters in the story, including the hero, who is a magnificent but misguided creature, bear the name of Newt, is a revelation in it- self. We find, further, that. in American schools the most familiar intercourse prevails between the boys and their master, either party chaffing and playing jokes upon the other without the slightest restraint. American young ladies, and their lovers too, are far more epigrammatic in their conversation than their English representatives. Here is a specimen of a dialogue between a Southern belle and her admirer, who has taken occasion to observe that a man ought not ta be a vagabond. "Thank you,' said Grace, bowing mockingly. 'I said a man, you observe, Miss Grace." Man includes woman, I believe, Mr. Moultrie." In two cases—yes." What are they ?
When he holds her in his arms or in his heart.' Here," says Mr. Curtis, "was a sudden volley masked in music ;" and we must confess that such talk, when carried on in "low rippling tones," might possibly have its effect. When Miss Newt, a young lady very well able to take care of herself, has induced a gentleman to propose to her, the first thing she does is to make a rule about what she calls "this kissing business," stipulating that it shall only be transacted when she is in a morning dress, with the exception of' one kiss, with hands off, when we say good-night." The same young lady subsequently goes out one morning and gets married, just as unceremoniously as if she were merely paying a morning call, the formality of a license being, we pre- sume, pike unnecessary. The "splendid illustrations" by Augustus floppin would probably be rejected by the proprietors of any illus- trated penny paper in London as being not quite up to their mark.
The Autobiography of a Seaman. By Thomas, tenth Earl of Dun- donald, G.0 B., &c. Bentley. The autobiography of the greatest of English seamen, except Nelson, is a book for everybody, and for all time, and here is a new edition of it compact enough for easy stow- age in a midshipman's chest, and cheap enough to satisfy the reason- able wishes of frugal buyers.
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