the 22d of the same month we received a circular in which the house above referred to a 1nounced that it had returned to its previous rate of discounts. Of course we were obliged to notify our customers to the same effect.

The result of this "trial" was the loss to us of several good customers, and such an experience is not encouraging to make further experiments of like nature.

The only reason given for sending out this circular, was that one other party in the same city had not kept to the agreement! Without discussing the merits of this case, we would simply inquire how long an agreement of the many retailers would hold, if a combination of the few Eastern jobbers lasted just two weeks? We would now refer to a few irregularities in the report, the result of which is to place us very ungenerously before the trade, as the only house of any importance in the East that has not signed the paper. The report states that the paper was signed by every leading house in Boston," by all in New-York except the American News Co. (the signature of which was withheld owing to some special action being requested), and in Philadelphia, by all except ours! On looking over the list of signatures we do not find the following names: Little, Brown & Co.; Brewer & Tileston; The New-England News Co. (of Boston); Wm. Wood & Co.; Baker, Voorhies & Co.; Leggat Bros.; Banks Bros. (of New-York); Henry C. Lea; Kay & Bro.; T. & J. W. Johnston, and the Central News Co. (of Phila.), all of which houses, it seems to us, are worthy of consideration in this connection; yet without them the committee announces in its report that "they came within one" of securing the signatures of the united trade of Boston, New-York, and Philadelphia! We also notice that no mention is made of any condition being attached to any signature, which rendered the same valueless, so far as the compact is concerned !

Furthermore, no explanation is made in the report that the wording of the resolution was so indefinite that an entire misconception of its intended meaning existed among the majority of those at the meeting in Philadelphia, the understanding being that it was designed to limit the discount to all buyers outside of the trade to twenty per cent; and it was only when one of the committee explained that it was intended to confine the discount mentioned to the exceptions specified, and to sell to others at the retail prices, that it was fully understood. In fact, the members of the committee dis

agreed among themselves as to the meaning of the resolution.

When the inquiry was made as to whether this question had been raised in New-York and Boston, one of the committee stated that it had not, but he supposed that it was generally understood that those signing the paper agreed to sell at retail prices, except in the cases of the exceptions specified. It is possible that this supposition is wrong; and if so, what will be the result?

With all these objections, have we not reason for declining to join in an attempt at reform which we feel confident will not succeed, and are we warranted in running the risks attending such a change in our business, for the sake of the experiment?

But it must not be inferred that we are opposed to the return to retail prices. We believe that no house has the interests of the business more at heart than ours, and no house will co-operate more cordially in any movement that can reasonably be expected to obtain the desired result.

Reference is also made in the report to our circular, issued to the Philadelphia trade last December, proposing a gradual return to retail prices.

Our position will be understood better, perhaps, if we add an explanation to this circular, which at that time we did not think was needed. It is to this effect: that while we think that the present custom of retailing below the published retail price is injurious to the book business, the public also have some claims that ought to be considered. They have become accustomed to expect a discount from long experience in buying, and to peremptorily deprive them of this would certainly, to say the least, be to displease and create disappointment that might result in the estrangement of many very good customers.

If, on the contrary, it should be done in the gradual way that we have suggested, we do not think it would be long before the trade would have accomplished its desires.

We have no wish to stand in the way of what should be considered beneficial to the interests of the trade. This sort of prominence is not at all to our taste; and yet we think all persons who reason dispassionately in this matter will see the force of our criticisms and sug gestions. Yours, very respectfully,

J. B LIPPINCOTT & Co. F. LEYPOLDT, Editor of the PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY, 37 Park Row, New-York.

*Mahan.-The Collected Works of the late Milo Mahan, D.D. In 3 vols. Edited with a brief Memoir by John Henry Hopkins, S.T.D. Vols. 2 and 3. 12°, pp. 715; lvii, 736. Per vol., $5..... ...Pott, Y. & Co. Mason.-Rape of the Gamp. A Novel. By C. Welsh Mason. Illustr. 8°, pp. 152. Pap., $1.........Harper. Massachusetts Reports. See Crocker. Mayne.-A Medical Vocabulary. Being an Explanation of all Terms and Phrases used in the various Departments of Medical Science and Practice, giving their Derivation, Meaning, Application, and Pronunciation. Intended specially as a Book of Reference for the Student. By R. G. Mayne, M.D., LL.D., author of "An Expository Lexicon of Scientific Terms," and J. Mayne, M.D., L.R.C.S., Edin., etc., author of " Toxicologia," etc. Fourth ed., rev. and enl. 12°, pp. vi, 459. $2.50.

Lindsay & B. Miller.-Metaphysics; or, The Science of Perception. By John Miller, Princeton, N. J. 8°, pp. 402. $4. Dodd&M.

Mitchell, S. Weir. See Seguin. Moody and Sankey. See Hall and Stuart. Mudge.-Arctic Heroes: Facts and Incidents of Arctic Explorations, from the earliest Voyages to the Discovery of the Fate of Sir John Franklin. Embracing Sketches of commercial and religious Results. By Rev. Z. A. Mudge, author of "Views from Plymouth Rock," "Witch Hill," etc. Four illustr. 16°, pp. 304. $1.25. Nelson & P. Muhlenberg.-Evangelical Catholic Papers. A Collection of Essays, Letters, and Tractates from the Writings of Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg, D.D., during the last forty Years. Compiled by Anne Ayres. 8°, pp. iv, Whittaker. 597. $2.50..

Norval. See Steamship Notes. **Olcott.-People from the other World. By Henry S. Olcott. Profusely illustr. by Alfred Kappes and T. W. Williams. 12°, pp. 490. $2.50 and $3; half mor., $4. Am. Pub. Co. Orvis. Ritualism Dethroned and the True Church Found; or, The Divine Life in all the Christian Ages most revealed in those Churches and "Martyrs of Jesus" that have witnessed against a Ceremonial and Sacramental Law. (A Plea for Christian Liberty, Christian Union, and the higher Christian Life.) By Rev. William B. Orvis. 12°, pp. 380. $1.50..... ..Longstreth. Paxton.-How we Spend our Years. By William M. Paxton. 24°, PP. 35. 35 C .... ...Randolph. Persius.-The Satires of A. Persius Flaccus. Edited by Basil L. Gildersleeve, Ph.D. (Göttingen), LL.D., Prof. of Greek in the Univ. of Virginia. 12°, pp. 231. $1.25. Harper. Phelps.-Poetic Studies. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, author of "The Gates Ajar," etc. Sq. 16°, pp. 141. $1.50.... Osgood. Phin.-Practical Hints on the Selection and Use of the Microscope. Intended for Beginners. By John Phin, Editor of The Technologist. Illustr. 12°, pp. 131. 75 c. Industrial Pub. Co. **Pierce.-The People's Common-Sense Medical Adviser, in plain English; or, Medicine Simplified. By R. V. Pierce, M.D. Illustr. 12, pp. 880. $1.50. [World's Dispensary Print. Off.] Pine.-Ecce Femina; or, The Woman Zoe. By Cuyler

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An Outline of Linguistic Science. By William Dwight Whitney, Prof. of Sanskrit and Comparative Philology in Yale Coll. (International Scientific Series, No. 14.) 12°, pp. vii, 326. $1.50.... .Appleton.

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DODD & MEAD, New-York.

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'ECCE FEMINA; or, The Woman Zoe," by Cuyler Pine," who is the lady disputant with Wm. Allen Butler of the authorship of " Nothing to Wear," then Miss Peck, but since married and dead, is brought before the public by G. W. Carleton & Co. in a red-line volume, which will attract more attention than the pamphlet form in which it was concealed last year. It is on the Magdalen subject, and is a plea, in many respects strikingly put, for the reception of the penitent who seek a reformed life. Much of its thought is analagous to that of Miss Phelps' "Hedged In."

ANOTHER interrogative novel, "Did She Do Right?" is ready; this time by the author of An Old-Fashioned Boy." It is published by Messrs. S. T. Souder & Co., of Philadelphia, successors to the firm of Wm. B. Evans & Co. (dissolved by the death of Mr. Evans), who have also ready a new edition of Mr. Talmage's "Crumbs Swept Up."

JOHN CHURCH & Co., Cincinnati, O., the publishers of Church's Musical Visitor, offer musical people a rare inducement to become subscribers to that excellent journal. Believing that no premium could be more acceptable to musical people than good music, the publishers have just issued, for this especial purpose, three really valuable volumes of beautiful music, each book suited to a different capacity and style, as indicated by the titles. The " Song Premium" is a collection of popular songs, by

T. B. PETERSON & BROS., Philadelphia. The Mystery of Dark Hollow. By Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth. 12°. $1.75; pap., $1.50. (May 22.)

PORTER & COATES, Phila.

Cookery from Experience. By Mrs. L. T. Paul.

A. D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., New-York. Addresses and Lectures. By D. L. Moody, from verbatim Reports. Also containing the Work in Liverpool and London. 8°, pp. 85. 50 c. (May 16.)

The Early American Spirit and its Genesis. By Richard S. Storrs, D.D. 8°, pp. 60. Pap., 75 c. (May 16.)

ROBERTS BROS., Boston.

In a Californian Eden. By Joaquin Miller. Freedom and Fellowship. By Thomas W. Higgin

son.

SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., New-York. Breakfast, Luncheon and Tea. By Marion Harland. 12°. $1.75. (May 20.)

WEED, PARSONS & CO., Albany.

Edmond's New-York Statutes at Large. Vol. 8. Containing all the Public Statutes with reference to Judicial Decisions, etc., from 1871 to 1874. $6.

WILLIAM WOOD & CO., New-York. Thomas' American Fruit Culturist. enl. ed. 8°, pp. 600.

New and

many first-class composers. The "Piano Premium" is for those who prefer instrumental music. This book contains thirteen pieces of music, by Strauss, Kinkel, and others. The "Classic Premium" is for advanced players, being a fine selection of music by such composers as Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, etc. Either of these volumes is alone worth several times the price asked for the Visitor, to say nothing of the regular monthly visits of the music magazine itself. Choice of the above books, elegantly bound in cloth, will be sent to every subscriber to the Visitor. Subscription price of the Visitor is $1.50 a year. The publishers will send specimen copy, with list of contents of premium volumes, on receipt of one stamp.

TUTTLE & Co., of Rutland, Vt., were burned out last month, but are enterprisingly laying in a new stock of goods with which to continue their business of twenty-five years' standing.

A NOVEL called "One Summer," the work of a young lady hitherto unknown in literature, is to be published by J. R. Osgood & Co.

"ONE hundred years may come and go," says the Boston Transcript pleasantly, ere there is

such a demand for another book as there is for Colonel Higginson's 'Young Folks' History of the United States,' just now. The publishers, Lee & Shepard, undoubtedly met a public want in bringing it out."