examples in nature that illustrate in a striking manner, the principle of the gradual evolution of species, but in doing so, it serves the least scientific reader with a very happy illustration of the immense field of research close at hand, for all who know where to look and how to observe. Apart from the technical nomenclature and the purely argumentative discussion and comparison of the conflicting views of botanists, all given with great fullness and fairness, there is just that kind of simple analysis of movements easily watched, now that the key is freely given, which ought to attract the attention alike of the man who loves nature for its own sake, and of the man of science who studies it for the sake of science. It is one of the elements of Darwin's greatness, as it is one of the secrets of his power, that the interest he himself takes in his studies, he inspires in others, by showing that he has simply done that which others can do, that in many cases he has been anticipated, and that at best he has only anticipated what still others may do.

A TEXT BOOK OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY. By Austin Flint, M. D., New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1876.

It requires but a short retrospect of America's scientific life to convince one that the last few years have been those in which adolescence has been exchanged for maturity. This is not because there was ever a lack of great philosophical minds in this country, nor yet owing to the rise of stars of greater magnitude than Franklin, Rittenhouse and Priestley. Still less is the change due to the birth of the twenty-foot.lyceum screen and its nuptials with the lime light. This latter has been an episode of the former. It is to the labors of such men as Dr. Flint that we must look for this development of our science to a plane equally high with that of Europe. So long as there were no old places in our country, the necessities of daily life forbade the existence of original research; for this requires besides the calm and patient abstracted workers who conduct it, also the most skilful mechanics, and the most modern tools and methods, in the construction of apparatus. It should be an object of pride to our countrymen that at the present time we possess some of the greatest living masters of all the various departments of human thought, and in the noble profession of medicine, which more than any other, seeks through the plenitude of human knowledge to conserve and bless each humble member of the human family, our status before the world is very high.

Many of the most eminent authorities and much of the most approved practice are purely American.

The present volume is in great part a condensation of the author's five volume work on the "Phisiology of Man," which latter was intended as a book of reference rather than a text book; and yet it is difficult for those who are not familiar with the larger treatise, to imagine what has been omitted in the smaller.

The first three chapters are devoted to the blood and the machinery by means of which it is kept in motion.

Chapters iv. and v. are taken up with the general subject of respiration, and chapters vi., vii., viii. and ix. with the consideration of all the acts connected with alimentation and digestion.

Chapters x., xi. and xii., treat generally of absorption, secretion and excretion, and thus the way is cleared for the proper understanding of all the functions of special organs and groups of organs to which the remaining sixteen chapters are given.

The author and publishers are to be congratulated on the felicity with which the nine hundred and forty-four illustrations which accompany this work have been selected and executed.

In a subject of such vast importance to mankind and in which original research is being so vigorously prosecuted, it is a labor of extreme difficulty to bring a new edition of so comprehensive a character, up to the date of the current literature, and yet without this such a work must be almost useless as a text book. It must be owned that the best treatises on physiology, although the difficulty is greater, are in this respect in advance of those on physics or chemistry; yet few of them show the industry, patient care and scientific clearness of this volume, which we heartily recommend as one of the soundest and most thorough pieces of scientific work which our country has produced.

It is but fair to add a word of praise concerning type, and paper, and workmanship, all of which are of the best kind of typographical art.

FERDINAND DE SOTO: The Discoverer of the Mississippi. By John S. C. Abbott. Illustrated. New York: Dodd & Mead.

An appropriate motto for this work might be taken from Sir Roger de Coverly: "Much may be said on both sides." If to act well our part be the lesson history should teach, a straightforward dealing with his subject should be the historian's first aim; but, anxious to shield his hero, Mr. Abbott deals with treachery and cruelty as the consequences of false positions, and as "apparently unjustifiable," when they violate every instinct of humanity and morality. His judgment of the character of De Soto is more lenient than the facts which he puts before us warrant. Finis coronat opus may justify the fire and sword of the infidel, who sought only the glory of Allah and of Mohammed His Prophet; but what can justify the Spanish adventurers, who went in the name of Christ to betray and massacre unoffending people in the thirst for gold alone? The age of De Soto was one of fierce energy; and the indomitable courage which sustained a handful of strangers against tens of thousands cannot but fire the dullest and make us regret that so wonderful a tale should be so "evil apparelled in the dust and cobweb" of Mr. Abbott's moralizing. How it is that the conversations are all reported verbatim is not disclosed, or whether they spring from his imagination, as Froude and the ancient historians record the actions of their subjects.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Peterson's Complete Coin Book, containing perfect fac-simile impressions of the various gold and silver coins throughout the world, with the United States mint value of each coin under it. Price $1.00. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Bro., 306 Chestnut Street. 1876.

Little Joanna. A Novel. By Kamba Thorpe. 8vo. paper, 60 cents. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1876.

Her Dearest Foe. By Mrs. Alexander. Leisure Hour Series. $1.25. New York: Henry Holt & Co., Publishers.

Mrs. Limber's Raffle; or, A Church Fair and its Victims. A short story. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1876.

Percy Bysshe Shelley, as a Philosopher and Reformer. By Charles Sotheran. Illustrations. 8vo. pp. vi. 51. Price, $1.25. New York: C. P. Somerby & Co., 139 Eighth street.

Jonathan. A Novel. By C. C. Fraser-Tytler. Leisure Hour Series. $1.25 New York: Henry Holt & Co.

Library Notes. By A. P. Russell. 16mo., pp. 401; price $1.50. New York: Hurd & Houghton. [Smith & English.]

The Elements of Physical Geography, for the use of Schools, Academies, and Colleges. By Edwin James Houston, A. M. 8vo. Price $1.75. Philadelphia: Eldredge & Bro., 17 N. Seventh St.

History of the United States. By J. A. Doyle. Freeman's Historical Course for Schools. Price, $1.40. New York: Henry Holt & Co. [Claxton, Ramsen & Haffelfinger.]

The Protection of Majorities, or Considerations relating to Electoral Reform, with other papers. By Josiah Phillips Quincy. Boston: Roberts Bros., 1876. Fetich in Theology: or Doctrinalism Twin to Ritualism. By John Miller, Princeton, N. J. New York: Dodd & Mead. [J. B. Lippincott. Daisy Brentwell. By Irene Widdems. 16mo., pp. 434. Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 1876.

Price $1.75.

Comin' Thro' The Rye. A Novel. Library of Choice Novels. No. 50. Price, 75 cents. D. Appleton & Co., New York.

Telegraphy. By W. H. Preece, C. E., and J. Livewright, M. A. 16m0., cloth, pp. 295. D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1876.

Stories of The Patriarchs. By O. B. Frothingham. 16mo., cloth, pp. 232. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 1876.

THE

PENN MONTHLY.

MAY, 1876.

THE MONTH.

`HE Royal titles bill still continues to agitate the British mind.

Disraeli, or rather the Premier himself (for this deed is wholly his), in using the power of office to force the measure through in spite of the prejudices of all parties. English public opinion is not so quickly aroused as ours, but is more determined and more lasting, as well as more direct in its effects. It was slow to comprehend this question, and still slower to express itself; but now, if the journals of both parties be any evidence, it is pronounced, and almost unanimous, against the bill. It has been said that the question is simply one of personal feeling between the younger women of the Royal family, and that the end of the measure is only to relieve the Princess Beatrice of the necessity of looking at the back hair of her Imperial sister-in-law of Edinburgh on state occasions. This seems to be a worthy explanation of the whole matter, and a cause by no means inferior to the effect; but, whatever be the truth, it is certain that the proposed innovation strikes most English minds as both undesirable in itself and strangely ill-timed.

THE new French Chambers are getting into working order, Mr. Rouher's election in the Corsican district having been annulled, and that person admitted to the House of Deputies from another place. That strange mixture of high and low qualities, Prince Jerome Napoleon, is to become a candidate. The Prince Napoleon is a very

remarkable man. Intellectual, ambitious, pronounced in his views, eloquent and vigorous in debate, he is at the same time a man of bad life, and of faults of character that make him despised as well as hated. Whether justly or not, he has incurred the charge of cowardice; and that in France, as indeed almost everywhere, is sufficient to damn any man. But the handsome Prince carries himself as proudly and asserts himself as arrogantly as though he were the most powerful and honored of men. Doubtless in his view the nephew of Napoleon can do no wrong. He will attract much attention should he get into the Lower Chamber, as he now seems on the point of doing.

GREECE has been furnishing the company that misery is said to love, in the persons of some of her most eminent and favored sons. Corruption, in the shape of bribery, has been proved upon several ex-Ministers of State, and the Archbishop of Patras, and two other equally high ecclesiastics, who have been punished by a fine of twice the bribe. Such spectacles are always shocking, but it is a great mistake to attribute the existence of crimes of this nature solely to political institutions. The want of private honor and the decay of private honesty will make bad officials, and produce bribe-takers, under any system, no matter what it may be called. The French Empire shows as many infamous examples as the American Republic can hope to furnish. England, under Walpole, was as bad, or worse than France under Louis Philippe. All kinds of institutions furnish the opportunity, if the desire exist. No reform here, or anywhere else, will permanently cure the evils so evident amongst us, that contents itself with cutting off the flower or nipping the bud. All soils are favorable to the plant, and as the agricultural catalogues say, "it is a great bearer.”

THE Herzegovinian question is still unsettled. Indeed, it seems farther from settlement than at the last writing, for rumors are rife of a misunderstanding between Vienna and St. Petersburg. A recent scandal at the former city points to a circumstance likely to create much feeling. A young officer of high standing has been detected in selling to a foreign government-not the French, says the officials journal, some governmental secrets; chiefly, it is surmised, the plans for the mobilization of the army and possible movements on the