We scarcely know how to do justice to the high character of the series of volumes now publishing under this denomination.  In printing and embellishment they take the lead of the Periodical Works of our day, (and some of these are extremely beautiful,) while their literary worth is even of superior order.  Although they are matter-of-fact works—­as in history and biography—­they are not mere compilations of dry details and uninteresting lives; but they are so interspersed with new views, and the facts are so often re-written, that the whole have the appearance of original works.  Excellent principles, and economy of cost are, likewise, two important points of their recommendations; for many works which have already appeared on the same subjects, have been deformed by party spirit, and written to serve a sect, or are so expensive as to be purchaseable only by the wealthy ranks, and scarcely accessible by the middle classes of society; whereas the Family Library is published at a rate within the reach of two-thirds of the reading public, who may therefore possess what they read, and appreciate the value of these volumes as works of reference and authority.

The division of the series which has called forth this notice, is No. 5, or the first volume of the History of the Jews, to be completed in three volumes, by the Rev. H.H.  Milman, Professor of Poetry at Oxford, and the author of the splendid poem—­The Fall of Jerusalem; and judging by the portion before us, this work will form one of the most attractive in the whole series.  In proof of this it would be easy to select many passages which are beautifully picturesque; a few, however, will suffice: 

“The Jews, without reference to their religious belief, are among the most remarkable people in the annals of mankind.  Sprung from one stock, they pass the infancy of their nation in a state of servitude in a foreign country, where, nevertheless, they increase so rapidly, as to appear on a sudden the fierce and irresistible conquerors of their native valleys in Palestine.  There they settle down under a form of government and code of laws totally unlike those of any other rude or civilized community.  They sustain a long and doubtful conflict, sometimes enslaved, sometimes victorious, with the neighbouring tribes.  At length, united under one monarchy, they gradually rise to the rank of a powerful, opulent, and commercial people.  Subsequently weakened by internal discord, they are overwhelmed by the vast monarchies which arose on the banks of the Euphrates, and transplanted into a foreign region.  They are partially restored, by the generosity or policy of the Eastern sovereigns, to their native land.  They are engaged in wars of the most romantic gallantry, in assertion of their independence, against the Syro-Grecian successors of Alexander.  Under Herod, they rise to a second era of splendour, as a dependent kingdom of Rome:  finally, they make the last desperate resistance to