lieve that any publisher could deliberately walk into a trap set to guillotine himself and his local

customers.

A LETTER from Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett, issued through Messrs. Scribner, Armstrong & Co., the authorized publishers of her later works, "That Lass o' Lowrie's" and Surly Tim's Trouble," has appeared in most of the papers, disavowing responsibility for the republication by other houses of her early stories, "Theo," and now "Pretty Polly Pemberton," by Messrs. T. B. Peterson & Bros., and Dolly," by Messrs. Porter & Coates, contributed as serials to Peterson's and other magazines. The last-named house reply in a circular letter, stating that they purchased the rights of volume publication from Mr. Henry Peterson, of Deacon & Peterson, proprietors of the Ladies' Friend, in which the serial appeared, and who' had paid for it $450. We do not understand that Mrs. Burnett's letter denied a valid sale of her rights in the copyright, which give Messrs. Porter & Coates entire legal justification, her letter being to inform the public that the Scribner books are the only ones issued under her present sanction and by which she wishes to be judged. The control of early books after the writer has achieved fame is a vexatious question which has troubled many an author before

Mrs. Burnett.

BOOK-BUTCHERING EXTRAORDI

NARY.

THE following circular has been sent generally to the trade :

From George MacDonald's Auction House, better known to the Book Trade as "The Book Butcher's Slaughter House,"

Nov. 15, 1877.

"DEAR SIR: I am collecting a stock of books for a great cheap sale at my auction house, to run from December 1st to January 5th, during which time I will sell every thing at private sale, and shall afterwards close out the remainders at auction, or return them to the consignors as they may direct. I charge 20 per cent for selling at private sale, and 10 per cent for selling at auction, which also covers fire insurance. I make no charge for cataloguing. I shall advance the money for freight charges

and deduct the same from the first cash returns. I will render an account of sales with the cash every Monday, or oftener if so instructed From my extensive acquaintance with book buyers in this vicinity, together with the central location of my large store, I have every confidence that I can make this undertaking a success. If you will intrust me with a consignment, I shall do the utmost in my power to make it remunerative to you.

"I shall be pleased to hear from you at your first convenience.

Yours truly,

"GEO. MACDONALD."

BOOK NOTICES.

THE FINAL PHILOSOPHY, or System of PerFECTIBLE KNOWLEDGE ISSUING FROM THE HARMONY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION, by Charles Woodruff Shields, D.D. (Scribner, A. & Co.) This work had its origin in a brief essay entitled Philosophia Ultima, published by the author in 1861. In it he set forth so clearly the way in which the differences that have existed between science and religion for so many years might be reconciled, that the attention of many prominent A number of wealthy and sympathetic Philadelphia friends, desiring to give him a chance to fully develop his science of harmony, believing it to be the only true basis upon which the conflicts of science and religion could be settled, secured for him a chair of instruction in Princeton College, New Jersey. The present volume is the result of that endowment. Dr. Shields' divides his work into two parts, "The Philosophical Parties as to the Relations between Science and Religion" and "The Philosophical Theory of the Harmony of Science and Religion." In both parts, whether describing the various antagonistic parties in this conflict, or setting forth what he calls "the one last philosophy or theory and art of perfect knowledge," he is earnest, liberal, and scholarly. His work is a valuable one in many senses. It will aid in more harmonious state of bringing about a things between scientists and religionists, and is full of data that is very convenient to have together for reference. It contains two unusually full and complete indexes—namely, an “Analytical Index to Subjects," in the order in which they are treated, and an "Index to Authors" whose opinions have been cited. In its typography, the work is every thing that could be desired. Svo, cloth, $3.

American scholars was attracted to the writer.

ILLUSTRATIONS of English ReliGION, selected, edited, and arranged by Henry Morley. (Cassell, Petter & G.) These illustrations consist of selections from English literature, beginning A. D. 670, with a translation into blank verse of Cadmon's Paraphrase. This is followed by specimens of equally rare English religious writings, from the Conquest to Wiclif, Langland, and others, 1400. The sixteenth century is illustrated through the works of Fisher, Tyndale, More, Latimer, and others. The reign of Elizabeth is rich in such names as John Knox, John Fox, Matthew Parker, Francis Bacon, Spenser, and Richard Hooker. The reign of James I. claims Donne, Andrewes, etc., Charles I. and the Commonwealth, George Herbert, Richard Baxter, Jeremy Taylor, John Milton, John Bunyan, with others of minor note. Each reign, in fact, down to Victoria, finds a voice to demonstrate the poetry and grandeur of England's religion-Newman, Arnold, Kingsley, Browning, Carlyle, and Tennyson being the spokesmen of our own day. The volume is very handsomely gotten up as to paper, print, etc., being very richly illustrated with woodcuts of the various authors mentioned. It forms the second volume of Cassell's "Library of English Literature”—a valuable series started last year with "Shorter English Poems," and which, when completed in five volumes, will be virtually what is claimed by its title. 4to, cloth, $5.

THE BEGINNINGS OF CHRISTIANITY, by George P. Fisher, D.D. (Scribner, A. & Co.) This

Goldsmith in the amiability of his satire, the exquisite naturalness of his characterization, the simplicity of his literary motive." So Mr. Howells tells us, with much more that is highly interesting about Goldoni himself, and his comedies, which gave him a niche in Italian literature, in the eighteenth century, as the comic dramatist of the people. His memoir is exceedingly amusing, overflowing with quaint adventures and droll stories, which read like chapters from "Gil Blas." "Little Classic" style, $1.25.

TALES OF ANCIENT GREECE, by the Rev. G. W. Cox. (Jansen, McC. & Co.) The grace with which these old tales of the mythology are retold makes them as enchanting to the young as familiar fairy lore or the "Arabian Nights.' The scholarship evinced by the author and the poetical language in which he clothes his thoughts recommend the volume to mature and cultivated minds also, both for entertainment and constant reference. All the old stories of the Greek gods and heroes will be found here, with tales of the Trojan war and of Thebes, and a number of miscellaneous tales; among which are, "The Vengeance of Apollo" and The Battle of the Frogs and the Mice." This edition is from the third English edition, and is very beautifully gotten up in every particular. We do not know of a Christmas book which promises more lasting pleasure. The Saturday Review, London, says: "It ought to be in the hands of every scholar and of every schoolboy." 12mo, cloth, extra gilt, gilt edges, $2.

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FAITH AND PHILOSOPHY, by Henry B. Smith, D.D., edited by George L. Prentiss. (Scribner, A. & Co.) This volume is made up of twelve essays upon some of the most important questions of the age-"The Relations of Faith and Philosophy,' Nature and Worth of the Science of Church History," "The Idea of Christian Theology as a System," "The New Latitudinarians of England," Renan's Life of Jesus,' The New Faith of Strauss, ""Whedon on the Will," etc., etc. The title, "Faith and Philosophy," was given it as it seemed most fitly to indicate its general character. Dr. Prentiss, in a well-written introduction, speaks in enthusiastic terms of the place Prof. Smith occupied as a philosophical thinker, a theologian, a scholar and critic, and of the estimation in which he was held by his friends, the most cultured men of the day. His loss is an almost irreparable one to the learning and culture of the country. Every one will be glad to find some of his best papers in the present permanent form. 8vo, cloth, $3.50.

THE TWO CIRCUITS, by J. L. Crane. (Jansen, McC. & Co.) Mr. Crane's story is drawn from his own experience as an itinerant preacher through the unsettled portions of Illinois in its early days. The circuit-rider was then a familiar character to the settlers, and welcomed and made much of at every cabin he stopped at, giving in return a sermon or discourse to a strange audience gathered from all the adjacent cabins. His experience was varied, often exciting, often pathetic, and more often very ludicrous. Mr. Crane has woven his many facts into a very pretty story, with a hero who is young and engaging, and a heroine that is all the most sentimental could desire. While the story has its tender and even sad side, it has

also a perfect fund of humorous and laughable incidents, which fly away with all seriousness or gravity. It has been strongly endorsed by the leading religious papers of the West. It contains twenty-five full-page illustrations, designed by the author. 12mo, cloth, $1.75.

WAYSIDE SERIES: HARRY HOLBROOKE OF HOLBROOKE HALL, by Sir Randal H. Roberts. (Lockwood, B. & Co.) A stronger contrast could not be found than that which this work and the first volume of the series, "Nimport," presents the latter being a story of Boston life of to-day, the characters being cultivated society people, who talk not only cleverly but epigrammatically of current events and social questions, while the present novel deals almost wholly with sports such as men love, hunting, fishing, racing, etc., which the author describes with an enthusiasm that shows him to be a true sportsman himself. The time is not very recent, while the scene is an English country-house, the hero being a country squire, but a brave, manly fellow, who fulfils all the requirements of a real hero. There are two love stories, told in an old-fashioned but very pleasing style, which absorb the chief interest of the book, and add to the attractiveness of a very pleasing story. 16mo, cloth, $1.25.

THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE, by Mrs. D. P. Sanford. (Dutton.) Mrs. Sanford lives in the kindly remembrance of many children through her Pussy Tip-Toes Series," the volumes of which have for several Christmases past been among the most lovely books issued. "The Little Brown House" continues the story of the Greyson family. The first chapter relates the history of their moving to a distant part of the country, and their settling in their new quarters, "the little brown house" already mentioned. We get a daily and minute history of the children's sorrows and joys, plays and pastimes, mishaps, adventures, and failings. The little readers for whom the narrative was written will no doubt find abundant pleasure in it. The volume is, typographically, a most beautiful one. It is uniform with the author's previous juveniles, richly adorned with pictures, printed on fine tinted paper, and has a cover that is both original and pretty. 4to, cloth, $2.25.

THE BAR-ROOMS AT BRANTLY, by T. S. Arthur. (Porter & Coates.) A new book from T. S. Arthur is sufficient of a novelty to attract attention. He again discusses in this work a subject that has been a favorite one with him of late years-namely, intemperance. Brantly, the scene of the story, is a little village outside of New York, which, through the strenuous efforts of a few of its leading men, has been entirely freed from taverns and drinking-saloons, and has become a model community. A New York man with an eye to speculation comes there and opens a new hotel, in which liquor is sold freely. The results from this temptation are disastrous and heart-breaking; one family after another is broken up, through the husbands and sons falling victims to a love of drink. destruction of the hotel and the final redemption of Brantly and its inhabitants are related in Mr. Arthur's best style. 12mo, cloth, $1.50.

The

DEAR OLD STORIES TOLD ONCE MORE, by "Faith Latimer." (American Tract Soc.) Bible stories in any guise have always been special sources of delight to children; their picturesqueness and intense dramatic interest appeal

with a singular power to a child's imagination. The dear old familiar stories of Noah and the ark, Abraham and Isaac, Isaac and Rebecca, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, Ruth and Naomi, and so on, as retold here, with a wonderful freshness and brightness, take on a new meaning, and offer apparently new fields of pleasure to the little ones. Forty stories in all are contained in the book, embellished by forty very fine full-page illustrations, among which we recognize a number of Doré's best efforts. 4to, cloth, $1.25.

JOSEPH COOK'S "Transcendentalism," published this week by J. R. Osgood & Co., starts off nearly 5000 strong. "Biology" has reached the tenth edition, and is still in brisk demand. REV. DR. CHARLES H. HALL, of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Brooklyn, has a volume in press by Hurd & Houghton, on the subject of 'The Church of the Household." He is a vigorous, speaker, and should write a good book.

THOSE bright volumes of society verses and satire, "Point Lace and Diamonds," and "The Bad Habits of Good Society," by Geo. A. Baker, Jr., will shortly be reissued, in new editions, both red-line and cheap, with some additions, by R. Worthington.

OF Victor Hugo's "Histoire d'un Crime," 125,000 copies were sold in France in three weeks. A Spanish translation, with preface by Señor Castelar, is about to appear. Harper & Bros. will issue the American edition, after its publication in Harper's Weekly.

DR. ROBERT BROWN, author of "Races of Men," etc., assisted by a staff of eminent writers, is engaged on a popular work on science, which will shortly be published in serial form by Messrs. Cassell, Petter & Galpin, under the title of Science for All."

"

46

THE AUTHORS' PUBLISHING Co. call attention to their "literary bonanza,' 'The Buccaneers," a novel warranted to make a sensation in any one's emotions. They have also a number of other recent books, on a wide variety of subjects, to which the attention of the trade is directed.

THE book on "Money and its Laws," by Mr. Henry V. Poor, published by H. V. & H. W. Poor, should not be neglected by the trade because it is out of the line of usual publication. It has been generally received as a compendium of great value, with much information of current usefulness otherwise unavailable.

A VOLUME on "The Labor Problem in the United States," by a writer whose essay, it is stated, takes Mrs. Thompson's prize offered through The Library Table, is nearly ready at the Athenæum Publishing House, New York. Thurlow Weed furnishes an introduction. It will be issued in paper and cloth.

A BOOK on "The Chisolm Massacre," the political tragedy in Kemper County, Miss., is published in Chicago; it is proposed to devote the proceeds to the removal of the bodies of Judge Chisolm and his heroic daughter to the North and the erection of a monument.

46

ATTENTION is called by G. P. Putnam's Sons to Mr. Graham McAdam's Alphabet in Finance," as presenting simple, vigorous, and effective discussions of the silver question, the double standard, and the creed of paper money, as announced by Senator Jones, in his report for the Congressional Currency Commission.

SHELDON & Co. have just published a new and enlarged edition of George Müller's "Life of Trust." The addition to the work consists of labors, prepared by Rev. E. P. Thwing, of an account of the last five years of Mr. Müller's Brooklyn, under the personal direction of Mr. Müller, who is now in this country.

worth, the author of "Ministering Children,' A NEW juvenile story from Mrs. Charleswill be published shortly by Robert Carter & Brothers. It is called The Old Lookingglass; or, Dorothy Cope's Experience." Several other English juveniles will be ready at the same time.

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J. R. OSGOOD & Co. have nearly ready a book on Raphael and Michelangelo," by Charles C. Perkins, of Boston, giving an outline of the lives of these great artists, and describing fully their wonderful careers. The work will form an octavo, and will contain many illustrations, including several heliotypes.

PROFESSOR PECK, the son-in-law of the late Professor Davies, and well known for his own mathematical series, is editing for A. S. Barnes & Co. a new set of text-books combining the features of both Professor Davies and his own works, under the title of "Davies' and Peck's United Course." The "Complete Arithmetic " is just ready.

A COMMITTEE of Boston publishers, including Mr. James T. Fields, William Lee, Benjamin H. Ticknor, J. S. Lockwood, and Dana Estes, solicit contributions for the "Book Table" at the approaching Old South Church fair, to be held in the old meeting-house next week-an object to which, we trust, the trade will be glad to contribute.

THE special holiday trade sale of books opened at Geo. A. Leavitt & Co.'s on Monday, and, despite the unpleasantness of the day, attracted a good gathering of buyers, chiefly, however, from this city and vicinity. The catalogue embraced many attractive invoices, and the buying started off well, at reasonably good prices.

A HITHERTO unknown story by Edgar A. Poe is said to have recently come into the possession of Mr. John H. Ingram, who has taken charge of Poe's literary reputation in England It is entitled “The Journal of Julius Rodman," and is a description of an imaginary "First Passage Across the Rocky Mountains of North America ever Achieved by Civilized Man." An English paper publishes a précis of the story.

THE Long Island Historical Society has nearly ready its "centennial volume" on "The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn." The work, edited by Mr. Henry P. John

ston, largely from original documents, contains a circumstantial account of the battle of Long Island and the capture of New York, but touches as well on the Revolutionary history of nine States. Mr. George Hannah, librarian of the society, Brooklyn, will receive subscriptions at $3, for the limited edition. The book will have illustrations.

"THE SUPREME Court of the UNITED STATES" ($5), just published by Frank W. Robinson, 1420 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, is a series of biographies of the Judges of the Supreme Court. Their portraits are engraved on steel, and the publisher presents them as the finest that can be made in line, stipple, or mezzotinto style. Wm. H. Barnes, the author, has had personal acquaintance with all of the recent occupants of the Supreme Bench, and is therefore eminently fitted for the work. As a national portrait gallery, the work is of much interest.

THE Presbyterian Board of Publication have just issued, "Visions of Heaven for the Life on Earth," by the Rev. R. M. Patterson, author of "Paradise," to which this is a companion volume; also a very pretty book for the holidays, "The Sunbeam Book," which is a collection of Bible lessons and stories for the little folks, small quarto, cloth gilt, fully illustrated. "Light for the Day" is the title of a new volume, to be issued by them within a few weeks, similar in character to "Daily Light," published by Bagster, of London.

is

THE American Sunday-School Union about to publish an edition of "The Scholars'

Hand-Book," by the Rev. E. W. Rice, arranged especially for the use of the Sunday-schools of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The only difficulty heretofore existing against its use by this denomination has been the seeming impracticability of arranging the lessons with any reference to the various seasons of their church year. This difficulty is now overcome. "Poor Henry; or, the Pilgrim's Hut on the Weissenstein," is the last publication of this house; Dr. C. G. Barth, of Würtemberg, is the author.

MACMILLAN & Co. announce a new series of handy-books about "Men of Letters," short books to be edited by John Morley, which shall tell people the main facts as to the life, character, works, and position in literary history of some of the greatest writers in English. Among the contributors will be the Dean of St. Paul's, who will write on Spenser; J. A. Froude, on Bunyan; Principal Shairp, on Burns; Mark Pattison, on Milton; Goldwin Smith, on Wordsworth; R. H. Hutton, on Scott; Leslie Stephen, on Johnson; J. A. Symonds, on Shelley; J. C. Morison, on Gibbon; and the editor on Swift.

SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & Co. have just ready Mr. Clarence Cook's book beautiful" about "The House Beautiful," which certainly comes close to the ideal of bookmaking. The text is most delightful reading, the many illustrations are exquisite and exquisitely printed, and the title-page is worthy of note as a tasteful innovation. Those who delight in household art, the subject of the book, will delight in the book itself as a work of art. They will issue on Saturday next, Dr. Schliemann's great work on "Mycenæ," and his discoveries there, which includes an elaborate introduction by Mr. Gladstone. The book is elegantly gotten up, with maps, colored plates,, views, and cuts illustrat

ing several hundred types of the objects found in and about the royal sepulchres.

HARPER & BROTHERS have just ready two very important books: Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spofford's book on household art, "Art Decoration applied to Furniture," profusely illustrated, the third of their pretty art series, and the most popular and comprehensive of the books on this subject, and Di Cesnola's "Researches and Discoveries in the Island of Cyprus," a book full of interest here and finely illustrated. Mrs. Spofford's book is particularly noticeable for its historic review of schools in furniture, as well as its good advice. Among their forthcoming books are "The Khedive's Egypt," an elaborate book on that interesting country, by Edwin de Leon; the first volume of "A Modern Minister," which has been attracting attention in its serial publication in Blackwood, as the work of a rising George Eliot, and, in the Half-hour Series, Macaulay's "Lord Clive."

A POPULAR edition of Richard Cobden's speeches and political writings is to be published by the Committee of the Cobden Club.

THE new edition of Sir Walter Scott's novels, with wood-cuts by P. Thumann, Eugen Grote & Co., Berlin, is now being issued in LonKlimsch, and G. Urlaub, recently started by don by Messrs. Marcus Ward & Co.

THE memorial statue of the late Mr. Adam

Black, the eminent publisher, erected to his memory in Edinburgh, was recently unveiled in the presence of a large assemblage. Lord Moncrieff, in a long address, presented the statue to the Lord Provost and citizens.

AN English edition of Lessing's works is promised. The Dramatic Works complete, which have been in preparation for some time, will be issued soon, as two volumes in "Bohn's Standard Library," and will be followed, after a short interval, by a selection from the prose works.

MR. THOMAS HARDY's new story, "The Return of the Native," will be begun in the January number of Belgravia. The scenes will chiefly be laid in the open air, on the hills of a large heath to the west of the New Forest, and the leading characters will be seconded by a chorus of rustics, as in some of the writer's previous novels.

THE prize of 5000 roubles offered in 1874 by the Russian Government for the best book on the history of cavalry, has been awarded to the work of Lieutenant-Colonel George T. Denison, of the British army in Canada, recently published by Macmillan & Co. The competi tion was thrown open to the officers of all foreign armies.

It is announced in the Atheneum that a printed copy of the draft report of the Parliamentary Copyright Commission is now in the hands of each member, and a meeting will shortly be held for settling the final result. The clauses are upward of seventy in number, and the recommendations, especially as regards dramatic copyright, are elaborate and comprehensive. Sir Fitz-James Stephen has supplied a code of the existing law, which enables the bearings of the whole matter to be clearly understood. Unless existing differences of opinion