142 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBtlCATIONS. 



the latter are numerous and highly creditable to the respective ar- 

 tists. We may bestow especial praise on the chapter dedicated to 

 the ecclesiastical buildings, which will be alike interesting to the 

 architect and the general reader. We could, however, have wished 

 — as such minute attention is paid to the interior of the churches — 

 that the accounts of the organs had been more detailed. The epi- 

 thets " large/' " small," " excellent," &c., as applied to this noble 

 instrument, give the musician a most meagre and unsatisfactory 

 idea of the quality of the various organs alluded to. Perhaps nine 

 writers out of ten would not have condescended to bestow even so 

 many words on this subject as IVIr. Pidgeon has done ; but surely it 

 is as deserving of the attention of the reader as the church bells ! 

 Of course no " true Salopian" will lack this volume on his shelf ; 

 and even those who are not residents in this " favoured county" 

 may find much to interest them in the Memorials of Shrewsbtiry. 



Last Lecture of the Season, delivered in the Literary and Scientific 

 Institution at Staines, on Friday, June 30, 1837- By the Rev. 

 Robert Jones, D.D., M.R.S.L., &c. London : Hatchard and 

 Son. pp. 32. 



Dr. Jones possesses an untiring ardour in the grand cause of 

 knowledge, as disseminated by provincial literary and scientific insti- 

 tutions, which, adequately conducted, cannot be valued too highly. 

 Dr. Jones appears to think that a monthly journal devoted entirely 

 to reports and transactions of provincial societies, similar to that of 

 Staines, might advantageously be started. Were such a periodical 

 set on foot, no one would be better qualified to preside over it than 

 Dr. J. ; but we feel convinced it could not answer. In the first 

 place, those connected with the various establishments can alone be 

 expected to take much interest in their transactions ; and, secondly, 

 the members would peruse the work in their own institution, with- 

 out themselves taking it in. The same cause acts as a drag on the 

 circulation of even The Analyst in many places, though, as our 

 readers are aware, Ave have ever felt the warmest interest in the 

 success of those very institutions which are in some measure detri- 

 mental to our interests. But, with Dr. Jones, we feel convinced of 

 the immense importance of the Societies now everywhere arising 

 around us, and shall, therefore, at all times consider it our duty and 

 our pleasure to further their objects. The lecture before us is re- 

 markable for elegance of style, soundness of thought, and liberality 

 of sentiment. 



A History of British Birds. By William Yarrell, F.L.S., Sec. Z.S. 

 London : John Van Voorst. Part I. July, 1837- 8vo. and 

 Royal 8vo. 



This work is a continuation of the series commenced by the 

 British Fishes of the same author, and the British Quadrupeds of 



