Miscellaneous.
NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
We have received a copy of Notes and Emendations on the Text of Shakspeare's Plays from Early Manuscript Corrections in a Copy of the Folio in the Possession of J. Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A., forming a Supplemental Volume to the Works of Shakspeare, by the same Editor, in Eight Volumes, 8vo. With the nature of this volume the readers of "N. & Q." are already so fully acquainted, from the frequent references which have been made to it in these columns, that on this occasion we feel that we need do little more than record its publication, and the fact that it appears to be edited with the same scrupulous care, for which all works which appeared under the superintendence of Mr. Collier are invariably distinguished. That all the critics will agree either with the MS. corrections, or with Mr. Collier in his estimate of the value of the emendations, is not to be expected; but all will acknowledge that he has done good service to Shakspearian literature by their publication.
"The New Year," observes The Athenæum, "opens with some announcements of promise in our own literary world. Mr. Bentley announces the Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox, on which the late Lord Holland was understood to be so long engaged. The work, however, is now to be edited by Lord John Russell, and to extend to two volumes octavo. The same publisher promises a history, in one large volume, of 'The Administration of the East India Company,' by Mr. Kaye, author of the 'History of the War in Affghanistan;' and a 'History (in two volumes octavo) of the Colonial Policy of the British Empire from 1847 to 1851,' by the present Earl Grey.—The fifth and concluding volume of 'The Letters of the Earl of Chesterfield,' including some new letters now first published from the original MSS., under the editorship, as before, of Lord Mahon, will, we believe, shortly appear.—Two volumes of 'Letters of the Poet Gray,' so often announced by Mr. Bentley, are to come out at last during the present season. They will be edited by the Rev. J. Mitford, author of 'The Life of Gray.'—Nor is Mr. Murray without his usual attractive bill of fare for the literary appetite. The Lowe Papers, left in a mass of confusion at the death of Sir Harris Nicolas, are now nearly ready; and the St. Helena Life of Napoleon will appear, it is said, for the first time, as far as Sir Hudson Lowe is concerned, in its true light. The Castlereagh Papers (now in Mr. Murray's hands) will include matter of moment connected with the Congress of Vienna, the Battle of Waterloo, and the occupation of Paris. The same publisher announces The Speeches of the Duke of Wellington (to which we called attention some time back):—also a work by Mr. George Campbell, called 'India as it may be,'—and another by Captain Elphinstone Erskine about the Western Pacific and Feejee Islands.—The Messrs. Longman announce a Private Life of Daniel Webster, by his late Private Secretary, Mr. Charles Lanman—and a new work by Signor Mariotti, 'An Historical Memoir of Fra Dolcino and his Times.'—Mr. Bohn will have ready in a few days 'Yule-Tide Legends,' a collection of Scandinavian Tales and Tradition, edited by B. Thorpe, Esq.—Messrs. Hurst and Blackett—whose names now take the place of Mr. Colburn's, as his successors—are about to publish Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, to be compiled from original family documents by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos."
We need scarcely remind the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries who may have in their minds suggestions for the improvement of the Society, how desirable it is that they should bring those suggestions at once under the consideration of the Committee just appointed. We are sure that all such as are submitted to Mr. Hawkins and his colleagues will receive every attention; and we trust that the Committee will at once proceed to their task, so that the Society may have time to well consider their Report before the Anniversary in April.
Books Received.—Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, by various Writers. Edited by William Smith. Part V. The new issue of this most useful work extends from Campi Raudii to Cimolus.—Cyclopædia Bibliographica, a Library Manual of Theological and General Literature, Analytical, Bibliographical, and Biographical. Part IV. of this useful guide for authors, preachers, students, and literary men, extends from Henry Bull to Isaac Chauncy.—The Journal of Sacred Literature. New Series. Edited by Dr. Kitto. No. VI.—Swift and Richardson, by Lord Jeffrey, is the new Number of Longman's Traveller's Library.—The Goose Girl at the Well, &c., completes the interesting collection of Grimm's Household Stories.—The Shakspeare Repository is the first Number of a work especially devoted to Shakspeare, containing a great variety of matter illustrative of his life and writings, by J. H. Fennell.—The Chess Player's Chronicle, the first Number of which professes and appears to be an improved series of this indispensable Chess Player's companion.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.