254 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



That circulation which the work ought, and we trust, does command, can 

 alone recompense the liberal publishers. As a book of occasional reference 

 of grave instruction and of literary amusement, it is alike valuable. In the 

 first place, great pains have evidently been taken to render it a correct 

 record of an immense mass of interesting and important events, which have 

 all their respective dates and localities assigned. Secondly, it affords a 

 condensed yet luminous view of the history of the Guelph dynasty in Great 

 Britain. Thirdly, it abounds with sparkling anecdotes of eminent men, 

 most of them culled from sources " aloof from public gaze." Its gaieties 

 and its gravities are so well blended, that in perusing it, we literally laugh 

 and learn. All the heavy ballast of two volume biographies, in royal quarto, 

 is thrown overboard ; the bullion of the cargo alone is retained, and this is 

 carefully diveeted of its verbal alloy. Facts are made out with the utmost 

 possible clearness, at the smallest possible expence of space, and with a 

 truly laudable economy of words. The style is nevertheless entirely free 

 from ruggedness it is clear, easy, vigorous, and frequently eloquent yet 

 there is nothing abrupt. Looking at the respectable, portly and close printed 

 tome, no one would expect it to contain any brilliant passages any light 

 reading with which, however, with a view to illustrate character, it is so 

 replete, that if the third and fourth volumes be executed in the same spirit 

 and with the same unwearied diligence and research as those which have 

 already appeared, the work will, in addition to its more important matter, 

 embody all the ana, fugitive wit, and memorable dicta of the last century and 

 a half. 



The plan is novel and comprehensive : it seems to have emanated from one 

 deeply impressed with the advantages of system. Mackleay, or Vigors, or 

 perhaps Cuvier gave the publishers a hint on the subject. They propose to 

 give a complete bird's-eye view of the progress of circumstances in every 

 department of human life during the era they have chosen for illustration. 

 They then classify the subject into genera ; and the species are treated of in 

 chronological order : thus, for instance, the military tribe commences with 

 Marlborough, and descends through Granby, Wolfe, Clive, Moore, &c. to 

 Wellington. As no historical personage is omitted, so no historical event 

 eseapes notice ; and in the detail of private character, the lives are originally 

 rich. 



All monopolies are going to the dogs ; among others, is that of aristocratic 

 libraries. Poor men, and political unions are now forming literary reser- 

 voirs of their own their object is to concentrate to get as much as they 

 can in the smallest compass, and at the lowest price ; to such buyers of 

 books, as well as to the more wealthy to which it will be equally service- 

 able if properly read, the Georgian Era will be a bargain. Every provincial 

 club every private library should have it. 



. We are so struck with its excellences, that we forbear exposing the few 

 defects that have occurred to us. 



Of the lighter portions of the present volume the following are fair speci- 

 mens : 



" The Earl of Peterborough's first exploit was at the siege of Barcelona, 

 which surrendered after a vigorous attack ; and, in a few days, King Charles 

 made his entrance in triumph. Pending the arrangements for its capitu- 

 lation, the governor complained to the earl, that some soldiers, who had 

 climbed over the walls, were committing the most barbarous excesses against 

 the inhabitants. ' They must be the troops of the Prince of Hesse/ replied 

 Peterborough ; ' allow me to enter the city with my English forces, I will 

 save it from ruin, and afterwards return to my present situation.' The go- 

 vernor accepted this offer ; and Peterborough-, after expelling the Germans, 

 restoring their plunder to its owners, rescuing the Duchess of Popoli from 



