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    A BATCH OF BOOKS . * It the present famine ia the publishing world is to continue , we shall soon be reduced to a review of the Iliad or the Pentateuch . There is nothing more to he said about the war , and all other literature seems to have disappeared , save the perpetual flux of those novels which voting ladies pay to print , and the public does not pay to read , and which are -wont to solicit provincial admiration without appealing to the Jaded appetite of metropolitan critics . Our present list contains a collection of serials and reprints , with two or three original essays . Scarcely one of the list can be said to demand an extended notice , while of some the bare announcement is . sufficient—or too much . We shall proceed to dispose of this miscellaneous heap without any very rigorous attempt at classification of contents . For the sake of clearness , however , -we exercise some sort of discrimination and selection in our comments j resolving the series as much as possible into its •¦ subjects . ' We begin with history :

    Turkey Ancient and Modern , by the Rev . Robert Fras 6 r ( Adam and Charles Black ) , is a seasonable and useful pendant to the History , ofJRzissia recently published by Mr . Bohn . From a hint in the preface it appears to be a hasty , but not careless condensation of materials which the author had occupied himself for years past in collecting towards a inore extended history . of the Ottoman empire . We do not recognise , however , the " present acknowledged want of accurate ' mformation on the subject , " in obedience to w ^ iich , the author tells us , he committed his manuscript to the press . The want of accessible information on Russian history was undoubtedly felt , but

    in bestowing his labours upon Turkish annals and institutions the author of the present , compact and readable history cannot be said to have broken newground . Mr . ; Fraser has put his materials together with considerable inteV licence , and at the risk of Sacrificing his dignity of historian ; has cpnsuited the latest spiirees of information for the ^ exploits of -Omar Pasha ' s army . The history is brought down to the raising of the sieges of Silistria , and the occupation of Greece . The value of thework : to more impatient readers is increased by its being in a single volume with £ t good indexj for ptirposes of reference ^ Than appendix the author has given the ' text of the principal treaties in which Turkey has been a partaker ( and a victim ) snice ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦

    1774 ;; . v W- ?/¦ - ^ v . .:- ; ¦ ... . ::: ;¦ .::., ; _ •¦ . , ;• : ; .- .. ¦ y ^ ; :- , ¦ : yr _ ; . ' :.-. ¦ : . r . .. V - ; : ¦ - ;• The monthly volume of Mv- Bo » hn * sAnti (^ ilarian Library takes us out of the world of actualitles into what are facetiously called the ' good old times . ' A translation of old Matthew Pafis ' s JEnglish Hhtory ft-orri the Year 1235 to 1273 * by the Rev , Dr . Giles , in which ; the quaint and homely flavour of the original Latin is preserved \ vith singular fidelity , is cbrh ^ pleted this month ; and we recommend this . reproduction , of the racy old chronicler more especially to students of early Oliurch history . Theres were scandals enough in those days to eitiploy the energies of the cqntehipprary Whistpns and Hollpivays , and Papal aggression in the shape of * ' Romans' ' foisted on English benefices was even then a-j )( atiopar ; cb ' inpIam ^" - "' 'iV ' '' C 0 'm - plete index is always a . commendable feature in Mr . Bonn ' s publications' . " History for the young should be invititig as well as instructive ; not a dry

    collection of dates and facts , but a lively and interesting narrative ! . This requirement is in sonic degree attempted by luce $ Outlines of ' EnglishHistory winch has tlie merit of combining with , the usual record of political and military events , brief notices of the domestic life and progress of the nation . We cannot ^ however , approve the " characters" bestowed on some of the kings ; GeorgeTV ., for instance , is thus described : " Manly and graceful in his youth , open arid noble in his countenance ; the proportion of his limbs was exquisite ; but towards the close of his : reign he became corpulent and unwieldy . His mariners were elegant and his conversation agreeable ; he was of afranl $ and open temper , but far too fond of pleasure and splendour . " Poor William IV . is called in capital letters Father or his Countrt , which is a title we were not aware that harmless and good-tempered monarch ever deserved . The author of these Outlines would have done

    well to omit this fulsome and foolish nonsense . Such a treatment of contemporary history is ji sorry guarantee for the accuracy of tho earlier portion , and is positively objectionable in a manual specially designed for the young . English children deserve healthier' dootrine . Mr . Julian Allen ' s Autocracy in Poland and Russia ( TrUlmer and Co . ) is the work of a young Pole , who -was implicated in a conspiracy of students at the Government College of Grodna , in Poland , and who contrived to escape to the United States , whore he is now a naturalised citizen . His own experience of Russian tyranny in Poland constitutes the chief interest

    ot his book . A chapter on the Russian recruiting system , one on the condition of tho Russian army , and one on tho Polish nobility , will be found to contain some original facts and illustrative anecdotes . Tho historical chapters convey little with which tho general reader is not familiar . Tho Edinburgh edition of tho British poots , edited by the Rev . George Gilfillan , gives us this month the works of Samuel Butler , commencing , of course , with Hudibras . The poem is preceded by a notice on Tho Life and Works of Butler , by Mr . Gilfillan . Among the reprints of the month , Mr . Routledge , continues his cheap Railway Series of Sir Bulwcr Lytton ' s Works with that laborious historical fiction , The Last of Me Barons . HocJielaga ; or , England in the New World ( Koutledge and Co . ) , as a . lively picture of

    Canadian life , by a brother of the lamented Eliot Warburtonj is a pleasant contribution to our cheap and rapid literature . We cannot , however , profess much consideration for the more ambitious and serious portions of this gossipping and gallopping writer ' s journal . . His hasty generalisations of American life and institutions are perhaps more amusing than accurate . A third edition of Mr . S . W . Fulloni * s story , The Great Highway ( Routledge and Co . ) , needs no recommendation , as we are informed by the author that the favour with which it was , received at the high price of a guinea and a half induces him " to sanction its publication in another form , which will render it accessible to a much wider circle of readers . " Two little stories ,

    The Perils and Adventures of Priscilla Eaton ( Shaw ) , and Gold , a Story for the Times ( Chapman and Hall ) , deserve a word of notice . The former is rather ambitiously called " an historical tale , " and in the preface we are told that , " though a vein of imagination pervades it , it is only like a silken thread on which are strung golden beads of truth . '' We are unable , in spite of this flowery definition , to say in what sense The Adventures of Miss Priscilla Eaton can . be pronounced " historical . " The period of the story is that of the fligbt of the early Puritans from religious persecution ; the incidents are thrown together with some neatness , and ' composed' with as much local colour as a few snatches of stern Puritan theology , and a reminiscence or two of Fenimore Cooper , can be said to represent .

    Gold is a very slight affair of four scenes : a path in a woodY a country , bank , a vestry , and a " gentleman ' s seat . " The moral of tnis pretty tale is — -what do you think , reader ? local self-government . The duty incumbent upon every Englishman of attending to parochial business . Think of Marylebone ; sublimated into an : idyl !~ Man and Money ( Howell , Liverpool , ) is a translation from EmiieSouyestrej whose death we lately mentioned . Readers who are alarmed at tlie bare mention of French , novels ( of which they ; orily read , the . worst ) may be glad to know that this story , which we ; suppose was selected -by the -translator for its morality ratherthanior its interest , is ( like all Souvestre ' s ) sufficiently harmless , although includingan ' admirer' and a ferrirw iricomj > ris £ - The version-is tolerably satisfactory , but we may caution , the translatdr against supposing that a . lady ' s \ salon is % saloon .. The Menial Exercises of a Working Mtin ( JSfewby and Co . ) , dedicated to Ghafles Didkens by-Mr . ; I > ayid ¦ MSJSurnie , of Bradford , are a surprising

    example of self-culture , and may well encourage the eirojrts of educationists wlioVdo not apprehend daiiger to the : State from a spread of knowledge among the ; nmsses of the people . These fourteen essays deal with profound and even abstruse subjects of thoiight * : such as the " Origin of Evil , " V The Law of Conscience , " Bacon ' Philosophy , " the "/ Theory of Human Perfectibility . " > ' If it should be ^ s ^ id that the author ^ should hay e icori ^ . fined himself to . subjects more within the scope of his povfers , he has oply to answer that every mind possesses sqme distinct tendency or beni , and . that in attempting to discuss such questions he followed his bvvri inclinations , and for his o-vyn pleasure ; " Eor our own part we would , not desire a manlier vindication of the libertyfof the thinker . : And Mr . M'Burnie has vindicated thatlibertyeven more nobly by the real independence and brigir riality of his thought as we trace it through these always superior and often masterly essays , someof which bear the mark of youth , but none of youthful iriindaturity .

    / rhe remainder of our batch we may without injustice dismiss in a few ? aragrap hs . A very complete and compendious American Handbook and ' ' oiirisfs Guide ( Routledge and Co . } , fulfils a want , now that the travelling world has used up Europe . The same indefatigable publisher , always in season , is bringing out a li g ht and pretty series of Bqoks for the Country which almost bring fresh air into your room as you read them . JVIr . Robert Blakey , a disciple of Isaak Walton , discourses with curious , vivacity on Angling : or . how to Angle and where to Qo ,. We are not surprised to find . that Mr .

    Blakey has been the author of a History of the Philosophy of Mindy knowing as we do how thoughtful a pursuit is angling . We who have an unsatisfied passion for the art arid an utter ignorance of the rod , cannot certify to the correctness of Mr . Blakey ' s information and advice ; but we can speak to tho agreeable nature of his little book . From the Old Testament to Daniel Webster Mr . Blakey finds authorities tor the fisherman ' s art ; we have alvrays conceived the charm and the enthusiasm of a pursuit which brings you into intimate communion with nature in her loveliest aspects , not to mention the coarser attractions of the sport . '

    We are loth to speak lightly of the professors of a science " foundel upon conjecture and improved by murder , " but here is a treatise which , shows the discrepancies and disagreements of the Faculty on a point of vital importune * in a bewildering variety . It is an . attempt , " from history , anatomy , physiology , and chemistry , " to prove that the " original , natural , and . best diet of man is derived from the vegetable kingdom . " And a very imposing weight of evidence we find in fwvour of ruining the butchers . A . season of cholera may seem most improper for the advocacy of a purely vegetable and farinaceous diet ; what is called a " generous diet" is especially yecom * monidcd at such a season ; even paupers arc told to eat beefsteaks and to drink port wino . But our farinaceous friend brings a mass of witnesses in favour of ' milk and honey' aa a protective against epidemics . For our o \ m part , wo confess to Pythagorean , inclinations , regarding , ns wo do ,

    English 'joints' ns only one remove from cannibalism . Practical Observations on the Use and Abuse of 2 bbacco arc an attempt to attribute every disease under the sun to—smoking . To tho enormous fallacy which lie shares with the respected toototalWs , of confounding tho uso of God ' s gifts with their abuse , Mr . Lizars adds another equally common liillaoy , that of confounding : effect with coincidence . After giving us tho highly-coloured evideuco of " an intelligent man , aged sixty-five , stout , ruddy , early married , tomporato , managing a largo business , " who began smoking at sovontcon , and " yours after" suilorod from a •? gnawing civpricious appetite , " and other dreadful symptoms , and gave the ' vile hnbit" up after thirty-three years , Mr . Lizurs goos on to say , after sach wdU-nmrkod examples of manly firmness no ono n < Jod protend to atUrm that tho luxury of smoking , snuffing , pigging , or chewing , or quiddtng cannot bo glvcu up . " We should tliiuk not ! . Every disease » a to bo cured , it seems , by throwing aiwuy lobacoo for ever ; but how arc those who have never " smoked , enuflcd , plugged , or quisled" to bo made whole ? Mr . Lizars

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    vu ,. w . ,. -urr a Handbook . No . vlil . —Domostio Oookoiy . W . S . Urrnua Vo . —Jtooks far the Country : Angling , and Wham to Go . » y ltubart lllukoy . i * w ft i \ i ?' ~~ Ji ° uHal £ lo' 8 American JtUmdbooh ami Tourists Guide—Bmton Guide . « L ™ . , J , r £ , " ' »? " , »»» ry nud Evana . —Chamber ^ Repository of Imtruation au 4 ammwff Tracte . —M u Uamts . TBy Edmund H . YatcB . Duvid Boguo .

    ^ B « mmu « o — UowehoM Turkey Ancient and Modern . By llobort W . Fiiisor . A . and 0 . Black , Edlmlmi-ffli . — Matthew Paris '' s Chronicle . Vol . Hi . Bohn . —luce ' s Outlines of English History . Gilbert . —Autocracy in Poland and Itussia . » y Julian Allon . TrUlmor and Oo . —Tho Poetical Works of Samuel Butler , with Life , Critical Dissertation , and Explanatory Notes . By tho Rovorcnd Gcomo Gilfillan . Vol . i . Jmnoa Nichol , Udinburfih . —Tho Last of the Bar < ms By SlrE . B . Lytton , Bnrt ,, M . P . ( Uiiilway Library . ) Uoutledco and Oo . —IIoc / ielaga . ' ¦;! ' « % Eliot Warburton . Routlcdgo and Co . —The Great , [ lUjhvmy , By S . W . Fullom . AIm-d Edition . Koutlcdgo nnd Oo , ~ Atari and Mown ; or , the Two Rivals . From tho 1 < ronoh of hnrulo Souvcatm K . Howcll , Liverpool . —Gold : a Story for tho Times . Ohapmnn unOHiUI—The l ^ rila and Adventures of Z ' rieailla Eaton ' . An Historical Tafo . bh « w : 7 ^* » ' «*/* nnd Farinacea . the Pramr Food ( if Man . By John Smith . With Notca mid IHustrfttions by R . T . Trail , M . D . Fowlor and Wolla , Now York—Practical Observations on tho Uso and Abuse of Tobacco , By John Umn . S . Uighlcy , jnn . —A Bloqraphtaal MetfU of the Sweduh Poet and Oytmrnslarok . Peter Henry Ling . By Auguatuft

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    August 26 ? 1854 . J TH E LE A D E ft . 809

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 26, 1854, page 809, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2053/page/17/