of use. Address "Amtsbókasafn," Akureyri, Iceland. 5. The Western Provincial Library at Stykkishólmur in the West (1.200 vols.). Address " Amtsbókasafn," Stykkishólmur, Iceland.- Besides these, the Medical School and Divinity School at Reykjavík have each small collections of books; and another is to be formed for the new Technical School at Möðruvellir, near Akureyri, for which models, maps, and apparatus are much needed. Iceland is within the Berne Postal Union, the postage rates being the same as between Germany and France, or England and America. To no spot can books be sent with so much certainty of their being intelligently and eagerly read as to Iceland. No country reads so many books in proportion to its population, and none is so ill able to purchase them.

Miscellaneous Notes.-1. Specimens for the Natural History Museum of the College should be addressed to Professor Benedikt Gröndal, Reykjavík, Iceland, who will be glad to erchange with foreign naturalists. 2. The newspapers of Iceland are "jóðólfur" and "Isafold," published at Reykjavík: "Norðanfari" and "Norðlingur." at Akureyri ; and Skuld," at Eskifjörður in the East. These journals issue from 30 to 40 numbers yearly, and the subscription price of each is 4 crowns. Their editors read English, German, and French, and these languages are understood at the chief post-offices, and by the educated classes of the country. 3. Foreign scholars or libraries, desiring books or journals issued in Iceland, can address K. O'. Thorgrímsson, Bookseller, Reykjavík, who is himself a publisher and a trustworthy man of business. German, English and French publishers would do wisely to keep with him copies of their cheaper books for sale on commission, especially such as relate in any way to Iceland or Icelandic literature. Icelandic bookbuyers complain of the difficulty of obtaining

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foreign works. Catalogues of publications should be sent to him, as well as to F. Steinsson, Akureyri-an excellent book-dealer in Iceland's second town. 4. The best OldIcelandic grammar is that of Wimmer, issued in Danish, German and Swedish editions; the best reading-books are the "Analecta Norrona" of Möbius (2nd ed. Leipzig 1879), and the "Icelandic Prose Reader," with a grammatical outline, by Guðbrandur Vigfússon (Oxford, 1879); the best dictionary is the great Icelandic-English one of Guðbrandur Vigfússon (Oxford, 1874). 5. Commercial relations might be profitably formed with Iceland by some of the merchants of England, America and Germany; and a certain amount of foreign capital could be well invested in the erection of woollen mills, the production of wool being comparatively large. But no step should be taken in these directions without a previous careful knowledge of the character of the Icelandic trade and products. 6. There are two ways of reaching Iceland:-I. By the roomy steamers despatched every fortnight in the summer by Messrs. R. and J. Slimon, Leith, Scotland, who will send their printed schedules to any applicant; duration of sea-voyage 4 to 5 days. II. By the convenient Danish Icelandic steamers from Copenhagen, running every month in the year except February and December, and touching at Leith, the Faroes and the Westman Isles; time between Leith and Reykjavík 5 to 6 days. For schedule, address "Det forenede Dampskibsselskab,” Copenhagen. Fare by each line, £5-tickets both ways costing £8. From Reykjavík there is steam communication in the summer with all parts of the Icelandic coast. In no region, which is so easily and cheaply visited as Iceland, can European travellers find so much that is novel. Berlin (Behrenstrasse 67), W. FISKE. Jan. 16th, 1880.

THE BIRTHDAY OF OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES-The publishers of the Atlantic Monthly invited the contributors and a number of other literary persons to a public breakfast at Boston, Massachusetts, on the 3rd of December, in honour of the 70th anniversary of the birthday of "the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table." Mr. Houghton presided, having Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes on his right hand, and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe on his left. There were among the company John G. Whittier. Henry W. Longfellow. Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Mark Twain," and a host of others, ladies and gentlemen, belonging to the "literary world." The chairman, addressing the guests after breakfast. spoke of Dr. Holmes as one who was present at the christening of the Atlantic Monthly, and gave it its name. He concluded by proposing a sentiment. He said,-"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you as a sentiment, The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. O King, live for ever." Dr. Holmes was greeted with most enthusiastic applause, the company rising to receive him. He responded to the address of congratulation with a poem or hymn of 20 verses, entitled "The Iron Gate." poem by Whittier, entitled "Our Autocrat," was also read. Mr. W. D. Howells was then introduced as toastmaster of the day, and made a short speech, in which he referred to the achievements of women in literature, in response to which Mrs. Julia Ward Howe made a graceful speech, which was followed by the reading of a poem by the same lady. Mr. Charles Dudley Warner made a brief speech, and then read a poem written by Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson, addressed "To Oliver Wendell Holmes on his Seventieth Birthday.' Among the addresses was that of" Mark Twain," and several other speeches and poems followed, making the breakfast last longer than the daylight. "Mark Twain" mentioned that he was in the presence of the first great literary man he ever stole anything from; he declared that it was done unconsciously, and he described the amazement with which he heard a friend compliment him on "a dedication," and say that he always admired it from the time when he first saw it, almost word for word, in a volume of Mr. Holmes's. course," said Mark Twain, "I wrote Mr. Holmes, and told him I hadn't meant to steal, and he wrote back in the kindest way that it was all right, and no harm done; and added that he believed we all unconsciously worked over ideas gathered in reading and hearing, imagining they were original with ourselves. He stated a truth, and did it in ench a pleasant way, and salved over my sore spot so gently and so healingly, that I was rather glad I had committed the crime for the sake of the letter. I afterwards called on him,

"Of

and told him to make perfectly free with any ideas of mine that struck him as being good protoplasm for poetry. He could see by that there wasn't anything mean about me, so we got along all right from the start."-A full account of the proceedings of the breakfast will be found in the Atlantic Monthly for February.

BIBLIOTHEQUE UNIVERSELLE ET REVUE SUISSE.-We are glad to hear of the continued and increasing success of the Bibliothèque Universelle et Revue Suisse. A periodical that is now in its 85th year requires no recommendation, but we may call attention to the fact that it received the Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1878, the highest distinction awarded to this class of publication. We are somewhat surprised to learn that the Bibliothèque Universelle has no circulation in the United States, it being essentially a periodical that would appeal to the American public, but it is possible that their attention has not been sufficiently directed towards it. The Review appears in monthly parts, consisting of 200 pages each. The subscription for England is one pound per annum, and five dollars for America. The editor and publisher is M. Ed. Tallichet, of Lausanne.

THE PROVINCE OF CANTON.-The Basel Mission Press have published a large wall map of the Province of Canton, China (Grande Carte Murale de la province de Canton, China. Dessinée par le missionnaire Lorcher de Lilong). This map is printed on tissue cotton, so does not need mounting; it can be had in a case with an Index.

SURVEY OF THE 40TH PARALLEL.-The Report of the Geological Survey of the Fortieth Parallel (U S.A.) in charge of Clarence King has recently been completed by the publication of Systematic Geology, a large 4to, volume of 804 pages, with 28 plates and 12 Geological maps. The volumes of reports already issued are Descriptival Geology, by A. Hague and S. F. Emmons, 1877; Mining Industry, by J. D. Hague, with Geological Contributions by C. King, and a folio Atlas, 1870; Paleontology and Ornithology, by F. B. Meek, James Hall, R. P. Whitfield, and R. Ridgway, 1877; Botany, by S. Watson, 1871; and Microscopic Petrography, by F. Zirkel, 1876.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY.-With the January number of this the leading literary magazine of America-several important alterations appear, new, large and clear type being used on better paper, and the magazine has been enlarged to 144 pages. The prospectus for the year is unusually brilliant, serial stories by the Editor (W. D. Howells), T. B. Aldrich, and H. James, jun.; short stories by H. H., Rose Terry Cooke, Mrs.

Stone, Miss Jewett, W. H. Bishop, Mark Twain, and others; Essays by C. D. Warner, E. E. Hale, R. Grant White, etc.; Poems by Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, etc., together with contributions from well-known, and new writers, are promised. SOLOVIEF'S RUSSIAN HISTORY.-A posthumous volume, left complete, at the time of his death, by Professor S. M. Solovief, forming the twenty-ninth volume of the work, and bringing the history of Russia down to the reign of Catherine II., is in the press.

NEW ZEALAND COLONIAL MUSEUM AND LABORATORY.We have received from Dr. James Hector the fourteenth Annual Report of the New Zealand Colonial Museum, containing a list of donations and deposits during 1878-9. From it we find that the number of persons who visited the Museum during the year 1878 was 16,200; but as many did not enter their names on the book, this was not the actual number. We note that this Museum is open on Sundays, and the large number of persons who visit it on that day shows that the privilege is appreciated.

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THE PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW.-No. 1, Vol. I. of the Presbyterian Review has just reached us. It is edited by Prof. A. A. Hodge, and Prof. C. A. Briggs, with five associate editors, and is published by A. D. F. Randolph and Co., New York. The Princeton Review having for some time ceased to represent Presbyterian views, we should think there is a fair field for this new Review. The Editors say :The Review is to embrace in its articles the range of the Theological Sciences, and cognate literary and philosophical subjects, with special attention to the leading questions of the day, giving the freshest results of Biblical Criticism and Historical Investigation, full and thorough Reviews of the most important Theological publications in different countries, and brief summaries of Theological Intelligence and Church Statistics. It will be the aim of the Review to treat all these subjects in a broad and catholic spirit, comprehending those historic phases of Calvinism which have combined in the Presbyterian Church at the Reunion on the basis of the Westminster standards, together with the symbols of the Reformed Church. The name is to be The Presbyterian Review. No article is to be published without the approval of both of the managing editors, who shall hold themselves, and be regarded as, responsible for the contents and internal character of the Review, the associate editors aiding them to secure its highest excellence, efficiency, and success."

THE MEDICAL NEWS AND ABSTRACT.-The enterprising proprietors of the American Journal of Medical Science offer their subscribers a valuable premium in the Medical News and Abstract, which will give all the discoveries made in medical and surgical practice monthly, and will be a valuable adjunct to the old-established quarterly, keeping its subscribers well informed of the progress of their science. The Medical News and Abstract will also be supplied separately to those who wish for it. The proprietors say "With a view of increasing the attractions of the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, and of bringing within the reach of all members of the profession the immense amount of information now presented by it and its accessory periodicals, the Medical News and Library and the Monthly Abstract, the two latter will hereafter be merged together, under the name of The Medical News and Abstract, commencing January 1, 1880. The News and Abstract will consist of sixty-four pages per month, handsomely printed, in a neat cover, and will contain all the material heretofore presented in both periodicals, with the exception of the sixteen pages of the Library Department-nearly eight hundred large octavo pages per annum. Not only will this monthly thus be in itself one of the cheapest periodicals offered to the profession, but it will be furnished in commutation, without charge, to advancepaying subscribers of the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, the subscription to which will remain as heretofore. For a very moderate sum, therefore, subscribers will receive two periodicals of the highest class, a Quarterly and a Monthly, containing in all nearly two thousand pages per annum, stored with the choicest original and selected matter that can be furnished by the medical literature of both hemispheres."

BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA.-Messrs. Robert Clarke & Co., of Cincinnati, have issued a supplement of 92 pages to their valuable Catalogue of Americana, published in 1878-containing additions and corrections in prices to that Catalogue, The addenda to this supplement contain Rebellion and Confederate publications.

LIBRARIES.-The Bulletin of the Boston Public Library, October, 1879, besides the additions to the library, contains a bibliography of Mysteries and Miracle Plays, Renaissance continued, and a short bibliography of books and periodical articles on the Chinese in America.-The Peabody Institute

of the City of Baltimore has issued its Twelfth Annual Report, in which will be found cuts of the external of the building, a massive block, and an interior view of the library, which, from its appearance, we should judge to be fifty feet or more high, and lighted from the top.-The Bulletin of the Boston Public Library, January, 1880, gives a list of the most important works of reference in Ornithology, a list of the Parliamentary Sessional Papers of Great Britain from 1807 to 1877, and part 9 of a bibliographical history of Mental Philosophy. The Library has lately received a collection of 140 books and pamphlets relating to Benjamin Franklin.

Liu

STRANGE STORIES FROM A CHINESE STUDIO.-Under this title Mr. Herbert A. Giles, of H. M.S. Consular Service, and one of our most promising young Sinologues, has translated and annotated a series of Chinese Stories, which are to the Chinese what the "Arabian Nights" are to the Arabians. The author of these tales, like many celebrated men, has left behind him very slender materials for a biography. He was a native of Tzu-cho, in the province of Shan-tung, his family name was Pu, and his personal name was Sung-ling. The literary designation he bore in accordance to Chinese custom, and by which he was known amongst his friends, was Liuhsien, or "Last of the Immortals"; and a further fancy name, probably given him by some admirer, was Ch'üan (Willow Spring), but he is now spoken of as P'uSung-ling. The dates of his birth and death are unknown, but Mr. Giles tells us that a pretty near computation of the former can be arrived at by an entry in the History of Trü-Chou, where it is recorded he competed successfully for the lowest bachelor's degree before he was twenty years of age; and in 1651 he was in the position of a graduate of ten years' standing, having failed meanwhile to take the master's degree. The author of the tales, P'u-Sung-ling, in his own preface, claims to have been merely a collector and dresser up of tales from all quarters until he had accumulated a vast pile. But singularly enough, these "dressers up of material," like our own inimitable Shakespeare, have generally contrived to immortalize themselves. It is not the miner or even the smelter of the iron who produces the finished Damascus blade, or the goldminer who produces the artistically worked jewel, or the coin which purchases it. Strange Stories" forms two volumes containing over 800 pages, and is published by Thomas De la Rue & Co., who have lately made their debut as publishers, and, if we may judge by beginnings, are likely to become as well known for good books as they are for good stationery.

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INDIAN LITERATURE AND FOLK-LORE.-" Recent Literature of Western India" is the title of a paper in the Journal of the National Indian Association, by N. J. Ratnagar, on the popular poets of Gujerat, in which it suggests the probability that the vernacular dialects will become the literary language of the Bombay Presidency. In the same journal the Rev. J. Long announces that he is engaged upon a work on "Eastern proverbial lore."

ENGLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, is the title of a very able article by Karl Hillebrand, in the December number of the Deutsche Rundschau. An English translation of this article has appeared in the January number of the Contemporary Review.

AUSTRALIA.-Reports of the probability of gold-fields existing in Northern Queensland have led to a small expedition setting out to explore the country about the sources of the Flinders, Cape, and Clarke rivers.

THE MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY CALENDAR for the Academic years 1878-80, is most carefully compiled, furnishing every information that can be required respecting the state and government of this rapidly rising Australian Alma Mater. A very complete list is given of the members, from the Council, Senate and Graduates, to Undergraduates.

WELSH LITERATURE.-The Swansea Public Library has purchased the Welsh Library of the late Rev. R. Jones. The town, already possessing the library brought together by its Royal Institution, and Rowland Williams's and Deffett Francis's collections, has become a great centre for the study of Cymrian literature.

ICELANDIC LITERATURE. - Professor Theodor Mobius of Kiel has in the press a supplement to his "Catalogus Librorum Islandicorum et Norvegicorum," which will consist of a list of all works published in different countries since the date of the catalogue, 1852, connected with the classical language of Iceland.

ORAL SANSKRIT.-The young Maharaja of Udaipur, the acknowledged head of the princes of Rajputana, has ordered that all official business, in his principality, be in future conducted in Sanskrit,

BOHEMIAN LITERATURE.-The first volume of a work of considerable value, Petru's " Illustrated History of Universal Literature," has appeared in Bohemian, as has also a translation from the Russian of Pypin and Spasovic's "History of Slavonian Literature." M. P. Sabotka's Plants and their Significance in the Songs, Stories, and Myths of the Slavonic Race," a labour of love for many years, is a most valuable addition to Folk-lore study, and the history of Slavonian poetry. V. V. Tomak's life of John Zizku is a careful attempt to give us a true biography of the Hussite leader.

LES SAVANTS CONTEMPORAINS, Dictionnaire Bio-Bibliographique illustré par A. de Boriche, is appearing in fortnightly numbers, at an annual subscription of 12 francs. As in our Men of the Time," many of the sketches are evidently semi-autobiographical. No. 6, just received, contains, amongst others: Louis Podharsky, the sexagenarian Orientalist, a native of Hungary, whose accidental discovery of an unpublished sonnet of Petrarch was noticed in a recent number of the Record; Bishop Dupanloup; Barthelemy Saint-Hilaire, etc.

DICTIONARY OF THE SUAHILI LANGUAGE, edited by the Rev. Dr. Krapf.-This important work, first compiled by the Rev. Dr. J. Ludwig Krapf, and the Rev. John Rebmann, the pioneers of Missionary enterprise in Eastern Africa, during their residence at Mombasa from 1844 onwards, and since considerably added to and thoroughly revised, is now ready for press. It is proposed to publish it by subscription. Ki-suahili (i.e. the Suahili language) is the vernacular of the Wa-suahili, the inhabitants of the eastern coast of Africa. Suahili is derived from Arabic sahel, sea-beach, plural sawahil; the name thus distinguishing those who bear it from the dwellers in the higher country beginning at from ten to twenty miles from the sea-board. Dr. Krapf writes: The Kisuahili language is spoken within twelve degrees of latitude from Barawa on the Somali coast near the Equator down to the Portuguese settlement of Mozambique in the south. It is also spoken on the East African islands, Patta, Mombasa, Pemba, Zanzibar, etc. The Kisuahili-speaking population may amount to one million of souls, being chiefly Mohammedans, who are generally upon good terms with their pagan neighbours inland. As the Kisuahili is spoken all along the sea-board, it presents the key to the numberless dialects inland, which are comprised in the great South African family of languages, all of which are more or less related to each other, and spread over all South Africa from east to west. This being the case, we cannot help attaching great importance to the Kisuahili idiom. Vigour, tendency to clearness, and other grammatical phenomena are peculiarities which must surprise a student of this language. The principle of alliteral or euphonic concord regulates the Kisuahili as well as all the dialects of this great family of languages, which the author in his Vocabulary of the Wa-kuafi nation has called the Orphno-Hamitic' stock of languages, spoken by the brown-complexioned tribes of Africa, in contradistinction from the Nigro-Hamitic, or entirely black nations in Nigritia. The language, customs, and habits of the Orphno-Hamites show that an important futurity and destination is, by divine wisdom, reserved to them." In confirmation of Dr. Krapf's statements respecting the usefulness of Kisuahili in the interior of Equatorial Africa, it may be mentioned that it is understood by the kings and chief men of the nations on the borders of the Victoria Nyanza; and it is through this medium that the Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society have been able to hold free communication with Mtesa, king of Uganda, and Lukongeh, king of Ukerewe. Respecting the Dictionary itself, Dr. Krapf writes:-"I mention, that there are about 11,000 ground words, the derivatives excluded. I may also mention, that I have embodied in the book all words which I could find in the manuscripts of my colleagues, Messrs. Rebmann and Erhardt. Also the valuable Vocabulary of Bishop Steere, at Zanzibar, has been made use of in many instances. But I have always given the name by adding the initial letters of those gentlemen, so as to avoid even the appearance of plagiarism. The words derived from the Arabic will be added at the end of the book, and also a small outline of the grammar of the Kisuahili will be appended to the volume." The Dictionary

may

PANINI'S SUTRAS.-W. Goonetilleke, of Kandy, Ceylon, proposes to issue, by subscription, a new edition of Panini's Grammatical Sutras, with a translation, notes and references. The Editor hopes that the present edition will enable a student who has acquired such a knowledge of Sanskrit by means of the easier grammars, whether native or European, as to be able to read and understand with facility the Hitópadésá or Raghuvansá, to undertake the study of the Pániniya Sutras without the aid of a teacher. The work will consist of a preface, showing the necessity for such an edition as is now proposed; and an introduction, giving a short account of the author of the Sutras and the age in which he flourished, and suggesting an easy method of pursuing the study of the work. The text, translation and notes will not be separately printed, but the translation of a sutra will be given immediately under its Dévanagari text, and the notes immediately under the translation in smaller type. Várttikás, Paribháshás, Ishtis and Kárikás, whenever they occur, will be quoted, translated, and explained. The principal works which have been consulted in the preparation of the notes are the Mahábháshya, the Bhashyapradipa, the Vivarana, the Káşiká-vṛitti, Ujjvaladatta's Commentary on the Unnadi Sutras, the Siddhantakaumudi, the Laghu-kaumudí, Nágójibhatta's Paribhashendusekhara, the Vrittis of Dharanidhara and Kasínátha, etc. Alphabetical lists of the sutras and ganas will be appended to the edition, as well as an alphabetical glossary of technical terms, with references to the sutras in which they occur. The work will be comprised in about 800 to 1000 pages, demy 8vo., and will be published in parts of about 100 pages each.

TIBETAN BOOKS.-The Director of Public Instruction of Bengal writes:-"I have had all the Tibetan books in the Library of the Asiatic Society of Bengal catalogued; and the catalogue is now ready, with a short abstract of the contents of each book. The catalogue will be printed by the Society; but it requires the supervision of the pundit of the Government, now absent in Tibet, and must be deferred until his return."

SNORRE'S: OR, THE PROSE EDDA.-Professor Rasmus B. Anderson, the author and translator of many valuable works on Norse literature, has made a translation of the Younger Edda with an introduction, notes, vocabulary and index. It is published by Messrs. S. C. Griggs and Co., of Chicago. Professor Anderson, who is an ardent and conscientious student of Norse Mythology, has in this translation of Snorre's Edda presented the English reader with all the matter of any interest in that work, and more of it than has ever appeared in an English dress before. It contains Foreword; The Fooling of Gylfe, which consists of seventeen chapters; Afterword to the Fooling of Gylfe; Brage's Talk, in four chapters and the Afterword to it, with extracts from the Poetical Diction. Prof. Anderson advises his readers to peruse the Fooling of Gylfe, and Brage's Speech, before the Foreword and Afterword. We have nothing to say against this advice; but before they do either, we recommend them to read Prof. Anderson's most interesting preface and introduction to the work, after doing which we are sure they will read the volume through. Dasent's translation of the Younger Edda, published in 1842, is out of print. Blackwell's edition of Mallett's Northern Antiquities, published in 1847, contained what purported to be a new translation, but was really an imitation of Dasent's. Both of these versions were very incomplete. The Younger Edda contains the systematized Theogony and Cosmogony of our forefathers, their profoundest, sublimest and best thoughts. The two Eddas may be said to constitute the Odinic Bible. The Elder Edda is the Old Testament, the Younger Edda the New. This new translation by Prof. Anderson contains more of the Younger Edda than any English, German, French, or Danish translation that has yet been published, and will, doubtless, be a work of deep interest to scholars in all lands. Messrs. Trübner & Co. are the publishers of the work in London.

AMERICAN PHILOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.-Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Session, held in Newport, R. I., July, 1879. The Annual Address was delivered by the President, Mr. Jotham B. Sewall.-The first paper was by Dr. E. G. Sibler, of New York, on "The Critical and Rhetorical Labours of Dionysius of Halicarnassus and the Ars Rhetorica." In the absence of the author, it was read by the Secretary.Mr. Stephen Pearl Andrews, of New York City, read a paper on "Ideological Etymology as a distinct Method in Philology."

the literature of the United States was in its infancy, and the appearance of the "Lady's Book" must have been quite an epoch in its annals. As it began, so it has continued through its existence, strictly moral in tone, and eschewing everything sensational. It was the late Mr. L. A. Godey's proudest boast that not an immoral thought or profane word could be found in this magazine, and its present proprietors intend to maintain this proud record. They promise for 1880 nearly 1200 pages of first-class literary matter; 12 steel plate engravings of beautiful and original subjects; 12 double page elegantly coloured fashion plates; 24 pages of vocal and instrumental music; 900 wood engravings, illustrating art, science and fashion; 12 large diagram patterns of ladies' and children's dresses; 12 architectural designs for Suburban, Seaside, and City Homes; 200 or more original recipes for family use; and the usual original department matters, which have made Godey's Lady's Book so famous. They have secured from the author of " A Gentle Belle," the unrivalled Christian Reid, another novel of intense interest, written in the author's best vein, entitled "Roslyn's Fortune," the opening chapters of which appeared in the January number, 1880.

HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY.-With the fifty-ninth volume, which commenced June, 1879, and the opening of its thirtieth year, Harper's New Monthly appeared printed with new and larger type and the width of its pages increased. This was to allow of larger and more artistic woodcuts, its illustrations being one of its many attractions. When we take into consideration the large number issued of this magazine, that it is printed dry and by machinery, and with what care and taste the woodcuts are brought up, it shows as great progress in the art of printing as the transition from wooden blocks to movable metal types.

LECTURE ON AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS.-We have received from Mr. John Fiske a syllabus of three lectures on American Political Ideas viewed from the Standpoint of Universal History." The first is on Town Meetings, the second the Federal Union, and the third Manifest Destiny. These lectures he hopes to be able to deliver in England Bome time this year.

THE ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES OF NORTH AMERICA.The Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, Mr. J. W. Powell in charge, is about compiling a Bibliography of authors who have written on the Aboriginal Languages of North America; and as these books do not often appear in ordinary catalogues, they will be thankful to receive copies of the titles of books on the subject from any sources, so as to make the list as complete as possible.

CAPTAIN COOK STATUE.-The Government Printing Office, Sydney, N.S. Wales, has issued a handsome memorial volume of the Procession and Ceremony of the Unveiling of the Cook Statue on Tuesday, the 25th of February, 1879. The volume contains a portrait of Captain Cook and a view of the statue, which is erected in Hyde Park, Sydney, only a few miles from where the great navigator first landed, and almost in sight of the spot where Captain Phillip placed the small settlement which has since developed into the eight great Australian colonies. The volume is printed in pica, with a red line border, and is appropriately bound in dark green morocco, with a gold tooled border of morocco in various colours, and has a portrait of Cook in the centre of the cover done in gold.

CURRENCY OF THE UNITED STATES.-The Annual Report of the Hon. Jno. Jay Knox, the Comptroller of the Currency, made to the Second Session of the Forty-sixth Congress, must be of interest to political economists who study finance. It shows the working of the National Banking System of the United States. Before the War the notes of every bank which had the right of issue were at various discounts, and the standing of some of them was anything but satisfactory. Under the Comptroller of the Currency, by limiting their issue of notes to the amount of United States bonds they invest in, has put them all on a sound basis, and their notes are of equal value with the national currency.

REPORTS OF THE VICTORIA MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS.-These Reports for the quarter ending Sept. 1879, show the total quantities of gold obtained from alluvium and quartz reefs to be 189,648 oz. 14 dwt., the quantity of the same exported was 64.131 oz. 17 dwt., and the rough gold received at the Royal Mint weighed 30,857 oz. 39 dwt. BLACK-LETTER BOOKS.-Messrs. Bangs & Co., New York, will sell by auction the second portion of the library of J. Odell, of New York, consisting of rare and curious books, on March 15th next, and following days.

PAPERS FOR THE TIMES.-This is the title of a Magazine published monthly, containing papers on Literature, Philosophy, and Religion; but, unlike most magazines, there is no

but every paper has a neat half-title of its own so arranged as to bind up as a volume of Essays, at the end of each year. Part fifteen for January contains an article on Walt Whitman, by Frank W. Walters, who does his best to do the poet justice. "Health in Old Age," and "Girls' Public Day Schools," are both articles of interest in the same part.

THE CODEX ALEXANDRINUS.-The whole of the edition of the Facsimile of the Codex Alexandrinus," vol. 4, recently issued by the Trustees of the British Museum, has been so nearly exhausted that no more copies can be supplied. However, we are glad to learn that should a sufficient number of applications be received to justify the necessary outlay, it is intended to reproduce additional copies; but probably at an advanced price, as that charged hitherto did not cover the cost of production. Messrs. Trübner & Co. will be glad to register names of persons wishing to secure copies of the new edition.

KEMPIS DE IMITATIONE CHRISTI.-Mr. Elliot Stock, of Paternoster Row, has published a very beautifully executed facsimile of the original MS. of Thomas Kempis's De Imitatione Christi, in the author's own handwriting, preserved in the Royal Library, Brussels, and M. Charles Reulens, the Keeper of the Manuscripts in that Library, has appended a very interesting preface to this facsimile, giving a history and description of the original, in which he points out that Dr. Carle Hirsche, of Hamburg, discovered that Kempis made use of a peculiar system of punctuation to mark the cadences and rhythm of his sentences, which serve the same purpose as the signs used in music to mark the modulations of the voice. The facsimile has been printed on paper made in Holland, which is as close an imitation as possible of that upon which the original is written. pattern of the binding has been taken from a contemporary Dutch Horæ.

The

THE ASTOR LIBRARY.-"The thirty-first annual report of the Astor Library lately submitted to the American Legislature, in addition to the usual information concerning the growth and increase of the Library, states that Mr. John Jacob Astor, following in the steps of his father and grandfather, has conveyed to the trustees a piece of land adjoining the present building and proposes to furnish the funds for an additional building, increasing the working space by almost one-half. This information justifies the expectation that Mr. Astor will not permit the institution to go backwards while under his protection, and marks a new era in the history of the Library. At the date of the last report the entire property of the Library had reached the sum of 1,112.957 dols. At the same time, the fund for the maintenance of the Library has grown to 421,000 dols., and the number of books has reached almost 200,000."-Nation (N.Y.).

THE COLONY OF VICTORIA AND THE PARIS EXHIBITION. The report of the Royal Commissioners for Victoria upon the International Exhibition at Paris, 1878, has just been issued. It forms a bulky volume of nearly 600 pages, with even a larger number of illustrations. We find the Gold Medal awarded to the Department of Mines and Lands and Surveys, for "Maps and Geographical and Cosmographical Apparatus,' and the Silver Medal to Mr. John Ferres, the Government printer, for" Printing, Books, &c."

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.-This Association having found it somewhat inconvenient that all accounts of their proceedings should reach members only from America in the Library Journal, have determined upon supplementing that medium of communication by issuing Monthly Notes. These "Notes" are not intended in any way to rival the Library Journal. They will be published on the 15th of each month by Messrs. Trübner & Co., price 3d. per number; annual subscription, post free, 3s. 6d.

ARMENIAN HISTORY.-The Rev. E. Richmond Hodges, editor of the Principia Hebraica; Cory's Ancient Fragments, etc., proposes to publish an English version of the Armenian history of Moses of Khorene (Moses Chorenensis), an Armenian writer of the fifth century.

ASSAM.-Dr. Hunter has added to the world-wide reputation acquired by him as Director-General of Statistics to the Government of India by having compiled "A Statistical Account of Assam." This work, just issued in 2 vols. 8vo., is carried out on the same principles as the volumes of his "Statistical Account of Bengal," and is intended as a companion work. In his preface Dr. Hunter says:-"The statistics refer for the most part to the year of the census 1871-72, and to the period immediately following the erection of Assam into a separate province in 1874. The whole work had to be done amid the pressure of my duties as Director-General of Statistics to the Government of India. Nevertheless, these volumes form the only attempt at a systematic account of Assam, and it is hoped they may prove of use both to those