The Literature of the Rail; republished, by permission, from The Times of Saturday, August 9th, 1851, with a Preface, has just been issued by Mr. Murray, in the shape of a sixpenny pamphlet. This will be a gratifying announcement to those who read and wished to preserve this startling article on a subject which must come home to every thinking mind,—to every one who has witnessed, as we have done, the worse than worthless, the positively mischievous trash in the shape of literature too often to be found on the bookstalls of railway stations. But there is hope. The success which has attended the wholesome change effected on the North-Western line is sure to lead to an extension of the better system; and we are glad to see that the endeavours making by Messrs. Longman to supply, by means of The Traveller's Library, the growing want for good and cheap books, are to be seconded by Mr. Murray, who announces a Series under the title of Literature for the Rail, and the opening number of which is to be A Popular Account of Mr. Layard's Discoveries at Nineveh, abridged by himself from the larger Work, and illustrated by numerous Woodcuts.

We are glad to see that the Trustees of the British Museum have printed a List of the Autograph Letters, Original Charters, Great Seals, and Manuscripts, exhibited to the Public in the Department of Manuscripts. The selection does great credit to the intelligent Keeper of the Manuscripts; and the exhibition of these treasures will, we trust, do something more than merely gratify the curiosity of the thousands of the people who have visited them, namely, encourage their representatives in Parliament to a more liberal vote for this important department of the Museum. Valuable manuscripts are not always in the market; when they are, the country should never lose them through a mistaken parsimony.

Mr. Lumley, of Chancery Lane, has purchased from the Society of Antiquaries the remaining stock of the Vetusta Monumenta, and proposes to dispose of the various plates and papers separately, in the same manner as he did those of the Archæologia. This arrangement is one well calculated to answer the purpose of collectors, and therefore we desire to draw their attention to it.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell, on Tuesday and Wednesday next, some very interesting Autograph Letters of the late John Davies of Manchester, and of another Collector, comprising many Royal Autographs; a series of interesting letters addressed to Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia; and some rare historical letters from the Southwell and Blathwayte Papers.

CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—J. Miller's (43. Chandos Street) Catalogue Number 27. of Books Old and New; J. Russell Smith's (4. Old Compton Street) Catalogue Part VI. for 1851 of Choice, Useful, and Curious Books; W. Heath's (497. New Oxford Street) Catalogue No. 5. for 1851 of Valuable Second-Hand Books; J. Petheram's (94. High Holborn) Catalogue Part 126. No. 7. for 1851 of Old and New Books; W. S. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Catalogue No. 72. of English and Foreign Second-hand Books.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.

*** Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

Notices to Correspondents.

QUÆSTOR, who writes respecting Campbell's famous line: