V.-1. A Bill for the Promotion of Education in Cities and Boroughs in England, prepared and brought in by Lord John Russell and Mr. Secretary-at-War. VI.-1. Vanity Fair: a Novel without a Hero. By William Makepeace Thackeray. London: 1849. 2. The History of Pendennis. By William Makepeace 3. The History of Henry Esmond, a Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne. Written by 4. The English Humourists of the Eighteenth Cen- VII-1. Report from the Select Committee on the Office of Speaker; together with the Proceedings of the 2. Returns of the Sittings of the House of Commons, 1852-53 of the Divisions of the House; Public Bills; Private Bills; Public Committees; and Elec- tion Petitions. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 16th August, 1853. 3. A practical Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Pro- ceedings, and Usage of Parliament. By Thomas Erskine May, Esq. Second Edition. London: 1851. 4. The Rules of Proceeding and Debate in Delibe- VIII.—1. Lettres sur la Turquie, ou Tableau statistique, religieux, politique, administratif, militaire, commer- cial de l'Empire Ottoman depuis le Khatti-Cherif de Gulhani. Par M. A. Ubicini. Paris: 1853. 2. Zustand der Türkei im Jahre der Prophezeihung, 1853. Von Hubert von Boehn, Königlich Preussis- chem Second-Lieutenant. Berlin: 1853. 3. The Ottoman Empire and its Resources, with Sta- tistical Tables, &c. By Edward H. Michelsen, Phil. 4. Three Years in Constantinople; or, Domestic Man- 243 Orson Spencer, Chancellor of the University of 2. The Seer. Edited by Orson Pratt. vol. 1. From January 1853 to December 1853. Washington: 4. Millennial Star [the Weekly Organ of Mormonism]. vols. XIV. and XV., from January 1852 to De- cember 1853. Liverpool: 1852 and 1853. 5. History of the Mormons. By Lieutenant Gunni- 6. Survey of Utah. By Captain Stansbury. Phila- 8. Letters on the Doctrines. By O. Spencer. London: 9. Hymns of Latter Day Saints. London: 1851. 10. The Mormons. By Thomas Kane. Philadelphia: 13. Doctrines and Covenants of Latter Day Saints. 14. The Book of Mormon. Palmyra: 1830. . 319 2. Histoire de la Littérature Française à l'étranger depuis le Commencement du 17e Siècle. Par M. A. Sayous. 2 vols. 8vo. Paris: 1853. 3. Histoire Philosopnique de l'Académie de Prusse depuis Leibnitz jusqu'à Schelling, particulièrement sous Frédéric le Grand. Par M. Chr. Bartholmès. 4. History of the Protestants of France, from the Commencement of the Reformation to the present IV.- Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence of Thomas Moore. Edited by the Right Honourable Lord John Russell, M. P. Vols. I. to VI. 8vo. London: V.-Report from the Select Committee on the National Gallery; together with the Proceedings of the Committee, Minutes of Evidence, Appendix and VI. 1. Lorenzo Benoni; or Passages in the Life of an Italian. Edinburgh and London: 1853. 1 vol. 2. Castellamonte; an Autobiographical Sketch illus- VII. 1. Copies of the Lord Chancellor's Letters to the Judges on the Criminal Law Bills of the last Session, and Copies of their Answers thereto. Ordered to be printed, 9th February, 1854. 2. A Letter to the Lord Chancellor, containing Observations on the Answers of the Judges to the Lord Chancellor's Letter. By Charles Sprengel Greaves, Esq., Q. C., and James John Lonsdale, Esq., Barrister-at-Law (Secretary to the Common Law Commission). London: W. G. Benning & Co., VIII. 1. Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom in each Year from 1840 to 1853. Presented to 2. Board of Trade Tables for the Years 1842 to 494 THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, JANUARY, 1854. No. CCI. ART. I.-1. Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox. Edited by LORD JOHN RUSSELL. 2 vols. 8vo. London: 1853. 2. Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, from original Family Documents. By the DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS, K. G. 2 vols. 8vo. Second edition, revised. London: 1853. T HESE two publications throw so much light on the political history of England during the latter part of the last century, that, although they are both unfinished, we think it right to give our readers an account of their contents, without waiting for their completion. The late Lord Holland, having abandoned his original design of writing the life of his uncle, Mr. Fox, made a full compilation of authentic materials for his biography, partly consisting of letters and other documents, partly of records of the recollections of his surviving friends. Lord Holland, unhappily, left this 'compilation unfinished at his death; but it afterwards passed into the hands of his confidential friend, Mr. Allen, who was in every way qualified to complete the work which had been thus begun. Mr. Allen appears to have brought the materials into a state fitted for publication- but the MS. was not sent to the press, and it passed into the possession of Lord John Russell by the bequest of the late Lady Holland. Lord John has now given it to the world in the state in which it was VOL. XCIX. NO. CCI. B left by Lord Holland and Mr. Allen, but with the addition of some ably-written and judicious comments of his own. As the work consists of a substratum of original materials, illustrated by the independent annotations of three commentators, which are distinguished by certain typographical marks, it presents (as Lord John observes) 'a disjointed and irregular appearance.' It has the form of a collection of Fox manuscripts, with variorum notes. Nevertheless it contains so much authentic information, accompanied with criticism so intelligent and so candid, that no Englishman who desires to understand the history of his country between the years 1768 and 1792, can fail to read it with advantage and pleasure. Lord John, indeed, says of the work which he edits, that its greatest value will be found in the ' letters of Mr. Fox to Lord Holland, written between 1790 and • 1805. 6 These letters are more literary than political, and show 'how keen was Mr. Fox's enjoyment of poetry, especially Greek ' and Italian.' Of the series of letters thus described only a few appear in these volumes; but we think that Lord John scarcely does justice to the value of the documents and papers which he has already published; for many of them are highly important, and the period to which they relate comprises the most active and prominent portion of Fox's political life.* The materials for the publication to which the name of the Duke of Buckingham is attached, are family papers which have been preserved at Stowe. There are some interesting letters written by Mr. Thomas Grenville when employed in diplomatic service on the Continent; but by far the most valuable portion of the work consists of the letters of Mr. William Grenville (afterwards Lord Grenville) to his elder brother, the Marquis of Buckingham. These letters were evidently written in the strictest confidence, without premeditation, and with no idea that they would ever be given to the public. For this reason they cannot fairly be compared with official or semi-official letters, which are composed in a guarded and reserved style. But, on account of their familiar and unstudied character, they afford the stronger evidence of the sagacity, judgment, and undeviating good temper of their distinguished author. The task of editing the valuable materials which he had extracted from his family archives, has been committed by the Duke of * There exist two biographical accounts of Mr. Fox. One is intitled 'Memoirs of the Public Life of the late Right Honourable 'C. J. Fox,' by R. Fell, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1808. The other is 'Memoirs ' of the latter Years of the Right Honourable C. J. Fox,' by J. B. Trotter, Esq., late Private Secretary to Mr. Fox. 1 vol. 8vo. 1811. Neither work is at all satisfactory. |