_Hurry-graphs, or Sketches of Scenery,
Celebrities and Society_, taken from life. It embraces the author's
letters to the Home Journal, from Plymouth, Montrose, the Delaware, the
Hudson, the Highlands, and other summer resorts, with personal
descriptions of Webster, Everett, Emerson, Cooper, Jenny Lind, and many
other notabilities. It will be a delightful companion for the watering
places this season.

* * * * *

Among the most beautiful books from the American press is _Episodes of
Insect Life_, by ACHETA DOMESTICA, just reprinted by J. S. Redfield. The
natural history and habits of insects of every class are delineated by a
close observer with remarkable minuteness, and in a style of unusual
felicity; and the peculiar illustrations of the book are more spirited
and highly finished than we have noticed in any publication of a similar
character.

* * * * *

The Harpers have published a new edition of the _Greek Grammar_ of
Philip Buttman, revised and enlarged by his son, Alexander Buttman, and
translated from the eighteenth German edition by Dr. EDWARD ROBINSON. It
is not to be doubted, we suppose, that this grammar, in the shape in
which it is now presented, is altogether the best that exists of the
Greek language. We are not ourselves competent to a judgment in the
case, but from all we have seen upon the subject by the best scholars,
we take this to be the general opinion.

* * * * *

JOHN P. KENNEDY has in the press of Putnam a new and carefully revised
edition of his _Swallow Barn, or a Sojourn in the Old Dominion_, one of
the most pleasant books illustrative of local manners and rural life
that has ever been written. It is more like Irving's Bracebridge Hall
than any other work we can think of, and is as felicitous a picture of
old Virginia as Jeffrey Crayon has given us of Merrie England. The first
edition of Swallow Barn was published twenty years ago; the new one is
to be beautifully illustrated in the style of Irving's _Sketch Book_.

* * * * *

Dr. FRANCIS LIEBER, the learned Professor of the South Carolina College,
has been elected a member of the National Institute of France. Dr.
Lieber is a German, but he has resided in this country many years. Among
Americans who have been thus complimented are Mr. Prescott and Mr.
Bancroft. The late Henry Wheaton was also a member of the I