NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
All who take an interest in English philology will join in the wish expressed a few pages back by one of the highest authorities on the subject, Mr. Albert Way—namely, "that the Philological Society has not abandoned their project of compiling a complete Provincial Glossary;" and will greet as a valuable contribution towards that great desideratum, every skilful attempt to record a local dialect. As such, Mr. Sternberg's valuable little book, The Dialect and Folk Lore of Northamptonshire, will meet a hearty welcome from our philological friends; and no less hearty a welcome from those who find in "popular superstitions, fairy-lore, and other traces of Teutonic heathenism," materials for profitable speculation on the ancient mythology of these islands. We are bound to speak thus favourably of Mr. Sternberg's researches in this department, since some portion of them were first communicated by him to our Folk-Lore columns.
Books Received.—Vestiges of the Gael in Gwynedd, by the Rev. William Basil Jones, M.A. A learned essay on the subject of deep interest to the antiquaries
of the Principality, involving, as it does among other questions, that of the claim of the Gael, or the Cymry, to be the aborigines of the country.
The Book of Family Crests, comprising nearly every Family Bearing, properly blazoned and explained, accompanied by upwards of Four Thousand Engravings, with the Surnames of the Bearers, Dictionary of Mottoes, and Glossary of Terms, in 2 Vols., Sixth Edition. The best criticism on this popular work, with its well blazoned title-page bearing the words SIXTH EDITION on its honour point, is to state, as a proof of its completeness, that it records the Crests of upwards of ninety Smiths, and nearly fifty Smyths and Smythes.
Illustrations of Medieval Costume in England, collected from MSS. in the British Museum, by T. A. Day and J. B. Dines. When before did English antiquaries see four plates of costume, some of them coloured, sold for one shilling? As an attempt at cheapening and so popularising archæological literature, the work deserves encouragement.
Catalogues Received.—William and Norgate's (14. Henrietta Street, Covent Garden) German Book Circular, No. 27.; G. Bumstead's (205. High Holborn) Catalogue Part 49. of Interesting and Rare Books; Cole's (15. Great Turnstile) List No. 33. of very Cheap Books; B. Quaritch's (16. Castle Street, Leicester Square) Catalogue No. 26. of Books in all Languages.