NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
Although there are few books which have proved of greater utility to inquirers into the more recent history of England than Beatson's Political Index, yet it is also true that there are few which have more frequently or more justly caused the reader to feel the want of a new and improved edition. A very short examination, however, of Mr. Haydn's recently published Beatson's Political Index Modernised, The Book of Dignities, containing Rolls of the Official Personages of the British Empire, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Judicial, Military, Naval, and Municipal, &c., will satisfy the reader that such want has at length been supplied in a manner the most ample and the most satisfactory. For though we have referred to Beatson's well-known work for the purpose of furnishing a better idea of the Book of Dignities, we are bound to acknowledge that Mr. Haydn is justified in stating, that in the work in question he owes little more than the plan to Beatson. Mr. Haydn's volume not only contains many lists (among them the "Administrations of England, and the Judges of the Ecclesiastical Courts") not to be found in the Political Index, but the author has had the advantage of being permitted to search the various official records with the view of enabling him to give complete and accurate information. The result, of course, is obvious; namely, that just in the same proportion that our author surpasses Beatson in the extent and accuracy of his various lists, does the Book of Dignities exceed its predecessor in usefulness to the official man, the historian, and the scholar.
Mr. Hunt's experience as a public lecturer at the various literary and scientific institutions of the country, having convinced him that for the majority of the members of those institutions most of the existing works on natural philosophy are of too abstruse and technical a character—are, in short, sealed books,—he has been led to publish a small volume which we have no doubt will soon become extremely popular. It is entitled Elementary Physics, an Introduction to the Study of Natural Philosophy; and, as its object is to teach physical science so far as to render all the great deductions from observation and experiment satisfactorily clear, without encountering the difficulty of mathematics,—and no one is better able to do this, and throw a charm over such a subject, than the author of the Poetry of Science,—the work, which is illustrated with upwards of two hundred woodcuts, will be found eminently useful; not only to those who have neither time nor opportunity to carry their studies beyond its pages, but especially as a "first book" to those in whom it may awaken the desire for a more perfect knowledge of the beautiful and important truths of which it treats.
The nature of the Hand Atlas of Physical Geography, consisting of a Series of Maps and Illustrations, showing the Geographical Distribution of Natural Phenomena, embracing the Divisions of Geology, Hydrography, Meteorology, Natural History: from the Physikalischer Atlas of Berghaus, and the Maps of the Erdkunde, drawn by and under the immediate Superintendence of Drs. Ritter and Kiepert, Oetzel, Grimm, &c., by the Editor of the University Atlas of the Middle Ages, is sufficiently described by its ample title-page; which shows, moreover, that the work is not a mere copy or reduction of the great atlas of Berghaus, on which it is founded. As a companion to the works of Humboldt, Mrs. Somerville, and other writers on physical geography, it will be found most useful; while its convenient size, and moderate price, place it within the reach of almost all classes of readers.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—Nattali and Bond's (23. Bedford Street) Catalogue Part II. of Ancient and Modern Books; Adam Holden's (60. High Street, Exeter) Catalogue Part XXXIII. of Second-hand Books in Excellent Condition; B. Quaritch's (16. Castle Street, Leicester Square) Catalogue No. 37. of Books in Oriental Literature; J. Russell Smith's (4. Old Compton Street, Soho) Catalogue Part VII. of an Extensive Collection of Choice, Useful, and Curious Books.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
HUNTER'S DEANERY OF DONCASTER. Vol. I. Large or small paper.
CLARE'S RURAL MUSE.
CHRISTIAN PIETY FREED FROM THE DELUSIONS OF MODERN ENTHUSIASTS. A.D. 1756 or 1757.
AN ANSWER TO FATHER HUDDLESTONE'S SHORT AND PLAIN WAY TO THE FAITH AND CHURCH. By Samuel Grascombe. London, 1703. 8vo.
REASONS FOR ABROGATING THE TEST IMPOSED UPON ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. By Samuel Parker, Lord Bishop of Oxon. 1688. 4to.
LEWIS'S LIFE OF CAXTON. 8vo. 1737.
CATALOGUE OF JOSEPH AMES'S LIBRARY. 8vo. 1760.
TRAPP'S COMMENTARY. Folio. Vol. I.
WHITLAY'S PARAPHRASE ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. Folio. Vol. I. 1706.
LONG'S ASTRONOMY. 4to. 1742.
MAD. D'ARBLAY'S DIARY. Vol. II 1842.
ADAMS' MORAL TALES.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. JOHNSON. 1805.
*** Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.