MISS GILBERT'S CAREER.*-Dr. Holland, who is so well known as the author of "Bitter Sweet," and "Timothy Titcomb's Letters," has bere made a first attempt in the department of prose fiction. In "Miss Gilbert's Career" he has given the public "an American story." For this he has some unusual qualifications, among which are a fine appreciation of whatever is peculiar in our New England and American character, manners, and customs; and a ready tact in describing it. This it is which has given him much of his popularity; for people are never so well pleased with an author as when he describes such characters as they see every day, and such scenes as they are familiar with. We hope Dr. Holland will go on in the path upon which he has entered. American society presents a fine field for his good humored satire.

ODES OF HORACE. "BLUE AND GOLD EDITION. "-Messrs. Ticknor and Fields have published a translation, in English verse, of the "Odes of Horace," in "blue and gold." The translation is by Theodore Martin. The volume contains a sketch of the life of Horace; and a full supply of notes, which are illustrative rather than critical, and quite interesting from their literary character. The edition will be found to be a very convenient one.

BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE BOOK AND ITS STORY.-The writer of this book published some time ago a little volume, to which she gave the somewhat singular title, "The Missing Link." We furnished some account of it on page 274 of the present volume. It was a simple narrative of her efforts in sending female colporteurs, or "Bible women," among that wretched class of people in London, who swarm in "tenement houses" in such places as "The Seven Dials." The success which these female colporteurs met with in circulating the Bible was such that her account of it has

* Miss Gilbert's Career. An American Story. By J. G. HOLLAND. New York: Charles Scribner. 1860. 12mo. pp. 476. [T. H. Pease, New Haven. Price $1.25.]

The Odes of Horace, translated into English verse, with a Life and Notes. By THEODORE MARTIN. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1860. 24mo. pp. 358. 75 cts. The Book and its Story. A narrative for the young. By L. N. R., author of "The Missing Link." New York: R. Carter & Brothers.

12mo. pp. 463.

been rapidly but quietly working its way into public favor and notice; and in July last, the London Quarterly made "The Missing Link" the basis of its leading Article.

Another book now appears from the pen of the same authoress. It relates, however, to a different subject, and is of an entirely different character. It is written especially for young people, though many older in years will doubtless read it with interest and profit. It is the Story" of the Bible; its compositon and translation into all languages; the means by which it has been circulated by individuals and by societies; together with the sketches of the lives of those whose names are in any way identified with it. The book contains a great multitude of facts respecting all these subjects to which most persons do not have easy access.

HOME DRAMAS FOR THE DRAWING-ROOM.*-This is a book which will afford many good hints to those who are interested in providing such amusements as will make home attractive for young people, in the long evenings of winter. Some of the "charades" in the collection are capital.

THE BOBBIN Bor.t-This is a capital story for young people. It professes to be the history of a poor boy, who by energy, industry, perseverance, application, and enthusiasın, achieved success in life. The intimation that the story is founded on fact, and that the account of the fortunes of "Nat, the bobbin boy," as here narrated, is the history, substantially, of the early struggles of Governor Banks, of Massachusetts, has already obtained for the book very great popularity.

OUR BIBLE CLASS, AND THE GOOD THAT CAME OF IT.-This is a novel which professes to give the history of a village Bible Class, composed of young people of both sexes. The story is told of its foundation and its progress during several years, and we are allowed to see the "good that came of it," by some account of the lives and fortunes of

* Home Dramas for Young People. Compiled by ELIZA LEE FOLLEN. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 12mo. pp. 450. 1860.

The Bobbin Boy; or, how Nat got his Learning. An example for youth. By WILLIAM M. THAYER, 1860. Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co. 12mo. pp. 310. Our Bible Class, and the good that came of it. By Miss CAROLINE E. FAIRNew York: Derby & Jackson. 1860. 12mo. pp. 352.

FIELD.

its different members. Several of its descriptions of characters and scenes in village life, are

quite good.

SCHOOL BOOKS.

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY-PECK'S GANOT.*-There is no lack of school books on Natural Philosophy, such as they are. But very many of them have sprung from the scissors of the book maker, rather than the pen or brain of the author. And many such works, crude and full of errors, hold their place in schools and academies rather through the tact and enterprise of publishers, or the negligence of school committees, than from any intrinsic merits of their own. The work before us is by no means of this class. It is a translation, from the French, of a thoroughly scientific work, entitled Popular Physics, by M. Ganot, one of the best of modern writers on the subject. It covers the department of physics proper, including mechanics of solids, liquids, and gases; acoustics, heat, optics, magnetism, electricity, and electro-magnetism. As an elementary work, it is concise in style, yet remarkably clear in definition and explanation, logical in arrangement, and beautifully illustrated with numerous engravings, which are fac-simile copies of those in the original work. These engravings are so complete and accurate, that they are not only well calculated to convey to the mind of the pupil a clear conception of the principles unfolded, but exhibit so fully the structure of apparatus and methods of experimenting, as to render the apparatus itself, in many cases, unnecessary. Professor Peck has done a good thing for American education in producing so attractive and excellent a book for the use of schools and academies. Its convenience as a text-book is enhanced by suitable questions at the foot of each page.

PHYSICS-A copy of the second edition of Professor Silliman's Principles of Physics, just ready for publication, has been received too

*Introductory Course of Natural Philosophy, for the use of Schools and Academies. Edited from Ganot's Popular Physics, by WILLIAM G. PECK, M. A., Professor of Mathematics in Columbia College, New York. New York: A. S Barnes & Burr. 1860. pp. 480.

Principles of Physics, or Natural Philosophy, designed for the use of Colleges and Schools. By BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, Jr., M. A., M. D., Professor of General and Applied Chemistry in Yale College. Second edition, revised and rewritten, with seven hundred and twenty-two illustrations. Philadelphia: H. C. Peck & Theodore Bliss. 1861. pp. 700.

late for more than a very brief notice in our present number. The work on its first appearance impressed us favorably, and we specially commended it to the attention of our readers. The new edition is a great improvement upon the first. Not only has the work been thoroughly revised, but, in order to adapt it more fully to the wants of the higher seminaries, large portions of it have been rewritten and rearranged, and a mathematical method of treatment introduced to a much greater extent than in the former edition. Indeed, so far as we can judge from a cursory examination, the work will now, in this respect, as well as in others, entirely meet the wants of the classes of students for whom it was prepared. The various branches of the subject appear to be treated in just proportion, with great fullness of illustration, and ample notices of special applications, yet with a constant reference to the elucidation of fundamental principles. While, therefore, it is well adapted to the purposes of elementary instruction, its special richness in the facts of science, and in notices of the most recent discoveries and experiments, renders it a work of peculiar value to practical men and teachers, and at the same time, of interest to the general reader. Its value as a book of reference is much enhanced by a collection of the most important physical tables, in an appendix. In its present improved form, we can most cordially commend this work to teachers and others, as supplying an acknowledged desideratum in the means of teaching physical science in our higher academies and colleges.

RHETORICAL PRAXIS.-Books of rhetorical praxis are usually the dullest and most unprofitable of all text-books. The ingenious author of this volume has certainly proposed to himself the true ideal to be accomplished in teaching rhetoric, for he would teach his pupil to write by teaching them to think. We dare not predict that this book will fulfill the aim of the author; but we believe it to be superior to any other of the kind, and to have the highest claim upon practical teachers for a trial, for its thoroughness, its comprehensiveness, as well as for the great ingenuity and skill with which it has been prepared. We should not be surprised if it should prove to be very successful, and would recommend it most cordially to teachers.

* Rhetorical Praxis. The principles of Rhetoric exemplified and applied in copious exercises for systematic practice, chiefly in the development of thought. For use in schools and colleges. By HENRY N. DAY, author of "Elements of the Art of Rhetoric," &c., &c. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co 1860. 12mo. pp. 309. [T. H. Pease, New Haven.]

$1.

HOOKER'S NATURAL HISTORY.*-Dr. Worthington Hooker, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in Yale College, has been very successful in applying comprehensive and thorough knowledge of natural science to the service of popular education and instruction. His volume on Human Physiology, published some years since, is regarded by many of our most eminent and experienced school teachers as the best book on that subject for the instruction of schools; while it is equally adapted to the purposes of general reading. His "First Book in Physiology," and his "Child's Book of Nature," present their subjects in a simplified manner, which felicitously adapts them to interest and instruct children of an early age. Pursuing the same useful course, he has recently published a work on Natural History, for the use of schools and families. This work we commend to the attention of our readers. It is an octavo of 382 pages, published by the Harpers, in their usual excellent style, and illustrated by a multitude of excellent engravings, which teach in that easiest and most adequate of all modes-through the eye. Horace very truly said that "men believe their eyes more than their ears." Even a cursory glance over a book, so profusely and correctly illustrated by engravings, is quite instructive.

One of the manifest excellencies of this book is, that its author has successfully avoided two extremes, into one or the other of which writers of books on Natural History for the use of schools, often runon the one hand, in the endeavor to adapt them to popular use, depriving them of a real scientific character, so that they have not the substance of the science in such a form as to be clearly and definitely apprehended and learned; and, on the other hand, presenting the subject in a form so scientific, or with so many of the technical terms of science, and with such an overloading of the details of science, that both pupils and general readers are baffled and confused. Dr. Hooker avoids the use of technical terms except when they are necessary; and when he uses them, always explains them in the first instance of their use, and explains them not by a bare definition, but by interesting as well as clear description. And his glossary at the end of the book

*Natural History. For the use of Schools and Families. By WORTHINGTON HOOKER, M. D., Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in Yale College, Author of "Human Physiology," "Child's Book of Nature," &c., &c. Illustrated by nearly three hundred engravings. New York: Harper & Brothers.