574 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



We should be withholding a justice from the translator if we neglected to 

 state that his translation is in every respect admirable ; by which we mean not 

 only that it is excellent, quasi a translation, but that the composition is per se 

 elegant and masterly. 



CRAVEN DERBY, AN HISTORICAL LEGEND. 2 VOLS. LONDON. 1832. 



THE demand for romances and novels must needs be great indeed when it 

 answers a man's purpose to write and publish a production like " Craven 

 Derby." 



This romance, so called, includes, " The Ladye of the Rose," an historical 

 legend relating to the founder of the house of Derby ; and is, accordingly, laid 

 in the time of the Crusades under Richard, Cceur de Lion. 



It is very diffusely arid poorly written ; but the rage for articles of this kind is 

 of so insatiate a nature at present, that no prediction can be hazarded as to the 

 success of such a work, or the interest that may attach to it. 



The author, in his introductory address, attempting philosophically to account 

 for the occasional coincidences to be found in great authors, says, 



" The mind of man is so versatile and soaring, that though two men may 

 imagine an idea, and embody it as like as two proof engravings, yet their con- 

 ception of it may still be original." We do not know how the reader may 

 relish such a defence, but we do not think that the author of " Craven Derby" 

 stands in need of it. We do not discover any resemblance to " Ivauhoe," or 

 " The Crusaders," in his book. 



SeTATISTICS OF FRANCE. BY LEWIS GOLDSMITH. LONDON. 1832. 



IT is very possible that many of our readers are unacquainted with the name 

 of Lewis Goldsmith, the author of the present work ; who, however, although 

 he has not come before the English public for some years, was, nevertheless, at 

 one time well known as one of the most vehement and furious anti-Buonapartists 

 in this country. 



Mr. Goldsmith, besides having published various works of a political nature, 

 such as " The Secret History of the Cabinet of Buonaparte," " Conduct of 

 France towards America," and some others, was the editor of the " Anti-Galli- 

 can Monitor," which he conducted for a very long period. The spread of liberal 

 opinions, however, if it has not caused him to change his political sentiments, 

 has at least influenced him in modifying his expression of them ; and Mr. 

 Goldsmith is anxious to assure his readers, that in none of his previous works 

 has he ever written a line in favour of despotism. 



The present production was, it appears, undertaken under the auspices of the 

 Count de Villele, the then Minister of Charles X., to whom it is dedicated. 



Whatever Mr. Goldsmith's political opinions may be, or whatever bias or 

 prejudice he may discover in favour of the late monarchy in France, and how- 

 ever he may deplore the late revolution in that country, and in all these points 

 we should be inclined to be at issue with him, we cannot but acknowledge 

 that he has collected a vast deal of curious and useful information, and that his 

 book ought to be read attentively by all who are desirous of making themselves 

 thoroughly acquainted with the matters of which it treats. The typography of 

 the work is perfectly correct, although it has been printed in France. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The business of harvest, some time since concluded in the most forward 

 districts, will no doubt, have a universal finish in the end of the current month. 

 It commenced early and suddenly, and would have had an equally sudden ter- 

 mination but for the notable and universally noted, ten to fourteen days rain on 

 the end of August, and in some parts, the 1st and 2d of September. The wheat 

 seed season following the harvest, has been somewhat retarded by the similar 

 cause. The commencement of wheat sowing, however, is various in different 

 districts, whether from experimental causes in regard to soil and climate, or 



