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LITERATURE.

The Physical Atlas. Part I. By Alexander Keith
Johnston. A new and enlarged edition. Black-
wood. . _....
This costly acrdiv
remarkable work 'partakes of
something more than the dignity ofa national pro-:
dvuc.io n. It extends in importance
delineation. Alexander Keith Johnston is already
known to the world as one of the Most experienced,
one of the most skilled, and one of the most accom-
plished of modern geographers. He has in the
whole
e globe
i n
the
grasp
ofi tscomprehensive -beyond
limits of our own vast empire, antl.iraces the
grb
hot
production, of which the instalment before us is the
reissue, placed the crown upon his scientific repu-
tation. If in so doing lie has not actually enlarged
. the boundaries of human knowledge, he has at any
rate wonderfully systematised it. le has thereby
completed a movement in the general scheme of
education so marked, so important, so thoroughly
and actually appreciable, that a new departwent of
.ktudy has been introduced
into the schools of Eng-
land, of India, and of America, since the date of
the work's orig inal publication ! Than this, per-
ohfapasanathirearte niene ver has been a more brilliant tribute
spontaneously offered by the custo-
dians of learning to a volume restricting its attrac-
tions to the
varietynovelty of its of its information and to the
arrangement. Mr. Johnston has
been rewarded for his laboursbth in the. production of
" The Physical Atlas" the earnest commenda-
tion of some of - the greatest
itlie ects among his
contemporaries—by the eulo sof Baron Hum-
boldt, the venerable author of Cosmos and by those also of Mrs. Somerville, a woman who is to Science
what Madame de Steel was to Literature.
. The scope of the, work is almost as remarkable as
as its novelty. Its novelty is such that it is avow-
edly the first work of its class ever produced in the
United Kingdom, while it is essentially different in
many respects, " iu its construction, as well as in its
subject-matter and appearance," from anything of
(speaking within limits) a similar kind already
printed on the Continent. Its scope, again, has
been, in some sort, admirably indicated in one
large sentence in the prospectus. The sentence
runs as follows :—" Its (1 he Physical Atlas's) ob-
ject is to exhibit and explain, in a popular and at-
tractive manner, the results of the discoveries and
reSearches •of travellers and philosophers in all the
impertant branches of Natural Science, embracing
to investigation into the laws which regulate the
formation of the surface of the globe, the succes-
dive changes which this surface has undergone, the
varied influences of climate and temperature to
which it is subjected, the effects of these several
conditions on the existing species of plants and
tnimals, as exemplified in their geographical
distribution, and the combined action of
the whole on the present races, national cha-
racteristics, means of subsistence, commercial
pursuits, religious peculiarities, health and pro-
gressive improvement of man." So that the " Phy-
-deal Atlas" really does embrace all the branches
of natural philosophy. It really refers, besides
geography, to botany, zoology, ethnology, geology,
and meteorology: having regard also, strange
, though it may seem at a superficial glance, to sub-
jects of au ethical, a sanitary, and almercantile cha-
racter--not overlooking in all this broad range
the science of political Government. Completed
in its original form, " The Physical Atlas" led, as
we have before intimated, to the opening of a new
branch in the general system of education—in other
,vords, conduced directly to the introduction of
the study of physical geography. The supervision
4 a work of so vast and manifold a Character would
liave necessitated in its editor, of course, the
,inowledge not only of a skilful geographer, but
he comprehensive and all-embracing erudition of
m encyclopdaist. Mr.- Johnston from the out-
set contrived to overcome the whole of the more
important difficulties in the way of any such new
and hitherto unattempted compilation' by calling
to his aid such men as Sir David Brewster and
Sir Roderick Murchison. Assisted by the ad-
vice of these and other gifted collaborateurs, the
author of " The Physical Atlas " was ulti-
mately enabled to complete his great work in a.
manner .that commanded on all sides an unani-
mous expression .of satisfaction. Expensive
though the work necessarily was from its very na-
ture, as well as from its novelty, we cannot feel in
any way surprised that already the first edition of
it should have been exhausted. Another, and a yet
more splendid edition,- has for some time been
announced as foi them:ling. Within the last few
lays it has actually commenced its periodical ap-
pearance. Already we have taken occasion care-
fully to examine the initial part, or first instalment
,f the republication. And in every essential re-
Ted we find the work ''riving ample promise of
proving itself worthy of its author's, reputation,
tud of the 'Messrs. Blackwood's establishment. It
! is not unworthy of being inscribed to Baron Hum-
!)oldt. It is almost worthy of the science of which
.11 its original form it may be said to have
.ieen inaugurative. Part I. contains three of
the magnificent plates of the "Physical Atlas,"
•)rilliantly but delicately coloured, and accompa-
,tied by explanatory letterpress. Firstly, there is
the one representing the distribution of Marine
Life, compiled by the learned President of the
Ileological Society, Professor Edward Forbes.
iecondly, there is the one displaying to us at a
;lance -the Mountain Systems of • Europe, con-
,: tructed on the basis of contour lines, by Dr. H.
3ergaus and Mr. A. K. Johnston: Thirdly, there
one portraying the geographical distribution of
;he Currents of Air, Trade Winds, 11 urricanes,
.i:x.; with their effects on navigation—an elaborate
-ngraving, prepared directly under the author's
personal and minute supervision. When com-
pleted, the new edition of "The Physical Atlas" will
be accompanied by a comprehensive and elaborately
.;ompiled index, affording every facility for instant
reference. In commending this remarkable work,
and that, moreover, in the strongest terms of eulo-
_;ium, we are conscious that we are speaking of a
volume distinguished by no ordinary merits, hut
really and truly of a phenomenon among publica-
tions.

Yanette and her Loriers. By Talbot Gwynne,
author of " The School for Fathers," the " Life
and Death of Silas Barnstarke," cCc., &c. Smith
and Elder.

Many times before now has the author of this
work appeared before the public, and ho lms
4enerally met with great success. It is not likely
that "Nanette" will deteriorate from his renown or
\fall short ( f its predecessors in attaining a reputa-
tion. The whole course of the 'narrative is natural
and life-like; everything is in keeping with the
events in question. Although only peasants are
before us as dramatis persona!, and the chief par-
tion of the scenes is laid in a retired village in
France, at the time of the revolution. it would be
difficult to suppose a more pleasing sketch, or a
more interesting heroine than the simple Nanette.
Charpentier is amusing at the first part of the story;
and even afterwards, when he has degenerated into
a gambler and a drunkard, he holds out a warning,
and presents a fit consummation to so despicable
a career. Arfene is a very admirable cha-
racter, but he is not so striking a portrait
as either his rival or the object Of their at-
tachment. A very amusing and ludicrous little
individual. figures in these pages in the. persen
of Daridolle, whose conceit and cowardice about
equalled each other. Several stirring passages
appear, in which some of the military exploits in
Italy under Napoleon are ably recounted. The
chief charm and engrossing interest will not be
found in the gay city or the glorious battle plain,
but will hover around and centre in the calm and
peaceful spot where dwelt the heroine Nanette's
whole life was a harder fight than any that the
faithless lover had to wage against the enemies in
the field, but she passed through every trial the
better and the purer.. The only consolation, when
every earthly hold seemed, falling from her, was the
saying of her beloved cure, who had perished in the
revolution, that, if not now, at least hereafter, all
would be for the good of the righteous. It was
given to the faithful follower of his precepts, how-
ever, to find, even in this world, that her suffer-
ings were' in the end her greatest blessings, and
that the source of her sorrow was, at last, the ori-
gin of the love and happiness that crowned the
meridian of her life. After a stormy and a sultry
noon, the evening of her day was peace. The fol-
lowing passage describes one of the most painful of
Nanette's trials_giving up her cruel lover. The
scene is in a mud cottage, but feeling and devotion-
invest it with a romance# and the heroism of self-
sacrifice throws a halo over the day-dream of the
peasant maiden ;--
" Nanette sat alone in her little bel-room ; the sweet
scent of woodbine spreading through it from the open
window.

" She was slowly and carefully writing her list letter
to Antoine ; the visionary Antoine of her heart ; a being
who would never see it : it would be read by the real
Antoine ; a creature of whom Nanette would never have
been able to form the least idea. How little she ima-
gined, when she had, with such delight and perseverance
learnt to write under the teaching of Maitre Charpentier,'
in order that she might correspond with her fiance; how
little she then imagined that she should ever write such
a letter as the one she was now engaged upon:
"Nanettp's task was finished - she read her work Over,
folded it,:amj directed it in her best hand.
" She tide listened. ller mother was sleeping, and
Ni4ttejeftly descended the ladder into the room below.
There ahe:upened 71er oak ehe;4t,' froM which she took
ttiq wan .to havtr_ word at her Wedding.
Teti, years had passed away since :that wedding was to
have taken place ; -and the silver,eMbreidery of the cap,
saeistiite Nanette's care, wait sorrieWbattariiished.i besidei
which, the lace and muslin had grown rather yellow.
" She Oohed too op her vocldipg germeo tikl4lLiDii) j