queathed her property to the cause of all misfortunes, Cousin Ernest, who is forty-three years of age at the conclusion, and Minnie twentyfour, the latter having an unbounded reverence for the tastes and opinions of her instructor, so we may as well suppose the marriage to be un fait accompli!

The interest of "Aline," " an old friend's story," in three volumes, by the author of "The Gambler's Wife," &c., and published by Mr. Newby, is made to dwell with the false position in which a young lady of high birth is placed by a runaway match with an Italian opera-singer. The perpetual recurrence to the "soft sweet singing voice" of the handsome foreigner and the ultra sentimentalism of the heroine will jar sadly upon minds properly and healthily toned; but possibly lessons of advantage to some, may be derived from the perplexities, trials, and afflictions, which Aline so foolishly brings upon herself. The difficulties of the situation are heightened by a cruel stepmother, and relieved by a practical and honest uncle. But the part that Lord Mervyn is made to play, at first of an honourable, then of an unprincipled, and then again of a once more honourable suitor, is neither life-like nor exemplary. Altogether "Aline" is one of the least pleasing and the least recommendable of the author's many productions.

"Jenny Lind," a tale, in two volumes, by Miss Hendricks, and published by Mr. Churton, has a title so obviously ad captandum, that it may probably indispose many from giving it a favourable reception. It is, however, a bona fide story founded on Donizetti's " Figlia del Regimento," in which we have the dauntless hero of the Tyrol-Hoferbacked by his brave mountaineer countrymen, battling for their old Austrian connexion instead of that imposed upon them by the French emperor, and the daughter of the regiment, enacting the part of heroine, under the name of that incomparable child-like muse of song, of whom Andersen has so justly said—

The lowly grace that would thy gifts disown

But makes their sweet unconscious charm more dear.

In this rather absurd jumbling together of persons, the embodying of the stage representative of a character into the character itself, Miss Hendricks has shown no inconsiderable skill, both in resuscitating the past and in delineating the singer's beau ideal of the patriotic and devoted Tyrolese girl, and we hope our explanation may induce many to forego conclusions arrived at upon hasty premises.

"Beatrice Chesterford," a novel in two volumes, published by Mr. Newby, is one of those earnest, thorough-going novels which remind us of by-gone days. Called upon to follow the fortunes of Ghetsford from the time of our Saxon ancestors to those of the Norman Conquest, and from thence up to the still good old times of the last century; we soon however find that our story is to depend for its interest upon Protestant confiscation and Roman Catholic succession; that youth, beauty, and passion, will interfere in adjusting matters suitable only for legal inquiry; that the said legal inquiries will be fearfully complicated by the introduction of such elements of waywardness between the families of Magnaville and Chesterford, and that certain most aged yet worthy dependents on the family-fine old Rembrandtic pictures-will play a prominent part in the working out of the plot, which will have the usual happy

termination. Alas! we are wrong, religious animosities and feuds are the most lasting of all, and in Beatrice Chesterford they follow the litigants of Ghetsford to the grave, leaving the property in the hands of a worthy, industrious, and honest farmer of olden times.

"A Stumble on the Threshold:" a story of the day, by Miss Molesworth, and published by Mr. Charles Ollier, is in only one volume, but by far the best of the series. The stumble is that of the younger son of a lordly, austere, harsh, and inflexible father, and who, when in the army, is dismissed the service for so far forgetting himself, as in a moment of anger to challenge his colonel. The trials which he is subjected to in consequence-repudiated by his parents, stung by poverty and disgrace, and driven to attempted self-destruction are delineated in simple yet forcible and pathetic language. At length a friend arrives, the brother of the disgraced officer's youthful love; the young man is restored to society and even to his home, and attains high distinction in Parliament, but only to perish from sickness, brought on in the hour of suffering and of distress. There is much in the so-called "Stumble on the Threshold" that will lead the reader to opine that the earlier portion of the story may have had its origin in facts,-facts only afterwards too much exaggerated in the great parliamentary successes of the unfortunate Eustace Aspra

mont.

RECOLLECTIONS OF REPUBLICAN FRANCE.*

A CHATTY, amusing book, admirably adapted for desultory reading. Of historical narratives of the Revolution of '92 there exists, it might be thought, a sufficiency, but Dr. Millingen justly observes that when we register the actions of public men in the annals of the world, we must not take a partial view of their deeds, in their public stations-in the field of battle, or in the legislative rostrum-in numerous assemblies, and in critical positions; we must follow them in the privacy of their retirement-in their domestic circle; we must overhear the soliloquies of their ambition, their disappointments, and their revengeful projects. It was Dr. Millingen's lot to have been behind the scenes during the great events which he records, and his unpretending work contains elucidations of personal character and unfolds the origin of great results in a truly amusing manner. How often indeed if we could only arrive at a knowledge of the true character of men and events, should we discover that acts, which appear to display resplendent abilities and lofty genius are but the results of accidental occurrences and of portentous contingencies, and that energetic resolves, which are attributed to deep and comprehensive forethought, are but the offspring of that quick apprehension and prompt determination which have enabled great men to avail themselves of a fortunate opportunity. Revolutions are particularly rich in such results, and throughout Europe, we may now for some years to come expect

Recollection of Republican France from 1790 to 1801. By J. G. Millingen, M.P. M.D., &c., &c. Henry Colburn.

to see e rising up to distinction, eminence, or notoriety by the faculty of seizing upon that tide in affairs which the poet tells us,

Taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

The author of "The Curiosities of Medical Experience," "Mind and Matter," &c., has added a brief autobiography to his "Recollections" which will not be without interest to his friends and numerous admirers.

BURKE'S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE.*

THERE cannot be the slightest hesitation in asserting not only that this is at once the most complete and perfect work of its kind, but that the system upon which it is compiled is also by far the easiest of reference and most satisfactory in every respect. It is indeed a perfect cyclopedia of nobility, including pedigrees and descents, origins and diffusions. The voluminous collections made by the authors for the history of the Landed Gentry and other genealogical works; the history of extinct and dormant peerages, and the history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies of England and Scotland throw their light upon the peerage and baronetage by showing that many branches still in the position of country gentlemen only are nevertheless chiefs of ennobled and dignified families; and further, by enabling the authors to enter more at large into collateral lines, thus to enrich their pages by an accession of names to the respective pedigrees which had previously been entirely excluded or forgotten.

VIEWS OF THE OVERLAND JOURNEY.+

ONE of the most interesting serieses that could be possibly imagined. It is a journey to India, to be accomplished in an arm-chair. Some of the sketches are capital, and admirably drawn on zinc by W. Alfred Delamotte. The hotel in the desert and the hotel near Cairo, are full of life and truth. So also is a street in Cairo. Crossing the desert, Arabs waiting, is just the thing, dreamy and effective. The figures in the foreground are, however, faulty and in bad taste. The views of Alexandria and Suez are excellent. There is a pleasing effect of light and a nice outline of a part of Malta harbour, but the view is too limited. The view of Aden is still more unsatisfactory, in fact, we cannot see Aden at all. Gibraltar from the neutral ground is better, and Gibraltar from the sea, a visit to Karnak, and an exceedingly pretty frontispiece, fill up the series of twelve.

Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, for 1848. New Edition. 1 vol. with 1500 Engravings of Arms. Henry Colburn.

Views of the Overland Journey to India, from Original Sketches by C. Broughton, Esq., H.E.I.C.S. On zinc. By W. A. Delamotte.

MR. SELLON'S LEGEND OF THE MAHRATTA WAR.*

MR. EDWARD SELLON's story is brief but romantic and interesting. Although a legend of Mahratta, the scene opens in England, where we have an old colonel dwelling in a large brick house, a warm-hearted youth -his son; a fair, blue-eyed girl-his ward; and a corrupt and designing nephew, Everhard. Herbert, the son, seduced by the glare of military life, quits the parental roof for India, but not until vows of love and constancy have been interchanged between the ingenuous and ardent youth and the lovely ward-Florence Morton. Everhard is left alone to work out his criminal intentions. But he is frustrated in these. Florence spurns his false and perfidious addresses and the Grange gets rid of this very dangerous inmate at the expense of a thousand pounds, Everhard having previous to his departure forged a check to that amount.

The scene changes. Herbert is with his regiment in India. There is also at the same presidency-Madras-a Chevalier de Rungenhausen, a supposed Prussian, a political agent and Oriental scholar, a man of fashion, of loose morals, and still more corrupt principle, but who has especially distinguished himself by his visits made to various native courts in disguise. We are treated to a remarkable example of this kind in a visit paid to the famed Mahratta chieftain, Jeswunt Rao Holkar, on which occasion he is disguised as the Persian Munchirjee, and travels in company with the Mahratta soldier, Bajee Ram, whom he had deceived with promises of important intelligence to be communicated to his master. On his return from this successful enterprise, the Chevalier de Rungenhausen and Herbert are accidentally thrown together at a ball at Government House. The surprise of the latter may be imagined when in the Oriental scholar and astute political agent, he recognises his cousin Everhard! But his surprise is mingled with no small amount of jealous anger when he perceives almost at the same time, an emerald ring that he had given to Florence, sparkling on the chevalier's little finger. Of the forgery he as yet knew nothing.

The chevalier naturally repudiates the acquaintanceship: he cannot even speak English; and he imposes upon all his friends a sense of his innocence. Mrs. Reddesdale, a victim to the fascinating gallantry of the knave, especially defends his character, and a Major M'Gregor acts as his second in the duel that unavoidably ensues. Everhard was in hopes this time that his star was in the ascendant, and that the lover of Florence would have been laid low; but poetical justice is done. Everhard is wounded and Herbert escapes. The young officer is, however, sent, in consequence of his breach of discipline in engaging in a duel, with his detachment to Rajamundry. On the way he encounters a party of Mahrattas foraging, and a skirmish ensues, in which Herbert saves the life of the old soldier Bajee Ram.

The Chevalier de Rungenhausen, when sufficiently recovered from his wound, was also despatched on a mission to the court of the Peishwâ. On his way, the Bajee Ram sees him and recognises the spy Munchirjee. "Is that dog, indeed, a Ferringhee? Alas, my poor master, you are lost!"

Herbert Breakspear, a Legend of the Mahratta War. By Edward Sellon. Whittaker and Co.

muttered the wounded Mahratta, as he vowed vengeance for the trick that had been played upon him. An Indian maid, however, saves the culprit's life when threatened by the Mahratta's creece, in his tent outside the walls of Nagpoor. Everhard returns to Madras once more a successful diplomatist. The Peishwâ had abandoned his ally, Holkar, and sided with the British. Greatly was the political agent feted on his return, and he took a superb mansion and lived in great style. The Rajapootanee girl, who had saved his life, was now dismissed for higher quarry. The chevalier had become more than a friend to Mrs. Reddesdale. But the intrigue is discovered, and the chevalier flies, leaving horses, equipages, and furniture, to be sold for the benefit of his creditors, and his last victim to die of a broken heart and of conscious guilt.

But Everhard's punishment, though tardy, was only in abeyance. He was captured in his flight by a party of Mahratta horse, and confronted in the rajah's camp by Bajee Ram, by the Rajapootanee girl, who had taken refuge there, and by Major M'Gregor and Herbert, who had been made prisoners, and before them, the forger, the spy, and the libertine, suffered the fate of a traitor. It is almost needless to add, that Herbert is liberated on account of his previous kindness to Bajee Ram, and returns to wed his Florence, and impart new life and joy to the old brick house. There are but too many evidences of an unpractised hand in the management of the plot and of want of skill on the part of Mr. Edward Sellon, who is evidently a young author, to use even the materials that he possessed; but the interest of the story more than compensates for such slight drawbacks.

MRS. ELLIS'S "SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS."*

MRS. ELLIS is so well known as an authoress who successfully combines pure lessons of morality and manners with the amusement and interest of fictional narrative, that few other writings are better adapted for that popular form of publication which is ensured by cheap, yet well printed and prettily illustrated parts. The object of this new story from a welltrained pen, is to exemplify the different forms and modes of operation of that thirst for distinction which is, perhaps, the deepest, as it is the most universally prevailing passion. The first two parts open with spirit, and rivet the attention; and we may expect in the continuation an ever-varying picture-a vanity fair-not in its burlesque aspect, but in those subdued yet truthful lights and shadows which throw the smallest events of human life into strong relief-the stronger, the deeper, and the more permanent, as the false and the worthless is contrasted with the lasting and the

true.

* Social Distinctions; or, Hearts and Homes. By Mrs. Ellis. Illustrated by H. Warren. J. and F. Tallis.