We would wish to see New-York take that place in her style of publishing, which she does in commercial enterprise. This has not always been the case. This book presents an honorable competition with the best publishing in Boston and London. May the example be followed.

AN ESSAY ON THE Spirit and Influence of the ReformATION, by C. Villiers, Professor of Philosophy in the University of Gottengen. Philadelphia; Key & Biddle.

The mechanical execution of this book is highly creditable, and we hope the spirited house who have issued it, will find their reward in paying a like attention to neatness of appearance, (a point too much neglected by our publishers) in the many books they issue.

We are glad to see a faithful translation of Villiers' great essay, on a subject so momentous. In the troubled waters of polemical controversy, we may in vain look for a bark to steer us without deviation to truth, when two great parties each find it their interest, unhappily that it should be so, to pervert or gloss history to the colour of their creed, it is almost impossible to form a correct judgment amid the variety of conflicting influences which distract us. Villiers knew the difficulty of his subject, and he met it as he ought. Setting aside partiality, prejudices and prepossessions, he grappled with the difficulties which his theme presented like a Hercules: with the assisting power of a clear and discriminating philosophy, he fearlessly met and removed every obstacle in his path, evincing a calm sagacity, and an acute and relentless justice in its treatment, which have made his work by far the best we have yet upon the subject. There was perhaps a little vanity in the decision of the National Institute of France, when it awarded its magnificent prize to this essay, on the great question it proposed thirty years ago, the first offspring of its new born liberality. 'What has been the influence of the Reformation of Luther on the political situation of the different States of Europe, and on the progress of knowledge!' Yet there could not be a more powerful and convincing description of the momentous topics embraced in the question, and though the compliment as coming from a Catholic corporation to a Hugonot, was perhaps the greatest that could be paid to an historian, and confers an unquestioned eminence of value on this treatise; still it little affects its mere literary merits, and leaves the critic ample room to admire its more abstract excellencies; the admirable taste with which the facts are arranged, the unadorned, appropriate simplicity of its style, and the clear and convincing acuteness with which every fact is made to tell upon the gigantic question of the agency of that unexampled event, upon the tone, the spirit, and the improvement of modern society.

We cannot but commend too the time at which it has appeared. When the most popular poet of his time, merging with a miraculous facility, the faded voluptuary in the convenient saint, has not thought the work of proselytism beneath his genius; when the advocates of a spurious infidelity with a charecteristic zeal, are compassing heaven and earth to propagate their tenets, and when it is evident that the principles and disciples of Popery are daily increasing in numbers and influence, it is surely becoming the professors of Pro

testantism, to see that they are well grounded in the doctrines of that faith, whose light, kindled by the touch of heaven burst with the effulgence of truth, through the starless darkness of ages, and left its shining light as a sacred legacy to other times, to guide men in the glorious work of the emancipation of intellect and the amelioration of their species.

TRAITS AND STORIES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY. First Series. Philadelphia; Carey & Hart.

We are glad these admirable tales have been completed by the publication of the present volumes, which preceded the others, two or three years. We know of no attempts in the lighter description of fiction, which at all approaches them in consummate truth of delineation. With a strong and cultivated mind, the author is sufficiently impregnated with true Irish feeling, to give an effec tive truth to all his pictures of native life, and has such a felicitous diversity of talent, that when his subject requires it, he can be eloquent or droll, affecting or sarcastic, descriptive or conversational, and excel equally in all. They have one fault too characteristic and two egregious to be unnoticed by a reviewer; and that is, an exaggerating imagination, which leads him in numberless instances to make caricatures rather than pictures.

Those, however, who are fond of pure, natural and touching pictures of life, ought to peruse these Traits and Stories, they will find them here, admirably and skilfully drawn.

A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF MENSURATION OF SUPERFICES, AND SOLIDS OF ALL REGULAR FIGURES.-KEY TO DO.-THE PLANETARIUM AND ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATOR,—all by Tobias Ostrander. New-York; M'Elrath, Bangs & Herbert.

We are glad to bear testimony to the care and accuracy, with which these excellent school books have been compiled by Mr. Ostrander It is such as reflects credit on his scientific acquirements, and must greatly facilitate the study of the difficult and important branches of which they treat, by inspiring and warranting that confidence in their correctness, which is so vitally essential in text books of the kind.

THE MAN OF WAR'S MAN. 2 vols. Philadelphia; E. L. Carey & A. Hart.

A Naval Romance, by the author of those dashing sketches known to the readers of Blackwood as Tom Cringle's Log. The work has all the characteristics of its author, replete with nautical information, and perfectly alive to the dangers and excitement of a sailor's life. With a fine imagination and admirable powers of description, he possesses many qualities for engaging the attention, and engages it accordingly. The work is peculiarly naval. We can almost smell the tainted breeze.' We can hear the roar of the surge and the whistling of the cordage, and Jack is painted in all his whimsical qualities, with the liveliest truth and power. The present work however, is not equal to

the 'Log.' It has neither the same force and power in describing land scenes, nor the same relieved accuracy in detailing the minutia of 'life afloat.' But this arises in a great measure from the subject, which does not admit of the same diversity of narration, nor give his abilities the same wide scope for exertion which he possessed in the more rambling papers to which he owes his fame.

A SUBALTERN IN AMERICA, Comprising his Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Baltimore, Washington, &c., during the late War. Philadelphia; Carey & Hart.

These spirited sketches attracted a good deal of attention on their publication in Blackwood's Magazine some years ago, and will ever retain a strong interest from the happy manner with which the author, understood, we believe, to be the Rev. Mr. Gleig, blends the stirring adventures of personal daring, with the grand movements of a united army.

By Americans especially, they may well be perused with curiosity. They will mark the feeling with which the British army, fresh from the triumphs of France and Spain, viewed a contest with the despised republicans they were to encounter in America; and with what different feelings they returned to their ships, after leaving the flower of their army in the impregnable trenches of New-Orleans. The expression of this common opinion in the English army, by the Subaltern, is not only far from being offensive, but gives an agreeable naivete to the reckless honesty of his remarks. His graphic power is admirable, and his personal adventures are detailed with an effect eminently entertaining. Many of the scenes are deserving of particular commendation for their excellence. There is something exceedingly touching in the incident, described, p. 145. The execution of the two seamen is powerfully detailed, and the contrast between the appearance of the two camps, before the battle of NewOrleans, is well told, and is singularly interesting from the feelings it created in the respective armies. The murderous battle of New-Orleans, is likewise described with thrilling effect.

The book will repay a perusal. The scenes are generally narrated with sufficient justice, and where his national animosities are not interested, the Subaltern's sketches will be pronounced one of the best written detached histories of the late War which has appeared.

THE YOUNG LADY'S SUNDAY BOOK. THE YOUNG MAN'S OWN BOOK. THE HUMORIST'S OWN BOOK.-THE PIECE BOOK.-THE WESTERN SONGSTER.Philadelphia; Key & Biddle.

All handsome little volumes. Neatly bound and elegantly illustrated—their external appearance fits them for the centre-table of the drawing room, while the instruction, entertainment, or mirth embraced with such happy selection in their contents, recommend them not less warmly as favorite personal companions.

In this little library, the religious will find the choicest and most elevating

morality, in the finest passages of our best writers. Those fond of light reading will rejoice over romance, and poesy, and chivalry in the attractive and appropriately named 'Piece Book,' while the songster and the humorist will each find food of the choicest description according to his particular fancy.

We recommend them all as the neatest, cheapest, and most delightful books of the kind we have seen.

CLASSIC TALES, by the author of 'American Popular Lessons.' New-York; Peabody & Co.

The most striking adventures of the old mythology are very happily told by this attractive juvenile writer, in this neat little volume. The illustrations are truly classic in design, and are very elegantly executed. We know few books more calculated to be useful in seminaries.

THE CONTRAST, a Novel, by Earl of Mulgrave. 2 vols. 12mo. Philadelphia; Carey, Lea & Blanchard.

The Governor of Jamaica seems to have had no ambitious design of emulating so many modern novelists, by making his work an ingenious satire upon society, or description of particular life. His object seems to have been the simple construction of an agreeable tale, founded on the ordinary relations of society, and the usual impulses of nature. He has succeeded. The Contrast' is an interesting and affecting story, in which, without any aim at pretension, there are many characters drawn with great beauty and even admirable truth. George, Lucy, Mrs. Darnell, with her 'its just like all the rest,' are all sketched with spirit, and wrought with much feeling and fidelity. Lord Castleton, and the Lady Gayland are both conceptions of a superior order, well sustained, and replete with truth. The scene in the opera house between them-her fall while riding, and the progress of a love both dread, but are unable to resist, are among the finest pictures of the modern novel.

VILLAGE BELLES, a Novel. 2 vols. 12 mo. New-York; Harpers.

To say that this was merely a good novel would not be doing justice to its peculiar merits. It is a spirited and refreshing picture of rural life, executed with a Teniers-like fidelity, and a Cuyp-like beauty.

There is much in it of that touching simplicity which charms the world in the Vicar of Wakefield. The characters have the same resemblance to life, the same exquisite truth to nature; and the Vicar's daughters in their Sunday finery are equalled by Rosina's expedition for the new ribbon ere she saw Huntley again. The introduction of the romantic painter has given birth to many scenes of great beauty. His warm enthusiastic disposition contrasts finely with the quiet and secluded, yet deeply interesting Hannah, and the progress of his affection is managed with delicacy-finely executed, and masterly. For this character however, the author has created an interest which authors should be very careful of destroying, and we can scarcely be reconciled with pleasure to see his generous and noble qualities supplanted by Russel, about whom no

body cares. The novel is well worth a perusal, it is better than nineteen twentieths of those usually published.

THE TOKEN AND ATLANTIC SOUVENIR. A Christmas and New Year's present, Edited by S. G. Goodrich. Boston; Charles Bowen.

A work like this, having especially for its object the advancement of the arts in our country, is deemed entitled to, and would generally receive critical lenity when it appeals, as it ought to do, to the indiscriminating generosity of national feeling. But when it is arrogantly held up as an example of perfection, and announced to be as fine as fifteen thousand dollars can make it, (credat judeus Apella,) it must stand or fall by its own merits alone. In the present volume of the Token, these claims entitle it to but a very slender consideration, in fact less than any of its predecessors. The majority of the engravings are not equal to those now commonly issued by our respectable publishers. The subjects are not only all copies, but copies of stale prints, familiar to the public for the last two or three years. The very binding has an air of slovenly elegance about it, which may be called any thing but taste, and the embossed design, like the engravings-a piracy. The contributions with many signal exceptions are however better. Some popular writers are enrolled upon the list. That we may not be charged with want of attention to this volume we make room for the following charming little allegory by Miss Gould. The only prose poem she has written.

THE ANGEL OF THE LEAVES.

'Alas! alas!' said the sorrowing tree, my beautiful robe is gone! It has been torn from me. Its faded pieces whirl upon the wind; they rustle beneath the squirrel's foot, as he searches for his nut. They float upon the passing stream, and on the quivering lake. Wo is me! for my fair green vesture is gone. It was the gift of the angel of the leaves! I have lost it, and my glory has vanished; my beauty has disappeared. My summer hours have passed away. My bright and comely garment, alas! it is rent in a thousand parts. Who will leave me such another? Piece by piece, it has been stripped from me. Scarcely did I sigh for the loss of one, ere another wandered off on air. The sound of music cheers me no more. The birds that sang in my bosom were dismayed at my desolation. They have flown away with their songs.

'I stood in my pride. The sun brightened my robe with his smile. The zephyrs breathed softly through its glassy folds; the clouds strewed pearls among them. My shadow was wide upon the earth. My arms spread far on the gentle air; my head was lifted high; my forehead was fair to the heavens. But now, how changed! Sadness is upon me; my head is shorn, my arms are stripped; I cannot throw a shadow on the ground. Beauty has departed; gladness is gone out of my bosom; the blood has retired from my heart, it has sunk into the earth. I am thirsty, I am cold. My naked limbs shiver in the chilly air. The keen blast comes pitiless among them. The winter is coming; I am destitute. Sorrow is my portion. Morning must wear me away. How shall I account to the angel who clothed me, for the loss of his beautiful gift?'

The angel had been listening. In soothing accents he answered the lamentation.