The Members of the _Camden Society_ have just received two volumes, with
which we doubt not all will be well pleased. The first is a farther
portion, namely, from M to R, of Mr. Way's most valuable edition of the
_Promptorium Parvulorum_. A glance at the foot-notes, so rich in
philological illustration, and a knowledge that Mr. Way's labours have been
greatly impeded by his removal from London, where only he can meet with the
authorities which he is obliged to consult, may well explain the delay
which has taken place in its publication. But we doubt not that the Camden
Council are justified in the hope which they have expressed that the favour
with which the present portion is received, will encourage the editor to
proceed with all possible dispatch to the conclusion of the work.
Rich, like the _Promptorium_, in philological illustration, and of the
highest value as a contribution to the social history of the thirteenth
century, is the next work; and for which the Camden Members are indebted to
the learned Vicar of Holbeach, The Rev. James Morton. _The Ancren Riwle; a
Treatise on the Rules and Duties of Monastic Life_, which he has edited and
translated from a Semi-Saxon MS. of the thirteenth century, is a work which
many of our best scholars have long desired to see in print,--we believe we
may add, that many have thought seriously of editing. The information to be
derived from it, with regard to the state of society, the learning and
manners, the moral and religious teaching, and the language of the period
in which it was written, is so various and so important, that it is clear
the Camden Society has done good service in selecting it for publication;
while the manner in which it has been edited by Mr. Morton, and the
translation and complete Glossarial Index with which he has enriched it,
show that the Council did equally well in their choice of an editor. The
work does the highest credit both to that gentleman and to the Camden
Society.
Mr Bridger, of 3. Keppel Street, Russell Square, is desirous of making
known to our readers that he is engaged in compiling a "Catalogue of
Privately Printed Books in Genealogy and kindred subjects," and to solicit
information in furtherance of his design, {607} more especially with regard
to privately printed sheet pedigrees. The Catalogue will be printed for
private distribution, and he will be happy to give a copy to any one who
may favour him with communications.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--As usual, we have a large item to enter under this head to
the account of that enterprising caterer of good and cheap books, Mr. Bohn.
We have two volumes of his _Standard Library_, namely, Adam Smith's _Theory
of Moral Sentiments; and Dissertation on the Origin of Languages, with the
Biographical and Critical Memoir of the Author_, by Dugald Stewart--and a
work of greater present interest, though in itself of far less importance,
namely, Ranke's _History of Servia_, and his _Insurrection in Bosnia,
translated from the German_, by Mrs. A. Kerr, and the _Slave Provinces of
Turkey, chiefly from the French_ of M. Cyprien Robert, a volume which will
be read with eagerness in the present condition of the political world.
_Justin, Cornelius Nepos, and Eutropius, literally translated, with Notes
and a General Index_, by the Reverend J. Selby Watson, M.A., forms the new
volume of the same publisher's _Classical Library_. Mr. Bohn has this month
commenced a New Series under the title of Bohn's _British Classics_. The
first work is an edition of Gibbon's _Decline and Fall_, with the notes of
Guizot, Wenck, and other continental writers; and farther illustrations by
an English Churchman. In thus choosing Gibbon, Mr. Bohn has not shown his
usual tact. He may not mean his edition to be a rival to that published by
Mr. Murray under the editorship of Dean Milman; but he will find much
difficulty in dissuading the reading world that it is not so intended. We
speak thus freely, because we have always spoken so freely in commendation
of Mr. Bohn's projects generally.--_Catalogue of my English Library,
collected and described_ by Henry Stevens, F.S.A., is a catalogue of the
books essential to a good English library of about 5000 volumes, and such
as Mr. Stevens, the indefatigable supplier of book rarities and book
utilities to his American brethren, feels justified in recommending. It
would be found so capital a Hand-book to all classes, that we are sorry to
see it is only printed for private distribution.--_The Botanist's
Word-book_, by G. Macdonald, Esq., and Dr. James Allan. This little
vocabulary of the terms employed in the Science of Botany, which may now
almost be described as the science of Long Names, will be found most useful
by all who pursue that fascinating study.
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