Mr. Hepworth Dixon, who is already favourably known as the author of a _Life of Howard_, has just published _William Penn, an Historical Biography_. It is unquestionably a book of considerable talent; and even those who may be most inclined to dissent from the {311} author's views of the political principles of the Quakers (and we suspect many of the Quakers themselves will be found among that number), will admit that in treating him not as a mere Quaker, as preceding biographers had been too much disposed to do, but as "a great English historical character--the champion of the Jury Laws--the joint leader, with Algernon Sidney, of the Commonwealth men--the royal councillor of 1684-8--the courageous defender of Free Thought--the founder of Pennsylvania"--Mr. Dixon has succeeded in the task which he had proposed to himself, namely, that of transforming William Penn "from a myth into a man." His vindication of this great man from what he designates "The Macaulay Charges" would not, however, have lost one iota of its efficiency, had it been couched in somewhat more measured terms. Mr. Murray announces _The Grenville Papers; being the Private Correspondence of Richard Grenville Earl Temple, his brother George Grenville, their Friends and Contemporaries_, as in the press. It will contain some letters from Junius, and Mr. Grenville's Diary, particularly during his premiership, from 1763 to 1765. The fifth and sixth volumes of Lord Mahon's _History of England from the Peace of Utrecht_ are also at press. Lady Theresa Lewis is nearly ready with a work which cannot but be of great interest. It is entitled _Lives of the Friends and Contemporaries of Lord Chancellor Clarendon, illustrative of Portraits in his Gallery; with an Account of the Origin of the Collection; and a descriptive Catalogue of the Pictures_. It will form two volumes, and be accompanied by illustrative portraits. Mr. Colburn announces a new library edition of Miss Strickland's _Lives of the Queens of England_. Although revised and considerably augmented by new materials which have been placed at Miss Strickland's disposal since the appearance of the earlier impressions of her book, this edition is to be comprised in eight monthly volumes.