RECENT ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume V, Issue 214, 17 July 1849, Page 4

RECENT ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS.

Among the more than usual number of important Books lately published, foremost in interest and value stands Mr. Macaulay's ' History of England,' The first two volumes of which appeared in the beginning oj December. The whole edition of 3000 copies was immediately sold, and of the second edition, which has jnst appeared, 2000 copies were disposed of on the day of publication. The work opens with a rapid survey of the salient points of English History from the earlest times ; and a lively picture of the state of society in England in the time of Charles the Second precedes the commencement of the history itself, which the second volume brings down to the accession of William and Mary. The vivacity and brilliancy of the style fascinates the reader ; while the historian's comprehensive view of events, his clear and penetrating judgment of public characters, evince the extent and fertility of his resources, and the masterly power with which he has reanimated the spirit and form of the past. It is stated that the publishers, Messrs. Longman and Co., have purchased the copyright of this work for ten years only, for an annual payment of £600 for that term. Among the superbly embellished volumes that have lately appeared, the following may be particularly mentioned : — Mr. Austen Layard's account of the explorations of ' Nineveh snd its Remains.' i Mr. George Dennis's learned and elaborate account of ' The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria.' — Sir Gardner Wilkinson's account of * Dalmatia and Montenegro.'— The Rev. H, H. Milmaa's illustrated edition of ' Horace,' prefixed by a life of the poet. The sensation produced by the Rev. Baptist Noel's | secession from the Church of England may be in | some degree inferred from the fact that no less than 7000 copies of his ' Essay on the Union of Church and State,' forming an octavo volume, w.re sold on | its publication. Other works of a different nature, by popular authors, have met with correspondingly extensive sale. Of Mr. Dickens's Christmas book, 'The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain,' 18.000 | copies were sold on the day of publication. Mr. | Thackeray's new Serial, ' Pendennis,' also com- , menced with a circulation nearly doubl e that of ' 'Vanity Fair ;' and the interest of the story, com- ! bined with the general humour of the satire, proI raise to make it a favourite with the public. The growing appreciation of Mr. Thackeray's genius is attested by the increased sale of 'Vanity Fair' since its completion. The number of Historical works published, and the extraordinary success of Alison's 'Modern Eu« rope,' as well as of Macaulay's 'History,' are gratifying proofs of the popular taste for historical reading. The publication, under Government auspices, of 'A Manual of Scientific Enquiry,' prepared expressly for Officers on Foreign Service, by the most eminent authorities on the several branches of science, and edited by Sir John Herschel, is cal« culated to give a fresh impulse to the pursuit of scientific investigation. Captain Sturt's ' Narrative of his Expedition into Central Australia,' is one of the most recent, and not the least interesting, accounts of scientific explorers. Of forthcoming fictions, ' My Uncle the Curate,' by the author of 'The Bachelor of the Albany,' and 1 Mordaunt Hall,' byvthe author of ' Emelia Wyndham,' are looked for with interest ; and ' The Emigrant Family,' by the author of ' Settlers and Convicts,' creates expectations of a truthful and vivid picture of colonial life and character that are not likely to be disappointed. What ' Mary Barton' has done to exhibit the character of the Factory people, ' The Emigrant Family' will probably do for the felon and free population of Australia. The title of Mr. George Borrows forthcoming Autobiography has been altered from ' Lavengro,' to • Life,' — a short title, but pregnant with meaning. The Clothing Colonels. — Sir William Na« pier — the Napier of literature — is carrying on an angry correspondence with the Financial Reform Association of Liverpool. In one of the diffuse tracts published by that body, an attack was made on the practice by which, in certain regiments, 'fall'

Colonels supply the clothing for the men ; and General Napier not only corrects some particulars in the statement, but also launches into various petulancies, and defends the arrangement. He says that abuses are prevented by sundry checks, and that the Colonels are not overpaid.— To prove the checks he mentions the instance of five regiments in which clothes furnished to the men have been returned upon the hands of the Colonels ; and he scarcely seems to perceive the odious light in which such a rejection places the Colonel — whom it sinks to the grade of a hisbonest and detected Commissary i With a dim sense, however, that there is a reproach to ward off, he says that the badness could only have been detected by "a skilful manufacturer"— not by a Colonel ; in other words, Colonels are incompetent to the duties of army- clothier, because they are above them ; although not above receiving the profit. As to the pay, let us know what military duties the Colonels perform, and let them be paid for those dutieß, liberally, by salary. But if their duties are limited to the tailoring, make them fit theiasclves for the special duty by serving at the tailor's board, and cease to call them Colonels. Let us call things by their right names— let us say, not "Colonel Napier," but "Tailor Napier." We suspect that such an adjustment of title would soon abolish the custom ; and that, rather than wear the title, the office and its emoluments would be surrendered by the gallant tailor who now stands up so stoutly for the shop.— (London) Spectator. The best American Joke. — A dig at the Calif omian Gold Mines. — A chance not often met with. — A young gentleman, of an active, enterprising disposition, is anxious to join a spirited companion with 26500, or £4,000 would be better. It is his desire to proceed instantly to California, where a certain fortune awaits them both. The young gentleman has no means of his own, ■ but he would be too happy to repay any sum, however large, that was advanced to him, out of the very first proceeds he clears on the "continent of gold.*' The young gentleman is lively, cheerful, full of anecdote, can sing a good song, knows the most enterprising tricks at cards, whistles, fights, shoots, swims, all to perfection, and engages to make himself generally useful and agreeable. He has also the quickest eye for money, and can tell a piece of gold the moment he sees it. Address, Jeremy D-ddl-r, Esq., Swindal Chamber, Cheapside. References of the greatest respectability required, but no premium. — Punch. \