XVIII.-The Covenant; or the Conflict of the Church. With other Poems. These Poems are chiefly connected with the Ecclesiastical History of Scotland. The Covenant leans to the popular or non-intrusionist side of the controversy which is distracting the Kirk. It traces the history of that establishment from its foundation to the close of the Stuart dynasty, and urges with such considerable spirit and earnestness, passages and eras in its conflicts, as will serve to warm and keep alive the zeal of those who resist patronage, and stoutly stand up for the supremacy of the general assembly in all that regards the spiritual well-being of the people. XIX.-The Gift-Book of Poetry; selected chiefly from Modern Authors. This is one of the most satisfactory collections of poetry that has been published; for the selections are not only made with good judgment, but the pieces are given in that entire shape, that is not less necessary in point of fairness to the poet than to the reader. XX.-Turning and Mechanical Manipulation. By C. HOLTZAPFELL. Vol. I. Illustrated by upwards of three hundred wood-cuts. Mr. Holtzapfell intends to furnish the profession, and also the amateur, in a very extensive and elaborate work, with every necessary practical instruction for those who apply themselves to the lathe, or are desirous of learning what are the various pursuits followed by gentlemen given to mechanical manipulation. The work is to extend to five volumes; but each volume may be purchased separately, and will form a distinct treatise on the branch to which it is appropriated; while the first two may satisfy the greater number of amateurs. The portion before us contains a deal of particular information with regard to the tools used, and the manner of their use. But a more interesting part is devoted to an account of the different materials employed in turning, these being taken from the various departments of the natural kingdom. We had no idea until looking into this volume, of the interest, and the vast variety of matter that attach to its subject. But as we shall return to it, and in an article of some length, we have only to state on this occasion, that the curious and the ingenious will find ample suggestions in the book, for the exercise of their minds and for engaging manipulation. XXI.-Oliver and Boyd's New Edinburgh Almanack and National National indeed, as concerns Scotland, and universal if compared with other almanacks. It comes forth with every new year with new improve ments, although it is difficult to conceive how these can be carried farther; whether the amount and variety of information and statistical facts, selection, the system of arrangement, the process of cramming into a compact volume, without huddling be considered. It is by far the most useful annual published; and it is entertaining withal. It is an indispensable companion and necessary daily remembrancer, to all who are general readers, or who have a generous curiosity. There are considerable novelties in this year's book, the chief of which have been suggested and supplied by new legislative enactments, viz. :the laws and provisions of the Income-tax, the New Tariff, and a variety of changes relating to the laws of trade. The analysis in this almanack of these measures, appears to us to be a very able and carefully executed one, and to be as clear to the ordinary reader, as such technical, redundant, and involved compositions as acts of parliament can be rendered. XXII. The Natural Principles and Analogy of the Harmony of Form. By D. R. HAY. Mr. Hay is "decorative painter to the queen, Edinburgh;" but in this volume, as well as in a much smaller publication of an earlier date, into which we have looked, having for its subject "The Laws of Harmonious Colouring," we find ample evidence of a philosophic and original thinker, as well as of practical knowledge. The design of the present work is to ascertain what are the principles of beauty in form, and to reduce them to an exact science, the theory being that a system of linear harmony is similar to that which regulates the arrangement of musical notes, just as the harmony of colours bears a relation, and is analogous to the harmony of sounds. The accuracy of the principles evolved, and the closeness of the analogy, as well as the novelty of the doctrine, appear yet to stand unimpeached; and should the attempt abide the necessary tests, we think that the results in architecture and various branches of the fine arts will be marked and important; while the methods of studying them will be much modified and facilitated. According to Mr. Hay's theory, the primary forms are the circle, the triangle, and the square; while the secondary are the parallelogram, rhombus, elipsis, and hexagon. He lays it distinctly down as a fixed truth in the principles and analogy, that "there can be no perfectly harmonious combination of forms in which one of the primaries is wanting; and that the distinctions of harmony, like those of sound and colour, depend upon a predominance of one, and a subordination of the other two in the composition." But without a much fuller account of the theory, and specimens of the way in which it is worked out and illustrated, a very inadequate idea of its ingenuity can be gathered. Perhaps we may on a future occasion return to the subject. In the meanwhile, we may mention that Mr. Hay boldly goes the length with his analogy of using terms in the course of his problems, and a notation in figuring the results, such as are employed in musical science and art, expressive of the harmony of form: and this too when talking of such architectural marvels and models as the Parthenon and the Pantheon. XXIII.-Soldiers and Sailors. A collection of "anecdotes, details, and recollections of naval and military life, as related to his nephews, by an Old Officer; with more than fifty engravings on wood, from designs by John Gilbert." The work takes the form of a dialogue, which is carried on spiritedly, and with a sufficiency of knowledge of the events of war, of the principals of discipline, the nature of service, and the characters of heroes. We must point the attention of our juvenile readers also to the free and easy manner of the "old officer" when he wishes to point a moral, which he constantly seeks to do, delivering himself in a veteran-like style. We should say that the passages in war's history have been well chosen, for the purpose of yielding proper lessons and very considerable information to youthful inquirers. The wood engravings are admirable specimens of this department of art, and tell their story excellently. In respect of design and execution, they are not surpassed by anything we have seen of a similar nature. ART. XXIV.-Whist: its History and Practice. By an AMATEUR. WHIST, till now, was without an historian amongst us; but has at length met with a most cordial lover of the subject, and entertaining discourser of its merits. The little volume is full of curious information; and although minute in its rules and notices, such is the trim of the Amateur, that he delights while he instructs, and fascinates while he narrates. There is no driness in the writing; and its point is helped out in a singularly fanciful and facetious style by the illustrations furnished by Kenny Meadows. The book will make new as well as mend old rubber players. The manner of the Amateur may be in some measure felt on reading but one or two of his historical notices. "The youth of whist," says he, "like the youth of Shakspeare, is involved in obscurity; it is to be presumed that it attained its maturity only by degrees, for so grow all liberal arts; it might originally be something like children's game at odd trick; one age might add one improvement, another expand that improvement more fully, and so on, to the peerless and perfect whist We may confidently assert, however, that whist, as played by us, or, rather, by our sires and grandsires, was not established on a firm footing until the seventeenth century had gone 'to join the past eternity,' and the eighteenth had been some little while in almanacks and existence; and that it was not known as a polite game until, at most, the last eighty years. Charles Cotton-not he of 'Virgil Travestie,' though a contemporary,-in his 'Complete Gamester,' printed so early as 1674, says that-Ruff and Honours, by some called Slam, and Whist, are games so common in England, in all parts thereof, that every child almost, of eight years, hath a competent knowledge in that recreation.'" In this lively and amusing way does the Amateur proceed. We have not, however, the means to communicate an equally just notion of the whimsical and merry illustrations. The handsome little book, in spite of its jest and fun, is des tined, we should think, to become an authority among whist players. ** ART. XXVIII.-Stow's Survey of London, edited by W. J. THOмs, Esq. THIS edition is reprinted from that "increased with divers rare notes of antiquity," published in 1603; and is illustrated by brief but valuable lights thrown upon obscure passages, which the industry and intelligence of Mr. Thoms has enabled him to collect. He has also prefixed a memoir of Master Stow; so that although the most informing edition that has ever appeared, at the same time that it is neatly got up, the cost of the book is only four shillings,-being one of Whittaker's series of cheap reprints, and even of these the most desirable that has yet been brought out. Where else is there so much entertaining history and antiquarian information to be met with, even although Stow may not always be a safe guide? And yet he had the merit of indefatigable diligence in searching for original documents; whereas most of his successors as historians of London, have only taken up that which he and other industrious gleaners have left. ART. XXV.-The Book of Scottish Song. Nos. I. to IV. "A COLLECTION of the best and most approved Songs of Scotland, ancient and modern; with critical and historical notices regarding them and their authors." This is assuredly a remarkable publication,-remarkable for its neat and elegant appearance, its beautifully small but readably clear type, and the sweetly diversified borders that stretch along the double columns. When the whole is published, viz, fourteen numbers at sixpence each, the volume, which will be square, may go into a coat-pocket without inconvenience. We think it right to let the publishers be heard, while, in a few distinct sentences, they announce the various claims of this undertaking; for its most remarkable features have not been sufficiently indicated by anything yet said; and we cannot in smaller space than has been done for us, give the proper explanation. "Such a work, singular as the fact may appear, amid the innumerable collection of songs under which the press labours, has never yet been laid before the public; and this we may say almost without reference to size or price; for neither the four-volume publication of Alan Cunningham, printed in 1825, nor the judicious collection of Robert Chambers, printed in 1829, (the two largest compilations of the kind,) can be considered as very complete or satisfactory, whether we regard the number of songs quoted, or the annotations which accompany them. The character of the type adopted in the present work, and the double-columned form of the page, give vast scope to the collector, and will enable him to present to the reader, in comparatively little bulk, a larger body of Scottish song than has ever before been brought together in one publication-larger, by more than one half, both in number of songs and extent of commentary, than any collection hitherto published, whatever may be its size or pretensions. At the same time, while the amount of its contents shall thus far exceed that of any similar compilation of Scottish song, the character of the songs themselves, and their respective claims to insertion, shall be carefully considered. A song may have a title to our attention or regard, on various grounds:- - On its antiquity;-on its character as illustrative of former manners or histori cal facts;-on its tune, with which it may be inseparably connected ;-on its authorship; on its literary merits ;-on its general popularity,—or on all these, or a portion of these combined. Most collections, from their limited nature, cannot embrace the whole points of recommendation here enumerated, and therefore restrict themselves to certain classes of lyrical composition; so that while one song-book is fitted mainly for the antiquary, another addresses itself chiefly to the modern musical amateur. A distinguishing feature, however, of the present compilation, will be the universality of its range. From its extent, it will be enabled to comprehend the songs both of former and present times, and to give (where such exist) the different versions of pieces, whether ancient or modern, that may be connected with any favourite air." ART. XXVI.—Mitchell's Work-Table and Embroidery-Frame Companion. WHAT shall I present? are the words often used by husbands, fathers, lovers, and mothers, with reference to those who are dear to them; and hitherto very difficult to answer. But now the publication of a work, resplendent in beauty of outward ornament, "Arabesque and gold, and equally valuable for its contents, set the dilemma at rest. Mr. Mitchell, of Red Lion-court, Fleet-street, has recently published "The Work-Table and Embroidery-Frame Companion," comprising the entire round of accomplishments dependent upon the needle, as a glance at the seven divisions of the work will show. 1, Fancy Needlework and Embroidery; 2, Knitting; 3, Netting; 4, Crochet or Tambour; 5, Domestic Needlework; 6, Tatting; 7, Baby's Wardrobe. This is the only successful attempt at rendering the subject interesting as well as intelligible. Not only in respect to the descriptive portion, but also the engravings, many in number, are explanatory as well of the make as the form, and may be referred to in the domestic circle and in schools as patterns, and therefore sure and lasting guides. Though georgeous, for gilding and harmonious assemblage of colour, both the binding and illuminated title are exquisitely chaste; and the engraved illustrations are worthy of all praise. Withal, the price, for moderation, is really marvellous. ART. XXVII.-The Nursery-Rhymes of England, obtained principally from Oral Tradition. Second Edition. THIS is just such a collection of relics as the research and reading of the editor, J. O. Halliwell, might be expected to gather and delight over, the first impression having been thrown off for the Percy Society. The rhymes are arranged under fifteen heads, tales, riddles, jingles, proverbs, lullibies charms, games, paradoxes, &c., being titles which indicate the sort of classi |