2 THE NATIONAL LIBRARY. 



In speaking of the Rev. Mr. Gt.eig's History of the Bible, it has been said in a contem- 

 porary Journal,* that it " would be some ground of reproach to the friends of truth, if they had 

 entirely neglected the new species of monthly publications as a means of diffusing religious 

 knowledge among the higher and middle classes of society ; and the present Volume shows, 

 in the happiest manner, how well they are adapted to convey that knowledge which makes 

 faith more sure, and piety more enlightened." To this has been elsewhere added a commenda- 

 tion which the writer may reflect on with unqualified happiness during his life ; namely, that 

 " the replies which he has given in different stages of his History, to the cavils of sceptics, are 

 likely, with the blessing of Providence, to arrest the spread of disbelief." 



The History of Chemistry, which forms the Third Volume of the National Library, 

 is from the pen of the learned Dr. Thomson, of the University of Glasgow, who, in recording 

 the wonderful incidents and effects on society which marked the progress of Chemistry — in tell- 

 ing of the strange lives of its early students, (the Alchemists and others,) and in describing, at 

 full, the useful labours and discoveries of more recent professors, has written a book, which, 

 while it is characterized by scrupulous truth, and by practical information in every part, pos- 

 sesses much of the attraction of romance. 



The remaining Volumes of those hitherto published, are occupied by Mr. James's History of 

 Chivalry and the Crusades ; Festivals, Games and Amusements, Ancient and Modern, 

 by Mr. Horace Smith ; and Bourrienne's Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Of the charm of 

 the " History of Chivalry," in an imaginative point of view, and of its great utility in illus- 

 trating the annals of European nations, it is needless to speak ; while, as regards the present 

 author's treatment, the numerous readers of " Richelieu " and "Darnley" have, no doubt, 

 from its first announcement, formed high expectations, which have now been fulfilled. 



Until the publication of Mr. Horace Smith's " Festivals," in the National Library, the public 

 have not been generally informed as to the festive recreations of all times and nations, from the 

 grand religious holidays of the ancient Jews, and the poetical games and celebrations of Greece 

 and Rome, to the hearty and social pastimes of merry old England. 



Of Bourrienne's excellent Life of Napoleon, the present must be considered the best 

 edition. Independently of numerous graphic embellishments, it has the advantage of notes 

 from Bonaparte's own dictations, and from the writings of those persons who were actually con- 

 cerned in the great events which marked the life of the Ex-Emperor. Envious historians have 

 been jealous of the commanding character of Bourrienne's Memoir, and have endeavoured to 

 impugn a few of his statements ; but a similar injustice was attempted to be perpetrated on 

 Boswell's Life of Johnson by contemporaries, who were angry merely because their opportuni- 

 ties of knowing Johnson's real character were much less favourable than those of Boswell. Time s , 

 however, has vindicated the work of Boswell, and time will assuredly confirm the high opinion 

 now generally entertained of Bourrienne's Life of Napoleon. 



To these, many other original works will immediately succeed ; among which may be 

 mentioned the History of the Royal Navy of England, from its first existence ; and 

 that of The British Army. Histories such as these seem, of especial right, to belong to an 

 English National Library ; and it is confidently believed by the Proprietors, that the great 

 public interest of these subjects will appear not to have been confided to hands incompetent to 

 the importance of the task. In Biography, too, the Proprietors hope to fulfil the expectations 

 regarding this branch of Literature, which they understand have been excited by the universal 

 success of their first Volume, the Life of Byron ; in justification of which hope, they may specify 

 two works as forthcoming, namely, *' A New Life of Shakspeare," and " Lives of Distinguished 

 Travellers." 



In conclusion, the Proprietors trust they shall not be accused of unjustifiable pride in ex- 

 pressing their belief, that in the progress of their undertaking, they shall be the means of pub- 

 lishing, at low prices, a body of Literature deserving the praise of having instructed many, 

 and amused all ; and, above every other species of eulogy, of being fit to be introduced, without 

 reserve or exception, by the father of a family to the domestic circle. 



* Literary Gazette. 



VOLUMES ALREADY PUBLISHED. 



N°. j_ analysis of character as accurate as it is original, and a 



condensation of all the events of a very varied life. It 



THE LIFE OF BYRON. By JOHN GALT, is valuable as in itself a compendium of his iiistoiy ; 



Esq. with Plates, complete in a single volume, bl,t il > 3 invrinable as a commentary on all that have 



• £? n. ftl -c-j-.- cone before— )t is a finished cabinet picture. It tonus 



price os. *ifth Edition. t|lL , pirg , Volnme of The national Libeaby, and is 



" A more original, profound, or correct view of a cha- a foundation upon which the highest expectations may 



racter, as interesting as it was intricate — one whose seem- be raised of that undertaking." — Lit. Gaz. 



ing contradictions were at once such materials for then- " This is the only complete biography of Lord Byron 



ries, and such temptations to erect them — was never which we have ever seen." — Courier. 



taken than in the volume beforens. We have read Mr. "The National Library commences very auspi- 



Galfs Work with great delight. No one can possess it ciously with the biography of one in whose name his 



without having a just idea of the man and the poet, an country is proudly and deeply interested. In the pre- 



