which will at once inform the reader of their source; and whenever the editor or compiler suspects that he has not correctly expressed the meaning of his author by the substituted language, he adds in a note the words of the original. A fairer or more promising scheme of usefulness, it would be impossible to propose with such materials. It must be remembered, however, that it is by the taste and discretion of an individual, or, perhaps, a small body of individuals, that all these details are to be executed, and they will find it extremely difficult to satisfy every class of the public on every occasion, that the judgment of the compilers has been right. If, however, the first number be a faithful sample of what is to follow, we shall not be surprized to find the project completely successful.

ART. XV.-The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. By M. de Bourienne, his Private Secretary. In three volumes 12mo, being vols. VII. VIII. and IX. of the " National Library." London: Colburn and Co. 1831.

THIS pretty novel of and concerning Napoleon's "sayings and doings, has been for some time going the round of various modes of publication in this country. It came over to us in French, was forthwith translated in a hasty and inaccurate manner for Messrs. Colburn and Co., was printed in a much better version in Constable's Miscellany, and now is reproduced in the " National Library" corrected, enlarged, and improved, by the addition of sundry notes. In the mean time those who have perused the work itself, either in the original, or in the English translations, have satisfied themselves that in point of fact

6

Bourienne was private secretary to Bonaparte during a period of little more than six years, viz. from April, 1796, to October, 1802, when he was dismissed for peculation, and never afterwards held any office, which could have enabled him to become familiar with the private and personal history of that extraordinary man. It follows, therefore, that all that part of the Life' which dates after 1802, must have been collected from other sources, although he has had the courage to pass off the whole as the fruit of his own individual knowledge. It is not to be wondered at then if he has fallen into many errors, some of which have been completely exposed by Generals Gourgaud and Belliard, Barons Meneval, De Stein, and Massias, the Counts d'Aure and Boulai' de la Meurthe, the Duke de Cambacérès, the Prince d'Eckınuhl and others. Notwithstanding the contradictions that have been given by these individuals, to several im portant statements which are made by this biographer of Napoleon, the work has maintained its ground; and owing to the naive and interesting style in which it is written, and the numberless anecdotes which it contains, will long hold a distinguished place among the works dedicated to the memory of the great master spirit of the continent. Every thing of any value in the original, is compressed into these three volumes, which are got up in a very creditable manner. Narratives and observations are added to it from other authorities, which throw light upon Bourienne's text, and, besides three capitally engraved portraits of Napoleon and his two wives, this edition is adorned by a variety of scenes from the campaigns of the great warrior, which are in general very fairly executed. The typography of the volumes is beautiful.

The cost of the whole is no more than eighteen shillings, whereas, three or four years ago, an octavo edition, with similar engravings, and containing the same quantity of matter, could not be bought under four or five times that sum ! Here it must be admitted that the "falling off" is a great public advantage.

ART. XVI.-A View of Ancient and Modern Egypt, with an outline of its Natural History. Vol. III. of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library. By the Reverend Michl. Russel, L.L.D. 12mo. pp. 480. Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd. London: Simpkin and Marshall. 1831.

THE same diligence and care, united with the same scrupulous judgment in the selection of authorities, which marked the two former volumes of this valuable series, will be found in the present compilation of the ancient and modern history of Egypt. The reader will peruse in this little volume, small as are its dimensions, the results of the labours and researches of many able and indefatigable travellers. The peculiarities which distinguish the moral as well as geographical history of Egypt, are well known. The monuments of genius and power which are scattered through that country, will long remain as living incitements to stimulate our curiosity, respecting the people from whom such works have proceeded. The author of the volume before us, fully appreciating the sources of interest which his subject afforded, has given us a narrative of unfailing spirit and attraction to the very last page. classical scholar will be delighted to meet in this volume with many curious explanations, derived from modern inquiries, which throw light on a great number of passages in

The

some of the Greek and Latin authors, that have been hitherto deemed unintelligible. We should point out the account of the progress of the investigation which conducted to a knowledge of phonetic Hieroglyphics, as being one of the most valuable portions of this clever work.

cr

ART. XVII.-The Works of Lord Byron. In six volumes, 12mo. London: Murray. 1831. THE fifth and sixth volumes of this new and beautiful edition of Lord Byron's works are now before us. They contain" Hours of Idleness,' English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," "The Vision of Judgment," Age of Bronze," "Werner," and a great variety of other poems, which had been previously scattered in periodical journals and other fugitive publications, and are now for the first time collected under the sanction of Mr. Murray's name. By what process of reasoning that highly respected bookseller could have prevailed upon himself to take under his patronage, since the noble poet's death, so many compositions to which he refused to lend his Imprimatur during his lordship's life, is a question which we have not the means of discussing. We cannot even conjecture any plausible justification of so strange an inconsistency. And we will take leave to add, that Mr. Murray would, perhaps, have better consulted his own fame, if he had persevered in his original intention, of including nothing in his edition of Lord Byron's works at which innocence might have cause to blush. We shall now, of course, expect from Albemarle-street, the whole of" Don Juan" without emendation or omission.

she

Mrs. HALL is undoubtedly the best judge of her own interests; may be warranted, for ought we know, in expatriating her comic muse, and in abjuring the pleasant country which gave her birth; but it must be confessed by her best friends, that she has taken rather an Irish way of putting in her justification. A more conspicuous testimony to the crime of her desertion could not be furnished, than the very work in which she has announced it. There are thirteen capital stories in this volume, and, as usual with every thing Irish, they rapidly alternate between the sigh and the smile. We have read a few of the sketches in other publications; but those which are entirely new, appear to us to be by far the best. Mrs. Hall's delineations of Irish character and manners cannot be exceeded for truth; they are in fact too strictly, too severely real, and we must say that the more durable impression of the Irish character, which we derive from her powerful scenes, is not wholly of a favourable nature, though we are aware of the amiable purpose which that lady has ever had in view when writing these national stories. And perhaps a better proof than this fact, could not be given of the fidellity of Mrs. Hall's sketches.

We

have read with pleasure many comic stories of Ireland from contemporary writers; some of them are admirable for the humour of the dialogue; some for the eccentricity of the characters; some again for the perfect imitation of the rustic English dialect of the common people of Ireland. Mrs. Hall unites these three excellences in most of

her tales. In addition, she invariably developes the genuine character of the peasant, and, in spite of herself, almost, is obliged to follow him through the obliquities of a timeserving and cunning dissimulation. Mrs. Hall, has, moreover, enough of good sense and true practical charity, to avoid every illiberal and par

tial view of the national character of her country. We trust sincerely that if this excellent writer should ultimately forsake the field, whence she has brought off so many welldeserved honours, it is with the intention of reappearing in a new, and not less delightful character.

ART. XIX.- German Poetical Anthology. By A. Bernays. 8vo. pp. 370. London: Treuttel and Co. 1831.

k

WE are glad to find that this work has reached a second edition, as the exertions which Mr. Bernays has been making for some years, in order to diffuse amongst us a love of his native literature, are well worthy of every kind of encouragement. The selections which he has given in the present volumes may be considered, for the most part, as indeed " Elegant Extracts." They are free from taint in a moral point of view, and are calculated to exhibit the poetical qualities of the German language in a very favourable light. The editor has prefixed to the Anthology, a short account of the authors from whose works his flowers have been culled, and also a well written historical essay on German poetry, which, besides evincing a thorough acquaintance with the subject, shews that he is as well versed in the English language, as he is in his own.

ART XX-Marina; or, an. Historical and Descriptive Account of Southport, Lytham, and Blackpool, situate on the Western coast of Lancashire. By P. Whittle. 8vo. pp. 325. Preston: P. and H. Whittle, 1831.

WE are much obliged to Mr. Whittle for favouring us with a copy of his book, before it has been quite ready for distribution amongst his subscribers. It is with great pleasure that at any time we sit down to a topographical work, written by an individual, who is conversant with the localities which he describes, and pursues his subject with the enthusiasm, that naturally springs from early associations. Such an author passes over nothing in the features of the district, which he has undertaken to celebrate; its customs, its superstitions, the arrival of a king or of an admiral entered on its records, battles fought within its precincts, sieges and rebellions carried on there, are all displayed before us with a minuteness, and, generally speaking, a vivacity of detail, which are delightful. Particularly happy are we to light upon such a book, when drinking the spa, or purifying ourselves upon the seashore, from the smoke of this gigantic intellectual steam engine, as London may well be called. Then do we rejoice in exploring, with the industrious compiler, the old castles, and monasteries, and camps, of which he has preserved memorials we enter readily into his Botanical, Conchological, Icthyological, and all his other ogical labours, and listen with unwearied perseverance to his legendary traditions, and, in short, to every thing he has to say. Hence it will be readily believed that we approve, in the most unreserved manner, of Mr. Whittle's 'Marina.' In his section upon Southport he has, perhaps, given us too much

;

about the sublimities and beauties of the ocean, inasmuch as his praises are as applicable to the waters that lave the beach of Scarborough or Margate, as to those which visit the shores of Lancashire. Perhaps also we might advise him to be a little more careful of his grammar and language, in the next edition. The accommodations for visitors is equal to any watering place in the kingdom, p. 31, will not do even in Southport. The following systems are taught by Mr. Walker and able assistants. Greek, Latin, &c.' Is Greek a system? We might quote many other similar blunders, which a little care will rectify. The advantages of Lytham and of Blackpool, as watering places, are not raised up in rivalry with those of Southport, but are, we believe, fairly stated. The lithographic Illustrations are, we regret to add, but mediocre specimens of the art.

ART. XXI.-1. Leigh's Guide to Wales and Monmouthshire, containing Observations on the Mode of Travelling, &c. Illustrated with a Map of Wales, and Views of the Menai and Conway Bridges. pp. 356. London: Leigh. 1931. 2. The Welsh Interpreter: consisting of a concise Vocabulary,, and Collection of Useful and Familiar Phrases, &c. By Thomas Roberts. pp. 138. London: Leigh. 1831.

THE superiority of this New Guide to Wales over any that we have seen, consists in its embracing an account of any possible route in the romantic scenes of the principality, which the traveller may be induced, by whim or business, to select. Thus, in order to avail himself of the assistance of this work, it is not necessary that the tourist should

be condemned to any prescribed and beaten track. There is, however, a series of tours in Wales proposed by the editor, which he considers best calculated to display the various beauties of that charming country. The illustrations, antiquarian and historical, which are introduced, are in the usual style of spirited and correct narrative, which distinguishes the itinerary publications of Mr. Leigh. The Interpreter will be found a very convenient companion for tourists in Wales, but particularly for pedestrians. No one can have travelled in a strange country for a single day, without feeling the vast difference which will be made in his convenience and pleasures, by his being capable of communicating with the natives in their own language. The Interpreter is therefore a very happy invention, and calculated greatly to enhance the luxuries of a Welsh tour. A very desirable quality of this instructor, however, deserves to be pointed out, namely, the pronunciation, according to English models, of the Welsh familiar language; so that with this book in his hand, a genuine Londoner may soon be as well able to converse with a Welshman, as any inhabitant of Llangollen itself!

it embraces a great variety of subjects in law, politics, and literature. There is perceptible in all his reflections, a strain of shrewd common sense, which oftentimes gives them a piquancy that will not easily escape from the memory. The author, however, is of the class of timid politicians, who treat a thinking society as an inert, lifeless mass, that is inevitably subject to certain physical laws, and requires to have its balance permanently maintained by a power superior to itself. We greatly prefer the miscellaneous remarks of the author, which in general are the result of experience and considerable knowledge. The lovers of philology will find in this book "something to their advantage."

ART. XXIII.-The Sailor's Bride: a Tale of Home. By the author of the Months of the Year. 12mo. pp. 114. Charles Tilt. 1831. THIS is a sweet tale, peculiarly adapted to the mind of childhood; it strongly tends to cherish the best qualities which can characterize the period of youth, and prepare it for the nobler duties of the man.

ART. XXIV.-The Life of Thomas Muir, Esq. Advocate, &c. &c. By Peter Mackenzie. 8vo. pp. 160. Glasgow: W. R. M'Phun; London Simpkin and Marshall.

1831.

IN the Scotch state trials for 1793, the name of the unfortunate subject of this memoir occurs, as one of the honest and intrepid supporters of public liberty, whom a corrupt and wicked government had forced to become martyrs. The story of poor Muir and his companions has been too often brought before the coun