212 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 



SKETCHES IN PORTUGAL, DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN 1834. BY 

 CAPTAIN J. E ALEXANDER, K. L. S. COCHRANE & Co., LONDON. 



THIS is a light and pleasant volume containing: a good many anecdotes 

 and sketches of Portuguese manners and habits. It does not at all improve 

 our notions of that city of dogs and filth Lisbon; and the details given of 

 public assassinations, and of open violence, exhibit a fearful picture of the 

 social disorganization ever attendant on civil war. 



Captain Alexander was present before Santarem, the strong-hold of 

 Miguel. His remarks will do much towards dispelling the belief that the 

 Miguelite soldiers were nothing but a set of rascally cowards the off- 

 scourings of fanaticism. They seem to have fought bravely, and, under the 

 peculiar circumstances of their position, to have shewn great fortitude. 

 The book contains many sensible observations on the present and future 

 prospects of Portugal, both of which are undoubtedly gloomy. The long 

 continuance of anarchy the repeated changes of government the occupa- 

 tion by foreign troops the checks given to industry and enterprise, will 

 require good political nursing to regenerate the nation a nation which, 

 by-the-by, deserves well of mankind. The book is well worthy a perusal 

 there are some capital sketches in it. 



THE FRENCH READER'S GUIDE. BY M. DE LA AUVIERE. LON- 

 DON : SMITH, ELDER, AND Co., CORNHILL. 



WE have seen many works of the same class in different languages, but 

 have not often met with a more judicious selection, whether the matter or 

 the style be considered. The names of Voltaire, Rousseau, Sant Pierre, 

 La Harpe, La Fontaine, and De Lille, at once inform us that the extracts 

 have been made from the best models of French writers, and it is no slight 

 recommendation to the youthful reader, that whilst he is made familiar 

 with the beauties of these great authors, he is safe for any sentiment or 

 expression that might " raise a blush on Virtue's cheek." He may revel 

 amidst the flowers, secure that he will find no sting concealed among the 

 sweets. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE LA- 

 DIES' SAFETY HIVE. BY SAMUEL BAGSTER, JUN. WITH FORTY 

 ILLUSTRATIVE ENGRAVINGS, LONDON, 1834. 



SPIRITUAL HONEY FROM NATURAL HIVES ; OR MEDITATIONS AND 

 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS OF BEES. 

 FIRST INTRODUCED TO NOTICE IN 1657, BY SAMUEL PURCHAS^ 

 A.M. LONDON, SAMUEL BAGSTER. 84. 



To our country readers these little volumes, which have a relation to 

 each other, will be a . valuable acquisition. By those who have already 

 tasted the enjoyment derivable from the study of nature and the habits of 

 animals, they will be fully and immediately appreciated. Those who have 

 not yet entered into this wide and fertile field of pleasure, we confidently 

 assure they will not regret the trifling expenditure of their cost. Many books 

 have often appeared within a short period, treating of natural history, in 

 its various branches, but these have a peculiar claim to attention. The 

 first, in a concise and interesting form, connects with a minute history of 

 the character and habits of bees, such information as will enable those, 

 who have the opportunity, to avail themselves of the benefits which these 

 wonderful and industrious little animals so largely afford to man. Various 

 improvements have at different times been introduced into the method of 

 keeping bees, both with reference to themselves, and the form of the hives 



