value hardly to have been expected from a series of
comments and remarks written so directly under the
influence of the exciting contemporaneous events recorded
in it; and such as, it is to be feared, will not be conceded
to Mr. Roebuck's History of the Whig Ministry of 1830,
to the passing of the Reform Bill, also lately issued in
two octavos, and which another generation will be apt
to think too political and not sufficiently historical, or,
in other words, as written in the presence of the little
world of the House of Commons rather than of the
greater world without. Mr. Bancroft, recently American
Minister at this court, has commenced his long promised
History of the American Revolution, by a volume
which embraces its opening events from the claim of
legislative independence in 1748 to the cession of
Canada in 1763. Another historical work by an active
modern politician is Mr. John Macgregor's History of
the British Empire, from the Accession of James the
First, which, published in two very thick octavos, and
getting only so far as the first year of the protectorate of
Cromwell, appears to be ambitious of rivalling Macaulay
in bulk at any rate. It does not seem probable that the
rivalry will be, in other respects, very observable.

A conscientious piece of historical study is embodied
in a single octavo upon the History of England and
France under the house of Lancaster, the introduction
to which, presenting a view of the early reformation,
contains a disquisition of much value on the extent and
influence of Wicklyffe's labours. Another very
conscientious and learned work is the Grammar and
Dictionary of the Malay Language by John Crawford
(the historian of the Indian Archipelago,) whose
preliminary dissertation appears to include the observations
and results of some thirty years' observation and
reflection in this department of philological and
ethnological research. The English translation of Schlosser's
History of the Eighteenth (and Fifteen years of the
Nineteenth) Century, has been completed by the
appearance of its eighth volume; and though the worthy
Heidelberg professor has observed truly German
portions of length and breadth in his lucubrations, yet
the history in its finished state, and carefully studied
throughout with a view to mental cultivation and
progress, deserves the attention of English readers. It
is a gratifying proof of the success which waits upon
a thoroughly well-designed and well-executed book, that
a third edition should have been issued, in two goodly
octavos, of Mr. Samuel Sharpe's History of Egypt from
the Earliest Times till the Conquest by the Arabs.
It is a different kind of interest which has called for the
republication in two octavos of the Political and
Historical Works of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte—not
simply those very striking works, which, in the form of
decrees, have driven the most famous Frenchmen out
of France, have dealt with national representatives as if
they were common felons, have confiscated private
property, and gagged the public press, but also those
earlier and less successful performances in which M.
Bonaparte dreamt dreams about his uncle, invented
fictitious constitutions, promulgated Napoleonean ideas,
and flirted with literary socialism and red republicanism.

Mr. Forsyth has written a History of Trial by Jury,
in which he puts the whole subject in a grave scholarly
form, and quietly dissipates the many wild theories still
prevalent respecting it. Mr. W. S. Lindsay has
compiled a volume on Our Navigation and Mercantile
Marine Laws, with a view to their general revision and
consolidation. The Rev. Charles Gutzlaff has written
the Life of Taou-Kwang, the late Emperor of China;
and this is now published as a posthumous work, to
which, notwithstanding our entire previous ignorance of
the said Taou-Kwang, we cannot but apply ourselves with
some interest as the biography of a man who has ruled
over three hundred and fifty millions of men; but it is a
little disappointing, as everything which relates to the
flowery empire would seem destined to be. Mr.
Benjamin Thorpe has published three volumes on Northern
Mythology, comprising the principal popular traditions
and superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and
the Netherlands, treated in a manner not unworthy of
Mr. Thorpe's well-known attainments in this field of
erudition. Professor Creasy has contributed to a
subject of much present interest, a volume descriptive of
the Invasions and Projected Invasions of England
from the Saxon Times; and, in elucidation of the
same existing or supposed emergencies of the state, we
have a small anonymous brochure of The French in
England, or, Both Sides of the Question on both sides
of the Channel, being the story of what the Emperor
Napoleon wished and failed to effect.

Several distinguished men connected with King's
College have issued a Manual of Geographical Science,
Mathematical, Physical, Historical, and Descriptive.
An able Scotch divine, Mr. Paul, has published an
important contribution to Hebrew scholarship, and the
elementary knowledge of that language, in the form of
an Analysis and Critical Interpretation of the Hebrew
Text of the Book of Genesis. Several new Letters of
Percy Bysshe Shelley have appeared, with an introduction
by Mr. Robert Browning. An American biography
of considerable interest, and from the contributions of
various hands, has been published in three volumes as the
Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli. A new edition of
Hartley Coleridge's "Biographia Borealis" has been
sent forth in three thick duodecimos, by his brother,
with the better title of Northern Worthies; and with
several curious notes by the elder Coleridge, of which
those relating to the lives of Fairfax, Derby, and
Marvel, are noticeable for their strong sympathies with
the Parliamentarian as opposed to the Royalist cause.
Mr. Francis has collected, as not unlikely to be acceptable
just at present, the Opinions of Lord Palmerston
as Minister, Diplomatist, and Statesman, during his
forty years of public life. Lord Ingestre has published,
under the title of Meliora: or, Better Times to Come,
a number of essays touching the present state and
prospects of society, written by men who for the
most part have already taken a prominent part in
the agitation of the respective social subjects suggested
for treatment. A north-country angler has brought
together into an agreeable volume The Coquet Dale
Fishing Songs; a resident in India has written a
volume (chiefly for its illustrations it would seem) on
Life in Bombay and its Neighbouring Outstations; a
sister of Miss Strickland's (Mrs. Moodie) has made
public some not very agreeable emigration experiences
in Canada, which she styles Roughing it in the Bush;
two other ladies (Miss Sinclair and Mrs. Balfour) have
respectively presented the public with a small book of
slight polemics, entitled Popish Legends or Bible Truths,
and with another small book of yet slighter literary
criticism, called Sketches of English Literature; Mr. Cole
has put together a volume of notes on The Cape and the
Kaffirs, drawn from a five years' residence in the colony;
Mr. Blanchard Jerrold has written a useful little volume
on How to see the British Museum in Four Visits;
and Mr. Murray has supplied a want in official statistics
by a popular Hand Book of Church and State,
compiled by Mr. Samuel Redgrave.

In fiction the publications have not been numerous.
We have only to notice, since our last report was made,
Mr. Bell's Hearts and Altars, Capt. C. Knox's Confessions
of Country Quarters, and a novel called The Heir
of Ardennan.

The British Institution opened its 46th Annual
Exhibition on Saturday, the 7th inst.

The Queen has granted a charter of incorporation to
the General Theatrical Fund, whereby it will now be
placed on an equality with the funds of Covent-garden
and Drury-lane theatres.

The veteran Braham has re-appeared at the Wednesday
Concerts at Exeter-hall. He had an enthusiastic
reception.

A five-act play entitled "Woman's Heart," written
by Miss Vandenhoff the actress, has been produced at
the Haymarket with success; Miss Vandenhoff herself,
performing the part of the heroine. At the same
theatre, Mr. Barry Sullivan, a provincial actor of some
note, has made his metropolitan debut in the character
of Hamlet, and has been well received.

The St. James's Theatre has opened for French plays,
as usual, at this season. Mademoiselle Dejazet and M.
Lafont are the present stars.