5'0 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE.. 



language, is that etymology and construction should go hand- in-hand, thai 

 children should in the earliest stages be provided with very easy examples of 

 construction in short and connected sentences (such as stories or fables), and 

 learn simultaneously the forms of the language. We do not depreciate the 

 study of etymology, for it is indispensable. We recommend rather the 

 adoption of an easy mode of imparting the knowledge. 



Mr. Hiley's is by far the best of these books before us ; but of course as 

 we do not agree about the principle on which the books are based, the recom- 

 mendation of either by us would be absurd. 



FICTION AND POETRY. 



Mrs. Armytage, or Female Domination. By the Authoress of 

 "Mothers and Daughters." 3 Vols. 8vo. H. Colburn. 



THE taste of the light-reading public is so vitiated by the wretched produc- 

 tions sent forth as fashionable novels that it becomes necessary for the 

 writer unless he has talent and influence sufficient to enable him to turn 

 the tide of prejudice to pander in some degree to these ill- regulated fancies 

 in order to ensure success. We feel little interest about novels, for they are 

 generally mere repositories of scandal and common-place, inculcating a very 

 dubious morality ; and it always costs us some pain in discharging this por- 

 tion of our duty to our readers. An ordinary reader may drop a stupid book 

 at the end of a few pages and send the whole to oblivion. Not so the re- 

 viewer, who wishes to perform his duties honestly. He must read it through 

 in order to find out the little good that may be scattered here and there in its 

 pages, in order that the best parts may be served up in the shape of extracts, 

 or honoured with a laudatory comment. 



In pursuance of our duty we were induced to turn over the leaves of " Mrs. 

 Armytage," and we saw that in it which induced us to think it worthy of 

 attention. The book has been read with much attention and with more 

 pleasure than any novel that we have seen during the present year. The 

 story is well put together. The characters are well drawn and consistent, and 

 the moral is exceedingly good. There are many Mrs. Armytages in society. 

 Some we have seen ; and certainly we never saw any happy results from 

 parental domination. Want of confidence and undue severity in parents is 

 the cause of a large portion of the vice and imprudence of young persons. 

 When a parent acts as a friend and sympathizes with the feelings of his 

 children, they will take their tone of mind from his, and communicate to him 

 all their feelings, views, and expectations. The early happiness and the 

 entire prosperity of children depends on a good understanding between them, 

 and on the complete absence of reserve on the part of the parents. These 

 observations will show the principle that Mrs. Gore has endeavoured to 

 unfold in " Mrs. Armytage," a work which for its moral deserves a place by 

 the side of Miss Edgworth's best productions. All parents are recommended 

 to read " Mrs. Armytage." 



Glances at Life in City and Suburb. By C. WEBBE. Post 8vo. pp. 



335. Smith and Elder. 



THE volume before us is eminently illustrative of the fact that instruction and 

 amusement may go hand in hand. According to the author's acknowledg- 

 ment many of the papers have appeared before in various periodical publica- 

 tions ; so that these at any rate cannot claim the merit of novelty. Still we 

 are quite sure that the author will be " proven" to have furnished fitting 

 amusement to those who would wile away an idle hour or seek relaxation 

 from graver employments. The best of these stories, if we may give our own 

 opinion, are "The Pimento Family," "My eccentric friend, Hippy," and the 

 " Four Views of London." 



