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MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



Road-Book from London to Naples. By WILLIAM BROCKE- 

 DON, F.R. S. Illustrated with twenty-five views from Drawings 

 by Stanfield, Prout, and Brockedon. Engraved by W. and E. 

 Finden. John Murray, London. 



UNDER this unpretending title we have presented to us one of the 

 most heautiful books which ever issued from the press, and which, even in 

 these days of illustrations, places far in the background all its compeers. 

 The fine taste shown by Mr. Brockedon, in his selection of views, has 

 added greatly to his reputation ; and from the " Falls of Terni/' on the 

 title-page, to a view of Naples, the concluding plate, we have a series 

 of gems, every one perfect in its kind, and every one affording a specimen 

 of pictorial and graphic skill of the highest order, and of the most elabo- 

 rate finish. With many of the localities we are intimately acquainted, 

 and can vouch for the accuracy of their detail ; and many a pleasant 

 reminiscence has the volume opened to us. 



Who having the means, and whose head and whose heart have been 

 cultivated, has not visited Italy ? Now, indeed, the journey is robbed so 

 completely of difficulties, that it is quite as comfortable and easy a matter, 

 as a jaunt from one extremity of Great Britain to another. The long- 

 continuance of peace has smoothed away many of the national prejudices, 

 which now and then proved sources of annoyance ; and if a party set out 

 with a right temper, and knowing what they are about, they will suffer no 

 inconvenience whatever. Mr. Brockedon's work becomes, in this respect, 

 a standard authority. We know him to be familiar with the routes he 

 recommends ; and his observations are marked by good sense, by a fine 

 perception of natural beauties, by correct historical information, and by 

 very careful and accurate notices of all the little minute points on 

 which travellers are more especially tormented. 



The splendid illustrations we cannot place before our readers, or we 

 would gladly give them Lanslebourg, from the ascent to the Mont Cenis, 

 as the very best and most characteristic bit of Alpine scenery we have 

 ever seen on paper, and, as a contrast, the rich and glowing softness of the 

 Place Louis XVI. : both are most beautiful and pre-eminently graphic. 

 Mr. Brockedon's text is a worthy accompaniment plain, but polished 

 and, above all, useful. His advice as to passports we should especially 

 recommend to attention a vast deal of time is wasted, and an infinity of 

 vexation is caused by negligence on this subject. Another point too, 

 which we would exhort young male travellers to attend to, is the follow- 

 ing: " At Pont Beauvoisin, on crossing a river called GuiersVif, the 

 traveller leaves France, and enters Savoy, a duchy of the state of Sar- 

 dinia, where the Custom-house officers of the respective countries subject 

 him to the ordeal of an examination of his passport, trunk, and person. 

 This is generally conducted with courtesy, unless the thoughtless tra- 

 veller provoke a rigorous and annoying examination, by his ill-temper 

 and abuse of the officers, whose duty is disagreeable enough without a 

 display of the hatred which young English travellers in particular feel 

 against the police and fiscal regulations of other countries. The Author 

 again presses the value of civil submission to these annoyances. Civility 

 is a currency which is generally returned ten-fold to the first that offers 



