We understand the Committee appointed by the Society of Antiquaries to
consider the best mode of restoring the Society to its former efficient
state, have agreed upon their Report, and also to the revised laws to be
recommended to the Fellows for adoption. Of the nature of alterations
suggested, we know nothing; for while, on the one hand, it is stated that
the Report recommends changes of a most sweeping character, on the other it
is rumoured that the changes to be proposed are neither many nor important.
The truth in this, as in most cases, no doubt lies midway between {490} the
two: and the Report will probably be found to breathe a spirit of
conservative reform. Embracing, as the proposed changes necessarily must,
points on which great difference of opinion has existed, and may continue
to exist, we hope they will receive the impartial consideration of the
Fellows; and that they will bear in mind, that in coming to the conclusions
at which they have arrived, the Committee have had the advantage of sources
of information, necessarily beyond the reach of the body generally; and
that those very recommendations, which at first sight may seem most open to
objection, may probably be those which their information most completely
justifies.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--_Young's Night Thoughts, or Life, Death, and Immortality,
revised and collated with the early Quarto Editions, with a Life of the
Author by_ Dr. Doran. This new, handsomely printed, and carefully edited
reprint of the great work of this noble and original writer, is rendered
more valuable by the well-written and critical Memoir of Young, which Dr.
Doran has prefixed to it.--_The National Miscellany_, _May_ 1853. The first
Number of a New Magazine just issued by Mr. Parker (Oxford), with every
promise of realising the objects for which it has been projected, namely,
"to aid the elevation of the reader's mind, to raise some glow of generous
desire, some high and noble thoughts, some kindly feeling, and a warm
veneration for all things that are good and true."--_Cyclopædia
Bibliographica_, Part VIII. This most useful work is in the present Part
carried from _Fawcett_ (John) to _Göthe_. Every fresh issue of it affords
additional evidence of the great utility which the complete work will prove
to all authors, preachers, students, and literary men.
* * * * *