sion; but I do most solemnly assure you that you are mistaken, and that were it, indeed, GOD's will that you should be taken from me, no new ties should come between my soul and the memory of the only woman, except my poor mother, whom I have ever really loved. I see you do not believe me! it is unjust, almost unkind of you!"

Harry spoke with deep feeling, and Alice, with tears in her eyes, placed her poor, thin hand within that of her husband as she replied

"I do most fully believe that you love me as you say, and that at this moment you do not imagine you could be happy with any body else, but it is a comfort to me to think that when I am parted from you, there will still be some one for you to love. I assure you I feel quite differently towards Miss Crofton now; I was jealous of her, dreadfully jealous; but I now am grateful to her for loving you, and sorry I ever entertained such uncharitable feelings towards her. I mean to leave her all my jewels except one or two little things I should like to give poor Emily."

Alice paused, partly through weakness, partly because she wanted her husband to signify his approval of her sentiments, which she considered was the least he could do, in return for what was in fact, to her an act of almost superhuman charity and selfdenial. But Coverdale was in no humour to comply with her desire; on the contrary, so distateful was the whole matter, and poor Alice's idea of the situation so far from the truth, that he was driven to his wits' end with perplexity and annoyance, which nothing but a sense of his wife's unfitness for such a mode of address prevented from breaking forth in a burst of his quiet manner. As he continued silent, Alice resumed :

"You must not be angry with me for knowing about it, Harry dear, for the knowledge was forced upon me, nor was I aware what Lord Alfred Courtland was about to tell until I had heard so much that my womanly dignity would not allow me to stop him; I did not choose to let him think I could believe it possible you had done anything I should be afraid to hear, and so he told me all."

"And pray what might all be," inquired Harry, as calmly as he was able.

"Oh! about her being in love with you, and your running away together, and old Mr. Somebody (I can't remember names) taking her away again, and preventing you from marrying her; yes, he told me all about it."

"He told you a pack of lies so mixed up with a little truth, that unless I were able to give you a detailed account of the affair I could not separate them, and I am under a solemn promise not to say anything about it; but I know what I will do. In the meantime, believe this: I love you with my whole heart and soul, and you only, and if you have any regard for me you will strive to banish all these silly fancies which only hinder your recovery, and get well as fast as you can for my sake. And now you have talked more than is good for you, so I shall send Emily to you to read you to sleep."

As soon as he had put this resolution into practice he betook himself to the library, and wrote as follows:

"DEAR ARABELLA,

"The promise I made to you at the inn at Fiumalba I have up to this time kept faithfully; I now ask you to release me from it. My wife's happiness (in which my own is bound up), perhaps her life even, depends upon your doing so she has just passed the crisis of a brain fever, her bodily weakness is lamentable to witness, and the mental depression naturally arising from it leads her to take a morbid and desponding view of her own chances of recovery in such a position any thing that will conduce to raise her spirits and tranquillize her mind will effect more than twenty doctors. Some mischief-maker has been the cause of her obtaining a garbled account of a certain occurrence we both regret; nothing but the whole truth will suffice to set her mind at rest. Arabella! I deeply regret this necessity, but it cannot be avoided, and I trust to you to act towards me as I would act by you if the situation were reversed. "I remain always,

"Your true and sincere friend,
"HARRY COVERDALE."

(To be continued.)

Game, played between the same players.

WHITE (MR. F.)

1. P. to K. fourth 2. P. to Q. fourth 3. P. takes P. 4. Q. B. to K. third 5. P. to Q. B. fourth 6. K. B. takes P. 7. Kt. to Q. B. third 8. P. to K. R. third 9. Kt. to K. B. third 10. Castles

11. B. to Q. Kt. third 12. Q. Kt. to K. fourth 13. Kt. takes K. B.

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BLACK (MR. B.)

1. P. to K. third 2. P. to Q. fourth 3. P. takes P.

4. B. to Q. third 5. P. takes P.

6. Kt. to K. B. third 7. Castles

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A LONDON publishing firm is issuing a translation of the works of Hendrick Conscience, a Flemish novelist, who has attained eminent reputation in his own country, and been highly spoken of by Continental critics. Two historical tales belonging to the series are now before us, viz., "The Lion of Flanders, or the Battle of the Golden Spurs ;" and " Veva, or the War of the Peasants." They relate, respectively, to two prominent episodes in the history of the Low Countries. The first, to the era when the Flemings armed to withstand the tyranny exercised by Philip the Fair through his famous governor, De Chatillon; the second, to the stout resistance made by the Flemish peasants to the French army of invasion and occupation during the heat of the first great Revolution. The stories are conceived and written in the erudite style of plethoric patriotism-of which no one has a right to complain, for writers on such subjects seldom fail to deal out a full and overflowing measure of justice to the brave doings of their compatriots; and now that the system of translation is making the literature of each country the property of its neighbours, the self-complacent hyperbole of authors of different nations may perhaps have a

London: Lambert and Co.

reciprocally corrective tendency; so that by collision of intellect something like truthful impressions may be created, and the dense fog of prejudice be dissipated by degrees. The low price for which Hendrick Conscience's works can be obtained by the English reader, the curiosity naturally excited by their origin-indeed, the talent of the books themselves, will, we doubt not, ensure them a considerable circulation.

FOLLOWING the innumerable host of memoirwriters who, on the death of the late Duke of Wellington, inundated the press with productions, of the majority of which the characteristic was fulsome trashiness, Mr. J. Wilson favours the world with a two-volume performance, viz., "A Memoir of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, with Notices of his Associates and Opponents."* We cannot congratulate Mr. Wilson on having attempted with much success an undertaking which had previously resulted in so many failures. It consists in great part of a compilation, or rather an appropriation, from other publications. We find nothing novel, documentary or otherwise, save some extraordinary flights of verbal eccentricity wherein

* London: Fullarton and Co.

Mr. Wilson indulges himself, in those portions of the work which we suppose are to be described as "original."-The life of the Duke of Wellington has yet to be written.

A

THERE is no denying that the general quality of books for young people has of late years greatly improved. There was a time when stuff which we will not compliment with the epithet of puerility, but stuff purely imbecile and nonsensical, was considered the only kind of "literature' adapted to the young. To this system succeeded the dry or "practical" school, in which subjects the most trivial were combined with the phraseology of the lecture-room, and the cheerfulness and playfulness natural to youth were placed under sentence of banishment. This did not do. wiser policy has since been struck out, which, to use a trite but expressive phrase, succeeds to a great extent in "combining amusement with instruction." One of the best specimens of the improved class of books is Mr. Forrest's "Every Boy's Book."* which approaches more nearly to the pretension set forth on its title page than is often the case with books adopting supplementary titles-it is scarcely too much to call it a complete encyclopædia of sports and amusements; and it is in some respects more than this. The editor has obtained the assistance of writers of repute on the several subjects treated, such as chemistry, natural history, chess, &c. It is not a mere book of sports: a very large amount of valuable collateral information on various subjects is comprised in the several sections. The work contains a profusion of well executed illustrations.

PAINFUL accounts have reached England from time to time respecting the state of society existing in the colony of Victoria since the gold discoveries became a 66 'great fact." Some writers, of considerable repute, have sanctioned these statements by their authority-in some cases by their personal testimony. Mr. Robert Caldwell, a gentleman of eminent mercantile standing in the place, whose " good name" has been thus impugned, has written a book in vindication thereof. "The Gold Era of Victoria" + puts the question in an able and persuasive manner. Admitting that the circumstances of the last four or five years have caused a considerable disturbance of the social labours, Mr. Caldwell maintains that this has been much exaggerated by the fancy and timidity of imperfectly informed persons, who misunderstand a great deal of what they see passing around them in the new scenes for which they had not been prepared by any previous knowledge of the country. He paints things in a more hopeful and cheering light, and has no doubt that such evils as do exist will, by degrees, work their own cure-an event very probable, under judicious governmental management, but not to be expected if the home authorities attempt to apply a Procrustean rule of limitation and control to the affairs of a new colony, placed in circumstances wholly unparalleled, and undergoing a process of entire transition. The system of partly imbecile, partly despotic, interference

London: Routledge and Co. London: Wm. S. Orr and Co.

with details which ought to be left to the discretion of the colonists themselves, is the danger most to be feared. The statistical portion of the work possesses peculiar value; not only are figures given, but their meaning is calmly reasoned on. We do not pledge ourselves to the accuracy of all Mr. Caldwell's views, either on the present condition, or the immediate prospects, of the colony, but we have no hesitation in saying, that the volume ought to be in the hands of every one who desires to be fully informed on the subject. It contains a body of illustrative facts, very many of which will have, for the first time, received collective circulation in this country.

By "home-tourists," by those who still prefer a sojourn amid the quiet beauties of our motherland to the more exciting pleasures of a continental trip, "Black's Guide to the Picturesque Scenery of Derbyshire," "will be found an intelligent and agreeable companion. It includes historical and topographical notices of Matlock, Bath, Chatsworth, Buxton, Castleton, Dovedale, and other places of interest, and presents, in short, a pleasing epitomized account of matters, local and personal, appertaining to the far-famed "Peak County." Looking over the various contents of this volume, abounding as it does in anecdote, description, and reminiscence, some few faults of omission on the part of the author have occurred to us some instances of forgetfulness, or ignorance, on matters worthy of notice. But, on the whole, he has done his work well, and we can conscientiously recommend the Guide" to persons contemplating a few weeks' retirement in a locality which is one of the most picturesque and enchanting in Europe, or in the world, although it be here so close to hand, in the very heart of Old England.

46

A FRENCH Philosopher, of a school from which true virtue and morality recoil, was thought to have made a "hit" when he said, that when a public disaster has to be explained away by victimizing some one, it is policy to select, as the victim, the individual whose downfal will cause the smallest degree of inconvenience to the ruling powers. Now, it cannot be denied that the cavalry charge at Balaklava, all "brilliant" as it was, was a blunder and a disaster. Somebody must be sacrificed at the shrine of popular indignation. Lord Raglan was commander-in-chief, his family influence and connexions most potential. To disgrace or remove him, would have been very inconvenient indeed. But Lord Lucan was not so strong in "connexions," so that it was obviously less difficult and dangerous to give the quietus to his professional prospects. Our attention has been called to "Letters and Correspondence between Major-General the Earl of Lucan and General Bacon," which, in connexion with other facts that have oozed out from time to time, suggests a strong probability, if not a complete certainty, that Lord Lucan was a very illused man in this business. He has placed himself at some disadvantage by the warmth, or rather violence, with which, in his speeches and letters, he resented what he regarded as unjust

Edinburgh: A. and C. Black. London: Palmer.

treatment. But on a candid and careful consideration of the facts, so far as they are known, the balance of probability appears decidedly in his lordship's favour. It will be mere mawkish sentimentalism to permit the circumstances of Lord Raglan's death to check inquiry into the "whole truth" of the case. It must needs be confessed that Lord Raglan's quasi-denial of having issued a peremptory order for the charge, was couched in terms which appeared unsatisfactory and inconclusive to many intelligent persons. The official refusal to institute the investigation so earnestly demanded by the Earl of Lucan, cannot but strengthen the growing impression, that the latter noble lord has not been fairly treated. In the correspondence before us, the tone of Lord Lucan-straightforward, explicit, uncompromising, though too "hot" for prudence-stands in enviable contrast to the evasive, pseudo-" diplomatic" 'manner of those whose motives for attacking him--supposing him to be blameless-can be easily guessed. There are wheels within wheels in the process of "crushing" public characters. When a public man is to be sacrificed, the hand which flings the poisoned dart is often nerved by a power not its own.

SOME few months have elapsed since, in noticing one of the innumerable "fresh appearances" of some of Leigh Hunt's charming poems and essays, we expressed an earnest hope that he would produce something really new, that he would favour the world with something with which, in one shape or another, we had not previously been delighted. Our wish, and that of the thousands of Mr. Hunt's admirers, is responded to in a charming volume, "The Old Court Suburb."* The especial subject of interest concentrates itself in the fine "old suburb" of Kensington, with its noble gardens and homely palace, replete with historical reminiscences of the very period which our author can handle and "dress up" more effectively and attractively than perhaps any other man living. We have sketches, political and personal, of many of the eminent individuals who in the course of the last two centuries, have played important parts, and amongst whom, it may be deferentially observed, some of the royal personages figure to little advantage. We have tales, legends, anecdotes, gossip, criticism, humour, pathos, the author's graceful and vigorous style, playful fancy, and faithful delineation, pervading all, and imparting interest to many matters which in ordinary hands would be tame and flat. a work of this character Mr. Hunt is emphatically "at home," and causes the reader to feel equally 80. We have no doubt that it will obtain a popularity equalling that of his former productions.

On a

A TRAVELLING American (Mr. Samuel A. Bard) chooses an odd title, " Waikna, or Adventures on the Mosquito Shore,"+ for a most self-complacent and, we much suspect, partly imaginative account of his experiences on a miserable and remote corner of the globe, which, a few years since, was actually near kindling a war between two great civilized powers !-significant commentary on the

London: Hurst and Blackett. London: Low and Son.

sufficiency of the causes which are sometimes permitted to inflict this most hideous of curses on mankind! The book is ostensibly set forth as a bona fide narrative of what the author witnessed during his sojourn; but there is so much of rhapsody and of evident exaggeration and overcolouring-so much, indeed, in which fiction is plainly a principal ingredient, that the reader is kept in a state of not very pleasant suspense with respect to the amount of credibility attributable to different parts of the narrative. There is, elearly, a substratum of truth running all through, but the author appears to consider himself entitled to mould or modify it at will, and never scruples to do so when an effect is to be created, or a scene to be got up. He takes such liberties, in this respect, as to remind us, occasionally, of the hardihood of asseveration of which poor Marryatt's "Monsieur Violet" is the type and Corypheus. If we could bring ourselves to venture on an execrable pun, we might be tempted to say in reference to the license taken by the author, that he had assumed all the pri vileges of "a Bard!" Making allowance for these peculiarities, the book is an amusing, and not altogether an uninstructive one, though Mr. Bard's indulgence in the Yankee fashion of disparaging England and Englishmen jars harshly on our sensitiveness. His description of the wretched "nigger" boy, George William Clarence, King of the Mosquitos, is a rich episode, and, if somewhat overdone in the colouring, renders the impression of being faithful in essentials.

ONE of the best class-books published for several years past is Mr. C. D. Yonge's "Phraseological English-Latin Dictionary." The phrases (chiefly from authors of the Augustan era), are selected with judgment, and show both critical knowledge and scholar-like appreciation of the distinctive merits of the great Latin writers of the age when the literature of old Rome was at its culminating point of excellence. It is impossible that the

volume can fail to be of material assistance to students. The mode in which the different meanings of one word are illustrated, and the English and Latin variations compared, is calculated to remove stumbling-blocks from the path of the learner. The volume, in short, is an excellent one, but what can the author mean by the absurd intimation that it is "for the use of Eton, Winchester, Harrow, and Rugby Schools; and King's College, London"? To us, this quali fication smacks of tuft-hunting of a very wretched kind; and we are convinced that it will tend to restrict, rather than extend, the circulation of the volume. The "Dictionary" is of course meant for the "use" of the establishments mentioned; but is it not meant likewise for the "use" of all schools where the classics are taught-of every one, in short, who chooses to buy it? Is this obtrusion of the names of four or five particular institutions a specimen of the species of trickery dexterously called toadyism, or is it a disingenuous picture of some special "official" authority! Whatever it be, it is in very bad taste-very petty, very pitiable.

THE modern lyrical poetry of Scotland has received no scant measure of annotation, illustra