M. BURNET DE PESLE has just published the first part of his _Examen Critique de la Succession des Dynasties Egyptiennes_, a work to which competent critics assign a high value. He follows the method of Champollion, rejecting hypotheses and admitting only the testimony of the historians and monuments. At the same time he treats his subject with independence and originality, though he advances nothing for the sake of novelty. The second part of the work will be devoted to the discussion of the ancient inscriptions, dynasty by dynasty, and reign by reign. * * * * * WASHINGTON IRVING is claimed by the English as by both _birth_ and spirit a British author. In the question of copyright lately before the Vice Chancellor, the case rested in part upon a plea that Mr. Irving's father was from the Orkneys and his mother from Falmouth, so that, though he was born in New York, he was not an _alien_. Still, our "Diedrich Knickerbocker" was _Colonel_ Irving once, and served in this capacity against the king, and it will not he safe for him to establish the position assumed by his publisher. * * * * * M. ARAGO, having completed his love-labor in honor of Condorcet, is again abstracting from scientific pursuits a portion of his time, to prepare a memoir upon the acts and doings of the Provisional Government of 1848 of which he was a member. It is said to be a curious work which will enlighten much that is yet dark in the history of that period, throwing additional obloquy upon some members, and relieving others of a portion of that which they have hitherto borne. M. Chemiega is also engaged upon his own account in similar historical labors. * * * * * DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, on the 9th of September, delivered a poem, described by a correspondent of the _Commercial Advertiser_ as one of his finest compositions, before a large audience, assembled to dedicate a rural cemetery at Pittsfield, Mass. * * * * * M. DUGANNE, some of whose songs and dramatic pieces have the ring of true metal, has just completed a satire entitled "Parnassus in Pillory," and with the motto, "Lend me your ears." We have seen some advance sheets of it, which are full of wit and spirit. * * * * * SOUTH CAROLINA has always been prolific of epics. Those of Mr. Simmons, Dr. Marks of Barhamville, and some others, have been tried, and-the court of criticism has now before it from the same quarter "America Discovered, in Twelve Books." * * * * * JOHN NEAL has given notice of his intention to write a history of American Literature "in two large octavo volumes," and he invites authors who are not afraid to show their books, to send them to him at Portland without delay. * * * * *