These powers may, perhaps, if wisely exercised, secure a great improvement in the health of the city. We trust that the duties imposed by them will be thoroughly and efficiently performed, and we are gratified to see that a good beginning has already been made; but our regret is not diminished that the more complete proposed Sanitary Act failed to pass. The annual report on "The Sanitary Condition of the City of London" has just been published. By this report it appears, that, during the year ending on the 31st of March, 1860, the rate of mortality in London was 22.4 per thousand of the population, or 1 in 44; in all England, the average rate is 22.3; in country districts it is only 20; in the large towns, 26. "Ten years ago," says Dr. Letheby, the author of the report from which we quote, "the annual mortality of the city was rarely less than 25 in the thousand.....Our present condition is 19 per cent. better than that, and we owe it to the sanitary labors of the last ten years." In another part of the report he says,--"7233 inspections of houses have been made in the course of the year, of which 803 were of the common lodging-houses, and 935 orders have been issued for sanitary improvement in various particulars." Compare these facts with those given in our article concerning the rate of mortality in our cities. The spirit of emulation, if no other, should force us into energetic measures of reform. Boston with a death-rate of 1 in 41, New York of 1 in 27, and London of 1 in 44! * * * * * RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. High School Grammar; or, An Exposition of the Grammatical Construction of the English Language. By W. S. Barton, A. M., Author of "Easy Lessons in English Grammar," "Intermediate Grammar," etc., etc. Boston. Gould & Lincoln. 12mo. pp. 373. $1.00. Friarswood Post-Office. By the Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," etc., etc. New York. Appleton. & Co. 18mo. pp. 251. 50 cents. A Voyage down the Amoor: with a Land Journey through Siberia, and Incidental Notices of Manchooria, Kamschatka, and Japan. By Perry McDonough Collins, United States Commercial Agent at the Amoor River. New York. Appleton & Co. 12mo. pp. 390. $1.25. The Pioneer Preachers and People of the Mississippi Valley. By William Henry Milburn, Author of "The Rifle, Axe, and Saddle-Bags." and "Ten Years of Preacher Life." New York. Derby & Jackson. 12mo. pp. 465. $1.00. Our Farm of Four Acres, and the Money we made by it. From the Twelfth London Edition. With an Introduction by Peter B. Mead, Editor of "The Horticulturist." New York. Saxton, Barker, & Co. 16mo. pp. 126. 50 cents. Tylney Hall. By Thomas Hood. Boston. Tilton & Co. 12mo. pp. xii., 479. $1.25. An Oration delivered before the Municipal Authorities of the City of Boston, July 4th. 1859. By George Sumner. Third Edition, with Historical Notes. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. pp. 69. 25 cents.