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Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2401, 16 April 1873, Page 3

The " Publishers' Circular" gives a rationale of the boots issued in 1872, clasHiiied according to subject, and thereby it may bo seen that theology quite bears the palm among the various subjects as regards the number of books issued—we do uot any, of course, of books read. Of theological -and religious works there were r>7o now omss issued ; while of novels, tales, and other works of fiction—the class next in numberthere were only 4(>S new books issued. Indeed, about one-sixth of all the new books issued in the year were of the theological and religious type. We may take this, we suppose, as a fair measure of the interest created in the minds of writers, though not of readers, for probably a great proportion o£ these books do not sell. But we must i recollect, at the sarae time, that oue reason I why so many people think them selves comi petent to write ou theology is that on that I subject there ia a very much Joss clear ptan- \ dard of merit, and therefore less chance of ; the authors coming to a clear knowledge of their own incompetence.