ODD PEOPLE.*This is a book, compiled by a popular writer, Capt. Mayne Reed, which contains a great variety of information, not easily accessible to most persons, with respect to "Singular Races of Men;" the localities they inhabit; their history; their modes of life; their habits and customs. The accounts are of The Bosjesmen, or Bushmen of South Africa; The Amazonian Indians; The Water-Dwellers of Maracaibo; The Esquimaux; The Centaurs of the "Gran Chaco;" The Feegees, or Man Eaters; The Tongans, or Friendly Islanders; The Turcomans; The Ottomacs, or Dirt-Eaters; The Comanches, or Frairie Indians; The Pehuenches, or Pampas Indians; The Yamparicos, or Root-Diggers; The Guaraons, or Palm Dwellers; The Laplanders ; The Andamaners, or Mud-Bedaubers; The Patagonian Giants, and The Fuegian Dwarfs. The book is illustrated with engravings.

THE PATIENT'S AND PHYSICIAN'S AID.f-Let all who would keep full and vigorous health remember the old proverb: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" On this subject of the preservation of health there is proverbially more ignorance and carelessness than on almost any other. The book before us is not written with the view of leading people to be their own physicians, if they are so unfortunate as to need one; but to give them that information with regard to health and disease, which every one should know. It is a manual, and a very useful one, with directions "how to preserve health; what to do in sudden attacks, or until the doctor comes; and how best to profit by his directions when given."

FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.-Those who were interested in the first series of these entertaining "conversations," will be glad to know that two new volumes have appeared, and are published by Messrs. Munroe & Co., of Boston. We give a list of some of the subjects discussed: Worry, War, Criticisin, Biography, Proverbs, The Miseries of Human Life, Pleasantness, Government, Despotism.

Odd People. Being a popular description of Singular races of men. By Capt. MAYNE REID. With Illustrations. Ticknor & Fields. 1860. 12mo. pp. 461. 75 cents. [T. H. Pease, New Haven.]

The Patient's and Physician's Aid. By F. M. HUNT, A. M., M. D. New York: C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co. 1860. 12mo. pp. 365.

Friends in Council. A series of Readings and Discourses thereon. A new series. Two volumes. Reprinted from the English edition. Boston: J. Munroe & Co. 1860. 12mo. pp. 242, 280.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.*-Our readers doubtless all recollect the story of the librarian who placed Miss Edgeworth's "Irish Bulis" in his catalogue, under the title, "Agricultural Works." We think the catalogue makers will have to be on their guard, or some equally laughable mistake will be made with this book. It is certainly not a theological work, nor will it do to class it among "works on morals;" although it must be confessed the discussion involves some important questions of morality. To be brief, the particular object of this new treatise, on the Eighth Commandment, is to stop Englishmen from stealing the works of French dramatic authors. Perhaps this announcement may at first lead some persons to think that the discussion is altogether of local interest, and about a subject for which they care but little. It must be admitted that a great part of the book will not be of particular interest to many in this country. Still the discussion is really respecting the important question of an International Copyright. It is written by one of the oddest, quaintest, yet most amusing and popular writers in England. To those who have read the author's previous works, his name will of course be a sufficient attraction. To those who have not, we will say--whether for amusement or instruction, the book is well worth examination.

In concluding his treatise, Mr. Reade says:

"In this book, I have abused the quick and the dead like pickpockets. This is not altogether my fault, but partly their own, for being pickpockets. Still it is all the more pleasant to notice bright exceptions. The first

class publishers in the United States, and particularly Messrs. Appleton, Messrs. Harper, Messrs. Ticknor & Fields, pay English authors liberal sums-for what?for early sheets, a mere start of a week or two, in advance of the pirates. I am now sending out these sheets to Boston, U. S., with considerable fear that Messrs. Ticknor & Fields will lose money by their spirit in publishing a well meaning, unpopular work; but with a royal sense of security, that, if they receive profits, they will fire as many dollars at me, or perhaps more, than their balance sheet justifies."

QUAKER QUIDDITIES.--This becomingly sober jeu d'esprit, in blank verse, appears to have been written by a somewhat progressive young Quaker. It consists of a colloquy, extending over thirty pages, between

*The Eighth Commandment. By CHARLES READE. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1860. 12mo. pp. 276. 75 cents. [T. H. Pease, New Haven.]

+ Quaker Quiddities; or, Friends in Council. A Colloquy. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Co. 1860. 12mo. pp. 48.

the conservative Jeremiah Austen and Samuel Bonus, in which they discuss the propriety of some slight relaxation:

"In those requirements which restrain, so close
Friends in the matters of attire and speech."

The author represents himself to be a "member" by birthright, and to have adopted the principles of the Friends "from conviction." He gives us the views which he advocates from the mouth of Samuel Bonus:

"And can it be that our peculiar speech,

And vestments hued and fashioned by a rule
Made of an accident, with no support
But weak tradition, are the pillars strong,
Which give us all our beauty and our strength?
Are we by these distinctive and secure?
Are we defended from the world's array
By this environment of garb and speech ?"

*

"And have the law

The Gospel law, the law by love fulfilled-
And the blessed ministry of the daily cross
Done all their work, their highest triumph found,
When singularity of diction (called

By strange misnomer and assumption bold,
Plainness of speech) is by a pronoun gained,

And saying John,' instead of Mr. Smith?'"

We have been interested in the book as a development of the state of feeling within the Society of Friends, but we must own that we prefer the sentiments of the author to his poetry.

INVOLUNTARY CONFESSIONS.-This most interesting and thrilling Essay is taken from the closing chapter of the second edition of a work on Medical Jurisprudence, just issued from the press by Dr. Stillé and the author. It will more than repay a perusal for the exciting interest of its narratives of horror, and the materials which it furnishes for the noble, moral argument, which is suggested at its close.

*Involuntary Confessions. A Monograph, by FRANCIS WHARTON. Philadel phia: Kay & Brother. 1860. 8vo. pp. 36.

NEW EDITIONS OF STANDARD WORKS.

THE WORKS OF FRANCIS BACON. Fifteen volumes. Brown & Taggard, Boston.

CARLYLE'S CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. Brown & Taggard, Boston.

MILMAN'S LATIN CHRISTIANITY. Eight volumes. New York.

Four volumes.

Sheldon & Co.,

IRVING'S WORKS. National edition. Sixteen volumes. G. P. Putnam, New York.

IRVING'S LIFE OF WASHINGTON. National edition. Five volumes. G. P. Putnam, New York.

Till recently our American publishers have been obliged to confess a hopeless inferiority to their English competitors in all that pertains to the art of printing. Occasionally a handsome volume has been issued from the American press, which has received extraordinary care; but the highest praise bestowed upon it has been that it approached, in its typography, to the beauty and finish of an English book. Every student who has been so fortunate as to possess English editions of a few favorite authors, well knows with what gratification his eye has dwelt on their faultless pages, with their broad margins and black, sharp cut letters. There is something in the mere feeling of the heavy leaves, as he slowly turns them over, that disposes him to be better pleased with the author he is reading. Even the peculiar perfume that clings so long to these imported treasures is choicer to him than the bouquet of a choice wine to the connoisseur.

We are glad to see that a new era is commencing in the history of American typography. The editions of standard works that have been given to the public within the past few months, furnish a new proof of our advancing civilization. It is proof at least that in the opinion of our publishers the time has come when the number of persons among us who are willing to buy good editions of works of the highest class is sufficient to sustain them in their costly enterprises. The appearance of the volumes whose titles we have given above will satisfy the most fastidious taste, and it now rests with book-buyers and bookreaders throughout the land to show their appreciation of what is of

fered to them by their own countrymen. They can import nothing su perior from beyond the seas.

The separate volumes of most of the works that we have mentioned are to be published at intervals of one or two months. We shall notice the contents of each one as it appears, and give such other information respecting it as may seem necessary. Probably in the course of the publication we shall make some of them the subjects of extended review. They are all so well known to the public, and bear such high rank in our classical literature, that we doubt not the anouncement of their appearance will be hailed with increasing pleasure.

THE WORKS Of Lord Bacon.*-This new edition of the works of one who still ranks among the very first of English statesmen and philosophers, is published by Messrs. Brown & Taggard, of Boston. The volumes, which are to be fifteen in number, are to be exact reprints of the latest and best English editions, of which the editors are Messrs. James Spedding, M. A., of Trinity College, Cambridge; Robert Leslie Ellis, M. A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; and Douglas Denon Heath, Barrister-at-Law, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. In the English edition the works are arranged in three classes 1st, the Philosophical; 2d, the Literary and Professional; and 3d, the Occasional. the second class; and the single volume which has just been given to the public is accordingly the eleventh of the whole series, but the first of the Literary and Professional works. It is intended that at least one volume shall be issued each month till the whole is completed. The edition is stereotyped and printed by Messrs. H. O. Houghton & Co., of the "Riverside Press," Cambridge, whose names are a guarantee of the excellence of their workmanship. Each volume is to be printed in crown octavo, and is to be of about five hundred pages.

The present republication commences with

The contents of the eleventh volume are: The History of the Reign of King Henry VII.-The Beginning of the History of the Reign of

The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Albans, and Lord High Chancellor of England. Collected and edited by JAMES SPEDDING, M. A., of Trinity College, Cambridge; ROBERT LESLIE ELLIS, M. A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; and DOUGLAS DENON HEATH, Barrister-at-Law, late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Volume XI. Being Volume I of the Literary and Professional Works. Boston: Published by Brown & Taggard. 1860. 12mo. pp. 461.