THE VISITER OF THE POOR. By the Rev. Dr. J. Tuckerman of Boston, United States. Simpkin & Marshall: London.

THE VISITER, in its English form, is the reprint of an excellent little book, composed by a good man for a good purpose. Poverty and mendicity are not altogether strangers to the people of the large towns in America; but it is for the amelioration of the paupers of the whole civilized family of man that this work is intended, and also for the direct instruction of the humane, who are willing to assist them, but ignorant of the true mode. The benevolent author combats some of the dogmas of Malthus. His plans are recommended by what appears utility; but on this most difficult subject who can decide.

EXCURSIONS IN THE ALPS. By William Brockedon. Duncan: London.

THIS gentleman has kept a journal of his tour as an artist among the Alps. His taste in art has imparted much beauty to many of his scenic descriptions. The book, altogether, forms very pleasant reading. LOUDON'S ENCYCLOPEDIA of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture, and Furniture. Longman and Rees: London.

WE congratulate Mr. Loudon on having brought another of his Herculean labours to a prosperous close. In this Magazine for last October, the object of this last, and perhaps, greatest of the performances of an indefatigable and highly meritorious writer, was explained at large. It is a book for country gentlemen, architects, builders, cabinetmakers, &c. ; but as they will take care to supply themselves, we do not mind them. We wish to recommend it to country book-clubs, and mechanics' reading-rooms. It is too expensive, from its nature, and from the number of drawings, plans, and models, for those individuals to purchase who will be most benefited by it; but the chief value of societies is the removal of this difficulty in the way of diffusing really useful knowledge. HARPER'S FAMILY LIBRARY.-No. I. The Life of Mahommed. By the Rev. George Bush. New York.

THE people of the United States, often before, and never long behind us, in any useful enterprize, have their Murrays, Lardners, and Valpys, who follow hard on the steps of our insular publishers. The Life of Mahommed forms an interesting subject. Though a false prophet, he was, in many things, a great man. The account of the casualties and small beginnings from which his imposture took rise, are as curious as the extent to which it has spread, and the changes it has produced. How long will it be before this little book, or some one of like kind, makes a way into the regions of Islamism? how many human beings are to be burned, strangled, beheaded, before its heresies are allowed to be freely circulated, to the subversion of Mahommedanism among the Turks, Arabs, Persians, Indians, and the myriads living in the faith of the Prophet?

THE VOLUNTARY CHURCH MAGAZINE. Robertson: Glasgow.

We have here a popular organ, and able advocate of the Scottish Dissenters, and of that cause on which they have set their hearts,—the abolition of all church establishments, as institutions unwarranted by the Gospel, and injurious to religion. This Magazine does not go at all about the bush. It has already dealt some hard hits to the Kirk, which is parrying feebly.

VOL. JII, NO, XVIII.

3 K

CONSIDERATIONS ON CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS OF RELIGION. By the Rev. Dr. H. Heugh; with some Remarks on Dr. Inglis's Vindication. Third Edition. Robertson: Glasgow.

WE are evidently on the verge of a new Church Reformation, not of doctrines. these are held in Scriptural purity, but of government and discipline, and especially of those abuses which have crept into the ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. The West of Scotland appears the centre of this "Movement." Its principal seat is Glasgow. The recent ill-advised measures of the Edinburgh Clergy, have spread the agitation here; where many are led to inquire, for the first time in their lives, if the religion of the Gospel requires, in a highly civilized country, and among intelligent communities, the protection and alliance of the civil power, which may have been necessary in ruder times. There is but one opinion as to the danger of longer placing power in the hands of churchmen, of whatever denomination, which may be abused, and directed against the first interests of Christianity. Dr. HEUGH is adverse to all ESTABLISHMENTS, as inconsistent with the principles of the New Testament, opposed to the practice of the primitive Church, and hurtful to the cause of religion. In this pamphlet, the arguments against ALL ESTABLISHMENTS are stated with no ordinary ability, and supported with no common extent of reading, research, and learning. We warmly recommend it to every one who would see the arguments for and against Establishments clearly, concisely, and fairly stated.

CHRISTIAN JOURNAL. Reid: Glasgow.

This is a religious Magazine, lately started in the west of Scotland, which, we understand, is in high reputation in its own locality: we have not yet had an opportunity of looking into it. Its objects we heartily approve the speedy abolition of slavery, and the discussion of the utility of religious establishments connected with the civil power.

BIOGRAPHICAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE REV. ROBERT HALL.
By J. W. Morris. Wightman: London.

THE family of Mr. Hall, if they did not wish his Memoirs to be given to the public by a stranger in a cheaper form than Dr. Gregory's work, should have undertaken the duty themselves; for the world assuredly should not for a day want a record of the life of one of the first thinkers of his age among churchmen. This work is not all that could be desired; but it contains, with many new facts, which Dr. Gregory has from an imaginary delicacy, or some such small cause, entirely suppressed, (the distressing history of Hall's first love, for example,) a tolerably fair, and a very affectionate estimate of his noble, and original character. Probably Dr. Gregory fancied it would depreciate his friend, and the friend of Sir James Mackintosh, to tell that the profound philosopher and eloquent preacher, married a rustic servant girl; for this we understand Mr. Morris to mean. Many scintillations of Hall's wit, satire, and brilliance of thought, flash through the volume.*

Mr. Morris has done us the honour to tie us up with the Edinburgh Review of better days, to sustain his grave rebuke for over-praising Miss Edgeworth's works. If he take the trouble to read the whole article, and not merely the sentence picked out by the bookseller for an obvious purpose, he will find reason to correct this overhasty judgment. By "a fair preacher of the fashionable world," Mr. Morris surely understands a novelist is meant; he cannot suppose we thought of a teacher of Theo. logy? If Miss Edgeworth really made the vindication Mr. Hall was taught to believe, we cordially subscribe to his censure. Her alleged defence is of the worst essence of Toryism,-contempt for mankind. Besides being irreligious, it shows profound ignorance of human nature. We, however, doubt that Mr. Hall was misinformed. Miss Edgeworth was most unlikely to make such a defence.

TRAVELS IN THE UNITED
1 Vol. 8vo.
TRAVELS in America are become periodicals. We have at least one
fresh volume every month. This is not one of the very best of them.
The traveller, by his introductions, has everywhere made good use of
his eyes, too, as is proved by his accurate descriptions of town and coun-
try; but he seems afraid to tell anything of what he saw that is much
worth hearing. His book, in short, is rather a meagre contribution to our
previous knowledge of the United States.

STATES AND CANADA. By J. FINCH, Esq.
Longman and Rees: London.

HARPER'S MISCELLANY. Rich London.

THIS is an American publication, consisting of dialogues on Natural History, Tales, and other amusing and instructive matter, adapted to young readers; somewhat like our own Evenings at Home, and such little works. Its style and manner are very creditable to our transatlantic brethren.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND ALMANACK. Smith and Elder: London.

A BOOK printed in Kangaroo-land, on paper made, we cannot guess where, but certainly not in Britain, is a curiosity, were it only for its exterior. When Van Diemen's Land becomes a hundred times more populous, the Almanack will swell out into an Annual Register; which, properly speaking, it is already, combining the usual matter of Almanacks with statistics and history.

ENGLISH HISTORY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. By a Graduate of

Cambridge. Heward: London,

THERE could not be a better or more useful idea than that which has led to the commencement of this series. A very cheap series, we apprehend, it is intended to be. The history begins from the Civil Wars in the time of Charles I. The first part consists of the Life of Hampden; and it is by the memoirs of eminent statesmen that the history is to be continued-philosophy teaching by examples. This life of England's noblest patriot is written in a true spirit. We hope the book may have an extensive circulation, as we conceive its design highly praiseworthy.

TALES FROM CHAUCER, IN PROSE, (for the Use of Young Persons.) By Charles Cowden Clarke. Effingham Wilson: London.

FOURTEEN masterly wood engravings accompany this lit le volume, from clever and very spirited drawings made to illustrate some of the chastest of the Canterbury Tales. Mr. Clarke has executed his task with judgment, and deserves the thanks of those youngsters in whose behoof he undertook it.

WE suppose there can be scarcely one respectable book or printseller's shop in all Britain, in whose window may not be found exposed, sure as the month comes round, one of the fair faces constituting the last number of this alluring Gallery. By so much, then, it is unnecessary to describe minutely whatever every person has minutely seen "with their own eyes," and pored over till they know every line in each print. Mr. Stone's ELEANORE we could much admire, were it not for a capital defect in the drawing of the eyes. The same complaint may be made with relation to Boxall's NATURE'S FAVOURITE. We find fault in no ill spirit; but we like not

the beam in her eye, whatever may be the mote in our own. The head, besides, is every way too large. There is a spell about the FAIR PATRICIAN which rivets our gaze; albeit she is neither pretty nor beautiful: yet is she admirable. May we take leave to draw attention to the sweep of the mantilla below the bust on the left side; what is it intended to indicate? The present number, like the past, make us yearn for those to come.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF MODERN SCULPTURE. Parts 2 and 3.

A PROTRACTED interval has occurred in the publication of these Numbers, arising "from the anxious desire of the proprietors to do justice to the magnificent group of Michael and Satan," which embellishes the last; the exquisite beauty of the plate is the best apology that could be made to subscribers. Mr. Corbould has made a beautiful drawing from this noble original of Flaxman; and Mr. Thompson has produced an engraving, which, as a work of art, reflects back the highest credit on his talent. We have already recorded our unqualified approbation of this undertaking, and indulge the hope that the pains evinced by the proprietors to get up these Illustrations worthily, is an indication of the extensive patronage which will be required to indemnify them for the enormous expense they must incur in conducting the publication. No. 3 contains also the Arethusa of CAREW, a composition of great beauty; and the Venus of CANOVA, which graces the gallery of Lansdowne House, and whose plaster caricatures the Italian image-boys have made familiar to all eyes. The conductors have, we think, exercised a sound judgment in not confining their selections to the works of native artists. Their proposed plan is to give admission to one foreign production in each Number. Thus we have in the second Number THORWALDSON's beautiful composition of Hebe, in company with our own CHANTREY's Resignation, and BAILY'S delightful group of Maternal Love, each a choice engraving from a faithful drawing of a beautiful original. Every plate is accompanied by descriptive letterpress, partly critical, partly historical, and partly biographical; and by a poem, both the productions of Mr. Hervey's classic pen; from any one of which we could make most pleasing extracts.

To those who are earnest in their patronage of the Fine Arts, we very cordially recommend this publication, as much for its importance as its real excellence.

VALPY'S NATIONAL GALLERY OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE. Part 2. THE accuracy of the drawings, the precision of the engravings, the subjects selected, the running commentaries, and the general character of this work, as it appears in the second number, show that the publisher means, in real earnest, to make it not only a useful, but a necessary one. The fidelity of the copies, considering the size and faintly worked-in outline, is really astonishing-the great originals are brought almost as vividly to the recollection as elaborate engravings would have effected. This publication will be found a most capital "refresher" to the memory, useful to the public, and no doubt profitable to the originator.

PORTRAITS OF THE PRINCIPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS IN THE WAVERLEY NOVELS. Parts 9 and 10.

LANDSCAPE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE WORKS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Parts 22, 23, and 24. Chapman and Hall.

THE concluding numbers of these interesting and extensively circulated works. They have been, from first to last, as creditable to the good taste and good faith of the publishers, as acceptable to the proprietors, and may be regarded as a sure token of the disposition under which the forthcoming new series of Illustrations for the Poetical Works of Sir Walter will be undertaken.

Kilchurn Castle and Powis Castle are among the prettiest of the Landscape views given; and Hermione, (Anne of Gierstein,) and a very ably executed portrait of Queen Mary, the best among the Lady views.

The numbers above named complete the respective works; and the engravings, generally, may be taken as a very pleasing and serviceable series of illustrations to the Novels and Poems of Sir Walter Scott.

MEMORIALS OF OXFORD. Nos. 9 and 10. Tilt.

THESE parts contain, beside the usual quantity of wood-cuts, views of Baliol and University Colleges, which are correct and well executed. The two artists, Lekeux and Mackenzie, improve as they proceed, and falter not.

POLITICAL REGISTER.