FESTUS: A POEM. By PHILIP JAMES BAILEY, Barrister at Law. Eighteenth American Edition. Boston: Sanborn, Carter, Bazin, & Co., 1857. [From A. Morris, 97 Main Street.

However critics and amateurs may dif fer as to the merits of Festus, (and we believe there is greater contrariety of opinion with regard to it than any other work of modern times,) there can be no possible dispute that this azure-gilt volume is the most exquisite edition of it that has ever been published. The typography is charming, and its size commends it to all who are going to spend a week in the country, since it may be very conveniently pocketed. Mr. Bailey is likely to have many new readers, when he is presented to the world in so beautiful an exterior.

Four volumes of English and Scottish Ballads are the latest editions to the fine series of the British Poets which Messrs. Little, Brown & Co., of Boston, hare been bringing out for some time past. It is unnecessary for us to say another word in praise of these well-printed and neatly arranged volumes of poetry. As for the contents of the four now on our table, we need only mention that they comprise the ancient minstrelsy of England and Scotland, of which Sir Lance lot du Lake, and the Nut Brown Mayde, are perhaps the specimens most widely known at the present day. Mr. A. Morris has sent us the "Ballads."

The beautiful Household Edition of the Waverley Novels, published by Ticknor & Fields, of Boston, is getting on finely. Mr. James Woodhouse, of this city, has just sent us "The Antiquary,” in two volumes, with a delicious steel engraving of Mr. Oldbuck. As the volumes multiply, their appearance on the shelves of the Library improves; and when the whole series shall have been issued, there can be no more desirable edition of the unrivaled novels of Sir Walter to be ob tained anywhere. We are gratified to learn that the success of the enterprize has greatly exceeded the expectations of the Publishers.