NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
Those who share the well-grounded opinion of Mr. Petit, that we cannot fully enter into the character of English architecture unless we give some attention also to French, German, and Italian, will gladly turn to the very profusely and handsomely-illustrated volume which he has just issued, under the modest title of Architectural Studies in France, by the Rev. J. L. Petit, M.A., F.S.A., with Illustrations from Drawings by the Author and P. H. Delamotte. It is of course impossible, within the limits of our brief notice, to enter into any examination of Mr. Petit's views upon the subject of Gothic architecture, the principles of which he believes to have been more completely developed at an early period in England than anywhere else; and we must therefore content ourselves with directing attention to the book itself, which will in no small degree supply to the architectural student desirous of studying French buildings, the opportunity of doing so; and that too under the guidance of one well qualified to direct his steps. Mr. Petit has long been known to the antiquarian world as one of our greatest authorities on the subject of Gothic architecture; and his various papers, illustrated by his own bold yet effective sketches in the Archæological Journal, may have prepared some of our readers for a volume of great importance; yet we think even they will be surprised at the interest and beauty of the present book. Mr. Petit, who has had on this occasion the assistance of Mr. Delamotte as a draughtsman, expresses his hope that at some future time he may avail himself of that gentleman's skill as a photographer.
There is, perhaps, no man of letters, no man of science, of whom the world possesses so unsatisfactory an account as Jerome Cardan. The author of Palissy the Potter has therefore done good service, and executed a task worthy of himself, by The life of Girolamo Cardano, of Milan, Physician. In two small readable volumes, rich in all the characteristics of his own peculiar mode of treatment, Mr. Morley has given us not only a clear view of the life and character of Cardan, based on a diligent and careful examination of his voluminous writings—for Cardan reckoned that he had published one hundred and thirty-one books, and left in MS. nearly as many—but also a striking picture of the age in which he lived; and the work, which is one of great interest to the general reader, is made still more valuable to the literary antiquary by the accuracy with which Mr. Morley quotes his authorities.
Some interesting manuscripts were sold by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson on Wednesday, the 22nd ultimo, including original letters by Blake, Penn, Monk, Nelson, and other of our most renowned admirals; and of Charles I. and Charles II., Oliver and Richard Cromwell, Desborough; and numerous autographs of Commonwealth celebrities. The chief lot was a letter from Cromwell to Pastor Cotton, in New England, written shortly after the battle of Worcester, in which he alludes to the difficulties he has experienced in treating with some of the Scotch party. Mr. Carlyle had not seen the original, but used the copy among the Arundel MSS. It was knocked down to Mr. Stevens, the American agent, for 36l. A printed broadsheet of the Peace of Breda sold for 3l. 7s. A letter of Richard Cromwell brought 4l. An autograph of Queen Bess brought 2l.; and one of Edward VI. brought 2l. 8s. Autographs of Mary are less common: one in this collection realised 3l. 7s. One of Nelson's letters to Lady Hamilton brought 2l. 2s. Altogether, the prices realised were good.
Books Received.—Lives of The Queens of England, by Agnes Strickland, Vol. III. This new volume of the cheaper edition of Miss Strickland's popular regal biographies comprises the Lives of Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, Katherine Parr, and Mary.—The Works of the Rt. Hon. Joseph Addison, with Notes by Bishop Hurd, Vol. II., is the new volume of Bohn's British Classics, and comprises Addison's contributions to the Tatler and Spectator.—In the same publisher's Standard Library, we have the third volume of his edition of Southey's Works and Correspondence of Cowper, which embraces his Letters between the years 1783 and 1788.—Cyclopædia Bibliographica, Part XVIII., which extends from Shepherd (Rev. E. J.) to Surtees (Rev. Scott F.).—Whitaker's Educational Register, 1854. The work, which has undergone some modifications, is now confined altogether to Educational Statistics, of which it is a most valuable compendium.—Remains of Pagan Saxondom, by J. Y. Ackerman, Parts VIII. and IX. The contents of these numbers are:—Fragments from a Tumulus at Caenby, Lincolnshire; Fibula from Ingarsby, Leicestershire; Glass Drinking-vessels from Cemeteries in Kent; Fibulæ from Rugby, Warwickshire. The great peculiarity of this Series is, that the objects are drawn of the size of the originals; thus affording great facilities for comparing them with remains of similar character.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE.
The Volume of the London Polyglott which contains the Prophets. Imperfection in other parts of no consequence.
Carlisle on Grammar Schools.