PARKER'S EDITION OF THE WAVERLY NOVELS. Little need be said in relation to the merits of PARKER's edition of the Waverly Novels and Tales of a Grandfather, beyond the advertisement of the publisher, on the cover of this Magazine. The surpassing cheapness of the volumes, and their acknowledged excellence of matériel and execution, have been the theme of marvel and of praise in every quarter of the Union. Forty-two volumes have already appeared; and the remainder will issue at intervals of two weeks. The following have been published: Waverley; Guy Mannering; The Antiquary; Rob Roy; Tales of my Landlord, First Series: Black Dwarf - Old Mortality; Tales of my Landlord, Second Series: The Heart of Mid-Lothian; Tales of my Landlord, Third Series: The Bride of Lammermoor- A Legend of Montrose; Ivanhoe; The Monastery; The Abbot; Kenilworth; The Pirate; The Fortunes of Nigel; Peveril of the Peak; Quentin Durward; St. Ronan's Well; Redgauntlet; Tales of the Crusaders: The Betrothed - The Talisman; Woodstock; Chronicles of the Canongate, First Series: Highland Widow - Two Drovers, etc.; Chronicles of the Canongate, Second Series: St. Valentine's Day. The following are yet to appear: Anne of Gierstein; Count Robert of Paris; Castle Dangerous, and Tales of a Grandfather, First Series; Tales of a Grandfather, Second Series; Tales of a Grandfather, Third Series; Tales of a Grandfather, Fourth Series. This edition is for sale in NewYork by C. S. FRANCIS, under Peale's Museum, and by the booksellers throughout the United States.

WALKER ON FEMALE BEAUTY.-The Messrs. LANGLEY, Chatham-street, have published, in a volumé of nearly four hundred pages, a work by ALEXANDER Walker, author of the volume on 'Intermarriage,' entitled 'Beauty; illustrated chiefly by an Analysis and Classification of Beauty in Woman.' We have not found leisure to peruse the volume; but may express our faith in the notice of a candid and discriminating English contemporary, the London Examiner :

'It is rather remarkable that an object of paramount interest and importance in the eyes of man, such as the female form is, should never have been treated philosophically and physiologically. No one, until now, has investigated the principles of beauty in the form of woman, in reference to its uses as an organic structure, and with a view to its influence on the individual and society. To Alexander Walker belongs the merit of being the first to demonstrate, that beauty in woman is the outward visible denotement of sound structure and organic fitness; and of attempting its analysis and classification on physiological principles, with reference to its perpetuation in posterity. We cannot follow Mr. Walker through his elaborate refutation of the errors and sophistries of Burke, Payne, Knight, and other writers on the philosophy of the beautiful. Suffice it to say, that he demonstrates the fallacy of many of their arguments, by showing that they had not in view that there are different kinds or classes of beauty. On the characteristics of each of these kinds of beauty and stages of perfection, Mr. Walker descants with eloquent minuteness. The concluding chapter furnishes a clue to the observation of form in woman, through the concealment of drapery and the aids of dress.'

POEMS BY J. N. M'JILTON.-Messrs. OTIS, BROADERS AND COMPANY, Boston, have published a very beautiful volume, of some three hundred pages, entitled as above. It is by a young poet of Baltimore, many of whose effusions, as they have appeared from time to time in the journals of the day, we have found occasion to admire, for various merits. Mr. M'JILTON exhibits his powers to the best advantage, when he permits his muse to illustrate the affections, and to depict the outward semblances of nature. He has an ear for the melody of verse; we may assume, an excellent heart; and at all times a regard for the moral influence of his writings. We cannot affirm, howwithout doing violence to our honest convictions, that in addition to being correct, pleasing, and moral, he evinces the possession of brilliant imagination, or a profound conception of the beautiful; and yet in neither of these important attributes is he glaringly deficient. Mr. M'JILTON is, in short, a writer of decided promise; and should his maturity fulfil the promise of his spring, he will hereafter need no 'friends' to fall back upon, in questionable taste, as an excuse for publication. We have pleasure in warmly commending his volume to general perusal.

ever,

'CHRISTIAN BALLADS.'

- A small but handsome volume, bearing this title, has been issued from the press of Messrs. WILEY AND PUTNAM, Broadway. Although published anonymously, we believe it is no secret that its author is Mr. A. CLEVELAND Coxe, one of our most promising young poets. Most of the poems in this collection attracted general admiration in the columns of the 'Churchman,' and subsequently in other religious, literary, and secular journals; and many of them are characterized by striking beauties, both of thought and execution. Our young friend will pardon us for saying, that in his brief prefaces he has, we fear, directed the reader's attention unnecessarily, and not over-humbly, to the religious influences by which he has been impelled to write. These would be inferred from the poems themselves, and should be, as it strikes us; without an apparent ostentation, which some might be uncharitable enough to consider as adscititious boasting, in relation to that which should rather be inferred than proclaimed; which ‘vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.'

'THE POLITICAL DUTIES OF SCHOLARS.'-Mr. SAMUEL G. RAYMOND, an alumnus of Columbia College, before the alumni of which this address was delivered in October last, has performed an acceptable service to the public, in the enlightened views which he has taken of the political duties of scholars. Passing the cherished associations connected with the history of the venerable institution, we would commend to the reader the writer's democratic inculcation of the individual importance of every citizen; his comments upon the history and nature of our political institutions; the essential spirit of true freedom; and his deductions from these themes. We are glad to perceive that he pays an incidental tribute of praise to Mr. ALEXANDRE VATTEMARE, for his enterprise in the matter of international pictorial and literary exchanges. The Address, to which it is but justice to say we here barely advert, reflects credit upon the orator, as does its outward execution upon the press of the publishers, Messrs. CARVILL AND COMPANY, Broadway.

DR. WEBSTER'S ADDRESS. We can scarcely do more than acknowledge our obligations to our friend the author, for a ' Lecture, introductory to the Course on Anatomy and Physiology, in Geneva Medical College, in October, by JAMES WEBSTER, M. D.,' Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in that flourishing institution, whose advantages and admirable location he has well set forth in the opening of his discourse. The sound and healthful advice to the medical student, and the sketch of the important branches of medical art to which his labor would be devoted, are not less forcibly than felicitiously set forth, in the performance before us, which we commend with confidence to our young medical readers, in the various institutions of the Union, as well as to the general reader.

MR. ROCKWELL'S POEM. We are left but little room to record our admiration of a 'Poem delivered before the Literary Societies in Amherst College, (Mass.,) in August last, by HENRY W. ROCKWELL, Esq., of Utica; having but space to say, that it is imbued throughout with the best characteristics of its author's poetical productions, with the merits of which, we may add, our readers are familiar. It is indeed a fitting tribute to our fathers, and the noble heritage which they have left us; and is admirable alike for its general conception and execution, and the firm American spirit which pervades it.

TREASON OF ARNOLD. Our readers, who have had their interest in the story of ARNOLD's treason newly awakened by an article in a recent number of this Magazine, will find many additional particulars in relation to this memorable event, in a published lecture recently delivered before a Society of Young Men in Northampton, (Mass.,) by WINTHROP ATWILL, Esq., Editor of the 'Troy (N. Y.) Mail.' We have perused the pamphlet with a pleasure which we had designed to share in part with our readers; but our tether forbids.

'AMERICAN HUSBANDRY.'-Nos. 128 and 130 of HARPERS' invaluable School District Library are devoted to 'American Husbandry' being a series of essays on Agriculture, compiled principally from 'The Cultivator, and 'The Genessee Farmer,' with additions. By WILLIS GAYLORD and LUTHER TUCKER.' Aside from the favor with which we should naturally regard a work from the tried pen of a kinsman, we may affirm, that the volumes really contain what they purport to embrace, such general principles and courses of practice as will conduce most certainly to benefit and improve the condition and prospects of the tiller of the soil; and that the work is in all respects such a manual as will be found instructive to all who are engaged in the great undertaking of producing a nation's wealth and a nation's bread.'

'YANKEE LAND AND THE YANKEE.'- This thin pamphlet-volume, by Mr. DANIEL MARCH, contains two good poems, one of which, 'The Iron Horse,' a very spirited and imaginative production, appeared originally in the KNICKERBOCKER. We cannot, with our space, better characterize the poem which gives the title to the work, than by saying, that the promise afforded by 'The Iron Horse' is fully sustained by this more elaborate effort. Mr. MARCH will yet make his name honorably and widely known to the American public. Mark the prediction.

GRIMES' PHRENOLOGY.-We have received a small pamphlet from Albany, containing the 'Outlines of GRIMES' New System of Phrenology, with Prof. HORSFORD'S Report to the Albany Phrenological Society, on GRIMES' Classification.' The comthrough their chairman, that distrusting their own abilities, they entered into corresmittee, to whom the consideration of Mr. Grimes' Classification was submitted, report, pondence with several phrenological writers, who pronounced the Classification alluded to, a 'decided improvement,' in their estimation, upon preceding phrenological systems.

'HEROINES OF SACRED HISTORY.' This is a very interesting moral and religious work, by Mrs. STEELE; in which the various heroism of Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Queen Esther, Jehosheba, Jeptha's Daughter, and Judith, are illustrated by sketches which adhere closely to Scripture history, and are rendered the more life-like and attractive, by being drawn with the costumes, scenery, and manners of the several periods in which they lived. Like all the volumes from the press of JOHN S. TAYLOR, the present is characterized by great neatness of typographical execution.

'BIOGRAPHICAL Annual.'- Messrs. LINNEN AND FENNELL Will publish, during the present month, a beautiful volume thus entitled, containing lives of eminent persons recently deceased, with fine portraits: edited by Mr. RUFUS W. GRISWOLD. Among the contributors are BRYANT, THEODORE SEDGWICK, HORACE GREELEY, EPES SARGENT, Esq., and other able writers. It can scarcely fail to be a valuable and attractive work.

'GALLERY OF THE APOLLO ASSOCIATION.'

Our verdict on this collection of pictures has been more than confirmed by the public. The exhibition will remain open for a few days longer; and all who have not yet enjoyed the pleasure, should seize an opportunity to visit it. Apropos : We attributed, in our last, Number 26, 'Fishmarket at Rome,' to the owner instead of the painter of the picture. The artist is the celebrated ROBERT, a Frenchman, who committed suicide several years ago.

A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

- Dame RUMOR is whispering slily around town, that we are to have, during the present month, a splendid Musical Gala, or Festival, under the competent direction of the public's favorite, Mr. C. E. HORN. Most of the operatic talent, of the highest order, now in the country, will be brought together; and we learn that a selection of the most popular music will be presented. If all the portents are true, this festival will prove an unexampled attraction.

TO READERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.

THE first number of the Seventeenth VOLUME of the KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE will appear on the first of January, 1841, upon new type, and with such other external improvements as may be suggested. At no period, in the entire progress of the work, have we had on hand, and engaged, such a variety of attractive literary matter, fn the highest and most popular native sources to say nothing of articles from eminent writers abroad -as we may boast at the present moment. In this respect, no exertion nor expense has been spared; insomuch, that we have deemed it a duty we owe ourselves, to secure for each number of this Magazine, as it appears, the advantages which its reputation, and an annual outlay of thousands, should assuredly entitle us. We shall hereafter, therefore, secure for the Crayon Papers' of WASHINGTON IRVING, and such other articles and series of articles, of kindred attraction, as may be obtained from popular writers, at great expense, the protection of copy-right; so that those who desire their perusal and preservation, may obtain them alone from their original source, and in a beautiful form for binding up with the great amount of literary matériel, of the first order of excellence, by which they will be accompanied in these pages. Beyond this general announcement of 'good things in store,' we do not deem it neces sary to speak. Our readers well know how far our promises to them have been sustained, through sixteen volumes of our work; and we are content that the past shall be a guarantee for the future; adding only, that as we begin the new volume, we shall continue it; and should our subscribers do us that justice which we feel we have a right to demand at their hands, we shall aim to improve even upon our highest standard.

Delinquent Knickerbocker Readers!

You who have found various enjoyment in the pages of this work; who have laughed with the humorous, wept with the sorrowing, reasoned with the argumentative; you who have journeyed with the traveller, and been held captive by the novelist; who have joyed with the lover of nature, and rejoiced, grieved, felt, with the true poet; who have imbibed new views of men and things, perhaps new principles of moral good, and new incentives to virtue, from the diversified minds who have here, from time to time, displayed their intellectual treasures; did it ever occur to you, that you were guilty Of GREAT INJUSTICE in withholding the small sum due from you, as some compensation for the anxiety, the ceaseless labor, and the large and immediate expense, which could alone have contributed, to so great a degree, to your gratification, from one month to another? To each individual of you, the amount withheld is comparatively but a trifle; but the sums due from you as a class, make an aggregate of thousands, the want of which has often embittered moments of anxious toil in your behalf, and rendered even a literary labor of love' uncongenial and irksome; the more, that your injustice prevented our doing our duty to others. DELINQUENT READER, 'think on these things;' and let not a week elapse, before you do justice to your conscience and to us, by forwarding the amount for which you are indebted to the KNICKERBOCKER. Let not the laxity in regard to literary indebtedness, which has been charged upon us by the press of other countries as a national sin, be longer laid to your charge.