Well may Mr. Layard plead the interest felt in the discoveries on the site of Nineveh as a reason for the publication in a cheap and popular form of his Nineveh and its Remains: and we know no work better calculated to give value to Mr. Murray's Reading for the Rail than A Popular Account of Discoveries at Nineveh. By Austen Henry Layard, Esq., D.C.L. Abridged by him from his larger Work. The value of Mr. Layard's first and larger publication has been so generally recognised, that in calling attention to the present work, with its numerous and spirited woodcuts, we feel bound to confine ourselves to pointing out the plan pursued by the author in his abridgment; namely, that of omitting the second part of the original work, and introducing the principal Biblical and historical illustrations into the narrative, which has thereby been rendered more useful and complete. "As recent discoveries," observes Mr. Layard, "and the contents of the inscriptions, so far as they have been satisfactorily decyphered, have confirmed nearly all the opinions expressed in the original work, no changes on any material points have been introduced into this abridgment. I am still inclined to believe that all the ruins explored represent the site of ancient Nineveh; and whilst still assigning the later monuments to the kings mentioned in Scripture, Shalmanezer, Sennacherib, and Essarhadon, I am convinced that a considerable period elapsed between their foundation and the erection of the older palaces of Nimroud."
After the pictures which our facetious contemporary Punch has furnished of the troubles which an "unprotected female" encounters, who ventures beyond the quiet circle of her domestic duties, one is predisposed to regard as a heroine a lady who ventures unattended on a voyage round the world. Madame Ida Pfeiffer has done this; and her narrative of her adventures having excited great attention both in Germany and this country, Messrs. Longman have shown themselves excellent caterers for the reading public, by printing as the new parts of their Traveller's Library, a selected translation of them by Mrs. Percy Sinnett, under the title of A Lady's Voyage round the World. The work will be read with great pleasure and interest; and while we wonder at the writer's extraordinary passion for travelling, we feel that she has produced such an amusing and instructive volume that we are glad that she had the opportunity of indulging it. Mrs. Sinnett well characterises the book on which she has employed her talents as a translator when she says, "Its chief attraction will most likely be found in the personal narrative and in the singular character of the authoress; who though apparently far removed by circumstances from the romantic or adventurous, yet passes through the most surprising scenes, and encounters the most imminent perils with a calm and unconscious heroism that can hardly fail to command admiration."
The Gentleman's Magazine announces that the King of Denmark has conferred the Order of Dannebrog on M. Worsaae, the author of the Primeval Antiquities of Denmark, and other important works. This will be gratifying intelligence to all who had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of this accomplished antiquary during his visit to this country. We hope the time is not far distant when similar distinctions will be conferred in England on men of learning. The necessity for the institution of some ORDER OF MERIT is insisted upon both in the Gentleman's Magazine for this month, and The Athenæum of Saturday last; and a communication urging its adoption, on novel and important grounds, has reached us, unfortunately at too late a period in the week to admit of its insertion in our present number.
Messrs. Puttick & Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell on Wednesday next a portion of the Library (including numerous curious MSS. by Sir Isaac Newton), Medals, &c. of the late Mr. Alchorne.
Messrs. Sotheby will sell on Monday and Tuesday the valuable Library of Dr. Ford, late Principal of Magdalen Hall, and Professor of Arabic at Oxford; and on Thursday and two following days, a valuable Collection of Theological and Miscellaneous Books.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—T. Kershaw's (3. Park Street, Bristol) Catalogue of another Portion of his Valuable Stock; W. S. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Catalogue No. 74. of Cheap Second-hand English and Foreign Books; and Supplementary Catalogue of Italian Books.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
LEWIS'S LIFE OF CAXTON. 8vo. 1737.
CATALOGUE OF JOSEPH AMES'S LIBRARY. 8vo. 1760.
TRAPP'S COMMENTARY. Folio. Vol. I.