CATHARINE.* The author of this book is a well known and highly respected clergyman of Boston. He has given a short sketch of the last days and the triumphant death of a young lady, "Catharine," who was his own daughter. It is followed by a tender and affectionate presentation of those truths which have been the alleviation of his sorrow. It is the story of a father who has seen his child "made competent to meet intelligently and deliberately the last enemy," and to come off conqueror, "able to sustain and comfort" those who loved her, that she was leaving behind. We do not know a better book to put into the hands of those who are suffering from a similar bereavement. We make two extracts, which will show how thoroughly the author is able to enter into the feelings of the afflicted, and how tenderly and with what warm sympathy he leads them to the sources of consolation.

"At the death of a friend the greatest suffering does not occur immediately upon the event. It comes when the world have forgotten that you have cause to weep; for when the eyes are dry the heart is often bleeding. There are hours—no, they are more concentrated than hours,-there are moments, when the thought of a lost and loved one who has perished out of your family circle, suspends all interest in everything else; when the memory of the departed floats over you like a wandering perfume, and recollections come in throngs with it,-flooding the soul with grief. The name, of necessity or accidentally spoken, sets all your soul ajar; and your sense of loss, utter loss, for all time, brings more sorrow with it by far than the parting scene." pp. 25, 26.

"See that chamber in yonder mansion, where all the comforts, and some of the luxuries, of life, have contributed to prepare for some mysterious event. The garden of Eden failed to possess such joys as are in anticipation, and are soon to be made perfect. Everything seems waiting, with silent but thrilling interest, for the arrival of an unknown occupant. And there is raiment of needle-work, and of fine twined linen, and gifts of cunning device, from the looms of the old world, and from graceful fingers and loving hearts here, every want being anticipated, and some wants imagined, to gratify the love of satisfying them. And now God breathes the breath of life, and a living soul begins its deathless career, amidst joys and thanksgivings, which swell through the wide circles of kindred and acquaintanceship. The Holy Spirit, in the process of time, renews and sanctifies the soul through the blood of the everlasting covenant; and having, through life, walked with God, the day arrives when the spirit must return to God who gave it. You saw how it was received here at its entrance into the world. You have seen what the atonement, and regeneration, and sanctification, and providence, and grace, have done for it, and with what accumulated love the Father of Spirits, and Redeemer, and Sanctifier, must regard it. And now do we suppose that the shroud, and the coffin, and the funeral, and the narrow house, and the darkness, and

Catharine. By the author of "Agnes and the Little Key." Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co. 1859. pp. 192. 12mo. For sale by F. T. Jarman. Price 75 cents. VOL. XVII.

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the solitude, and corruption, and the whole dreary and terrible train of death and the grave, are symbols of its reception into heaven; the proper pageantry of its arrival and resting place within the veil? Believe it not! If God prepared in our hearts such a welcome for the infant stranger, that even its helpless feet were thought of, and cared for, surely when those feet, wearied in the pilgrimage of the strait and narrow way, arrive at heaven's gate, it must be, it is, amidst rejoicings and ministrations of love to which earth has no parallel. Let kings and queens prepare a royal room for the new born prince: "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." pp. 79, 80, 81.

WILLARD MEMOIR.*-The publication of family memoirs is now a common occurrence. It furnishes an occasion for laborious research on the part of the author, and often brings before the public new and interesting facts. These facts the future historian can employ to great advantage.

The subject of this memoir is Major Simon Willard, who emigrated from the County of Kent, England, to Massachusetts, in 1634, and made his residence successively at Concord, Lancaster, and Groton. He died in 1676. He filled many important offices. His biography connects itself with the civil affairs of Massachusetts Bay in what may be called the home department. It exhibits the internal history of the colony, and shows how it grew up to its present form. There are also some topics here of a more general interest, as the confederation of the colonies of New England in 1643, and Philip's war at a subsequent period.

The descendants of Simon Willard are very numerous, most of the Willards in New England being descended from him. The author of the memoir gives his descendants to the fourth generation. The present generation of Willards, by inquiring the name of their grandfather and great-grandfather, can easily connect themselves with the genealogies here given.

The author, who is a descendant of Major Simon Willard, traces his pedigree to Richard Willard, of Horsmonden, County of Kent, England, making seven generations.

On pages 71-73 is a list of fifteen generations, commencing with William Wyllard, of Haylesham, Sussex, in 1341, and ending with

* Willard Memoir; or, Life and Times of Major Simon Willard. With Notices of three Generations of his Descendants. By JOSEPH WILLARD. BOSton. 1858. pp. 488.

John Harry Willard, of Eastbourne, England, born 1770, died in 1845. But the exact mode of connection of their family with that of Simon Willard, has not been ascertained. The list just referred to gives us thirty-three years as the average interval between two successive generations.

The author has a long discussion about the origin of the name. The name is undoubtedly Teutonic; but whether it is of Anglo-Saxon, or Norman origin, is uncertain. Teutonic proper names of persons are often of difficult interpretation. They probably originated in a Teutonic dialect now lost.

SCIENCE.

ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, FOR 1859.*-The title-page of Wells's Annual of Scientific Discovery, sufficiently explains the scope and object of the work. The volume before us is the eleventh of the series, and like its predecessors, constitutes an interesting and valuable book of reference for all who care to be informed in respect to the rapid advances continually making in science and the arts, especially for those who are not led by scientific pursuits to an acquaintance. with the original sources, the various scientific publications of the day, from which the materials of these volumes are drawn. If these materials were in some instances a little more select, and if, in the departments admitting of it, illustrative diagrams could be introduced, the general value and usefulness of the work would be much enhanced. The volume before us contains a good likeness of Prof. O. M. Mitchel, the Director of the Dudley and Cincinnati Observatories.

SKETCH-BOOK OF POPULAR GEOLOGY.-The main portion of this book

* Annual of Scientific Discovery; or, Year Book of Facts in Science and Art, for 1859. Exhibiting the most important discoveries and improvements in Mechanics, Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Geography, Antiquities, &c., together with Notes on the Progress of Science during the year 1858; a list of recent scientific publications; obituary of eminent scientific men, etc. Edited by DAVID A. WELLS, A. M., Author of Principles of Natural Philosophy, Principles of Chemistry, Science of Common Things, etc. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1859.

Popular Geology: A series of Lectures read before the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh. With Descriptive Sketches from a Geologist's Portfolio. By HUGH MILLER. With an Introductory Resumé of the Progress of Geological Science within the last two years, by Mrs. Miller. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1859.

consists, as the title indicates, of a series of Lectures delivered with great popular effect before the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh, about four years ago. The series, as delivered, embraced eight lectures; the last two of which, having been already published as chapters fourth, fifth, and sixth, in "Testimony of the Rocks," are not included in this volume. The remaining six, however, are complete in themselves, and give in Hugh Miller's well known graphic and captivating style, and with all, or more than all his usual richness of illustration personal incident and literary allusion, a comprehensive view of the Geological History of the globe, particularly as illustrated in the Geology of Scotland. They embody some of the choicest materials which for years he had been preparing with so much diligence for the great work of his life, the Geology of Scotland-a work which he was not permitted to execute, except in this partial way. The Lectures are introduced by a very interesting sketch of the recent progress of geological discovery, from the pen of Mrs. Miller, and are followed by a collection of fragmentary sketches and essays from the portfolio of Mr. Miller, on various points in geology, including many discoveries of interest not only to the geologist, but also to the general reader. Those who have read the works of this lamented author, previously published, will need no further commendation of this.

BELLES LETTRES.

HOUSEHOLD LIBRARY-FIRST SERIES.*-This attractive little library of twelve volumes is the result of a very successful attempt to supplant the trashy literature, which is now so abundant, by placing within the reach of every one, in clear type and on good paper, some of the very best reading which our literature affords. The plan, which the editor, O. W. Wight, Esq., has adopted, is somewhat novel, and is deserving special commendation. He has selected from standard authors, from our most elaborate histories, from our best reviews and encyclopædias, and from the articles of our most popular essayists, some of those shorter biographical sketches of the lives of distinguished men which are universally acknowledged to be master-pieces. These, his publishers, Messrs.

* Household Library. First Series. Twelve volumes. New York: Delisser & Proctor. 18mo. 1859. Averaging two hundred and fifty pages each. Price of each volume, 50 cents, (prepaid by mail.) The whole set (twelve volumes) will be sent to any address in the United States, not more than three thousand miles, prepaid, on the receipt of five dollars.

Delisser & Proctor, have given to the public entire, without material abbreviation, in a style which will soon make them popular in our libraries, on our rail-cars, by the sea side, as well as in the houses of many who would never otherwise see them. Such single chapters in a large volume, or single articles in an encyclopædia, however full of interest, are often repulsive to the young, and to all who have not formed a decided taste for reading. It would seem as if the size of a large book, and the abstruseness of the other chapters, kept them from grappling with and enjoying what ought to give them pleasure, and what is really the cream of the whole. To all such these handsome little "eighteen-mos" will prove very attractive, and may serve as an introduction to a better acquaintance with the standard literature of the language. The work of the editor has been well done, and although he has kept himself out of sight as much as possible, still the marks of his intelligent supervision are seen everywhere, in the notes, and in the short introductory essays which preface each book.

The volumes are not numbered, but the first volume published gives Michelet's "Maid of Orleans" in an English translation; and in the preface a brief outline sketch of the life of that distinguished French historian.

The second volume is devoted to Robert Burns. We have, first, a short Article, from the "Encyclopædia Britannica," which gives merely his "external life," and then follows Carlyle's well-known and grand "spiritual portrait" of his gifted fellow-countryman. The preface furnishes, from the "English Cyclopædia," a sketch of the life of Carlyle himself.

The third volume makes accessible to all, in this convenient form, that able chapter of Grote's great history of Greece, which gives the life of Socrates. A short biographical notice of Mr. Grote is in the preface. The fourth volume contains Lamartine's "Christopher Columbus," with a sketch of the life of the distinguished author.

The fifth volume gives the main portion of Macaulay's brilliant essay on the life of Frederick the Great, with notes from Carlyle's more recent and extended work. Also a sketch of Macaulay himself, which is from the "English Cyclopædia."

Volume sixth contains a life of the younger Pitt, just written by Macaulay expressly for the "Encyclopædia Britannica," preceded by a brief life of the Earl of Chatham, his father; selected from the same Encyclopædia.

Volume seventh has the fiftieth chapter of Gibbon's "Decline and