order of their dependence; and he has succeeded (in some important particulars, better than most writers of some works) in fixing on the truly scientific, and, therefore, the simplest methods; and the several series of questions are so arranged, as to lead by natural steps from easy and simple, to difficult and complex processes. It is mostly in the part devoted to "Mental Arithmetic," that the peculiar excellencies appear. The author's design and plan will be apprehended, in a measure, from the following extracts.

"It (the Arithmetic) should habituate the pupil to perform with ease and readiness, mental operations upon somewhat large numbers."

"It should present these operations in their natural form, freed from the inverted and mechanical methods which belong, of necessity, to operations in written arithmetic."

"It should train the student to such a power of apprehending the relations of numbers, as shall give him an insight into the grounds of the rules of arithmetic; and, consequently, shall relieve him from dependence on these rules.”

In a word, the work is an unusually skillful union of the mental calculation, first particularly and exclusively taught by Colburn, with the old system of rules, considerably improved. And when it is remarked,

"Which is as true, as truth has been of

late,"

that one half of the hopeful young gentlemen graduating from our colleges, have but a shabby acquaintance with arithmet ical" deductions," it will not appear without reason, that we beg the generation that is to instruct the generation that is to be, somewhat more essentially in the principles of this, or some other scientific book as good. There can be no doubt, that this study is one of the best means of quickening the youthful mind of the nation."

Alderbrook; a collection of Fanny For rester's Village Sketches, Poems, &c. By MISS EMILY CHUBBUCK, 2 vols. Boston, W. D. Ticknor & Co.

We must confess we could never discover any of that great merit in this lady's writings, which certain papers have accorded to them. She is, however, generally simple and natural in her style, and these sketches will prove interesting to young people. They are a sort of farewell contribution to literature; judging from the likeness of the authoress, which is some

what affectedly presented in the beginning, with a mantle classically thrown over her shoulders, and hand pressed upon her bosom, as if to give emphasis to the expression beneath: "Henceforth, to holier purposes, I pledge myself"-meaning that she has married a missionary. We don't object to the fact, (which is highly praiseworthy,) but to the expression in that place. What is it to the profane readers of "Fanny Forester's" stories?

The Sisters of Charity, 2 vols. gilt. Julia Ormond, 1 vol. gilt. Dunnigan. New York.

Well told stories, serving to illustrate the tenets and practice of the Roman Catholics. Beautiful presents they will make to the followers of that denomination; but we cannot say, that we think they are likely to win over many converts. As is usual in most of these books, much stress is laid upon the unity of the church, without adverting to the reason of that unity, to wit-implicit obedience to the will of one man, or set of men, which will insure unity everywhere. To those who are desirous of information on the doctrines of that communion, they convey much information in an agreeable form.

PALMO'S ITALIAN OPERA.-The Italian Opera being a purely scenic and musical entertainment, can only be appreciated by those who have a taste for pantomime and a sense of musical expression. Those who have a taste for this mode of representing the harmonies of love and the discords of hate by the concords and disagreements of musical notes modulated on a theme, will find pleasure, if not extreme gratification in the Operatic Drama; to say nothing of scenery carried to the pitch of a perfect delusion, and of a graceful depicting of the passions by gesture and attitudes. Apart from any opinion of the Opera as it is managed in New York particularly, we cannot but think it an agreeable and by no means an immoral entertainment. It brings reputable persons together to enjoy a very elegant sort of trifling, not without its use, perhaps, and cultivates an ear for music, or creates one where it did not exist. Assemblages of this kind have the credit of promoting a humane and social spirit, if they do nothing better; the church is too sacred a place for the exchange of courtesies, or the display of graces, the lecture-room tasks the understanding, and the theatre rouses if it does not often allay and purify the sympathies; but for a harmless, sparkling, folly, commend us to the Opera.