354 Monthly Review of Literature. [[MARCH, 



answer the intended object to afford popular information, without exciting 

 doubts to give the views and inferences entertained by older and greater 

 writers and though in a less polished garb, to furnish the leading incidents 

 and events of the Jewish History, with the interpretation given to it, as they 

 are found in the Bible itself. The principles, in short, upon which this work is 

 founded, are, that the statements of the Scriptures, however irreconcileable 

 with human maxims in parts, are to be received with all the submission 

 which their divine authority demands. Agreeably to this plan the work 

 is throughout conducted, and in a way that reflects credit no less on the prin- 

 ciples than the talent of the author. 



THE RECORDS OF A GOOD MAN'S LIFE, &c. BY THE REV. CHARLES B. TAYLER, 



M. A. 



UNDER this pleasant, and too rarely merited title, the author, already favor- 

 ably received by the public, has here given us a series of simple and instructive 

 stories in the same quiet, unobtrusive style ; a style which well recommends the 

 truth and purity of the sentiment, and which speaks " from the heart to the heart." 

 There is surely something in the manner of relating a story, as we know from 

 Sterne, which may boast half the merit, and bears out the caustic, homely cou- 

 plet of Dean Swift : 



" What is a story, good or bad, 

 If a man tell it like a lad?" 



Undoubtedly a felicity of style and expression is no common quality, and it is 

 possessed by the author of these "Records" in an eminent degree. 'Ihe charm of 

 his little narratives steals upon us imperceptibly as we proceed ; and without 

 any effort either at fine writing, startling incidents, or high-wrought effect, he 

 fully succeeds in what he aims at, in winning a willing ear to the truth and 

 excellence of those models of morality and virtue he holds up to our view. 



THE MEMBER: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. BY THE AUTHOR OF " THE AYRSHIRE 



LEGATEES," &c. 



WE are here presented by the ingenious author of so many pleasant works of 

 fiction, with a little work, anything but a piece of fiction, and greatly differing 

 from those which have preceded it, inasmuch as under an assumed character, 

 it contains a number of curious facts and details but too glaringly true. As a 

 political jeu d' esprit, however, it is not always so caustic and happy as we 

 could wish, though applicable enough to the times in which we have lived, 

 and for which the Reform Bill seems the grand panacea, yet held in reserve. 



But if seldom or never witty, there is a sly and quiet humour in the manner of 

 "The Member," which, with a tone of perfect seriousness and downright busi- 

 ness-like proceeding, tend admirably to expound the system " that has worked 

 so well," exhibiting it with all the force of satire by simply preserving the cool, 

 calculating, and quaint style of the new member, and his direct mode of coming 

 to an understanding with those in power. In this respect he is perfectly con- 

 sistent throughout ; the effect of his gravity is such as to keep us constantly on 

 the smile, and forms the author's best substitute for want of humorous incidents 

 and strokes of wit. Thus having purchased his borough, the member's next ob- 

 ject is to remunerate himself by selling his vote, and on a division of the house, 

 he at first takes side with neither party. That same evening he observes, like 

 a true man of business, "more than two of my friends inquired of me what I 

 thought of the question. By this I could guess that my conduct was a matter 

 of speculation, so I said to them, that ' really much was to be said on both 

 sides, but I had really made up my mind not to vote the one way or the other 

 until I got a convincing reason.' This was thought a good joke, and so it was 

 circulated through the house, inasmuch as when we broke up at seven o'clock 

 on the Saturday morning, one of the ministers, a young soft-headed lad, took 



