We have received the second edition of _Chronicles of the Ancient British
Church_. The author exhibits great industry and research, and brings that
kindly reverential temper to his subject, which cannot fail to win for it
the sympathy of his readers. The apostolic origin of British Christianity,
and the early independence of the British Church, are satisfactorily
maintained, the labours of St. Patrick in Ireland, St. David and his
workfellows in Wales, St. Columba and St. Ninian in the North, are duly
chronicled; and the slender particulars that remain to us of the ancient
Church in Cornwall, are gleaned up with diligence and accuracy. The volume
is put together in a readable and popular shape, but is not unworthy the
attention of even our clerical friends. The author takes nothing upon
trust, and while availing himself of the labours of Usher, Stillingfleet,
&c., he ascends to the original authorities from which they drew, and makes
us acquainted with the pages of Gildas, Nennius, and Giraldus Cambrensis.
There is a time-honoured proverb, which bids us "Laugh and grow fat." The
author of a series of very witty and instructive papers written under the
title of, and for the prose of showing us _How to make Home
Unhealthy_,--written, too, it is obvious, on the principle of "When I say
hold fast, let go, and When I say let go, hold fast,"--has improved upon
the old saw, and bids us "Laugh and grow healthy." The subject is one which
comes home to everybody, and we accordingly recommend everybody in search
of a pleasant half-hour's reading of a happy combination of common sense
and uncommon humour to apply themselves to the study of _How to make Home
Unhealthy_.
We last week called attention to several Flemish works likely to interest
English readers. We have since seen how desirable it is that this should be
done, in the fact, that a curious Flemish Rhyming Chronicle respecting our
Edward III., by Jan de Klerk, edited in 1840 by that accomplished antiquary
Willems, and of which only 100 copies were printed, has hitherto been so
little known in this country, that nearly a quarter of the whole impression
was left unsold in the hands of the late Mr. Rodd. At the last sale of Mr.
Rodd's books they were purchased by Mr. Quaritch.
We have received the following Catalogues:--Thomas Thorpe's (13. Henrietta
Street, Covent Garden) General Catalogue of the most extensive Collection
of Curious Books on Sale in this or any other country, in most Languages
and classes of Literature, and including many hundred Articles of the
utmost rarity; William Brown's (46. High Holborn) Catalogue of Second-hand
English and Foreign Books; Cole's (15. Great Turnstile, Holborn) List No.
XXX. of Miscellaneous Second-hand Books; Reeves' and Turner's (98. Chancery
Lane) Catalogue No. 14. of Cheap Books, many Rare and Curious; John
Miller's (43. Chandos Street) Catalogue No. 14. for 1850, of Books Old and
New; John Petheram's (94. High Holborn) Catalogue Part CXVIII., No. 12. for
1850, of Old and New Books.
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson will sell on Wednesday next and three
following days, the valuable Philological, Biblical, and Miscellaneous
Library of the late Rev. Richard Garnet of the British Museum.
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