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[November 9, 1869.

THE Author of this work, finding the sources of early Welsh History among the mountain mists of Nennius and the Triads, traces the various affluents of the stream through the several channels marked out in the Monumenta Historica Britannica, carefully comparing conflicting testimony, constantly consulting the opinions of the most competent modern expositors, and forming an independent judgment upon all.

The Saxon Chronicle continues its guidance until the death of King STEPHEN. The Annales Cambria, the Brut y Tywysogion, Welsh Geneaogies, Welsh Poetry, and the Anglo-Norman Chronicles, with RYMER'S Fœdera, and other collections of public documents, carry on the evidence until the conquest of Wales by King EDWARD I. About that period the native records fail, and English chronicles and public documents, with constantly accumulating monumental remains, constitute the chief authorities until Acts of Parliament, passed by King HENRY VIII. and

his successors, complete the incorporation of Wales with England.

The work comprises a brief survey of the territories of the ancient Cymry in Britain, marking the lessening extent and different divisions of those territories at successive periods; and a concise narration of the leading events and principal facts of the nation's political, military, civil, literary, religious, and general condition from the days of CLAUDIUS CÆSAR, A.D. 43, to the union of Wales with England in the middle of the 16th century. It includes a synopsis of the laws of HOWEL DDA, an account of the Court of Wales and the Marches, and notices of Acts of Parliament affecting Wales down to the 8th and 9th years of Queen VICTORIA.

The APPENDIX supplies a tabular identification of ancient with modern names of places, and a GLOSSARY of such Welsh words as are of frequent occurrence in the names of persons and places.

The INDEX, constructed upon an alphabetical system of grouping, shews at a glance every page which relates to any particular subject.

England and France in the Fifteenth Century; the Contemporary French Tract intitled The Debate between the Heralds of France and England, attributed to CHARLES DUKE of ORLEANS. Translated, with an Introduction, Notes, and other Illustrative Matter, by HENRY PYNE. 8vo. pp. 246, price 7s. 6d. cloth. [November 26, 1869. THIS Volume, as containing an

account of France and England four hundred years ago, by a man of more than ordinary powers of thought and observation, can scarcely, it is believed, fail to interest English readers at the present day. The peculiar form into which the description of the two countries has been thrown, while imparting a character of quaintness to the work, serves to bring out more clearly the points of comparison between the two, and the merits and advantages of each; and the French and English heralds thus discourse on the physical features and resources, the political constitution and history, of the two kingdoms, with the feelings of persons who have been born and bred in the atmosphere of medieval life.

The debate is illustrated by notes explanatory of the text, and pointing out the few errors of fact which occur in it. Some additional notes are followed by an inquiry into the Authorship of theDebate between the Heralds here translated. In this inquiry the 'Debate' itself has been made to render up the name of its Author, since there is no external evidence upon the question, and hence this portion of the work

naturally comes after the former. There is further added a Conclusion, containing a few remarks on the political subjects suggested rather than discussed in the 'Debate,' from a point of view embracing a wider range than could be enjoyed by the French Author who lived amidst the events which he has described.

Chapters from French History; St. Louis, Joan of Arc, Henry IV. with Sketches of the Intermediate Periods. By JOHN HAMPDEN GURNEY, M.A. late Prebendary of St. Paul's and Rector of St. Mary's, Marylebone. New Edition. Fcp. 8vo. pp. 448, price 6s. 6d. cloth. [November 4, 1869.

THI THIS volume, a reprint of which is now published after the Author's death, contains the matter of the work originally published by him under the title of 'Historical Sketches, SECOND SERIES'; together with an account of JOAN of ARC, drawn up by the Author and added to this volume, under the belief that some portions of his narrative are fuller in minute details illustrative of character than any English work hitherto published. This is especially the case with the TRIAL, which lasted for a twelvemonth, and which is a perfect marvel for the transparent purity and indomitable resolution of the prisoner, as also for the strange queries, branching out into the subjects of war and politics and theology, with which the judges baited the victim.

Further continuity has been given to the volume by the addition of two chapters containing a summary of French History during the intermediate periods between ST. LOUIS and JOAN of ARC, and between JOAN of ARC and HENRY, in the hope that what is here supplied may be acceptable to those who have not access to larger works.

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ritualistic proclivities in the direction of the Papacy. The advent and growing power of the Puritans; Archbishop LAUD's ecclesiastical rule; the extravagances of the Court, and its consequent financial difficulties; the national discontent and disputes between the king and the parliament; the attempt to rule without a parliament, and its failure; the circumstances which preceded the final appeal to arms; the gradual concentration of events, and the interest which gathered round the great central figure of the 17th century, OLIVER CROMWELL-derived chiefly from contemporaneous history, MSS. and the periodical literature of that day-are set forth in a narrative form and with marginal dates.

The biographical portion of the work embraces all the known facts relating to CROMWELL'S early history-his school-days, brief career at college and as a law student; his dissipated life at that period, and the great and sudden conversion marriage, domestic life, farming pursuits; the which took place shortly after that event; his growing interest he took in the religious and political questions of the day, leading him to a closer alliance with the Puritan section of the community; the commencement of his political career as a Member of Parliament; his silent, solitary, and self-contained character, and occupations during the long interval which preceded the advent of the Long Parliament; his energy, promptness, and decision at the outbreak of the Civil War; the secret of his successes as a military commander discovered in the deep earnestness of his convictions, inflexibility of purpose in carrying them out, and the clear perception he intuitively possessed of the strength and the weaknesses of all his combinations; the masterly manner in which he disciplined his famous troop of Ironsides and led them on to victory; the religious element he sought for in the choice of those indomitable combatants, and the care he took in their moral and religious training;—each and all are set forth in chronological order.

Special regard has been had by the Author to the development of the inner life of this remarkable man, whose utterances as well as his silences have a significance, when lovingly sought for and deciphered, which will well repay the careful student. In reference to this feature the Author has permitted CROMWELL on many occasions to be his own interpreter and to speak for himself.

No error is more prevalent than that of estimating the era of a long past by the light of a subsequent and more advanced period; and the Author enunciates as an axiom that the morals and the manners of a bygone age are no more to be judged of, condemned by, or brought into injurious comparison in common fairness with another and a later one, than are their political

institutions, discoveries, inventions, and educational disadvantages. But whilst making this reservation in favour of antiquity he emphatically stigmatises the morality which would extenuate the conduct of CHARLES I. in reference to deception and duplicity, and he claims that the sense of truthfulness was as highly developed in the 17th century as in the 19th; a lie therefore, he maintains, whether perpetrated by the monarch on the throne or the meanest of his subjects, has ever been held in just execration, on all authority, human or divine, as a foul immorality which no expediency justifies, or circumstance of time, however remote, excuses.

Albert Dürer, his Life and Works; including Biographical Papers and Complete Cutalogues. By WILLIAM B. SCOTT, Author of 'Half-hour Lectures on the History and Practice of the Fine and Ornamental Arts.' Pp. 340; with Six Etchings by the Author, and other Illustrations. $ 8vo. price 16s. cloth. [November 3, 1869.

A

LTHOUGH the care with which the en

gravings of DURER are collected, and the popularity of the tales founded on his history or works, prove the high estimation in which he is held in this country, yet, strange to say, a complete translation of his Journal, Letters, and other pieces, with a catalogue or critical account of his works, has not been published. In the present work the Author, anxious to supply this want, has sought to furnish a life of DURER as nearly as possible in his own words, and thus to introduce the reader to writings which are in themselves very interesting, and fully warrant the conclusion to which his designs and pictures lead us, that he was a simple-minded man who viewed life, art, and religion, in the same serious spirit.

Of the details of DURER's life, some points have been ascertained from contemporary or accidental testimony; but the Author has thought it better to give the various pieces in their different form than to use them as materials for a consecutive narration.

The volume contains a short sketch of the social life of Nürnberg in 1500, and the narrative of DURER's youth and marriage, with his letters from Venice, his poetry, and other papers; his advanced life, with his travels, including his Journal in the Low Countries; his later life, the period of the Reformation. Contemporary artists, and his pupils-the 'Little Masters,' are reviewed. A critical account of his principal designs is given n the Life and also in the Catalogues, which are five in number-1. Engravings and Etchings;

Life of John Gibson, R.A. Sculptor. Edited by Lady EASTLAKE. Pp. 266, with Portrait. 8vo. price 10s. 6d. cloth. [Nov. 26, 1869. THE life of GIBSON brings before us a man who ure position.

Born of lowly parents in North Wales, and apart from all contact with art or artists, he; early showed those instincts which ultimately placed him among the most remarkable sculptors, of modern times. His predilections were all of á classic kind, combined in some of his works with originality and great energy. He spent his life in the only place-Rome-which he acknowledged to be the sculptor's true home; keeping aloof from politics, and intrigues, though describing the commotions of 1848 in language peculiarly his own.

Although he passed through life with no domestic ties beyond his brothers, yet no man, was ever the object of truer friendships and purer attachments. The desire to impart his experience as regards the education of a sculptor, led him to pen some notes of his life which are here incorporated. Those who know him will feel an interest in all that GIBSON did and said; at the same time, it is hoped that the general reader will also perceive that a character of no common freshness and purity is here presented to him.

The Life and Letters of Faraday. By Dr, BENCE JONES, Secretary of the Royal Institu tion. Pp. 900; with a Portrait and 8 Woodcuts. 2 vols. 8vo. price 288. cloth. [November 30, 1869.

THIS book may be looked upon almost as an autobiography of FARADAY, for it is made up, as far as possible, of his own words. It is a