OUR publishers have issued the first halfyearly volume of the National in elegant binding; some half dozen or more styles, from fine morocco, gilt, down to plain cloth. The prices are given elsewhere. The more elegant styles are really lustrous with beauty, and form choice presentation books. Of the internal mechanical execution of the volume we need not speak; our readers know that it is among the best specimens, if it is not the very best, afforded by the periodical publications of the country. We bespeak for this volume a hearty patronage; we hope especially that new subscribers will order it, and thus have unbroken the series of the Magazine. (Carlton & Phillips, New-York.)

Kathay is the title of a cruise in the Chinese Seas by W. Hastings Macaulay, reprinted, in very neat style, by Putnam. Mr. Macaulay made his voyage on board a government vessel, and touched at several places on the coasts of Eastern Asia, as also at Rio, St. Helena, &c. He has given us some very entertaining pictures of Asiatic life. The book is altogether a very pleasant one for leisure reading, but affords no new information of importance.

Putnam has enriched his semi-monthly series by a good translation from the German of Jerrmann's Pictures of St. Petersburgh. Jerrmann is a theatrical character; he spent three years in Russia as an actor, and has sketched the life of its borean capital quite graphically. He inclines too favorably to the political tendencies of the government, (though his volume is professedly non-political,) and his estimate of the Czar is decidedly eulogistic. The book affords some unusually entertaining reading for the fireside.

Mrs. Hale's long-expected book-" Woman's Record"-has at last appeared in quite superior style from the press of Messrs. Harper. It includes most of the noted names of the sex, from

Eve down to our day, with numerous portraits, which are better as engravings than as likenesses. The arrangement of the volume into four eras is convenient; many of the sketches are exceedingly well drawn, but some of them necessarily consist of only three or four lines. Some omissions, especially of a religious character, will provoke remark, notwithstanding a deprecatory allusion of the author.

The Baptist Almanac for 1853 has been issued by the Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia. Besides the usual calendar, it comprises a large amount of valuable statistics and other denominational information. It has evidently been prepared with much labor and care. Carlton & Phillips, New-York, have published" Questions on the Gospel History." They are adapted to Strong's Harmony, a superior work, which we have noticed heretofore. These questions are designed for Sunday-schools, Bible-classes, &c., and, in connection with the "Harmony," form a course of study admirably suited to advanced pupils.

Putnam, New-York, has added to his Semimonthly Library a volume of "Table-Talk on Books, Men, and Manners," from Sydney Smith

and others, edited by C. Evelyn, Esq. It consists of pithy and witty passages from many of the best English authors, suited for quotation in table-talk.

Redfield, New-York, has issued Mr. Meagher's "Speeches on the Legislative Independence of Ireland." They form a substantial duodecimo, and contain some brilliant and nervous specimens of Irish eloquence. Mr. Meagher has won much respect since his residence among us; his speeches will be acceptable not only to those who agree with his opinions, but to our citizens generally, who can appreciate his talents and earnest character, even if they choose to dissent from his theories on Irish politics. The volume contains not only fine examples of oratory, but much important historical information.

The Christian's Closet Companion is the title of a volume edited by Rev. J. Pugh, and published by Stevenson at the Southern Methodist Book Concern, Louisville, Kentucky. It is a very choice selection of meditations on sacred themes for every day in the year; an instructive, strengthening, and consoling book-rich with the best thoughts of some of the best minds.

Bangs, Brother & Co., New-York, have for sale Maxwell's "Victories of Wellington and the British armies." It is issued as one of the series of Bohn's Illustrated Library-a sufficient guaranty of its merits. Beginning with Seringapatam, Mr. Maxwell continues his graphic battlesketches down to the victory of Waterloo. He has gleaned the most interesting incidents of the Duke's campaigns, and made an exceedingly interesting narrative. Five very elegant steel engravings embellish the volume.

The book of Gorgei, the noted general and so-called traitor of the Hungarian war, has at Harper. It is entitled, "My Life and Acts in last been published in this country by Messrs. Hungary," &c. The preface presents facts and documents which can hardly fail to prepossess the reader in favor of the frankness of the author's narrative. The latter is long and miThere are nute, and not without interest. still "two sides" to this portion of the late military history of Europe, and further exemption from the violence of existing prejudices can alone determine fully which is the truthful one.

We have repeatedly referred to the writings of Caroline Chesebro-a lady of unquestionable talents, but whose works are infected with the morbid spirit which we have recently reprobated in these columns as a new and really detestable characteristic or rather affectation of American literature, an imported infection, derived from some of the worst French writers. Redfield, New-York, has published another volume from her pen entitled "The Children of Light;" it bears her usual marks of ability, but, like most of her other productions, appeals to the attention of the reader chiefly by the painful, the diseased interest referred to. It not only lacks genial vivacity, but also condensation.

They have also just republished, from the English edition, "Reminiscences of Thought and Feeling:" with every sentiment of which, though all may not accord, yet no one can read its sincere and striking autobiography of an earnest and devout mind without interest. Your lady readers may be pleased to know that they have issued a new "Cook-Book," by Mrs. Chadwick, which I have heard well-spoken of by a good authority.

Phillips, Sampson & Co. have in press "Lingard's History of England," to be published in four volumes, in the handsome style and remarkable cheapness of their editions of Hume and Macaulay. They have just published a new story by Mrs. Professor Phelps, whose late decease has brought sadness to many hearts, and whose "Sunny Side" will continue to gladden the homes of the poor and the rich. It is called The Tell-Tale; or, Home Secrets." They have also published a "Memoir of Mrs. Sarah Emily York, Missionary in Greece," by Mrs. R. B. Mulberry, a well-written portraiture of a devout and active lady.

Little & Brown present the following list of publications as soon forthcoming from their press: "Correspondence of the Revolution. Being Letters from Eminent Men to George Washington, from the time of his taking command of the American Army to the end of his life. Edited by Jared Sparks." 4 vols. 8vo. "Life and Works of John Adams, second President of the United States." Vols. II. to VII. inclusive, now ready. "Eliot's History of Liberty." 2 vols. 12mo. Winthrop's History of New-England." 2 vols. 8vo. "Greenleaf on Evidence." Vol. III. "American Railroad Cases." By Chauncey Smith. 2 vols. 8vo.

Through a recent communication from Washington, we learn that the Smithsonian Institute is fast rising to importance, as an agent in uniting the learned institutions and individuals

of the two worlds in bonds of closer communion. Much the largest portion of the scientific exchanges crossing the ocean passes through its agency, the greater part of which would have remained at home but for its agency. Packages bearing the stamp of the Smithsonian Institute pass free of duty or question into all ports of Europe. England, so stringent in her custom-house regulations, granted this permission nearly two years ago. The collections of the Smithsonian Institute are of great value; its library contains one of the best sets of scientific transac

tions and periodicals in this country; its gallery of art embraces the fullest series of Indian portraits in the world; its museum is the richest in North American vertebrate animals, skins, skeletons, and alcoholic preparations (including hundreds of undescribed species) of any in the United States.

The Christian Review, the Baptist quarterly, is hereafter to be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Trumbull and the Rev. Mr. Murdock.

A correspondent of the London Weekly News, writing from Agen, says: "While I was waiting for Louis Napoleon's coming I visited Jasmin, the poet and hair-dresser. Notwithstanding his humble position, Jasmin has received visits from many a prince, and his poetry is by far the most popular in the south of France among those understanding the old provincial language, in which he writes. He has written some verses in honor of the president's tour, in which he implores the prince's clemency in favor of M. Baze, ex-questor of the Legislative Assembly."

Over eight thousand copies of the "Successful Merchant" have been sold by Carlton & Phillips since its republication here-not yet three-quarters of a year.

Dr. Akers has accepted the Presidency of M'Kendree College.

The number of volumes in the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati is over twelve thousand.

The "Free Schools" of New-York city cost, annually, the sum of $569,000, which is an average of about eight dollars a year to each pupil in attendance.

An English paper states that Lord Derby, the present Prime Minister of England, is the author of a little work entitled, "Conversations on the Parables of the New Testament, for the Use of Children." It was published in 1826.

The Hon. Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts, is, we learn, about to publish a valuable contribution to our historical literature, from copies procured from England, of the correspondence carried on by the Tories at the beginning of the Revolution. These letters, being mostly official, will throw great light on the history of Massachusetts during that eventful period.

J. R. Brodhead, Esq., acting as agent of the State of New-York, has been some years in Europe, to collect from the archives of state papers in London, Paris, and the Hague, documents illustrating the early history of the State. He has been for some years engaged in a History of New-York, of which the first volume is completed. It contains a colonial history of the State under the Dutch government, illustrated by valuable maps and plates.

The best astronomical text-books in this country are from the pen of Rev. Hiram Mattison. Huntington, New-York, is about issuing his It includes three High-School Astronomy. parts. After an introduction, which consists of preliminary observations and definitions, and occupies twenty pages, part first is devoted to the Solar System-the sun, planets, comets, eclipses, tides, &c.; part second relates to the Sidereal Heavens-the fixed stars, constellations, clusters, and nebule; and part third to Practical Astronomy-the structure and use of instruments, refraction, parallax, &c. This department, so seldom introduced into text-books for schools, will be found especially interesting and valuable. Besides embracing all the late discoveries in astronomy, under a strictly philosophical classification, the work is now thoroughly illustrated by diagrams.

There has been an increase in the sales of tracts of the Wesleyan Methodist Tract Society, during the past year, of forty thousand. The total sales of tracts, covers, and hand-bills, amount to 1,273,353. These publications number in their titles six hundred and fifty-five.

"Celebrated Jesuits," is the title of a new work by Rev. W. H. Rule, one of the editors of the London Watchman, which is just issuing from the Wesleyan press, London. Mr. Rule was formerly chaplain at Gibraltar; and his abilities, both as a preacher and a writer, are well known and acknowledged in England.

The Wesleyan, a weekly religious and literary journal, Lucius C. Matlack, editor, for more than eight years published at 9 Spruce-street, New-York, is to be removed to the city of Syracuse, January 1, 1853. Thenceforward it will

be issued every Thursday, beginning with January 6th, or the first Thursday of the new year, at No. 60 South Salina-street.

We learn, through German papers, that Thomas Carlyle has visited the Royal Library of Berlin, in search of aid to write the life of Frederick the Great of Prussia.

The male heirs of the German author, Schiller, have received from the executors of M. Leidersdorf, a gentleman of Suabia, who died recently in Paris, a perpetual income of four hundred thalers, as "a tribute of admiration to the poet's genius."

The Dutch government has just taken possession of the valuable collections bequeathed to the State by the celebrated bibliopolist, Baron Wertreenen Van Tiellandt, and is about to form them into a separate museum, to be called the Museum Wertrenianum. They consist of a library of ten thousand rare and curious volumes, on the history of typography, bibliography, archæology, and numismatics; a gallery of pictures by the oldest masters, such as Cimabue, Giotto, etc.; ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, many of which are from Herculaneum and Pompeii; and a collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and oriental coins. Of the books, twelve hundred and thirty-three, it is said, bear date in the fifteenth century. There is, further, a collection of three hundred and eighty-five manuscripts, all anterior to the fourteenth century.

Counsellor Kotoski Wesel, of Trieste, has lately translated Homer's Iliad into the Slavonian language. The same writer had previously translated into the same language

Schiller's "Maid of Orleans" and "The Bell."

A new historical work is about to be published in France, under government patronage-"The works of the Emperor Napoleon I., complete in thirty-five volumes, folio." The curious part

of the prospectus is the announcement that the greater part of the materials of this volumin

ous work have been discovered since 1848.

The Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, has received a fresh impulse under the administration of its new president, Dr. Smith. Its finances are in a healthful condition, and its catalogue reports one hundred and three students. We notice that thirty-one are from New-York, twenty-two from Massachusetts, and nineteen from Connecticut. Only about half its students are from New-England.

The Richmondville Union Seminary, which,

as we stated some time since, commenced with the most encouraging prospects, has been destroyed by fire. It will be immediately re

built.

The sum of $25,000 has been raised for the benefit of Franklin College, Pa. The trustees have announced that the subscription is closed.

Rev. Dr. Isaac Ferris, of the Reformed Dutch Church in Market-street, for a long time President of Rutger's Female Institute, has been

chosen Chancellor of the New-York University.

We learn, from Norton's Literary Gazette, that Longfellow's Hyperion is about to be republish

ed in London, beautifully illustrated with seventy engravings on wood, from drawings made by Birket Foster during a recent tour through Germany, Switzerland, the Tyrol, &c., undertaken expressly for the illustration of this work. Also, that the Lady of the Lake, by Sir Walter Scott, is about to appear in a uniform style with Longfellow's Hyperion, with illus trations by the same artist, whose sketches comprise all the principal scenes of the poem, and were drawn on the spot by Mr. Foster himself.

We learn that a public subscription is about to be made in England, to erect and endow a school or college, to bear the name of the Duke of Wellington, for gratuitous, or nearly gratuitous, education of orphan children of indigent and meritorious officers of the army. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert have signified their approval of the project, and placed their names at the head of the subscription list for the respective sums of £1,000 ($5,000), and £500 ($2,500).

We learn that Dr. J. A. Alexander has in press an exposition of the five books of Moses.

It is announced that the twenty-third thousand of Henry W. Beecher's "Lectures to Young Men" has been issued.

Rev. Dr. Walker, Professor of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, has accepted the Presidency of Harvard University, in place of Jared Sparks, Esq.

A Manual of Biblical Literature is about to be published at New-York by Carlton & Phillips, embracing Biblical Philology, Exegesis, CritGeography, Chronology, &c., by W. P. Strickicism, Analysis, Archæology, Ethnology, History,

land, D. D., of Cincinnati.

The number of students in the University of Oxford, England, is thirteen hundred-a somewhat smaller number than the Dublin Universi

ty. The revenues of the institution are estimated at $800,000 a year. Connected with the university are five hundred and forty fellows, or graduates, who draw salaries after having completed their course of studies. They draw annually from the funds over half a million of dollars, receiving, each one, the sum of $1,000 a year.

English ways are illustrated by a singular advertisement in the papers, "that clean copies of the Times, News, and Chronicle, will be posted the day after publication, at much reduced prices." Some agent must collect them at city stores, and residences, where they are served the first day, re-mailing them the second to persons in the country, who thus pay about as much for a daily as they otherwise would for a weekly.

A pension of £75 has been granted by the English ministry to Dr. Charles Richardson, in consideration of his services in compiling an English Dictionary.

Another of the same amount has been granted to Francis Ronalds, "for his eminent discoveries in electricity and meteorology."

monthly, has just been commenced at Cleveland, Ohio, entitled "Annals of Science," and edited by H. L. Smith.

A new Scientific Magazine, to be issued semi

We learn, through the Calcutta Christian Advocate, that there have been lately several conversions in the once imperial city of Delhi, and among the educated natives of India. The names of eleven Brahmins are mentioned who have renounced their heathenism, and have been baptized into the Christian Church; the conversion and baptism of Ram Chandra, or Chunder, is also announced, a young man of

considerable abilities, teacher of science at the Delhi College, and the author of a work on Maxima and Minima, said to have obtained the approbation of Professor de Morgan.

We find, from the Twelfth Report of the German Evangelical Mission in the Canara, Southern Mahratta, and Malayalim Provinces, India, that during the preceding year the mission had had an increase of two hundred souls-a larger number than in any former year-and that there were cheering prospects among the Canarese people. The little band of laborers in this part of the missionary field has been reinforced by four assistants, among whom is one of three Brahmin converts, baptized in 1844, and the first native missionary of the German Society.

The Rev. Charles Wordsworth, nephew of the late poet laureate, has been elected Bishop of St. Andrew's, in room of the Right Rev. Dr. Torry, who filled the office for the long period of forty-four years.

At a recent meeting of the American Bible Society, a grant of $1,000 was made for preparing and publishing the Arabic Scriptures. Some interesting volumes were received for the Library, viz. :-From the Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen, a letter and pamphlet in relation to the history of North America; a copy of the New Testament, in ancient and modern Greek, published in Saxony, in 1710; a copy of a work by Rev. Leonard Twells, in 1731, on a new text and version of the New

twenty-one of them are situated in the department of Le Gard. The Lutherans have two hundred and forty-five ministers. Strasbourg has a larger number of Protestants than any other city, namely, thirty thousand. There are fifteen thousand at Paris.

Over eighty thousand children are under daily instruction, among the English Wesleyan missionaries, throughout various parts of the world.

Forty-eight persons have renounced Popery within a few months in St. Paul's, Bermondsey, England. Several of these are well-educated. Great numbers more, it is said, are meditating a similar step.

Rev. Dr. Peck, Foreign Secretary, and Rev. Mr. Granger, of Providence, have been appointed as a delegation to visit the missionary stations in the East under the care of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The principal cause of this appointment is the expected occupation of Bur

mah-which is the chief seat of their missions in Asia-by Great Britain, which will probably soon throw open the whole country to the entrance of the gospel, when a large increase in the missionary operations will be required. A general and deliberative conference of all the

missionaries connected with the Burman and Karen missions, nearly thirty in number, is to meet at Maulmain in March or April, 1853.

The receipts of the Committee of the Episcopal Board of Domestic Missions, the past year, $25,000; they have two missionary bishops, were $30,595, and the appropriations about and eighty-five presbyters and deacons. The receipts of the Committee of Foreign Missions were $41,408, and the appropriations $38,785. They have two missionary bishops, twelve presbyters and deacons, eighteen lay assistants, male and female, and eleven native teachers.

The Journal of the late Protestant Episcopal Convention of the Diocese of Ohio, gives the following summary of the parochial reports for the past year: parishes, eighty-two; without a clergyman, twenty-two; baptisms, adults, seventy-infants, three hundred and ninety-three; confirmed, two hundred and seventy-three; communicants added, four hundred and forty-seven; lost, by removals, deaths, and discipline, four hundred and eight; present number, four thousand five hundred and twenty-five. Ordinations: deacons, five; presbyters, two. Candidates for holy orders, fourteen. Contributions for Church objects, $17,790 38.

Dr. Baird states that, in 1815, the eight Presbyterian denominations of the country embraced

less than one hundred thousand communicants,

and the present number is near seven hundred and fifty thousand. Then the Baptists were comparatively weak; now they number seven hundred thousand associated brethren. In