The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth. By EDWARD OSLER, Esq. Smith, Elder, and Co. Cornhill.

We acknowledge this biography to be very good; it is a clear narrative of facts and an unvarnished tale, and we should have been inclined to dwell much more on its merits than we do now, had it not been that Mr. Osler must first exculpate himself from a charge preferred against him, whether true or not, we cannot say. We confess that the life of such a man as Lord Exmouth is public property, but still we consider that the surviving relations have an interest in his Memoirs which no one has a right to pirate, and which is admitted by the public as a security for the truth of what is written. We are told that the whole papers and correspondence of the late Lord Exmouth were placed in the hands of the Bishop of Hereford, and that the Biography is now being written by the worthy prelate. If so, why has Mr. Osler forestalled this work in progress by the one before us? We consider this as piracy and unfair in every sense of the word, if true-but whether pirated or not, the work is a good work, and Lord Exmouth's relatives have no reason to complain of what Mr. Osler has written, although they may be displeased with the

modus.

Plantagenet. 3 vols. John M'Crone, St. James's Square.

This novel, or whatever the author may rejoice to have it called, is a work of singular power, yet of a most irregular construction. The principal character is a strange specimen of the civilized savage, half hero, half barbarian, fiercely and haughtily aristocratic in his bearing, but wildly democratic in his principles. It is well supported, but by no means a pleasing delineation. The work is strangely unequal, and reminds one of a fair province broken up by earthquakes into sublime mountains, horrid and repelling crags, barren wastes, with many a green spot of surpassing beauty intervening. We should say decidedly that the spirit of it is doubtful, and that the author has often placed himself on the very verge of probability. But, however we may object to its violence of tone or its ultra-radical tendency, it will, from the irresistible charm of its power, the intensity of its language, and the highly-wrought interest of its plot, be read and re-read with avidity. There is about it something Byronic -a shattered nobleness that, appealing to the loftier emotions, overpowers in the breast, for the moment, the strict moral sense, and we admire what we read, not because it is perfect or even abstractedly good, but because it is imposing and grand. This work will command many readers--and it deserves to be read.

The Poetical Works of John Milton. Edited by SIR EGERTON BRYDGES, BART. With Imaginative Illustrations, by J. M. W. TURNER, Esq. R.A. John M'Crone, St. James's Square.

This well-appointed edition has now attained its fourth volume, and is wholly occupied with the little-regarded poem of "Paradise Regained." The notes are copious and well-selected; and the frontispiece, a portrait of the great poet, by Cornelius Jansen, engraved by Edwards, is a very pleasing and highly-finished specimen of the fine arts. Turner's vignette title-page of the Temptation on the mountain" is well-conceived and very skilfully designed. We are surprised that he should be able to compress so much in a space so small. We make no doubt but this will become the household edition of Milton wherever the English language is spoken.

Abolition of Pauperism, a Discovery in Internal National Polity. By the Author of "Old Bailey Experience." Steil, 20, Paternoster

Row.

The author of this clever pamphlet holds out, in his title-page, a prospect of independence for every man, woman, and child, in the country, so as to cause an abrogation of the poor laws, and a concentrating of the benefits of all charities, while it removes the degradation inflicted on the recipients. The author has propounded all this to Lord Brougham, and what Lord Brougham thinks of the matter, this pamphlet sayeth not. The scheme is to turn the nation into one vast benefit society, in which the "tottle of the whole" of the empire shall subscribe, from twopence a week upwards, to five shillings, to the society. So much for the accumulating of the funds; now for the dispensing of them: when a man can no longer pay, he must declare upon the box and receive according to his previous subscription-the sum never to be less than eight shillings, nor more than twenty per week. We shall abstain from making any comment on this plan. All that we have to say is, that, as authorship is notoriously precarious, we are ready with our twopence.

Cyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology. Edited by ROBERT TODD, M.D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Medicine at the Westminster School of Medicine. Illustrated by numerous Engravings.

We have received the first part of this very necessary work, and find amongst its contributors, names of the highest medical celebrity. Both the wood-cuts and the engravings of this number are excellent. When we consider the rapid improvement that the medical science is daily making, this work, to keep pace with the public wants, was imperatively called for, and the call has been most satisfactorily met. In our next notice we shall give a list of the very able contributors to this work, which will afford the world high assurance against the blunders of ignorance, the mistakes of prejudice, or the injurious pretensions of quacks.

Evolution, or the Power and Operation of Numbers, in the Statement, the Calculation, the Distribution, and the Arrangement of Quantities Linear, Superficial, and Solid. By THOMAS SMITH. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row.

We approve of this book much. It is rational, in the highest sense of the word, and makes the contemplation of what is generally looked upon as a dry and crabbed science, a pleasing and even refreshing exercise of the mind. In it many difficulties are explained and some errors exploded. We really wish that we may be able to tempt good easy folks to read this work. It will give them an insight into the powers of their own minds, and prove to them what latent abilities they possess, till then unknown. The powers, the adaptation, and the coincidences of numbers are very curious. Mr. Smith has made fractions, duodecimals, the square and cube roots, much more easily of comprehension than the intricacies of whist, and in a manner almost as pleasant as playing a winning rubber. As you may lose at whist, and with his book you must gain, the book is, upon the whole, the more agreeable of the two.

Oct. 1835.-VOL. XIV.-NO. LIV.

The Sacred Classics; or, the Cabinet Library of Divinity. Edited by the Rev. B. CATTERMOLE, B.D., and the Rev. H. STEBBING, M.A. John Hatchard and Son, Piccadilly; Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane; Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers' Court, &c. &c.

The twenty-first volume introduces the reader into the lofty regions of the sacred poetry that elevated the minds and warmed the hearts of our ancestors in the 17th century. There is laid before him the whole of Giles Fletcher's Christ's Victory and Triumph, with copious selections from Spenser, Davies, Milton, Quarles, &c. This volume contains a very able introduction from the pen of Mr. Cattermole, in which he points out the most legitimate and the highest direction of poetry-that of lifting our souls to the contemplation of the wondrous attributes and infinite benevolence of the Deity. The poetry itself, notwithstanding its occasional quaintness, which is with us often a recommendation, contains a mine of the most noble and the tenderest thoughts, which are not only aids but incentives to piety, to the love of God, and to goodwill towards all our fellow-creatures.

Scenes and Characteristics of Hindostan, with Sketches of AngloIndian Society. By EMMA ROBERTS, author of "Memoirs of the Royal Houses of York and Lancaster," "Oriental Scenes," &c. &c. 3 vols. Allan and Co. Leadenhall Street.

A book of very superior order. The writer has seen much, observed closely, and narrated most pleasingly. It is a book from which we could with difficulty tear ourselves, abounding, as it does, with vivacious anecdote, sound remark, and most valuable information. It treats of matters so various, that it is not in our power even to hint at them. The most thorough knowledge of India, that mere description can impart, will be found in these volumes. We assure our readers that these few words of commendation, inadequate as they are, are not used lightly. Miss Roberts has produced three volumes of sterling merit; which, if they cannot exactly be called history, afford the very best materials for producing it, doing, at the same time, herself great honour and the world

essential service.

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., including a Journal of his Tour to the Hebrides. By JAMES BOSWELL, Esq. To which are added, Anecdotes by Hawkins, Piozzi, Murphy, Tyers, Reynolds, Stevens, &c. And Notes by various Hands. 8 Vols. John Murray, Albemarle Street.

This seventh volume sustains the high character of this convenientlysized, and beautifully-illustrated edition. The frontispiece is a view of the "Walls of Chester," by that clever artist, Stanfield, finely engraved by E. Finden, and the vignette title page a portrait of Johnson, and his substantial shadow, Boswell, enjoying an amicable confabulation in the doctor's sitting-room in Bolt Court. The plate is interesting and well done. As no pains have been spared in making this edition worthy of Johnson, and acceptable to the public, we trust that the public will show a due sense of the favour done them by speedily absorbing the whole edition.

National Songs, and Vagaries in Verse.

Bennis, Paris; Rivington, Waterloo Place.

By J. W. Lake, Esq.

Mr. Lake, like an unreclaimed hawk, flies at every thing. The epic is not too lofty, tragedy too grave, the monody too sombre, farce too light, or the jeu de mots too sportive for him, for this volume partakes of all those compositions in an epitomized form. To continue the simile of the hawk, his flights are at times very lofty, though never very low-he often strikes his quarry, and quite as often misses it, but even his misses are good stoops. His puns contain three distinct kinds of excellences--one class of them are excellent because they are intrinsically good, another class are excellent in right of their position, but the great portion of them are most excellent, through the sublimity of their atrocity. Sometimes he will pun you a word into two languages and three meanings-ex. gra. L.'or.e, which the reader may either construe as lore, (learning,) l'or, (gold,) or (lower,) for it will make a sort of sense with all. conclude, for an hour's amusement, the book may be successfully taken up.

Το

Gil Blas de la Jeunesse à l'usage des Ecoles. Whittaker, Treacher, and Co., Ave Maria Lane.

This is a valuable addition to our school books. The French idiom is much better acquired by the style of “Gil Blas,” than that of the "Telemaque of Fénelon, and we therefore wish it every success. We must, however, inquire of Mr. Whittaker, how and where the book was printed? We have the name of a Mr. Vogel, High Street, Camberwell, to the end of the preface; but if we are to judge by the incorrectness of the linings, the paper, and the type, we should say either that Mr. Vogel is a very bad printer, or what strikes us more forcibly as being the truth, that this book was not printed in this country, but has been imported from abroad. We have already suffered too much from the piratical attempts of those who can afford to undersell when they steal the copyright. We trust that we are mistaken, and that Mr. Whittaker has not turned traitor to the fraternity, but has only employed a printer who is no credit to the

art.

Remarks on the Character ascribed by Colonel Napier to the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval. Second Edition, with a Postscript, in Reply to Colonel Napier's Counter Remarks. By DUDLEY M. PERCEVAL, ESQ. James Fraser, Regent Street.

One of Gay's Fables commences with these lines,

"They who in quarrels interpose

Will often wipe a bloody nose."

From the commencement of this literary warfare we have never offered our opinion-we have plenty of quarrels of our own, and are not Quixotic. In most of these quarrels there is a black, as well as a white side to the shield. We decide that both parties are equally right, or what comes to just the same thing, equally wrong, and we recommend them to withdraw a juror.

Jamaica as it was, as it is, and as it may be; comprising interesting Topics for Absent Proprietors, Merchants, and Valuable Hints to Persons intending to Emigrate to that Island; also an Authentic Narrative of the Insurrection in 1831, with a Faithful Detail of the Manners, Customs, and Habits of the Colonists, with a Description of the Country, &c. By a retired MILITARY OFFICER. Hurst, 65, St. Paul's Church Yard.

This is a long title to a very short book, but good as it is short. We fear we may look upon the West India colonies as lost to all good purposes. We have paid twenty millions, not for our whistle, but for a sectarian whine. It cannot now be helped. The appeal to black consciences, either here or in the other islands, would be equally useless. One class will not work, the other will not cease to instigate them in persevering in their idleness. We wish every one to read this work dispassionately. It contains no special pleading, no oratorical flourishes, no appeals either to passion or prejudice; but facts-and such facts. We do not think that a single emancipatist ever rightly knew what a negro was. Outwardly he may be, as a learned and pious divine has said, "God's image carved in ebony." We will not make so free with the Deity. But, mentally, what has he ever proved himself? Did ever an emancipatist trust a negro? attempt to fathom his intellectual capabilities? to ascertain his prevailing notions? What they really are, despite of ages of religion and instruction, a perusal of this work will show. They are not fit to be, and perhaps never will be fit to be, their own masters, let the white man do what he will for him.

The Land of Vision; or, Glimpses into the Past, Present, and the Future. J. Hatchard and Son, Piccadilly.

This is a very singular, and a very bold work. We are told, most emphatically, by the Scriptures, that Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, nor hath it entered into the imagination to conceive, the rewards which are allotted to the good. The author, however, has a different opinion, and he imagines himself able to give us a very good insight into the sublime mysteries and pleasures prepared for us in heaven. In making the attempt he has proved the truth of the saying in the Scriptures, for all his joys of heaven are nothing but earth purified, and those who are in it evidently still cling to earthly things. His failure is no disgrace; he can only be accused of presumption; neither does it in our opinion much depreciate from the real merit of the work, which is considerable. Generally speaking, the writing is very beautiful; and although it is impossible to help smiling at such a very respectable old gentleman as Moses, giving an account to Noah of his first love, still the narrative is very beautifully penned. There is a little of every thing in this work, and in almost every point discussed there is much good sense; the fault is, that although very clever, proceeding from the pen or mouth of man, it is not that perfection which we should expect from an angel of so high a rank as Ithuriel. Still there is a charm about the book, and we have read it with pleasure; the associations are agreeable, and no one can read it without being improved, not only by the writing, but from that communion with his own thoughts which must naturally arise from the nature of the subject. We hope that the author will write again, and if he does, that he will be satisfied with putting his ideas into the mouths of men, and not go up to heaven again before his time.