MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 609 



it ; and if an examination and detention can be avoided by a small 

 gratuity, it will be well spent in the purchase of despatch." It is rather 

 curious how obstinate some people are on these points, and what a world 

 of anger and contumely they cause to themselves. We have known 

 more than one journey absolutely rendered miserable by most foolish 

 and ridiculous conduct at barriers. We have no right surely to dispute 

 these regulations; they are part of the social and political observances of 

 other people, and if we don't like them, we should stay away. No doubt 

 we would rather it were different, and we trust that before very long it 

 will be so ; but till then, we add our advice to Mr. Brockedon's " to be 

 merry and wise" on every occasion when subjected to police inspection. 

 We also add our testimony to his recommendation of Berries' bills of 

 exchange, for safety and convenience as to money-matters. 



Travellers will get well enough into Italy, but here difficulties often 

 arise. We give the following, as to the mode of travelling: "Some 

 parties hire the horses of a vetturino: these continue throughout the 

 journey travelling at the rate of about forty-five miles a day. The usual 

 terms are about twelve or fourteen francs a day per horse, when engaged 

 to draw the traveller's carriage ; but if the traveller hire the voiture as 

 well as the horses, the expense is less, because the vetturino has a greater 

 chance of employment upon his return. Where one or two persons take 

 places in a voiture, in common with others travelling on the same line of 

 road, much expense is saved compared with the cost of posting; and it 

 gives occasional opportunities for looking about and examining places, 

 which cannot be done when travelling by diligence ; but often these 

 voitures rest at the end of the day's journey of forty or fifty miles, in 

 some miserable village or uninteresting place : each morning the traveller 

 must start before daylight ; and however he may economise his money, he 

 will find it a sad waste of time. To many, however, who travel without 

 any knowledge of the language of the country they pass through, the 

 advantage of proceeding .en voiturier is great; for they can, by making an 

 agreement with the vetturino, pay a moderate sum, which will include all 

 charges upon the road, for breakfast, dinner, supper, and bed ; thus 

 avoiding all dispute and difficulty. Such travellers may be left to em- 

 ploy their eyes where their ears are useless ; but it is quite necessary to 

 draw up a specific agreement on stamped paper, describing the journey 

 from day to day, specifying the number of covers at each meal, and 

 taking care always to be something in debt to the vetturino until the end 

 of the journey/ 7 



Travelling en voiturier in Italy will satisfy those who set out determined, 

 come what will, not to be annoyed by desttgremens : but post-travelling, 

 though more expensive, is the only pleasant and independent method ; 

 and it is what we should earnestly advise. 



The '* Road-Book to Italy," both as regards the surpassing beauty of 

 its illustrations, and the utility of its text, may be pronounced perfect. 

 Mr. Brockedon's remarks concerning scenery, works of art, the -anti- 

 quities, and the sights of the various places through which he conducts 

 his reader, are pertinent and judicious in short, what we might have 

 expected they would be. 



Narrative of a Second Voyage in search of a North-West Passage, 

 &c. By SIR JOHN Ross, C. B., &c. &c. with the Discovery of 

 the Northern Magnetic Pole. 4to. Webster, London. 



In common with other subscribers to this work, we had it lately placed 

 in our hands. It has rather surprised us to see the lengthy reviews of this 

 Narrative ; the excuse for which we presume must be, that it is a quarto 



