"The Gift," for 1844, is still the leading one among the American Annuals, some of its illustrations are very elaborately finished: the others of this class, are the "Opal," the "Winter Green," "Friendship's Offering," "The Drawing-room Annual," "Literary Souvenir," "The Rose," &c. The English Annuals are "The Keepsake,” “ American in Paris," second series, "The Book of Beauty," "The Sacred Gift," "China Illustrated," "Drawing-room Scrap Book," "Juvenile Scrap Book," "Bible Illustrations," 3 volumes, 4to. &c. In the Juvenile department, there are varieties almost ad infinitum, both English and American, the latter of which is headed by the roistering “Robin Hood and his merrie Foresters," with finely colored plates, and gaudily ornamented cover. Appletons have also just issued two or three very pretty juveniles. There is "The Youth's Book of Nature," "The Child's Own Story Book, or Dialogues for the Nursery,"

""Very Little Tales for Very Little Children," &c.; also, another volume by Madame Guizot, designed for Youth, entitled "The Young Student," translated from the French by S. Jackson.

Wiley & Putnam are about to issue a new edition of Professor Mahan's excellent treatise on Civil Engineering, with a Preface by Professor Barlow, of Glasgow; also, a new work by Mr. Downing on "Horticulture :" this work will be welcomed as one of great utility to the fruit cultivators of this country; as we have at present no competent work on the subjects. Mr. J. Duer, the jurist, has in preparation a work on the "Law of Insurance," &c. We take pleasure in alluding, in this place, to the singular ability and critical skill evinced by this very ente.prising establishment in the recent publication of their New Catalogue of Works, in the various departments of Literature, Science, History, Theology, &c. This

new Catalogue of Messrs. Wiley & Putnam's cannot fail, from its excellent arrangement, of attracting the attention of the literary and learned throughout the land: Part I. is now ready-the two following portions will be completed in the course of a week or two. Mr. Newman has just published "Bradbury's Singing School," designed for adults; being his method of singing by note, in which the art of reading music at sight is rendered easy and interesting :—a work of essential value to the lovers of music, if for no other reason, because it contains the essentials of the

pleasing science. While on this subject, we refer with pleasure to a work lately published in this city by S. O. Dyer, entitled the "Quartett," comprising the compositions of the great German Masters; each part is issued separately, thereby enabling eight to sing with the same comfort and expense as two from a score. It has now reached its third number and has, we hear, met with a large share of the approbation of the profession.

John S. Taylor has just issued two new little works by D'Aubigné, one called "The Voice of the Church one, under all successive forms of Christianity;" the other, "A Voice from Antiquity to the Men of the Nineteenth Century." He has also now ready, a new volume by the celebrated Thomas Hartwell Horne, "The History of the Reformation," in 18mo, new editions of the Abridgment of D'Aubigné's History of Reformation-a work even more acceptable to the generality of readers than any of the cheap editions of the work entire as in this edition all its exuberant redundancies are withdrawn: Dr. James Stewart's valuable work on Diseases of Children has just appeared in a new guise, greatly augmented by the addition of numerous new illustrations, &c. This popular work is considered the standard authority on this important branch of professional practice, and the announcement of its new improved edition will be welcome news to the members of the Faculty generally.

Mr. Greenough, the State Librarian, is about to publish a "History of Oregon," and its adjacent parts along the NorthWestern coast of our continent. Dunnigan has in press, and will speedily

publish in one large octavo," Symbolism;" or an examination of the doctrinal differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, as evinced in their symbolical writings, by J. A. Moehler, D D., Dean of Wurzburg. Translated from the German by J. B. Robertson, the well-known translator of Schlegel's "Philosophy of History." This work is said to be one of very high merit, and at the present juncture, such a production must prove very acceptable to those who canvass the merits of the Tractarian Controversy, so rife in our times. The same publisher has just issued two little miniature volumesvery neatly printed-one entitled "The Hop-Garland," and the other "Victorina," both well constructed narratives and evolving excellent moral instruction: also pleasing novelties in the way

of nursery picture books, called "Dame Wonder's Transformations," which are as attractive as they are ingenious and novel.

M. W. Dodd has in press "Kind Words for the Kitchen," a work eminently suited for presentation to domestics, although it may be perused advantageously by almost any one. Another

work specially suited as a holiday gift, is entitled "Recollections of Uncle Barnaby,” which is, we believe, just issued by this publisher. His cheap edition of the work well-known to the reading public, curiously entitled "Thinks I to Myself," has given new life to a lively book, although written by a grave Divine of the Episcopal Church of England-the celebrated Dr. Edward Nares, Regius Professor of History at Oxford, and the biographer of "the great Lord Burleigh." This is a fact, however, little known and especially this side the Atlantic, as the strictest incog. has ever been maintained by its writer.

Hewitt has a great project on the tapis— we refer to the proposed illustrated edition of Shakspeare, which is to be edited by G. C. Verplanck, and embellished after the style of the London edition of Knight and Tyas. He has just finished his splendid Pictorial edition of the Common Prayer Book, which enjoys, we understand, as it deserves, a very wide popularity.

Mr. Dodd has also just issued an interesting volume, "A Memoir of the Life and Labors of Rev. C. Evans-a Welsh Baptist Minister-full of characteristic

A

value, and one which the religious public will cordially welcome, as a vivid portraiture of ministerial labor and a successful development of Christian character. The same publisher has issued, "The Wrongs of Women," by Charlotte Elizabeth, in two parts-a deeply interesting series of pictures of female suffering in the manufacturing districts of England.

ENGLISH.

new Christmas Gift Book, by Dickens, will be over by the next steamer, called "A Christmas Carol in Prose," a ghost story, with a dozen beautifully colored illustrations: by the same, also, "Old England," part first-a splendid semiantiquarian work by Charles Knight, with numerous cuts and emblazoned plates.

A beautiful illuminated work, with sixty colored plates, has just appeared, styled "The Alphabet Album," comprising the Initial Letters of the most celebrated ancient manuscripts.

We observe several facetious announcements by Punch-one title we quote for its brevity-sake-" Pollyputtheketileonicon."

Grant has just issued "Paris and its People."

We regret to notice the recent demise

of William Pinnock, the well-known, and very successful author of numerous works of an educational class: he was 62 at his death.

At a meeting for December, held on Tuesday evening, the 5th inst., at the Historical Rooms in the University, the chair was taken by the President, Hon. Albert Gallatin, supported by the VicePresidents, Dr. De Witt and Mr. Lawrence. A large number of gentlemen were in attendance, including many strangers and several members of the Common Council, who had been invited to be present.

The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Secretary, and approved.

A report was received from the Executive Committee, in regard to the nominations which had been referred to them, and the following gentlemen were elected: Honorary Members-Tchonching, of

Canton, China; and the Rt. Hon. Viscount Morpeth, of Castle Howard, England.

Corresponding Members-Asa Whitney, residing at Canton, China; and John Carter Brown, of Providence, R. I.

Resident Members-Rev. Samuel H. Turner, D.D., Adam D. Logan, and Lambert Suydam.

The donations during the last month were announced, and include a series of documents from the Common Council of the city, and many works presented by individuals.

Gen. Wetmore, from the Committee appointed in reference to the Clinton papers, made a verbal report, in which he said there were strong reasons for believ

ing that they would be deposited in the archives of the Society. These papers are of great value, and include the original documents found upon the person of André, at the time of his capture.

The regular business was, on motion, suspended; and Mr. Charles F. Hoffman read an interesting and eloquent paper on the character of the Colonists of New York previous to the Revolution.

Dr. D. Francis Bacon concluded the reading of his paper, commenced at the last meeting-on the African Tribes from the Senegal to the Gold Coast-their Geographical boundaries, their Affinities and Distinction of Language, Government, Customs, &c.-which was listened to with much interest.

Mr. Stone rose to offer a resolution which he was sure would be feelingly responded to on the part of the Society. Were he not laboring under indisposition, he should with mingled pleasure and pain endeavor to accompany it with fitting remarks. The resolution referred to the late venerable Colonel Trumbull. It had been placed in his hands by Mr. De Peyster, who would have offered it himself had he been present, and from whom it would have come most appropriately from the intimate relation which had existed between them.

Mr. Stone gave an interesting and eloquent sketch of Col. Trumbull's life and character, and concluded by offering the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. W. B. Lawrence, with remarks embracing some interesting reminiscences of Col. Trumbull as a former President of this Society; and the resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That this Society have received the intelligence of the decease of their late venerable associate Col. Trumbull, of Revolutionary memory, who was an honorary member and former officer of this Institution, with the deepest sensibility; and that they hold in distinguished recollection his many eminent virtues, and elevated qualities as artist, soldier, and statesman.

Mr. John Jay, from the Committee on Branch Associations, presented a report, urging the propriety and probable usefulness of the proposed measure, showing that, in the objects of the Institution, every intelligent inhabitant of the State must needs feel some interest; that there is scarcely a village within its borders that cannot contribute something to the stock of materials from which the history of New York is yet to be constructed; and that these can in no way be so easily collected and permanently preserved as through the medium of Historical So

cieties. Of this, their own archives, filled with volumes of rare interest, with MSS. of inappreciable value, and with a thousand relics of the past, to which each succeeding year gives increasing interest, were a sufficient proof. The paucity of materials relating to the early settlement and colonial transactions of New York, and the extreme difficulty of procuring them, were pointedly mentioned in the first preface of the Constitution of the Society; and its founders could hardly have anticipated that from the dust and obscurity of private depositories would have been rescued, through their instrumentality, so large a mass of historical documents which might soon have been lost, destroyed or scattered, from the indifference or negligence of the possessors, the separation of families, and the consequent division and mutilation of ancestral records.

The report observed, that there were few gentlemen of liberal education residing in any part of the State, who have not in the course of their lives become possessed of some original MSS., or rare works and pamphlets, which they were ready to part with for the public benefit; and that the proposed association would afford a guaranty for their permanent pre servation, if it were understood that they should be given to the New York Historical Society, but to remain in the posses sion of the particular branch through which they were contributed, as long as it should continue in existence. Copies of MSS. collected by the auxiliaries could be furnished when required, and reports of their proceedings might be made at stated intervals to the Parent Society, and by the latter communicated to the public.

In the advancement of the work, lately undertaken, of preparing a map of the State on which the Indian names are to be restored, Branch Associations could afford important assistance, and they will be able to perpetuate with great ease local reminiscences, only existing, perhaps, in the memories of aged persons, whose places will soon be filled with otherslocal statistics and topographical descriptions, and sundry other minutiae of cities, towns, counties, and villages, which, however trifling they may appear, will materially assist the future historian. And if, among the Branch Associations, a spirit of enterprise and research shall be awakened, akin to that which now animates the parent body, in a few years they would have gleaned a rich crop of historic materials from a wide field 'where hitherto the reapers have been few and the harvest scanty.

1670.

This work is the first printed account of New York by the English.

On motion of Prof. Mason, the report was approved, and its suggestions referred to the executive committee.

Mr. Bartlett, from the Committee on the new volume, presented a partial report of the materials they had collected for the purpose. Among them are

1. An original paper, by Charles E. Hoffman, Esq., entitled "the Alleged Treason of Gov. Leisler." A valuable historical memoir, embracing an eventful period in the history of the State.

2. An original paper presented by the Hon. William Jay, prepared by himself during the years 1812-13, containing accurate statistics of the killed and wounded during the late war with Great Britain -both in the British and the American armies.

3. A pamphlet, lately published in London from a MS. found in the collection of the late George Chalmers, entitled "A Description of the Province and City of New York, with plans of the city and several ports as they existed in the year 1695-by the Rev. John Miller."

4. A pamphlet, published in Upsal, Sweden, in 1825, entitled "De Colonia Nova Suecia in Americam Borealem deducta Historiola"-(An Historical Sketch of the Colony of New Sweden in North America)-by Charles David Arfwedson, the American consul at Stockholm, with Swedish notes.

5. A brief description of New York, formerly called Niew Netherlands, with the plans thereto adjoining; together with the manner of its situation, fertility of the soil, healthfulness of the climate, and the commodities therein produced. Also, some directions and advice for such as go thither an account of what commodities they shall take with them—the profit and pleasure that may accrue to them thereby

The Committee further stated that they had lately seen two original MSS. giving a history of the Delaware or Mohegan Indians, drawn up by a Committee appointed for the purpose about the commencement of the last century. These MSS. from a partial glance, seemed to be of great importance, embodying more historical matter than any work of that period in our aboriginal history. They would make, if printed, 150 pages, 8vo. The Committee had applied for permission to make a copy of these valuable documents, and required further time for selecting materials for the volume in question.

On motion of Prof. Masen, the Executive Committee were directed to inquire into the best way of publishing the new volume.

On motion of Gen. Wetmore, the thanks of the Society were returned to Mr. Charles E. Hoffman and to Dr. Francis Bacon, for the eloquent and interesting papers read by them this evening, and that they be requested to furnish copies for publication under the auspices of the Society.

On motion of the same gentleman, it was resolved that the acknowledgments of this Society are due to the Honorable the Corporation of the city of New York, for the valuable donation of public documents, comprising the Journals and Proceedings of the Common Council, presented to the Library this evening, and also for the opportunity afforded to the members of the Society to examine the valuable volumes received by the Municipal authorities from the city of Paris.

For this last favor the Society were indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Woodhull, the Chairman of the Committee on Arts and Sciences.

Several nominations for membership were made, and the Society adjourned at half past nine o'clock.

The remainder of the evening was passed in conversation, refreshments being served in the upper apartment of the Historical rooms.

The expected Report of Mr. Colcraft on Indian names, which will doubtless possess great interest, was necessarily postponed to the next meeting, when the Rev. Dr. De Witt will also read a paper entitled "Some Reminiscences of New Netherlands about the period of its cession to the British Government."