NEW PUBLICATIONS AND GCSSIT.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 209, 29 January 1866, Page 3

NEW PUBLICATIONS AND GCSSIT.

' (From the Some News.J The ""Waterloo" of M. Chatrein, forming a sequal to " The Conscript," has appeared in an English translation. These little works have been widely read in England in the original, and it is in the original that their reality is most impreesive. But to people who are unable to enjoy the author in his own tongue, the translation will be very acceptable. An exqusite edition of Dr. Watts's an^ Moral Songs for children has been issue" by Messrs. Sampson. Low and Son. Every page is illuminated with charming drawings by eminent artists, engraved with the finest skill, and printed with all the care such productions demand. The book is quite, a gem, and ought to be procured for the sake of its beauty, even by people who do not consider Watts thegrandest of our sacred poets. While the puhlic are anxiously waiting for Dores illustrations of the Bible, which are in course of preparation 'by Messrs. Cassell and Peter, an illustrated Bible, printed in large type, and embellished with wood cuts, is being issued in numbers by Messrs. Shaw. The art is very good for the purpose for which it is intended, and the type will be thankfully received by all people who desire to read the Bible at their ease. The same publishers have also issued a handsome volume, called " Pictures of Society, Grave and Gray." It consists of a number of large wood engravinss reproduced from the magazine called ' London Society,' accompanied by corresponding papers in prose and verse. The engravings are of various merit; but, taken altogether, the book will furnish an ample source of amusement on the drawingroom.table. The special literature preparing for Christmas exists as yet only in the advertisements, which are thickly sown this month in periodicals. We gather from the advertising pages of the ' Bookseller' that the season will be more than ordinarily prolific of gift-books ; but we must wait a little longer for the devlopment of these promises. In the meanwhile, we may record that ' Once a Week,' 'All the Year Round,' and 'London Society' announced Christmas numbers, consisting of tales or other short articles, contributed by a variety of popular writers, and that two new serials are coming out : ' The Argosy,' a monthly, apparently not differing from other monthlies except in its price, which will be only sixpence ; and ' Gfammon and Spinach,' which is meant to be a sort of comic scientific journal. Our Novel literature is the blight of the libraries. There never was a period since printing was invented when such shoals of novels were poured into the market. Out of the mob of gentlemen and ladies who write with such fatal ease, there are, after all, but two or three who are likely to be read after the first flush of curiosity is over. Of these Mr. Anthony Throllope occupies the first place. His novels are distinguished by a freshness and reality of treatment, with sound principles and practical views of life at bottom, that attract all classes of readers, and render these wise, agreeable books as pleasant in hours of relaxation to the hard-working professional man, as they are fascinating to young ladies, who find themselves reflected in ,Mr. Throllope's pages with a fidelity which they are puzzled to understand. His last novel, " Can You Forgive Her ?" has been more read than any other novel of the season. The same indefatigable writer is now running a novel, " The Belfc>n Estate," through the 'Fortnightly Review," to which publication he has also contributed many papers on. independent subjects. " Our Mutal Friend " has been brought to a close, and published in volumes. It is not the happiest of Mr Dicekns's works, nor has it produced that sort of sensation which used to follow the appearance of a new work from the hand of the popular novelist. The story is at once complicated and loose, the characters are highly colored in the way of caricature and extravagance, and the dialogue abounds in odd and fantastical touches of burlesque fun. But, although it is not equal, as a whole, to the best of Mr. Dickens' former productions, it will vividly remind the reader of them in a hundred charao teristie flashes of entire, pathos, wt4

• humour. There is another writer who must not be overloaked amongst those ! who hare been long before the public, i and who, after years of constant work, has i betrayed no signs of exhaustion. We ; allude to Mr. "W\ H. Ainsworth, whose " Spanish Match " has already passed into a second edition. It is a capital picture of the time, and makes the most of the visit of Prince Charles and Buckingham te Spain. The comedy is not very . intricate, nor are the adventures very exciting ' but the aspects of Spanish life brought out in these volumes are so graphically and minutely portrayed, that a higher interest is created than that of a mere story of masks and faces.