NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

It having occurred to Mr. Hudson Turner that our national records might be made available to illustrate the history of architecture in England, he has for the last sixteen years "made a brief in his note-book" of every fact bearing on the subject which came under his notice in the course of his daily reference to those documents for professional objects and he has now given to the world some portions of the valuable materials thus collected in a handsome volume published by Mr. Parker, of Oxford, under the title of Some Account of Domestic Architecture in England, from the Conquest to the end of the Thirteenth Century, with numerous illustrations of existing Remains from original Drawings. It is not, of course, within our limits to trace even briefly the results of Mr. Turner's labours, or to point out how much light he has thrown upon a branch of architectural study which, although involved in great obscurity, has hitherto received but little attention. But we may remark that its perusal shows, that to an intimate acquaintance with the invaluable materials for elucidating every department of historical or antiquarian knowledge to be found in our records, Mr. Turner adds considerable tact in the employment of his materials, and has endeavoured therefore, and very successfully, to make his history of domestic architecture an important contribution towards that of our social progress. The consequence is, that while, thanks to the valuable assistance of Mr. Parker, the architectural student will find in this handsomely illustrated volume much to instruct and delight him, it may be read with interest by those who are altogether indifferent to the subject to which it is more immediately devoted.

Our able and indefatigable contributor, Dr. Rimbault, has put forth for the especial delight of those who, like Mopsa, "love a ballad in print," A Little Book of Songs and Ballads gathered from Ancient Musick Books MS. and Printed. The various pieces contained in it have been selected from many volumes of considerable rarity, and are illustrated by numerous notes, which are characterised by Dr. Rimbault's accustomed ability and industry.

Mr. Delf has received from America some copies of an octavo volume bearing the title of A Library Manual, containing a Catalogue Raisonnée of upwards of Twelve Thousand of the most important Works in every Department of Knowledge. Although very imperfectly executed (and the circumstances under which we are informed it was executed may perhaps be pleaded as some excuse for such imperfections), it is still a book which might with advantage be placed on the shelves of newly formed literary societies, as a means of informing the members as to the principal works existing in the various departments of learning. The idea upon which the book is founded is so good, and its object one of such obvious utility, that we have little doubt but it will ere long be much more successfully carried out.

CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—J. Russell Smith's (4. Old Compton Street, Soho) Catalogue Part 4. for 1851 of Choice, Useful, and Curious Books; W. S. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Sixty-ninth Catalogue of Cheap Miscellaneous English and Foreign Books; J. Petheram's (94. High Holborn) Catalogue Part 123., No. 4. for 1851 of Old and New Books.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.

*** Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.