348 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE. THE BRITISH MUSEUM. EGYPTIAN 

 ANTIQUITIES. VOL. I. LONDON : CHARLES KKIGHT. 1832. 



THIS appears to be altogether a compilation from former works, and does not 

 seem to be got together in a very taking or attractive style. The present first 

 volume, is almost entirely occupied with descriptions of the various Egyptian 

 antiquities in the British Museum, and is accompanied by illustrations, more 

 than forty in number. This is a cheap work, even in these days of cheap 

 literature, and is, perhaps, worth purchasing by those who are interested in the 

 Egyptian antiquities preserved in our National Museum. 



LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE. CRIMINAL TRIALS. VOL. I. 

 > LONDON : CHARLES KNIGHT. 1832. 



THIS is a well-timed publication. It is a wholesome antidote to the bane of 

 the trial of " Charles I. and some of the regicides/' put forth in no friendly 

 spirit by Mr. Murray. The present volume contains the trials of Sir N. 

 Throckmorton, the Duke of Norfolk, Dr. Parry, Earls of Essex and Southampton, 

 and, " the greatest is behind," Sir Walter Raleigh. Nothing more is wanting 

 to give a faithful idea of the manner in which the kingly power has been hereto- 

 fore exercised in this country, than a perusal of the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh. 

 Let our reader, we say, for a moment reflect upon the tyranny and injustice put 

 in force by our " good Queen Bess" urged into more active operation by James 

 I., and finally completed and consummated by Charles I. ; and he will, we 

 think, in spite of the sickening and revolting adhesion of some of our modern 

 admirers of " the martyr," be brought speedily to confess that Cromwell and 

 " the regicides" were severe but salutary purgatives to cleanse this country of 

 as great an affliction as it could be cursed with ; we mean, the base and un- 

 worthy house of Stuart ; and, although it was not permitted to them to root 

 them out altogether they have deserved well of of their country, and have ob- 

 tained its applause and admiration. 



SWALLOW BARN, OR A SOJOURN IN VIRGINIA. AN AMERICAN TALE. 4 VOLS. 

 12MO. LONDON : NEWMAN AND Co. 1832. 



THIS appears to be a reprint of a tale originally published in America, and is 

 ushered in by an introductory epistle, indited by one Mark Littleton to his friend 

 Zachary Huddlestone, Esq., of New York, explaining his reasons for visiting 

 Swallow Barn in Virginia, the residence of their common friend Ned Hazard. 

 The four volumes, of which the present work is composed, comprise a full and 

 particular account of the sayings, employments, and amusements of the several 

 parties, inmates and visitors at Swallow Barn. 



The work before us is written with considerable vivacity of humour by a man 

 of no common talents, and we have derived much pleasure from a perusal of this 

 Virginian tale, which, in addition to the enjoyment of its airiness and elasticity of 

 style, and the pleasant variety of its characters, affords us an insight into 

 country manners and customs in America with which we were, heretofore, but 

 imperfectly acquainted. 



We cannot pass over without commendation the animated description of a 

 hunt after " an oppossum up a gum-tree ;" and we regret not a little that we 

 have it not in our power to extract many passages which would fully justify a 

 very high praiss of this work. Certain it is, there are descriptions here which 

 fall very little short of those so much admired in the works of our own popular 

 novelists, and which far excel the common run of the same species of writing 

 afforded to us by the generality of our fictionmongers. We cordially recommend 

 Swallow Barn to our readers. " 



