The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-16 00:00:00

LitERAT U R E.
A CATECHISM OF ASTRONOMY.
By Hugo Reid. Oliver andlkyd, Edinburgh.
The object of this little treatise is to convey a
concise explanation of the more important phe-
nomena and principles of astronomy, adapted to
the general reader, as well as to the instruction of
youth. The leading results which it developes
are simple, and may be comprehended within a
moderate compass. They form also the most
interesting study that can occupy the haman
mind, exhibiting at once the beauty, order, Inol
grandeur of the heavenly bodies, and the inde-
scribable power of their great Creator. No
study, therefore, is so well fitted for exciting the
admiration and piety of youth. The work, as
its title implies, is drawn up in the form of
question and answer, and conveys much informa-
tion respecting the fixed stars, the sun, planets,
and comets, illustrated by a great variety of
wood-cuts. The first of these represents some of
the northern constellations, among others the
Great and Little Bears, and with the helpof them
Mr. Reid gives the following- very simple method
of finding out the north-pole star :—" If a line
be drawn through the two farthest stars from the
tail of the Great Bear (also called the Plough and
Charles's Wain), and produced in a direction from
the limbs of the animal, that line will pass close
to the Pole-star." The star is very bright, and
cannot be mistaken - These two stars are termed
" the Painters."

NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AND
NE TV SOUTH WALES.J3sy R. G. Jameson, Esq.

London, Smith, Elder, and Co.

The author of this interesting volume went out
to South Australia; in the summer of 1838, in the
capacity of Surgeon Superintendent of Emi-
grants, and from thence he proceeded to visit the
principal emigrant settlements in New South
Wales and New Zealand, with a view to form
correct opinions with reference to the most ad-
vantageous employment of labour and capital in
these colonies. Without charging him with in-
tentional partiality, his book wears all the appear-
ance of a panegyric upon emigration generally,
and more especially upon a removal to one or
other of the colonies visited by him. As, how-
ever, he gives a very fair report of all that fell
under his observation, the emigrant who is capa-
ble of forming an opinion for himself will find in
this volume some.curious and. useful information.
He admits that South Australia is so badly wa-
tered that the interior cannot be explored. with-
out the certainty of those making the attempt
perishing with thirst, and he even relates the
story of Colonel Ciawler and his daughter being
obliged to drink the blood of their horses in an
endeavour to penetrate the country north-east of
Mount Barker. Now of what avail is a fine
cli-
mate and extensive pastures in a land without
that prime necessary of ? He describes
the scenery of Australia as' very beautiful ; but
the appearance of New Zealand as remarkably
sombre, the plains greatly resembling the aspect
of the heath-clad moors in Scotland, being over-
run with a species of dark fern. Such of the na-
tives as he fell in with were inoffensive, hospita-
ble, and remarkably intelligent. Multitudes of
them can read and write, and they are remarka-
bly fond of these mental exercises. New Zea-
land boasts of some very respectable mountains,
lakes, and rivers. Some of the mountains are
9,000 feet above the level of the sea, and Lake
Tanpo is 35 miles in length, and on an average
'2O in breadth. Prefixed to the volume is a well
engraved map of the South Australian and New
Zealand groups of Islands.

FINE ARTS.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF DON QUIXOTTE.

Williams, London, 1841.
This is the first Part of a series of twenty-five
engravings from original paintings by Coypel.
It contains four plates, all of which display much
of the grave, quiet, saturnine humour that cha-
racterizes the master-piece of Cervantes. The
sketch, in particular, when the enthusiastic Don
Quixote is represented receiving in the inn the
order of knighthood from the hands of his wag-
gish landlord, is as full of rich comedy as Hay-
man's admirable illust?ation of the same scene,
in his engravings which accompanied Smollett's
translation.

ILLUSTRATED SHAKSPEARE, Part XXX.
Tya4s, London, 1841.
In this Part we have the two first acts of the
noble tragedy of King Lear, which are introduced
by a few pertinent critical remarks from the pen
of the Editor. The illustrations by Kenney
Meadows are by no means deficient in vigour
and earnestness.