ration of mankind.

* * * * *

THE pleasantest book of travels forthcoming from an American press is
"Nile Notes of a Howadje," an anonymous record of a voyage upon the
Nile--not at all statistical or learned, but a diary, and sketches of
personal impressions, aiming to give the _picturesque_ of the country,
and not vexing the reader with the mooted Egyptian questions. We have
glanced over a few sheets of it, and are confident that if success
depends upon quality, it will prove one of the most successful books yet
published, upon a region which is illustrated by a larger amount of
literature than any other in the world. (Harpers, publishers.)

* * * * *

MR. PUTNAM has just published a third and very much improved edition of
his excellent work, "The World's Progress." We have already expressed in
this magazine the opinion that "The World's Progress" is the most
interesting, valuable, and altogether indispensable manual of reference,
for the student or general reader, that has been published in this
country. It is a hand-book of facts, so perspicuously classified and
arranged, as to suit the necessities of persons of every degree of
intelligence, and so full, upon almost every sort of subjects, as to
serve the purposes of a universal manual. The new edition is augmented
by a supplement embracing the most recent statistics, etc.

* * * * *

THREE eminent scholars and authors, Dr. Lushington, Mr. Falconer, and
Dr. Twiss, are appointed by the British government, arbitrators to
determine the boundary between the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia,
which has for some years been in dispute.

* * * * *

THE FOURTH VOLUME OF MR. HILDRETH'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, being
the first volume of the post-revolutionary history, will be published
immediately, we believe, by the Harpers. We look for an exceedingly
interesting book. Of the earlier volumes of the History, the London
_Spectator_ observes:--

"The distinguishing literary characteristic of this history
is a careful succinctness. The convenience of a summary
notice of the gradual discovery of America, and the
necessity of singly narrating the foundation of each
separate colony, render any substantial novelty of plan in a
history of the United States impossible, except upon some
scheme where fitness shoul