The first two, namely, Jack Jugler, an Interlude bearing some resemblance in its leading incident to the Amphitryon of Plautus, and Thersytes, a character suggested by the ugly scolder of the Iliad, are anonymous, but were written about the middle of the sixteenth century; The Pardoner and the Frere, written by John Heywood, dates nearly at the same time; the Tragedy of Jocasta, partly by George Gascoigne and partly by Francis Kinwelmarsh, was "presented" at Gray's Inn in 1566.

The three Interludes are not deficient in humor, though blended with the coarsenesses that characterize the age to which they belong; and the Tragedy of Jocasta, the merit of which, contrary to the usual practice of editors, we think is somewhat underrated in the Introduction, is not wanting in passages of vigorous description and tragical passion. In the Interludes there is much more of strong popular spirit and the language of every day. They exhibit, though in a coarse form, the genuine lineaments of that broad English humor which, when polished by the advancing refinement of subsequent times, formed the most delightful feature of English literature. They abound in popular proverbs and pithy sayings, some of which retain their significance in the common speech of the present day, and others have sunk into mere vulgarisms, inadmissible in good society. The language of Jocasta is that of the scholars of the age. The style of the Interludes, though more lively and pungent, is less intelligible in some places; the phraseology of the Tragedy, though sometimes antiquated, is always easy to be understood. The rhythms of the Interludes are for the most part of the iambic-anapæstic sort, into which English popular poetry so naturally runs. At times, they move with a free and natural tread; but often their movement betrays the rudeness of the beginnings of the rhythmical art. On the other hand, the Jocasta is written entirely in the five-foot iambic rhythms; a rhythm which, after a struggle of some duration with the more native and racy anapæsts, became, through the influence of the learned, the prevailing measure of English tragic, didactic, and heroic verse. Even the choruses are composed in this measure, with the addition of rhyme.

But the principal interest of all these pieces is the light they throw on the state of the English language and on the arts of literary composition three hundred years ago. Considered in this point of view, they have a value wholly beyond their intrinsic merits, and richly repay an attentive reading. The appearance of this collection indicates that our scholars are beginning to occupy themselves with the study of the antiquities of our language; and a more important field of literary labor can

scarcely be opened to the student. The able editor of this volume, Mr. Child, a tutor in Harvard University, has done his part of the work modestly, but with talent and learning. In an Introduction, written with elegant precision, he has communicated what is known of the pieces and their authors, diversifying this information with lively and judicious criticism. At the end of the volume he has added notes, whose only fault is that they are so few, a glossary of the obsolete words and phrases occurring in the plays, and an index of proverbial and other remarkable expressions. We cannot doubt that this book will be welcomed by the lovers of English literature, and that Mr. Child will be encouraged to proceed with the studies for which he has shown himself to possess so much aptitude.

NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The Life, Letters, and Literary Remains of John Keats. Edited by Richard Monckton Milnes. New York: George P. Putnam. 1848. 12mo. pp. 393.

Select Popular Orations of Demosthenes, with Notes and a Chronological Table. By J. T. Champlin, Professor of Greek and Latin in Waterville College. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1848. 12mo. Pp. 227.

Literary Sketches and Letters; being the Final Memorials of Charles Lamb, never before published. By Thomas Noon Talfourd, one of his Executors. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1848. 12mo. pp. 306.

Ancient Sea-Margins, as Memorials of Changes in the Relative Level of Sea and Land. By Robert Chambers, Esq., F. R. S. E. Edinburgh W. & R. Chambers. 1848. 8vo. pp. 337.

The Rise and Fall of Louis Philippe, Ex-King of the French; giving a History of the French Revolution from its Commencement in 1789. By Ben. Perley Poore, late Historical Agent of the State of Massachusetts to France. Illustrated with Historical Engravings, Portraits, &c. Boston: W. D.Ticknor & Co. 1848. 12mo. pp. 316.

Four Old Plays. Three Interludes: Thersytes, Jack Jugler, and Heywood's Pardoner and Frere; and Jocasta, a Tragedy, by Gascoigne and Kinwelmarsh. With an Introduction and Notes. Cambridge: George Nichols. 1848. 12mo. pp. 288.

Application of the Angular Analysis to the Solution of Indeterminate Problems of the Second Degree. By C. Gill, Professor of Mathematics in St. Paul's College. New York: John Wiley. 1848. 12mo. pp. 90.

Christian Songs. By the Rev. James Gilborne Lyons, LL. D. "The Service of Song.' Third Edition, with Additions. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. 1848. 8vo. pp. 72.

Memoirs of the Reign of George the Second, from his Accession to the Death of Queen Caroline. By John, Lord Hervey. Edited, from the Original Manuscript at Ickworth, by the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker, LL. D., F. R. S. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1848. 2 vols. 12mo.

The Genius of Scotland, or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature, and Religion. By Rev. Robert Turnbull. Fourth Edition. New York: Robert Carter. 1848. 12mo.

pp. 378.

The Pulpit Orators of France and Switzerland: Sketches of their

Character and Specimens of their Eloquence. By Rev. Robert Turnbull. New York: Robert Carter. 1848. 12mo.

pp. 341.

A Sketch of the History of Harvard College and of its Present State. By Samuel A. Eliot. Boston: Little & Brown. 1848. 12mo. pp. 190.

History of New Netherland, or New York under the Dutch. Vol. II. By E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D., Corresponding Member of the New York Historical Society, &c. New York: Bartlett & Welford. 1848. 8vo. pp. 608.

The Shadow of the Cross: The Distant Hills: The King's Messengers: The Old Man's Home. Sacred Allegories, by the Rev. William Adams, M. A. With Engravings from Original Designs, by Weir. New York: General Protestant Episcopal S. S. Union. 3 vols. 16mo. The American Manual, containing a Brief Outline of the Laws of Nations, a Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, and an Exposition of the Duties and Responsibilities of Voters, Jurors, and Civil Magistrates; with Questions, Definitions, and Marginal Exercises. By Joseph B. Burleigh, A. M. Philadelphia: Grigg, Elliot, & Co. 1848. 12mo. pp. 317 and 54.

Catalogue of the Library of the University of Alabama, with an Index of Subjects. By Wilson G. Richardson, M. A. Tuscaloosa : M. D. J. Slade. 1848. 8vo. pp. 257.

The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidius Naso, elucidated by an Analysis and Explanation of the Fables, together with English Notes, Historical, Mythological, and Critical, and illustrated by Pictorial Embellishments; with a Clavis, giving the Meaning of all the Words with Critical Exactness. By Nathan Covington Brooks, A. M., Principal of the Latin High School, Baltimore. Philadelphia: Grigg, Elliot, & Co. 1848. 8vo. pp. 386.

Public Economy for the United States. By Calvin Colton. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co. 1848. 8vo. pp. 536.

Lead Diseases: a Treatise from the French of L. Tanquerel des Planches, with Notes and Additions on the Use of the Lead Pipe and its Substitutes. By Samuel L. Dana, M. D., LL. D. Lowell Daniel Bixby & Co. 1848. 8vo. pp. 441.

The Writings of Cassius Marcellus Clay, including Speeches and Addresses. Edited, with a Preface and Memoir, by Horace Greeley. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1848. 8vo. pp. 535.

Authentic Memoirs of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. Providence : Charles Burnett. 1848. 12mo. pp. 58.

An Oration delivered before the Municipal Authorities and the Citizens of Lowell, July 4, 1848. By Elisha Bartlett. Lowell: J. Atkinson. 8vo. pp. 38.

Oration pronounced by the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, on the 4th of July, 1848, on the Occasion of laying the Corner-stone of the National Monument to the Memory of Washington. With an Introduction and an Appendix. Washington J. & G. S. Gideon. 8vo. pp. 67.

Narrative of the Expedition of the Marquis de Nonville against the Senecas, in 1687. Translated from the French, with an Introductory Notice and Notes. By Orsamus H. Marshall. New York: Bartlett & Welford. 8vo. pp. 48.

1848.

Supplement to Essays on the Progress of Nations in Productive Industry, Civilization, Population, and Wealth; illustrated by Statistics. By Ezra C. Seaman. No. II. New York: Baker & Scribner. 1848. 8vo. pp. 96.

Law of Revolutions: a Discourse preached in Hartford, Ct., on the Day of the Annual Fast. By Rev. Robert Turnbull, A. M. Hartford Brockett, Fuller, & Co. 1848. 8vo.

pp. 24. The Principles of the Chrono-Thermal System of Medicine, with the Fallacies of the Faculty, in a Series of Lectures. By Samuel Dickson, M. D. With an Introduction and Notes, by William Turner, M. D., Ex-Health Commissioner for the City and County of New York. Second American from the Fifth London Edition. New York: H. Long & Brother. 1848. 8vo. pp. 224.

Report of the Water-Commissioners on the Material best adapted for Distribution Water-Pipes, and on the most Economical Mode of introducing Water into Private Houses. Boston: J. H. Eastburn, City Printer. 1848. 8vo. pp. 67.

An Oration delivered before the Society of Phi Beta Kappa, at Cambridge, August 24, 1848. By Horace Bushnell. Cambridge: George Nichols. 1848. 8vo. pp. 39.

The Gorgias of Plato, chiefly according to Stallbaum's Text; with Notes, by Theodore D. Woolsey. New Edition, with Additions. Boston: James Munroe & Co. 1848. 12mo. pp. 242.