FOR ST. DUNSTAN'S HOUSE, E.C., October 2, 1888. OR some time past there has been not a little anticipation as to the probable appearance of the first announcements of books for the coming season. Work in the book world is associated with the first of October almost as immutably as beginning sport is with the 12th of August and 1st of September. Anxious authors look forward for the appearance of the works which engaged their attention, time, and enthusiasm, months, perhaps years, before, and which, at the last moment, the experienced publisher held over' until the arrival of the momentous 1st. Now, too, authors begin to scan the newspapers with more avidity, wearying for the notices which are frequently so long in coming. Contrary to expectations, the lists of announcements are this season quite equal to those of past years, as will be seen from the information which has been kindly supplied to us by the leading publishers. The notices indicate a pronounced revival of the book trade after a period of pretty general depression, and we are glad that this sign has something tangible about it. No great books are as yet in the field; though, perhaps, Sir Morell Mackenzie's volume will occupy most special attention during the season. One thing about the business in books which we have remarked upon before is the early preparation and arrival of Christmas gift-books. During the month of October these come before us in considerable numbers, showing how quickly and strongly competition in this business is being pushed. We would earnestly desire that competition in literary excellence was only half as active. A lack of spirit and originality is sadly evident in our gift-book literature. Few can imagine the strength and employments of the vast army which has supplied the materials noted in the following pages. An enumeration of the different occupations, from the author to the bookseller, and thence to the public, need not be repeated here, but those who are interested must hope that the work of distributing knowledge and mental entertainment during the approaching winter will be marked by good results to all. EXPENSES OF THE GUILDHALL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.-The following accounts respecting the Guildhall Library, have just been published. The account of the library, one year's contribution, £500; the account of the library, additional, in consequence of opening the library in the evening, £300; the comW. H. Overall, F.S.A., librarian, one year's mittee's expenses, for one year, £200; Mr. salary, £950; Mr. C. Welch, assistant-librarian, one year's salary, £475; Mr. W. H. Overall, librarian, to pay wages to library attendants, £1607. 48.; Mr. W. H. Overall, librarian, to pay for extra assistance, illness of attendants, £108. 8s.; Mr. W. H. Overall, the librarian, £15. 14s.; uniforms for library disbursements, £9. 19s. 1d.; special police services, £119. 6s. 8d.; rates and taxes, £319. 9s. 2d.; water rent, £25; fire insurance, £90. 68. ; oil for lamps, £6. 9s.; repairing chairs, £48. 38. 6d.; jobbing work, £214. 18s. 10d. Messrs. Blades & Co., for printing historical account of Guildhall (balance), 2569. 6s.; Mr. W. H. Overall, to pay for extra assistance in preparing new catalogue, £109; total, £5,668. 4s. 3d. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SWEDEN. The tenth volume of the Proceedings of the Royal Library at Stockholm contains the report of the Librarian for the year 1887. It appears that the Riks-Bibliotek, or National Library 1877 from the Royal Palace to the most of Sweden, was removed in the autumn of modern library structure in Scandinavia, a fine building beautifully situated in an old park in Stockholm. It contained at that time about 200,000 volumes, besides a great many pamphlets, collections of maps and enlibrary, which aims at containing as complete a gravings, and nearly 8,000 manuscripts. This collection as possible of Swedish literature, supplemented by the more important scientific and literary works published in foreign on Henry Dundas, first Viscount Melville countries, is, by Royal decree dated Novem- (1742-1811). It is a plain, solid, satisfactory ber 9, 1877, divided into two chief divisions- article. We observe with satisfaction that the Swedish and the foreign. Of the acces- there is here, as elsewhere, a full note of the sions for 1887, according to the report, monuments to, and portraits of, the subject of 12,791 books, pamphlets, &c., belonged to the biography. It is in the manner in which the first division, while to the foreign depart- the minor details such as these are attended ment 879 distinct works were added. The to that the great merit of the Dictionary conSwedish ordinance relating to the freedom of sists. The smaller articles are up to their the Press requires that a copy of everything usual standard of excellence. printed in Sweden shall be sent to each of the two University libraries and to the library at Stockholm. In 1886 there were published in Sweden 524 new books; 664 works in course of publication were continued; and 6,280 pamphlets were issued. These figures do not include magazines and newspapers, which numbered 537. DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY.* The present volume brings us from Thomas Drant (d. 1578), divine and poet, to Henry Edridge (1769-1821), miniature-painter. It is one of those volumes in which there is a rarity of great names. We are now passing over the least brilliant passages of the milky way, still there are a few stars of considerable magnitude. There is Drayton, the poet, Drummond of Hawthornden, 'glorious John' Dryden, Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, 'Black Agnes, Countess of Dunbar, Lord Melville, Duns Scotus, and Miss Edgeworth, and of these we naturally turn first to John Dryden, which is contributed by the editor. A very interesting part of this is the criticism on Dryden's changes of opinion. It is very much the habit to assume that these were sincere. Mr. Stephen inclines to the reverse, though he does not omit to point out the difficulties in the way of accepting it, and adds it is idle to compare such a conversion to those of loftier minds,' though, 'in a sense, he may well have been sincere enough.' Mr. Stephen sums up his character by calling him 'the least unworldly of all great poets,' and, as to his chief writings, says, 'whatever their faults, no tragedies comparable to his best work have since been written for the stage.' Notes and News The remarkable report telegraphed from Toronto by Reuter's agency on October 1 to the effect that the Senate of the United States have been discussing the question of asking the Dominion to join the Republic is clearly the outcome of the fisheries difficulty. Shortly a new book may be expected on this intricate' subject from the pen of Mr. J. H. de Ricci. The title will be The North American Fisheries Dispute and the Annexation of Canada.' Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston & Co. will be the publishers. The new volume of the Magazine of Art begins with the November part, which will be ready on October 25. Several new features are to be introduced by the editor, the prospectus, indeed, being highly promising for the increased prosperity of this most popular artistic magazine. Messrs. Hurst & Blackett announce for this week a new novel by Gertrude Forde, entitled Hugh Errington.' The next volume of the Eminent Women Series,' to be published in the course of a few days, will be a Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning,' by Mr. John H. Ingram, editor of the series. The book, which is the first life of Mrs. Browning ever published, is stated to contain a large amount of biographical information new to the public. · The latest issues of Horner's Penny Stories for the People are: No. 24. Grace Shorney's Sacrifice,' a tale of the Revolution of 1688, by J. J. Ellis; No. 25. Marie, the Exile of Siberia,' by Sydney Watson; No. 26. 'BeMr. S. L. Lee writes pleasantly of Drum- trothed,' a tale of the sixteenth century, by mond of Hawthornden, whom he qualifies as M. E. L.; No. 27. Bridget O'Mara's Secret,' a 'learned poet and at his best in his sonnets.' a tale of the siege of Derry, by J. J. Ellis. The same scholar has a very excellent account A new story will be added early in October by of Lady Jane Grey. Agnes, Countess of Dun- Fannie Eden (No. 28), entitled "Through bar' (1312-1369), is by Alsager Vian. It is Weal and Woe. This popular series is to be rather a meagre biography even when we con-issued in attractive shilling volumes, of which sider the admitted scantiness of the material. the first and second series are announced. It is interesting to note (Mr. Vian does not seem aware of it) that the Castle of Dunbar, ennobled by the heroic deeds of 'Black Agnes and famous from its connection in a later age with Mary Queen of Scots, is now reduced to a few crumbling stones. These a worthy Bailie of Dunbar lately proposed to blow up with dynamite on the ground that they were dangerous to the fishermen ! Mr. Russell Barker contributes the article Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen. Vol. XVI. Drant-Edridge. London Smith, Elder & Co. The Tyneside Review, which has attained " a considerable amount of success in our northern counties, will, commencing with the October issue, be published in London by Messrs. Roper & Drowley. We understand that with the November | serial by W. E. Norris, and one by Mrs. L. B. number, the Woman's World will be per- Walford. The stories are illustrated by E. J. manently enlarged by the issue of additional Poynter and D. Leslie respectively. pages, the price remaining as at present, viz. 1s. monthly. 6 6 The frontispiece to the Magazine of Art for October is entitled A Hot Bargain,' a scene from the horse market at Cairo, etched by James D. Smilie from a painting by F. A. Bridgman. Among the articles are John Sell Corman,' by F. Wedmore; Art in the Theatre,' by the Hon. Lewis Wingfield; 'Art and Handicraft,' by Lewis F. Day; The late Frank Holl,' by M. H. Spielmann; The Language of Line, of Relief,' by Walter Crane; Kensington Fifty Years Ago,' by the Rev. W. J. Loftie; and 'The Kepplestone Collection,' by James Dow. These articles are all illustrated, and that on Frank Holl has an interesting full-page portrait. A fascinating series of forthcoming contents are announced for the Boy's Own Paper, published by the Religious Tract Society. With the number issued this week a new volume is commenced, and important works are promised from Jules Verne, David Ker, Rev. A. N. Malan, Paul Blake, and Ascott R. Hope. The veteran R. M. Ballantyne, Talbot Baines Reed, G. Manville Fenn, G. A. Hutchison, Professor Hodgetts, and others will also contribute to its pages. For the companion periodical, the Girl's Own Paper, serial stories by Sarah Tytler, Rosa Nouchette Carey, Darley Dale, and Lady Margaret Majendie are announced. As a contribution to the marriage controversy, Messrs. Dean & Son have in preparation a new chromo-lithographic book designed by Lucien Besche, of the Queen, entitled 'A Girl's Anticipation and Realisation of Marriage,' which consists of twenty artistically coloured plates, with appropriate letterpress, by C. N. Phillips. The next volume of Dean & Son's series of Books for Elocutionists' is to be entitled Speech Studies.' The volume, which is from the pen of Mr. Edwin Drew, is dedicated to Sir Morell Mackenzie. Among the prominent novelties which Messrs. Marion & Co. have produced for the coming season may be named the Universal Table Album.' In it an ingenious arrangement, which has been patented, enables the possessor to detach and reinsert any leaf at pleasure. Thus the position of a portrait in the album can be instantaneously changed at pleasure, or if a lady wishes to illuminate one of the leaves it can be taken out and laid upon the table during the operation, which, of course, is vastly preferable to painting a leaf which is part of a bound book. Another striking advantage is that fresh leaves can be inserted from among the variety which Messrs. Marion & Co. have always in stock. We should add that the ornamentation of the leaves of the Universal Table Album' consists of enamelled designs. Of illuminated albums The next volume of the Camelot Series' Messrs. Marion & Co. have two new examples. will be The Teaching of Epictetus,' trans-One is Town and Country,' of which the lated from the Greek, with introduction and illustrations offer a series of contrasts-such as notes, by Mr. T. W. Rolleston. The trans- a lady driving in the park and a man fishing, lator has already published a rendering of the a London picture gallery and a scene in a corn"Encheiridion through Messrs. Kegan Paul field, a dance and a garden, the theatre and & Co. Mr. Rolleston is also about to publish the riverside, &c., &c. The other is entitled a selection from Walt Whitman in German, Land and Water,' giving reproductions of translated by himself. The especial The previous high tone of the Penny Library of Fiction,' issued by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, is fully maintained by the latest story 'My Soldier Keeper,' by Clive Phillipps Dolley. It is an absorbing work and capitally told. With the October issue of Illustrations (1 St. Swithin's Lane, E.C.) that enterprising periodical enters upon a new volume. Judg ing from the variety and excellence, artistic and literary, of the first number, the career of the magazine during the next twelve months should be remarkably successful. Throughout the discriminating ability and editorial discretion of Mr. Francis Geo. Heath are thoroughly manifest. For the new edition of 'Walks in Epping Forest,' by Percy Lindley, a special introduction is being written by the editor, describing the manner in which the alleged cruel shooting is carried on, entitled 'A Plea for the Epping 6 artistic bits' in water colour. price. Miss Florence Warden contributes to the new volume of Cassell's Saturday Journal (which commenced with the number published on September 26) a new serial story of north country life, entitled 'St. Cuthbert's Tower.' Among other special features of the new volume may be mentioned a new serial story of New York life, by David Graham Adee, and a series of True Tales of London Streets' which will narrate interesting and exciting episodes connected with various streets and houses in the metropolis. 'The World of Adventure' is the title of a new serial work the first part of which will be published by Messrs. Cassell & Company next month. It will contain a graphic narrative of the brave and daring deeds done in the present Forest Deer.' day and in past centuries, and will be illusAtalanta for October (the first of the new trated with several hundred engravings from volume) will contain the opening chapters of a | original drawings. DIARIES AND ALMANACKS.-In the next | Messrs. W. H. Allen & Co.-continued. A Manual of Anglicised Colloquial Burmese, by The Editor will be greatly obliged if all books, &c., intended for review in the Christmas number, are forwarded as early as possible, as much inconvenience arises through late arrivals. Any inquiries respecting the Christmas number will be answered with pleasure by the Editor. Literary News in the present Number is continued at the end of the Lists of Announcements, page 1150. Announcements Messrs. W. H. Allen & Co. Fifty Years of a Showman's Life; or, The Life Ad Orientem, by A. D. Frederickson, numerous coloured illustrations. NAVAL AND MILITARY Books : James' Naval History, epitomised in 1 vol., a narrative of the naval battles, single-ship actions, notable sieges, and dashing cuttingout expeditions, &c., by Robert O'Byrne, F.R.G.S. Modern Tactics, by Captain H. R. Gall, late 5th Fusiliers, with volume of plans. Rapid Field Sketching and Reconnaissance, by Captain Willoughby Verner, Rifle Brigade. THE STATESMEN SERIES, edited by Lloyd C. Sanders, crown 8vo. : New volumes in preparation; Bolingbroke, by Arthur Hassall; Prince Consort, by Charlotte M. Yonge; Gambetta, by F. A. Marzials; Henry Fawcett, by Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P.; Dalhousie, by Captain Lionel Trotter ; Wellesley, by Colonel G. B. Malleson, C.S.I.; Grey, by Frank H. Hill. SCIENTIFIC WORKS: Practical Microscopy, by George E. Davis, new and enlarged edition, with illustrations. Half-Hours with the Microscope, by E. Lankester, new and enlarged edition by Professor E. Ray Lankester, with illustrations. EDUCATIONAL BOOKS: Student's Plane Trigonometry, by Thomas Roney, imperial 8vo. Outlines of English History, revised and rewritten in part by Arthur Hassall, Student of Christ Church. Outlines of French History, re-written by Arthur Hassall, Student of Christ Church. Chinese Manual, by Professor R. K. Douglas. EMINENT WOMEN SERIES, edited by John H. An Arabic Reading Book, by Alan B. Birdwood. Ingram:-Two new vols., Elizabeth Barrett Browning, by John H. Ingram; Jane Austen, by Mrs. Malden. Popular edition, in limp cloth binding, George Eliot, by Mathilde Blind. Biographies of Great Composers, new volume, Mendelssohn, by J. Cuthbert Hadden. Kaye's Sepoy War and Malleson's Indian Mutiny, edited by Colonel G. B. Malleson, C.S.I., to be published at intervals in six crown 8vo. volumes. The Region of the Eternal Fire, by Charles Marvin, new and cheaper edition. Lives of Indian Officers, by Sir J. W. Kaye, new edition. Haydn's Book of Dignities, revised and enlarged by Horace Ockerby. The Romance of Industry, by James Burnley. Le Comte de Paris, by the Marquis de Flers, translated by Constance Majendie, illustrated with six portraits and autograph. The Dairy Farm, by James Long, author of 'Poultry for Prizes and Profit,' illustrated. The Diseases and Disorders of the Ox, by George Gresswell, B.A. Oxford, recently Lecturer in Physical Science at the Diocesan College, Cape Town, with a few notes by James B. Gresswell, Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. A Handbook to the Royal Gallery at Venice, by Charles L. Eastlake. First Wilts Rifle Volunteers, by Major R. D. Gibney, late Adjutant 1st Battalion Wiltshire Volunteers. With the Harrises, by the author of The Subaltern,' The Chronicles of Waltham.' History of the London Stage, by H. Barton Baker. The Cultivated Oranges and Lemons of India, by Dr. G. Bonavia, with atlas of 250 plates. Old Madras Days; or, The Folk Lore of Southern India, collected by Mrs. Howard Kingscote and Pandit Natesa Sastri. In Anarchy's Net, by S. J. Baxter, second edition. Hints to Travellers in India, by an AngloIndian. Roaring in Horses: an Experimental Research, by R. H. Clarke, M.A., M.B. Cantab., M.R.C.S., with numerous illustrations by F. S. Sheldon. Compensation: The Publican's Case, by C. Cagney. The Floral King: a Life of Linnæus, translated from the Swedish by A. Alberg. Life and Balloon Experiences, Part II., by H. Coxwell, with special chapters on Military Ballooning. An Account of the Chapel of Marlborough College, by the Rev. Newton Mant, B.A., Vicar of Sledmere, York, with illustrations by H. C. Brewer. Following the Drum: Sketches of Soldier Life in Peace and War, Past and Present, the verses selected and illustrated by Richard Simkin, fourteen full-page coloured illustrations, and sixteen in monochrome. Rural Rambles, twelve sketches in colour, with extracts from Milton, Thomson, &c., illus Messrs. W. H. Allen & Co.-continued. trating the country at morning, noon, and evening, the sketches from drawings by Alfred Woodruff and S. P. Carlill, on pictorial easel-stand for the table. Messrs. George Bell & Sons. Contemporary German Art, as illustrated by paintings exhibited at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Berlin Academy of Arts, 1886. 140 photogravures, with descriptive text by Ludwig Pietsch, translated by N. D'Anvers. The edition is limited to 200 copies, privately printed, 2 vols. royal 4to. handsomely bound. A Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, with a list of ciphers, monograms, and marks, by Michael Bryan, imperial 8vo. new edition, thoroughly revised and enlarged, by R. E. Graves, of the British Museum, and Walter Armstrong, B.A., author of Peter de Wint,' 'Scottish Painters,' &c., 2 vols., imperial 8vo. The High-Caste Hindu Woman, by Pundita Ramabai Sarasvati, with an introduction by Rachel L. Bodley, A.M., M.D., Dean of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, post 4to. Parables from Nature, by the late Mrs. Alfred Gatty, a handsomely illustrated edition, with notes on the natural history and numerous full-page illustrations by W. Holman Hunt, E. Burne Jones, J. Tenniel, J. Wolf, and other eminent artists; complete edition with short memoir by J. H. Ewing, new and cheaper edition, fcap. 4to. Mrs. Ewing's Popular Tales, a cheap edition, with all the original illustrations by Mrs. Allingham, Cruikshank, Gordon Browne, and othess, in 7 vols. small post 8vo :-Flat Iron for a Farthing; Six to Sixteen; We and the World; Jan of the Windmill; Melchior's Dream; Mrs. Overtheway's Remembrances; A Great Emergency. Miss F. M. Peard's Mother Molly; Through Mrs. Ewing's The Brownies and Lob-Lie-bythe-Fire, imperial 16mo. Chiswick Series, in fcap. 8vo.: 1. English Sonnets by Living Writers, selected and arranged with a Note on the History of the Sonnet, by S. Waddington, 2nd edition, enlarged; 2. English Sonnets by Poets of the Past, selected and arranged by S. Waddington; 3 and 4. Legends and Lyrics, by Adelaide A. Procter, first series, with introduction by Charles Dickens, 66th thousand; second series, 59th thousand; 5. The Poems of S. T. Coleridge; 6. The Poems of George Herbert; 7. Florilegium Amantis, a Selection from Coventry Patmore's Works, edited by Richard Garnett, LL.D.; 8. Greek Wit, a Collection of Smart Sayings and Anecdotes, translated from Greek Prose Writers, by F. A. Paley, M.A., LL.D.; 9. Lamb's Tales from Shakspeare; 10. Shakspeare's Poems and Sonnets. British Mosses, their Homes, Aspects, Struc ture, and Uses, with a coloured figure of each species etched from nature, second and revised edition, by F. E. Tripp, 2 vols., super royal 8vo. Chronicles of Henry VIII. of England, translated from the Spanish by Major Martin T. S. Hume. Chess Studies and End Games, systematically Messrs. George Bell & Sons-continued. arranged by B. Horwitz, with a preface by W. Wayte, M.A., demy 8vo. The Epistle to the Corinthians, with notes critical and practical, by Prebendary Sadler. A new volume of Bohn's Artists' Library :-A Concise History of Painting, by the late Mrs. Charles Heator, author of 'The History of the Life of Albrecht Dürer of Nüremberg,' new edition, revised by Cosmo Monkhouse. New volumes of Bohn's Standard Library :— A History of Prose Fiction, by John Colin Dunlop, a new edition, revised, with Notes, Appendices, and Index, by Henry Wilson, 2 vols. New volumes of Bohn's Illustrated Library:— Captain Marryat's Peter Simple, with eight full-page illustrations, small post 8vo. Captain Marryat's Midshipman Easy, with eight full-page illustrations, small post 8vo. New Volume of Bohn's Classical Library :Plutarch's Morals, Ethical Essays, translated by the Rev. A. R. Shilleto, M.A. New Volume of Bohn's Philosophical Library: Schopenhauer's On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, and on the Will in Nature, translated from the German. Additions to Bohn's Select Library :-Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield; Oliver Cromwell, Pauli's Life of; Channing's The Perfect Life; Trevelyan's Ladies in Parliament; Burke's The Sublime and Beautiful; Defoe's The Great Plague; Harvey's Treatise on the Circulation of the Blood. Mr. Spencer Blackett. NEW NOVELS : The Lion of St. Mark, a Tale of Venice, by G. A. Henty, with ten full-page illustrations by Gordon Browne. Captain Bayley's Heir, a Tale of the Gold Fields of California, by G. A. Henty, with twelve full-page illustrations by H. M. Paget. Quicksilver, or a Boy with no Skid to his Wheel, by George Manville Fenn, ten full-page illustrations by Frank Dadd. Under False Colours, by Sarah Doudney, with twelve full-page illustrations by G. G. Kil burne. The Cat of Bubastis, a Story of Ancient Egypt, by G. A. Henty, eight full-page illustrations by J. R. Weguelin. |