a central establishment in this country for all that pertains to bibliography and to the conduct of libraries, is filled by one so admirably fitted for it; by a gentleman, who not only combines eminent business talent with literary tastes and culture, but has also a distinctively professional education, gained by foreign study and travel, and by the inspection of all the leading libraries and literary institutions of Europe. Very much is to be hoped from Prof. Jewett's labors in this important department of the Smithsonian Institution; and we have what we may consider the first fruits in the present volume. It is a comprehensive and most valuable collection of historical and descriptive notices, statistics, and special details, gathered together with immense pains, in pursuance of a well-organized plan, concerning all the various public libraries in this country. We see this work referred to as authority in the leading library journal of Germany, Petzholdt's Anzeiger, usw. for 1850. We understand that Prof. Jewett's original and most ingenious plan for cataloguing, which was first submitted to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has received the sanction of the commission of librarians and scholars, which was appointed to examine it, and that it will probably soon be put into practical execution.

A History of the English and Scotch Rebellions of 1685. By JULIA W. H. GEORGE. New-York: Published by Cady & Burgess. 1851. 12mo. Pp. 283.

A well-written narrative of the risings in Scotland and England, headed by Argyle and Monmouth, which preceded by only three years the great English Revolution of 1688. The author seems to have consulted diligently the best sources, and she has told the history of these popular, though unsuccessful movements, in a simple and earnest style, which indicates clear and true views, and a hearty interest in the subject. The unhappy career of Monmouth, and his motives and character, are well delineated, along with all the principal events and persons connected with a cause no less just than that of the Revolution which followed it.

Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland. By HUGH MILLER, author of "The Old Red Sandstone," &c. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1851. 12mo. Pp. 436.

The numerous admirers of Hugh Miller may here meet this author on purely literary ground. In his scientific works he has managed, by his charming style, and his wonderful power of description, to attract to his pages many general readers, while he has commanded the admiration of naturalists and theologians, and won for himself a place among the first geologists of the age. From those fields of science in which he has reaped so rich a fame, he has now passed to the domain of literature, and entered a departmene, congenial to his fine natural endowments, and his early education, and his cherished tastes and habits. In the scenes and legends of the North of Scotland, a country proverbially rich in chronicle and romantic story, he has found ample scope for his imagination, his fresh and genial nature, for his habits of observation and reflection, and his sincere religious spirit. He has traced down the traditionary history of the North of Scotland from the distant and misty past, and wrought into warm and lively forms a vast amount of

material illustrating the manners and customs, the beliefs and superstitions, and the types of character, of the Scottish people. This volume will doubtless gain for its author a still larger circle of readers, and add another laurel to his well-earned fame.

The Natural History of the Human Species, its Typical Forms, &c. Illustrated by numerous engravings. By Lieut-Col. CHAS. HAMILTON SMITH, President of the Devon and Cornwall Nat. Hist. Society, &c. With a preliminary abstract of the views of Blumenbach, Pritchard, Bachman, Agassiz, and other authors, by S. KNEELAND, Jr., M. D. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1851. 12mo. Pp. 423.

This work maintains, on the now much disputed question of the origin of mankind, the theory of a plurality of distinct species: a theory which, notwithstanding the sanction it has received from high scientific authorities, it seems to us scarcely possible to reconcile, in any of its forms, with the teachings of the Scriptures. The writer contends for three species or typical forms of mankind, produced by nature at different centres and at different epochs. These types are the tropical, originating in the intertropical regions of Africa; the Mongolic, in north-eastern Asia; and the Caucasian, in the mountain ranges of the south and west of Asia. The author writes like a man of learning, entirely in the interest of science, and in a tone and from a point of view purely scientific; and he communicates the results of longcontinued study and observation in a clear, straightforward, and manly style. The introduction to this American edition, written by Dr. Kneeland, covers ninety-eight pages of the volume, and presents, in a brief and concise form, the views of the most eminent naturalists on the question of the origin of the race. This introduction is, at the present time, most opportune, and is of great value for general, and, also, for scientific readers; it is well worth the price of the volume.

Alban: A Tale of the New World. By the Author of "Lady Alice." NewYork: G. P. Putnam. 1851.

This is a book of which the less said the better for the public taste and morals. Criticism only gives it a kind of factitious importance, and hinders it a little from quietly sinking into oblivion.

Louis's School Days. A Tale for Boys. By E. J. MAY. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 1852.

A delightful story of school life and experience, somewhat in the manner of Miss Edgeworth's "Frank," but pervaded, as that popular book is not, by a deep religious spirit. It is an excellent Christmas book for boys.

Another gift-book, issued by the same house, is The Legends of the Flowers. By SUSAN PINDAR. It is furnished with illustrations, and is most attractive, both within and without, and is a little gem of a book for small children.

Baptismal Tracts for the Times. The Design of Baptism viewed in its relation to the Christian Life. By IRA CHASE, D. D. With an appendix; to which are added several articles, occasioned by Dr. Robinson's Lexicon of the New Testament, and the Dogma of Baptismal Regeneration. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 12mo. Pp. 194.

The leading tract in this collection is the well-known sermon of Dr. Chase, on the Design of Baptism, delivered before the Boston Baptist Association, in 1828. Appended to it, are several learned and valuable notes, illustrative of important points in the discourse, or connected with its subject. The added articles are, on the meaning of the phrase, "regenerated unto God," in Irenæus, by Dr. Chase; on the representations concerning baptism in Dr. Robinson's Lexicon of the New Testament, by Dr. Ripley; on the sufficiency of water for baptizing at Jerusalem, and elsewhere in Palestine, as recorded in the New Testament, by Rev. G. W. Samson; a brief statement of the best established results at which biblical interpreters have arrived concerning infant baptism, by Dr. Hackett; and the importance of urderstanding the design of baptism, suggested in a sketch relative to the dogma of baptismal regeneration, by Dr. Chase.

It is said of John Jacob Astor, that on being informed by friend who had retired from business on a half a million, of the fact of his retirement and of the amount of his wealth, Mr. Astor added, "Well, I don't know but a man who has half a million is as well off as if he were rich." We think much in the same way of these Baptismal Tracts. The possessor of these is as well off as if his library were filled with books on the subject. If we were to suggest an addition, it would be Dr. Ripley's examination of Dr. Woods, which appeared in our last number. There is scarcely a point in the whole controversy which is not here touched, and concerning which there is not an adequate amount of information urnished, for ordinary purposes. We thank Dr. Chase for the collection, and the publishers for the exceedingly beautiful style in which it appeared.

Minutes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, from A. D. 1707, to A. D. 1807; being the first on hundred years of its existence. Edited by A. D. Gillette, A. M. Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society. 8vo. Pp. 48.

The Philadelphia Issociation is the oldest of the Baptist Associations in this country. At its origin somewhat incompletely organized, and with imperfect record for some years, it at length assumed a more compact form, and gave mor attention to the character and perpetuation of its minutes. The minutes of 769 were the first which appear to have been printed by order of the Asciation, and by this time they seem to have assumed very nearly the form which is now common. In 1843, the Association appointed a commitee to collect its early minutes for publication. In 1846, Rev. A. D. Gillete reported that this had been done with a large measure of success, and with as much success as was practicable. The Association now ordered the printing of the minutes of the first one hundred years, and appointed the Rev. A. D. Gillette editor. The Rev. H. G. Jones, D. D., was requested to prepare a preface, and it was ordered that the Centennial Sermon of the Rev. Samuel Jones, D. D., delivered in 1807, be added to the volume. The result is, the volume now before us. We welcome it with sincere pleasure. We

thank the editor and the committee for their patient labors, and the association for their judicious and liberal regard to the history of our denomination. The curious questions of church order which came up, the questions of doctrinal theology which were discussed, and the methods of business pursued, illustrate most strikingly the character of the Baptist fathers of those days. It is not in our power to follow the progress of these records in this notice, but we cannot refrain from expressing a wish that our readers, who may be interested in our denominational history, will possess themselves of this valuable book. It is printed in superior style.

Appleton's Dictionary of Machines, Mechanics, Engine-work, and Engineering. Illustrated with four thousand engravings on wood. In two volumes. Vol. II. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Imperial 8vo. Pp. 960.

We have, on a previous occasion, directed the attention of our readers to this great work. The style of surpassing accuracy and beauty in which its istrations, and, indeed, the whole mechanical execution of the work, appear, is bet an index of the pains-taking and expenses which have been bestowed on its editorial preparations. We have found its pages attracting and holding our atention, unpractised as we are in the departments of science and art of which it treats, and have felt that those whose avocations lie in the line of machines, mechanics, engine-work and engineering, could by no means dispense with its daily companionship. It is thorough in the science of its subjects, and perfect in its practical details and illustrations. It dignifies labor by linking with the highest scientific investigations, and honors such investigations by nnecting them with the useful arts. The subjects of which it treats are too1ittle of a character suited to our pages, to justify extracts in illustration of a quality, and we must part with it by saying, that it is in every respect an honor to its projectors and to our country.

Fall of Poland: containing an Anatical and a Philosophical account of the causes which conspired in the ruin of that nation; together with a History of the Country from its origin. By L. C. SAXTON. Two vols., 12mo. Charles Scribner. 1851.

Two volumes of nearly six hundred page each, in which the history, organization, social, literary and political condition of Poland are treated in separate chapters, forming a satisfactory whole out of somewhat unartistically combined parts. The subject is unquestionably one of great interest, particularly at this moment, when the past and present stand again face to face so ominously. We doubt, however, the advantages of this form of division. The parceling out of a great subject is bette. suited to a dictionary than to a volume for general readers. Histors should march straight on, and carry all that goes to form it onward with it. But still, this is a matter of taste, and many readers will, doubtless, pfer to find aristocracy, democracy, civilization, &c., each under a special rubr

The Ladies of the Covenant. Memoirs of Distinguished Scottish male Characters; embracing the period of the Covenant and the Persecuton. By Rev. JAMES ANDERSON. Redfield, Clinton Hall, New-York. 181. 12mo. Pp. 494.

The lives of the Scottish women, who so nobly stood by their fathers and husbands in the trying period of the Covenant, have been hitherto un

written; and the writer of the present volume has been the first to break ground in this field of literary labor. The book is an important contribution to the literature of that memorable period of Scottish history. It contains the lives of the most eminent Scottish women who supported the cause of the Covenanters, prepared from the most authentic materials, and written in a style plain and earnest, but distinguished by no special literary merit. The title of the book seems to us in bad taste. It is not the ladies, but the women of the Covenant, whose memoirs the author has written.

Rural Homes; or, Sketches of Houses suited to American Country_Life, with original Plans, Designs, &c. By GERVASE WHEELER. New-York: Charles Scribner. 1851. 12mo. Pp. 298.

This seems to us an excellent book; no less practical than tasteful and elegant, written by a man of good sense and cultivated mind, who is acquainted with his subject, and knows how to teach it. We hope it will be widely read, and that its suggestions will be carried into practice; and that our towns and villages may ere long be full of those charming rural homes which the author has so happily described, and illustrated by his plans and designs.

Philosophy of the Mechanics of Nature, and the Sources and Modes of Action of Natural Motive Power. By Z. ALLEN. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 8vo.

This work deserves an extended review, rather than a brief notice. In the expectation of such a review of it for our next Number, from one fully competent to do it justice, we only call attention to it at present as a work of profound and original thought upon the fundamental questions of mechanical science, and illustrated by an immense variety of facts and experiments. Dr. Allen is not a mere student, nor is he professionally engaged in scientific pursuits; he is, on the contrary, a man of business, and constantly occupied with the cares and labors of extensive manufacturing establishments; and yet he has found time to keep up with the progress of a department that is ever and rapidly advancing, and to subject its manifold discoveries and new results to processes of original and comprehensive investigation. In looking over this stout octavo of more than eight hundred pages, we have been impressed with the industry and intellectual activity by which it has been planned and carried out, under circumstances apparently so unfavorable.

Fruits of Leisure: or Essays written in the Intervals of Business. First American from the Fourth London Edition. New-York: Anson D. F. Randolph. 12mo. Pp. 133.

We accidentally omitted to mention, in our October number, the appearance of this book, the first, we believe, bearing the imprint of a young publisher whose success will be gratifying to many friends. The book embodies the reflections of a cultivated mind in regard to the character and habits of commercial men, and furnishes a specially useful study to young men in commercial life, whose characters and habits are in process of formation. The essays are brief, and are precisely fitted to intervals of business. They embrace such subjects as Practical Wisdom, Contentment, our Judgments of other Men, the Education of a Man of Business, the Choice and Manage