there is, even now, no reading more enticing than the simple narratives of trial and of triumph, with their quaint details, their earnest devotion, their stern bigotry, their self-denial, their patience in suffering, their trustful hope, in which the old chroniclers have recorded the infancy of New England, and the administrations of New England's chiefs.

The present volume does not add much to what already has been in some other form pursued, of mere historical matter, though the author has evidently searched well, and collated with judgment, all the existing authorities on the subject. But as regards the biographical sketches, the real object of the work, particularly of some individuals less generally known, it does give much that, to us at least, is new and interesting. The characters are drawn with fidelity and impartiality, and where facts are attainable, with detail enough to give all the individuality possible to men among whom there exists an almost family likeness. The next volume, we understand, will comprise the governors of the remaining New England Colonies until the termination of the Colonial Independence and their formation into provinces. The third will enter upon a field almost entirely new, the lives of the early governors of Virginia, and so on in succession through the rest.

Mr. Moore, the author of this work, is extensively and favorably known as, for many years, the editor of one of the best conducted papers in New England. He has since occupied a confidential place in the Post Office department at Washington. Possessing unwearied industry, a devoted attachment to historical investigation, with a style easy and natural, he is admirably qualified for the successful completion of the laborious, but interesting task he has now commenced. The volume is well print ed, on good paper, and is embellished with a steel engraving of Governor Winslow, and excellent lithographs of Sir Henry Vane, John Endicott and the Elder Winthrop.

Letters on Astronomy, addressed to a Lady, in which the elements of the Science are familiarly explained, in connection with its_literary history, with Engravings. By DENISON OLMSTEAD, LL. D. New York: Harper & Brothers.

These are a very clear and excellent series of observations on all the more popular topics of astronomical knowledge. The style, as was to be expected in letters to a lady, is more easy and familiar than is usual in this author's scientific writings. The book is full of apt illustrations, and presents, with suitable perspicuity, nearly everything that need be known by the

general reader. On the whole, the only fault we have to find is the eternal use of the word "hence." We remember it of old. In this book, among other instances, "Hence, from this cause," is a trifle tautological.

Sailor's Life and Sailor's Yarns. By CAPTAIN RINGBOLT.

This is a neat little book, published by Francis. It rests one's eyes and one's heart to read it, but not one's risibles. There is much humor and humanity, and some pathos in this little work. The first story is the best. It made our heart run over at our eyes. The practical observations, and the plea for the improvement of sailors, should recommend the book to all who would do good to a large and neglected class of men. Captain Ringbolt is (we have heard him tell a better story than any in his book,) but he is something betHe has a sailor's heart in a captain's bosom-a very desirable thing for sailors. If we ever go Capt. R's. way at sea, we shall certainly take passage with him.

ter.

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The Italian Reader. Edited by Signor FORESTI. New York: Appleton & Co.

Instead of meaningless phrases and thrice-repeated extracts, appended to unintelligible rules, we have in this volume a beautiful selection from the choicest prose of the Italian language. The work is prepared by Signor Foresti, the Professor of Italian Literature in Columbia College-a well known exile, of character and attainments, who has been for many years resident in this country. He has chosen for the purpose the writings of standard modern authors-many of which are inaccessible to the general reader. Difficult passages are elicited in notes, and a running commentary unites the extracts into an intelligible whole. The passages from Botta, Foscolo, Verri, Bini, &c., are selected with rare taste and judgment, and are not only beautiful examples of style, but possess intrinsic interest. Indeed, although intended as a reader to initiate students of the language, it is an attractive volume for the adepts in Italian to revive their most pleasant associations with that musical tongue. We wish, by the way, that more attention were paid among us to a language and literature, from which so much of the fine fancy and mellowness and richness of style, of our own early English writers was drawn. We say "our own," for we hold that the literature of England, previous to the reign of Charles II., belongs as much to us as to the modern inhabitants of Great Britain, who speak but the same inherited language, and are but the descendants of the same stern, imaginative generations.