NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
We have received the second edition of Chronicles of the Ancient British Church. The author exhibits great industry and research, and brings that kindly reverential temper to his subject, which cannot fail to win for it the sympathy of his readers. The apostolic origin of British Christianity, and the early independence of the British Church, are satisfactorily maintained, the labours of St. Patrick in Ireland, St. David and his workfellows in Wales, St. Columba and St. Ninian in the North, are duly chronicled; and the slender particulars that remain to us of the ancient Church in Cornwall, are gleaned up with diligence and accuracy. The volume is put together in a readable and popular shape, but is not unworthy the attention of even our clerical friends. The author takes nothing upon trust, and while availing himself of the labours of Usher, Stillingfleet, &c., he ascends to the original authorities from which they drew, and makes us acquainted with the pages of Gildas, Nennius, and Giraldus Cambrensis.
There is a time-honoured proverb, which bids us "Laugh and grow fat." The author of a series of very witty and instructive papers written under the title of, and for the prose of showing us How to make Home Unhealthy,—written, too, it is obvious, on the principle of "When I say hold fast, let go, and When I say let go, hold fast,"—has improved upon the old saw, and bids us "Laugh and grow healthy." The subject is one which comes home to everybody, and we accordingly recommend everybody in search of a pleasant half-hour's reading of a happy combination of common sense and uncommon humour to apply themselves to the study of How to make Home Unhealthy.
We last week called attention to several Flemish works likely to interest English readers. We have since seen how desirable it is that this should be done, in the fact, that a curious Flemish Rhyming Chronicle respecting our Edward III., by Jan de Klerk, edited in 1840 by that accomplished antiquary Willems, and of which only 100 copies were printed, has hitherto been so little known in this country, that nearly a quarter of the whole impression was left unsold in the hands of the late Mr. Rodd. At the last sale of Mr. Rodd's books they were purchased by Mr. Quaritch.
We have received the following Catalogues:—Thomas Thorpe's (13. Henrietta Street, Covent Garden) General Catalogue of the most extensive Collection of Curious Books on Sale in this or any other country, in most Languages and classes of Literature, and including many hundred Articles of the utmost rarity; William Brown's (46. High Holborn) Catalogue of Second-hand English and Foreign Books; Cole's (15. Great Turnstile, Holborn) List No. XXX. of Miscellaneous Second-hand Books; Reeves' and Turner's (98. Chancery Lane) Catalogue No. 14. of Cheap Books, many Rare and Curious; John Miller's (43. Chandos Street) Catalogue No. 14. for 1850, of Books Old and New; John Petheram's (94. High Holborn) Catalogue Part CXVIII., No. 12. for 1850, of Old and New Books.
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson will sell on Wednesday next and three following days, the valuable Philological, Biblical, and Miscellaneous Library of the late Rev. Richard Garnet of the British Museum.