8.-The Duty of American Women to their Country. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 164, 18mo. This little volume is, at once, intended to awaken interest in the cause of education in the West, and to be a contribution toward the execution of a plan for the accomplishment of that desirable end. The plan is, to select judiciously, and to sustain in the wilder portions of the Great Valley, a corps of well-educated young women as teachers of schools, especially for the destitute. Why can it not be done? why should it not? All our aid should not be extended to colleges: let us not forget that the "Excelsior" is often ultimately reached by beginning with the Humilior. This book describes the condition of the West briefly, and unfolds a plan for its salvation: and then a portion of the profits of sale is to be appropriated to the furtherance of the cause. 9.-Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus, and to Philemon. By ALBERT BARNES. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1845. pp. 355, 12mo. This is another volume of Mr. Barnes's useful commentaries, marked by the same excellences which have characterized his Notes on the Gospels, and rendered them so acceptable to private Christians and teachers in Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes. The commentary on that part of Philemon which relates to Onesimus is worthy of consideration, and will probably correct mistakes which have possession of many minds. 10.—A Grammar of the Latin Language, on the basis of the Grammar of Dr. Alexander Adam, of Edinburgh. By C. D. CLEVELAND. Third edition. Philadelphia: Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. 1845. pp. 320, 12mo. The Grammar of Dr. Adam has long been in use both in this country and Great Britain, and was, when it first appeared, a great improvement on most of its predecessors. In the advanced state of philological inquiries, itself needed additions and changes, to make it a suitable book for our schools. These improvements it has been the design of Prof. Cleveland to introduce in the present edition: and we think he has succeeded so far as to make it decidedly the best edition of Adam's Latin Grammar yet published. We do not think it the very best Grammar of the Latin language, but among the best; and when Adam's is used, we decidedly recommend the introduction of Prof. Cleveland's third edition. 11.-Second Latin Book—the First Part of Jacob's and Döring's This is one of a series of Latin Books designed by Prof. Cleveland. The style of execution will commend it to teachers and scholars. Its chief excellence consists, we think, in its correct and extensive vocabulary. These are generally meagre and worthless. We are no friends of mere vocabularies at the end of a book. Let the student use a large dictionary at once. But if they must be used, then let them, by all means, be full, and founded on a radical knowledge of the significations of words. 12.-A Practical Manual of Elocution: embracing Voice and Gesture. Designed for Schools, Academies, and Colleges, as well as for private learners. By MERRITT CALDWELL, A. M., Professor of Metaphysics and Political Economy, and Teacher of Elocution, in Dickinson College. Philadelphia: Sorin & Ball. New-York: Huntington & Savage. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. 1845. pp. 331, 12mo. We confess ourselves greatly pleased with this manual. It is well digested and comprehensive, embracing rules both for the regulation of the voice, and the cultivation of gesticulation. Dr. Rush's philosophical work on the voice, and Austin's Chironomia, are the basis of Prof. Caldwell's system; but he certainly is entitled to the merit of combining the two departments of elocution, and exhibiting them lucidly, and with sufficient extension for all practical purposes. A text book of this description, in order to be useful in accomplishing the end for which it was written, must be thoroughly and practically studied. Thus used, we think its introduction into schools and colleges would tend, at least, to give a facility and appropriateness of articulation and expression, which else would not be attained. 13.-Practical Christianity, in a Series of Essays. By JOHN BOWDLER, Jr., Esq., of Lincoln's Inn. First American from the Edinburgh edition. Boston: Benjamin Perkins & Co. 1845. p. 285, 18mo. Books on Practical Christianity ought to be ever welcome; for with these corrupt natures of ours, we need all the helps we can obtain, to cherish our piety; and it is particularly grateful to find those who are barristers devoting their leisure hours to the composition of essays on the practical matters of Christianity-such as Submission to God, Trust in God, Love of God, Thankfulness, Prayer, Humility, etc., etc. 14.-The Miscellaneous Works of Thomas Arnold, D. D., Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford. Firg American edition, with nine additional Essays, not included in the English collection. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1845. pp. 519, 8vo. This is a beautiful volume, and the most complete collection of the miscellaneous writings of Dr. Arnold. It contains much more than is found in the English edition: to wit, "Christian Politics; Essays on Church and State; The Church; Church of England; Early Roman History; Faith and Reason; Oxford Malignants and Dr. Hampden; Sixth Chapter of the Gospel by John; Tracts for the Times; Tradition." Every thing from Dr. Arnold possesses interest. He was unquestionably one of the lights of the age; and the very fact that this light was so soon and so suddenly quenched, throws a peculiar beauty over the daguerreotyped surfaces on which its impressions remain. Who has not read his life and correspondence with a zest of pleasure; and as he pored over its illuminated pages, mourned that he was no longer left among us? His was a beautiful exhibition of Christian character; and although we are far from adopting all his views on Church, State, and Establishments, yet there is so much of heart, so much that is noble and independent in his thinking, that we sympathize deeply with him, and heartily wish an extensive circulation of his writings. Their tendency is excelsior. In the volume before us we have interesting dissertations on Dis cipline of Public Schools, Divisions and Regulations of knowledge, Poetry of Common Life, Social Progress of States, etc. 15.-Introductory Lectures on Modern History, delivered in Lent Term, 1842; with the Inaugural Lecture of December, 1841. By THOMAS ARNOLD, D. D. Edited from the second London edition, with a Preface and Notes, by Henry Reed, M. A., Professor of English Literature in the University of Pennsylvania. NewYork: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1845. pp. 428, 12mo. Another valuable volume from the pen of Dr. Arnold, and one worthy of a place in every scholar's library, and on every student's table. It could, certainly, be used advantageously as a text-book in the higher classes of our colleges. It contains the first lectures of Dr. Arnold after his appointment as Professor in the University of Oxford; but they are to be regarded as only the trunk and branches of a stately tree, on which time and genial warmth were to develop a beautiful foliage and fruit. These lectures embrace his definition of History and delineation of the duties of its Professor-the study of history, including its chief topics-a survey of European history, and the nature of credible historical testimony. All are charcterized by originality, power, perspicuity, and felicitous illustration. 16.-APPLETON's Literary Melange. Gertrude. By the Author of "Amy Herbert," etc. Edited by the Rev. W. Sewell, B. D., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. Two volumes of the London edition in one. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1845. pp. 332, 12mo. This is the first volume of "Appleton's Literary Melange," of which it may, perhaps, be well to give our readers some knowledge. It is announced as a uniform series of superior productions in the less erudite department of popular literature, to combine amusement with instruction and moral benefit. The selection will be only from the élite of such works, and will be determined by their manifest excellence, excluding every thing, however attractive, which inculcates irreligious opinions and practice, either by precept or example. This plan and purpose, we trust, will be rigidly executed: as there is, unquestionably, a strong temptation to publish a popular and valuable work, although hurtful in its sentiments. The present volume is of the better class of fictions, and its tendency virtuous. 17.-My Uncle Hobson and I; or Slashes at Life with a free Broadare. By PASCAL JONES. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1845. pp. 267, 12mo. This is a pleasantly written book, in somewhat of the Dickens style: touching off some of the follies and fanaticisms of life, with a free pencil. 18.-The Mission; or Scenes in Africa, written for Young People. By CAPTAIN MARRYAT. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1845. 2 vols. 18mo. This is a third work of Captain Marryat, included in the series of "Tales for the People and their Children." Of the "Settlers in Canada," the previous one to this, we spoke well; and there seems to be but one voice about it, among those who have read it. The present volumes are equally interesting, and more instruetive, intended to represent diversified scenes in Southern Africa; gathered up principally from the reports of British Missionaries. The incidents are often thrilling; and the impression obtained from the whole is good-favorable to revealed truth and Christian philanthropy. 19.-WILEY & PUTNAM's Library of American Books. This is a series by American Authors, in the same style with the other Library. Three volumes have been issued, viz: Journal of an African Cruiser, by Nathaniel Hawthorne-Edgar Poe's TalesHeadley's Letters from Italy. Mr. Hawthorne edits the work for the author, who in this volume has given us some pleasant observations on the Canaries, Cape de Verds, and the Western Coast of Africa. Poe's Tales are much praised by some, as indicating superior genius; for ourselves, while a portion of them are well-wrought and fascinating, others of them are extravagant, and one, at least, of hurtful tendency. Headley's Letters are written in an off-hand, easy style, and are meritorious, as they unfold to us much of the every-day life of the Italians. A little girl, speaking of them, said to me, "I think Mr. H. must have gone to the theatre." That impression is made, and would certainly not be very acceptable to some of his good old Puritan friends. 20.-WILEY & PUTNAM's Library of Choice Reading. This Library must be exceedingly popular, to encourage the enterprising and worthy publishers to issue so rapidly as they do, having already reached the twenty-fourth volume. Since our last notice, have been issued: Hazlitt's Age of Eliza beth-Legh Hunt's Indicator, two parts-Zschökke's Tales-Hood's Prose and Verse, two parts-Hazlitt's Characters of Shakspeare's Plays-Tupper's Crock of Gold-Wilson's Genius and Character of Burns-Lamb's Essays of Elia, first and second series-Sir Francis Head's Bubbles from the Brunnen; just one half of the volumes already published. These twelve numbers are, without exception, interesting and valuable. The last, perhaps, the least so. Nearly all of them are works which created a sensation at the time of their original publication-works of celebrated authors in the department of criticism and polite literature. Hazlitt, Hunt, Lamb, and Wilson, are well known -Zschökke and Tupper, less so. The Crock of Gold, by the latter, will awaken a desire to know more of the author, and see more from him. In Lamb there are some dreamy things—some things he had better not spoken; and if read, he needs to be read with caution, and by persons of fixed principles. 21.—Travels in North America, in the years 1841-2; with Geological Observations on the United States, Canada, and Nova Scotia. By CHARLES LYELL, ESQ., F. R. S. In two volumes. (The two in one.) New-York: Wiley & Putnam. 1845. pp. 472, 12mo. This is a beautiful and highly valuable contribution to science; for although denominated Travels, it is principally a geological description of our country and Canada. The observations of so celebrated a geologist as Mr. Lyell, are, of course, of great value, and the work is illustrated by excellent geologically colored maps. Every scholar should endeavor to read this book. He will find in it interesting |