issued at the same price as one of those gay but unsuggestive annuals, which almost come like butterflies out of season.

Twenty-nine beautiful designs, some of them among the most charming pictures that ever came from George Cattermole's pencil, are here made to illustrate the most eventful and chivalrous period of England's historythat of the Great Civil War. Whether it is the plundering of a Royalist's mansion, the Raising of the Standard or Colonel Pride at the House of Commons, there is everywhere the same excellence. The battle-pieces are admirable. Many will, no doubt, find that Charles is too much idealised, and Cromwell too vulgarised. But they are both historical portraits; and "Charles at Holderby," or "Cromwell with the Lawyers;" or, "Viewing the Body of the King," appear to us equally true and felicitous illustrations of what the expressions of the men would have been under such circumstances.

We can really say no more of this cheap publication, than that it would indicate a total want of taste on the part of the public not to appreciate the superiority attained by it, over that class of publications with which it professes to enter into competition.

THE ROMANCE OF WAR: OR, THE HIGHLANDERS IN SPAIN. THERE is in the very idea of the "Highlanders in Spain," that which is suggestive of the "Romance of War." Brave regiments, with strong national feelings, a striking garb, and as much, if not more, esprit de corps, than any other troops of the line, they went forth into the arid plains and rocky Sierras of Spain; as chivalrous as they were gallant, as honourable as they were brave, and they bore away the palm of good conduct throughout that long and perilous campaign, the deeds and victories of which are unsurpassed in the annals of war.

Mr. Grant is just the spirited soldier fitted to narrate the feats of the Highlanders in Spain, and which he has further associated with a story of two young scions of Perthshire families whose ancestors had been at feud from time immemorial, but who appear to be destined to be reconciled by the trials of war, superadded to the equally strong claims of love and friendship. Unluckily, Mr. Grant leaves the fictional part of his narrative rather incomplete, and indeed he himself acknowledges that the use of such materials at all is a question of individual taste and predilection. The perils of the field and fight have been often made to aid fiction, but it is seldom that this orthodox order of connexion has been inverted, and that fiction has been called in to give an interest to the narrative of war. It certainly, however, requires no great sagacity to discriminate between the imaginary and the veritable historical and military details, and we must acknowledge that in what concerns the latter, we have seldom seen the lights and shades of military service more pleasantly depicted, nor what we cannot help considering to be the real romance of war-the stirring events of the great and protracted struggle in the Peninsula -- more dashingly and picturesquely narrated.

*The Romance of War: or, the Highlanders in Spain. By James Grant, Esq., late 62nd regiment. 3 vols. Henry Colburn.

THE ENGLISH MATRON.*

ALTHOUGH the character of the matron will naturally result from that of the girl-the early cultivation of her mind and the forming of her habits still there are many, many things which it is of high importance to her happiness and welfare that she should also be made acquainted with. The work now before us and written in this view by the amiable and accomplished authoress of the "English Gentlewoman," appears to contain exactly the kind of information most wanted by young married females, a knowledge of variety of tempers among men, the necessities of courtesy even in married life, the bad effects of dissipation of thought, the avoidance of ill speaking against a husband's relatives and friends, and a deal of other sound and valuable advice, which we heartily recommend to those for whom it is intended.

ANALYSIS OF THE HUNTING FIELD.+

THIS is one of those richly-illustrated volumes in which sportsmen take a pride. The book is, indeed, lavishly adorned with engravings and highly-coloured plates. The latter are in the first style of art; and the actors, both men and horses, are evidently portraits, the character and features being well preserved throughout. British Field Sports are so nationally characteristic, and such a main attraction in this country, that their illustration well merits so attractive a garb.

This so-called "Analysis" is a real epitome of the science. Most amusing and anecdotic, it is still a serious and sober exposition of the essentials of a successful master, huntsman, whipper-in, or groom; all persons requiring attributes, both intellectual and physical, of a far higher order than is generally imagined. Even the farmer and the squire are not let off scot-free, and the not uncommon character sketched under the cognomen of Captain Shabbyhounde is justly exposed and chastised. Altogether, the "Analysis" is an amusing, clever, and sensible guide to the Hunting Field.

HERDSMEN AND TILLERS OF THE GROUND.‡

A SEASONABLE and unobjectionable illustrated volume for the young. The subject forms only part of an undertaking which is to embrace a descriptive history of the progress of civilisation as far as it can be made interesting to juvenile readers, in a series of sketches of the life of races existing at present in various stages of advancement. We should have thought that some notice of the Turkomans and Arabs should have preceded that of the Circassians.

The English Matron. By the Authoress of "The English Gentlewoman." Henry Colburn.

†The Analysis of the Hunting Field; being a series of sketches of the principal characters that compose one. The whole forming a slight Souvenir of the season. 1845-1846. With numerous illustrations, by H. Alken. Rudolf Ackermann.

Herdsmen and Tillers of the Ground; or, Illustrations of Early Civilisation. By Mrs. Percy Sinnett. Chapman and Hall.

MUSICAL ANNUALS.*

THE lover of music cannot complain that his affections meet with no sympathy. Here is variety and merit enough to suit the most difficult taste. In the ornamental, he may choose between the antique illuminations revived by the elegant taste of Mr. THOMAS MACKINLAY, of the house of D'ALMAINE and Co., Golden-square; the gorgeous scenes enacted in the times we live in, at Drury Lane under the auspices of that great magician, M. Jullien; or he may revel in the comic pleasantries and droll fun of Phiz, Meadows, Doyle, &c. &c. In music, he may choose between the fifty vocal and eighteen instrumental pieces given by the BIJOU, or the thirty vocal and the fourteen instrumental given by JULLIEN, including many of that popular composer's new quadrilles, polkas, and waltzes, or he may at more moderate outlay put himself in possession of the songs of F. W. N. Bayley, set to music by Balfe, Wallace, Alexander Lee, &c. &c., in HURST'S ALMANACK. It would be vain to criticise subjects so varied. It is difficult, indeed, to give a notion of the taste and the expense that has been bestowed upon these beautiful musical annuals, nothing but a large sale can repay the enterprise of publishers and editors, and as the musical world is as large as it is honoured, we gladly call their attention to what has been done for their especial benefit and amusement at this opportune season.

MY OWN ANNUAL.†

THE claims of publications having a nearly similar object in view, must at this season of the year be equally perplexing to juvenile purchasers, or to more mature donors. These of "My Own Annual" are certainly very powerful. One hundred engravings illustrate cities of the East-Jerusalem, Damascus, and Alexandria; birds and beasts, and the farm-yard; Oxford and St. Paul's, Knole House and Fountain's Abbey; how people travel in Ireland and France; and delightful, well-told stories as the "Life of Tom Thumb," the "Ugly Little Duck," the "Spiteful Old Fairy," &c. &c. He must be a fainted-hearted cynic who will not acknowledge such claims, and he must be very low down indeed in his form whose heart does not pulsate at the mere announcement of such a pretty annual.

THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER.‡

WORKS like this are well calculated to awaken and to keep alive proper sympathies in the young. While they learn that the toil of man is lessened, and that his wealth is increased by his dominion over the useful animals, they also learn to admire and respect an intelligent creature which is at once a laborious slave and a faithful friend. They learn to know

The Musical Bijou, an Album of Music and Poetry for 1847. Edited by F H. Burney. D'Almaine & Co.

Jullien's Musical Album for 1847.

Jullien.

The Illustrated Musical Almanack; a visiting Table-Book and Drawing-Room Annual for 1847. Henry Hurst.

† My Own Annual: a Gift-Book for Boys and Girls. Edited by Mark Merriwell. 100 Engravings. Chapman and Hall.

The Horse and his Rider: or Sketches and Anecdotes of the Noble Quadruped, and of Equestrian Nations. By Rollo Springfield. Chapman and Hall.

and appreciate the graceful symmetry, the speed, vigour, docility, and endurance of a noble animal. They are taught to reflect upon the important part he has played in the history of our race, to practise humanity in his treatment, and if they have grateful and susceptible hearts, to think of the noble races of Nejed, Yemen, and Hejaz, with feelings nearly akin to those entertained by the poetic Arabs themselves.

DICKENS'S "BATTLE OF LIFE."

FIRST, by right of priority, and first by the unassailable right of superiority of taste and genius, it is still one thing to have been the originator of a class of works which, by the fourth year of their existence, have their dozens of imitations, and another to remain prince of the host; but in his peculiar path Mr. Dickens is inapproachable, and as yet unrivalled.

The actual battle-ground upon which the more humble battle of life is in after times to be fought, is beautifully described. No less interesting is the introduction to the orchard and old stone-house on that battle ground in which dwelt the philosophic Doctor Jedler and his pretty daughters, the sentimental Marion, and good-humoured Grace.

Then we have Alfred, the ward-the blameless cause of woe-a dark man, Michael Warden by name, but who lives to be reformed; Messrs. Snitchey and Craggs, gentlemen of the blue-bag, conscious of little or no separate or personal individuality to the infinite annoyance of their respective ladies; and last, but not least, the droll, but amiable, possessor of a nutmeg grater and a thimble, and her future spouse, and worthy owner of a way-side inn commemorative of those small articles of domestic economy. But these are all characters which will be so well known and so familiar to all our readers long before this notice will have appeared, that it is needless to dwell upon them. The artists, Maclise, Stanfield, Doyle, and Leech have well seconded Mr. Dickens's pen, and together they have produced a little Christmas book that will be read by thousands of our fellow-creatures, who are either beginning to struggle, or are actually struggling through the great Battle of Life.

THE YULE LOG.t

JUST the kind of half-goblin, half-real story, that is adapted for the Christmas fire-side, when youngsters are crowding round with that interesting terror which makes them afraid to look at their own shadows on the wall. Those who have been among the Puritans of America and witnessed the scorn and the contempt cast by them upon old English Christmas customs, as remnants of idolatry and paganism, will rejoice with us to see the increasing popularity which is being attained by these harmless and amusing little Christmas books-books which teach us still to love the yule log, to laugh under the misletoe, to quaff the wassail bowl, and to carol in the hearty measures of old English song, without the dread, that by adhering to such good old English customs we are losing our nationality, or sacrificing one proper principle or feeling.

*The Battle of Life: a Love Story. By Charles Dickens. Bradbury and Evans.

†The Yule Log, for Every body's Christmas Hearth; showing where it grew, how it was cut and brought home, and how it was burnt. By the Author of the "Chronicles of the Bastile." Illustrated by George Cruikshank. T. C. Newby,

MRS. PERKINS'S BALL.*

what, the

when she finds her"I say," exclaimed our hand as if he is in; to be called

NOT being personally initiated into the mysteries of Pocklingtonsquare, or aught appertaining to it, we inquired of some friends, who have pretensions to that exalted region, if they were acquainted with any of the parties so graphically portrayed by Mr. Titmarsh, and especially with the great Mulligan. "Know him!" says one; Mulligan! quite well; met him last night at the Reform Club; jolly fellow, always free and easy; strong attraction between his fiery head and the north pole of the supper-table." "Poor Miss simpered a young lady to us, "what will she do self exhibited as Miss B- Bunion; oh, fie!" a kind of deputy Mulligan, who always shakes were broaching a cask, "a pretty way Lord 'wigged, gouty, rouged, and wicked,' were nothing, but to be called Methuselah!' He has gone to his solicitor to get advice." We have heard from five different quarters that as many different originals of Poseidon Hicks are each inditing fifty indignant stanzas, and that the Blue Book turned red at the idea of there being such a thing as a "diplomatic ass. We pity the clever man who has thus portrayed people whom every body knows. We think we ourselves have even seen M. Canaillard and the Baron de Bowitz at some conversazione or other, but our modesty only permits us to hazard the conjecture. True, "we can't be all roaring lions in the world; there must be some lambs, and harmless, kindly, gregarious creatures, for eating and shearing," but to be sent to Coventry by every clerk in Treasury or Customs, and to be shunned by every indignant man of title, is a joke compared with having to call all Celtic Ireland to the bar to keep the peace for one year! We would recommend the Mulligan to ask as a satisfaction, that the redoubtable Titmarsh should appear in the frontispiece of the second edition leading out the "tremendous Miss Bunion." He need not caricature himself.

MRS. HOWITT'S BALLADS AND OTHER POEMS.+

A TRULY beautiful book, full of exquisite poetry. We shall be too happy to return at an early opportunity to these charming ballads, and meantime heartily recommend them.

66

BOOKS RECEIVED.

"DIARY and Letters of Madame d'Arblay," author of "Evelina,' Cecilia," &c. Edited by her niece. Vol. VII. Henry Colburn."The Old English Gentleman; or, the Fields and the Woods." By John Mills, a new edition, revised. Henry Hurst.-" China,_Political, Commercial, and Social; Treaties and Intercourse with England," &c. &c. By R. Montgomery Martin, Part I. James Madden. "On the Communications between Europe and India through Egypt." Smith, Elder, and Co.-"The Pilgrim's Progress Versified." Complete in Two Parts, Part I. W. E. Painter." Picture Story-books by Great Authors and Great Painters."—" Good Lady Bertha's Honey Broth." By Alexander Dumas, with 120 Illustrations by Bertall."The Life and Adventures of Punchinello." By Octavo Feuillet, with 100 Designs by Bertall.-"Bean-flower and Pea-blossom." By Charles Nodier, with Designs by Tony Johannot.-"Genius Goodfellow, the Woodcutter's Boy." By Charles Nodier, with Designs by Tony Johannot. Chapman and Hall.

*Mrs. Perkins's Ball. By M. A. Titmarsh. Chapman and Hall. † Ballads and other Poems. By Mary Howitt. Longman and Co.