274 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



Mr. Cowper as the finest specimen of the epistolary style in our 

 language ; and these appear to me of a superior description to the 

 former, possessing as much beauty, with more piety and pathos. To an 

 air of inimitable ease and carelessness they unite a high degree of cor- 

 rectness, such as could result only from the clearest intellect, combined 

 with the most finished taste. I have scarcely found a single word which 

 is capable of being exchanged for a better. Literary errors I can discern 

 none. The selection of words, and the construction of periods, are 

 inimitable ; they present as striking a contrast as can be well conceived 

 to the turgid verbosity which passes at present for fine writing, and 

 which bears a great resemblance to the degeneracy which marks the 

 style of Ammianus Marcellinus, as compared to that of Cicero or of Livy. 

 In my humble opinion, the study of Cowper's prose may on this account 

 be as useful in forming the taste of young people as his poetry. That 

 the letters will afford great delight to all persons of true taste, and that 

 you will confer a most acceptable present on the reading world by pub» 

 lishing them, will not admit of a doubt." 



This work is got up in a style of neatness most creditable to the 

 publishers — it is a choice specimen of the typographic art. The plates, 

 by Finden, are beautifully graved, and the subjects are chosen with the 

 discrimination which taste and genius only can impart. We may truly 

 affirm that the volumes are altogether as tasteful in appearance as they 

 are precious in matter. 



Provincial Sketches. By the Author of ** The Usurer's Daughter," 

 *• The Puritan's Grave," &c. &c. London : Churton, Holies-street. 



This is anything but a dull and narcotic volume — in fact it is full of wit 

 and humour, and evinces an intimate knowledge of real life in situations 

 the most opposite to each other, and the most grotesque. It is thrown 

 into distinct stories, the titles of which are — The Rival Farmers — The 

 Country Newspapers — The Snug little Watering Place — Amateur Con- 

 certs — Itinerant Lecturers — Itinerant Artists — The Public Library — 

 Gentility — Village Choristers — and Dame Deborah Boreham's Alms- 

 houses. They are all good of their kind, are replete with droll and 

 whimsical incidents, and so faithful to nature, that the dullest soul must 

 be struck with their aptitude and comicalness. 



It unfortunately happens that we did not receive this exquisite morgeau 

 before our pages for the present number were fully occupied ; we must 

 defer, therefore, all extracts to the ensuing month, when, if not too 

 much pressed for room, we will advert to the subject again, and give 

 such a specimen from the work itself as shall make it speak in its own 

 commendation. 



Wanderings through North Wales, by Thomas Roscoe, Esq. Author of 

 " The Landscape Annual," embellished with highly finished en- 

 gravings, by W. RadclyfFe, from drawings made expressly for the 

 work, by Catterraole, Cox, and Creswick. Part II. London : 

 Simpkin and Marshall, and Charles Tilt. 



This charmingly illustrated work, of which we had occasion to speak 

 80 warmly in our preceding number, has presented another admirable 

 specimen of the tasie and skilfulness of its designs and execution. It 

 contains three sweetly delineated views, by Cox, of Harlech Castle, 

 Bridge over the Llugwy, and Snowdon, engraved in Radclyffe's best 

 style. If we have spoken highly of the first number, we are bound with 

 equal justice to speak as favourably of the present — and we have con- 

 siderable gratification in being enabled to state, from the most authentic 

 source, that it has received all the encouragement which we predicted. 



