and who was the nobleman ? Dr. Campbell declares that when the MS. was placed in his hands about nine months since, he doubted the authen.

HISTORY.

The Love Letters of Mary Queen of Scots to James Earl of Bothwell, with her Love Sonnets and Marriage Contracts, (being the long-missing originals from the gilt Casket,) explained by State Papers, and the writings of Buchanan, Goodall, Robertson, Hume, Lord Hailes, Lord Ellibank, Tytler, Horace Walpole, Whittaker, Laing, Chalmers, Brantome, Ronsard, Miss Benger, and a host of Authors, forming a complete History of the Scottish Queen's Woes and Trials before Queen Elizabeth. By Hugh Campbell, LL.D. F.A.S. Illustrator of Ossian's Poems.

To those who, like Horace Walpole, are curious in Historical Doubts, the genuineness of the letters produced on the trial of Mary Queen of Scots has furnished much matter for speculation. What became of the original letters was never known; but Buchanan published several, respecting which a double doubt has been entertainedwhether they be not forgeries of forgeries. After the great length of time which has elapsed since the death of Mary, and the fruitless inquiries which have been made, we naturally look upon a publication like the present with a very jealous eye, and require strict proofs of the authenticity of the documents thus boldly asserted to be genu.

ine.

We should have been glad, therefore, if Dr. Campbell had informed us from what precise source he obtained these letters. They came into his hands, he tells us, " by mere accident." What was the nature of the accident? Again, "a sort of history" has been given to Dr. C. "which represents the letters to have been the property of a nobleman who took an active part in the transactions of those times." What sort of a history was it? and who gave it to Dr. C.? VOL. XV. NO. XLIX.

"because he did not see the Queen write them." For our own parts we have no hesitation in saying that we believe the letters not to be genuine. Independently of the suspicious circumstances under which they are given to the public, the intrinsic evidence is strongly against them. They pretend to be translations from the French; but they bear no marks of their having suffered any such version. Dr. C. tells us that he should take the language to be antecedent to the classi. the style is certainly not older than the last half cal days of Addison; but, unless we greatly err, century. The style of thought and expression also is by no means calculated to remove our doubts. On every ground, therefore, we should pronounce them not genuine. The letters now published are only eleven in number. The bulk of the volume is occupied by extracts from various historians.

MEDICINE, SURGERY, &c. A Nosological Practice of Physic, embracing Physiology. By George P. Dawson, M.D. 8vo. 14s.

Prostate Gland in Lithotomy, &c. By A Short Treatise on the Section of the C. Aston Key. 4to. 12s.

Bichat's Anatomy, Vol. II. 18s.

A Compendium of Medical Theory and Practice, founded on Dr. Cullen's Nosology, &c. By D. Uwins, M. D. 12mo.

An Essay on the Curvatures and Diseases of the Spine. By R. W. Bamfield, Esq.

Bell's Exposition of the Nervous System. 8vo. 15s.

Brown on the Cholera in British India. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

Observations of Cancer, &c. &c. By T. Graham, M. D. 2s. 6d.

tions, and we have now before us two more of the same class, both possessing very considerable attractions. In point of literary merit, the palm must certainly be conceded to the first of these works, in the pages of which we see the names of some highly respectable contributors; an advan. tage indeed which "Friendship's Offering" can also boast, though not in the same degree. Mr. Watts, the Editor of the "Literary Souvenir,” appears to have taken great pains to render his little work deserving of public favour.

The embellishments surpass those we have ever seen in any similar work, designed by artists of talent and engraved in a style of great beauty. They amount in the whole to ten in number. There are sixty tales, romances, and poems, taken from or contributed by well known names in the literature of the day. Thus in place of those wretched publications for the toilette which in past time were stuffed with trash from Leadenhall street, infantine riddles, and bad receipts for cookery, we have a display of genuine taste, an elegant compendium of our passing literary novelties, and a present that no gentleman need be ashamed to place in the hands of a lady on New Year's Day. To ourselves the "Literary Souvenir" gives a good impression of the present standard of talent and taste, when we find such ephemeral little works got up in a way so creditable to art, and filled with productions of so much

merit.

An Essay on Slavery: its Unjustifiableness proved from the Old and New Testaments, &c. 8vo. pp. 38.

Every effort which is made to add strength to the cause of the slave abolitionists deserves the public notice. There is something so abhorrent to the enlightened mind in the system of slavery, that it scarcely stands in need of any other than the rational arguments which first present themselves, to show both its wickedness and bad policy; the question is so simple, so devoid of any thing like intricacy. The writer of the "Essay on Slavery," who writes as an " 'eye witness" of those scenes which in England have drawn forth so much of public sympathy, proves that the modern system of slavery, and that of the Jews as detailed in the Old Testament, bear no resem. blance to each other; and that slaves among that people were held in a very different light from those under British control;-the Jewish lawgiver having expressly guarded their interests in his institutes.

Fables and Epigrams, with Essays on Fable and Epigram; from the German of Lessing. 8vo. 8s.

The name of Lessing can but be familiar to most of our readers, though few of his works have been translated into our language. His Faust,

from whence Goethe took the idea of his celebrated drama of that name, has been lately introduced in an English garb by Lord L. Gower. The present Fables are very entertaining from their fine satire and the agreeable way in which they are related, and are well worthy a place in every library, and even upon every idier's table. It must not be supposed from the title of "Fables" that they are imitations of the ancient productions with that title--they are far more pleasing than

our old friend Esop, because they are adapted to a more refined state of mental culture. For example, "The Nightingale and Lark."

"What shall we say to the poets who take flights beyond the comprehension of their readers? Nothing, but what the Nightingale said to the Lark. 'Do you soar so very high in order that

you may not be heard?" These Fables are followed by an Essay on Fable, and also by one on Epigrams, of which it is needless to speak, considering the author's celebrity. Among his epigrams the following is a specimen. Kinz and Kunz.

Kunz. "Friend Kinz, I've heard grave people mention

Gunpowder as the devil's invention ?" Kinz. "Whoe'er informed you so was drunk, 'Twas first invented by a monk." Kunz. "Well-well-no matter for the name:

A monk-or devil-'tis much the same!"

The Housekeeper's Ledger: a plain and easy plan of keeping accurate Accounts of the Expenses of Housekeeping; and the Elements of Domestic Economy. By William Kitchiner, M. D. Author of the Cook's Oracle, &c. To which is added, Tom Thrifty's Essay on the Pleasure of Early Rising, and Scheme for an Early Hour Company.

This little volume is not quite what we should have expected from Dr. Kitchiner. It is too slight and unsystematic; and is wanting in those nice little details which render all the Doctor's other works so practically useful. It is, moreover, too jocular, and the witticisms sometimes seem uncalled for and forced. There are, it is true, a great many valuable hints scattered through the pages, and here and there we have a good joke. Let the following passage serve as a specimen.

"Let your provision be abundant in quantityof excellent quality-cooked in the best style, and put on table in the neatest manner possible. It is a good plan always to provide for at least one more guest than you expect-especially if you are not well acquainted with the capacity of your visitor. Some folks want two or three times as much as others for instance, our incomparable and inspired composer Handel required uncommonly large and frequent supplies of food. Among other stories told of this great musician, it is said, that whenever he dined alone at a tavern he always ordered dinner for three ;'-and on receiving for answer to his question, 'Is de tinner retty ♪ -As soon as the company come:'-he said con strepito, Den pring up te tinner,' prestissimo, I am de gombany.'

The Modern Athens: a dissection and demonstration of Men and Things in the Scotch Capital. By a Modern Greek.

12mo.

This is really a better book than we should be led, from its titlepage, to suppose. With the whole of that portion of it which relates to his Majesty's visit to Scotland we could easily have dispensed. The history of the royal movements, even when it was new, was not very well worth the telling; but at this distance of time it is

tiresome and vapid indeed. We recommend our readers, therefore, to pretermit the first 150 pages of the volume, and to commence with the fourth chapter. That the writer has correctly appreciated the society of Edinburgh we do not mean to assert; his strictures are, perhaps, more severe than justice requires, but many of his observations are pertinent enough.

The Private Journal of Madame Cam

pan, with her Correspondence, Thoughts on Education, &c. 8vo. 14s.

An Essay on Instinct, and its Physical and Moral Relations. By Thomas Hancock, M.D. 8vo. 12s.

The Encyclopedia Metropolitana, Part XIII. 1. 1s.

The Westminster Review, No. IV. Blossoms at Christmas; or First Flow12mo. 12s. ers of the New Year.

Analysis of a London Ball-room, &c. 1 vol. 8vo.

A Discourse on the Rise, Progress, Peculiar Objects, and Importance of Political Economy, &c. By J. R. M'Culloh.

8vo. 5s.

NOVELS, TALES, &c.

Rothelan; a Romance of the English Histories. By the Author of the Annals of the Parish, &c. 3 vols. 12mo.

Mr. Galt's genius is purely national, and when he leaves Scottish soil invariably refuses to accom. pany him. That soil has, however, been so diligently tilled by our literary husbandman, that it has become exhausted, and will no longer yield the desired crop. Indeed the public appetite for Scotch novels has latterly failed, and Mr. Galt (who, if in the human skull there be an organ of novel-writing, undoubtedly possesses it) has therefore ventured off his own territory in despite surely of his better judgment. When on a former occasion he made a similar attempt, the reader may perhaps remember how unfortunate it was, and we are sorry to say that in the work before us he has not been more successful. The plan of "Rothelan" also is objectionable. The story is not a continuous one, but is broken up into a variety of detached portions, which disappoint the reader and destroy the interest of the tale. Some of the separate scenes are indeed worked up with considerable power, and make us regret that the rest of the novel is of such unequal merit.

English Life, or Manners at Home. In four pictures. 2 vols. 12mo.

These tales are written with considerable ability,

though they are by no means all of them of equal merit. That of "Lord William" is decidedly the best, and displays an acquaintance with society which induces us to believe that the writer is capable of better things than the volumes be. fore us. To one of the stories, to which the writer has given the title of "a tale somewhat serious," we think some objections of the same character might be made. We object, in the first place, to the modern innovation of sermonising in novels,

which is here carried to a fearful extent; and,

secondly, we should object to the writer's peculiar opinions, whether we found them in a collection

of sermons or in the pages of a novel. The author has also thought fit to treat us with a tirade against novel-reading, which in a novel-writer is singularly modest. "Sir, I assure you," says the heroine," that I never read any novels in my life except Hannah More's Celebs and Richardson's Clarissa Harlowe." What would Miss Hawkins say to this, who, in her Memoirs, has denounced Clarissa as absolutely indecent !

Alice Allan: The Country Town, &c. By Alexander Wilson. 12mo.

A host of ephemeral productions which cannot possibly survive until the end of the season, are It is not that beginning to issue from the press.

these volumes are worthless that they are thus destined to oblivion, but they are expelled from the mind of the public by their successors, or by more important works. When they have helped to lighten a few heavy winter hours, they have fulfilled the purposes of their creation, and are forgotten. Of the little tales in the volume before us all that we can say is, that if the reader has nothing better to do, the perusal of them will probably afford him more amusement than sitting idle; whether he will reap any other benefit from them we have some doubts. The writer indeed tells us that it "has been his aim to employ the sober language of truth, in order that he might best display the beauty of honour and virtue;" but we cannot say that his standard of honour and virtue is the most refined.

By

Lasting Impressions; a Novel. Mrs. Carey. 3 vols. 21s. Gilmour, or the last Lockinge. 3 vols. 12mo. 21s.

Revelations of the Dead Alive. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

Saragossa; or the Houses of Castello and De Arno; a Romance. By E. A. Archer. 4 vols. 12mo. 26s.

The Robber Chieftain; or Dinas Linn, a Romance. 4 vols. 12mo. 11. 2s. Decision; a Tale. By Mrs. Hofland. 12mo. 6s.

The Sisters of Nansfield; a Tale. By the Author of Stories of Old Daniel. 2 vols. 12mo. 8s.

Fire-side Scenes. 3 vols. 12mo. 17. Is. Runneymede, or the Days of King John; an Ancient Legend. By L. S. Stanhope. 3 vols. 12mo.

Burton; a Novel. By Ronald M'Chronicle, Esq. 3 vols. 12mo. 18s.

Tales of Irish Life. 2 vols. 12mo. 12s.

thing which he had not seen before;" videlicet, "horses taken into the bath for the sake of bathing." Having arrived at the Alps, Mr. Hogg discovered that the ice was "difficult to walk upon;" and not only so, but that it was "dis agreeable, from the idea of inevitable death if he should slip a foot." During his perilous sojourn amongst the glaciers, an awful accident occurred, which might have been attended with dreadful consequences. We relate it in his own words. "I put down by me a fine opera.glass I had been using, but without sufficient precaution, as, having touched it inadvertently, it instantly rolled down the almost perpendicular declivity, to my no small regret and astonishment." That a fine opera-glass should roll down an almost perpendicular declivity, might indeed well excite Mr. Hogg's surprise. To him Owen Glendower's feat, in riding up " a hill perpendicular," must be no marvel.

Having reached Rome, Mr. H. gives us an account of the wonders of the Eternal City, mingling it occasionally with a few philosophical observations. After describing the Museum Capitolinum, he adds, "I could not help saying to myself as I left the Museum, these indeed are the works of a most refined though different race of men from the present !" It was our traveller's good fortune, during his visit to Rome, to hear a sermon delivered "in an accent something resembling the Scotch," and to witness the Easter festivities. Of Naples we have not many particulars given; and as to the temples at Pæstum, Mr. Hogg thought it useless to visit them, "because Doric temples and porticoes are all so much alike that it is easy to form a correct idea of their appearance from modern imitations of them." The remainder of our traveller's adventures do not possess sufficient interest to justify us in detailing them.

Travels in the Republic of Colombia, in the Years 1822 and 1823. By G. Mollien. Translated from the French. 8vo.

The admirable account given by Capt. Hall of the South Americans renders the narratives of other travellers comparatively dull and uninte. resting. In one respect, however, the present volume has the advantage, in the detailed descrip. tions of many parts of the country, with which it was not in Captain H.'s power to make himself acquainted. But M. Mollien has not the lively pen of our English traveller. His style is more sober and narrative, less relieved with anecdote and less illustrated with observation. Nor does he take so favourable a view of the character of the South Americans, who are, if we mistake not, a much more powerful and energetic people than he imagines them to be. His work, however, contains a great deal of information of various kinds with regard to the present state of Colombia, and cannot fail, therefore, to be generally interesting. The following is M. Mollien's account of the palace of the deputies and the other public buildings at Bogota.

"The place dignified with the name of the palace of the deputies is nothing but a large house, situated at the corner of a street, the ground.floor of which is let out in shops for the selling of brandy. The first objects which attract attention upon ascending the staircase, are two Fames painted upon the wall, at the foot of which is this inscription-'No country without laws.' Having gained the inner gallery, the noise which escapes through a small door indicates it to the visitor to be that of the Hall of Assembly. This consists of a long and narrow room, in the middle of which has been erected a wooden balustrade, upon which the spectators lean; for no one is seated but the representatives, who are econonomically placed upon arm-chairs made of polished wood, with leather bottoms, ranged in long rows: within the balustrade, eight chandeliers, glazed windows, and a matting, compose the decorations of the palace of deputies.

"Upon quitting this, it is only necessary to cross the street to enter the palace of the senate, which is, perhaps, still more simple than that of the representatives. The Dominicans having granted this body one of the wings of their convent, it was fitted up in a similar manner to the Hall of the Deputies; the walls are, however, ornamented with emblematical figures. Under one of these, which represents Justice, the ignorant painter has written Policy.

"Thus in the palace there is neither salle de reception, hall, nor antichamber; and when the ministers attend to make any communication to one of the chambers, they are obliged to wait upon the staircase till the usher of the house, who is at the same time manager of the theatre, comes to disengage them of their umbrella, and invite them to

enter.

"In their places of confinement the Spanish Americans have established a system of excessive indulgence. The prisons are on the ground floor, and the windows are sufficiently low to allow the passers-by to converse with those incarcerated; as to state prisoners, they are treated with greater severity.

"The other public buildings in Bogota are the Mint and the Theatre. The internal arrangements of both are excessively bad; neither of them seems adapted to the objects for which it was intended: it is, however, very surprising to find establishments of this kind in places so far removed from all communication with Europe."

In travelling over the Cordillera, M. Mollien experienced great inconvenience from the cold, for which, in one instance, he found a remedy of a most extraordinary description. "The cold, however," he says, "which I felt did not last all the night, for my host had conceived the singular idea of bringing up a great number of cats, which were trained to place themselves upon the feet of travellers. I had two of them, whose furs kept