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    ^ OQ THE LEADER . [ No , , March 5 , 1859

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    match , and gains the consent of his nephew to puj itt ' practice a scheme of his own ; He accordingly , in ^ tdte-a-tete with MjtsV Lauxingtori , represents Moj :-flftunt as utterly ruined by the failure of a bank , in-¦ which his : whole fortune had been deposited . Mrs . Xdcnrihgtpn is ultimately displayed in her true colours , Irat Harriett , having discovered the ruse , succeeds , toy the aid of a well-timed arid judicious letter , in confirming Mordaunt in his infatuation , who after anany vicissitudes has an attack of brain fever , and ^ recovers only to become a misanthrope and woman Jhater . The herb is surrounded by a number of well marked characters , and passes through many in-., teresting events ' ¦; and doubtless there is sufficient incident , relieved by lively dialogue , to procure the -work a considerable amount of popularity .

    1 . Elementary Manual of Roman Antiquities . y William Ramsay , M . A ., Trinity College , Cambridge ; Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow . Richard Griffin and Co . 2 . JL Manual of Latin Prosody ., By the same . Richard Griffin and Co . The first of these "works is a careful , portable , and nicely illustrated abridgement of the author ' s "Manual of Roman Antiquities . '' It has some new matter in the chapter on agriculture , but with this exception ive it

    and that of the woodcuts , which g an advantage : » s a class book , it differs very slightly from the renowned work of Dr . Adam , of Edinburgh . To that learned and . modest man , ¦ then , who called himself « nly a compiler , let us confess Professor Ramsay ' s great indebtedness . Ouf admiration for the ancient schoolmaster ' s diligence is increased , too , when we note how little the advancement of classical learning lias enabled the modern Professor to add to the store -which the former first opened to the English public in 1791 ¦ ¦¦ . ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ '•¦ . ¦ . ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ " ¦' .

    The -Latin Prosody " is the second edition of a more original -work , the fruit of much labour and Tesearch . ; The author ' s rules for determining the ^ quantity of Latin words ai ? e lea * ned ,, and his system of adopting , as authorities . only , the poets of the Augustine age , is a second one . The book is , on the whole , beyond the depth of school boys ; but it will t > e found valuable to all schoolmasters . JEtiere and There in London , by J . Ewing Ritchie . W . Tweedie . lUx . RiTCkiE is a pleasan £ sketch writer , not always rigidly accurate in some of his statistics , but possibly quite enough so for the ephemeral subjects which flow from his ready pen . Has sketches of the " House

    of Commons from the Speaker ' s Gallery ; " a " Night with the Lords , " and the " House of Cojrnmons , " pass with a qualified word of praise . As an old gallery man , the critic may venture to say that these somewhat well-worn subjects have been done much better in publications of the day . To give a specimen of Mr . Ritchie ' s want of absolute accuracy , ¦ w e will just refer to what he says about the pay of the Times reporters . In page 58 , the writer asserts , " The Times reporters are . divided into three classes , none of whom get less than seven guineas a week , " ITor the sake of Times reporters in particular , and , reporting in general , we wish the . writer , were compelled to prove his words . Next , Mr . Ritchie : is

    • widely from the mark , when he says " that half-anliour ' s * turn' takes the reporter about an hour to write out at the office . " An ordinary reporter wouldrequire at least three times that allowance of time , and then no grass would have grown at the heels of his pen . We note these trivial inaccuracies because , we find they are numerous , and because we ^ wish to warn Mr . Ritchie against the modern error into -which light writers deviate , of desiring to know too much . It is possible to be sufficiently descriptive without going into jaiinute particulars , thereby laying ready writers open to correction and to criticism . With these remarks we recommend the book as being likely to afford a spare half hour of pleasant recreation , ' .

    The Wife and the Ward ; or , a Life ' s Error . By laout .-Col . Edward Money . Routledge and Co , Tins work hardly fulfils the expectation raised by its title . We have a very well-written Indian story at the outset ; a deep interest is created by the masterly protraction of the husband , his truthful , Tfchough cold and calculating '« wife , " and the introduction of the lovely ' < ward . " But this interest is cooled down and allowed to lose itself in the vagueness of the ending ; Wo have a veritable history ¦ orer again of Cuwnporo and its hideous atrocities :

    jpttiX the story abruptly terminates with the destruction of the husband and tho ward , who are made to form part of tho boat-load of destroyed fugitives wflbto ^ were mercilessly butchered by Nana Sahib . It appears to us that Colonel Money has been diverted * worn the original purpose with which he commenced this ^ alo by evenly that supervened unexpectedly , ana , that ho brought his Uterarylabours to a close in a ittWn quite diffoi-ont from that which ho designed to aufopt . Thoro jvro somo capital descriptions of Indian 4 « e , « na somo admirable details of Ancrlo-Inctian

    character , for which Colonel Money appears to have personal knowledge and peculiar aptitude . Palestine , Past and Present ; with Biblical , Literary , and Scientific Notices . By Rev . Henry S . O shorn , A . M ., with original Illustrations and a new Map of Palestine , by the Author . N . Triibner and Co . This is a carefully written , and beautifully printed work , richly illustrated with coloured engravings . Sometimes , however , our author ' prejudices are amusing . He cannot conceal . his antipathy to the Turk ; and his statements , accordingly , of Mahomedanism are not to be trusted . This work contains a good account of the Druses , but no solution of the mysteries of their origin , towards which we . suggest there exist documents of which Mr . Osborn

    seems not to have been aware . His impressions of the mission were favourable ; and Ms description of " Syrian beauty" is as fervent as it is exact , " Until lately , " he says , " teaching young ladies was uncommon in Syria ;"— -this is no longer the case . Sidon , Tyrej Lebanon , and the mountain ranges , and the country between these sites and surrounding them , are described With apparent accuracy , and-the usual antiquarian associations are carefully compiled . Mr . Osborn , however , does not present us with any original views of his own , or add to our information . Neither has he any hair-breadth escapes . A few squabbles with his servant are the only incidents in his book . . Those who seek romantic adventure in a narrative of Eastern travel must look elsewhere .

    On the history of Tyre , Mr . Osborn dwells with peculiar emphasis and interest . Here Hercules was first worshipped , and the island early received the appellation of " holy . " One of its kings aided Solomon in building the temple at Jerusalem . In splendour luxury , and beauty , it then exceeded any city in the world—Mr . Osborn- addsy or any city since . Nebuchadnezzar ( 584 ) laid siege to it , for thirteen years , and then took it , haying however greatly wasted his forces ; and subsequently Alexander the Great completed its ruin . Nevertheless , it ultimately its ashes

    recovered , and rose again likeaPhcehix from . It was next in the power of the Seleucidse , and then of the Romans , when it seems to have become entirely Christian , and to have boasted a magnificent cathedral . But , a . d . 638 j it fell under Mohammedan rule . With , this history Mr . Osborn tells , us there are connected curious legendsj which . include mention of the deification and worshipping of dead men . Now , however , of its former incredible magnificence , only a few arches , and foundations , and heaps of massive columns and capital remain . Mstorical

    There is decided interest in these epitomes , of which there are several in this volume , and all treated with considerable elegance , tact and ingenious grouping of persons and events . Besides the magnificent engravings , illustrative of the text , there is a most elaborate map ; arid altogether the work constitutes one of the most handsome of books for a well furnished library * Classic Records Reviewed or Deciphered . By Thomas de Quincey . ( Stereotype Edition . ) James Hogg and Son

    The well-known essays of the eloquent opium-eater , on the Cwsars , the Theban sphinx , the Essenes arid Aelius Lamia , form the contents of this volume , to which a permanent form is now given . The learned and curious nature of these disquisitions must always confine them to a select audience ; but the popularity of the author ' s r iaine will , nevertheless , assist the circulation . All who read them for the first time will be rewarded by the ingenuity and originality displayed . Poems , by Frederick W , Wyon .

    Smith , Elder and Co . This volume is one of the tantalising sort . Here and there , wo find proofs of mental vigour , accomp anied with spasms of poetic dictipn , then an entire blank , mere turgidity without } metre or rhyme , but nowhere a complete poem , or any evidence that the author will ever achieve one . Mr . Wyon is , nevertheless , ah ambitious writer , but he must submit to much discipline before he can write with sufficient correctness to command approbation . Veterinary Medicines : their Actions and Uses ; with

    a , copious Appendix on the Discuses of the Domesticated Animals . By Finlay Dun , v . S . ( Second Edition . ) . Sutherland and Knox . This excellent work has , on its reissue , received many additions and improvements . Every , portion of it has been revised , ana new and impQrtant practical mattpr has boon introduced where expedient , and particularly in relation to such articles as arsenic , digitalis , lead , nux vomica , and valerian . To the chemical and pharmaceutical departments Dr . Murray Inomson has also accorded his assistance . The appendix noticed in tho tjtle is likewise a novel feature in this edition .

    Failure of the Forbes Mackenzie Act , By James Stirling . James Maolohoso . Tub argument of this pamphlet is contained in Its motto , namely , " That ; man takes a wrong course

    that tries to dam up human nature . " Mr . Stirling writes with philosophical discrimination , and is entitled to a hearing . A History of England , from the Earliest Times to the Revolution , \ G 88 . By David Hume . ' Abridged . . ¦ John Murray . This is just the sort of work required by the historical student . The text of standard works in history is in general so well impressed on the memory , that subsequent productions , though more accurate , are seldom available substitutes for their predecessors . Then there is the labour of comparing and deciding between contradictory passages , and the doubt , after all , if the first wrong

    impression be thoroughly re moved by the correction sup - plied in the work of a more recent inquirer . Now this inconvenience is suspended altogether by the editor incorporating in the present abridged edition of Hume the corrections and researches of later historians . Here are Froude , and Hallam , and Sharon Turner , all brought into relation with Hume ; and the incorrect assertions of the latter substituted by the results of their investigations ; So much has been done since the days of Hume in relation to the Saxon period of our chronicles , and in fixing the real political status of the Plantagenets and Tudors , in and the bearin

    respect to their prerogatives , g of these on the case of Charles I ., and the subsequent facts affecting the settlement of the English Constitution , as now established , that it is but sorry work to conipel the student to get false notions on these points from the pages of Hunie on the chance of his being disabused of his acquired prejudices' by an ., afterexamination-of Palgrave , Lappenberg , and Kemble , and the writers we have already named . Besides the incorporations , notes and illustrations are inserted in smaller type , a list of authorities given , and discussions on disputed points , both historical and antiquarian , suggested . has also been continued from

    The main history James II . to the present time . The continuation is compiled frorn Lord Mahon ' s history , and other good authorities , such as the " Historic Peerage of England , " by the late Sir Harris Nicholas . We most heartily commend the work to public patronage . Moore ' s Irish Melodies : with Symphonies and Accom . - paninientsfor the Pianoforte . People ' s Edition , to be completed in Ten Numbers , at One Shilling each . Longman , and Co Better late than never . Messrs . Longmans , have , by their handsome re-issue of "Moore ' s Melodies , " conferred upon amateurs of modest means a boon long sighed for . The excessively high price of the old edition ( seven pounds ten shillings ) has so restricted its circulation , that , though tens of thousands among us can sing the there are comparatively few

    songs , who have ever set eyes upon a complete copy of the score . We are ashamed to say that four numbers of the present edition , each containing from ten to tlurteen airs , have accumulated upon our table tinnoticed ; but we are convinced that those of our readers who set sufficient store by the entire cpllection to consider * it cheaply purchased for tp n , " lings ' will—if they have not already subscribed—ae once hasten to make up their lee-way and regularly to take future parts as they come out . To speak to the merits of the airs or poetry would bo superfluous . The merit of Stevenson ' s accompaniments has been questioned by critics ; but they did well enough tor Moore himself , who , they say , was the best singer ot the melodies over heard . If they ha V ' w tw ears of a critic or two , they may set off tliat tney have helped to cheer the hearts and moisten the eyes

    of almost millions . Constable ' s Educational Series : Concise History of ' England , in Epochs . By J . Eraser Corlcrun , fcsq . Thomas Constable and Co . This work , which is accompanied with chronological tables and maps , is neatly compiled , and wiU b ° " ft " vicoable for the' pupil , whoso apprehension ot Ji s country ' s history it endeavours to assist l > v tno urwsion of the subject into epochs . It is baying mutw in favour of this compilation , that the cliiut fault J o have to find with it is its brovity . The opoens , however , we may observo , favour tho literary ratntr than tho historical developments of untiuiittl progross , and wo think might bo rendered both more exact and comprehensive . The Formation and Progress of the Tiers Etat ,, or Third Estate , in France . By Augustm l' » ° " TTranslated from tho French by tho Rev . 1 » 'A «

    B . Wells . Two volumes in ono . _ ; Honry Q- U ° This well-known work , ' whiqh narrates tho » " « " »»" in which the French people became recogniflQ" ns «" element of power in the composition oi » JJ \ S" mental forcos , is hero presented in an «^ " ° " . translation , and under one covor , bo as to « o "i * - voniontly roforred to when necessary . Z , " , JjuSJa , will find it a rejiablo authority and valuable udcuuw * to an historical library .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 5, 1859, page 302, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2284/page/14/