_The New Classical Dictionary of Biography, Mythology, and History_, may be
considered as the third in that important series of Classical Dictionaries
for which the world is indebted to the learning of Dr. Smith. As the
present work is distinguished by the same excellencies which have won for
the _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities_, and the _Dictionary of
Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology_, the widely-spread reputation they
enjoy, we shall content ourselves with a few words explanatory of the
arrangement of a work which, it requires no great gift of prophecy to
foretell, must ere long push Lemprière from its stool. The present
Dictionary may be divided into three portions. The Biographical, which
includes all the historical names of importance which occur in the Greek
and Roman writers, from the earliest times down to the extinction of the
Western Empire; those of all Greek and Roman writers, whose works are
either extant or known to have exercised an influence upon their respective
literatures; and, lastly, those of all the more important artists of
antiquity. In the Mythological division may be noticed first, the
discrimination, hitherto not sufficiently attended to, between the Greek
and Roman mythology, and which in this volume is shown by giving an account
of the Greek divinities under their Greek names, and the Roman divinities
under their Latin names; and, secondly, what is of still more consequence,
the care to avoid as far as possible all indelicate allusions in the
respective histories of such divinities. Lastly, in the Geographical
portion of the work, and which will probably be found the most important
one, very few omissions will be discovered of names occurring in the chief
classical writers. This brief sketch of the contents of this _New Classical
Dictionary_ will satisfy our readers that Dr. Smith has produced a volume,
not only of immense value to those who are entering upon their classical
studies, but one which will be found a most useful handbook to the scholar
and the more advanced student.
_The Greek Church, A Sketch_, is the last of the Shilling Series in which
Mr. Appleyard has described {486} the different sections of Christendom,
with a view to their ultimate reunion. Like its predecessors, the volume is
amiable and interesting, but being historical rather than doctrinal, is
scarcely calculated to give the uninformed reader a very precise view of
the creed of the Greek Church. It may serve, however, to assure us that the
acrimony of religious discussion and the mutual jealousy of Church and
State, which disquiets so many minds at present, was more than matched in
the days of Constantine and Athanasius.
The last part of the _Transactions of the Academy of Sciences_ of Berlin
contains two papers by Jacob Grimm, which will doubtless be perused with
great interest in this country. The one on the ancient practice of burning
the bodies of the dead (_Ueber das Verbrennen der Leichen_) will be of
especial interest to English antiquaries; but the other, from its connexion
with the great educational questions which now occupy so much of public
attention, will probably be yet more attractive. It is entitled, _Ueber
Schüle Universität Academie_. Separate copies of these Essays may be
procured from Messrs. Williams and Norgate.
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson (Wellington Street, Strand) will sell on
Monday next and two following days the valuable Dramatic and Miscellaneous
Library of the late John Fullarton, Esq., which contains an extensive
collection of the early editions of the Old English Dramatists.
We have received the following Catalogues:--Bernard Quaritch's (16. Castle
Street, Leicester Square) Catalogue No. 21. for 1850, of Antiquarian,
Historical, Heraldic, Numismatic, and Topographical Books; William Heath's
(29½, Lincoln Inn Fields) Catalogue No. 6. for 1850, of Valuable
Second-hand Books; Cole's (15. Great Turnstile) List of very Cheap Books.
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