THESE publications are perfect novelties in the fine arts; beautiful in execution, and so marvellously cheap that our imagination flags as to the mode by which they can be produced at the price they are sold for. A few years ago, each of the livraisons named above would have been deemed a bargain at half-a-crown.

Part I. of the Miscellaneous Prints contains three plates, in colours-the Ptarmigan, the celebrated Portland or Barberini Vase, in the British Museum, and the Sussex Truffle Hunter,-in a style almost equal to painting, Part I. of the Maps-the Land of Canaan during the Lives of the Patriarchs, and Canaan, as divided by Joshua among the Tribes of Israel—are in the same degree attractive, and yet more striking and surprising in their execution and effect. The ground is "of various tints," so that the land and sea, as well as the great divisions of the map, can be at once traced; the mountains" are "white," she wing distinctly and brightly upon the different ground colours; and the rivers, the boundarylines, and the names" are "printed dark upon the tinted ground." The process by which these impressions are obtained is called "illuminated printing, from its approach to the sharpness and brilliancy of the ancient illumination of MSS. and printed books ;" and, as we learn from Messrs. Knight and Co's notice on the wrapper, it "mainly consists in applying surface printing in colours, wherever the roller-press and the pencil have formerly been used." So far as we can trace the mechanism of the art, there must be as many blocks engraved, and as many impressions taken from each block, as there may be colours in the original design. And this very circumstance heightens our surprise at the cheapness of production.

It appears that Messrs. Knight and Co. have it in contemplation to publish, in series, maps upon this principle for the purpose of illustrating the Penny Cyclopædia, the Pictorial Bible, and the Pictorial History of England, now in course of delivery; as well as the Histories of Palestine, Rome, and Greece, about to appear; and also School Room Maps upon a larger scale.

Hamilton

By George Cox. and Co. We have read and studied a great many treatises of spectacles, opera-glasses, &c.; we have conversed with and consulted several opticians; and the result of our observation is, that not one spectacle maker out of ten in London is, in a scientific sense, more than half acquainated with his business. When we spoke to them of two foci in the eyes of an individual-told them that nature designed one eye for one specific purpose, and the other for another, and that, in consequence, the two glasses of a pair of spectacles required to be of different foci-an air of the most amusing stolidity crept over their countenances; they were absolutely bewildered-astounded-utterly incredulous. Such, however, is generally, though which any person may, by a very simple experiment, not universally, the fact; a fact, of the existence of satisfy himself in a single minute. And this is a point which above all others creates a difficulty in the choice and adaptation of glasses, unless by the aid of an experienced and scientific optician. As for buying spectacles, or eye-glasses, of hawkers, or general shopkeepers, even supposing them to be houest, it is worse than throwing money into the street.

We are by no means disposed to class Mr. Cox with the ignorant and incapable parties referred to. On the contrary, his little brochure, so far as it goes, is correct, ingenious, and useful. Moreover, it is valuable as exposing the gross ignorance, impostures, and frauds of jews, pedlars, and other locomotive quacks. The humbug of amber spectacles, coloured pebbles, clarified crystals, periscopic lenses, parabolic curves, &c. is here thoroughly exploded.

Mr. Cox is evidently a practical and scientific man. His instructions for the choice of spectacles, and also for the adaptation of the frames, or mountings, to the form of the face, are good.

With reference to spectacles for travelling by railroads, &c. his remarks are very judicious:

"Almost every combination of light and shade has

been used for this class of spectacles; violet, grey, blue, green, crape, wove wire, &c.; but some sensitive and tender eyes failed to receive the relief expected from any of these, and opticians have been repeatedly baffled in their attempts to produce a shade of glass congenial to the requirements of the eye under such circumstances. I have made extensive use of the new neutral tint, or twilight tinge glass, and find it most agreeable to the eye while employing it, and when removed, it leaves the vision undisturbed by the flickering and confused halo so much complained of after wearing other coloured glasses. The cause of this superiority is clearly seen when we remember that, after taking off a pair of green glass spectacles, every object appears of a red colour, while upon the removal of blue colours, an orange or yellow mantle seems to rest on all which meets the view." Further on he observes ;

"I have always discountenanced the use of wire. gauze, crape, and muslin substitutes for glass, because, in my opinion, it is a fallacy to assert that they are cooler and more agreeable to the eye. There is abundant space for the circulation of air in the region of the eye if the spectacle-frame adapts itself pleasantly to the wearer's face; while the eye and common sense

may answer together, that to look on things around us, a transparent medium is preferable to a hazy and indistinct one. We do not choose bars and gratings, or coarse curtains, in preference to glass, for the windows of apartments; but if the light is sometimes too intense, we place a shade to soften its dazzling effects. Such precisely is the reason why tinted glass spectacles, for defending the eyes from rain, dust, and wind, are recommended."

Altogether, the information in this pamphlet is well deserving of attention.

The Village Magazine; a Journal of Literature, Science, Fine Arts, and General Knowledge; with Illustrations. Nos. I., II., III., and IV. Tyas. Tuis is the neatest, the best arranged, and the best

written work of its class that we have met with for years. It is at once ornamental and useful; and it evinces much editorial taste and talent. To a publication so pleasing in character, it is impossible not to wish success.

A Key to the Difficulties, Philological and Historical, of the First Book of Schiller's Thirty Years' War. (Adapted to any edition.) Forming a Guide to German Construing, for the Use of English Students. By Adolphus Bernays, Phil. Doc., Professor of the German Language and Literature, King's College, London. Wertheim.

THE title-page of this little volume, which we have transcribed at length, sufficiently explains its general nature. Its chief object is to remove certain difficulties attendant on the study of Schiller's deservedly popular work. "At the same time it is to supply the lovers of German literature with an easy and cheap guide to the study of other works in this language, by such general remarks as would, if once thoroughly understood, save them hours of search and thought; such as on the use of certain prepositions, the adverbs which connect accessory clauses with principal clauses, the formation of adjectives from proper names, &c." Dr. Bernays has executed his task very satisfactorily.

Choice Spirits; or, the Palace of Gin: a Seriocomic Dramatic Poem, in Two Acts. By George Booth. Bennett, 1838.

A WELL-INTENDED little satire on the destructive vice of gin-drinking amongst the lower classes.

Franklin's Journal of Income and Expense; intended chiefly for the Use of Young Men holding Situations, Collegians, Law and Medical Students, and others of Limited Income; containing Hints on Lodgings, How to Provide, List of Dining Rooms, Coffee Rooms, &c., and full Instructions to a Young Man on his First Arrival in Town. By a Disciple of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. Tyas.

EXCELLENT ideas, well arranged and well worked out. No young man from the country ought to be without this little vade mecum in his waistcoat pocket.

Splendid Library Edition. Fables; by the most Eminent British, French, German, and Spanish Authors; illustrated with numerous Engravings, after Original Designs. By J. J. Grandville. Part I., 8vo. Tilt, 1838.

IT is intended, that, with some original fables, with others translated for the first time from the French and German, and with a selection of the best extant, in prose and verse, from the most eminent writers of all ages and countries, a unique assemblage of these delightful productions shall here be formed. Part I. now before us, containing fifty-nine fables, with seven illustrations on wood, most of them ranking high in merit, is strong in promise. The work is printed on fine paper, with great accuracy and beauty.

Poor Richard: an Almanack, for the Year of our Lord, 1839. Simpkin, Marshall and Co. We had lost sight of our old friend for some years; but, ancient as he is, we find he is still alive and merry. Super-added to the usual Almanack matter, Poor Richard presents us with five or six very pleasant sketches, and a variety of amusing detail, original and selected. His Oraculum since Astrologium, we particularly recommend to the notice of Master Murphy: it would assist him amazingly in the constructions of his castles amongst the clouds.

THE THEATRES, CONCERTS, &c.

Ar the Park Street Theatre, New York, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews took final leave of their American friends-and of their enemies-on the evening of the 13th of November. Mrs. M. is said to have been in better voice and spirits than usual, on the occasion. It is not unlikely that the termination of a disagreeable engagement had some share in producing this pleasurable exhilaration. From a long and energetic address delivered by Mr. Mathews, it appears that, even from their first arrival in America, a "dead set" was made against his wife. The conduct of the Americans towards Mrs. M. has been base and unmanly. We use these epithets advisedly; because, if it were against the moral character of the lady that their virtuous indignation was excited, they ought to have had the candour to avow it, and thus to put the assault upon its right footing. Instead of this, it seems a gross falsehood was wickedly invented, and as wickedly circulated in every direction, by which a prejudice was raised against Mrs. Mathews, and the most dastardly persecution became the order of the night, whenever she set her foot upon the stage. "I "that we had

was informed," says Mr. Mathews, given serious offence at Saratoga Springs, on our way to the Falls of Niagara-that we had refused to sit at the public table, but at the same time had insisted the visitors at the hotel, disgusted at the gross outthat our servants should be admitted there, and that rage, had been compelled to rise and leave the table. I could only smile at this absurd accusation, and deemed it one of the gossiping and ephemeral paragraphs of a newspaper, the subject of an hour's chitchat, and then to be forgotten. I therefore replied jestingly that there were seventeen reasons why the alleged offence at Saratoga could not have been

committed the first was, that we had never been there. (Laughter.) I presumed that the other sixteen reasons would not be required—(Great laughter) --but I was mistaken. The report was not suffered to die a natural death; it was resuscitated day by day, nourished and amplified hour by hour, till at last the conviction was forced upon me that what I had at first looked upon as a harmless mistake was, on the contrary, a regularly organised, deliberate falsehood, systematically planned and persevered in for the purpose of creating a rancorous feeling against us in the public mind, and thus at once irreparably injuring us on our first appearance at this theatre." However, that this rancorous feeling was directed exclusively against Mrs. Mathews was subsequently apparent.

On the last night of their engagement, a better spirit prevailed—the house was a bumper-and all was rapturous and enthusiastic applause.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," said Mr. Mathews, "I appeal to yourselves—can you blame me for at once ending the injustice, by removing my wife from a persecution she is so unaccustomed to? (Cries of No, no-certainly not,' from the boxes.) Look for one moment calmly at the circumstances. A malicious report is invented and put in circulation, without the least inquiry into its truth, throughout the United States. I do not speak figuratively, but literally, I have received newspapers containing bitter invectives against us from all parts of the Union-(who could have imagined that we were of such consequence in the eyes of the New World?) And all about what? Nothing but our conduct at Saratoga, where we have never been." (Laughter and much applause.)

Here is the closing passage of the address :"Your kindness, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me assure you, will ever be deeply and gratefully remembered by us both; and I trust that, notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances under which we have appeared before you, you have not found us flag in our efforts to please those who have generously endeavoured to support us. (Great applause.) We have fought up against the attack with all our strength, but the enemy has proved too much for us, and at length, after mature deliberation, we are compelled to adopt the only alternative left us-that of abandoning the field. In the name of Mrs. Mathews and myself, allow me, Ladies and Gentlemen, to bid you, and for ever, most respectfully farewell."

Mr. and Mrs. Mathews are probably now on their

way home.

William Tell continues to be the rage at our two large houses.

Laurette Seymour, sister to the Major, Miss Taylor; Rose Mayburn, an adopted orphan companion of Laurette's, Mrs. Fitzwilliam; and Beccy Blunt, Mrs. F. Matthews. In nineteen instances out of twenty, we decidedly object to any attempt to detail the plot of a play, or of a novel. In the present case, therefore, we shall only mention that Laurette, whose heart, she says, is an "omnibus, and friendship the cad, who lets in no Cupid-looking passengers," is just now one "passenger" minus by the death of a dear friend abroad, who, however, has committed her nephew to Laurette's charge, and Laurette is in momentary expectation of the arrival of her Little Adopted. She has made up her mind to tend him and to teach him like a thousand mothers, and she has already bought him books and toys, a cradle, a rocking-horse, a cricket-bat, and a kite. At last he arrives, and the pretty little Frederic Summers turns out to be a fine handsome young man, who falls immediately in love with her, she being just as quick in returning the compliment. The scene of embarrassment which ensues on their first meeting-one expecting to encounter a little child, and the other an elderly lady-is good in itself, and admirably acted by Miss Taylor, who was well seconded by Lacy. Altogether the piece is full of fun and pleasantry, was excellently performed, kept the house in a roar of laughter, and will no doubt contribute its full quota to the treasury.

At the Adelphi, on Monday, Rice made his appearance, for the first time this season, as Jim Crow, in A Flight to America. He was under the agreeable necessity of singing his famous song no fewer than five times!

A musical entertainment, designated Promenade Concerts à la Musard, similar to what was attempted last season at the St. James's Theatre, has this week been introduced at the Lyceum with doubtful success. The whole of the pit and stage of the theatre was laid open and level for the purposes of giving the visitors room to promenade. A portion of the distance was bounded by scenery to enliven the prospect, which closed with an illuminated "V. R." over a long table of refreshments. Nearly in the centre was a square elevated orchestra filled with musicians. Signor Negri was conductor, and Mr. Willy leader. Amongst the first violins were W. Cramer, Banister, Payton, Blagrove, Betts, and Tzerbini; Mr. Harper and his son in the trumpets; and other departments creditably filled. This band gave some good music, and played it well, dividing the concert into two parts, with half an hour's interval between, and not extending the whole to a length of much more than three hours. They performed six overtures-two by Weber, one by Auber, one by Beethoven, one by Rossini, and one by Herold-four Musard quadrilles, and two Strauss waltzes. Mr. Harper also gave a fantasia by Bishop on the trumpet.

On Wednesday evening the Phormio of Terence was represented a second time by the Queen's Scholars of Westminster School. The ensemble was com

ducing diffidence on the part of the youthful actors, that circumstance only excited them to redoubled exertion. They all played with great spirit, and shewed that they well understood both the meaning and design of the inimitable author whose language they delivered. The prologue was spoken by the Captain

of the school, Mr. Farrer, with much grace and animation. After explaining that the omission of a play last year was occasioned by the death of the late King William IV., it went on to panegyrize her present Majesty, and to express a hope that the reign of Victoria would be as auspicious to England as that of another virgin queen (Elizabeth) had been. The characters of the comedy were filled as follows :Davus, Richards; Geta, Wood; Antipho, Glyn; Phædria, Farrer; Demipho, Swabey; Phormio, Vernon; Hegio, Cramer; Cratinus, Mayne; Crito, Greenlaw; Dorio, Cocks; Chremes, Randolph ; Sophrona, Williams; Nausistrata, Phillimore; Dorcium, Phanium, Mutes. The epilogue was piquant and amusing, and in it the changes effected by steam and railroads, as well as in our political and judicial systems, were felicitously touched upon.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

The third meeting for the session was held on Monday Evening, Sir John Barrow, Bart, in the Chair. From Dr. John Ylotsky was read an account accompanying two vocabularies of the language of the natives of Australia. There was a singular analogy in the pronunciation in some respects to that of the Sclavonian; the Vocabulary of Van Dieman's Land was considered of the most interest, as the small and unhappy remnants of that island are reduced to a very few in number, being driven to Flinder's Island, where they are fast perishing away. Mr. Long made a communication on a lake situate on a mountain in Iverness-shire, at the north-western end of Strathglass, near the Caledonian Canal, which is frozen continually throughout the year. This peculiarity has never before been noticed by topographical writers. The next communication was made through Mr. John Barrow, being the recent survey of the Archipelago of the Seychelles about five hundred miles north-east of Madagascar, and a tributary of the Mauritius. The last subject to which the attention of the meeting was drawn was Australia, on which several notices was read. A complete map was exhibited belonging to the South Australian Commissioners of Port Adelaide. It was stated that so much as the value of land increased, that Governor Hindmarsh, for two plots for which he gave 801. each, obtained no less than 1,0007. on leaving the colony. There had been 14 sail in the harbour at one time, and at the last accounts there were 12, of which three were of 500 tons burthen. A fresh flock of bulls, consisting of 360, had arrived overland, following the first troop of 350, so that the colony was then well stocked; and at the last accounts there were 127 horses, 1,527 cattle, 18,910 sheep, and 210 pigs. Captain Washington also stated that 9,000 guineas had that day been given for 9,000 acres of land, on which to establish two secondary towns in that thriving colony. A communication on the subject of Australia was then read from Mr. Gowan, who, at the conclusion, recommended the introduction of the camel into that country, as not only well adapted to the climate, but also to the exigencies of intercourse between its straggled population, as well as the fittest instrument for exploring the interior, which appears to be inaccessible by any other means of travelling. Captain Lushington gave some particulars of his recent expedition, along with Lieutenant Gray, to explore the interior of Australia. It was also stated that the latter, who had just recovered from the effects of his wound,

had returned to the Swan River to make a new attempt to ente the interior.-Adjourned to the 14th of January.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS.

On Monday, the Seventieth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Royal Academy of Arts, a general assembly Trafalgar Square, when the following distribution of preof the academicians was held at their apartments in miums took place, viz. :—

To Mr. Henry Nelson O'Niel, for the best copy made in the painting school, the silver medal; and the lectures of the Professors Barry, Opie, and Fuseli.

To Mr. William Carpenter, for the next best copy made in the painting school, the silver medal.

To Mr. Henry Le Jeune, or the best drawing from the life, the silver medal.

To Mr. Henry Bailey, for the best drawing of the principal front of Harcourt House, in Cavendish Square, the silver medal.

To Mr. William Baker, for the best drawing from the antique, the silver medal.

To Mr. Joseph Edwards, for the best model from the antique, the silver medal,

The general assembly afterwards proceded to appoint officers for the ensuing year, when Sir Martin Archer Shee was unanimously re-elected President.

Council, New List.-Thomas Uwins, Frederick Richard Lee, William Wyon, Esq., and Sir Richard West

macott.

Old List.-Abraham Cooper, Esq., Sir David Wilkie, Edward Hodges Baily, and Charles Lock Eastlake, Esqrs. Visitors in the Life Academy, New List.--Thomas Uwins, William Hilton, Charles Robert Leslie, and William Mulready, Esqrs.

Old List.--William Etty, Henry Howard, Richard Cook, Alfred Edward Chalon, and Edwin Landseer, Esqrs.

Visitors in the School of Painting, New List.Henry Perronet Briggs, William Collins, William Etty, and Edwin Landseer, Esqrs.

Old List.-William Hilton, George Jones, Joseph Mallord, William Turner, and William Mulready, Esqrs. Auditors Re-elected.-W. Mulready, J. M. W. Turner, Esqrs. and Sir Richard Westmacott.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

On Tuesday Evening, Mr. Goddard delivered a lecture on the polarization of light; a new and powerful illustrative apparatus having been invented by the ingenious lecturer, and constructed for him by Mr. E. M. Clarke. The luminous figures were thrown on a muslin screen, and presented to the eye of the spectator as transparencies, beautiful illustrations of the laws of polarization. The subject, however, is rather abstruse, and one on which a lecturer must, with all the aids of improved apparatus, feel considerable difficulty in explaining familiarly and satisfactorily to a mixed audience."

METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY.

At the Monthly Meeting, on Tuesday Evening, Dr. Lee, F.R.S., in the Chair, fourteen Professors of the scientific institutions of the United States, with four other scientific Professors of the Continent, were elected associate members. The principal subject of the various communications and journals was an account of the gales between the 26th of November and the 3rd of December, from which it appeared that the gale could be satisfactorily traced to the south of the Island of Jamaica, in the West Indies, about the 17th of September. From hence it passed over the Bahama Islands, where it did considerable damage, and laid waste a great many of the plantations. From the Bahamas it took a north-easterly direction across the Atlantic, and reached Truro on the 26th of November at noon. It here con