REVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8156, 18 January 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

REVIEWS.

"English Men op Letters," by John Coulthorpe.—This volume is one of the series published by Macmillan and Co., London, and is edited by John Morley. J-t has for its subject, Addison. Of the four English men of letters whose writings most fully embody the spirit of the eighteenth century the one who provides the biographer with the scantiest materials is Addison, but the most has been made of these in the present work. A capital sketch is given of the state of English society and letters after the Restoration : Addison s family and education, his travels, employment in affairs of State, contributions to the Tatler and Spectator, as well as the last years of his life. Addison may be regarded as the chief architect of public opinior in the 18th century. lb was his task to carry on the reconciling traditions of our literature, and it is his praise to have accomplished his task under conditions far more difficult than any that his predecessors had experienced.

"English Traits," by Ralph Waldo Emerson.—Published by Macmillan and Co., London, and one of their Colonial Library series, as are also the subjoined works. The various traits of English character and of the English nation are depicted in graphic language. In his remarks on the race he deals with ability, manners, truth, character. The wealth of the nation, its aristocracy, the universities, and literature are successively reviewed. The chapter on The Times is interesting in view of its later career. Of it he says : "It has shown those qualities which are dear to Englishmen—unflinching adherence to its objects, prodigal intellectual ability, and a towering assurance, backed by the perfect organisation in its printing house, and its world-wide network of correspondence and reports." " The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh and other Tales," by Bret Harte.—Published by Macmillan and Co. London and New York. The story is descriptive of life at a Federal outpost on the Indian frontier. The story of "A Knight Errant of the Fort-hills" depicts the troubles of the Spanish fathers in California when the American miners broke in upon the seclusion of their missions, and spied out the fatness of the land. "TheSecreb of Telegraph Hill" is a tale of Californian life. The closing story is "Captain Jim's Friend," descriptive of mining life. "A Reputed Changeling: or ThreeSeventh Years Two Centuries Ago." By Charlotte M. Yonge.—Published by Macmillan and Co., Loudon. The tale is of a childhood blighted by a cruel superstition. In the preface the author says : "I do not think I have forced the hand of history except by giving i'ortchester to two imaginary rectors, and by a little injustice to her whom Princess Anne termed ' the brick-bat woman.' The trial is uot according to present rules, but precedents for its irregularities are to be found in the doings of the 17th century, notably in the trial of Spencer Cowper by the same Judge Hatsel, and I have done my best to represent the habits of those country gentry who wero not infected by the evils of the later Stuart reigns." The characters are powerfully drawn, and the interest of the tale is sustained throughout. " Marooned," by W. Clark Russell.— Published by Macmillan and Co., London. Tins tale of the sea is capitally written. The narrative briefly told is that Mr. Musgrave embarks in the Iron Crown, brig, at London for Rio, his mission being to take out to Rio Miss Amelia Grant, the betrothed of his cousin, Mr. Alexander Fraser, in order that she may be wedded to him there. The voyage out is brimful of adventure. First the skipper, Captain Broadwater, and his mate so tyrannise over the crew that they mutiny, the mate is assassinated ; the cabin boy, is lost off a boom in carrying out the orders of the cruel captain, and a boat's crew is lost in attempting to save him. Shortly after the captain disappears mysteriously, and the mutinous sailors get Mr. Musgrave, who has some knowledge of navigation, to take command, the intention being to head for Cuba. The crew, however, have a plot in hand, and on sighting one of the lonely uninhabited Bahama Cays, they " maroon" Mr. Musgrave and Miss Grant, in order that no evidence may be forthcoming of the tragedy which took place on board. Ultimately the couple escape from the island through a boat containing a runaway sailor landing there, and are picked up by the Bristol, trader of Bristol, from Havana. The adventures of the young couple naturally threw them greatly together, and Mr. Musgrave, forgetting his duty to his cousin at Rio, and Miss Grant her plighted troth to her nllianeed husband, they get married on reaching England, and live happily ever afterwards. Mr. Eraser was duly communicated with as to the altered position of affairs, lie took his fate philosophically after a brief choleric outburst, at the conduet of his cousin, ami. the proverbial faithlessness of lovely woman, and intimated that ho might as well give them all the news. lie was about to marry an old acquaintance of Miss Grant's—Miss Isabella Kadelilfo—a lady with a handsome fortune, and as she happily resided at Kio, ho should not be obliged to ask any relative to bring her to him ! The Iron Crown was afterwards found a derelict, but no tidings were ever heard of her mutinous crew, or what became of them. The story of adventure is powerfully told. The author knows sea life and love? it, and can accordingly describe it. He is a master of the art of telling a sea tale, from his practical knowledge of the sea. Some of the descriptive nautical passages are equal to the best things in "Tom Cringle's Log." " Blackwood's Magazine."—We have to hand the fifth volume of Travel, Adventure, and Sport, reprinted from the above magazine. The present volume contains SOIIIO interesting articles :—-" A Reindeer Ride Through Lapland," " The Valley of the Shadow of Death," a story of travel in the Himalayas, " A Wight's Peril," " Marquesas and La Collegiala," a tale of the Peninsula War, and a •' Cruiso up the Yangst/.e in 1858-9,'* by Admiral Sherard Osborne.