until he becomes acquainted with Miss Clarinda Bodkin, "a young lady owning to almost thirty, and withal a great proficient in the mysteries of millinery and mantua-making." Love and ambition, however, set the little gentleman somewhat beside himself. "If Miss Clarinda would but have me," says he, "we might divide the shop, and have a linen-drapery side, and a haberdashery and millinery side, and one would help the other. There'd be only one rent to pay, and a double business-and it would be so comfortable too!” Thinking thus, Peter commences a desperate flirtation, to which Miss Clarinda but doubtfully responds. He escorts the lady to White Conduit House, Bagnigge Wells, and other "genteel" places of public resortand finally is so rash as to accede to the proposition on her part of a trip to Margate. At this epoch of the narrative the writer takes occasion to observe that the intended visit, it seems the critic was aware. As soon as Sir Walter had gone, she sent for their common friend Mr. Erskine, afterwards Lord Kinneder, and confided to him a scheme for having the MS. printed. An arrangement was made with Mr. Robert Miller the bookseller, by which a small edition of "Leonore" was to be hastily thrown off, one copy to be done on the finest paper and superbly bound. Mr. Miller had the book soon ready, and despatched it to the address of "Mr. Scott," so as to arrive when the company were assembled round the tea-table after dinner. Much curiosity was expressed by all-not forgetting Miss C-to ascertain the contents of so beautiful a little volume. The envelope was at length torn off by the astonished author, who, for the first time, thus saw himself in print, and who, "all unconscious of the glories which awaited him, had possibly never dreamed of appearing in such a dress." He was now called upon to read the poem-subsequent proceedings of the hero are gathered from and the effect upon the company is said to have been electrical. These reminiscences of Sir Walter form, possibly, the most interesting portions of Schloss Hainfeld. The entire volume, however, has many charms of matter, and more especially of manner. Captain Hall is no ordinary writer. This justice must be done him. accounts rendered by himself, when called upon afterwards for certain explanations. It is agreed that Miss Clarinda shall set out alone for Margate, and Mr. Snook follows after some indispensable arrangements. These occupy him until the middle of July, at which period, taking passage in the "Rose in June," he safely reaches his destination. But various misfortunes here await him-misfortunes admirably adapted to the meridian of Cockney feeling, and the capacity of Cockney endurance. Peter Snook, a Tale of the City; Follow your Nose; His umbrella, for example, and a large brown paper and other Strange Tales. By the Author of Chartley,' the parcel containing a new pea-green coat, and flower'Invisible Gentleman,' &c. &c. Philadelphia: Repub-patterned embroidered silk waistcoat, are tumbled lished by Carey, Lea and Blanchard. PETER SNOOK. into the water at the landing place, and Miss BodThe 'Invisible Gentleman' was exceedingly popular-kin forbids him her presence in his old clothes. By a and is. It belongs to a class of works which every one tumble of his own too, the skin is rubbed off both his takes a pleasure in reading, and yet which every one shins for several inches, and his surgeon, having no rethinks it his duty to condemn. Its author is one of the gard to the lover's cotillon engagements with Miss Clabest of the English Magazinists-possessing a large rinda, enjoins upon him a total abstinence from dancing. share of Imagination, and a wonderful fertility of Fancy A cock-chafer, moreover, is at the trouble of flying into or Invention. With the exception of Boz, of the Lon-one of his eyes, and, worse than all, a tall militarydon Morning Chronicle, and, perhaps a couple of the writers in Blackwood, he has no rivals in his particular line. We confess ourselves somewhat in doubt, however, whether Boz and the author of 'Chartley' are not one and the same or have not some intimate connection. In the volume now before us, the two admirable Tales, 'Peter Snook' and 'The Lodging-House Bewitched,' might very well have been written by the author of 'Watkins Tottle,' of which they possess all the whimsical peculiarities, and nearly all the singular fidelity and vigor. The remaining papers, however, 'Follow your Nose,' and the 'Old Maiden's Talisman,' are more particularly characteristic of the author of the 'Invisible Gentleman.' The first of the series is also the best, and presents so many striking points for the consideration of the Magazine writer-(by which we mean merely to designate the writer of the brief and piquant article, slightly exaggerated in all its proportions) that we feel inclined to speak of it more fully than is our usual custom in regard to reprints of English light literature. looking shoemaker, Mr. Last, has taken advantage of his delay in reaching Margate, to ingratiate himself with his mistress. Finally, he is "cut" by Last and rejected by the lady, and has nothing left for it but to secure a homeward passage in the "Rose in June." In the evening of the second day after his departure, the vessel drops anchor off Greenwich. Most of the passengers go ashore with the view of taking the stage to the city. Peter, however, who considers that he has already spent money enough to no purpose, prefers remaining on board. "We shall get to Billingsgate," says he "while I am sleeping, and I shall have plenty of time to go home and dress and go into the city and borrow the trifle I may want for Pester and Company's bill, that comes due the day after to-morrow." This determination is a source of much trouble to our hero, as will be seen in the sequel. Some shopmen who remain with him in the packet, tempt him to unusual indulgences in the way, first of brown stout, and secondly of positive French brandy. The consequence is, that Mr. Peter Snook falls, thirdly, asleep, and, Peter Snook, the hero, and the beau ideal of a Cock-fourthly, overboard. ney, is a retail linen-draper in Bishopgate Street. He About dawn, on the morning after this event, Ephraim is of course a stupid and conceited, though at bottom a Hobson, the confidential clerk and fac-totum of Mr. very good little fellow, and "always looks as if he was Peter Snook, is disturbed from a sound nap by the frightened." Matters go on very thrivingly with him, I sudden appearance of his master. That gentleman seems to be quite in a bustle, and delights Ephraim with an account of a "whacking wholesale order for exportation" just received. "Not a word to any body about the matter," exclaims Peter, with unusual emphasis; "it's such an opportunity as don't come often in a man's life time. There's a captain of a ship, he's the owner of her too; but never mind, there an't time | house, No. —, Bishopgate street within, &c. &c.” and to enter into particulars now, but you'll know all by and bye; all you have to do is to do as I tell you, so come along." Setting Ephraim to work, with directions to pack up immediately all the goods in the shop, with the exception of a few trifling articles, the master avows his intention of going into the city "to borrow enough money to make up Pester's bill for to-morrow." "I don't think you'll want much, sir,” returned Hobson, with a self-complacent air. "I've been looking up the long winded 'uns, you see, since you've been gone, and have got Shy's money and Slack's account, which we'd pretty well given up for a bad job, and one or two more. There, there's the list, and there's the key to the strongbox, where you'll find the money, besides what I've took at the counter." Peter seems well pleased at this, and shortly afterwards goes out, saying he cannot tell when he will be back, and giving directions that whatever goods may be sent in during his absence shall be left untouched until his return. Leaving Bluff, Mr. Snook hurries to overtake Mr. Butt, the dealer in spirits, who had just left the banking house before himself, and to give that gentleman an | order for a hogshead of the best gin. As he is personally unknown to Mr. Butt he hands him a card on which is written "Peter Snook, linen and muslin ware It appears that after leaving his shop, Mr. Snook proceeded to that of Messieurs Job, Flashbill & Co. (one of whose clerks, on board the Rose in June, had been very liberal in supplying our hero with brandy on the night of his ducking,) looked over a large quantity of ducks and other goods, and finally made purchase of “a choice assortment" to be delivered the same day. His next visit was to Mr. Bluff, the managing partner in the banking house where he usually kept his cash. His business now was to request permission to overdraw a hundred pounds for a few days. "Humph," said Mr. Bluff, "money is very scarce butBless me!-yes-it's he! Excuse me a minute, Mr. Snook, there's a gentleman at the front counter whom I want particularly to speak to-I'll be back with you directly." As he uttered these words, he rushed out, and, in passing one of the clerks on his way forward, he whispered-"Tell Scribe to look at Snook's account, and let me know directly." He then went to the front counter, where several people were waiting to pay and receive money. Fine weather this, Mr. Butt. What! you're not out of town like the rest of them?" "No," replied Mr. Butt, who kept a thriving gin-shop, "no, I sticks to my business-make hay while the sun shines-that's my maxim. Wife up at night--I up early in the morning." The banker chatted and listened with great apparent interest, till the closing of a huge book on which he kept his eye, told him that his whispered order had been attended to. He then took a gracious leave of Mr. Butt, and returned back to the counting-house with a slip of paper, adroitly put in his hand while passing, on which was written, "Peter Snook, Linen Draper, Bishopgate Street-old account-increasing gradually balance 1531. 15s. 6d.-very regular." "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Snook," said he, "but we must catch people when we can. Well, what is it you were saying you wanted us to do?" takes occasion to mention that he purchases at the recommendation of Mr. Bluff. The gin is to be at Queenhithe the same evening. The spirit-dealer, as soon as his new customer has taken leave, revolves in his mind the oddity of a linen-draper's buying a hogshead of gin, and determines to satisfy himself of Mr. Snook's res ponsibility by a personal application to Mr. Bluff. Upon reaching the bank, however, he is told by the clerks that Mr. Bluff, being in attendance upon a committee of the House of Commons, will not be home in any reasonable time-but also that Peter Snook is a perfectly safe man. The gin is accordingly sent; and several other large orders for different goods, upon other houses, are all promptly fulfilled in the same manner. Meantime Ephraim is busily engaged at home in receiving and inspecting the invoices of the various purchases as they arrive, at which employment he is occupied until dusk, when his master makes his appearance in unusually high spirits. We must here be pardoned for copying about a page. "Well, Ephraim," he exclaimed, "this looks something like business! You hav'nt had such a job this many a day! Shop looks well now, eh?" a'nt frightened. When we shall sell all these goods I'm sure I "You know best, sir," replied Hobson. "But hang me if I can't think. You talked of having a haberdashery side to the shop; but if we go on at this rate, we shall want another side for ourselves; I'm sure I don't know where Miss Bodkin is to be put." "She go to Jericho!" said Peter, contemptuously. "As for the goods, my boy, they'll all be gone before to-morrow morning. All you and I have got to do is to pack 'em up; so let us turn to and strap at it." Packing was Ephraim's favorite employment, but on the present occasion he set to work with a heavy heart. His master, on the contrary, appeared full of life and spirits, and corded boxes, sewed up trusses, and packed huge paper parcels with a celerity and an adroitness truly wonderful. "Why, you don't get on, Hobson," he exclaimed; "see what I've done! Where's the ink-pot?-oh, here it is!" and he proceeded to mark his packages with his initials and the letter G below. "There," he resumed, "P. S. G.; that's for me at Gravesend. I'm to meet the Captain and owner there; show the goods-if there's any he don't like shall bring 'em back with me; get bills-bankers' acceptances for the rest; see 'em safe on board then-but not before, mind that Master Ephraim ! No, no, keep my weather eye open as the men say on board the Rose in June. By the bye, I hav'nt told you yet about my failing overboard whap into the river." "Falling overboard!" exclaimed the astonished shopman, quitting his occupation to stand erect and listen. "Ay, ay," continued Peter-" see it won't do to tell you long stories now. There--mark that truss, will you? Know all about it some day. Lucky job though--tell you that; got this thundering order by it. Had one tumble, first going off, at Margate. Spoilt my peagreen--never mind-that was a lucky tumble too. Hadn't been for that, shouldn't so soon have found out the game "I should like to be able to overdraw just for a few days," a certain person was playing with me. She go to Jericho?" replied Peter. "How much?" "A hundred." "Won't fifty do?" "No, not quite sir." "Well, you're an honest fellow, and don't come bothering us often, so I suppose we must not be too particular with you for this once." But for the frequent repetition of this favorite expression, Ephraim Hobson has since declared he should have doubted his master's identity during the whole of that evening, as there was something very singular about him; and his strength and activity in moving the bales, boxes, and trusses, were such as he had never previously exhibited. The phrase condemning this, that, or the other thing or person to "go to Jericho," was the only expression that he uttered, as the shopman said, “natu rally," and Peter repeated that whimsical anathema as often as usual. to their orders they took the barge in the first instance to a wharf near Queenhithe, and helped to load her The goods being all packed up, carts arrive to carry with some goods brought down in carts. Mr. Snook them away; and, by half past ten o'clock, the shop is afterwards came on board bringing with him two fierce entirely cleared, with the exception of a few trifling|looking men and "a little man with a hooked nose," articles, to make show on the shelves and counters. (Ephraim.) Mr. S. and the little man then "had Two hackney coaches are called. Mr. Peter Snook gets into one with a variety of loose articles which would require too much time to pack, and his shopman into another with some more. Arriving at Queenhithe, they find all the goods previously sent already embarked in the hold of a long decked barge which lies near the shore. Mr. Snook now insists upon Ephraim's going on board and taking supper and some hot rum and water. This advice he follows to so good purpose that he is at length completely bewildered, when his master, taking him up in his arms, carries him on shore, and there setting him down, leaves him to make the best of his way home as he can. About eight next morning, Ephraim awaking, of course in a sad condition both of body and mind, sets himself immediately about arranging the appearance of the shop "so as to secure the credit of the concern." In spite of all his ingenuity, however, it maintains a povertystricken appearance-which circumstance excites some most unreasonable suspicions in the mind of Mr. Bluff's clerk, upon his calling at ten with Pester and Co.'s bill, (three hundred and sixteen pounds seventeen shillings) and receiving, by way of payment, a check upon his own banking house for the amount-Mr. Snook having written this check before his departure with the goods, and left it with Ephraim. Upon reaching the bank therefore, the clerk inquires if Peter Snook's check is good for three hundred and sixteen pounds odd, and is told that it is not worth a farthing, Mr. S. having overdrawn already for a hundred. While Mr. Bluff and his assistants are conversing upon this subject, Butt, the gin-dealer, calls to thank the banker for having recommended him a customer-which the banker denies having done. An explanation ensues and "stop thief!" is the cry. Ephraim is sent for, and reluctantly made to tell all he knows of his master's proceedings on the day before-by which means a knowledge is obtained of the other houses who (it is supposed) have been swindled. Getting a description of the barge which conveyed the goods from Queenhithe, the whole party of creditors now set off in pursuit. About dawn the next morning they overtake the barge a little below Gravesend-when four men are observed leaving her upon sight of the pursuers and rowing to the shore in a skiff. Peter Snook is found sitting quietly in the cabin, and although apparently a little surprised at seeing Mr. Pester, betrays nothing like embarrassment or fear. "Ah, Mr. Pester, is it you? Glad to see you, sir! So you've been taking a trip out o' town, and are going back with us? We shall get to Billingsgate between eight and nine, they say; and I hope it won't be later, as I've a bill of yours comes due to-day, and I want to be at home in time to write a check for it." The goods are also found on board, together with three men in the hold, gagged and tied hand and foot. They give a strange account of themselves. Being in the employ of Mr. Heaviside a lighterman, they were put in charge of "The Flitter," when she was hired by Peter Snook for a trip to Gravesend. According a sort of a jollification" in the cabin, till the latter got drunk and was carried ashore. They then proceeded down the river, nothing particular occuring till they had passed Greenwich Hospital, when Mr. S. ordered them to lay the barge alongside a large black sided ship. No sooner was the order obeyed than they were boarded by a number of men from said ship, who seized them, bound them hand and foot, gagged them and put them down into the hold. The immediate consequence of this information is, that our poor friend Peter is bound hand and foot, gagged, and put down into the hold in the same manner, by way of retaliation, and for sake-keeping on his way back to the city. On the arrival of the party a meeting of the creditors is called. Peter appears before them in a great rage and with the air of an injured man. Indeed, his behavior is so mal-a-propos to his situation, as entirely to puzzle his interrogators. He accuses the whole party of a conspiracy. "Peter Snook," said Mr. Pester solemnly, from the chair, "that look does not become you after what has passed. Let me advise you to conduct yourself with propriety. You will find that the best policy, depend on't.' "A pretty thing for you, for to come to talk of propriety!" exclaimed Peter; "you that seed me laid hold on by a set of ruffins, and never said a word, nor given information a'terwards! And here have I been kept away from business I don't know how long, and shut up like a dog in a kennel; but I look upon't you were at the bottom of it all--you and that fellow with the plum-pudding face, as blowed me up about a cask of gin! What you both mean by it I can't think; but if there's any law in the land, I'll make you remember it, both of you--that's what I will!" Mr. Snook swears that he never saw Mr. Jobb in his life except on the occasion of his capture in "The Flitter," and positively denies having looked out any parcel of goods at the house of Jobb, Flashbill & Co. With the banker, Mr. Bluff, he acknowledges an acquaintance-but not having drawn for the two hundred and seventy pounds odd, or having ever overdrawn for a shilling in his life. Moreover he is clearly of opinion that the banker has still in his hands more than a hundred and fifty pounds of his (Mr. Snook's) money. He also designates several gentlemen as being no creditors of his, although they were of the number of those from whom large purchases had been made for the "whacking" shipping order, and although their goods were found in "The Flitter." Ephraim is summoned, and testifies to all the particulars of his master's return, and the subsequent packing, cart-loading and embarkation as already told-accounting for the extravagances of Mr. Snook as being "all along of that Miss Bodkin.” "Lor', master, hi's glad to see you agin," exclaimed Ephraim. "Who'd ha' thought as 'twould come to this?" "Come to what?" cried Peter. I'll make 'em repent of it, every man Jack of em, before I've done, if there's law to be had for love or money!" "Ah, sir," said Ephraim, "we'd better have stuck to the retail. I was afraid that shipping consarn would'nt answer, and tell'd you so, if you recollect, but you would'nt harken to me." "What shipping concern?" inquired Peter, with a look of amazement. "La! master," exclaimed Ephraim, "it aint of any use to pretend to keep it a secret now, when every body knows it. I did'nt tell Mr. Pester, though, till the last, when all the goods was gone out of the shop, and the sheriff's officers had come to take possession of the house." "Sheriff's officers in possession of my house!" roared Peter. "All the goods gone out of the shop! What do you mean by that, you rascal? What have you been doing in my absence?" And he sprang forward furiously, and seized the trembling shopman by the collar with a degree of violence which rendered it difficult for the two officers in attendance to disengage him from his hold. Hereupon, Mr. Snap, the attorney retained by the creditors, harangues the company at some length, and intimates that Mr. Snook is either mad, or acting the madman for the purpose of evading punishment. A practitioner from Bedlam is sent for, and some artifices resorted to--but to no purpose. It is found impossible to decide upon the question of sanity. The medical gentleman in his report to the creditors confesses himself utterly perplexed, and, without giving a decision, details the particulars of a singular story told him by Mr. Snook himself concerning the mode of his escape from drowning after he fell overboard from the "Rose in June." "It is a strange unlikely tale to be sure," says the physician, "and if his general conversation was of that wild imaginative flighty kind which I have so often witnessed, I should say it was purely ideal; but he appears such a plain-spoken, simple sort of a person, that it is difficult to conceive how he could invent such a fiction." Mr. Snook's narration is then told, not in his very words, but in the author's own way, with all the particulars obtained from Peter's various recitations. This narration is singular enough but we shall give it only in petto. Upon tumbling overboard, Mr. Snook (at least according to his own story) swam courageously as long as he could. He was upon the point of sinking, however, when an oar was thrust under his arm, and he found himself lifted in a boat by a "dozen dark looking men." He is taken on board a large ship, and the captain, who is a droll genius, and talks in rhyme somewhat after the fashion of Frazer's Magazine, entertains him with great cordiality, dresses him in a suit of his own clothes, makes him drink in the first place a brimmer of "something hot," and afterwards plies him with wines and liqueurs of all kinds, at a supper of the most magnificent description. Warmed in body and mind by this excellent cheer, Peter reveals his inmost secrets to his host and talks freely and minutely of a thousand things; of his man Ephraim and his oddities; of his bank account; of his great credit; of his adventures with Miss Bodkin, his prospects in trade, and especially the names, residences, et cetera, et cetera, of the wholesale houses with which he is in the habit of dealing. Presently, being somewhat overcome with wine, he goes to bed at the suggestion of the captain, who promises to call him in season for a boat in the morning which will convey him to Billingsgate in full time for Pester and Co.'s note. How long he slept is uncertain-but when he awoke a great change was observable in the captain's manner, who was somewhat brusque, and handed him over the ship's side into the barge where he was discovered by the creditors in pursuit, and which he was assured would convey him to Billingsgate. This relation we have given in brief, and consequently it implies little or nothing. The result, however, to which the reader is ingeniously led by the author, is that the real Peter Snook has been duped, and that the Peter Snook who made the various purchases about town, and who appeared to Ephraim only during the morning and evening twilight of the eventful day, was, in fact, no other person than the captain of "the strange, black-sided ship." We are to believe that, taking advantage of Peter's communicativeness, and a certain degree of personal resemblance to himself, he assumed our hero's clothes while he slept, and made a bold and nearly successful attempt at wholesale peculation. The incidents of this story are forcibly conceived, and even in the hands of an ordinary writer would scarcely fail of effect. But in the present instance so unusual a tact is developed in the narration, that we are inclined to rank "Peter Snook" among the few tales which, each in their own way, are absolutely faultless. Such things, however, insignificant in themselves or their subjects, satisfy the mind of the literary critic precisely as we have known a few rude, and apparently unmeaning touches of the brush, fill with unalloyed pleasure the eye of the artist. But no-in the latter case effect is produced chiefly by arrangement, and a proper preponderance of objects. "Peter Snook" is rather a Flemish home-piece, and entitled to the very species of praise which should be awarded to the best of such pieces. The merit lies in the chiaro 'scuro—in that blending of light and shadow where nothing is too distinct, yet where the idea is fully conveyed-in the absence of all rigid outlines and all miniature painting-in the not undue warmth of the coloring-and in the slight tone of exaggeration prevalent, yet not amounting to caricature. We will venture to assert that no painter, who deserves to be called so, will read "Peter Snook" without assenting to what we say, and without a perfect consciousness that the principal rules of the plastic arts, founded as they surely are in a true perception of the beautiful, will apply in their fullest force to every species of literary composition. LIFE OF RICHELIEU. Lives of the Cardinal de Richelieu, Count Oxenstiern, Count Olivarez, and Cardinal Mazarin. By G. P. R. James. Republished by Carey, Lea and Blanchard. As a novelist, Mr. James has never, certainly, been popular-nor has he, we think, deserved popularity. Neither do we mean to imply that with "the few” he has been held in very lofty estimation. He has fallen, apparently, upon that unlucky mediocrity permitted neither by Gods nor columns. His historical novels have been of a questionable character-neither veritable history, nor endurable romance-neither “fish, flesh, nor gude red herring." He has been lauded, it is true, by a great variety of journals, and in many instances mentioned with approbation by men whose critical opinions (could we fully ascertain them) would be entitled to the highest consideration. It is not, however, by the amount, so readily as by the nature or character of such public compliments, that we can estimate their intrinsic value, or that of the object complimented. No man speaks of James, as he speaks, (and cannot help speaking) of Scott, of Bulwer, of D'Israeli, and of numerous lesser minds than these and all inferior to James, if we harken to the body rather than to the soul of the testimonies offered hourly by the public press. It appears to us at least as well adapted to its purposes The author of "Richelieu" and "Darnley" is lauded, by as any Latin Grammar within our knowledge. In some a great majority of those who laud him, from mere mo- respects it has merits to be met with in no other. It is tives of duty, not of inclination-duty erroneously con- free from every species of empiricism, and, following ceived. He is looked upon as the head and representa- the good old track as far as that track can be judiciously tive of those novelists who, in historical romance, attempt | followed, admits of no royal road to the acquisition of to blend interest with instruction. His sentiments are Latin. The arrangement is lucid and succint-yet the found to be pure-his morals unquestionable, and point- work embodies a vast deal of matter which could have edly shown forth-his language indisputably correct. been obtained only through reference to many of the And for all this, praise, assuredly, but then only a cer- most elaborate treatises of Europe. In its analysis of tain degree of praise, should be awarded him. To be idiom it excels any similar book now in common usepure in his expressed opinions is a duty; and were his an advantage of the highest importance. The size of language as correct as any spoken, he would speak the work is moderate, yet nothing of consequence to only as every gentleman should speak. In regard to the student is omitted. The definitions are remarkably his historical information, were it much more accurate, concise-yet sufficiently full for any practical purpose. and twice as extensive as, from any visible indications, The prosodial rules at the beginning are easily comwe have reason to believe it, it should still be remem- prehended, and thus placed, are easily applied in the bered that similar attainments are possessed by many further progress of the scholar. A great many useless thousands of well-educated men of all countries, who things to be found in a majority of grammars are judilook upon their knowledge with no more than ordinary ciously discarded, and lastly, the analytical and synthecomplacency; and that a far, very far higher reach of tical exercises are admirably suited to the illustration of erudition is within the grasp of any general reader the principles inculcated. Upon the whole, were we a having access to the great libraries of Paris or the Vati- teacher, we would prefer its use to that of any other can. Something more than we have mentioned is ne- Latin Grammar whatever. cessary to place our author upon a level with the best of the English novelists-for here his admirers would desire us to place him. Had Sir Walter Scott never existed, and Waverley never been written, we would not, of course, award Mr. J. the merit of being the first to blend history, even successfully, with fiction. But as an indifferent imitator of the Scotch novelist in this respect, it is unnecessary to speak of the author of "Richelieu" any farther. To genius of any kind, it seems to us, that he has little pretension. In the solemn tranquillity of his pages we seldom stumble across a novel emotion, and if any matter of deep interest arises in the path, we are pretty sure to find it an interest appertaining to some historical fact equally vivid or more so in the original chronicles. BLAND'S CHANCERY REPORTS. Reports of Cases decided in the High Court of Chancery of Maryland. By Theodorick Bland, Chancellor. Vol. 1, pp. 708, Svo. We cannot perceive any sufficient reason for the publication of this book. The tribunal whose decisions it reports, is not of the last resort;* they therefore are of very questionable authority, even in Maryland; and the Chancellor, though evidently a man of sense and learning, has not, like Kent, Marshall, or Hardwicke, that towering reputation which will stamp his dicta as law (either persuasively or conclusively) beyond the limits of his own state. The cases reported in chief, are all decided by the author of the book. In the notes Of the volumes now before us we are enabled to are given many decisions of his predecessors. So that, speak more favorably-yet not in a tone of high com-wherever we look, there is still but the same inadequate mendation. The book might more properly be called weight of name and station. "Notices of the Times of Richelieu," &c. Of course, in so small a compass, nothing like a minute account of the life and varied intrigues of even Mazarin alone, could be expected. What is done, however, is done with more than the author's usual ability, and with much more than his customary spirit. In the Life of Axel, Count Oxenstiern, there is, we believe, a great deal of information not to be met with in the more ac-plaints of this evil been louder or more just, than in the cessible historians of Sweden. HALL'S LATIN GRAMMAR. A new and compendious Latin Grammar; with appropriate exercises, Analytical and Synthetical. For the use of primary schools, academies, and colleges. By Baynard R. Hall, A. M. Principal of the Bedford Classical and Mathematical Academy, and formerly Professor of the Ancient Languages in the College of Indiana. Philadelphia: Harrison Hall. The excellences of this grammar have been so well proved, and the work itself so heartily recommended by some of the first scholars in our country that, at this late day especially, we feel called upon to say but little in its behalf. But that little we can say conscientiously. Now, the enormous multiplication of books in every branch of knowledge is one of the greatest evils of this age; since it presents one of the most serious obstacles to the acquisition of correct information, by throwing in the reader's way piles of lumber, in which he must painfully grope for the scraps of useful matter, peradventure interspersed. In no department have the com law. There are five and twenty supreme courts, or |