NEW PUBLICATIONS. THE literary increase of the last month MEMOIRS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT, SELECTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. BY S. AUSTIN.+ In this volume, which is introduced by a very modest preface, the Hebrew Scriptures are, without in the least disturbing the literal text, so arranged as to form separate books, sections, and lessons of some length, illustrative of Scripture doctrines and precepts. The plan will be at once understood, when we mention that one book is devoted to the attributes of God, another to the condition, duties, and destinies of man; and that under the last one, there are such sections, as Duties of Children, Humanity, Humility, &c. This is a useful and loving labour for the young and the uninstructed, and should be so received by parents, and all who have the religious interests of their humbler fellow-creatures at heart. MR. KNOWLES' TALES. Mr. Knowles has done himself the justice, and the public the kindness, to collect his strays and waifs into the penfold of one small volume, instead of permitting them to ramble where few could see them, through Magazines and Annuals. The Tales bear ani Ireland, Junior, Edinburgh. Part I. With Effingham Wilson, London. Pp. 304. mated traces of the author of the Hunch- thorship; and the story of the Bastile. THE JUVENILE FORGET-ME-NOT.† -Our manhood and literary taste apart, generally like the annuals of the juvewe should not scruple to confess that we niles, much better than those got up for the ancients or the adolescents. This of Ackerman's is always a charming one, and was never more so than for 1833. The ladies who contribute so much to these and at their ease in the nursery, than pretty volumes, seem to feel more at home when striving to minister to the caprices floor below. of the over-grown, spoiled children on the every body knows that it is the custom of Yes the floor below; for England to send the children to the atties, and keep the best rooms sacred to the bronzes, or-molu ornaments, and China, and other gregarious monsters, dead and alive. Miss Landon contributes some sweet clever picture by Fraser,) and a pretty and verses for a print, (the Grandmother, a fanciful, if not very probable, Indian Tale. Mary Howitt writes the Sailor's Wife; and her verses are much better than so The First Sad Lesson, by Miss Bowles, gawky looking a Sailor's wife deserves. is the finest thing in the volume; full of pathos and beauty. Westly and Davis, London, † Ackerman, London. POEMS, NARRATIVE AND LYRICAL. BY M. MOTHERWELL. The public has, in this instance, forestalled critical judgments. Its testimony is applausive and unanimous. Mr. Motherwell's stray pieces, which already enjoy a most extensive and genial kind of popularity, are here collected into a handsome small volume, well fitted to occupy an honoured place in any select modern cabinet collection of favourite authors. It is needless to say how well we conceive this volume entitled to a distinguished nook. POEMS BY ALFRED TENNYSON.† Mr. Tennyson's new volume contains many good and a few beautiful pieces; but it scarcely comes up to our highraised expectations of the author of the Poems chiefly Lyrical. We must return to it more at leisure. THE BROKEN HEART, A METRICAL TALE. This is a rather unlucky subject, redeemed by much that it is beautiful in thought, feeling, and language; though, as an entire poem, the production is more distinguished by elegance and careful elaboration, than force of imagination, or the simplicity of conscious power. THE WANDERING BARD AND OTHER POEMS. This is one of those poems of which a certain number appear every year, and the average of which has of late In the years prodigiously increased. Wandering Bard, there is a thread of story; but the poem is chiefly sentimental and contemplative. The writer is more eminent in the spirit than in the sleight of his craft. He assuredly wants the organ of tune, if he possesses the ordinary number of fingers, which might partly have supplied its place, and spared us many rugged lines. MEMOIRS OF DR. BURNEY, BY HIS Anderson, Junior, Edinburgh. Pp. 135. the veil of Miss Burney's early fame, THE BUCCANEER, BY MRS. HALL.† This, OTTERBOURNE, A ROMANCE. Fisher, and Fisher and Jackson, London, nature at large, his characters have small concern. There are two fair cousins, a blush and a pale rose, and a sweet and a dignified maiden; there are domineering and ferocious chiefs, and a gallant squire of low degree, who deserves to win, and does win his spurs, and a fair lady and her broad lands; and there is also Harry Hotspur himself, and battles, captures, and escapes in large abundance, and still there is much wanting to make even a tolerably good imitation of Sir Walter; which in the historical romance is all that any one now looks for. TALES OF THE MANSE. We are to have more Tales of the Manse, and the second series is to be about the Fortunes and Misfortunes of Charles Cranston. The present is a romance or legend of St. Kentigern, the scene of which is laid in the Upper Ward of Clydesdale during the sixth century. It might as well have been entitled the fast of the Druids. The choice of the subject shows knowledge and power of imagination, but whether directed in the way most likely to be generally popular, is a matter of grave doubt. The tale is introduced by a lively editor's preface, connecting it with the Manse, and by a second preface, introducing the story which restores the rites of Baal, and the wild superstitions of Druid worship, in times when Drumsech the Plump, and Lidel the Lank were the chieftains of Strathclyde, instead of Mr. Hamilton of Dalzell and Lord Corehouse. The writer shews considerable power of description, and of simple pathos, as in the dying scene of the poor dwarf, the faithful tried servant of Prince Rederec, for such was the high style of the great Westland lairds 1200 years ago. The lesser ones loved "nappy ale," and caroused o' nights much as at the present day; and very pleasant it is to us to hear about them in ST. KENTIGERN. THE EXCITEMENT is a neat small volume of selections, published annually, and intended to excite young persons to read, and thus gain information; and also with the farther object, or hope, that if the faculty of attention be awakened to any one object, it may easily be directed to another more valuable. The selections are judiciously adapted to this beneficial purpose; and, besides this, the Excitement makes a pleasing miscellaneous compilation of facts, wonders, and adven tures. THE INFANT ANNUAL. Unless reading and writing do come by nature, it is not likely that the INFANT ANNUAL can be otherwise than a sealed book. The Infant Annual is, nevertheless, a nice, neat, pretty nursery tome, for childhood, if not Blackie and Son, Glasgow. Pp. 272. + Waugh and Innes, Edinburgh, Ibid. NO, X, VOL. II. for infancy. Some of its little stories are really touching. "My own Infancy, in spite of the Evil One," is one of these; and another is Poor Bessy, and a third, My Brothers and Sisters. But the Frosty Day is not so right; and mamma should not tell her darling, with the tippet and cloak, and shoes and stockings, that the poor little girls sliding on the ice barefooted are "quite happy," with "their little pink feet and toes, just like pigeons' toes," and that " they don't feel it, because they are accustomed to it." We can assure the "little darlings" that the poor boys and girls do feel it, and that it will be the duty of the children with the shoes and tippets, if they are good children, as soon as possible, to think how they may best contribute to obtaining for the pink-toed children, comforts which are equally necessary or agreeable to all children; and, in order to do this, they must not be brought up in the belief that though the poor bear, they do not feel, hardship. The cook, when she flayed the eels alive, believed they were used to it, and did not feel it; but she was mistaken. The moral of all this is, that children's books are most difficult compositions. EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY, Vol. X.* Humboldt's Travels. By Mr. Macgillivray. It is next to miraculous that this rich mine was left untouched, until it suited the convenience of Messrs. Oliver and Boyd, to lay open its wealth to the public. They have done so in another of their neat, well-executed, compendious volumes; and, in one word, have given us the substance of the collected treasures of the first of modern travellers, Humbold for five shillings! We give them thanks for the enterprise; nor do we forget that, unless there were, as in this case, talented Mr. Macgillivrays, to give effect to such literary speculations, and to set in motion the printing-presses, we could have no such publications. To both author and publisher we, therefore, give the honour due, and warmly recommend their joint labours for the amusement and information of mankind. NIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE; OR, STORIES OF AUNT JANE AND HER FRIENDS. By the Author of the "The Diversions of Hollycot," "Clan-Albin," "Elizabeth de Bruce," &c. Second Series.*The first series of this delightful work is too generally and favourably known to require more at our hands than a simple reference to it. The tone of the second is slightly different from that of its predecessor. There is none of the glowing richness of "The Three Westminster Boys," or the intimacy Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh. + Ibid. with the dazzling and fantastic passions of the rich exhibited in The Two Janes." In return, we have more impres sive pictures of the gentle power of selfcontrol, and the rich treasures of house hold affection. "The Quaker Family" is the most beautifully elaborated picture we have seen of the folly of excessive re"The straint of the playful emotions. Two Scotch Williams" is a tale which is at once similar and dissimilar to that of the Westminster Boys. It traces the progress of the fortunes of two bold and original minds, through an adverse world. The heroes have neither the dark glossy grandeur of Hastings, nor the glittering raciness of Thurlow, nor the plaintive wildness of Cowper; but, in return, they have a strength of purpose, a truth of feeling, and a loftiness of aim, that impresses us with the sense of a simpler and sublimer greatness. "The little Ferryman” displays eminently the author's powers of embuing, with depth of sentiment, the plain pictures of every-day reality The talents developed in this volume are, in short, different from those displayed in its predecessor, in kind, not in degree. As a mere work of taste, it is eminently delightful; as a work with a moral, it assumes the true station on the confines of the land of imagination and sound judgment. In one word, the author's morals are fitted to advance the pure and practical creed of the citizens of a free island. LITERARY NOTICES. MR. MURRAY is preparing for publication a new Monthly Work, illustrative of the pages of Holy Writ, consisting of Views of the most remarkable places mentioned in the Bible. It will appear in the month of February next, and will be called Landscape Illustrations of the Old and New Testaments.' The Drawings, exclusively made by J. M. W. Turner, R. A. are copied from original and authentic Sketches taken on the spot by Artists and Travellers-the utmost regard being paid to the fidelity of the views. The Plates will be engraved by William and Edward Finden, and other eminent artists under their superintendence. They will be executed in the best style of the art, and sold at a very moderate price. A detailed Prospectus and a Specimen Plate will be issued immediately. DR. BOOT is preparing for publication, in two octavo volumes, to be published in January, a Memoir of the Life and Medical Opinions of Dr. Armstrong, late Physician of the Fever Institution of London, and author of Practical Illustrations of Typhus and Scarlet Fever; to which will be added, an Inquiry into the Facts connected with those Forms of Fever attributed to Malaria and Marsh Efluvium, MR. HURST is preparing for publication, in Monthly Volumes, The Dramatic Library, comprising all the Standard Dramas in the English Language. Illustrated with Remarks Critical and Biographical, forming a complete History of the English Stage during its most interesting periods. The first volume will be published on the 1st of January, 1833. THE Dramatised Works, of Sir Walter Scott, Bart, uniform with the Dramatic Library, is also preparing for publication, and will be ready for delivery on the 15th of January next. MR. TAYLOR has a Life of Cowper nearly ready for publication, which will contain a more complete view of the Poet's religious character than has hitherto been given to the public; together with a variety of interesting information respecting some parts of his personal history, not before generally known or correctly appreciated. To be comprised in one volume, demy Svo. THE First Number of the Parent's Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction, forming a monthly series of highly useful and interesting reading for young people, will appear in a few days. This attractive work will be published at such a moderate price, as to be within the reach of all classes of the community. FRIENDSHIP'S OFFERING (the oldest but one of the English Annuals) has this season added the talent and Interest of the Winter's Wreath to its other attractions.—the latter work being now combined with it. It retains its usual style of elegant binding, and grand array of highly finished engrav ings by the first Artists, while its carefully selected literature comprise contributions from the most popular and eminent writers, thus maintaining the high character of excellence for which this Annual has always been distinguished. THE Comic Offering, edited by Miss Sheridan, bound in an embossed Morocco cover, is embellished with upwards of sixty most humorous designs by various comic artists, and enriched with facetious contributions by the principal female and other talented writers of the day. WE understand that the new volume of the Continental Annual will this season appear with attractions which no other Annual en possibly exceed, not only in the superiority of its embellishments, which are being engraved in the highest style of the art, from original drawings and paintings by Roberts and Parris, but in its literature, which is exclusively contributed by the talented author of Pelham, Eugene Aram, &c. The New and beautiful style of the binding will also be in accordance with its other attractions. CAPT. HEAD'S Overland Journey from India is now nearly ready for publication, in large folio, with elegant plates, illustrative of India, Arabian and Egyptian scenery, and accompanied by accurate plans and maps. This work will not only form a complete and highly interesting guide-book to the traveller from Bombay to Alexandria, but will gratify the merchant and the politi cian by showing the practicability and expe diency of having, by the Red Sea, a steam communication with our Eastern possessions, and the consequent means of defending them from Russian invasion to which they are at present exposed. A VERY excellent work is now at press, entitled The Scripture Manual; or, a Guide to the proper Study and Elucidation of the Holy Scriptures, by a new and corrected arrangement of all those correspond. ing passages, dispersed throughout the Bible, which relate to the most important subjects, classed under appropriate heads, and in alphabetical order. Designed to set forth, in the pure language of Scripture, the Rule of Faith and Practice, and to afford assistance to family and private devotion. THE Third Part of the Byron Gallery has engravings by Wm. Finden, Bacon, Goodyear, &c., after original designs by Howard, E. C. Wood, Richter, and Corbould. These, we understand, surpass the former numbers of this splendid publication. MR. STEPHEN, the author of The History of the Reformation, has just completed his new work, entitled "The Book of the Constitution, with the Reform Bills abridged," -embracing, amongst a variety of interest ing information, our Magna Charta, Bill of Rights, Civil and Military States, The Revenue, National Debt, Courts, Feudal System, Poor Laws, Tithes, &c. &c. A DESCRIPTION of the Chanonry, Cathedral and King's College of Old Aberdeen, in the years 1724-5, illustrated with plates, is nearly ready, in demy 12mo. On the 1st of January, the first Monthly Volume of a cheap series of Original Novels and Romances, by the most popular authors of Europe and America, conducted by Leitch Ritchie, and Thomas Roscoe; comprising "Schinderhannes, the Robber of the Rhine,' by Leitch Ritchie, author of the "Romance of French History," "Heath's Picturesque Annual," "Turner's (J. M. W.) Annual Tour," (forthcoming,) &c. &c. Banim, Fraser, (Kuzzilbash) Victor Hugo, Galt, and other writers of the first eminence will immediately follow. Lanzi's History of Painting, 6 vols., 8vo, Il. 118., 6. Anstice's Greek Choric Poetry post, 8vo, 88. 6. Peter Parley's Tales, 280 cuts, 12mo, 5s. Valpy's Classical Library, vol. 36, 4s. 6d. Arrowsmith's Modern Atlas, 8vo, 7s. The Buccauneer, 3 vols., 11., 11s. 6d. Poems by the author of Corn Law Rhymes, Lloyd's Winter Lectures, 8vo, 12s. Letters of Sir Walter Scott to the Rev. R. Polwhele, &c., post 8vo, 4s. Select Library, vol 7. Memoir of Dr. Mason Good, 6s. Jones's Biographical Sketches of the Reform Ministers, 8vo, 188. Austin's Selections from the Old Testament, royal 12mo, 58. Count Pecchio's Observations on England, 8vo, 10s 6d. Gesenis's Hebrew Lexicon, 8vo, 1. 5s. Memoirs of the Duchess of Abrantes, vol. 4, 8vo, 14s. Biblical Cabinet, 5s. Girdlestone's Commentary on the New Testament, 98, Tennyson's Poems, 6s. Shelley's Masque of Anarchy, 2s. 6d. Mrs Marcet's Stories for Young Children, 18mo, 2s. |