1832.] Monthly Review of Literature. 353 



dramatis person*. There are at least six heroines, three of whom are in love 

 with the hero at the same time. Her delineations of female character are not 

 very flattering to the sex. Katherine Darley and La Sylvestra are two " devils 

 in garnet." The observations of the fair authoress are frequently more original 

 than just; she seems to wish to produce an effect, and is not very particular 

 about the means. Par example, her hero goes to Covent Garden Theatre, to hear 

 the opera of Figaro, where he finds " a detestable orchestra/' and " the worst 

 corps d'opera that ever blundered through the enchantments of Figaro a 

 Barber who did not sing, a Countess who could not, a Susanna who should not, 

 and a little sulky Page who would not ; a bass who growled like a Polar bear, 

 and a tenor that squeaked like a broken-winded bag-pipe !" 



The writer, if we may judge from her remarks, seems to hold our theatrical 

 representations in high contempt, and to consider that there is no comparison 

 between ourselves and our continental neighbours as to their way of " getting 

 up" their dramatic performances ; with all due humility, we beg to ask her if she 

 saw Masaniello when it came out in Paris, and the same opera when first repre- 

 aented here ? it was the opinion of a Frenchman, who possessed a considerable 

 share of national pride, that the Drury Lane performance had much the advan- 

 tage, more particularly in the splendour of its decorations and costume. 



We must in justice to the authoress assert, that independent of a few 

 blemishes, " The Opera" possesses many charms for the novel-reader, and we 

 have no doubt it will meet with a very general perusal. 



^ 



HISTORY OP THE JEWS IN ALL AGES. BY THE AUTHOR OF " HISTORY 



IN ALL AGES." 



FEW subjects have of late years been more generally and extensively (though 

 not, perhaps, very learnedly and satisfactorily) investigated, than the history 

 and destination of the most remarkable people known either to the ancient or 

 to the modern world. Upon the comprehensive and indefatigable inquiries of 

 a few German writers, the French and English of the present day founded the 

 lighter and more popular works, which, whether written for political, histo- 

 rical, or wholly religious purposes, consist of materials, taken as they were 

 found, without farther question, or additional sources of information, and thus 

 applied to the particular objects which the writers had in view. Nearly the 

 sole novelty attaching to these modern compendiums, is the different lights in 

 which the actions and ordinances of the Jews, with their political and religious 

 destiny, have been viewed. It is owing to this want of original inquiry, in 

 fact, that while in all other matters there prevails so striking a coincidence and 

 monotony in our recent writers, in their opinion and interpretation of facts and 

 events, they differ widely from each other, offering the only ground, indeed, for 

 interest and invention. Thus, down to Mr. Millman and Mr. Gleig, the neces- 

 sity of throwing some new interest into the subject, has induced most writers to 

 take very singular, and not very orthodox views on religious points theorizing, 

 and throwing out plausible doubts, and seeking to account by natural means> 

 wherever possible, for events generally admitted to have been brought about by 

 some miraculous interposition. The same love of novelty and complacent 

 paradox, leads them too frequently to hazard assertions, not only at variance 

 with the tenor and received belief of the Scriptures, but more directly so with 

 each other. On this dangerous ground, presenting so many a " stumbling- 

 block, and stone of offence," and which ought to be very warily trodden, we are 

 glad to perceive that the author of the " History of the Jews in all Ages," has 

 not cared to intrude ; and in so far, we think, has shewn a correct judgment* 

 and good taste, not evinced by the many reverend writers who have preceded 

 him. Although, in point of style, and in general character, therefore, the pre- 

 sent work cannot be brought into comparison with the studied and classical 

 compositions on a similar subject, yet the principles upon which it is founded, 

 its well condensed materials, its clear arrangement, and its freedom from unau- 

 thorized assumption and new interpretation, render it far better calculated U> 



