The author of _The History of the Church of Rome to the end of the
Episcopate of Damasus_, A.D. 384, which has just been published by Messrs.
Longman, well remarks, "that he is not aware that there is any account of
the Church of Rome, framed on the simple and obvious principle of merely
collecting and arranging the testimony of history with regard to facts, and
so presented to the reader as that he should leave a right to believe that
when he has read what is before him, he {270} has learnt all that is to
known. This is strange, considering the points at issue, and the extent,
duration, and intensity of the controversies which have been carried on
between that Church and the rest of Christendom." It is indeed strange, and
it happens fortunately, looking at the all-important question which now
agitates the public mind, that the subject should have engaged for some
years the attention of a learned, acute, and laborious scholar like Mr.
Shepherd, so that he is enabled to put forth the result of his inquiries
upon this interesting topic at this moment. Mr. Shepherd's book is indeed a
startling one: and when we tell our readers that he "has proved, or, to say
the least, has given such indications as will lead to the proof that some
documents which have been quoted as authorities in the History of the Early
Christian Church, are neither genuine nor authentic;" that he has pretty
well resolved St. Cyprian into a purely mythic personage; and shown that
all the letters in his works passed between imagined or imaginary
correspondents,--we think we are justified in pronouncing his _History of
the Church of Rome_ a work calculated to excite the deepest interest in all
who peruse it (and by the omission of all long quotations in the learned
languages, it is adapted for the perusal of all), to exercise great
influence on the public mind, and to awaken a host of endeavours to combat
and overthrow arguments which appear to us, however, to be irresistible.
The Council of the Shakspeare Society has just issued to the members the
first volume for the present year. It contains _Two Historical Plays on the
Life and Reign of Queen Elizabeth, by Thomas Heywood_, which are very ably
edited, with an Introduction and Notes, by Mr. Collier; and we have no
doubt will be very acceptable; first, from the interest of the plays
themselves, the second of which appears to have been extremely popular;
and, lastly, as a further instalment towards a complete collection of
Heywood's dramatic works.
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson will sell on Tuesday and Wednesday next a
valuable portion of the Library of a gentleman, including the late Charles
Mathews' copy of the Second Shakspeare; a valuable series of works on
Annuities, &c.; and another on the History and Antiquities of London.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--_Supplement on the Doctrine and Discipline of the Greek
Church._ We characterised Mr. Appleyard's interesting little volume,
entitled, _The Greek Church_, as historical rather than doctrinal. The
title of this Supplement shows that it expressly supplies the very material
in which the original work was deficient.--_Archaeologia Cambrensis, New
Series, No. VI._ A very good number of this record of the Antiquities of
Wales and its Marches, and in which are commenced two series of papers of
great interest to the Principality: one on the Architectural Antiquities of
Monmouthshire, by Mr. Freeman; the other on the Poems of Taliessin, by Mr.
Stephens.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--W. Brown's (46. High Holborn) Catalogue Part 52. of
Valuable Second-hand Books, Ancient and Modern;--Cole's (15. Great
Turnstile, Holborn) List No. 33. of very Cheap Books; B. Quaritch's (16.
Castle Street, Leicester Square) Catalogue No. 27. of Antiquarian,
Historical, Heraldic, Numismatic, and Topographical Books; Charles Skeet's
(21. King William Street, Strand) List No. 2. of Miscellaneous Books just
purchased.
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