“This posthumous work of Dr. Hodgson deserves a hearty welcome, for it is sure to do good service for the object it has in view—improved accuracy in the use of the English language.... Perhaps its chief use will be in very distinctly proving with what wonderful carelessness or incompetency the English language is generally written. For the examples of error here brought together are not picked from obscure or inferior writings. Among the grammatical sinners whose trespasses are here recorded appear many of our best-known authors and publications.”—The Academy.

“I know it well, and have read it with great admiration.”—Richard Grant White.

“Cobbett’s Grammar is probably the most readable grammar ever written. For the purposes of self-education it is unrivaled. Persons that studied grammar when at school and failed to comprehend its principles—and there are many such—as well as those that never have studied grammar at all, will find the book specially suited to their needs. Any one of average intelligence that will give it a careful reading will be rewarded with at least a tolerable knowledge of the subject, as nothing could be more simple or more lucid than its expositions.”—From the Preface.

“It gives us pleasure to say that we think the author, in the treatment of this very difficult and intricate subject, English pronunciation, gives proof of not only an unusual degree of orthoepical knowledge, but also, for the most part, of rare judgment and taste.”—Joseph Thomas, LL. D., in Literary World.

“This is the best kind of an English grammar. It teaches the right use of our mother-tongue by giving instances of the wrong use of it, and showing why they are wrong.”—The Churchman.

“Every one can learn something from this volume, and most of us a great deal.”—Springfield Republican.

“Since the publication of Horace Walpole’s Letters, no book of greater historical interest has seen the light than the Greville Memoirs. It throws a curious, and, we may almost say, a terrible light on the conduct and character of the public men in England under the reigns of George IV and William IV. Its descriptions of those kings and the kinfolk are never likely to be forgotten.”—New York Times.

“Mr. Greville’s Diary is one of the most important contributions which have ever been made to the political history of the middle of the nineteenth century. He is a graphic and powerful writer; and his usual habit of making the record while the impression of the events was fresh upon his mind, gives his sketches of persons and places, and his accounts of conversations, great vividness. The volumes will be read with as much interest for their sketches of social life as for their political value.”—London Daily News.

The preceding volumes of the “Greville Memoirs” consist of “A Journal of the Reign of King George IV and King William IV” in two vols.; and “A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852,” in two vols. Price in each case, per vol., $2.00.

This volume, in addition to personal anecdotes, deals with many important events, such, for instance, as the re-establishment of the French Empire, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, and the Italian War.

“A second, revised edition of Mr. Louis Heilprin’s ‘Historical Reference-Book’ has just appeared, marking the well-earned success of this admirable work—a dictionary of dates, a dictionary of events (with a special gazetteer for all the places mentioned), and a concise biographical dictionary, all in one, and all in the highest degree trustworthy. Mr. Heilprin’s revision is as thorough as his original work. Any one can test it by running ever the list of persons deceased since this manual first appeared.”—Evening Post.

“This genial book gives the first truly American view of the land of Nihilists and Novelists. The author exposes and playfully ridicules the current English misrepresentations of Russia. His epicurean circuit for getting into and out of the empire includes nearly every country of Europe. He keeps on the track of all the comforts and luxuries required by American travelers. Tourists will find the volume a boon companion. But it is no less designed to please those who stay at home and travel only by book.”

CONTENTS: Prefatory. Voyage to Brazil. Getting to Housekeeping. Rio and its People. Life and Manners. The Emperor of Brazil. Tijuca—Pedra Bonita. Situation, Resources, and Climate. American-Brazilian Relations. A Trip into the Interior. Visit to a Coffee-Plantation. Public Instruction. Local Administration. Parliamentary Government. Brazilian Literature. Agriculture and Stock-raising. The Amazon Valley. Beasts of Prey. Slavery and Emancipation. The Religious Orders. Public Lands and Immigration.

“I hope I may be able to present some facts in respect to the present situation of Brazil which will be both instructive and entertaining to general readers. My means of acquaintance with that empire are principally derived from a residence of three years at Rio de Janeiro, its capital, while employed in the service of the United States Government, during which period I made a few journeys into the interior.”—From the Preface.

“Mr. Wells’s showing is extremely interesting, and its value is great. Nothing like it has been published in many years.”—New York Times.

“Mr. Wells sketches broadly but in firm lines Mexico’s physical geography, her race inheritance, political history, social condition, and present government.”—New York Evening Post.

“Several efforts have been made to satisfy the growing desire for information relating to Mexico since that country has become connected by railways with the United States. But we have seen no book upon this subject by an American writer which is so satisfactory on the score of knowledge and trustworthiness as ‘A Study of Mexico,’ by David A. Wells.”—New York Sun.

“It has peculiar attractions in its literary methods, its rich and quiet humor, and the genial spirit of its author.”—The Critic.

“Pithy, piquant, and picturesque sentences from the writings of the late Henry Ward Beecher. They are admirably selected to show the author’s characteristics. In the main they enhance one’s appreciation of his excellences.”—New York Home Journal.

“The wisdom and the world-knowledge of the great preacher have a brilliant exemplification in this book, which, wherever it may be opened, presents with the terseness and point of an epigram impressive thoughts in abundance and of a nature that stimulates reflection and edifies the understanding.”—Boston Gazette.

“In these wise and witty utterances may be found the quintessence of Mr. Beecher’s ideas about religion, morals, nature, art, and man in all his relations to life and eternity. Mr. Beecher looked for himself and did his own thinking. The result is an actual contribution to the proverbial philosophy of the world which will compare favorably with the most brilliant dicta of any other modern man.”—New York Journal of Commerce.

“If not always original, these selections are generally quaint and forcible. We append a specimen or two: ‘The piety of impossible boys is monstrous. A man’s experience stuffed into a little boy is simply monstrous. The world is soundly skeptical of the whole school of juvenile paté-de-foie-gras piety.’ ‘There are many men who would not blaspheme—oh no! but they will use cowards’ oaths. They will not say “By Jehovah!” but they will say “By Jupiter!”’”—New York Sun.

CONTENTS.—Industry and Idleness; Twelve Causes of Dishonesty; Six Warnings; Portrait Gallery; Gamblers and Gambling; The Strange Woman; Popular Amusements; Practical Hints; Profane Swearing; Vulgarity; Happiness; Temperance.

The momentous question of future retribution is here historically discussed with an earnestness and deliberation due to its transcendent importance. The main interest of the inquiry naturally centers in the doom of the wicked. Will it be annihilation? ultimate restoration to holiness and happiness? endless punishment? or is it out of power to decide which of these views is the truth? The discussion is intensified by being narrowed to the meaning of a single word, aionios. The opinions of those to whom Christ spoke, and how they understood him, are vital questions in the argument; and, to solve them, the opinions and modes of speech of preceding ages must be attentively weighed, for each age is known to have molded the opinions and use of words of its successor. Hence, Dr. Beecher has found himself compelled to “trace the development of thought and language from the outset to the days of Christ, then to inquire into the import of his words, in the light of all preceding ages; and, lastly, to trace the development of opinion downward through the Christian ages.”

“This story is told with vigor and intelligence, and throughout the book is well imagined and well written. It is a novel of sterling merit, being fresh and original in conception, thoroughly healthy in tone, interesting in detail, and sincere and capable in execution.”—Academy.

“Well written and full of interest. The story abounds with a good many light touches, and is certainly far from lacking in incident.”—Times.

“We recommend all novel-readers to read this novel with the care which such a strong, uncommon, and thoughtful book demands and deserves.”—Spectator.

“The Dean’s daughters are perfectly real characters—the learned Cornelia especially; the little impulsive French heroine, who endures their cold hospitality and at last wins their affection, is thoroughly charming; while throughout the book there runs a golden thread of pure brotherly and sisterly love, which pleasantly reminds us that the making and marring of marriage is not, after all, the sum total of real life.”—Academy.

“‘Knight-Errant’ is marked by the author’s best qualities as a writer of fiction, and displays on every page the grace and quiet power of the former works.”—Athenæum.

“Among all the stories, real or fictitious, of Italian brigandage which we have read, there is none more striking, picturesque, and terrible than this.”—Spectator.

“Miss Lyall has given us a vigorous study of such life and character as are really worth reading about. The central figure of her story is Algernon Sydney; and this figure she invests with a singular dignity and power. He always appears with effect but no liberties are taken with the facts of his life. The plot is adapted with great felicity to them. His part in it, absolutely consistent as it is with historical truth, gives it reality as well as dignity. Some of the scenes are remarkably vivid. The escape is an admirable narrative, which almost makes one hold one’s breath as one reads.”—Spectator.

“‘In the Golden Days’ is an excellent novel of a kind we are always particularly glad to recommend. It has a good foundation of plot and incident, a thoroughly noble and wholesome motive, a hero who really acts and suffers heroically, and two very nice heroines. The historical background is very carefully indicated, but is never allowed to become more than background.”—Guardian.

“An important contribution to physical science is Angelo Heilprin’s ‘Geographical and Geological Distribution of Animals.’ The author has aimed to present to his readers such of the more significant facts connected with the past and present distribution of animal life as might lead to a proper conception of the relations of existing fauna, and also to furnish the student with a work of general reference, wherein the more salient features of the geography and geology of animal forms could be readily ascertained. While this book is addressed chiefly to the naturalist, it contains much information, particularly on the subject of the geographical distribution of animals, the rapidly increasing growth of some species and the gradual extinction of others, which will interest and instruct the general reader. Mr. Heilprin is no believer in the doctrine of independent creation, but holds that animate nature must be looked upon as a concrete whole.”—New York Sun.

“Microbes are everywhere; every species of plant has its special parasites, the vine having more than one hundred foes of this kind. Fungi of a microscopic size, they have their uses in nature, since they clear the surface of the earth from dead bodies and fecal matter, from all dead and useless substances which are the refuse of life, and return to the soil the soluble mineral substances from which plants are derived. All fermented liquors, wine, beer, vinegar, etc., are artificially produced by the species of microbes called ferments; they also cause bread to rise. Others are injurious to us, for in the shape of spores and seeds they enter our bodies with air and water and cause a large number of the diseases to which the flesh is heir. Many physicians do not accept the microbian theory, considering that when microbes are found in the blood they are neither the cause of the disease, nor the contagious element, nor the vehicle of contagion. In France the opponents of the microbian theory are Robin, Bechamp, and Jousset de Bellesme; in England, Lewis and Lionel Beale. The writer comes to the conclusion that Pasteur’s microbian theory is the only one that explains all facts.”—New York Times.

“In this little book Professor Milne has endeavored to bring together all that is known concerning the nature and causes of earthquake movements. His task was one of much difficulty. Professor Milne’s excellent work in the science of seismology has been done in Japan, in a region of incessant shocks of sufficient energy to make observation possible, yet, with rare exceptions, of no disastrous effects. He has had the good fortune to be aided by Mr. Thomas Gray, a gentleman of great constructive skill, as well as by Professors J. A. Ewing, W. S. Chaplin, and his other colleagues in the scientific colony which has gathered about the Imperial University of Japan. To these gentlemen we owe the best of our science of seismology, for before their achievements we had nothing of value concerning the physical conditions of earthquakes except the great works of Robert Mallet; and Mallet, with all his genius and devotion to the subject, had but few chances to observe the actual shocks, and so failed to understand many of their important features.”—The Nation.