Tales and Popular Fictions; their resemblance, and transmission from Country to Country. By Thomas Keightley, London. Whittaker. THIS is a volume full of the most pleasant philosophy and criticism. The author views man as an inventive and independent, rather than a merely imitative being,' and finds very agreeable media of proof and illustration in various popular legends, which he shows must have been of independent origin, notwithstanding their many marvellous coincidences. He has succeeded in demolishing many romantic genealogies. His observations are valuable from their bearing on the evidence of many supposed migrations of portions of the human race; and also for the light they shed on the philosophy of the mind. Nor does his theory render him blind to the curious instances of transmission which presented themselves to him in the course of his researches into the history of fiction. He has traced the Arabian Nights (as they are called) to Persia; and ascertained at what an early period some of these tales made their way into Europe. We feel him to be rather hard-hearted, especially after his sarcasm on the narrow-minded and intolerant disciples of Utility,' in robbing history even of the very shadow of Tell's apple and Whittington's cat; and yet it is impossible to quarrel with a writer who tells his stories with all the glee of a child, and comments on them with all the acumen of a critic. We beg to assure him that we esteem him a Utilitarian of the very first order, and should so rank him, were it only for his translation from the Pen tamerone. Church and School; a Dialogue in verse. By the Rev. James White, Vicar of Loxley, Warwickshire. Smith, Elder, and Co. THIS is a Moderate-Church satire on High-Churchism. It is by the author of the Village Poor-house; but seems to us to lack much of the spirit of that publication. A dialogue on the effects of popular education upon the Establishment, between a Whig clergyman and a Tory clergyman, in rhymed ten-syllable verse, does not present a very promising bill of fare. Many nervous lines, and some powerful pictures, there must needs be from such a writer as his former poem had evinced him to be; but we cannot help wishing his powers had been more efficiently employed. Some Memoirs of the Life of John Roberts. A New Edition; with an Epistle Dedicatory to the Public. By Wm. Howitt. Darton. JOHN ROBERTS was one of the early Quakers, and possessed his full share of the zeal, courage, intelligence, simplicity, and purity, by which so many of the patriarchs and martyrs of that denomination were characterised. His adventures and colloquies are full of interest and entertainment. We hope the name of his present editor will make him known far beyond the Society of Friends; and that the letter of introduction to the public, now prefixed, will reach its destination, and be duly honoured. If the memoirs be worthy of the editing, the Epistle Dedicatory' is not less worthy of the composition, of William Howitt. It is plain, fearless, eloquent. Nor could the history of John Roberts be better prefaced than by this vigorous and truthful exposure of the mischiefs of that State-religion against which he bore his testimony, as should every friend of pure religion, and human freedom and happiness. The Sacred Classics; or, Cabinet Library of Divinity. Vol. 1, Taylor's Liberty of Prophesying. Vol. 2, Cave's Lives of the Apostles. 3s. 6d. each. THE publishers claim for the works to be comprised in this series the pre-eminence of being the cheapest ever offered to the public.' The first two volumes support their claim well. The list of those which are to follow is creditable to the judgment and liberality of the conductors. Many works in the selection are such as any religious person, of whatever denomination, must desire to be possessed of; and it will not, we apprehend, be possible elsewhere to procure them in a form at once so cheap, readable, handsome, and convenient. By the Spirit of Peers and People. A National Tragi-Comedy. THE bold conception of illustrating by a series of dramatic scenes the spirit of Peers and People, and indeed of all classes, from royalty to pauperism, is what cannot surprise us from the writer of so extraordin a book as the Exposition.' The execution is as bold as the con tion. Dramatic interest there is none; nor perhaps could there but of poetry, character, eloquence, satire and humour, both broad delicate, there is abundance. Both the Drama itself, and the His cal Introduction necessary to be read,' are rich in those decisive ex sions which, at the first glance, prove that we have to do with a w of originality and genius. เ NEW PUBLICATIONS. Remarks on Transportation, and on a recent Defence of the System R. Whateley, D.D., Archbishop of Dublin. 68. Legislative Reports on the Poor Laws, from the years 1817 to 1833 sive; with Remedial Measures proposed. Ridgway. Theory of the Constitution. By J. B. Bernard, Esq. 14s. The Teacher; or, Moral Influences Employed in the Instructi Government of the Young. By Jacob Abbott. Darton. The Scheme of Creation: in Four Lectures. By E. W. Cox. Lo An Essay on the Moral Constitution and History of Man. 58. A Letter to the Vice Chancellor of England, in Reply to his H Remarks in pronouncing his Judgment in the case of the Attorneyv. Shore. By James Yates, M.A. Hunter. Macerone versus Mechanics' Magazine. Wilson. Helen. By Miss Edgeworth. 3 vols. Bentley. British Colonies in Asia. By R. Montgomery Martin. 21s. *Notices of several Publications sent to our Office are unavoidably po The Solicitor-General's Motion on the Law of Libel . 309 Sir Robert Peel on the Corn Laws The Ministry and the Dissenters 2. On the Bishop of London's Defence of the Church Establishment 249 3. Confessions of a Fag . 310 . 311 264 4. On the Diffusion of Knowledge amongst the People. Art. II. 5. "Mrs. Thomson, you are wanted !" . 282 6. Civilized Barbarism . 285 . 291 292 . 299 7. Songs of the Months. No. 4. April. Tears and Smiles 8. Coriolanus no Aristocrat (concluded) 9. Cleone; by Mrs. Leman Grimstone 10. Spring Song 11. Critical Notices . . 303 Bernard's Theory of the Constitution-The Life and Labours of Adam In the press, and speedily will be published, vol. I. with a Map, of OR, RESEARCHES IN PRIMEVAL HISTORY: Being an Attempt from the direct Evidence of the Scriptures themselves to det mine the positions of the Countries and Places mentioned in the Old Testament, a the order in which they were Peopled; and to explain the Origin and Filiation of t various races of Mankind, and of the Languages spoken by them. By CHARLES T. BEKE, Esq. In 2 vols. 8vo. Parbury, Allen, and Co. Leadenhall-street. On the 1st of March was published, by Charles Knight, 22, Ludgate-street, the F THE MUSICAL LIBRARY, to appear in Numbers ev On the 1st of April will be published, price 18. 6d. the Monthly Part, contain thirty-six pages of Music, sewed in a Wrapper. The following Compositions will form the Contents of the First Part:- Overture to La Clemenza di Tito New Notturno, for Piano Forte and Flute or for three hands on the Piano Forte Overture to the Occasional Oratorio, newly arranged Minuet and Trio, from a Grand Symphony, newly arranged VOCAL. Madrigal, four voices, Awake, sweet love,' with an ad libitum Piano Forte accompaniment Canzonet, Forgive me,' never before published in England Do. Duet. Song, 'The Seaman's Grave' 'Come opprima un gran contento' 'The Kiss, dear Maid!' Song, Toll the Knell' (from Mahmoud) Glee, two Sopranos, and a Base,' Forgive, blest shade,' with an ad libitum Piano Forte accompaniment added for this MOZART. KALKBRENN DOWLAND. MENDELSSO STORACE. CALLCOTT. On the 1st of April will also be published, price 6d., sewed in a Wrapper, to continued Monthly, SUPPLEMENT TO THE MUSICAL LIBRARY, No. On the 21st of March was published, in royal 8vo., neatly bound in cloth, price THE WONDERS OF CHAOS AND THE CREATION Each Canto has separate notes, in which, among other important points, the doctrine and that of Immaterialism is defended. "We look upon these commencing Cantos as the foundation of a structure the art of the architect has yet to raise, and which we hope will prove as mag as the site chosen is noble."-Athenæum, London: Hatchard and Son, Piccadilly. |