Fine Arts. THOMAS VERITY; Improvements in Glasgow and the City Improvements Acts and the Bewick's Select Fables of Æsop and others, origin of the Artisans' Dwellings Act, by faithfully reprinted from the Rare New Sir JAMES WATSON; Notes on St. Paul's castle Edition, published by T. SAINT, in Cathedral, by Mr. FRANCIS C.PENROSE, M.A. 1784, with the Original Wood Engravings, by THOMAS BEWICK, and an Illustrated We regret to learn that Mr. W.R. Cooper, Preface by EDWIN PEARSON. Crown the indefatigable Secretary of the Society of 8vo. xl.-312, price 7/6. Longman & Biblical Archæology, to whose exertions so Co., 1878. much of the success of this new society is due, died at Ventnor on the 15th inst. The Edition of Bewick's Select Fables, published in 1871, having become exhausted, Mr. Pearson has done good service to all Useful Arts. lovers of wood engraving by giving us a revised issue of this work which contains | Lucullus, or Palatable Essays, in which are some of the most interesting, though not the merged “ The Oyster,”' “ The Lobster," most important, works of the father of wood &c. By the author of the Queen's NTésengraving. The Illustrated preface, which senger, &c. 2 Vols, crown 8vo. Vol. I. extends over forty pages, and contains as many | pp. 252, II. pp. 248, price 15/-. Remcuts from Bewick's graver, is an illustrated ington & Co. history of his work from his first cuts in a A series of pleasant, gossiping, historical, horn-book to those of the turkey and the tiger, I anecdotical, and gastronomical essays on the in the Entertaining Naturalist, which rank oyster, the lobster, the partridge, the pheasant, among the finest of his works. The illustra- | the woodcock, the hare, and a number of other tions and tail pieces to the Fables Extracted | animals, four-footed, two-footed and no-footed from Dodsley's Fables, with Reflections in which form the delicacies, par excellence, of Prose and Verse, and Fables in Verse, number 1 every well-appointed banquet. It is a secret nearly 200. Prefixed to the Fables are a de Polichinelle that the author of these agreeLife of Æsop, and an Essay on Fable by | able volumes is Major Byng-Hail, one of Her Oliver Goldsmith. It is scarcely necessary | Majesty's Messengers, who has had a vast expeto state that the cuts are all from the original rience of good living in all parts of the world, blocks. being in fact a better kind of English Baron de Notes. Brisse. Major Byng-Hall, however, is no dilettante epicure, for he repeatedly gives us The first meeting of the Royal Institute of practical directions for the best mode of preBritish Architects for the Session 1878-9, was paring the dishes whose praises he sings with held on Monday evening, the 11th instant. all the garrulous enthusiasm of Brillat Savarin. Mr. CHARLES BARRY delivered the opening Address. The sudden death, at Paris, of the Notes. Honorary Secretary Mr. F. P. COCKERELL, On Wednesday evening last, the first meetwas announced. In the Session 1877-8, 826 ing of the Society of Arts for the season was new Fellows were elected besides 29 Associates held at its house, John Street, Adelphi. Lord of the ordinary Professional class. To these Alfred S. Churchill, chairman of the council, latter were added, for the first time, others I presided, and delivered an inaugural address, styled Honorary Associates, a class established in which he sketched the probable course of for the purpose of admitting gentlemen who, action of the Society during the present year. without following architecture as a profession, A special work which the Council has on hand, might desire to enjoy the privileges of mem and which it is intended to carry on, is that bership; it consists of amateurs, men of comprehended in the Congresses on the Health science, Churchmen, archæologists, painters, and Sewage of Towns, on Water Supply, and sculptors, and the like. Of these, no fewer on the Teaching of Domestic Economy in our than 75 were admitted during the last Session, Elementary Schools. Passing to the inventions including peers and commoners of eminence in which the last two or three years had been in the realms of science, letters, and art. One so fruitful, there could be no doubt they would of them is the newly elected President of the find plenty of work for the Society. Lord A. Royal Academy, Mr. FREDERICK LEIGHTON. Churchill called attention to the enormous Among the Sessional Papers promised are—The development of the steel manufacture during Remains of Buildings in Midian, by Captain the last two or three decades. So rapidly was R. F. BURTON; The Harem at Jerusalem, by it taking the place of iron, that an eminent Lieutenant CONDER, R.E.; Lighting by Elec engineer has said the days of iron were numtricity, by Mr. HORACE JONES; The Recently bered, and that fifty years hence it would be Discovered Wall Paintings in the Crypt of unknown. He then discussed in some detail Canterbury Cathedral, by Mr. JAMES NEALE; the present state and prospects of the question The Connexion between Ancient Art and the of technical instruction, especially since the Ancient Geometry, as illustrated by the works establishment of the City and Guilds of of the age of Pericles, by Mr. John PENNE- London Institute, and the announcement of THORNE; The Modern Restaurant, by Mr. | the proposal of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 to erect a Technological An exceedingly well-chosen selection from Museum on their estate. In this great national standard writers. Nearly every well-known matter also the Society of Arts had pioneered poet is drawn upon for a contribution. Some the way by its technological examinations, of the pieces might, with advantage perhaps, which, however, its Council had declared itself have given place to more modern selections ; ready to hand over to any properly constituted and had this little volume been confined to body ready to take charge of them. He would poetry, another might have succeeded it, debe glad, therefore, to hear that the City Insti- voted entirely to prose, which, to our mind, tute was likely to ask them to act upon that does not occupy here a sufficiently important resolution. On the whole, he thought he place. might say that the prospects of Technical education were never brighter than now. The History of Rome, from the earliest Times to · chairman then presented the following medals the Fall of the Western Empire. By E. and prizes :-The Society's Silver Medal—To BERKLEY, author of "A New History of Thomas Wills, F.C.S.,' for his lectures on Rome for Senior Classes,” pp. 305, price " Explosions in Coal Mines;" to John Yeats, 2/-. Laurie's Kensington Series. LL.D., for his paper on “Higher Commercial This little school-book is compiled upon an Education;" to Alexander Graham Bell, for excellent plan, and is written in an easy his paper on “ The Telephone;" to J. Bennet and simple style. After giving the legends of Lawes, F.R.S., for his paper on “Freedom in Romulus and Remus, the Seven Kings, the the Growth and Sale of the Crops of the Invasion of Porsenna, and the Battle by Lake Farm, considered in its Bearing upon the Regillus, follow chapters describing as far as interests of Landowners and Tenant Farmers ;” | possible the habits and customs of the Romans. to W. H. Preece, for his paper on “The All necessary details of history are inserted, Phonograph, or Talking Machine;" to R. M. which serve to inspire the youthful mind with Gover, M.R.C.P., for his paper on “ Dietaries, an interest in those men whose names form in their Physiological, Practical, and Economic milestones along the path of Roman ChroAspects ;” to Basil H. Cooper, B.A., for his nology. The questions at the end of each paper on “Egyptian Obelisks and their re chapter form a help to the teacher as well as lation to Chronology and Art;” to H. B. to the learner. There are not too many dates Cotterill, for his paper on “A Year on the inserted in the text, but there are some good Nyassa, with notes on the Slave Trade, and tables at the end. It would have been well to on the Prospect and Means of opening up the have inserted the style of the calendar used, as surrounding Country ;” to Sir Joseph Fayrer, B.C., and A.D. This omission will probably M.D., K.C.S.I., for his paper on - The De- be remedied in a subsequent edition. There struction of Life in India by Wild Animals; ” is a full index at the end. to W. T. Thornton, C.B., for his paper on “Irrigation regarded as a preventive of Indian Notes. Famine;" to Colonel J. T. Smith, R.E., The Earl of Roseberry was elected Lord F.R.S., formerly Master of the Mint, Madras | Rector of the University of Aberdeen on Satand Calcutta, for his paper on “The De urday, the 16th inst., in succession to Mr. W. preciation of the Value of Silver, with especial | E. Forster. The numbers were—for Lord reference to the exchange between India and Roseberry, 302; for Mr. Cross, the Home England, and suggestions for a remedy; ” to | Secretary, 299. F. C. Danvers, for his paper on “Agriculture in India ;” to James Mactear, for his paper on “ Some recent Improvements connected with Alkali Manufacture ;” the Society's silver Philosophy. medal and £10 10s. to Messrs. Letcher Brothers, of St. Day, Cornwall, for their guinea set Social Problems : An Inquiry into the Law of of blowpipe apparatus; the Society's bronze Influences. By J. TURNBULL THOMSON, medal to Carl Isterland, of Freiberg, Saxony, of Lennel, Southland, New Zealand. Cr. for the excellence of the manufacture of his 8vo., pp. xvi.—357, price 10/6. Kegan blow-pipe apparatus; the Prince Consort's prize Paul & Co., 1878. of twenty-five guineas to George William Irons, Judging from the list given on the fly-leaf of aged 29, of St. Stephen's (Westminster) | Mr Thomson's work he appears to be a voluEvening Classes; the Council Prize (for fe minous writer on a great variety of subjects, male candidates) of ten guineas, to Emma from travels to surveying, and from philosophy Dickes, aged 28, of the Birkbeck Literary and and philology to geology and archæology. "In Scientific Institution. Social Problems we have some sixty-seven essays on a vast variety of subjects, which ap pear to have been written with the object of Education. finding out whether the influences acting on the social and moral world of mankind are Laurie's Selections for Reading and Recitation, regulated by laws resembling those mathema pp. 272, price 1/6. Laurie's Kensington tical principles which govern inanimate matSeries, ter. No index! Science. Geography. Pleasant Ways in Science. By RICHARD A. | A Continental Tour of Eight Days for FortyPROCTOR. Crown 8vo., pp. 402, price four Shillings, by A JOURNEY-MAN. Post 8vo., pp. xix.-107, price 1/-. Sampson 10/6. Chatto & Windus. Low & Co., 1878. Mr. Proctor here reprints some score of Taking a 10/6 return ticket to Dunkirk essays which have, for the most part, already by one of the steamers from Fenning's Wharf, appeared in the Contemporary Review, the making friends with the common people of Gentleman's Magazine, the Cornhill Magazine, the districts he travelled through thereby being Belgravia, and Chambers' Journal. He treats enabled to find out the cheapest inns or on Oxygen in the Sun-Sun-spots-Heat and lodgings, and by restricting his expenses to Famine-New ways of measuring the Sun's something under 4/- per day, our traveller distance-Drifting Light-Waves—The New managed to become acquainted with such Star in Cygnus which faded into Star-mist pleasant Flemish towns as Dunkirk Cassel, Star Grouping-Star-Drift and Star-Mist - | St. Omer, Ypres, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, where Mallet's Theory of Volcanoes—Towards the he saw a Kermesse, Courtrai, and so back to North Pole--A mighty Sea-Wave-Strange Dunkirk. It would have been better if the Sea-Creatures—On some Marvels in Tele- author had given us the details of what he graphy—The Phonograph, or Voice Recorder-- | really did spend altogether, for although he is The Gorilla and other Apes—The use and generally careful to inform us what his supper, abuse of Food-Ozone-Dew-The levelling bed, and breakfast cost him, he seems to have power of Rain-Ancient Babylonian Astrology. | gone without lunch and dinner as far as any Mr. Proctor says in his preface that his “ pur- mention of these meals goes. It is needless pose has been to provide paths of easy access to to say that any one wishing to follow his the knowledge of some of the more interesting example must be thoroughly acquainted with discoveries, researches, or inquiries of the science French. of the day.” He also impresses upon the reader that his intention is toʻ“ interest rather than Etna, a History of the Mountain and of its Éruptions. By G. F. RODWELL, Science to instruct." Mr. Proctor's eminence as an astronomer makes the articles connected with Master in Marlborough College. With astronomy of especial value. The book is Maps and Illustrations. Crown 8vo., a valuable addition to our popular works on pp. ix.-146, price 9/-. C. Kegan Paul Science. & Co. 1878. Singularly enough up to the present time Dictionnaire de Chimie Pure et Appliquée. | there has been no complete history published Par AD WURTZ, Membre de l'Institut, in English of the most important volcano in Europe. Having visited the mountain in Académe des Sciences, &c. Vol.III.S.—Z. 1877, and made a number of scientific obserImp. 8vo., pp. 794, price 17/6. London, vations, Mr. Rodwell was commissioned to Hachettes, 1878. write an account of Mount Etna for the Ency clopædia Brittanica, and finding how This is the fifth and concluding volume of much this interesting volcano had been neg. Professor Wurtz's great work, the first two lected by English writers he determined to volumes being divided. It extends from Suberic enlarge the Encyclopædia article and publish Acid to Zymome. The most notable articles lit in its present shape. Mr. Rodwell begins in the volume, from a chemical and industrial by giving us the history of the mountain from point of view, are those on Sugars, pp. 42; the days of Pindar downwards, its physical Sulphur and its compounds, pp. 92 ; Dyeing features and natural divisions. The third (Teinture) pp. 46; Toluene and Toluidine, chapter is devoted to a general description of pp. 67; Glass (Verre), Wine (Vin) and Zinc. the ascent of the mountain, and contains a The volume is illustrated with 114 beautifully picturesquely written account of sunrise from executed woodcuts. M. Wurtz has been the summit. The towns and villages clusterassisted in his labours by a strong phalanx of | ing round the base of the mountain or creepfellow workers, all belonging to the haute ing up its slopes are next described, and a list noblesse of French science. Although not is given of the 78 principal eruptions that have so voluminous as our own Watts's Dictionary, taken place from 525 B.C. to A.D. 1874. The M. Wurtz's volumes will be of the greatest last chapter is devoted to an account of the use to scientific and industrial chemists, as Geology and Mineralogy of the mountain. well as to scientific writers, teachers and Two excellent topographical and geological students. maps of the crater and its surroundings, sevNotes. eral vertical sections of the mountain, a bird's eye view of the Grotta delle Palombe near Mr. Statham's First Steps in Chemistry has Nicolosi, and four views of the summit from just reached its 48th edition. This little work different points accompany the text. Mr. is a very useful companion to the Youth's Frank Rútley, of H. M. Geological Survey, Chemical Cabinet. has added a chapter on the examination of the Etna lavas under the microscope, illus- British Burmah, the special form of the trated by two figures, one of a section of the worship of Buddha practised by the Burmans lava of 396 B.C., the other of a specimen and the Burmese monastic system, the final dated A.D. 1689. There is an excellent index chapter being on the language and literature appended to the work. of Burma. A copious index is appended to the work. A few sketch maps would have British Burma and its People, being Sketches been a great help to the reader in fixing the of Native Manners, Customs and Religion. boundaries of districts and races. By Captain C. J.F.S.FORBES, F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S., Officiating Deputy Commis Notes. sioner, British Burma. Crown 8vo., pp. The Council of the Royal Geographical x.—364, price 10/6. John Murray, 1878. Society have adopted a scheme for improving Captain Forbes was induced to write the the " Proceedings” published by the Society, present interesting volume by observing the by the insertion of geographical notices, maps, singular ignorance manifested, by even the and other matter of general interest derived well educated and reading classes, on the from various sources independent of the subject of Burma, during a visit to England Society, and by increasing the frequency of a short time since. It is true that, since the issue, making it, in short, a monthly England extended her 6 scientific frontiers” publication. The council hope that the extra in this direction, several works have been expense will be compensated by the increased published on Burma and the Burmese, such value of the publication to the fellows of the as those of Dr. Mason, a scientific book, Society, and to the geographical public Bishop Bigandet'sLifeand Legend of Gaudama generally. which is an exhaustive summary of Burman Buddhism, and lastly Sir A. Phayre's History of the Burman Race which is purely historical. History. Captain Forbes's volume is, therefore, the first work which has attempted to give any Etudes sur l'Empire d'Allemagne. Par J. thing like a popular account of this interesting COHEN. Crown 8vo., pp. iii.-507, country and people. The importance of price 7/6. Paris, Calmann Lévy ; London, Burmah to the mother country may be appreciated when we state that in twenty years Hachettes, 1878. its revenue and commerce have both trebled, M. Cohen is well fitted to write the history while its population has more than doubled. / of the German Empire, seeing that he has It must also be remembered that it is the resided within its boundaries almost since its trade high road to Western China. Captain creation. The author sets out by condemning Forbes having resided in Burma for thirteen those partial writers who, for the sake of temyears, during which his official and private porary fame, do all they can to blacken the intercourse with all classes was most intimate, conquerors in the eyes of the conquered, and is fully fitted for the task he has imposed rouse the bad passions of hot-headed enthuupon himself. He first describes the physical siasts of both countries. M. Cohen opens the features of the country, after which we have first chapter with a sketch of the rise and an account of the different tribes inhabiting progress of the German Empire from the the country, including the Burmese proper, tenth century until the present day, and after the Karens and their numerous offshoots, | reviewing the events and consequences of the the Mons, who are supposed to be autochthonic, Austro-Prussian war and the behaviour of having been found in the country by Gaudama France during that struggle, he launches at six centuries before the Christian Era, and once into his subject. Prince Bismarck, the the great Shan race, who seem closely allied Imperial Constitution, Centralization, the Parto the Siamese. The whole of these four ties in the Reichsrath, the Religious Quesraces belong to the same human family as tion, and the Kulturkampf, German Socialthe Tibetans, the Chinese, and the Siamese, ism, the Economical and Political Crises, and have no affinity with the Aryan races Alsace-Lorraine, and German Philosophy, of Hindoostan. The next two chapters are Chauvinism, Patriotism, Public Instruction, devoted to the Social Life and Customs of Military Service and Manners, are discussed the Burmese, many of the latter being par with admirable impartiality. M. Cohen's ticularly interesting in resembling some of l book will do much to efface whatever evil our own. A child's caul, for instance, is held effects have been wrought by such books as in great veneration, and the American custom the Pays des Milliards and La France of sweethearting after the old people have | Contemporaine ; it will also do much good retired for the night is as prevalent on the l on both sides of the Franco-German frontier : banks of the Irrawaddy as on those of the in France, by showing that the German Potomac. Chapter V. describes the principal devil is not quite so black as he is painted ; produce, trades, and manufactures of Burmah. and amongst the Germans, by proving that The other chapters give graphic accounts an enlightened Frenchman can appreciate of their amusements, festivals,' feasts, super- l their good qualities while condemning their stitions, and folk-lore, the wild tribes of faults. La Comtesse de Rochefort et ses Amis: Etudes sonages whose illustrious names figure on his sur les Maurs en France au XVIII. title page, begins with a sketch of the life of Siècle avec des documents inédits. Par Baron Stockmar up to the time of his being LOUIS DE LOMENIE. Crown 8vo., pp. sent to London on the occasion of the marriage iii.-370, price 6/-. ParisCalmann of the Princess Charlotte, from which event Lévy; London, Hachette & Co. 1878. M. Taillandier's work may be said to date. The unpublished documents which have The whole history of the life, wooing, marserved M. de Loménie as a basis for this / riage, and death of that unfortunate Princess interesting volume, and which originally be is described, as well as the scandalous life of longed to Mirabeau, were placed at his dispo her unworthy father, who frequently most sal by M. Gabriel de Montigny, the present deservedly comes under the author's stinging owner of the historical Château of that name. lash. The next division of the work is devoted Madame de Rochefort, who acts as godmother to the trial and death of Queen Caroline, to this collection, was the contemporary of whose character he sums up in the oft repeated Mesdames Geoffrin, du Deffand, de Mirepoix, words of her unhappy daughter, “ My mother and other female literary celebrities of the led a bad life, but she would not have done so middle half of the last century, and is highly had not my father done the same.” Prince praised in Walpole's Letters for her correct Leopold and Capodistrias next appear upon and delicate judgment, the fineness of her the scene, after which we have a detailed wit, her gentle and feminine manners, her history of the creation of the Belgian kingdom learning, and the modesty of her demeanour. by Louis Philippe and Lord Palmerston. It is not surprising therefore to find that she The fifth book brings us to the marriage of gathered round her such celebrities as the the Queen with Prince Albert, for whose Duc de Nivernois, the Cardinal de Bernis, the | talents and virtues the author professes the Marquis de Mirabeau, Duclos, about all of highest appreciation. The sixth book gives a whom, and a score more, we have numberless | charming picture of the family life at Windsor, anecdotes and interesting details. At the end / much of which is of course taken from the we find a couple of comedies. by the Comte 1 Queen's own book; the seventh relates the de Fortcalquier, entitled Le Bel Esprit du | incidents of the visits to Windsor of the Tzar Temps and Les Chevaliers de la Rose-Croix, | of Russia, the King of Prussia, and the King some fifty Pensées Diverses by the fair fair of the French, and the important events that Countess herself, and a most interesting ac flowed from them. In book eight the story count of the Duc de Nivernois's journey from of the Spanish marriages is told with great Calais to London in 1762, written by the impartiality. The tenth tells the story of the Duke himself, all of which have hitherto Revolution of 1848; the eleventh, the longest remained unpublished. in the book, being devoted to the difficulties of the position occupied by Prince Albert Le Roi Léopold et la Reine Victoria. Récits with respect to the Queen, full justice being d'Histoire Contemporaine. Par St. RENE done to the Prince throughout. The book Early History of the Colony of Victoria from M. Taillandier's work is as important in its its Discovery to its Establishment as a way as Mr. Spencer Walpole's history, the self-governing Province of the British contents of which we analysed last week, and Empire. By FRANCIS PETER LABILto which it will form an appropriate pendant. 1 LIERE, Barrister-at-Law of the Middle “In the fifteenth volume of the Correspondance Temple, Fellow of the Royal Colonial de Napoléon 1.” says M. Taillandier, à propos Institute. 2 Vols. crown 8vo., pp. 312of the establishment of a school for the special 372, price 21/-. Sampson, Low & Co. study of history at the Collège de France, the This book is full of interesting facts, taken Emperor complains loudly that the history of at length from authentic sources at home and a man's own time cannot be known to him, I in the colony. It details the history of the and that the details of the American War of expeditions of Bass and Captain Flinders, Independence were much less accessible to Grant and Murray, in the Lady Nelson, the the students of that day than those of the Investigator in 1802, the attempted settlement Punic wars of days gone by.” Oddly enough at Port Philip in the next year, the first overNapoleon illustrates his own assertion by land expedition by Hume and Hovell in 1824, giving 1783 as the date of the end of the the projected settlement in 1826-7 at Western American war instead of 1785. On reading Port, the exploration of the Murray River, and this passage M. Taillandier was inspired with Major Mitchell's travels through the colony. the desire to remove this reproach from French These explorations occupy the first volume, Iterature by publishing several important the second being taken up with full details as works on contemporary history, the latest to the first permanent settlement, through the production of his pen being the book before efforts of Mr. Henty and others; the account us. The author, who has the warmest possibel of Buckley, who, after living many years admiration for the character of the three per- | among the aborigines, was restored to Euro |