bracing the great principles of human freedom, some of the bravest struggles of liberty against oppression the world exhibits, and nobly has he handled it. Many will doubtless disagree with him essentially in his views of church government, and condemn the book as one-sided and partial. To the theologian this part of the subject will be interesting, but to the common reader it sinks in insignificance before the principles of freedom and equality out of which it sprung. Puritanism in England changed the fate of the world, and Puritanism in America laid the foundations of our republic, and gave birth to that system of education which has made us an example to the world. The Puritans had their faults, and gross ones; but they should be forgotten in their virtues, and no difference of views in matters of church government

should obscure the latter or lessen the serv

ice they have done mankind. No clergy

man should be without this book, as it embodies all the information necessary to form a correct opinion, and gives of itself a complete history and analysis of the Puritan's life and character. We say nothing of its arguments, leaving that to theologians, but we commend its principles and spirit to the reader.

Solitude and Society; and other Poems. By J. R. BOLLES. Wiley & Putnam. Another "Mute inglorious" in the hemisphere of poetical mediocrity, has risen upon us in the author of "Solitude and Society." The poet has never seen much of either, or he would not have sung about them with such various dullness; and if Mr. Bolles "does not awake and find himself famous we must attribute it to his having slept too long over his strains while writing them. Solitude and Society" is a linked sweetness" stretched out by some caoutchouc process unknown to us, to the subtil length of eighty-two pages, excluding notes. The length and the inequalities would remind us of the Chinese wall, but that the absence of all strength or possible service destroys the image. What an opportunity, thought the bard, for diversified beauties! Accordingly, he writes it in seventeen or eighteen different combinations of verse. If he must write wretchedly, why could not the whole be in one strain, not afflict us with such a variety of flatnesses? We had forgot, however, that it is exempt from being read. In plainspoken verity, we do assure Mr. Bolles-of whom we never heard and know nothingthat his book is, for all purposes and effects of poetry, worthless. The only question arising is, "whether did this man sin or his parents," that he should be suffered, we do not say to write, but to print. Doubt less he has capacities in another direction.

Why will he " join the multitude to do "badly? Eleven such poets have appeared within the last seven weeks!

"All Bedlam or Parnassus is let out;" Whose gray goose-quill shall put the host to rout!

An Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy: Comprising an Introduction to the Science; by WILLIAM PHILLIPS. Fifth edition, from the fourth London edition, by ROBERT ALLEN; containing the latest discoveries in American and foreign Mineralogy; with numerous additions to the Introduction. By FRANCIS ALGER. Boston: William Ticknor & Co. 1844.

considered the intimate and beautiful relaNo man of the present day, who has tion which all the physical sciences bear to each other, will underrate the value of the study of Mineralogy. It is not, as every one must feel, so comprehensive and noble, and on the whole so profoundly interesting, as Geology. It bears, indeed, to this great science, as a study, somewhat the same position that the latter does to the infinitely sublimer and more comprehensive lore of Astronomy. It is not so absorbingly interesting as Chemistry-for this science occupies the student with constant experiments, and experimentation, with its excited hopes and gratified curiosity, is the delight of the mind. But mineralogical knowledge, besides affording in itself a brilliant and curious pursuit, is absolutely necessary to geological investigation. The greater and more general science cannot perfect its knowledge of the earth's structure without its minute aids. Mineralogy embraces also many researches in common with Chemistry. Of all the works on this attractive science yet published in this country, the American edition of Phillips' treatise is undoubtedly the most complete. It would be strange if it were not. Of the original work, as edited by Mr. Allen, Prof. Brande, of the Royal Institution, London, said, that "in the English language, at least, it is the most available for the use of the student." But Mr. Alger, having the assistance of Dana's fine American treatise, with his own extended knowledge of the minerals of this country and the recent investigations of French science, has added three hundred more pages and one hundred and fifty more species and important varieties than are in Allen's edition, together with all the American localities. He has also corrected numerous errors, presented some chemical analyses and very many new measurements of crystals. The subject of crystallography, indeed, has been treated in a manner never before equaled; and

new

the sections on cupellation, the blow-pipe, and the action of acids, though short, are full enough for the beginner, and written with great clearness and precision. In fact, one half of the work, as it stands, is his own, and the rest revised, so that it is almost a new treatise. We quote from the annals of the University of Heidelberg, the very favorable comments of the distinguished Prof. Leonhard :

"The fifth edition of a work is the best encomium upon its character; especially of one of a scientific nature. The first four editions of Phillips' work appeared in London; the fifth has now been published in Boston, edited by Mr. Alger, whose name was previously advantageously known by his beautiful investigations in Nova Scotia, and by the essay which he published thereupon, in company with Dr. Jackson. It was but very recently that we had occasion to allude in these pages to the scientific activity that reigns in the United States; and this work of Mr. Alger furnishes us with additional proof thereof. The Mineralogy of Phillips appears in a new dress, much improved and augmented. As in Dana's work, the minerals are arranged according to a chemical system. With each species the most satisfactory analyses are given, and additional analyses are given of American minerals by Dr. Jackson and others-as Danaite, Cananite, Hudsonite, Masonite, and Ledernite. The figures of the crystals, amounting to 600, are admirable, and there is much interesting information touching the occurrence of minerals, those of Nova Scotia and South America in particular. There is no doubt in our mind, that Mr. Alger's Mineralogy, splendid as it is in its getting up, will find many readers. It is peculiarly adapted as a compendium for students."

Scenes and Thoughts in Europe, by AN AMERICAN. Wiley & Putnam, New

York.

This is No. XVI. of Wiley & Putnam's series of American books, and embraces a skipping tour over England and a part of the Continent, or at least it has that appearance, for the author takes his reader up in one place and sets him down in another, sans ceremonie, leaving him to conjecture how he came there as best he may. Another peculiarity about this volume is, it has no table of contents, and Mr. Calvert seems determined if his reader finds a pleasant chapter in it, he shall note it down, or hunt through the entire book to find it again. This is always inconvenient, especially in a book like the present, which is worth referring to again.

Mr. Calvert is a reflective, rather than a descriptive writer, and gives us more of his "thoughts" than "scenes." This is

always a dangerous course for a traveler to pursue. They travel to see, not to be talked to. He, however, shows himself no ordinary man, in writing so interesting a book, with so few sketches in it. The first six pages are devoted to Wordsworth, or rather to his place. We are heartily sick of gossip about "Rydal Mount," and Lake Winandermere. One would think it was the only spot worth seeing in England. The description of Napoleon's funeral, which he saw in Paris, would have been infinitely more interesting. But Mr. C. is evidently an accomplished man, with a mind prepared beforehand for the scenes he was to pass through, and by the quiet, intelligent and natural way in which he expresses himself, interests the reader, while he instructs him. He has a long description of a water-cure establishment, in Germany, and though he seems not to have been much excited amid Alpine scenery, his description of sunrise on Mount Righi shows him to have been profoundly impressed with this gorgeous spectacle, and the few sentences he writes upon it are among the finest in the book. He sees everything with his own eyes, and gives us a transcript of his own impressions, and thus makes an entertaining and useful book.

The Dream and other Poems.-The Child of the Island. By the Hon. Mrs. NORTON. Francis' Cabinet Library.

Open these volumes at random, and you will find thoughts replete with tender grace, and expressions breathing that quick and divine spirit of impulsion, which is the legitimate attribute of true poetry; and art, there is nothing in all these four hunyet, with these essential constituents of the dred pages, to induce one to read otherwise than at random. "The Child of the Isl

ands," is a tale of material life-a sort of nouvelette in rhyme-a dangerous experiment, when they are so much easier to read in prose. So much for the conception of the poem. In execution it evinces a good deal of poetical power, though it lacks that excellence of forcing and commanding the interest of the reader through its varied stages of development; an excellence which few attain, and which, when fully possessed by an author, men are constrained to call Genius. The minor pieces we prefer to any of Mrs. Norton's longer efforts, and upon them, we think, depends her claims to popularity. "The Blind Man's Bride," is a natural and sweet drift of fancy and feeling. "The Child of Earth," is a little poem, of very great beauty. Her songs, when wedded to music, make their way to the heart. The longer poems all have merit, but no individuality. Will she go down to posterity? We cannot tell. She might, had she lived at an earlier date. It

is unfortunate for any but the highest genius to be born in the latter ages. But sorrow is immortal-and Mrs. Norton has endured much.

Narrative of Remarkable Criminal Trials. Translated from the German of ANSELM RITTER VON FEUERBACH, by Lady DUFF GORDON. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1846.

There are materials in this small volume sufficient at least for a dozen bloody romances of the Ainsworth order. We confess our repugnance to everything of the kind. We could never discover any beauties in a "murder case," nor have our senses been entranced by a narrative of arson, highway robbery or horse-stealing; manslaughter, even, never presented itself to us in a favorable or pleasant aspect. But we are sensible of the occasional usefulness of works like this. The weight due to circumstantial evidence in criminal trials can in no way be so well and satisfactorily ascertained as by a diligent examination of varions and conflicting cases, and for this reason reports of the evidence and decisions thereon by distinguished judges and jurists, often become of the last importance to others, as a guide and precedent. The work will sell -a point of some moment to the publishers at least. It has a dramatic interest that will enlist the attention of a large class of readers.

The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. First American edition complete. Edited by G. G. FOSTER. New York: J. S. Redfield.

This is by far the most elegant edition of Shelley which has yet been published in this country. It is also the most complete. These are two excellences that especially commend the present volume to all the admirers of this starry-minded poet. It would be useless here to attempt to criticise or characterise his writings. Their merits are extraordinary, their defects equally striking and original. His imagination was wonderful-at once lofty and delicate. That faculty was, indeed, only too predominant-overpowering too much mismo ds of thought. Mr. Fosts appreciation of the poet in his pref.torial essay is genial enough, and in ne main just, though the analysis of the poet's mind is defecti e, and we by no means agree with all is ideas of the poe 's ethics. Shelley's morals were better tha his morality. We admi e Shelley's beau iful mind, and no less beautiful spirit of humanity; but the impious, blasphemous tone of the mod rn school of rhapsodical reformers-perfictionists-worshipers of the divine in the human-was never more clearly exposed

than in one little note: "I have not felt at liberty," says Mr. Foster, "to change the text sanctioned by Mrs. Shelley-whom I regard as the evangelist of her transfigured Lord"!!

The Old Continental; or the Price of Liberty. By JAMES K. PAULDING. New York: Paine & Burgess.

We have, in the few months past, looked within the covers of many weak books-but this we actually read through. We are afraid we are not the only person who has done it. Consider the patriotism of the title!—and, then, the extraordinary comments appearing in certain incorruptible daily journals! To us there was another consideration. We are bound to be justand there is no justice without knowledge. Besides, like the old lady at Barnstable who inquired if it were possible to print a lie, we found it difficult to suppose that an ex-Secretary could produce anything thoroughly wretched-especially as that particular department, the Naval, is being filled with personages of more pretensions in literature than capacity for the office. We did, accordingly, force our way to the end, and will now merely say that it is "drawn milder" than anything we remember to have seen. Some descriptive passages are readable; the attempts at wit are miserable; the pathos still worse. The book is really almost entirely destitute of merit; it is very patriotic and very poor. Sold at 25 cents retail, "The Price of Liberty" ought to be paid for in "old Continental" money.

Lives of Distinguished American Naval Officers. By J. FENIMORE COOPER. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart.

We welcome the appearance of no new American book with more pleasure than one which illustrates, in an effective manner, any portion of our history. The volume before us does that good service, and that for a department for which too little has hitherto been done. Our whole naval history does, indeed, cover but a short period. We had but the merest beginning of a navy at the Revolution, and since then we have had only one war in which the small fleet we have created could achieve anything of mark. The Algerine affair did not disgrace us, but it was of no great account. Still, our flag has, from first to last, been engaged on many occasions, and with as much honor as the flag of any nation has acquired in the same period of time. Those achievements ought to be illustrated. Of all our writers, so far, Mr. Cooper is confessedly the best suited to arrange them in sketches, or history. The present volume contains four sketches-Paul Jones, Com

modore Woolsey, Perry, and Dale. Of these, the lives of two-Jones and Perryare very well known to the country; those of Woolsey and Dale to a slight degree. The sketches are written in that strong, clear, equable narrative style which is Mr. Cooper's forte. We do not receive the whole of his version of Perry's career, but we commend the whole volume to our readers as quite as well worthy of their attention as the trashy novellettes of the day.

Works of the Puritan Divines No. II. BUNYAN. New York: Wiley & Put

nam.

This little volume contains three of Bunyan's miscellaneous treatises. Every one has read the great work of the "inspired thinker"" 'Pilgrim's Progress"-and most persons his second ingenious narrative,

The Holy War," but very few have any acquaintance with the fine old English and deep religious tone of many of his other productions. For many reasons, we cannot have too full a knowledge of the works of the various divines of that day. Their depth of thought and richness of language were not less eminent than their piety. But we do not think that a selection from Bunyan could be justly kept out of any collection of such writings.

The Discourses and Essays of D'Aubigné. Translated from the French. By CHARLES W. BAIRD. Harper & Brothers.

The great author of the History of the Reformation, appears to the American reader in a new and interesting character in this work; which embodies all his most profound essays and discourses. In point of style, there is a pregnant brevity-a rapidity of transition-a close, logical training of the mind, as it were, to the subject, which is rarely observed in modern polemical compositions. The essay entitled "The study of the History of Christianity," was translated by the late Thomas S. Grimke, Esq., of Charleston, S. C.

The man whose mind could grasp and portray the History of the Reformation and its vast results, speaks in this volume the resistless truths which broke down the barriers to religious liberty in the old world; truths such as were promulgated by Luther and Melancthon, and their compeers, and wake to perish never."

The Mineral Springs of Western Virginia. Wiley & Putnam.

This is decidedly a useful book to all sojourners at these places of resort. The author enters into an elaborate disquisition of the use of the water of each; its properties; its effects; the cure it produces; analysis of each spring, and all necessary information respecting their remedial virtues. We recommend this really valuable work to the attentive perusal of every partaker of these waters.

Fashion is a fickle goddess to control, and to this is attributable the fact of the almost invariable ignorance among people who go for fashion's sake, of the efficacy and curable qualities held in suspension in mineral waters. The book is tolerably dull, but in the respect spoken of, quite worthy of attention.

My Shooting Box. By FRANK FORESTER. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart.

Mr. Herbert is the most graceful and intelligent writer we have on the Field Sports of this country-such at least as are confined to our peculiar science of wood-craft. Our forests afford a great variety of game, some kinds very different from those found in England, and more difficult of bringing down; and the nature of the country-mostly wild and unsettled as yet, compared with the larger part of Great Britain-demands of a successful sportsman far more skill, and a wider variety of precepts. Mr. Herbert, in several late writings, has shown himself very completely master of the subject. He is plainly no amateur, but a practised sportsman. "My Shooting Box" has a slender thread of a story, running through" the precepts, practice, and accidents of wood-craft." The whole is very well told, except that there is, perhaps, too much eating and drinking. Sportsmen, however, must be expected to have appetites. But we confess, that what the author seems particularly to have prided himself upon, “Old Tom Draw," is not at all to our liking. He presents him with great parade as an original-an eccentric. We cannot see anything eccentric or original about him. His grossness is as common as the mud in Nassau street. The book winds up with a runaway match :-and a "run" they had for it-fifty miles in four hours over the rough roads from Orange county to New York! But then they had two relays of horses-a capital foresight.