NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
The readers of "N. & Q." who are lovers of Folk Lore are, we well know, very numerous; those who take an interest in that subject, and are at the same time acquainted with the great philological acquirements of the learned editor of the Ancient Laws and Institutes of England, we have no doubt shared our satisfaction at the announcement that Mr. Thorpe had undertaken a work, comprehensive yet not too voluminous, in which he would exhibit the ancient mythology and principal mythologic traditions of Scandinavia and the North of Germany. The book is now before us; and in three small volumes, entitled Northern Mythology, comprising the principal popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and the Netherlands, Mr. Thorpe has presented us with such an amount of information illustrative of the intimate connexion subsisting between the heathenism of the Germanic nations of the Continent and that of our Saxon forefathers, gathered from the writings of the best scholars of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the Low Countries, as was never before within the reach of the mere English student, and, in so doing, has produced a book which the general reader will devour for the sake of the amusement to be found in it, the philosopher for the view of the human mind which it presents, and the antiquary for the abundance of new light which it throws upon many of the most obscure points in the Folk Lore of Merry England. We shall probably often have occasion to refer to it, in illustration of communications upon a subject which is yet far from exhausted.
We were reminded, by the excellent explanation of the word Bigot, quoted by a correspondent in our last Number (p. 331.) from the Rev. R. Chevenix Trench's Lectures On the Study of Words, of a duty we owed to our readers, namely, that of calling their attention more directly to this admirable little volume. The Lectures, which are "On the Morality in Words," "On the History in Words," "On the Rise of New Words," "On the Distinction of Words," and "The Schoolmaster's Use of Words," may be said to be a continuous and well-digested series of proofs of the truth of the remark, that "there are cases in which more knowledge of more value may be conveyed by the history of a word, than by the history of a campaign." The book is, indeed, altogether a delightful one, calculated not only to delight the understanding, but do so in such a spirit as shall leave the reader a better as well as a wiser man.
Fraser's Magazine for the present month opens with an article on a subject which will doubtless interest many of our readers. It is entitled The Colleges of Oxford, and exhibits, with much clearness, a sketch of their origin and history, and is obviously introductory to the consideration of their future policy.
The Afghans, the Ten Tribes, and the Kings of the East. The Druses, the Moabites, by the Right Hon. Sir G. H. Rose, is, as the ample title shows, an endeavour to establish the identity of the Afghans with the Ten Tribes, and of the Druses with the Moabites; and the argument is carried on in a manner which reflects the highest credit upon the learning and reverent spirit of the writer.
The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero literally translated, by C. D. Yonge, vol. iii., is the new volume of Bohn's Classical Library, and contains the orations for his house, Plancius, Sextius, Cælius, Milo, Ligarius, &c.
A few Remarks on the Emendation "Who Smothers her with Painting," in the Play of Cymbeline, discovered by Mr. Collier in a corrected Copy of the Second Edition of Shakspeare, by J. O. Halliwell. A pamphlet in which Mr. Halliwell defends the old reading,
"Whose mother was her painting,"
against the ingenious suggestion of the anonymous emendator of Mr. Collier's second folio.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
BACK'S VOYAGE OF THE TERROR, 8vo.
BACK'S OVERLAND JOURNEY IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS, 8vo.
L'HISTOIRE DE LA SAINCTE BIBLE, par ROYAUMONDE: à Paris, 1701.
JOHNSON'S (DR. S.) WORKS, by MURPHY. Trade Edition of 1816, in 8vo. Vol. XII. only.
SCOTT'S CONTINUATION OF MILNER'S CHURCH HISTORY. Vol. II. Part II. 8vo.
WINKELMAN'S REFLECTIONS ON THE PAINTING OF THE GREEKS, translated by FUSELI. London, 1765, 8vo.
ROYAL PROCLAMATIONS IN ENGLAND IN THE YEAR 1688, EXTENDING TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 1707. London, folio.
TYRWITT'S SOLID REASONS FOR PHILOSOPHIZING. Winchester, 1652.
BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY. The first two Volumes. In Numbers preferred.
MARVELL'S WORKS. 3 Vols. 4to.
MARVELL'S (ANDREW) LIFE.
KINGSTON-ON-HULL, any work upon.
EDWIN AND EMMA. Taylor, 1776. 5s. will be given for a perfect copy.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Vol. V. Part I.
—— —— —— —— Vols. VIII. and IX. in Numbers.
POPE'S WORKS, BY WARTON, 1797. Vol. IV.
ROSCOE'S NOVELIST'S LIBRARY.—TRISTRAM SHANDY. Vol. II.
LINGARD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 4to. edit. Vol. VII.
LEBEUF, TRAITE HISTORIQUE SUR LE CHANT ECCLESIASTIQUE.
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