NOTES ON BOOKS.

THE JARVIS FAMILY; or the Descendants of the First Settlers of the Name in Massachusetts and Long Island, and those who have more recently settled in other parts of the United States and British America. Collected and Compiled. By GEORGE A. JARVIS, GEORGE M. JARVIS, WILLIAM JARVIS WETMORE, and Assisted by ALFRED HARDING, Hartford, 1879, 8vo, pp. 350+ 19. With Illustrations (21).

This is an important and very satisfactory contribution to American Family History. The volume opens with an introduction which treats of the origin, derivation, and orthographical varieties of this surname. This is followed by the genealogical portion of the work which opens with Stephen Jarvis, whose name is first found upon the records of Huntington, Long Island, as early as 1661. This portion of the work has been well prepared, and is illustrated and made entertaining by biographical sketches of distinguished persons bearing the name of Jarvis, and also of many emanating from the maternal line. Most of the well executed portraits, on steel, which adorn the work are from the graver of the eminent artist, J. C. Butre, of this city. A supplement of nineteen pages, which appears only in a part of the edition, closes the volume before us. We regret that limited time and space both prevent a more extended notice of this excellent work-one which is a monument to the family-and deserves ample patronage.

P.

GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF SOLOMON DROWNE, M.D., of Rhode IslAND; With Notices of his Ancestors, 1646-1879. By HENRY T. DROWNE, Providence, 1879. Svo, pp. 16. With two portraits.

GENEALOGY OF THE FAMILY OF ARNOLD in Europe and America, with brief Notices. By JOHN WARD DEAN, HENRY T. DROWNE, AND EDWIN HUBBARD. Boston, 1879. 8vo, pp. 16, with a portrait.

The first named of the above pamphlets is a reprint from the Genealogy of the Russell Family, noticed in THE RECORD for April, 1880. The preparation of this history of the Drowne branch of that family, commencing with Solomon, b. 1753, was from the pen of the worthy 1st Vice President of our Society. It has been carefully prepared and will serve as an excellent example for others to follow, and we commend it to their attention. The last-named pamphlet is a reprint from the October, 1879, number, of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register It is in part documentary in character, and contains a transcript of a manuscript record of the Arnold Family, commencing in 1553, and extending to 1776. Next follows a genealogy of the English Arnold Family, prepared by Mr. H. G. Somerby, for B. G. Arnold, Esq., in 1870. The pamphlet closes with an account of the descendants of Gov. Benedict Arnold, of Rhode Island, 1662, through his great grandson Gen. Benedict Arnold. We are indebted to Henry T. Drowne, Esq., for a copy of each of these pamphlets.

P.

A paper

ACT and BULL, is the title of a pamphlet, which might mislead the unwary. was read before the Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, discussing the method of correctly computing the true anniversaries of old occurrences; to which is annexed a copy of the Bull or Decree of Pope Gregory XIII., dated 24th February, 1582, which directed ten days to be dropped from October 5 to October 15, 1582, and which changed the Fast and Feast days and the Saints' days, to correct the calendar. It may be curious and interesting reading to many of the present day. But John Bull had something to do with this. There is also annexed a copy of the English Act of Parliament in 1751, 24th George II., "for regulating the commencement of the year" (from 25th March, back to 1st January), "and for correcting the Calendar." There have been some amendments of this in England, and our Revised Statutes have fixed the law and rule for the State of New York. We are indebted to Mr. Lewis A. Scott for a copy of the "Act and Bull" thus described, and deem it of value for reference and preservation,

M.

A CROSBY FAMILY; the descendants of Josiah Crosby and Sarah Fitch-is an interesting sketch of an active branch of a large family, by NATHAN CROSBY, of Lowell, and published at Lowell, Mass. It embraces more of biography than of genealogy. The portraits are curiously different, and yet all familiar. The work is a fair sample for a sketch of the known branch of any family.

M.

GENEALOGIES, NECROLOGY, AND REMINISCENCES OF THE IRISH SETTLEMENT ON THE FORKS OF THE DElaware, By REV. JOHN C. CLYDE, A. M. Published by the author, 1879.

This is a valuable addition to the early history of our country. The numbers who came from this settlement, now Northampton Co., Penn., into the State of New York exceed our expectation."

M.

NOTES AND QUERIES, a Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, etc. Published every Saturday in London. Office, 20 Wellington Street, Strand, W. C.

The number of September 4, 1880, now before us, is No. 36 of 6th series; each series embracing ten volumes, and covering five years; so that over twenty-five years have elapsed since the commencement of the journal. Its character has improved, both by the skill and experience of its editorial corps, in rejecting frivolous or ill-considered articles, and abbreviating others, and by the improvement of its contributors in the aim, scope, learning, and character of their condensed, accurate, and often pithy communications. The work has improved also in its wider view, and in the notice it often takes of our American off-shoot. It has become quite an aid to the genealogist, as well as the historian. The General Index for each series increases the usefulness and value of the whole for purposes of reference. They become very convenient for the elucidation of many troublesome questions in literature and history. The advertisement of a General Index for the fifth series expresses correctly the idea: a "store of varied, useful, and amusing information, sorted and labelled, ready for use;" of which (as Brougham said), the "value and utility were increased ten fold by its capital indexes."

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M.

MISCELLANEA GENEALOGICA ET HERALDICA. New Series. Edited by JOSEPH JACKSON HOWARD, London.

This work, in September, 1880, had arrived at its 32d No. for Volume III. It continued the publication of curious and Interesting genealogies, and of church records, wills, and deeds, with, occasionally, excellent plates. Many of the contributions explain, or relate to the ancestors of Americans.

M.

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, prepared pursuant to a joint resolution of the legislature, by ALLEN C. BEACH, Secretary of State, will be deemed valuable by many for the extensive historical gatherings. In its various addresses and details it presents to us a large share of biographical and genealogical records, without which its mere history would sink rapidly out of sight. The Roster of the Battle of Oriskany, p. 144, attempts to preserve the names of men who took part in that important action, and of many of their descendants.

M.

THE GENEALOGIST, edited by GEORGE W. MARSHALL, LL. D., also published in London, had arrived in July, 1880, to No. 35 of Volume IV.

This work contains a large number of English pedigrees. It is now publishing also one of the Herald's visitations of Lincolnshire, which visitations throw light on American ancestries. Its notices of books are valuable.

M.

THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE, published at Salem, Mass., reach, during the past year, the seventeenth volume. They embrace a great variety of original matter deserving of publication. The gleanings from English records about New England families, published during the year, open a new and extended field for publication here, and one of much interest.

M.

THE KEYES FAMILY GENEALOGY is an interesting though imperfect work. We design to recur to it again, and to notice other works received, which deserve fuller explanation.

M.

THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL REGISTER continues to be published by the Society in Boston, and maintains it highly useful and interesting character. The year 1880 completes its thirty-fourth volume,

M.

THE MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, edited by JOHN ANSTON STEVENS, and published by A. S. Barnes & Co., of New York, is known by nearly all our subscribers, and is apparently pursuing a very successful career.

M.

THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE has nearly completed its fourth volume, sustained by the publication fund of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It is well printed on good paper, with embellishments, and embraces in its pages biography and genealogy, as well as history and general science.

M.